I had an experience to cherish a lifetime on my very first
adventure trip, and I am now longing for more and more!!
I have firsthand knowledge of close to everything in
Uttarakhand – be it Religion, River Rafting, Lakes or Mountains. The trip was
full of adventure. It is incredible that we experienced so much in such a short
span of time. Let me narrate a day to day account of our trip.
Day 1 (Delhi to Rishikesh):
We started our journey from Delhi at daybreak, around 04:00
AM. Our first stoppage was Haridwar, where we took the holy dip in River
Ganges. With each dip in the chilling water, it felt divine. This being my
first visit to Haridwar, I was excited about what would unfold for me in the
day ahead.
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| Delhi Haridwar Highway |
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| Har ki Pauri – Haridwar |
We had a quick breakfast, and left for our next destination.
The rapids of River Ganges in Rishikesh make it one of the
best places to do white water rafting in India. Rafting starts at Shivpuri. We
rafted from Shivpuri to NIM Beach - it was so thrilling!
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| Rafting in Rishikesh |
One thing is must at Rishikesh, after the adrenalin rush due
to rafting – a hot plate of Maggi…in fact, your trip is incomplete without it.
We spent our first night at a homestay in Rishikesh –
Tripti. The place is simple, yet clean and beautiful. The hosts are very
hospitable people.
Day 2 (Rishikesh to Sari):
Having taken a heavy breakfast, we started our journey for
next destination – Sari. It is a small village and having very low habitation.
Accommodation in Sari is pretty cheap since the inflow of tourists is
comparatively less.
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| Sari Village, Uttarakhand |
Day 3 (Sari to Deoria Taal):
The 2 km trek to Deoria Taal from Sari could take about an
hour and half, depending on your speed. Deoria Tal has a mythological
connection – in Mahabharata, Yaksha asked Prince Yudhishtir to answer his
questions before quenching his thirst in this Holy Lake.
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| Deoria Taal |
We could not stay at the Forest Rest House, as there were
only 2 rooms constructed by local authorities and both were occupied. We kept
our stuff in the kitchen.
We camped near the lake site. This was perhaps the best
option, for one could get mesmerizing views of the Lake and mighty mountain
ranges. There are only two shops from where you can buy light food and snacks.
The surroundings are so peaceful and calm that you could hear the sound of a
pin dropping. The sky was clear and full of stars – It was heavenly!
Day 4 (Deoria Taal to Tungnath):
Next morning, we woke up to a scene so beautiful that it is
difficult to find words for describing it – golden peaks and tranquil lake. We
were speechless, just experiencing the best moments of nature and the most
picturesque sunrise I have ever seen.
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| Sunrise at Deoria Tal |
Our breakfast was sumptuous – Aloo Paratha with pickle. The
best part in mountains is that you do not bother about how much you eat. We
packed our bags and started the journey to our next destination – Tungnath. You
have to return to Sari village and reach Chopta by car. We parked our car near
a restaurant and started trekking after lunch.
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| Chopta Trek |
Chopta Trek
Trek from Chopta to Tungnath is easy. The only problem is
that at certain places it is steep – you gain 1,000 meters in just 3 – 4 kms,
so imagine! We reached the holy shrine of Tungnath by evening. It was raining,
so we quickly put our bags in the nearest semblance to a hotel, Kali Kamali
Wale Sarai. There are no commercial properties at this location. After the
rain, the sky was clear and a beautiful rainbow was formed.
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| Tungnath Temple |
We quickly visited the temple of Lord Tungnath. The temple
is one of the five and the highest of Panch Kedar temples – Kedarnath, Rudranath,
Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar. The temple building and complex is very old.
The ancient Indian architecture is marvelous to look at. In winter, the whole
area is covered under snow.
Day 5 (Tungnath to Chandrashila):
We decided to leave early next morning. The intention was to
see the sunshine from Chandrashila peak. Temperature was very low. We had
breakfast, took limited items with us, and embarked on the excursion. The view
was amazing – thick clouds covered the valley like a blanket.
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| Trek to Chandrashila from Tungnath Temple |
The sunrise was indeed mesmerizing. Our guide remarked that
we were lucky, as the climate in mountains is very unpredictable.
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| Sunrise at Chandrashila |
We decided to come back to Tungnath. After heavy breakfast,
we started our journey back to Chopta, where we spent the night. There are
rooms available for tourists, and driving at night is not advisable.
Day 6 (Chopta to Delhi):
We started our journey back to Delhi early morning. The
journey is long (around 450 kms), but we enjoyed the ride as everyone was
rejuvenated after such a memorable trip.
I would encourage you to visit Rishikesh and experience the
adventure tourism there. I hope this narration helps you to plan your
itinerary.v bn
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