This is one of the waterfall-slide on the road (and we encountered quite a few like it).
The fall was really strong; no wonder it brought down all these rocks.
After causing all this chaos, the stream continues to flow non-chalantly.
When we reached Chamoli, we found that the police had blocked the way, and were not allowing traffic to pass since landslides on the way had already caused a lot of traffic jam ahead. We spent two anxious hours, deliberating on the next course of action, over the breakfast. After this time, we were finally allowed to proceed, with a caution that the vehicles would be stopped at the next town, Pipalkoti.
Crossing bad roads, and more landslides, we managed to reach Pipalkoti by noon. There was a large, flat ground there, where all the vehicles were instructed to park. We learnt that there was a major landslide in this town, but we could cross that on foot, and take one of the local taxis on the other side of the slide, and use it to get to our destination. We repacked our bags, selecting the bare necessities, leaving the rest in the taxi, and walked about 2 kms, only to find the way completely blocked.
A path was cleared only sufficient to walk on, after a few hours, while we waited in the hot afternoon sun. However, there were more landslides on the way to Joshimath, apart from this one; in some places the road had caved in completely. It would be some days before the vehicular traffic could be restored on the roads. One opinion was to cross the landslides on foot, and using the cabs caught in between, to cover the distances between the slides. The officials announced that one might have to walk almost 19 kms before being able to find a cab to go to Joshimath, and even then there was no certainty of find a transport, since supplies to the higher regions were also cut off.
After long discussion and debate, and lot of sadness, we abandoned the plan - we had neither the energy to walk 19 (or probably 38 kms) apart from the distance we aimed to trek, and nor the time, since we were sure to get delayed if we covered all this distance on foot. And thus, destiny ensured that my dream of visiting Valley of Flowers is going to remain a dream.
8 comments:
Good decision, 38 km walk? Impossible for me. It reminded my visit to Kemti falls last year, I had to walk more than 3 km and sometime had to carry my wife as well, which was quite tough :-)
Liked both the pics of Falls.
Aaah, I know the feeling, having to turn back without doing something we have set our minds on. Happened to us in Ladakh while trekking. But I am sure there will be a next time for both of us.
Walking 38 kms ? That too uncertain of the road conditions. Good decision taken by you all.
Ah, it is always so saddening to come back without achieving what we wanted to.
I am sure next time you'll achieve it. I was wondering why you chose rainy season to go there.
@Pijush: Thanks. More to follow .... this was waterfall country :-)
Are you talking of Kempti falls in Mussorie? If so, I can guess that it might have been tough :-)
@Mridula: I hope so too :-))
@Cuckoo: Ah! We didn't "chose" to go in the rainy season, we had to - that is, if we wanted to see the flowers in bloom. In the previous post, I mentioned that the bloom lasts for all of about 40 days in a year. I forgot to add that the major part those 40 days is in August (which is also the time of heavy rains and landslides). By Aug last week, or September first week, it starts snowing, and the blooms die out.
Yes in Mussorie, tough part was at the time of going up :-) But we enjoyed as it was our HM
Ok, now the confusion is clear. :)
@Pijush: Hmmmm ... I see ... ;-) I guess, that it was your HM might be the only reason you were motivated enough to carry her :-P [Wont be very likely now! LoL!! ]
@Cuckoo: Ah! for the "logical" dear Cuckoo!!
As I said elsewhere on your blog, unexpected turn of events on a journey makes the trip more interesting at times.
I understand it's a little disheartening that the dreams did not materialize this time. Perhaps it will next August. Cheer up. :)
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