Hey People........missed me?

Well I am back in the Action. I am just back from another tour and I cannot wait to share the experiences with all of you.

"Sunderdunga Glacier Valley Trek" was my latest destination. I have done this trekking with three senior members from the Indian Navy - Commander Vijay Bhushan, Commander Pankaj Dewan and Commander Rajesh Chatterjee during 09.04.09 (10.30 PM)  to 18.04.09(6.00 AM).

The normal time to do this trek in the Mid of May month, but to be very honest we could not wait that long because there were no reason to be late to reach there. I felt this was the ideal time because everyone knows there has been very small snow fall in Uttaranchal for the last Three years.

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Sunderdhunga literally means the valley of beautiful stones (Sunder meaning beautiful and Dhunga meaning stone). The eminent glaciers of this valley are Maiktoli and Sukhram. Sunderdhunga valley is on the right side of Pindar valley. Trek to Sunderdhunga valley is tough as compared to Pindari and Kafni Glacier trek.The trekking route up to village Khati is prevalent among Pindari, Kafni and Sunderdhunga Glacier. The snow-capped peak distinctly visible during this trek offers a spectacular scenic view. Mrigthuni (6856mts), Maiktoil (6803mts) and Panwalidwar (6663mts) Tharkot (6100mts) are clearly visible during the trek.
 
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Day 1 (New Delhi - Bageshwar)
442kms | Drive
We haveTraveling starts from New Delhi to Bageshwar via Kathgodam. We have reached Kathgodam at 5 am.. Take a Taxi for Bageshwar. Bageshwar is 170kms away from Kathgodam but the drive is smooth and tiresome is detained. Bageshwar is situated at the confluence of river Saryu, Gomati and the latent Bhagirathi. Overnight stay in KMVN Rest house in Bageshwar.

Day 2 (Bageshwar - Saung – Loharkhet - Dhakuri)
45km | Drive | 2 hrs
14km | Trek | 6-7hrs
Departure from Bageshwar to Saung, a 45km drive. Trek commences from Saung village to next destination Dhakuri Top(2680 mtrs.) via Loharkhet situated 14km from Saung under the majestic Kumaon Himalayas. Overnight stay in KMVN Rest house in Dhakuri.

Day 3: (Dhakuri – Khati - Jaitoli)
15km | Trek | 6-7hrs
The trek to Khati descends down and 8km trek can comfortably be accomplished. From Khati snow-capped peaks of Mighty Himalayan Range are distinctly visible. Khati is the biggest village enroute Pindari. The pet dogs here have metal collars so the wild animals don't grab them by the throat. If you look up in the sky in middle of the night you will see that every star in the sky is distinctly visible. From Khati follow pinder river upto Warbham - the meeting place of Pinder River and Sunderdhunga stream. Now along Sunderdhunga stream, reach Jaitoli crossing boulders ascent for night halt. Overnight stay in a local villager hut in Jaitoli.

Day 4 (Jatoli – Dhungia Dhaun – Kathalia)
15km | Trek | 7hrs
The distance that you have to cover today is 15km through thick alpine forest for more than half the journey and today’s trek will be quite tough. Jatoli to Dhungia Dhaun is a tough trek of about 8kms. We reached Kathalia at on 3.00 PM. Kathalia is our base camp for next three days, which is 7kms beyond Dhungia Dhaun. Overnight stay in a shepherd huts in Kathalia

Day 5 (Kathalia – Balooni Top & Sunderdunga View Point)
10km To & Fro | Trek | 7hrs
Next Day earily morning we started trek to Balooni Top(3900 mtrs). Today we will trek 10 kms and it will take 5-6 hrs to reach over there. Balooni Top is a beautiful place to watch out for and you can view Sunderdhunga view-point from there. We have to come back to shepherd huts in Kathalia for night halt.

Day 6 (Kathalia – Maiktoli Top )
14km To & Fro | Trek | 7hrs
After breakfast  we start a trek to Maiktoli Top. Maiktoli top (4230 mtrs.) is a steep climb and when you reach there you will feel that you have touched the peak. The day is memorable for all those who are in love with nature and its pristine glory. We have to come back to shepherd huts in Kathalia for night halt.

Day 7 (Kathalia – Khati)
23km | Trek | 7 hrs
As the trek descends down from Kathalia to Khatii, one can complete this task easily even if walking slowly and enjoying every moment of beautifully enriched scenic pulchritude of Sunderdhunga valley. Overnight stay in PWD Rest house in Khati.

Day 8 (Khati –Munyar via Shufi-Bhageshwar-Almora-Haldwani-Delhi)
19km | Trek | 6-7hrs
497 km | Drive | 17hrs
Last day was very tough for us. We did Departure 5.00 AM in moring from Khati to Munyar .It is 19 Km Trek. We reached 12.30 PM on Munyar after a very Hard Trekking. We hired a Jeep for Haldwani from Munyar. We reached haldwani at 9.30 PM and take a Volve Bus for Delhi . And, Finally After 8 days long trekking period, praising the beauteousness of majestic Himalayas return back to Delhi




A View of Nanda Devi Peak Range From Almora



A view of from Enroute Bagheshwar



At Bageshwar



A evening on Dhakuri Top



A Memorial on Dhakuri Top



A Sunset from Dhakuri Top



Dhakuri Khati Way - looking back at Dhakuri Pass



At on Khati Bridge



on the way of Jatoli



Crossing the Glacier before khatliya



A view from before khatliya



on the way of khatiliya



Sun bathing on the way of khatliya



A Shepard hut in khatliya



Cooking Evening Breakfast in Khatiliya



Sleeping in the Shepard Hut at Khatliya



A view of Sunderdunga Glacier from Balooni Top



At Balooni Top



At Baluni Top-Maiktoli in clouds



At Baluni Top-view West



At Dhakuri Top - Pawalidwar zoomed




At kathliya - maiktoli sunrise



At kathliya - pawalidwar



At kathliya - view south- Avinash Siddhu



At kathliya-rock bridge



At kathliya-view downstream


To be continued............