Travelogue

Our day began before sunrise in Joshimath, with a visit once again to the Narasimha Temple. Morning darshan here is especially moving, for it is the time when the adornments of the deity are removed, revealing the thinning wrist of Lord Narasimha. The sight is both awe-inspiring and humbling — said to be no thicker than a matchstick now, it carries with it many legends. Standing there during the aarti, surrounded by the fragrance of incense and the chants of the priests, I felt a deep calm, as though the Lord was blessing the path that lay ahead. Onward to Govindghat and Pulna After the darshan, we packed up, boarded our bus, and headed toward Govindghat. From there, a short taxi ride brought us to Pulna village, the starting point of our long-awaited trek. The moment felt significant — after days of moving from town to town, this was the real beginning of our journey into the Himalayas. We handed over our heavier luggage to a porter and, with only our essentials, began our ascent arou...

At 5:00 a.m., we set out from Rishikesh on the long road to Joshimath. The journey itself was uneventful, but the winding mountain roads slowly lifted us higher, each turn bringing us closer to the Himalayas. Somewhere along the way, we stopped at the revered Dhari Devi Temple, perched dramatically in the middle of the river. Legends surround this shrine, and though our visit was brief, the image of the goddess standing steadfast against the current stayed with me — a symbol of resilience, unshaken by the storms that come her way. By late evening, around 5:00 p.m., we finally reached Joshimath. The air was crisp and cool, a welcome change from the heat of the plains. After checking into our rooms and freshening up, we set out to explore the sacred heart of this town. The Narasimha Temple – A Living Link to Badrinath Our first stop was the Narasimha Temple, a place of deep spiritual importance. Tradition holds that during the harsh winters, when the path to Badrinath is closed, the deit...

The next leg of our journey took us from Haridwar to Rishikesh — a short ride of just 40–45 minutes, yet a world apart in spirit. We checked out of our Haridwar rooms by 9:00 a.m., grabbed a simple breakfast, and made our way to Bharat Mandir Dharamshala , our reporting base camp for the upcoming trek. There, we submitted our admit cards and medical reports — including blood tests and ECGs — the paperwork that confirmed our bodies were ready. But I couldn’t help smiling at the thought: while medical reports prove the body’s strength, the mountains will always test the mind and heart far more. Janaki Setu The Beatles Ashram – A Walk Into Stillness With half a day free before orientation, Sakhi suggested we explore the Beatles Ashram . After lunch, an auto dropped us at Janki Setu, and from there we walked through quiet forest trails to the gates of this once-famous spiritual retreat. The entry was steep — ₹200 per person — but we were curious. Inside lay the abandoned ashram of M...

Every great journey has a prologue — a place where the mind quiets, the heart opens, and the spirit feels the road ahead. For us, that place was Haridwar. We arrived in the early morning, the city already stirring with the hum of pilgrims, priests, and shopkeepers. After a quick breakfast and check-in at Gujarat Bhavan, we were eager to step out and let Haridwar’s energy wrap around us. The First Steps – Har Ki Pauri & Mansa Devi Temple Our first stop was Har Ki Pauri, the heartbeat of Haridwar. Standing by the ghats, watching the sacred Ganga flow in its determined, timeless rhythm, I felt the journey truly begin. The river here isn’t just water — it’s a living thread connecting generations of faith. From there, we set out for the Mansa Devi Temple, perched atop Bilwa Parvat. This revered shrine, especially on a Shravan Monday, was buzzing with devotion despite the shadow of a recent tragedy in the city. The climb was steep, the sun unrelenting, and the heat almost dared us to sto...

Some dreams refuse to fade. They linger in the background of your mind, whispering, “One day…” For me, trekking to Hemkund Sahib was one such dream. Sitting high at 15,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by the serenity of the Himalayas, Hemkund Sahib holds immense spiritual significance. It’s a place where devotion meets endurance — where faith is tested as much as the body. Two years ago, I came close. The plan was perfect — my family and I would visit the Valley of Flowers, Badrinath, Vasundhara Falls, and finally make the climb to Hemkund Sahib. But just before the final leg, I fell ill. Standing there, knowing the goal was within reach but out of grasp, was heartbreaking. We completed the other parts of the trip, but the mountain remained undefeated. Lessons from Failure At first, I told myself it was just bad luck. But over time, I understood that my setback wasn’t purely physical. There had been another barrier — my mind. I had underestimated how self-doubt and negativity can w...