Nature Photography, Travelling, Trekking
After playing with the lovely Sony DSC-H200 for over 5 years, a couple of months ago, I began for the first time working with an old Nikon D-3100 DSLR camera. It was an exciting and enthralling experience.
I am sharing some of my work with the Exif information of respective photos. I did minor editing using Photoscape.
Wish you all a highly healthy, wealthy and safe journey.
Situated in the Himalayan region, Agoda/Agora village, part of Uttarkashi, is one of the important places in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Uttarkashi is a gateway to Dodital Trek, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Agoda village is located at an altitude of 2250 mts/7381 ft, and 18 km from the nearest town of Uttarkashi.
Haridwar To Rishikesh: Apprx.28 Km
By Govt Bus: INR 45
By Rental Car: Apprx. INR 1100-1500
Ola cab is available
Rishikesh To Uttarkashi: Apprx.170 Km (6 to 7 hours journey)
By Bus: Govt/Pvt – INR 300-400
By Cab: INR 5000-7000
Uttarkashi To Agoda Village: Apprx. 22Km (2 to 3 hours journey)
By Shared Van: INR 100-200
By Rental Van: INR 2000 (Vans won’t prefer to go to Agoda after 16:00 (4pm) IST
The last shared van from Uttarkashi to Agoda Village will be at around 15:00 (3pm) IST
Presenting here some photographs I took while staying at Solitude homestay – Agoda – Uttarkashi, on 29th of Oct., 2021.
Haridwar To Shivpuri, Rishikesh
By Road Car/Van: 41.4 km via NH 34 and NH 7
Rishikesh To Shivpuri, Rishikesh
By Road: Car/Van 15 km via NH 7
Lakshman Jhula to Shivpuri, Rishikesh
By Road: Walking/Car/Van 12 km via NH 7
My first solo trip to Rishikesh was in September, 2021. After a massive rain in August and September, major devastation occurred across the Indian state of Uttarakhand. I went on my first solo trek from Lakshman Jhula to Shivpuri, Rishikesh, a 12 km walk via Neelkanth bridge.
While walking I saw on one side of the mountain, mud, rock slides, uprooted trees half blocking the road. On the other side, there was a fabulous sight of Ganges river slicing along the picturesque mountains.
Added below some photographs I took along the way.
Visit my youtube channel: Sureba67 – Nomad Of Madras
My first solo trip to the fabulous Rishikesh was in September, 2021. I stayed in a decent hotel at Lakshman Jhula for 3 days, and altogether I had walked about 80 km. I was flabbergasted to see the mighty Ganges river sweeping through all the way along.
Haridwar to Rishikesh: 28 Km
By Govt Bus: INR 45
By Rental Car: Apprx. INR 1100-1500
Ola cab is available
Rishikesh bus stand to Ram Juhla
By Car/Shared Auto – 14 Km Via NH7
By Walk – 2.8 Km
Ram Jhula to Lakshman Jhula
By Car/Shared Auto – 10 Km Via NH7
By Walk – 2 Km
I went walking to Shivpuri (1 day), Neelkanth Mahadev Temple (1 day), Ram Jhula, and Triveni Ghat (Both in 1 day). It was a fascinating and incredible experience.
I consider traveling to either Shivpuri or Neelkanth Mahadev Temple by walk as a precursor, especially to the new trekkers, hikers, walkers, before proceeding towards Yamunotri or Badrinath or Kedarnath or Dodital lake. Spending a day or two in Rishikesh also helps the body to become acclimatized to the weather, atmosphere and local conditions. This is my personal experience, may not or need not necessarily be applicable to everyone.
There are several downsides as seen in many tourist places – to name a few, frequent power outages, narrow streets filled with cattle, dogs, cow dung on the streets, rash driving vans, cars, motor cycles. The pleasure inevitably, invariably involves certain inconveniences as well, as always.
Enjoy visiting this wonderful place, gateway to the mighty Himalayas. 🙂
Uttarakhand | Gangotri Temple –Suryakund (Youtube)
உத்தரகாண்ட் | கங்கோத்ரி கோவில் – சூர்யகுண்ட்
Himalayas – Uttarkashi – Agoda Village – Threshing of Gluten Free Amaranth (Youtube)
Agoda/Agora, a small, peaceful, pleasant, covid free healthy village located at an altitude of 2250 mts/7381 ft, 18 km from the nearest town of Uttarkashi. It is surrounded by the magnificent Himalayan mountains.
Agriculture is their main activity, besides some villagers offering homestay and guide services. Agoda came to prominence as it is the main thoroughfare to the majestic Dodital lake, perched at a trekking distance of 18 km from Agoda.
On 29th of Oct., 2021, I was there in Agoda, stayed at Solitude homestay – Agoda – Uttarkashi before proceeding to Gangotri. Early morning it was so cold, I was shivering, unable to hold my camera from my shaking hands. I happened to spend some time trekking around the village, watching the farmers threshing grain by hand and also by running their cattle over the straw. I was enthralled by the harmony, peace, covid free, healthy and pristine atmosphere.
That day they were threshing Amaranth/Marchha from the harvested straws. It was perhaps one of the most blissful sights, seeing them working happily, starting early in the morning till late evening. Amaranth, I read later, is totally gluten free, and highly nutritious food. I was told that not a single straw is wasted, every part is being used. Chapathi prepared from Amaranth flour was highly tasty and highly delicious. More important than anything is, they cultivate their plants by their traditional methods and use only home grown natural fertilizers. Besides Amaranth, they also produce Rajma, Rice to name a few.
Sharing here a video and photos I captured at Agoda Village, while the family members of my homestay owner Mr. Kamal Singh Panwar, were working that day threshing and sorting their product. Last but not the least, almost all their agri products cultivated in their Himalayan mountains are in huge demand worldwide.
The Nomad of Madras 
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