IN SEARCH OF SOLITUDE- TOSH, THE UNTOUCHED BEAUTY (CI)

Sitting on my comfy chair with Murakami in my hand, when the sun rays were filtering my hair and the sun-light on snow was emitting gold and silver, I realised that Himachal has given me so much- so many friends, the love of my life, so many sunrises and morning teas, full moons and the constellations and most of all the courage to start my solo journeys. This was my another solo venture to find some solitude in Tosh- The Untouched Beauty of Himachal. Tosh is a small village ahead of Manikaran and some 20 kms from Kasol. Soothing, isolated and away from all the luxuries of city life, Tosh has the charm in its simplicity.

HOW TO REACH

Bus from ISBT or Manju Ka Tilla, Delhi till Bhunter (11-12 hours)
Local Bus from Bhunter to Barsheni (Bhunter-Kasol-Manikaran-Barsheni) (3-4 hours)
Taxi or Trek from Barsheni till Tosh. (20-30 minutes)

THAT 21 YEAR OLD

For the first time my side seat in bus was occupied by a female solo traveller. 21 year old, young and smart, she was little conscious and confused as it was her first solo trip in India. She was going to Kasol. We talked and laughed and discussed, without interfering into each other's privacy. We were alone but whenever required we were together.

GRAFFITI IN VILLAGE TOSH

WHERE TO STAY

Sunset Guest House, II Floor, Corner Room for the best view.- Rs 300 for double occupancy room (he may charge extra Rs 100 if there are two people).

FEAR- THE FIRST NIGHT

As suggested by my traveller friend Sushant I took room no. 111 and indeed the view was perfect from the balcony.

It was off season and there were very few people in the guest house and on my floor I was the only one. The sun started snoring and the moon was hidden behind the clouds, huge black mountains were standing tall in front of me and from a distance sound of gushing water of waterfalls was touching my ears. Everything was dark and I could feel the darkness inside me. I felt scared. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. After half an hour when I failed in my attempt I knocked the door of fellow travellers Sakshi and her brother Vikrant who were staying on first floor. The brother-sister from Delhi were travelling together for the first time and they had a very sweet and sour relationship. It was fun listening to them. For five minutes I kept pondering whether to knock or not, whether to disturb them or not, but for the first time I kept myself above "What people would think about Me." I knew I would be disturbing them but I couldn't help. For me it was the matter of survival.

View of Waterfalls from my balcony

WHAT NOT TO MISS

Orchid Cafe- This wooden cafe offers delicious honey pan cake, cheese omelette, lemon tea and paneer and butter roti.

NEW FRIENDSHIP, NEW LOVE, NEW RELATIONS

By this time me, Sakshi, Vikrant and Animesh (a fellow solo traveller from Delhi) already had many discussions on business, marriages, love, friendships, relations, economy, law, philosophy, psychology. The next day after bidding adieu to Sakshi and Vikrant,  me and Animesh started our trek hoping to reach that ferocious waterfall.

TREKS

1. Trek till river bed- I would not call it a trek as it was a simple walk till a pasture from where one could hear sound of rustling water of river.

2. Trek till the Waterfall- It was not a normal trek and no villager suggested us to go for it.

Me and Animesh started walking down the lane hoping to touch the waterfall. It was the tough terrain and I am sure that if Animesh wouldn't have been there I would have never thought of taking pains to reach the waterfall. In life we experience all kinds of hassles and sometimes a help, a confidant, a friend is required to overcome them.

That mud on my feet was like sparkling stones, the natural music of water and wind, the villagers gazing the cows and sheep, the smoke from the chimneys- everything was mesmerising about that place. After experiencing many difficulties when we saw the waterfall in front of us all pain vanished in a second. Pain is necessary to value life, this small life.

We had to cross the river to reach the waterfall

Newly discovered Tosh bridge

I couldn't imagine that something which I could see from the distance, which was so far from me, I would be able to touch it someday. I got so engrossed in the beauty of that waterfall that I forgot to click any pictures.

