​The note describes how awesome the entire journey + trek to Hampta Pass in Himachal was!

​Let's begin like all past stories.. From before the beginning..

​In mid-April.. Triveni posted the trek details in our 'Gangs of Visapur' WhatsApp group.. 13th June - 21st June.. The BEST duration for trekking in Himalaya.. But I was not sure about my new project & new team leader by that time.. Benchvar hoto..!! :P Plus, I had already booked Tai & Aappa's tickets for Vaishnodevi & Pashupatinath trip.. 18th June - 29th June.. So, it was clashing with our event.. No doubt, I was totally interested in trekking but then thought that this is the time for Tai-Aappa to enjoy & I'll be at home.. :)

24th April, 2015 : Triveni asked me why I'm not going for Manali - Leh cycling trip?? I was like - Not sure about leaves.. budget issue.. :( Then she explained me the complete Hampta Pass & Chandrataal Trek plan.. Hmm.. I changed my decision from 'No' to 'Dalmalit Yes'.. :P This time I directly asked Tai-Aappa to join us for trekking in Himachal instead of going for Vaishnodevi & Pashupatinath trip.. I also gave them the option of sightseeing in Manali, if not interested in trekking.. But then they came to know that I was actually asking for permission.. Love you Tai-Aappa..!! :)

Chalo, I got the permission now.. Triveni, Vaidehi, Ruchi & Shri were already in for the trek.. We started asking school/college/office/facebook friends on yuddha-paatali to join us for trekking.. The target was to get at least 15 ppl for this beginner level trek..

​2 weeks later..

I was like - had convinced 100+ ppl & was able to tell their exact reasons why they are not coming.. Asa vatla, loka aata vaitagun oradtil mala - "Request me one more time & I'll block you forever..!!" :P

We had booked August Kranti tickets in advance.. Then cancelled few.. Then decided to replace few because of high RAC & wait-list.. And the final count was 13.. [ Triveni, Vaidehi, Ruchi, Dhanashree, Sonal, Pallavi, Pradnya, Me, Shri, Amol, Hafiz, Nikhil & Rohit ]

3rd June, 2015 : I had my introduction call with the new client.. This was the 2nd time I had asked client about my vacation in the introduction call itself.. :P For Jalori Pass Biking Expedition 2014, I had done the same with my previous client.. ;) Just 9 days before the trek, my leaves got approved.. :D Khush itka zalo ki party dyavishi vatli saglyana.. Pan kuni magitlich nahi.. :P

1 week before the trek, we came to know that Chandrataal won't be reachable which put a sad smiley on my face.. :( Chalo koi baat nahi.. We will be sightseeing in Manali on 5th day.. :)

13th June, 2015 : Wokkay, I finished my bag-packing around 2.. Kay kay ghetlela bagmadhye, I won't tell.. Triveni aata pan ordel.. :P I was continuously listening to the instructions given by Tai-Aappa & nodding my head, "Ho ga Tai.. Ho Aappa.." :) I took their ashirwad & started my journey around 3..

First person to reach BCT around 4:15.. Met Pradnya & her family.. We met almost after 4.5 years.. :D Majhya bagcha weight tichya bagchya double hota.. :P Ani var mhane, "Trivenine sangitlay evdhach ghyaycha, mhanun tevdhach ghetla.. 3 tar 3 ch.. 2 tar 2 ch.." :@ Then Amol, Triveni, Vaidehi & Shri came.. Bakiche haluhalu came.. Hafiz ka darshan to direct train me hua.. Kahinchya 2-2 bags pahun thoda bara vatla.. :P

Hiee.. Hello suru zala.. Platform no. 1.. We checked our August Kranti seating arrangements & said bye-bye to Mumbai at 5:40.. B1 4 seats, B2 3 seats, B3 5 seats & B7 1 seat.. XD Late booking zalyavar asech seats milnar na.. :P "Ganpati Bappa Morya.." (Chotya awajat) :) Me, Ruchi, Pradnya ani Dhanashree bags lavun idli-chutney khayla suruwat keli.. Gappatappa karat snacks zala.. Samor Agryache 2 namune basle hote.. :/

