Shivling - more than a mountain

Gangotri National Park

Well, I've always been fascinated by mountains. Yep, I'm a mountain person. Not that I don't like beaches or islands, just that the mountains allure me in myriads of ways each time.

One such mountain that I witnessed, and to this day contemplate my experience in it's lap is Mt. Shivling. No pictures or words can do justice to the visual, mental experience when you're in front of this giant.

The following pictures of Mt. Shivling are taken during 4-5 days spent in Gangotri national park, Uttarakhand.

Shimmering, first rays unveil some part of the crown."Indian Matterhorn" as early westerners called it.

Photo of Gangotri National Park, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India by Akshay Upadhya

Reminiscing the moment I scrambled up the last leg of steep climb to Tapovan. Jaw dropped, in total awe, I guess my heart really skipped a beat that day turning around the corner confronted by this towering mountain.

Mt.Shivling is the most compelling, imposing beauty of rock and ice I've ever seen.

Framed here, a hiker sets up tent for the night on the vast meadows of #Tapovan in front of #Shivling. Garhwal, #Himalayas. Sep, '19.⠀

Why do you go to mountains?

Look at a mountain right from the base all the way to the summit, just stay put in front of it. It's sheer scale simply towers one's materialistic, frivolous complacency. That's one of the reasons why I love being in the mountains, to realise, time and again just how insignificant one can be in the scheme of larger things.

Over the 50+ hours spent in the lap of this mountain, I visualised many frames in my mind to expose the sort of 'magnetic pull' it had. Each time enticing deep solitude upon oneself expounded by it's absolute stillness.

No one governs the mountains. Opinions don't matter.A poignant reminder that there's no knowing a mountain entirely. You see what you're shown, you go where you're allowed and in that moment, the present, there's everything.

In words of Anatoli Boukreev, a legendary Russian climber before his bold attempt in Nepal, "... they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion...I go to them as humans go to worship. From their lofty summits I view my past, dream of the future and, with an unusual acuity, am allowed to experience the present moment...my vision cleared, my strength renewed. In the mountains I celebrate creation. On each journey I am reborn." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀

Pictured here, north-east face of Mt. #Shivling from the high meadows of Nandanvan, #Uttarakhand.

Shivling, to me is more than just a mountain. Certainly, a meditative, spiritual and ecstatic experience on personal level to be in lap of such towering beauty that I shall cherish for a lifetime.