Bedni's blessed no more!

"This high meadow is the main area used for camping by travellers on the great pilgrimage to Roop Kund which takes place every 12 years. It is a beautiful & interesting place dotted with shrines & temples. It is said to be the one of the most stunning alpine campsites in the Himalayas. In the morning there will be a tremendous view of Trishul above the Shila Samudra glacier, as well as Nilkanth to the north-west".

http://www.infohub.com/

"Bedni Bugyal is a charming green meadow adorned with flowers in a spell binding varieties, in full bloom. There is a small lake situated in the midst of the meadow, where Tarpans are offered by the devotees".

http://www.trekkinginindia.com/

"Bedni Bugyal (High altitude grass, meadow) is one of the finest meadow in India. This has got to be one of the most romantic spots in the Himalayas – acres and acres of meadow scooped out of lush mountain scape, a steep ridge arching up into the .dusk, and above it, the enormous western flank of Trishul One of the larger Bugyals (meadow) in Uttaranchal".

http://www.peakadventuretour.com/

Above are some excerpts from few websites on internet. a lot I wrote about Bedni bugyal in my previous post on Roopkund (Didna to Bedni bugyal) too. then why there would have been a need to add another post on it? let me take your through the answer slowly.

Bedni no doubt serves as junction to the most of major Himalayan treks in Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. the place as well holds immense mythological and historical importance and along with that comes the splendid natural beauty, untouched no more. On one hand, there is a huge number of devotees every year, coming for Nanda devi jaat or piligrimage, on the other, are the mountaineers to tourists, who are fascinated by the newly found picnic/holiday spot. the result is, that Bedni has become one of the dirtiest camp site in these part of himalayas. Though I would never want to bring on such topic myself or see it been raised by others (hope the topic never existed) but unfortunately, It seems I am the only one who's is mentioning it. (I dint find any recent blog/post/site from about treks/visits here, where it is mentioned.) may be its because we keep looking up in the sky most of the time vouching to the beauty of snow mountains and hills, n forests and clouds, or may be because we are ignorant enough. well, Either ways, those who 've been there recently wouldnt deny the fact, there was anything but wastage/plastic covers/litters and few burned grass sections as well, spread all around. which is really really sad!

When we were hiking to Pattar nachunia from Bedni, I remember Pavan picking up toffee, chocolate wrappers, from the trail, and I joined him. from there to our way to roopkund and back we found at-least 200gms of wrappers, from chocs to gutakas, to namkeens and other paper materials too, some of which were freshly thrown out. (from our group itself ?) On my way back to wan from bedni when I was walking with Pradyuman ji, he told me there are locals as well, who through there match boxes, gutaka, beedi etc on the way. Attitude? or unawareness? I am not sure what it is.

Well all said, its really painful to see the garbage spread over such beautiful places. as a trekker, I would only like our fellow trekkers to be responsible, which I think most of 'em are considering their love for nature. I hope the organizations who are promoting tourism/adventure in these sites, make sure, that they do not destroy the place while trying to bring people here, or making it accessible to people and/or bringing source of income to the locals.

To everyone who's reading my roopkund blogs, and who wishes to go there, My humble request to all, please make sure you take proper care while dumping garbage or rather better carry along your wastage back, with the good memories that Bedni and Himalaya give you, cause I I want to go there again and so do you!