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Again, we rose early, not wanting to leave the warmth of our beds.  However, the reminder of our next destination motivated all of us to move.  We would be heading to a camp at Dharali, near Gangotri, the next step of the Char Dham Yatra.  After a short morning drive we stopped at what was just seemingly a roadside rocky staircase.  Amma and Swamiji stepped out of the car first noticing some childish laughter ahead up the hillside.  We all followed after and climbed up the steep rocky steps.  To our surprise we found three young boys tugging on Amma and Swamiji's clothing, laughing and pulling them up the hill.  These "three monkeys" definitely lightened our moods and put smiles on our faces as they escorted us to our destination.

In 1992 some local men, who were looking for some underground runoffs from the Ganges discovered a large cave in the side of a hill.  Here a temple was immediately consecrated because of what was found.  At the top of our climb, when the three boys stopped laughing we entered a small cave opening, guided by flashlights.  The small opening dropped down into a bigger room with ankle deep underground Ganga water.  The flashlights illuminated miraculous naturally formed figures of Ganesh, his vehicle the rat, the stalactites and stalagmites actually formed Shivalingas.  Also at the center of the cave the figure of the Godhead Shiva and his hair was formed by the rocks.  This was a very powerful moment for everyone.  The group was mesmerized by how clearly the Divine reflected and formed in nature.  

Once the first head popped out of the temple-cave entry, the three boys were back giggling and playing with Swamiji all the way until we returned to our car.  The car ride was quite long and we made sure to stop in Uttarkashi to buy some woolens.  We all needed something extra to battle the October air-- which seems all that much colder camping in the Himalayas.  

A short break for lunch, at a Char Dham camp, offered the unexpected opportunity to access the Internet, thanks to wireless mobile phone technology.  This offered Amalananda the chance to update the Ekatvam website with the first few entries from the Yatra Blog and to share the experiences with everyone who, though not here physically is very present every step of this great and Divine journey.  

When we arrived at the Dharali camps, we were greeted by our tour operator Amit, who briefed us on the trek ahead. Raghudasa had not been feeling well through the entire day. When we reached Dharali, he immediately went to bed. All of us, and mostly Raghudasa, were concerned whether he could make the upcoming 3-day trek to Gaumukh. Amma asked Raghudasa to take medicines, some blessed vibhuthi, and we all prayed that he recover to be able to make the trek.

After a refreshing warm dinner, we all went to bed, after having had a long travel day. We were all in anticipation of one of the most difficult treks ahead of us.