http://thinkingparticle.com/ en http://thinkingparticle.com/articles/2021-e-calendar <span property="schema:name" class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">2021 e-Calendar</span> <span rel="schema:author" class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/arunkhanna" lang="" about="/user/arunkhanna" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">arunkhanna</a></span> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2021-01-08T12:59:20+00:00" class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 01/08/2021 - 18:29</span> Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:59:20 +0000 arunkhanna 11541 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5-journey-peace <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">केदारनाथ - A journey for peace</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> </p> <p>यह एक ऐसा नाम है जिसे कोई परिचय की जरूरत नहीं है। यह उत्तराखण्ड के रूद्रप्रयाग जिले में स्थित है। इसकी उचाई समुद्रतल से 3584 मीटर है। केदारनाथ मंदिर को हिन्दुओं के पवित्रतम छोटे चार धामों में से एक माना जाता है और १२ ज्योतिर्लिंगों में से सबसे ऊँचा ज्योतिर्लिंग है। केदारनाथ का मन्दिर हिमालय की 'केदार' नामक चोटी पर स्थित है। इसके पूर्व दिशा में अलकनंदा नदी बहती है। जिसके पावन तट पर भगवान बद्री विशाल का पवित्र देवालय है तथा पश्चिम में मन्दाकिनी नदी के किनारे भगवान श्री केदारनाथ विराजमान हैं। इन दोनों नदिया का संगम रुद्रप्रयाग में होता है और वहाँ से ये एक धारा बनकर पुन: देवप्रयाग में भागीरथी में मिल जाती है। और आगे जाकर गंगा के नाम से जानी जाती है।</p> <p>यह तीर्थस्थान सर्दियों के दौरान बन्द रहता है क्योंकि इस दौरान क्षेत्र में भारी बर्फबारी होती है। इस दौरान भगवान केदारनाथ की पालकी को उखीमठ पहुँचा दिया जाता है और पुरे शीतकाल पूजा यही होती है।</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><u>केदारनाथ कैसे जाएं</u></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>हरिद्वार --&gt; ऋषिकेश --&gt; देवप्रयाग --&gt; श्रीनगर --&gt; रुद्रप्रयाग  --&gt; अगस्तमुनि --&gt; गुप्तकाशी --&gt; फाटा --&gt;  सोनप्रयाग --&gt; गौरीकुंड  (गौरीकुंड  से 16 किलोमाटर का रास्ता आपको पैदल या पालकी/ घोड़े से तय करना होता है।)</p> <p> </p> <p>निकटतम हवाई अड्डा : जॉली ग्रांट हवाई अड्डा जो केदारनाथ से २३८ किलोमीटर दूर है</p> <p>निकटतम रेलवे स्टेशन : ऋषिकेश मै है जो यहाँ से लगभग २१६ किलोमीटर दूर है</p> <p> </p> <p>मै मई २०१८ को अपनी बहुत प्रतीक्षित यात्रा को अपने चार और दोस्तों के साथ ग़ाज़ियाबाद से सुबह ६ बजे निकला। रस्ते भर मजे करते हम लगभग १०:३० पर हरिद्वार पहुंचे। वह हमने सुबह का नाश्ता किया और अपनी यात्रा को आगे बढ़ाया। हम ऋषिकेश को पार करते हुए देव प्रयाग पहुंचे। रास्ते मै आते हुए हमे कई मनमोहक द्र्श्य दिखे पर देव प्रयाग मै दो नदीयो अलकनंदा तथा भागीरथी के संगम को देख कर हमने थोड़ा विश्राम करने की सोची। यह द्र्श्य बड़ा ही अद्भुत है और लगता है इसे घंटों अपलक निहारते रहें। दोनों की धाराएं मिलते हुए साफ देखी जा सकती हैं। अलकनंदा नदी का जल थोड़ा मटमैला-सा है, जबकि भागीरथी नदी जल का निरभ्र आकाश जैसा नीला है। इसी संगम स्थल के बाद से नदी को 'गंगा' के नाम से जाना जाता है।</p> <p> </p> <p>देव प्रयाग के तीन धारा नमक एक स्थान पर हमने दिन का खाना खाया. यहाँ एक विशेष प्रकार का स्थानीय रायता और मसाला शिकंजी मिलती है जिसे आते या जाते समय एक बार सेवन जरूर करे।</p> <p> </p> <p>हमने अपनी यात्रा फिर से शुरू की और श्रीनगर पहुंचे। श्रीनगर गढ़वाल में एक बहुत ही प्राचीन सिद्ध पीठ है जिसे 'धारी देवी' कहा जाता है। इसे दक्षिणी काली माता भी कहते हैं। मान्यता अनुसार ये देवी उत्तराखंड में चारों धाम की रक्षा करती है। इस देवी को पहाड़ों और तीर्थयात्रियों की रक्षक देवी माना जाता है।</p> <p> </p> <p>बदरीनाथ राजमार्ग पर श्रीनगर से करीब 15 किलोमीटर की दूरी पर अलकनन्दा नदी के किनारे सिद्धपीठ मां धारी देवी का मंदिर स्थित है।</p> <p>स्थानीय लोगों की चेतावनी के बावजूद धारी देवी की इस मूर्ति को श्रीनगर विद्युत परियोजना के तहत 16 जून 2013 मै प्राचीन मंदिर को तोड़ दिया और मूर्ति को मूल स्‍थल से हटाकर अन्य जगह पर रख दिया और उसी रात को एक ग्लेशियर टूटा और फिर प्रकृति की विनाशलीला हुई। पहाड़ी बुजुर्गों अनुसार विपदा का कारण मंदिर को तोड़कर मूर्ति को हटाया जाना है। ये प्रत्यक्ष देवी का प्रकोप है। शाम छह बजे मूर्ति को उसके मूल स्थान से हटाया गया और रात्रि आठ बजे तबाही शुरू हो गई।</p> <p> </p> <p>हमने इस सिद्धपीठ के दर्शन किये और अपनी यात्रा को आगे बढ़ाया। हमारा अगला पड़ाव रुद्रप्रयाग था। रूद्र प्रयाग पहुंच कर स्थानीय दुकानों पर चाय पीते हुए मुझे पता चला की पांच केदार की तरह पांच प्रयाग भी है। प्रयाग मतलब एक ऐसा स्थान जहा दो नदियों के संगम हो। उत्तराखंड मै पांच पवित्र प्रयाग है।</p> <p>१. देवप्रयाग</p> <p>२. रूद्रप्रयाग</p> <p>३. करणप्रयाग</p> <p>४. विष्णुप्रयाग</p> <p>५. नंदप्रयाग</p> <p> </p> <p>बाकि तीनो प्रयाग बद्रीनाथ जाते हुए रस्ते मै पड़ते है। रुद्रप्रयाग से दो रास्ते हो जाते हैं।  एक रास्ता केदारनाथ और दूसरा बद्रीनाथ को जाता है। हम अपनी यात्रा मै आगे बड़े। अब शाम के ५ बज चुके थे। हमने निर्णय लिया की रात होने वाली है तो हम अगला शहर मै ही रात को विश्राम करें। थोड़ी ही देर मै हम अगस्तमुनि नामक जगह पहुँचे। वहा हमने एक गेस्ट हाउस मै रूम लिया। और रात को यही विश्राम किया।</p> <div>कुछ समय विश्राम करने के बाद हम सब रात के खाने के लिए होटल ढूंढ़ने लगे| हमारे गेस्ट हाउस के कुछ दूरी पर हमे एक होटल दिखा जिसका नाम क्रिष गेल होटल था खाना कहते वक़्त पता चला की होटल के मालिक क्रिकेटर क्रिष गेल के बहुत बड़ा फैन है <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> वहा से खाना खा कर हम अपने गेस्ट हाउस मे वापस आ गए <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span></div> <div> </div> <div>अगले दिन सुबह जल्दी उठ कर हमने अपने यात्रा शुरू की <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> हम तिलवारा, कुंड, गुप्तकाशी, फटा, सोनप्रयाग, पार  करते हुए अपने अंतिम पड़ाव मे पहुंचे जहा से हमे अपना आगे के सफर पेदल ही तय करना था. हमे अगस्तमुनि से सोनप्रयाग पहुंचने लगभग २ घंटे लगे <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> २०१३ की त्रासदी के बाद से सारे वाहन अब सोन प्रयाग तक ही जाते है <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> सोन प्रयाग मे हमने अपना पंजीकरण करवाया और अपनी यात्रा शुरू की <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span></div> <div> </div> <div>सूरज अपनी पूरी चरम सीमा से चमक रहा था । पर वह फिर भी हमे काफी लोग बरसाती बचते हुए दिखे । और उन्होंने हमे बताया की यहाँ मौसम का कुछ भी नहीं पता चलता पल भर मे बदल जाता है । हमने उनकी बात मान कर उनसे बरसाती खरीद ली । </div> <div> </div> <div> <div>हम जल्द ही सोन प्रयाग से गोरी कुंड पहुंच गए जहा से हमे काफी लोग दिखे कुछ अपनी यात्रा शुरू कर रहे थे तो कुछ समाप्त कर रहे थे । हमने भी बोल बम के नारे के साथ अपनी यात्रा शुरू की । गर्मी के कारण हमे चढाई करने मे बड़ी दिक्कत आ रही थी फिर भी हम रस्ते मे प्राकर्तिक सुंदरता के आनंद लेते हुए आगे बढ़ते गए।</div> <div> </div> </div> <div>हम अपने पहले पड़ाव हनुमान चट्टी पर पहुंचे जहा हमने जलपान ग्रहण किया और थोड़ा विश्राम करने के बाद अपनी यात्रा फिर से शुरू की । दिन के लगभग एक बज चुके थे । लगभग २ एक घंटे निरंतर चलने के बाद हम रामबाड़ा पहुंचे । वहाँ से प्रकर्ति के द्रश्य बड़ा ही मनमोहक लग रहा था । अब मौसम भी अपनी करवट बदल रहा था ।  तापमान का पारा गिरने लगा था जैसे ही हम जंगल चट्टी पहुंचे की बारिश शुरू हो गयी ।  हम मन ही मन उस आदमी का धन्यवाद करने लगे जिसने हमे सोनप्रयाग मे बरसाती बेची  थी ।  बारिश होने के कारण रास्ता मे चलना थोड़ा मुश्किल हो गया था पर अब मौसम मैं ठंडक के कारण थकान थोड़ी कम महसूस हो रही थी ।  हम चलते चलते अपने अगले पड़ाव भीमबली पहुच गए ।  किसी यात्री से बात करके पता चला की अब ५-६ किलोमीटर का ही सफर और तय करना  है ।  किसी ने सच ही कहा है की भगवान् भोले इतनी आसानी से नहीं मिलते ।  पांच किलोमीटर भी अब बहुत लग रहे थे, एक दुसरे की हिम्मत बढ़ाते हम हम निरंतर आगे बढ़ते रहे और लिंचौली पार करते हुए केदारनाथ बेस कैंप पहुंचे ।  यहाँ से हमे बाबा के मंदिर के हमे पहले दर्शन हुए ।  जिसे देख के मानो सारी थकान मिट गयी हो ।  कुछ तो शक्ति है इस नाम मे क्योकि जहा दिल्ली मे हम जहा कुछ किलोमीटर चलने से कतराते है वहाँ आज हम १८ किलोमीटर की चढाई पूरी करके बाबा के इस पवित्र धाम पहुंचे।   </div> <div> </div> <div> <div>केदार नाथ मंदिर को देखकर तो मानो सारी हिमत वापस आ गयी हो । हम स्थानीय दुकानों से प्रसाद ले कर मंदिर दर्शन के लिए पंक्ति मे लग गए । जो हलकी हलकी फुहार हमारा पुरे रस्ते साथ दे रही थी वह अब बर्फ के रूप ले चुकी थी । पहली बार हमने, सुबह खुला आसमान अच्छी धुप के साथ, फिर दिन मे तेज मूसलाधार बारिश और अब शाम को हिमपात एक ही दिन मे देखा । हिमपात की वजह से आसपास की साड़ी चोटिया मानो रुई के बड़े बड़े पहाड़ लग रहे हो । हिमपात के साथ तेज हवा मनो सर को चीर कर निकल रहे हो । हमने मंदिर मे दर्शन किये जिससे हमे अत्यंत सुख के अनुभव हुआ । बाद मे हमने भीम शिला के भी दर्शन किये जिसने २०१३ की त्रासदी मे पानी से मंदिर की रक्षा की थी । </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>अब हम अत्यंत थक गए थे इसलिए सबने रात यही गुजारने का फैसला किया । सरकार द्वारा बनाये गए शिविर मैं हमने पहले खाना खाया और बाद मे अपने बिस्तर भी लिए । रात मे ठंडक और भी बढ़ने लगी । पूरी बंद कमरे मे मोटी-मोटी रजाइयों मे हमे ठण्ड महसूस हो रही थी । दिनभर की थकान के बाद हमे जल्द ही नींद आ गयी । फिर हम अगली सुबह जल्दी उठ कर वापस उतरने के लिए तैयार हुए । जहा हमे चढ़ने मे लगभग ९-१० घंटे लगे वही हम लगभग ३-४ घंटे मे गौरी कुंड वापस पहुंच गए । मे भगवान् भोले के तह दिल से शुक्र गुज़ार हूँ की उनकी कृपा से हमारी यात्रा सफल हो पायी । हमने सोनप्रयाग से अपनी गाडी ली और दुसरे केदार के लिए निकल पड़े </div> </div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/gagan-gusai" lang="" about="/user/gagan-gusai" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Gagan Gusai</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/12/2019 - 06:52</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11519&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="Css4sZbsfro5hTOBDJ4jTUh_zp2GVDBWJqd_yYa8kcI"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Sun, 12 May 2019 01:22:56 +0000 Gagan Gusai 11519 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%9A-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">देव भूमि उत्तराखंड - पंच केदार </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">जैसे </span>शब्द पंच <span style="font-size: 11.68px;">का मतलब है</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> पांच, और केदार का मतलब है </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">भगवान् </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">शिव</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> पंच-केदार </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">का </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">मतलब शिव के पांच रूप</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">कहा जाता है की जब पांडव अपने कुल/परिवार के वध के पश्याताप करने के लिए आये, वह </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">गोत्र-</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">हत्या</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> के दोषी थे! भगवान शिव उनको दर्शन नहीं देना चाहते थे। इसलिए वह भैंसे का रूप धारण कर पृथ्वी में समाने लगे, तब पांडवों ने उन्हें पहचान लिया </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">और </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">महाबली भीम ने उनको धरती में आधा समाया हुआ पकड़ लिया। शिव ने प्रसन्न होकर उन्हें दर्शन दिये और वह गोत्र-</span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">हत्या </span><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">के पाप से मुक्त हो गये। उस दिन से महादेव शिव पिछले हिस्से से शिलारूप में केदारनाथ में, बाहु तुंगनाथ में, मुख रुद्रनाथ में, नाभि मदमहेश्वर में और जटाएँ कल्पेश्वर में प्रकट हुईं। </span></p> <p>यह हमारे लिए एक सौभाग्य की बात है कि पांचो केदार हमारे उत्तराखंड मैं ही स्थित है<span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> इनके दर्शन करना, अपने आप मैं एक गौरव पूर्ण बात है<span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> इनके दर्शन मात्र से ही एक अधभुद सा सुख मिलता है और मन को एक शांति सी मिल जाती है<span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span></p> <div>यह मेरे लिए भी एक गौरव और सौभाग्य की बात है की मैं इन पवित्र स्थानों के दर्शन कर पाया<span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> मै आप सभी को अपनी यात्रा के कुछ अनुभव बताना चाहूंगा<span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span> यह उन सभी के लिए लाभकारी होगा जो कोई भविष्य मैं अपनी यात्रा करने की योजना बना रहे है<span style="font-size: 11.68px;">।