A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500

Tripoto
20th Nov 2015
Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 1/17 by Saurabh Jain

If we were meant to stay at one place, we would have been born with roots.

– by someone interesting

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 2/17 by Saurabh Jain

I am a guy who few years back was afraid to go alone in darkness and now here I am with my First Solo Trek experience.

 “Living your dream” is a far better than dreaming itself. The thrill is unmatched, the satisfaction exemplary and priceless feeling. It all started last Thursday well past midnight when I booked my tickets to McLeodGanj almost explaining and convincing myself to clear all second thoughts that I had about the trip. Solo trek - okay. McLeadGanj - better. 11400 feet - Off I go.

My Advice to First Timers: If you are planning for a Solo Trip, just take the leap of faith, take that very difficult and all important first step, it will all fall in place trust me, it usually is meant to.

After this soul stabilizing trek, if there was one thing I had in mind to do, it was to urge more and more people like me to go ahead on this treasure hunt of elegance, beauty, distilled quietness and serenity. So without any further delay, trust me I would be much happier sharing my experience, here is how it went - 

I already had some information about this place and all I had to do was spend one more full day in collecting as much information on the internet. I must admit though that few hidden and interesting places were uncovered during my travel on the bus. A face-to-face discussion with someone experienced has its own advantages and adds that many more layers to your excitement.

After my experience I feel it’s better to create a questionnaire in advance before getting details, so that you do not miss out on those awe-inspiring spots, if you have limited time.

My bus reached McLeodgunj at 7:20 AM, since there is nothing open at this point of time other than some breakfast and tea stalls, it’s best for you to grab a little and get started. If you are not planning for a hotel, you can use the public toilet (pretty much maintained) just few steps away from the road at the right side of Main Square on the way to the Monastery  

The trek can start from the Main Square(road going up besides the CCD), after a few steps take the road going towards Dharamkot from the diversion of Dharamkot and BhagsuNag or there is an option to take an auto till Water Tank(Dharamkot – 2KM) or till the end of road (3 KM). I chose to walk right from Main Square, enjoying the amazing view of City- the beautiful houses, shop, kids playing around and local people.Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 3/17 by Saurabh Jain

Once you reach the Water Tank (you can find a fruits and confectionery store here) you can actually avoid walking the next 1 km on road by taking a shortcut on the rough right just after the school (“Way to Triund” is written on this school wall).

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 4/17 by Saurabh Jain

The trekking actually starts at this point with full of small beautiful rocks. It will take around 3 to 5 hours from here depending upon your fitness to reach the Triund Hill.

They say it’s the journey that makes it more enthralling and not the destination. The biggest contributors to my journey were the people I met on this trek. First I met a beautiful Spanish girl Sofia. No not the typical picture you painted in your mind, infact on the contrary Sofia was a little girl from Spain riding on a pretty graceful horse Guddu.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 5/17 by Saurabh Jain

After a while of chit chat with her and her mom along the trail I moved forward and met a monk - Shadhav, “I just came to drink tea all the way long though it is costly here than in the city” were his words.

The next hour with this monk just went unfolding lots of religious thoughts, me telling him about Jainism and listening to him talk about Buddhism. Eventually we found that we were lucky to meet the perfect match for each other to discuss on the usually very sensitive topic of religious beliefs, since he was keen to know more about Jainism and I had just started reading about Buddhism a month back.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 6/17 by Saurabh Jain

After cleansing our minds from the few doubts about our respective religions, we split as he moved up with his own pace which I couldn't maintain and he needed to go back to his monastery in time.

Communicating with few more trekkers from England, Spain, Delhi and Japan and other local guides I finally reached Triund, OMG what an amazing view. I just kept my bag on the ground walking towards the other side to have a better view and sat silently with my eyes firmly on the snowy peak.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 7/17 by Saurabh Jain

The night was approaching and with it the conditions were getting intense, the subzero freezing breeze. Oooooooooo I was craving for some good hot food and even hotter beverages. But guess what even at that altitude ~9760 ft. you can have multiple options for food and camping equipment at Triund – I had a meal of Dal-Chawal served with pickles which was surprisingly tasty as compared to my other experience of mountain food. As far as camping equipment is concerned, even if you come empty handed to this place you will get all equipment available to stay at night.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 8/17 by Saurabh Jain

