Trek to Kedarnath Jee Dham

 Nature cannot be captured in clicks, so truly said. This page is about Kedarnath Jee Dham, where nature is at its best. One of the scared, holy, religious and at the same time most beautiful yet dangerous places to visit and trek. Whole trek was full of lush green blanket of trees with huge mountains, singing river alongside, cool breeze to refresh your body and soul, welcoming waterfalls, overall the nature with open arms was inviting you to collect the undiminished memories for lifetime.  

 So, to beat the stress and to lost in the nature’s beauty I decided to go to Kedarnath Jee trek. I was very unsure how would I be able to do it solo. Fortunately, I am lucky to took a step forward alone and all I have is unlimited memories for lifetime. Kedarnath Jee is a religious and one of the most scared place situated right in the interiors of Uttarkhand. 

 The trek is starting from either Sonprayag (21KM’s) or from Gaurikund (16KM’s) to Kedarnath Jee temple. I decided to stay overnight at Gaurikund to get myself adapt to low oxygen levels. Trek started at early morning from Gaurikund, the first few KM’s were not very tough and the trek was simple, but it became steeper and steeper after few KM’s. The view alongside can’t be explained in words, truly saying its can just be experienced. The more distance you trekked, the more beautiful the nature becomes. Huge range of mountains were greeting you like “Guests” . Wow the hushing river, big tress, landslides, waterfalls, big big stones, steep trek, long dry glaciers, 75 degree shortcuts, tea shops, Cold water what else a human can expect from nature. The positive pulse can be felt with each and every step. It was getting more peaceful with your approach towards temple. Finally we (me, Steve and Sameer) http://yogeshraheja007.blogspot.com/2015/09/a-friend-from-bus-steven-greaves.html completed the trek and reached the Holy Temple “Shri Kedarnath Jee”.

We reached the temple at 01:00 PM and were lucky to do rituals (“Pooja”).  We sat near to the Shivling for approx. 45mins or so. With heart full of faith, mind full of respect and pulses full of positive vibes I folded my hands and pour my only wish in front of “Lord Shiva”. Miracle happened as I saw it got accepted by “Lord Shiva” as soon as I closed my eyes, I saw the dream is fulfilled which I dreamed of. That was the most precious moment of my life. I wish that could live forever in my heart.

 

I decided to stay there for a night to attend the Holy Aarti at 06:30 PM, took a tent which is having a sleeping bags as it was raining cats and dogs since 12:00 noon and the temperature was very low. The mountains with snow were visible just behind the temple and the scenic beauty was unbelievable. I attended the Aarti at 06:30 PM which was again a lifetime experience. The Shiving was looking very beautiful and was appearing that will speak to me at anytime. As soon as the Aarti got finished, I returned back to the tent, had a cup of tea and spent some good time with Steve and Sameer outside our tents.

It was raining whole night, we got up at 06:00 AM  so that we can start early. But the rain was heavy and once it got bit slow it was 08:30 AM. Finally we decided to start the trek in little shower. The trek was wet and more dangerous now. The beauty of the trek in rain was again superb!!.. We reached Gaurikund at 12:00 noon and got to know that there was a landslide on the way so we have to trek another 5 KM’s from Gaurikund to Sonprayag. It was again an amazing trek and we reached Sonprayag at 01:15 AM. And here the jounery of cab’s/taxi’s and buses started to reach back to home.

This trek was again not an easy, I would say its an moderate trek for those who are used to trek and mountains. I would also suggest you to check the attached link for more information on how to reach at Kedarnath Jee. http://yogeshraheja007.blogspot.com/2015/09/transportation-and-other-useful-details.html.

A friend from a bus: Steven Greaves

When I packed my bag for a solo Kedarnath Jee trek, I have a question in my mind, alone Kedarnath Jee trek in the month of September, should I go or not?. Then an internal power and wish in my heart encouraged me to take the first step and move on.

I was not aware that one more solo trekker from the other part of the world is waiting to meet me. I met “Steven Greaves”, a professional photographer (“http://stevengreaves.com” ) based out at US on his fourth India tour to char dham yatra. 

