Brief Story : For those who are not interested in the whole story here's the plot for u .. Book a ticket https://utconline.uk.gov.in/ from Haridwar to Auli (₹ 470) in advance cause there's only bus in the morning at 05:00. Get off at Rudrapryag, from there catch a 14:30 bus towards Sari Village (₹60) . Then a 2km trek to deorital where you're required to pay a small fees to Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Forest Department (₹100 approx ). Next morning 24km trek to Chopta and about 3km to reach Tungnath. Next morning 2.5km to Chandrashila Peak early morning before sunrise is the best time to start. And if u still require a local help here's contact of a guide ... Ashish Negi : +919759216336.
Day 0: It was 20:00 hrs when I left for the boarding point as we booked a private volvo towards Haridwar. At 21:00 hrs I was at Rama Krishna Ashram Marg where in normal circumstances i should see a bus there, as the leaving time was 21:50 hrs . But neither I could find my friend who booked the bus nor the bus itself. Moment of tension I called him and then he broke the news that the operator has denied coming to RK Ashram he was asking us to reach Anand Vihar ISBT .I was furious I literally ordered him to rach me ASAP. Then I called my other friends to make it faster. In about 5 we all were at the same place. Now everybody knew what happened. And its the next step to call and greet that operator with my own pleasant language. After a bit of argument I convinced him for a refund cause it was never on earth is possible for me to reach Anand Vihar at that point of time and with that heavy rucksack.
Day 1: Next day I booked Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation 10:00 hrs bus going to Haridwar. The bus reached ISBT Kashmiri Gate at 11:00 hrs. The bus was expected to alight us at 17:00 hrs. But we were late by 2 hrs as little did i know that I'm going to find a huge jam the moment we entered U.P. and then the rest was done at Roorkie. At Haridwar we got to know that there's only one bus going towards Auli which could drop us at Rudrapyag and that too departs at 5:30 in the morning. After booking tickets then and there in advance as is was 8-9 hrs journey i didn't want to be uncertain about my seats in the bus, the ticket would cost ₹470 as there is a flat ticket regardless if u need to drop in between. And we left to find a hotel for the night stay.
Day 2: The Bus departed at 6:00 and after a long 8-9 hrs journey we were finally at Rudrapryag. Now I didn't had a clue on how to reach deorital, I asked some taxi drivers and I'm telling u don't even dare to ask em they were asking for ₹1500 to ₹3000. And then I found out that there was a bus at 14:30 hrs that cost us just ₹60. At 18:00 hrs we started the trek to Deorital. But the action was left to happen. At around 19:30 hrs it started to rain and and the visibility was near zero we all had our headlamps on, by 20:00 hrs it was raining heavily and we were yet to set the tent. By the time the tent was ready to take us in I was soaked now it's sleep time ... Atleast that's what I thought and expected.
Day 3: Last night was terrible it rained all night and soon i found that the place we chose to put our tent was the biggest mistake, the rain waterlogged under our tent and the water soaked inside the tent as well as our sleeping bags in the morning I was at a position to drop chadrashila and return back from Deoriatal itself. All my stuff was completely soaked I was shivering in cold but when I got out of our tent I decided no matter what I will scale it down, The moment I came out I saw Peak Chaukhamba and sister peaks right in front of me clear shining on the top. One of my friend accept the rest whom I convinced to move forward still wanted to go back, it took a while to convince him but we were ready to move now. We had and unknown 24 km trek to chopta. There was a Forest Ranger Post where we had to pay some entry fees, The rangers were friendly so I gathered some info on route and directions to reach chopta. And now were packed up and left. We expected to scale 24 km by 13:00 hrs as we left by 7:00 but when we were trekking an accident happened and there was about 1/2 inch cut on my head by the rock I fell onto. I forgot all the directions and my friends were also worried about my injury we did a first aid and moved but by the time we were in the nowhere. It took us about an hour to recall that we always have to take east direction told by the Forest Ranger. Tip: U might have to go up and down during the trek but don't get confused to that just keep walking in east. U would find a river AkashKamini during the trek which is the sign that ur just about 3-4 km from chopta. Before that river you'll find that the route is going way down into the valley u would feel to be on the wrong route but you aren't. By the time we reached chopta we rested at a dhaba for a while they asked us about our guide and we proudly said we don't need a guide :D, they were surprised to that ;D now we had to reach Tungnath out last target for the day ,the trek was demanding as we crossed 24 km and now it was like climbing as the route was steep. By the night we reached tungnath and decided to stay at a local hotel which charged us ₹200 per person including food.
Day 4: It was 4:00 and was raining like madness .. we waited till 5:00 as we wanted to see the sunrise but rain ruined our plan as it took us 1 hour to reach to the top and the sunrise was already happened but still we reached there first and I can never express that feeling in words yesterday I was thinking to drop this majestic view over a silly reason. My tiredness and Injury, I forgot literally everything I could see Kedarnath, Neelkanth, Chaukhamba. I had to fight myself to go back down. Tip: Try to reach up top as early as possible cause the clouds cover the peaks as the day passes and the view is ruined. At Chopta we found a friend from back home and we took a lift in his car.
Day 5: At 3:00 in the morning I was at Home. It would've taken 2 more days to reach home if we hadn't found our friend, and believe me I would love to take those two days as well if that bulky first aid bandage wouldn't be there on my head :D .
