24th like all day we got up morning at 6.15 am and got fresh and ready with packing our luggage then as usual we did our morning prayer and paath and then we had our breakfast . This morning course took nearly half hour we set out of the tent at 8 am. Learning about today’s route form Mannu Rawat on previous day he told us that the route is hard and may take much time to reach our final destination and night hault of the journey which is set at Vasudhara. Since our route plan was set like this there was no option to reach at Vasudhara only way was to cross the boulder area over the glacier and jump the Alakhnanda river here then walk downwards along side of the Alakhnanda river to the opposite side to reach Vasudhara. We started our trekking at 8.05 am descending from Sahastradhara towards boulder area down below.

From beginning we were very alert and very careful while walking over the boulder, it was really very hard to maintain the pace but then also under guidance of Mannu Rawat we were doing great watching every step to keep in place where it should be. This situation was allowing us to give less chance to look here and there as this was drawing our full attention on the trek route which was uncertain but moving towards our target.

Gradually we moved forward and reached near the glacier infact we saw the glacier very first time in natural condition. Here we took some photographs of the glacier which is seen in the frame is age old and our guide shown us how hard it was by hitting his ice axe on it, to check this even I tried and hit over the ice shelf and it was true in respect of this natural scene we took one snap of it I standing beside it.

Running through this situation I chipped a piece of ice from the glacier and I picked up, because my wife loves to eat ice I brought and gave to her as a highly valued gift. When I gave the ice piece to my wife it was muddy so I ask her to wash it and eat it as she washed the ice piece it was so clear it was just like a crystal and we were unaware of it, one can see in the next frame below.

Here I would like to mention one thing that such kind of things happening while walking through rough terrain amuses us and relax our mind instead of bothering about the hard trekking and forget about our body pain. Any way sitting for while again we started moving further, till now we descended half the height and more half to go with down trek as we can see in the next photo, we were suppose to cross this boulder area through slightly towards top left and then all the way below the lower side of the front ridge till behind the hill slope.

It was very hard work done by us since morning from where we started and still here to reach it took almost one and half hour right above the Alakhnanda river snout ice glacier, continuing more ten minutes trek over this boulder area and we were other side of the Alakhnanda river and we took break here seeing some spectacular scene. The view of the Alakhnanda river snout was excellent from this angle and I can say here that these types of pictures are the rarest only those people can enjoy this view that walk down through this passage, not only Alakhnanda from here we can also see Vasudhara water fall. To just inform the viewer I would like to mention that in frame 3883 right at the center over the ridge line there was our last night campsite and it took one and a half hour to cover this much patch.

It was just like refreshing our selves by not only taking break but we also refresh our soul by seeing excellent scenes of the nature and experience was great and priceless, I will just say one should experience such great views of nature with which we can feel the power of nature. This is yet the half of the height we had descended and still further we have to go down trekking all the way down below the ridge to cross the Alkapuri passage which is seen in the above frame.

It is this spot which can be concluded as the junction, from where we can see the straight view of the Vasudhara and the Alkapuri Passage, here is the close look of the area that we had crossed and can also see the boulders as if it is kept one above another and holding each other supported by some of the small stones below the big boulders.

The above photo shows the divider mountain with two passages one goes towards Satopanth Tal and further Swargarohini Parvat and the other passage goes towards the Balakun mountain chain, this point is like the junction and the view from here of all surrounding is marvelous. Then again we started moving over the boulder and rocks while trekking on this surface we have to be very cautious and have to manage every step to keep at the right place and this action was suppose to be so frequent that we have to concentrate our footsteps synchronizing with our walking rhythm with the rough terrain. This was to be the almost last portion of the boulder zone as we moves towards the plain area.

At last we had arrived at the plain area near the Alkapuri it took nearly 1 hour 15 minutes to make this distance and in clock it was 12.35 pm. Without losing the pace we still continued further trekking towards Alkapuri which was little far then it appear in the picture and after walking over the plain for almost one hour we met some children of the research group and we also met with their professor. There were about 60 students within the group as it was told us that they were here to do research about this area with different subjects like studying about climate, vegetation, glaciers, rivers, and other things related to the atmosphere.

