DAY 1 - Triund
Trekking Route:
McLeod Gang - Dharamkot - Galu Devi Temple - Triund
McLeod Gang - Dharamkot - Galu Devi Temple - Triund
24th May 2013
I woke up with a fresh mind and a smile on my face. Today would be the first day of my four day trek to Indrahara. I had a hot water shower, a breakfast of Aloo paratha with coffee. It was 9 AM by then and I was waiting for a call from my guide. I called Laxmi Holidays at last and it turned out that they had not yet made all the arrangements. After a few calls and an hour of wait, the guide called me. He had not yet arranged for the groceries so I waited some more time.
At last by 11:30 we met and were ready to leave McLeod. I was carrying my own rucksack and sleeping bag on my shoulders. The luggage must be 7-8 kg and I knew that it will not be easy to trek uphill carrying my own gear. My guide, Mahendra, was a local village man who knew the entire area and all its paths. He was carrying a bag twice as heavy as mine and it gave me a bit of motivation to carry my own tiny 8 kg bag. My second guide, Sukhwinder, was to join us from Galu devi temple as he was still collecting groceries in Bagsu. He would reach Gallu devi temple by a different route. (Bhagsu-Dharamkot-GaluDevi).
At last by 11:30 we met and were ready to leave McLeod. I was carrying my own rucksack and sleeping bag on my shoulders. The luggage must be 7-8 kg and I knew that it will not be easy to trek uphill carrying my own gear. My guide, Mahendra, was a local village man who knew the entire area and all its paths. He was carrying a bag twice as heavy as mine and it gave me a bit of motivation to carry my own tiny 8 kg bag. My second guide, Sukhwinder, was to join us from Galu devi temple as he was still collecting groceries in Bagsu. He would reach Gallu devi temple by a different route. (Bhagsu-Dharamkot-GaluDevi).
Today’s trek was 9 km long (McLeod-Dharamkot-Galudevi-Triund). The road is motor able till Galu devi temple. One could save 2-3 km of trek if she opts for a vehicle. I obviously trekked my way. From Dharamkot my guide opted for a shortcut to Galu devi temple instead of the motor able way. It saved about a kilometer and half an hour of our time but the inclination of this shortcut trail was so steep that I was completely exhausted till I reached Galu devi temple. There I met Sukhwinder, my second guide. There is a shop near the temple where one can get water and food items like chips and biscuits. I gulped down a 1 litre water bottle down my throat and sat down to catch my breath. After about 10 minutes of break my energy levels were normal again. The three of us started our trek for Triund. The trail would be easy from here. Mahendra told me that there are a couple of shops on the way and even at Triund. So one need not carry groceries and water if he plans to trek till Triund only. Even tents and guest house rooms are available on rent at Triund if she plans to stay overnight. Obviously the rates increase as we go higher and higher. For instance, a litre of packaged water bottle which costs Rs. 20 in McLeod would cost Rs 30 at the shops on the way to triund and Rs 40 at Triund Hill.
(Above: Me and my guides on our way to Triund hill)
(Above: The two shops in between Galu Devi Temple and Triund Hill)
There were 2 shops on the way from Galu devi to Triund. After about two hours of trek we reached the last shop before Triund. Triund was still half an hour away. We stopped at this shop and Sukhwinder took out a few packets of Maggi noodles from his bag. It was 2 PM by now and we were hungry. The shop keeper helped to prepare the noodles. Sitting in the make shift shop, I stretched my legs and ate a bowl full of maggi looking at the Triund hill which seemed closer now.
The last stretch was a bit difficult due to the steep inclination of the path. After about half hour of a tiring trek we reached Triund. The view was breathtaking!
The last stretch was a bit difficult due to the steep inclination of the path. After about half hour of a tiring trek we reached Triund. The view was breathtaking!
(Above: View from Triund Hill)
The beauty about Triund lies in the way the view opens up suddenly at the very end of trail. The tree line ends just a few meters below the Triund Hill. Till we reach the very top we can’t see anything except dense trees and a tiny steep trail. And then suddenly you realize that the trees have ended and you are at the hill top. A green carpet of lush grass welcomes you. And for the first time the Magestic snow-capped Dhauladhar range is in front of you. There is nothing in between the 5K plus Mun peek and the Triund hill except a valley in between! The white peaks, grey mountains and green grass of Truind make an excellent colour combination and a sheer pleasure to view.
Triund is situated at a height of 2900 meters. We went to the highest point of the hill where a private guest house is situated. In front of the guest house and on the green grass of Triund my guides pitched a tent for me and later made tea for us. I sat on grass in front of my tent and Mahendra handed me a cup of tea and some biscuits. To my left was the entire snow-capped Dhauladhar and the Mun peek, to my right was the Kangra valley from where I had started my trek and a hot cup of tea in my hands. There was nothing else I wished from my life at this moment.
Later on in the evening I went for a walk to explore the hill. Through the valley on the side of Mun peak I could hear a water stream flowing down. I was told that the stream originates from the glacier and is the nearest source of water in Triund. I saw some mountain dogs all accustomed to humans. One of them followed me the entire evening. I also spotted a horse grazing in the hill and a foreign girl who was meditating in peace at a distance during my leisure walk. While I was returning back towards my tent I met few tourists, a group from Delhi, a group from Punjab and some kids on a trekking trip with their teachers.
It is generally pleasant and sunny in Triund. But it gets cold after sunset, especially due to the breeze coming from the snowy mountains. I noticed that there was no fixed wind direction. Sometimes the wind was coming from Kangra valley while sometimes it was coming from the mountains. This made it difficult to sit near the camp fire at evening. Few groups joined the fire as it grew dark and temperature dropped. There were three groups in total. The first group was of three people, a guy from Pondi, guy from Germany and a girl from Romania. The second group had 4 persons, a guy and three girls, all from France. The third group was a couple from Switzerland.
We all sat there surrounding the camp fire and had a lovely talk. We talked about our lives, our countries and all the good things in this world. It was good to interact with people of different nationalities.
My guide had made me a full-fledged Indian dinner of Roti-Sabzi-Dal-Chawal. Others ordered there food at the private guest house as per their likings. By 10:30 we all retired to our respective camps. It was quite windy and my tent kept on fluttering all night. The barking of mountain dogs made it more difficult. Though I was warm in my sweater and sleeping bag I could not sleep late till 3 AM.
We all sat there surrounding the camp fire and had a lovely talk. We talked about our lives, our countries and all the good things in this world. It was good to interact with people of different nationalities.
My guide had made me a full-fledged Indian dinner of Roti-Sabzi-Dal-Chawal. Others ordered there food at the private guest house as per their likings. By 10:30 we all retired to our respective camps. It was quite windy and my tent kept on fluttering all night. The barking of mountain dogs made it more difficult. Though I was warm in my sweater and sleeping bag I could not sleep late till 3 AM.