Mountains Calling
Anyways, with the exams left behind my holiday finally began. We reached Haridwar at around 8.30. Tired after so many sleepless exams night I needed to refresh myself for the adventure that was about to come. And there is nothing as rejuvenating as sweet slumber. After a ten-hour long trip to the world of Hypnos and Morpheus I was all set to tour the Shivalik Ranges or Deobhumi as they are reverentially called.
haridwar, rishikesh, kedarnath, badrinat
We began our journey in a group of 14 in a 14-Seater Mahindra bus. Our first destination was Rampur almost 300 kilometers from Haridwar. Rampur is the most affordable human settlement for people who come on pilgrimage to Kedarnath. As the altitude increased the temperature decreased. After a long 15 hour bus journey we finally made to Rampur at around midnight. The small village was lively with small time businessmen and children. Everyone was trying to make the most of this pilgrimage season. The rooms, that are otherwise available for only Rs. 200-400, in this season cost around Rs. 1200. No matter how much you bargain it is impossible to spend a night under 1000 rupees. A bus journey on such roads can prove just as tiring as a 10 mile trek. We were all zonked out and after a light supper everyone slept like a logs. Everyone except me.
I sneaked out of my room without waking up the ‘log’ in my