Hills

Sandhan Valley Trek

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The descending is not that simple as it looks. We need to make way from many big rocks. The main problem faced while descending is that we were always in the search of shortest and the easiest path but there is no such path. 14 member of our group went ahead and 4 guys stayed back with 2 girls as they were finding it difficult to descend. The path till the first rappelling point is very time consuming. The first batch completed their rappelling patch and were waiting for us to reach. After around 6 hrs of walk on the rocky path we reached the 1st rappelling patch.  The first rappelling patch is about 45 feet. By 3 PM the last 6 members completed their 1st rappelling patch. We decided to have our lunch as we were walking continuously and were too hungry.

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Jageshwar – A Horrible New Year !!

Jageshwar – A Horrible New Year !!

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Hot food was delicious. Families were preparing for good sleep after such long and tiring journey and I was standing at the balcony watching a few people going here and there. The time was around 10 and town was sleeping, just a chai-wala still open. Then I saw New Scorpio and Skoda coming and parking behind our cars. There was loud music coming from the cars and the people in cars started coming out. They were all between age 22-30 and were talking loudly. I smiled thinking they must be some new year seekers and after not getting hotel anywhere , reached here by mistake.

We switched off the lights and went for sleep. Sleep was almost waiting for us to lie down. It was around 11 in night that we all woke up from our sleep with the loud noise. The boys had opened all doors of the scorpion and they were playing the music system at full volume. We tried to sleep but the music was so loud that it was impossible. I assured my family that soon they will be tired and would sleep after 12.

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पिण्डारी ग्लेशियर यात्रा- तीसरा दिन (धाकुडी-खाती-द्वाली)

पिण्डारी ग्लेशियर यात्रा- तीसरा दिन (धाकुडी-खाती-द्वाली)

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ग्यारह बजे हम खाती गांव पहुंच जाते हैं। सुन्दरढूंगा और पिण्डारी दोनों घाटियों में खाती से आगे कोई गांव नहीं है। इसकी यही खासियत इसे एक समृद्ध गांव बनाती है। पिण्डारी, कफनी और सुन्दरढूंगा तीनों यात्रा मार्गों पर खातियों का ही वर्चस्व है। ये लोग कुमाऊं-गढवाल की परम्परा का निर्वाहन करते हुए अपने नाम के साथ गांव का नाम ‘खाती’ भी जोडते हैं। मान लो मैं खाती गांव का रहने वाला हूं तो मेरा नाम होता नीरज खाती। गांव के सभी लोग ग्लेशियर यात्रा से ही जुडे हुए हैं हालांकि आधुनिकीकरण की हवा भी चल रही है। हमारे साथ चल रहे बंगाली घुमक्कड का गाइड देवा और हमारा पॉर्टर प्रताप सिंह भी खाती के ही रहने वाले हैं। आगे रास्ते में हमें जितने भी लोकल आदमी मिलेंगे, सभी खाती निवासी ही होंगे। एक बात और बता दूं कि सुन्दरढूंगा ग्लेशियर जाने का रास्ता यही से अलग होता है। सुन्दरढूंगा जाने के लिये रहने-खाने का सामान ले जाना पडता है जो खाती में आराम से मिल जाता है।

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Auli – Land of peaks, forest and flowers

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It was a clear day with sun rays warming our bodies that have gone numb due to the chill in the air. High snow clad peaks bordered with Golden oak and deodar kissing the deep blue sky above, welcomed us to Auli. A look at the place and all our tiredness of long journey through zig zag roads, landslides and pilgrims traffic is gone.

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Iceland – the forgotten heaven !!

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When Indian travelers go to Europe, the prime target is always Eiffel Tower of Paris, alpine meadows of Swiss or Rome or Venice or London or  Keukenhof at the farthest.  


Iceland is not even known to many Indians.  It came to news mainly when its volcano erupted during summer of 2010, causing major disruption in air traffic across Europe, bringing many  airlines to the brink of bankrupcy.


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Dhaari Devi – धारी देवी (उत्तराखण्ड)

Dhaari Devi – धारी देवी (उत्तराखण्ड)

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So one night the head priest was awakened by someone and he saw Mother kali standing near his bed, eyes red with anger.  She asked the priest to stop sacrificing the animals in her name, otherwise she would destroy his family.  The priest woke up next morning in high fever and trembling with fear and announced “No more Balis” in the temple.  The locals were infuriated as nobody believed his dream !  But seeing the adamant priest, who himself was enjoying the bali meat, they decided that the sacrifice will not be done at the temple but at Bhairon Gufa, 1 Km ahead the stream.  So this  Kali temple became the first sacrifice free temple of Devi in Uttranchal.  I leave your own mind to judge the story as per your belief.

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A trip to Narkanda – Sangla – Chitkul – Kalpa – Jalori Pass

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After crossing the dam towards Sangla, condition of road was not very good and it was narrow too, however it was fun driving through this chilling route along with green Baspa. My wife and son were also lost in this beautiful valley but my 13 yr daughter was alert enough to remind me to blow the horn at every blind turn which I think is advisable while driving on hills. Before reaching Sangla my kids were excited enough to peep the scenic beauty through the sunroof.

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Ghumakkar Insights – What is on your mind and what goes into your bag?

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But surely, there is one thing in common in all our expeditions. It is the seed of thought on our mind which grows and matures into a fully well planned and executed trip. A thought about where to go next is the seed I am talking about. While some of us get inspired by learning about places from friends, the new trend I see is the trend to explore the unexplored virgin places. Not bad at all, isnt it?

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पिण्डारी ग्लेशियर यात्रा- दिल्ली से धाकुडी

पिण्डारी ग्लेशियर यात्रा- दिल्ली से धाकुडी

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बैजनाथ से आने वाली गोमती नदी के पुल को पार करके थोडा सा आगे जाने पर भराडी स्टैण्ड आता है। यहां से भराडी के लिये जीपें मिलती हैं। भराडी सौंग जाने वाली सडक पर कपकोट से करीब दो किलोमीटर आगे एक कस्बा है। भराडी में फिर दोबारा जीपों की बदली करके सौंग वाली जीप में जा बैठते हैं। जहां बागेश्वर से भराडी तक बढिया सडक बनी हुई है, वही भराडी से आगे सौंग तक महाबेकार सडक है। वैसे बागेश्वर से सीधे सौंग तक और उससे भी आगे लोहारखेत तक के लिये जीपें मिल जाती हैं

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Drive to the district lake

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Around noon we reached Nainital.The weather was just perfect and nice breeze was blowing which was a great relief from dusty and parched plains of delhi and gurgaon.Since we hadn’t booked the accommodation,we had to search for the hotel and also this was a long weekend ,people had started reaching the hill station.

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