At the time of tickets checking in B3.. TC - "Apke kitne saare seats hai.. Aap B1 me ruko.. Udhar hi aa raha hu.." :| 6 jananchya replacementsathi Mayureshchya mummy chi madat gheun fine dusrya divsavar dhakalnyat aala.. Pan aple 2 seats RAC valyana gele.. :/ Dinner zalyavar thodi gapshap zali.. Me-Amol, Triveni-Vaidehi 2 seats var 4 jan sharing basis var zopi gelo.. :P

​​​14th June, 2015 : Woke up at 7.. Breakfast - poha.. Sakali 9 vajta B7 cross karun me ani Trivenine TC chi bhet ghetli.. Khup khup convince kelyavar finally bolla - "Jitna paisa hai utna leke aao" ani mala thambvun thevla na yaar.. :| Triveni yeiparyant tyane khup questions vicharle.. College students ahot asa sangitlela apan.. :P "Konsa college? Kaha rahte ho? Kaise jate ho? Baki log konse college se hai? Wo mam (Mayureshchi mummy) ka beta aaya hai kya apke sath?" Oh God.. Manaat mhatla - "Bas kar be, bacche ki jaan lega kya..!!" Thank God Triveni tu patkan alis.. Autocha kharcha kadhun ghenyasathi punha thodasa convince karun zali mandawli ekdachi.. B|

Reached Hajrat Nizamuddin station & felt good that climate was not so hot.. Group pic.. Met Ruchi's didi Ruhi who helped us to get the direction for Humayun's Tomb.. :) It's the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun.. Commissioned by Humayun's first wife Haji Begum.. Designed by a Persian architect chosen by Haji Begum.. Good place.. Greenery everywhere.. Then we went to Khan Market.. Heard that it's the best place for food.. Yes it is.. But it was like ‘out of budget’ for all of us.. So, we decided to visit the India Gate, originally called the All India War Memorial, located astride the Rajpath, on the eastern edge of the ‘ceremonial axis’ of New Delhi, formerly called Kingsway.. We had our lunch there.. Theplas, puri, apples, chutneys etc..

From there we headed towards Himachal Bhavan for HPTDC bus to Manali.. Thanks to that unknown lady for giving suggestions to us.. Thanks to Shri Ram Center auditorium security guards for allowing us to use washrooms.. Thanks to Shri's friend Varun for offering us water bottles & tea.. :) Tushar came from Gurgaon to meet all of us.. And we started our journey at 7.. "Ganpati Bappa Morya.." :) Few slept.. I was one of them.. :P Shri, Amol, Nikhil, Rohit, Pradnya, Dhanashree & Ruchi started gaana gaao - bajao, 4 vajta kombda arawla masti.. :D We had dinner at some dhaba.. Servicing pan kay hoti.. Roti-sabjichya adhi daal-rice anun thevla.. XD And charged 35/- for a salad plate (2 cucumber slices, 3-4 onion slices & 1 chilly).. I argued & didn't pay for it.. :/

15th June, 2015 : Woke up at 7.. 2 cup garam chaha at some place.. Vyaas river ani surrounding baghat we reached Manali around 10.. Met Neeraj Joshi.. Got 2 rooms in Hotel Su-kiran.. Bags separate out kelya.. Manali sweets hotelmadhye 13 janani bharpet chhole, parathe ani lassicha aswad ghetla in 540/- only.. Then we headed towards Jobri by 2 taxis.. Acclimatize honyasathi madhyech Neerajne tithlya gallyanmadhye apli thodi paaypiti keli.. Punha taxicha pravas karat we reached Jobri.. It's a place where all the temporary workers have set up their houses.. All the workers work on a hydro power plant which is located nearby.. From this place, we started our trek in light rain.. :) I said "No" to stick & raincoat.. Tasahi majhyajaval navhta te.. :P Majhi bag mule var pudhe geli hoti.. :P After crossing a manmade bridge, he took us in the forest having coniferous trees.. :)

The geography of this place doesn't allow any other kind of trees to grow because of snow.. After crossing Aleonallah, we reached beautiful meadow, having full of greenery.. Me, Triveni, Vaidehi, Nikhil ani Sonal ugach river crossingche stunts marat hoto.. XD Saglyanche shoes bhijle.. :P After trekking for 3 hours in the same direction, we reached the destination for the day - Chika \m/ 10,250 ft above MSL.. Camping beside the stream of water & a beautiful waterfall on backside of the camping area.. 5 tents.. 13 ppl.. Chikkar jaga.. :D

