On July 23rd, 2016, along with a couple of friends, I travelled to Kumaon from Gurgaon, to paddle in the Sattal lakes. Sattal literally means Sat Tal or seven lakes. The lakes are an interconnected system of seven freshwater lakes. The waters were glassy, with a turquoise hue to it, adding to its mystic feel. I immediately inflated my paddleboard and entered the waters.