While I stumble with words these days due to ridiculous distractions, restlessness and lack of consistency, I so desperately wish to narrate or at least try to summarize a little bit of one of the most wonderful trip we made at the same time last year - To the HIMALAYAS.
Although travelling has been a part of my life ever since childhood days and have traveled almost every part of Tamil Nadu and around England during my stay there, I had never dared to step into North India due to various reasons, one being language issues, North India is comparatively hotter and crowded (over populated) than South India. So I never had made any travel/visits around North India, although the idea of hiking the Himalayan mountains have been there in my mind for long time.
And eventually everything fell into place and we started our one week trip on March 1 - much of the credits to my friend Anand who is a badass tourer/seeker/traveler who had already counted, cross-checked and inspected every mile of the Indian roads in his car. He along with him brought 3 other friends Siva, Manoj and Sethu.
Before start narrating the spectacular trip I should gracefully give a brief note on my above mentioned friends.
As the world knows, Anand, Manoj, Siva and Sethu are exceptional professional flamboyant photographers who shoot one and everything around them with so much creativity, artistically and passionately. Although I knew Anand for nearly an year I had not met him in person till March 1. And the others Manoj, Siva and Sethu - I was not even aware of their existence until March 1.
Anand
I got to know Anand ever since I was looking for wedding photographers on behalf of my cousin for her marriage. I have no idea on how we made a friendship, but somehow it clicked ! Probably because both of us are psychopaths in our own way. So we know each other and on that trust and rationale and the love for traveling ever through the life unbounded and bonded by any chains/ clutches we made this plan to travel to the HIMALAYAS.
Siva Raj
Siva appears to be tougher physically but is a child from inside. A good friend and much gentle. It was nice to spend more time with him who showed me different skills of photography which I was not even aware of.
Manoj Sasidharan
Manoj the young and smart looking guy is more tough than what we could see through our eyes. I don't have any idea on what his brain is made of when I glanced through his "Trippy - Trace" creative photographic and illusionist skills.
And finally here comes his Highness SETHU Udhaya Prakash!
Sethu the hot-throb to many girls around. But in reality the other way around to us. He being the youngest and probably made less travel than any of us was quite excited at the beginning not knowing what the coming days would offer him.
To be honest without Sethu and Manoj the 7 days trip would have been a much more silent one because none of the three of us Anand, Siva and Myself could crack as many jokes and counters as Manoj and Sethu could do. They sync pretty much and are the best pair, more like love lifes hitched together.
It would be a serious disgrace if I fail to mention one of the most humble and down to the earth person I have seen in recent years and the same thought prevailed in the minds of the other 4 of us.
It is Parthiban Nagarajan.
I never actually knew such persons do exist in this planet. None of us knew Parthiban in person until the night of March 1, 2017. When we rented a car from Delhi and started our journey Manoj made an enquiry about the routes and places to visit in a Himalayan Trekking group in Facebook, Parthiban who himself is an avid traveler came to our aid. As he himself was there in Delhi at that time, he personally came forward to meet us and explain about the routes and nitty-gritty of the places. Parthiban was so much helping and although there was not necessary for him to do such things, He made himself available. We and personally I was in so much shock an disbelief, because in this machine like monetary world, I haven't seen in ages of one such person who did so much with no expectation. As I know of me, even I wouldn't do as much as Parthiban did. A true soul and a nice friend to have since then.
The Start
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Finally after sorting out everything, we started our Journey to the Himalayas around 9 pm from Delhi. We were sure of making it to the HIMALAYAN RANGES, but actually had no specific destination on our minds. So we thought we could plan the places to visit along the way and just let the car we rented on the first road we encountered - The road to HARIDWAR !
The moment I came to know that we are on our way to HARIDWAR, I was super excited - quite natural for anyone and especially for the one who is in someway attracted towards the Spiritual path. Haridwar being a holy land, has indefinite connections with religious ceremonies and a celebrated land for more than 4000 years for its importance in Hindu religion. Geographical importance of Haridwar is, it is at this place the holy river "GANGA" enters the Northern plains of India from hilly terrain of the Himalayas. So in another way, Haridwar is the gateway to the Himalayas from the plains.
After passing through the undulating roads of Uttar Pradesh, We reached Haridwar around 4 am in the morning of March 2, 2017. People say that "some of the best moments in life takes place silently and calmly and there would be no dramatic sequences when such loving moments happen". It was the case for me when I saw the holy "Ganga". Ever since entering the schools, we have been continuously taught of Ganga about its importance, magnanimity etc. Even before that, we have been given introduction about the Ganga along with the mystical narrations of Lord SHIVA. So ever since child days an image so strong and intense about River Ganga was imprinted in our minds. Adding to that the recent rise of the television and documentary channels has even more exaggerated the image of Ganga. And then suddenly when we entered Haridwar, I saw a river running along the road and I was just looking at t without even realizing what it was. It took me some moment to even realize that what I have been looking at was the sacred river GANGA of who I have always heard and read a lot more in my life. The moment I realized her as the ever holy GANGA, with no forced attempt, I naturally bowed down to her. I don't know if She has any holy powers, I don't know if She is sacred. But for the very aspect that She comes from the mystic Himalayan mountains where the Adhi Yogi - SHIVA wandered around made me to bow down to her. For the rational minds, I and everyone else can bow down to her for her generosity of feeding millions of people all through the year and all through the millennia and without her the very existence of the much of the Indian population is a question.
Day 2 - March 02, 2017
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HARIDWAR
As we reached Haridwar at around 4 am in the morning after a 7 hours travel, we took a short nap. Then early in the morning at 6 am, we set for a walk along the banks of Ganga. The Sun has just started peeping through the horizon and lightening up the dark sky. Winter was not over yet and it was very cold in the morning. The heat rays from the Sun was felt as a blessing from the Almighty himself by one and all around us.
Haridwar in one simple word is "magnificent". Ganga here looked calm and turbulent at the same time which precisely reminds of the ultimate Stillness and the Rudra Thandavam (Cosmic dance)
of SHIVA.
Many people here at Haridwar took holy dips in a belief to wash off their sins and become pure. Many performed holy rituals which has its roots in the Aryan/Brahminic traditions. My photographer friends never missed an opportunity and shuddered the silence of Haridwar with the shutter sounds of their cameras and exploited their skills. I didn't even carry a mobile with me because I wanted this trip to be of complete Silence, without any calls and interventions from my world.
After wandering around the narrow streets of Haridwar, we sat at the banks of Ganga, watched at her swiftness and listened to the sounds of the rippling waves of her. She was so pure and tender as She was not yet polluted by the mortals of the plains.
From the snow peaks of the mystic HIMALAYAN Mountains - She "the sacred Ganga" has just arrived.
For some She is just a river - a source of water,
For some She is a life source,
For some She is holy and sacred,
For some She is a way to get dissolved into Oneness !
Thus She has arrived onto the mortal lands to grant the wishes of all those on what they wished for - Her holy Mother Ganga !
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Next stop RISHIKESH !
To be continued.,
