Previous Post in this series : Chopta Chandrashila Tunganath : 1 : A day in Haridwar
Experience this series on Youtube :
Chopta Chandrashila Trek | Part 1 | A day in Haridwar
Chopta Chandrashila Trek | Part 2 | Haridwar Sari Deoria Tal
Experience this series on Youtube :
Chopta Chandrashila Trek | Part 1 | A day in Haridwar
Chopta Chandrashila Trek | Part 2 | Haridwar Sari Deoria Tal
On second day of our trip, we had to go for a long road trip from Haridwar to Sari village.
Even though the distance is merely around 200 km, the road is entirely among the mountains. There is only sigle lane on each side on most of this road. That makes this travel slow.
And to add to that, there was a huge traffic jam around Haridwar and Rishikesh. Because of the peak season tourists and pilgrims have flocked to these cities. There are roadworks going on in many places. We came to know that because of this, the traffic jam is happening there on daily basis.
Our group of 8 people, and 6 other trekkers had arrived in Haridwar. Trek the Himalayas had arranged 3 cars (sumo / bolero) for us. They picked us from Haridwar Station and got stuck in traffic. It took 5-6 hours for just Rishikesh to pass.
Unfortunately, the car I that was travelling in broke down in the middle of traffic. Other two cars moved ahead and we got stuck just outside Haridwar.
It took 2-3 hours to call the mechanic, try to repair the same car, but it did not work. By the time we feasted on delicious breakfast of various Parathas and Lassi. We also played a lot of card games to pass the time. They arranged for another car, but it also was coming from Haridwar and had to come to us through all that traffic. Finally we left from there.
After crossing Rishikesh the road was less crowded and then we could see the driving skills of our driver. All the drivers of this place drive cars in such tough mountainous roads. In cities we get cautious even in small lanes when a car comes from the opposite side and we go slowly. But they do not stop or slow down for anyone. Initially, it may be a bit of a shock, but you get used to it pretty soon.
On the way we came across the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi i.e. Devprayag. The color of the two rivers is different, the speed of the flow differs, and even after the confluence, the separation seems obvious. There is a beautiful Ghat and a village perfectly at the place of confluence. There is a way to get there. I really wanted to go to that place when I was last here on the way to Valley of Flowers and now as well. But it takes a lot of time, and its not possible when you are in rush. Especially today when we were so late already.
We did not stop anywhere except for the meal. We had to reach Sari at 5 o'clock but at we finally reached around 10. After dinner, we went to bed immediately.
In the morning, our trek leader, Devender, conducted a briefing session. Everyone gave their introduction, talked about prior trekking experience and preparations for this trek so far. The trek from Sari to Deoria Tal is very short and easy. We started the trek after our breakfast.
This trek is 3-4 kilometers long and moderately steep. Even after taking many breaks we reached comfortably before lunch in 3-4 hours.
We were offered welcome drinks made from Rhododendron at camp site. Its a plant that grows around this area. The drink looks and tastes a lot like Rooh Afza and is equally tasty and refreshing.
After reaching there Devender made us do stretching exercises for few minutes. I love this thing very much. The stretching right after the trek eases the body, reduces the usual body pain after trek considerably.
I have done two Himalayan Treks (Valley of Flowers, Everest Base Camp ) prior to this. But we did not do this there and did not know about this. This was the first time I saw the magic of Stretching. So I loved this thing that Trek The Himalayas had thoughtfully put in the plan.
Soon after that it started raining. We waited for some time after lunch for rains to stop. But it continued, so we went to see the lake after which this place is named. Tal in Deoria Tal means lake.
This is a very beautiful lake, but due to the rain we could not enjoy the beauty there and around fully. We returned quickly.
We played games with everyone for a long time and had fun. In the evening the rain stopped a bit, and we then went on the small hillsides nearby. Clouds were slowly moving away and we were able to see the beautiful views around Deoria Tal.
And after some time we got to see the snow covered peaks for the first time in the trip. The joy everyone felt at that moment was beyond words. Everyone was just in awe and couldn't stop exclaiming how beautiful the sights were.
