MY FIRST SOLO TRIP- NARKANDA DAY 2 (XXVII)

2nd May, 2015- 4th May, 2015

Day 2

Getting up at 5.30 am with the chirping of birds without any alarm, seeing the sunrise, watching the colour of the mountains changing from dark green to bright green, it was an unbelievable dream. I haven't thought about this in my dreams also.   

View from Krish Rauni

View from Krish Rauni

View from Krish Rauni

I had a delicious breakfast when the owner of the resort guided me as to how to reach Hatu Peak. Owner, Mr Vineet who stays with his wife and a cute Labrador at Krish Rauni only, is a thorough gentleman and very helpful. He dropped me till Matiana bus stop from where I could get a bus till Narkanda.

Matiana-Narkanda-Hatu Peak

Narkanda-Narkanda Lake

Narkanda-Thanedhar

Narkanda-Kotgarh

At Narkanda I hired a taxi (it took me a while there as I was looking for a sharing taxi but all in vain and I had to hire a taxi all for myself) to reach Hatu Peak-Temple, Narkanda Lake, Kotgarh and Thanedar. The road till Hatu Peak is a very narrow road and my driver- Mr Surender (very professional) had to reverse the car at least 11-12 times to make the way for other cars.
Finally I was at Hatu Peak. No words, no picture could describe that scene. It was like a painting, a wallpaper in front of me. Snow covered mountains and clouds like cotton above them, clouds in all shapes as if telling me a story. Tears rolled down from my eyes. I was at top of the mountain above which there was only sky and all other fellow mountains were beneath me. I could see all the roads I had travelled to reach there. 

View from Hatu Peak

View from Hatu Peak

Hatu Peak

View from Hatu Peak

At Hatu temple I thanked God for letting me do this. When I was trying to take selfies Surender ran towards me and said "Let me take it Mam." He then said "Mam, you came at the right time. 10 days before there was lot of snow and the roads were blocked and after 15 days there will be Hatu festival. People from everywhere come to attend this festival. At a time only 200 cars can come here and others have to wait down the hill till they return." When we were crossing some apple orchards he showed me his house and his trees. He told that every season he could gather at least 4000 boxes of apples and sold them to Narkanda market vendors or sent them to Delhi or Chandigarh. 

Hatu Temple

Hatu Temple

Hatu Temple

Narkanda Lake

Narkanda Lake

Narkanda Lake

Apple orchards

Apple orchards

Surender dropped me back to Narkanda bus stop and from there I took a bus till Matiana. The bus was full and I sat on one empty seat. I still could not believe that I was roaming on those strange roads amidst all strangers, unaware of what was store-in next for me. Without realising I by mistake sat on conductor's seat. For a while he stood and collected money from passengers and when one of the passengers got down, he sat beside me.Sometimes even if you don't want to talk, you have to. I couldn't ignore him, as I was alone I couldn't be rude to the locals (though afterwards it became an interesting talk).

Conductor: Where are you from?

Me: From Delhi

Conductor: O! Delhi is very polluted, it is too cold, and it is too hot. I go there only in winters and come back in 10 days as I get really bored there. Anyhow, how is Arvind Kejriwal? What all has he done till date?

Me: Let us give him some time. I can't say anything as of now.

Conductor: What do you do in Delhi?

Me: I am a lawyer.

And suddenly he moved 2 inches away from me. That was hilarious. 

Conductor: That is very nice. 

I got down at Matiana bus stop when I realised that my phone had stopped working. Nevertheless it was just 3.00 pm so I decided to walk till my resort. I was walking and asking and confirming from people about the way till Krish Rauni resort. After walking for a while I came across a building which I realised I had never seen before. I got a hint that I was going in a wrong direction. I saw a guy coming from a distance and I ran towards him. He said "O! Are you the one who has come alone? I actually work at Krish Rauni only.Can you see that truck. Just opposite to it climb a little, then stairs would come and you will reach the resort." I had a sigh of relief. I climbed the mountain, took some stairs and then I again climbed the mountain when I realised that I am stuck in middle and there was no way to go either up or to come down. I was about to take out my whistle calling for help (I went all prepared for the trip with whistle, pepper spray, swiss knife etc.) when I saw a girl from my resort. I shouted.
Me: Heyyy! Excuse me! Please call someone, I am stuck here.
She: Heyyy! How did you manage to reach there?
Me: It's a long story. Please call someone fast.
She called her father.
Dad: Heyyy! How did you manage to reach there?
Me: It's a long story. Please call Mr Vineet.
He called Mr Vineet's wife.
Wife: Heyyy! How did you manage to reach there?
Me: It's a long story. Do something.
Wife: Ok. I call Vineet.
Vineet: Heyyy! How did you manage to reach there?
Me: Do something.
Finally Mr Vineet came for my rescue, he pulled me up and that was how I reached my lovely Krish Rauni resort.

Me: Thanks a lot and sorry for all the trouble
Vineet: O! That's ok. The best part about mountains is you can start from anywhere and you will reach your destination.
And I thought "Thank God! I didn't reach my final destination" and I laughed on my own.

The mountain which I climbed to reach my resort

Day 3- The journey back to Delhi is following in next post.

