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

LOST LOVE (XCVI)

Love, a word, a name, a feeling, 

Abstract noun

I wish it could be common or proper

when I could hold onto it,

and would never allow it to go

I wonder whether it exists or not.

It begins with a smile and ends on a tear-drop,

starts with love and ends on lost love!

CONNAUGHT PLACE, DELHI, INDIA

HER HEART! (XCV)

Her heart was broken into pieces

He picked them all

and started fixing them one by one

Sometimes the previous one again breaks down by the time he fixes the other

It took him a lot of time

Lot of patience, care and compassion

But ultimately his love healed her heart

which was once broken into pieces. 

DEER PARK, DELHI
PC: ASHISH SOHAL

YOU AND ME (XCIV)

I am strong

But I feel protected when you hold my hand while crossing the road


I am bold

But I melt when your hands caress my hair


I am earning

But I feel happy when you buy that cup of tea for me


I am a loner

But I like spending time with you, just you and me.

AGRASEN KI BAOLI, DELHI, INDIA

ADVENTURE PLUS NATURE- PRASHAR LAKE, MANDI, HIMACHAL (XCIII)

25th May, 2016-29th May, 2016

Sometimes it's difficult to sink in the beauty of a place. The beauty which is beyond imagination. The beauty which is so mesmerizing that you feel you are in a dream world. Yes! Finally I reached my dream destination : "Prashar"

Prashar Lake
PC: Ashish Sohal

ASHISH'S HOUSE

After travelling alone for 10 hours in bus (my favourite HRTC Volvo) from ISBT, Delhi I found Ashish waiting for me at Kangra, Himachal bus stop with his scooty. Travelling in scooty in mountains- Wow! I became all excited. The cool breeze was touching my skin, the fresh air was filling my lungs and I felt as if somebody had taken me out from an oven and put me in a refrigerator. We reached Ashish's house. Situated amidst the mountains with greenery all around Ashish's house is beautiful. It was so neat and clean that after coming back from the trip the first thing I did was cleaning my room.

THE LOST JACKET AND MY FAITH IN HUMANITY (IN TRUE SENSE 'ATITHI DEVO BHAVA)

After having breakfast (delicious omelette and tea which Ashish cooked for me) we left from Ashish's house and our journey till Prashar started on our favourite Duke. Prashar is around 160 kms from Kangra. Enjoying the weather, the roads, the mountains I went into silent mode and Ashish asked me if everything was fine. I suddenly woke up from my thought process.
"Nothing! As soon as I sit on the bike I go in meditative mode." 

Prashar
PC: Ashish Sohal

After crossing almost 60 kms I suddenly realised that I had dropped my newly bought, not too inexpensive jacket. Ashish being very patient turned the bike and we started travelling back looking on road sides. Travelling back was boring and time consuming but we had no other option. Unsuccessful in our endeavours we reached a point some 30 kms back at the market which we had crossed previously and I asked one shopkeeper about my jacket. To my disappointment he moved his head in 'No'. My mood was a little off but we again started our journey. 
Suddenly after 2-3 minutes two boys showed their hands and Ashish got little irritated but still stopped the bike. The boy just said, "Jacket!" .
I almost jumped. He took out my jacket from his bag which he had kept very neatly and tidily and told that any car would have spoilt it so they took it and were waiting for us to come back.

After my mobile was stolen in Delhi by the person to whom I offered help I lost little faith in humanity. But after this incident my faith in humanity was restored. It was cold and in that time a woollen jacket is one precious thing.  Because of this incident we had to travel extra 60 kms which almost took our 1.5 hours but as it is said "All's well that ends well", I finally got my jacket back.  

FOREST GUEST HOUSE

In Prashar there are only two places to stay- PWD Guest House and Forest Guest House. We booked Forest Guest House around 10 days before. If one does not get guest house then only option remains are tents. When we reached guest house the caretaker  told us  that our room is booked only for one day and we had to stay in tent the next day. It was 5 degree there but we didn't have any other option. The room was okay and not that great but yes atleast we had roof on our heads. We saw many cars going back as they didn't get any place to stay. The next day we were all prepared to shift in tent and Roop Singh was the owner of our tent. Roop Singh and our guest house caretaker were good friends and while we were still pondering where to put our tent they told us that they have arranged a room for us, a VIP room which is allowed only for Forest Officials. I saw the room and I controlled my happiness in front of Roop Singh. That room was amazing. If I would get a chance I could stay there for N number of days. 

VIEW FROM ROOM

FOREST GUEST HOUSE HAS ONLY 6 ROOMS WHICH INCLUDES ONE VIP ROOM. SO IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A ROOM ON THE SPOT

PRASHAR

Words are less to describe this place. Let the pictures speak:

PC:ASHISH SOHAL

PC: ASHISH SOHAL

PRASHAR TEMPLE IS TEMPLE DEVOTED TO RISHI PRASHAR AND PEOPLE FROM DISTANT PLACES COME HERE TO GET THEIR WISHES FULFILLED
PC:ASHISH SOHAL

PC: ASHISH SOHAL

FLOATING ISLAND- THE ISLAND IN BETWEEN THE LAKE IS FLOATING ISLAND. ON ONE DAY YOU WILL SEE IT ON ONE SIDE OF THE LAKE AND ON OTHER THE DAY THE OTHER SIDE. LOCALS TOLD ME THAT SOMETIMES ISLAND DOES NOT MOVE EVEN FOR 10 DAYS AND SOMETIMES IT TRAVELS THE LAKE IN A DAY ONLY.
PC:ASHISH SOHAL

PC:ASHISH SOHAL

The road from Kangra till Mandi is very smooth but the final 25 kms journey to reach Prashar is all kacha road. The journey requires a lot of patience and zeal of adventure. But then it's all worth it.

RETURN JOURNEY

On the way we experienced hail storm  and the trip became all the more adventurous and beautiful.

BAIJNATH TEMPLE- A TEMPLE DEVOTED TO LORD SHIVA

TEA GARDENS AT BANOTU

S. SOBHA SINGH ART GALLERY

Such places could be known by a local only, thanks to Ashish he took me to S. Sobha Art Gallery in Andretta Village. Shri Sobha Singh is popularly known as Picasso of India. His paintings mainly includes portraits which looked very real. One of his famous paintings is Sohni Mahiwal painting.  Photography was not allowed in the gallery but a person who loves art, this a must visit for him. 

THAT CHAI WALA

Bidding goodbye to Ashish, I started my journey from Kangra to Delhi. While returning my bus stopped at the same dhaba and I got down to buy water bottle. I saw that chai wala from whom I took tea while coming. I recognised him and I knew he won't as he meet so many people in one day. He looked at me and immediately said "Pehchana, wapas ja rahe ho? (Did you recognise me, are you going back now?" and I smiled and said "Yes!".