My First Trek

 MY FIRST TREK

           It all started with the thought of doing something which I have always enjoyed doing i.e. travelling.  So, then I thought of…… why not trekking. Now, this brainwave came sometime in Apr or so, last year. Kept pondering…. Where to go…… In India , Monsoons set in by Jun/July. So, I felt I could start with a monsoon trek. Hence,  I started preparing myself by going for regular walks. I started walking about 5 to 6 kms in one hour everyday. Moreover, since my flat is on fifth floor, I started using the stairs instead of the elevator. 

           After lot of googling and net surfing, I decided to go for my first trek- Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Saab Gurudwara (Uttarakhand).  This is a monsoon trek. So, there was no way I could avoid monsoon showers during the trek. I had read that the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand is a world heritage site and so was really looking forward to the trek. I was super excited.

          So, let me put it this way. The trek to the Valley of Flowers from Ghanghria was an amazing experience. You have to go there to believe it. An ethereal experience! This was always on my bucket list and was finally able to experience it.

       Then the next day was the trek to Hemkund Saab Gurudwara - Highest Gurudwara in the World. I am not a very religious person but the passion to go there just kept me going. It wasn’t easy because the ascent is steep and the altitude is also quite a bit ( 13,650 feet) and to top it up - the rain.I took it as a challenge.  Moreover, one cannot stay the night there. One has to come back the same day.  After 1.00 pm, the officials start telling people to start going down. Anyways…. With the day pack, raincoat, ORSL, dry fruits and the zeal to reach there managed to get me there.

 

          During the trek to Hemkund Saab Gurudwara, I faced rains , but somehow decided that come what may, I have to reach the destination. The scenic view is amazing. You get to see the glaciers, streams, waterfalls.After an arduous trek of about 7 hours or so, I reached the Gurudwara. Believe me, it was a great sense of achievement- having pushed my body through the limits. It is the faith of the people which drives them to undertake these treks. I saw people much older than me, going uphill in slippers. Once  there, went to the Gurudwara, sat there and the kind of peace one felt is beyond words. 

              One thing  I feel worth mentioning is that while I was going uphill, at one point I felt that I could do it no more and was feeling queasy, uncomfortable and nauseated. Then a couple , who were passing by asked me if I was okay and I told them, that I was feeling uncomfortable. They stopped, gave me some drops, waited for me to recover and then went along with me. Well, this is life……..

     So, after spending good 2 hours or so at Hemkund, started walking back. I got back to my hotel in around 6 hours or so. When I look back, I realised that it was my will power and the zeal to do it which got me going.

                                                    FELT A GREAT SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT 

                                              GUYS, JUST GO FOR IT WHEN YOUR HEART SAYS SO!!!!!