MY FIRST SOLO TRIP- NARKANDA DAY 1 (XXVI)

2nd May, 2015- 4th May, 2015

For the first time I walked in hills alone

For the first time I got up at sounds of birds, I was so determined to see the sunrise

For the first time I saw red clouds, with sun-rays passing through them

For the first time I didn't realise the bruises on my hand until I saw them

For the first time I realised if food is delicious I can relish it alone

For the first time I saw a Labrador barking on crow

For the first time I realised that writing in a diary is better than typing on word in laptop

For the first time I laughed on my own loudly, while reading a book

For the first time I was quiet for such a long time.

For the first time I realised I enjoy this silence, my silence and my time. 

This was my first solo trip to Hatu Peak, Narkanda.

Day 1

Delhi-Kalka-Solan-Shimla-Matiana

I sat in train (Kalka Shatabdi) in all hurry with an only anxiety whether I sat in the right train at the right seat. When I was confirmed that I was right I took a deep breath. Gazing out of the window I suddenly realised, 'O Shit! I am seriously doing this. I can't believe this.'

I was reading my book Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho and I suddenly looked out of the window. The sight was unbelievable. There were thousands of Sunflowers glittering, shining, smiling at the sun, as if a large yellow bed-sheet with black dots has covered the earth. 

I reached Kalka and took a sharing auto till bus stand to find a bus till Shimla. With me there sat a young couple with their daughter and an old Punjabi couple. From here the conversations started:

Young lady: Where are you going?

Me: Matiana from there Hatu Peak, Narkanda

Young lady: Where is it?

Me: It's 70 kms ahead of Shimla.

Young lady: O! So far. So have you got relatives there?

Me: No

Young lady: Are you working there?

Me: No

Young lady (all confused): So why are you going?

Me: Just a trip

Young lady (shocked): Alone? Just like that?

Me: Yes

Young lady: O! Wow! Great! But why are you going so far? Why not Shimla?

Me: I have been to Shimla thrice. That's why decided this place now.

Young lady: We are going to Shimla for the first time. What all is there to see?

Me: Jhaku Temple, Mall Road, go to Kufri, ride on horses and go till hill top, go to Chail.

Old lady: Oh! Is there any other way to go till hill top except horses. I get scared of horses.

Me: It's worth it aunty. Take a small horse. It won't be difficult for you.

Young lady: Arre Aunty! My father-in-law sat on a horse when he went to Vaishno Devi and he is 70 years old. You will surely be able to do it.

And our bus stand came by this time. I took a bus till Solan. 

After changing 7 vehicles from Delhi and travelling for more than 12 hours I finally reached my resort Krish Rauni at Matiana. Seeing outside my room balcony I forgot all my tiredness and was all fresh. I gazed at the mountains, at the clouds, at the moon for a long time, wrote my diary, had dinner and went for sleep.  

View from my balcony

View from balcony

Krish Rauni Resort

Some funny selfies!

And one more!

Day 2 is following in next post. 

PUSHKAR- SPIRITUAL! (XXV)

Planning at 11.00 pm, packing bags by 11.10, on roads by 11.15- sudden and unexpected plans are always awesome.

It was 10.00 pm, Friday Night and I was sitting in my room flood of thoughts running in my mind. I messaged my friend asking him about Saturday's plan and he told that he was going to Pushkar. He asked me to accompany them and I immediately said yes. 

Pushkar, a place of divinity was full off excitement for Holi. Four of us went by car and other friends reached there by bus and train and joined us later on. We stayed at Milkman Guest House, but probably that’s not a right word to describe it. It was a big 'haveli' handled by a local family who rent out rooms to tourists. It was a place for free spirited people, a perfect place to stay for travellers. 

We went for 2 hours camel ride in mini desert. The last time I sat on camel was probably when I was 10 years old. It was beautiful and a fantastic fun.

Our next stop was Pushkar lake, a lake known for its sacredness. It was serene and calm. There was a sense of divinity and spirituality in that place. With water beneath and the sun up my mind became silent. 

Hari ghaas pe lateke aasmaan ko niharte huye 

Uss aasman ke badalte rang ko dekha

Aasmaan ki parchain jhilmilate huye paani mein padi

Paani ke badalte rang ko dekha

Suraj ki kirne badalon pe padin

Badlon ke badalte rang ko dekha

Pakshi badalon ko cheerte huye ja rahe the

Unn pakshiyon ke badalte rang ko dekha

Zindagi ko badalte dekha

Khud ko badalte dekha!

I became all quite and composed.

Pushkar has some amazing cafes. I sat in one cafe to have morning breakfast. There I met Monica, a mid-30 year old girl from England, who told me that every year she comes to India for vacation and Pushkar is one place which she never misses. 

While returning I sat in the corner of the car oblivious of everything, quietly listening to my friends' conversations, learning from them.

I realised every trip brings with itself some awakening.

