"XYZ- Hey, what happened to you? You are all red
& black!
Me(with a big grin)- I am tanned, sun bitten... because
sun-kissed is an understatement ;-)"
...And one morning when I got up... Everything was
different!
Yes, since the day I am back from Chandratal everything is
different ... All of a sudden I can feel every emotion with the same intensity
again... I can connect with myself and I am head over heels in love with
everything... It's all magical... :D
Yes, I was in mountains again, this time I lived my dream
of visiting Chandratal lake, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh.
2016 is coming up with surprises... this was the 3rd place in a
row I visited after planning for so long... first two were Triund & Goa...
although my idea of Goa is still unfulfilled... so, I will visit again very
soon (fingers crossed) :-))
Coming back to my recent trek- Hampta pass & Chandratal..
In two words it was “exceptionally beautiful”... it was a 5 day
trek where we walked for about 40 kms in 4 days... We were in a group of 32
amazing people from all across the country... And it was an awesome experience
as whole.
Coming up with my experience daywise-
Day 1- Jobra to chika (4 kms)
I reached Manali by Volvo around 10am where
the entire group from all across India gathered and we together started our
journey. All excited :)
We reached Jobra, starting point of our trek, had our lunch and started
walking.
After walking for almost 3-4KMS we reached our campsite for day
1... It was truly beautiful and serene... Afterwards it was a relaxing day...
we had food, interacted, enjoyed bon-fire and slept...
Our phones were not working there so everybody was
socialising real-time and that was the best part :)
Day 2- Chika to balu ka gera (10kms approx)
Second day was a bit tiring but manageable, we started our trek
around 7.30 am and were walking till 4pm... In between we crossed 2 rivers
with ice cold water and had our lunch in a serene place...
Balu ka gera was our campsite for that day and was my personal favourite
in the entire trek..
It was a different world for me.
As a kid, I used to dream of having a small house in woods
near a flowing river and green mountains around.... Balu ka gera was the place
straight out of my dreams, in fact, it was more beautiful than I could ever
think of.
In evening, we practiced snow walk and snow sliding and prepared
ourselves for the next day which was the most difficult one... we were all super
excited... :D
Day 3- balu ka gera to Shea goru via hampta pass (15KMS approx)
It was the day when we had to cross the pass and had to walk for almost 8-9
hours...
We walked on rocky mountains, snow covered mountains,
green areas and crossed the most mesmerizing views and refreshing water springs
on the way...
We all crossed hampta pass by 2pm... the landscapes of Spiti valley
were brilliant and we camped there.
Day 4- Shea goru to Chatru(9-10 kms) to Chandratal lake
It was comparatively an easy day... We quickly finished trekking and reached a
dhaba where beer was served... It was like a heaven for beer lovers... Beautiful Spiti mountains and chilled beer, pure bliss...
We took cabs from there and proceeded for the dream destination "Chandratal"...
For me, it was the most beautiful drive ever... After almost 5-6 hours we reached
chandratal... We got down of the cab and I literally started running towards the
lake... Like a small kid running towards her favourite dessert :P
The first sight of the lake was deadly and hard to
believe... And in a fraction of second my dream turned into my love at first sight... It
was more beautiful than any picture could ever capture... I still remember the
feel of the first sight of it... I rushed towards it and dipped my feet into
the ice cold water... The only one sitting in the water for almost 20
minutes... :P
We camped 2 kms away from chandratal and it was our last
night there... In just 4 days the strangers were not strangers anymore and it
was like a big big family... :-)
We had our dinner.. Played random group games and
slept....
Day 5- Back to Manali and departure
We all came back to Manali and left for our respective destinations... :(
It was not a good feeling at all.... The moment my bus started for Delhi, I started missing my trip..
Every time I finish a trek, it changes something in me and
takes up a special place in my heart... I loved it so much... It was an
experience I can never forget... The place, the people, the feel and the most beautiful Chandratal...
Thank You God, once again for everything... I love you so so
so so much... Muuuaaah :)))
Please take care of my people, always... :-)
Some
pictures from my cam-
I PREFER THESE OVER ANY DIAMOND :)
WATERFALLS ON THE WAY
SNOW WALK
FIRST SIGHT OF LAKE
SPITI VALLEY
CHANDRATAL LAKE
MANALI
BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
OUR SAVIOR IN COLD
WATER & ICE
SPITI VALLEY
