Last post pretty much summed up my journey from Delhi to Govindghat. In those initial 24 hours, I had many opportunities to contemplate about the rest of the journey. But, nothing could have prepared me for what really lay ahead. I knew it was beautiful, I knew it was a #WorldHeritageSite, I knew it was pristine, but now I know all those words are not enough.
Nature fascinates me like none other. Armed with a camera and a day bag with some basic necessities, I took off from Govindghat, which is a small village on the banks of river Alaknanda.
The total distance to be covered this day was 15km ( an extra 3km because of taxi-strike) and I was a little apprehensive if and how I would be able to manage this. I’ve done treks before, but this was the first time I was venturing into something that required more than a day’s effort. Our base-camp was set at village Ghangria where we had to reach before sunset. The next two days were for treks from Ghangria to Valley of Flowers and Ghangria to Hemkund. This was no ordinary vacation!
Slowly, but steadily I moved ahead, clicking away with the huge camera I was carrying. I didn’t mind the extra weight, even though people had warned me of not carrying it along. Me being me, was incomplete without a good camera at a beautiful location so I didn’t bother listening to the advice I didn’t want to take. Even my sweatshirt says ‘Supergirl’! And I did not regret carrying the extra weight. Sometimes, we need to take a leap of faith and do what the heart desires.
After the initial 3km, we took a short break and feasted on what seemed to have come in as a replacement of #Maggi. We didn’t mind the amount of lead, we were already hungry and anyway a trip to the mountains is incomplete without Maggi. I wanted to give Nestle a high-five when we found a not-so-cheap replacement of Maggi at a remote village. The #WeMissYouToo ads they are doing should have one for #PahadoValiMaggi as well!
Moving on, the panorama was turning into a picture postcard. Suddenly, the camera wasn’t enough. While trying to capture a perfect click, at a perfect angle, the exposed part of my ankle happened to touch some stray plants growing by the mountain side. Within seconds, I forgot about everything else and my world reduced to my itchy ankle. The more water I dropped on it, the more it aggravated. I tried to not concentrate on it and move ahead. The only thing that helped was fooling myself that it isn’t there. Later, I was told that this plant was called ‘Bichcho-Graas’. Mahaveer, the GIO Adventures staff member walking with us narrated a story of how his mom used to threaten to beat him with the plant if he refused studying! Thankfully, he knew the remedy and soon I was reluctantly rubbing another leaf on the same itchy ankle. It worked like magic and I promised to wear clothes that don’t leave even an inch of my body exposed, the next day.
I wanted to enjoy that view for a while, so I stayed behind while others moved forward. Carrying the camera was slowing me down now. The weight and the time taken to halt and click with the best settings for every image – both these things were taking a toll but I didn’t mind. I walked the rest 3km all by myself, at my own pace. I spotted a butterfly and wasted quite some time trying to chase it like a little girl. But, that was fun. Soon, a helpful stranger told me a short-cut which saved me another round of the hairpin bend and I was with the fast-gang again. The slower ones were with still a few bends behind.
The rest of the journey was picture perfect, so I’ll let that mode take over. Words aren’t enough to describe the beautiful landscape we criss-crossed to reach the destination for the day.
Being an Earth sign, I am very fond of water. Time and again, I have said I won’t mid being reborn a mermaid. A stream of water which forms river Pushpavati was visible all throughout the trek, but I was really waiting for us to reach the river bed. Time and again, I enquired about it and I believe this kept me going. I was told that we’ll be close to it after we cross village Bhuyandar, where we had planned to stop for lunch. Exhausted and hungry, we reached and hogged on the food we were carrying. Stale parathe with jeera-aalu seemed the most delicious meal ever. After a hearty lunch, we again started the journey and I was happy to finally be able to touch water. It was ice-cold and see-through. River Pushpavati held my attention for quite sometime. I just wanted to lay there and let everything else be.
But, views like this one attracted me towards higher altitudes and I made the move once again. Keeping the eyes on the ground was a must, given the rocky terrain and huge valleys, but it seemed to turn into a regret for missing the views, even for a second.
Say hello to this gentleman who was selling dry-fruits in the middle of no-where for instant energy! Some great business-sense, I must say.
This is one of my favourite pictures from the trek till Ghangria. I was fortunate to capture the moment, and very proud of myself for it.
The views kept getting better and better, and I kept getting more and more exhausted. The breaks I took, were mostly for clicking pictures. And then it was time for a selfie. Resting on those rocks, I spent some time enjoying the amazing view. Surprisingly, those rocks were better than the softest of beds. Or, maybe I was super tired by now.
And then, after covering a distance of 15 km, I found happiness. After spotting this board, there was an influx of instant energy and I literally ran through the last lap to reach our tents.The sense of achievement that I could manage this stretch gave me goosebumps. Later on, I realised I was only feeling cold.
It was perfect. The tents, the view, the hospitality, the meals, the next couple of days I spent in this heaven of a place. The basecamp was a beauty.
That’s a helipad right in front of our tents. At a location so remote where there is no mobile network. Forget 3G, not even voice connectivity. For a change, I didn’t miss the internet. I thought I would, but I didn’t. The views, kind of made up for everything else.
And here’s the total distance travelled that day! 🙂 Notice there is no mobile network to make life easier.
Gorgeous pics!
Thanks! Glad you liked them, guess it was worth the effort to carry the camera along 🙂
Have been there in 2007 and feels now that reminding me my journey . what a beautiful place really . Like “jannat” on earth.
I completely agree, it's no less than a piece of heaven 🙂
nice pictures
Thanks a lot 🙂
Beautiful Beautiful pics and a fantastic description. Treks like these make you feel closer to god and nature don't they !
Thanks Ruch. I totally agree, treks do test one's mental and physical strength along with imbibing in us the sense of how small we really are 🙂
Akansha,
Came across your blog for the first time. Must say lovely way to express your trip and pictures are interesting too :)..I would be soon going for this trek too! Btw two step my blog and leave your two cents:)
Thanks for reading, Rutavi. Welcome to my blog and happy you liked being here. I guess you'll have to wait until next year as the Valley closes by end of September. Do plan, it's an amazing experience and the panoramas will leave you spellbound. Visit you soon on Photokatha
such gorgeous location!! 15km in the hills!! wow!! You are superfit 🙂
Thanks Rajlakshmi. It really was much much better than the pictures. 15km was a test of stamina, but happy to have made it 🙂 Actually, it was the camera that kept me going!
Brilliant post.
At times it's good to get tired and stay behind to enjoy solitude and thanks to our cameras for such opportunities 🙂 .. Who says Cameras don't let you enjoy the place.
Thanks a lot VJ. Means a lot, coming from you 🙂 And I totally agree with you when on that line when you say that thanks for the cameras for such amazing opportunities!
this is just so beautiful…..heaven on earth 🙂 wonderful pics, Akanksha.. I can imagine how exhausting it must be to climb with the camera…thank you for sharing with all of us.
Thanks a lot for reading 🙂 The camera and me were inseparable and happy to share the experience and pictures!
nice pictures
Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you liked them!
Wowww … sooo beautiful … why ppl like to go out of this country .. everything is here .. if u really want to explore ..
That's such a true statement. Check out the next blog post, it shows pictures taken at higher altitude 🙂