Travelogues

I am going to present you a travelogue regarding the mysterious Roopkund (5029 m) and breathtaking Ronti Saddle(appx. 19500 ft). Roopkund is well known for its mystery of the Human skeleton available in this region. Roopkund is a shallow lake of about 2 mts,Situated in the interior of Chamoli District, Roopkund is still one of the most attractive trekking destinations of India. You can have spectacular views of Trishul-1(7120 m), Trishul -2 (6680m) , Trishul 3(6315m), Nanda Ghunti (6309m) at different places of the trekking route.You have to cross Juinara gali pass and Sailasamudra to reach to Ranti saddle. On the way you have to cross Homekund. From Ronti saddle You can have Trishul and Nanda Ghuni in a touching Distance and You get a tremendous view of Ronti (6063m) Peaks. The Trekking Route is not an easy one, specially the way after Roopkund. But the wonderful beauty of the total path ( if you have not face much rainfall..this place so much rain-prone) will give immense Power and strength to overcome all the obstacles. So come someday and enjoy it thoroughly. I assure you must enjoy it thoroughly. Particularly for photographers please carry sufficient amount of storage card and battery. Its recommended to carry a dedicated porter for you.

Team Members: Joyanta Roy-Team Leader
Sandip Roy
Supratik Banerjee
Partha Pal
Guide: Lakhpath Singh Bist ( A resident od Mandoli Village)
Porters: Dinesh Kesri
Kumraj Kharkha
Dal Bahadur Keshi

Roopkund-Roni saddle Diary

09-09-2006
By train(Upasana Exp)
Howrah.................................Lucknow
7.30 pm 3.30 pm

by train(Nainital-Lalkuan Exp)
Lucknow................................Lalkuan
10-15 pm 6-30 am(next day)

10.09.2006
by jeep (Rs 1750/-)
via Bhimtal,Almora, Baijnath
Lalkuan.................................Goaldam
8-00 am appx 200 km 4-00 pm

11.09.2006
by Jeep(Rs 1500/-)
via Debol
Goaldam................................Lohajung
6-00 am 57 km 9-30 am

Lohajung........................Kuling (2520 m)
11.50 am 5 km 1-30 pm

Kuling..........................Didna(8000 ft)
1.45 pm 4 km 4-30 pm

13.06.2006

Didna..........................Tolpani(8500 ft)
6-30 am 3 km 08-15 am

Tolpani.....................Khopal Top(9000 ft)
8-40 am 2 km 09-25 am

Khopal Top...............Ali Bugial( 11000 ft)
09-45 am 2 km 11-15 am

Ali Bugial.............Bedini Bugial( 11500 ft)
12-45 pm 6 km 03-00 pm

14.09.2006

Bedini Bugial...........Ghora Lotani
7-00 am 3 km 09-00 am

Ghora Lotani...........Pathar Nachuni
09-30 am 2.5 km 10-45 am

Pathar nachuni.........Kailubinayak
11-00 am 2.5 km 01-00 pm

Kailubinayak.....Hunia Thar/ Baguabasha(14500 ft)
01-00 pm 1.5 km 1.30 pm

15.09.2006

Hunia Thar...............Roopkund(16500 ft)
6.05 am 6 km 08-50 am

Roopkund............Jiunara Gali Pass(17500 ft)
09-10 am 1 km 10-00 am

Jiunara Gali Pass.........Silasumadra(14000 ft)
10-20 pm 7 km 01-15 pm

16.09.2006

Silasumadra...............Dodang(15500 ft)
07-00 am 8 km 12-30 pm

17.09.2006

Dodang....................Homekund(17500 ft)
06-00 am 2 km 07-30 am

Homekund................Ronti Saddle(19500 ft)
07-30 am 3 km 10.20 km

Ronti Saddle............Homekund
11-10 am 3 km 12.40 pm

Homekund.................Dodang
01-00 pm 2 km 02-00 pm

18.09.2006
via Chandania Ghat(14000 ft)
Dodang......................Lathkhopri(9000 ft)
07-00 am 18 km 01-00 pm

Lathkhopri...................Tatra
01-15 pm 9 km 04-30 pm

Tatra........................Sutol(7755 ft)
04-55 pm 3 km 06-20 pm

19.09.2006

Sutol.........................Sitel(6200 ft)
08-15 am 10 km 12-20 pm
via shared jeep
Sitel.........................Ghat
12-30 pm 15 km 01-45 pm
via shared jeep
Ghat..........................Nandaprayag
02-30 pm 21 km 03-15 pm
via shared jeep
Nandaprayag...................Karnaprayag
03-45 pm 21 km 04-25 pm

20.09.2006
via shared jeep
Karnaprayag.................Rishikesh
06-30 am 172 km 12.30 pm

Via Autorikshaw
Rishikesh....................Hardwar
1-30 pm 24 km 02-20 pm

21.09.2006
via Train (Upasana Exp)
Hardwar................................Howrah


Three of my friend and myslef planned to go for a trekking to Roopkund(16500 ft)and Jiunara gali pass(17500 ft)at the mid of September.At the priliminary stage we decide to visit Roopkund, the mystery lake and try to cross the Jiunara gali pass. Finally at the end of the tour we can able to reach Ronti saddle(19500 ft). The excellent weather condition, Very good cooperative guide and porter,our good health condition and overall the fantastic team spirit helps the team members to reach the heavenly Ronti saddle.


