My Little Young Achievers

Dainkund Peak - Jot Trek

So usually we plan up well in advance for our treks but this one was an impromptu kind of a thing... a dear friend couple called up and proposed this beautiful trek Dain Kund to Jot... Having been to Dain Kund many times and with a desire to go further ahead it was a big YES from all of us (husband, our 5 year old daughter, and me). With a forecast of 40% rain on our smart phones we reached base of Dain Kund. 2 couples with one kid each of 5 years plus we started in a beautiful weather.

Trek to Dain Kund - An uphill trek of about a Kilometer took a little energy of ours but then the levelled trek made things sorted. Both the kids were quite energetic and it was fun seeing them getting themselves clicked while they trekked. Absolutely gorgeous view on both sides with valley on one side and mountains on other and sometimes valley on both sides. Each moment was worth a capture. Wish could capture some breeze n fog n clouds too :) We reached Pohlani Mata temple in about 40 min and after offering prayers, had some yum Maggi (totally recommend it) and packed lunch which we had got from home.

Trek from Dain Kund to Jot: It was an overcast sky by then. With a dilemma to go or not to go ahead we chose the former and glad we did as what came ahead was nothing less than a thriller :)

So as soon as we started from Dain Kund it started to drizzle but trusting each other’s gut feel we moved ahead. It was misty, rainy, foggy as we moved ahead on this little ‘pagdandi’ (track). Initially, we all were raring to go and the laughter was echoing in the air as we were the only ones probably trekking in that drizzle. Gradually, drizzle turned to heavy rain but there was nothing to worry after all we had rain gear. There was no network and the GPS too was showing vague directions and with fog not helping much, the men of the group who had done this trek once before were our best bet. At one point we thought we had lost our way... the rain was at its peak with thundering and lightening and with time of dusk ahead there was fear of wild life coming out for their evening meal. With kids along we had reasons to worry. Making our way through puddles and little up and down on vast and slushy fields and mountains we spotted many empty houses which were of Gaddi shepherds who come up in summers with their herd and go down to plains in winters.

At last, we heard a car’s horn. It sounded like music to us :) and then we saw the road too... It had been almost a hour an half or probably more since we started our trek from Dain Kund without stopping anywhere in between. It was raining cats and dogs as we reached Jot and we were drenched totally despite the rain gear.

The kids were our heroes, our champions who walked the entire trek with us and enjoyed the thrill. They did get a bit worried when their parents struggled a little for the right path but then kids are kids... they get involved in a situation and don’t worry about bigger things.

Interestingly, my daughter had asked my husband earlier during that morning the meaning of the word ‘challenge’ in some other context and my husband had explained it to her in very layman way so that she understands... After the end of this rainy trek, she said papa so this rain, thundering, lightening, fog were a challenge for us in this trek... right? :)

It’s said that the best way to learn for any age is by travelling... Isn’t it?

Points to Note:

1. Dain Kund base to Pohlani Mata Trek - a little more than 2km with 1 km uphill trek though well cemented. You will find vendors on the way selling soft drinks, juices, chips etc. Wish people didn’t litter though.

2. At Pohlani Mata temple there is a cute little shop selling yummy Maggi and tea.

3. Trek to Jot is about 6-7km - all levelled or down hill. There is nothing to eat on the way so it’s better to pack some munching stuff and of course water.

4. The entire Dainkund-Jot trek can be done in a day comfortably.

5. We didn’t trek back from Jot and had the car wait for us at Jot from where we headed back to our base Dalhousie / Banikhet. It took us about same time to trek from Dain Kund to Jot as it took by car from Jot to Khajjiar.

So usually we plan up well in advance for our treks but this one was an impromptu kind of a thing... a dear friend couple called up and proposed this beautiful trek Dain Kund to Jot... Having been to Dain Kund many times and with a desire to go further ahead it was a big YES from all of us (husband, our 5 year old daughter, and me). With a forecast of 40% rain on our smart phones we reached base of Dain Kund. 2 couples with one kid each of 5 years plus we started in a beautiful weather.

Trek to Dain Kund - An uphill trek of about a Kilometer took a little energy of ours but then the levelled trek made things sorted. Both the kids were quite energetic and it was fun seeing them getting themselves clicked while they trekked. Absolutely gorgeous view on both sides with valley on one side and mountains on other and sometimes valley on both sides. Each moment was worth a capture. Wish could capture some breeze n fog n clouds too :) We reached Pohlani Mata temple in about 40 min and after offering prayers, had some yum Maggi (totally recommend it) and packed lunch which we had got from home.

Trek from Dain Kund to Jot: It was an overcast sky by then. With a dilemma to go or not to go ahead we chose the former and glad we did as what came ahead was nothing less than a thriller :)

So as soon as we started from Dain Kund it started to drizzle but trusting each other’s gut feel we moved ahead. It was misty, rainy, foggy as we moved ahead on this little ‘pagdandi’ (track). Initially, we all were raring to go and the laughter was echoing in the air as we were the only ones probably trekking in that drizzle. Gradually, drizzle turned to heavy rain but there was nothing to worry after all we had rain gear. There was no network and the GPS too was showing vague directions and with fog not helping much, the men of the group who had done this trek once before were our best bet. At one point we thought we had lost our way... the rain was at its peak with thundering and lightening and with time of dusk ahead there was fear of wild life coming out for their evening meal. With kids along we had reasons to worry. Making our way through puddles and little up and down on vast and slushy fields and mountains we spotted many empty houses which were of Gaddi shepherds who come up in summers with their herd and go down to plains in winters.

At last, we heard a car’s horn. It sounded like music to us :) and then we saw the road too... It had been almost a hour an half or probably more since we started our trek from Dain Kund without stopping anywhere in between. It was raining cats and dogs as we reached Jot and we were drenched totally despite the rain gear.

The kids were our heroes, our champions who walked the entire trek with us and enjoyed the thrill. They did get a bit worried when their parents struggled a little for the right path but then kids are kids... they get involved in a situation and don’t worry about bigger things.

Interestingly, my daughter had asked my husband earlier during that morning the meaning of the word ‘challenge’ in some other context and my husband had explained it to her in very layman way so that she understands... After the end of this rainy trek, she said papa so this rain, thundering, lightening, fog were a challenge for us in this trek... right? :)

It’s said that the best way to learn for any age is by travelling... Isn’t it?

Points to Note:

1. Dain Kund base to Pohlani Mata Trek - a little more than 2km with 1 km uphill trek though well cemented. You will find vendors on the way selling soft drinks, juices, chips etc. Wish people didn’t litter though.

2. At Pohlani Mata temple there is a cute little shop selling yummy Maggi and tea.

3. Trek to Jot is about 6-7km - all levelled or down hill. There is nothing to eat on the way so it’s better to pack some munching stuff and of course water.

4. The entire Dainkund-Jot trek can be done in a day comfortably.

5. We didn’t trek back from Jot and had the car wait for us at Jot from where we headed back to our base Dalhousie / Banikhet. It took us about same time to trek from Dain Kund to Jot as it took by car from Jot to Khajjiar.