</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">केदारनाथ</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">तुंगनाथ</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">रुद्रनाथ</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">मदमहेश्वर</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">कल्पेश्वर</span></div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/gagan-gusai" lang="" about="/user/gagan-gusai" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Gagan Gusai</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 05/10/2019 - 15:27</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11518&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="eAFV80X1bw7k7zK4wf4G4baehA9WwFom2LwM1KoI6sA"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Fri, 10 May 2019 09:57:04 +0000 Gagan Gusai 11518 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/articles/welcome-2019-ladakh-calendar <span property="schema:name" class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Welcome 2019: Ladakh Calendar</span> <span rel="schema:author" class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/arunkhanna" lang="" about="/user/arunkhanna" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">arunkhanna</a></span> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2019-01-05T16:17:14+00:00" class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 01/05/2019 - 21:47</span> Sat, 05 Jan 2019 16:17:14 +0000 arunkhanna 11515 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/uttarakhand-heaven-earth <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Uttarakhand - Heaven on Earth</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p class="simply-heaven" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:&lt;br /&gt;&#10;7.5pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:comic sans ms,cursive;">Uttarakhand is one of the beautiful northern states of India. It is a dream destination for all kind of visitors. Its rich culture and religious heritage ensures that it remains on top of everyone's travel plan. It has been a flavoured choice for travellers from around the world.</span></span></p> <p class="simply-heaven" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:&lt;br /&gt;&#10;7.5pt;margin-left:0cm"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:comic sans ms,cursive;">It has world renowned conservation parks like Jim Corbett Tiger National Park’, snow-capped peaks for winter sport like Auli, World heritage sites like ‘Valley of Flowers’, thrilling adventure for rafters and trekkers and the most famous hubs for Religious and pilgrimage.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><p></p></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:comic sans ms,cursive;">In my comming articles I will brief you and take you a journey of many famous places in Uttrakhand.</span></span></p> <p>Gagan</p> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/gagan-gusai" lang="" about="/user/gagan-gusai" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Gagan Gusai</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 08/13/2018 - 11:46</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11499&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="EsCigaXe9eoc6KjoArwMd1L3Dz6QQKdgkVnocf5OgyA"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Mon, 13 Aug 2018 06:16:43 +0000 Gagan Gusai 11499 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/travelouge-kuari-pass <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">A travelouge on Kuari Pass </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>  </p> <h2 data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><span data-blogger-escaped-style="font-size: x-large;">ALONG THE LORD CURZON'S TRAIL</span></h2> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" style="font-size: 11.68px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: center;"><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ekCcPYhFRs/Wn1x5s-CzII/AAAAAAAAFbA/emSEDpj2yikHPkSapEVQk8TMf42mqktxACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="921" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ekCcPYhFRs/Wn1x5s-CzII/AAAAAAAAFbA/emSEDpj2yikHPkSapEVQk8TMf42mqktxACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2576.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: center;">Nanda devi</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: right;"> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: justify;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">No idea whatsoever, how long could we be able to continue when we started trekking in our 2</span><sup data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">nd</sup><span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> innings after retirement. Did not have any specific plan before hand like this far and no further.</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">Such is a place called Himalaya that once you are overwhelmed by its bounty of beauties , you fall in a loop. And so the magic of Himalaya has</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">called us again and we assembled</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">in Rishikesh</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">by the evening of 7</span><sup data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> October last year to accomplish our 3</span><sup data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">rd</sup><span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> year's  trekking program - </span><strong data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> Kuari pass</strong><span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">.</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">Lord curzon, in the year 1905, had travelled this route and so the trekking route is also called as Lord Curzon's trail. We planned</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">our return journey in a way so that we may visit</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">two other very common names in trekking circuit Tunganath &amp; Deoriatal. This year's preparation too was started almost at the beginning of 2017. Last year's experience with our Tour operator was good , so was the dealings of his team. This made our options for searching a suitable trekking destination limited to Garhwal Himalayas.</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">During early eighties, when we trekked in and around Garhwal &amp; Kumaun areas, this particular trekking route was somehow missed.</span>  <span data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;">After going through the blogs on Kuari pass we realised that it would be one of our memorable trek.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: justify;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>And the journey begins :</strong></span></p> </div> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Rishikesh to Auli : by road ; distance 265 km</strong></span></p> </div> </div> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;" style="clear:left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: center;"><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VX8zXuGsX7U/Wn3goWHZPPI/AAAAAAAAFbo/l2PvXiTsaf0QKjTXmiUVIqacKp-GyI4lACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VX8zXuGsX7U/Wn3goWHZPPI/AAAAAAAAFbo/l2PvXiTsaf0QKjTXmiUVIqacKp-GyI4lACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2900.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: center;">Debaprayag</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Five from Kolkata and three from Hyderabad assembled on  7^th evening at Rishikesh. Our staying arrangement was made in  Tourist Guest House  at Muni-ki-reti,  a place once frequented by  mountain lovers and pilgrims in large numbers. The small bus stand was situated in a vast land with the picturesque Sibalik Mountain range in the background. It was the story of seventies. Bus stand is still there but it is now almost the concrete jungle with shops and  hotels. Our hotel was on the route Rishikeh to Badrinath. On the evening itself one very young fellow named Tinku joined us. He was sent by Gagandeep to assist us. Totally inexperienced and had no acquaintance with the route.  First day’s journey was upto Auli.  A fairly long journey of  about  265 km.We started early in the morning so that we could reach Auli by afternoon. On the way we passed through Debprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Karnaprayag to name a few.</span></p> </div> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4aBVG5tfKhw/Wn3h22foG4I/AAAAAAAAFb0/Oza-1ZB3wK4hyAT49ubNUUftzkI6ef8uwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1201" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4aBVG5tfKhw/Wn3h22foG4I/AAAAAAAAFb0/Oza-1ZB3wK4hyAT49ubNUUftzkI6ef8uwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2894.JPG" width="400" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Rudraprayag</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: left;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2QUlvRp4cI/Wn3i2bRas2I/AAAAAAAAFcA/khIWydT4pcw5A8zhjjyUqCj7-CCTi0FcACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="943" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="117" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2QUlvRp4cI/Wn3i2bRas2I/AAAAAAAAFcA/khIWydT4pcw5A8zhjjyUqCj7-CCTi0FcACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2495.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>River Alakananda</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> Once all these places were small but beautiful.  But now these places have grown to such an extent that even in the month of October,  while travelling, we had faced fairly warm weather as we normally encounter in Metros. Post monsoon  colour of water of the river Alakananda  was a delightful sight. But lost the youthfulness and turbulence, as often found  in a mountain river, due to construction of Dam  in places in the upstream.</p> </div> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-af7WsaaloOk/Wn3jE5lxtbI/AAAAAAAAFcE/ZsVYTUVSDn0O6NCFJ_6Z2rmDrvJyBhuHACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="908" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-af7WsaaloOk/Wn3jE5lxtbI/AAAAAAAAFcE/ZsVYTUVSDn0O6NCFJ_6Z2rmDrvJyBhuHACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2499.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>River Alakananda</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> At 4 pm,  we reached Joshimath. There our Tour Guide, Sanjay Sati joined us. Another an hour journey took us to Auli . Staying arrangement was made in Auli Ski resort, one of best accommodation in Auli.  But our booking was in Dormitory of the resort. Not only  was it quite high above but the condition of the rooms also made us disappointed. We expressed our displeasure, the way we could. The role of guide under the circumstances was  not at all encouraging.So first encounter with Sanjay was not good enough. It was almost late afternoon. Started feeling bite of cold slowly. Came out into the fore ground of dormitory and saw colourful display of setting sun rays over the peaks. So started our first photo session  . From Auli a good view of many peaks, Nandadevi in particular  are available.                                                                       </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylp6cQohCxY/Wn6_bLqe6xI/AAAAAAAAFcc/WVE-hAgmqF8tNKWZF4NXGe9olM68vBCSQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1019" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylp6cQohCxY/Wn6_bLqe6xI/AAAAAAAAFcc/WVE-hAgmqF8tNKWZF4NXGe9olM68vBCSQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2507.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>From Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P3YxuyYJTf4/Wn6_N6h0T0I/AAAAAAAAFcY/xIjA8_lCYXAZhQttZj4PwdFL7-lgCBAYgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P3YxuyYJTf4/Wn6_N6h0T0I/AAAAAAAAFcY/xIjA8_lCYXAZhQttZj4PwdFL7-lgCBAYgCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2506.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>From Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJsVHuwTsIo/Wn6_4I1DJAI/AAAAAAAAFco/31ZQpgLmq50xmkK5Xd15M6dE857u-bFvgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="954" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJsVHuwTsIo/Wn6_4I1DJAI/AAAAAAAAFco/31ZQpgLmq50xmkK5Xd15M6dE857u-bFvgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2513.