SPICE APRIL 2017 IPAD LR

TRAVEL ||||| TREKKING
large bird of prey was soaring above us,
its silhouette standing out against the
afternoon sun. These mountains were
nurturers of life we thought, as we
stopped at the gurgling streams they fed
to catch some breath and drink from
flowing waters.
Three hours later we were at Magic
View Café which true to its name, offers
stunning views of the 2,500 metre deep
valley alongside. This is also the point
from where Triund develops a mind of its
own, and we were warned as much by
Rising about 2,975 m
between the majestic
Dhauladhar range on
one side and the Kangra
Valley on the other is
the cafe owner. The only effect it had on
us however was to refuel ourselves with
some biscuits. Egged on not so much by
the sugar rush as by the adrenaline rush,
we resumed our journey. To our delight,
Triund, the crown jewel of Dharamshala
our efforts bore fruit as with every tricky
in Himachal Pradesh. An approximately
incline we negotiated, our enthusiasm
18km trek from Galu Devi Temple or
grew. Nature works in strange ways, I
Top: A group of hikers walking on a mountain
trail. Bottom: View of Dharamkot.
Bhagsu Nag near Dharamshala’s sister
town, Mcleod Ganj, Triund makes for
the perfect peak to scale over any
thought, for despite the rough terrain
and howling wind, my desire to reach the
summit remained unabated.
weekend while being gentle enough even
Soon, we reached the last kilometre
for the unseasoned trekker.
popularly known as “22 curves”. After
There was an air of anticipation as
what seemed like an age, we were at the
we embarked on our one-day trek to
pinnacle of our expedition. Words
Triund. Taking the Dharamkot route, we
cannot begin to describe how we felt for
soon reached Galu Devi. Cups of piping
the view from the top was breathtakingly
hot tea at Rest a While Café later, we
beautiful, not to mention surreal. And for
figured we had mustered the kind of
all our travails, we felt no tiredness, only
THE CROWNING
GLORY
REMOVED FROM THE ORDINARY, YET
energy needed to ascend Triund Hill.
Winding our way up the narrow slopes
and dirt tracks, we felt a sense of calm
overcoming the urban chaos we were
leaving behind. As we gained altitude,
exhilaration, at having made it to the
zenith.
The mountains and meadows
beckoned and we frolicked about, later
pitching our tents the authentic way. We
DOABLE IN A DAY, THE SMALL HILL OF
TRIUND IN HIMACHAL PRADESH’S
KANGRA DISTRICT IS AN IDEAL
TREKKING TARGET.
BY RHUCHA KULKARNI
NOW FLYING
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the vistas changed - a trait typical of the
mighty Himalayas. Thus, a passing
parade of cedars, oaks and deodars, a
perky red rhododendron or two thrown
in between – their branches swaying,
leaves rustling in the cool, crisp breeze –
kept us company on the way.
All along there was an enveloping
silence, punctuated only occasionally by
the call of a Himalayan Bulbul or shriek
of a Himalayan Griffon. Suddenly, the
were ravenous but noodles and chai
sufficed as our minds, bodies and souls
were already satiated with what lay
before us. We watched, mesmerised, as
the sun turned a small dot of orange
before disappearing into the night sky and
the moon came up, in all its glory, a zillion
stars in tow. Barely had our heads touched
the soft grass that the gentle breeze lulled
us into sleep, and all we dreamt of was the
wonder that is Nature!
RHUCHA KULKARNI; SHUTTERSTOCK(TOP)
122 ||||| APRIL 2017