Ghumakkar Editorial Monthly Digest – April 2013

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pril 2013 was a great month for Ghumakkar.com. Let me share some statistics with you to quantify this. Between March 28 2013 and Apr 29, 2013, about 120,000 pages were read on Ghumakkar.com. So at some level, your stories touched all those who came here looking for info about a destination or advice on a particular route or just for reading pleasure. This is big and is about 8% more over the previous month. Thank you. I believe, it is the metric of making a valuable contribution towards the greater good of ‘Traveling’. To make it even more joyous, we crossed 50,000 user base on our Facebook page. Wow! So we urge you to spread the word whenever your story is published next. Your story needs to go everywhere and hopefully more people would get inspired to head-out and travel more.

Now, lets go back a little and look at the great travel stories of April 2013. Praveen Wadhwa took us on a long walk, from Nanaksar to Tanakpur to Lohaghat to the real unknown high-reaches of Dharchula, taking a detour or two to Nepal in the process. In between, educating us on various herbs and the daily struggle and wins of local folks. Vishal, who debuted recently continued to dazzle us by his amazing shots and narrative of his ‘Ride to Ladhak’. If you haven’t read this series then I would strongly suggest it. Rakesh Bawa’s romantic journey of Kashmir continues along side Nirdesh’s polite (yet firm) take on monuments in Delhi and around. Nirdesh is now becoming a historian’s favourite and on my occasional talks to other Authors, his name keeps popping up. And to balance the top-heavy (aka North heavy) line-up, Venkat’s Coorgi delights with mouth-watering holidays are a treat to cherish.

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Ladakh Calling… (Part 5) Leh – Pangong TSo – Leh

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Soon to my rescue I saw a Tata Sumo coming from behind. I indicated for some help & it stopped. The driver asked me to stand on the rear footrest and grab the carrier as it was all full from passengers. I was standing out in the open air on the rear footrest. After reaching to our point I thanked the driver for the help extended, in their local language – тАЬJulleyтАЭ.

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Mukteswar Hill station

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We walked to the rocky path to the top point in the evening there we could see the Shiva Temple. There is a Rock with a hole and it is believed if barren women enter this hole they will have children. It was a thrilling experience at the temple and the nearby Suicide point where we stayed quite some time seeing the Sun set and the moon rise and the chirping of birds of different kinds.

A sort of Red flowering plants could be seen all over. The red flowers seen is Brass/Buransh is the Pahari/Hindi name of Rhododendron Arborium. Its Juice is said to be good for reducing Cholesterol. The Oils extracted is good for Skin. There are hundreds of such medicinal plants here. This plant is seen all along the way up mingled with other flowers of different kinds. These preparations are available at Haldwani but not on top of the hills.

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THANDI HAWAYEN LEHRA KE AYYEN… Meri Kashmir Yatra Part 7

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Mr. Bhajji was clever enough to place the vehicle among the local vehicles and we crossed the vehicle only to find a toll office on the left side where a person was noting the number of the vehicle. If it was the local vehicle , those were allowed without paying any tax. If the registration number was outside state and not a tourist vehicle registered in Jammu and Kashmir then tax was levied. So folks no option but to pay that tax to reach the main snow point.

