It was a trek non of us would ever forget! We never realized what we were really getting into until we started our 5 day trip in Utterakhand ( North of India) . We had seen such beautiful photographs of the Valley of flowers ( Ghangaria – the valley is only open from May to September) that when we had a long weekend we decided we had to make the trip and explore a part of India non of us had explored.
2 flights later ( Mumbai – Delhi -Dehradhun) we had to drive 6 hours to our first stop in Rudraprayag which was a mandatory stop as the Govindhgat pass is closed in the nights due to the conditions of the road and landslides ( if you have the time I would recommend a stop off in Rishikesh – especially if your into yoga and adventure sports). We started off early the next day on our way to Govindghat where we would start our trek to the Valley. These roads are very prone to landslides, so a good driver and a hardy vehicle is essential if not the trip would be very uncomfortable and unsafe. After 4 hours we reached Govindghat and after all the formalities were completed, we were greeted by our guide who talked us through the trek. The first 3kms can be covered in a jeep but after that – your on your feet for the next 10 kms. There were lots of little shops on the way to grab a meal or a hot cup of tea ( oh, and all meals are vegetarian so be prepared). Through the cold and the rain we trekked -one small step at a time – 1500 meters to our destination. The road was narrow and made up of rubble and is used by not only humans but also the mules / horses that transported goods and people. Mother nature surprised us with her magic wand every corner we took – green, lush vegetation, a raging river and beautiful waterfalls that had been created by the monsoon rains. But our bodies just couldn’t handle the entire trek and a bad knee compelled me to take a horse for the last 3 kms. We made it to the base camp, 5 hours later tiered and wet – but what waited for us was a beautiful canvas. The Valley was surrounded by mountains bathed in mist and in the distance the snow capped glacier was a sight for sore eyes.
Don’t expect many options in Ghangharia ( this small village is located in the northern Himalayan ranges at an altitude of 3049 meters and is the last human habitation in the Bhyundar valley) there were no heaters in the room and no hot water and this can be challenging when all you need is a hot shower and a way to dry your wet cloths. The small village is buzzing with locals and visitors as well as Sikh pilgrims who use Ghangharia as a base on their trek to Hemkund Sahib.
Altitude sickness hit us slowly in the night and luckily there were pharmacies where we could purchase the necessary medication. The next day another 3 kms hike in the rain and we were in the Valley of flowers. Unfortunately, the weather did not permit us to see as many flowers as we would have liked too. Food can be purchased ( again only vegetarian) from any of the small restaurants in the village, but you have to turn a blind eye to the cook and the kitchen. We survived on Egg fried rice and lots of hot black lemon tea, if not the choices were limited to aloo ( potato) parata’s and naan’s with a vegetarian curry.
One of the highlights for us was the helicopter ride we took back – many of the trekkers had opted to not trek back but pay 3000 INR for a helicopter ride that took only 7 mins back to the starting point. But given the weather and our aching bodies, this seemed to be the best option. It gave us a little more time, as we stood in the rain for 2 hours waiting for our ride – to admire the beauty around us.
On our way back we stopped off in Rishikesh ( known as the Yoga Capital of the World) walked through the busy Yogi filled streets, had some lunch at the Freedom cafe ( recommended) , touched the Ganges river and headed back towards the Dehradhun airport.
She challenged us not only physically ( and this was after we thought we had all the necessary hiking equipment) but mentally – making us question ourselves if we could actually survive the hike and the weather. But mother nature was a pure painting of clean air and green lush valleys and vegetation and left a portrait in our minds that we would never forget and a sense of accomplishment that we dug deep and found the motivation and courage within us to completed the trek together.
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trailingspouse2016 