Solo Trekking to Bhrigu Lake

September 2019, in between my working hours i had gone through an article about trekking to a high altitude meadow named Bhrigu lake trek.  Those Pictures in that article attracted my heart, and nothing more I need than this call.  Submitted my leave to HR and prepared for a 12 days journey to India.  Travel plan is like this, Take flight till Delhi, and from there by HRTC to Manali.  Packed my back pack with Quechua sleeping bag, Jacket, Trekking Boot,  a summer tent, 2 Pair of Woolen Socks, Torch, Poncho , Water Pouch(3L), Trekking Pants,  And 4-5 T-shirts ! Mid night around 2:00 am I landed at Delhi airport and wait inside for the Delhi metro to start. Around 5:30 am i got metro and reached at ISBT Kashmiri gate bus stand. Taken the bus to Manali around 7:30 am and almost around 14 hrs of back breaking journey taken me to Manali.  It was almost night 11:00 pm I ended my first day’s journey at MANALI. And found one hotel 500 m away from manali bus stand for my night stay.

Day 1:

Decided to take a day for acclimatization before starts trekking.  So I started day one of my trip by exploring Manali.  First I went to see Hadimba temple which was built on 14th century in midst of a pine forest.  It’s only a kilometre far from my hotel. There is nobody i found except few locals. So for me it felt great to sitting idle and roaming around the pine forest and temple all alone.  An hour and half passed the people started coming, so I decide left there and move to have my breakfast.  Near outside temple  I found a small hotel and ate delicious momos and maggi. Also taken one scooty from there for that days balance journey.

Paid the rent for scooter and went to see Vashishtha village. This small village is named after the sage Vashishtha, the Guru of Lord Rama. Located at a distance of about 2 km from Hadimba temple. A beautiful trip along the Beas River took me to that village. It is a beautiful village, with temples of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Guru Vashishtha Along with some houses and businesses. For a few hours I spent there by exploring the sights, and enjoying the culture. It was about noon, so i decided to head out for my lunch. After lunch went straight to Nature Park. It’s a Lovely place, calm and quiet with no people and no noise. The park is actually a small dense forest of pine and cedar Trees. I spent hours alone in that forest, Roaming around and enjoying the music of silence. Time had passed and realized that evening had begun, so I decided to go back to my room. The scooty was returned back and booked a gypsy to Gulaba, were the next day's trekking destination is.

Day: 2

At 6:30 am I checked out of my hotel and headed out to Gulaba Choda mode, from were I had to start my trek. It took about 1 hour to reach, there I saw Mount Hanuman Tibba and other snow-capped Pirpanjal mountain ranges. And on the foot of Himalayas the beautiful Solang Valley, all this visible from there. To the opposite side of this view I have to trek. After few meters of trekking found a small natural stream of glacier water is flowing, filled up my 3 liter water pouch from here and started again my climbing up. It’s a well-marked and gradual ascent trail laid till the first base camp rola koli. But where I reached was bitar dhar which is 2 kilometers further behind actual base camp and it took me 7 hours to reach there. Here I met a guy named Naveen Thakur. He is working for a trekking company. He helped me by giving accommodation and food in his tent. And it became a blessing for me, because what I carrying only in this trek is a summer tent with me and it can't withstand 0-6 degree temperature. And I realized that night, if he weren't there to help me, I would may be frozen and dead there.

 Day: 3

Morning I started trekking towards Brighu Lake. Comparatively it was easier than the first day trek, also a heavenly one! Mighty Mountains, Beautiful grass lands, glacial water streams, Horses grazing freely in the meadows. All those views are Soothing for my eyes, Drank water from heavenly springs there, and breathed the most pure oxygen, that I never experienced before. What more a traveler need than this!

After a few kilometers of trekking, I reached the beautiful valley of Rolakoli, I had never been in such a place before, at that time I felt like I was in a dream or heaven. A small silver stream is passing through the valley, and I sat for hours on its shores, even forgot that I should to reach Lake Brighu. Because I had forgotten myself in the mesmerizing beauty of the valley! I see no one else there between me and Mother Nature, I am alone in her lap, and enjoying her unconditional love! A drop of water from heaven called me out of my dreams and suddenly the weather changed, soon the Fog covered all over the valley and drizzle began. It took me back to the real world. I took my pocho and covered myself, i saw the tent of some traveling group a little farther away, and went there to ask them about the trail towards Brighu Lake, but their answer made me disappointed!. They asked me to don’t go up now. It is already drizzling rain, the last step towards the lake is full of steep boulders, and if the rain may get strong it cannot be crossed!

With a heavy heart I started my walk back to the tent! Once the valley was out of my sight, the drizzle became heavy, and it felt like someone was throwing sand at me! I stood there and looked around my surroundings, it was awesome!! Huge hills above  and vast meadows laid below Me.! There I am standing alone in that ravine in the rain. Little ice balls started to fall along with the rain and the hail fall got Stronger. I lost my movements and stood there. That Moment I am not crying, not thinking, just I lived that ecstasy moment of my life ! 15-20 minutes passed and the rain was over. I saw that the surrounding meadows were slightly covered in white snow! Using my walking pole I grab some ice balls off the ground and take them to my lips! How can I express that emotion?? The answer is "I don't know"!

Spent some more time there and walked back to my tent! My mind is empty and I don't want to see Bhrigu Lake anymore! So I decided to walk back to Gulaba next morning. But didn't know, there was still something waiting for me in that night also! 

Temperature was dropped down to 0 and the big shower started with a hailstorm, and I got out of the sleeping bag in the next morning felt like I was slept inside a refrigerator last night!! Came out of the tent and done some exercise and my body again got back in to its metabolism quickly! 

 Later As I went through the pictures I took, I didn't find even single picture of yesterday's ecstasy moment that filled my soul!! I don’t know why?May be at that time, that very moment, I don’t want any distraction between me and nature! Which I am recognizing now! 

Vishnu K.V
09/06/2019