Few people have asked this question to me. Should we travel all the way to Europe or New Zealand and spend a huge amount of money to see those beautiful sceneries or can we just visit the Himalayas in our backyard? I have been to the Himalayas a few times and I have done some decent treks like Kashmir Great Lakes, Kailash Parikrama, Annapurna Circuit, and Everest Base camp. My visit to the alps is limited to a few days and so is to the Southern Alps (New Zealand). The views I represent are based on the experience that I have from these visits from an Indian perspective.
So, what is the difference between the Himalayas and the Alps?
About Himalayas
Himalayas (including Karakoram range) is the mountain range from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh with a length of 2400 km and a width of about 150-350 km. It is one of the youngest mountain range formed by the subduction of the Indian subcontinent into Asia. It covers the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Plus points
Size
The Himalayas are simply huge in size. The highest 14 mountains above 8,000 meters are in the Himalayas. You get a real feel of those massive mountains when you trek in the areas of Mount Everest and Annapurna in Nepal. It just cannot be compared to anything else on earth. Compared to the Himalayas, the highest mountain in Europe stands at 4,810 meters. In the Himalayas, there are highways constructed above that altitude!!
Scenery
Each place has its own charm, but some of the views like the twin lakes of Vishusar and Kishansar that are seen while climbing Gadsar or the view of Gangabal and Nundkol from the top of Zach pass is simply unbeatable. The high altitude lakes of Ladakh and Spiti look straight from heaven. If you are looking at the scenery, Himalayas is the place to go.
Wilderness
Many places in the Himalayas are so remote which are untouched by civilization. It is hard to find such a long stretch of remote places in the Alps.
Adventure
Nothing can beat the Himalayas if you are looking at adventurous activities like trekking or mountaineering. The number of places is innumerable and the Himalayas is the place to feel the “joy” of altitude!!
Negative points
Mindless development
This is a single big issue in the Himalayas. The hill stations like Manali, Darjeeling, and others are so commercialized and are developed without keeping the environment in mind. Hydroelectric projects are constructed everywhere, politicians are hell-bent to ensure that the Ganga river should only flow in tunnels between Gangothri and Hrishikesh. Destruction is seen everywhere.
Crowd
During the peak season, all hill stations of the Himalayas attract a huge number of people. The places become chaotic, and traffic jams are frequent. This takes away the joy of vacation.
Volatile
As I write, Himalayas are growing by 5mm per year as the Indian plate is still hitting the Asian plate. Hence, Himalayas are very sensitive. Landslides are common and are increasing due to construction activities.
About Alps Mountains
The European Alps cover parts of France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia.
Plus points
Ease of reach
This is one reason why people prefer to visit the Alps. For example, to see a glacier in the Himalayas, you either need to trek for several days or travel to Ladakh and drive a long distance over bad roads. In Switzerland, all one needs to do is to take a mountain train or cable car!!
Less polluted
While tourist facilities are very developed in the Alps, care is also taken to ensure that the environment is not spoilt. Private vehicles are barred from entering many mountain towns. They are only accessible visa trains or cable cars. Public transport is also well developed. Fewer traffic jams and crowds are better managed.
Cleanliness
I need not explain!! But even in the Himalayas, things are cleaner if you get out of regular tourist and religious places.
Skiing
If you are a skiing enthusiast, then options for Skiing are more in the Alps. In India, it is limited to few places like Gulmarg in Kashmir, Kufri in Himachal, and Auli (which itself is an adventure to reach!!) in Uttarakhand.
Negative (From Indian point of view)
Cost
Extremely expensive. It costs a lot to travel to Europe. One has to arrange for visas which is quite a hassle. Only a few people could afford the cost.
My final words
It is hard to say and depends on perspective. But in general, if you can afford the cost, want to experience a clean environment and you are a person who prefers comfort over walking long distances, then you should visit the Alps. But if you have trekked in the higher reaches of the Himalayas which are still pristine, then I would say that you have not missed anything by not visiting the Alps!! The Alps cannot provide the “Himalayan experience”. For me, the real Himalayas is outside the traditional hill stations and religious towns.
Srikanth Manjunath
Wonderful compiled writeup Super .. good comparisons with pros and cons. HImalayas is himalayas .. alps is alps….you have given a wonderful informations for people venturing in to HImalayas and Alps.
super ararvind
aravindgj
Thanks Srikanth for your comments.
GAYATHRI SHARMA
beautiful
aravindgj
Thanks Gayathri.
Rekha Venugopal
I have visited the Alps and the Himalayas, and I totally agree with your “Final Words”!
It almost takes 4-5 days to reach the higher peaks of himalayas, and at the end the immense sense of joy and satisfaction one gets is intangible!
One might reach the Alps within 4-5hrs, but the sense of satisfaction will always be a miss! This is my personal experience though.
aravindgj
Agree!!
Thanks for commenting.
Vineeta Yashsavi
Both are beautiful… Can not compare both of them together…
aravindgj
Thanks Vineeta for your comment. I agree with you.
Jeams Jully
I am not yet to go both of this place. But I things that places are beautiful to there places. No one can compare there beauty because they have own attraction. I love to visited both this places. Alps and Himalaya has my travel list.
aravindgj
Thanks Jeams for your comment.
Sandip Ghimire
Being a Nepalese, I must prefer Himalayas but both have their own values.
aravindgj
Thank you.
ibujiblog
Wonderfully written ! I’m going to visit Himalayas soon 🙂
aravindgj
Thank you.
venuopal
I have visited Himalayas in Leh Ladak, Sikkim Kashmir. Sheer joy of the feeling at high altitude is some thing that cannot be expressed. EVen though the road journey takes long hours, it is adventures and has its own unique feeling. Would like to visit Himalayas again. Yes crowd is an aberration. Would love to visit alps in Switzerland.
aravindgj
Thank you.
Amit Kumar
ग्रेट depiction
aravindgj
Thanks