After having soup, we (except Shri) started walking towards the waterfall.. Shri wasn't feeling well.. :( Then some photographic moments on one rock patch.. Dinner at 7.. Campfire.. Ani mug ganyanchi maifil rangli.. “Baby doll mai sone di..” :P Nikhilchya tya vaddyacha awaj ektya mansala kharach ghabravnara hota.. :O Mhanun Ganpati Atharvasheersha ani Ram-Raksha.. _/\_ Tahan bhagavnyasathi pahilyanda tya ratri garam paani PYAYLO (PILO mhanaycha nahi :|).. Temp. 5-6 deg. cel.. But it was warm inside the tent.. So I didn't use my sleeping bag.. Actually bagechi gaath sutat navhati.. :P Hafiz ani Rohitne pan try kela.. Shevti tasach zopi gelo asapaat jagevar.. Jeva madhyaratri payala mungya aalya, teva gapchup sleeping bag ghetli.. Torch lavun gaath sodat baslo.. Nighali ekdachi ani zopi gelo.. XD

​​​16th June, 2015 : A good tight sleep till 4.. Neeraj ani kitchen tentvale uthle navhate.. Campfire punha jivant keli ani shekat baslo.. Sleeping bag gundalun bharnyat nimma jiv jaychi vel aali.. :P Tea at 6.. Healthy breakfast at 7.. 2 full glass dudh PYAYLO.. We all got ready to continue our trek.. Our next destination was Bhalu ka Ghera, famous for brown bears & hence the name.. During winters, all the brown bears come over here & hibernate.. :O We continued trekking in the same direction.. Ani eke thikani Triveni cameryasakat sarrrkan ghasarli.. "Savkash.." me putputlo.. Hatala kharchatla tila.. :(

Then we came across a bridge, which was made up of logs.. We had to cross that bridge with caution because the water stream was flowing in a very high speed.. After trekking for 1 more hour, we came across one more water stream which we had to cross.. It’s recommended to cross that stream in the morning itself as at that time the water current is slow & steady as compared to the later time of the day.. Panyatlya pahilya 2-3 steps madhyech prachand mungya aalya payala.. :X Pan experience ha hi kaddakach hota.. B) Shri tar bagsakat purn bhijla hota.. Totally we trekked about 8 kms.. 3-4 snow patches cross kele.. It took approx. 5 hours to cross so much distance.. And we reached the campsite.. \m/ baby.. Duparisuddha majbut thandi janvat hoti.. Madhyech un.. Thoda garancha paus.. Punha clear climate.. Neerajsobatchya teamchi olakh karun ghetli.. Vinay, Vinto, Sanjay ani Gopal..!!

Hot lunch ani introduction round zalyavar, we got ready for training - snow trekking & sliding on one patch.. Sagle apaplya parine climbing up-downche prayatna karat hote.. Adhi kharatar practice cha mood navhata.. Ani nantar matra practice thambvavishi vatat navhati.. :) Saglyanchi padjhad hot hoti.. Snacks chya veli kitchen tentmadhye Vinto ne muddam chilly pakoda taste karayla dila.. Aag aag zali jibhechi.. Ani mhane, "Kaisa laga?".. :X Hehe.. Soup-snacks zalyavar punha practice.. Sliding karnyachi majja khari veglich hoti.. Tyat te robot walking.. XD Saral - ulta, pathivar - potavar saglya typechi sliding karun zali.. :P Huddle karun baalya dance karat apla practice session sampla.. :D

Tyanantar random songs var thoda vel rawdy dance ani fugdya.. :D Shri ne 1 kavita sadar keli.. Shubham karoti ne suruwat karun saglya prarthna tyane ekamagun ek ghetlya.. :) Dinner saglyani kudkudatach kela.. Neeraj explained the plan for next day, "Kal 1 baje tak jaha tak ja paoge waha se wapas ayenge!!".. Tyanusar tharla ki sakali 6:45 la kontyahi paristhitit assemble vhaycha.. 2 track pants, 2 t-shirts, 1 jacket, 1 hoody, 2 sock pairs ani 1 kantopi ghalun zoplo.. :P Garam paani tya Sanjayne tentmadhye anun dila saglyana.. :)

