Nature at its best, naturally.

This August we set out for trek again. My friends from my village joined me at Gurgaon. We reached our basecamp Rishikesh.

We were 27 people from different parts of india, different age group and mix of men, women, boy and girls.

The whole trek consisted of Valley of flowers, Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath.

The trek route was as follows :

DAY 1 : Report at base camp Rishikesh.

DAY 2 : Rishikesh to Joshimath 275 Km by Bus ( Full Day)

DAY 3 : Orientation walk and Visit to Auli/Tapovan

DAY 4 : Joshimath to Govindghat by bus and to Ghangaria by trek 13 Km.

DAY 5 : Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers and back 4 + 4 km trek.

DAY 6 : Ghangaria to Hemkunt and back 5 + 5 km trek.

DAY 7 : Ghangaria to Govindghat 13km trek and to Badrinath Bus journey of  25 km.

DAY 8 : Badrinath to Vasudhara Falls and back 8 + 8 KM trek. (Could not reach Vasudhara, had to cut short for lack of time due to land slide)

DAY 9 : Badrinath to Rishikesh 300km full day Bus journey.

DAY10 : Back home

The trek has been wonderful experience, spending time with nature.

Land slide cases were very much present on the way and had to experience it first hand.  

Altitude as my altimeter read:
Joshimath                1870 mtr
Govindghat             1780 mtr
Ghangharia             3000 mtr
Valley of flowers    3360 mtr
Hemkund Sahib      4340 mtr
Badrinath                 3090 mtr

I have many things to write, but for now I keep it short, just enjoy some pictures. They are with reduced pixels (so that i could load them quickly) but still good. 

I liked it very much since I like nature natural, not manicured heavily. 

This is ANEMONE TETRASEPALA

BISTORTA AFFINIS

BRAHMA KAMALA ( SAUSSUREA OBVALLATA)

Unknown to me. A tiny few mm in size.

Unknown to me. A tiny few mm in size.

NEPATA LEAVIGATA

BERBERIS ARISTATIA Indian Barberry. Sweet and sour in taste when ripe.

Himalayan Teasel. (DIPSACUS INERMIS)

Himalayan Teasel. (DIPSACUS INERMIS)

A small flower, few mm in size. Meadow Rue. (THALICTRUM CULTRATUM)

ANEMONE VITIFOLIA 25 MM IN DIA

ANEMONE VITIFOLIA 25 MM IN DIA

Very small sized flower, 3 mm

Very small may be 4 mm , very special flower. Just two petals and yellow stamen (anther and filament)

COLQUHOUNIA COCCINEA. Himalayan Mint Shrubb

 ERYSIMUM HIERACIIFOLIUM

A thorny plant. 

Dog Flower  also called Chaul, Kwal. IMPATIENS SULCATA.  It comes with pink, yellow, white and different sizes too.

SILENE INDICA ( Caryophyllaceae) Indian campion. An edible plant.

LIGULARIA AMPLEXIACAULIS.

CREMANTHODIUM ARNICOIDES Himalayan Daisy

GERANIUM WALLICHIANUM
Laljar, Ratanjot, Kaphalya. Roots of the plant are used in treatment of ear and eyes diseases. Dye is made from the plant. In Nepal whole plant is used in treatment of rheumatic pains and to clot bleeding. In India roots are used to treat tooth ache

CODONOPSIS ROTUNDIFOLIA. Roundleaf bell flower.

PHLOMIS BRACTEOSA

CLEMATIS BARBELLATA

MORINA LONGFOLIA Biskanakara. Beautiful flower, but thorny plantlet.

Very special flower set. Looks almost black in color. Very small. This is quite blown up picture.

CYANANTHUS LOBATUS. Trailing Bellflower

PHLOMIS BRACTEOSA

VAJRADANTI. (POTENTILLA) 
Himalayan Cinquefoil. 
people take this flower as tea for treatment of diarrhea.

ASTER DIPLOSTEPHIOIDES. Creeping Aster

ANAPHALIS ROYLEANA

ASTER ALBESCENS

IPOMOEA PURPUREA Purple morning Glory

Blue Poppy. Often called Queen of Himalayan flowers. 

SELINUM WALLICHIANUM. Bhuktesi. Milk Parsley

Below is trek route to Vasudhara water fall. In the begining of this trek route we cross river saraswati. This is the route which Pandavas with Draupadi trudged on their last journey several thousand years back.

Below is Hemkund Sahib Lake. Near zero temperature water. We enjoyed quick "Dubki" here. 

Evening Arti at Trveni Ghat on Bank of Holi Ganga. Rishikesh. 

At the end of the series I enclose a picture below which is normally found on internet when you "google" valley of flower. I tell you this picture is not true. It is highly photo shopped. 

Note: The name and other information provided are based on books and internet sources. 

Lord Jagannath, Konark Sun Temple.

We set out to visit Lord Jagannath with my son Prithvi and wife Geeta, last week.

Landed at Bhuvaneshwar and drove to Puri, where we had a hotel booking. We had four days to spend.

Shri Jagannath Mandir :

Jagannath Mandir is a huge temple complex, huge crowd (though lean season) intricate stone carving, Beautiful architectural structure.

Camera is not allowed in side Mandir complex. I could take few from outside the complex.

