Chadar Trek Cancelled 2015

Why Chadar Trek got cancelled for the year 2015.

Chadar Trek Route and Surrounding region is sitting on a Nature's Time Bomb.

The J&K government has sought the help of the National Disaster Management Authority to avert an impending disaster in Ladakh's Zanskar area, where a massive artificial lake created by a landslide is threatening to submerge dozens of villages.

Authorities have closed the famed 150km Chadar trek, a journey on the icy surface of a frozen Zanskar river, after the landslide blocked the Phuktal-Lungnak, a major tributary, resulting in the formation of the lake upstream.

"The artificial lake is increasing in size every day. It is now 10km long and 500m wide. The fear that it will burst any time has caused panic in entire Zanskar,". "If it bursts now, it will submerge 30 villages. It is like a ticking bomb."

Loose soil made up the 200ft barrier formed by the landslide but there appeared to be "no immediate threat".

"The temperature around the artificial lake has dropped to minus 30 degrees or more, which has resulted in the formation of a 3-4ft-thick ice sheet over it," he said. "That is why it may or may not burst immediately. But it is expanding and thus a threat to low-lying areas. The barrier formed by the landslide is 200ft high and it (the water level) needs to rise only 30ft more (for the lake) to overflow."

The crisis may magnify if the lake's surface starts melting. "That will put more pressure on the barrier. Alternate strategies are being worked out to defuse this natural bomb.

Zanskar, which spreads over 7,000sqkm, can be reached through a 450km road from Leh via Kargil. But Zanskar remains cut off from the outside world for several months in winter because of heavy snowfall in and around the Panzila Pass, which connects it with Kargil.

The trek over the frozen Zanskar, called Chadar trek, then becomes the only way local people can travel to Leh. The authorities have closed this trek - to both tourists and local people - so that they don't get into trouble in case the artificial lake bursts.

Camping Checklist - For Organised Campsite

We have prepared this camping checklist for camping experiences at Organised Campsite in Tropical Regions.

By organised camp-site we mean basic camping amenities like (Tents, Sleeping "Bags or Bedding", Wash-rooms and shower rooms, Basic meals like evening tea/coffee, breakfast, dinner, camp-fire wood, lighting after sundown are available for use as part of package or for extra charge).

Checklist for Camping:

Attire:
Carry comfortable and casual clothing depending upon the weather forecast..

Shorts or Three-fourth Pants, Track Pants, Leggings etc. 
Comfortable - T-shirts or Out-door shirts 
Trekking Shoe if you plan to go on local treks or hikes
Carry spare slippers or floaters
Cap or Hat (if you are planning camping in summer or sunny weather then Hat has definite advantage over cap).
a spare light and comfortable slip in shoe is nice to have but not mandatory.
Carry ample undergarments depending upon the duration of your stay.
Swimming trunks would be a good idea if you get an opportunity to swim in local water-body. Check for safety and permissions required before heading for a swim.

(note: Avoid city running shoe or Gym shoe for camping / treks you will end up ruining them)

Personal Outdoor Survival Kit
Day pack for local hikes
Water-bottle (2 Litres) 
Multi-utility Knife kit

Flash light
Hand Sanitizer
Comb, Small Hand Mirror
Mosquito repellent or patch

Personal Toiletry
Sun Screen

Moisturiser 
Cold Cream and Lip Balm
Mouth wash, tooth paste, tooth pick, and tooth brush
Shaving Kit
Soap, Shampoo, and Towel

Medical kit
Small Antiseptic lotion Bottle
Anti-septic skin cream for small injuries 
Anti-allergic anti-inflammatory  skin cream for insect bites (Velbet)
Anti-fungal (Betnovet-C)
Anti-fungal dusting power (Candid) 
Bandages and Cotton
Small ready to apply Bandages
Generic Medicines like (Paracetamol, Anti-allergic, for stomach infections, acidity etc).
Also carry personal medicine if you suffer from any chronic ailments

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Specialised requirements like Rain-wear, winter clothing, etc.. has to be checked with the local camp-site organiser for specific check-list. 

To make camping more interesting you may also carry some of the following:
Books for reading
Board games
Fishing kit
Binoculars
Camera
Field Guides
Personal Barbecue kit with pre-marinated food for cooking.
(note carry all food in personal portable chillers)
Personal extra snacks, fruits, etc.
Portable cooking kit (you can experiment with some experimental outdoor cooking it can be fun).

Camping etiquettes:
Always remember that you are at camp-site for a camping experience and not at a 5-Star luxury resort. Camping grounds are most of the times located in remote offbeat locations and have a rustic settings with bare basic facilities. 

Camp-sites are not for loud music parties, event if you manage to get an OK for some music please keep the decibels down so that you don't end up spoiling other people's camping experience.

