rivers – VAGABOND IMAGES

Waterfalls are the best pit stops on way to North Sikkim

Upendra SwamiMay 18, 20192935 Views5

Journey from Gangtok to Yumthang in the North Sikkim is indeed very scenic, but it might not be best of the roads. Road goes along the Teesta river for most of the journey. Because of tough terrain, landslides, road widening and work on various power projects, the road condition, although not very bad, but is mostly not the desirable one. That is the reason, that although distance between Gangtok and Yumthang is just around 140 kilometres, but you can’t measure the travel time through that. It’s certainly a day long journey. Road journeys in Sikkim are always fascinating Journey on such routes can be definitely tiring. But as I said, this route is quite scenic as we pass through valley of Teesta river with overlooking Himalayan ranges. You can occasionally have a view of Pandim an...

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Exploring the unexplored : Sat taal near Harsil in Gangotri valley

Upendra SwamiJuly 11, 20183542 Views5

Himalayas are filled with glacial lakes, actually a lot of them at various altitudes and in different sizes. All of them have their own distinct beauty. Their are many lakes which are single and many others attached to a single system. Many are mystical and a lot mythical as well. So having seen most majestic high altitude lakes in Indian Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim, it wasn't a surprise at all to have heard about seven lakes known as Sat taal (सात ताल) in Gangotri valley of Uttarakhand, just above the village of Dharali. But what kept my interest was the fact that these lakes have been largely unexplored. Hence, despite very limited time to squeeze out of the hectic schedule of our Bloggers Bus trip organised by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), we were off to the...

AdventureIndia

World Environment Day: Where even the source is threatened

Upendra SwamiJune 5, 20181173 Views4

How often when we talk talk of polluing rivers we discuss about the ways big cities are pushing their dirt into it. While talking about rivers, we cherish, how pure the rivers are at their source and then get polluted down the stream. In that sense, it was indeed painful to see the source of one of our most sacred rivers Yamuna at Yamunotri. It was pristine all around--weather, nature and the faith, but the condition of river was not at all that healthy. We have probably ourselves to blame. Problem is, we are unwittingly perhaps encouraging what should have been discouraged downrightly. With the increasing connectivity, increasing number of travellers all the stops on the way are being converted into mini city hubs. With hundreds of buses coming daily during the Yatra time, we can ...

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Faith sees no fear at Yamunotri

Upendra SwamiMay 26, 20182283 Views18

Rubbing your shoulders against the ponies, fear of being hit by wooden sticks protubering out of palakis (पालकी), getting squeezed between rush of pilgrims on one side and rocky hillside on the other and a long tiring journey--nothing deters you from your faith that drives you to reach the Yamunotri temple on the foothills of Kalind mountain. Here faith sees no fear. And you have enough of motivation to do that, even if you are not a traditional pilgrim type--a breeze of fresh air, song of the river flowing deep in the beautiful lush green valley on your right and a majestic sight of snow-clad peaks of Garhwal Himalayas. THE YATRA Yamunotri is the westernmost shrine of this region. Hence it is traditionally the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra of...

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Photo of the day- Taj and the Yamuna

Upendra SwamiJuly 25, 20141543 Views4

Monsoon rains in the Himalayan region has brought the life into rivers in plains. View of Taj Mahal at Agra is entirely different once you see it from Mahtab Bagh side with Yamuna flowing in between. You don't get this panoramic view anywhere else. It has been pleasant viewing in last few days... ...

IndiaPhoto Of The DayPhotogallery

Photo of the Day- The Indian Monsoon

Upendra SwamiJuly 16, 20141248 Views4

A cow crossing a river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, overflowing during the monsoon rains. ...

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The Beauty of Rhine

Upendra SwamiAugust 14, 20131013 Views0

The Rhine with its 1,321 kilometers is the longest and most important waterway of Europe. There is a good reason why the residents of the Upper Rhine Valley also lovingly call it "Father Rhine." The broad river – which starts in the Swiss Alps and digs its way through Europe to the North Sea coast in Rotterdam – makes the region in the tri-border area of Germany, France, and Switzerland an important connecting link for international shipping routes. The many harbors are transshipment point for millions of tons of goods. But not just the economic aspect makes the largest European waterway so important: The river and its shores are a highly diversified recreational paradise. On one of the cruise vessels that are designed for every requirement, you can experience the Rhine in all of ...