Kareri Lake Trek

                          Sometimes the journey is more beautiful than destination.

Prelude:

An experience that was astonishing, words are strenuous to find that could explain something like that. You couldn’t capture everything in your cameras. There were some moments which only your eyes could capture; only your experience could capture. We had a hard time finding good adjectives for the journey we conquered and reached the zenith of 2950m(approximate 10000ft) above the sea level. We passed through the green meadows that spread through the Rocky Mountains. The river Nyund was our companion in the entire journey. Nature was playing a musical harmony that gave us fillip to move forward. At the end we reached, the feeling was awe-inspiring that we just stood there and witnessed the creativity of God without uttering a single word.

Journey Begins….

It was Hotel Hill Resort; the cab was waiting outside to pick us. Thanks! To Trek Trails for arranging the cab which dropped us at a distance of 4 km from Kareri village courtesy to Land slide that happened a few days back.The original trek was supposed to be of 13 km but these 4 km addition was an icing on the cake not for everybody I suppose. Kareri village is a sleepy little village in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. We reached there and had a good breakfast in the form of Oats and paranthas. It was stunning to get such a nice food there. There were a series of instructions from our guide and after a while we started our original trek of 13 km. It was planned to cover 7 km on first day and 6 km on second day. We targeted the plan and ascended through the rocky steps that paved the way through gigantic mountains and green meadows that spread throughout the journey. After a trek of around 2 km, we found a new friend that became our companion for the entire expedition. She was a fathomless river Nyund which flowed through the rocks and her voice filled all of us with exhilaration. The sun rays fell on her and she showed her crystal clear bed consisting of rocks overpowered by green algae. Rocks were trying to stop her flow but she was not ready to give up. She passed through every hurdle to become the cynosure for all of us.When someone was thirsty, she was always there to curb the thrust.

As someone said, “A beautiful Journey requires beautiful people to accomplish it”. 

So we had a sketch artist, a girl with swag, a pure soul who cracked poor jokes all the way, an occasional photographer, an android developer, a philosopher and a poser. All were exceptional in the way they were.Maximum people met first time but behaved like that it could put a strong bond of friendship to shame. These people made the journey plain sailing for each other. When one was feeling low, the other one pumped him up.The trek was a complete team effort. Everyone realized their true potential in this alluring expedition. There were injuries that happened on the way but we fought all the obstacles in unison. Volini spray and Band-Aids aided us every time when we slipped or had a cramp.

We confronted a broken metallic bridge after a while. The river was flowing below it which made our body to release adrenaline to more extent. The sound of water brushing away the rocks seemed frightening for the first time when we were crossing the bridge. It was looking like that the river wanted to quash the bridge. Slowly and gradually, we crossed it and had a sigh of relief. So we completed the first day according to the plan and did camping there.Thanks again to Trek Trails for such an awesome arrangement of food and Bonn-fire which added an extra delight. 

We were in the forest and sky full of stars could be easily visible which we miss in the cities now days due to adulteration. We discussed about the constellations which made us remember our childhood days when we used to do the same. As weariness swarmed the body which made everyone to doze off a little bit early.

Journey Continued……

The sun rays peeped from behind the lush green mountain that consists of pine trees spread all over it. The mountain was egoistic; he tried hard to stop the sun from rising up but the sun rose up and sparkled the rocks and the river below. The moment was worth capturing.We had our breakfast and moved further as planned on the second day. The second day was much easier because steps gradually decreased as we ascended further.We completed it swiftly and now we could see our destination; Kareri Lake (also known as Kumarwah Lake) which is a shallow, fresh water lake and beautiful Dhauladar Range surrounding it. The view was so enthralling that we couldn’t speak anything for a while. After quietude of few seconds, we just uttered a single word in unison.
“WOW!”

As we reached a quite early, we played games such as musical chair and dog in the bone which made us comfortable with new people we met on the way.Soon the sun settled down and the moon rose. Isn’t it amazing?

