This was my maiden trek and I am glad I chose Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Saheb. I carried home tonnes of great memories from the trip that I will cherish for my life.
Serene Nature, Splendid weather, a great company of cousins, new friends we made and the team who lead the trek made a perfect mixture to cherish. While the chirpy young kept the team charged, the conviction of the others was inspirational to the rest.
I am also glad that Thrillophillia conducts this trip. The field team lead by Yogi and Sandeep was awesome. At some point or other everyone in the group were amazed with their knowledge, patience, perseverance, untiring efforts to make the trip a memorable and comfortable one for the entire team. Their daily briefing was quite interesting.
Valley of flowers amazed us with the nuances it offered every minute. The continuous rain, the chill of the breeze, narrow steep path, rolling stones, changing landscape every minute, moving clouds around you, crossing the river over narrow bridges….
The list goes on and on
Hemkund Saheb is another marvel. This place left most of the team members ecstatic. What a bliss. The only place I have seen made many people cry with joy. A place that one must visit atleast once in their lifetime. The trek(mule ride), the hospitality at the Gurudwara were breathtaking. It was a testimony to what faith can bring out of people. We could see people of all age groups from 3 to 70+ trek all the way from Govindghat to Hemkund Saheb, carrying children and luggage on shoulders and sometime on mules. Wow…
We were exposed to a new world of Ghangaria which come alive in March and sleeps over from October. A town that has everything active only for 4 months.
To tell the truth, we started this trek with many doubts and inhibitions. Especially since we had 2 children aged 7 & 8 who had done only single day treks till date. Our trek leader Makkhan Singh gave us a complete overview of what we could expect but nothing prepared us for the unadulterated natural beauty that was all around us from the start to the finish of the trek. From Deodar trees in the lower ranges to tall pine forests on taller peaks. The autumn colours were visible in full glory. Many moments bring a smile back to our faces like speaking to the villagers we met on the way, finding a couple of langoors spying on us, having black tea with herbs that instantly refreshed us and many more such memories.
Camping was a whole new experience for all of us. It taught us the discipline of timing and the regard for others comfort. The cooks who accompanied us were very thoughtful about our children and tried their best to serve food that kids would enjoy.
Needless to say, the snow was the best part of the trek. We made a snowman with the help of trek guide Ashish. He was wonderful with our kids. He played with them, but was also very careful about their safety.
I wish to wholeheartedly thank each and every one in the team who helped organize this trek so perfectly. We didn't feel a single moment of confusion or uncertainty over any of the arrangements made. This experience has definitely made us wish to do more such treks in the future.
The stay at kund was a very pleasant one. It had wonderfull golden views of Kedardome. Sound of mountain river just below the campsite was like a soothing lullaby. The fully blooming rhododendron gave the perfect reddish look of the season FALL. Now as we come to the part of the trek to deorital, the day started with a double puncture of one of our car which was to take us to SARI. But to our joy it provided us the perfect excuse to start our trek right from kund. The opportunity gave us time to photograph the kedar dome from a height and on the way we also came by a hilly waterfall which gave us plenty to take home some mesmerizing photographs. By the time our car was ready to take us to Sari. On reaching Sari we started our climb to Deorital Lake . On the way we filled up our water bottles from a mountain spring and wow the most refreshing drink i had in my life off cousre accompanied by chewing of rhododendron petals. On reaching deorital we were greeted with patches of snow and a mesmerizing view of snow clad-en peaks of Chaukhamba. We could even capture the reflection of the cliffs in the clear water of the lake. After having a packed lunch we descended down to sari by taking a visit to hilly temple. On the way back we went to Ukhimath, the winter home of BABA Kedarnath. The secondays climb was from Chopta. There was snow right from Chopta. We claded our shoes with the mandatory spikes and started our climb throw the snow laden valley and mountain sides of chopta taking occassional breaks. The temple of Tungnath was almost under snow. After taking a break at tungnath we further ascended to Chandrasila peak making new path through the fresh snows. And like we were on the top of the world with 360 degree view of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba. The weather had by then started getting little naughty with patches of black clouds hovering around. After taking a quick packed lunch we started our descend, which was packed with thrills and surprises courtesy our guide Monu Rana. We went back to our childhood days by sliding and rolling through the snows like 3 year old toddlers and just yelling in excitement. On reaching chopta we boarded our cars to be back to kund. A heavy downpour welcomed us to Kund and let us have a unique experience of heavy mountain lashes.