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>From Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSTTLBFcBmU/Wn6__dUF85I/AAAAAAAAFcw/BJYf5cBTp5cyYdiV4D_O2E9Dn6Ks3RnogCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="888" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="110" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSTTLBFcBmU/Wn6__dUF85I/AAAAAAAAFcw/BJYf5cBTp5cyYdiV4D_O2E9Dn6Ks3RnogCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2514.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>From Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><strong style="font-size: 11.68px;">2^nd day –  Auli to Gorson Bugiyal</strong></p> </div> <p> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Distance : 5 km. Altitude : 10500 ft   Night stay at Tented accommodation at Gorson Bugiyal</strong></span></p> </div> </div> <div> <p> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Morning  started with sadness as the news was, Jay (read Joy) would not be amongst us in the 1^st phase of trekking. Due to  his long journey, first from LA to Hyderabad and then Hyderabad to Dehradun via Delhi a back pain developed  and hence declared himself unfit. Most unfortunate.</span></p> </div> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><img data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqXSIUZDiSo/Wn1yQOmJA9I/AAAAAAAAFbE/SgQoi_B7oV4mffEs47r33yXY0HZ-XesOwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2523.JPG" /></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> </div> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KBKOppFyXgs/WoUtSmdMwnI/AAAAAAAAFf8/7JsIg0JSPbgt7dSlQlrQCQUlpFUxU6kkgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="874" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="108" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KBKOppFyXgs/WoUtSmdMwnI/AAAAAAAAFf8/7JsIg0JSPbgt7dSlQlrQCQUlpFUxU6kkgCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2552.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>view from Upper Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Our 2nd day's journey was the 1st day's trekking from Auli to Gorson Bugiyal (means meadows or pasture land). Auli is the famous ski resort centre and now has become internationally famous. Auli is spread over  different altitude. We took the 1st flight in an open roap way . It was something around 800 meter journey. New experience and  ride was enjoyable,  a nice panoramic view of auli and surroundings was available.</span></p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OfV9jqtUjnU/WoXIjdz_JRI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/epnabWgXyB8hX1HXupG3aGkpjlQ0DlHAACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="796" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="159" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OfV9jqtUjnU/WoXIjdz_JRI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/epnabWgXyB8hX1HXupG3aGkpjlQ0DlHAACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2537.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Artificial lake at Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y2Wn6Ii2SWI/WoUtB3s1XsI/AAAAAAAAFf0/D7z_Qex8a1MY1A9YnzBhYEuGsx3DbaD9gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="818" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="201" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y2Wn6Ii2SWI/WoUtB3s1XsI/AAAAAAAAFf0/D7z_Qex8a1MY1A9YnzBhYEuGsx3DbaD9gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2550.JPG" width="400" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Upper Auli</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> Within few minutes we reached upper Auli and our trekking started . A short stretch  of 5 kms for the 1st day. From upper Auli initial journey was through a terrain of a hill. Clear view of the peaks and the meadows down below</p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0i9SxDQmZGY/WoARgO_bFPI/AAAAAAAAFdk/3S_v5IclsC4_V57VOeAmhKU31wZpU0CyACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0i9SxDQmZGY/WoARgO_bFPI/AAAAAAAAFdk/3S_v5IclsC4_V57VOeAmhKU31wZpU0CyACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2546.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Entering golden oak forest</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ijf_e2TX4Vg/WoAR6HLXUDI/AAAAAAAAFdo/3JsYpziJWXUvZ_3MTn3s5ch1hPv2KUf0wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="774" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="154" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ijf_e2TX4Vg/WoAR6HLXUDI/AAAAAAAAFdo/3JsYpziJWXUvZ_3MTn3s5ch1hPv2KUf0wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2556.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Forest trail</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwsD9RSf8_U/WoUsfGQpArI/AAAAAAAAFfs/NYCVdbIfQ7kGHuks8OEHSFxH0bvhsrO0wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1146" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="143" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwsD9RSf8_U/WoUsfGQpArI/AAAAAAAAFfs/NYCVdbIfQ7kGHuks8OEHSFxH0bvhsrO0wCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2568.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>A temple just before the Bugiyal</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfV_nFNsJdM/WoPR_aFULZI/AAAAAAAAFeY/1G_Waa-uAoM4sbOGGELSdUvMsjljE5AVwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1058" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qfV_nFNsJdM/WoPR_aFULZI/AAAAAAAAFeY/1G_Waa-uAoM4sbOGGELSdUvMsjljE5AVwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2570.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gorson Bugiyal</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">made the journey very enjoyable. Bright, shiny view of the artificial lake of Auli was with us till we entered into jungle of golden oak forest.  Beautiful jungle trail.  Nice to watch the light and shade designs decorating   the entire jungle trail.</span> An hour after, a clearance announced the beginning of Gorson Bugiyal.</p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hQLtQQFaxo/WoPSwi8iV5I/AAAAAAAAFek/e08odao5M98lI9EPioSD0tnPh9fEfJkDQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="886" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5hQLtQQFaxo/WoPSwi8iV5I/AAAAAAAAFek/e08odao5M98lI9EPioSD0tnPh9fEfJkDQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2571.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gorson Bugiyal</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> </span></p> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39B5zRD28Yw/WoarU3sLsQI/AAAAAAAAFlk/B1cfRlWjVN00GyZdE_SrUunH9WMLJYWVQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="800" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39B5zRD28Yw/WoarU3sLsQI/AAAAAAAAFlk/B1cfRlWjVN00GyZdE_SrUunH9WMLJYWVQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2578.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gorson bugiyal; Nanda devi in Background</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">Though   our campsite was at the beginning of the bugiyal , but we went till we reached highest point i.e Gorson top from  where we had the 180 degree view of  different snow peaks and also to get acclimatised in the process. Stayed there for almost half an hour, enjoyed the view. No word is sufficient to describe what we saw. </span></p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0cfyZX-PKw/WoQ_tQVBUNI/AAAAAAAAFfU/4ZgAQaVpnr445a9lSRqZu0be_Unphv2ogCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0cfyZX-PKw/WoQ_tQVBUNI/AAAAAAAAFfU/4ZgAQaVpnr445a9lSRqZu0be_Unphv2ogCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2579.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Trisul and Nandaghunti</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ivrDRO7c8xw/WoQ-kvT5_wI/AAAAAAAAFfA/YiaH1oNkcfw9mdFw_EAlwmDuRwmy9svoACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ivrDRO7c8xw/WoQ-kvT5_wI/AAAAAAAAFfA/YiaH1oNkcfw9mdFw_EAlwmDuRwmy9svoACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2580.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Hati and Ghora peak</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: right;"> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SOfDiNphFnI/Wokm0HyCt-I/AAAAAAAAFl4/2_ohP8dPe640M8NAWWaBPn191N_QYyAhgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1122" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SOfDiNphFnI/Wokm0HyCt-I/AAAAAAAAFl4/2_ohP8dPe640M8NAWWaBPn191N_QYyAhgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2600.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>At Gorson top</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQf4J0PWy4k/WoU-E9UJ6sI/AAAAAAAAFgY/y6Zzl3Z9JqYjRxwe1qcALzBucyc_vWcZwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="817" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQf4J0PWy4k/WoU-E9UJ6sI/AAAAAAAAFgY/y6Zzl3Z9JqYjRxwe1qcALzBucyc_vWcZwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2592.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Dronagiri and Nanda devi</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ID10TVMQviA/WoU9u0ZODKI/AAAAAAAAFgU/zutWCTZQa3AN7GcjTEt1_y6JsfaqkpcSwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ID10TVMQviA/WoU9u0ZODKI/AAAAAAAAFgU/zutWCTZQa3AN7GcjTEt1_y6JsfaqkpcSwCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2588.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Dronagiri</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnP5PXzmg_M/WoU-hKXSN_I/AAAAAAAAFgc/_mAOqtUO0ecvb4R8Bbp3edKlrCFTcCKCwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnP5PXzmg_M/WoU-hKXSN_I/AAAAAAAAFgc/_mAOqtUO0ecvb4R8Bbp3edKlrCFTcCKCwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2605.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gorson Camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">Took photographs as many as we could  and got down again at the campsite surrounded by jungle of golden Oak trees. Within few minutes lunch was served.</span></p> </div> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EFjGqZUbFM0/WoU-3Wj94EI/AAAAAAAAFgg/LZEzNbnikjQ52-xCo-sAhhxZ0DFt9VcjwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="952" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EFjGqZUbFM0/WoU-3Wj94EI/AAAAAAAAFgg/LZEzNbnikjQ52-xCo-sAhhxZ0DFt9VcjwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2611.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Lunch  session at Gorson bugiyal camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> Lazily we spent the rest of the day in the campsite. Darkness and severity of cold forced  us to move into the confines of the tent.  Inside the tent also our gossip session continued . At 7 p.m dinner was served  inside the tent itself. Though we were not pleased with the cold behaviour of our guide but his support staffs were excellent, so was the culinary skills of the cook. After dinner, a brief outing was needed.  A glance at the sky made all of us awed.  So far, but looked so near,  countless stars densely located, seen nowhere unless one is in such a place. But again, could not enjoy the sight for a long time because of biting cold. </span></p> </div> <p><strong style="font-size: 11.68px;">3^rd day : Gorson Bugiyal to Tali</strong></p> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>  Distance : 8 km; Altitude: 11000 ft       Night halt in tent at Tali</strong></span></p> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p>        </p> </div> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">From Gorson Bugiyal  our next destination was Tali.  Distance was a bit longer, 8-10 km. The 1st phase was the same as we went the day before for Gorson top.</span></p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11sTgg8fFWA/WoVTMZJQ8PI/AAAAAAAAFhA/6aPWD67bohk88x6vaaYENgirQ3p7yfAgwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="897" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="176" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11sTgg8fFWA/WoVTMZJQ8PI/AAAAAAAAFhA/6aPWD67bohk88x6vaaYENgirQ3p7yfAgwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2634.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gorson Bugiyal</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5QnIGCv7fA8/WoVS2pl0vqI/AAAAAAAAFg8/gBimOkp4nDgyDX6ehID3YbNLAOhORZEagCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="829" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="164" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5QnIGCv7fA8/WoVS2pl0vqI/AAAAAAAAFg8/gBimOkp4nDgyDX6ehID3YbNLAOhORZEagCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2628.