Preparation - No Preparation is good preparation !!
Confirmation of my selection for Batch 1 came sometime in the third week of May. Hence I had roughly a month to get prepared for the Yatra. Main thing was physical fitness. I am a person who can walk long distance WHENEVER NECESSARY, but cannot do walking as an exercise. That too, the bad roads, vehicles blaring behind, dogs chasing the person - these things do not enthuse me to walk as an exercise.
3 weeks before 9th June 2013, I told myself that I should sincerely, honestly, start some physical exercise like walking, climbing etc. So, I walked for at least 30 minutes as and when I felt like; I must have done this for 3 weeks I suppose. Meera, my friend, suggested that I should do climbing up and down regularly to improve my leg muscles. Living in a 7 storeyed building, this was not difficult - I started walking with my trekking shoes every day - climbing to the terrace of the building.
Various blogs, write-ups on the Yatra gave me an indication that a major part of the "preparation" involved water-proofing everything. This was in my mind when I started packing my bags. I packed my clothes in plastic bags and kept all documents in plastic bags. I was told that Delhi State Govt would be giving a back-pack to each yatri and hence, I packed my things in a normal suitcase and left for Delhi on 9th June 2013.
In case this blog is going to be used by someone who will undertake this Yatra sometime in the future, please keep in mind the following while packing:
1. Do not carry more than 15 to 20 kg of personal things.
2. 5 kg weight will be added on behalf of each Yatri - grocery, vegetables etc. for China side would be carried from India.
3. Take small packs of ready to eat energising snacks like Ground nut chikki, dry fruits for eating while trekking.
4. Carry some small gifts - chocolates, bindhi, pencils, pens, colour pencils etc. to give away to children on the way - from Shirkha to Gunji. We walk through small poor villages where children stand and greet us with Om NamaShivaya.
5. If possible, make 3 small packs of your personal belongings - one set to be used till Dharchula and that can be left there before proceeding further. Second set that can be used upto Nabidhang and can be left there before proceeding further. Third set to be used in China side.
6. Water-proofing everything is important - hence carry some extra thick plastic bags - to cover each and everything.
7. Travel light with minimum things - porters are also human beings - it is criminal to load them with too much luggage - I was horrified to notice some Yatris loading the porters with 10 to 15 kg of load (this was other than the luggage they had brought which was being sent with other common luggage).
8. Have a light-weight small back-pack where essentials like passport, money, documents, one set of clothes and essential medicine and some small packs of eatables and water bottle can be carried personally even while sitting on pony.
9. Avoid carrying huge bags on your shoulders, as pony also has a weight limit. Overloading anything is not good.
10. The woollen gloves that I bought for Rs.350/- in Thane (same quality, same design) was sold at Dharchula for Rs.60/-. So, be kind to yourself and others and do not take more than what you need. If situation arises, certain necessary things can be bought at Dharchula, Budhi, Gunji, or even at Taklakot.
11. Practice saying Om Namashivaya instead of Thank you and Sorry.
12. Physical fitness is must - but mental fitness and readyness for hardhip is more important.
13. God is full of love for all of us - right from the day your selection information comes till you come back home should be considered as Yatra - and our conduct and habits should be watched and improved.
That is all on preparation and packing... next post would really talk of the days at Delhi and the days till we reach Dharchula...
Om NamaShivaya!
Confirmation of my selection for Batch 1 came sometime in the third week of May. Hence I had roughly a month to get prepared for the Yatra. Main thing was physical fitness. I am a person who can walk long distance WHENEVER NECESSARY, but cannot do walking as an exercise. That too, the bad roads, vehicles blaring behind, dogs chasing the person - these things do not enthuse me to walk as an exercise.
3 weeks before 9th June 2013, I told myself that I should sincerely, honestly, start some physical exercise like walking, climbing etc. So, I walked for at least 30 minutes as and when I felt like; I must have done this for 3 weeks I suppose. Meera, my friend, suggested that I should do climbing up and down regularly to improve my leg muscles. Living in a 7 storeyed building, this was not difficult - I started walking with my trekking shoes every day - climbing to the terrace of the building.
Various blogs, write-ups on the Yatra gave me an indication that a major part of the "preparation" involved water-proofing everything. This was in my mind when I started packing my bags. I packed my clothes in plastic bags and kept all documents in plastic bags. I was told that Delhi State Govt would be giving a back-pack to each yatri and hence, I packed my things in a normal suitcase and left for Delhi on 9th June 2013.
In case this blog is going to be used by someone who will undertake this Yatra sometime in the future, please keep in mind the following while packing:
1. Do not carry more than 15 to 20 kg of personal things.
2. 5 kg weight will be added on behalf of each Yatri - grocery, vegetables etc. for China side would be carried from India.
3. Take small packs of ready to eat energising snacks like Ground nut chikki, dry fruits for eating while trekking.
4. Carry some small gifts - chocolates, bindhi, pencils, pens, colour pencils etc. to give away to children on the way - from Shirkha to Gunji. We walk through small poor villages where children stand and greet us with Om NamaShivaya.
5. If possible, make 3 small packs of your personal belongings - one set to be used till Dharchula and that can be left there before proceeding further. Second set that can be used upto Nabidhang and can be left there before proceeding further. Third set to be used in China side.
6. Water-proofing everything is important - hence carry some extra thick plastic bags - to cover each and everything.
7. Travel light with minimum things - porters are also human beings - it is criminal to load them with too much luggage - I was horrified to notice some Yatris loading the porters with 10 to 15 kg of load (this was other than the luggage they had brought which was being sent with other common luggage).
8. Have a light-weight small back-pack where essentials like passport, money, documents, one set of clothes and essential medicine and some small packs of eatables and water bottle can be carried personally even while sitting on pony.
9. Avoid carrying huge bags on your shoulders, as pony also has a weight limit. Overloading anything is not good.
10. The woollen gloves that I bought for Rs.350/- in Thane (same quality, same design) was sold at Dharchula for Rs.60/-. So, be kind to yourself and others and do not take more than what you need. If situation arises, certain necessary things can be bought at Dharchula, Budhi, Gunji, or even at Taklakot.
11. Practice saying Om Namashivaya instead of Thank you and Sorry.
12. Physical fitness is must - but mental fitness and readyness for hardhip is more important.
13. God is full of love for all of us - right from the day your selection information comes till you come back home should be considered as Yatra - and our conduct and habits should be watched and improved.
That is all on preparation and packing... next post would really talk of the days at Delhi and the days till we reach Dharchula...
Om NamaShivaya!
4 comments:
Very well written.
Hello sir , Thanks for sharing your experience with us and giving us useful tips . These are really helpful during Mansarovar Yatra .
Extremely informative post. Great tips for those who are intending to embark on the trip of lifetime Mount Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
I visited Mount Kailash Mansarovar back in 2013 and it was a memorable trip in my life. It's a privilege to have darshan of Lord Shiva. Also sceneries are stunning, amazing landscape and great Tibetan people.
Cheers
wow amazing thanks for sharing this
travel kashmir
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