Prolog:
Date: 23rd August 2017
The group was ready for the last trek by 5:15AM. For a change we were waiting for the leads to come, and we had tea in that time. We started the trek down by 5:30AM. The plan was to trek down as fast as possible so that we have the day ahead to visit Mana and then return to Badrinath.
No camera - this was the thumb rule to increase the speed and we did strictly follow that!!
At 7:45AM we reached the break point. We had breakfast at the same place where we took food during the 1st day of trek. The group continued the trek by 8:35AM. Finally at 9:20AM we reached the point where our luggage was dropped off by mules. This was the easiest trek in the trip, i am sure its the same for the entire group. The Leads were surprised by our pace and that we reached the destination by 9:30.
The Leads had arranged the same tempo traveller to take us back till Rishikesh the next day after visiting Mana Village and Badrinath. We came to know that due to heavy rain, the road towards Badrinath was closed for last 3 days and its had reopened just the previous night.
Thus by we started the Journey to the last village in India - "Mana Village".
The experience of Life: The valley with delightful flowers
Date: 23rd August 2017
The group was ready for the last trek by 5:15AM. For a change we were waiting for the leads to come, and we had tea in that time. We started the trek down by 5:30AM. The plan was to trek down as fast as possible so that we have the day ahead to visit Mana and then return to Badrinath.
No camera - this was the thumb rule to increase the speed and we did strictly follow that!!
At 7:45AM we reached the break point. We had breakfast at the same place where we took food during the 1st day of trek. The group continued the trek by 8:35AM. Finally at 9:20AM we reached the point where our luggage was dropped off by mules. This was the easiest trek in the trip, i am sure its the same for the entire group. The Leads were surprised by our pace and that we reached the destination by 9:30.
The Leads had arranged the same tempo traveller to take us back till Rishikesh the next day after visiting Mana Village and Badrinath. We came to know that due to heavy rain, the road towards Badrinath was closed for last 3 days and its had reopened just the previous night.
Thus by we started the Journey to the last village in India - "Mana Village".
We continue to drive along the Alakananda upstream. This is a continuation after the journey from Rishikesh to Govind Ghat on 19th. The router is very scenic. Its also landslide prone. There are 2-3 places in the entire distance from Govind Ghat to Mana village where its landslide prone. There are guards controlling the traffic and inspecting the place to ensure safety.
The above video is one such place!!!The road overall is very good apart from these few spots. There are many waterfalls on the way.
We reached Mana Village at 11:50AM. This village has lots of significance.
This is the last village in India beyond which its area controlled by Army till Tibet Border.
The Village has very different architecture and building constructions.
The garden in the village is really beautiful, both floral and vegetables.
This is the only place where we can visibly see the River Saraswati. It originates from the Himalayas and merges with Alakananda at Mana. This river has great significance both by India Mythology as well as scientifically.After the confluence, its said that river saraswati can be differentiated which flows as under-current. This river finally merged into the Ganga.
The Triveni Sangam at Allahabad which is a confluence of 3 rivers - the Ganga, The Yamuna and the Invisible Saraswati which is seen only at Mana.
Apart from this, Mana village has 3 sports which is of great importance in Indian mytholgy.
The Bheem Pul - Its a single Rock made like a bridge. Its supposed too be a rock put by Bheem as mentioned in scriptures.
There is Vyas Gufa and Ganesh Gufa in the same place. These are 2 caves about a kilometer apart. As per Indian scriptures, these are the caves where Veda Vyasa and Lord Ganesh lived. Vyasa is supposed to have lived this entire life in this place and hence this becomes the place where he has done all his vedic compilations. This makes the place very sacred.
Part of the group had split here to see the saraswati waterfall whereas few of us spend time in the village itself. We had lunch - Maggi and a special herbal juice called "Bburaz". The remaining group came back fast as the waterfall was really far off and it was getting late.
The group exited Mana village at 2:45PM and checked-in at Badrinath by 3:15PM.
We went to TapKund - the hot spring just adjacent to Badrinath temple. There is a man made Kund where people are not entering , probably the water was too hot for anyone to venture directly. There is a separate Gents and ladies section. We took bath in the steaming hot water - and we had to mix some cold water which was available there. It was a very refreshing. The group reached hotel to keep the wet cloths by 4:30PM and just before we were about to go to temple, we got a clear site of Nilkanth Mountain. Its a snow cap mountain behind Badrinath and the other side of it is Kedarnath. The clear view lasted only for 15 mins and after which the clouds covered it off..
We went to Badrinath temple by 5PM. We were at the temple till 6:30PM. The crowd was less and we got good darshan.
We did some shopping in the streets and bargained a lot. The prices were high but we got good deals to satisfaction after bargaining. After dinner at hotel we dispursed to start early next day morning.
The above video is one such place!!!The road overall is very good apart from these few spots. There are many waterfalls on the way.
We reached Mana Village at 11:50AM. This village has lots of significance.
This is the last village in India beyond which its area controlled by Army till Tibet Border.
 |
| The Village entrance. |
The Village has very different architecture and building constructions.
 |
| Houses under repair at the village. |
The garden in the village is really beautiful, both floral and vegetables.
This is the only place where we can visibly see the River Saraswati. It originates from the Himalayas and merges with Alakananda at Mana. This river has great significance both by India Mythology as well as scientifically.After the confluence, its said that river saraswati can be differentiated which flows as under-current. This river finally merged into the Ganga.
The Triveni Sangam at Allahabad which is a confluence of 3 rivers - the Ganga, The Yamuna and the Invisible Saraswati which is seen only at Mana.
Apart from this, Mana village has 3 sports which is of great importance in Indian mytholgy.
The Bheem Pul - Its a single Rock made like a bridge. Its supposed too be a rock put by Bheem as mentioned in scriptures.
 |
| Bheem Pul |
Part of the group had split here to see the saraswati waterfall whereas few of us spend time in the village itself. We had lunch - Maggi and a special herbal juice called "Bburaz". The remaining group came back fast as the waterfall was really far off and it was getting late.
The group exited Mana village at 2:45PM and checked-in at Badrinath by 3:15PM.
We went to TapKund - the hot spring just adjacent to Badrinath temple. There is a man made Kund where people are not entering , probably the water was too hot for anyone to venture directly. There is a separate Gents and ladies section. We took bath in the steaming hot water - and we had to mix some cold water which was available there. It was a very refreshing. The group reached hotel to keep the wet cloths by 4:30PM and just before we were about to go to temple, we got a clear site of Nilkanth Mountain. Its a snow cap mountain behind Badrinath and the other side of it is Kedarnath. The clear view lasted only for 15 mins and after which the clouds covered it off..
 |
| Nilkanth |
We went to Badrinath temple by 5PM. We were at the temple till 6:30PM. The crowd was less and we got good darshan.
 |
| Panoramic shot of bridge leading to temple. Alakananda flowing below and hot spring is visible on the right side |
 |
| Badrinath temple |
We did some shopping in the streets and bargained a lot. The prices were high but we got good deals to satisfaction after bargaining. After dinner at hotel we dispursed to start early next day morning.
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