Nature has its own set of rules, it is not partial with anyone. Everyone gets an equal chance to show its worth either it is sun, moon, cloud, stars or anything.We somehow accommodated ourselves under one camp which made us startled and we laughed at sheer idiocy of ours. The temperature dropped down to several degrees which made all of us shiver but the quality sleeping bags saved us.Soon the eyelids shut down and we all dozed off.

Back to Kareri Village…

We started to Trek down the next day. Prior to that we enjoyed yoga session with our guide. Our sketch artist went into dehydration. He was howling with excruciating pain but the people kneading his arms and legs made him normal to some extent. Electrolyte powder made him fit once again. So Glucose or Electrolyte should be there when we trek. We headed down and reached our first stop earlier than before. Soon it started raining cats and dogs followed by a heavy hail storm. We took shelter under the cave but the body was shivering with excruciating cold. Mountains are arbitrary as weather changes abruptly here but this is another beautiful part of them. We waited for the storm to over. When it came to an end, we could see a white sheet covering the path. It looked mesmerizing as brown rocks seemed that they had changed their color. We headed further but velocity decreased gradually as the rocks became slippery. Soon the darkness swept the mountains. We somehow increased the speed and completed 13 km downhill till Kareri village.

As there was a peril of animals in the night which forced us to stay at the village courtesy to the heavy hail storm which ate our time and speed. We all reached and there was contentment on every face.

As someone said, “It’s not who completed it first, It’s about who all completed”

The trek was full of escapade and some moments made our body to produce adrenaline. We experienced everything from temperature dropping down in the night to sun rays hitting hard on our face. We experienced a heavy hail storm which was totally unexpected. It was an amazing Trek and everyone realized their worth. This trek was a complete package of enjoyment, adventure, adrenaline rush and many more.

Everyone should experience this journey to Kareri and I guarantee that no one will deny its alluring beauty.

Donor: An Angel of God

“I want to study,” A child spoke to his mother with a ray of hope in his eyes.

Mother rolled her big eyes all over the house. There was a broken bed on one corner, springs were carving out of the sofa which sits on the other corner. They both seemed crying so that they could be repaired and become new again. The walls were poorly painted, ceiling was leaking and a bucket was placed under it to save the floor from getting wet. A kitchen was there consisting of limited number of steel utensils and no hint of grocery could be seen there. She looked into the eyes of her child and caressed his head. She didn’t say anything and went to prepare food with the left things she had in the kitchen. She sobbed while preparing food, her head looking up, complained to God for not having enough money or resources to see her child study and become something in life. She herself starved that night but fed him. He put his head in her lap and both dozed off a bit later.

“I got first rank in the class,” He said to his mother with elation.
His mother embraced him and tears of happiness could be seen in her eyes. She was never so contented before. Her child made her pride, it was a feeling of conquering the world for her.

Soon her sleep broke off and the dream was over.

“Will I able to see this thing in real?”
“Will my son be able to go school any day?”

A series of questions popped in her head but she couldn’t find the answers. Like a traveler searches for water in the desert, she was trying to search the answers.

Scorching sun rays hit the village road and she left to find some work so that she could have a meal at the end of the day for her child. As she was walking, she saw a few people rallying on the road with placards and banners.
“We are here to sponsor your child’s education,” the banner said.

It was not a banner for her, it seemed an opportunity to fulfill her dream that she witnessed last night. She tried to contact the people and end up meeting Ravi who was dressed in plain white shirt and black pants. A smile that resembled kindness, simplicity which could win any heart. He went along and met her son. He sat down on his knees and asked with a smile on his face.
“Do you want to study?”

“I want to study. You will send me to school” His eyes filled with felicity.

He stood up and turned back to the boys’ mother and said,
“I am ready to sponsor your child”.

Her eyes got filled with tears. She folded her hands out of respect but he stopped her.
“Don’t do this. Don’t be grateful to me”
“Be grateful to God.”

“You are god for us,” She sobbed with a smile.

The next day, he admitted her son in the school and his mother could sense her dream becoming true. She thanked God for sending someone to curb her problems.

“These people are angels,” She thought and smiled.