Showing posts with label chandratal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chandratal. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Oh! So Peaceful!



2016 is gone and it was really a short year for me. It was the most peaceful year for me in last 5 years.

And I am glad to say that I am happy with everything, at least, I don’t have anything to crib about. Although if I’ll try to think I still haven’t achieved so many things, things are not moving as per my plan, still so many travel destinations are pending, Disneyland and Bora Bora are still in my dreams; my crazy Goa plan is still a plan and added few more crazy things in my list pheew... I am way too far from starting my own venture, still not started playing squash regularly or mastered Golf or learned swimming but I am still very proud to say I am content. My mind is at peace and for me that’s more important.

So, in 2016, I have mastered the art of falling asleep within 5 minutes of lying down on bed, keeping myself first and prioritizing my family, being alone and at peace, not having an urge of talking and yes, I have started enjoying my food alone without feeling weird, I think I love food more than random people around. :P

I discovered my immense love for mountains than ever before, I can relate every love song with me and my love for mountains :P

I am somehow feeling freer than ever before.

Honestly, being content has nothing to do with my list of things or plans ahead. I am just poised in my present. And I would love to thank everyone who made this year a fantastic one.

Many good things happened for the first time this year and I would like to share the best ones-

My First experience with snow-

Snowline, Triund

Till 2015, it was just a dream for me to see snow in real and I never thought that the beginning of this year will come with snow for me.
I visited Triund and snowline in the month of January’16 where I saw snow for the first time, the feeling was awesome and I doubt words can ever explain it.
Snow covered mountains are pure bliss and soothe to eyes... Like I had done something really good to deserve this sight...

Chandratal-
Chandratal Lake

Chandratal was my dream for last 2 years and every time I was not able to do it for some reason or other. This year I finally got a chance to visit Chandratal. It was again an amazing feeling.. the lake, the trip, the trek and the people I met... everything was just brilliant. I am really thankful for everyone who made this experience so joyful and memorable for me.
It was a blessing for me.

Amazing People-

People play an important role in my life.
I don’t know if it is because of my sun sign which is Libra or what, but, yes, my life is the best when I am around good people.
“Good people” is a subjective term though everyone is good in one or the other way that depends what kind of person we are.
 I am old school. I still believe in things which people don’t care about and it’s difficult for me to find my tribe.
I met amazing people during my travels and realized world is a much better place. I am happy. :)

Trekking-

Travel makes us realise so much about life and diversity in the world, especially trekking.

Trekking taught me that there lies a beautiful life beyond material comfort, you can be at peace while sleeping in camps in wild, survive for days without fone or any internet, drink naturally flowing water from rivers, slide on snow without any gear in your bare clothes, enjoy your own company in nature and a lot more.

And the best one I learnt from mountains and rivers is the times passes no matter what, nothing stops for you, you have to keep moving like a river and stay strong like mountains.. Summer will come, winters will come and so will monsoon... Just stay calm and patient. 

Time is beyond our control but this life is ours. We can make it or destroy it.
                          
Aah, I wish to trek more. :)


Its winters... again.. in Delhi.

When its winters everything is so much better and so much beautiful.

Although, I know I need to travel more and figure out my career plan ahead.

Experiencing a snow fall is still on my priority list. I so wish to escape to Kashmir right now. :P

Thank you God for everything. You know I Love you.. Take care of my people.. Muuah :*

Happy New Year Pearl :)


Saturday, July 2, 2016

Chandratal- A dream come true!


"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