IT'S JAIPUR AGAIN- FIRST TRIP OF 2015 (XXIV)

My first trip of 2014 was Jaipur and now it's a deja vu- it's again Jaipur in 2015. So what was new this time. I feel that every journey brings with it new experiences, new challenges and new memories. This time the experience was of meeting new people, the journey with my 12 peers, friends, companions, confidante- I can call them anything. On 23.1.2015, 11 of us started our journey from Delhi to Jaipur in our mini cute bus. For me the idea of this journey was to attend Jaipur literature festival, to see the city, to talk to like-minded people and spend quality time together. I don't consider this post as a travel blog, rather it's my diary entry. I can write endlessly on this and describe everyone whom I had encountered during this trip. 

One person whom I really want to mention here is Shraddha- I met her on 31^st December in New Years’ Party when I just had little conversation with her. I found her geek and serious at that time (later on she told that she was conscious as she was new to the group). For whole 3 days we stayed at her house in Jaipur . A girl whom we all met just 15 days back made all arrangements for us (approx 20 people) to stay in that city, suggesting places to eat, handling all accounts, making arrangements for our breakfast and our bedding, even taking care of our belongings (she found my charger and my shoes and later on I got to know that she had the responsibility of everyone’s house and car keys also), deciding which places (forts) to visit and how to reach there, managing time, handling our tantrums also and the list is unending.  She was full of energy and her presence used to make the environment lively.

Nahargarh Fort

Sanchit’s art of cracking witty jokes with all of us laughing for hours, his love for music, his care and his empathy for others.

Virasat

Sriram’s snoring and every time asking us whether he snored or not, his funny hindi but love for Honey Singh songs,  his freestyle dance and his awesome relaxing foot massage.

Amer Fort

Aditya, my dearest friend from Law college, his carefree but mature nature (he was the only person to support Shraddha during crisis) and his crazy laugh which goes on and on.

Nahargarh Fort

Gabe, his intelligent debates were the signal that it was time for us to sleep, a well organized person, with whom one can have endless talks and a very good listener. 

Violetta’s quietness but still making her presence felt in the group.

Smriti, with whom I can talk about anything- whether it’s a girls’ talk or a boys’ talk

Jaipur Literature Festival

Beranger aka Bebe, we used to call him baaaeebeee- his art of video-graphing (it was fun to watch them on our return journey), his beautiful smile, and the similarities between us- left handed, Virgo & broad forehead! 

Great Mind at Work :) Our return journey!

Anant’s responsible nature- his one look is enough to guess what he wants to say.

Amer Fort

Jayshree’s clarity of thoughts and her laugh which can make other people laugh.

Nahargarh Fort

And last but not the least Lucia-The person with whom I share my hairstyle, only person whose impression on me is same since the starting- mature, responsible, decision maker, prudent, an awesome cook and at the same time caring.

Nahargarh Fort

With presence of Anant, Jayshree and Lucia I was sure that if any problem comes we will surely come out of it, people on whom we can rely upon at the time of major crisis.

I also got a chance to meet my old friend Sandeep after a long time.

Literature Festival

The trip was full of fun, talks- talks on NGOS, law, politics, music, movies, philosophy, random jokes, sun-signs, tapris, culture, singing songs, dancing and games ('I have never done this' game, dumb-charades, 'Celebrity' game).

And on the return journey the plans for the next trip to Banaras/Africa/ Afghanistan/Beaches (Kolkata, Kerala, Goa) were already drafted.     

 Here sharing some more pictures:

Literature Festival

Jal Mahal

Colourful

View from Nahargarh Fort

Even the setting sun brings something with it,

The orange beauty in the sky

And the brightness of the moon!

Delicious Rajasthani Thali

Amer Fort- Glass Work

View from Amer Fort

Nahargarh Fort

Finding Myself- Trip to Jim Corbett (Vanghat- Riverine Woods) (XXIII)

On 13 December 2014, we, four friends, started our journey from Delhi to Jim  Corbett, rather till Riverine Woods- Van Ghat, which was 20 kms ahead of Jim Corbett. More than the forest reserve it was the place where we stayed which was mesmerizing. For the first time I took my own car for a trip and that too without driver. For the first time I drove on highways. 

Rather than talking about the forest, greenery, the birds, the river, the star studded sky and the marvellous beauty of that place I want to talk about myself. It was the place where I could find myself, the insight into my thought process, into my needs and desires, into my happiness and sorrows, the insight into my life.  

Off late I have been getting disturbed and irritated and easily hurt by the people around me, by their thinking and mentality. But then I realized that nobody is right or wrong. I just have to find people who are right for me. I understood that howsoever a person is behaving it's because of his environment and company and he is not to be blamed for anything. It is his ideology to behave in a particular manner which for me might not be right. This helped me in forgiving everyone. This helped me to gain my mental peace back.

Gazing at  the star studded sky, a dark sky full of glittering lights and sometimes thunder in between, I cried my heart out. This is how life is, I suppose. Dark but shining and sometimes thunders in between. It was a great catharsis for me.

 I realized the things which give me happiness and the things which make me depressed.  I realized my mistakes and found out my strengths. I realised that the another chance which God has given me to live, I should make maximum out of it. 

That one day was not enough to be at that place. Here sharing some of the beautiful pics of the place:

Anil- a guide, a care taker, a rafter, a bird watcher, pursuing MA in History!! hats off!