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gorson Bugiyal</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"><span style="font-size: 11.68px;"> Instead of going to the top we had to traverse along the mountain slope which gradually became narrower but it did not bother much as on many ocassions earlier we had faced much tougher trails. The same mesmerising view of snow peaks came into the fore and then gradually moved behind.</span></p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GwPrAsHGs0U/WoVTmFnejsI/AAAAAAAAFhI/TgYIgM-GseYpgzZkWxjuDXO5C09wghkZACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GwPrAsHGs0U/WoVTmFnejsI/AAAAAAAAFhI/TgYIgM-GseYpgzZkWxjuDXO5C09wghkZACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2635.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><strong>Pravin</strong>- our constant companion</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQZUzoUcW6g/WoVT6mGPChI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/0xqMLV3grTUAcQuNQKqttBUad2aKfUtfACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQZUzoUcW6g/WoVT6mGPChI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/0xqMLV3grTUAcQuNQKqttBUad2aKfUtfACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2639.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Nilkanth</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQfTCTDXgSQ/WoVUgCfqoDI/AAAAAAAAFhc/n1-y65XSFCsQ2qZjwZSIYjDtLD7s9nEaQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2647.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="772" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQfTCTDXgSQ/WoVUgCfqoDI/AAAAAAAAFhc/n1-y65XSFCsQ2qZjwZSIYjDtLD7s9nEaQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2647.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View on the way to Tali</p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tki9lMfIvb0/WosU5c2VihI/AAAAAAAAFmg/A4y76QXtXPQhWegciPrleqlR7lgTyMbvACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1050" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="130" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tki9lMfIvb0/WosU5c2VihI/AAAAAAAAFmg/A4y76QXtXPQhWegciPrleqlR7lgTyMbvACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2648.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Also gliding with us</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gA2K6re44-0/WoVU76Y7NfI/AAAAAAAAFhk/mUIi16gWFsY12k44nDnfJfdpI7-C-EzgwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gA2K6re44-0/WoVU76Y7NfI/AAAAAAAAFhk/mUIi16gWFsY12k44nDnfJfdpI7-C-EzgwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2657.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View on the way to Tali</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAJ9gq-TwNw/WoVVXfCx72I/AAAAAAAAFhs/FB8E9lgxo7sWWYSGLaY8_4z1ruaBrQxUACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAJ9gq-TwNw/WoVVXfCx72I/AAAAAAAAFhs/FB8E9lgxo7sWWYSGLaY8_4z1ruaBrQxUACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2660.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Tali Lake</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">For the major portion of our journey the view was with us. First  came Tali lake. Though water source was there , campsite was ahead of the place as water of the lake is said to be polluted.</span></p> </div> <p> Again the campsite in Tali was in a small clearance within the jungle beside a seemingly perennial  water source. But here in Tali, the jungle was almost imposing the campsite so everyone was warned by the guide that one should not go outside the tent alone for any requirement at night.</p> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0-sdHxy6OE/WoVWM2Jh1BI/AAAAAAAAFh4/RVRc31C0MVwQ_N4-mIVZJOXFcTTC11G1ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="720" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0-sdHxy6OE/WoVWM2Jh1BI/AAAAAAAAFh4/RVRc31C0MVwQ_N4-mIVZJOXFcTTC11G1ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2671.JPG" width="400" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Tali camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p>During these couple of days we felt a marked difference from the previous experience in our younger days. It was regarding human waste management.  In all the camping site, make-shift loos were made and the entire arrangement was eco-friendly.  </p> </div> <p> </p> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>4th day : Tali to Kuari pass and then back to khullara camping site.</strong></span></p> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Distance : 12 km Altitude : 11000 ft              Night halt in tent at Khullara</strong></span></p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNmAvwiRIcc/WoVXNnpC4YI/AAAAAAAAFiE/zzqwodumw7ESBaSdh5j8J1Hvsq73jQRpQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="966" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNmAvwiRIcc/WoVXNnpC4YI/AAAAAAAAFiE/zzqwodumw7ESBaSdh5j8J1Hvsq73jQRpQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2678.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Tali to Kuary pass</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5mrL5pf0IA/WoVX9aWyn3I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/uG3ZjlBYLrAjNAvKnvv-ObfHZb34DoUHQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="944" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="374" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5mrL5pf0IA/WoVX9aWyn3I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/uG3ZjlBYLrAjNAvKnvv-ObfHZb34DoUHQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2694.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Tali to Kuary pass</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Our 3rd day's was the longest trek in this program. It was from Tali to Kuari  pass and then to get down at Khullara covering a distance of around 12 km. Most part of the trek up to a junction called Gailgarh where the way down to khullara camp site separates, was steep. The ascent was almost 2000 ft from the Tali campsite and the trail was as usual through jungle and  then undulating grass land with unhindered </span>view of surroundings.</p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4_awOSSkbA/WoVXtXkq79I/AAAAAAAAFiM/2ls70-Mgoh0cl-d4FOb57_TiHc4Eu8pIQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="839" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="166" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4_awOSSkbA/WoVXtXkq79I/AAAAAAAAFiM/2ls70-Mgoh0cl-d4FOb57_TiHc4Eu8pIQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2686.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Tali to Kuary pass</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W16e9uuaELo/WoVY0_s6ocI/AAAAAAAAFig/4e94xqAVYsQE5lbv2Vu55zczzzPvX8KcgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="865" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="342" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W16e9uuaELo/WoVY0_s6ocI/AAAAAAAAFig/4e94xqAVYsQE5lbv2Vu55zczzzPvX8KcgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2701.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Dronagiri</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tQk4tU2gchk/WoVYj1FfGqI/AAAAAAAAFic/Nciag10MaDch78_lAzjo4sXRY-PnfyxPgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="834" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tQk4tU2gchk/WoVYj1FfGqI/AAAAAAAAFic/Nciag10MaDch78_lAzjo4sXRY-PnfyxPgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2697.JPG" width="400" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View on the way to Gailgarh</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">Trekking at that altitude (over 10000 ft)  was tiring and exhausting and we are no more in our heyday of trekking. We reached Gailgarh  at mid-day. </span></p> </div> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPsCwYbF6-8/WoVZl9tdoHI/AAAAAAAAFis/KkZcUNeHw3gGz8DbDQMc2LgQb2gn16JPgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPsCwYbF6-8/WoVZl9tdoHI/AAAAAAAAFis/KkZcUNeHw3gGz8DbDQMc2LgQb2gn16JPgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2710.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Gailgarh</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Still Kuari  pass was almost one and half hours' journey. At that moment we were a bit hesitant, whether should we proceed as cloud started engulfing the surroundings and we all felt little bit tired also which led us to think  the remaining path to be insurmountable. At this juncture two of our key members, Vishwanath and Tarun decided not to proceed towards pass, instead they preferred to get down to Khullara camp site. <strong>Here the role of our tour guide Sanjay Sati was pathetic. Not only he was indifferent about the decision of returning of two of members, his body language was totally discouraging in the decision of rest five of us to proceed.  </strong></p> <p> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> But as always happened in the past, our positive mind frame helped us to reach  Kuari pass at about 1-20 P.m.</span>Spent 15-20 mins at the pass, had our packed lunch and returned at the Khullara camp just after 3 P.M. Our goal was accomplished but by the time we reached the pass, there was not much to see because of thick cloud cover.</p> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4N-EMYg1vVg/WoVaRmu7CzI/AAAAAAAAFiw/YxZ9ZnD7D5M0Q5GAm3Se9jgwEMlqdqmhQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2718.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="867" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4N-EMYg1vVg/WoVaRmu7CzI/AAAAAAAAFiw/YxZ9ZnD7D5M0Q5GAm3Se9jgwEMlqdqmhQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2718.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Kuari pass</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><strong>5th day : Khullara to Dhak</strong></p> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><strong>Distance : 10 km.  Night stay at Joshimath</strong></p> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V51SDYz3JxQ/WoVa54EtjbI/AAAAAAAAFi4/B6wty2bRW6c8uIQe6AbUEron8mWS48QcQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="773" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V51SDYz3JxQ/WoVa54EtjbI/AAAAAAAAFi4/B6wty2bRW6c8uIQe6AbUEron8mWS48QcQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2725.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><span data-blogger-escaped-style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Last day's trekking for Kuari pass was about 10KM. It was from Khullara to Dhak, a place connected by road with Joshimath.  Before I go to the day's journey, one thing I would like to share that Khullara  is the  best camping site.  It is a sprawling  grassy land which can accommodate 2-3 football grounds. The site is wide open to have a clear view of snow peaks in the distant horizon almost covering an angle more than 180 degree. </span>So on the 4th day morning we witnessed the  mesmerising view of gradual change of colour over snow peaks in the horizon as dawn set in and sun rays started falling in.</p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l4qNamTBDEA/WoVb9QCB_RI/AAAAAAAAFjI/_kLGdN-KKAUY6y9pHeKWnJ8Dpx7S05-VACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l4qNamTBDEA/WoVb9QCB_RI/AAAAAAAAFjI/_kLGdN-KKAUY6y9pHeKWnJ8Dpx7S05-VACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2732.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><img data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-foY2IcBweHY/WoVbdjXndVI/AAAAAAAAFjA/DKMFoK3OMfIXHv6iEeOlTJR-uyNVNSJ9QCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2729.JPG" /></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSTPWJDvm-c/WoVcM237JpI/AAAAAAAAFjM/fU2Npcp2k78LtsdZlc2YGlb7Hu-yxXiPACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="815" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="324" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSTPWJDvm-c/WoVcM237JpI/AAAAAAAAFjM/fU2Npcp2k78LtsdZlc2YGlb7Hu-yxXiPACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2734.