Five Mountains, Five Temples - A Journey for Change

2001 Schedule - Panca Kedar May 25th – June 9th

In the Indian tradition the act of spiritual pilgrimage, or Yatra, to significant places within nature each symbolising contact with the Divine has long been recognised as a means for change. These sacred points are often linked through mythology to stories from the heart of India’s wisdom teachings. Furthermore what is beautiful about these stories is the fact that they still live within the psyche of India and its people. The spiritual aspirations of the pilgrim today are as vital as ever and this reflects the unbroken link of mythology and spirituality so evident within this special country and its culture.

One such Yatra, called in India the Panca Kedar, involves five mountain peaks each with its own unique temple, in what is known as the Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh in the Himalayan mountain region of Northern India. I wish to fully experience this journey and to share with my family and a small group of committed students the wonder, significance and transformative possibilities of a Yatra such as this one can offer. To this end I have put together a proposal for May/June 2001 to undertake the Panca Kedar Yatra.

We will meet in Delhi on May 25th 2001 and over the next two weeks travel by jeep to the foot and by foot ascend these five peaks so precious to the people of India for so many centuries. Along the way to the mountains we will visit the Holy City of Haridwar and stay in the spiritual centre of Rishikesh. The journey will take us to the remoter parts of the Himalayas accessible only by several days trekking. This means as well as staying in Government Rest houses we will spend a total of four nights under canvas culminating in camping for the June full moon on the last of the five peaks.

Obviously all plans are in the lap of the Gods, no more so than here, but we can only make the attempt and reach whatever places are humanely possible. The proposal should work but in the Himalayas you can always expect the unexpected. We will succeed in trying. However I cannot guarantee in Western terms that two weeks equals five peaks. Whatever we end up with is still a Yatra for the pilgrim. To this extent I have chosen a favourable time, which though hot on the plains in Delhi, will be most suited for travelling in the mountains.

We will ascend several times to more than 10,000 feet and participants will also need to be able to accept with grace and humour the rigours accompanying a journey such as this. However we will acclimatise and take time to appreciate the significance of the journey as much as we can within the constraints of a two-week schedule. This will include time in Delhi both before and after the Yatra.

I am happy to offer places for up to ten students wishing to join my family and myself on this special time. I have proposed a travelogue for those interested and am currently finalising the cost. At this point in time it looks like the total contribution for each student including flights between London and Delhi, travel, vehicles, accommodation, catering, porters, etc., will be under £1500. I will have a definite figure within the next two months but if you budget between £1400 and £1500 we should be there.

Firstly I need to know if you are interested and wish to join us. Obviously given the special nature of the journey, what we can hope to share between us in terms of personal experience, informal teachings and practises and being together in this situation, means I cannot just offer places in the group to those who apply on a first come first served basis. I welcome your request to join but may well need to discuss more with you or if we have not met before then take time for that too. This will be an unusual journey.

Having said that please do feel free to contact me to discuss more of what is involved and what you may have as hopes and fears around this time together. If we need to meet I am happy to try to arrange something either personally or perhaps with a small group of interested students.

That’s about it, for the record the departure date is 21.55pm Friday May 25th from Heathrow returning from Delhi at 1.30pm on Saturday June 9th arriving London 5.30pm the same day. If you wish to discuss the proposed travelogue do ask. I obviously need to finalise things, particularly regarding flights, by February so do please contact me as soon as you can whatever your interest. Thank you.

Actual Travelogue

Friday May 25th - 22.30pm Group Virgin Flight from London

Saturday May 26th - 11.05am Arrive Delhi plus Transport to Rishikesh

Sunday May 27th - Rest day in Rishikesh

Monday May 28th - AM Travel to Gaurikund for PM and stay
Devprayag, the sacred confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Rivers

Tuesday May 29th - Trek to Kedernath and stay
Kedernath Temple at 3581 metres or 11,750 feet
Click on the image to enlarge it

Wednesday May 30th - Descend to Gaurikund and stay

Thursday May 31st - Travel to Jigasu for trek to Madhyamaheshwar and camp on way at Bantoli
Camping at Bantol
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Friday June 1st - AM arrive Madhyamaheshwar and PM descend to Bantoli and stay
Madhyamaheshwar Temple at 3289 metres or 10,790 feet
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Saturday June 2nd - Descend to Jigasu and travel and climb to Deoria Tal lake and camp

Sunday June 3rd - Rest day by lake

Monday June 4th - Descend and travel to Mandal to ascend/descend Tungnath
Tungnath temple the highest in India at 3886 metres or 12,750 feet
Click on the image to enlarge it

Tuesday June 5th - From Mandal ascend/descend to Ansuya Devi temple and travel to Helong and camp
River crossing beyond Ansuya Devi

Wednesday June 6th - From Helong trek to Kalpashwar and return to camp
Kalpashwar temple June 2001

Thursday June 7th - Travel to Rishikesh and stay
The 2001 group and team before leaving Helong on June 7th
Click on the image to enlarge it

Friday June 8th - Rest day in Rishikesh

Saturday June 9th - AM travel to Delhi and 13.30pm Virgin flight to London arriving 17.40pm.

Personal web photo page for 2001 group participants link here

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