First Himalayan trek

Had always wanted to see the great Himalayas. Am glad it happened so soon.

It was a 11 day trip, 7 of us from Bangalore, left Sep 27 night, got back Oct 8 night, covered many places, Madhyamaheshwar, Ukhimath,, Deoria tal lake, Kalimath, Triyuginarayan, Kedarnath, Guptkashi, Narayankoti temple, Kanakchauri, trekking close to 90km, with two trek bags (one big, one small).

We left Bangalore Friday night on a 10.20pm Indigo flight and reached Delhi at 2 am. Our next flight was Spicejet from Delhi to Dehradun the next day. 

Day 1

We spent time at the Delhi airport, chit chatting, had breakfast, coffee and finally boarded the flight and reached Jolly grant airport in Dehradun at 10.45am. Our driver Ashish was waiting for us at the airport in a tempo traveler. We started the drive to Ransi from Dehradun, via Rishikesh, DevPrayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag on NH58. We stopped in between for tea, then later for lunch. As soon as we cross Rishikesh town, we start seeing the great Ganga river in various forms all along the highway as we drive by different places. We can clearly see the river Bhagirathi and river Alkananda joining together to become Ganga at Devprayag. 

First tea stop

First glimpse of Ganga river and the Himalayan range

Devprayag, Bhagirathi and Alaknanda becoming Ganga

We reached Ransi late in the night. Stayed in a homestay, where they cooked roti, dhal, potato curry once we reached. After dinner we all packed for our trek next day, one bag to carry and trek as we had planned to stay up one night. Another big bag we left in the tempo traveler.

Two of the luxuries during the trip were hot water bath and a toilet :D

Day 2 

Woke up at 5.30 am the next morning and while having tea had the first glimpse of snow capped mountains from the hotel. We were able to have a nice hot bath as the hotel person provided us with a bucket of hot water. We had hot aloo parathas for breakfast before leaving the hotel to the trek start point by TT. 

We started the trek around 8.30 am. Initial 4km were more of downhill. River Madhuganga was flowing next/below us all along the way and we could hear the gushing sound of water throughout. That was the only sound we could hear other than few birds chirping. We drank water from the many streams along the way, the water was so fresh and yummy. We stopped and had ginger tea at Gaundh. 

Trek start point

We had lunch at Bantoli,  millet roti , pumpkin palya,  dhal. 

We continued our trek after lunch, it became very steep from here. We had to stop at 5pm as we had reached the last house where we could stay for the night, and it had started raining heavily by then. The place was called Maikambha. There were two rooms with two big cots and a small toilet outside. It had gotten super cold, and we were wet as we had trekked in the rain the whole day. I felt super cold that day. The place belonged to an old woman and her daughter. They made hot tea for us, and later coked hot rotis, dhal, aloo sabji and rice for dinner. We had tea and dinner and slept. It was very cold throughout the night. 

Day 3

We woke up at 5.30am, freshened up,  had tea and headed out around 6.30am. The view of snow capped mountains was beautiful at this time from the room. 

Continuing our trek, we stopped for breakfast at Prince hotel, ate Maggi and trekked till we reached Madhya Maheshwar at 10.30am. The path got steeper as we climbed up. The rains continued. 

Breakfast

It was super cold at Madhyamaheshwar at 12000feet. 

The temple

We sat inside the temple for about 90 minutes, the poojari did Rudrabhisheka, and we all were happy satisfied trekkers with a great darshan of Madmaheshwar. The poojari said that the darshan can give us Moksha :D :D . The place is one of the Panch Kedars in the Himalayas, the other 4 being, Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tunganath and Kalpeshwar. We had lunch, millet  chapathi, aloo palya,  dhal and rice at one of the small places while it continued to rain. We started our trek down, stopping twice for tea. 

We reached Baltoni around 6pm. We had chai, changed and stayed here for the night after dinner, jola rotti, pumpkin sabji, dhal, rice. Rooms were comfortable with lights and bathroom. 

Day 4

Woke up at 5.30am, had chai,  freshened up,  packed, had breakfast, aloo paratha with pudina and chilli chatni and chai before heading down. We left around 8.30am, again stopping at Gaundar for chai and continued down,  reaching at 12 where our TT was waiting for us. 

