Travel means different things to different people. While some of us like to travel in groups, with family or friends, others like travelling and exploring places on their own. Sometimes solo travellers find unexpected travel companions along the way. Read this account of how a trekker gets help from strangers to navigate a difficult trait.
SECTION 1
It took innumerable stops and an interminable time to cover the distance of twenty-five kilometres from Badrinath to Govindghat by bus. At the few tea stalls on the road, I located someone willing to carry my rucksacks to Ghangaria, thirteen kilometres off cobbled, uphill path away. I was impatient to reach Ghangaria before dark. Setting off at 1 p.m. after a hurried lunch, I bought a Cane with an iron tip, which would come in handy when crossing ice sheets. On the pilgrim route to Hemkund Sahib, the trail to Ghangaria is populated with tea stalls at every bend, cobbled for the mules and littered, since we Indians have this amazing ability to drop our garbage with aplomb and walk on undeterred.
The first six-seven kilometres was sheer joyless trudging until I had gained some height and could glimpse the Himalayas that I seek on treks – remote, majestic, splendid and still. Luckily, I was not asked where I was headed, since everyone obviously had a single destination – Hemkund Sahib. I had recovered my state of equilibrium and could enjoy nature and walk without human interaction.
I started enjoying the trek, it was moderately steep, increasing more beautiful, and I was in tune with my surroundings. By the time I reached Gangaria, I was happy to call it a day. I scouted around and found myself a basic but neat single-bedded room with an attached toilet, in a private lodge near the Garhawal Mandal Vikas Nigam. The only information that I could get about the trail to the Valley of Flowers was that no one was going on that route yet.
I wandered through the market to get the flavour of the place — it was a one-night halt on a pilgrimage route — no particular vibes in the hustle and bustle.
Outside, there were hundreds of people moving to and fro, busy with the business of settling themselves in for the night. I wandered out and thought it befitting that I should have 100 grams of hot jalebi. Walking back to my lodge, I retired early. At 4:15 a.m. I was broken up with steaming hot tea and a tepid bucket of water.
Next part in upcoming blog
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