When I saw the mountains above and the river beneath and I was standing somewhere in between, I felt so small.

At night while gazing at the stars and the constellations I thought about the darkness I experienced the night before. I saw that one brightest lonely star and I wondered if life could be same- alone amidst the darkness and shining brightly like that star. 

One never gets enough of Tosh and it was not easy to leave that place. The best part was that I came alone but was leaving with a friend. 

LAW? (C)

Being a lawyer,

I think why there is need of law.

It comes when somebody wants to harm other

It comes when somebody hates someone.

It is required when somebody wants more than what he/she is working for

And being a lawyer I still wonder,

That law is important to remove that somebody

But is that possible unless that somebody changes

And being a lawyer I still wonder why law is required.

AMBEDKAR PARK, GOMTI NAGAR, LUCKNOW

AWESOME WEEKEND GETAWAY FROM DELHI- MORNI HILLS (XCIX)

10th September, 2016- 12th September, 2016

Fun of hills and plains
Beauty of forest and road
Attraction of history and nature

Morni hills have it all. Situated in District Panchkula, some 260 kms from Delhi, Morni Hills is perfect weekend getaway from Delhi.

HOW I REACHED MORNI HILLS FROM DELHI

HRTC Bus from ISBT, Delhi till Chandigarh- got down at Zirakpur bus stop before Chandigarh

From Zirakpur to Morni Hills- Bike, Duke. Roads are perfect and one could easily travel by one's own vehicle from Delhi to Morni Hills.

I reached Kasmere Gate bus stop, ISBT early morning at 5 am. My bus was at 6 o'clock. Sleepy but excited about the trip I was waiting for my bus to come. It was Saturday morning (God Shani Dev day) and I could see atleast 6-7 people carrying Shani Dev idol and roaming around the bus stop seeking dakshina. I saw people giving money to the Lord and for a while I got lost in my thoughts. I wondered that we don't love God, we fear God. While I was still pondering whether I love or fear God my bus came and I started searching for number 17 seat.

I reached Zirakpur bus stop and was waiting for Ashish to come from where we had plan to go on bike to Morni Hills which was some 40 kms. I had read it somewhere, "Roads are made for journeys and not the destinations." The journey from Zirakpur to Morni Hills is beautiful. Dense forests on both the sides and the turns on road - it was quiet and adventurous.

WHERE TO STAY

UV Resorts owned by a retire forest official- We found it on Goibibo website.  

Morni Hills is a place where you go and do nothing. It is a place to relax, to read, to write, to enjoy that cup of tea watching the hills, to enjoy that cool breeze touching your skin, to enjoy the conversations and to experience the silence. The view from UV Resort was beautiful. It was like an open amphitheatre. I was watching the changing of colours of sky in evening- from blue to orange to dark orange to grey to black. I love nights in hills. The star studded sky, the faded mountains, cool breeze, the far off dim lights- Nights in hills are beautiful.

PLACES TO VISIT

TIKKAR TAAL

View of  Tikkar Taal and Chota Tikkar Taal

When I am amidst nature, I am ignorant of everybody, everything around me. I am at peace with myself and my surroundings. I was looking at that soft flowing water, the distant boats, concentrating on the sunlight merging and emerging in water. It was hypnotic. Nature is the best gift God has given to mankind.  

A trek till Morni Waterfall

MORNI FORT

On Monday morning at 11.00 am we started our journey back to Delhi on our beloved Duke. We had to cover 260 kms which were ahead of us. But we knew that it would surely be fun as it is rightly said-   

"If you want to be happy for a day, drink.
If you want to be happy for a year, marry.
But if you want to be happy for a lifetime, ride a motorcycle."

Ashish's Duke and my Avenger at India Gate, Delhi
Picture taken on 13th September- the next day of completion of our trip

For more pictures and quotes on Morni Hills visit- Everything out there is for A reason  - A page owned by Ashish Sohal and The Day I Realised that I Am Alive-  My Facebook Page

LOVE (XCVIII)

And when you were bidding adieu to me

the tears rolled down from my eyes,

I wanted to say don't go, I need you,

but I didn't.

