View allAll Photos Tagged DevBhumi
A Group of Bharal (Himalayan Blue Sheep) view the moonrise over our Campsite on the way to Nandanvan in Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand India.
Bharal ~ Himalayan blue sheep~ Pseudois nayaur
This photo was taken while approaching Kalu Vinayak enroute Roopkund which is a Hindu Shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh at an altitude of 14200 feet in Indian state of Uttarakhand, often referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally 'Land of the Gods').
The set of majestic peaks of Panchachuli (1 to 5), Suli Top and Rajrambha look amazing during a succulent, cloudy dusk, from the town of Munsiyari, in Kumaon region, Uttaranchal, India. A colossal 55MP panorama reduced to 20MP for the Himalayan lovers to enjoy! A full screen viewing is recommended!
Enroute Auli from Joshimath you cross this old ..old forest which is unlike anything I have seen there are some old willows but mainly you find a jumble of entangled roots and branches which seem to bar your way
Its very different from the type of fauna nearby and just limited to one particular hillside.. (though some similar patches can be found on the Curzon Trail and I have come across some in Nepal too, but nothing like this)..
It instantly reminded me of The Old Forest from The Lord of The Rings It had that same brooding presence straight out of Tolkien's Middle Earth.
(For the uninitiated in J. R. R. Tolkien’s fictional universe of Middle-earth, the Old Forest was a small forested area which lies east of the Shire in Buckland It was one of the few survivors of the primordial forests which covered most of Eriador before the Second Age, and it once was but the northern edge of one immense forest which reached all the way to Fangorn forest.
The trees of the old forest were said to be more alive—or aware—than normal trees. They watched intruders, sometimes dropping branches on them or even grabbing them with roots, and didn't like people much. They swayed when there was no wind, whispered at night, and misled travelers by shifting paths which invariably led deeper into the forest instead of out.)
Elevation 6,543 m (21,467 ft)
Location Uttarakhand, India
Range Gangotri Group, Garhwal Himalaya
Prominence 850 m (2,790 ft)
Shivling (6,543m). Shivling is a two summit mountain which rises not far from the snout of the Gangotri Glacier
Due to its unusual shape [which earned it its nickname 'Indian Matterhorn'] and easy access, Shivling is very popular among climbers.
CLIMBING History: After British exploration of the Gangotri Glacier in 1933, a German expedition led by R. Schwarzengruber climbed nearby peaks and did a reconnaissance of Shivling in 1938. They reported "no feasible route" on the mountain due to its steepness and the threat of falling séracs.
Shivling was first climbed on June 3, 1974 via the west ridge, by a team from the
Indo-Tibetan Border Police, led by Hukam Singh. The ridge is the lowest-angle feature on the mountain, but still involves serious mixed climbing, and is threatened by the sérac barrier noted by the Germans. The ridge leads to the col between the two summits; a steep snow/ice ridge then leads to the main summit
About ten routes have been put up on both of its summits, in spite of the fact that there are still unclimbed peaks not far away.
Regarding its name, connotations of Lord Shiva and the mountain's phallic shape are sometimes mentioned. To the millions of Indian Pilgrims who ventured anywhere near it it was known as Mahadev Ka Ling. or Mahdeo Ka Linga
When the first British surveyors ( Surveyor General John Hogdson and his assistant James Herbert reached Kedarnath in June 1817 they renamed the mountain Mount Moria (in honor of the new Governor General of the East India Company Lord Moria) and looking at the 4 peaks which surround Shivling in a fit religious zeal they renamed the mountains St. George, St Andrew, St. Patrick & St. David.
thankfully this was not allowed to stand and today it is known as Shivling the lesser of Shiva's Abode in the Great Himalayas
Elevation 7,138 m (23,419 ft)
Location Uttarakhand, India
Range Gangotri Group, Garhwal Himalaya
Prominence 1,594 m (5,230 ft)
Coordinates 30°44′59″N 79°17′28″E / 30.74972, 79.29111
First ascent June 13, 1952, by Lucien George and Victor Russenberger
Its the highest mountain group of the Western Garhwal. Chaukhamba has four summits, along a northeast-southwest trending ridge. The four peaks have heights of respectively 7138mtrs , 7088mtrs , 6995mtrs ,6854mtrs
Its main summit, Chaukhamba I, is the highest peak in the group. It lies at the head of the Gangotri Glacier and forms the eastern anchor of the group. It is located west of the Hindu holy town of Badrinath.
