Our first night halt was disturbed by mosquito bites.
Early morning, my wife began preparation of break fast and lunc consisting of rice, dhal and fried chillis. Curd we bought from the market, very good solid curd. available at all stations. Only Harindranathan avoided break fast lest he may feel the urge for relieving pressure of the bowels. All things were packed and kept in the dickie of the van. We all took bath in the bath room and began our journey at eight.We told the driver to halt it at any water hole. We also looked out, to spot any.
Ranjith saw a water fall and ordered to halt. Clear water was falling along the side of a rock and we collected it. Then we took break fast of ” rava uppumavu”. Sarojam was afraid to take raw water, but we per suaded her. Water was very aweet and probably contained nutritive value of minerals dissolved from the mountains. After an hour of travel, we spotted snow top of mountains and all enjoyed the first glimpse of white snow. The van first went up and then down into the valley and then again upwards, crossing the river in the valley. Ranjith felt vomitting sensation and we had to halt for some time; then at another water fall, we had food. We never enjoyed a better meal, all felt alike, including Hari.
On the way, we saw workmwen of the Border Security Force, continuously removing earth from the roads, to keep it motorable, At some points, we had to stay for some time. Then we neared Gangothry. The van stayed on one side of the narrow river and we all crossed the river, only a few feet wide, but extremely cold. The was no bridge. There was a temple of Ganga where we prayed. My wife too took a dip in the river, I refrained myself. The source was very far and we decided not to approach it, as most of us were old. In the evening we reached Gaurikund, the base of Kedarnarth mountain, skipping Yamunothry. There was a rest house of “Kalikamliwala”, which was free and we all could stay in one room. We were surrounded by horsemen, urging us to book the horses in advance. We decided not to. Food was cooked and we relished fresh food. we all talked a bout the experience
The next morning we went to the spring where hot water was collected in a square cut tank, some two feet deep. It was too hot and one fellow in the water told us to pour water, firt on the feet and slowly upwards, the head need not be dipped. We did so and remained in the water, for some time, before we got off and wiped our body with a towel. People came one by one and enjoyed the bath. Then we asked a waiting fellow for the horse. Most of us went up on horse back; some decided to walk . First Maratat Subrahmanin and myself decided to walk,but afterwards, we thought it wise to engage horeses. There was none, and we were forced to engage “kachhar”, a mixed breed of horse and donkey.
The way up was narrow and dangerous, the valley looked deeper and deeper,as we went up.In some places, the path was so narrow that we were afraid, lest the animal may fall.
At the top, they were waiting. Sarojam began to cry, I was told. The temple is small and only a swelling of the rack is the Shivalingam. The story is that when Pandavas were searching Lord Shiva, he escaped into the valley. Bhim knew it, so he stood with his feet on either side of the valley. So he appeared at the top of the mountain. Pndavas saw him and tried to hold him. When he tried to go down, they caught him but got only his head.
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