Joshimath has a population of 13,200 and is India's primary ski resort (I joke you not!). It's also believed by Hindus to be where the World was first created.

Getting to Joshimath takes two days by land. That's two days driving on precarious mountain roads, which regularly collapse under buses and lorries. It's tragic and worrying as you pass mangled vehicles that have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Overcoming the nerves and discomfort is essential to enjoying this trip. This is certainly NOT luxury travel! However, the views and the places you pass through are truly breathtaking. The further in you travel, the further back in time you seem to go. On one hand, life looks harder and harder, but in contrast it also appears simpler and easier.

Generally, the people in this region are wonderfully warm, friendly and inquisitive - as they generally are in the more remote parts of India. It's a world away from the hassles of the northern cities such as Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. As a man, you even get the odd glance and giggle from the girls, which I’ve not seen anywhere else in India, in the 6 months of time I’ve spent there.

Getting to Joshimath wasn't as scary as the journey to Kashmir by road, but that story is for another day....

Here are a couple of videos from the trip. I'll add some photos later.