I have quit my job and am free all day. My colleagues who work get calls that we are upset with our jobs, our boss has made life difficult for us. In an 8 hour job, we have to work for 12 hours. We are neither able to give time to the family nor to ourselves. I tell them to go to the mountains... there the solution to this problem will be found. If everyone was angry then they get ready. One of our companions brings his car in which everyone is loaded with their bags. Now everyone asks in one voice, "Where are we going in the mountains?"
Uttarakhand which is also known as Devbhoomi and here on crossing Mussoorie there is a mountain which is considered to be the abode of Nag Devta….This place is famous by the name of Nagtibba. The height of Nagtibba is 2600 meters and this place holds religious importance among the locals. Local people come every year on the day of Nagpanchami and perform a big puja. There are 2 ways to reach here, the first one is from Teva village from where the route is 18 km and the second one is traditional which starts from Pantwadi village. From here one has to travel 14 km on foot to reach Nagtibba temple. Many people start the journey from Pantwadi village and get down to Teva village after visiting Nagtibba temple. This journey takes about two days.
So we leave late at night to start the journey the next day. The train runs through the night. Some people spend the night sleeping while some people talk rotten about their office. Next morning we reach Pantwadi village whose height is 1100 meters. Here we have breakfast and start the journey at 08 am. Today's target is to reach Nagtibba base camp, where we are going to set up our tent. And there is a plan to return after visiting the next day.
We have tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, food and warm clothes in bags... means preparations are complete. Everyone goes to office so someone's fitness is not that good, everyone is walking slowly....but one thing is everyone is enjoying. We are clicking photos, hanging on trees and enjoying trekking. Everyone is happy to be away from their office. We have been walking for 2 hours and now the snow path has started. We reach the base camp at 11 o'clock only... Now everyone stops and talks about going to Nagtibba temple today itself and will stay the night in the forest hut there.
At two o'clock in the afternoon we reach the Nagtibba temple, where everyone takes off their shoes outside the temple and has darshan of the serpent deity. There is snow around the temple and cold wind is blowing. Some of our friends want to go to Jhandi Top above the temple which is situated at an altitude of 3200 meters. 3 people stay here while the rest go to Jhandi Top. One has to trek another 2 km to reach Jhandi Top. The whole forest is covered with snow, we are finding it difficult to walk. Walking feet are sinking in the snow. Even my shoes got wet. After two and a half hours we reach Jhandi Top. There are dark clouds in the sky here and the wind is very strong. If the weather is clear then 7000 meter high mountain peak is visible from here.
Without spending much time at the top, we start coming down and in about one and half hour reach Nagtibba where we are going to stay tonight. We are all preparing to cook dinner in the forest hut while the sun sets over the distant hill villages outside. What a blissful feeling it gives to see the mountains in yellow colour. Everyone goes to sleep after dinner, the next morning we wake up early and start descending. Coming out of the snow of the forest, we reach the open valley. There is a place on the way called Goat Village, where travelers can stay for the night. We see the old seeds here, admire the view here and click some photos and start descending to Pantwadi village.
In the afternoon we reach our Pantwadi village where our car was parked. After loading the goods in the car, we have lunch on the way and come straight to our home. So thus ends our journey. All our friends are happy that we got rid of the office for at least a few days. Everyone says that we should go on such trips regularly.
Disclaimer: All photos are clicked by me (himalayanwomb), all photos are clicked from mobile, photos are edited in lightroom. This blog has been written in Hindi and translated into English, for which the help of Google translation has been taken. And yes I proudly say this post is AI free.