Travelogue

full video is available at www.youtube.com/user/profPK2013?feature=guide

Our route : Hardwar-Rishikesh- Uttar Kashi (170 km from Rshksh,1.15 km,stay) – Harshil –Gangotri( 100 km from UKashi,3.2 Km, Gaumukh glacier is 18 km from here)-Harshil(stay)-Uttar Kashi( ancient Vishwanath Temple, Skand- Puran, Shakti temple,)-Dhanaulti(stay)-Hardwar ( 23 May to 29 May,2013)

100 km stretch from Gangotri to Uttarkashi is an EcoSensitive Zone(ESZ) as per notification of Govt. of India; eco system has turned fragile due to human activities ,discharge of sewers /pollutant to Ganga. Even the hydel plant and tunnel at Dharsu Band are under extreme criticism from ESZ pt of view. Boulders might fall on you at many places due to land slides even in dry seasons; there are several spots en route where even one small car cannot cross another oncoming small car. The dark deep gorges there send chill down your spine.

We are approaching Gangotri from Uttarkashi . This terrain length is nearly 30 km from Gangotri…………Bhagirathi descends from the Himalayan glacier above… Gaumukh is only 18 km from here………..In May Gangotri is uncomfortably warm at noon……Turbulent Bhagirathi is carrying huge quantity of eroded soil from the mountain/ hills…. en route we saw many desilting plants …… at Gangotri people take bath ( dip is hardly possible) in bone chilling rushing water……… around the roaring Bhagirathi there are resorts….. I am standing between the Gangotri temple dedicated to mother Ganga who is keeping us alive beginning from the time of Bhagirath who brought her and the river……. There is long queue ( managed by police) at the temple…… the river flows down to Harshil thro’ our Resort…. We follow the river upto UttaKashi ( our resort on the bank) …….. we cross over to other hills to reach Dhanaulti ……..within 40 km from Mussouri and DehraDun…. We are in the lap of Forest ….. pleasant cold in evening…. Then we pass thro’ Rishikesh…. To NILKANTHO ( 34 km from Rshksh thro’ Rajaji national park)….. overlooking sleepy villages at the sunset….. to Hardwar ( ma Anondamoyee Ashram)…… back to Delhi by Dehradun Shatabdi …