Best of the Season – Trekking 2010

Om                                                                                                                   Jai Ganga                                                                                                            +

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Mt. Nanda Devi from Kuari Pass

Mt. Trishul ( The trident of Shiva

Roop Kund Lake

Negotiating high passes

Besides its rivers, rivulets and streams, Garhwal is famous for its high altitude lakes, which hold up a mirror to the awesome peaks that surround them.  Not one of the most beautiful, but certainly the most fascinating lake in Garhwal Himalayas is “Roopkund”, the mystery lake. At an altitude of 4777 metres, this glacial lake is about 50 metres in diameter. It is so named, because of its banks lies the remains of human skeleton of scores of men who perished many centuries ago. Many mythological accounts and stories are heard about the remains, they range from Tibetan traders to refugees to Tughlaks army, who were on a mission to Tibet, under General Zorawar  Singh.

Homekund is yet another lake, situated at a distance of 8 kms  beyond Roopkund. Homkund is the final destination of Nanda Jat Yatra, commences after every 12 years. Along the route, one can witness the excellent close views of  Nanda Ghunti (6309 metres), Trishul (7142 metres), Chaukhamba (7138 metres) and other important peaks.

Apart from lakes and peaks, the trek passes through one of the best ‘Bugyals’ the alpine meadow of the area, i.e. Bedni  have long been related to myths and mysteries. Even  today, the local people witness the presence of fairies. According  to a popular belief the  Vedas were written in sylvan  haunts of Bedni. Regularly visited and worshipped temple of Goddess Nanda Devi  is situated amidst the meadow. 

A 14 Nights  15  days trip which involves trek to one of the high altitude Himalayan lakes and spiritual  journey to one of the four most sacred place and source of second most important river of Northern India.

Best Time : June to November   

Itinerary

Day 0. Arrive Rishikesh. Check in to High Bank Peasants Cottage. Evening introduction with trekking guide & camp staff followed by welcome dinner. Overnight High Bank Pesants Cottage.

DAY 01. RISHIKESH / JOSHIMATH   DRIVE 8- 9 HRS. OVERNIGHT HOTEL

Morning after breakfast drive to Joshimath. The entire drive toady is along the Ganga and Alaknanda river. We stop at Devprayag to visit the confluence at the beginning of the Ganges. Arrive Joshimath and transfer to hotel. Evening visit the small hill town. Dinner  and overnight hotel.

DAY 02. JOSHIMATH/ AULI/TALI  TREK 5-6 HRS. OVERNIGHT TENTS

Morning after breakfast trek to Tali . The entire trek today is Gradual climb through the forest and  in open meadow . One can get the view of - Neelkanth, Kamet, Hathi parbat, Hathighori, Mukut, Dronagiri and Nanda Devi.  Arrive Tali &  camp in meadow. Meals and overnight camp.

DAY 03. TALI /DHAKWANI TREK 5-6 HRS. OVERNIGHT TENTS.

Morning after breakfast trek to Dhakwani. Today we climb all the way to Kauri Pass. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Greater  Himalayan Peaks and trek down to Dhakwani. Arrive Dhakwani & camp. Dinner and overnight camp.

DAY 04. DHAKWANI / PANA  TREK 5-6 HRS. OVERNIGHT TENTS

Trek in rich forest of Oak , rhododendron steep climbing and steep  descending

DAY 05 PANA / SEEMA KHARAK TREK 4-5 HRS. OVERNIGHT TENTS

A 2 hour descending  and 2 and ½  hour or 3 hour  steep climbing in the forest of  Deodar  blue pines.  (4-5 hours)

DAY 06. SEEMA KHARAK /GHUNI ( RAMANI) 4 -5 HRS. OVERNIGHT TENTS

First  1 and ½ hour climbing  in the forest  there are some small patches  of meadow on the way.  Chechani vinayak (pass) view of Trishuli,  around 2 hour gradual descending in the meadow 

DAY 07. GHUNI / SUTOL TREK 5-6 HRS. OVERNIGHT TENTS

Easy but long walking  In between  5-6 valleys, sutol  last village in the confluence  Nandakini – Roopkini

DAY 08 SUTOL / TALA KAPAR  OVERNIGHT TENTS

 1 hour steep climbing 1 hour descending  walking with the  stream  2 hour steep climbing  in the forest  of blue pine , Oak , rhododendron and burch (5-6 hours).

