At 6:17AM, a hundred metres before the Chandrashila [0] peak, my body hit that classic “Dude, I think I’ve hit the limit!” signal. Didn’t collapse yet, but it started complaining.
We’d been climbing since 2:00 AM, completely uphill - almost 6 kilometres in ~4 hours - plus the past 3 days of trekking all day. The altitude was touching 12,000 feet, the air was thin, and every breath felt like a sharp cold needle through the lungs. My shirt was drenched with sweat, and if I stopped for even 30 seconds, the winds would start freezing me. I had to keep moving, but my body wanted to file a complaint.
And the hardest part? Sunrise was in 15 minutes. The sunrise was basically the whole point of this trek - seeing it from the Chandrashila peak. We’d been trekking for 3 days just for this one moment.
In that short, steep stretch, when the body started slowing down, the mind did what it always does in these moments - it replayed how we even got there - and honestly, that’s probably what kept me going.
Deoria Taal - Walking Into a Childhood Story
The beginning of this trek was 3 days back at Deoria Taal [1]. Our guide mentioned that the “Yaksha’s Questions” [2] story from the Mahabharata is believed to have happened at this lake.
That hit differently.
Growing up, I loved that story - mom used to narrate it to me a lot. Patience, restraint, clear thinking under pressure. Standing at the actual lake felt surreal. It connected the trek to something much older and much more personal.
From Deori Taal, we entered the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary [3]. This was easily the most “stoic” part of the trek.
Deep, dense forest. Rhododendrons [4], Maples, Oaks everywhere. Streams cutting across the trail. Infinite bird calls from directions you can’t guess. And yeah - this forest has leopards, Himalayan black bears, and snakes. I’m shit scared of wildlife. We did see a snake. We saw pug marks of a bear on a tree. There were phases where I was alone - couldn’t see any teammate - and it was scary as hell thinking an apex predator could just show up.
But weirdly, being at the mercy of nature is also beautiful. Like, there’s something honest about it. Stoics believe [5] the right way to live is in harmony with nature. Follow the rules, live with nature, and die when it’s time - like how an apple falls off the tree when it’s time.
That’s the mantra I kept chanting as I walked alone ahead.
Cold Summit Night
The night of the summit was freezing. We slept at ~7PM and woke up around ~12:30AM, to start the climb at ~2:00AM. We were well-fed but had barely slept - and it was insanely cold.
But the Indiahikes [6] team had things in control, as always. Their briefing was solid, energy was good - even when some teammates were panicking. We started in moonlight with headlamps on, the trail glowing faintly. Unprepared as always, I didn’t have a headlamp - but trekking is a team sport, so I was fine :)
Fast forward to the present. 100 metres to go. Back to the incline. Back to the cold, thin air.
I paused for 2 minutes. Took a quick photo of the peak. Reminded myself why I was here. Who I am. Why finishing this trek matters.
And then the adrenaline hit. Slow, steady, hoff hoff, breath after breath, until the slope finally opened up.
Mountains don’t care how fit or strong you are - they only test if you’ll keep going.
I reached the top about 7 minutes before sunrise. A few teammates were already there. We saw the golden glow beginning - and it was worth everything. People say it’s about the journey, not the destination. Honestly? The destination is a part of the journey.
The sky lit up in gold. A 360-degree view of peaks that have been standing for thousands of years - Chaukhamba, Kedar, Trishul, Nanda Devi - all waiting for the sun.
We were (literally) chilling on the peak, praying the sun comes out quickly. Clicked photos, congratulated each other, then just sat quietly, watching the sky change in dramatic colours every minute.
When the sun rose and finally hit our eyes, it felt unreal. I felt a calm sense of satisfaction while shivering like a frail leaf. No big enlightenment. Just clean, sharp clarity - the kind that only shows up after not giving up in cold wind at 12.2K feet.
Moving on
Like most treks, I ended up bonding with a few people - and later explored Rishikesh with them. Food, walking, banter, laughter. One of those short bursts of friendship that you know won’t extend forever, but still hits deep.
People measure bonds by longevity. But honestly,
Depth is depth, whether it lasts 10 years or 10 minutes.
In the end, I got exactly what I wanted from this trek - better cardio, sharper physical confidence, a full mental detox, new friends and a mind that feels rock solid again.
Break’s done.
Back to work, and back to the gym - with 2x the intensity.
PS: Highly recommend this trek [7] - with one fair warning: even if you’re “fit,” the last day will test you. If you’re doing Chandrashila or any trek in India, do it with Indiahikes. Not sponsored - they just do a damn good job. This was my third trek with them, and each one has been fulfilling in its own way.
Everyone must trek, because trekking transforms lives.
References
- [0] Chandrashila - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrashila
- [1] Deoriatal - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deoria_Tal
- [2] Yaksha’s Questions - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaksha_Prashna
- [3] Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctury - https://kedarnathwildlife.uk.gov.in/
- [4] Rhododendron - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron
- [5] Stoicism and living in harmony with nature - https://whatisstoicism.com/stoicism-resources/guest-post-the-stoic-idea-of-living-in-accordance-with-nature/
- [6] IndiaHikes - https://indiahikes.com/
- [7] Deorital Chandrashila Trek - https://indiahikes.com/deoriatal-chandrashila-trek