Baltoni

I had successfully completed my first Himalayan trek, enjoying each and every moment. Had covered around 38km, but definitely seemed like 5-6 km more.

Pine

Done

We  stopped at Ransi to settle bills and had hot tea and Maggi. 

We headed towards Ukhimath by TT and reached Ukhimath at 2.30pm. 

We kept our luggage at the hotel and had lunch at a small restaurant, a thali and relaxed in the room for a while, cherishing the hot water bath after many days :)

That evening we went to Omkareshwar temple, walking. Had a very good darshan of Ishwara here. We came back, having tea on the way. Again stepped out for a light dinner,  roti, mix veg sabji. 

Day 5

Woke up at 5.30am to the sight of full range of snow capped mountains. As the sun rays started falling slowly on the mountains, we could see more and more snow ranges. We had tea watching the mountains.

We left the hotel around 9am, went to Omkareshwar temple, had darshan, and stopped for breakfast at Brahmamandala restaurant, had aloo paratha. 

We reached Saari village and started our day trek at 10.45am to Deoria tal lake. Though it was a 3-4 km trek, it seemed like a ten km trek as we kept climbing :) 

We reached the Deoria Tal lake, also called Devaria lake at 2pm. Our guide mentioned that Deoria tal lake is named after nag devata (snake God) and that all lakes in Himalayas are named after nag (snake) as lakes protected them from Rakshasas (demons).

Deoria Tal lake

We kept our bags in the tents, and took in the beauty of the whole place, it was so peaceful and quiet. We were super hungry and had lunch at 3, rice, rajma dhal, mix veg sabji. Relaxed a bit and had tea at 4.15.

While the rest of the gang went for a walk, I sat at the sunset view point, with a book watching the sunset till 6pm, saw Chaukambha peak,  can see three corners and many other peaks.

Once it got dark, I was wonder struck at the number of stars in the sky. Star gazing here was one of my favorites during the trip. Just loved sitting and watching the stars.

Had dinner and sat outside looking at stars again, slept around 10pm.

Day 6

Woke up 5.15am, had tea, and went near the lake to see the sunrise. Beautiful view of the suncapped mountains, Chaukambha peak,  Kedarnath and lot more peaks were seen from here.

Took lot of pictures and went back to the tent, got ready, had breakfast, poha and dahlia with tea. Left at 8am, trekked down and reached at 9.30am. 

Had tea at Saari village and started drive to Kalimath.

Reached Kali math at 12. Here we saw Kali temple,  Ishwara temple,  Saraswati temple, Gauri Shankar temple,  Mahalakshmi temple and Bhairava temple. We were able to put our feet inside the river water here and spent sometime near the water.

We drove to Gupta kashi from here. Gupta Kashi is where Shiva was hiding in the form of Nandi (bull) from the Pandavas as he did not want to give darshan to the Pandavas, when they set on a journey to meet Shiva to atone their sins committed during Mahabharata. But when the Pandavas find Shiva in Nandi form here, Shiva disappears from here and finally gives darshan to Pandavas in 5 different places in 5 different forms at Kedarnath (hump form), Madhyamaheshwar (navel and stomach form), Tunganath (arms form), Kalpeshwar (hair and head form) and Rudranath (face form) - called the Panch Kedar.

Gupta Kashi

Had lunch after visiting Gupta Kashi temple, thali and buttermilk. We stopped at Narayan koti temple on our way to Triyuginarayan. 

 

On the way we did biometrics at Phata for next day's Kedarnath trek. 

We checked into the room at Triyuginarayan around 5pm. After keeping our luggage in the rooms, we visited the temple. I had tea and Maggi at 6.30pm. Went to the hotel, packed a bit for next day trek. Had dinner at 8pm, near the temple, Phulka and rajma dhal. Went back to the hotel and slept. 

Our rooms

Day 7

Woke up at 4.30am, bathed at 5 as the hotel person gave hot water at 5. Felt so overwhelmed that the person heated water for us in the rain. Got ready and drove to Sonprayag and then by jeep to Gaurikund. Took a jeep till trek start point Gaurikund.  

