DAY9: BUDHI TO GUNJI
Budhi: 2686 mtrs
Gunji: 3166 mtrs
Distance: 18 kms
Time taken: 9 hrs
As usual, everyone left the Budhi Camp at 0500 hrs, The initial 5 km of the journey was indeed very steep. If you notice the elevation map you will see that within that distance WE had a height gain of almost 2000ft. The hill WE were climbing was a proper forest with rocky trails, lots of trees and under growth. Luckily the weather was on our side and there was no rain, but it was misty and cloudy. Well walking through the clouds has its own charm. Slowly and laboriouslyWE moved ahead. But WE were fast enough to reached first at the Chialekh Top.
Chialekh is also known as the valley of flowers as here you will find almost 4000 different species of flowers in their full bloom. After yatries having breakfast at Chialekh, the trail levels out and winds its way through beautiful meadows and streams . Just after breakfast is the first point where the passports of the Yatris are checked and details are entered. Even the porters and the pony men have to show their passes before they can move ahead.
Chialekh to Garbhyang is more or less leveled for. WE enjoyed the beauty of nature to the fullest as it was more like walking in paradise. The low clouds, the lush green surroundings looking pristine with all the overnight rain, the sound of invisible streams hidden behind hills, the occasional mooing of the cattle grazing at the distance plus no strain of walking uphill all added up to the charm of being in paradise.
Enjoying the vistas WE soon reached Garbhyang. Garbhyang is an important village on the Indo-Tibetan and Indo- Nepal trade route. Here there is an old wooden bridge ( Sita Pul ) that traders use to take and get stuff from Nepal. Also lots of traders from here go to Tibet to get Chinese stuff when the trade opens (Indo-Tibetan trade route is only open for 4 months during the year).
Garbhyang is also known as the “Sinking Village” and it was pretty evident why. The path suddenly became slippery and WE were walking on inch deep slush. Apparently the village was built on Glacial residue hence a part of it keeps sinking all the time. We were told that at some places it has sunk up to 60 feet over a time span of 15 years. So houses once made on the save level are on different levels now.
After passing another check point at Garbhyang WE continued towards Gunji. As WE gained height the changes in vegetation were quite evident. The thick forest had given way to more of green meadows and barren mountains. WE were back to walking with Kali again but luckily the path at most of the places was not as treacherous as yesterday, it was more or less leveled.
Suddenly a motor able road appeared from nowhere. It was not tarred but the mountain was cut and the path had been leveled. WE could see the tyre marks on the path of a big truck so that meant that it is in use indeed. Walking on leveled path was a luxury after walking on stones and rocks for so many days. Soon WE saw the camp of Gunji, but it was on another hill and yatries had to cross a river in between. Luckily the river had a bridge so getting on the other side was easy. By 1230hrs WE had reached Gunji Camp. It was time for lunch and since WE had two night stays here it was time to do some washing also. Gunji being at a height of almost 3200 mtrs there was no moisture in the air so drying of clothes was pretty fast.
Evening time WE went to the ITBP temple and had a great time chanting Bhajans with the Jawans there. WE realized that the Men & Women (ITBP employees women too) in Uniform are an enthusiastic lot. Even such harsh conditions and being away from family does not dampen their spirits. The bhajan evening was one of the most memorable evenings of the whole trip.
Tomorrow will be a very important day for all of us. Tomorrow all the yatris will have to undergo another medical test to check the body parameters. Those who were to be found unfit at high altitude would have to return back and won’t be allowed in Tibet. Three yatri’s from the previous batch had been rejected on medical grounds and that had made everyone even more tensed.
It was a beautiful night sky, totally clear with half moonlight night. The stars were twinkling very bright but still the sight did not interest anyone and everyone wanted to have an early night. WE won’t say everyone slept peacefully as everyone was thinking of the medical tomorrow, so there was calm but an un-easy calm. After all no one wants to return mid-way from a journey!!
PICS FROM DAY9
The route from Budhi to Gunji
Elevation of the route
Early morning mist
The steep climb that lay ahead.
Camp of Budhi from where we started the climb
The camp got smaller and smaller as we went up higher
A walk in the clouds
A yatri taking a break to enjoy the vistas.
