'DEAD MAN' Blogging!: Srikhand- Beauty at its best!

Being a Himachali passion for mountaineering is in my blood. I have grown up listening to my dad say, ‘Always remain close to nature and try to develop a bond with it.’ This particular statement has had a great impact on my life. I have made it a point to tap every possible opportunity where I get a chance to be close to nature.

After almost an year and a half lady luck smiled and sent one such opportunity this July. The trek I was going to complete is the most difficult amongst all in the entire state. Scaling a mountain situated at a whopping 15000 feet (approx. 5000 meters) was no mean feat. However getting an opportunity to go on a trek and that too along with my dad was simply an icing on the cake.

Our journey began from Shimla. On day one we were to reach Sarahan, a beautiful unexplored town in Rampur district. We were to meet some of my dad’s friends there who were also scheduled to go on the same trek. After travelling for almost eight hours we were finally at this beautiful town. No doubt, the gruelling journey had sucked all the energy I had but experiencing the enthusiasm with which we were being welcomed, my tiredness was long gone. It has been correctly said that when it comes to hospitality, we the people of Himachal are second to none. After having served dinner by the most humble people I have ever met in my life, we were off to bed for day second was going to be a long one.

Next morning was really a pleasant one. I was spell bound by the beauty of this small town. The picture below is a proof to justify what I experienced. This temple, BHIMAKALI, holds a great historical and religious significance. It is one of the oldest establishments in the area and is duly respected by every single individual.

The second thing that caught my eye was apple cropping. This place is renowned to produce the finest of Himachal apples being supplied throughout the country. It was no surprise that I had to taste one. At the very first opportunity I went to the orchard and tasted the most delicious apple of my life. The morning mist and the cloudy weather made it all the very exciting. At 9:00 am we boarded the bus for the base where the trek was scheduled to start.

It was 10:30 am when we reached the beautiful place named Rampur. With river Satluj flowing with all its serenity and breath-taking beauty, a summer cottage at the very place was the only thing I could dream of.

After paying our respects at two temples, it is part of the local tradition, we were once again on our way. By 3:30 pm we reached the point from where we had to start our trek on foot. The base camp was three kilometers away and with our enthusiasm reaching at sky high level we began our journey on a roaring note. Once again we were welcomed by the most hospitable of all people on planet earth. And then began the night of my life. Chants of BHAM BHAM BHOLE echoing, women dancing all around, musicians performing and men complimenting them all was a sight I am never going to forget. Though the night progressed like this till 2:00 am and we slept at almost 3:00 am, still everyone woke up fresh and ready to conquer another day filled with hardships and a total of 17 kilometers in the toughest of terrain, at 5 in the morning.

As time passed I realised that when they say this trek is indeed the most difficult one, they mean business. The rocky surface, uneven terrain along with wet mud was making it all together more difficult. The enthusiasm gradually started dipping. But then again, Mother Nature never disappoints. The photographs below speak volumes about the paradise and it’s mesmeric beauty we were experiencing.

We continued forging ahead taking rest at regular intervals. The terrain was becoming tougher with every passing kilometer but so was our determination. On top of it all witnessing these sages, barefoot and almost in a single piece of clothing, was simply an eye opener. At the age of 60 years,( I happened to have a conversation with these wise men) when an average man dreams of a comfortable life, these men were out to scale a mountain peak today’s youth fear to think of, let alone scaling it. Coming across such men was the dose of motivation we badly needed. After almost walking for 14 hours we finally reached base camp 2. We were scheduled to stay here for the night.

The next morning was the most important one. We were going for the final destination. It was the toughest of the lot. At 3:00 am, we began our journey. The picture below is one I clicked at 4:00 am and is one of my favorites.

I completely had no idea about the boundless beauty I was about to experience. But Mother Nature wanted to check my patience first. With oxygen level dipping drastically and dense fog it was becoming really difficult to cope up. My motivation level hit rock bottom when I saw two young guys’ dead body being taken back and another guy almost dying. My father came to my rescue at this crucial point and helped me gather myself. Undaunted we carried on our journey. We had to cross glaciers, rocks of unimaginable lengths and above all it started raining, adding more to our already existing problems. But it’s said, “Darker the night, closer the dawn.” After reaching the top what I saw was something that left me completely numb. It appeared as if I have attained nirvana.

After admiring this beauty for 15 minutes and paying my respect to Lord Shiva I started descending. The sense of achievement I had was non-comparable (On an average out of 100 people only 40 complete this trek). My happiness knew no boundaries and it appeared I had accomplished all I ever wanted to. With my high spirits I came back to the camp and slept peacefully.

Next morning we had to cover a distance of 27 Kilometers. But since we were in high spirits it didn’t bother us much. On the same note we started descending. Yet once again Mother Nature made our day successful. With sun rising towards its zenith and the beautiful mountains, there was nothing better I could have possibly demanded. Pictures given below are some other highlights of this wonderful trip. All in all I had a trip of my life.

A perfect Yash chopra movie location. Simply mesmerizing.

Hats off to the shepherds- the real men. It's amazing to see how these guys manage the entire flock so efficiently despite all the nerve wrecking difficulties.

Walking on a glacier is an experience in itself. No doubt it's a deadly act but then again it is so thrilling that one cannot resist.

Clouds back at Srikhand became friends with all of us. Always accompanying us everywhere.

Looking at the distant mountains and experiencing the serenity was something every single one of us did at one point or the other.

Nature carries immense beauty in every component it possesses. It's the way you look at it which makes the ultimate difference.

The Sachin Tendulkar of mountaineering- Gaddis. For these guys scaling the toughest of the mountains is a daily job. They almost fear nothing.

The superwomen- their grace, the Gaddans. Who says the fairer sex cannot do certain things men can? I can bet on my bottom dollar that these four women right here, or I should say superwomen, can trek better than the majority of men. Respect is all what I have got for them.