Himalayan Hopes

I’m a curious and restless soul, and

That is the problem and solution to everything.

The mighty Himalayas and me

Himalayas has captured the wildest imaginations ever since I started reading travel genre books. 

Life at the 20’s is very special to everyone. You will be in free-spirits with vigor, zeal, and constant quest to learn more and go places to explore the world. 

Ladakh valley

Levison Wood is my favorite author and his book, walking the Himalayas always triggered my unbound love towards the mighty Himalayas. This COVID – 19 lockdown brought me to watch his series - walking the Himalayas by UK based Channel Four in Discovery Plus. Wood starts his epic 1700+ miles journey by walk from Afghanistan to Bhutan, via Pakistan, India, and Nepal the entire stretch of Himalayan ranges. Awe-struck and I rewind my memories a few years back to my 20’s.

The best travel companions - Cath, Som, Ling

It was my first solo trip in my 20’s to Ladakh valley between Karakoram ranges and Zanskar Mountains in the Himalayas. On a very tight shoe-string budget, I backpacked, hitch-hiked, stayed with locals and home-stays; I completed my first incredible travel experience of my lifetime. Since then, I become addicted to solo-traveling and the gorgeous Himalayan ranges.

Himalayan Bliss

• I learned many life-lessons in this Himalayan solo-trip
• Language is not a barrier to communicate
• Strike the best with first impression
• Strangers can become your best travel companions
•  Locals can share their house, bed, and breakfast to total strangers
• Body can survive on minimal calories – eggs, maggie, and chai
•  Listened to nomadic tales under a starlit sky
• Warm water is the best mixes for Rum
• Consuming Himalayan vegan leaves can get you real high ( Hope you get me right)
• Frostbite in the night and intense heat in the day portrays the life experience
• The best of the view comes from the hardest climb 

Leh Palace

Life is filled with rhythms and cycles as narrated in the nomadic story; cold and hot, day and night, snow-capped mountain summit and deep gorgeous valley, sun and moon, rich and poor, gods and demons, good and evil, joy and sorrow. And every human being is destined to experience these very often in his lifetime. The journey itself an experience to behold through the stunning views of Himalayan ranges, contrast terrains, and the highest motorable passes in the world.

The land of mystic dragon

Fast forward and off-late, I have been blessed with wonderful opportunities and immense possibilities to travel to many parts of Nepal and Bhutan on special official assignments from my alma mater organization, Navodaya Education Trust - Karnataka.  I pondered those great opportunities and with immense reverence I rewind my encounters in these Mountain countries.

Pokhra & Himalayan ranges

 With endless cups of chai, sitting on the terrace of my hotel at Phewa Tal lakeside in Pokhara - Nepal, I rehearsed my official presentations surrounded by the spectacular view of Annapoorna ranges, glistening peaks of Macchapucharre, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu snow-capped summits. I watched the spectacular sunrise from Sarangkot peak, an incredible Himalayan sunrise. It was an astounding magical sunrise to behold and the sun rose behind the Annapoorna mountain ranges. Nature played its best masterstroke in the sky – crimson red hues and strokes in the grey sky, the golden sun rays kissed the snow flaked Himalayan peaks, the sun emerged slowly as an orange-red bowl between the ranges, and started unfurling the gorgeous scenic landscapes of Pokhara valley. Standing there in the morning crisp year, I admired the mighty Himalayas and bewitched the luminescence of Himalayan eight-thousanders.

 

Mount Everest & Himalayan ranges

Bhutan, the land of Gross National Happiness is my favorite Himalayan land-locked country. Blogged enough about this mystical kingdom, I urge my readers to browse my old blogpost to experience the thunder dragon Himalayan experiences. The ultimate experience was witnessing the Mount Everest, Mt Lhoste, Mt Makalu, and Mt Nuptse on Bhutan – Nepal trip Druk air flight.

 

Explorer as always....

My curious and restless soul always crave for more such incredible experiences, as spending time in this Himalayan region is one of my life’s great experiences. No mountains can match their beauty and Majesty. I was fortunate to have glimpses of the Himalayas and its greatest terrains in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. I am astonished with this greatest bio-diversity on the planet earth with the bizarre diversity of cultures in an exceptionally hostile and incredibly beautiful environment.

 

Phew tall lake - Pokhra, Nepal

All I wish and long for is to experience the Himalayan ranges in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Will I make it to those two countries? Will I cover the ancient silk-route?

Will I walk into the fairy meadows of Gilgit- Karakoram ranges?

Will my dreams come true? Dreaming all these, is it a problem of my curious mind or will I find a solution? Post-COVID 19 & my hopes are the answers, I have here right now.

Buddha Point, Thimpu - Bhutan