It was nice to see many people to gather in such remote place and feel great especially we were looking people after five days since we had left the Mana village. We than moved further leaving behind the research group the weather was taking in and climate changes and started drizzling seeing this condition we begin to hurry to cover more distance as much we can, but as we reached till Alkapuri right in front of the Lakshmi Van on the other side of the Alakhnanda river rain started taking it course and the stream begin to swell. In our route plan today we were suppose to take hault at Vasudhara which was still 2 km far from right where we were, here the time was more than 1.30 pm and the rain and the swelling stream were making us impossible to find our way to cross the streams and at last we had to arrange our campsite little back on safer ground.

Here we had to make sudden change in our decision about day hault we planned to make arrange to set our tents, here our guide told us that he will make us cross the swelling stream on the back of the potter but we refused to do so and stayed there waiting for next day to improve the climatic condition. By the time we get in the tent it was 2.30 pm and we were all wet due to the rain, we got in the tent and changed our cloths and dried our self then we had some rest. The rain was giving heavy shower and wind paralyzed our all activity, this continued for more than three hour and about 5.30 pm the rain stopped and we got out of the tent we saw the atmosphere was still cloudy but dry. Then we stayed out for some time drying out our wet cloths by spreading out over the floor.

Since all the best view of nature were blocked by the cloud and the climate was dull there was nothing to do but spending time just remembering the good moments of the trip till today that we had made. Then day start closing and it was 7 pm and our guide called us for dinner and it was still early we asked him to serve later after some time, we had our dinner in the tent which was suppose to be the last dinner out there in remote. At 8 pm we had our dinner and passed time for some time and then we did our paath before going bed.

This picture was taken by me and in this frame one can see the result of the seven day journey to Satopanth Tal on our face, having sun burns on our face and hands. Here climate cooked us in day time heat by sunlight and cool us in the cold night and damps us in the drizzling climate, and we had walked over boulders and  on rough terrain with uncertain ground and paath way which we had never done it before. Here I say we had learned many things from the nature how to walk and live in such remote land with limited availability of all sources, this also teaches us to respect of every things just not only about the useful and living thing but also about non living things which found all over the surface of the globe. On other hand I say the blessing of the god and it is said that in the paath of truth there is always pain and trouble rather than being in the material world with all comforts.

25th we got up in the morning as usual at 6.20 am I looked out from the tents it was cloudy but lucky to not having rain and got fresh with in half hour and did our Morning Prayer and paath than we had our breakfast and packed our luggage and step out of the tent waiting for our potters to get ready with closing the rents and collecting the belonging. It was 8.30 am. Mean time we took some photographs of the surrounding in this morning dull light.

As Mannu Rawat and the potters were gathering the belongings and packing the luggage we were enjoying the pleasant climate and clicking some of the good images. This was our last and final camping of our Satopanth Tal trek and here now we were looking forward to get crossed the cold water stream which was coming down through the Alkapuri passage right from the Balakun glacier.

If we see the picture of the water stream it seems small but it took us to cross one by one about half hour, the water was too cold infact it was chilled we got wet our shoes and socks and with this we were not suppose to walk so we took off our shoes and socks to dried out. We sat there for about 15 minutes and viewed some scene of Lakshmi Van and further Vasudhara water fall which is still 1.5 km away from here.

We got ready again start moving towards our last iconic site of the journey after walking over the grassy land for half hour we were right in front of the Vasudhara fall and if we see back the view was great of Lakshmi Van and Kuberlok left behind seems gone far.

I would like to mention the viewer that as on first day I and Mannu Rawat discussed the plan route for seven days and things were gone very much in perfect way accept last night cause our last night hault was to be made right here at base of Vasudhara but due to some critical situation we had changed our plan. There was one more things I had told to Mannu Rawat to take me to right beneath the Vasudhara water fall and the time was ticking so I asked Mannu Rawat to take me there but he was bothering something that he was thinking to take my wife also but I said no only I will be visiting the place then he said ok.

