[laluks]

Day 1 : 20th September 2015
Delhi - Gauchar

By 12:00 we started our journey forward. Our next halt would be at Srinagar, another 100Kms away for lunch.

Badrinath is still very far away


Rishikesh has a lot of river rafting tourism


Scooter happily rides on the winding roads








We reached Dev Prayag, the holiest of the confluences. Its here Ganges is finally formed. Alakananda and Bhagirathi joins here to form Ganges. In my last trip to Uttarakhand, since it was a mad scramble we missed Dev Prayag in the night. This time it was perfect. I can be here how much ever time I want.

Dev Prayag






In the picture Bhagirathi River comes from the left and Alakananda River comes from the right to form Ganges and it flows towards you.



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[laluks]

Day 1 : 20th September 2015
Delhi - Gauchar

We drove on, Badrinath is 240Kms away


Road surface was good





Finally reached Srinagar town by 14:45 hours and feasted on a lavish lunch. Spreads of rice and dal along with paranthas, was heavenly. It was also here that we waited for all the vehicles in the convoy to catch up.

Finally by 16:30 hours we started from Srinagar in our journey onwards

Badrinath is yet another 196 Kms


Alakananda River flows by the side


About 30 minutes and 15Kms later we found a nice beach by the river


We stopped to enjoy the beauty


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[laluks]

Day 1 : 20th September 2015
Delhi - Gauchar

Fortuner team


The Convoy


What a view


Scooter


Bullet


Thar


After enjoying the beauty for a while, we moved on. Roads started showing signs of deterioration.

A landslide area


Views of Alakananda River




The riders and the support vehicle




Another view of Alakananda River


By 19:00 hours we reached GMVN guest house at Gauchar. We were allotted the rooms fast and I rushed for a hot water bath. It was so refreshing, and followed with hot dinner, it was heavenly. By 22:00 hours called it a day and hit the bed for a good night's sleep.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by vaasu

Hi Lalu,

Although I understand you were just killing time , but there is another Mall (Mahagun ) in nearby Vaishali. It's food court is much better.

It is hardly 5 min by auto/rickshaw.

Thanks.

Thanks Vaasu.
Next time I'll venture out towards Vaishali. I f I take the metro towards Vaishali and exit at Vaishali, how will it work out? I kind of am hooked to your metro

[laluks]

Route map for Day 01


GPS log of Day 01
Mana Pass Day 01.kml



Just under 400Kms for the day

[vaasu]

Originally Posted by laluks

Thanks Vaasu.
Next time I'll venture out towards Vaishali. I f I take the metro towards Vaishali and exit at Vaishali, how will it work out? I kind of am hooked to your metro

Mahagun mall (and Vaishali Sec 4 market) is just adjacent to Vaishali metro station. You can choose to walk for around 5-10 min or take a rickshaw.
Vaishali Sec 4 market have a plenty of other eating options as well. Choose to explore at your own leisure
Mahagun mall lies between Kaushambi and Vaishali metro station.

Thanks.

[laluks]

Day 2 : 21st September 2015
Gauchar - Badrinath

A pleasant day to wake up to. Gauchar was looking beautiful with the views and a bright sun. Very leisurely had a hot water bath and had multiple rounds of hot tea while the team was getting ready.

While having tea lazily clicked the details of the place form the room service card.

GMVN Gauchar


After some time I got out roaming around the rest house. The place was slowly getting to its activities for the day.

The Tourist Rest House and the Government Tourist circuit Bus


Our vehicles were slowly getting loaded with the luggage


I went back to the room and looked out of the balcony for some cool views. The weather was just perfect.

Some views from the room at Gauchar




It seemed like a big ground, and lots of school kids were crossing this to go to school






By 09:00AM we started with the drive for the day. Aim was to reach Badrinath sometime during the day, and to collect the permits en route at Joshimath.