We get a chance to say hello to each other when we both dropped down at Rudraprayag from the same bus and were searching for the next direction to follow to reach Shri Kedarnath Jee. We got a bus and here the friendship of two different culture starts. We sat on the same seat inside the bus and started sharing our plans and soon it became very easy between us to share our thoughts, cultures and stories about India. 

Steven is fond of “tea”, I must say he can survive without food but can’t survive without “tea”. We had N no. of tea’s together. I used to instruct the “chaiwala” to prepare tea with less sugar and more tea leaves so that it can turn brown and became strong. 

We took the room at same hotel and have shared many stories in cold night at the roof of the hotel with a cup of tea in our hands. We started the trek to shri Kedarnath Jee next early morning and on the way we met one more person “Sameer Arora” from Gurgaon who was also doing the solo trek and joined us. Now we became one to two and two to three. All of us done the trek together, spent some nice time at Kedarnath Jee and have some endless memories of sitting on the chair at chilling night at the top.

Rightly said “People say friends are made in heaven & they come in ur life,But I made my friend in this world & made my life a Heaven...”

Transportation and other useful details to reach Kedarnath jee Dham.

Before going to Shri Kedarnath jee I have read many blogs to gather information on how to reach Kedarnath jee and what preparations needs to be done if you are planning to go in the month of September (when peak time for char dham yatra is over). But truly speaking I found everything in bits and pieces so thought of sharing my experience so that it may help someone.

I completely used public transport from Gurgaon (Delhi NCR) to Gaurikund from where the trek for Kedarnath jee starts.

Transportation information:

From Gurgaon to Kedarnath Jee:

Gurgaon –Metro-> Delhi ISBT –Volvo-> Rishikesh –MiniBus-> Rudraprayag –Mini Bus-> Guptkashi –SharedCab-> Sonprayag –SharedCab-> Gaurikund -- Trek-> trek Kedarnathjee

I started from Gurgaon at 07:00 PM and took metro to reach Delhi ISBT (Delhi Bus stand), I was aware of the Volvo timings which starts at 09:30 PM from Delhi to Rishikesh. I took the Volvo which costs (704/- Rs.) and dropped me at Rishikesh at 03:00 AM.

I asked for the taxies and buses for Rudraprayag (people have wrote that we may get direct state transport buses at particular times for Sonprayag, but truly speaking I didn’t find any). I didn’t find any taxi (shared one) but there were local buses which are starting at 03:30 AM from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag. I took one and reached Rudraprayag at 09:00 AM.

Next I asked for Sonprayag/Gaurikund buses/taxies, unfortunately no direct commutation available. I took one more mini bus which dropped me at Guptkashi  at 11:00/11:30 AM. 

From Guptkashi I got a shared cab which dropped me at Sonprayag at 12:30/01:00 PM, there I have to wait for Kedarnath Jee permit and healthcheckups for trekking. I waited there till 04:00/04:30 PM and took a shared cab after all clearance to Gaurikund which is just 5 KM’s from Sonprayag.

I stayed at Gaurikund that night and started the trek early morning to Shri Kedarnath jee.

From Kedarnath jee to Gurgaon:

Sonprayag –SharedCab-> Rudraprayag --SharedCab-> Srinagar --SharedCab-> Haridwar/Rishikesh –AC Bus-> Delhi --PrivateCab-> Gurgaon

While coming back there was a huge landslide and I have to trek from Kedarnath jee to Sonprayag. It was very cold and raining at Kedarnath jee because of which I started my way back at 08:30 AM and trekked 21KM’s to reach Sonprayag at 12:30/01:00 PM. And here the task to come back to Gurgaon started.

No taxi/No buses to dropped me at a place from where I can reach Rishikesh, somehow I got a cab after 30 mins or so and upon many requests by people he agreed to dropped us to Rudraprayag with little extra money. 

Again from Rudraprayag there is no direct cab/bus for Rishikesh, we got a shared cab from Rudraprayag to Srinagar. And from Srinagar we got a shared cab to Rishikesh/Haridwar. I reached Haridwar at 09:30 PM and there is a AC bus of uttarkhand from Haridwar to Delhi ISBT at 10:00. Boarded the bus and finally reached Delhi at 03:00/03:30 AM, now from Delhi to Gurgaon I booked a cab and reached home at 05:00’ish. 