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C31cUhOYmo/WoVclLMptBI/AAAAAAAAFjY/4-W5uril8PURqk8Q0lT43EpwYytuY5GKgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="933" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="116" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C31cUhOYmo/WoVclLMptBI/AAAAAAAAFjY/4-W5uril8PURqk8Q0lT43EpwYytuY5GKgCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2737.JPG" width="200" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Nilkantha</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YKnDjOH6vVg/WoVczGNxmuI/AAAAAAAAFjc/IR-glWcrSC4DfO8lLVZun4I2PFMPn1DMACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="863" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="172" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YKnDjOH6vVg/WoVczGNxmuI/AAAAAAAAFjc/IR-glWcrSC4DfO8lLVZun4I2PFMPn1DMACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2743.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">The whole ambiance was changing in every moments. Most of us became busy in capturing moments so as to rewind the unforgettable memories again and again with the vein attempt to recreate the situation. </span></p> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2jlBryNLQc/WoVdI60Dn_I/AAAAAAAAFjk/x8sF9ghdV7UsAA6YAt5VuD_IPdBH2XSKwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="778" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h2jlBryNLQc/WoVdI60Dn_I/AAAAAAAAFjk/x8sF9ghdV7UsAA6YAt5VuD_IPdBH2XSKwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2747.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><img data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVteZxec9vQ/WoVdhUoID6I/AAAAAAAAFjw/VKBs3rb9UWcjUtFo4lEz2-EljgtJs-MCwCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2754.JPG" /></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>View from Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hlJdS8d0EPQ/WoVeOoPilXI/AAAAAAAAFj4/bN2GqKTtXGEDT2wLLgw8ytOwCjnBwmSTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hlJdS8d0EPQ/WoVeOoPilXI/AAAAAAAAFj4/bN2GqKTtXGEDT2wLLgw8ytOwCjnBwmSTQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2763.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Khullara camp site</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">After a while we started our trekking. It was a very steep descend all along. No respite for our already worn out legs (knees in particular) after the last three days trekking. The trail was all along through</span></p> <p>forest area.</p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><img data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" height="340" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KjcC7TPM0iA/WoXKhdFoVLI/AAAAAAAAFks/Mw6f7GV4kk8FsdeaWZmjTYYMeeMD0morACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2770.JPG" width="640" /></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Khullara to Dhak</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> .</p> </div> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> Hardly had  time to have a glance at the surroundings. Had to be attentive in every footstep as always getting down in mountain is more risky. Still, was able to capture some moments of our last day's journey.</p> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g840xWS4xa0/WoXLTuspNCI/AAAAAAAAFk0/998o6AREqOIOypZ5N_qFbVqO2KkzSLS4ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g840xWS4xa0/WoXLTuspNCI/AAAAAAAAFk0/998o6AREqOIOypZ5N_qFbVqO2KkzSLS4ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2775.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Khullara to Dhak</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8IkgANKjgk/WoXLlTyd49I/AAAAAAAAFk8/zvMgRmAnsjsJU9-ld9SK9UKT7u4g7wvZgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8IkgANKjgk/WoXLlTyd49I/AAAAAAAAFk8/zvMgRmAnsjsJU9-ld9SK9UKT7u4g7wvZgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2777.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Khullara to Dhak</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <p data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: both; text-align: center;" style="clear:both;"> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v3YxZf5e-ow/WoXMOQatVcI/AAAAAAAAFlI/Ay4nkKXMiWE2lfToE0yh3uRSF_cxySwYQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="893" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v3YxZf5e-ow/WoXMOQatVcI/AAAAAAAAFlI/Ay4nkKXMiWE2lfToE0yh3uRSF_cxySwYQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2785.JPG" width="640" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>Khullara to Dhak</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p> </p> </div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <p><strong>Last few 2-3 Kms was through the village road but for any unexplained reason we were forced to take short-cuts by our guide( may be they were in a hurry to get back their home). </strong>But in the process we had to face the hazards of slipping  all through the trail. It was our good luck that nobody suffered any injury.  </p> </div> <p> </p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" data-blogger-escaped-style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p><a data-blogger-escaped-style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkTI7FOvo3U/WoXMiWmCVGI/AAAAAAAAFlQ/kqg014MNFBkZ44hGtHSYaZ7pEz1R4_gBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="1067" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkTI7FOvo3U/WoXMiWmCVGI/AAAAAAAAFlQ/kqg014MNFBkZ44hGtHSYaZ7pEz1R4_gBgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_2792.JPG" width="320" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"> <p>At last we reached</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span style="font-size: 11.68px;">We reached DhaK at about 3 pm, thereafter it was only 12 km. journey by road to Joshimath.There Jay was eagerly waiting for us. He also enjoyed his stay at Joshimath by visting Badrinath, Mana and travelling upper Auli by cable car etc.  In joshimath we stayed in a 8-bedded dormitory, situated in 5th floor of Nanda devi expedition Hostel. So after a strenuous 4 days trek we had to again take the ordeal of going up  all the way to 5th floor by stairs only to have a night stay. As usual Sanjay vanished from the scenario to escape from our wrath.  He again reappeared on the following morning to see us off for our next part of our journey Tunganath and Deoriatal. Leaving aside the inhospitable behaviour of Sanjay, we all enjoyed the trekking as the route has got most of the essences of a good trekking route - beautiful bugiyal, unhindered view of peaks all through, trails through forest etc. So 1st phase of our trekking ended with a very satisfying note.   </span></p> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: left;"> </div> </div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/ananta1953" lang="" about="/user/ananta1953" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">ananta1953</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 04/09/2018 - 21:32</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11497&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="HhekHNWhMNQUv0k_6BzRTRXhRGwqF7m9o3Fa2zbnYFU"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:02:18 +0000 ananta1953 11497 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/darjeeling-0 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Darjeeling</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h3 itemprop="name"> </h3> <div> <div> </div> </div> <div id="post-body-3555019006968252487" itemprop="description articleBody"> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <div>The last lap of our 7 day Sikkim tour package was a day of sight-seeing in Darjeeling. And the first event was the famous sunrise over the Kangchenjunga peak over Tiger Hill. To see the sun rise over the majestic Mount Everest is a surreal experience. Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world. It lies partly in Nepal and partly in Sikkim. <div> </div> </div> <div><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMQLbN5xkq8/WRcKoC6-fiI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/ylWYNYlT_34p6HUiQbx8uSg2q-YCR-zmwCLcB/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 11.68px;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMQLbN5xkq8/WRcKoC6-fiI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/ylWYNYlT_34p6HUiQbx8uSg2q-YCR-zmwCLcB/s640/1.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div>We had to wake up at 3:30 for this. We were at the hill by 4:30, one of the first ones to be there.<br /> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2IEVtrNDlw/WRcKx_NCwAI/AAAAAAAAEG0/x_CEV-2zIoAvVEY0pbULFdMgxBfP-l7OACEw/s1600/1%2Bb%2Btiger%2Bhill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2IEVtrNDlw/WRcKx_NCwAI/AAAAAAAAEG0/x_CEV-2zIoAvVEY0pbULFdMgxBfP-l7OACEw/s320/1%2Bb%2Btiger%2Bhill.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="320" /></a></div> <div>We were shivering in the cold. <p>There was nothing on the hill top except for people selling gloves and scarves and coffee. </p></div> <div> </div> <div>But in less than an hour, the whole place was teaming with people and there was not an inch of spare space to set foot. <p>The construction of the new observatory is under way and the outcome sure looks exciting. </p></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>The Kangchenjunga peak glowing with the first rays of the sun. This pic from my mobile camera does no justice to it. Wish I had a super fantastic professional camera.</div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o6zdBpCs-vY/WRcK-M80ucI/AAAAAAAAEGY/VpKNlS8kIUgq3np7lVf_2e-6klVjOH-zQCLcB/s1600/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o6zdBpCs-vY/WRcK-M80ucI/AAAAAAAAEGY/VpKNlS8kIUgq3np7lVf_2e-6klVjOH-zQCLcB/s640/1a.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div>The sight of the changing hues of the peak in the span of 30 minutes or less makes it worth the suffering in the early morning ruthless chill and the dazed eye from lack of sleep. <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVp-7GZq4mk/WRhfDpDR5HI/AAAAAAAAEH4/CUmdxZVuefEFAiBFknfJ-imWU64jqMSMgCLcB/s1600/IMG_20161116_060357.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVp-7GZq4mk/WRhfDpDR5HI/AAAAAAAAEH4/CUmdxZVuefEFAiBFknfJ-imWU64jqMSMgCLcB/s640/IMG_20161116_060357.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> </div> <div> </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9DiEEnWz_w/WNqHmx_JtFI/AAAAAAAADuI/rfKuLTNPyy0830S5txJ26HnhnxCpvFDowCEw/s1600/The%2Bkanchenzhonga%2Bpeak%2Bglowing%2Bwith%2Bthe%2Bfirst%2Brays%2Bof%2Bthe%2BsunThis%2Bpic%2Bfrom%2Bmy%2Bmobile%2Bcam%2Bdoes%2Bno%2Bjustice%2Bto%2Bit%2BWish%2BI%2Bhad%2Ba%2Bsuper%2Bfantastic%2Bprofessional%2Bcamera%2BTiger%2BHill%2BDarjeeling.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9DiEEnWz_w/WNqHmx_JtFI/AAAAAAAADuI/rfKuLTNPyy0830S5txJ26HnhnxCpvFDowCEw/s640/The%2Bkanchenzhonga%2Bpeak%2Bglowing%2Bwith%2Bthe%2Bfirst%2Brays%2Bof%2Bthe%2BsunThis%2Bpic%2Bfrom%2Bmy%2Bmobile%2Bcam%2Bdoes%2Bno%2Bjustice%2Bto%2Bit%2BWish%2BI%2Bhad%2Ba%2Bsuper%2Bfantastic%2Bprofessional%2Bcamera%2BTiger%2BHill%2BDarjeeling.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> <div>The reverence to Kanchenjunga is palpable. Hotels and houses are routinely named after it. As tourists, every place we stop, every bend we take, we catch ourselves constantly trying to catch a glimpse of the peak.  <div> </div> </div> <p>While in Darjeeling, the adventure sport you must try is white water rafting in the Teesta River. </p></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TyCvqQJIy20/WRcLHl3ELQI/AAAAAAAAEGc/hlFUUXvL2PEMbc2IP2ElFRrWoYEf_9d4gCLcB/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TyCvqQJIy20/WRcLHl3ELQI/AAAAAAAAEGc/hlFUUXvL2PEMbc2IP2ElFRrWoYEf_9d4gCLcB/s640/4.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="388" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div>Entrance fee to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and to the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is part of the MMT package but we had to pay from our pockets as they did not inform us. Both these places are worth a visit. The zoo is very well-maintained and quite unique in the way the cages are built. As we walk up the hilly slopes of the zoo, we peer into the cages that are dug out far below. It's an interesting view for us even as the animals are blissfully unaware of people staring at them like fools. <p>This gorgeous tiger gave us all the sighting of our life by pacing back and forth and roaring.