Satopanth Tal - a Glacier treak

I have planned Satopanth approx 5months before. The main issue was, this trek you can’t perform solo. You need the porters & guide & If you want to perform this trek solo, the cost will be high at least not economical for me. I have asked so many people for this. Their first response was “Yes” but gradually it became “NO”.

Then I had talked to 4-5 well-known guides & asked if they had any fixed date. This time I got several “yes”. But my criteria was to go beyond Satopanth Tal at least approx 2-5km further which is not their’s plan.

By God’s grace, suddenly, I had asked one of my travel partners, Soma & without any second thoughts she confirmed me.I knew her last 3-4yrs & I have faith in her that she would not ditch. So I had tried to make our group size at least 3. This time I got connected to another Bengali guy Anirban who already bought tickets for Delhi without any concrete plan.

Then July end, we three connected with one of the well-known guides, Manu Rawat, on this route. This is a fantastic guy who didn't ask us to pay in advance at that moment & agreed to visit the First Kund above Satopanth Tal. I was on the ninth cloud as I knew it was a good chance & I didn't argue to go above as I had doubt about my abilities.

Anyway, we booked Delhi to Haridwar train & buy required clothes & accessaries. On 17^th Sept, we reached Nizamuddin Station as we had train from there. The first good news was our tickets were upgraded to 2A. This was my first journey in Second AC. I was too much happy. We reached Haridwar before the time at 3:45 AM.

Manu Rawat Ji shared one of the cab driver’s phone numbers already. But unfortunately, he did not pick the phone. So we tried to book a shared cab which is available outside the Haridwar Bus stand. Due to covid, there was less pilgrim or tourist as well as trekkers. So after waiting 15mints, Anirban suggested checking the availabilities of public buses. Soma & Anirban went to the bus stand & found a bus till Joshimath, was ready to start. Due to covid, no bus/Jeeps were going beyond Joshimath. Everyone suggested for taking another bus/jeep from Joshi to visit further. We booked the tickets till Joshimath & took the first seats, just near the doors.

Approx 6:00 am the bus started. I had visited this route many times before. The road was so-so till Srinagar & then scenic. Our first break was near Gochar. The bus took a 15mints break for breakfast. It was a roadside Dhaba, but the view was awesome. You can view the flowing river at the bottom. Due to rain everywhere you can view the greenery only.

We had found lots of landslides evidence here & there. Numerous large stones always warned us “be alert”. Everywhere We found very few pilgrims & trekkers. Normally this is the perfect time for trekking in the Himalayas. But due to covid restriction & rain, the numbers are countable in fingers. We reached Joshimath approx 4:45pm.

We asked some cab drivers & one of them was agreed to go to Badrinath & asked rs. 2500/- Though the rate was high, we thought if we stayed in Joshi & went the next day, the cost will be more or less the same. So we opted for the car & went to Badri.

After some time, the road maintenance people asked to stop for 15-20mints due to road maintenance work. When we start, it was cloudy & no sunlight there. Anyway, our driver started. After crossing JP Hydropower Project, when just took a bent we saw a leopard was crossing the road. It was so sudden & unexpected we didn't notice him properly. Our driver confirmed that it was a leopard & was quite big in size.

Near Pandukeshwar, our Covid report was tested & asked some basic questions. Without another surprise, we reached Badri approx 7:30pm. It was a pitch-black night, Only the Badrinath temple was lighted. We came to know from 20^th it was opened for all public, Though they allowed visiting the temple from today morning also.

Our room was near the Badrinath temple, Just 50mtrs away from the Temple & opposite the river Alaknanda. After getting refresh we just took a small walk & reached in front of the temple. Except for the Security guard, no one was there. We just trolled there for some time. We called our guide Pushkar Singh & did a small chit-chat. He confirmed that he would like to start at 8:00am tomorrow.

Satopanth Tal

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