Trail To Peak!

2020 has indeed been the worst saddening years for most of us. For me, the weight of having to cancel the long pending trekking of the Himalayan ranges had added more pain. However, with having got extra time with family and many small outings with family 2020 ended pretty well!

With the descending curve of COVID in Dec, our Org had also rolled out an update that we could return to our office(though not really compulsory) from Jan. I returned from my hometown to Bengaluru during the Christmas holidays and settled in. Bengaluru had almost returned to normalcy by then. So during one of our chai meet ups, one of our friends re-iterated the thought of trekking again in 2021. Since all of us wanted a much needed get-away, all of us without a second thought agreed that we replan our 2020 trekking and within a week we rebooked our slots for Deorital Chandrashila Trek via Indiahikes(IH)(Due to covid in 2020, we had received voucher from IH which we re-used). And then began our rigorous planning for the places that we could cover during these times.

We decided on visiting Agra, Hrishikesh, Dehradun and Mussoorie. It was only in last 15 days before our trek we booked our flights from Bengaluru -> Delhi. We were not even excited until our plane took off as we were unsure if there would be show stoppers again! With our COVID negative reports in hand, we began our journey! Our plan was to stay overnight at Delhi and leave early morning to visit Taj Mahal! And as per plan we left Bengaluru on 26th of March and reached Delhi. We took an early morning train to Agra the next day and kept our luggage in the locker provided in the railway station there. 

Day 1 - We took Shatabdi(pre-booked) from Delhi to Agra. We booked a cab in Agra as we planned to visit Fatepur and Sikri there. This was a fair deal we got at the taxi counter in the railway station itself. We first travelled to Fatepur and had breakfast on the way. The paranthas were just yummy. We opted for guide in Fatepur and Sikri as it was also important to understand what we were about to see. I highly recommend the same as the history of the place is beautiful and interesting! By afternoon we were done there and then moved to visit Taj Mahal. This white monument is a joy to be cherished until one's lifetime. The beautiful structure looks like a painting when you first view it from far! The more closer you go, the more and more you fall in love with it. The architecture is just mesmerizing. I am at an absolute loss of words! We then toured the Agra fort. The view of Taj Mahal from here is just another sight to hold on to! We called it a day after having eaten the famous petha there. We had a bus booking to Rishikesh the same evening. 

The bus journey was a long one. There was a pitstop in Mathura for dinner sround 11PM where the food was again too drooly. The buttermilk there was so so rich!(I think i am never going to stop marveling about the food eaten during this vacay ;) Since it was Holi the next day, the surroundings were all colorful and it was just happiness around during the festive times. We reached Haridwar around 7AM the next day(we had to reach Rishikesh by 6AM) and our bus decided to call it its final destination there. Hence, we took an auto from Haridwar to Rishikesh(~30kms). Since the Kumbh Mela was in progress, we could see the preparations along the way and along the beautiful River Ganga there. The ride was a pleasant one.

We finally reach Rishikesh around 8AM and checked in to GoStops Hotel there. Since our checkin was not until 12PM, we used the common area there to freshen up and then decided to go for River Rafting. Rafting would need 8 people for its course. With just 3 of us signing up for the same, we were looking forward to the remaining 5 who would be joining us. Luckily we had a fun-loving group of co-trekkers who had planned for Kedarkantha trekking. We then went ahead for rafting. Trust me, Rishikesh has one of India's finest rafting places and it is a must-do. I just loved the experience of water splashing your face and jumping into the Ganga and feeling the chilled water numb you! And then, the best part was awaiting us in the middle of 16KM rafting - the CLIFF Jump! Yes!! a 40ft cliff jump was offered t all the rafters and there was nothing else in the World which we were excited about at that moment. We took turns for the jump and the adrenaline rush was indeed worth it! We then had maggi and cup of tea amidst the cool waters and this would indeed be memorable. We then headed to complete the remaining 8KMS of our 16KMS rafting and then headed back to hostel. We then visited various cafe's for lunch and then planned to visit the temples at Rishikesh and also walked on the famous Lakshman Jhula(The watch in the image is going to be just a memory anymore :'( ). We then headed for the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat. This again is a heart-warming ceremony which is a treat to eyes! So this Aarti is a ritual which is performed everyday at the same time and we could see lot of devotees and tourists here. We then proceeded for dinner at a cafe right beside the Jhoola. Post dinner, we sat by the Ganga and enjoyed the calm and silence of the waters while discussing and laughing hearts out in our own conversation. We then retired to our rooms as we had an exciting trek waiting to start the next day!

At 6.30AM the next day, we had our pick up vehicles from IH to be headed towards our basecamp site - Sari. We got acquainted to 12 of our co-trekkers in the same TT. The journey via Tehri, Rudraprayag was something which our eyes will never forget! For someone like me being surrounded by mountains on all sides for the first time, the sight was just surreal. While we were reaching towards to basecamp, the temperature changed from 25 something to 9 degrees and the shift was so obvious! We finally had reached the basecamp at Sari!

At Sari, we were greeted with personal handwritten message at our tents. We got introduced to the entire team of IH there and also played the game which I would like to name as "Middle Monkey-Football" ;) Having a nice warm up via the game, we then went on to submit our medical documents and also get the primary health check done in order to prepare for the trek from next day. We were overwhelmed with the dinner provided and also the surprise birthday celebration with a cake of our fellow trekker. This was a real sweet gesture by IH.