I happily and unwillingly, with a heavy burden in my heart,

wished you good journey

As I see you going,

I wanted to hug you, kiss you, hold you forever,

there was a little fear of losing you

but a little hope too

that things would be fine,

that you would be mine.

MANDORE GARDEN, JODHPUR

FACEBOOK PAGE- THE DAY I REALISED THAT I AM ALIVE

BAROT- ULTIMATE ABODE OF SERENITY (XCVII)

12th August, 2016- 16th August, 2016

A plan which started with Morni Hills, got fixed at Shikari Devi and  I am glad that it finally ended at Barot, Himachal.

Barot is a place Where one goes and do Nothing. It falls under Mandi district, not to be confused with Barog in Solan.

BAROT- VIEW FROM MY ROOM

Travel Journey

Delhi- Chandigarh- Mandi- BAROT- Baijnath-Palampur-Dharmshala- Chandigarh- Delhi

Like always I booked HRTC bus from Delhi to Mandi and like always Ashish was waiting for me at Mandi bus stop. Meeting my traveller partner almost after 3 months was exciting and getting his first glimpse from my bus window was warming and comforting.

Barot is 70 kms from Mandi bus stop and from there our journey on my beloved Duke started.

ON THE WAY TO BAROT

RIVER SIDE RESORT

It was a sudden plan and we left everything on the time and the destiny. Plus point of travelling is that the destiny never fails you in it. Even if it fails you enjoy that failure also. Our destiny took us to River Side Resort - A cluster of rooms and tents on the bank of River Uhl. 

RIVER SIDE RESORT

MY BOOK AND MY CUTE FRIEND 

WHEN OUR CARETAKER SPREAD
THE UTENSILS IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT

MOON ALWAYS SUPPORTS ME IN MY JOURNEYS

Taking full advantage of the crystal clean, fresh river water my mornings used to start with a dip in Uhl River.

IT WAS FREAKING COLD WATER

FIRST TIME EXPERIENCE IN FISHING

Barot is famous for trout fish and one could catch fresh fishes from the river and barbecue them. Having no experience in fishing we hired a guide, Mr Vivek who rented us fishing rods and hooks and taught us fishing. It was totally a different experience. A fishing license is required in Barot which costs Rs 100/- for an amateur. Mr Vivek arranged for that license and told us "Now you have got license to kill." Something in me died at that time. We went for fishing and I was not able to catch any fish (later I thanked God for that). Vivek told that catching fish is a matter of luck. Vivek caught two fishes for us- two big trout fishes. While he made me clicked pictures with those fishes and I smiled and laughed but seeing those dying fishes was repulsive. And after coming back to Delhi I tried eating fish curry but I must accept that I didn't enjoy it. Well, it was an unusual, exciting and adventurous experience for me.

*Purposely not sharing any pictures with the fishes

A PLACE WHERE THE ROAD ENDS- POLING VILLAGE

While exploring Barot we reached at a point where the road ended, though a further construction for connecting Barot and Bir was going on there. We took our bike on a kaccha road which was getting connected to some village. It was Poling village- a village full of lovely and smiling people, children playing and enjoying their Independence day holiday, women washing clothes and oldies sitting and chatting with glass of tea in their hands. One of the old men offered us tea and became happy after knowing that I had come from Delhi. For a while I became part of that village.

  

My return bus was from Dharmshala and to reach Dharmshala on time we started from Barot at around 12 pm. Taking halts in between and enjoying the nature, having kheer served by the temples, getting drenched in rains and tea and pakoras at Satyam cafe in Dharmshala, all  have somewhere got a place in my memories. 

Chasing butterflies

Spotting rainbows

Naming birds from red tail to yellow neck bird

Watching hidden waterfalls

This trip to Barot was full of beauty, nature and ecstasy. 

For more pictures, stories and quotes on Barot visit- Everything out there is for A reason  - A page owned by Ashish Sohal and The Day I Realised that I Am Alive-  My Facebook Page