Trip to Lakhamandal on 5th March'16 with Pritha Katesar

Pritha called me to check if we can plan a day trip somewhere on 5th (Saturday)  when I was watching movie in PVR. I replied OK and we planned Lakhamandal trip which was also there on my travel map. We decided that she will come to Gulmohar at 7.15 so that we can positively leave by 7.30 on my Royal Enfield Classic 350 ( I fondly call it Cleopatra). Thus we were off to Lakhamandal on dot. The distance to Lakhamandal is about 120 kms from Gulmohar. The weather God was with us and the Sun was off duty. we enjoyed the bike ride up the hill to Mussoorie and then down to Aglar river bridge. On the way we stopped to take photographs and we captured photos of white eye and Himalayan Bulbul. By 10 AM we reached Nainbagh after covering about 75 kms diatance. Breakfast was hot Alu ke paranthe. After satisfying our hunger we were again on road and we reached Lakhamandal by 12.15...
The temple here is dedicated to Shiva and it was built around 6th/7th century. In the archaeological excavation here many shiv lings have been found and thus the name of place was given as lacs of lings or Lakhamandal...One of the Shiva Linga is made of some graphite stone with very nice polish that you can see your image when water is poured over it. As per legends, in Hindu epic Mahabharta, Lakhamandal is the same place where Duryodhan planned to kill all five Pandvas by making bthem to stay in 'Laksha Griha"..the house made of lakh....a highly combustible solid material.
Lakhamandal comes in Jaunsar area which is believed to be original Aryan race. Polyandry and polygamy was prevalent here till very late however now people do not practice these customs any more.
After seeing the temple complex we came to the house of Pandit Mahimanand and spent some time with him and his family and also had chai there. Then we returned back by same route. We had a stop over on river Aglar and enjoyed playing with flowing water. By 6.30 PM we were back to Gulmohar. The trip was wonderful and both I and Pritha enjoyed it more than 100%.....

Chakrata and Gangotri Trip - 20th to 23rdSept'15

Hitesh and Shilpa came to Dehradun with a four days program from Bagalkot (Karnatka) and I planned a tight schedule to cover as much of Uttarakhand for them as possible. On 19th Sept evening, they came from Delhi by Jan Shatabdi and next day morning we left for our trip covering Kalsi, Chakrata, Hanol, Harsil, Gangotri and Mussoorie. Kalsi has Ashoka Rock Edict from 2nd century BC. Near Chakrata, there is a magnificent water fall of 212' height. To bathe below it was a real challenge and fun. The gush of water throws you out of pond. Over night we stayed at Snow View hotel in Chakrata. Sun rise view from here is an out of world experience. On way to Hanol came the largest girth Deodar tree at Kanasar. We tried to measure the girth but failed in doing so. Hanol's Mahasu devta temple is simply brilliant in it's architecture. The carvings on wood speak a lot on flora and fauna of the Region. The Tons and Yamuna rivers flow in this region where Duryodhana is worshiped by Jaunsari people. A long drive of 350 kms took us to Harsil vis Mori, Barkot and Uttarkashi. We stayed at GMVN guest house here. The river Bhagirathi flows by the side of guest house. Apple orchards around the guest house make you feel rich with ownership of so many apples. 25 kms from here is Gangotri (Ganga + Utri) where Ganga descended. Then we returned to Mussoorie via Uttarkashi and Suakholi. We stayed overnight at GMVN at Mussoorie and returned to Dehradun next day.

NAG TIBBA TREK : 24/25^th April’2015

In every walk with Nature one receives more than he seeks...Mountains fascinate me and they are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.  I get lost in nature and discover myself. Mountains keep calling and I must be going.  Trekking in lower Himalayas is the right way to check your endurance and fitness. Nag Tibba Trek is one of the finest treks in the country and it is 11 kms one way. Last month I did this trek from Tewa. This time I decided to do from Aunter where the gradient is study and OK. Since the time I came back from my earlier trek, I was working on Asha (my wife) to do this trek though she complains of breath out effect after a little climb but I knew of her enormous will power. This time we were three ... Asha and Parul (Ela) were accompanying me and we called our trusted guide, Jai Prakash.  Starting at 9 AM and passing thru picturesque terrain of Deodar, Buransh, Cheer, Oak we reached Nag Devta temple by 4 PM filling our water bottles from mountain springs and taking regular resting.  We put our tent in the green meadows and immediately put our chulha in order.  Hot tea was followed by hot Tomato soup.  By 5.30 PM...We saw formation of black clouds thunder and lightning ... and Jai Prakash started talking of rain and hailstorm as weather in hills is always unpredictable. But I believe in no such thing as bed weather, it is only inappropriate readiness which is of concern. Light rains came over but our tent passed the test. Then we prepared our dinner and rested for the night. We left by 8 AM next day and arrived at Aunter by 12 noon. We are given this life because we are strong enough to live it.... so just keep travelling and do treks....

