Trek to Roopkund - Part 7

Day 6 (contd..) 21st September

Roopkund to Pather Nachani via Baghwabasa

Climbing down a mountain is the closest that I have ever come to meditation. Strange as it may sound, it is while descending a steep mountain path that my mind is most focused. There are no thoughts in my mind except this question – where should I place my foot next. And this is what meditation is, putting a leash on the wild wanderings of our thoughts.

The best way to descend on a slope covered with snow is to cut steps and walk. I am sending a shower of show on everyone walking in front of me in doing so. Gradually the snow reduces and mixes with the mud to form slick which is even more difficult to walk on. ‘A walking stick would have helped,’ I think to myself. I am usually a slow descender, and on this slippery trail, my speed reduces further. After about 45 minutes, we reach the stream which had held us up in the morning. But now the ice layer on the rocks has melted away, and we cross it easily.

We reach Baghwabasa at 12:30, where we have lunch. It is decided that we will go only up to Pather Nachani today, because it’s already been a long day’s walking. The weather is heavenly now. But nevertheless, that day’s rain and storm are still at the back of our minds.Once we reach the Kalu Vinayak temple, we think of taking a small rest. But as soon as we sit down, we see a cloud descending upon us, and hear a low rumble. This jerks us back into motion, and the idea of the break is dropped.

Two days back, we had reached Pather Nachani in a dead beat state. Today we have reached here in a triumphant state – after completing Mission RoopkundJ.  Everyone is happy – all the 12 trekkers have made it to Roopkund in style. The jubilant mood continues for a long time, as all of us keep singing songs late into the night.

Day 7 - 23rd September

Pather Nachani to Lohajung, via Bedini Bugyal and Wan

I wake up to the melodic sound of Jagdish Sir’s flute on this beautiful morning. As this is the last day of our trek, we all thank the Trek the Himalayas team – they have been wonderful with all their arrangements and support; always patient, always ready with a word of encouragement.

Himalayan Griffin

Today we have to go to the village Wan, from where taxis would drive us to Lohajung. We are taking the same trail which we were walking on half dead only a couple of days back. But the weather is completely different today. It’s a glorious morning, the sun is on our side for a change, and the entire mountain side is bathed in sunlight. All the views that we missed the other day are now being presented to us. The peaks of Trishul and Nandaghungti can be seen clearly now. There are a few Himalayan Griffins flying around in the sky. These majestic birds with their huge wingspan are gliding about; it looks as if they are overlooking our trek, ensuring we don’t disrespect their great Himalayan Empire in any way.

Bedini Kund

After some time, we reach Bedini Bugyal. This is where there is another lake, the Bedini Kund, and a temple of Goddess Parvati. Oh! The beauty of this place is exotic! The bright blue sky with the clouds floating around in it! The lush green meadows, the sheep grazing around, the mountains in the background, and the vibrant colors of the Bedini Kund! It feels as if we are walking in a Technicolor painting. My words are not eloquent enough to describe the bliss that fills my heart. This is the happiest I have felt in a long time. I hope they don’t pave this paradise and put up a parking lot.

This is that time of the year when the Jat Yatra happens in Bedini. There is a fair being organized here, which will begin today evening. We see a lot of people from nearby villages making their way to Bedini Bugyal. Small kids holding on to their fathers’ hands, old women bent with age, mystic Sadhus in their saffron attire; anybody and everybody is going to be at the Bedini fair. And each of them asks us to stay for the fair. But we are not so fortunate – we are city dwellers, we have to get back to our mundane lives very soon.

The Neel Ganga

We have been descending for hours now, and my knees are rattling. After some time, we reach the Neel Ganga river. The water is very refreshing. After a long time, contact with water feels nice.  We have lunch and a little rest here. From here, there is small ascent to the Wan village, climbing up after descending so much feels very good.

All this while, a light hearted banter is going on among us. We tease Rhushi for his slow speed, (‘the art of walking slow’, as he calls it), we tease Anjali and Priyanka and Ravi for their jargon laded photography talks, and we tease Vaishali and Vineeta for stopping every few minutes to peer at some flower or some bird. As Vaishali and Vineeta are discussing the scientific names of the birds they saw on this trek, Sandeep tells us his four categories of all flying beings – ‘Makhhi, titli, kaua aur cheel.’ I almost fall over laughing. If only pulling a person’s legs could make them taller, Vineeta would have been eight feet tall by now… ;)  After crossing Wan, we see a road and the taxis. We would be going to Lohajung for the night, and would drive to Kathgodam tomorrow, from where we have to catch a train to Delhi.

This has been an amazing trek - I have reached new heights with my co-trekkers, and expanded my horizons. I realize, the more I see, the less I know. A lot of new treks have been added to my must-do-treks list. At this rate, one trek a year would not do. I have to plan for at least two treks a year. I hope and pray that as I keep checking treks off my list, I keep adding twice as many J.

Post Script

On the way back to Kathgodam, Ravi said, 'Sometimes I feel I should move to a small village in these mountains, and teach in a primary school.' I was amazed, this is exactly what I have always dreamed of doing. I was happy that I was not the only freak who dreamt of retiring to a small mountain village, untouched by the maddening pace of the urban world, where you have to continuously keep running just to stand still. Even after almost a month of coming back, my mind kept wandering back to that incredible week spent in the Himalayas. A little part of me is still there – there are some places you never completely come back from.