Pindari Trek Day 5 & 6

After a long tiring day, we decide to aim for Dhakauri. Since we already stayed at Khati and the view from Dhakauri was too tempting at sundown to miss. We started around 7:30 am at Dwali and reached Khati at 10:30 am. It was mostly downhill and quite easy. We had our lunch and started from Khati around 12 pm. But once we crossed a little distance, the rain came pouring down. We were completely drenched by the time we got to Dhakauri. Luckily the sun came out and we had a wonderful view of the valley and the dusk. We had some delicious Khichdi and went to sleep.

We started around 7:30 am and reached Loharket at noon. Lunch was prepared by the veritable Mr Chowki, now in jolly spirits and free of pressures. We paid our porters Rs 300 each per day with some tip. The bridge that connects Lohaket to Saung was broken at time. So you will need to walk/ take a short taxi ride to get to the broken bridge, then cross it and hire another taxi to get to Kathgodam.

Interestingly Mr Chowki, who lived in one of the nearby villages also wanted to ride along with us. We haggled with a taxi driver to get us to the broken bridge. Mr Chowki whispered to me, “As soon as we turn that bend, I will strangle the driver and we can take the car. ” Vasu was beside me and said “... and he turns out to be violent.” We bid our goodbyes to Mr Chowki and crossed the broken bridge carrying our luggage.

We came down to Saung and found a taxi to Kathgodam. We finally reached Kathgodam at around 8:30 pm. The taxi driver was an interesting character. The guy drove on slooping, loopy roads like an F-1 wannabe who was one with the almighty Gods. He had “Aithani” laminated on the rear window in ghost-like gory font. When I asked him about it, he said it was his surname.
I was relieved to have decent food and accommodation at a Kathgodam hotel. Over the week long trek I developed a healthy contempt for dal and maggi, that I’d previously reserved only for humans. After a week in the Himalayas, I seemed to be carrying most it with me.

(To read a Short Itinerary of the trip: click here)