So the next day we were all ready by 8.30AM, warmed up and briefed about the day. With all the info provided, we kick-started the trek. We fist reached Deori Tal lake and our second campsite there by 2PM. We had sumptuous lunch and napped for sometime. IH had then arranged for small games which actually ensured that each of us knew each other by names :P and hence this activity brought us all a step closer. That night before dinner we also had a session of ghost stories by our guides Pankaj ji and Satish ji which really gave chills for the remaining days of trek :P (OMG! Cannot really forget the feeling of being in middle of forest amidst the spooky stories :D)

The next day, having our lunch packed, we headed to our next campsite at Syalmi. The trail was breathtaking. The beautiful Rhododendrons and the games and singing alng the way added to the beauty! We had games like "Trust Me" played on the way. We stopped on the way for lunch by the beautiful Rohini Bhugyal - a view so platonic! After a good deal of break, we descended to our campsite at Syami. The view from our tents was again a wonder! The thought of having to wake up to the view of mountains right outside your tent was a bliss. We had lovely pasta for snacks and then aling with dinner - we had my favourite for dessert - Kheer!! Post dinner we had a lot of time for Star Gazing. This is one experience to be cherished for a lifetime, The dark, the silence and the beautiful sky all for yourself is something I wish for each of you to experience atleast once!

The next day we headed for another campsite at Baniya Kund. Trust me, this was the best of the campsites of our entire trek. The beautiful meadows at one side, forest at another. The sunset view and the amazing company is the bestest experience of all! We retreated into our tents after lunch, watched the sunset and then called it an early night as we had a really early morning summit at 1.30AM the next day. Yes. 1.30AM!

So the last day of the trek began at 1.45AM where we reached Chopta and then started on the Tunganath trail towards Chandrashila. Since this was a night trek, we had our headlamps on the entire time until we made it to the summit. With a little pushing for our fellow trekkers and a little more push for ourselves to not give up, we all finally made it to the summit at around 5.55AM - just in time for sunrise at the peak. The moment of ringing the bell on top of Chandrashila was magical! The mountains worked its magic and we had really an emotional moment as the sun rose among the 29 thumping hearts! WE HAD FINALLY MADE IT TO 12k feet!!

Now, the above is a very short summary of the day and trek plan. I am sorry for keeping it long(because I have a lot to talk next) yet this is the shortest that I could manage! I come from a Coastal region and water has and will always be my favorite. But when people say that the mountains talk to you.. It's real. Yes, the mountains have a way to scream in silence and touch you in places that you never thought it would! What started as 26 member trek team on day 1 became a family of 26 on day 5. Such is the transformation the mountains can do to you.. the trek lead can make you and the trek guides can do for you! The values that we imbibed - of sharing, caring for each other was commendable. All of us wanted to be a team and complete the trek together and with the support of all including a massive one from the 3 musketeers - TL and our wonderful guides, our dream of making it to the summit was fulfilled. In the course of trek, we got a reflection of who we are and how we can change for better - for ourselves and for others. How by supporting others you grow more! 

IH has stood out on its 4 pillars and in due course of our trek we were informed about the same by our trek lead Mr. Tirth.

1. Information : We were well informed and prepared for our trek the previous day itself. The TL and the guides were so informative about the trail, the locality and the surroundings that we have so many stories with us now that we can cherish forever!

2. Safety: The TL and guides ALWAYS put the team first before themselves during the trek. There were instances where people forgot to get their essentials, gloves etc but what was commendable is that without a second thought the TL and guides always made sure the entire team is safe. Even if our pace was slow, nobody was left behind and we could complete summit TOGETHER!

3. Green Trials: One of the best feelings is to give back to nature for what she has bestowed upon us. With the eco bags given to us, all we could contribute to cleaning our trail was hardly 1%. It pains to see how we humans have littered the beautiful pathways. However, a big salute to Indiahikes for taking an extra step to plant in the mind of trekkers a sense of responsibility where without any force we as a team felt the need to maintain cleanliness and help environment from our end.

4. MBS Transformation - Mind. Body. Soul. Indeed, mountains have a way to silently be there even when they are not talking. Right from preparing our mind and body everyday from the first day of trek, the sense of satisfaction when we reached the summit and the calmness in soul is something what cannot be put into words. The way the trek is divided into parts is highly commendable.

This trek was my first and will always remain special for various reasons! With a dream to carry my backpack for the entire trek to challenge myself, the experience has created a zeal for me to go on for more trekking in the days to come and I am confident that I shall continue. For those who are still thinking if trekking is for your or not.. just give it a try. It is never too late for anything! Maybe trekking is going to shape you to be a better you - it did this atleast to me. I would like to end by saying - "Nature is not a place to visit. It is home". The mountains did call me and i had to go. I went. I climbed. I conquered. And I love myself for having signed up for this for the rest of my life!!

We then had a closing session the same night we completed the trek at our Baniya Kund campsite. Each of us us got a chance to express our feeling about the entire trek and knowing from each how important and much the trek impacted them will always remain in my heart! 

We started back to Rishikesh bidding the hardest goodbye to our team the next day early morning! Again, almost the entire trek team met at a cafe at Rishikesh for one last time before retiring to their cities. The next day we continued our cafe hopping around Rishikesh and had one of the best breakfasts by the Gangas. We then indulged in shopping (cannot forget how happy I felt 😝). And then by evening 4, we left for Dehradun to reach back Bengaluru!

So this was a wholesome experience of a short yet beautiful first vacay of 2021! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it 🤗

P.S.: Wearing of face mask, usage of sanitizer and social distancing was maintained at all times. It was only for photos that we deviated. Hence, no rules violated.