17th June, 2015 : Woke up at 5.. Tea at 6.. Breakfast at 7.. All set for trek to Hampta Pass.. Punha same campla yaycha mhanun bag cha tension navhata.. :D It was very important to start trek lil early.. We started crossing snow patches one by one taking halts every 15-20 mins for water, enerzal, real & cadbury.. Played cricket, football & snowball fekafeki at one halt.. Then we saw a very small waterfall on right-side top.. Then we saw partly frozen river.. And then clear view of Hampta Pass.. So much natural beauty which cannot be explained in words..!! Perfect location to click some fabulous pictures..

Ek steep snow patch carefully zig-zag climb karun Hamptachya dishene kooch keli.. Chadh vadhatach hota.. Aankho me kuch to gaya tha jiski wajah se Hafiz ko chakkar aa raha tha.. XD But he was ok.. :) Ek-ek karat finally sagle 14,200 ft heightwar pochlo.. That too 1 hour before the scheduled time.. Yaaay.. :D We all conquered Hampta Pass successfully.. #ProudFeeling.. \m/

Another photographic moments.. Lunch - Parathe, jaam, sauce ani aachar.. Ghoshna.. Ani tyanantar descentla sliding kartana ji majja aplyala aali ti kahi shabdat mandta yenyajogi nahi.. :D Pallavicha ghabarlela chehra athavtoy mala.. :P Sonal ani Vaidehi pan sliding kartana aadvya-tidvya dhadpadat hotya.. :P Snowball fekafeki karat, gappagoshti karat, ekmekanchya bags carry karat haule haule we reached campsite..

Kitchen tentjaval mala kahi lakde disli.. Neeraj ani teamla me request keli, "Inme se 5-6 lakdiya milegi to aaj campfire kar sakte hai".. Tar Vinay bolla, "Nahi.. Ye lakdiya gas khatam hone pe kaam aati hai".. Me - "2-3 to de do atleast".. Vinay - "Gas khatam hua to khana nai milega.. Aap 2 lakdiya dhund ke dikhao yaha, to mai saari lakdiya apko dunga.." Haha.. :D Challenge accepted..!! Lakde milnyacha chance ch navhta mhanun sukya gavtache 3 mothe dhig jama kele ardhya taasat.. Shevti daya alyavar Vinay bolla, "Bas kar yaar.. Le ja lakdiya".. Aaplyasathich hotya.. :)

We played many games like - hatane dagad dur theun ubha rahaycha, pull the rope, mai kehta hu ki ye karo - wo karo (baithe baithe nacho, chalte chalte nacho XD), you-dishkiyawn, ABCD, passing the sunscreen & Johnson's baby cream, in-out etc.. Dhanashree - "Ye Hafiz ki wajah se mai out ho jaati hu har baar".. :P Soup-snacks nantar campfire with random songs.. Old, new, on the spot assemble kelele ani Hafizche ultimate lyrics.. XD Shri cha “Aata tari majhyashi goad bol - goad bol”.. Chhan.. Majja aali.. :) Dinner kartanapan maifil renglelich hoti.. :D Neeraj & teamchi late nightparyant challeli gaani pan class hoti.. B) Taasabharachya kashabasha zopenantar thandi bharun aali.. Aushadhe gheun just pray kela ki ekach divas rahilay aata.. Bara vatu de.. :)

18th June, 2015 : Woke up at 6 - tea time.. Breakfast at 7 - pasta type tasty something.. :P We helped Neeraj & team to wind up.. And said bye-bye to Hampta.. Started our trek to Jobri.. We followed the same route.. On the way, Hamptala janara ek group bhetla.. Ekane mala state vicharla, mug name vicharla ani mug surname.. Arre marathich ahes ki.. Marathitach boluya na mug.. Hehe.. Mhantat na, "2 anolkhi marathi mansa bhettat tevasuddha tyancha bolna marathit hot nahi".. Jobri la pochtach punha ekda huddle kela.. Bhendi-chapati khaun paani paani karat, photos baghat we headed towards Manali by 2 taxis.. :P Traffic.. :| Ghandaat hirvyagaar junglatun apan mansanchya junglat aalo hoto..