Jeep ride

Started trek from Gaurikund around 7-7.30am to Kedarnath, it was a 16km trek to the top, though it again seemed like 5-6 km extra. The terrain is steep through out. And we see a lot of people and mules all along the way unlike Madhyamaheshwar which was deserted.  We had Nimbu Pani on the way and stopped for lunch and had hot aloo paratha and Tea. The river all along the trek that we see is called  Sonmandakini, we stopped two three times as heavy rain, fog,  hail storm occurred around 3pm. It got super cold after 3pm. We reached Kedarnath around 5.30pm. 

Trek start point

Snow

Went to temple at 6 and had a good darshan. Our guide had booked a very good hotel/dormitory for 8 people. Being at 12000feet, it was very cold!!

Day 8

Woke up at 5am, went to the temple for darshan at 6, the sky was super clear. Had an amazing darshan,  Pooja,  abhisheka, touched God. I was able to sit outside the temple for sometime, looking at the Kedarnath temple, with snow mountains at the back. Felt like some divine power walking in the snow mountains. I loved sitting here. My second favorite from the trip :)

My favorite picture

Came back to the hotel, had breakfast and left at 8.30am, trekking down. Had 2 nimbu paani stops and one maggi break before reaching down, Gaurikund at 2pm.

Touched snow yaay :D

Pit stop

Done done

Waited for all and left Gaurikud around 5pm, had tea at Sonprayag where our TT was parked. Started driving to Gupt kashi for night hotel stay and dinner. 

Day 9

Woke up at 4.30am, had hot water bath and left hotel at 6am after having tea. We drove along the windy roads and ghat section till the start point of trek, Kronch parvat, to Karthik swamy temple, located at the top of the mountain. Had breakfast hot aloo parathas and started the trek at 9.15am. It was a beautiful trek with amazing view on all sides. It was a 4km trek. We reached the top around 10.45am.

Starting the trek

Had a very good darshan at the temple, an amazing place and stunning view. Felt blissful looking at the mountains. Stayed here for one hour. 

The temple

Trekked down reluctantly, as I did not want to leave the place. It was a picture perfect place :) And it was our last trek of the trip. 

We had lunch down, chauncha (similar to pepper rasam), roti, sabji and rice. Started our drive to Rudraprayag. We stayed in a beautiful hotel called Mandakini GMV resort, next to Mandakini river that night. Had tea and sat near the river from 5-6pm. Dinner at 7.30pm. We could see and hear the river from our room.   

Breakfast and lunch place

Drive down to Rudraprayag

Mandakini resort

Day 10

Woke up at 5am, got ready and sat near the Mandakini  river for sometime before having tea and leaving the hotel at 7am. 

Drove to Rudraprayag,  where Mandakini river and Alaknanda river meet (sangama) and flows as one river, Alaknanda. It was beautiful. We first went to the Shiva temple here, had Hanuman darshan, Devi darshan and Ishwara linga, did water abhisheka and put bilwapatre leaves before going down near the water.

The river gives us a feeling of peace, seems like the river was washing away all my troubles :D 

We continued our drive, stopping at Devprayag for a quick picture, where Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers meet and become Ganga river.

Stopped for Nimbu pani and then again at Rishikesh for lunch and reached Dehradun by 6pm.

We checked in to Negi hotel for the night. We packed our bags, getting ready for our journey back the next day. Had dinner at a restaurant opposite our hotel, hot phulkas, dhal, sabji, rice, curds.

It was an amazing trip for me and it was possible because of so many people. Thanks to everyone who accompanied me and made the trip memorable, our guide Sanjay who took care of us so well, all the people who hosted us and made sure we got hot food wherever we went, and my family who take care of my kids so that I could travel :) :)

I guess I can go on and on about this trip, but I will stop here as words don't do justice to the beauty of the great Himalayas. Hope to return to the mountains soon...

Just before the trip, my son was singing the following song, and I couldn't help but sing/think about it during my trip:

Khada himalaya bhatha raha hei

Daro na aandhi paani mein

Khade raho tum avichal hokar

Sab sankat toofani mein

:)