Dehradun (Rajpur) - Mussoorie Trek - 2nd April'2015

The adventure bone of Britishers made them to discover many places in the world.  In 1823, Capt. Young and Mr Shore, while on a hunting trip went up the hills north of Dehradun and reached a place where from beautiful view of Himalaya mountains were at display. Capt. Young  mesmerized by the views and seeing the hunting possibilities  put up his Hunting Cottage there and thus Mussoorie was born. Soon the town was established and people started coming here to escape from the heat and dust of plains in summer. Mussoorie’s salubrious climate was making Britishers feel at ‘Home’.  It was cool, it was green, it was quiet, it was comfortable, it was chock-a-block with fellow countrymen and it was relaxing. To commute and carry goods a bridle path was developed from Rajpur to Mussoorie via Jharipani, Barlowgunj and Bala Hissar. The total distance is 12 kms.  There were three ways of getting from Rajpur to Mussoorie: walking, riding on horseback or being carried  in a jampan or a dandy. To use the bridle path to go to gates of paradise as represented by a cool and bracing climate, a toll tax used to be levied. From 1823 to 1940s, the bridle path was very much in use.  Just think of all chandeliers, big pianos, power generating machines (Mussoorie was the first town of North India which was electrified in 1909), pipes, bricks etc have gone up thru this bridle path.  In November last year my explorer bone discovered this bridle path and soon it became my favorite weekly morning trek. I have planned a trek to Nag Tibba on 4t/5^th April’15. My dear nieces Ela and Ena also wished to join in this trek. They came here to Dehradun 2 days in advance.  On 2^nd April, on the spur of the moment me and Ela decided to do the Rajpur-Barlowgunj trek and we left at 1.30 PM on our dear companion bullet 4161 for Rajpur.  I will explain this trek for those who intend to do it on their own. 

At 1.45 PM we reached Rajpur and after crossing the post office and upward ascent of Rajpur reached Shahanshahi chowk. There is a chai shop on left side. We parked our bike there. There is board there showing Rajpur’s historical past and road from Ghas Mandi to Shahanshahi.  Essentials to carry are water, camera, binocular and a bird book if you are an avid bird watcher.  There are lots of birds to site during this trek.

We start our trek from here. It will take us up n up the famous ‘panch kainchi’ (five scissor like zig zags on the steep hill side) till Jharipani. In five minutes we reach old chungi (toll tax point)...people used to pay toll tax here and the receipt used to get checked at another toll gate at Jharipani, just before Oak Grove School. 

We see on left side 2 blue boards and 2 red boards erected in 1920s...still intact with paint...showing the rate of taxation to use the bridle path to Mussoorie.  Carry on....on  left we cross a small temple...then the road gets forked...taking left one, we move on a vertical ascent.  After some time we see a tunnel and then we come close to it. 

This tunnel was constructed in around 1910s for an Electric tram service between Rajpur and Mussoorie. But because of many reasons the project was shelved.. However the tunnel is still there with iron bars intact for running electric wires as a historic reminder. After crossing the tunnel and near vertical climb (here I remember a friend of mine said....nahin aur nahin chala jata mujhse in one of our earlier treks..) we reach a point where from a beautiful panoramic view of doon valley is seen.

 Below at the back is Shikhar fall. From here we encounter a proper cemented road. After 15 minutes we see a Forest deptt board showing Jharipani 2 kms 

....move on. After 10 minutes we see on our left side.. view of Dehradun and the road below. Famous Shiv temple is also seen from here. Now it is somewhat level walk. After 5 minutes we see Saiyad baba mazar on right side.  After  45 minutes , we reach a point where from Mussoorie is visible and we come on a cement block road. Taking right and going up and up we reach the bitumen tarmac road where boards of various hotels are on display with distances from here. It is a mid way point between Rajpur and Mussoorie.  We have reached the yesteryear's famous ‘Halfway House’ on left and Oak Grove School on right.

