Gangotri I

Diary for 9th October.

Thank god that Uma forced me to buy these inners all those years back when we went to Tawang and beyond. And, praise my brilliance to dig them out and carry them.

Because, I am now sitting with the inners on, plus two layers of woollens.

The warmth is just creeping in, after a couple of drinks.

It is cold now.

It was comfortable till just after lunch.

Then, as the sun decided it was sleep time, the wind started picking up and the chill increased.

Have fun, you guys in the plains. 

Left Uttarkashi at 0700, comfortable. 

Was force fed a cup of tea by the resort.

Saw a water fall very soon after I left. Not too high. But the force was amazing.


Great drive. Road was as good as it could be. Stopped as often as I could to take pictures.




Had an aloo parotha on the way up, just the way it should not be. No aloo anywhere. But, if I compare that with the rock jaw idles that the Tamilian couple were having at the same dingy dhaba, my stuff was brilliant. It was hot off the pan.

Reached the resort well ahead of check in time. No mistake this time. But, the manager still tried to slime me into a corner room, because I was alone. Put foot down, and demanded river facing room as per fancy online booking voucher. Left him cribbing about head office, but I got my river facing room. Resort is at 2620 meters. And, on the banks of the Ganges.



Took a walk to the village nearby. 




Had a cup of tea and a chat with the locals. Learnt that all the apples being sold locally by the road side were B and C grade - the ones picked off the ground, which had dropped for whatever reason. “A” grade - the ones plucked off the trees - were being packed and shipped out.  Saw roadside stuff being picked up by the Bengali hordes who seem to have suddenly made an appearance. Didn’t indulge as I have another couple of weeks on the road.

Went back to the river post lunch.




Got back to the resort , and discovered a library. Picked up a book, and as the sun set and it got colder, finished it.

Hot bath and went for dinner. Asked and got a heater for the room. Thereafter, it was very comfortable.

No signals here. Will spend mid day tomorrow and day after in Gangotri. Believe there are mobile signals up there. Soak in the sun. Drink tea and have lunch. 

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