It was evening time and clouds were playing with the light, we couldn't capture the beauty in camera as beautifully as we were seeing it first hand. Sometimes God shows man something so magnificent that his art and his devices lack the strength to capture that magnitude of beauty. In such moments you can just enjoy the moment fully and just be thankful for letting us be in it.
With a small trek, games, nature and beauty this day was spent wonderfully. The next day, however, there was a challenge of 20 kilometers of trek to Baniya kund. Keep watching the space for more on it.
(To be continued...)
And to add to that, there was a huge traffic jam around Haridwar and Rishikesh. Because of the peak season tourists and pilgrims have flocked to these cities. There are roadworks going on in many places. We came to know that because of this, the traffic jam is happening there on daily basis.
Our group of 8 people, and 6 other trekkers had arrived in Haridwar. Trek the Himalayas had arranged 3 cars (sumo / bolero) for us. They picked us from Haridwar Station and got stuck in traffic. It took 5-6 hours for just Rishikesh to pass.
Unfortunately, the car I that was travelling in broke down in the middle of traffic. Other two cars moved ahead and we got stuck just outside Haridwar.
It took 2-3 hours to call the mechanic, try to repair the same car, but it did not work. By the time we feasted on delicious breakfast of various Parathas and Lassi. We also played a lot of card games to pass the time. They arranged for another car, but it also was coming from Haridwar and had to come to us through all that traffic. Finally we left from there.
After crossing Rishikesh the road was less crowded and then we could see the driving skills of our driver. All the drivers of this place drive cars in such tough mountainous roads. In cities we get cautious even in small lanes when a car comes from the opposite side and we go slowly. But they do not stop or slow down for anyone. Initially, it may be a bit of a shock, but you get used to it pretty soon.
On the way we came across the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi i.e. Devprayag. The color of the two rivers is different, the speed of the flow differs, and even after the confluence, the separation seems obvious. There is a beautiful Ghat and a village perfectly at the place of confluence. There is a way to get there. I really wanted to go to that place when I was last here on the way to Valley of Flowers and now as well. But it takes a lot of time, and its not possible when you are in rush. Especially today when we were so late already.
We did not stop anywhere except for the meal. We had to reach Sari at 5 o'clock but at we finally reached around 10. After dinner, we went to bed immediately.
In the morning, our trek leader, Devender, conducted a briefing session. Everyone gave their introduction, talked about prior trekking experience and preparations for this trek so far. The trek from Sari to Deoria Tal is very short and easy. We started the trek after our breakfast.
This trek is 3-4 kilometers long and moderately steep. Even after taking many breaks we reached comfortably before lunch in 3-4 hours.
We were offered welcome drinks made from Rhododendron at camp site. Its a plant that grows around this area. The drink looks and tastes a lot like Rooh Afza and is equally tasty and refreshing.
After reaching there Devender made us do stretching exercises for few minutes. I love this thing very much. The stretching right after the trek eases the body, reduces the usual body pain after trek considerably.
I have done two Himalayan Treks (Valley of Flowers, Everest Base Camp ) prior to this. But we did not do this there and did not know about this. This was the first time I saw the magic of Stretching. So I loved this thing that Trek The Himalayas had thoughtfully put in the plan.
Soon after that it started raining. We waited for some time after lunch for rains to stop. But it continued, so we went to see the lake after which this place is named. Tal in Deoria Tal means lake.
This is a very beautiful lake, but due to the rain we could not enjoy the beauty there and around fully. We returned quickly.
We played games with everyone for a long time and had fun. In the evening the rain stopped a bit, and we then went on the small hillsides nearby. Clouds were slowly moving away and we were able to see the beautiful views around Deoria Tal.
And after some time we got to see the snow covered peaks for the first time in the trip. The joy everyone felt at that moment was beyond words. Everyone was just in awe and couldn't stop exclaiming how beautiful the sights were.
It was evening time and clouds were playing with the light, we couldn't capture the beauty in camera as beautifully as we were seeing it first hand. Sometimes God shows man something so magnificent that his art and his devices lack the strength to capture that magnitude of beauty. In such moments you can just enjoy the moment fully and just be thankful for letting us be in it.
With a small trek, games, nature and beauty this day was spent wonderfully. The next day, however, there was a challenge of 20 kilometers of trek to Baniya kund. Keep watching the space for more on it.
(To be continued...)
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