Thrilling Trek in Cold Winds of Nag Tibba #MyTravelRituals

It's been a long time since I have taken a good trip. That's why I was excited for this one. To give a break to the office life and to follow the ritual of traveling on year-end and commencement of a New Year, five crazy friends planned a trek to Nag Tibba and booked with a travel organizer to welcome 2020.

Please, don't litter your waste in the mountains!

The journey started in the evening of 30th December. The organizer has booked us a sleeper bus from Kashmiri Gate, Delhi. We reached there by 10pm and the temperature was down to 7°C. Waiting for bus below the open sky at freezing temperature reminds me the warmness of blanket if we haven't decided to take this trip. Though, after an hour, the bus departed for Dehradun. One can easily find out plenty of bus to Dehradun at regular intervals if opted to travel on their own. We took our sleeper seats, unfold the blankets and fell asleep.

The bus reached Dehradun ISBT at 6.30am with a snack halt in midway. We were expecting that there must be very cold outside but to our surprise, it was a very relaxing weather. The sun was about to kiss us through its first rays. We were asked to wait for a traveler bus which will take us to Pantwari base, from where the trek has to be started. We took tea and snacks while chatting with other co-traveler of the group. After a couple of hours, we get the traveler and headed towards Pantwari village which is about 90kms away from Dehradun. Private cabs and govt buses are easily available to reach Pantwari via Nainbagh.

Once crossed the city, we entered into Mussoorie, the Queen of Hills. I have visited Mussoorie two times earlier. Every flashbacks come alive after seeing the sights giving a sense of nostalgic feeling. We crossed Dehradun Zoo, Prakasheswer Shiv Temple, Mussoorie Mall Road, the Company Garden and at last the famous Kempty falls. After two hours of journey, the traveler took a stop for a little freshen-up and breakfast at beautiful restaurant beside the road on hill cliff. We click a few pictures and get ourselves relaxed from the zig-zag motion of hilly roads. The next two hours journey was still left. The driver was playing melody songs from the 70's and 80's. The whole bus was singing while enjoying the scenic ride above the hills. We reach at Pantwari village at around 1pm in the noon. This is the base from where the trek for Nag Tibba get started.

Please, don't litter your waste in the mountains!

There were about 60 trekkers in our group. All of us get collected at place and after a brief instruction, we started the trek of 7kms to our base camp. Everyone excited, most of us didn't know the total trek distance, moved towards the target on a much inclined pathway. The village gate was made beautifully and at the entrance, there was a magnificent temple with really appreciable architecture. We witnessed village people doing their regular work like carrying bundle of woods on their back, obviously for cooking and bonfire for winters, mules carrying luggage, children coming from school, and more. The culture look quiet peaceful, at least compared to us in the city. After half an hour of trek, I was completely exhausted (though most of us) and dipped in sweat. I took a rest, drink a sip of water and then fruit juice. This was the only time I feel like I wouldn't be able to complete the trek. But this was not going to be happen. Since then, when I restarted the trek, I don't feel that tiredness again and thought that the body has now achieved the maximum threshold to get exhausted. We had now crossed the village, and trekking through forest over gravel path (full with small and large stones).

After a few halts, we reached the halfway where our lunch was to be served by the organizer. Though, the food was tasteless but much needed at that time. Half of the trek was completed and the rest half was standing tall ahead us. During walking on that elevated path, I remembered the famous poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. Like in the poem, the character has chosen that path which was less preferred by people, we felt the same. As jeep are available at the village down which covers more than half of trek distance, but the gut within us has made us to choose this path. At last but not the least, we made it to our base after a trek of about 4 hours. Before moving ahead, let me recall the last part of the poem:

"I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference..."

Yes, the trek has really made a difference to our soul as described by Robert Frost. The beauty which we witnessed at the top of that hill cannot be described merely by words, at least I cannot. The blend of colors illuminating from the sun which was hiding slowly behind those mountains looked marvelous. The cold breeze atop was chilling us but the diminishing rays of dusk made us warm inside. This feeling as a whole made me rethink how nature is vast and how limited we humans are. Sitting in our cubicles, working 9 to 5, waiting for weekends, and lying almost dead in those weekends; obviously that is not the purpose of a human life. The nature has surely hidden heaven in it and all we have to do is to solve a riddle to find that traveling is the best solution we got.