<br /> </p></div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QMMSKYpbtwY/WRcLPMVtbvI/AAAAAAAAEGg/lnUB4YVEAcU_tCoKDOaaYDP3_kpZS610gCLcB/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QMMSKYpbtwY/WRcLPMVtbvI/AAAAAAAAEGg/lnUB4YVEAcU_tCoKDOaaYDP3_kpZS610gCLcB/s640/2.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77l0kMUm9kY/WRcSV2qHYMI/AAAAAAAAEHA/v3ru5o5Cb24Y-u7pbVgKu7ON4paJe5_FgCEw/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77l0kMUm9kY/WRcSV2qHYMI/AAAAAAAAEHA/v3ru5o5Cb24Y-u7pbVgKu7ON4paJe5_FgCEw/s320/14.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="320" /></a></div> <div>I hardly saw any clinic and hospitals both in Sikkim and in Darjeeling.<br /> </div> <div>The driver said there are actually very few.<br /> </div> <div>They mostly use traditional herbs and the rest is taken care of by walking. 'Pahadi log' (mountain people) do not have much use for the doctor. So I couldn't resist taking a pic of this clinic that I found inside the premises of the Tsuk Druk monastery. <p>Darjeeling is famous for 3 T's - Tourism, Tea and Timber. Justifiably, Happy Valley Tea Estate is a spot in the MMT itinerary.<br />Here is the picture of the cup marking the marriage of Princess Diana sent to the Tea Estate.</p> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUm0f1UqiIw/WRqufaxHv8I/AAAAAAAAEIc/MrtESrhRiocIgJuXpgGpwPkrnWHxseuZQCLcB/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUm0f1UqiIw/WRqufaxHv8I/AAAAAAAAEIc/MrtESrhRiocIgJuXpgGpwPkrnWHxseuZQCLcB/s320/16.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="320" /></a></div> <p><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCxoQHzG8OY/WRcLfv7wznI/AAAAAAAAEGk/D8_TnyEIFAsgzc_IL2QH4YHGMYz3PWSgQCLcB/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCxoQHzG8OY/WRcLfv7wznI/AAAAAAAAEGk/D8_TnyEIFAsgzc_IL2QH4YHGMYz3PWSgQCLcB/s320/3.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="320" /></a></p></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">Japanese temple built in 1972. There is a large prayer room upstairs. We were lucky to be just in time for the ongoing prayers. We were given a small drumming pad and a stick. We chanted a Buddhist verse to the beats of the drum. The temple was founded by Fuji Guruji for world peace. He is believed to have witnessed the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.</div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JpdwLWftqg/WRcL3FFen3I/AAAAAAAAEGs/qjY3BLyi15058rzcbb4NZBJ0oFMgWxzPQCLcB/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JpdwLWftqg/WRcL3FFen3I/AAAAAAAAEGs/qjY3BLyi15058rzcbb4NZBJ0oFMgWxzPQCLcB/s640/5.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">The Peace Pagoda is the tallest structure in Darjeeling and gives a beautiful view of the town surrounding it. It is believed to have taken the Japanese architect three years to build it. </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAGpJ7epT3k/WRcL-803mQI/AAAAAAAAEGw/VEHtgHzY4JMbtqULt7AoUkELvRwV0qLUwCLcB/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAGpJ7epT3k/WRcL-803mQI/AAAAAAAAEGw/VEHtgHzY4JMbtqULt7AoUkELvRwV0qLUwCLcB/s640/6.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="480" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">The Peace Pagoda has four avatars of Buddha - sitting, standing, sleeping and meditating. All the statues are polished in gold color. This one below is my favorite:</div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h5gwVbLEQms/WSP01RJrIvI/AAAAAAAAEKY/inQm4RU0O2I3HAL2OnWTJEjVVzQmWpVKgCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1479567130557.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h5gwVbLEQms/WSP01RJrIvI/AAAAAAAAEKY/inQm4RU0O2I3HAL2OnWTJEjVVzQmWpVKgCLcB/s640/FB_IMG_1479567130557.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">The Tibetan  Refugee Center is on the itinerary too. Skip this in case of shortage of time or if you are not too much into the history of the Tibetan-Chinese territorial conflict. There is a display of photos tracing the events of the illegal Chinese occupation of Tibet &amp; the tragic loss of Tibetan way of life.</div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKki_O_Uaxs/WRhdMyGJrCI/AAAAAAAAEHg/qwn73xXLEIoYKzGoJZ8NpJ85FX0SJOs9QCLcB/s1600/IMG_20161116_122314.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKki_O_Uaxs/WRhdMyGJrCI/AAAAAAAAEHg/qwn73xXLEIoYKzGoJZ8NpJ85FX0SJOs9QCLcB/s640/IMG_20161116_122314.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="480" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">You can buy lots of interesting things from here but all the items are expensive. It is better to buy from any of the shops in the town selling almost the same things. However, a board like this will melt your heart and you will be tempted to splurge for the 'cause'</div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bGi80lpTYgk/WRhdn9gKVQI/AAAAAAAAEHk/GItld2OfhtIbrfcWgc8J81Rdg3QO5tzUQCLcB/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bGi80lpTYgk/WRhdn9gKVQI/AAAAAAAAEHk/GItld2OfhtIbrfcWgc8J81Rdg3QO5tzUQCLcB/s640/9.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">India has been a land of acceptance. Many of those who suffered from religious persecution the world over have sought solace here - from the Jews who settled in Kerala to the Buddhists. Many Buddhist refugee camps dot the length and breath of this great nation.</div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;">The Druk Sangag Choling Monastery is a must visit. It is a beautiful structure. You can be a part of the prayers or simply watch the monks and pupils as they scurry around their daily work in their long saffron robes. The monastery houses an orphanage. Poor parents leave their little boys on the footsteps of the monastery to be raised as scholars and monks. </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzKSjAhnUVw/WRhcpU8W6iI/AAAAAAAAEHU/vd57E8xwWfsRy3ylHuBLDgH51RElpmyJQCLcB/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzKSjAhnUVw/WRhcpU8W6iI/AAAAAAAAEHU/vd57E8xwWfsRy3ylHuBLDgH51RElpmyJQCLcB/s640/12.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8PDTFBXBpPA/WRhc1LbpfHI/AAAAAAAAEHY/TeJqqNT0wfw7SWx6VqukxOyiei1zYLDfACLcB/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8PDTFBXBpPA/WRhc1LbpfHI/AAAAAAAAEHY/TeJqqNT0wfw7SWx6VqukxOyiei1zYLDfACLcB/s640/7.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBJnOxsBfag/WRhc-U57K5I/AAAAAAAAEHc/hm3ct73oDqUhIx0nnqFWrvU0jTx4_521QCLcB/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBJnOxsBfag/WRhc-U57K5I/AAAAAAAAEHc/hm3ct73oDqUhIx0nnqFWrvU0jTx4_521QCLcB/s640/11.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>The beautiful women selling mostly non-vegetarian fare in the evening market.</p> <p><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-82JMPkb7y28/WRcLv70iW-I/AAAAAAAAEGo/Kd25lylL8ngCZRsgZ4LCTrQAbiD76wF3ACLcB/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-82JMPkb7y28/WRcLv70iW-I/AAAAAAAAEGo/Kd25lylL8ngCZRsgZ4LCTrQAbiD76wF3ACLcB/s640/15.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></p> <p>Most of the small shops, hotels and eateries are run by Nepali origin people. The ethnic tribes like Lepcha, Nepali and Sherpas run the show here and it is evident. Eve-teasing is almost not heard of here.</p> <p>Darjeeling is already partially autonomous and there is a demand to be separated from West Bengal. They harbor a great disdain for Mamata and her cronies.</p> <p>You might hear from other people that Darjeeling is congested, a modern slum, too commercialized and so on. But from what little I saw of the city, I didn't feel that way at all. Maybe that's because as tourists on a short visit, we stick to the main lanes and rarely venture into the squalor of the city's underbelly.</p> <p>I actually really liked the place and if Kubera (the Hindu Money God) continues to smile upon me, I might go back there again. I enjoyed the food, the walks, the tourist attractions, the people's smiling faces and just the fact that I was so far away from home and family and yet the place felt all too familiar and easy to get along with. Except for the cold! The cold is treacherous! </p></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div> <div> <div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=3188023048413785629&amp;postID=3555019006968252487&amp;target=email" target="_blank" title="Email This">Email This</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=3188023048413785629&amp;postID=3555019006968252487&amp;target=blog" target="_blank" title="BlogThis!">BlogThis!</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=3188023048413785629&amp;postID=3555019006968252487&amp;target=twitter" target="_blank" title="Share to Twitter">Share to Twitter</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=3188023048413785629&amp;postID=3555019006968252487&amp;target=facebook" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook">Share to Facebook</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/sujatha" lang="" about="/user/sujatha" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Sujatha</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 08/07/2017 - 14:34</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11484&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="esvTIFR-9O-9RIAo5MtMAWoly84WdNQ6db-dWGeSXBs"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Mon, 07 Aug 2017 09:04:39 +0000 Sujatha 11484 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/sakleshpura <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Sakleshpura</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h3 itemprop="name">Sakleshpura is a hill station in Haasan district of Karnataka. It belongs to the Malnad region of the Western Ghats. Every time you drive down the Bangalore-Mangalore highway, you pass through its lush-green forests along the Kempuhole river. </h3> <div id="post-body-1883068476004186116" itemprop="description articleBody"> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <div>It is believed that a broken Shivalinga was found in this town. The linga was called <em>Shakaleshwara</em> which since then became <em>Sakaleshwara</em> and thus the place got its name. Two rivers originate at Sakleshpura: Kumaradhara and Kempuhole.The kempuhole river starts from Manjarabad Fort, joins Nethravati river and empties into the Arabian Sea. Incidentally, you can view the silhouette of the Arabian Sea from the fort. <p>The Manjarabad Fort was built by Pallada King and later used as a jail by Tippu Sultan. It can be easily spotted as you drive down NH48. Climbing the 250+ steps to the fort can tire you out.  Don't forget to carry water. <br /> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZzTHI302kU/WIBKk0QhVnI/AAAAAAAACvk/JZSnFtdJoJcTm0SQzOZbCkpN7tgbGHHlQCLcB/s1600/14716235_10157819469885495_3397941502483822441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZzTHI302kU/WIBKk0QhVnI/AAAAAAAACvk/JZSnFtdJoJcTm0SQzOZbCkpN7tgbGHHlQCLcB/s640/14716235_10157819469885495_3397941502483822441_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>The fort has a star-shaped fort, with a hillock in the centre and eight corners. It offers superb views. When we went, there was a prewedding photo shoot in progress. There is a hollow entrance in the middle, which is a tunnel leading to Srirangapattana.  <br /> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EGBdyhwV6mU/WH48QtfXLaI/AAAAAAAACtY/cd36iOKcLlo2Ui8KXVw2eYMhiDxQuaKtACLcB/s1600/fort.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EGBdyhwV6mU/WH48QtfXLaI/AAAAAAAACtY/cd36iOKcLlo2Ui8KXVw2eYMhiDxQuaKtACLcB/s640/fort.