The Enchanting Himalayas

 The mountains have always fascinated me since my childhood. Having started trekking at the age of 16 as a hobby, I do not recollect when it turned into a passion.

Having done a few treks in Sahyadris in 1982-83, I trekked the KHAULI PASS in June 1983, my first Himalayan adventure. I re-visited the Himalayas in May 1986, this time as a Camp Leader, on PINDARI GLACIER Trek organised by The Youth Hostels Association of India. It was really an amazing experience to have stayed for more than a month at Loharkhet, one of the camps on the trek. I was really excited to have done two Himalayan treks in a span of just three years in my teens. I returned home with lot of memories and rich experience with a vow to visit one of the World’s youngest mountain ranges again.

But then, something else was in the store. Though I kept trekking at regular intervals in the Sahyadris, my dream of trekking in the Himalayas took a back seat primarily due to my higher education, some financial difficulties and then the professional commitments. But I had kept the idea of Himalayan trek burning in my mind, just waiting for a breeze to help it spread like a wild fire …. And the moment came ….. after a gap of 23 long years …… when I was about to move on the wrong side of my 40’s …… it happened in May 2009 with a trek to SAR PASS …. and again in May 2012 with a trek to SAR PASS with a changed route …… and again in May 2013 with a trek to SAURKUNDI PASS. Three Himalayan treks in a span of five years …. not bad …. the fire has definitely started spreading, just waiting to grow wild in the years to come.

Saurkundi Pass trek was one of the finest experiences I have ever had. The reasons are many. One of them is our group – SK 26 [Special 26]. A bunch of trekking enthusiasts from all parts of India and across the border, girls and boys, men and women, people from diverse cultures, different age groups, some raw and some rich with experience had gathered at the Base Camp near Manali. This bunch became a “group” at the Camp Fire organised and performed by us on the next day. The skit directed by Ketaki and Prajakta, anchored by Priti and Tanzeem, and performed by all the group members was praised by all - including the YHAI officials. The spirit of camaraderie and cohesiveness that I have seen in this group is really matchless. I am happy to say that even after the successful completion of the trek, the group members are in touch with one another and will remain so for the years to come.

Himalaya – literally meaning “abode of snow”, is rich with flora and fauna. One cannot get the real feel of the nature simply by visiting the tourist places of Nainital or Manali or the like. The beauty of Himalayas, in my view, can be explored only by walking through its valleys, remote villages and snow covered peaks. This, of course, cannot be done without sweating yourself in the cold Himalayan weather.

Trekking is not about reaching the destination in least possible time, because those who do so, fail to enjoy and experience the wonders of nature on the way. In our day to day routine life everyone is running after something or the other. If you do the same thing in the mountains, the basic purpose of trekking - “recreation” itself gets defeated.

While gaining the height, enjoy and experience walking through the pine-deodar-maple trees, pine cones, apple orchards, taste of yellow raspberries from the wild thorny bushes en-route, fragrance of the wild roses and wet grass, wild flowers with attractive colours, rhododendrons at great heights, different species of birds and butterflies, bird calls, crows with the yellow beak, dead trees and the new life forming on the dead wood, the sound of the wind ….. and of the river flowing deep in the valley, silence of the night… and much more. One should not miss these small things happening in the nature while praising the beauty of the snow covered alpine peaks.

Watch the unique structure of the houses in the villages you pass through. The single storey wooden houses surrounded by verandah on all the sides with roofs made of slate stone is a common picture in most of the villages. You may find an occasional house with beautiful wooden carving and wooden wind chimes attached below the roof, which looks very attractive.

When it comes to trekking in Himalayas, one cannot miss out noticing two things, both of which are not available in the cities in spite of whatever money you have with you – abundant water and pure-unpolluted air. I really envy the villagers in these two aspects.

The life in the villages located at a height of 7000 feet and above, the hardships faced by the villagers and the extreme conditions in which they stay, compel us to have a re-look at our attitude towards our life and lifestyle. To understand their difficulties, their problems and to do whatever little we can do for them, directly or indirectly, is what should be the outcome of trekking, whether in Himalayas or locally.

Above 11500 feet, as the snowline approaches, the tree line vanishes. Here on till 12000 feet you will find the shrubs, the grass and rhododendrons in abundance. The cold winds coming directly from the snow covered peaks will make you shiver. Above 12000 feet there will be snow everywhere. No trees, no shrubs, no grass. If you are lucky enough to be there in the last week of May, you will find the grass and tiny little flowers coming to life on the patches where snow has melted. Soon, in another month’s time, once the snow has completely melted, the valley will be full of colourful flowers making it look more beautiful than before.

Having said all this, my idea of experiencing the Himalayas is to sit in silence, just watch what is happening around you and try to be aware, look within and tune yourself with the nature and just be there. Even if you are able to do it for a few minutes, I am sure, it will change your life dramatically.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             [Nishad Umranikar]