After having so many busy official trips I just wanted to spend sometime in the lap of Himalaya. Was looking for some companions but as usual everybody was busy in their earning. Hence I decided to travel alone this time. And the destination was selected as Tungnath, Uttarakhand India, which was in my mind from last many days.
Considering no companion I packed my bag and decided to travel by public transport keeping my love my Dhanno (Xcent) aside. :-P
So here I started my trip from Noida. On Friday night at 10:00PM I took a train (Dehradun Express) to Haridwar from Ghaziabad and reached Haridwar early in the Morning at around 4:00AM.
Haridwar, as said Hari Ka Dwar a divine place for Hindus was really looking calm in the morning. But as you start towards city and Har ki Pauri you'll find many people at the riverside bathing and praying even at 4:00AM. Well I was informed that from Haridwar I'll get a direct bus to Rudraprayag. But it was not. No bus was available.
Hence I had to travel all the way to Rishikesh from Haridwar by Autorikshaw and it took around an hour for me to reach Rishikesh bus stand. From there frequent buses are operated for Rudraprayag, Badrinath, Gupkashi and other places. I took a bus to Rudraprayag at 6:00 AM and passing through Devprayag (where Alaknanda & Bhagirathi join together and becomes Ganga) - Srinagar I reached Rudrapayag at around 1:00 PM in the noon. As it was a ST bus, Journey was really tiring but high mountains and deep valleys will not let you sleep. Rudraprayag again is a confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini. You may find some cheap hotels here within the budget of INR 800/- per day. I booked one and slept for whole day. And only thing which I like in Hill stations is to roam around the road and enjoy the fresh cold breeze.
That day fortunately clouds came around and it started rainkng by making my evening fantastic.
Finally it's the day to start for Chopta. The option which I have been suggested by locals is to get a shared pick up (Marshal / Bolero) till Kund and from there I can get taxi (Coming from Guptkashi) to Ukimath. Or directly go to Guptkashi and get taxi to Ukimath. Well I choose the first option to save my time (which I was not able to). I got a shared pick up at around 6:30 AM from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi and got down at Kund. The whole road trip is adventurous. One side high mountains and other side the blue Mandakini river. What a view it was....!! 😊
I was able to witness the causalities happened during 2013 Kedarnath flood. I witnessed the landslide in many places as well along with the narrow broken roads.
Well after travelling for more than 1.5 hrs. I reached Kund and waited for 20 mins to get the vehicle for Ukinath.
Reached Ukimath at around 9:00AM. From Ukimath there was the only option to reach Chopta at that time was by booking taxi which will cost you INR 1200/- after bargaining. The other cheap option was a bus which is scheduled early morning by 6:30AM from Chopta. I couldn't able to get it anyways. Than finally booked taxi and started for Chopta the base point of Tungnath trek. And reached there by around 10:00 AM. It is again at a superior height and while travelling you'll start feeling cold. Thank God I kept my jacket with me.
Here started the trek to Tungnath. Though it's only 3.5 Kms track but due to inclination it was really tough n tiring. It took 4 hrs to reach Tungnath. And while trekking you'll appraise the mesmerizing beauty of Mountains, peaks, clouds and snow clad mountains, Green fields etc. It can't be defined in words you can look at the pictures and feel that.
Green fields and Negi Ji ka dhaba gave me rest. Again 'Buras ka Sharbat' was yummy. It was said to me that after having it i'll not feel breathing problem.
But even after drinking two glass of it I came to know that it'll work only for after regular consumption atleast for a Month.. :-P
Well you'll find 3-4 dhabas on the way where you can have Maggi and tea.
You'll find many aged people who trek faster than we do.
Well anyhow we reached Tungnath. And after reaching to Tungnath temple the only thing you'll find is Peace.....!!
Look up and see the blue sky. Look around and find the clouds and far away the high mountains with the snow..!! You may be tired but you'll be most happiest person for sure.
Well due to time limitstion couldnt spend more and started my way back to Chopta.
Again rrturnjng took us 3 hours and I reached Chopta at around 5:00PM and started to Ukimath. Stayed for a night there. 3
Monday early morning 5:30AM (only bus) got a bus for Haridwar and reached Haridwar by 2:30PM in the afternoon and caught the train (Yoga Express) to Ghaziabad. And reached there by 10:00PM
