Meet ShankarJi: A 63-Year Old From Chennai Who Treks To The Himalayas Every Year.
He started venturing out as a solo traveller when he was a 27 year old with the idea of covering all the major temples of India. At the age of 50, he had a breakthrough in his trekking life. He was selected by GoI for the holiest Kailash Manasarovar Parikrama Yatra where he had an out-of-the-world experience amidst the rivers and the mountains of that Yatra. When asked about his experience, he recalls
“Words can’t explain how I started to feel after KMY. It was not just a test of my physical strength but also my mental ability. I was 58 when I did the KMY Yatra. The secret lies not in the Kailash or in the Manas, but in the journey. It is the journey that takes you close to the Shiva”
In addition to the adventurous KMY Yatra, he also covered the Kalindi Khal trek and the Lamkhanga Trek. He walked across the treacherous yet equally rewarding Kalindi Trek where even the best in the business think twice before venturing out. He went backpacking on his own without employing any porter on this trek since he preferred to carry his own baggage,
When asked if he ever dreamt of living in the regions of Himalayas coming all the way from Chennai, he says
” I would love to but it’s not feasible. I have to be with my family and physical presence is more important than financial backing. Life is meaningless without spiritual experience and my travels are my way of reaching out to the higher spiritual spheres. Although I am single, I live with the memories of my travel”
His advice to the younger generation is asking them to cultivate a positive attitude and a strong mind. He says man has to befriend Mother Nature and not try the impossibility of conquering her.
Well, his undying passion for travel has proved itself time and again. He, therefore, continues to visit new places and does not hesitate to embark on some of the most dangerous treks even though he is a 63 year old.
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