Kheerganga trek

  The monotony of city life had been getting to me and I was itching to break away, even if on my own. I couldn’t break away far or for too long because I had only weekends off from work which is why kolad rafting seemed like the perfect way to scratch the itch.  Nestled within the lap of the Sahyadris, Kolad is a quaint village located only a couple of hours away from the bustling city of Mumbai. It is the ideal way to spend two days mixing relaxation with a bit of adventure. Rafting in Kolad takes place on the serene Kundalika river which roars into life every morning when the adjoining Bhira Dam is opened. I was lucky enough to discover Kolad in the midst of the monsoon season because it is during this time that Kolad is at its best. The Kundalika river is vibrant and brimming throughout the year but it is the landscape that varies during the different seasons.  When I went for rafting in Kolad during the monsoon, the mountains and the surroundings were awash with g...

  “Why are you so curious?”, asked Jeet, with a hint of snideness layering his voice. “Not like you are coming along on this trip.” “Why not I added?”, referring to their animated discussion of a Leh Ladakh bike trip. “Girls do not do a Ladakh bike trip ”, Abhishek added. And just like that, this girl was doing a two week long bike trip to one of the most legendary bike routes within the country, Leh Ladakh. We hired monstrous bikes from the city itself and left at the crack of dawn the next day after deciding on the routes, itineraries and doing some final checks.  I was adamant about not riding pillion in the beginning itself and managed to convince the boys to be one of the earlier riders. I had been reading bikes for nearly a decade by then which instilled within them, and me, confidence. The cold desert, as it is often know, Leh Ladakh is a place unlike any other you will experience, not only in India but all over the world. Every biker in India dreams of traversing this ...

  Water baby I have always had an affinity to water. Every time I step on the beach, the sounds of the long breaths of the oceans fill me with life. The sea calls out to me and I find myself drawn to it like an electron to its nucleus. So when my friend, Mrigank, asked me if I would accompany him to a week long holiday to Andaman I could not resist.  We planned and packed and after a couple of flights found ourselves on the mesmerizing beaches of this tiny island floating in the Indian Ocean. It goes without saying, the moment we dumped our bags in the hotel room, I pulled Mrigank and we were dashing towards the sea. Discovering scuba Walking about, taking in the salty air and feeling the crystalline sand under my feet, I saw a few people getting off a boat. Dressed in heavy suits, they looked exhausted but ecstatic. “They were scuba diving”, Mrigank noticed that I was gawking at them shamelessly. That got me curious and laid the foundation for my life long love affair with sc...

  “Really? Has it been five years?”, was Abhey’s response to my comment that our five year anniversary was looming large. That reply disappointed me, but at the same time, it spurned me into action. That reply confirmed what I already knew but did not want to admit; our relationship had lost its luster I browsed the internet for ideas to reignite the lost spark and the idea of an adventurous trip caught my attention. We had, after all, met on one such occasion. As I looked through the different adventure activities in India , treks seemed the most appropriate and one among them, the valley of flowers trek , seemed and sounded the most appropriate. Averaging about a week, the trek cut through the Nanda Devi National Park.  A world heritage site, the valley of flowers is bustling with well over 300 different species which includes the exquisite Blue Poppy as well as Brahamakamal, something that stirred the nature lover within me. The valley is home to not only these radiant flo...

“Dude. Kheerganga. This weekend. You and me. In or out?”, is the voice note I receive from Kush as I open his chat on WhatsApp; his voice laced with impatience. “I am in”, my voice decorated with frustration. It had been a long and hectic few days on both personal and professional fronts and my mind was craving for some down time, away from the bustle of Chandigarh. I went on a google bender to know what I had signed up for in the first place.  Nestled within the heart of the Parvati valley at a height of about 9700 feet, Kheerganga is a flourishing grassland, famous for its natural hot springs and as the place where Lord Shiva is said to have meditated for years on end. It is also infamous among hippies and Israelis for illicit recreational activities.  I could see why the place called out to Kush. As I researched more and read about the Kheerganga trek and saw photos of its stunning landscape, the mountains called out to the adrenaline junkie within me and I could not ignor...