After unsuccessful attempts in 1938(Swiss Garhwal Expedition: Andre Roche) and 1939, Chaukhamba I was first climbed on June 13, 1952, by Lucien George and Victor Russenberger (Swiss members of an otherwise French expedition). They ascended the northeast face, from the Bhagirathi-Kharak Glacier
Neelkanth (Alt: 6596 mtrs). (21,640 ft) literally means BLUE THROAT which is another name for The god Shiva.
But here the south west face of the mountain displays another facet during a pinkish sunset as seen from Bedni Bugyal during the Roopkund Trek, in Uttarakhand in the Garhwal Himalayas.
My other photographs of Neelkanth
Ganges - a proxy for the continuity of life birthing from and supporting it. It’s what I admire so much about India. It’s forms convey such a richness, a freedom, that is so enriching.
The myriad of desires in life and the nirvana offered by Himalayas!
A star trail shot taken in Kumaon Himalayas in the town of Munsiyari, Uttaranchal, India
Alpenglow during Sunrise on East Face of Manda Parvat I as viewed from Chirabasa, in the Garhwal Himal, Uttarakhand India..
#56 on Explore 16 April 2008
Sometimes clouds in the sky tells us a story. I wish I could lock myself in Nature and explore all such stories.
Chaukhamba, a mountain massif in the Gangotri Group of the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal, India is a collection of 4 peaks (the highest being 7100 meters and lowest being 6900 meters tall). This shot shows a distant vision of the massif as visible from the town of Almora, Uttaranchal, India
Shiva portrayed as the Mahayogi meditating, A statue in Rishikesh, the gateway to the "DEVBHUMI : The Land of the Gods" where amidst the soaring mountains of Garhwal & Kumoani Himal he is supposed to reside..
Frank Smythe in his now famous book : THE VALLEY OF FLOWERS quotes and old Indian sage who wrote:
Not in a hundred ages of the gods I could not tell thee of all the glories of the Himalaya where Shiva lived and where the Ganga falls from the foot of Vishnu like the slender thread of the lotus flower.
Nanda Devi Main & East rear up from the base camp on the Pachu Glacier, in the Kumaoni Himal, Uttarakhand India.
Uttarakhand is a state in northern India. It is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" (lit. 'Land of the Gods') due to its religious significance and numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai regions. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north; the Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. (Wikipedia)
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Terraced fields are the only way to farm in the foothills of the himalayas. We were travelling from Corbett National Park to Pangot and had probably stopped to see some birds along the way when I took this photo.
Pangot, Uttarakhand, India. January 2015.
Asian Adventures.
Manimahesh is in the south-eastern corner of Chamba District of Himachal Pardesh here in north India. It lies at an altitude of 13,390 ft.
The name Manimahesh signifies a jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva's (Mahesh's) crown Local people claim that the moon-rays reflected from the jewel can be seen from Manimahesh Lake on clear full-moon nights (which is a rare occasion). It is more likely to be the light reflected from the glacier that adorns the peak, like a serpent on Shiva's neck.
It is believed that Lord Shiva one of the three Lords in Hindu Trinity (known as Lord Brahma the creator, Lord Vishnu the Preserver and Lord Shiva the destroyer) stays at Manimahesh Kailash.
Offical Manimahesh yatra starts near janmashtami festival and continue till mid september. For rest time of year, this whole area is covered under snow.
In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for a mystic,an ascetic, practitioner of yoga (yogi) and/or wandering monks. The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving the fourth and final Hindu goal of life, moksha (liberation), through meditation and contemplation.
A Sadhu is usually referred to as "Baba" by common people. The word 'baba' also means father, or uncle, in many Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix 'ji' may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciate. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.
There are 4 or 5 million Sadhus in India today and they are still widely respected: revered for their holiness.Sadhus are not unified in their practices. Some live in the mountains alone for years at a time, eating only a few bananas. Others walk around with one hand in the air for decades. Still others partake in the religious consumption of charas (hand-made cannabis hashish) and contemplate the cosmic nature and presence of God in the smoke patterns.
Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice extreme asceticism while others mainly focus on praying, chanting or meditating.
Clicked this pic of "Sadhu/Baba ji", who was sitting near Manimahesh Lake.
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Also i just read news that flickr has been ranked as top web site by TIME’s list of best 50 websites this year. Congrats to wonderful creators of flickr and all fellow flickr users:)
in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090827/854/ttc-flickr-tops-time-s...