From here I and my wife got split for while till I go and visit the Vasudhara and meet again little further. Then I gradually getting closer to the Vasudhara climbing the hill slope first it was easy to walk than as I was climbing the hill slope it was getting tougher as the slope was grassy and wet it was little slippery so for getting through to top I took help of the Mannu Rawat.

I was almost at the top of the hill and at the base of Vasudhara from here at two minutes distance I was below Vasudhara feeling the mist over my face and it was feeling great. Then I decided to go over the skeleton ice to get much closer to the Vasudhara, I took picture of Vasudhara from here exactly down below feeling more shower of the mist produced by the Vasudhara

This moment was my life time moment to be here and taking chance of having the mist of the Vasudhara over me and I would like to thanks Mannu Rawat for this achievement because it was he who guided me on every steps to reach here below the Vasudhara. One more thing I would like to mention here it was one side of the story to being happy to experience the Vasudhara but in other side there was worrying us as we were getting very close to the Vasudhara over the skeleton ice because when I was sitting over it the sound of slipping ice was warning me to move from there and so do Mannu Rawat was calling me every minutes as I was there for almost 6 minutes, finally I thanks to the god and good spirit to accepts our prayer and I bow and step down from the skeleton ice of Vasudhara.

It took me almost one and half hour from splitting apart with my wife to visit the Vasudhara and coming back to reunite my wife, she brought two dogs along with here and as she told that these two were with her for all the way from the plain and these two dogs were so cool and friendly to us that they were loving our company. The paath way from the Vasudhara is very easy since we find here six feet wide paath way between Vasudhara and Mana village and this make much easier travelling as I mentioned very earlier. On the way we met military persons who were suppose to patrol the area, from here we can see the Mana village alongside with the paath way.

Walking through the paath way down towards Mana village the climate was nice and weather was clear, as we were trekking down we saw a rat at the side of the paath way this was the mountain rat and one thing more about this animal is it don’t have tail. Now we are very much near to the village as we see the temple right behind and at right side of the frame we can also see the farm.

As Mannu Rawat belongs to this place he has his house and farm here beside the temple and we met his mother and we had one group picture

This temple belongs to devi called Maa Tripurbala Sundri and it is the kuldevi of whole Rawat family as we had been told by Mannu Rawat and we had also saw written on the top of the Mandir’s main gate. Here of this temple and the Devi many people misunderstood that this temple belong to Draupadi who aboard her soul to heaven at this place and it is not true, as I mention earlier that Draupadi aboard her soul to heaven at Lakshmi Van. So I request to viewer that before accepting information one should confirm the truth of the story with every aspect, here I am very much positive but if there is any kind of doubts with my words one should try find the truth and I also request to correct me and I will be highly oblige.

As we were stepping down the temple we saw great view of the Mana village in front and at left we could see the Bhim pool and above all there is one road which is in control of the Bhartiya sena, and below where we stood there was potatoes farm.

At last we were in the Mana village and it was 12.30 pm, here we paid our gratitude to all the god and good spirits one by one by thanking and paying respect by bowing at the door step of all temples from where we had started with request. First we had thanked at Saraswati temple and there we had some cold drink and biting then moving further to Sadhu Baba he blessed us on returning safely.

From there we went to the Vyas gufa where the temple of purohit was so happy to see us on return from the Satopanth Tal journey and blessed us for our achievement during the journey. As we were sitting beside the purohit and he was just got involved in our talks other devotes were waiting for their turns and purohit introduced us by pronouncing that we had been to the great spiritual Yatra to Satopanth Tal, listening this everyone started asking about the place likewise how far it is, how to go there, how many days it takes for journey, we spend some time there and we step down to Ganesh gufa here too we bow and thanked at the door step.

Finally we went to the Ghantakaranji mandir and bow and thanked for our safe return journey, from here we visited Mannu Rawat place where we met his wife and we asked Mannu Rawat to arrange us one cab to drop us at Badrinath town. Here we finalized our deal by clearing payment and departed with best time we spent for seven day and by heart we thanked to Mannu Rawat for his hospitality and caring during all the way from here Mana village to Satopanth Tal and back to Mana village. As there was more luggage with us Mannu Rawat send one of his man with us till Badrinath town, we checked in the hotel and got fresh and had rest till evening.