If you have a large enough group, you may book the entire camp-site and you MAY get permission to play music system till 11:00 pm.

All camp-sites follow eco-tourism policy(no littering, take back everything that you carry to camp-site). Litter bins are always available at all camp-sites.

Kindly take care of your personal belongings; no one will be responsible for them.

Please leave your shoes outside the tents.

Eating of food not allowed inside the tents.

Use of sharp objects or cooking inside the tent not allowed.

Lights out after 11:00 pm; No loud noises after 11:00 pm.

Respect privacy of other campers.

No Smoking inside tents or on meal tables.

Drugs not allowed in our camping area.

Check out few Organised Camping Grounds Click here.

Camping Trip Panchgani 2

The Big Camping Adventure at Offbeat Panchgani Hill Top

Take a cup of coffee; breath fresh air and just chill out at our campsite located on Hill Top Camping at 3500 feet overlooking a vast valley below. Our facility overlooks a Hill and we are fortunate to have a natural scenic beauty and adventure points right at our property. It has one of the most beautiful sun rise settings one will see in Maharashtra.

Campsite property spread across 80 acres (out of which 20 acres has been developed); farms; adventure setups; cycling tracks; spacious tents with attached wash rooms; alpine tents with common clean western toilets; options for dormitories; farm house;..

Trip date: Jan 23rd late night 11:30 pm to Jan 25, 2015 evening 8:30 pm.


Includes travel Mumbai / Pune to campsite and back. Private Transport.
1 Nights stay at campsite
Meals (all meals included are at campsite): 2 breakfast; 2 lunch; 1 dinner; 1 evening tea/coffee.

Adventure activities: Zip Line and Commando Bridge; Treks; fun at Obstacle Course in camping ground..

Leisure activities: Farm visits; jam factory;  shopping at Panchgani; Panchgani Table Lane; Chill out during sun set; campfire; cycling on cycling tracks in the camping premises;.

Recommended: for Family; Couples; Groups; Corporate Professionals; and Students.

Location: 11 km from Panchgani; 100 km from Pune and 250 km from Mumbai.

Ideal Duration of stay:  2 Night to 2 Days.

Best Season at this location: Round the year..

Tabins at Campsite

Tabins from inside

Cafe

Dorms - 5 bedded

 ======================
Internetbanking details for bookings. (100% advance)

Details for Internet Banking Transfers (RTGS / NEFT / IFSC):

Account Name: OFFBEAT MANDALA

Account No.: 50200006370273

Bank Name: HDFC Bank Limited

RTGS/NEFT/IFSC: HDFC0000019

Branch: THE AMALDAS CO-OP HSG. SOC. LTD., 

JUHU-VERSOVA LINK ROAD,

WARK-K, (WEST), ANDHERI (WEST), MUMBAI – 400053, MAHARASHTRA

SMS / Call / email for queries: 9619182010 / 9819983722 / natureknights@gmail.com

registration email: Names; Contact Number and email id; gender; food preference veg/non veg of all participants at natureknights@gmail.com with subject (New Year Camping Booking - Panchgani Top 2014/15).

You will get a confirmation email from us once we see the transfer the amount to our account.

Tentative Planned schedule:

Jan 23 late night
Start from Mumbai (Andheri)
Pick up point at Vile Parle; Santacruz; Bandra (along western express highway)
Sion Station
Chembur
Vashi
Belapur
Panvel
Pune

Jan 24th morning
arrival at campsite
tent allocation
breakfast and freshen-up
rest and leisure activities
visit farms within camping ground; cycling on cycling tracks (there are 12 cycles within the camping ground);
small hikes within the campus (80 acre campus)

Lunch
Evening back at campsite
adventure course 
Valley Crossing/ Zip Line and Commando Bridge
Obstacle Course Stunt
chill out with campfire
dinner and lights out

Jan 25
enjoy sun rise
breakfast
visit to Table Land (enjoy sun set from tableland of Panchgani)
Lunch at Wai.. (Kolhapuri special).

Travel back to Mumbai

8:30 pm arrival back at Mumbai

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Our standard package includes 24 hours stay and one cycle of meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea & Snacks & Dinner) along with the access to certain complementary activities like Rope courses, Zip Line, Commando crossing, Cycling and Obstacle course.

We use high quality adventure gears and do not compromise on safety and security of guest.

Our staff at the Campsite is first aid trained and can well cater to small emergencies, besides this we have 24 hours Doctor on call.

Breakfast (Standard Menu type)
Upma/Poha (1 of the two)
Poori-aloo/Aloo Paratha/medu vada sambhar/Pav Bhaji/Masala Dosa (any one)
Eggs, bread butter jam
Tea & Coffee

Lunch(Standard Menu type)
One Veg sukha, one Veg Curry, I Non Veg, one Dal, curd, rice, roti, salad papad pickle and Dessert

Dinner same as lunch with variations in dishes

Evening tea snacks
Tea coffee biscuits
Kanda Bhajia, bread pakoda, sandwich, bhel, wada pav (any 1)

9% service tax applicable.

