EXPLORE DREAM DESTINATION

TRAVEL STORY

"Lost in the Himalayas, Found in Myself"

Kabhi socha hai ki duniya ki chhat par khud se milne ka kya matlab hota hai? Himalaya ki be-panah khoobsurati ke saamne, hum sabhi sirf ek chota sa hissa hain. Yahan har mod par ek naya raaz, har saans mein ek naya jazba basera karta hai.

Mera pehla trek Roopkund Lake ka tha—jahan 1000 saal purani mysterious haddiyaan barf ke neeche so rahi hain. Raat ko, chaand ki roshni mein woh jagmagati hui choti si jheel, jaise koi alien world ho. Guide ne kaha: "Yahan devta bhi dar ke bina nahi aate."

Phir tha Spiti Valley ka safar—jahan 15,000 feet par ek lonely monastery aasmaan ko chho raha tha. Bhikshu ne chai ke saath di gyan ki ek baat: "Pahad tumhe nahi, tum pahad ko khoj rahe ho."

Aaj bhi, jab bhi aankhen band karta hoon, woh crisp hawa ka jhonka, namkeen seabuckthorn berries ka swad, aur un peeli aankhon wale snow leopards ki yaad aa jaati hai.

Himalaya sirf ek jagah nahi, ek jazba hai—jo tumhe andar tak hila ke rakh dega. Taiyaar ho kya?

 

"The Dark nights of Himalayas: Andheri Barsaat"

Baraf ki gehri chadar ke neeche, Himalaya ki sans bhi tham si gayi thi. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki ek "shortcut" ka faisla mujhe bhootiya gaon ke raste le aayega. Yahan pattharon ke makaan, 100 saal purane, aankhon se khoon chooste the.

Raat ko, chamakte hue janwar ki aankhein pahadon se jhukti thi—na bhalu, na bhediya... kuch aur hi tha. Sherpa guide, Dorje, ne hawa mein mantra padha, par uski aawaz barf ki chadar mein daba gayi. 

          Subah tak, hum dono ek khali haveli ke andar fase rahe—diwaar par 50 saal purane khoon ke nishaan. Dorje ne kaha: "Yahan wohi bachta hai jo andar se mar chuka hota hai."

Jab suraj nikla, to pahadon ne hume bahar thook diya. Par woh raat... woh aawazein... ab bhi mere saath hai. Himalaya sirf pahad nahi, ek darwaza hai.