Prolog:
Date: 21st August 2017
The overnight rain and cold weather accompanied with excitement made me wakeup many time during the night. Each time I think its already 5AM just to see the watch and realize that there are few more hours to go!
Finally I woke up at 5:30 AM to see that it was still raining. It was not heavy downpour but these continuous rains which keep the environment damp throughout. I was lucky to get the hot water first as my friends already arranged and I was ready for shower. So I got ready very early.
The plan was to trek to Valley of flowers but the Leads had warned that the valley might be closed if there were overnight rain. So the group had prepared either for the Valley or Hemkund based on the situation.
The group assembled at the restaurant at 7:30AM.After the breakfast, and a packet lunch in bag, the group started the trek by 7:50AM.
At 8:10AM we reached the checkpoint where the roads diverge for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund. The Valley of Flowers was closed after the overnight rain and Forest department guards has gone to inspect the situation. The Leads had anticipated this and the group were dressed with the inner fleece for Hemkund Shaib ascend.
The misty clouds and the Lakshman Ganga waterfall came closer as we climbed the slope adjacent to the falls.
In half an hour, we had gained quite good elevation due to the steep climb. The initial 15 mins of the trek was quite tiring due to acclimatization. Then the body got adjusted!!!
The Ghangaria town already a tiny block in the beautiful landscape.
The rain started lightly and I was walking slowly witnessing the beautiful landscape, the wet flowers and chirping birds.
The Pika seen in the collage is one of the common sighting during the trek to Hemkund and also the Valley Of Flowers.
Due to the rain, the entire path had small streams of water flowing and the surroundings were quite misty.
The trek was gaining altitude quite fast and the temperature was low. The slight rain is making it feel more colder. There was a water stream where solidified snow seen on the sides.
The climb was slow and we took a long break on the way. By 11:00AM we could hear the bajan from the Gurudwara. So it seems that we are reaching the peak!!! The weather cleared for a brief moment to make us realize the steep winding path in ahead of us. It seems as if we reached but yet we have not reached 3/4th of the distance.
Finally after a long and tiring climb up the slope, the 1st group of the group reached Hamkund Sahib at 12:15PM. There is a small place where all the mules stop before reaching the Gurudwara.
The group went to the Gurudwara first. Spend about 10 minutes inside the Gurudwara where prayers are continuously happening. After that we came out to see the Hamkund lake.
Just the sight off the water and the waterfall freaked us out!!!! The sight was soooo beautiful.
Initially when we reached there, it was drizzling and misty. Then later the weather started clearing. The temperature was really cold and probably below 5 degree Celsius.
The below video of the lake when it was misty.
During the time we were present at the Hemkund Sahib, we have seen different kinds of weather. It was raining when we reached, then it turned misty, it cleared for a while and again rain started. The weather was just swinging quite fast.
By around 1:30PM the entire group had reached the Hemkund Sahib and we took some photo at the lake for a while.
We went to the Sri Lakshman temple after which we went to have food from the Gurudwara.
The group was hungry - the khichdi and tea was just awesome. The tea which we had at the Gurudwara was probably the best tea in the entire trip.
I took a 360 view of the Gurudwara and the kitchen in the below link.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6ZnTEt5iMGrOh3642
The Brahma Kalam is also the highlight of this place. The flower grows only about 14000 feet altitude.
The time was 2:30PM and we need to start the descend soon. We used the restrooms facility there which was really maintained very clean.
We started the walk down by 3:10PM. This time is quite late than usual for Hemkund trek.As per the Leads, the group has to start by 5:30AM for the Hemkund trek. Our case was different since our original plan was to go to the Valley. This turned out to be blessing for us. The entire morning was raining , but the weather started clearing quite well when we started to descend down the path.This help me to shoot lots of good pictures of flowers, sceneries and few birds on the way.
I met an Sikh Uncle who was explaining about the history of Sri Guru Gobind Singh and the importance of Hemkund Sahib for the Sikh Community. It was interesting and informative. I slowed down my walk to shoot pictures and later noticed that the uncle has been explaining the same to many people on the way.
Continuing the walk, there was a clear view of a glacier mountain from far away. Time was 5:45PM by then.
I reached the Ghangaria by 6:45 PM. It was late, still I had a cup of tea before reaching to my hotel room.
It was a long and tiring trek for the day but still very very refreshing. The weather had cleared very well by then and no sign of rain. This gave us even more excitement about the dreams of the Valley of flowers trek for the next day. The hope of Valley being open was very high if the weather remained the same throughout the night.
The group had dinner by 8PM. The night sky was very clear and the view of stars in the sky was amazing. Few of us ventured into the street to see the beautiful stars.
The night sky view on that day was something which no camera could capture. Our eyes are the best camera and it was one of the best night sky with stars I have seen for a long time.