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[laluks]

Day 2 : 21st September 2015
Gauchar - Badrinath

Another 126Kms more to Badrinath


XUV team ahead of us


Close moments


XUV cruising on


Views of Alakananda River




Good message, but on first read I was like what


Gurkha enjoying the drive







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[laluks]

Day 2 : 21st September 2015
Gauchar - Badrinath

We continue onward towards Badrinath, another 94Kms to go


Support vehicle for our adventure


ITBP welcomes us


Some small settlement on a hill


Alakananda River is by our side always






Gurkha at its turf






We were nearing Pipalkoti





After an hour of drive and 30KMs we stopped at Pipalkoti for breakfast.

continued...

[laluks]

Day 2 : 21st September 2015
Gauchar - Badrinath

We reached Pipalkoti for breakfast


Yummy paranthas






And much more





Jilebis


Happy team after tummy full






Our steeds waiting for us while we hog till the neck



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[joybhowmik]

Great snaps sirjee... and please do keep them coming...Subscribed!!

On a lighter note....it seems between you and ADC and several others on TBHP - Tilak ji and Uppi will have too much work on their hands very soon!!
I wonder if it would be possible for them to handle this workload - hence had advised to Tilak ji to drop plans about not expanding - and look for likeminded help who can take on the additional workload!!

Such is the beauty & magnetism of the himalayas!

I am planning to join in the Q3 2016 event - keeping my fingers crossed - and the Gods appropriately propitiated to allow the trip to happen.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

Great snaps sirjee... and please do keep them coming...Subscribed!!

On a lighter note....it seems between you and ADC and several others on TBHP - Tilak ji and Uppi will have too much work on their hands very soon!!
I wonder if it would be possible for them to handle this workload - hence had advised to Tilak ji to drop plans about not expanding - and look for likeminded help who can take on the additional workload!!

Such is the beauty & magnetism of the himalayas!

I am planning to join in the Q3 2016 event - keeping my fingers crossed - and the Gods appropriately propitiated to allow the trip to happen.

Tilak and Uppi can handle anything at UK, and if they need help we are all ready to join in at his first call .

Similar thing happened with HVK. See what our logs have done

I am also planning another event if I get some slots in Q2 2016. All the best for your Q3 event .

[vinayrathore]

A trip of a lifetime!!

Hats off to the team for enduring what it took to reach and back.

I have been to till Mana Village many times during our family adventure trips to Badrinath. Was surprised recently to see Tilak's posts on the HVK forum on FB. Never knew the road ahead is motorable.

Glued.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by vinayrathore

A trip of a lifetime!!

Hats off to the team for enduring what it took to reach and back.

I have been to till Mana Village many times during our family adventure trips to Badrinath. Was surprised recently to see Tilak's posts on the HVK forum on FB. Never knew the road ahead is motorable.

Glued.

Thanks vinay.
I don't know if the road ahead should be called motorable, all I can say is it is adventurous

[laluks]

Day 2 : 21st September 2015
Gauchar - Badrinath

After a heavy dose of paranthas for brunch we left Pipalkoti by 11:45AM and continued our drive

From a distance roads etched on the hills look inviting


Mountains added to the beauty


But roads were like this


After almost one and half hour of drive we crossed Joshimath.

We parked waiting for the others to arrive.


We found a source clean cool sweet water


We found some berries from a tree which had neem like leaves




I ventured closer to the tree for a good look at the berries, without minding this guy


The moment I was near this fellow, it secreted venom on the air and it fell on my body. It was like an instant pin prick followed by a numbness and it continued to pain like an ant bite. In moments red blister and rashes formed all around the skin where the venom fell. I was shocked, I felt like crying. It was painful.

I wanted to capture the video of it spraying venom, but the bright sunlight did not let the camera capture the same at any angle. I was curious about this guy!

Back home after a frantic search found this guy to be the Indian Stinging Nettle


Wikipedia says

The leaves and stems are very hairy with non stinging hairs, and in most subspecies, also bear many stinging hairs (trichomes), whose tips come off when touched, transforming the hair into a needle that can inject several chemicals: acetylcholine, histamine, 5-HT (serotonin), moroidin,[3] leukotrienes, and possibly formic acid. This mixture of chemical compounds causes a painful sting or paresthesia from which the species derives one of its common names, stinging nettle, as well as the colloquial names burn nettle, burn weed, and burn hazel.

Stay away from this guy. It is also called Bichoo locally


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