Himalaya ::A journey Within.....

##Titillating Himalaya##

**Night was long,perhaps even longer due to bone chilling cold ,devoided me of sleep...After 4 km of trek through a hilly terrain,we reached at the source of the Ganges:Gomukh..It was little bit cloudy..Mt. Shivling was peeping through the chink in the clouds exuding effervescence..

##Enchanting Himalaya##

**For the first time I spent a whole night in a tent...The experience was very daunting yet in a hindsight felt satisfied..The icy cold wind was piercing through three layers of quilt,hitting directly the skeletons..In the morning we started our trek from Bhojwasa towards Gangotri..At the back Bhagirathi peaks were standing tall,enchanting the trekkers with its grandeur..

##Idyllic Himalaya##

Last night we reached Munsiyari from Choukari around 6 pm...It was pitch dark outside ...That night we checked into Pandey Lodge....In the morning we trekked 4km uphill to a point named 'Roopsagar' and in the back drop Idyllic Panchachulli peaks emanating resplendency....

##Exuberant Himalaya##

**Deoria Tal lake is the damsel of Himalaya...It is a lake located about 3 km on an uphill trek from the Sari village . At an altitude of about 2438 meters, it has heavily wooded, lush green surroundings with snow-covered mountains (Chaukhamba is one of them) in the backdrop.

As per Hindu mythology -The famous incidence of ‘Yakshaprashna’ of Mahabharata is believed to have happened at this particular lake only. When pandavas were on exile they came across this lake and decided to drink water. As soon as the brothers drank water from the lake they all fainted and fell on the ground. Then Yudhishthir, the eldest one, came and negotiated with yaksha (a mythological creature and the spirit guarding the lake) that every correct answer he gives one of his brother should come back to life. He gave all correct answers and all the pandavas came back to life. Since that time the water of this lake is considered unfit for drinking.

## Serene Himalaya##

**The Chele La Pass is one of the highest vantage points in Bhutan, from which you can marvel at commanding views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains and valleys while the Himalayan yaks grazing in the horizon, dotted with electricity pylons. A 2-hour drive from Paro takes you to one of the highest vantage points, Chele La Pass. A botanical paradise, you’ll also be able to spot sacred mountains Jomolhari and Jichu Drake as cascades of wild roses, purple and yellow primulas and swathes of deep blue iris drape the forest floor.

## Ethereal Himalaya##

**The Gurudongmar Lake is located in Lachen, a small beautiful town in North Sikkim situatedÔ_at a height of 10000 ft.Ô_and a night stay at this town is recommended before visiting the Gurudongmar Lake. The nearest village from Gurdongmar LakeÔ_is Thangu, at about 14000 ft. which is another popular tourist attraction. Named after Guru Dongmar, the lake has a lot of religious significance and the beautiful view of Mount Siniolchu and Khanchendzonga from that point is a sight to behold. Encircled by snow-capped mountains and crystal clear icy water, it is considered as a very holy lake. The lake is one of the sources of River Teesta, which flows through Sikkim, West Bengal and Bangladesh to merge with the Bay of Bengal. There lies a 'Sarva Dharma Sthal' near the lake and it is a very popular place of worship for all religions.

##Meditative Himalaya##

** Situated at an altitude of 15,300 ft. above Mean Sea Level, Yumesamdong or Zero point is nature personified. It is a place very close to the Indo Chinese border. This place is generally not part of the standard itinerary, but is often merged with the itinerary of Yumthang Valley as an add-on.

An hour’s drive beyond Yumthang (26 kms), takes one to Yumesamdong. The way leading to Yumesamdong is a passage through natural grandeur filled with the delicate scent of Azalea flowers pervading the atmosphere.

Yumesamdong is a land of perennial snow but this valley is also used as a grazing ground for nomadic shepherds. Heady, invigorating and exhilarating, words would fail to explain the experience of being at Yumesamdong.

## Tantalizing Himalaya##

There are very few places in the Himalayas which can compare with the beauty of Kausani. As the entire Kumaon Hills have been known for their idyllic beauty with the huge mountains silhouetted against the sky. Kausani was originally called Valna. Kausani offers the magic of the deep pine forests and the majestic mountains. Kausani the birthplace of the famed poet Sumitra Nandan Pant is often referred to as the 'Switzerland of India. Situated among mountains and trees, the peaks Trishul and Nanda Devi are clearly visible from here. In 1929, Mahatma Gandhi spent 12 days here and brought his thoughts out in his book called Anasakti Yoga. The place where he stayed is called the Anasakti Ashram. This Ashram was earlier the guest house in a tea estate.

##Eternal Himalaya##

** Visit to Himalayas remain incomplete without a visit to famous Har-ki-pauri Ghat..A place where materialism comes in touch with spirtuality.....

I am ending my beautiful journey through the Himalayas with the famous stotra written down by Adi Sankara:-

"I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory,

I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes,

I am not space, not earth, not fire, water or wind,

I am the form of consciousness and bliss,

Shivoham,Shivoham"

***************Phir milenge chalte chalte***************