According to the meeting done before going to bed last night, we got up at 5 in the morning and left the hotel sharp at 6.50 pm without being freshened. Everything was fine but who the hell wakes up in the morning, that too at 5 o'clock. After washing the face everybody was in the car, that too without using toilet. The cold air was dominating our body from outside and from inside we all were killing ourselves by leaking the smelly farts. After all, "Human beings help human beings", and here this saying was proven, when all four of us have down their windows which were covered with dew. The great escape from farts.
Nar-Narayan Parvat
In about 2 hours, we cross the Joshimath. Master said that "Respected Badri Vishal is worshiped here for about 6 months of winters". On the way, a big bridge came up, which had a huge green board, which was saying "Vishnu-Prayag Hydro Power Project, J.P.Group", and the tag line was "No Dream to Big". Vishnu-Prayag was the fifth and last confluence on the 'Alaknanda river', where 'Dhauliganga river' surrenders herself in 'Alaknanda river'.
JP Group board
After crossing Vishnu Prayag, the world that started, forced me to lose my all senses, that mountain became my favorite. The more I was getting enthusiastic the more they were getting higher. The black colored mountain had done his job, yes they had made me their own. I wanted to touch them. Just forgetting everything, remembered just one line, "Stop the window, I am feeling cold".
"Wahe guru ji da khalsa, te wahe guru ji di fateh", with Govind ji, we also repeat the holy sikh words. "This is Govindghat, from here, the difficult journey towards 'Hemkund Sahib Guru' starts", Sardar ji said. We came far from that black magical mountain and now I wanted to fly on 'Hemkund sahib'. My mind was behaving like a kite. For the first time, I realize the great empire of mother nature. It seems that she was welcoming us into her developed empire.
Govindghat
The carpet of the developed empire was burst and muddy from somewhere due to the heavy land slides. After 20-25 minutes stuck in a small land slide, the car started running again on 'Nature's carpet' with medium speed.
The way to Heaven
"We have reached", when I heard the words from Sardar ji, I immediately opened my eyes. "Really we have reached. This place is even more beautiful than picture..........". As soon as they descended from the car, we all four said the same thing together, "Welcome to Heaven".
Jai Badri vishaal
"The monk was in orange clothes, was asking for food and money, the bridge on the Alaknanda river was swinging slightly while people were walking on it, people were constantly taking photos, beautiful flower was selling down there, the Alaknanda river was flowing down at its velocity, people were bathing and washing clothes, behind the temple two huge snow-covered mountains were seen, the white clouds was running like a rabbit. Then suddenly I collided with a "Sadhu Baba" and the bag fell on the swinging bridge from my shoulder.
"Sorry Baba Ji", I said. "Instead of saying sorry to me, say sorry to the real BABA", and by saying 'Jai Badri Vishal', the sadhu Baba merged behind the red colored flag. I Do not know, where Sadhu Baba disappeared and who will forgive me?. I was standing alone there with questions.
An old lady puts her hand on my head and said "Welcome to BABA's own place". What is this happening?, what kind of town is this?. Am I in anybody's dream?. Why are people here so sweet and who is this real BABA?. I was getting lost in my thoughts suddenly master shouts my name , "Rohit, what are you doing on the bridge till now, lets go buddy".
"It is a hot water spring, it is also called taptkund (hot pond). The water with sulfur was very hot in the pond. "Its not possible to take bath for 15 minutes in this pond Due to sulfur otherwise one can feel motion sickness", another Baba who was looking like a child, dived into the pond after passing this information about the hot spring. Immediately I have got free my lean body from the clothes load to get down in the hot spring, but as soon as I stepped into the water, I got out. "slowly kid", As per Baba's words, before getting in the pond, first soak yourself from head to toe. I did same and entered into the hot pool. Master and Praveen were already having fun in the pool. The pond became the wonder for everyone when Baba began floating in the pool in the Padmasan position.
Hot water spring at Badrinath
"How did you do this?", I questioned to Baba. Baba gave a odd reply to my children's question. First he spread his smile around the pond and said, "I AM NOT DOING IT, IT IS HAPPENING, AND WHEN YOU WILL NOT TRY TO DO THEN IT WILL HAPPEN". I was playing with his fringe hair and asked another question in the hope that this time he will not give a weird reply, "Do all people talk like you in riddles?". "Ha...ha...ha...", he laugh very loudly. What a strange answer he gave to me.
