Adventure Camps 2014

Triund Trek (Kangra Valley Mcleod Ganj - Dharamshala)

Along the year of lasts came the last camp of the batch of 2015 and I could vouch that each one of us made the most of it. This trip had a great variety of activities and places to visit. After traveling for an entire day, we reached base camp at the mountaineering institute at Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala. The next two days involved rigorous trekking up to a campsite for a night out and the Guna temple. The highlight of these treks was definitely the beautiful snow capped mountains, pleasant weather and of course each other's company. We forgot all our aches and pains when we successfully climbed a steep slope to encounter the fabulous view. We visited His Holiness Dalai Lama's temple and the Famous Norbulingka Institute, where we were introduced to tibetan culture. Arts, crafts, food, religion and beliefs of the Tibetans had been preserved at Norbulingka, and we felt a sense of peace and calmness come over us during this tour. We concluded our trip with artificial wall climbing: a brief insight into rock climbing and belaying, an activity much tougher than it seemed.

Beside the activities planned out for us, we entertained ourselves with the endless rounds of antakshari and dancing. We bonded as a batch in various games and activities around the bonfire. We sat on large rocks by the river and sunbathed or even posed with picturesque sceneries for hours. We sat under the stars and flashed our lights at the constellations we could recognize.

None of us will ever forget the goodie-bag-like packed lunches, the colorful and stunning monasteries, the three tier bunk beds and nights we spent in them.

Ananya Jain, 12C