DAY 09 TALA  KAPAR /BHOGUBASA OVERNIGHT TENTS

1 and ½ hour  steep climbing  the forest, ½ hour in the rocky path of the medow  1 hour flat walking in medow  along the river roopkini ,  around 2 hour  steep climbing  to Bhagubasa . On the way  view of  Nanda Ghunti  and trishuli, Chaukhamba , Neelkanth .

DAY 10 BHOGUBASA /ROOP KUND -  Patar Nachawani- Bhagubasa to Roopkund is easy walking in the flat but in moraines ½  hour climbing  with same view  as last day. (4-5 hours). Kaluka Vinayak (pass) descending  till to patarnachani.

DAY 11 PATAR NACHANI / BEDNI  (Aali)- OVERNIGHT TENTS

The best view of Chaukhamba , Neelkanth and Nanda devi , Trishul. Whole trek is in meadow. (3-4 hour).

DAY 12. BEDNI / WAN OVERNIGHT TENTS

Steep descending  2 and ½ hour and 1 hour climbing in rich forest  of rhododendron, Oak  camping in small medow of wan  with the view of trishuli (3-4 hours).

DAY 13. WAN / LOHAJANG PASS/MUNDOLI TREK 4-5 HRS.

Easy walking  gradual  decending  around 3 hour and  1 and  ½ hour  steep climbing  to Lohajang  pass whole day in rich forest of conifer rhododendron etc. view of trishuli  from lohajang pass. Arrive and camp .

DAY 14. MUNDOLI / ( Shivpuri 15kms up river from Rishikesh )  RISHIKESH DRIVE 9-10 HRS. Overnight

HIGH BANK Himalayan Retreat On the Ganges  

Morning after breakfast drive to Shivpuri . Check in to HIGH BANK Himalayan Retreat On the Ganges . Rejuvenate your self with a complimentary Ayurvedic (Traditional Indian ) Massage.  Camp fire BBQ followed by dinner. Overnight  at the retreat.

DAY 15 . RISHIKESH / Onward Journey .

Morning after breakfast Trip terminates.

On can stay in Rishikesh or drive to Delhi .

The Fixed Departure trips are inclusive of:

1. Twin sharing accommodation at Road heads in Guest Houses / Tourist Bungalows/hotels during the entire trip. (As we give round the year business to the hotels we get very god discounted rates which are finally passed on to the clients , as we calculate the cost of the treks on discounted rates.)

2. All meals hygienically cooked and served by our specially trained staff for westerners. (We emphasize a lot on food and all our cooks are specially trained to provide hygienic food to westerners).

3. Transportation from Rishikesh to Rishikesh. (We have our own brand new Toyota Jeeps & mini buses, with handpicked drivers who have been trained to drive westerners on mountain roads).

4. Services of English speaking professional trekking guide, cook, and camp staff during the entire trip. (All our trekking Guides & camp staff are from this area only and know the area very well. All trekking Guides and most of the camp staff have dome First Aid and CPR courses and do refreshing courses every year)

5. All tourist taxes during the travel.

6. Visit to all important temples and places during the entire trip.

7. Camping equipment on the trek e.g. tents, mattresses, sleeping bags etc. (We have brand new spacious tents and other trekking equipment however we recommend clients to bring personal sleeping bags). 

8. Portage of food, camping & kitchen equipment on the trek.

9. Portage of personal baggage on trek. (Only in Deluxe options)

10.Trekking permits and camping fees on the treks.

Cost does not Include:

1. Items of personal nature e.g. table drinks, telephones, laundry, insurance, evacuation, damages /claims, & medical services and services in unforeseen circumstances.

2. Riding ponies on trek. ( Can be arranged on actual by the guide on the trip)

3. Any other trip other than specified above.

The above Cost is :

1. Subject to Government service taxes

2. Non commissionable. 

3. Valid for the Trekking season for 2008 from February to December.