We all reached Manali around 4.. Got 4 rooms in hotel Su-kiran.. Ghari khushali kalavnyat aali.. Tabbal 3 divsanantar garam panyane 15 minutes mastpaiki anghol.. Wa wa.. Snacks karun Rohitsobat Manali road ani aaspas che kahi places firun aalo.. Vinaychya sangnyanusar Solang Valley la janyacha bet aakhla.. Pan bookingsathi ekahi bus available navhati.. Bus inquiry sathichya raangemadhye astana Neeraj bhetla ani kalala ki June-Julymadhye bus booking 2 divas adhich hotat.. Neerajne taxi bookingsathi lokanchi honari jatra dakhavli.. Divsatun fakt 30 taxis jatat.. Tyat pan coupon gheun boli lavaychi ji mikevar announce honar.. 25k Rohtang.. 30k Rohtang.. :O Eka touristne sangitla - "28 hajaar me bhi Rohtang ke liye taxi nai mila".. He chitra pahun Solangcha plan cancelled.. :|

By the way, apla mahila mandal 7 vajta shoppingsathi ready honar hota.. Ani 8 vajun gele hote.. :P Mug mallroadla shopping suru zali.. Eke thikani Sonal ani Pallavi shawl sathi bargaining karat hote.. Tyana bargainingsathi madat mhanun me 500 chi shawl 400 la magitali.. Sonal - "Gappa bas tu.. 250 la magitliye amhi.." XD Me parat kuthech bargaining nahi keli.. :P Then delicious dinner at Sa-Ba restaurant.. Soup, pizza, roti-sabji, daai-rice & then ice-cream.. Wa wa.. Ani punha 12 paryant shopping.. :P Ardhya jananchya dolyavar zop hoti.. I was like O_O to keep myself awake.. Nikhil - "J***k maarli ani shopping sathi baher padlo".. XD Manali mallroadla ratri 12 vajta fruit juice valyasamor loka selfie kadhtat.. Kevdha ha maaj..!! :P Tya ratri roomvar gelyavar kon kay badbadat hota ani kunala kadhi jhop lagli.. Kunala kahich thauk nahi.. XD

19th June, 2015 : Woke up at 7.. Haluhalu sagle ready hota hota 10 vajle.. 3230/- madhye 33 buffs ani 3 bags chi motthi shopping.. XD Manali sweets madhye brunch karun mug hale-dule we headed towards Hadimba temple, an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, sister of Hidimba, a figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata.. (mini trekch mhana ki :P).. Steps chadhun jaana jivavar alela saglyanchya.. Rabit sobat quick photo-session.. Achanak ek Yak savari khup javlun gela majhya - “Dekho, Shahrukh Khan aaaa rahaaaa hai”.. (Yak cha naav Shahrukh Khan hota.. XD) Manaat mhanalo, “Thoda late oradla astas tar tujhya Shahrukh Khanmule majha Ajay Devgan zala asta”.. XD

This place is so very beautiful.. Another photographic moments for everyone.. :) Cultural dance karnyat khup majja aali.. Amol, Nikhil ani Sonal tar ekdam formmadhye hote.. :D Steps chadhun jatana thaklyacha aav aannari hich ka ti Sonal? :P Then we had cold-drinks at one place & lunch at Himalayan Dhaba.. Then we visited one nice yellow coloured Budha Temple je Nikhil ani Rohitne kuthun tari mahiti milvun shodhlela.. After collecting our bags, we headed towards bus stand for the same HPTDC bus (No. 3587).. Said bye-bye to Manali at 7.. Trivenichi ani pudhchya lattha baaichi apurya jagevarun bachabachi zali.. Prakaran kharach avghad disat hota.. :P Te zalyavar magchya dogha-tighanchi jordar zali.. XD We had dinner at some vichitra place.. Tyat ratrabhar to dalbhadri road.. Gargarat hota.. Malmalat hota.. Sonalkadun konti tari tablet ghetli ani taasabharachya aswasthatenantar zopi gelo..

