July 19, 2016, 1627 hrs.

We are on the final walk to the #Chandratal Lake.

From the camp, we headed out in the car after three cups of Herbal chai. Cars are allowed up to a parking area a couple of kilometres from The Lake. Throughout the trip, Kaushal had been worried that commercialisation may have spoilt the whole environs, that we may find cars lined up near the lake. In my mind, I had images of tents all around the lake, and beach umbrellas, cars … If you have grown up in Mumbai and have dreaded visits to Juhu Beach and Chowpatty, you’ll probably forgive my imagination.

But this is just an extension of the more languid sections of the trek – Rolling hills and a well defined trail are the only difference, all else is similar. Even herds of sheep.