international mountain day

International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world's mountains and highlands.
It was the UN General Assembly who designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'.

Motorbiking in the Himalayas, 2007

"The beat of my Enfield Bullet reverberated through the mountains as we drove through the mist from Mukteshwar to Wan, the last stop for motorbikers. Beyond this point we started to trek Bedni Bugyal. One of the highest Alpine meadows in Uttaranchal."
Manoj Mehra, 2007.

Manoj

New Year in the Himalayas

December 25 - 31, 2008


Come December we are planning a 'yoga holiday' in the Himalayas, just in time to ring in the new year!
Here's my blueprint:
We start by unwinding ourselves in Mukteshwar on December 25. My friend Monica Chand, a yoga exponent, has promised to take time off from Studio Abhyas in Delhi, to conduct special yoga sessions designed to de-stress and rejuvenate us daily through the holiday. In Mukteshwar, we use rest of our time to explore the serene beauty of the mountains, take long nature walks. Rock climbing and rappelling near the famous 'rock jaali' in Mukteshwar could be other alternatives. Next day we could go on a trek through dense Oak forest to the ancient 8th century Shiva temple in Kapileshwar. Trek to Almora on way to Jaageshwar is on next day. We stay in Jaageshwar for following four days. Besides the regular yoga sessions, we have an opportunity to explore the mountains around and also go sight-seeing. The ancient 10th century old Shiva temples here are a delight to visit. After a brush with history, the new year's eve sees us back in Mukteshwar to welcome the dawn of the new year in the Himalayas!
Manoj Mehra, Mukteshwar.

Copyright Manoj Mehra, 2008. All rights reserved.

New Year in the Himalayas

Here's the blueprint:We start by unwinding ourselves in Mukteshwar on December 25. My friend Monica Chand, a yoga exponent, has promised to take time off from Studio Abhyas in Delhi, to conduct special yoga sessions designed to de-stress and rejuvenate us daily through the holiday. In Mukteshwar, we use rest of our time to explore the serene beauty of the mountains, take long nature walks. Rock climbing and rappelling near the famous 'rock jaali' in Mukteshwar could be other alternatives. Next day we could go on a trek through dense Oak forest to the ancient 8th century Shiva temple in Kapileshwar. Trek to Almora on way to Jaageshwar is on next day. We stay in Jaageshwar for following four days. Besides the regular yoga sessions, we have an opportunity to explore the mountains around and also go sight-seeing. The ancient 10th century old Shiva temples here are a delight to visit. After a brush with history, the new year's eve sees us back in Mukteshwar to welcome the dawn of the new year in the Himalayas.

New Year in the Himalayas

December 25 – 31, 2008

I 'm planning a week-long rejuvenating 'yoga holiday' to usher in the new year.

Here's the blueprint:

We start by unwinding ourselves in Mukteshwar on December 25.

My friend Monica Chand, a yoga exponent, has promised to take time off from Studio Abhyas in Delhi, to conduct special yoga sessions designed to de-stress and rejuvenate us daily through the holiday.

In Mukteshwar, we use rest of our time to explore the serene beauty of the mountains, take long nature walks. Rock climbing and rappelling near the famous 'rock jaali' in Mukteshwar could be other alternatives.

Next day we could go on a trek through dense Oak forest to the ancient 8th century Shiva temple in Kapileshwar.

Trek to Almora on way to Jaageshwar is on next day. We stay in Jaageshwar for following four days. Besides the regular yoga sessions, we have an opportunity to explore the mountains around and also go sight-seeing. The ancient 10th century old Shiva temples here are a delight to visit.

After a brush with history, the new year's eve sees us back in Mukteshwar to welcome the dawn of the new year in the Himalayas.

You are welcome to join us!!

Manoj Mehra, Mukteshwar

Trek to Pindari & Kafni Glaciers

Majestic rocky mountains, snowy peaks of the Nanda Kote, clear blue sky, one moment, and stealthily rising fog embracing us the next! This was zero point Pindari Glacier.
And like always, the view promised to take my breath away. This was third time I was visiting the much reported, fast receding Himalayan glacier.
Much like the years 2006 and 2007, I was leading a group of American graduate students who were visiting India as part of the study abroad programme of Michigan State University. It was an educational programme where the students studied the ecology of the mountain region and also devised projects to help the local populace.
Below I have uploaded some images and itinerary of our trek from Mukteshwar to Pindari and Kafni glaciers that we followed each year. We would start early every day and trek around 10-11 kms through the beautiful mountain path, at times along Pindar River, and then turning the bend to gaze upon the serene snowy Himalayan peaks. And more often than not, the day's activities would end with a session of Yoga Asana practice conducted by yoga experts who were part of my team.
In communion with nature. Peaceful. Happy. Rejuvenated.
That's what all of us felt as the trek drew to an end!

Manoj Mehra, Mukteshwar, June 2008.

Copyright. Manoj Mehra. 2008. All rights reserved.