Saturday, January 10, 2004
Himachal : Himalayan Winter Trekking
Thru the Abode of the Gods !
The fact that I have to go back soon.. that's what I hated most about this travel;
That feeling is lingering, and growing into me, as the 'Himachal Path Parivahan Nigam'
bus makes the winding descent from McLeodGunj. The abode of Dalai Lama and
the Tibetan-govt-in-exile, is silhoutted against the imposing snow-clad peaks of
Daula-Dhar ranges of the Himalaya, highlighted in the moonlight, even as
on the otherside of the horizon, the day segued in to the night, leaving fading shades
of crimson. A few flocks of birds were homing as I watched their hurried flight in twilight....
The view of the Abode of the Gods is so enticing. The Himalayas have been so referred to,
since thousands of years and reflected in Hindu scriptures. These mountains surely inspire spirituality
and offers metaphors for our lives, as do the great rivers that gushes out of the glaciers tucked into
their folds. Metaphors personified by the likes of Shiva and Ganga.
Well, great mountains on earth, from Olympus to Fuji inspired spirituality in their own cultures.
The thoughts left me wondering why most cultures reserved the highest places for the gods.
May be bcos of the instinctive human tendency to look upwards for the gods ?!
Wished I could spend a lot more time, among the peaks and valleys, than just a week at
my disposal. But looking back at the moonlit-snow high-up, it gave me a high as it brought
to mind the wecoming early-morning snow on New-year's day, at Kala-Top forest guest house,
the first day's camping site for the Himalayan Winter Trekking Expedition. Had a very quiet
New Year's eve.. humming and strumming on my mouth-organ, sitting by the Deodaru trees
on the mountain top on a moonlit night !
[incomplete; yet2 key-in/upload the rest o the write-up]
>>>(Album)
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| Pir Panchal Range of the Himalayas, at an avg elevation of 5000m. View from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. |
The fact that I have to go back soon.. that's what I hated most about this travel;
That feeling is lingering, and growing into me, as the 'Himachal Path Parivahan Nigam'
bus makes the winding descent from McLeodGunj. The abode of Dalai Lama and
the Tibetan-govt-in-exile, is silhoutted against the imposing snow-clad peaks of
Daula-Dhar ranges of the Himalaya, highlighted in the moonlight, even as
on the otherside of the horizon, the day segued in to the night, leaving fading shades
of crimson. A few flocks of birds were homing as I watched their hurried flight in twilight....
The view of the Abode of the Gods is so enticing. The Himalayas have been so referred to,
since thousands of years and reflected in Hindu scriptures. These mountains surely inspire spirituality
and offers metaphors for our lives, as do the great rivers that gushes out of the glaciers tucked into
their folds. Metaphors personified by the likes of Shiva and Ganga.
Well, great mountains on earth, from Olympus to Fuji inspired spirituality in their own cultures.
The thoughts left me wondering why most cultures reserved the highest places for the gods.
May be bcos of the instinctive human tendency to look upwards for the gods ?!
Wished I could spend a lot more time, among the peaks and valleys, than just a week at
my disposal. But looking back at the moonlit-snow high-up, it gave me a high as it brought
to mind the wecoming early-morning snow on New-year's day, at Kala-Top forest guest house,
the first day's camping site for the Himalayan Winter Trekking Expedition. Had a very quiet
New Year's eve.. humming and strumming on my mouth-organ, sitting by the Deodaru trees
on the mountain top on a moonlit night !
[incomplete; yet2 key-in/upload the rest o the write-up]
