Once upon a time in Mushkpuri

[gypsy_acumen]

In June 2010 we did Dunga Gali to Makshpuri Trek. The beauty of this trek is exhilarating. Calmness of Forest, symmetry of pine trees, wild fragrance and fresh air will touch your soul definitely. A real treat for nature lovers and a must trek for everyone, atleast once in a lifetime.

[gypsy_acumen]

It was early summer of 2010 and heat was on. In office we decided to make a trip to some cooler place. We decided to go to muree. However one of the group members suggested to go for a hike from Dunga gali to Makshpuri. Most of the trip members were Shehri Babus(some were Babas) and hiking was something new for them, so they were reluctant. However they were told that its like walking on muree mall. No one knew what kind of track it would turn out to be. Once on the track, though it was quite hard for us yet we continued our struggle till we reached the top. For most of us it was an unforgettable & memorable trip.

[hash4u]

nice place nice scenery but tough track

[nomi700]

Nice trip. Awaiting more pics

[gypsy_acumen]

Thanks nomi & hash4u. Its not that tough if you are known to little hiking...aam banday k liye thora tough hota hai.

So we made necessary preparation in the night for this trip. Everyone was told to bring a bag/ruk sack, warm clothing etc. One person was assigned a duty to purchase water, juices, chocolate & sandwitches for all. Water, juices & chocolate are essential on this trek. Taking Heavy food & eating just before hike should be avoided :). So here comes the pics from start....

Near Shola/Shawla turn.. on muree express highway
wildlife... early on the way in galiyaat.

The best natural pose of the trip... belongs to ... A monkey....

Encountring a monkey mob....a poor taxi guy

Another geographic shot.... Monkey ki Mamta

One of our colleagues offered a "Bhutta" which she accepted rather suspiciously
Do not look at the person....Look at the expression on monkey's face

[gypsy_acumen]

On the way to Dungagali..

Reached Dunga Gali & parked our vehicles there in the bazaar near the trek

Amidst an argument

Look at the faces, how fresh & full of energy they are. Lets see what happens when they go up on trek

[gypsy_acumen]

Once on trek.. There was so much fragrance of wild flowers..we thought, no wonder why this place is called mushkpuri
However after returning back from trip, we came to know via this picture; it is MAKSHPURI :S

And just at the start of trek... or enroute to actual trek

[asifcae]

yes mukspuri is a very green trek. its a good 1 day activity as well

[gypsy_acumen]

From where we have parked our vehicles, a small metaled road goes up in the jungle. Some consider it as part of the trek while some other consider the start of trek from where it ends. Since we were on foot and no one knew what kind of track it is.. we considered it as part of the trek.
We started normally rather hastily considering it just a road trek

But gradually it turned out to be quite tough on our bodies

See the facial expressions...

Thus before reaching actual winding hilly trail, most of the group were somewhat handicapped. The people were out of gas and hardness of road had done their hamstrings.

Suggestion: if you start on foot from this road trek, walk slowly with intermittent stops here & there especially if you are not a hiker and this is your first time.

[zahid135]

Good going......
very well described and captured....

[gypsy_acumen]

Somehow we reached the end of this brutal road trek Now this has left us with little stamina and mountain to climb. The one whose idea was to go for this trek had come through some real introspection

But the real fun started from this point. Having passed the human settlements & into the wild nature with killer beauty and a fantasy trek.
Initially there was a single trek that leads to the following signboards on the way

Here we are..pondering..to Lalazar!! Where has Mushkpuri gone???

Then one of the colleague produced this shot on camera LCD taken earlier

At the backside of the same signboard detail of Mushkpuri trek was given

[gypsy_acumen]

Good going......
very well described and captured....

Thank you Zahid Sahib. There is more in stores

[gypsy_acumen]

After seeing this signboard, we thought... just 90 more minutes..good
Again it proved to be our mistake to consider it true (especially if you are not a localite or a trekker)

Here we met two local young ones. We asked them which way is leading to mushkpuri? They told us this path bifurcate into two just a little farther ahead. One goes to Mushkpuri via Lalazar and the other goes directly to Mushkpuri. We opted for the second one as they told it is short one. They tried to persuade us not to use this. They followed us till the start of the trek advising this is not for shehri babus, it is steep, risky and we can confront wildlife. One of the friends gave them 20 Rs apiece and asked them to leave. The start of the trek was closed with barbed wire. We had to jump over it to get on track.

And here comes the start of the series of slopes of wild daisy flowers

Nice symmetry of trees... Its astounding....naturally decorated trees or natural decoration pieces

[gypsy_acumen]

After crossing the barbed wire there was a steep climb along Dunga Gali water supply tank

And there were more flowers..out of breath...nice to stop for some snaps

Somehow ..this pose in this shot reminds the photo session of a newly married couple in a studio

and a solo act...Ishtehaar barai Zaroorat-e-Rishta...

Back to norms..

[asifcae]

nice pics

good flowers there

alwayz nice to c these wild flowers there

[gypsy_acumen]

Thanks @ asifcae, its not only these daisy flowers but the path has different shrubs with other wild flowers having exhilarating fragrances.

[volverine]

love the pics
jabardashtt bhai
thumbs up
going gud

[gypsy_acumen]

As told by well known travelers and hikers, there is no short cut in mountains. And often short cut is long cut. This proved quite right in our case; we have turned a deaf ear to the advice of the local young ones. And now it seems a never ending journey. Every now & then we feel great thirst, we need to breathe really hard and our muscles were twitching due to consistent steepness of the track. However what we were seeing from eyes was prompting us to explore a little more of this fantasy world...so we continued. We reached first resting place, and literally just fell there ...see the snap below

if you note from snaps...there is no such steepness. Reason...we were so tired that we only managed to take a picture when we were on a patch of straight path We were bewitched ...aur yeh shair poora utarta tha...

                        Le saans bhi aahista k nazuk hai bahut kaam
                        Afaq ki is kargah-e-sheesha gari ka

Jee haan..Yahan signal aate hain mobile service ke....So you can talk to your loved ones

Look at the beauty of this path...looks like just from some fairy tale story/movie

[gypsy_acumen]

Viewers.. please don't forget to rate this thread

[gypsy_acumen]

The Wilderness, The solitude, Flowers, fragrance, Clouds, refreshing chill...everything was there to make it more of a dream.
There was great solitude on the trek and in the jungle. We only met one local while going & returning through this trek. He told us that its safe in the day from this route however at night... leopards get out for hunting. It is advisable not to come alone at nights.
Cheetay do teen ki tolion par hamlawar nahi hotay