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Nag Tibba Trek

I was sitting in my office waiting for the weekend to arrive and especially a long weekend. After a lot of contemplation, I along with a few friends decided to go out of town. After hours of research we came across the Nag Tibba trek. It is the perfect weekend getaway and will not disappoint.

The Nag Tibba trek is an easy trek and can be a lot fun when you go with family or friends. We stay in Delhi so we drove down from Delhi to Dehradun, overnight on Thursday. We also had a short drive to the start point. Friday early morning we started the trek. We trekked for a total of 14 kms which was 5-6 kms per day. The base was approximately 8 kms from the start point

While were on our way to the trek we did some research and found out that Nag Tibba means serpents peak and is at an altitude of 9,915 feet in Uttarakhand, at the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayas. It was an upward climb through pine and rhododendron forests. We had quite a transition from a busy village to a secluded peak all in one day. We came across many blossoming flowers and a few paths were warmer than others. During the winter you will be walking through a snow covered trail.

There were views of Himalayan ranges like Bandarpoonch, swargarohini, black peak, Srikant and many more. We also saw the Kedarnath peak in the north, Doon valley and the snow peaks of Changabang.  The Nag Tibba trek took us deep into the mountains with absolutely no habitation. Just fresh mountain air, lush green forest, streams and chirping birds all around. At each step we saw something fascinating.

We camped underneath the Nag Tibba peak. It was very magical with all the mountains around and there was little chill in the air. We all sat around to enjoy the calmness in the air. The sunrise was worth waking up early for. It was a one of a kind sunrise. The next day we began our descent back to the start point through the picturesque trail. We reached the end point by late evening.

We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend getaway especially in the hills. Being far away from the hustle and bustle of our daily gave us some time to think. We came back feeling fresh and it was a very memorable trip. I recommend everyone one to take a trip to the mountains. If walking is a daunting challenge for you then this trek will suffice and will be your guide book to nature and trekking.

Trekking in ways is just walking and when you are with friends the time just flies away. Not only that you have the mountains to keep you company. I am not an avid trekker but whenever I get the chance to trek in the mountains I feel that they are trying to say something but I haven’t yet learnt their language. Every trekker has their own experiences and they always stay with you until the next great trekking adventure.

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The Kedarkantha Trek

Religious or not, the Kedarkantha trek is an easy and thrilling trek. Religion comes into play here because in Hindu mythology it is said that Lord Kedarkantha (Shivji) sits on the base of the summit. If you wish to test this belief you can start planning for this trek. This is how I decided to plan my trek to Kedarkantha.

I am not very religious but it is an interesting belief and it involved trekking. Fitness has always been a big part of my life and when you get to explore so much as well as test your physical strength, it is always a plus for me. It is a 5 day trek and required about 19 hours of trekking. Don’t worry not all in one day, I trekked approximately 10 kms per day. I am not a very experienced trekker so the Kedarkantha trek was just perfect.

On the trek, I met first-timers and experienced trekkers. There was even one guy who had done the Pin Parvati Pass trek, but said that he always wanted to see the beauty of Kedarkantha in the winter. I’m glad I decided to head there during the winters as I love the snow.

I was fortunate to get clear skies, so I could get beautiful photographs of the Banderpooch and Swargarohini peaks. Walking through centuries of old pine forests covered in snow was bliss. Being at an altitude of 12,600 and watching the frozen high altitude lakes was a feeling which is indescribable. You have to be there to know it.

Bird watching is another very serene experience – and here in the mountains it was easy to hear them chirping. Being an adventure enthusiast, camping in open meadows covered in snow, sitting by the fire is the kind of peace which was much needed.

Waking up in the wee hours of the morning and watching the sunset at dawn is one of my favourite memories of the trek. Our guide woke us up at 5:30 am, just to see the sunrise and of course capture the moment. Soon after that, we all tucked ourselves back into our sleeping bags for another couple of hours of beauty sleep.

