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Rather than penning the day to day details of the trek(Which has kind of been done on the earlier trek on page 1) would like to emphasise more on the experience part.

Stay recommended by India Hikes at Dehradun for the Dayara Bhugyal and Surya top treks is hotel Grand legacy for families and Nomads house a hostel for solo trekkers.We opted for Clarks Inn which was much better than Grand legacy and has a decent restaurant too.If you are ok with a slightly higher budget the Clarks inn is definitely a better option and just across the street from Grand legacy which continues to be the pick up point for the drive to Raithal which is the base camp.

The team doing the trek was a motley crew of trekkers from a 11 year old Dhairya to Shashank my tent mate of 55.Took time to get to know everyone well as it was mostly a small sub group of trekkers who had signed up like the Girlie group of 4 from mumbai who called themselves the Gollywood gang and are best of friends back home in Mumbai(Later to be christened Pahadi pari'yas by Shivam and Hritik 2 more main characters of the story who would be introduced later in the narrative).The doctors trio from Surat with Mahaveer the CA,Dhairya and his family,the kids from Pune,Pankaj and his 2 close buddies Rupesh and Sushil with their wives,Divij the fitness coach of celebrities and Suraj the solo traveller made up the unlikely team.

The captain and his deputies of the team whom we met at Raithal were the India Hikes trek lead Shivam and his trusted deputies Hritik and KP ji.

What I love is that India Hikes truly caters to its motto of everyone must trek because personally I felt for a few like Pankaj and Co as well as Dhairya's mom to the Pahidi Pari's they did not on first appearance look like the typical Trekker but boy did they prove me wrong!Proud about each of us many of whom trekking for the first time.

Seasoned trekkers might not like the differences in fitness levels which resulted in trekkers in the front having to wait for trekkers who are playing catch up in the rear end of the group but that's the beauty of it all as we go as a team and return as a team.I can truly empathise with the first time trekkers who may have a journey ahead in achieving their journey towards being physically in prime shape but they have started on it and would reach there sooner than later.Looking back from my condition from 5 years ago can identify with them.


Bags set Go!


The Bhagirathi(later to merge with Ganga)on the way to Raithal.


Little further up the road.


Preparing for the trek.The perils of being the experienced trekker in the family!


The Raithal Camp site.

Another admirable quality that India Hikes follows is leave the hills cleaner than you found it.The green trails where trekkers pick all waste on the way and pouch it in the eco bag to be segregated at the end of the trek,using bio toilets with no waste wipes to ensure the waste turns into manure,buckets with holes to reduce water usage all go a long way in helping eco tourism in a small way.That's of course ignoring the fact that it puts so many trekkers here in the first place!


Jam as soon as we hit the trail!


The Forest trail starts immediately.




First rest point.


A bit of Rock Climbing fun.


The Coin Tree.


First sign of snow.


Camp 1.

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Another great part in this trek and coincidentally it was only in Dayara where I experienced this in both treks was the part where Shivam asked us to go quiet for half and hour and just listen to nature around us.We then pick a tree as our friend and hug our friend and confide in them something which we are troubled with and want to leave behind much like a friend in life who is always around to share and unburden all our worries.In other treks we had learnt survival skills and life skills like how to make a stretcher with trek poles or to make knots.It is nice to integrate skill learning and meditation/silence and just listening skills all of which is getting eroded in our fast paced world.

Talking of silence it would have been torture for most of the team especially the fun loving and generous gujju's who were ever ready for some garba,cricket or sharing some thepla or snacks anytime.Camp time at the dinner tent before dinner was always fun time though this time games were few.Star gazing was always a possibility in these terrains with no lights to disturb.

This time around being with the women in my life was a learning and eye opener as unfortunately both were hit by late periods.Stomach cramps and general weakness due to excessive blood flow coupled by sleeping in small tents and tents pitched on snow grounds with freezing temperatures was surely torture for any first time trekkers.But admirably they coped extremely well (At least that's what it looked to me but with my clueless nature of figuring out things who knows???).They also ensured all their pads were packed safely to be disposed back at home in Bangalore.It sure is tough being a woman.

