Travelogue

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...