A trek with Vasudha was long pending, given the number of treks she has done so far. All this while, I’ve been mostly hiking in and around Bangalore. A real trek needed the right time and the 1 week off given by HackerRank ended up the right spot.
What made this trek a little crazy was instead of going ahead with Indiahikes or any other trekking group, we decided to do this DIY. Given this is the only possible trek that doesn’t need us to carry a tent all along the way and has a nice pitstop at Ghangaria, we just packed our bags and left Bangalore.
This was the plan till we reached Poolna. That is the last motorable village in the our trek. Post that, the real trek starts
Day 1: Poolna to Ghangaria (10kms, 6hrs, +3600 feet)
The ascent from Pulna to Ghangaria tested our preparation immediately. Carrying our own gear for four days added significant weight to what was already a substantial climb. Six hours of steady hiking felt familiar yet more demanding than our usual Bangalore treks—the same rhythmic challenge stretched over a much longer duration. The views on the way were way too stunning. We took enough photo breaks.
Day 2: Valley of Flowers
Vasudha had described the Valley of Flowers portion as “a walk in the park”—and based on every video and blog we’d consumed, we expected to enter the gate and immediately witness the famous flower beds.
We were completely wrong.
Hours of walking stretched before us, and while the trail wasn’t technically difficult, our mental unpreparedness played tricks on our minds. The disconnect between expectation and reality made each step feel longer than it should have. Eventually, though, we reached the valley proper and were rewarded with the spectacular carpet of wildflowers that makes this trek legendary.
Day 3: Hemkund Sahib – The Real Challenge
Learning from the previous day’s miscalculation, we approached Hemkund Sahib with proper preparation and realistic expectations. A 4 AM wake-up call had us on the trail by 5 AM, and we maintained steady progress throughout the seven-hour ascent.
Reaching the sacred lake at 12 noon felt like a genuine triumph. The langoor kitchen’s simple meal of tea and khichdi became one of the most satisfying meals of the entire trek
Day 4: The Descent Back
The return journey from Ghangaria to Pulna began with a mild headache that initially concerned me, but lunch and medication quickly resolved the issue. The descent proved much easier than the ascent.
Why This Trek Mattered
Shared Experience: Finally experiencing firsthand the stories Vasudha had shared from her previous treks created. Tat cafe, Beatles cafe, THE Beatles cafe, the view of the river Ganges. I’ve listen to all of them multiple times, but there is something about being there and sharing the experience with her.
Fitness Benchmark: The trek served as an honest assessment of my physical capabilities. While the Hemkund Sahib descent pushed me to my limits, completing it successfully gave me confidence for future high-altitude adventures (finding the time to do this might be the biggest challenge).
Mental Reset: Mountain trekking has a unique ability to strip away work stress and daily concerns, forcing complete focus on the immediate challenge of the next step forward.