The trek started at 830 AM. We were told that it’s a moderate trail with ups and downs. We walked through dense forests and saw various varieties of trees.
Swaroopa was grilling the guide on various questions. What grows here? What do you grow in summers, winters? What is the name of this tree, that tree? What is the name of this stone? What is your grandmother’s name? How much did you score in your 10th grade? And many more. The guide was quite knowledgeable and patient. He answered all the curious questions of Swaru.
Throughout the trek, we were walking on one side of the Pabbar river. On the other side of the river was a mountain that was covered with snow. This is because the mountain is on the shadow region of the sun and does not get enough heat to melt the snow.
The trail made us walk through forests, cross and walk through many small streams, grasslands, rocks and muddy slush. It was a good experience walking through all of this.
All of a sudden, there were no trees. We were told we have crossed the tree line (an altitude above which trees don’t grow). It was so sudden. After the tree line, there appeared green pastures as long as your eye can see. On the pasture, facing the snow capped mountains was our campsite.
I could not believe the sight I was seeing. It was just so beautiful. No amount of photographs was doing justice to the view I was experiencing. And the best part was that we were camping there for the rest of the day and night. We reached the location by around 2pm and we were served with hot lunch prepared at the campsite. It was delicious.
We spent the rest of the day just soaking in the view. We walked up and down the pastures. We wanted to take in the view as much as possible. The temperature dropped almost instantly post sunset. The night in the tent was uncomfortable as the floor was quite uneven. But it is what it is.
Endless thoughts 