Nanda Devi – VAGABOND IMAGES

Flowers of trekking: Sighting of rare Brahma Kamal

Upendra SwamiOctober 21, 20197556 Views10

Had heard a lot about the Brahma Kamal flower earlier. But got to see it blooming for the first time when I went to Valley of flowers and Hemkund trek almost fifteen years back. (But here I will like to remind you that it is not Valley of Flowers, where you will find it normally, but on the Hemkund trek. Everywhere around the sacred lake on the surrounding mountains, you can see this flower blooming.) Thereafter, have seen it on various occasions during high-altitude trekking in Uttarakhand. Watching this flower in its natural habitat is a luxury that only serious trekkers can afford to. Rest all can enjoy this post and the photographs. Kamal is Hindi term for Lotus, but unlike different species of Lotus family, Brahma Kamal blooms amongst rocks and grasses on hillside. Even Brahma Kamal ...

IndiaPhotogallery

Nature’s poet and poet’s museum

Upendra SwamiJuly 19, 20192185 Views0

Pant museum at Kausani in Uttarakhand isn’t a touristy place as such. In my three visits to this place in the course of last few years, I have rarely seen any other tourist there. Despite, this place being in the heart of the Kausani town with just a few steps to walk upto the museum from the road head. I wonder, if even more than five percent of the tourists coming to Kausani would remember the name of Sumitranandan Pant, although surely most of us in Hindi heartland of India have read his poems in school text books. Ancestral house converted into museum Main entrance to the Sumitranandan Pant museum Actually, we don’t respect our literary persons. They are the ones who guide our intellectual discourse, many of them have been leading lights for various movements but we tend to...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Nature, myth and history of Syahi Devi Temple

Upendra SwamiMay 26, 20196934 Views7

Last year, when we went to Shitlakhet, we headed for an early morning trek to Syahi Devi temple. But we started a bit late, and then we had a packed schedule in the day ahead. And, with some clear view of Nanda Devi range consuming lot of our time, we dropped the idea of going till the top and returned mid-way. I had then decided that, I won’t let that happen next time. Hence, when I visited Shitlakhet again this year, I kept the very next morning after my arrival for the trek to temple. What a beautiful day it was, calm and clear. Now, in the hindsight when I look back at that decision, how remarkable it turned out to be, as the second morning onwards, the weather went for a toss. Sun rises while on trek to Syahi Devi temple Morning colours on the snow peaks It gets brighter a...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Its spring time and lower Himalayas are laden with beauty!

Upendra SwamiMarch 31, 20192778 Views6

I have always felt that spring is the best time to go to hills, specially in the lower Himalayan region. And, that's not just for adventure trips, but also for the leisure trips to hill stations. It's about weather, it's about brightness, it's about colours, it's about nature and its about views. Everything in abundance. It gives such a jovial feeling when you are here during this time. As soon as the winter freeze gives way to the some warmth, the new life comes out of the earth. The whiteness of winter turns colourful with all types of flowers. Peach blossoms are this region's answer to Cherry Blossoms in East Asia during most this time. Peach blossoms turn the surroundings pink in the spring time. Although it's not so as of now, I think that it won't be too long when pe...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

A photo journey to Shitlakhet, a hidden gem in Kumaon

Upendra SwamiAugust 26, 20183764 Views13

I had been hearing about Shitlakhet for almost ten years now, ever since I started visiting the Almora region more frequently. I even made some flying visits to the village, and had some incredibly tasty maggi. But never got an opportunity to stay overnight and explore the place until last month when I was there as the part of the Bloggers Bus of Uttarakhand Tourism. Although a one night stay is just not enough to do any justice to this place, but we tried to extract as much experience as possible. Shitlakhet is certainly not a happening place. But I can bet, it is unimaginably beautiful. It is just a small village at the end of the mountain ridge. But it is full of adventure and it is certainly a photographers paradise. Hence, I though that it is better to talk about this ...

IndiaPhotogallery

Kausani, through flowers – A photo story!

