Exploring the unexplored- Reechh Garh, Panchmadhi

The Kheerganga Trek

Kheerganga Temple

                                                                                                                                                 

Kasol valley plan was already on. I was checking FB and saw somebody posted a Kheerganga pic, little question answer made it clear that place is worth, called few friends, everything started working.

Five of us started our journey swiftly (Maruti) around 7 pm from Delhi, had a dinner at Pehalwan dhaba Murthal. Overnight drive, heavy rain started the moment we entered in Bilaspur (Another route via Una, Bhota is highly recommended despite additional 80 kms, your vehicle and body will love you for taking the alternative route) reached Sundarnagar at 6:30 am. One of friend's relative was ready with breakfast arrangement.

Journey resumed at 8:00 am, it took 4 hours to reach Manikaran, got stuck in traffic jam for an hour, acted little traffic police to sort out the mess.

Traffic jam at Manikaran.

     

Once traffic was clear, we reached Barsheni, the starting point of Kheerganga trek in another one hour which is 15 kms from Manikaran.

Barsheni: Starting point for Kheerganga Trek.

    

Immediately around 2:30 pm we started the trekking. It's approx 7-8 km track. Locations are awesome, (You can follow our Facebook page for more pics) There are two villages on the way. 

An awesome view of the trek. There are many locations like this.

   

Fellow travelers specially the one's who are coming back will keep telling you, it'll take three hours, four hours, five hours, my advice is, don't listen much, pass a smile and keep walking. 

Lady we met on the way, once anyone passes a smile, we just don't let them go without a talk.

Enjoy the track, click as much as you want. Pics makes your journeys awesome when you are back home and go through the reflections. Don't forget to shout loudly. Echo effect will make you feel good. On the way ask people if they need help even if you helpless yourself. Little show off doesn't kill.

You'll find enough options to eat on the way as well, rates however are understandably high. Once you reach Rudranaag, pat yourself, half the trek is done and enjoy two breathtaking waterfalls (they are definitely not the places to show heroism). 

Rudranaag waterfall :

              

Keep walking for another 20 minutes, you'll find urself at another eating point. Here you can take rest for 30 minutes. You are just 2 kms away now. Depending on your fitness, It can easily take one hour.

The Trek after crossing Rudranaag:

It's absolutely true that this sort of trekking soak up your energy but once you reach the destination, you'll agree that, you start feeling energetic because of the feel of accomplishment. Especially in this case, once you reach Kheerganga and jump into the Hot spring water natural pool.

You'll realize "this is worth" man.

(Note: don't jump into the before taking bath outside) 

For ladies: There is a separate and covered pool (I know it might be heartbreaking for our ladies but if you wanna raise a voice, I am with you).

You can seek the blessings of Lord Bholenath, Kheerganga is in the temple itself.

Altitude is 2900 meters plus. Enjoy awesome sunrise, sunset. 

 The first scene, when we reached the place:

Staying options are easily available and they are cost effective too. You'll get a bed in a hall for Rs. 100, separate rooms are available for Rs. 300. If you like camping, charges are rs. 400 per tent for two or max three.

Wait a second that's not all. They play music too. One of the camps even arranged live streaming of Football world cup on 6' 8' screen. 

You are free to spend your time as you want. Bhole jee ki booti is available too, if you understand what I mean. You can try your hand at Carom board, chess and playing cards.

Back to our trip now. We spent a night at Kheerganga and decided to move early in the morning. We reached back at Barsheni in two and half hours. On our way we also met a German traveler and spend half an hour in a very interesting chit chat about his traveling experience in India and other countries.

No prize for guessing, who is the German here.

    

Then we went to Kasol valley to participate in a cleaning drive organised by Devil on Wheels (Best FB travel page about Himalayas.)

Spent two hours there, cleaned streets and communicated with local people and tourists to create awareness.

Then we went back to visit Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, had lunger and left towards Delhi around 3:30. On the way we decided to visit the Rewalsar lake as well. We reached there around 6:45 pm, moved back after an hour. 

The Rewalsar Lake:

For our return journey we took Jahu- Bhota - Una- Chandigarh route. It's good that three of us can drive, we reached Delhi 6:00 am. We drove approx 1300 kms up n down.

Don't know about others but I reached office at 8:00 am. Now back at my place and dying to tell stories so wrote whatever I could and will share few with those pics. 

(Story was written on June 23rd, 2014)

Stay tuned. Until next time.

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A two hours Coneversation-- 11PM to 1AM

Here is the story.

Place Delhi. Name: didn't ask, Age: 50, got married at 20, gauna took place when he was 25, has seven kids no daughter . The man is from MP and working as a security guard in Safdarjung area Delhi.

24 hours duty (2 shifts ot 12 hours each), no weekly off, salary (7k+4.5K) , visit his home town twice a year, no salary is paid for that time, means no leaves at all, no work no pay absolutely.

I asked being a guard how do you spend ur time specially just by sitting, answer was : aaj to hamara time bahut achhe se paas ho raha hai aapke sath baat karke, otherwise I listen some songs on mobile n keep sitting then sleep for sometime as have to go for another duty in The morning.

As he has no daughter, I asked if he will take dowry when son will marry. Answer was : agar khud denge to theek hai but I will never demand. Dekhiye baat aisi hai ki beta to hai hi, lekin jo bacha bahar se ghar mein aayega vo achha hoga to ghar ka swarg bana dega. Dahej se kuchh nahin banega.

My friend asked him how one should spend life: Answer was, sabka apna apna kaam hai, jhooth nahin bolna chahiye lekin samaaj mein kai baar majboori ki vajah se bolna padta hai, agar aapka bhai balshali hai, iska koi hamare liye matlab ni hai. Ganga pavitar hai par hamare liye ghar ka kuan paviatra hai jahan se hum pani peete Hein. Sab ki kat rahi hai hum bhi kaat rahe hein, bachon ko padha rahe hein. Aulad ke liye kar rahe hein, vo khush to hum bhi khush hein.

In the meantime he started playing some folk music on his phone and we decided to leave and said. Ab chalte hein jee. Duniya bahut badi hai shayad mulakat ho na ho, lekin pakka ni hai kya pata, kal fir yahin pe baithen, aapke sath, aag jala ke.

While coming back there was just one thing in mind... Life has as many meanings as much lives we have on this earth.