Jatropani Summit

Delhi - Haridwar - Lohajung - The Camp 1 & 2 - Brahmatal Summit- Jatropani Summit

This was certainly a trek to remember for life! Though an easy trek for trekkers, I was not very confident myself that I can do any high altitude trek. Not being a hard core trekker, my love for Himalayas pushed me to go for this. Despite taking an option that a pony would carry my bag I shamelessly was the last person to reach the summit unlike others :p 

Memories flashed, as it was the same Badrinath route I had taken 2 years ago while I went on a trek to valley of flowers, this time it was on a different route via the Baijnath temple. A day's journey was filled with fun while we made friends for life through our journey. On our way we visited centuries old Baijnath temple.

Baijnath temple: 

Baijnath or Lord Shiva temple said to have been built by the Kumaon Katyuri king during 12th Century AD. Dedicated to SivaVaidyanatha, the Lord of Physicians, the Baijnath temple is actually a temples’ complex built by the Katyuri kings with the idols of Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya and Brahma. The town itself is called Baijnath and is situated on the left bank of the Gomti River and the temples were constructed using stones. The main temple that houses is a beautiful idol of Parvati is chiseled in black stone.  

Lohajung was our base camp and it was a beautiful village. We were able to witness a part of Himalayan range Nanda Gunti. It surely was freezing with around 3 deg C in the night. We had some hot soup and yummy food. And the next day we started for the trek after listening to the instructions from our guide.

We had camped at 2 places one near Bekal Taal and the other near Brahma Taal and were to trek for 3 days. Our guide and his folks brought  the food items and cooked at the places we camped. They were using the wood found around to cook and further served us with hot soup, tea, food and sweet at every place. It was a boon that there was absolutely no network which made us enjoy nature better. Collecting woods for camp fire, the songs we sang, the dances (snake dance..lol) and the laughter is fresh in memories and almost everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

First camp near Bekal Taal:

Bekal Taal:

We ascended to reach the lake and were quite surprised that this area where the sunlight hardly reached; was full of snow and a peep from the top gave a wonderful DREAM SCENE of the lake slightly frozen, surrounding the border with snow line and the trees and logs around capped with snow. It was mesmerizing and all of us got into the mood of capturing this place and started our photo shoots that ended really late.

Second Camp near the Summit on the Day 2 &3 Brahmataal (you can see the blue camps to your right):

First time ever I experienced living in a camp that we were to crawl in, get into the fleece & sleeping bag to sleep. It was challenging to sleep with the varied snoring sounds from all over echoing and also the cold winds adding to it!  Numerous stars in the clear sky that we were gazing was yet another great experience.

Next day, the ascends were never ending with numerous ridges that we had to cross. I often was feeling breathless, nose blocked, legs were painful lot, also I took breaks in between to drink water as that is the source of energy and additional supply of oxygen  to our body during any altitude treks. Overall I had number of reasons to take breaks ad no wonder I was the last to reach. Once I reached the top of a hill and excepted it to end, I saw many already on the top of the other ridge and I gave a sad look at Anand our guide who was struggling to accompany me as I was extremely slow for him obviously! 

Anand often said 'Do not see up madam, just look down while trekking and you will not lose confidence or feel tired'! He was motivating and inspiring me often and also gave wrong info that we just need to climb up this one hill but it was never ending 6 hours of ascend and descends. At times there were no trails and we literally climbed up with few grips for our foot on the steep uphills!

Hours later, we reached a point and THIS stretch of stunning mountains and this part simply will make anyone there believe in the existence of God!  And the magic worked here, there was absolutely no sign of pains in my body and suddenly I had no complaints or excuses. Couldn't take my eyes off and such was the contrast of  uniquely shaped green valley underneath the snow-capped gigantic Nanda Gunti, Trishul, and others in this range of Himalayas.

Nanda Gunti, Trishul Range:

Any powerful camera surely wouldn't capture this 360 deg view and ofcourse the experience. This was not the end, we were to cross again 2 more small uphills on the north part that was Jatropani summit. With the hard cold wind blowing and shaking us literally, I was slower, took baby steps and finally reached the other part, to witness another range of Badrinath and Kedarnath range. I quenched my thirst and was a fulfilled soul having finally accomplished this. It surely was an achievement and  also an opportunity for life.

Kedar Dome, Chaukamba, Nilkanth and Mana Parvat: (Badrinath & Kedarnath Range)

The specialty about the Jatropani summit was that we were able to view 2 parts of Himalayan range the Badrinath Range with Kedar Dome, Chaukamba, Nilkanth and Mana Parvat. The other L part we were able to witness was the Trishul, Nanda Gunti and others.

Also at our 2nd base camp we had an opportunity to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets. Here is a captured snapshot.

It was a great happy returning trek as it was mostly descending through the forest and I was leading this time obviously and our guide was supporting me to do that too. Back in Lohajung we all had great fun. We started our journey back to Haridwar. It was a day long road trip however, the entire route was scenic throughout the way with visual treat to our eyes that had varied turquoise colored rivers with its landscape of our river Ganga with other  rivers.

We Indians are very lucky to have such amazing places that is magical and magnetic!

I was one of the happiest souls to have visited and felt contented in life to have visited such a heavenly place. Tons of thanks to Achintya and BASC group for providing such a wonderful opportunity to remember for life!