Trek to Serolsar Lake
The Magic of Mother Nature
In this marathon of life, nothing beats the joy of spending time in the lap of nature. Taking in the freshest of breaths as you take a walk provides an opportunity to unwind and absorb everything that nature has to offer. It is an unforgettable experience, as it is the time when you feel like you’re truly one with your surroundings and at peace. Devishi Aggarwal shares with us her experience of such a journey and her learning from a trekking trip to the Serolsar Lake in Himachal Pradesh, India.
The Trek to Serolsar Lake
A walk through nature provides greatest of the satisfactions. I share my journey as I trekked to the Serolsar Lake in Himachal Pradesh. It was a challenging experience, yet quite rewarding. I gained several insights and learnings during this journey deep inside the mountainous forests of Himachal Pradesh.
It was quite a challenging experience. But the insights I have gotten and the lessons I have learnt from this trip honestly balanced it all out. So, I can undoubtedly say that this was indeed a very rewarding experience.
Nature is the greatest place to heal and recharge.
Such is the grace and charm of nature. It enchants the human soul and rejuvenates it. Nature frees both the human mind and the human body from all day-to-day worldly burdens and gives it immense pleasure.
The delectation brought by a walk through serene natural landscapes is simply indescribable. Here, I share my own journey as I, along with my father and sibling, embarked on a trek to the pristine Serolsar Lake.
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Commencing the Journey
Serolsar is a serene and revered lake situated near the Jhalori pass in the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh. Although this trek was going to be a real test of my physical abilities, it was also going to give me an extremely rewarding and memorable experience.
It was around noon when we commenced our trek.
The sky was clear blue, and the weather was slightly towards the warm side. The opening trail was approximately 5 km long, and it was a wide rocky path going uphill.
A Panorama of Greenery
As we progressed, the trail began getting thinner and even riskier at certain points which were close to the valley. Throughout, we could see dense forests with several varieties of coniferous trees, and a diversity of vegetation growing on the hills to our side.
Deep below, we could see vast stretches of green meadows with cattle grazing in them. That greenery was astounding beyond words.
The Soothing Sound
Somewhere close by, we could hear the birds and also hear the sound of running water. Those sounds came from the Tirthan river, a majestic river decorating the hilly landscape. The sounds simply left us spellbound and made us desire to stay there forever and incessantly admire the beauty of nature.
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The Challenges
The first quarter of this journey was tiring for me, particularly because of the warm weather. Since I was not used to strenuous exercise, my heart rate went up and created throbbing pressure in my head. However, I realized that this is a normal consequence of strenuous exercise and I had nothing to worry about.
Despite such challenges, I did not want to stop and give up.
On the contrary, the prospect of beholding a heavenly sight encouraged me to continue trekking. On our way, we came across several hollow trees. I learnt that this phenomenon had occurred because of decay afflicted by botanical conditions.
Half Way to Heaven
Finally, we reached the mid-point. At that point, the meadows and the rivers had left us and were several feet below us. Many cafes dotted the landscape. They were a great respite for trekkers like us who were not used to the mountains and came from a faraway city situated in the plains.
They gave us an opportunity to refresh ourselves and relish a hot scrumptious lunch. Chilled buttermilk and piping hot Maggi seemed like a reward for our efforts made thus far. Indeed, that meal energized us, and empowered us to move ahead.
The Real Fun Begins
The real fun of the jungle was to begin after that point as the path went on getting steeper and even narrower. Climbing uphill was a challenge as it caused shortness of breath and fatigue. I learnt that the best way of walking on such rocky and steep routes is firmly setting one foot on the ground, and only then moving the other one forward. This technique keeps one from getting dis balanced and slipping.
For a couple of hours or so, we progressed, took brief breaks, and then progressed again. Not getting exhausted and running out of stamina is an essential part of such treks. So, it is highly recommended to not over-exert oneself and stop whenever the body demands rest. Otherwise, completing the trek will become a huge problem and may even lead to bodily harm.
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Interacting with the Locals
On the way, we came across a few local Himachalis who were heading towards our destination, the Serolsar Lake, which is religiously significant and worshipped by them. Their speed and agility impressed me, as they went on effortlessly. What inspired me even more was their politeness and geniality which they displayed to many others like us by motivating us to go ahead and helping anyone in need.
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Nearing The Destination
As we neared the lake, we could see horses meant for ferrying people to the lake. On drawing closer, we found countless small cafes lining the landscape. The variety of food being offered by them simply made everyone’s mouth water.
