Himalayan Expedition- Batch of ‘25

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Our much-awaited Himalayan expedition began in the wee hours of 10th February 2024. Mrs. Bindu Dilip Kumar, Department of Mathematics, and Ms. Sophie Benny escorted us.

Day one consisted of two flights from Coimbatore to Dehradun via Delhi. We were welcomed with steaming cups of rhododendron tea at Hotel Regenta where we stayed for the night. Following a delicious breakfast, we left for Kund on the next day along a very scenic route covered with rolling green mountains and shimmering turquoise rivers. On the way we got to witness a sight straight out of our geography textbooks, the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda at Devprayag. It was not merely a confluence of rivers but it was the union of two different origins, two different stories, to create the holy Ganga which enriches the lives of millions of people. After a quick lunch break, we stopped to pay our tributes at the serene Dhari Devi temple which was located on the banks of the Alaknanda River between Srinagar and Rudraprayag. We were thrilled at the opportunity of walking across a hanging bridge adjacent to the temple. Around 5.30 pm, the sight of the setting sun behind the snow-capped mountains left us breathless. We followed the trail leading us closer to the ethereal mountains and reached our destination for the day- Himalayan Ecolodges. At the sight of the mountains, we realized the enormous possibilities that the trip had in store for us.

The next day, we set off on our first adventure; a trek to Devariyatal near Sari village which was located at 2,400 meters above sea level. This gave us a real taste of the challenge that lay ahead of us, scaling the mighty Chandrashila. The weariness of the trek was instantly replaced by the joy of seeing pristine white snow at the summit. The inner child in each one of us was set free the moment we stepped into the snow and we began hurling snow at each other, sliding down it and building snowmen. Returning from the trek we had our first encounter with water as we splashed about in the freezing waters of River Mandakini. We ended the day with a typical camping activity- dancing around a bonfire. Day 4 was a laidback day as we journeyed to our base camp in Chopta and had a lot of fun rolling about in the deep snow that surrounded our tents.

We began Day 5 at the break of dawn, all geared up for what was deemed to be the highlight of the trip, to conquer Chandrashila. We started our 4km trek at 8.45 am and trudged along the rugged and narrow paths covered with snow. With grit and determination, we breached the hurdles to make it to Tungnath temple. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to reach the summit of Chandrashila. However, we realized all our struggles were still worth it the moment we witnessed the halo effect of the sun on the magnificent snow-covered peaks. The clouds rushing through the mountains made us feel as if we were all starring in a movie. Upon descending we had steaming plates of Maggi and pakoras which felt like a warm blanket amidst the cold. At night, the clear sky offered us breathtaking views of various constellations.

Day 6 turned out to be the most memorable part of our trip as we traveled to Rishikesh for river rafting. On hearing the numerous safety guidelines, we all were a bit skeptical about getting aboard the rafts but once we started rafting we floated above all our concerns and were surprised at the amount of knowledge our guides passed on to us. This experience brought about team spirit and taught us that friendship would help us brave all odds. That evening we gathered for an impromptu dance session and retired early to our tents.

We set out the next morning to Mussoorie for a shopping spree along Mall Road. The road boasted of many vendors selling trinkets and souvenirs which we purchased for our loved ones. We were thrilled to find a library dedicated to Mussoorie’s Wordsworth, Ruskin Bond. Our accommodation for the night happened to be a camp located in the vicinity of a bird sanctuary. It had a lot of activities out of which we decided to partake in the freefall. The freefall had us climbing a 50-foot-tall tree and letting go from the top. This was yet another adventurous activity that helped many of us overcome our fears.

The next day at the airport on our journey back to school, we realized how the days flew by. The trip was not merely a bunch of bus rides or photographs but an emotional connection with nature which gave us memories we will cherish for the rest of our lives. The takeaway of the trip was indeed the importance of friendship and teamwork. We realized after crossing our obstacles that if we stand together as one with the words ‘Never Give In’ echoing in our hearts nothing is impossible in this world.

BY-

Gopika Sunil

Kamalini Ramesh