I met two sadhus, Shri Narayan Giri (71 years) and Shri Pashupati Nath (50 years), at Pandukeshwar in a resting place near the road, as we too stopped to rest after the long walk. They invited us for food, but we had just half an hour before, so we said thank you, but the talks continued.
I was amazed to know they started their journey two and a half months back on foot from Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, via Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Garam Pani, Haldwani, Rudrapur, Bilaspur, Rampur, Moradabad, Nagina, Dhampur, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and are currently at Pandukeshwar, only 20 Kms approx. far from Badrinath to complete Char Dham yatra.
Each day, they walk between 12 to 21 km on average.
After visiting Badrinath, they will stay there for two or four days and then will restart their journey to Kedarnath then to Gangotri, and then to Yamunotri to complete the four Dham. And back to Pashupatinath.
It will take them another 4-5 months to reach Nepal.
I asked him which Yatra he finds the toughest till-date.
Shri Pashupati Nath said – The Narmada Yatra was the toughest. The Yatra, as per the rules, if one follows, will be of 3 years, 3 months, and 13 days. One has to take holy water from Omkareshwar and walk on the edges of the river Narmada, passing via Amarkantak, till again they reach Omkareshwar. One does not have to cross any river because one is carrying holy water.
He said – We cross Madhya Pradesh, from where we get the holy water, and Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Shri Pashupati Nath has been doing yatra since 20 years and 40 years of journey by Shri Narayan Giri.
One has to be strong-willed to start and finish such walking journeys.
Amazing – said I, and a donation of a few rupees to them. Best Wishes!