Amazing Experience with Kalu Baba in Himalaya

We were traveling to Pancha Badri in the Himalayas and one of the Badrinath is Bhavishya Badri. It is said that in the 4th quarter of Kaliyuga, Lord Badrinath will be worshiped here and hence the name Bhavishya Badri.

We started early in the morning knowing that it was a 4-5 KM trek. Our drivers left us at the bottom of one mountain mentioning the 4-5 KM trek ahead. Everyone was joyously enjoying the Himalayan trek, seeing an amazing beauty, and also eating Khumani fruits (the specialty of the Himalaya mountains). We reached almost the top of one mountain and there we were welcomed by one villager having his hut there. He told us that there was a landslide and hence we can’t go via the routine way but we have to take a different route and he showed us the route. We went ahead on the shown route and landed on one road where construction was going on. We asked the construction crew, “How far is Bhavishya Badri temple?”, “It’s too far 6-7 KM more,” came the reply. We were shocked as we have already trekked a lot and there was a very little bit of energy left and we have not eaten anything except some Khumani fruits on the way.?

We were on very low energy as we had already trekked to Gomukh (18 KM ahead of Gangotri) the day before. All of a sudden one boy saw a pick-up van and requested him if he can drop us at Bhavishya Badri temple. He agreed and all 16 of us stood in the pick-up van and the van left. It was a unique experience for everyone. The driver dropped us at a place which was 1.5 KM before Bhavishya Badi temple and left us giving the reason that he had to give tiffin to the workers. We thanked him from the bottom of our hearts paid him a good amount and left for another trek which was now easier compared to a 6-7 KM trek.

We reached the temple and had beautiful darshan of the deity there which is still developing. There we met Kalu Baba who stays alone near the temple and he explained to us every detail of the Bhavishya Badri temple. He was the alone pujari who stayed in a small hut near the temple and served the Lord for 365 days a year even if there was snowfall. It was almost 1 o’clock in the afternoon and everyone was hungry. Kalu Baba told us, “I was going to sleep as I was having body ache, but Lord indicated to me that some guests are coming and you cook for them”. That was an absolute shock for each one of us. He then presented us with a pressure cooker and plates to eat. When we opened the cooker, we found Khichadi in it. We all happily pounced on it and all 16 of us were fully satisfied and not a single grain of Khichadi was left. It was as if the Khichadi was made only for all 16 of us.?

We gave some donations to Kalu Baba for his hospitality and prasadam and left the place. His faith in the Lord and his dedication to service everything moved us. We could see that Lord was orchestrating and assisting us in the entire journey right from the villager who welcomed us and showed us the way, the driver who gave us a lift in a pick-up van, and finally the Kalu Baba who fed us sumptuously at the right time.?

Such an amazing experience that none of us will forget for our entire life.