The Return of the Fellowship of ShivLing

The climb down was hard going until we reached Gaumukh. We took the same 2 days trekking back to Gangotri, with a stop at Lal Baba's Ashram again. This time we ran into just too many people. A group of some 200 annoying people were trying to climb up as we went down, and attempting to return to Lal Baba the same day. As a result the Ashram was packed.
We left early in the morning from Lal Baba to Gangotri- the moon was still quite full and it was not quite light out. moon.jpg
Once again, the trek back to Gangotri was totally enjoyable as we passed through pine and birch forests. This time we were all setting a very good pace, and somehow Small soldiered on. After an emotional farewell to our guide Atal that afternoon in Gangotri, we hired a jeep for Uttarkashi, spent a night there, and on to Rishikesh the next day.
At Rishikesh, we checked in to a hotel which turned out to be 5km upstream of the main chaotic town of Rishikesh, in a quiet, clean enclave on a hill, peopled with Nepali-run cottages and hotels, and swarming with hippies. I dont mean to sound xenophobic, but hey - we were surrounded by young, loud, bikers on Bullets, who did nothing but smoke up and stay stoned 24 hours. A common scene in the Himalayas.
This place turned out to be a great place to rest up, and gorge on some great food- we had been forced to a diet of aloo paratha and maggi for too long. And this was where our Fellowship of ShivLing split. Small was in just too bad shape. He, Bansi and Prats left for Delhi the same night. The remaining 4 of us stayed on for 2 more days and nights. We did'nt do much, although i did explore and find a beach we had heard of, by the beautiful Bhagirathi. It was a perfect split of worlds. On one hand we had the most conservative of hindu places by the holy river, with temple complexes lines up on each bank. Rishikesh.jpg But less than a half kilometer away, I found this beautiful beach, where some real stunners were swimming in the river and sunbathing on huger rocks! I tell you, I was bombed. The water was'nt terribly cold, the breeze was warm and the sun shining away. I took a dip and dried off on the rocks. The next evening i took Debbie and Himja there and we took another dip. Rishikesh03.jpg

Back in Delhi, we spent a wonderful few days at an old friend's place- Ambu and Shalini with their daughter Saranya.
Delhi10.jpg ; Delhi11.jpg ; Delhi13.jpg

Here again the group separates - most by flight. Bansi already in Bangalore, Debbie flies to New York. Finally, Himja and I travel back by train, the last to make it back.

Until the next call of the mountains.