This trek trip was planned very erratically. At the time when I decided to do this trek I was not feeling very comfortable with myself. The sheer uneasiness and discomfort which was brewing up inside me compelled me to make a decision to do this trek. In my right state of mind I would have never done this trek so sporadically. But here I was, on the phone with our family guide; Sohan Bisht Jee (Phone: 081267-42291 &
094103-65281; Email : sonubisht65@gmail.com). My initial plan was to do Valley of flowers trek, but fortunately that route was closed. When one door closes, another opens; Sohan Jee (Phone: 081267-42291 &
094103-65281; Email : sonubisht65@gmail.com) offered me to join two other people to do Kuari Pass Trek. The trek cost would have had been Rs. 1700- Rs. 1800 per day per head if one of my friend would have had joined me. It was 2000 per day per head without him, which was still very well under budget. Rs. 2000 per day per head included tents, food, guide, a cooking staff and an experience of a lifetime. 13th – 16th of May was the date range chosen for this trek.
#From Kashmere Gate To Joshimath – Trekking Starts On Day 0
It is 6 hours journey from Delhi to Rishikesh (See my Rishikesh post for more details) and from Haridwar/Rishikesh it is still 10 – 11 hours journey to Joshimath. The latter part is literally a pain in the ass. One can only acquire a Jeep, Sumo, or Pilgrimage Bus to cover the latter part of this journey. Despite the rivers and the mountains accompanying you; the journey is assiduous and tiresome.
I reached Haridwar railway station at 4:30 AM and came to know that there are not many UK transport buses which ply from Haridwar to Joshimath at that hour, they start sometime after 5:30 AM. So I had to take one of the pilgrimage buses which were going to Badrinath - Kedarnath en route Joshimath. These buses are mostly pre-booked so all you get is a seat just behind the driver's seat for Rs. 400. Shared taxis also ply from Haridwar - Joshimath they charge you around Rs. 600 per passenger. My bus was full with pilgrims going to Badrinath so the bus had to take more than normal stops before breaking down 13 Kilometers short of Joshimath.
After 11 hours long tiring journey with a backdrop of 7 hours Train trip there was still 13 Kms to be covered to reach Joshimath.
For normal people the trek normally starts on Day 1. But that is for normal people. Trekking started for me on Day 0. I had to walk 7 Kilometers before a very kind young gentleman stopped and offered me a much needed lift in his car. I was tired, drenched and cold as it had started raining. Finally, I reached Joshimath at around 6:00 PM and ran into Sohan Bisht Jee (Phone: 081267-42291 & 094103-65281; Email : sonubisht65@gmail.com) and the other two fellow trekkers right away at a tea shop accidentally.
After having some tea; chai; I rented a room for sleeping off the tiredness from the marathon 20 hour long non-stop bus and train journey. Sleep came easily and early as I dozed off reading a few pages of Way of the peaceful warrior that night.
#From Kashmere Gate To Joshimath – Trekking Starts On Day 0
It is 6 hours journey from Delhi to Rishikesh (See my Rishikesh post for more details) and from Haridwar/Rishikesh it is still 10 – 11 hours journey to Joshimath. The latter part is literally a pain in the ass. One can only acquire a Jeep, Sumo, or Pilgrimage Bus to cover the latter part of this journey. Despite the rivers and the mountains accompanying you; the journey is assiduous and tiresome.
I reached Haridwar railway station at 4:30 AM and came to know that there are not many UK transport buses which ply from Haridwar to Joshimath at that hour, they start sometime after 5:30 AM. So I had to take one of the pilgrimage buses which were going to Badrinath - Kedarnath en route Joshimath. These buses are mostly pre-booked so all you get is a seat just behind the driver's seat for Rs. 400. Shared taxis also ply from Haridwar - Joshimath they charge you around Rs. 600 per passenger. My bus was full with pilgrims going to Badrinath so the bus had to take more than normal stops before breaking down 13 Kilometers short of Joshimath.
After 11 hours long tiring journey with a backdrop of 7 hours Train trip there was still 13 Kms to be covered to reach Joshimath.
For normal people the trek normally starts on Day 1. But that is for normal people. Trekking started for me on Day 0. I had to walk 7 Kilometers before a very kind young gentleman stopped and offered me a much needed lift in his car. I was tired, drenched and cold as it had started raining. Finally, I reached Joshimath at around 6:00 PM and ran into Sohan Bisht Jee (Phone: 081267-42291 & 094103-65281; Email : sonubisht65@gmail.com) and the other two fellow trekkers right away at a tea shop accidentally.
"View From The Hotel Room In Joshimath"
After having some tea; chai; I rented a room for sleeping off the tiredness from the marathon 20 hour long non-stop bus and train journey. Sleep came easily and early as I dozed off reading a few pages of Way of the peaceful warrior that night.
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