Kamal Joshi चूड़ धार ट्रेक First thing first..! I made it to Churdhar peak!

Kamal Joshi

चूड़ धार ट्रेक 
First thing first..! I made it to Churdhar peak!
An invitation by Subhas Taran, and goadings by Kamal Karnatak, I decided to give try to Churdhar peak in spite of my back-sprain. My last trek was to Madmaheshwar and while climbing down, I had severe pain in the right knee. I knew I have problem with my knees so I always put on knee-elastics to support the muscles of my knee. but that did not work on my last trek when I was descending from the Madmaheshwar although it was much help while climbing up. The unbearable pain had made me to think that trekking days are over for me.
but you know, if you are stung by the Aawaaraagardi-bug, it releases the bacteria in your mind which, when infects you, you lose the ability of thinking sanely. same happened with me. when a phone call from Kamal demanded a trek when he is in parole (his wife Mamta is on vacation to her parents) , he wants to trek in the Himalayas, I approached Subhas Taraan (सुभाष तराण), he not only invited to his village Ataal, but also suggested churdhar peak for trek. when I told him about my knee problem, he added "it is tough trek with "खडी चढ़ाई" (Steep climb). I had almost abandoned the idea, and then Kamal karnatak played his famous mesmerizing persuasive technique and assured me that I can make to that peak. (It is still unknown that, although the pain was being suffered by me but how he was deciding far off at Delhi about my trek, he not only decided but made me to say yes for trek.
Thanks Kamal, you had a belief that I can make up to the peak and I did. Shivraaj, dear friend and our third partner in the gang was to excellent company. He not only trekked but also drove the vehicle to Ataal and the Sharaan village from where trek starts.
Few word about Churdhar peak. Churdhar Peak (elevation of 3647 metres;) is the highest peak in Sirmour district and is also the highest peak in the outer Himalayas. Churdhar is holy place related with Shri Shirgul Maharaj , a deity widely worshipped in Sirmour and ChaupalThe major god of area is Lord Shirgul Maharaj. it is a very famous pilgrimage for the people of Jaunsar ( Uttrakhand) and Sirmour, Shimla, Chaupal and Solan of Himachal Pradesh. Many gods too perform their religious pilgrimage to holy temple of lord Shirgul.
by the way, those who are interested in history, The Churdhar Peak is mentioned in the book, The Great Arc, by John Keay but is referred to as The Chur. It is from this peak that George Everest made many astronomical readings and sightings of the Himalaya mountains around 1834. He was the Surveyor General of India and did the initial survey of the full length of India as well as some very accurate measurements of the earth's curvature.