Britishers and elite Indians used to take rest and refreshments with beer, whiskey, rum and enjoy the cool air. Oak Grove School was put up for the children of those British employees of Punjab and Sind railways who could not afford to send their wards to England for education. It was established in 1888. An old post office of 1888 is there at the gate of Oak Grove School and opposite Halfway House, still running in old building. Five minutes from here we cross the Jharipani bazaar. And then we see beautiful  green cone shaped turrets of Kamal Cottages. This place used to be Fairlawn Palace of the deposed king of Nepal. The Palace’s ruins are still there.  Moving on further we see a “Cross” on the hill...it is in St George College, Barlowgunj. Further on we see an Aero plane tugged in the hill...

it is also in St George College...and it shows military connections of St George College. We also see imposing and beautiful structure of Jaypee Residency Manor hotel on the left side. Where  Jaypee hotel  is there now, it used to have Whytebank Castle which was with St George College for a long time. Some teachers and moneyed students used to stay in the castle. We also see a suspension bridge connecting Jaypee hotel to St George which was erected for the students and teachers to come to the college.

And we have reached Barlowgunj bazaar. There is an old mile stone here

showing distances to Landour, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Roorkee, Meerut etc...Take a photograph with the mile stone....have bun omelet and take rest.

Trek of 6.5 kms is completed and  a vertical rise of 3000’ is achieved. Relax...and start back. We completed the upward trek in 2 hours and return in 1 hour with a rest of half an hour.

Surveyor’s Stone at Bhadraj, Mussoorie : 24^th March’2015

It is surprising that none of the tourists to Mussoorie know of a 200-year-old Surveyor’s Stone at the Bhadraj Hill just 18 kms from Mussoorie. Ever since I came to know of it thru a photo exhibition I saw in Mussoorie last year, I was looking for a trip to Bhadraj....and today was the day.

I started at 6 AM with my beloved Bullet 4161 and reached Dudhli Village via Mussoorie and Clound’s End by 8. The bullet ride always fascinates me and in the morning to Mussoorie and beyond makes my mood.
The freakish contrast between the thickly forested northern slopes and the totally bare grassland on southern slope immediately drew my attention. A line appears to have been drawn by free hand dividing it by a ridge. From Dudhli the 5 kms trek to Bhadraj temple was all fun listening to FM Rainbow and getting updates of semi final between NZ and SA. Cool breeze accompanied me all the way to Bhadraj. Full bloom Rhododendron flowers and glittering Silver Oak made an awesome scene all the way. I reached by 10.30. The idols in the temple have a Buddhist touch as this region including eastern Himachal was once under heavy Buddhist influence.

 “Surveyor’s Stone” was located in the periphery of the Bhadraj temple. This Stone, a relic, is inscribed with the names of the Surveyors and VIP Visitors of that period and stands as a historical testimony to the work done by them in India.

The Himalayan region’s description was very patchy and incorrect at the onset of the 19th century and the East India Company was also keen to map the Indian

peninsula to ascertain their area of control and feel proud for it. Thus Survey of India was established. The Great Trigonometry Survey was started by British surveyor Col. William Lambton in 1802. It was started from St.Thomas Mount, Chennai to Bhadraj Hill in Mussoorie. Many surveyors visited this point in 1813/1814 and they mapped this region very accurately.

Some of the initials carved out on the stone include that of JSB John Boldero, Joint magistrate of Sahranpoor 1813-15, WLG Wiliam Linnaeus Gardner (1770-1835) and John Anthony Hodgson (1777-1848). At the lower right hand corner, cut into the rock, is the inscription of Lady Hood 1814. She was wife of Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, a British Naval officer Commanding 1st British East Indies Naval fleet.

I enjoyed my one hour stay on top and returned back to watch on TV the wonderful finish by NZ to enter in finals in WC.
If you are interested in this trek, reach Dudhli village by car or bike. You can also do an extended trek starting from Library at Mussoorie.
From Dudhli it is 4.5 kms gradual ascent to Bhadraj passing thru scenery you must not have seen in your entire life.

If you enjoy playing flute or mouth-organ, do carry it with you. For further details or assistance, I may be contacted on my mobile no 09639931833.

 “We travel not to escape life….but for life not to escape us”

Nag Tibba Trek : 12/13^th March’2015

I am Anil Mittal and I live in Dehradun since 2013. I have traveled almost all parts of the country and explored lots of places. I am an Engineer by qualification, explorer and traveler by passion. Exploring new places is my hobby. I am a life member of BNHS and have done many trips with them. Trekking had been in my mind for a long time. After coming to Dehradun I started doing treks and bought my 3 person tent and sleeping bags. I enjoy weekly day treks to Mussoorie from Dehradun and also to Benog Tibba, Bhadraj Tibba from Mussoorie.

I did Nag Tibba trek on 12^th/13^th March’2015. Nag Tibba or Serpent Peak is the highest peak in lower Himalayas of Garhwal region. It is at about 10000’ height. Nag tibba offers majestic scenic beauty and is a good trek for first timers and adventure lovers. From Nag Tibba one can see the clear view of stunning  snow peaks of Himalayas.