The photographs which I enjoy the most (both clicking and viewing) are usually those which engage me (as a viewer) on several different levels at once and reveal a hidden facet which isn't obvious at first but reveal their different aspects to you because they compel you to really "look" at them rather then just a cursory once over
Such photographs though few and far between are special, much like Epiphanies which can strike at any moment and thus are always enjoyable and cherished forever afterwards.
Do you see what I see?
BTW am off today for a journey above Shiva's Matted Locks (Rishikesh: The gateway to the Devbhumi or Land of the Gods of Hindu Myth) in the Garhwal Himal to experience for the first time a climbing trip in full fleged Winter setting on some old trodden paths leading upto the Gangotri Group of Peaks)
Clicked this shot of my friend Péter after 6 hour trek to Triund from Dharamkot village in Mcleodganj(Dharamshala). Triund is incredible place with breathtaking views around of mighty Dhauladhar Himalayan mountains right in front of you.
Manimahesh is in the south-eastern corner of Chamba District of Himachal Pardesh here in north India. It lies at an altitude of 13,390 ft.
Manimahesh is one of my fav trekking destination.
The name Manimahesh signifies a jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva's (Mahesh's) crown. Local people claim that the moon-rays reflected from the jewel can be seen from Manimahesh Lake on clear full-moon nights (which is a rare occasion). It is more likely to be the light reflected from the glacier that adorns the peak, like a serpent on Shiva's neck.
It is believed that Lord Shiva one of the three Lords in Hindu Trinity (known as Lord Brahma the creator, Lord Vishnu the Preserver and Lord Shiva the destroyer) stays at Manimahesh Kailash.
Offical Manimahesh yatra starts near janmashtami festival and continue till mid september. For rest time of year, this whole area is covered under snow.
Manimahesh is in the south-eastern corner of Chamba District of Himachal Pardesh here in north India. It lies at an altitude of 13,390 ft.
The name Manimahesh signifies a jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva's (Mahesh's) crown Local people claim that the moon-rays reflected from the jewel can be seen from Manimahesh Lake on clear full-moon nights (which is a rare occasion). It is more likely to be the light reflected from the glacier that adorns the peak, like a serpent on Shiva's neck.
It is believed that Lord Shiva one of the three Lords in Hindu Trinity (known as Lord Brahma the creator, Lord Vishnu the Preserver and Lord Shiva the destroyer) stays at Manimahesh Kailash.
Offical Manimahesh yatra starts near janmashtami festival and continue till mid september. For rest time of year, this whole area is covered under snow.
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I'm dedicating this post to Mountain Cleaners headed by Jodie.
Mountain Cleaners are organizing clean up program for the ManiMahesh Yatra this year(starting from 01 August till 30th September). I'm looking forward to join them for this year's Manimahesh Yatra.
Elevation 6,861 m (22,510 ft)
Location Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand,
Range Kumaun Himalaya
Prominence 1,592 m (5,223 ft)
Coordinates 30°16′54″N, 80°04′06″E[1]
First ascent 1936 by Y. Hotta
Easiest route Lawan Valley
Nanda Kot (Hindi-नन्दा कोट) is located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India. It lies in the Kumaon Himalaya, just outside of the ring of peaks enclosing the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, 15 kilometres (9 mi) southeast of Nanda Devi itself. The name Nanda Kot literally means "Nanda's Fortress" and refers to the abode of one of the sacred forms of the Hindu Goddess Parvati who in legend has made her sanctuary amongst the ring of lofty mountains in the region.
Nanda Kot is connected to the Sanctuary wall by a high pass known as the Pindari Kanda, 5,269 m (17,287 ft). This pass, Nanda Kot itself, and the ridge proceeding south from the peak together form the divide between the Pindar and Ghori Ganga River valleys, with Dana Dhura Pass connecting the two sides. The Kaphni (or Kafani), Pindar, Lawan, and Shalang Glaciers drain the south, west, north, and east sides of the peak respectively.
Climbing History: The first attempt to climb Nanda Kot was made in 1905 by T.G. Longstaff, who proceeded by way of the Lawan Valley and Lawan Glacier. The first successful ascent of the summit came in 1936 by a Japanese team led by Y. Hotta. A new route involving a direct ascent of the south face was successfully undertaken by a British expedition led by Martin Moran in 1995. Mountaineering expeditions to Nanda Kot today typically follow the route through Loharkhet, Dhakuri Pass, Khati Village to Dwali base camp.