Please, don't litter your waste in the mountains!

We now get the evening snacks and moved to a tent that was going to be our little palace for that night. After a rest, we prepared the bonfire setup and lit it to burn. Everyone gathered around, had chit-chat, played Antakshari, and danced like no one was watching us. But yes, literally no one was watching us as there was no lamp, just the moonlight and thousands of stars twinkling above our head. After all of this, we slept early as the trek to Nag Tibba summit was scheduled at 4am in the morning.

This was the first morning of the year 2020. Everyone got up early and started the trek by 4.30am in the morning as we were determined to see the sunrise from the top of Nag Tibba, 5.5kms away from the base camp. OH MY GOSH! I don't remember the last time when I have woke up before 6am. But here I am walking in the woods of a mountain in the midst of cool wind and temperature down to 1°C. With the help of mobile's flashlight, the group moved towards the target for the day. Only the foot way was visible, beside that was deep trench at one side, and hills at other. It is advised to always move in groups during these kind of treks, and we were taking this advice very seriously. As the dawn was approaching, the dark sky was turning blue. The rhododendron-oak forest seems more visible slowly. Few sample of snow can be seen at some places. One of my friends has agreed for this trek only to see snowfall and we were encouraging him that we will definitely witness a good chunk of snow at the top. Though, this was a first time and an amazing feeling to trek at this time and that with the best of friends.

We reach at the Nag Tibba temple after 2 hours of trek. The temple is dedicated to Hindu Nag Devta (God of Serpents) and is widely believed by the locals. They use to worship and thank God for keeping safe to their livelihood and cattle. The place is surrounded by forest and mountains from all sides. There was immense peace and sense of serenity. In that silence environment, I can hear and count my breathes. We waited for our friends-circle, had energy boosters like chocolate, juice and water. The Nag Tibba summit was still about 2 kms away and we headed.

Please, don't litter your waste in the mountains!

The remaining path was majorly covered with snow and was stiff inclined. And we had wore normal casual shoes, so it was little slippery to walk on. But I said earlier that group is important, everyone keep motivating each other to move on. The air was freezing the face since only that part of the body was uncovered. After the next one and a half hours, we had almost reached the summit but one of our friends was getting uncomfortable in walking. So, we decided not to move ahead and should trek back. The sun has now risen up and the snowy path was becoming more slippery. And trekking down had now become more difficult. We had to go for sliding as walking at that inclination was almost impossible. There was deep trench covered with snow at both sides. Somehow, we managed and gathered down at the Nag Tibba temple. We had some food and snacks, and shared the same with co-travelers and took rest there. We find some good friends on the way and accompanied them till down to the base camp. On seeing the path, none of us were believing how we managed to walk on that risky path filled with stones in the early morning.

We reached the base camp at about 1 pm at noon and get ourselves freshen-up. Rajma-Chawal was served for our lunch and it tastes so good after that rigorous journey. We had enough food because 7kms trek down to Pantwari village was still left and we had to do it right after. We took a power nap and then packed the rucksack ready to finish the trip.

At about 2 pm, we started to trek down with our new friends. Everyone was exhausted and preferred to take rest very often as compared when trekking up. Though, we get to know more about our new friends and find out that they were college students and had come from BHU, Varanasi, my hometown. This feels good to know that people are passionate for traveling.

Please, don't litter your waste in the mountains!

Nevertheless, it took us more than 3 hours to reach down. Our traveler bus was ready to take us to Dehradun from where our bus was scheduled. It took another 4 hours to reach Dehradun. We had a light dinner and departed back to Delhi at 11pm at night through sleeper bus.

The complete experience was good. But one thing we found out that it is not a perfect trek for beginners for sure. One must be ready hard physically and mentally to accomplish this trek. The next thing I can guarantee is that it will be an unforgettable trip for your life.