The Delhi state branch of YHAI (http://www.yhaidelhi.org) organized this trek. Our batch reported at the Haridwar camp on 5th August, 2007. This is the route map. Excerpts from the brochure: PROGRAMME AND ROUTE SCHEDULE Day 1. : Reporting at Haridwar (nearest railhead) Day 2. : Transfer to Helang (4000") by bus - 9 Hours, 265 Kms. Day 3. : Trek to Salna (4700ft.) 3 Hours - 5 Kms.. Day 4. : Trek to Devgram - Kalpeshwar-Devgram 5 Hours - 9 Kms Day 5. : Trek to Dumak (8500") 8 Hours - 13 Kms. Day 6. : Trek to Panar (11000") via Tolital 7 Hours - 14 Kms. Day 7. : Trek to Rudranath (10000") after crossing 13000" - 6 HOurs - 10 Kms. Day 8. : Trek to Mandal (5000") 6 Hours - 14 Kms Day 9. : Transfer back to Haridwar by bus - 8 Hours - 250 Kms & Validictory function Day 10. : Camp breaks after breakfast.
The reporting 'camp' at Haridwar
Haridwar: Shravan maas (month of heavy rain): Devotees of Lord Shiv carrying holy water pails to their hometowns; the holy water will be used for anointment of Shivling.
One side of the road is earmarked for hordes of devotees moving out of the ghats in Haridwar. This caused traffic jams. Quite a few trekkers arrived at the reporting camp just a few hours before the group commenced the trek instead of arriving the previous day from Delhi.
In addition, Statues of Lord Shiv were being paraded throughout the Haridwar city, of course accompanied by loudspeakers blaring bhajans.
Hills, the Alakananda river and the roads maintained by GREF: General Reserve Engineering Force. (Thanks Jagmohan for informing the correct expansion of GREF).
The water colour is brown due to rainwater dragging top soil
THDC (Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation) is 16KM from Deoprayag. Prayag = sangam = confluence
The bus traversed down the road on lower left, crossed the Bhagirathi river via a bridge and joined the road (on the upper left in the picture) towards Sringar and rudraprayag
Deoprayag: the meeting place of the Bhagirathi River (left) and the Alakananda River (right). The bathing ghats are visible.
The view of the prayag after crossing the Bhagirathi river.
Rudraprayag: There were several landslides before karnaprayag; the road would be blocked for atleast 6 hours, we were told. So an alternate route (single lane) was taken instead of the two-lane national highway leading the Badrinath. The bus took a reverse, crossed the bridge (visible in the picture) and moved to the right bank. Of course, there was a serious traffic jam; it took about half an hour to cover a distance of 1 km.
The terrace fields
The houses of the peasants tending the terrace fields.
The driver drove thru the night on a single lane, hilly road. While crossing an oncoming bus, the wheels of our bus were inches away from the precipice. I was sitting near the window. It is a sight not easy to forget. Finally, we arrived at karnaprayag at 9pm. We were to reach Helang (several hours further towards badrinath) by 5pm that day according to the original schedule. We decided to spend the night at Karnaprayag and proceed early in the morning. Poeple gorged on whatever was available in a hotel at the bus stand.
The tired faces waiting for food. The hotel was situated on the bank of the river. The view of the river through the window was lovely. We left Karnaprayag the next day morning (at 4am), but we faced further landslides. A bulldozer was clearing the road; it would take several more hours. So, we crossed the landslide by foot (after obtaining the permission of the police) and started walking. After a while, we found a jeep that was turning back from the other side of the landside. After some haggling, the driver agreed to take our luggages and quite a few of us to Helang-our pit stop.
The Helang camp was a police station that was just renovated, but not yet re-occuppied by the police. The police were kind enough to permit YHAI to use it as a pit stop. There was a lock-up room too. Quite a few were happy to be behind the bars (of course without the policman); for a sample, see http://picasaweb.google.com/dhananjaykul/URGAMGHATI/photo#5101910562385408594 We had a brunch at 12:30 noon at Helang and started the real trek to Salna. First, we crossed a ropeway (seen on the left). There was a bridge for vehicle traffic that would lead to a hydroelectric project site (1km towards Salna). The metalled road terminates there. Although a road is being constructed to Salna, I think that it is incomplete.
