Thursday, May 10, 2012

Muktinath, The Place I've Always Dreamed About






Even the locals were worried about me, why didn't I have any heavy clothes with me !! It's because I had no idea that, the weather would be like this in May, so I didn't take any warm clothes with me. And at that moment I was thinking what would be the weather in Jomsom, Muktinath, because they are even closer to Himalayan Range !! I was really scared, and tried my best to plan something outside the box for next few days. I knew that I had to be watchful, because I was alone, and I had to blaze my own trail there, I didn't expect anything from anyone. Few minutes later, a nepalee boy, named Mahesh, threw his blanket to me. The problem was, I didn't drink at all, where others were drinking alcohols, as if they were drinking water. And that kept their body warm and blood circulation normal. They laughed at me a lot when Mahesh dada said others that I don't drink, I don't smoke. They made a fun of me, but I took it normally, it was okay. I was just waiting for the dinner. Had lots of local foods, vegetables, omelet, and delicious chicken with heavy spicy masala. I was feeling perfectly okay before going to bed, but suddenly woke up at 3.30am. I could hardly breath, the more I wanted to take the air, the more I was getting tired. It was hypothermia, God !! I felt like I was dreaming of a nightmare. Mahesh dada almost convinced me to take some alcohol, but finally I didn't need to and then slept again at 4.30am.







Next day early morning we started for Jomsom, the place I had always dreamed about. We passed Lete, Tukchef, Kaligandaki, Marpha, Kalapani and reached there at sharp 11.20am. Jomsom was absolutely a piece of Heaven. I got a brilliant view of Machupuchare and Dhulagiri mountain from there. I managed the 'Annapurna Reservation Area' trekking permit from the Army Camp which cost 10$, and hired a jeep to go to Muktinath. That was the most beautiful part of the journey, from Jomsom to Muktinath. The views of Jharkot and Kagbeni I had from the jeep was out of world. When our jeep reached at Muktinath, I found hundreds of Hindus on the Ranipuwa temple at the peak. They were doing Puja up there. That was the highest position on my trip, almost 3900 meter [equivalent to 13000 feet]. I met a Shadhu inside the temple who was living there for last 39 years and the most senior one. I don't believe fortune tellers, but while I was passing him, he told me something, which amazed me instantly. Well, I have to say, they had some extraordinary talent to read someones face. 

Mostly I was with 4 Nepalees, but I had also met 3 others. One from Moscow, a genuine Russian trekker, Maxim Mikhailovich. I met him while crossing one of the suspension bridge on Kaligandaki. He was carrying a huge backpack covered with red raincoat, weight wasn't less than 15kg for sure and he was trekking alone like me. Another two were Naomi and Noa. They were sisters and came from Colorado. They had their own guide, hired from Pokhara. I met them in Jomsom. We were together in Kagbeni, Muktinath, then again came back to Jomsom together. We really enjoyed our journey together. They requested me to be with them in Pokhara. So I invited them to trek with me. But they said, again trekked back all the way was quiet impossible for them, and they had decided to take a flight from Jomsom. And I said I can't dare to think about a flight. So, they bought me a air ticket as a gift which cost nearly 75$ !! pretty amazing.. huh !!


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