After coming out of the pool, We had changed clothes but still I was feeling vomiting. After all, that moment has come when we will enter in the temple. This very first time provided the feeling of fulfillment to the last time.
Baba Badri's own town
Mobile, leather, and cameras are forbidden in the temple premises but master took his phone secretly and started making the video. A worker was working there suddenly saw him and started threatening to carry him to the police. Seeing his serious face it seemed that he would also take him to the police and kill him as he was saying. We all three were standing in Namaste position and asking for mercy, finally he said that delete the video and do not repeat this move again.
Badrinath Temple
How grand was that temple, what was the feeling, the collective energy had mesmerized everyone. It is difficult to remember even today that what we saw inside the temple, but one thing that I can never forget, is the idol of Lord Vishnu. Although there were many other idols inside the temple, but only the idol of Lord Vishnu I remembered. Whatever Pandit ji said - everything was lost in the grandness of temple. Everything has become like a hypothesis. There was a quiet atmosphere within the temple, but inside the chest looks like someone was knocking the door of heart. "Is anyone trying to be released from inside or trying to woke me up"?.
"Let's go to Mana village quickly, then we will leave", master reminded us. "Mana village is only 3 km from here so lets walk", master said. He counted on fingers...one...two...and three. I and Pravin first felt a bit upset because we had to go 3 km and then again return for 3 km. We were talking to each other that it would be 6 km, even if the car can go there, then what is the need to go on foot. Perhaps Master had to do the trek, so we heard about what he said to entice us and
immediately we got ready without any other condition.
"Mana is the last village of India", now tell are you in or not?
Read the board
By crossing the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) camp, we started speed walk, but after some distance, the breath started flowing like we were patients of asthma. After 1 km, we all three sat under a tree. I didn't know about others but I started thinking that if we came by the car, then we already did reach?. Praveen totally got me, he said, "Master call to Sardar ji and told him to come here to pick up us". The drops falling from the monarchy prepared the master to make call to sardar ji. He called to driver and said "Paji please come here so that you can pick us after coming down".
The Alaknanda river
After a half-hour trekking, finally we were drinking tea at a tea shop in the last village of India. Mana is a small but beautiful village, where women were making socks, mufflers, hats with sheep wool. We were have fun while drinking tea on the country's last shop. Here we saw the Vyas cave, Ganesh cave, and Bhima bridge. The Tea shop owner told that "some kilometers away from here, is the staircase of heaven from which Pandavas went to heaven, if you wish, then you can also go there". We thanks Uncle ji for sharing information with us but now we have to go back so that we can join the office on Monday. Master should not had to talk about the office because the mind was upset of thinking about the office.
Mana village old lady
This holy cave is 5321 years old
The last tea shop of India
Sardar ji had been reached at Mana village parking. Finally we started the sad return. None of we three wanted to go back, but it was surprised when Sardarji also said the same.
The car was crossing Badrinath bus stand in slow motion. Sardar ji pulls the break and car stopped. We all were standing like beggar and watching the magical town of 'BABA BADRI VISHAL', eyes were numb and we all just wanted to take this view with us. With respect and compassion loudly we said, "Jai Badri Vishal Ki".
The Good bye
Perhaps everyone's eyes had become as moist as mine, feeling like I had lost my life. I was feeling that "Now I am not that person who had came here, but now I was a new man, absolutely fresh and new". Sardar ji told me, "Looks like you have affected with the ghost of Badrinath".
All the places started running in reverse order. Of course we were going forward but the body had left the mind behind. All four did not say anything. One by one, Govindaghat, Vishnu Prayag, Joshimath, Chamoli, Nandprayag, Karnprayag were all left behind. In the evening we reached Rudraprayag where we took a budget room for the night.
The Devpryag
Dhari devi temple
The next morning all got up at 6 o'clock. According to the plan, we were going continuously and stopped at Devprayag for food. Most of the time, we fall asleep. Reached Haridwar at 2:30 pm. This was the departure time, even though we did not know Sardar ji but in two days we had observed his pure humanity and soul, we paid Rs. 6500 (93 USD) for his hard work.
Haridwar
At 4 PM, we caught the bus of Delhi, which drops us at Delhi at 12 o'clock.
I hope you will like this journey.
Namaste
"Love Nature
Love Himalaya"