Nanda Devi/Nanda Kot Nuclear Controversy:
During 1965-1968 there was series of seven mountaineering expeditions — four to Nanda Devi and three to Nanda Kot – as part of the most exotic and hazardous intelligence operations of the cold war, backed by the CIA. During this most unusual mountaineering venture n 1965, a covert mission was launched by an Indo-American team with the goal of installing a surveillance device on the top of Nanda Devi mountain to monitor Chinese nuclear and missile activity in Tibet. Shortly after delivery to the mountain, the thermonuclear generator designed to supply power to the sensor was lost during a storm and threatened to become a source of radioactive contamination to the area. Following upon at least three futile attempts between 1966-1968 to locate and recover the lost apparatus, it is said that in 1968 a similar device placed only the year before on Nanda Kot was dismantled. After more than a decade of secrecy, this story hit the Indian news media in 1978. There is still debate over these expeditions and whether any remnants of the radioactive materials remain in the vicinity of Nanda Kot to this day.
The Nanda Devi Sanctuary remains closed to visitors ever since, on "ecological grounds" as per the official version.
India team was led by M.S. Kohli (leader of the successful 1965 Everest Expedition) and included Sonam Gyatso, Harish Rawat, Sonam Wangyal and G.S. Bhangu – all Everesters. The Americans were represented by Lute Jerstad , Tom frost, Robert Schaller, Barry Corbet and a Barry Prather (Most were members of the 1963 Everest Expedtion)
Uttarakhand ,(Hindi Uttarakha), formerly known as Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Devbhumi (literally: "Land of the Gods") due to many Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for its natural beauty of the Himalayas, the Bhabhar and the Terai. On 9 November 2000, this 27th state of the Republic of India was created from the Himalayan and adjoining northwestern districts of Uttar Pradesh. It borders Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China on the north; the Mahakali Zone of the Far-Western Region, Nepal on the east; and the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west as well as Haryana to its south-western corner. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The interim capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city in the region, which is a railhead. The High Court of the state is in Nainital.
Archaeological evidence support the existence of humans in the region since prehistoric times. The region formed a part of the Kuru and the Panchal kingdoms (mahajanpads) during the Vedic age of ancient India. Among the first major dynasties of Kumaon were the Kunindas in the 2nd century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism. Ashokan edicts at Kalsi show the early presence of Buddhism in this region. During the medieval period the region was consolidated under the Kumaon Kingdom and Garhwal Kingdom. In 1816 most of modern Uttarakhand was ceded to the British as part of the Treaty of Sugauli. Although the erstwhile hill kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were traditional rivals, the proximity of different neighbouring ethnic groups and the inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language, and traditions created strong bonds between the two regions which further strengthened during the Uttarakhand movement for statehood in the 1990s.
The natives of the state are generally called Uttarakhandi or more specifically either Garhwali or Kumaoni depending on their place of origin. According to the 2011 Census of India, Uttarakhand has a population of 10,116,752, making it the 19th most populous state in India. A large portion of the population consists of Rajputs and Brahmins. About 83% of the population follow Hinduism. Islam is the second largest majority religion in the state, followed by the Minority Sikhism & Micro-Minority Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism. Garhwali and Kumaoni along with other hilly dialects and sub-dialects are the main regional languages, whereas Hindi is the most widely spoken language. Uttarakhand is the only state in India with Sanskrit as one of its official languages.
Digging into the archives today, i decided to re-post these images of my visit to Rohtang pass in 2006. I really want to visit this area and areas beyond Rohtang pass next summer for sure.
Rohtang Pass (Tibetan: Rohtang La, altitude 13,054 ft),is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas some 51 km from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India. As gateway to Lahaul Valley, Rohtang Pass provides a wide panoramic view of mountains, rising far above clouds, which is a sight truly breath-taking.
The pass is open from May to November. It was not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it had a well-deserved reputation for being one of most dangerous road because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards.
Last week i was watching few episodes of History Channel's Ice Road Truckers- IRT Deadliest Roads which were filmed here and it really amazed me.
Have a look:
If words were as tremendous
I would've quoted a befitting reply
Screeching like a monster rising
From this Aegean sky
But I have in front of me
A vast delirious sea
Such a benign beginning
Of Odyssey.
