Munsyari - Khalia Top Part 1

Hi all,

during the Gandhi jayanti/dusshera holiday (september 29-october 2, 2006), i had gone for a small trek to khalia top in munsyari. it is a very small trek (compared to the milam glacier trek i had done about a year ago in the same region). however, u can get some good views and also be back home in time for supper.

first, the location of the place.

Name: munsyari
Planet: earth
Continent: Asia
Country: India/Bharat
Region: North India
State: uttarakhand (formerly known as uttaranchal)
Sub region: Kumaon
District: Pithoragarh

Lat/Lon: 30.1° N 80.2° E

Google Map: click here to view the google map

Weather Report: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/42121.html

That information should be sufficient for you to know where Munsyari is situated.

As for how to get there,

1). reach Delhi/Dilli

Now you can go by bus/train

Train: Catch the ranikhet express that leaves the old delhi railway station at around 10 pm. it reaches kathgodam by around 6 am in the morning.

OR

you can go to Anand Vihar inter state bus terminus (ISBT). go "inside" the bus station to the terminal from where u get buses to uttarakhand/uttaranchal. it is recommended that u take the roadways buses from "inside" the bus station. there will be many private operators who start from a ground that is "outside" the isbt. please avoid them.

the private operators will not move till their buses are full. also, they will tell u that u r the last passenegr and as soon as u boards, they will move. but sometimes i have seen them leaving at around 12 midnight also. then they will stop everywhere and even take local short distance passengers. so their buses are overstuffed and very stinky. they might not even go to the final destination if they don't get enough passengers and will not return the money.

the government buses leave on time and follow a pre defined path. they don't pick up local passengers. so it is better to take them.

from kathgodam u can take jeeps/buses to munsyari. but they leave very early in the morning. munsyari is a further 260 kms from kathgodam. u can even contact a driver named Pradyuman. his contact details are given here

my plan (+ what happened) was like this:
wednesday night: leave chennai. get flight to delhi. land in delhi by 8:30 pm. rush to anand vihar isbt. catch the 10 pm bus to kathgodam.
thursday: reach kathgodam at around 6 am. phone pradyuman. he will come and pick me up. change and freshen up at his house itself (coz the kmvn guest house was fully booked). leave immediately for the hills. small snacks a little way before almora. brunch at berinag (he gives really good paranthas). afternoon snacks at thal. tea at kuitee. evening prasad at kalamuni. and be in munsyari by sunset.

saturday: watch sunrise over panch chuli from the rest house. then start trek. climb till a little way below khalia top. camp there for the night.

sunday: get up early. climb to khalia top to get the views. then come down to the road. take a lift back to the town. go to the guide's house for a hot lunch of local yummy food. roam the market, enjoy the local delicacies. buy shawls and caps.

monday: (gandhi jayanti) - catch the 4 am bus to kathgodam. reach kathgodam by 6 pm. then catch next bus to delhi. reach delhi by 3 am. then go to airport. catch morning flight to chennai via hyderabad. phew.


i started taking the pics after kathgodam. here they are.


way to bhimtal.


view of kathgodam from the road




good old nainital - in the original size pic u can even spot sem (st. joseph's) clearly



reached bhimtal. the huge lake and a small island in between.


this was the house that was shot in the movie "koi mil gayaa". this house was the lovely preity zinta's house in the movie. that movie was shot in nainital and bhimtal. this house belongs to some retired colonel and he had given it for the movie.


another view of the lake


this is the town of bhowali. it is near the fruit bowl of uttarakhand. lots of fruits from ramgarh and surrounding areas are sold in its markets. u can grab some for the journey if u r feeling hungry.



fruits in a bhowali shop. look closely, u can see neem karori baba's picture in the centre of this picture :-)


this is a picture of kainchi. there is a famous hanuman temple over here.






this cute dog was sitting outside the dhaba in kainchi. aahhh, such peaceful looks.


getting closer to almora. gaining some height now.


approaching almora



first view of almora..and also the himalayan peaks in the background


i stopped the car to get some snaps. the views were pretty decent

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