BLOG

To read the first part of this story click here

To read the second part of this story click here

To read the same blog in Hindi, go to setting gear showing on the right hand side and change the language selection to Hindi.

Dinner served at 08:00 PM, it includes Dal, Rice, Sukhi Sabji and Roti. We finished the dinner and took a water bottle and planning to go to our camps. Bonfire arranged on a place and so many people's were sitting together to get the warmth and talking to each other, we also joined them. The camp near to us was having 4 friends from Delhi itself, they come here by a rented car in which they carry their guitar, they were singing some random songs and every one likes them.

A person comes to me and ask me if we want to join them on the trek, they were planning to start the trek arround 02:00 AM in the morning so that they can watch the sunrise from Chandrashilla. But we were so much tired, so we rejected their invitation and going towards our camp to have some rest. We arranged our belongings under the camp and make some space to sleep and we don't know when we fall to sleep.

View from our camp

I wake up around 06:00 AM in the morning, I opened the chain of the camp and saw the surrounding view, it was simply superb. I come out of the camp and saw the 360 degree view of great Himalaya.

360 view of great Himalaya from our camp site

The water in the tank was almost in the frozen state, and we were not able to drink the water from the bottle we kept in our camp as the water was also almost like ice. I tried to wake up Ajit, but he don't want to wake up so early.

We were ready to have breakfast and start the trek, the breakfast timing was around 08:00 AM and we have half an hour to spend. I want to discuss the trek and its related things with Tarun so I come out of our camp and I am discussing the same things with Tarun. After discussion I took a pair of trekking shoes and two trekking sticks. Trekking shoes are required as I come here in a pair of canvas shoes and they don't work while trekking. Ajit was already prepared and took a pair of boots with him. Still we have some time so we put our valuables to counter and luggage in our camp and started exploring the surrounding with our camera.

Due to so much cold the cylinders were not working, so Tarun told us that he will adjust the breakfast amount in the bill and we can do the breakfast from some other place. We agreed for the same, and started walking towards the trek starting gate.

Preparation of trek:

Distance of Tungnath trek is about 3.5 KM, and after that Chandrshila is about 1 - 1.5 KM. During winters when the temple remains closed, all the shops which are nearby temple also remains closed. So you have to take water, as well as food from the Chopta itself. At least 1 ltr water is required for a person and take some chips, biscuits, fruits, dry-fruits, cakes etc according to your need. But keep in mind the less weight you have, the more you can enjoy the trek.

There are so many dhaba kind of shops available near by the Tungnath entry gate. That guitar group members were also with us, we ordered a cup of tea and parathe for every one and sit inside the shop. After finishing the breakfast we stand beside the Tungnath entry gate.

Tungnath trek starting point

So many questions were striking in my mind at that time, and I know I will get the answer of every question during the trek. So many thoughts were coming in my minds, with so many thoughts we started the trek of World's Highest Shiv Temple and all of us were chanting Bam bam bhole.

My first affair with snow

After 200 300 meters the snow fields started, after this the trek is almost covered with the snow. We are going forward and gossiping with each other, I was carrying a bag that has 2 water bottles and some food item. We were super excited as this was the first time when we were facing the snow around us. After going a bit ahead we saw so much snow and every one is taking pictures, so this is our first halt and we also took 15-20 pics in different poses. We were again heading forward, the height and the slope is increasing gradually and every one is facing some difficulties as some places were to slippery. But you did not enjoy a trek until you don't fall so many times while doing it, and we were following the same :D

Beautiful trek

We were feeling an unknown pleasure in this moment, surrounded by snow laden mountains, extreme winter and all. We were moving gradually as the height was increasing and its become tough for us to climb. Trekking stick help us not to fall but not all the time and we enjoying this moment.

After walking some more distance we saw a Bugyal (Bugyals are alpine pasture lands, or meadows, in higher elevation range between 3,300 metres and 4,000 metres of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where they are called "nature’s own gardens" - Wikipedia). We stop there for some time and click some photos and move forward.

Standing in front of the Bugyal

Every one was walking in their own speed sometimes we are together and some times we were apart. We took a break and have snacks and again move forward. This times I am walking very fast and left every one behind and accompanied with a foreigner who was sharing his knowledge about the great himalayas to fellow travellers and I joined him.

I don't took any break, after half an hour I was standing on the front of Tungnath temple, I looked back to find my friends but they were not looking around, I shout Ajit's name so many times but no response come from the other end, so I decided to wait for them in the temple area.

Tungnath temple entry gate

As it was a holy and sacred place, I have to remove my shoes before going further, the temple was surrounded by snow on all side. I removed the shoes and stand by the side wall of temple and ask a fellow traveller to take my photo. After that I am heading towards the main gate of temple, the temple remains closed in winter, but still I felt like Shivaji was present beside me and enjoying the nature and blessing the devotees.

Another temple

I was standing in front of the temple and a random guy was holding my camera and clicking my photos and after that I just sat down in front of the temple. After 15 20 minutes I saw Ajit with the other members, I wave my hand and signal Ajit to come by my side, Ajit joined me after removing his shoes. After praying in the front of almighty he was standing on the front of temple and I was clicking his photos, after photo session he also sit by my side. We were recording this scene in our mind so that we can watch it again and again by rewind it.

