The Summit of Dreams, The Summit of Inspiration, The Summit of the unknown
2 years ago, I made a decision to visit a hill station after a very long time. It was Nainital, a small town nestled at the foot of the western Himalayan range. There is a mountain in Nainital called Naina Peak, which sits at an elevation of 2611m above sea level. To give you some context, New Delhi sits at an elevation of roughly 200m. So, travel 2.5km straight up towards the sky from Delhi, and you will reach the height of Naina Peak. Someone told me that this trek is very peaceful, funnily I had never done any trek before, and in my ignorance, I didn’t even know what a trek was.
So, we went directly to summit Naina peak, sitting at the base camp at 1pm in the afternoon. As it turns out, treks are supposed to be started early morning, so the ascent and descend doesn’t have to be in the darkness of the night and so we had to return halfway from the mountain, without completing the trek. My calves were sore, my thighs were blasted, my back was in acute pain but my spirit, oh my spirit, it was alive!
They say, “What you seek is seeking you.”, and I think it's very true. Very intelligent as we are, humans still have this simple barrier to transcend, the understanding of the energies that govern the laws of attraction. I am attracted to something I didn’t even know existed a moment ago, someone I haven’t talked to in years, some place I haven’t been in my entire life. How can such a thing hold such weight in our hearts?
Anyway, to the point, I had been preparing for the last 6 months for the Indrahar pass trek, long distance running, squats, hundreds of pushups every day, you name it, I did it all. And then came the day of the trek.
Picture this, will you, picture a landscape painted in hues of emerald and sapphire, where the sun caresses the mountaintops with golden fingers, and the clouds weave a tapestry of dreams. As you stand at the base of the mountain, gazing up at its formidable silhouette, there is a whisper in the wind, inviting you to partake in a dance of courage and beauty. This, my friend, is the call of the Western Himalayas — a beckoning to ascend, to conquer, and to discover the untamed corners of your soul which can never be tamed.
Right from the very first step, my heart was stirring. The picture of beautiful pathways was flashing in front of my eyes.
The first step onto the trail is like opening the first page of an ancient manuscript — one filled with the promise of the unknown, the mysterious, the beautiful.
As the ascent continues, the air becomes crisper, and the rhythm of your heartbeat synchronizes with the pulse of the mountains. The symphony of rustling leaves and distant bird songs serenades your progress, encouraging you to push forward, to overcome the obstacles, both internal and external.
And then, the moment arrives — the moment when you stand atop the world, a conqueror of peaks, a dream-weaver, and a testament to the indomitable spirit that resides within each one of us. The view from the summit is not just a breathtaking panorama of earth and sky; it is a reflection of the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to dream and persevere.
Imagine waking up one day and not remembering any of your troubles, not remembering any of your responsibilities, your frustrations with the world, the anger at your own and other’s ignorance, and having the feeling of being born again, in a new and sane world. That was the feeling we had after climbing up for hours and arriving at our destination at Lahesh Cave, at an elevation of 3500m.
This was the most difficult trek I had to do so far. The most challenging physically and mentally. The overnight stay atop the mountains where bears and leopards are a frequent visit was both frightening and chilling below 0 degrees. But all the tiredness faded away in front of the view.
Next trek with a girl! Hopefully someone who looks like her.
Let’s cease these words, shall we, scroll down slowly and enjoy what we enjoyed. Have a good life, my friend.
Rajat Upadhyay
I am not stupid, I am insane.