Upendra SwamiOctober 18, 20151559 Views6

Kausani is all famous for its Himalayan View- a panorama of the Nanda Devi range from Chaukhamba peak to Panchachuli. I am somehow fond of this place and have done many posts about it. But I have always loved these himalayan cities for their flowers too. So bright, blooming. They make such a beautiful contrast with dust & noise free atmosphere, blue sky and white mountains. Range of flowers too is so wide, which we normally don't find in the plains. A look at few of them, which I could find around me every time while we stayed at TRH, Kausani. What a wonderful stay it was! ...

IndiaInternationalNews

A tourist trip to Dharavi slums brings awards!

Upendra SwamiApril 29, 2015939 Views0

Well! To start with, how many of us would like to have a visit to a slum during our next trip? Tough question and may sound quite illogical to some. What if I say that a few tourists coming to India actually have Dharavi slums of Mumbai in their travel itinerary? Still many will be sceptical, dismissing it as a gimmick of selling India’s poverty to the West. But it isn’t so. It is an increasing trend of Social tourism which takes tourism for a cause. To give it back to the society and to engage all those in tourism, which have kept out of it so far. These efforts are also recognised by World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC),which gives away Tourism For Tomorrow Awards every year. Awards are open to any tourism organisation that is working to improve the lives and opportunities for co

IndiaPhoto Of The DayPhotogallery

Photo of the day – Seems Surreal!

Upendra SwamiApril 9, 20151723 Views2

Beautifully laid untouched snow on top of the hill! An amazing 360 degree view of natural splendour in clear blue skies. Gorgeous unhindered spectacle of himalayan ranges from Himachal to Chaukhamba to Trishul and Nanda Devi right in front of your eyes. No mess of a tourist place. Calm and seclude and above all this altitude of almost 10 thousand feet so approachable as a just 45 minutes cool trek from main motorable route. Seems surreal, isn't it! And it is in India. Wanna be there? Drop down at Kaddukhal on main Mussorie-Chamba road in Uttarakhand and take a one and half kilometre trek through to top, to Surkanda Devi temple. Its amazing! ...

AdventureIndia

Most amazing sunrise

Upendra SwamiJanuary 13, 20151240 Views2

Nature mesmerises us in many ways and a beautiful sunrise is one among the top. Bringing you here one of the most fascinating sunrises you will ever see. Kausani in Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is one of the best places to have a panoramic view of Himalayas- from Chaukhamba to Panchachuli peaks in the Nanda Devi range. What a view it would be when first rays of sun fall on a 360 kms wide natural canvas of snow clad himalayan peaks! An elevation of more than 20 thousand feet right in front of your eyes is enough to elate the mood! A view very rare and captured beautifully. See the video to believe it... Be there to feel it... ...

आवारासफरIndia

परंपराएं जोड़ती व तोड़ती नंदा राजजात यात्रा

Upendra SwamiNovember 12, 20141889 Views0

नंदा होमकुंड से कैलाश के लिए विदा हो गईं- रास्ते के तमाम कष्टों व तकलीफों को झेलते हुए। लेकिन नंदा को पहुंचाने होमकुंड या शिलासमुद्र तक गए यात्रियों के लिए नंदा को छोड़कर लौटने के बाद का रास्ता ज्यादा तकलीफदेह था। भला किसने कहा था कि चढ़ने की तुलना में पहाड़ से उतरना आसान होता है! चंदनिया घाट से लाटा खोपड़ी और फिर वहां से सुतौल तक की जो उतराई थी, वैसी विकट उतराई ट्रैकिंग के बीस साल से ज्यादा के अपने अनुभव में मैंने कम ही देखी-सुनी हैं। मुश्किल यह थी कि इसका किसी को अंदाजा भी न था। डर सब रहे थे ज्यूंरागली को लेकर और हालत पतली हुई नीचे उतर कर। ज्यूंरागली का अर्थ स्थानीय भाषा में मौत की गली होता है। रूपकुंड की तरफ से चढ़कर शिला समुद्र की ओर उतरने का यहां जो संकरा रास्ता है, ऊपर धार (दर्रे) पर मौसम का जो पल-पल बदलता विकट रुख है, उन सबको ध्यान में रखकर इसका यह नाम कोई हैरत नहीं देता।...