A bridge bridging the two hill ranges.
A water fall on the hill range opposite to the one we were climbing on the way to Salna (Mr. K.P.Indra in the picture).
Aha, the welcome banner of YHAI at Salna. Today's trek to Salna (at a height of 5000 feet) was short (5 Kms). We learnt not to rejoice on seeing a YHAI banner; the camp could be as far as a km from the banner! Yet, it has a psychological significance as it signals the fag end of a trek, especially on a tiring day.
A beautiful flower in Salna village.
We stayed in the rooms of a social service organization (NGO). The 3 volunteers (the lady, one playing the harmonium and the other dancing on extreme right) entertained us with folk songs and dance. Alpesh (near harmonium) tried his hand with a drum. Mr. Badgujar (in green jacket) joined the dance.
A source of water on the cemented (5 feet wide) path to Devgram. Some of us took bath here, washed (very dirty) clothes, ate the packed lunch that was given at Salna. A Sadhvi (filling the water bottle at the centre left of the photo) happened to be doing paad-yatra of the panch-dhaam. She joined us till Kalpeshwar.
A temple in urgam village
The temple and urgam valley can be seen behind the human
A tent at Devgram (where we spent a night) before proceeding to Kalpeshwar later in the day.
Two children playing opposite their house that also housed a shoe shop.
curious look
A double water fall on the way to Kalpeshwar temple.
How plants defend themselves against predators!
About to enter Kalpeshwar temple ("kalpanath mandir").
Inside the Kalpanath mandir complex (one of the panch-kedar shrines).
kalpeshwar temple: one of panch-kedars. The priest is standing near the door. The temple is tiny (about 6 feet by 6 feet).
Sadhus stay just outside the temple premises. The Sadhvi, whom we met on the way to Salna, was here discussing theology with the Sadhus.
A closer view of the chief sadhu.
A few trekkers are having a chat with the Sadhu
K.P.Indra near the trishul and the saffron flag that marks the beginning of the premises.
The flowers (given by the priest after submission to God) are being discharged to a water body-as is the Hindu custom.
A few trekkers siezed the moment to cleanse themselves. The sunshine at 4pm made a dip in the icy cold water bearable.
The rope bridge just below the temple.
Two kids were playing cricket. The cricket enthusiasts among the YHAI trek group (fellows with red caps) joined them. Ready to strike. Note the sticks that form the wicket. The two local boys (in black and white shirts) are fielding.
Varun in a defensive pose; Alpesh (in blue T-shirt), the boy from Indore are fielding.
A local boy is showing off his cricket skills
chief hitting a sixer at high altitudes. The lovely 2-stage waterfall is in the background.
That was a four (in response to a staged easy throw). Some of the city folks got tired and are taking rest.
Kids back in Devgram village camp. It was fun for them to watch strange folks from the city. The boy in red stripe shirt was particularly naughty.
I lined up the kids and clicked another photo. The kids were thrilled to see their faces on the digital camera instantly.
A trekker (left) is drinking the soup prior to dinner. Some village houses are visible in the background. Foundation for modern building was being laid 50m away from our camp site.
A kid is playing hide and seek.
I liked this cactus. It appears like a baby monkey.
A well defended shrub
On the way to Dumak, we were thirsty (before reaching the semi-official tea stall) and checked at the lone house near the road as to whether tea could be made and served. The children of the house posed with a trekker [Mr. Prabhu] (who appears like a scout boy).
A formal photo session. Contrast the dress of the locals and the city folk ready with a mug.
The valley and the river
A stream
How about this? A view of Himalayan range from the Dumak camp.
A group photo of children of Dumak village in front of a traditional door.
En route Panar camp. A shephard is fleecing the wool. A pile of wool can be seen.
Another valley of flowers. Even at this height (10000 feet) of urgam valley there are carpets of flowers.
Photo of other colourful flowers in a misty afternoon. The blue plastic sheet, called 'barsaati', is supposed to shield the trekker from rain.
Close to Panar camp; the flowers, the valley, the clouds obstructing the view of the distant mountains ... The cells of my Nikon L5 camera drained out. So, the rest of the trek and also pilgrimage to Badrinath, Joshimath, Rishikesh and Haridwar, as well as the Dehradun+Mussorie tours have to be just imagined.