The rising of GREAT HIMALAYA above the vale of Sataluj in District Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh, India, inspires such a vision as unequaled by thoughts of even the Grecian kind.
© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Sunrise on the North Wall of Meru I as viewed from route between Camp1 & Camp2 on Shivling East Pillar climb.
North Wall Mt. Meru's I 6672m
Meru peak is situated in the center of Gangotri glacier in Garhwal Himalayas between the famous Shivling & Thalay Sagar, and opposite as well famous group of Bhagirathi Peaks. In fact Meru peak itself doesn't need to be introduced in the alpinist world. It's steep walls have long ago become the testing area for realization of the mountaineering ambitions of the world most famous climbers. And if the main massif summit - the Southern (6,600m) - and the Northern (6,450), are already climbed,
The Sharks Fin (still unlit on the right) is the crux climb on Meru Central and each year sees more expeditions try on this dangerous climb but as yet none have succeeded in climbing it direct.
Meru Peaks all lit up in their best golden finery in the shadow of Shivling.... (Dawn over Meru I,II, III as seen from camp 2 on Shivling's East Pillar Climb)
Other Photographs of Meru
Anyone who's ever witnessed the sun set or rise over mountains can attest that during these daily occurances the mountains are at their most beautiful.. The constant shifting in the intensity of the light makes these times entrancing as you feverishly wish that you can capture it all on film (though film can never compare to actually being there and cannot truely convey the magnificance totally still its the next best thing)..
Also another reason I click a lot of such shots is that while climbing in the Garhwal and Kumaon Himal it is best to get the major climbing done when the snow is relatively hard and compact after a nights freeze as within an hour of the sun touching the slopes, the snow conditions start to deteriorate almost instantly and by noon its almost slush.
Its this constant freeze and melting which also make rockfall a constant danger as the snow binding these rocks becomes elastic and all of a sudden the rocks break loose when least expected.
These two reasons make climbing here quite a serious proposition and as a result the standard grade of difficulty on climbs like the Sharks Fins (Meru Central seen here) or the South Pillar of Changabang & Bhagirathi's West Buttress , South Face of Purbi Dunagiri (Still unclimbed) are amongst the highest that mountaineers have tackled making them some of the hardest technical Big Wall climbs in the world today.
Out of 30 expeditions only 2 have managed to climb the Shark's Fin and that too not all the way having had to detour from the route to reach the peak.
Light on the massive granite wall of the Ganesh Face of mighty Shivling (Mahadev Ka Linga) from Tapovan Base Camp near Kedarnath, In Uttarakhand
Elevation 6,543 m (21,467 ft)
Location Uttarakhand, India
Range Gangotri Group, Garhwal Himalaya
Prominence 850 m (2,790 ft)
Shivling (6,543m). Shivling has two summits and its base which rises not far from the snout of the Gangotri Glacier
Due to its unusual shape [which earned it its nickname 'Indian Matterhorn'] and easy access, Shivling is very popular among climbers.
CLIMBING History: After British exploration of the Gangotri Glacier in 1933, a German expedition led by R. Schwarzengruber climbed nearby peaks and did a reconnaissance of Shivling in 1938. They reported "no feasible route" on the mountain due to its steepness and the threat of falling séracs.
9 expeditions which followed had to admit defeat due to the lurking dangers of extremely exposed climbing in the upper parts of the mountains..
Shivling was first climbed on June 3, 1974 via the west ridge, by a team from the
Indo-Tibetan Border Police, (led by Hukam Singh). The ridge is the lowest-angle feature on the mountain, but still involves serious mixed climbing, and is threatened by the sérac barrier noted by the Germans. The ridge leads to the col between the two summits; a steep snow/ice ridge then leads to the main summit
About ten routes have been put up on both of its summits, in spite of the fact that there are still unclimbed peaks not far away.
