Bird's View | Travel - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Bird's View

Jul 29, 2011 05:37 PM IST

There are no words that can perfectly describe the grandeur of Dhauladhar range, which is situated at a height of 3,350m. Here's the personal experience of a trekker.

The thought of climbing to a height of 3,350m had me in a tizzy becausethe last time I trekked to a height of 2,975m left me gasping for breath.But here I was again walking the same path, which looked even moremagnanimous than the last time and that much more hard to climb. The onlydifference this time was that I was much prepared to take on the monstrouswalk head on.

HT Image
HT Image


A day back at Moolraj's office in Bhagsunag, I still could feel theuncertainty gripping me as I discussed the schedule and bored him with allmy questions but Moolraj with his toothy grin assured me every time that Iwould do just fine. So here I was all dressed to trek with me new backpack and only the necessities for the next two days in the wilderness.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.


Step by step

The Dhauladhar started to reveal its rocky grandeur as we treaded alongits sides, Gallu Devi temple, where we had started our hike seemed to havevanished behind the huge rocks. Mcleodgang now seemed miles away and theDharamshala Cricket stadium somehow had become my point of reference as Itried to conquer the stony path that challenged my will each time Istepped further. The heat of the sun that I enjoyed at 1,800m now seemed abit too harsh and made me yearn for the cool windy breeze which left merefreshed each time it went past us, making the Rhododendron create musicas it brushed its leaves. It all seemed way too surreal and easy this timebut I could not help but remember the last time I tried to make my waythrough this mammoth like trek that would take me to Triund. And believeme it was not such a cake walk as compared to this time. "It's a simpletrek up till Triund, you'll make it in no time" said my last guide whoarranged the entire trip the last time round. The trek was far from easyand I remember cursing him for giving me the wrong picture because whensomeone says it's an easy trek, you for sure do not think of huge rockyboulders and extremely steep paths to cross. But this time I was moreprepared for what I was going to face because this time Triund was not mydestination it only happened to be on my way as I was headed up to 3,400mto Laka Glacier.



After walking for two hours straight I really needed to sit and give myshivering legs a break. Our first stop was after Best View café, which isthe second café (read stop) on way to Triund and further up. I quicklyspotted a cozy spot in the small court yard that was made facing the sun.The heat made me feel very comfortable and cozy in the plastic chairand the chilled glass of lemonade and by that I mean Limca mixed with saltleft me refreshed and gearing of for the rest of the trek as the nextresting spot was about four kilometres away and knowing Moolraj, he wouldnot let me stop for more than five minutes just enough to take a breatherso I could walk further. As I sat in the chair sipping my lemonade Inoticed three plastic bags which weren't there the last time round labeled"Recycle", "Reusable" and "Plastic" to collect the garbage instead of itbeing thrown around. Moolraj had been complaining about how over the yearstrekker's irresponsibility towards the environment has lead to harm it andhandling piles and piles of garbage at such pristine heights was turningout to be quite a disaster. But seeing this effort surely did put a smileon his face as he religiously put all the empty water bottles in the baglabeled 'plastic' as we picked our bags to continue our journey.



The sun kept playing hide-and-seek throughout the trek, making me shiveras the cold breeze touched my skin. It's a known truth that the mountainweather is as unpredictable as the rains in the dessert. One second yousee bright shining snow peaks from afar and the next moment they challengeyou to even find them from behind the thick black clouds.



I tell Moolraj, "It looks like it's raining hard up there you think we'llreach there in time before it gets worse"? In his pahadi accent he replies"Don't worry madam before you know it the clouds will vanish as if theyweren't even there to begin with". And in the next five minutes just likeMoolraj had said the peaks were back, shining bright as ever. It's likethey were playing a game with me saying "now you see me and now youdon't". But as we got closer up to the mountains the views started tobecome larger than life. With every 100 m that I trekked it seemed likethe peaks became bigger in size and the valley behind me grew deeperleaving me breathless with spectacular views that one had to be there toreally understand rugged natural beauty. But all this comes at the cost ofthe loss of lots of body fluids. By now I could literally taste the salton my face and the thirst was making me a little uncomfortable and I couldsee my next stop just 1.5 kilometres away and a café about 50m ahead.Moolraj insisted on me having a chai instead of a cold drink, saying"you'll feel energetic after the chai plus we are a little behindschedule". But was I glad to have the "pahadi masala chai" as it didexactly what Moolraj had said. This is the last café that one would findbefore Triund and it also happens to be the start of the hardest stretchto reach Triund. This 1.5 kilometres is a steep stretch and it will makeyou want to turn around, but more often than not everyone reaches Triund,just like I did the last time and once you get up there you forget thepain and the struggle you went through.



The plateau of pure bliss

You are welcomed by the majestic Dhauladhar range, which up till now wasplaying hide-and-seek with you. As I tread the last 50 m or so theexcitement had surpassed all the other feelings and I was justhappy to be there and proud because even though Moolraj had expectedus to reach Triund around 2:00 PM we were happily digging into our packedlunches by 1:40 PM. A proud moment for a non-trekker!



I had found a perfect spot where I could see the snow peaks on one sideand Kangra valley on the other. A sense of satisfaction dawned on me as Isat relishing my cheese sandwich and a hot glass of ginger lemon and honeytea having which has been quite a tradition now at Triund for me. For thehalf-an-hour that I sat resting I saw many trekkers setting up their campfor the night. Couples enjoying their alone time, groups of men chattingover their cup of tea and bowls of maggi being passed around and thelocal gaddi dogs jumping from one group to the other managing to get asmuch affection and food of course in the meantime. While I admired allthis my attention was caught by this loud swishing noise coming from abovemy head and to rest my curiosity I look up to see a man parasailing rightabove us. But with all this going on I had my own mission that I had tocomplete so ready with my guide and backpack intact, I headed to snowlinewhich was another three to four kilometres away from Triund.



The real deal

The higher we got the greener pasture was now replaced by ruggedmountains. The Deodar and the Rhododendron trees were left far behind andthey were replaced by the Golden oak. Walking further brought us to a hugegreen patch rightfully occupied by hundreds of sheep grazing around awareof our presence as many stopped and looked up but then got back to theirpeaceful grazing which we felt responsible for interrupting and henceafter clicking some shots we quietly continued walking towards Snowlinewhich by now was not more than ten minutes away. It was here that theporters hired by Moolraj finally caught up with us and kept us company.Minutes later, we were at Snowline.



There are no words that can perfectly describe what I was looking at. HereI was, staring straight at the gigantic Dhauladhar range which up untilnow was just the snow peaks that I could see on my way till Snowline. Onmy side was another green patch that was s

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On