The mountain’s mixed oak, deodar and rhododendron forests around Nag Tibba are dense and isolated. It has a large population of birds and wildlife. The flora and fauna in this trek are very rich.
Due to its close proximity to Mussorie/Dehradun, it is one of the ideal extended weekend treks out of Dehradun/Delhi. Time is a big constraint in our lives and this trek can be completed in two days starting from Delhi on Friday night and reach back by Monday morning with proper logistic support.

There are various places of starting the trek  to Nag Tibba. From Pantwari on northern side where from Adventure companies do this trek and Deolsari, Aunter, Manglori and Tewa on southern side. Camping is done at Nag Tibba close to the Nag Devta temple and the summit (Top or Jhundi) is reached through a 3 km steep ascent from base camp. Water is scarce on this trek and you need to carry your own water supply.When I first time went for this trekking, I looked for information through books, blogs and websites and understood the difficulties in doing on your own.

But I do not enjoy  organised tours by Adventure companies on two grounds. One, they are a bit costly and the second, the fun gets missing as they do everything for you in a routine manner. Your explorer takes back seat. I preferred route from Tewa village (4500’) which involves a trek of 10 kms up to Nag Tibba base camp (8500’). 

If you are starting  from Delhi, take the night train (Nanda Devi AC Express- Train No. 12205) starting from New Delhi Rly Stn at 2355 hrs and this train reaches Dehradun at 5.40 AM. You can take a direct taxi to Tewa or travel by bus and share jeep taxi combination. Travelling in your car from Delhi takes extra days and involves frustration of journey crossing Modi Nagar and all such places on rubbish roads. Likewise you take the same train for returning to Delhi. Tewa is about 80 kms from Dehradun. The road to Tewa is parallel to river Pali and takes you through Mussoorie, Suakholi and Thatyur.

The Nag Tibba trek gives you fun of camping in a tent and sleep under starry sky on sleeping mats with sleeping bags.

Day 1 (March 12^th2015): I started from Dehradun at 6 AM in my car and backpack carrying tent, sleeping bag, cooking pan maggi etc.. and reached Tewa village by 8.30 AM. My local guide was waiting at Tewa village. I parked my car and we went to his house.  There I met his family members.  After breakfast, we left for Nag Tibba carrying paranthas, alu ki subzi as our food during trek and for dinner and milk, chai patti etc . On the way we crossed full bloom of Buransh (Rhododendron) flowers….valley view  with villages way below. There are two places worth camping on the way in case you feel tired. We reached a place called Taal (Gujjars’ camp) at 8000’ altitude by 3 PM after 5 hours trekking clicking photographs and chatting with villagers who are either going down or coming up. Taal is a beautiful place and from here we could see our destination i.e. Nag Tibba base or Nag Tibba Temple. We also encountered snow from here. Trekking on snow for one and a half hours we reached Nag Devta temple. We went to the temple and worshiped the Serpent God though the temple was locked. We reached our camping site by 4.30 PM. We installed our Tent and looked for dry wood. Then we lit fire and prepared tea and maggi  for ourselves. Till it became dark, we moved around on snow. At 7 PM we prepared tomato soup and then we warmed our paranthas in fire and had our dinner. Radio was with us and we listened songs on FM Rainbow. Before slipping in our sleeping bags I had a hot cup of milk and stayed for overnight in our tent. We enjoyed lovely sky full of stars, planets and moving satellites. We found at least a dozen of satellites crossing clear sky.

Day 2 (March 13^th2015):  We got up at 5.30 AM. The fire we had put on last night was still on. We prepared our morning tea on the wood flame. Again moved around and enjoyed the stunning views of snow clad mountains. Then we had our breakfast. As snow cover was very heavy, we dropped the idea of going to summit or Jhundi. We moved around the place and decided to start for back journey to village Tewa. We left at 8 AM and reached back to Tewa by 12 noon. We had some rice and daal for lunch. I thanked the family of my guide for tasty food, did some photography, moved around on the banks of river, saw gharat (pan chakki) and bid them farewell distributing 5 star chocolates to all family members (15 in all). I started back by 3 PM and reached my home (Gulmohar) in Dehradun by 5.30 PM. Thus I concluded my Nag Tibba trek which is imprinted on my soul forever….

If you enjoy playing flute or mouth-organ, do carry it with you. We are doing the trek with some friends on 25th/26th April'15...if interested in joining us, pl call me on 09639931833.  “We travel not to escape life….but for life not to escape us”