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 9/17 by Saurabh JainPhoto of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 10/17 by Saurabh Jain

I had an unforgettable journey, the view at the top was by far the best that I had ever seen and all in all I was closing in on one of the best trips I have ever had in a long, long time. But a pleasant surprise was in store for me when I met a guy Vikas (another solo trekker from Bangalore) who told me about Indrahar pass (3-4 hrs trek from Triund), so i started again.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 11/17 by Saurabh Jain

I was just waiting for that bit extra and I got a reason to prolong my stay at the top in the heart of almost the best natural beauty I had ever witnessed. I quickly folded my tent, talked to a few more local people about the way to Indrahar, and decided to stay at Snow Line Cafe for the night so that I can start for Indrahar Pass early in the morning, since it is not recommended to be at Indrahar in the afternoon due to intense fog.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 12/17 by Saurabh Jain

A beautiful trail to Snow Line Cafe was just an amazing experience, and the best part was that this place is hidden from all the noisy crowd of Triund. I could see only one tent here.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 13/17 by Saurabh Jain

Approaching this lonely tent , I met a great photographer and a buddhist meditationer who was living in McleodGanj for the last few months. After an introductory chit chat and sharing experiences, she helped me in fixing my tent. This is the time for a bonfire,Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 14/17 by Saurabh Jain you should plan this day near to a New Moon Day , since the view of the Galaxy is just Mind Blowing. I somehow managed to sleep with a warmer, two jackets and a sleeping bag which I think was not enough to beat the chill.

I was so obsessed that i hardly slept and stepped outside at 5 (my daily alarm :)) but since it was dark, I extended the leisure till 7 AM and then started for Illaqa - Lahesh Cave-Indrahar Pass. If you are lucky enough, you might get to walk through a couple of herds of sheep and goats at Illaqa like a bollywood celebrity, for which I was unfortunately unlucky :(. Shepherds come all the way to this place Illaqa to graze their cattles.

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 15/17 by Saurabh Jain

You will find the way ahead hopping from one rock to another, being a superhero or so…, I was so fast doing that and gained much elevation in seconds which might be the reason of altitude sickness………….making me realize that i elevated so much in a day (Delhi (1500 ft) to ~ 11000 ft). This is my first altitude sickness :)  i should be frightened or something but instead feeling enthusiastic and excited from having it. The happiness having an altitude sickness of some newbie, hahahaha. I had my Ibuprofen tablet and sat on one of rock for like 30 minutes.

In next few minutes i found myself half inside a Snow Cave playing and saving memories of my first Snow and Glacier experience,,, aaaaahhhhaaaaa achieved Mental Satisfaction, now I can go back to my office tomorrow.....

Photo of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 16/17 by Saurabh JainPhoto of A Solitary Experience to Lahesh Cave (Triund – McLeodGanj) - Rs 2500 17/17 by Saurabh Jain

If you have booked the seat from from here, you can actually reach a bit early and the evening moment at the Monastery (just move towards the cross over bridge and find it at the opposite direction to the bus stand). You will have to feeling of being in Mcleodganj by seeing lots of Monks enjoying the evening tea and kids playing at the square.
This is not just a Hill Station , it is a place you can meet lovely people from around the world, a place of monks, a place you can meet your soul
An Invitation to the beautiful trk ahead with Multiple Cafe's with Himalayan Teas all the way
The Crown Jewel of Dharamshala as they say ,,, witnessed exactly the same from my eyes.
This is rather a trail but watch it , the beauty round there mind disturb your mind
A place you can spend some time with you ignoring the chaos at Triund. Mr Sharma Ji runs this beautiful Cafe, met Sharma ji on the way to Snow Line Cafe, and got to know that he closed, since i don't have food, he said"ab jo chalna hi padege, tum aaye ho to " and trekked back (1.5hrs)... love you all the Himachal Peoples
If you are at a perfect time at this place, you might have to trek though a couple of herd of sheep and goats . Local people come all the way here to graze their goats.
Spend sometime time to see the shelter homes build by shepherds.
Rocks, rocks and rocks you will barely find a place to walk instead jumping from one to another
This is just a beginning to your freezing experience , you will see a beautiful Glacier with small Ice Caves(try not no enter in one of those, you may get bruises), but you can try to walk on it for a while...