Next day we were back to Haridwar after having a tastefull lunch at Jayalgarh.
A wow experience of lifetime in my sixth trek.
Hi All, I took Har Ki Dun trek, booked via Thirllophila. The operator made all the arrangements. Though I was travelling Solo, I was surrounded with company of good locals and other fellow trekkers, all heading towards Har Ki Dun. It was 07 days trek & was a awesomely memorable journey. I really enjoyed whole trek and company of Rishab & Nitin bhai (Guides). They really took good care of me and my fellow trekkers. I meet many people and few became good friends of mine with whom I'm still communicate. Guys, I recommend every new trekkers, solo or group to go for it. This trek is easy to moderate with mesmerizing views with really tasty foods along the trek camping.
Though, I visited at end of June but rain was at beginning and bothered us very little. Those snow covered mountain tops and chilled water river streams are beautiful. Along the way, is wooden bridges, water steams, cold clouds, lush green dense forests and few Maggie shops by local peoples to take rest and spend some time with nature.
Thanks again to Thrillophilia!
19th to 23rd January 2019 can’t forget, can’t explain the experience in my life !! The Brahmatal trek is unforgettable in this lifetime!! Yes, we faced some mighty powers of mountains and skies , when we were at Brahmatal camp at 12000feet severe snow storm was hit !! Yea we wanted live snowfall we were praying for it since we booked for the trek but the holy nature gave us so much snowfall that’s enough for one lifetime!! It was almost 4 to 5 feet snow outside our camps !!! we experienced temp of around -15 to -20 degree !! we took shelters in chacha ki dhukhan (small shop with wooden roof covered with tarpol)! The best part was our guides when all others trekking companies like India hike, trek the Himalayas team went down in snow storm our team stayed back up until the 36hours storm was gone and descended with a view that can be remembered every day in this lifetime !! Thinking about the hike up the mountain, right before the peak, the pain is unbearable. The trek has been long and the journey has been uphill against snow filled rocky terrain. Just before you reach the top, you feel as if you’ll never be able to take another step, yet you do. You forget ahead and just as the desire to give up becomes strongest, you reach the top. The light, the view is incredible, and you can finally see clearly what you’ve been fighting for. Suddenly, the next part of your journey is clear. It's beautiful, and its all laid out in the sight ahead and below. You are renewed, you know now where you are going. Today, if you are in a season where you are heading uphill and all you see is the mountainous terrain ahead, I hope to inspire you to keep going. Take small steps, but don't stop and don't dare go backwards. When it feels like you can't move, take a deep breath, and cry out for strength to just take the very next step. You will reach the top of your mountain and your joy will be great!! You are moving forward and your destiny awaits! After this trek, my confidence has boosted for sure !! I would like to thank my trek guides from bottom of my heart Raju bhayia, Praveen bhai who took very good care of us overnights and days in that severe snow storm and motivating on each and every step which was very difficult on the way back !! Again I Repeat this experience “Cannot be explained and cannot forget” in this lifetime!!
Guys from experience I recommend you to carry all the trekking gears without fail or u gonna suffer REAL bad in those mighty mountains especially must if u are doing in peak winter ... (don't forget to see the forecast )
imp gears are Minus temp waterproof outer jacket, down jacket .thermal inners, lots of t-shirts at least 4, thermal pants, trek pants 2 , track pants , walking poles , WATERPROOF SHOES ( very imp ), 4 pairs of thermal socks , GATERS u can't walk without it in snow, in safer side carry one meter of tarpol that can be used in heavy snow as gaters (telling with experience) , woollen caps, glove inners, waterproof gloves ..
Be mentally prepared for the worst !!!u will really enjoy it and ur confidence will be much more then what you were !!
MUST DO TREK!
I booked the Har Ki Dun Trek through Thrilloplilia for November 24 to November 30.
Its been the most incredible trek of my life. The trek operators are professionals & took very good care of us. The camps & food was awesome mostly. The guides were responsible & cooperative & knew their role.
On the last day we got snow and could not proceed to Har Ki Dun but the trek through the snow was awesome.
All in all a great trek experience. I would definitely recommend this awesome trek through Thrillophilia.
