Completed Sujol Sarovar Trek Successfully

This year we had first aimed for Nandikund trek but due to official leave issues we decided that we will only cover upto nearby Panpatia Region from Kachni Tal. We made up our plan as follows:- Madmaheshwar > Kachni Tal > Moinda-galla Tal > Sujol Sarovar > Asit Tal (if weather permits us).

18/10/10:- We started our trek from Madmaheshwar at 08-00 a.m. before we had a stroll to BUDDA-MADMAHESHWAR of 2 kms to view the majestic MT. CHOWKHAMBA. We were able to reach NANDABARARI KHARAG which is 5 kms. uphill trek from MADMAHESHWAR at 10-30 a.m. Upto this point there was a clear sign of a trail persisted.
After then there was not any clear sign of a trail & we had to start boulder hopping. After much huffing & puffing for next 4 Kms, we were able to make it up to KACHNI DHAR at 01-00 p.m. From the late afternoon, drizzling started & at 04-00 p.m. it started pouring heavily. In the evening we found our tents within a vast sea of snow as it was 1 foot deep though the sky got cleared up & one can see the NANDIKUND GROUP OF PEAKS at the northern side of KACHNI DHAR.

19/10/10:- After much discussion with the guide as well with the HAPs, we decided that today we will intrude towards the PANPATIA REGION as further as possible but our night shelter will be KACHNI DHAR TENTS. So we stared from KACHNI DHAR TENT-SIDE at 07-00 a.m. & reached MOINDA-GALLA TAL after 09-00 a.m. It was only a distance of 3-4 Kms but as it was over 4500 Mts. from sea level so we took more than two long hours to reach the MOINDA-GALLA TAL. The pool was completely dried up. We stayed there for some minutes observing the peculiar structures of the nearby rocky mountains. This pool is the source of MARKANDEYA GANGA that also feeds MADHU-GANGA precisely Madmaheshwar Ganga below. We started for Sujol Sarovar from this place right at 10-00 a.m. and after lots of gasping reached the place at 12-30 at noon. It was also 3-4 kms with the last one km was fully covered up with fresh ice. It was full of boulder hopping with fresh snow over the boulders here & there causing lots of problem for us. From over an ice-covered ridge just beside Sujol Sarovar, we had a glimpse of SUJOL SAROVAR with PANPATIA GLACIER adjacent to it. We pushed ourselves further to the edge of that ice-covered ridge in that extreme cold & found the whole area completely open to us with from the left MT. CHOWKHAMBA - THE FOUR TOURING MASSIF to the right MT. PARVATI upto the right. We insisted our guide as well as our HAPs to fix rope so that we can descend upto that glacial pool named after famous Bengali Trekker SUJOL MUKHOPADHAYA. But they forbade us not to proceed further as the dark clouds all over set in & within half an hour it started snowfalling. So we had to postpone our plan to reach ASIT TAL which is somehow below to PANPATIA KHAL. We came back to our tents at KACHNI DHAR near about 04-00 p.m. within a torrential snowfalling as the whole area was completely white-washed.

20/10/10:- Today we decided to descend to Madmaheshwar & proceed further upto Ransi Village, if possible. So we waked up early in the morning, but the climatic condition was not good at all. Visibility was not clear as dense fog completely covered the region at early morning. Our guide told us not to waste time as it could have been heavy snowfall for the region. So we started descending at 08-00 a.m. after the final back packing. We then faced a severe snowfall at that early hour of the day which made our descend far more painstaking than ascending to SUJOL SAROVAR from KACHNI DHAR. Upto NANDABARARI KHARAG, we felt the extreme furor of nature. After then, it was only descend over a trail. We reached MADMAHESHWAR at 10-30 a.m. & took our lunch at the Temple Committee Guest House. We started at 12-00 from MADMAHESHWAR & reached NANU CHATTI at 02-15 p.m. & took some light refreshment. After then, from NANU CHATTI, we descended to GOUNDER VILLAGE through KHATARA in next 3 Hrs. We had signed off at GOUNDER VILLAGE for the day at 05-00 p.m.

Hi,
Nice trip...

Please post pictures...We are really interested to see the view.

Nice trek Mr Pintu,looking forward for your pics.
How much guide took? And is it necessary to take HAP?
This year the region had early snowfall.

@Dhrubatara, I will surely post the pictures in due course.
@Himalayantrekker, The guide took Rs. 500/- @ per day & the HAPs took Rs 350/- @ per day. Everything was arranged by Umed Singh Rana of Ransi Village, who himself a famous guide in that region.
These HAPs are really cordial without there enthusiastic support we might not complete this trek. No, I think it's an usual snowfall as we hit the region in the third week of October.

Hi Pintu,

Please post the pics, if you can. I have great memories of the Mainda Galla Khal and the Sujal sarovar I cross while coming to Badrinath to Raansi in 2010 and would love to see the terrain during Oct.. I guess there will be huge snow all around. The view of Choukhamba from the Pass is amazing and the sun set is said to be magical!

Cheers
Kamal