09/09/2006
10/09/2006

On our first phase of journey we reached to Luknow. The train reached in time. We have to take a break jorney here from Lucknow to Lalkuan via Lucknow-Lalkuan Express.So,Its almost 6-7 hours in our hand to visit Lucknow.After depositing our luaggage at a hotel near Railway station we hierd an autorikshaw and reached staright to Famous Bhulbulia. its an amazing place with mazy paths inside. One can easily lost his path inside it. So the name BHULBULIA(means not easily recognisable). Its risky to travel inside without a guide.
By the side of Bhulbhulia there remains Huge Bara Imambara. The architecture reveals the influence of "Nawabi Architectural" influence. The mosque is restricted for non- Muslims. We enjoy the evening at this place thoroughly.
We returned from bhulbhilia to the hotel in hurry, took packed lunch from a nearby hotel, take a bath and rush for the railway station. Nainital-Lalkuan exp depars from Icebug terminal and it departs at 10-30 pm ,15 min late.At train we met a three member group going to Roopkund.


11.09.2006

The next day morning is a clear one and we reached to Lalkuan station in time. the three members of the other team united with our team for sharing a jeep straight to Goaldam. Its a 1/2 hour bargain with a local agent and finally we settled it for Rs 1750/- to reach Goaldam directly. The jeep reached to Goaldam at about 4-30 pm. We touches Vimtal,Almora, Baijnath enroute Goaldam. The scenic beauty of the way is excellent and we enjoy it thoroughly.
Goaldam is the gateway of Roopkund trekking. All the arrangements of porter, Guide and necessary rations can be available from here. Goaldam was looking gorgeous at the last rays of Sun. We collected some residual ration from here but Kerosine was not available. Out other team members were engaged regarding porters,Guide selection and collective rations and they had given me the freedom for photographing the Beauty of Goaldam.

12.09.2006

We started early for Lohajung from where trekking will be started. We collected the fuel (kerosine) from Debal and necessary eggs. The condition of the road at last 2 km before raeching to Lohajung is in a deplorable condition. Anyway we reached to lohajung at about 09-00 am.
Our guide Lakhpath Sing, adequately experianced engaged to collect portes from Lohajung. He choose three nepali porters, all of them are new in this route.
We have had early lunch here and started our first day trek at about 11-50 am. The first phase is an easy trek to reach kuling village, then a steep down and lastly a moderate up to rach to Didna Village. We have a prior information that the camping ground of Didna was already occupied by foreignes and we decided to stay at the primay school of Didna( not in use now). Its a heavy shower at evening and the weather becomes clean.

13.09.2006

Today we have to reach Bedini Bugial. Its almost 13 km walk with ups and downs throughout the way.
The camping ground of Didna is almost 1/2 km from the village and fully packed with tens.The next 2.5 km is through a lush green forest. the rays of sun looks brilliant. Its a easy walk and we enjoyed it. At the end of the forest we reached to a village named Tolpani. Its a five to six houses and the position of the village is wonderful. We took some photographs and went ahead.
The next 2 km is steep up to reach Khopal top. We met with a group of innumerable horses descending from Ali Bugial.
We took some light food at khopal top ang started for Ali Bugial.
Ali bugial is one of the best Bugials of India. It spreads over 4 km with lush green capet of grass and colourful flowers. Its a memorable jouney to my whole life.
We took some packed lunch here and again started for Bedini Bugial.Its raining lightly and we reached at Bedini Bugial at about 3 pm. One of our members reached there at an hour ago and booked a forest rest house. Its tough to accomodate 13 members thete but anyway we managed that.
After a little shower the sky got cleared and we have a spectacular view of Trishul 1,2 &3 and Nandaghunti.We have a nice reflection of Trishul 1 at the water of Baidini Kund at the late evening.
Here the forest deparment charges Rs 800/-for camping,Trial management fees for Guide and porters,non Bio-degradable waste recycling fee and entry fees for all members.
There is no charges for video camera of other cameras.

