Before starting with the trip, I ought to give an overview of the planning as it is an interesting one.
After doing Sandakphu and Phalut previous year, me and few friends from college had many conversations about going to trek organised all by ourself. From camping to cooking everything done by us(its fair to inform you here that we could not manage to do it all). So when at the end of internship we manage to get some leave we knew its the time to plan that.
We were looking for a small trek, preferably within 4 days, could be done without a guide, accessable in monsoon and with beautiful campsite. After some research on internet we came with this small trek near Manali, which check all our boxes. Some photograph of a campsite amidst alpaline meadow stuck our eyes and we finalised it without a second thought.
The train ticket to Delhi, and bus from Delhi to Manali was booked without any fuss. But here comes the difficult part. We all merely did 1 previous trek, that too was a treehouse trek. So no one of us had any prior experience to camping, nor have any equipment. Luckily due to numerous blog we read about camping and trekking in himalaya, and story from some adventure enthusiast senior dada we had some fair idea about what we would need. So after 2 trip to Decathlon and few to local market we almost got all the essentials. Yes almost. What we couldn't find was a portable light stove(if you are an camping enthusiast you yould know how difficult it is to find a cannister stove in indian market ). After few days of futile attempt, there was a point where we had decided to buy normal pump stove from market and carry it somehow. More amusing is the fact it was the day prior to the trip, we had started our demo packing, and we didn't have our cooking set up. But as we completed our demo packing; we realised with our not so light clothing, sleeping bag, tent and rations our backpack is already a bit heavy. So it would not be wise to carry 'not so portable' stove. We decided to drop the idea of cooking ourselves and lucky that we did.
We contacted a local guide and he agreed to arrange a team who would be guiding us and arrange for our food.
Everything being set, next day 7 of us was on a ac chair car of Delhi bound Yuva express, complaing about extra cramped legspace and was longing to be at the lap of mountain again.
Today we reached Delhi in the morning. Took a bus to Manali at afternoon. Few hours spent in the capital was not most pleasent, but I think we can skip this part for now.
Delhi - Manali - Gulaba
Another hiccup. We were supposed to reach Manali today morning. But first our bus had a tier punctured just outside Chandigarh, then after few hours had a problem with rear axle. As a result we had to halt almost in the middle of nowhere for about 3 hours. At last they managed to get us into another bus to Bhunter.
From Bhunter taking a hired taxi when we reached Manali, it was 4 pm. At this point we were really tensed. As today we had to camp at Gulaba at night. Before that we had to meet our guide, take some last minute supply from Manali market and had to take a car ride to gulaba which is about an hour. On top of that it was raining heavily.
But everything sorted out soon after we met our guide Mr Tapendra Singh Thakur(Sonu bhaiya). He, Happy bhaiya and 2 other fellow would be taking care of us for the next 3 days. Their hospitality and warm behaviour was something we will not forget.
After quickly grabbing the necessary items from the market we started our journey towards Gulaba by a car. Gulaba is situated midway from Manali to Rhotang la. As the car started climbing gradually crossing one after another hair pin bend, more mesmerising the scenery was becoming. The surrounding was becoming vibrantly green. The car stopped after crossing a small village, named Gulaba. From the side of the road, a foot track ascend on the hill. The hill itself was carpeted in greenery and dotted with white and yellow flower.
Luckily today's campsite was just 300 to 400 meter away from the roadside and though cloudy it was raining no more. It was a wonderful location, Just beside a small stream, and between some scattered tree in the grassland. Thanks to the long day on the western part of India in June and July, we managed to set up the tents with some daylight to spare.
An early dinner is the norm of any trek. We had our dinner just after dark and sat outside the tent to cherish our first camping experience. After some time millions of light of Manali town could be seen, just like stars in the sky. We didnt realise the fact that this campsite overlook Manali and Solang valley untill then, probably due to clouds.
Gulaba - Rorhakhuli
Started our day with tea and lovely breakfast. Soon it started to dizzile. It is expected in any monsoon trek, but during setting or packing camp its very disturbing. Had to pack the tent in this weather keeping it as dry as possible. And we started the ascend to Rorhakhuli.
Today we had to cover about 7 km. First 5 km or so was moderate to steep uphill. In this section one had to traverse uphill among the alpine meadows to reach the ridge.
Going uphill one could notice big trees became more and more scarce. Pine forests were replaced by continues alpine meadows. And one thing for sure the flower became more colourful.
Once reaching the ridge one have to traverse it for 1.5 to 2 km. This part of journey has very little inclination. End of it lies a green valley, which is bifercated by a stream. This is rorhakhuli campsite.
Reaching there we had to wait a bit, for the cloud to give a break, before setting up the camp. After that we had the remaining day to explore the valley and photography.
Rorhakhuli -Bhrigu Lake - Rorhakhuli
Today was the most fascinating day of the trip. Probably most scenic. But I practically dont have any picture of this day. As it was raining heavily we could not capture any picture.
This day started with a steep climb upon a face of a mountain straight from the valley, after crossing the stream. It was a tiring one. After that the remaining of the path had gradual incline and decline, somewhere in green medow, somewhere boulder cover surface.
Just before reaching the lake there was a steep incline again which is particularly tricky in monsoon. This section was covered with boulder, among which many are unstable. To make the matter worse mud and snow was scattered here and there to make the boulder more slippery. One had to be very cautious during crossing this section.
We reached the lake by mid day. But it was pouring down there and visibility is less than 2m. After spending just a little bit of time we started our return journey.
One thing worth mentioning during returning is crossing the stream. When we crossed it in the morning we just hopped over some boulder. But during returning no boulder could be seen as water level rose and the current was so ferocious one could easily float away if not taking support from other.
We returned soaking wet despite of the raincoat. But after an hour after returning the sun was to be seen for the first time during our trip. We came out of the tent to feel some sunrays on our skin.
The valley revealed itself in a new beauty in the sunlight.
Rorhakhuli to Manali
Today we started to climb down with a sunny sky and heavy heart. It was the same route tracing backward.
Reaching Gulaba we arranged a car and we were off to Manali, where we would spend the next couple of day exploring cafes of old Manali and day trails around Manali
Pic courtsy : My co travelers. Mainly Sudipta, Indraneel