Max. Elevation:- Lohajung-
2530 m , Didina -2600 m
Time Taken :- 4 ½
– 5 ½ hours
I woke up early today. I look
for the time into my timex expedition watch, which was tied on my left wrist,
by pressing the light button on it while still lying under the blanket.
It was 04:58 AM. There was a
little light in the room as we didn’t switch off the glowing zero
watt bulb last night. I felt little dizziness due to the mild hangover of
previous night booze as I watches the two strangers still sleeping on their beds. So without disturbing them I
took out my camera and went outside to catch some morning shots of lohajung
village.
 |
| MT. Nandaghunti (In the backdrp) |
There was a little sunlight
outside and the climate was chilling cold so I came back to room and put on my
jacket. I walked for couple of minutes on the road going towards WAN village
just behind the bus stand. It looks like whole village was isolated as I saw no
one in the early morning.There was a complete sense of peace except the
chirping of the birds and the smooth flow of cold breeze. I was there to
capture the glimpse of mighty snow-clad peak Mt. Nandaghunti in my eyes. The
top of the peak looks like a magnificent white crown which decorates the whole
sky. It was one of the best seen of my life till now. Now it was the time for
next best moment. Yes the sunrise. At 05:25 AM the sun started showing up by
rising slowly-slowly behind the lush green peaks facing the lohajung village.
As the first sun rays fell upon my face I felt some divine sense of warmth and also
the Mt. Nandaghunti started glittering by the first rays of morning sun.It looks like nature was
doing some kind of sorcery as the view was awe-strucken. I really felt
hypnotized by the scenic beauty and it took some time for me to came back to
my senses. After clicking some pictures and videos from different angles I went
back to my lodge.
 |
| Gadhwal mandal lodge |
At lodge, Prashant and Gaurav
were still sleeping. So, I went to washroom for morning routines. The washroom
was big and looks dull as it has below average interiors and facilities. Toilet
and bath area both situated in a single
room and was separated by a 4 inch wall. I turn on the tap and water starts
coming from it like small arrows of ice.The water was literally freezing cold. “I
am not gonna bath”, I spoke to myself as I was keep staring at the tap water until the water overflowed
from the bucket and rushes to wet my feet. “fuc*” I screamed ! But somehow I
managed to bath a little.
Soon after everyone got ready
a guide came to our lodge whom we already met last night and offered his guide/cook services and very
tactfully trying to convince us that without him we may lost on the trail as
there were many directions in between many places on the trail. But our meeting
was not successful as his demands were quite high.
So we decided to add some
more adventure and thrill to our trek by doing it alone and by following the
footsteps of the other trekking groups taken by india-hikes to roopkund. India
hikes is adventure based company operates in the region which offers fully
planned packaged to trekkers.
We checked-out from the lodge(Garhwal mandal
guest house) around 8am by paying Rs. 100 Each to the care taker of the lodge.
We had breakfast from a nearby hotel. The india hikes group already left for
didina village as our time got wasted in search of a rented sleeping bag. No
shopkeeper was ready to rent a sleeping bag but luckily I managed to get a
sleeping bag on a rent of 50 per day
from a Ngo working in the region for the
welfare for villagers. Also I bought a pair of gloves from the lohajung as is
the last market on the journey. It was already 09:30 am we started walking on
the lord curzon trail starts from just behind the lohajung bus stand. The trail
is rocky and descends through mixed forest of rhododendrons, oak and pine
trees. Wow, the trekking part finally starts. This feeling exhilarates in every
part of my body.
 |
| Enroute to Didina |
Approximately after 2 hours we reach a spot where fresh water
stream flowing down from above the hill. The deep dark foliage around the
stream is inviting for the much deserved rest and fills up the water bottles.
Gaurav being the fastest among 3 of us
already reached there minutes before us and told us that india-hikes group just
left the place which was indeed a good news for us that group left lohajung much
earlier than us.
On the way I met a porter Mr. bisht who was carrying the
luggage of other trekkers on his four horses. The chiming sound produces by
bells tied around the neck of the horses produces a soothing effect which helps
in lessen the tiredness of the trek.
 |
| Mr. Bisht (The Porter) |
Soon we enters on the raun bagad steel
bridge where we saw a tall water fall that crashes down to the river neelganga from
the meadows high above. This transfused a new zeal and ardour in our movement.
Right after crossing the bridge climb to didina starts.
This portion of remaining
climb to didina is not an easy task at all as the trail is made up of numerous
steep rounds and turns.The climb was really very difficult and could easily
make one exhausted in no time. It took me more than 2 hours to reach didina
village. Upon reaching at top I was
totally dehydrated and exhausted as all water I wasted at the way just to wash
off my face (The most stupidest thing one can ever do in a trekking
expedition.) Luckily I found a water tap fixed at the starting of the village
and I quickly jump on it and started drinking water for 5-10 minutes. Believe
me the cold water feels like the nectar directly coming from heavens as for the
first time in my life something really quenched my thirst. After getting the
power from the heavens water I stood up with my rucksack on my back.
 |
| A house in Didina Village |
Didina is a small hamlet with fewer
number of houses situated at a distance from each other. I thought that prasant
and gaurav must have been went to the
india hikes camp so I just followed the concrete trail which leads me to the
camp. There were 3-4 trekkers from india hikes camp watching me trekking alone,
singing and approaching to their camp. But without giving them much attention I
unload my rucksack and sat down on a chair lying over there. Suddenly to my
surprise a village person (who happens to be the cook of camp later) offered a
glass of rhododendron juice to me which I immediately gulp it up without
wasting time and asked for one more glass and drank it too. Soon prashant and
gaurav,who reached there much earlier than me, came to me and told me that they already had a talk with the cook and he
was convinced to made food for us in exchange of money.
 |
| View of didina village from my Tent |
At evening we pitched
our tent at a near by field and after that we played volleyball with other
trekkers and after dinner we all went to sleep. This was going to be my first
night into the wild in a small tent (for two person) under the light of glittering starts. It was really an extremely tired out day but still it was a very pleasant time I had all the day with nature.
Click for next post :- DAY-2 <> DIDINA VILLAGE to BEDNI BUGYAL
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