Rathyatra is due on July 18^th. Preparations were in full swing. This time was unique and special. New idols would be instated. It happens after every 19 years. Many special rituals and “niti”s were being followed. Actually we also realised after visiting the temple, that time was not really good to visit since, due to an important ritual “brahmaparivortan” the actual Idols were not on “darshan”. This certainly disappointed us though, It is also said that being at Lords place on such occasion is also very special. Lord wanted it that way, so it is ok. Hence devotees do visit nearby another temple called Alarinath mandir.(A Vishnu Temple)

Instead of Jaya – Vijaya , You see only Jaya and a police. Vijaya is not in the frame. Both have the same duty. One is doing his duty another one is on the phone.

Three Chariots for Krishna, Balabhadra and Subhadra.

Three Rathas or Chariots were being built with 16 huge wheels.

In the evening on the beach side is a “mela” with lot of street side vendors many things for kids, for family, for devotees ….

There was a short but good “puja” just like Ganga aarti in Haridwar, takes place, on the ocean side.

Chilika Lake and Dolphins :

There is a big lake called “Chilika” about 40 km from Puri. It has a spot where one can see the Dolphins. We took a taxi to reach the spot and went on boat cruise to see the “Dolphins” There are as many as 25 motorised boats, reaching the spot. I already had a doubt if at all Dolphins show themselves with such number of boats, making noise.

We just saw the back of one two dolphins surfaced for few seconds. If you are expecting Dolphins, do not go there, I suggest. It is waste of money. If you like four hours of good boat ride, then you choose it.

This was where a Dolphin showed its back to us and vanished.

Red Island, Red Crab, Corals and Emeralds:

At one place the boatman takes you to a small island where one comes with “Shells and coral reef” pieces. He breaks the shell and reef in front of you to show you the “Moti” (swati muttu) and “coral” and “emeralds” For a moment you tend to believe since it looks quite authentic. But it is all fake. He is trying to fool you by selling the “stones” for quite a sum.  

This so called “precious” stone seller also shows you the red crabs. The island is called red crab island he says. At least  they were live and hopefully not painted red. Looked original.

Lingaraja temple, Mukteshwar temple, Konark Temple:

Next we went to other near by temples and places. Lingaraja temple, again no camera, no pictures. It is equally beautiful and huge.

Mukteshwar Temple :

Next one Mukteshwar, where camera was allowed, so are the pictures here with. Mukteshwar temple is almost three times smaller compared to Jagannath and Lingaraj Temple. Very good stone carving, sculpture.

 

                   

 

Konark Sun Temple :

Next one was famous Sun Temple Konark.  Pained to look at the hugely vandalised temple, by British and Muslim invaders long time ago. Sanctum Sanctorum is just reduced to the base. I think Mukhmantapa exists but filled from inside so as to prevent it from collapsing.

ASI somehow maintains it. It is said one of the British viceroy tried to restore (after they looted the same !) and managed to hold the structure from collapsing. There is no worship, no pujari, no “panda” . You can freely move around.

     

This beautiful wheel refers to 24 hours of the day. It is actually a sun dial. It shows the time of the day. The smal details with in the wheel explains the philosophy of life as our guide explained. There are 24 such wheels.

                           

 

Lastly, that was good visit, we felt satisfied

Please visit this web site if you want to know more about Lord Jagannath Temple and Konark. http://www.shreekhetra.com/sridaily4.html. Whole lot of correct details are available.

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Puri has lot of hotels. Choose the one that suits your pocket. Do not get carried away by their claims on their websites. Mostly what you see is not what you get. Check everything before you check in. You can book the hotel online with out paying advance in many hotels.

Puri is not a clean city, however by looking at the number of devotees visit every day, you may ignore it. Local authorities must be trying hard to keep the city clean. During Rath yatra estimated crowd is 30 lakh people. Amazing !

From weather point of view, summer is not right time. It is too hot and humid. Do not visit four to six weeks before rath yatra since lord Jagannath wont give darshan in Idol form. You can still visit temple, go to garbha gudi and take darshan of representative idols.  Only after Rath yatra is good time. 

Long week end again.

This weekend is long again. I decided to venture out - this time outskirts of Delhi, quite far from place where I lived. Yamuna Bio Diversity park. I knew this is not season for birds. However I wanted to walk around the green and spot some birds. 

This one is a lovely green bee eater.

Two cormorants in animated talk I believe.

This tiny, chirpy long tailed bird is plain prinia. 

This one is a shikra. Look at the second picture. It can turn its head about 180 Degree.

For those who wish to visit (visit during winter if you are looking for migratory birds)  - Saturday and Sunday it is not open. (do not ask me whose great idea is this not to open on week end) After crossing Yamuna (river ! rather Nalla) Take straight (not left) small lane and ask some one. (do not follow blindly the google map. It will take you through left through a muddy, narrow, dirty lane and to wrong park!). There are two Yamuna bio diversity parks. Phase 1 and 2 I understood. Phase 1 is right one. Phase 2 is vast waste land. 

Surprisingly the custodian there said that it is not open for public but he let me in. I saw he let many others in too. He does not allow you to move around on your own. He asks one of his employees to walk you through (which I did not like, I like to move on my own, wait, watch and click pictures).  I have no idea asto why you are not allowed move on your own. May be he has some places where he does not want us to go !? or pure safety issue ??