Oh how could I forget the tradition of writing a post card to our loved ones?Armed with experience I wrote 2 of them one for my two women who braved all this despite their better judgement for my sake and the other to my mom and brother.I am pretty senti some times I guess.


Posing with Shashank.Photo courtesy Divij.


Our ace you tuber Kavita helped with this one.


The Gui lake.Partly frozen.


Heavy snow fall at camp 2.


Cherry blossom everywhere.Free trip feeling of being in Japan for sakura.


Bond threatening the shit out of the mountains.


Hey buddy can we leave please.Others are waiting for us.


Lone wolves conquering the summit.


If only we could take this view back to Bangalore with us.


Camp 2 background at sunset.


And some forest walk.Back pack giving complex to the bright rhododendrums.


Summit pic with the team.


What is snow without a snow fight.Divij the victim this time.


photo courtesy Dr.Krunal.




Posing with the favorite of the team.


The 500 year old temple in Raithal.


The smile doctor.


Group photo time.

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Post the trek was when the holidays actually started for smrithi.We had a plan to spend a coupe of days in Landour and then Rishikesh after which we head back to Bangalore.

If you want to get a feeling of staying in Europe then Landour does give you the feeling if you simply avoid traveling to Mussoorie and just stay put at Landour with its european style houses and cafes and paved stone roads.Since its a cantonment area the place has remained the same with its 4 dukaan and less than 200 homes and complete green.But unfortunately social media has popularised the place to such an extent that there are people streaming during weekends and wait time to get into Landour bake house exceeds 4 hours.

Kanthi had booked us in a fantastic redone wooden house called Fern Villas Landour overlooking the forest.Stay places in Landour are far and few and need booking well in advance despite being expensive.The cafes serve lip smacking pizzas,desserts and breakfast.Our picks were
1) Lemon ginger tea and chocolate shake at Anils or Tip Top cafe at 4 dukaan.
2) Rasberry Mocha and berry berry smoothie with Pizza at Ivy cafe.
3) Rokeby Sticky Toffee Pudding and Mix berry Parfait at Emily's.
4) Veg Phalay,Thupka and dimsum's at Doma's Inn.
5) Garlic and Herbs bread (ordered for next day delivery),Sticky toffee at Landour Bakehouse.
6) Assorted coffee flavor powders,fresh fruit jams and Rum walnut cake at Prakash and Co.

Besides we had fun cooking hash brown potatoes,ginger chai,Roasted Garlic and herb bread and piping hot maggi with Rasberry coffee shake.

We also trekked at Jabarkhet forest reserve which is a lovely 300 acre forest with well laid out trek trails which we did using a map to navigate very much like any trail walk in the USA.

Celebrating Amit and Manasa's 25th Anniversary a nice couple from Mumbai who also stayed in our hotel was a highlight.

Action then moved to Rishikesh where we stayed in Hostelier for a day and then moved to the fairy tale like Tiny farm lab mud house built by Raghav and Ansh with help from 80 volunteers from 17 countries over 3 years.The stay overlooking the pristine ganga all by ourselves was an experience.


The extremely popular Landour Bakehouse.


Cafe Ivy for amazing Pizzas like we get in Italy.


4 Dukaan.


Doma's Inn.



The wonderful sunset at Landour.


Trail at Jabarkhet.Contact Virender at 8171264710.


More Jabarkhet.


Marked Trails.


Rhododendrons on the trail.


Chick Chocolate Mall Road Mussoorie for its sticky toffees.


Amazing Frozen chocolate and other flavor paans.


World's best Omelet on Mall Road.


Visit to Rishikesh has to have Ganga Aaarty.


Live Music next to Beetles Cafe Rishikesh.


Possibly the best river rafting in Inida?12 kms cicuit.


The Mudhouse in Rishikesh. contact Instagram @tinyfarmlab.


The harry Potter house with its blinking eyes.


Inside was white lime coated much like Greek houses.


Some more home pics.


Camera trap at Jabarkhet.Courtesy of so many animal photos.


Yummy food prepared by ourselves at Landour.


Some more Harry potter house pics.


Enjoying tea overlooking the Ganga.


One Final Pic of the Cold and Pristine Ganga before it gets polluted downstream.


Camera Trap photo from Jabarkhet.


Photo courtesy Virender from Jabarkhet.