Page 12 - Seniorstoday September 2022 Issue
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in between mountains. Since we were up here to 14,000 feet to keep this campsite
delayed by a day into Dakchi, our Kailash going. The organisational logistics for this
sighting on Aug 31 was also delayed by a pilgrimage that Isha has pulled off speak
day and pushed to Sep 1. Dakchi is a much volumes.
larger campsite. Some beautiful scenic
walks included the majestic Mount Jumla Day 7
(pronounced Jamula by the locals) which Lapcha - Clearly on the Sep 1 morning,
is located in the Karnali province of Nepal, there was a palpable sense of excitement
snowcapped, pristine in appearance, and amongst the group as we prepared for
considered very holy by the local Nepalese. the final leg of the pilgrimage - Dakchi to
Lapcha. Medicals on the Aug 31 evening
were more intensive. We would have to
be awake by 3.30 am, ready by 4.15 am for
a guru pooj, and have breakfast by 5 am
before proceeding to the jeeps and (can you
believe it) tractors to take us to Lapcha. The
Limi river,
Dr Sujeet Rajan
Mount Jumla
About 100 gas cylinders are available at
any given point of time in Dakchi.
Dr Sujeet Rajan
Limi river
flows from Tibetan mountains into
Dakchi, and then down south into
Nepalganj near the border of Nepal and
India. There are a couple of policemen here
Dr Sujeet Rajan or keep a watch on three villages, each
Gas cylinders at Dakchi camp about two hours walk from each other! The
These are transported by air to Simikot, army is stationed at Hilsa on the Nepal-
and from there in a tractor across rugged Tibetan border, and is conspicuous by its
roads. A tractor can take about 30 - 50 absence in this part of Nepal. After walking
cylinders at a time. There are over 100 across a suspension bridge across the river
occupants at the camp in Dakchi at any Limi we got into our assigned jeeps and
given point of time, and at least 4 to 5 tractors. For our group we had five jeeps
cylinders of gas are required per day and two tractors. The hardiest amongst us
to keep this camp functional. It is just could sit at the back of a tractor trolley and
amazing how these cylinders are brought the less hardy were allowed to sit in jeeps.
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