This was the whole journey and the taxi/buses details to reach to the places.

Things to remember:

1#    Always have waterproof shoes, I was having sport shoes which put me in trouble during rain.

1#   Always have a proper meal before medical checks as I was not having anything since 24 hours and because of which my BP was showing little low.

1#    Rain coat is must, I was not having rain coat with me so I purchased temporary raincoat which was of very little effect.

1#   Proper woolen clothes as it is always cold at Kedarnath Jee.

1#   Limited luggage during trekking.

1#   New trek is very steep at some places so don’t rush.

1#   You will find medical camps during the yatra but recommended to have necessary pain killers and paracetamols.

1#   Woolen Cap is must as the breeze is very cold at the top.

Neelkanth trek and The Holy Ganga

It was 04:00 PM Friday evening when I decided to visit one of the holy places of Lord Shiva called "Neelkanth temple" with 14Km's of trek starting from Ram Jhula Rishikesh. 

What Hindu mythology says is, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple stands in the sacred location where Lord Shiva consumed the poison that originated from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean in order to obtain "Amrita". This poison that emanated during the (Samudramanthan) churning of ocean made his throat blue in color. Thus, Lord Shiva is also known as Nilkanth, literally meaning The Blue Throated.

Journey started at 07:00 PM from Gurgaon with one small bag and some money in pocket, caught a Volvo at 09:30 PM from Delhi ISBT, reached Rishikesh @04:10 early morning. With almost no sleep, food and tired body I did an experience of lifetime, I slept on a bench at Rishikesh busstand for 1 hour. Wasn’t it crazy, yes it is, and it became a lifetime memory for me now...

Took an auto and reached nearby Ram Jhula, had a cup of tea to regain some strength. I talked to me: Yes, I am all prepared to start now. Bam Bam bhole.

Trek started from Ram Jhula, asked about the trek path from many people on the way and finally got the right way to follow. Trek was easy for first few KM's but was getting steeper and steeper after few KM's. There were many groups of "Langoor's and Monkey's" on the way, that was the most scary part that too when you are all alone on the trek. The view of mountains were awesome, the river Ganga was visible from the top, many small water falls on the ways. Overall good trekking experince once again. I reached the temple in few hours (2-3 hours), did the holy Darshan of Lord Shiva's shivling and in next 1 hours I started back to Rishikesh.

Reached Rishikesh in few hours and explored Rishikesh till 02:00 PM. Then I decided to attend the holy Aarti of "The Ganga" at Haridwar. Again to make the experience more memorable, instead of Bus or taxi, I took an local auto to cover 25 Km's of distance from Rishikesh to Haridwar. It took approx. 1 hour or so and I was in Haridwar at 04:00PM. Started exploring some local shops and streets and touched the holy "Ganga" to get refreshed. As soon as I touched the holy water of Ganga I got my soul and body back with full energy. Put some fuel inside my body as I was very Hungry "had some local kachori's, Tea, Milk and at last some local Golgappa's". 

Now I went to the "Ghat" where the holy aarti will going to take place, I reached at "Ghat" @ 05:15 and sat there for about 1 hour watching/noticing people, their rituals and trying to gain some unique experiences. The "Aarti" preparations were started and clusters of people gathered all around the "Ghat" and on the other side of "Ghat" too. Time came and the holy "Aarti of Mother Ganga" started. I was standing in the first row near "River Ganga" and with the Pujaris who were doing the "Pooja". The experience was awesome and can't be explain in words. Its again a lifetime experience and one should only experience that ourselves. The "Aarti" finished, I took the Prashad and started towards Local busstand to catch the bus.

One unique experience which I would like to share, I met a person "Shoaib" with his 3 friends who was travelling to Shimla for work, 19'een years young kid with profession of “A Painter”. I talked to him for 30 mins to 1 hour as our buses were late. The comments which he gave to me will remain in my heart forever "Yogesh Bhai, you are a gem of a person, its impossible to met a guy like you in entire lifetime. You can bring a difference in anybody's life. I wish your all dreams comes true, Allah Hafis". I hugged him twice and said you will also shine like a star My Dear Friend “Good Luck”.