Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6)

Tripoto
29th Apr 2018
Photo of Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6) by Abhijit

After a day of rest and relaxation, we were expecting an uneventful last day, a long descent, right down to some 7000 ft.

Our expectations were to be proven wrong, and how much I love that it did.

I woke up at 5 a.m. again, just for that sunrise – woh pahadon wali sunrise – and I was rewarded with this exceptional, seemingly Photoshopped picture of the campsite at sunrise.

A stunningly beautiful morning at Khullara

Photo of Khullara Campsite, Tugasi, Uttarakhand, India by Abhijit

Sometimes, it IS rewarding to have an early start to the day. Even more so, when these magnificent broncos visited our tents.

Credits - Jayanth

Photo of Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6) by Abhijit

When we were packing up our tents to leave for Auli, we were sad happy. As we moved towards the tree line to make our exits out of this massive campsite, the few remaining tents looked smaller and smaller until it was a miniscule speck on the backdrop of the Garhwal mountains.

We were surprised pleasantly soon enough though. Probably within an hour of us making our way through the forest, we found ourselves in the midst of the prettiest clearing in the forest, surrounded by thousands of violet-purple rhododendrons.

Moments before we found that clearing in the forest.

Photo of Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6) by Abhijit

I was in such high spirits after this, that I didn’t even mind this traffic in the mountains.

Slow moving traffic

Photo of Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6) by Abhijit

In an irony of sorts, we ourselves became traffic soon enough, walking carefully on a thin mountain path, with a 1000 feet drop on the side.

Photo of Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6) by Abhijit

While we were done with our share of excitement and thrill for the day, what came next was totally unexpected. The zen like charm that this place exudes is hard to describe. You have to visit the unending vistas of Gorson Bugyal to experience that. See for yourself.

People taking their time on the panoramic Gorson Bugyal

Photo of Gorson Bugyal, Auli Laga Salude, Uttarakhand, India by Abhijit

We never wanted it to end, but it did.

The beginning of the end.

Photo of Pangarchulla trek: A photo story (Part 6) by Abhijit

Before we knew it, and wanted it, we were already walking next to the Auli ski lifts overlooking the ski resort.

Photo of Auli Resort, Joshimath, Uttarakhand, India by Abhijit
Photo of Auli Resort, Joshimath, Uttarakhand, India by Abhijit

But what happened next ensured that we ended the trek with a bang. Read how.