Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass (PART 8)

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July 31, 2016 (Day 9) – Budhi to Gunji (17-18 kms)
I  started at 5.30 am from Budhi and reached Chialekh at 8 am after a very stiff climb in rain. In Chialekh we had breakfast and our passports were checked there. Chialekh was all engulfed in fog and we missed seeing Mount Annapurna and beautiful flowers around.

Chialekh


From Chialekh we had to pass through muddy way all the way to the sinking village of Garbiyang, which had quaint houses having carved doors and newel posts. En-route you can see the confluence of Kali and Tinker rivers with Tinker river hurling into Nepal. We waited for Army load carrier which was supposed to ferry us to Gunji but we had to wait 2 and half hours for one yatri. The route to Adi Kailash yatra is common until Gunji. The pilgrims for Adi Kailash take turn toward Jollingkong. 


 

 

Lunch at Sitti
 
 

Garbiyang

 

Does anyone know which plant this is from which Chutney is made

 

Gunji

 

The road from Garbiyang to Gunji is 12 kms but trek route is around 7-8 kms. Finally after a bumpy ride and being stuffed like cattle, we reached Gunji at 12.30 pm. En-route we had lunch and lip smacking chutney at the village, Sitti. I forgot name of local leaves it is made from. By afternoon we reached Gunji and were received by ITBP officials. Hot tea and halwa was served on arrival. We cleaned our mud soaked clothes and shoes and finally got our luggage. Removed my tripod and tried some long exposure photography. There is an ITBP post at Gunji. Evening was studded with bhajans and friendly banter with Rishabh and  Chandrakanth. Tomorrow would be a halt at Gunji and medical tests would be conducted. Those unable to clear it won’t be allowed to proceed further. Everyone was tensed. I guess Rishabh and I were quite relaxed. 

Gunji

 

Bhajans at Gunji 


 


 

Food being prepared at Gunji
  

Prakash (our guide) reciting a poem

Aug 1, 2016 (Day 10 – Halt day at Gunji)

Today was a halt day at Gunji. ITBP medical team conducted medical tests for all yatris and those unable to clear would not be allowed to carry on with the yatra. Got up early in the morning, had bath and did Yoga. It’s a foggy day. Hope weather clears tomorrow so that we are able to see Om Parvat at Navidhang. Personally, I was not worried about medical tests and was allaying the anxiety of others by cheering them up. One female yatri from our batch could not proceed further as her Blood Pressure was in excess of 200 mmhg systolic. ITBP staff is extremely helpful. Tomorrow we shall leave from Gunji to Navidhang. Few ITBP personnel accompanied us until Lipulekh pass. 


 


 

Liaison Officer getting medical tests done

 

Planting trees at Gunji

Tips:

  • You can get pony at Gunji if you haven’t taken one already. Four people in our batch opted for Pony at Gunji
  • Don’t be anxious about medical tests. Do some meditation or Yoga in the morning. 
  • Continue with your antihypertensive medication if already on one. 
  • Your health is paramount. You can always come back for Yatra.

Aug 2, 2016 (Day 11) Gunji To Navidhang (19-20 kms)

I started from Gunji at 5.45 am amidst rains and reached Kalapani by 8 am. En-route I saw Vyas Gufa. Kalapani is a mesmerizing place and is said to be the origin of river, Kali. I had breakfast of sumptuous Aloo Parathas and sang bhajans. 

Breakfast at Kalapani


At Kalapani you have to get your passport checked and stamped and must get it done on your way back as well. After that is a gradual uphill climb until Navidhang. 




I reached Navidhang at 12.30 pm. It’s from the camp at Navidhang, yatris can view Om Parvat, which has pattern of snow, which resembles a naturally formed Om. Since it was a cloudy day, I could not see Om Parvat. Navidhang was extremely cold and windy. I woke up at night hoping that clouds might have cleared and I would get darshan of Om Parvat, but I was not fortunate. Tomorrow we cross over from Navidhang to Tibet via Lipulekh pass at night. Slept early for a tough day ahead. 

 

 
 

Way to Kalapani

 

from Gunji to Navidhang

 


 


 

 

Kalapani

Vyas Gufa

 

Om Parvat hidden amidst clouds

Navidhang





Tips:

  • Don’t forget to get your passport stamped at Kalapani on your journey to and fro.
  • Since Navidhang is extremely cold and windy, don’t forget to cover your head and wear adequate woolens. 
  • Keep your passport and currency, etc in your money belt. 
  • Since tomorrow is a long day and you will get food really late in the day, do keep some biscuits or dry fruit with you. 

 
 
IMPORTANT ADVICE: We should be blessed that we are chosen for this yatra and it is our responsibility to not litter and keep Devbhoomi clean. Carry your plastic wraps that you use with you and dispose them later. Try to clean the trail. Tell your porter not to litter. Gutka and chips packets lie everywhere. Particularly distressing was to see shores of Manasarovar littered with used underwear packets, ghee packets, used sanitary napkins etc. It was distressing and abominable. A place, which is so pious to us must be respected by all of us and deserves a conscious effort by all yatris to lead a cleaning drive as and when possible. Don’t forget to do your bit, even if others are not doing it. 

To be continued..

4 Comments

  1. Reply

    lucky gupta

    August 7, 2017

    Wow!!

  2. Reply

    Savita Patel

    July 14, 2017

    Thank you Dr. Varunaji for your very precise information. It feels great reading and watching all beautiful pictures. Hoping to read more soon!!!

  3. Reply

    Rishabh Sharma

    July 11, 2017

    I just did the trek again with this reading. One year is about to complete but it still feels the same. Thank you for this awesome writing. Nowhere else on internet you will find such precise writing on kailash. 🙂 Hoping to do more treks with you!!!

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