On the way to Gangeria -Our first base camp for both Valley of flowers and hemkundh Saheb
Valley of Flowers 1:
Valley of Flowers 2: The flowers, the valley, The Mountains, The River, The glaciers...the camera for sure fails to capture the view I’ve had.
Hemkunda Saheb – the pilgrim centre of the Sikh
Satopanth(lake) Trek:23 KM from Mana, could be reached after a difficult trek of three day with the first camp sight at Lakshmiban and second at Chakratirtha. Caves in those stopovers are used as the night shelter. It is said that goddess Lakshmi ( goddess of wealth)and her husband Narayan ( the preserver) meditated in Lakshmiban and Chakratirtha respectively and while meditating Narayan kept his famous Sudarshan Chraka on the valley which depressed by the weight of that Chakra to form a beautiful round shaped meadow surrounded by lofty mountains.
The first glacier we crossed with our hearts in our mouth. Little did we know High ridges and treacherous glaciers leaving only one route to the destiny that too over razor-sharp ridges and broken glaciers was comin our way.
Ill never forget the delight in each of our faces when we first reached the first base camp. We were so happy to just be there, Veeru and I laughed our guts out. We were so glad we made the choice of comin there. It was really beautiful....We could also identify the direction towards which to proceed. But that would be another day and we were too tired to think straight..
Walking over the most difficult and dangerous terrain that too for two full days and in the process almost killing ourselves at a temperature near freezing point, we managed to reach the second camp site. the porters were the real angels in disgues.who arranged for some hot tea and soup while the rest of us discussed if we would ever reach back safe ALIVE. It was such a frightful and a freezing experience!
But Above ALLL I was so amazed with the beauty around, that it left me marvelling most of the while, in complete loss of words. I simply couldn't say it was beautiful or extraordinary or anything. It was at least beyond my ability to comprehend. It couldn’t have been anything but the work of god....
On the way to the second base camp..Completely godforsaken , in the middle of nowhere, miles away from the nearest habitation. Walking on the boulders with no sign of any distinct path two of my friends Ina and Harish lost their way along the Alakanada River.
This beauty is not easily accessible..Left us truly breathless. With people opting to stay back at the second base camp not able to breath and take any more chances. That way the only best option for some cause there was no absolute escape, while some desperately wanted to get back to civilisation amidst familiar sights, sounds and safety. But there was no point returning half way through. So we just kept walkin and just walkin...
After three hours of hard trekking the treacherous glacier the next day we reached the last ridge and could see the red flag flying on top of the ridge indicating the site of the lake. We simply dragged our half dead body over the last ridge and descended on to the bank of THE Lake. Satopanth Tal(at an altitude of 14320 feet) – the Himalayas . Satopanth, literally meaning the way to the truth, a sacred lake, described in the Skanda Puran said to be guarded by the Holy Trinity—Bramha, Bishnu and Maheswar (Shiva) .
Amidst the chaukamba peak...finally reached after 3 days of walk... Our guide showed us a path towards the Chaukhamba peak and told , that was the path traversed by the Pancha Pandavs on their last journey to the heaven. He said, even today, ascetics who want to leave this painful world to enter the other world of supreme bliss, often take that path never to return.
So even today ascetics do take this last journey on this path towards the peak of Chaukhamba never to return. That’s why Chaukhamba is called ‘Swargarohini’(path to heaven) by the locals. From the bank of the lake, I could see a clear path like trail leading to the peak of Chaukhamba. But as the sun rose high, avalanches after avalanches started to roll down that path. It’s definitely a sure path to the other world;
I turned back to have a last look. I, certainly, will not be coming again. Having said that it was by far my best trek till date...
