Kedarkantha Winter Trek Dec 2012

While many people abort their travelling plans when its  snowing and temperature drops to sub zeros, others see it as an opportunity to make an unforgettable , special, and challenging experience  

After much deliberation and due diligence on which trek to choose, I opted for Kedar Kantha for December 23^rd batch. I booked my tickes and was done with the registration in September and was dying to kill time. In fact I was actually counting days left for the trek. As it was my first trekking experience. I was truly in love for this trek.

Day 1: Bombay to Dehradun

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Took a flight from Mumbai to Dehradun (Jolly Grant Airport). Dehradun Airport is in a village called Doiwala which is about half an hour run from Dehradun city. My relatives came to pick me up from Airport. Since Dehradun is my hometown so I have lot of relatives in and around Dehradun. Next day was the start of trek. I reached Dehradun Railway station at sharp 7 am. We waited there for all the trekkers to reach, as many of them were reaching by train (Mussorie Express which starts from Delhi at 11:55 pm and reach Dehradun at around 6:00 am). Thankfully the train was not late on that day. Soon we boarded the taxies for Sankari. We halted near Kempty falls (Mussorie) for breakfast and at Purola for Lunch. At Purola they say Kedarkantha Peak is visible but that’s all rumour we tried watching out for the Peak and it wasn’t there. We reached Sankri at around 5:30 pm. It was going to be a chilled night. We could feel the drop in temperature. 

Sankari Hills..

Introduction Round - an ice breaking event..

Day 2 Sankri Juda Ka Talab

We got up at 6:00 am in the morning and didn’t feel like coming out of our cozy beds. But a beautiful morning was waiting for us. We did a jogging exercise and a short trek (half and hour) to warm up ourselves. By this time we were acclimatized for this altitude temperature.

After having breakfast we started our trek to Juda Ka Talab. We followed a road to Har Ki Dun and just after walking for 15 minutes the trail to JKT starts. The trail went uphill to our right hand side and we could see the frozen water running across the trail.

Documentaries documented...

In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director.
—Alfred Hitchcock






It was a lazy Sunday evening and as usual was surfing channels. Knowing that it was a prime time so was looking for some great documentaries on Nat Geo and Discovery channel.



Finally I landed up on the channel 557 Discovery channel. It was “Feast India” a popular show on the channel which takes its viewers to a colourful and fascinating glimpse into Indian culture, food and customs. It’s true that diverse cultural influences make each region of India so distinct.


But what more fascinated me more was the fact that India is being so beautifully captured by foreign documentary makers. I was wondering if any Indian documentary maker could have ever existed who can bring India on the International media so much beautifully. I may not have technical knowledge of film making but as a viewer I can always make out which is good and which is best. We get to learn so much from such shows about India that we hardly see any Indian television capturing it. The Indian television and news channels are busy in telecasting the so called ‘Breaking News’. Sometimes it’s really hilarious to read those funny lines flashing at the bottom of your TV screen. Do we really want to see such things? I wonder how a viewer can watch such news channels. Anyways I am not an expert here but really feel that India is lacking in the field of ‘serious journalism’. It gives me immense pleasure to watch good documentaries on Nat Geo and Discovery Channel.



If we look at the Japan’s earthquake in March 2011, none of the Japanese television showcased the stories of people panicking or crying rather the Japanese media was given strict instruction not to showcase such videos. I think we should learn something from the International media.



It’s not the bad story always there have been few exceptions here as well. NDTV have been showcasing a nice documentary on Indian Defence Service called ‘Jai Jawaan’. And there have been a series of some really good documentaries on the same channel itself.



I think its enough of criticising the media now. And for now I should change my area of writing. Will try next time. Till then Happy Reading..!!

Reality shows: The meaner the more popular

‘beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepp beeeeeeeeeeeeepppp f*********kkkkk beeeeeeeepp ‘
This is a common stint in today’s reality shows, more than the original dialogue you hear such beep sounds. Using ‘F’ words and pulling each other’s hair on minor issues in reality shows is becoming a common scene.
Terrible twins embarrassing the participants one by one telling them that they are good for nothing is all about such shows, no no no.... don’t get me wrong till the time viewers enjoy this... they think that they are smart enough to judge the participants. All Crap…. They are just looking for popularity and viewership.
Participants also think that it’s ‘cool’ to use such tactics to become popular within the youth community overnight. Show producers are also happy that their shows are getting popularity and are instant hit but does it give the real picture of country’s youth..?? This is what the youth wants to see or rather wants to hear... Weather it’s the foul language used by contestants or the politics in the name of love by participants these shows gets meaner. Participants are forced to show off and are made to strip dance so as to be in the game. They are openly asked vulgar questions and participants comment on each other’s dress sense or physique.
The meaner, the more popular – that’s the strategy that TV channels seem to follow when they conceptualize reality shows. A mean attitude is what reality shows thrive on. That’s what gets them TRPs and popularity. So viewers wait to see a person getting insulted on national TV. Such matters can be solved backstage, but the producers make sure that everything is played out in the open, in full public view.
But Reality shows are not always about such dirty things…. ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ ‘Sa re gama’ ‘Antakhshari’ ‘India’s got talent’ are such shows which soared popularity too.

Discovery Atlas:Revealed

‘A Portrait of world’s greatest and unique nations seen through the lives of their extraordinary people'
Discover the lives, loves, hopes and dreams of the nations...


Discovery Atlas is the most spectacular documentaries I’ve ever come across on television. It has some great visual record of the history, civilization, geography, industry, technology and people of the world.
Discovery channel launched Discovery Atlas in October 2006 starting from China Revealed. It is a five year documentary television series which will cover four countries each year. Each two-hour episode is narrated by a celebrity, among them are Academy Award Winning 'Gladiator' actor Russell Crowe (Australia Revealed), renowned film director Mira Nair (India Revealed), three-time Emmy award winner James Spader (China Revealed), Oscar nominee and multiple award winner Edward James Olmos (Mexico Revealed).
Discovery Atlas is a documentary television series on the Discovery Channel which focuses on the cultural, sociological, and natural aspects of various countries by exploring their different people, traditions, and lands. The documentary follows the lives and individual struggles of locals, while taking in-depth looks at the countries' history and culture.
It takes the viewers from the life of a gondolier in Italy to a cable operator in Dharavi Mumbai, from a fashion designer in Milan to a marriage planner planning big fat Indian weddings in Delhi. It carries the dreams of a carnival dancer in Rio-de- Janeiro and aspirations of a helicopter pilot in Sao Polo. Truly the world is becoming a global village. Discovery is putting a great effort to bring the world into the living rooms.
The production team of Discovery Atlas traveled to different locations within each country using various forms of transportation, including hot air balloons, propeller planes, bamboo rafts, riverboats, helicopters, bicycle taxis, motorbike taxis and subways.
India Revealed shows the life in the land of Gods, The show follows an upscale wedding planner, a young man attending gurukul to become a Brahmin, Dharavi a large slum in Mumbai is featured during the Festival of Lights.
The most important thing about these documentaries is that it follows the life of locals which is sometimes overlooked by ordinary people. I stay in Mumbai but I was never aware of the story running parallel in Dharavi where an ordinary man is changing lives of many. I’ve also lived in Rishikesh for four years but I never visited Parmarth Niketan, when I saw the story of Anuj being transforming into a Brahmin in the valleys of Uttaranchal I make sure that next time when I visit my hometown (Dehradun) I will surely visit that place. This documentary has captured the breathtaking view of the Sanhdya Aarti on the banks Ganges river in Rishikesh. It’s truly a divine experience to be a part of such an event. And I can say that I am proud to be an Indian.