At a small distance, there were gigantic rocks which were dangerously cut and had to be crossed with great sensibility. Climbing such rocks one by one and setting both feet firmly is certainly the safest way to climb them.
After the rocks ended, around 15-20 stairs had to be climbed to reach the destination.
Feeling On Top of The World
Whoa!
The feeling that we all had after reaching the lake was indeed divine. It made us feel as if we had seen the best sight of our lives.
Surrounded on four sides by grassy terrain and tall trees (which stood at the edges), the lake lay like a massive stretch of clear water and was quite calm without a single ripple on its surface. Greenery was present wherever the eye could see. Towards the other side, we could see tall straight hills (with such a steep slope that they looked uninviting and grueling.)
Locals and tourists encircled the lake relishing the weather and posing for pictures. Nearby, there was a temple which is of great significance to the local Himachalis.
This sight made all the effort and pain feel worthwhile. It helped me learn the virtue of persistence and told me that great rewards lie ahead tough stressful roads and that one must not stop for anything.
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The Weather Playing Tricks
At the lake, I encountered the mysterious weather of the mountains. At one moment, it is windy and cool, while immediately after that, it is warm and sunny. Till date, I have no explanation for this wonderful natural miracle. After some time, we started our return journey.
On our way back, we stopped at one of the cafes we had found near the lake. After walking 5Km, we got to enjoy momos, siddu (a steamed local dish made using flour, potatoes, and onions), and another round of Maggi.
Whoa!
Words fail me to describe how delicious the meal was.
As we progressed further, the weather began playing its tricks on us. Chilly wind pierced through my head, and later, I found myself struggling with the harsh sunlight. That caused a mild headache. In such a situation, I realized, one should cover one’s head with a cap or a scarf to overcome discomfort.
Wait, it’s not over yet
Even though most of the trails while returning went downhill and were simple to cross, there was a steep stretch that was difficult to cross. That stretch caused exhaustion and restlessness. When faced with such a situation, one must not lose hope and keep one’s morale high. Else, completing the trail will become exceedingly difficult and hamper the morale of one’s fellow trekkers. Keeping one’s calm and composure is the most important aspect.
One of the strategies to traverse such a taxing stretch is to walk at a slow pace and not to try and run faster. Doing the former saves energy and facilitates the job, while doing the latter simply afflicts more stress.
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The Final Surprise!
Just after we had almost completed that stretch, the most unanticipated event occurred.
Suddenly, without any warning, thick black clouds filled the erstwhile bright sky. Pitter-patter could be heard from a distance, and as we moved ahead, it began getting louder and louder.
My-my! It had started raining heavily. Because of the dense forest cover, the raindrops did not reach us. Yet, the sound that came from beyond the forest and the fog that concealed everything in front of us, was enough to determine the intensity of that rainstorm.
That led to an adrenaline rush. We had to make it quick. Otherwise, it would have been risky next to impossible to walk on the slippery forest soil.
A Close Shave
By grace of the almighty, we found the young café owner, who had served us earlier, selling raincoats to all the passers-by. We were indeed saved from the most horrible thing i.e., getting drenched.
However, it is quite possible that such a situation occurs and there is no such stall anywhere. Hence, it is advisable to carry all the necessary equipment like raincoats and umbrellas while going on mountain treks. Finally, after several minutes, we reached the starting point where the car was parked.
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A Journey to Remember
Oh my! What an experience that was. It was painful, yet highly enriching and rewarding. Ascending and descending the mountains caused much strain, yet the blissful feelings associated with that lake seemed to overcome it all. The biggest and the most fundamental learning that this trek gave me was “No pain, no gain” and that
To shine like a sun, one must also burn like a sun.
This trek shot my spirits up. It inspired me not to let this trekking journey end and go on as many future treks as possible. Undoubtedly, each trek will offer a distinct scenery, will have a distinct highlight, and will also confer its own distinct learnings.
My belief in the satisfying demeanor of nature was strengthened further. To close with, I would like to quote John Muir, who once rightly said –
In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.
John Muir
About the author
Devishi Aggrwal is an Indian teenager in the final year of her schooling. She is a law aspirant and is currently preparing for law entrance. Public speaking, creative writing, and reading novels are some of her prime hobbies.
She is particularly fascinated by contemporary world politics, and history. Currently, she is serving as the MUN Ambassador in her school’s student council, and is also the research manager in her school’s International ICT Seagulls 19 team.
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