When the mind believes ‘all is well’, the journey—both in life and on the road—becomes infinitely more beautiful. “All is well” is a powerful mantra that proves its worth in almost every situation in life. At every stage, we experience a mix of fear, excitement, and anxiety. Yet, the moment we reassure ourselves that everything will be fine, we gain the inner strength to face the situation with calm and confidence. Travel is often seen as hectic and exhausting. Long journeys can tire not just the body but the mind as well. However, when travel is planned thoughtfully with us ( goglobalvoyages.in ), and arrangements are made in advance, the experience becomes truly pleasurable for leisure travellers. Once the journey begins, maintaining a comfortable, unhurried pace makes all the difference. Travelling without rushing allows us to observe our surroundings, absorb new experiences, and enjoy the moment. This relaxed approach keeps anxiety in check, steadies the heart rate, and brings a deeper sense of joy and fulfilment. In essence, mindful planning and a calm mindset turn travel into a source of happiness rather than stress—just as the famous song reminds us. Dil jo tera baat baat pe ghabraaye Dil pe rakh ke haath usae tu fuslaa le. Dil idiot hai; pyaar se usko samjha le. to hoth ghuma Seeti bajaa Seeti bajaa ke bol O bhaiyya, all is well. Because when the mind believes “all is well”, the journey—both in life and on the road—becomes infinitely more beautiful. In 1999, while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in tourism management, we travelled to Uttarakhand to visit the Valley of Flowers and Badrinath. It was a challenging trek for my parents and me. Although we were part of a group from Pune, my parents joined from Jalgaon, while I travelled with the Pune group. I was thrilled about the trip. Rishikesh lies at the foothills of the Himalayas. Known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”, it is a sacred town in Uttarakhand where the Ganga emerges from the mountains. Renowned for its ancient temples, ashrams, and spiritual significance as a Hindu pilgrimage centre, it is also a hub for yoga, meditation, and adventure tourism. The town’s serenity always fills me with a sense of spiritual mindfulness. On arrival, we hired an autorickshaw that took us to Lakshman Jhoola, a hanging bridge over the river. Nearby stands its twin, Ram Jhoola. Monkeys rule parts of this area, and from these bridges, the sacred Ganga can be seen flowing magnificently. The next morning, we began our journey to Joshimath. En route, we passed through Rudraprayag, one of the Panch Prayag, where the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers meet. Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), it is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre in the Garhwal Himalayas and a gateway to Kedarnath. As we travelled along rough roads at about 30 kph, I admired the beautiful views of the Garhwal Himalayan range. After passing through Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, and Vishnuprayag, we finally reached Joshimath. Situated below Auli, it became our halt, and the next morning we took the ropeway up to Auli. The Auli Ropeway was one of the highlights of our journey. Connecting Joshimath to Auli, it offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks, forests, and valleys. More than just a means of transport, it is among the most scenic ropeways in India. Auli is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, offering panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks. Its slopes suit both professional skiers and beginners. We were awestruck by the beauty of Auli’s landscape. The next day, we travelled to Govindghat. From there, the 14-km trek to Ghangaria is scenic, well-maintained, and gently graded with no steep sections. However, the slippery trail made me cautious, so my parents held each other’s hands as we walked closely with our group. As we wound along the Lakshman Ganga River, we were treated to breathtaking views of waterfalls and lush meadows. Ghangaria, a small settlement, serves as the base camp for trekkers heading to the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. Finally, the big day arrived—we were set to visit the Valley of Flowers. Established in 1982, the Valley of Flowers National Park in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district is renowned for its alpine meadows, endemic flowers, and a wide variety of flora. This richly diverse region is home to rare and endangered animals such as the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep. The park also shelters the Himalayan monal pheasant and other high-altitude bird species. The very name Valley of Flowers evokes something epic, like a land of deities and immortals. The entire route is a photographer’s paradise, and what unfolded during this trek became one of the most life-transforming experiences I have ever had. We will continue this thrilling journey in the next article! So stay tuned! (The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com . Views personal.)
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