14.09.2006

Its a wonderful morning and all mountains appear in front of us,from north east to west respectively Trishul 3,2 and !, Nandaghunti, Nilkantha,Kedardome,Choukhamba range, Hati peak etc.
Its a moderate steep road to reach Ghora Lotani. From here u can have a spectacular view of Trishul. From Ghora Lotani, on the way to Pathar Nachuni we found lot of Himalayan Eagles with smooth flying at the deep blue sky.
The way from Pathar nachuni to Kailubinayak is steep up. Its almost 2.5 km and took our breath. The weather condition is deteriorating and we are in a hurry to reach Baguabasha,
. The camping ground of Baguabasha is narrow and already occupied. We advaced a half km and decided to camp an Hunia Thar.
After almost one hour heavy shoer the weather get clear and again Trishul and Nandaghunti appears in front of us with all its beauty.
There are some "BHRAMHAKAMAL" still survives and we are lucky enough to get those.
Its a beautiful sunset with warm red tone at sky. The Trishul and Nandaghunti still appears with their own Beauty.
The next day will be a tough one.

15.09.2006

We started at sharp 6-00 am. The first phase is a moderate steep but the last 1 km is a bit steep. We fouing "FENKAMAL" and some leaves with medicated value on road. There were some little snowfall and the ice melted in sunlight. The road at the end of Roopkund is little bit slippery. UltimatelyWe reached at the top at 9-00 am. Roopkund looks mervellous. The water of the lake is almost covered by snow. Its a shallow lake but the ariel view looks great. We foung a vey little amount of bones and scalp. Those are diminishing at a very first rate. People sometimes collect those as a memorendum.
We took some photographs. Our guide cautioned us not to waste time. There are waiting some tough roads. We are now preparing for crossing Jiunara gali pass. It is about 17500 ft and fully covered with snow. The guide took the Ice-axe and cutting steps for us. There must be some portions which should be crossed cautiously and we all crossed the path without much troube. The scenic beauty from Jiunare gali pass is simply awsome. Trishul gives a spectacular look. The floating clouds give lot of variation. After enjoying half an hour we staed descending from the pass. The way is quite dangerous and steep down. With the help of Guide and porter we crossed that plae with extra cautiousness.
The Place Shilasamudra ( ocean of boulders)is perfectly named. The place is covered with innumerable boulders, most of the boulders are covered by grass and it is quite tough to predict the orientation of the boulder under the grass.
There is a overhang and porters took their shelter there. We stayed at a seperate tent.
The scenic beauty from silasamudra is truely one of the bests I have seen.

16.09.2006

Today we have the route by the side of Nandakini River. The way demands cautiousness, there are some places where we have to use both our hand to cross the area. With a gradual ups and downs we reached Dodang at about 12-30 pm. Within an hour there falls a heavy rain.
Tomorrow we have the toughest path. Our guide instructed to go early to bed and we have to start within 5-30 am.

17.09.2006

Everybody is little bit tensed today. We have to cross Homekund to reach Ronti saddle at 19500 ft. Anyway we were a little bit late start. Its abou 6-00 m. The way from Dodang to homekund is a narrow enough and through a ridge of a small hill. It took almost one and half hour to reach at Homekund. There is no source of water at Homekund. This arera is actually uased for HOME(worship).
The next path is a boulder zone with a steep up. The boulder zone vanishes after 2 km. Then we entered into the snow zone. We found the Basecamp of Nandaghunti Expedition. After crossing Nandaghunti Base camp there is a steep down fall and the way turns right with a steep up. The last 20-30 m is so steep that our Guide and porters holds us to life to the Ronti saddle. All the struggle ended with a heavenly view from the Ronti saddle. From left to right we foung Nandaghunti, Dronagiri, Viewthach, Ronti Peak1 and 2, Trishul 1, 2 and 3. We staed there almost an hour im midst of that beauty. We become spechless, breathless.
After giving Puja by our guide we took some group photographs. The weather condition is still good and so no hurry for descending.
WE returned the snow zone by glissading. Wereturned to dodang with a mind full of joy and success.

18.09.2006

This day we started together with porters.We are in a hurry as we have to cross the Nandakini River. We have no rope , so little dealy may cause serious problem. We crossed the Chandania Ghat en route and we found a bridge over Nandakini river in a damaged condition. We have no option but to cross the river.At about
10 am we reached to a place from where we have to cross the river.Its a ice cold water and crosses the river after a huge struggle. We have no prior experiance of crossing a river of such type. Its really a tough job.
On our next part of journey we crossed some landslides and reaches Lathkhopokri at about 1-00 pm.
We decided to go ahead and finally reached to Sutol after 6-00 pm fully exhausted.

19.09.2006

From Sutol we started for Sitel at about 8-15 am. From Sitel we get a share jeep to reach to Ghat and fron Ghat we reached Karnaprayag via Nandaprayag. We celebrate our successful journey all together.

20.09.2006

We hired a jeep to reach directly to Rishikesh, from there to Hardwar by Autorikshaw.

21.09.2006

After staying one day at hardwar we strted for the journey towards home.
Our mind is now full of joy and lungs are full of fresh air of Himalaya.