Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Culmination [Part - VII]

Life clocked back to normal after Durga Puja and believe it or not people in Kolkata is looking forward to October 3, 2011, the schedule for next year Durga Puja. I am all alone as folks are gone to North India and enjoying my space. Laxmi Puja will be the next celebration and that falls on October 22. Morning August 30, after bath had a very light breakfast, packed my luggage and boarded the bus. This time we were going back to Joshimath and then to Auli, famous for skiing and other winter sport. Auli : Altitude 3000 mts, is an important ski destination.Auli is surrounded by high peaks like Mana, Kamet and tallest of all Nanda Devi. Auli also boasts the Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car. The world's highest man-made lake is at Auli, right next to the private hotel, Clifftop Club. The government has developed this in view of creating artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snowfall.
Ropeway		Nanda Devi Peak?		Village House in Auli
Auli, sounds very poetic, One can reach there by the rope-way maintained by the GMVN. We altogether twenty-five person boarded in a single cable car. Induji and Kailashji decided to visit Sankaracharya Mutt instead and most probably Mr. Ahuja too skipped it but reason was unknown. Therefore, there were other reason for us to visit Auli, from here, one can view Nanda Devi peak, but weather was playing spoilsport, the day was very cloudy. On our way to Auli, we got Nanda Devi for a couple of minutes but it was difficult to click from inside a cable car where all twenty-five people standing very near to each other, so I missed that blink and miss opportunity.
World's highest man-made Lake		Ski slopes waiting for winter		A Lazy Gossip Session
After reaching Auli, we waited there for around two hours but clouds never had pity on us. Of-course during those two hours we enjoyed every bit of time with chitchat and gossip session over a hot cup of tea and pakodas that served by the makeshift restaurant over there. Once, we got back Induji, KailashJi and Mr. Ahuja joined us too. After about half hour bus ride we reached at Joshimath. Madhuri and Madhusudhan Gilda departed to join their relatives for another trip. Madhuji and myself decided against the lunch and just had a bottle milk and lassi, of-course Induji served us with some bananas while other group members had there respective lunch at the different restaurant. We started once more and after another two hours we reached at a small town/village known as PipalKoti, the place where we due to stop for the last night.
Nice place to Relax		Houses on the Slopes		The Peaks from Auli
Pipalkoti, a scenic town, is situated ten km from Birahi in Chamoli District. It is located at an elevation of about 1,219 m. Pipalkoti, is a busy town cradled in the lap of lush green mountain and terraced fields. GMVN was having a small hotel over there, it was modarate one for one night stop-over. Weather was better than other places so decided to dry up some wet clothes that I was carrying from Ghangaria. Once again night I had dinner with Induji and Madhuji. That was the last night for us, so after dinner we sat together in the hotel reception and had a nice little gossip session. Mr. Seth, Mr. Ahuja, Mr. Goyel, Mr. Mohan, Dr. Kahndelwal, Mr. Rajesh, Induji, Madhuji and myself all were there and finally retired for the day. Next day we supposed to back to Hrishikesh and there after our own destination. While lying down thinking about the tour where we were moving between 1000mt. to 4000mt., Sometime up and some time down.
Pipalkoti Village		GMVN TRH		Pipalkoti Step Farming
!!!Up’s or Down’s is just a normal process of our life, no carrier is available to take you up and  there is no break available that can be appliy to prevent you from going down.!!!

[Journey Cont..]