Soon we reached Chialekh
A panoramic view of Chialekh
Chialekh checkpoint
Some flowers shots and some snaps of the paradise
The "Sinking Village" of Garbiyang
Another checkpoint where passport details are entered
Back along the river Kali, we had to walk on the mountain side as could not afford to slip here
Change in terrain. Thick forests gave way to barren mountains
Motor-able road
Other side of the river is Gunji Camp
Enjoying the evening at ITBP temple
Before sleeping I Decided to make the most of a clear and a moon-less night!!! My hopeless attempt at shooting the stars
End Of Day 9
Budhi: 2686 mtrs
Gunji: 3166 mtrs
Distance: 18 kms
Time taken: 9 hrs
As usual, everyone left the Budhi Camp at 0500 hrs, The initial 5 km of the journey was indeed very steep. If you notice the elevation map you will see that within that distance WE had a height gain of almost 2000ft. The hill WE were climbing was a proper forest with rocky trails, lots of trees and under growth. Luckily the weather was on our side and there was no rain, but it was misty and cloudy. Well walking through the clouds has its own charm. Slowly and laboriouslyWE moved ahead. But WE were fast enough to reached first at the Chialekh Top.
Chialekh is also known as the valley of flowers as here you will find almost 4000 different species of flowers in their full bloom. After yatries having breakfast at Chialekh, the trail levels out and winds its way through beautiful meadows and streams . Just after breakfast is the first point where the passports of the Yatris are checked and details are entered. Even the porters and the pony men have to show their passes before they can move ahead.
Chialekh to Garbhyang is more or less leveled for. WE enjoyed the beauty of nature to the fullest as it was more like walking in paradise. The low clouds, the lush green surroundings looking pristine with all the overnight rain, the sound of invisible streams hidden behind hills, the occasional mooing of the cattle grazing at the distance plus no strain of walking uphill all added up to the charm of being in paradise.
Enjoying the vistas WE soon reached Garbhyang. Garbhyang is an important village on the Indo-Tibetan and Indo- Nepal trade route. Here there is an old wooden bridge ( Sita Pul ) that traders use to take and get stuff from Nepal. Also lots of traders from here go to Tibet to get Chinese stuff when the trade opens (Indo-Tibetan trade route is only open for 4 months during the year).
Garbhyang is also known as the “Sinking Village” and it was pretty evident why. The path suddenly became slippery and WE were walking on inch deep slush. Apparently the village was built on Glacial residue hence a part of it keeps sinking all the time. We were told that at some places it has sunk up to 60 feet over a time span of 15 years. So houses once made on the save level are on different levels now.
After passing another check point at Garbhyang WE continued towards Gunji. As WE gained height the changes in vegetation were quite evident. The thick forest had given way to more of green meadows and barren mountains. WE were back to walking with Kali again but luckily the path at most of the places was not as treacherous as yesterday, it was more or less leveled.
Suddenly a motor able road appeared from nowhere. It was not tarred but the mountain was cut and the path had been leveled. WE could see the tyre marks on the path of a big truck so that meant that it is in use indeed. Walking on leveled path was a luxury after walking on stones and rocks for so many days. Soon WE saw the camp of Gunji, but it was on another hill and yatries had to cross a river in between. Luckily the river had a bridge so getting on the other side was easy. By 1230hrs WE had reached Gunji Camp. It was time for lunch and since WE had two night stays here it was time to do some washing also. Gunji being at a height of almost 3200 mtrs there was no moisture in the air so drying of clothes was pretty fast.
Evening time WE went to the ITBP temple and had a great time chanting Bhajans with the Jawans there. WE realized that the Men & Women (ITBP employees women too) in Uniform are an enthusiastic lot. Even such harsh conditions and being away from family does not dampen their spirits. The bhajan evening was one of the most memorable evenings of the whole trip.
Tomorrow will be a very important day for all of us. Tomorrow all the yatris will have to undergo another medical test to check the body parameters. Those who were to be found unfit at high altitude would have to return back and won’t be allowed in Tibet. Three yatri’s from the previous batch had been rejected on medical grounds and that had made everyone even more tensed.
It was a beautiful night sky, totally clear with half moonlight night. The stars were twinkling very bright but still the sight did not interest anyone and everyone wanted to have an early night. WE won’t say everyone slept peacefully as everyone was thinking of the medical tomorrow, so there was calm but an un-easy calm. After all no one wants to return mid-way from a journey!!
PICS FROM DAY9
The route from Budhi to Gunji
Elevation of the route
Early morning mist
The steep climb that lay ahead.
Camp of Budhi from where we started the climb
The camp got smaller and smaller as we went up higher
A walk in the clouds
A yatri taking a break to enjoy the vistas.
Soon we reached Chialekh
A panoramic view of Chialekh
Chialekh checkpoint
Some flowers shots and some snaps of the paradise
The "Sinking Village" of Garbiyang
Another checkpoint where passport details are entered
Back along the river Kali, we had to walk on the mountain side as could not afford to slip here
Change in terrain. Thick forests gave way to barren mountains
Motor-able road
Other side of the river is Gunji Camp
Enjoying the evening at ITBP temple
Before sleeping I Decided to make the most of a clear and a moon-less night!!! My hopeless attempt at shooting the stars
End Of Day 9
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