Off beaten track

As the rising sun illuminates the clouds, on Chandrashila Top I definitely received far more than I sought, it was an ethereal trek, far transcending the corporeal  reality of just being there. I was destined to reach here, for I had no plans to climb this moderate Top, but  one thing led to another and here I was; as close to the edge of the world as I thought I would be. To begin at the beginning... Having come down from Ghangariya and the Valley of Flowers, I thought I would spend a day or two at Chopta nearby. Reaching Chopta at about 1500 hours, a local told me about Tungnath, one of the oldest Shiva Temples, which was about two hours climb away. So I hired a pony to take my baggage and began walking up the well laid out but zig-zag path. On the way it rained... heavily So I got out my poncho but quickly discovered that it would not keep me dry in a torrential downpour while climbing.  The rain water from the outside and sweat from the inside both serve to drench me....

Relatively Untouched Getting away from the madding crowd seems nearly impossible in these crowded times. Most trails and treks are virtual highways with a line of 'trekkers' like marching ants going to and fro.  Thus when I find a spot of seclusion I truly savour it, these are getting more difficult to find.    In my constant efforts to get far from the madding crowd, in mid-March 2016 I did a week's trek to the Great Himalayan Park. The upper reaches of the Tirthan Valley The path to the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) still remain relatively untouched, possibly due to the fact that Manali nearby has a greater draw, also that reaching the Tirthan Valley is still only possible by State run buses or private transport.  Gushaini - where the trek trail starts An overnight bus journey (aah the convenience of a Volvo!) got me from Delhi to Aut, about 60 kilometres short of Manali.  From Aut it is an hour and a half by taxi to Gushaini, the place where the trail ...