One of the easiest ways to satiate your love for wanderlust is to go unarmed without pre-conceived notions, and bank on your intuitive feeling. While there are multiple ways to unwind, nothing compares to an explorative trek – in the realms of the country’s beautiful trekking and mountaineering peaks. Vouching by a similar ideology is Joydeep Roy, a Bengaluru-based trekker, who has climbed over 50 prominent mountaineering spots across the country. He has also trekked at 75 spots in the country in a year. In a candid chat, Joydeep tells us more, just as he is all set to explore the coastal Karnataka for a beach trek along the coastal Karnataka followed by a 100 + long trail in the state early this year.
“Beach treks are a different type of trekking and given the harsh sunlight and humidity, it is quite challenging. I plan to explore the entire coastal trail of Karnataka including the southern part of Goa. I believe in investing in my experiences. Exploring the Uttara Kannada and Shimoga district through a 100 km+ long trail is going to be a milestone, as campers across the world will get to discover places in Karnataka that haven’t really been listed as must-visits. The Government is thinking of opening up more avenues for jungle trek enthusiasts in near future in Uttara Kannada. This is a much-needed initiative as most of us are yet to get the taste of a real ‘wild’ vacation,” begins Joydeep, who works as a factory manager with an FMCG brand in Bengaluru.
Baltal enroute Amarnath holy cave
Goecha la pass has been the highest point that Roy has scaled. But, the intrepid traveller harbours a soft spot for trekking and mountaineering spots in South India. “In Karnataka, I loved the Kumara Parvatha trek. Starting from Kukke and back, it is a 26 km trek. I have scaled it twice. First time, I completed the entire trek in a single day (Saturday overnight journey to Kukke after office – Sunday full day trek and again overnight journey to Bangalore for office on Monday). I camped during my second time visit there. Although the view is not that great from the peak but the approach trail is beautiful. Also, I like most of the trails in Kodagu. They are very green and cover all the aspects of a good hike. Moreover, most of them can be covered in a single day which suits my agenda well,” he enthuses.
Born to a family of travel enthusiasts, it didn’t take Joydeep long to discover his explorative streak. “Trekking is my passion. I started it when I was in college. My parents were travel enthusiasts and I have imbibed the travel bug from them since my school days. And when I started going to Himalayas from early 90’s, I realised that Himalaya is an institute; it offers its visitors two journeys – one that you are on during an exploration and the other is a journey from within. Mountaineering and trekking help us realise that there are things beyond tangible goodness. So, if you are a traveller, you must see the mountains,” shares Joydeep, who believes age is just a number – especially when it comes to travel. “You can trek even when you are on the other side of 50. In fact, I have seen a lady trekking in the interior of Himalayas, all alone. And she was close to 65. You just need some degree of fitness and eagerness to trek.”
Uttarakhand Pilgrims
As someone who has journalled all his experiences till date, Joydeep hopes more individuals open their arms to vacations in the wild. “If someone is maintaining a sedentary life and one fine morning he/she suddenly decided to go for a trek; it does more harm than good. Planning is important. Raw and rustic travels are great mood-boosters. I also wish to pen down my thoughts on the treks which I have covered so far in Karnataka.”
Myths around mountaineering and trekking that Joydeep would like to break
You don’t need high end gears and accessories before you go for a simple trek . You just need a good pair of hiking shoes, a good backpack and a passion towards mountains and exploring the nature. One has to be willing to come out of their comfort zone.
Getting lost in mountains / jungles is something rare and shouldn’t happen unless you are very careless. If you have studied the area well before you initiate the trek and walk along with the team, you will be safe and sound.
