Sleeping Buddha

This 16 km trek [Sabargram-Phalut-Sabagram] starting from the early morning sunrise was refreshing. Witnessing the unique moment of sunrise on the top of the Himalayas together with Trekmates can be fun.The sleeping Buddha appeared in the morning for a while before it went behind the blankets of cloud. The route stretched along the border of Nepal where you can see both India & Nepal on opposite sides of the trail. Since the trekkers were given Eco Bags to collect recyclable wastes from the track, one of our members found a gambling card. It showed that Nepal is on the way to start the game of LIFE. 

 

This route was one of my best experiences to witness the scenic surroundings full of Valleys, Mountains, Greenery, Flowers etc. The view from the top of Phalut was amazing but the sky was not so kind to us that day to make the visuals even more iconic. The Himalayan mountain range can surpass many things even behind the clouds. I came across many wild flowers, plants on the way which I'm not aware of & there are so much to learn about their habits of survival over centuries especially Pine trees. With frequent changes of the harsh weather on the top, these species have adapted with the climatic condition of the planet to prove their strong survival nature. Climate change is real & can be felt both at the top of the mountain with the melting of glacier & underwater sea with the bleaching of Corals. 

 

With trekmates

                                               

                                                

 

 

Sleeping Buddha

The trek to Sandakphu is not only a physical challenge but a spiritual experience, as trekkers pass through lush forests, charming villages, and experience the unique cultural heritage of the Sherpa and Bhotia people. We got a small luck to witness Mt. Everest for few minutes on our way to Phalut & Arjun the trek leader gave us an info about an app called PEAKFinder which can be helpful to identify the peaks like Kanchanjunga, Lhotse & others.

 

Though I survived without a padded jacket by layering up with clothes that I was carrying, one thing helped me on the way. "Churpi" which is hard Yak Cheese. Initially one needs to keep it in the mouth for an hour so that the saliva can make it little soft by detaching the outer layer & the size keeps reducing. It's very healthy but don't expect it to be very tasty & strong like the chewing gum that we are used to. It is very mild in taste which keeps your mouth wet all the time. With altitude gain our mouth tends to become dry. "Churpi" is good for heart & joint. While trekking everyone feels the joint pain which can be distracting at some point to enjoy the trip. Hence "Churpi" supports Joint health, strengthens Jaw muscle & is a good source of Vitamin B12 for maintaining healthy nerves & blood cells.

It was very foggy after sunset & it is highly recommended to carry good head lamps as visibility can be a challenge at night. Extra fog lights can be helpful.

Key points I learned from the trek:

• Breaking Self Imaginary Limit
• Clarity
• Close 2 Nature
• Overcoming Challenges

 

Though I didn't carry Padded Jacket (Note: Everyone should carry even though the weather updates might play tricks on you), I didn't forget to carry Patta (cards) ;p. All well that ends well & on our last day at Gurdum where we ended up bluffing each other by playing games. I was happy that whatever I carried came into play in some way :) 

   

   

Sustainable trek

While the world is transitioning to sustainable practices & renewable energy, sustainable tourism is traveler's responsibility to keep the nature untouched without filling it up with trash.

 

Some portion of our Mother land should be spared as it is in places like Sabargram & Phalut situated at Bengal & Nepal where over tourism can destroy the current majestic realm of nature. Tent is a good option to stay & explore the grassland & rugged rocky formation. Another alternative option is simple sustainable home made of bamboo. 

 

                                                

2nd day Lunch in da mid Forest

Lunch @Rammam

Nature is enormous, beautiful & unpredictable. It changes it's form in every minute. Everyone must trek. It transforms lives in a positive way by facing & overcoming challenges. Just like scuba, trekking is another added activity of my travel. It's not a solo journey & at the same time I encourage everyone to trek (especially the Genz).   Through various activities & games during the trek, it creates bonding among the travelers. Everyone has their own uniqueness to behave & adapt to the environment which is important to be visible & interactive as much as possible.

 

As you climb higher, the alpine flora becomes more resilient—hardy plants cling to the rocks, enduring the harsh climate where only the most tenacious species thrive.

Bamboo Forest

Palm oil production is the biggest threat to the existence of Orangutans. I came to know about this fact while on my professional trip to corporate jungle. Orangutans is one of the endangered species of 21st century. Similarly, Red Panda, a small and elusive creature with its striking reddish-brown fur and masked face is facing numerous threats, including habitat loss, poaching, and the devastating effects of climate change. It is listed as endangered & more than 50% of RED PANDA have disappeared in the last 18 years. I was wandering to spot RED PANDA inside the lush Bamboo forest of Sandakphu. They feed mostly on Bamboo trees & are native to the temperate forests of the Himalayas.

Spotting RED PANDA while trekking along the route of Sandakphu can be an unique experience similar to encounter Bengal Tiger in Sunderbans. As we strive to protect the Red Panda, we must also look to preserve the lush forests they inhabit, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the sight of these endangered wonders.

 

Thanks to the initiatives of IndiaHikes [Booking details: https://indiahikes.com/sandakphu-phalut ] for sustainable trekking by maintaining Green trail where trekkers are given ECO Bags to collect recyclable as well as non recyclable wastes like plastics, bottles leftover by some other irresponsible tourists. Why don't we have this system in India? (Watch: Garbage Recycle MONEY shorts video. Won't take much time & will motivate U. I personally don't want to witness in coming decades that these vast ridges getting transformed into a Hill station full of shops, hotels & pollution.

 

It's our basic responsibilities to protect nature & wildlife if we follow minimalist habit of consumption while traveling to mountains & forests.

 

Credits goes to our trek leaders for guiding us throughout the 6 days trip from Sepi to Sepi (via Sabargram - Sleeping Buddha Next blog...). Without their experiences & help this trip would not have been fun enough 2 nJoy. 

Note: Offline "Gaia GPS" app is very useful as there is no mobile network after SEPI. There's another offline app called "Maps.me" which I came to know while on my first hike to Triund in Himachal (Blog)