These sceneries along with snowcapped mountains is all you see for a long time while trekking along the upwards on the trail. This was one of my best trekking experiences which I finally ticked off my bucket list. I of course did a lot of research on this charming place before visiting it, and it exceeded my expectations.

This was my itinerary:

Day 1: We were picked up at Dehradun railway station and driven from here to Sankri. It’s a very long drive, and it took the whole day. The scenery is beautiful but the roads are quite winding. We kept taking breaks to stretch our legs and see the viewpoints, so it was okay. We stayed at night in a cute guesthouse type of hotel in Sankri.

Day 2: We started our trek today. It was about 4 hours of walking, and we ended the day at Juda ka Talab. It was really pretty, and our tents were right near the lake, so we had great views all evening.

Day 3: Today we woke up really early, while it was still dark, so that we could watch the sun rise. It was very cold, and I almost went back into my tent, but I’m glad I waited. The sunrise was superb. During the day, we trekked to the base of Kedarkantha. It was again about 4 hours of trekking, and then we chilled at the campsite.

Day 4: We had to start early today because the guide was worried that the weather would get bad at the peak if we didn’t leave early. It was about 5 hours to reach, but it was really gorgeous so we didn’t feel the exhaustion. We spent some time taking photos at the top, and then we climbed back down to our campsite. That evening we were very tired but very happy also.

Day 5: Today we began our return trek from Kedarkantha base to Sankri. It was quite fast to cover the distance as it was downhill, and we were in Sankri by early evening. To return to a warm room and a cosy bed after a few nights in the tent was absolutely blissful, but I was happiest to use a proper washroom again!

Day 6: Today we were driven back to Dehradun and dropped off by evening near the Railway Station. I had booked a hotel to stay in at Dehradun so I checked in and enjoyed some momos and ice cream after my long trek.

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The Brahmatal Trek

I needed a break from my busy schedule and was yearning for the mountains. I’ve been dying to see snow, but somehow I never made it to the mountains in the winter. I did some research (while pretending to work in office) and decided to go for the Brahmatal trek. It’s supposed to be suitable for fit beginners, and it would give me a chance to see two frozen lakes too. After watching Game of Thrones, I’m very keen to take some winter pictures on frozen lakes and winter landscapes!

I tried to convince my friends to come with me, but there were a lot of scheduling issues. I ended up booking solo, and it was the best decision I made. The trek I booked included Brahmatal Lake and also Bekaltal Lake. It’s one of the best winter treks for beginners, and since I already do some running and yoga, I just increased my training for two weeks before.

This 6 day trek was quite a fun one with a few challenges. I trekked for a total of 20 hours over those 6 days, but as it was only about 7 kms per day, it wasn’t too tough. There were some steep stretches that were difficult, but I managed them all.

My Brahmatal itinerary

I reported at Kathgodam railway station early in the morning, and met all the other trekkers. We boarded a vehicle and started the drive to Lohajung. It was quite a scenic drive, and we were singing songs in the car, so I enjoyed it a lot. That evening we went for a walk in Lohajung and slept early.

The next day, we set off from Lohajung to Bekaltal. The route was through lovely forests, and although it was cold, the trekking kept me warm. As I continued my trek I came across small streams and quaint villages. A few slopes can be steep so you have to careful. The guide was nice, and was pointing out different mountains like Kamet and others, but I simply loved the sight of Nanda Devi. It’s a good thing I did not forget to carry my camera as every step and view was worth capturing.

At night, we slept in tents on blanket of snow, warm and cosy in our sleeping bags. And every morning we would wake up to snowy views which was not possible in any city.

The next day we headed to Brahmatal Lake. The guide told us that Lord Brahma meditated on the banks of the lake, and it was so peaceful that even I wanted to meditate there. The frozen lake gave me a sense of peace and calm.

The natural grandeur setting makes this a perfect winter trek, but I still want to see more. After having spent a week in the snow covered Himalayas, I decided to make such a trip every year. As it is not a hard trek everyone can make one week in the winter months a snowy one!