The Sanctuary
has been converted to a National Park and temporarily closed for
visitors on environmental considerations. It has an average altitude
exceeding 4500 mts. and is surrounded by as many as seventy lofty peaks,
the Nandadevi (7817 mts.) being the highest.
It
is in the form of cup with lush green meadows, chuting white waterfalls,
and rich wild flora and fauna. Sir Edmund Hillary described the
Sanctuary as a god-gifted wilderness - India’s training ground for
adventure - and truly so. Eric Shipton wrote, amongst many superlatives
for the Sanctuary, “All around us was mountain architecture more
magnificent even than the great southern battlements of Everest “.
Joshimath
is the base for collection of stores, provisions, porters, guides etc.
One route approaches the Sanctuary from Lata, on the Joshimath-Malari
Route. One trek from there to Lata Kharak, an open, wild and grassy
hilltop, providing a fabulous mountainscape all around.
The
Lata Kharak - Dharansi Pass appears to be a long trek with many ascents
and descents yet everything is forgotten when Nandadevi comes into view
on crossing the pass. The trek follows a ridge traversing rocky surface
till Malatuni Pass, where the other trek route from Rini (near Lata)
following the Rishi Ganga river generally, via Kalikuna and Chinwari,
meets. It is continuous descent of about 800 metres through alpine
grassland thereafter, before Rishi Ganga is crossed at Deodi, wherefrom
Trishul - Base camp trek via Bethartoli and Tridang bifurcates.
Debrugheta meadow with its floral designs and the grandstand view of
peaks around it is exhilarating. The Deodi - Ramni trek passes through
dense forests of Junipers and Varieties of Rhododendrons. The Sanctuary
opens up there.