We settled in our room after the watching the sky and awaiting the Valley of flowers trek on the next day!!!
The experience of Life: The Trek Begins
Date: 21st August 2017
The overnight rain and cold weather accompanied with excitement made me wakeup many time during the night. Each time I think its already 5AM just to see the watch and realize that there are few more hours to go!
Finally I woke up at 5:30 AM to see that it was still raining. It was not heavy downpour but these continuous rains which keep the environment damp throughout. I was lucky to get the hot water first as my friends already arranged and I was ready for shower. So I got ready very early.
The plan was to trek to Valley of flowers but the Leads had warned that the valley might be closed if there were overnight rain. So the group had prepared either for the Valley or Hemkund based on the situation.
The group assembled at the restaurant at 7:30AM.After the breakfast, and a packet lunch in bag, the group started the trek by 7:50AM.
 |
| First sight of River Lakshman Ganga when trek started |
At 8:10AM we reached the checkpoint where the roads diverge for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund. The Valley of Flowers was closed after the overnight rain and Forest department guards has gone to inspect the situation. The Leads had anticipated this and the group were dressed with the inner fleece for Hemkund Shaib ascend.
The misty clouds and the Lakshman Ganga waterfall came closer as we climbed the slope adjacent to the falls.
 |
| The Lakshman Ganga River flowing down |
The Ghangaria town already a tiny block in the beautiful landscape.
 | |
| Ganghria view |
Due to the rain, the entire path had small streams of water flowing and the surroundings were quite misty.
The trek was gaining altitude quite fast and the temperature was low. The slight rain is making it feel more colder. There was a water stream where solidified snow seen on the sides.
 |
| Solidified Snow |
 |
| Weak Bridge on the path |
Finally after a long and tiring climb up the slope, the 1st group of the group reached Hamkund Sahib at 12:15PM. There is a small place where all the mules stop before reaching the Gurudwara.
The group went to the Gurudwara first. Spend about 10 minutes inside the Gurudwara where prayers are continuously happening. After that we came out to see the Hamkund lake.
Just the sight off the water and the waterfall freaked us out!!!! The sight was soooo beautiful.
Initially when we reached there, it was drizzling and misty. Then later the weather started clearing. The temperature was really cold and probably below 5 degree Celsius.
 |
| Gurudwara and Lakshman temple adjacent to the hemkund lake |
 |
| Misty Lake |
 |
| Panoramic view of the misty mountain |
 |
| Hemkund lake clear water |
 |
| Reflection of waterfall on the lake |
The below video of the lake when it was misty.
During the time we were present at the Hemkund Sahib, we have seen different kinds of weather. It was raining when we reached, then it turned misty, it cleared for a while and again rain started. The weather was just swinging quite fast.
By around 1:30PM the entire group had reached the Hemkund Sahib and we took some photo at the lake for a while.
We went to the Sri Lakshman temple after which we went to have food from the Gurudwara.
The group was hungry - the khichdi and tea was just awesome. The tea which we had at the Gurudwara was probably the best tea in the entire trip.
I took a 360 view of the Gurudwara and the kitchen in the below link.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6ZnTEt5iMGrOh3642
The Brahma Kalam is also the highlight of this place. The flower grows only about 14000 feet altitude.
 |
| Brahma Kamal |
The time was 2:30PM and we need to start the descend soon. We used the restrooms facility there which was really maintained very clean.
We started the walk down by 3:10PM. This time is quite late than usual for Hemkund trek.As per the Leads, the group has to start by 5:30AM for the Hemkund trek. Our case was different since our original plan was to go to the Valley. This turned out to be blessing for us. The entire morning was raining , but the weather started clearing quite well when we started to descend down the path.This help me to shoot lots of good pictures of flowers, sceneries and few birds on the way.
I met an Sikh Uncle who was explaining about the history of Sri Guru Gobind Singh and the importance of Hemkund Sahib for the Sikh Community. It was interesting and informative. I slowed down my walk to shoot pictures and later noticed that the uncle has been explaining the same to many people on the way.
Continuing the walk, there was a clear view of a glacier mountain from far away. Time was 5:45PM by then.
 |
| Glacier Mountain |
It was a long and tiring trek for the day but still very very refreshing. The weather had cleared very well by then and no sign of rain. This gave us even more excitement about the dreams of the Valley of flowers trek for the next day. The hope of Valley being open was very high if the weather remained the same throughout the night.
The group had dinner by 8PM. The night sky was very clear and the view of stars in the sky was amazing. Few of us ventured into the street to see the beautiful stars.
 |
| Gangria streets at night |
 |
| The Night sky |
We settled in our room after the watching the sky and awaiting the Valley of flowers trek on the next day!!!
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