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Notion Press Old No. 38, New No. 6 McNichols Road, Chetpet Chennai - 600 031 First Published by Notion Press 2018 Copyright © M. Gayathri 2018 All Rights Reserved. ISBN 978-1-64324-884-4 This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Contents Acknowledgements v 1. “Himalayas Were Ever Calling Me” 1 2. The Annapurna Massif 4 3. Links Formed 10 4. Surprise, Surprise, a Friend Knocking 13 5. The Preparation and Packing for the Trek 16 6. Reaching Nepal’s Capital Kathmandu 20 7. “Good Morning” Kathmandu 23 8. Floating Vishnu 33 9. Durbar Square of Kathmandu 36 10 Pashupathi Nath Temple 41 11. My Mental Preparation for Trekking 46 12. Meeting Dr. Hemanth and Rest of Mountain Movers 49 13. Pokhara 53 iii Contents 14. Travelling to Nayapul and Then to Sewee 60 15. Much Awaited Moment “Arrived” 68 16. First Challenge to Reach Jhinnu Danda at 5770 ft 72 17. Jhinnu Danda to Bamboo, 5770 ft to 7675 ft on 29th April 2018 86 18. Story of Namaste 90 19. A Rare “Olympic” at ABC in Year 2018 92 20. To Deurali at 10500 ft on 30th April 2018 99 21. Final Destination 109 22. Reaching Annapurna Base Camp 4130M/13500 ft 114 23. Gandharva Loka 120 24. “Namaste Point and Photo Session” 121 25. Early Morning at Annapurna 125 26. Tracing Back the Path on 2nd May 2018 130 27. Panic Mahesh. 3rd May 2018 136 28. Reaching ‘Hotel Tara’ in Pokhara 144 29. Pokhara Sight Seeing 146 30. Kathmandu 5th May 2018 149 31. Thamel 151 32. 6th May Returning Back “Home” 154 iv “Himalayas Were Ever Calling Me” || asti uttarasyAM dishi devata Atma himAlayaH nAma naga adhirAjaH pUrva aparau toya nidhi vigAhya sthidaH pR^thivya Iva mAna daNDaH || In the Opening verse of Kumarasambhava, Kalidasa describes the glory of the Himalayas. Translation: There is, in the northern direction; the supreme Lord (Adhiraja) of mountains, possessed of a Divine nature (devatma) by name Himalaya, who having plugged in to the Eastern and the Western oceans, stands as if he is the measuring rod of the Earth. As Swami Vivekananda describes the important words in this verse, Devathma ensouled by Divinity and Manadanda – measuring rod. So Swamiji says “the poet implies and suggests that the Himalaya is not a ‘mere wall,’ accidentally constructed by nature but it is ensouled by Divinity and is the protector of India and her civilization from icy winds of arctic region and from incursions of invaders.” The Himalaya further protects India by sending the great rivers Sindhu, Ganga and Brahmaputra fed by melted ice 1 You, Me and Annapurna irrespective of the monsoon rains. “Manadanda” implies and there by affirms that, the Indian Vedantic-Civilization is the best of all human civilizations. This Vedantic civilization is due to contributions of many Sadhus, Rishis, Yogis who were all influenced by Himalaya. In fact, it, at times became the seat of knowledge for many Sadhus millions of years ago, in the recent past, and even now, as I am writing and will continue to be in future. Himalaya One such Sadhu of recent past is Swami Rama and in his book Swami Rama “Living with Himalayan Masters” writes in a chapter on “The sacred Himalayas,” “Himalaya comes from Sanskrit word Hima – snow and Alaya –home. But they are not merely the home of snow, but that they have also been a stronghold of Yogic wisdom and spirituality for millions of people regardless of their religious beliefs.” As a proof that many sages who wrote our ancient scriptures were influenced by Himalaya “An Unknown Sage” presented Swami Rama “A leaf of bhojapatra,” the paper made 2 “Himalayas Were Ever Calling Me” of bark on which our ancient scriptures were written and in it was inscribed “Let the world be little with you. Let you be on the path of spirituality.” Himalaya is mentioned earliest in Rigveda. “It is to he, to whom belong, these celestial mountain ranges” says sage and describe its stretch as “the expanse of the two arms of the great being.” The epic Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Puranas describe this as the region where the Gods dwell. Whereas Master E.K. Author of “Spiritual Astrology” quotes the “yogis of Himalayas can give out the correct information about the effect of moon on the earth.” This is in that period, when science had not developed satellites and moon expeditions. According to “SkandaPurana” as the sun dries the morning dew so does the mere sight of the Himalaya dissipate the sins of man. Along with these greats I have even read my Guru “Sri M” writings on Himalaya especially on