We had plans to trek to Tapovan and we had taken proper permission from Govt. authorities well in advance. We spent a full day in Gangotri in preparation for this trek! Arranging for food items, porters and preparing ourselves for the journey with sticks, tents, sleeping bags and woolen clothes etc. In the morning we went to Tapovan rout check post but we were refused the permission to go ahead as few people had lost their lives in accidents previous day. So, we had no option but to come back to ashram and relax. We planed to trek to Kedar tal on the next day.
We started from Ishavashya Ashram at about 8.30am as we were waiting for our foreigner friends to get govt permission for the trek. We crossed the wooden log bridge (Lakdi Pool) immediately and started the trek...
It is fairly steep trek right from the beginning and within a couple of hrs time we could see that usual pine and fir trees were missing and Bhojpatra trees were seen.
Pine trees appear only upto certain height....
Beyond that, Bhoj Patra Trees for some height...
Because of rainy season, we were lucky to see many waterfalls on the way! We continued our journey and reached Bhoj Khadak by about 2pm.
The last portion of the day-1 trek was the most difficult! Very liitle space on the slippery rocks...
As it started raining we decided to pitch our tents here for overnight halt. Michael from UK and Malvina from Sweden joined us at about 5pm. Accupressure treatment by Sun Yogi Uma Shankarji and Satsang after dinner were common throuout this journey!
On day two we started early and with great enthusiasm we started trekking. The rain experience of previous day taught us the lesson to take advantage of good weather conditions and go as far as possible in the first half of the day as after 2pm uncertainty of weather conditions is very common in this region.
We had to cross many such streams on the way!
The trek was more steep today and also becoming dangerous at times. We reached Kedar Khadak and it started raining. This became our camping point for day two.
And yes, we did reach there early and had nice refreshing bath in cold waters of Kedar Tal! Enjoying a cup of fresh herbal tea was so blissful, especially after cold water bath in Kedar Tal!
We got into tent by 5 pm; had early dinner and went to sleep to get up at 2.30am.
We had pitched the tent in such a way that we could see Kedar Tal from our tent. 2.30am to 4.30am we all were awake to see if other dimensional entities such as Apsaras and Devatas and Rishies come for bathing. We were ready with our cameras and yes we did capture few astral movements in our camera!
(Those pics will be soon uploaded on this blog...)
In the morning we got up at 6am but fog was so heavy we could hardly see anything around. Our hopes of photographing snow capped mountains started fading... But with the sunrise, things started changing and fog started clearing. Before leaving Kedar Tal we got very clear view of all the peaks and we were really happy to capture them in camera!
Group Phote at Kedar Tal: From left to right:
Malvina, Michael, Dr. Rajesh, Sun Yogi Uma Shankarji, Vidya, Bharati & Prem.
Thalaysagar Peak and its reflectin in Kedar tal waters...
Bhrigu mountain Range
Neel Kamal and dew drop!
Fane Kamal found between two rocks near Kedar Tal...
Brahma Kamal near Kedar Khadak...
Inside view of Brahma Kamal...
Return Journey from Kedat Tal to Ishavasyam Ashram...
Walking over the loose rocks...
Descending down was relatively easy and everyone wanted to reach ashram as early as possible! But we had to cross few dangerous landslide spots as early as possible!
What took us three day for upward journey; we completed the same in one day while coming down and reached the ashram in evening about 6pm. Even though our ankles and knees were tired and hurting, our spirits were soaring high as we could complete this difficult 18km trek safely.
Next day morning enjoyed Sun gazing Meditation with Sun Yogi Uma Shankarji and went to meet Lalita maiji, details of which are mentioned in the previous (Part-2: Gangotri Dhaam) blog.
Thank you!
Shivoham
Om Prem
Thank you so much for sharing. The pictures are so beautiful.....
ReplyDeletePranams from kuwait,
Namita
The presentation made everything live for us. Waiting eagarly to see more pictures and videos on thursday. With Dr. Rajesh's revealation we understood what saints and sadhus are not getting in Himalayas we are getting on a readymade platter in TAO. The teachings and Understanding for all levels of seekers. Tremendous gratitude to the Master Brahmarshi Prem Nirmalji.
ReplyDeletei feel as if im doing himalayan journey .there is alwys learning from ur every act.thnx sir
ReplyDeleteGuruji,
ReplyDeleteAfter all that you have shown us, I just can't wait to see more of what you have in store for us this Thursday.
You have taken us on such a divine journey sitting in the comfort of our chairs at TAO. It simply has got to be that im experiencing DEJA VU.
With heartfelt gratitude
Kranti Ray
Thanks for sharing lovely pics. Just seeing inspires to go to Himalayas.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are so lovely.Thanks for sharing them.Waiting to see more pics on Thursday.When you were sharing some of your experiences I felt that we were literary doing the yatra with you.
ReplyDeleteBharati had actually taken me to Nani maa and Lalita ma .
Vidya`s sharing was full of Bhava.
Dr. Rajesh`s story of the small boy was telling so much more than the story itself.
Thankyou so much for everything Sir.
The beauty of nature is always in plenty. Capturing it in photo is the art. Compiling it and sharing it with all is beautiful attitude - a way of life. Doing it so regularly and with so much creativity is really what only a great Master can do - the fact that it provides us opportunity to correct our attitudes while enjoying the nature, art and creativity is big bonus indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much sir for all that is happening.
Pronam Guruji,
ReplyDeleteFeel privileged to receive narration of your recent Himalayan trip along with wonderful photographs. There is a deep urge to know more about “Jagadanand experience” you mentioned to happen inside Mahavatar Babaji's Cave. Hope we get an opportunity to listen to your sharing of such supreme experience.
It unleashes many past memories of high altitude trekking & mountaineering in Himalayas during my college life. My rare collection of a Brahma Kamal during one such trip 25 years ago is still there inside one of the old books in my home town Kolkata.
With deep gratitude and humble submission,
Rajdeep (Muscat, OMAN)