First we had decided to leave the Badrinath next day but here again we changed our plan and decided to stay at Badrinath. After 5 pm we stepped out from the hotel and had enquiry about the commuting for the Haridwar and as ticket was available we booked two seats for next to next day. Whole evening till night we spend by roaming in market nearby places shopping and window shopping and when it was about 9 pm we had our dinner and return back to the hotel.

26th today too we got up with same time at 6 am and we got fresh and become ready and we went to Mandir for Darshan but there was much crowed and line was very long and we visited surrounding places and we met to Rawalji. The whole day we spend by doing nothing and just being easy visiting again and again the Badrinath mandir at 3 pm we enter the temple premises and there we spend more than 2 hour by chanting Gurumantra and by doing our Gaopal Sahastranam paath. Here one saint saw us sitting for long time doing some chanting and after we finish our paath he call us and asked about what we were doing and he was glad to hear what we said and then he gave some holy knowledge to both of us and we bow down and took leave.

In evening we again walked through the market area and did some shopping and then we had some snacks chhole patis and pani puri at the road side and later we return to hotel. As we were suppose to move out very early morning we packed our luggage with all our old and new stuff at night and set everything perfect. At night we were not willing to eat heavy stuff like meal but we again came to the market to have our milk and biscuits and returned back to hotel with having a nice night walk, this way we ended the day and went to bed.

27th we got up early morning and got ready as we had told previous night to our hotel man that we will be leaving early morning and he has to arrange a potter for us to carry our luggage till the bus stand and we were within our time we clear the account and moved to the bus stand. Here we confirmed our ticket and the seat number and occupied the seats and our day trip started on time at 5.30 am. While on return journey from Badrinath to Haridwar there was nothing to do just sit on our seat and get go with the transport service as it take us. As this was public transport service we have to bare little inconveniency like bus stops to collect and to drop passengers anywhere and there is no timing sort of thing to make hault but then also what can a state transport service would give in such cheap ticket fare, thanks to the bus service that it make us reach safely to our destination through mountains with twisty curvy road all the way. Any how we made it to Haridwar bus station at 7.30 pm from there we took rickshaw and came to same hotel where we stayed before going to Badrinath. We checked in and got fresh it was about 9 pm and we decided to take dinner in the market place and we stepped out of the hotel and went to nearby restaurant to have our dinner and had a nice night walk while returning to the hotel. Today it was our last night hault of the journey so we checked our luggage and packed all, as it was not suppose to be unpack until we reach at home, except one bag as our rest of the cloths like night suit and towels was to be kept in the morning. We get into bed to get up early in morning next day.

28th we got up this morning as usual and got ready and packed our luggage and step down to the lobby and we made payment and check out the hotel, still there was some time for move toward station, mean time we had our breakfast. Than we came to the Haridwar station little earlier as we have to check on which platform would the train comes and where will our coach, after waiting for some time train arrives and we occupied our seat and we started our return journey for Hazrat Nizamuddin station to board Augustkranti for Mumbai. We made it in time to Hazrat Nizamuddin but here we had waited for one and half hour more for the Augustkranti. Between this waiting period we had our food and got shifting our luggage from one platform to another, after waiting train arrives on the platform and we get into the train keeping our luggage in safe place and occupied our seats. Here we very much happy as we were returning home and thinking about our children with whom we were far for 15 days. In train we had good company as time pass our dinner was served and we had it and again passed some time and then arrange our bed and had nice sleep. As on day 16 we were still in the train in the morning and around 11.30 pm we reached to our last destination at Borivali station here we were picked by my son and sister and with in half hour we were at home sweet home.

This way we ended the well planed Satopanth Tal journey returning safely and I would like to mention once again it was possible due to the blessing of our elders and best wishes of our family members and friends and we thanks all by heart.