The first view of Chandrashilla from Tungnath trek

All the members of our group arrived and we have to move forward to Chandrashilla, the trek is good up to Tungnath on which there are slopes, steps and railings are also there, but after that the trek is just like a narrow trail formed by the continuous activity of people's following the same route, and it is too much slippery as the snow starts to melt. We were heading towards, we were loosing our breath because of too much height, it's a sign of Altitude Sickness. We were moving slowly and after covering some more distance we took a break and have some water and chips etc. Now the slope was just like we have to climb on a wall that is a bit slant, it took 30 40 more minutes to reach at the Summit of Chandrashilla. The height of this place is around 4000 meter and on such height one can face the issues related to Altitude Sickness like headache, vomiting, problem in breathing etc, we all were facing the same.

On the top

One can easily see the Nanda Devi, Kedarnath and Chaukhamba mountain peaks from the summit of Chandrashilla, it was like we were on the top most mountain and nothing was above this. I don't describe this moment in words, I just want to keep this memory in my mind for life time, a song was playing somewhere in my mind "Yahi lamha hai, manzil meri... thamja jindagi"

The days are shorter during winters and it was around 03:00 PM so after praying sometime were started walking towards the point from where we have started. With in half an hour we were again standing in the front of Tungnath, I pray one more time and make a promise, to come here one more time if I get a chance in my life and we were again moving forward. Some people's were enjoying the slide in the snow but our clothes did not allow us to do the same. We took some shortcut and because of that our socks was filled by snow and it becomes difficult for us to walk, so we took a break to remove that snow. We again started moving forward and fell down so many times, but it was a great fun for us :D

Around 05:00 PM we have completed the trek and we all were so much hungry and looking for some place sit and have some food. But we did not find any shop that serve food at that time. So we settle it for one cup of tea and some noodles for all of us. After finishing this stuff we took our bag and stick and moving towards our camp.

We took some rest after reaching in our camp, the food will be served on the same 08:00 PM. I was so much tired that I was not in the mood to have the food but the energy level in my body was almost zero and to keep it up it I have gone for dinner as we have to ride 200 KM again to go back to Rishikesh. I ate some Dal and Chawal and took a water bottle and going to sleep. Due to excess travelling and too much cold I felt like I was in fever. I always carry basic medicines with me, I took half paracetamol and cover myself under the sleeping bag. I am trying to sleep and thinking about the same boring routine that I have to follow from tomorrow and I don't know when I fall to sleep. On the next day I wake up at around 05:30 AM, I tried again to sleep but that was not possible so I took out the camera and start watching the photos, we will take this suitcase of memories with us, it remind us the story of Chopta...

Its 06:00 AM in the morning and I came out of my camp, some part of snow laden mountains are looking like a piece of gold when sun rays strikes on them, and I was like, somehow I will take a piece of this with me. I tried to get some water from the tank after removing the upper frozen layer and wash the face and started arranging our luggage so that we can start around 07:00 AM and reach Noida around 11:00 PM otherwise we have to spend one more night in bus and that is not a good deal. We have already paid the bill by adjusting the breakfast amount, Ajit woke at around 06:30 and with in half an hour we were all set to start our bike. I am damn sure, our bike will not start in such condition by self, but I am thinking wrong, it starts with the first try. Ajit wants to drive the bike first, I adjust the bag and take the name of the almighty Bhole nath we started our ride to Rishikesh, and a song playing somewhere in my mind "Ude khule asmanon mein khwabon ke parinde"

While returning

We took the same route by which we come to Chopta, the roads were empty as we have started so early in the morning. After covering 50 KM I took the driving seat and we were moving forward, after covering some distance we took a tea break and reached Srinagar at around 10:00 AM. In Srinagar we did the breakfast near by the shop where we stopped before for lunch. They served us Aloo ke Parathe with Chhole ki sabji and Chai. After finishing breakfast we move forward and did not took any long break, apart from a fuel refill break and some 1 or 2 minutes break.

Our next break was at Devprayag, here we stopped for another 5 minutes and we entered in Rishikesh at around 02:00 PM. It's a pleasure for us to complete a life time journey withut facing any issue. We returned the bike and did payment for the same and took a shared auto for bus stand and a song is playing somewhere in my mind "Jeevan chalne ka naam, chalte raho subah-o-sham"

After getting fresh on the Rishikesh bus stand we have a tea break and took some item to eat on the way and took a bus to Delhi.

Trip over here...

Some importnat points:

1. If you are planning to go to Chopta by bike or car, try to start early so that you can get maximum time to enjoy the places find in between.
2. Full face helmet is recommended for both rider as well as pillion.
3. There are so many petrol pump available on the way from Rishikesh to Chopta, but it is recommended to get your tank full from Rishikesh.
4. Try to get your own shoes that will help you in trekking, otherwise you have to take them on rent.
5. Be attentive while driving as you are driving on a very high altitude.
6. Every member should carry a water bottle while trekking otherwise it will be difficult when the group splits.
7. If you want to become the part of a crowd while taking the photos at Tungnath and Chandrashilla, try to start the trek as early as possible like 03:00 AM.
8. Do not litter the mountains.

Expenses details:

To read the same blog in Hindi, go to setting gear showing on the right hand side and change the language selection to Hindi.

To read the first part of this story click here

To read the second part of this story click here

To see all the pictures related to this blog, click here

Happy traveling

Fir milege kahi kisi roj ghumte firte :)

#floatingshoes