Lambhari Trek, Himachal

Mountains has always been my favorite place. I always believe that Nature heals your soul and it calls you when in need. After my knee surgery in 2016, my trekking life started. This Lambhari Trek was never actually in my bucket list as never heard about it.

I was in disturbed state and was just scrolling the facebook ladies travel group and found this Trek ad by SHEwanders. Without any second thought, I just messaged, got the details and immediately booked, as I really wanted to get lost. When enquired, I was told with my body conditions and previous treks, this is similar and I can do it.

Booked a flight to Chandigarh and from there took a volvo to Aut. A drop off before the tunnel that goes to Kullu. The actual drop off time was 6.30am and accordingly a pick up was arranged from there. But, bus reached by 5.40am itself and dropped me there on the Himachal highway, where none were there.I called the cab driver who said he would come in sometime as on the way.  I was actually feeling scared as I have to wait all alone on the Highway. The guy said, Ye Himachal hai ji, bahut safe hai..jyada socho nahi. I had no other choice to wait. Thankfully there was a street light under which I just sat. The other side was the Tirthan river flowing. It was dark and cold too. After 20 mins the pickup came and i felt relaxed.

Tirthan Anglers Retreat

A beautiful place to just relax. Reached here a day before trek. It had a wonderful and peaceful Tirthan river running behind. We did some fishing and were lucky to get 2 fishes which we let it go back into water. A perfect place to just be in nature listening to the sound of river. Night we had campfire and chitchats with other travellers. After dinner, we retired to our rooms to get a good sleep before the trek.

Day 1:

Nov 1, 2019

After breakfast, we all started to Jalori pass. It was a fun ride as I had stood behind the pickup van and enjoyed the beauty of the place. We reached Jalori pass by lunch time and had rajma rice. Then started our trek to Serolsar lake.  It was damn cold as winter started. The group was small and fun loving people. The walk was easy and normally locals do it as a day hike. We reached the campsite behind the lake. Tents were set up and campfire was also set. It was an open place and so we were all shivering. Trout Adventure team took care of being a guide, chef and good company throughout.

Day 2:
Nov 2, 2019

Due to severe cold, we couldnt sleep the whole night in the tent. I got up early and had good gossips with the team sitting near the fire. After breakfast, we started our trek..

The 2nd day of trek.. damn! What an experience! Never ever thought in my weirdest of dreams that something like this could come up and I had to do that. The start of the day was climbing uphill without any trails. It was breath taking and had somehow managed to climb. The 2nd stage of it was to climb down the hill where it was rocky and slippery. If one just slips, thats it, for sure will break some part of your body. There was a point where one has to cross the rock to other side and when you look down, it sends you a shiver in your body. Esp for 1st timers like me. There was no other choice than doing it as one cant climb up and return. We had 2 local guides with us. One was a 64 yr called Karamchand Mohan, in short we called him Mamu. He held my hand and kept saying "Khulke Chalo, Khulke chalo". And there I was , couldnt even see a place to keep my leg and wondered "kaise chalun in first place"!

He dint leave my hand and almost kept dragging me down. "Trust" is what played the game. I blindly followed him and was down after almost 30mins. This phase of climbing down, taught me Whatever test Life throws at you, Dont overthink nor crib.. one must keep going. Thats the only solution!! God only knows, how much I had cursed myself so much for coming on the trek hahaha (But now, happy I Did this!!!!) After this we all sat and had our lunch that we packed. 

After this tough phase, the trek seemed to be moderate with ups and downs. We reached the camp before it was dark. Long and tiring day it was. We all sat and talked about so many topics near the campfire till the food was ready. Later had our dinner and hoped to get some sleep. The place was little compact and was not that cold and on top of it were damn tired, so we got good sleep.

Day3:
Nov 3, 2019

Morning was so beautiful outside. We could see the mountain ranges. We had our breakfast and packed the lunch too. The start of the trek itself was a climb up hill. It was really tough for me but after a while, our guide took a different route so it would not stress. Every few mins we took break and then walk. After reaching top, when I saw down, it was scary. Sometimes, without any route we end up the destination. After this the walk was straight  but without any trials. It was only walk walk and walk till we reached the beautiful meadow. 

It started snowing also and when I reached the meadow, was feeling so happy like a small child I ran here and there. It was worth taking all the efforts to reach here. When you see this place, one forgets all the tiredness. We all sat there and had lots of fun. The view was fantastic. The silence at this place was perfect. After an hour, we had to get back down to the Lambri base camp. 

The descend was little steep and we had to literally run slowly but carefully. After seeing the camp, I relaxed. Sat alone on a rock and Just WAS there!! That moment was so precious where I FELT BEING MY OWN SELF. What an experience, What a feeling it is.. cant be expressed in words! Just NO Thoughts! 

We reached camp after sometime as it was getting cold. The guide team already reached before and set the fire woods for us and some snacks ready. Hatsoff to these people. There was mustard plant outside the Shephereds shelter, where we stayed. They plucked fresh leaves and made sarson ka saag for dinner. Such a tasty food thats cooked on fire woods. One cant get in any star hotels!  We had a long evening to kill time. Though all were exhausted, couldnt sleep before dinner. Imagine.. No network and only our group on a mountain.. Complete silence.. except the woods burning and the breeeze. Watching the sky, moon, stars in pitch dark. One of the trekker explained about a Himachali traditional folk song meaning..it was about Shiva.. Dhudu Nacheya song. Fell in love with the tune and song after listening to the music. What a memorable time it was!!! 

After dinner, back to tents to catch up sleep. But.. it started raining badly. we peeped and realised it was hailstones or Ole what they call. We were freezing and could catch glimpses of sleep only.

Day4:

Nov 4, 2019

Morning outside was so different and beautiful. Everything was covered with snow. Spent time playing in those and clicking pics and just sitting there. At that moment, I needed nothing. Felt the LIFE. Nothing actually matters in this temporary Life! Some kind of emptiness is felt and happiness too!!! 

Last day of trek was another phase to come back to civilization. The way was too steep, rocky, thorny bushes. 4 hours of fight with self to get through these and come down to road. On the way, there were little meadows, rocky paths too. 

Felt a relief after reaching the road. These 4 days of trek i felt was actually too long. Probably coz I had all the time for my own self. 

The best part of trekking is when you reach the top and see the beautiful landscape, the surroundings, the mountain ranges.. all the tiredness vanishes and the efforts that one takes to reach here, we feel proud of ourselves.

Experienced campfire, gossips with co-trekkers and learning lot of things, staying in shepherds temporary stays, how life of the local guides is, the simple yet yummy food cooked by our guides, esp Sarson ka saag that which we got fresh in the camp site, laughing on silly jokes...

Whatever it is, Trekking life is something one has to experience and feel it..cannot be explained!

Though this might be an easy trek for regular trekkers, for some like me as beginners, it was an adventure. Lots to learn in this process. Had confidence gained that I too can do these things, after a knee surgery, at this age of 40+. Nothing actually is meant to be cribbed for. Nothing is permanent in this Temporary Life.

Its all in our Mind. We are as we think.. as Budha says!

By evening we got back to Tirthan valley and next day back to our flights. Thus ends the journey of 4 days trek which was beautiful, memorable and life lessons learnt.

Thanks to SHEwanders and Trout Adventure team for making this happen!!!!