nature, and music in Himalayan valleys.” I have even read similar sentences in books like Autobiography of Swami Yogananda and also a book by “Om” Swami These are the recent and also inspirations from past for me to explore “Himalayas” So “Himalayas were ever Calling” me. 3 The Annapurna Massif Himalaya is massif in many ways. It is very much so not only by its geographical existence, but also in its cultural diversity, in religious believes of its inhabitants, by its flora and fauna and by its spiritual diversity. The massif, mammoth, mountains is in Asia – separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetian plateau. The range has many of the Earth’s highest row of peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest, It includes over ‘50’ mountains exceeding 23,600 ft in elevation, and including ten of the fourteen 8000 meter peaks. By contrast the highest peak outside Asia is 6961 mts only i.e. Aconacagua in the Andes. Elevated by the subduction of the Indian tectonic plate under the Eurasian plate, the Himalayan mountain ranges runs, west – northwest to east-south east in an arc form for 2,400 kilometers long. 4 The Annapurna Masif Map depicting Himalayan terrain Its western boundary, Nanga Parbat lies south of indus river. Its eastern boundary, NamchaBarwa, lies west of upper stream of Brahmaputra river – (Yarlung Tsangpo). Bordering in the north to north west is Karkoram and hindukush ranges. And in South we see Indo Gangetic plain. It is inhabited by some 52.7 million people and spread across 5 countries. India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Pakistan.It has shaped cultures and religions like, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, even Islamic religion. 5 You, Me and Annapurna In the middle of the great curve of the Himalayan Mountains lie the 8000 mts peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna in Nepal Separated by the Kali Gandaki Gorge. Annapurna massif is in north central Nepal and includes one peak over 26,000 ft, 13 peaks over 23,000 ft and 16 more over 20000 ft. The massif is 55 kilometers long and is bounded by the Kali Gandaki Gorge on the west, the Marshyangdi River on the north and east and by Pokhara Valley on the south. At the western end the massif encloses a high basin called the Annapurna Sanctuary. The face of Annapurna massif “Annapurna 1” 6 The Annapurna Masif Annapurna 1 (Main) is the 10th highest mountain in the world at 26545 ft and was the first of the eight thousanders to be climbed. First ascent by Maurice herzoy and Louis Lachenal in 3rd June 1950. Easiest route is northwest face. The entire massif and surrounding area are protected with in 7629 square kilometers Annapurna Conservation Area, the first and Largest conservation area in Nepal. This area is home to several world class treks including Annapurna Sanctuary and Annapurna Circuit. Historically, the Annapurna peaks are among the world’s most dangerous mountains to climb second only to Kangchenjunga. The fatality to summit ratio is 32% is the highest of any of the eight-thousanders. In Particular the south face is the dangerous to climb. In October 2014 Annapurna trek witnessed one of the Nepal’s worst ever trekking disaster killing 43 people from Nepal. Israel, Canada, India, Slovakia and Poland and 175 people were injured. ‘Annapurna’ is a Sanskrit word meaning Anna-Food or grains and poorna “Full” complete and perfect. It is another name of Goddess Parvathi giver of “Food and nourishment.” 7 You, Me and Annapurna The Annapurna conservation area is a well known trekking region. There are 3 major trekking routes in the Annapurna region. The Jomsom trek to Muktinath. The Annapurna sanctuary route to “Annapurna base camp.” And the Annapurna circuit which does outer parikrama of Annapurna massif. The town of Pokhara is starting point for these treks. About 2/3rd of all trekkers to Nepal visit the Annapurna region. The area is easily accessible, guest houses in the hill are plentiful, and treks here are incredible, diverse, serene, with high mountains, low land villages and nature is at its bounty with rivers, plants, flowers……. Annapurna Glacier 8 The Annapurna Masif THE cute “MACHAPUCHARE” or fish tail mountain Some local residents believe—It is abode of ‘GANESHJI’ 9 Links Formed No doubt that “Whatsapp” has become undoubtedly the linking machine. Strangely though, it links people of common ideas, thoughts, emotions before one can see each other or meet each other physically.

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