Cycling Tracks

Adventure Track - Commando Bridge

Dining Room

Farms within the campsite..

Getting There

By Air: Closest Airport is Pune.
By Road:
From Mumbai: (250 Km / 5.5 hours)
From Pune: (100 Km / 2.5 hours)
Take the NH4 Mumbai – Bengaluru Highway. Bypass Pune after the Mumbai Pune Expressway to continue on the Bengaluru Highway. Turn right at Surur and continue on Wai – Panchgani road. Cross Panchgani and head towards Mahabaleshwar. 4.5 Km after Panchgani Market take an acute left (after Mala’s factory retail outlet) on to the road going up. Continue on Bhilar road for 2 Km and take left after Bhilar Village. Continue on this road till you see signs for Camp BajiSanteVille.

From Ratnagiri: (214 Km / 4.4 hours) Via Poladpur
From Kolhapur: (170 Km / 2.5 hours) Via Satara
From Bengaluru: (775 Km / 10.5 hours) Via Kolhapur

Rainbow clicked during end of monsoon season near campsite

Makar Santranti

Wishing all a very happy Makar Sankranti..

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival which is celebrated in almost all parts of India. This festival marks the transition of Sun into the Makara Rashi which is a zodiac sign. It is also believed that it marks the spring of India which is a traditional event. Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 15, 2015.

The movement of Sun which changes from one zodiac sign to the other is known as Sankranti. And the sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac which is termed as Makara, hence the name ‘Makar Sankranti’ evolved. This festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase for Indian culture. In Indian culture, people term it as a holy phase of transition. This festival marks the beginning of longer days as compared to nights.

Makar Sankranti

Wishing all a very happy Makar Sankranti..

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival which is celebrated in almost all parts of India. This festival marks the transition of Sun into the Makara Rashi which is a zodiac sign. It is also believed that it marks the spring of India which is a traditional event. Makar Sankranti is celebrated on January 15, 2015.

The movement of Sun which changes from one zodiac sign to the other is known as Sankranti. And the sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac which is termed as Makara, hence the name ‘Makar Sankranti’ evolved. This festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase for Indian culture. In Indian culture, people term it as a holy phase of transition. This festival marks the beginning of longer days as compared to nights.

Up Coming Event

Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek, Chadar Trek, leisure Cycling Trips;  Treks, Backpacking with Cycles; Camping, White Water Rafting, Waterfall Rappelling, Monsoon Adventure Treks, Safaris, Mountaineering, Rural Eco-Trips, Sailing, Kayaking, Snorkeling, Fishing Trips, kite flying etc.

Details for Internet Banking Transfers (RTGS / NEFT / IFSC):

Account Name: OFFBEAT MANDALA

Account No.: 50200006370273

Bank Name: HDFC Bank Limited

RTGS/NEFT/IFSC: HDFC0000019

Branch: THE AMALDAS CO-OP HSG. SOC. LTD., 

JUHU-VERSOVA LINK ROAD,

WARK-K, (WEST), ANDHERI (WEST), MUMBAI – 400053, MAHARASHTRA

Konkan Kada Rappelling Batches  2015 Jan 23rd Jan 24th Jan 25th Jan 26th Jan 27th Jan 28th Details / Signup	Kite Flying Festival Krishna Valley Campsite Date: Jan 17 to 18 Kite Flying, Camping, Barbecue, Swim in River, Village Meals, Farm Visits etc. Details / Signups	Camping Adventure 3 Nights and 3 Days at 3500 feet Jan 23rd Night to Jan 26th Evening    Camping experience in Alpine Tents and Tabin Tents; Farm Visits; Adventure Activities; Treks; Excursions; Table Land; Jam Factory; Visit to Boat Club; Cycling on dirt tracks etc. details / signup
Chadar Trek Jan 24, 2015 Details / Signup	Valentine’s Day Camping Feb 14th Campfire; Barbecue; and Chilling Out in Starry Night 8 Options to choose from Details / Signup	Moderate Adventure Trek to Kathingad Summit Feb 22, 2015 Trek Fee Rs.1100/-
Trek-a-Thon Challenge Feb 28, 2015 Details / Signup	White Water Rafting Camp at Kundalika River  March 2015 (Multiple Batches)	White Water Rafting Camp at Rishikesh March and April 2015 Multiple Batches
Summer Camp Panchgani Hill Top Camp at 3500 feet April 2015 / June 2015 Age group (10 years to 15 years) 2 Batches Batch 1 (April) Batch 2 (April) Batch 3 (June)	Himalayan Safari to Meghala and Arunachal Pradesh May 3rd, 2015