Kareri - The unmatched Himalayan frozen lake

Tell me! When someone asks you, what is the most challenging journey for an adventure to do? What comes first in your mind? …      
                                                                             

Yes! One thing prompts in our minds. We ‘Himachali’, obviously think of the hill trekking. Isn’t it so? …

I opened the Google map on the laptop to see the location of ‘Kareri’. It amazed me when the map switched to the satellite mode. The whitish-green patch with hoary branchy-streaks popped up on the screen.

 I exclaimed silently, wooohooo!!! Are we going there?

                                Kareri Arial View                  Source - GoogleMaps

My project colleagues made this adventure site as a secret to throw a surprise. But I got it secretly (unknowingly) from someone in a discussion. And that incited me to check its location. 

The next morning I made it a hint of not knowing the trip location. Our jolly discussion was still open. Where are we going…….‘Yaarr’? We were guessing sites one by one and raised conundrum. I guess everyone was hiding the first option ‘Kareri’ inside themselves. But neither of us was sure about it. However ‘hint turbulence’ was inside me. Since I was self-assured on ‘Kareri’ but couldn’t manage to speak out. Hidden clue turned to reality when our trip-arranger hired a cab from Palampur to ‘Ghera’ village. 

             At ‘Ghera’ we were approximately 20 Km far away from the lake. There, we bought some necessary eating stuff from the village market. It was a small market with lots of traffic clumped at the bus stand. Most of the school students were waiting for the bus. We made two groups to collect the stuff (fruits, crunchy chips, chocolates, chewing, bandage and water bottles) to access the time and convenience. Moreover, we were with some home-made stuffed ‘pranthas’.

At ‘Ghera’ we were shifted to old Mahindra jeep to cover upcoming rugged roads. We had crossed Sari and Reoti village to reach Kareri village. That journey was not easy as we were already instructed by the driver. But it was a full-filled overjoyed adventure. That Jeep driver was a well-experienced village driver. He was driving fearlessly on single-way tough terrains. Those dangerous-curvy roads could be covered only by tuff motor jeep and further heading toward tilted roads. The slant ridge was on one side and a deep gorge of river another side. Nevertheless, that shiny morning view was spectacular. On another side of the river, the landscape was covered with a mixed forest of Pine and Oak trees. “Beauty of Western-Himalaya”.

 After, achieving a bit elevation, green vegetation turned yellow with shrubby grasslands. At that moment, we were distant from the river. Again, the Chir-Pine stand (Pinus roxburghii) was visible when the road turned more toward the river-side. And finally, we entered a village. It was just like a dream village. 
Peace’ was there. 

All Set - Ready for trekking

            We landed on the side of the village (a small stop) with our camping bag. Jeep driver asked to inform when you all trek-down tomorrow. (Communication is inaccessible near the Lake).  At the start of the odyssey, we marched upward and start losing mobile network gradually. Up to 2.5 km we rambled on the metalled road surrounded by deodar trees. It was like a pre-trekking warm-up. We covered that metalled road singing and barefoot with shoes in our hands. It was an amazing feeling. With full of energy, we reached the actual trekking point. There were 2-3 small temporary shops.  Near to this, an old bridge over a nallah (small rivulet of Nyund River) where colorful cloth-flags were tied on it. A small conversation with the shopkeeper confirmed our way. There was no signboard for lake direction. They assured and instructed us to move upward opposite the river flow. First, we had crossed earthy natural steps and then a flowing river.

          Before the river crossing, we decide to take rest and sat on a big flat single stone. We ate our lunch- ‘stuffed-parantha’ with pickles and rested for fifteen minutes. About 2-3 groups of trekker crossed us which were behind us.  We also encountered with returning trekkers, who had tracked a day before. Happy and energetic returning people boosted us. It was fun to cross the river on a big stone like rocks were arranged to form a bridge. Returning people were diving and enjoying the natural flowing cold. 

Chandpur gang at the excursion in the Himalaya 

At mid of journey, we saw a lot of sheep herds and bravo black dogs. All were accompanied by Gaddis. They usually use this path as a pass the same as their descendants for crossing Chamba. Gaddis from the Chamba region come down during extreme winters to Kangra to get favorable climatic conditions. Subsequently, they use nearby pasture areas for grazing their pets. Gaddis have sumptuous life in the lap of pure beauty. They use their vernacular calculation in managing umpteen sheep.  

 Pearls of Gaddis  

                         

                                                       Wooden Bridge -    Half way over                                  

It was 6 hours journey to reach Kareri lake through a nondescript path. Real feel of hunger during walking shows how your body,s energy is proportional to food. When you are in the lap of nature you don’t think of luxuries but count breath which feels you are alive in a blissful moment. I haven’t seen any plastic thrown during the entire journey. I guess every trekker was taking the wrapper with themselves on returning.  This was the reason, I like this trek ‘the most’. Moreover, my friend circle was a green panther. 

                            

 Lake is also known as Kumarwah Lake It lies at the south of the Dhauladhar range with an altitude of approx, 2900m. A Shiva temple has been constructed at the top hill near this base camp.

 We reached the top of the hill when the Sun was almost set.  The first look on a frozen white lake beneath the shiny sky full stars amazed us. It was breathtaking both lake beauty and chilled wind from the lake.

 We all were shivering instantly. Jaws get more activated and our speech interrupted at such a low temperature. Our first task was to get a suitable site for a tent. But dew was already at ground grass. Then we start looking for the fire-woods for a bonfire. It was hard to initiate fire at dew grass. There we went to the temple to borrow the already burned sticks from a priest. He was watching our activities from the very first we came. After some conversation we got sticks. 

Rare click in the evening - Lake was going to freeze

The fire took time to set furiously. The multidirectional blowing air was making fire unstable.  In the light of the fire, we set our tent, keeping entry in the direction bone-fire and opposite to the lake. That tent direction saved it from blowing off. The wind from the frozen lake with falling dew was hindering fire performance. After all set, we cooked ‘Maggi’ and enjoyed together.

   

This is a small excerpt from Kareri visit. There is still a lot to write. But I want you to make your own memories with nature. Explore nature but don’t disturb it for the sake of ‘want/need’. We are already under its debt.                       

                                                         LOVE NATURE EXPLORE NATURE…………

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