Regarding its name, connotations of Lord Shiva and the mountain's phallic shape (when seen from the east) are sometimes mentioned. To the millions of Indian Pilgrims who ventured anywhere near it it was known as Mahadev Ka Ling. or Mahdeo Ka Linga
When the first British surveyors ( Surveyor General John Hogdson and his assistant James Herbert reached Kedarnath in June 1817 they renamed the mountain Mount Moria (in honor of the new Governor General of the East India Company Lord Moria) and looking at the 4 peaks which surround Shivling in a fit religious zeal they renamed the mountains St. George, St Andrew, St. Patrick & St. David.thankfully this was not allowed to stand and today it is known as Shivling the lesser of Shiva's Abode in the Great Himalayas
Neelkanth 6596 mtrs
Elevation 6,596 metres (21,640 ft)
Location Uttarakhand, India
Range Garhwal Himalaya
Prominence 1,200 m (3,940 ft)
Coordinates 30°43′12″N, 79°24′00″E
First ascent June 3, 1974
The Satopanth Glacier lies on the northwest side of Nilkantha, below a 2,500 m (8,200 ft) face of the peak. The Panpatia Glacier lies to the southwest, and feeds the Khir Ganga, a stream running under the south side of the peak. Further away, to the west of the peak, lies the well-known Gangotri Glacier and its associated peaks. Across the Alaknanda valley lie the Kamet and Nanda Devi groups.
A shining pyramid of white crystals, overlooking the famous Badrinath temple in Uttarakhand. It is often called the GARHWAL QUEEN due to its fragile beauty.
That legendary mountaineer Frank Smythe (who made the first attempt to climb this mountain in 1937), called it the most beautiful mountain he had ever seen.
Its undeniable beauty often belies its difficulties and make it one of the harder climbs in the Garhwal Himalayas.
With its steep ridges and faces, Nilkantha resisted at least nine climbing attempts, beginning with Frank Smythe in 1937, Hillary & Lowe in 1951.Till last year only 4 successful ascents had been recorded though not for the want of trying. .
The peak was first climbed on by a team of the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) led by S.P Chamoli on June 3, 1974 by Sonam Pulzor, Kanhiya Lal, Dilip Singh, and Nima Dorje. After unsuccessfully attempting the west ridge, they reached the summit via the north face, making three camps above base camp.
Last year the first Indian civilian expedition sponsored by the Himalayan Club (Calcutta), made what was only the 5th successful ascent was following the route of the Scottish 2000 expedition in an epic 57 hour climb without camps they managed to return after a successful climb.
Harihareshwar is a town in Raigad district, in Maharashtra, India. It is surrounded by four hills named Harihareshwar, Harshinachal, Bramhadri and Pushpadri. The river Savitri enters the Arabian Sea from the town of Harihareshwar. Towards the north of the town is the temple of Lord Harihareshwar, said to have been blessed by Lord Shiva. Hence Harihareshwar is often referred to as Dev-ghar or "house of God". Harihareshwar is renowned tourist spot in Konkan for its temples and beaches. Moreover, it is said as Devbhumi or Temple Town. Harihareshwar alone have two beaches − one, straight beach about 2.4km long in front of Harihareshwar Temple, and the other beach is about 2km in an L shape just in front of MTDC Resort. Harihareshwar is an evergreen place and one may visit it in any season. It is placed in the heart of nature and bounded with Sahyadri’s hills. One can spend his three or four days of holiday easily. There is no problem staying in Harihareshwar as there are MTDC (a Governmental body) and few private resorts, also some Bed and Breakfasts that provide stays in homes. Harihareshwar Beach a is well set up beach. - Source - Wikipedia
Nothing like sweet cloying milk tea or Chai after a rainy day in the open.
{Strange Brew at a dingy chai shop at the roadhead in Mana Village above the shrine of Badrinath, Uttarakhand.}
Manimahesh Lake is situated in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pardesh, is a high altitude lake (el. 4080 m.).The Manimahesh Kailash peak that stands high close to the lake is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva (Hindu deity).
The name Manimahesh signifies a jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva's (Mahesh'es) crown. Local people claim that the moon-rays reflected from the jewel can be seen from Manimahesh Lake on clear full-moon nights (which is a rare occasion). It is more likely to be the light reflected from the glacier that adorns the peak, like a serpent on Shiva's neck.
FOR BEST VIEW: View On Black
Dawn breaks over the north west face of Kedar Dome(6831mtrs) in The Garhwal Himal, Uttarakhand India.
The north west is the normal route to the summit since Andre Roch climbed it in 1947 during the Second Swiss Garhwal Expedition.( They also made the first ascent of the main Kedarnath Peak)
Among other who made the summit were Rene Dittert & Raymond Lambert(part of the Swiss Everest Expedition in 1951) and a little known Sherpa by the name of Sherpa Tenzing who had taken over the duties of the Sirdar after the original choice was injured. (he also climbed 4 more peaks with the Swiss on the same expedition the first ever peaks he had reached)
This added a new dimension to Tenzing's life and for this he was forever grateful to the Swiss and had a deep admiration for them and specially for his friend Raymond Lambert with whom he would nearly reach the summit of Everest in 1951)...
