THE CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS

It was a dream come true- we were on our way to the mountains- the valley of flowers, wild roses, zinnias and crimson rodendons - the noisy river Beas humming and rippling on its way down from the green and lustrous mountains of the Pirpanjal ranges of the lower Himalayas in the beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh, the pristine land of beauty and serenity. Yes its Manali, our destination for the three days out of  the seven day excursion.

Three days of adventure to answer the irresistible call of the mountains. Our camping site was a picturesque plum orchard by the side of the Beas river meandering down the mountains being the major source of water for the local people. After being put up in one of the most luxurious hotels of Manali the previous night, we were all set  next early morning to camp in the wilderness and spend the whole day and sleep in tents at night when the temperature would be 70 C.

Our first task of the day was the challenging recreational activity of white water rafting in the Beas known for its swift current and rapids. It was  an exhberating and breath taking experience and our thrill and excitement knew no bounds. We were given life jackets and helmets to wear as a safety measure. We had to navigate in the rough waters in inflatable rafts. Our rafting operator with two other raft guides gave us all the essential instructions as we set off for a nail biting adventure. We held our ropes tight as there was a  possibility to be flung out into the chill water as the raft rose and plunged drenching us.

After an hour of hard struggle and shrieking the maddening excitement came to an end. There was a sigh of relief but at the same time disappointment as the spell of euphoria was over- but we had treasures to carry with us- these unforgettable memories that will remain in our hearts.

Our next adventurous task for the day was river crossing by tying ropes around waists and holding an other row overhead to keep our balance. It was indeed very challenging and exciting  to cross the freezing cold rough waters. Sometimes the current was extremely strong and we had to be very cautious lest we lose our grip and get swept away by the current. This nerve wracking experience helped us to become more confident and take up the other challenges that were in store for us.

Mesmerized by the intoxicating beauty of the mountains and with the wild desire to scale heights we were geared up for another physically and mentally demanding sport, one that often tests a climber’s strengths, endurance, agility and balance. Well can you guess what it is? Yes it’s rock climbing- one of the dangerous and challenging sports. We climbed up natural rock formations with the goal of reaching the summit. It was fun scrambling and slipping and again balancing ourselves as we reached the top.

It was then time to rest. After a sumptuous dinner we assembled around the bonfire under the clear starry sky. Sitting around the flaming logs, appreciating the warmth of the fire and sipping hot soup we well all rejuvenated for a dance to the peppy music.

The last task of the day was yet to be done- bush walking or trekking with torches in our hands we were again ready to set our foot into the dense foliage in the dark forests of the mountains. As we walked two kilometers into the heart of darkness  and at a point of time we switched off the lights to understand the stillness of the forests the occasional sounds of wild animals and the buzzing of insects. We were transported into another world of abundance and opulence- untouched and free from human carnage sustaining life in itself and standing upright as a great significance to Indian culture and heritage once the home of Saptarishi or Seven Sages, and an ancient trade route. With intense peace and contentment in our hearts we returned to our tents to slip into our sleeping bags and dream of the wealth we have gathered and wait for the wake up call to set foot for yet another expedition, another destination the Rotang pass, another story to tell.