To Heaven - One Step at a time

Kanchenjunga once fascinated me as it lit up like an orange ice cream at sunrise when spotted from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling.

I recently witnessed the same sight atop Dzongri on my way to Goecha La. Going back to this part of the world brought back memories of my trip with college buddies (Narayanan and Ujwal). Ujwal is from this part of the world and was our tour guide and fellow companion.

The Himalayas are a stark contrast to the comfort of everyday life. Nights are frigid, sleep is elusive, and simple pleasures like a favorite meal become distant memories. The threat of acute mountain sickness is always round the corner. Yet, an inexplicable allure draws us back to these rugged mountains, pushing us beyond our perceived limits.

A large part of it can certainly be attributed to how beautiful and diverse Kanchenjunga National park is.The abundance of water falls and dense rain forest filled with wild flowers and berries at lower altitudes. The breathtaking colours of autumn and the canopy of rhododendron trees as you move higher. The delicate interplay between the sun, clouds and snow clad mountains near the high altitude pass. The constant sound of streams flowing through the forest and chirping of birds of many kind in their natural habitat. The air you breathe is as pure as it can be, the water you taste is as clear as it can get. This is the world one ought to live in. This is the world one ought to protect. There can be no better motivation than this to embark on such an adventure.

However, there is a certain part of this experience that is more personal than just a sensory delight. Journey through the Himalayas is also a journey within one self. You get to experience a range of emotions within a short period of time. There is a certain clarity and depth in awareness of oneself. How we adjust to these altitudes and weather conditions is testament to the strength of the body and mind.We realise how deep a role our mindset plays while embarking on this journey.

No matter how beautiful they are, Himalayas are wild for us lesser beings.We are dwarfed by the size of the mighty peaks and can be schooled by the weather conditions. Following a fitness regime and having a treking organisation like India Hikes to direct,support and guide thought out the trek is essential.

Every trek I embark on, helps me rediscover myself. If life is about reaching our peak potential through  “Inner Engineering”, trekking in the Himalayas certainly helps in reaching this “Inner Heaven” - albeit One Step At a Time.




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