Sudarshan Parvat
Share on Social
There is always a certain element of risk in being alive, but—The more alive you are, the more the risk.
—Ibsen
—Ibsen
Garhwal
Garhwal is called Devbhoomi—land of the gods. The temples in Garhwal attract more pilgrims than the area can handle. But for those interested in its mountains, bugiyals and passes, the locations of these temples allow easy access with facilities at hand. These places of pilgrimage are good bases to start a climbing holiday from, for example, Madhyamaheshwar, Badrinath or Bhilangana.
The place which is perhaps most popular here is the Valley of Flowers, visited by thousands every year. This catchy name given by Frank Smythe has caught on and has attracted pilgrims to the lovely Himalayan flowers.
Sudarshan Parvat, in the Gangotri area, was the first international expedition I organised. It was a pleasant experience, like a good French wine. Zerksis Boga excelled on the climb and his panorama from the summit is best one could see.
Swargarohini from Jaundar glacier-Har ki Doon
One of the leading mountaineers, who knew the Ruinsara area well, remarked that it would be well-nigh impossible to cross the crevasses of the glacier to climb Bandarpunch West peak. We did just that to achieve a first ascent. But he was right; I almost died falling into a crevasse while returning. The peak has not had a second ascent yet and a few climbers have lost their lives on its slopes.