20th June, 2015 : Tea in the morning at some hotel.. We reached Himachal Bhavan around 10.. Decided to visit Jantar-Mantar, an equinoctial sundial, consisting a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis.. On either side of the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, parallel to the plane of the equator.. This instrument is intended to measure the time of day.. (Wikipedia hun chhaplay.. Ghabru naka XD).. For us, it was a place to check-in our bags & take rest in the garden for 2-3 hours.. Kharu-taaicha khel chhan vatla.. :)

Then we headed towards Hajrat Nizamuddin station around 2.. Had food in famous hotel Comesum.. Checked Yuva Kranti seating arrangements.. B1 3 seats, B6 10 seats pan tyatle 5-5 seats 2 vegveglya tokala.. Platform no. 7.. Said bye-bye to New Delhi at 3:35.. Taasbhar rest kelyavar antaksharimadhye join zalo.. Nikhilchya ghost stories, Vaiduchya soul stories, saglyanche ekapeksha ek bhayanak ase experiences, astik-nastik ani punarjanmavar jabardast charcha zali.. Saglyanche daravne looks cha Shri ne kadhlela video ani tyat Amolne dilele ultimate expressions..!! XD

21st June, 2015 : Back to Mumbai!

"We didn't realise we were making memories.. We just knew we were having fun.."

Three cheers to Triveni & Vaidehi.. B) Thanks to Neeraj & Team. (Vinay, Vinto, Sanjay & Gopal) for their guidance & help.. Thanks to Amhi Giryarohak team for their help & support.. Thanks to Mayureshchi mummy.. And Hi-Five to all the trekkers :

Nikhil - Backpain asunsuddha spray marun, kamarpatta lavun Hampta Pass complete karnyachi khari jidda dakhavlis (with photography).. :)
Dhanashree - Prachand thakwa janvat hota taripan continuous chalna thambavla nahis.. :) Mallroad shopping cha secret sangen kadhitari.. :P
Amol - Hampta chadhtana shwas ghyayla tras hot hota.. Tarihi bags gheunach tu to sar kelas.. Water stream cross kartana ghabarlelas pan na dagmagta palikade gelas.. :)
Hafiz - Bhalu ka Ghera me teko bahut thand lag rahi thi isliye jabardasti teko idhar-udhar bhagaya.. XD
Ruchi - First long trip/trek outside Maharashtra.. \m/ Bharatnatyam cha performance rahun gela ki.. :D
Pradnya - Manali to Delhi bus pravasat ekdach awaz aikla tujha ani Golmaal madhla dialogue athawla, “Goonga bola sahibaa”.. XD
Rohit - Dude.. Mala khatri ahe ki ithun pudhe kontyahi long trip la tula pahate 4-5 la uthnyachi savay rahil.. :P
Shri - Hi mothi vyakti aplyasobat ahe mhanun kaslich kalji navhati.. Mothi asli tari aplyat ti ‘lahan’ansarkhich rahili.. :)
Pallavi - Neerajnantar Hampta Pass chadhun janari aplyatli pahili trekker.. B)
Sonal - You were not feeling well just 1 week before the trek.. Quick recovery kelis ani lead kelas tu trek throughout (with photography).. :)
Vaidehi - Bolku.. :P Tujhe shoes slip hot hote taripan sagle snow patches photography karat confidently paar keles.. :)
Triveni - Thank you for convincing me to join such an amazing event which if missed would have been my greatest regret.. :)

Say thanks to me for the following two reasons :

1. Hardly cracked any pjs
2. Gave everyone chance to get photographed.. :P

It’s already too many lines.. I’m sure, you have skipped many of them while reading.. :D Saglyach goshti likhan-baddha karta yet nahi.. Kahi goshti dolyat sathvaychya astat ani kahi manaat.. :) Sweeper rahnyacha decision suruwatilach ghetlela.. Karan first trekkerpasun second-last trekkerparyant pratyekala yenarya experience cha apanhi ek part ahot asa vatta.. :) Thanks everyone for making this event so memorable..!! :)

Taking back some fantastic memories, I'm gonna cherish each & every moment..!! :)

Hampta Pass 2015