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EFcqf63oL8/WH5FI4PUpLI/AAAAAAAACuA/erXnsv2aTpEF1ZFY0MfyQUlJ0n0t3iaMACLcB/s1600/14639601_10157807898070495_4117139294819387164_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EFcqf63oL8/WH5FI4PUpLI/AAAAAAAACuA/erXnsv2aTpEF1ZFY0MfyQUlJ0n0t3iaMACLcB/s640/14639601_10157807898070495_4117139294819387164_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>We stayed at Saalugudda Resort. A 1 Night 2 Day stay with two meals and a breakfast cost us Rs 5,500 for 2 adults and a child aged 10. The food was simple, home-made, Malnad style with both veg and non-veg options available. <br /> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJbuRh83MOk/WBxPwxOHmkI/AAAAAAAACjs/NY5KeRYqT4AeJsRt7z46Jn8wVJxhFmeTgCLcB/s1600/cottage.jpg" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJbuRh83MOk/WBxPwxOHmkI/AAAAAAAACjs/NY5KeRYqT4AeJsRt7z46Jn8wVJxhFmeTgCLcB/s320/cottage.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="320" /></a></div> <p><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I0-FnsTrd44/WIBLOaGanrI/AAAAAAAACvs/zsvO40ak40M7ajUlANsOsHhamaYWINvlACLcB/s1600/14720528_10157819435490495_3055421450157091267_n.jpg" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I0-FnsTrd44/WIBLOaGanrI/AAAAAAAACvs/zsvO40ak40M7ajUlANsOsHhamaYWINvlACLcB/s320/14720528_10157819435490495_3055421450157091267_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Why are we city folks drawn to these village home-stays? We long for the quiet I suppose and the greenery. And the feel of the earth under our feet as we walk barefoot and pick up this leaf or that stone and wonder what it was. </p> <p>A dog, a cat, few hens and a cow complete the “I am in my village home” feel for the city executive, who, like me, hasn’t been to his village for years together or who, like Sathya, was born and raised in a metro like Bangalore and doesn’t really have a “village” he can call his own or go back to.<br /> </p><div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yA4xujRMcvU/WIBNEF0_RQI/AAAAAAAACwA/qDtv0_vCzzoOCIEIpYkiMSnSMTI7_RENQCLcB/s1600/14650044_10157819402175495_4516798581371695027_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yA4xujRMcvU/WIBNEF0_RQI/AAAAAAAACwA/qDtv0_vCzzoOCIEIpYkiMSnSMTI7_RENQCLcB/s640/14650044_10157819402175495_4516798581371695027_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>The home-stay has a pond for water games and a few rope games.  <br /> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P_sxM8UOJt8/WIBNPGeYMgI/AAAAAAAACwE/Y5UG7vdYVdE8jdVM69G-Do4EEiNbn3TlwCLcB/s1600/14666149_10157819427545495_1663535227570438015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P_sxM8UOJt8/WIBNPGeYMgI/AAAAAAAACwE/Y5UG7vdYVdE8jdVM69G-Do4EEiNbn3TlwCLcB/s640/14666149_10157819427545495_1663535227570438015_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>This is the zip line water game where you sit on the iron enclosure and you are let loose into the water. The plunge into the lake is the fun part. And then the swimming back to the shore.</p></div> <p><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aSjDprOQhfg/WH5CDqWLO_I/AAAAAAAACto/tyjxwLlKrsU5PtQV3-_wtNrEsZTqbbd8wCLcB/s1600/14716110_10157819423815495_1815638568538428973_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aSjDprOQhfg/WH5CDqWLO_I/AAAAAAAACto/tyjxwLlKrsU5PtQV3-_wtNrEsZTqbbd8wCLcB/s640/14716110_10157819423815495_1815638568538428973_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></p> <p>You also have a pukka local gym, if you are a stickler for fitness and never miss your exercise routine no matter where you go. <br /> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgqvh1ORyBw/WH96BHSvD5I/AAAAAAAACvI/8ySK-164Ka86bvlsWd1F2VG-EEBTI-McgCLcB/s1600/gym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgqvh1ORyBw/WH96BHSvD5I/AAAAAAAACvI/8ySK-164Ka86bvlsWd1F2VG-EEBTI-McgCLcB/s400/gym.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="400" /></a></div> <p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqurnB3sztQ/WIBNhRUbkYI/AAAAAAAACwI/tKYpjLZ4rAs4sW8iLgDGA-JVMEqiLu0KQCLcB/s1600/14718742_10157819436800495_7507339792388765977_n.jpg" style="clear:right;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqurnB3sztQ/WIBNhRUbkYI/AAAAAAAACwI/tKYpjLZ4rAs4sW8iLgDGA-JVMEqiLu0KQCLcB/s320/14718742_10157819436800495_7507339792388765977_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="240" /></a></p></div> <div> <p>The view as you go for an evening walk around the cottage. <br />You can see the clouds beginning to engulf the majestic mountains in their arms.</p></div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bjXYslljWCs/WBxPq83Z4oI/AAAAAAAACjo/fbXiGT14JtUCxvAcDsrAXClAVU-ipHzfwCLcB/s1600/14705641_10157819416585495_3646159552106978030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bjXYslljWCs/WBxPq83Z4oI/AAAAAAAACjo/fbXiGT14JtUCxvAcDsrAXClAVU-ipHzfwCLcB/s640/14705641_10157819416585495_3646159552106978030_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div>One of the many waterfalls near the resort if you are in mood for a quick swim or frolic in the waters. <br /> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u2fiH4P1Pag/WH96tcDS2aI/AAAAAAAACvU/h1lg3fjvfuMxhCP7-UXXPqCJa7GBneWDwCLcB/s1600/14595721_10157819398050495_5537605497715983325_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u2fiH4P1Pag/WH96tcDS2aI/AAAAAAAACvU/h1lg3fjvfuMxhCP7-UXXPqCJa7GBneWDwCLcB/s640/14595721_10157819398050495_5537605497715983325_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uN0x2M2L9vA/WIBOqGkFu0I/AAAAAAAACwY/7YdwuFlAWqckMNYXZZKJSQzdIeuRPQzVACLcB/s1600/14729269_10157819344320495_9114601337274007881_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uN0x2M2L9vA/WIBOqGkFu0I/AAAAAAAACwY/7YdwuFlAWqckMNYXZZKJSQzdIeuRPQzVACLcB/s640/14729269_10157819344320495_9114601337274007881_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p> </p><div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTqw-sLvfpQ/WIBOv_NRZHI/AAAAAAAACwc/fkWhfoLwdys6rv74jcRwMU6QBhbT3aiDwCLcB/s1600/14705799_10157819343750495_289725258863210018_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTqw-sLvfpQ/WIBOv_NRZHI/AAAAAAAACwc/fkWhfoLwdys6rv74jcRwMU6QBhbT3aiDwCLcB/s640/14705799_10157819343750495_289725258863210018_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>This trip we realized we had inadvertently covered four districts in a single day. We started from Sakleshpura (Haasan district), went to Malalli falls (Coorg district), then to Dharmasthala (Dakshina Kannada district) and returned home to Bangalore (Bangalore District) around midnight. We drove 800 km in two days, 14-15 Oct'16and spent Rs 3000 for petrol to achieve this feat. <br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rt1_GsXCRk/WH5A7_XLv7I/AAAAAAAACtk/S-EqXXU3sCwfmbhEDGKvapk02VknFlsPgCLcB/s1600/14650076_10157819475475495_3555420540175603436_n.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rt1_GsXCRk/WH5A7_XLv7I/AAAAAAAACtk/S-EqXXU3sCwfmbhEDGKvapk02VknFlsPgCLcB/s640/14650076_10157819475475495_3555420540175603436_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a> <br />After a day at the home-stay, we set out into Sakleshpura to do local sight-seeing, but mainly to see Bisile Ghat. <br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndGNOIOoCaQ/WH5ENl5-D-I/AAAAAAAACt4/td80MgQTQakd8OyW1lilJAoe3TxUdI-zQCLcB/s1600/14729139_10157812923780495_5997253848838540632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ndGNOIOoCaQ/WH5ENl5-D-I/AAAAAAAACt4/td80MgQTQakd8OyW1lilJAoe3TxUdI-zQCLcB/s640/14729139_10157812923780495_5997253848838540632_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>This was on the way to Bisile Ghat. A popular location for movie shoots.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div>Bisile Ghat Road follows the Kumaradhara river and links Sakleshpura to Kukke Subrahmanya in Dakshina Kannada. The Bisle Reserve Forest and the region around Sakaleshpura is listed as one of the 18 most diverse spots in the world in terms of flora and fauna. The watch tower at the Bisile Ghat will remind any Bangalorean of Nandi Hills. Many movies are shot here. This is the place where Mungaru Male 2 scene was shot - the Ravichandran and Ganesh emotional scene.<br /> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBjDK28OS4Q/WH5GtyL1yYI/AAAAAAAACuM/TgdrqDGP3rsJPZf-5iPPIn_rrO0ypmZswCLcB/s1600/14572841_10157813619185495_3897216988815195342_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBjDK28OS4Q/WH5GtyL1yYI/AAAAAAAACuM/TgdrqDGP3rsJPZf-5iPPIn_rrO0ypmZswCLcB/s640/14572841_10157813619185495_3897216988815195342_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SA6_OBphgAo/WH9xSrFiTdI/AAAAAAAACus/LHk5CdjcMV0g_tJXpuVWgbzRKn1vzNg5wCLcB/s1600/bisile.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SA6_OBphgAo/WH9xSrFiTdI/AAAAAAAACus/LHk5CdjcMV0g_tJXpuVWgbzRKn1vzNg5wCLcB/s640/bisile.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <p>While on the way to Bisile Ghat, while asking directions, some locals said do visit the falls and that’s when we decided to go see the falls. It was a spur of the moment decision to take the detour. It meant we were ravenously hungry and the afternoon sun was beating us hard. But the falls was worth all the driving time and effort. We also had the best maggi ever in one of the two small stalls there. Hot, steaming and delicious! The other best maggi experience I had was in Sikkim - at Zero Point.<br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wBekPePgaDo/WH9w59y_HzI/AAAAAAAACuo/2Knfv7BgHg8hY50bVpaY6Cw3iVIPL8otwCLcB/s1600/and%2Bwhen%2Bu%2Bimagine%2Bplunging%2Bstraight%2Bdown.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wBekPePgaDo/WH9w59y_HzI/AAAAAAAACuo/2Knfv7BgHg8hY50bVpaY6Cw3iVIPL8otwCLcB/s640/and%2Bwhen%2Bu%2Bimagine%2Bplunging%2Bstraight%2Bdown.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>For a brief moment, I did shudder at the thought of plunging straight down from here! It was scary.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The bad part of the entire trip was the stretch from Malalli Falls to Kukke Subramanya. Horrible roads! Out of the nearly 35 kms between Malalli to Kukke, this 17 kms stretch of atrocious road drove us nuts. It took almost an hour. If I was the driver, I would have killed myself! Luckily, I can't drive. And Sathya, who drove, has tremendous reserves of patience. <br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_pVL4tD1Xw/WH9x0xKTFgI/AAAAAAAACu0/vKgd8CuySLIIOMhTjF9R_624hKm-ofzigCLcB/s1600/in%2Bthe%2Bname%2Bof%2Ba%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_pVL4tD1Xw/WH9x0xKTFgI/AAAAAAAACu0/vKgd8CuySLIIOMhTjF9R_624hKm-ofzigCLcB/s640/in%2Bthe%2Bname%2Bof%2Ba%2Broad.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>In the name of a "road" this path of stones and potholes is what you get.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div>There was no sign of a hotel or a place to eat either. Just when we thought we'd die out of real hunger and accrued anger at driving down this road, we saw a house just outside the check post. The lady served us lunch amid stories of her life. Simple rice-curry-vegetable meal never tasted better!  <p><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pOakUQ-PlZ4/WBxP82wFreI/AAAAAAAACj0/TuRKIb5wIzsddnrTXmt4cMct5GESM5vJgCLcB/s1600/pineapple.jpg" style="clear:left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pOakUQ-PlZ4/WBxP82wFreI/AAAAAAAACj0/TuRKIb5wIzsddnrTXmt4cMct5GESM5vJgCLcB/s320/pineapple.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="240" /></a> <br />We finally reached Dharmasthala in the evening.  </p> <p>As you drive towards the temple, you will notice rows and rows of these pineapple stalls along the road. Small, juicy fruits, produced in abundance locally. </p> <p>You will also find sugarcane juice stalls alongside it.</p></div> <div> <p> </p><div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div>Sathya has lost count of how many times he has gone there. It is the most revered and most visited temple in this part of Karnataka. In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, where I come from, this is the holiest of holy places for us. As children, I remember our annual visits to the temple, all of us huddled together, in a hired white Ambassador. It was our only pleasure cum spiritual cleansing cum eat-in-hotels - all combined into one - trip. <br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2KUHvYoB2A/WBxP1oKA0wI/AAAAAAAACjw/om28LEIe3es7He4vWSVkUazA0A9IkNe8gCLcB/s1600/Dharmasthala.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2KUHvYoB2A/WBxP1oKA0wI/AAAAAAAACjw/om28LEIe3es7He4vWSVkUazA0A9IkNe8gCLcB/s640/Dharmasthala.