Comments for Roopkund Trek article

rushir

Just want to elaborate on Keeda Ghas. It's english name is Caterpillar Fungu. Caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis) is a species of parasitic fungus that is found in high altitude Himalayas. It attacks and grows on caterpillars, specifically on larvae from the genus Thitarodes. A caterpillar killed by a C. sinensis fungus growing on it is also called "vegetable caterpillar" even though no plant matter is involved. It's trading is illegal in India. Anybody caught with it gets immideately imprisoned. We took it's picture from one of the trader which is shown below during our pindari trek. It is sold at a price of 10 Lakh Rs per kg to Tibetian locals across the border from where it is transported to Beijing for making medicines. It is used as aphrodisiac. 400 pieces equals to one kg. Hence each keeda ghas fetches 250 Rs.

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rushir

Hi Sadanand,

What's the rent for four man tent, mattress and sleeping bag per day and where is it available for roopkund trek.

Rushir

onetrek

Hi Rushir

That is great info, so what keeda ghass really means is bug moss. And if its true , then my mission to Roopkund has just taken a whole new dimension

Onetrek

Sadanand Kamath

We had done a package deal with our guide Debu to take care of all aspects from Deval to Deval. We had given him only our requirements as to tent, sleeping bags, carry mats, food preferences etc. Hence I am not in a position to give you the rent per day for individual items.

Our total cost - Deval to Deval - worked out to around Rs.1150/- per day per person which also included Deval-Wan-Deval Jeep charges and staying in Wan.

Tents, sleeping bags, carry mats can be arranged at Gwaldam and Mules and Porters at Lohajung and Wan. At both these places, you can take the help of GMVN Caretakers.

Sadanand

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Sadanand Kamath

The June 26, 2008 of Dainik Jagran (Hindi) had carried a report based on the research by Dr Shahid Sami Siddiqui Professor of Biology, Aligarh University, on Effect on Socio-economy and Bio-ecological Relation of Yarsa Gumba and Antomo-Fungul Complex in Pithoragarh Himalaya . Acording to this report, there are many minerals and vitamins found in the Keedha Ghass and as such Dr Shahid has called it the 'panacea of all ills'. He has pointed out in his report that some foreign medicines sold in India at very high prices such as TRT Powder, Microflex-77, Cordimex-3/4 are prepared from the illegal sales of Keedha Ghass from India to China via Tibet.

Dr Shahid spend 3 years in Pithoragarh himalaya for his research. According to him, if the authorities do not take necessary steps to stop the widespread smuggling of Yarsa Gumba (Keedha ghass), it may affect the ecological balance in higher himalayas.

I am not able to find web link to this story but I have the paper cutting with me.

Sadanand

rushir

Hi Sadanand,

Thanks for the information and elaborating more on the keeda ghas. Infact when we were in Khati, during Pindari Trek, police had raided few houses to catch keeda ghas traders. Hence locals are very careful and never show keeda ghas to anybody. Plucking of anytype of midicinel herbs in Himalayas withou permission is illegal.

nishanthe

nice travel log. How long the entire trek?

Sadanand Kamath

6 days from Wan.

Sadanand

nishanthe

Thank you for the response. But actually i meant the distance in Kms
-Nish

ks_bluechip

Already in Sadanand's Report:

Total trekking distance covered : 66 kms

..... assuming you are asking for the trekking distance
.

nishanthe

Exactly thats what I wanted. Thank you bluechip

Dilliwala

Which city's edition is that, Sadaji?

I find it strange that DJ doesn't archive its online version. The e-paper version is a bit better, but that too is only available for 5 days.

Sadanand Kamath

I don't know of the city edition but I read this paper in Kausani at around 8.00 morning on 26/06.

Sadanand

nadreg

Editor's Note:

This post has been promoted to the Article section. You can read it in its entirety here:

Roopkund Trek Report by Sadanand Kamath

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ks_bluechip

Congrats Sadanand for writing the Roopkund Trek report so well; it got selected for "Article" status here on IndiaMike!

I saw it just now, by clicking on Articles in the main-options.

I must say nadreg has done a great value-add job on it and made it look "wow" with embedded photos etc. Looks real nice now!
.

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