2012-11-03-East Sikkim

Our first week long family vacation once Yohaan was born to the pristine area of East Sikkim where tourism has just started 4 years back.

We started our journey from Pedong, a small road side village on the way to the old Silk route in East Sikkim. Spent a day visiting the nearby places, most scenic being Sillery Village. Also spent some time to trek to Damsang Fort ruins above the village and enjoying the silence and the pine tree forest of Silence Valley.

Next 2 days were spent at Reshi besides the Reshi river at Reshi Eco Resort just lazing by the river side, small trek to Orange Orchid and fishing.

After which we headed to the true Himalayas and spent 2 days at the very cold, cloudy and windy Zuluk on the old Silk route. On one day we went for a nice and heady drive to Kupuk from Zuluk passing through the 32 or more loops in the road rising all the way to 13500 feet visiting the very scenic and barren high altitude terrain bordering China – Tukla Valley, Nathang Valley, Old Baba Mandir and Kupuk.

Last but not the least we stayed for a day at Aritar (this place deserves 2 days but due to lack of time and distance from the airport we had to cut it to 1 day). We enjoyed the pin drop silence at Aritar Lake and the forest around. A small trek to Makhim top and Aritar monastery and finally very nice lunch and beer by the lake side resort put the finishing touches to a very nice and memorable trip.

For photos see:

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/zenosh/20121103EastSikkim#

OR

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151294705656181.521436.595556180&type=1&l=4e65e51a39

 

 

2012-09-28-Nandadevi Base Camp - Milam Glacier - Ralam Valley

My first multiday Himalayan trek along with fellow trekker Kunal to Nandadevi East Base camp, Milam Glacier and Ralam Valley in the north eastern corner of Uttarakhand starting from Munsiyari – an amazing experience it was.

Starting from the altitude of 2100 meters at Munsiyari and going all the way up to 4600 meters when we crossed the Brijgang pass to enter the very colourful Ralam valley and having 2 amazing and freezing cold camping nights at 4000 meters at the Nandadevi Base camp and just below Brijgang pass (felt as if we are right at the foot of the mountains). Always having ever changing weather (Sun, Rain, cloudy, Snowfall all within a matter of minutes sometimes) and the amazing Himalayan views of Nandadevi massif, Hardeol, Trishuli, Rishi Pahad, Martoli peak, Johar valley, ever  colourful Ralam valley, Brijgang Pass and the always following Gori Ganga and Ralam rivers  for company there was never a dull moment.

The trek would not have been possible and as much fun without our team of Guide Porters and cook. We had Gangaram (guide - # 9456542753), Manoj (cook) and Pralhad and Dharmendra (porters) as our team and of course fellow trekker Kunal.

Some days were easy like trek to Lilam, Bugdiar, some days long and tiring with killing inclines for kilometres like trek to Nandadevi East Base camp, Brijgang Pass base and then to the top and some plain long road walk or trail walk like Ghanghar to Milam and further to Tola and lastly long stretches of downhill which really took toll on our knees like Brijgang to Ralam and further to Lingrani.

Met some very nice people along the way- The kind ITBP officer at Rilkot who gave us an option to stay in the warm fibre hut and have food with him, the couple at Burphu village who served us the best tea and noodles ever with herbs added for warmth, offered us place in their house if we wanted to call it a day but in both instances we had to decline due to our plans to camp most of the days to really enjoy the Himalayan views and whatever the mountains had to offer us. Not to forget our stay at Pandey Lodge at Munsiyari with amazing home made type food, room service and hospitality.

Some experiences worth mentioning – the amazing rest and mountain views we had at our 4000 meter campsite of Nandadevi east, Brijgang pass base, Tola village, sun bathing the ITBP camp at Milam while Kunal was trying to have a bathJ, enjoying the nice sunset views at Paton village campsite on our last camping night and getting intoxicated there on local wine and beer.

We also tasted some edible wild fruits of Temar and Shepla with unique sweet and tangy taste, and ate fresh farm produce of onions and Muli from the farms of abandoned winter villages of Tola and Milam and the attempt by our team of porters to take a dog from Tola and goat found mid way to Munsiyari – but both their plans were thwartedJ.

And who can forget the rest day at Munsiyari, watching Soap operas and whatever other stuff the channel churned out on DD1 (since no other channel available) and the amazing time had during lunch time at our guide Gangaram’s place with the whole team to celebrate our trek completion.

I would not bore you with the other details; the story is in the photographs.

https://picasaweb.google.com/zenosh/20121001NandadeviEastBaseCampMilamGlacierRalamValley#

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151258841546181.515537.595556180&type=1&l=7015d4500e

Cheerz

Zen

2012-01-26-Bhimashankar–Dhakoba Traverse

Route: Khandas – Sidi Ghat – Bhimashankar – Kondhwal – Ghonemal – Damdamia – Ahupe – Doni – Hatvij – Durg Killa – Dhakoba – Amboli Ghat – Palu

Photos à
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150636283256181.444690.595556180&type=3&l=328b37f165

https://picasaweb.google.com/zenosh/20120126BhimashankarDhakobaTraverse#

One of the best treks I have ever done where we could complete the planned route even after getting lost couple of times, and it was all due to the stretched mentality of the “Machine” Prasad J He never wants food, water or  rest when on a trek.

Going up the steep Sidi Ghat route to Bhimashankar, nice jungle walk from Bhimmashankar to Kondhwal village avoiding the boring road walk, then after a break going to the Ghonemal plateau to get fabulous views of Siddhagad and the surrounding mountains and finally our scenic campsite in the Bhimashankar jungles. Perfect weather for camping.

Next day starting for Damdamia not knowing the route, going off track for 2 hours, meeting our man Friday (a villager from Ahupe) who helped us back, still getting lost in the jungle maze of Damdamia but finally the strong team we were, found the way to Damdamia top, come what may.

Reaching Ahupe in evening and staying in the school, amazing dinner at a villager’s place (how long can you tolerate the MTR and ready to eat food).

Early morning ST Bus ride to Doni and then a long walk up and down several valleys with thick jungles to Hatvij village and then further on to Durg Killa and then Dhakoba plateau where our next round of adventure would start. Again getting lost for  2 hours in the Dhakoba plateau jungles before finding our way to the Dhakoba top and then finally making our way to the Amboli village for night stay.

We had nice walks around the village with cold evening breeze for company and did some star gazing too.

Next day it was a thrilling downhill via the ferocious Amboli Ghat to Palu village from where we would take the ST bus back home.

Numerous water breaks in the jungles, warm and hospitable village stays – especially the amazing food of vegetables, bhakri, rice and dal, camping in the jungles, walking despite your feet hurting and going to the next level, finding the top to the next mountain, reaching the mountain visible at the far end of the horizon the very same day walking on 2 legs and beyond to the village for night stay. That’s what this trek was all about and I enjoyed it to the max.