In the last few years this peak has become a very popular destination for ski touring as this is one of the few peaks in the Garhwal where Ski Ascents too are possible (but only on this route)..
The Other side i.e the East Face in stark contrast is one hell of a rock climb first tackled in 1989 by a team led by ace Hungarian Climber Attila Ozsváth and this huge climb of nearly 60 pitches is one of the tougher rock routes in the Garhwal ranking alongside Arwa Spires & Bhagirathi II in terms of difficulty
This is from the incredible vantage point of Balari top (16250 feet), an hour long walk from the stupa above Demul. With a population of less than 400, Lalung is a large village by Spitian standards!
The Mountains giveth and the Mountains taketh away
Quite shocked to hear about the feared deaths of 11 climbers high on the summit pyramid on K2. Pakistan. The worst mountain disaster since Everest in 1996.
K2 has always been known as the Savage Mountain, and amongst all the 8000ers has the highest failure rate.
The last time it took such a toll was back in 1986, that year saw 27 climbers make it to the summit. But for every two people who summited one died. In total 13 climbers died on K2 that fateful summer of 1986 amongst them some of the best climbers of their era. It more than Doubled the number of deaths on the mountain in the preceding eighty four years, since mountaineers had first tried climbing it
and raised some thorny questions about the trend of Himalayan Climbing, I guess all those questions will again come to the forefront but in the end it is the mountain that dictates the term, what is man in front of such a presence mere bag of skin and bone..
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I'm buying a stairway to Heaven.
(On The East Pillar of Shivling)
Hardeol : "The Temple of God" is backlit during a fiery sunrise viewed from the Sandalya Kund (4200mtrs) during a sidetrip on the Milam Glacier Trek.
Elevation: 7,151 m (23,461 ft)
Location Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
Range Kumaon Himalaya
Prominence 1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Coordinates: 30°33′36″N, 80°00′36″E
First ascent: May 31, 1978 by Indo-Tibetan Border Police Expedition
HARDEOL is one of the major peaks of the Garhwal Himalaya. It is the highest peak on the northern side of the ring of peaks guarding the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, and lies at the northeast corner of this ring. It is situated at the northern end of the Milam valley, in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India.
To its immediate north lies Trishuli, and just south is Rishi Pahar, on a north-south trending ridge leading eventually to Nanda Devi East. Hardeol is also sometimes referred to as Trishuli South.
Climbing History
First was a reconnaissance in 1939 by a Polish team (who had just climbed the formidable Nanda Devi East) however they lost 2 members in an avalanche which wiped out their Camp 3 on Trishuli and withdrew.
In 1964 a team led Maj Kohli too withdrew after their camps were destroyed by an avalanche.
1968 Saw Harish Kapadia and other members from a young team fail on the unstable icefall after approaching from the Ikualari Glacier. .. clearly the Icefall was the major bug bear of climbing this peak. In his book Harish Kapadia described this icefall between Trishuli & Hardeol to be seemingly hollow.
In 1968 a determined effort of a team lead by CK Mitra climbed Trishuli but could not climb Hardeol due to the onset of the Monsoons.
In 1974 four members (2 Indians & 2 NZ team members) of an Indo-New Zealand ladies team lead jointly by Ms. Shashikanta and Magaret Clarke were killed in its lower and highly unstable Icefall while attempting the mountain from the South.
In 1975 an I.T.B.P team under Hukum Singh was unsuccessful from the North .(They however had success on Trishul)
In 1978 first ascent of Hardeol was made by a team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police led by S. P. Mulasi, on May 31, climbing from the ridge connecting the peak to Trishuli climbing it from the southern side.
Only one further ascent, in 1991, is listed in the Himalayan Index.
This ascent, by a large expedition from the Indian Border Security Force, put five members on the summit on September 24.
The best approach to Hardeol is from the eastern side, through the Ikualari glacier and thence to the right, up the Trishuli valley towards the Hardeol icefall.
The Himalayan Village Resort is situated near Kasol village on the way between Bhuntar to Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh.
Village of Kasol has recently transformed into a hub for backpackers, especially Israelis. Even some of the banners in the restaurants are written in Hebrew for the convenience of the tourists. Tourists are attracted to the scenic valley, untouched hills, low population, and great climate throughout the year.