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a> <br />Duration of the trip: 2 days<br />Places Covered: Four. Sakleshpura, Bisile Ghat, Malalli Falls, Dharmasthala<br />Distance Covered: 800 kms<br />Amount Spent: Rs 10,000 approx</div> </div> </div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/sujatha" lang="" about="/user/sujatha" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Sujatha</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 07/10/2017 - 15:43</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11483&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="QYQmzqYT-_0zZgsHDMijfIO97WBeRzsWaO3obVaJV-Q"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Mon, 10 Jul 2017 10:13:01 +0000 Sujatha 11483 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/sakleshpura#comments http://thinkingparticle.com/blog/matheran <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Matheran</span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h3 itemprop="name">Mathera had been on my mind ever since I first made a list of places I wanted to see in India before I die.Finally after eons when i did get to see Matheran, it blew my mind.  This is why:</h3> <div id="post-body-8939725810789996343" itemprop="description articleBody"> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbMIKYVeUr4/V48jdr7ZjcI/AAAAAAAACa8/l93eSaGOSrMFzCMw36wRirsy7xsFrUVhQCLcB/s1600/13728948_10157366962305495_4366514196967024448_n.jpg"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbMIKYVeUr4/V48jdr7ZjcI/AAAAAAAACa8/l93eSaGOSrMFzCMw36wRirsy7xsFrUVhQCLcB/s640/13728948_10157366962305495_4366514196967024448_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The clouds clearing away, slowly, gently, to give our hungry eyes a glimpse of the majestic mountains</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div> </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHdlhUXvxoc/V42lCXACZDI/AAAAAAAACZE/hHDluJTQlTw6Ys_TSQ445R2v2jiYu_wnACLcB/s640/b.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The clouds kissing the mountains in a lingering moment of passion, sending sweet chills down our spine.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9hym6XTKF0/V42lO6o5JGI/AAAAAAAACZI/JkNUpchMGscHEDpgaddPcRBAIJcDogDCQCLcB/s1600/c.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9hym6XTKF0/V42lO6o5JGI/AAAAAAAACZI/JkNUpchMGscHEDpgaddPcRBAIJcDogDCQCLcB/s640/c.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>This was mid afternoon &amp; yet the pace was so misty &amp; cool.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--t01AxM93ao/V42lX5lpVaI/AAAAAAAACZM/RhpHRsaOpokQMiWmWFYVPSSJEzxySudDACLcB/s1600/q.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--t01AxM93ao/V42lX5lpVaI/AAAAAAAACZM/RhpHRsaOpokQMiWmWFYVPSSJEzxySudDACLcB/s640/q.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Who wouldn't fall in love with this?</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBpM35PxDK0/V42ldRkKYGI/AAAAAAAACZQ/Yt8fmatre_wXgqHtdR67zoOk2H2mwxdXQCLcB/s1600/13754262_10157381707765495_3694988899336053724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBpM35PxDK0/V42ldRkKYGI/AAAAAAAACZQ/Yt8fmatre_wXgqHtdR67zoOk2H2mwxdXQCLcB/s640/13754262_10157381707765495_3694988899336053724_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The lovely stream on the way up to the hill station</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vSHYjrCEdg/V42l031l_gI/AAAAAAAACZc/D8mpi88oN6sRaYpZ4J5CQ1WRtjpRsHG5ACLcB/s1600/s.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5vSHYjrCEdg/V42l031l_gI/AAAAAAAACZc/D8mpi88oN6sRaYpZ4J5CQ1WRtjpRsHG5ACLcB/s640/s.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The forests are pristine. </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iE-1liuFv7A/V48od2TcTiI/AAAAAAAACbQ/jAH06yKz_kAPVnfxuvjk8n-ZZoyCaw73gCLcB/s1600/13690793_10157366964320495_6281674857617203604_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iE-1liuFv7A/V48od2TcTiI/AAAAAAAACbQ/jAH06yKz_kAPVnfxuvjk8n-ZZoyCaw73gCLcB/s640/13690793_10157366964320495_6281674857617203604_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The valley below</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAxh-WaKE2g/V48h2ZuObSI/AAAAAAAACak/uFJjAZDugJMFtL74xDnaUw6vVYrhpv7ngCLcB/s1600/13707600_10157380355195495_544254653750419620_n.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAxh-WaKE2g/V48h2ZuObSI/AAAAAAAACak/uFJjAZDugJMFtL74xDnaUw6vVYrhpv7ngCLcB/s640/13707600_10157380355195495_544254653750419620_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Being spellbound</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Matheran is the smallest hill station in India &amp; the first in ASIA that is vehicle free. Eco-sensitive zone. No vehicles are allowed into the hill station not even the privately owned bikes &amp; cars of people who live there. It has to be parked at the start of the hillock,in a designated space. You explore the hills</p></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leB5eaAfTIM/V42jA4BjbeI/AAAAAAAACY4/xMXVMp3oY4IOvbKBT9s3nh6KtC1Dsi2bQCLcB/s1600/d.jpg"><img alt="on a horse" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leB5eaAfTIM/V42jA4BjbeI/AAAAAAAACY4/xMXVMp3oY4IOvbKBT9s3nh6KtC1Dsi2bQCLcB/s640/d.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>on a horse</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0DELix3DYs/V42ltTTR2CI/AAAAAAAACZY/h6KQ1HoRLVMO8rGP4PUElqnZaslwjZlPACLcB/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0DELix3DYs/V42ltTTR2CI/AAAAAAAACZY/h6KQ1HoRLVMO8rGP4PUElqnZaslwjZlPACLcB/s640/a.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Or this hand-drawn cycle-rickshaw.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5WS51MZe5B4/V48RcUFkCoI/AAAAAAAACaM/UHuLy5x2hPk9q7q1BipIGTT2H5ijgTsjgCEw/s1600/13707675_10157366941605495_4359834731106792986_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5WS51MZe5B4/V48RcUFkCoI/AAAAAAAACaM/UHuLy5x2hPk9q7q1BipIGTT2H5ijgTsjgCEw/s640/13707675_10157366941605495_4359834731106792986_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>or by walk.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The horse, in the pic, is named Lakhan, bought by the owner at Rs 70,000. The ride costs Rs 1100 per person to view 5 popular scenic spots. A car drive would have cost us less than Rs 500 in petrol or a bike ride just Rs 100. Takeaway: animals are definitely expensive! But the experience of going on that ride will be etched in our memories for ever, especially for my daughter Tanvi who loved it. She wanted the staff to let go of the lagaam (handle) so that she could ride the horse all on her own! She sat on it like a pro, no fear of falling. She was constantly rubbing the horse’s neck &amp; saying he is responding.</p> <p>We took the horse ride to go into the hill station. And later walked around &amp; explored the town. We walked back to the parking spot in half an hour. As you can see in the pic above, we walked along the railway track, in a drizzle, suitably dressed in local rain gear which is plastic sheet snugly hugging your body &amp; a plastic hat. The price of these rain protectors Rs 50 only!<br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqiIxAH3hBg/V48h-svgaiI/AAAAAAAACao/6gp02_ic5RIDRUCQCuyo_k3ap4In9FkmwCLcB/s1600/13729097_10157366954420495_7508882892570813158_n.jpg"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqiIxAH3hBg/V48h-svgaiI/AAAAAAAACao/6gp02_ic5RIDRUCQCuyo_k3ap4In9FkmwCLcB/s640/13729097_10157366954420495_7508882892570813158_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The pathway through the lush green forest</td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbZFva2L_Lw/V48jclfD30I/AAAAAAAACa4/7rdtnN28h4YyajaEOcSV1qdOEpN0n6IpQCLcB/s1600/13658970_10157369465705495_8994534333553958060_n.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbZFva2L_Lw/V48jclfD30I/AAAAAAAACa4/7rdtnN28h4YyajaEOcSV1qdOEpN0n6IpQCLcB/s640/13658970_10157369465705495_8994534333553958060_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>One of the waterfalls</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>There are many beautiful cottages owned by Parsis who visit Matheran to beat the heat, grime &amp; noise of Mumbai. Here is a cottage of the State Tourism Board</p></div> <div style="clear:both;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YAS-Uoa1FFc/V42mNTbLn4I/AAAAAAAACZw/mKsgFAfMDvIna3b0hOa0-WZY--StgcjbgCLcB/s1600/f.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YAS-Uoa1FFc/V42mNTbLn4I/AAAAAAAACZw/mKsgFAfMDvIna3b0hOa0-WZY--StgcjbgCLcB/s640/f.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></div> <div> </div> <div>The hill doesn't grow or produce anything. Everything you find on the hill is either brought from neighboring big cities like Pune or Mumbai or Lonavla or from the town called Nerul. Horses, smaller ones, by breed closer to donkeys, are used to ferry cement, sand &amp; other building materials and also grocery &amp; household stuff. They are quite simply called the maal-gaadi (maal meaning material &amp; gaadi meaning vehicle). <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avX-x_-2c0k/V42l8QtjMKI/AAAAAAAACZk/_jOfPbVAl_gvXHtRlYgdcjAzPAu-Q5oQgCLcB/s1600/w.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avX-x_-2c0k/V42l8QtjMKI/AAAAAAAACZk/_jOfPbVAl_gvXHtRlYgdcjAzPAu-Q5oQgCLcB/s640/w.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The Nerul village</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZSRwkjP1h8/V42mGMZ2qcI/AAAAAAAACZo/J9NpUvcACEs0H7nCKjDKv1tocpUWfHSmgCLcB/s1600/t.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZSRwkjP1h8/V42mGMZ2qcI/AAAAAAAACZo/J9NpUvcACEs0H7nCKjDKv1tocpUWfHSmgCLcB/s640/t.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The countryside</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div>Now,let's look at the logistics. Matheran doesn't have an airport. One has to fly down to Mumbai and take a 2 hour/90 KM car drive to Matheran. If you add up the cost of two way flights from Bangalore to Mumbai, two way taxi fare from Mumbai to Matheran, horse ride &amp; sight seeing charges, lunch &amp; snacks expenses, itwould cost you Rs 10,000 approx for a one day tour to this beautiful hill station. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0fmlc-iyVM/V5g73YggSrI/AAAAAAAACbg/zxPrrQJLRdkQMlLnyCeUxTRSZEvSeDcYwCLcB/s1600/13658938_10157366958270495_4467414823321379340_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0fmlc-iyVM/V5g73YggSrI/AAAAAAAACbg/zxPrrQJLRdkQMlLnyCeUxTRSZEvSeDcYwCLcB/s640/13658938_10157366958270495_4467414823321379340_n.jpg" style="border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:0px;" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>The drive from Nerul to Matheran</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>We didn't stay overnight here. We chose to spend the night at Lonavla which is another beautiful place withmore modern amenities and stay options. but about Lonavla in another post.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/sujatha" lang="" about="/user/sujatha" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Sujatha</a></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 06/10/2017 - 12:54</span> <section class="field field--name-comment-node-blog field--type-comment field--label-hidden comment-wrapper"> <h2 class="title comment-form__title">Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11480&amp;2=comment_node_blog&amp;3=comment_node_blog" token="oo5rzTxLUyeJdAnlqSSO_ZGinl496FAUI0wtyISYIYw"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> Sat, 10 Jun 2017 07:24:33 +0000 Sujatha 11480 at http://thinkingparticle.com http://thinkingparticle.com/articles/unforgettable-trek-hampta-pass <span property="schema:name" class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The unforgettable trek to Hampta Pass</span> <span rel="schema:author" class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="/user/kalpana-ramesh" lang="" about="/user/kalpana-ramesh" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" class="username">Kalpana Ramesh</a></span> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2017-05-28T16:32:31+00:00" class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/28/2017 - 22:02</span> Sun, 28 May 2017 16:32:31 +0000 Kalpana Ramesh 11477 at http://thinkingparticle.com