IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PILGRIMS

The two lakes seen in the lower half of the picture are Mansarovar on the left and Rakshstal to the right;Mount Kailas is in the snow-capped range immediately above the lakes.[This satellite photo of Mansarovar and rakshastal is from NASA's 'worlwind' which, lets you zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth. Leveraging Landsat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data, World Wind lets you experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if you were really there.

Virtually visit any place in the world. Look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps, or along the African Sahara.Pl click on this link to see this amazing imagery-
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov
Comments by Rudra Rebbapragada
I am happy to share this memory of my journey from 1973 when I served in the
Garhwal Himalayan Sector.This journey I under took to visit men at two forward Company locations in the KUMAON HIMALAYAS.I had no prior knowledge that I would be walking in the foot steps of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who over hundreds of years used the same route to visit Mount KAILASH and ManSarovar.After 1962 Chinese aggression,the pilgrimage had come to an halt and I read that small batches of pilgrims are now allowed to travel up this route to enter Tibet.

Istarted from GAUCHAR inCHAMOLI DistrictfUTTARANCHALandtraveledtoPITHORAGHAR District in a jeep.The road was in a very good condition and theweather was fabulous.Iaccompanied my Sector Commander on this trip.He is anInfantry Officer from BELGAUM(KARNATAKA)and his name is Colonel Serdesh Pande.The road trip offered me some beautiful views of Hill Stations like ALMORA and we went past DARCHULA and reached a place called TAWA GHAT where theroad ends.It is located in the North East part of KUMAON Himalayas and RIVER KALI forms the border between India and Nepal.Indian pilgrims traditionally followed this land route to reach LIPU-LEKH PASS and travel further north to have Darshan of Kailash.We had a small camp where the trail begins.We started in the morning and initially I could keep up with the pace of my Commander.He is a tough guy and he proceeded walking non-stop even when the ascent is steep and daunting.He went ahead and I was trailing far behind him but I had a chance to stop and enjoy the scenery every now and then.This mountain route was in use for such a long time,the track is nice and wide and quite beaten up.As I was walking north,I met several of nomadic tribe families(GUJJARS)walking down the trail on their annual migration before commencement of winter season.They were moving down with all of their belongings and live stock.Even the very old had to walk.Only babies were carried.Eventually,before Sun set I had reached my camp almost an hour or more after my Commander.When I reached,the camp looked totally deserted.I asked the sentry as to what had happened to every one.The sentry had replied that the COLONEL had taken out every one on a training exercise.

You may well imagine his toughness.He is UNBEATABLE.I take pride in our Infantry.He was out there,not to impress any one and not to get a good report from some superior but to test the men.He did not want to waste one single minute to relax or refresh him self.He walked with out a break and was absolutely ready to start his mission.I knew this because I was coming behind him.I just relaxed for the rest of the evening.I was really impressed by his strength,endurance and devotion to his job.He is an Officer who took full pride in his work,even though there is no one to watch and appreciate what he was doing at a company out post.He went away the next day after the exercise and inspection.I stayed back for a slightly longer stay.I remember purchasing some apples from a small orchard next door.
I trekked to the next Company location(earlier they had come down to the first location for training)along with the men.En route,I have seen Mount Kailash of India(a smaller version of Kailash in TIBET).This camp is surrounded by high peaks and some dense forests.We had a stove that burns wood and keeps the room warm all night.The Lupi-Lekh Pass is some distance from the camp and due to tensions with China,we were sending only men who were fully armed for patrolling.
Towards the end of that year,my Commander returned from a Conference and informed that I was selected for a position in the Hospital Wing of our Unit and told me that he could not resist that move because of my Senior Executive Medical Officer's open appreciation for my professional work.I ended my tenure in GARHWAL and KUMAON HIMALAYAS without visiting major centers of pilgrimage but never the less very fruitful and enjoyable.
Rudra Rebbapragada