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Photography – Lighting

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рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢ рдХрд╛ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рд╕рд╕реНрддрд╛, рд╕реБрдиреНрджрд░ рдФрд░ рдЯрд┐рдХрд╛рдК рд╕реНрд░реЛрдд рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рд╕реВрд░реНрдп рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛ рд╣реА рд╣реИрдВред рдЪрдВрджрд╛ рдорд╛рдорд╛ рдЬреЛ рдЦреБрдж рднреА рд╕реВрд░реНрдп рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛ рд╕реЗ рдЙрдзрд╛рд░ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢ рд╕реЗ рдХрд╛рдо рдЪрд▓рд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдлреЛрдЯреЛрдЧреНрд░рд╛рдлрд░ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧреА рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИрдВ рдХреНрдпреЛрдВрдХрд┐ рд╡рд╣ рднрд░реЛрд╕реЗрдордВрдж рдЗрдВрд╕рд╛рди рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИрдВ тАУ рдХрднреА рд╣реИрдВ, рдХрднреА рдЧрд╛рдпрдм рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВред рдЬрд┐рд╕ рджрд┐рди рд╣реЛрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЙрд╕ рджрд┐рди рднреА рдЗрддрдирд╛ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢ рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдирд╣реАрдВ рджреЗ рдкрд╛рддреЗ рдХрд┐ рдврдВрдЧ рдХреА рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЦреАрдВрдЪ рд╕рдХреЗрдВ, рдЕрддрдГ рдЙрдирдХреЗ рднрд░реЛрд╕реЗ рди рд░рд╣рдирд╛ рд╣реА рдареАрдХ рд╣реИред рдЙрдирдХреЛ рдзрд░рддреА рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢ рджреЗрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдХрд╣реАрдВ рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдЦреБрдж рдХреА рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЦрд┐рдВрдЪрд╡рд╛рдирд╛, рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдмрд╛рд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдХрд╡рд┐рддрд╛рдпреЗрдВ рдФрд░ рдЧреАрдд рд▓рд┐рдЦрд╡рд╛рдирд╛ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рднрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред рд╣рдордиреЗ рд╕реБрдирд╛ рддреЛ рдпрд╣рд╛рдВ рддрдХ рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рдЪрдВрджрд╛ рдорд╛рдорд╛ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛рд░реЗ рд▓реЛрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рдЧрд▓рдкрди рдХрд╛ рднреА рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдмрди рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдЕрддрдГ рд╣рдо рдлреЛрдЯреЛрдЧреНрд░рд╛рдлрд░ рд▓реЛрдЧ рдЙрдирдХреА рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЦреАрдВрдЪрддреЗ рд░рд╣реЗрдВ рддреЛ рд╣реА рдареАрдХ рд╣реИред рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдкрддрд╛ рд╣реА рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛ рдХрд┐ Luna рд╕реЗ Lunar рдФрд░ Lunatic рд╢рдмреНрдж рдмрдиреЗ рд╣реИрдВред

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Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA

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We were totally muddled what to do to see the long queue .We were doubtful that whether we would be able to visit the temple the same day but to our surprise unlike other temples our turn came within one hour as there one can afford to do hasty darshan because of too much of rush.The main entrance gate of the Badrnath is very colourful and known as тАЬSinghdwar.тАЭ

Badrinath was originally established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. It is said that Shankara discovered the image of Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund (Hot Spring). Later the King of Garhwal moved that image to the present temple. Since then the temple has undergone several major renovations by many people.

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рдорд╛рддрд╛ рд╡реИрд╖реНрдгреЛрджреЗрд╡реА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рднрд╛рдЧ – рен ( рдЬрдореНрдореВ – JAMMU – реи)

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рд░рдШреБрдирд╛рде рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдЬрдореНрдореВ рдФрд░ рдХрд╢реНрдореАрд░ рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдХреЗ рдЬрдореНрдореВ рд╢рд╣рд░ рдХреЗ рдордзреНрдп рдореЗрдВ рд╕реНрдерд┐рдд рд╣реИред рдпрд╣ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдЬрдореНрдореВ рдХрд┐ рдкрд╣рдЪрд╛рди рд╣реИрдВ.рдпрд╣ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдХ рдХрд▓рд╛рддреНрдордХрддрд╛ рдХрд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╢рд┐рд╖реНрдЯ рдЙрджрд╛рд╣рд░рдг рд╣реИред рд░рдШреБрдирд╛рде рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рднрдЧрд╡рд╛рди рд░рд╛рдо рдХреЛ рд╕рдорд░реНрдкрд┐рдд рд╣реИред рдпрд╣ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдЙрддреНрддрд░ рднрд╛рд░рдд рдХреЗ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдкреНрд░рдореБрдЦ рдПрд╡рдВ рдЕрдиреЛрдЦреЗ рдордВрджрд┐рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рд╣реИред рдЗрд╕ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдХреЛ рд╕рдиреН 1835 рдореЗрдВ рдЗрд╕реЗ рдорд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рдЬ рдЧреБрд▓рд╛рдм рд╕рд┐рдВрд╣ рдиреЗ рдмрдирд╡рд╛рдирд╛ рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдкрд░ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдг рдХреА рд╕рдорд╛рдкреНрддрд┐ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╛┬ард░рдгрдЬреАрдд рд╕рд┐рдВрд╣ рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рд▓ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реБрдИред рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдХреЗ рднреАрддрд░ рдХреА рджреАрд╡рд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдкрд░ рддреАрди рддрд░рдл рд╕реЗ рд╕реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рдкрд░рдд рдЪрдврд╝реА рд╣реБрдИ рд╣реИред

рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдЕрд▓рд╛рд╡рд╛ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдХреЗ рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдУрд░ рдХрдИ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рд╕реНрдерд┐рдд рд╣реИ рдЬрд┐рдирдХрд╛ рд╕рдореНрдмрдиреНрдз рд░рд╛рдорд╛рдпрдг рдХрд╛рд▓ рдХреЗ рджреЗрд╡реА-рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛рдУрдВ рд╕реЗ рд╣реИрдВред┬ард░рдШреБрдирд╛рде рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рдореЗрдВ рдХреА рдЧрдИ рдирдХрд╝реНрдХрд╝рд╛рд╢реА рдХреЛ рджреЗрдЦ рдХрд░ рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХ рдПрдХ рдЕрджреНрднреБрдд рд╕рдореНрдореЛрд╣рди рдореЗрдВ рдмрдВрдз рдХрд░ рдордиреНрддреНрд░-рдореБрдЧреНрдз рд╕реЗ рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВредрдпрд╣ рдХрд╣рд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИрдВ рдХрд┐ рдордВрджрд┐рд░ рдореЗрдВ рддреИрдВрддреАрд╕ рдХрд░реЛрдб рджреЗрд╡реА рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛рдУрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╕реНрдерд╛рдкрдирд╛ рд╣реИрдВ. ┬ардордВрджрд┐рд░ рдХрд╛ рдореИрдВ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдЪрд┐рддреНрд░ рджреЗ рдкрд╛ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реВрдБ. рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдХреЗ рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рд▓реЗрдирд╛ рд╡рд░реНрдЬрд┐рдд рд╣реИрдВ.

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Qila Rai Pithora тАУ the First City of Delhi

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DelhiтАЩs history goes back possibly to the times of the old village of Indrapat in and around Purana Qila. Other villages of that time were Sonepat, Panipat, Baghpat and Tilpat. Indrapat is the site of Indraprastha, the mythological capital of Pandavas believed to be buried in the area where Humayun built Purana Qila.

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Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath

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On the way back from Kedarnath we had our light breakfast and started our downwards journey. At slow pace we covered 3-4 kms but after sometime my elder daughter started complaining of leg pain , I advised her to use either pony or kandi for rest of the distance but she did not like the idea and continued her journey.

While coming back we tried shortcuts in between but it is advisable not to use if kids are with you.As sometimes short cuts are really very risky too. We experienced that downward journey is more painful than climbing up. Around 12 oтАЩclock we reached Rambara (Midway) , we had our traditional lunch , rice & dal and relaxed ourselves for a while and again proceeded further for Gaurikund.

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рдЬрд┐рдо рдХреЙрд░реНрдмреЗрдЯ рдХрд╛ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓, рдмрд╛рдШ рдФрд░ рд╣рдо – реи

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рд╡рд╛рдкрд┐рд╕ рдЧреЗрдЯ рдкрд░ рдкрд░рдорд┐рдЯ рджрд┐рдЦрд╛рдпрд╛ рддреЛ рд╡рд╣рд╛ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рдЧрд╛рд░реНрдб рдиреЗ рдирдореНрд░рддрд╛ рд╕реЗ рдмреЛрд▓рд╛ рдХрд┐ рд╕рд░ рдЧрд▓рддреА рд╕реЗ рдЧреЗрд╕реНрдЯ рд╣рд╛рдЙрд╕ рдкрд░ рдЖрдкрд╕реЗ рдЫ рдЪрд╛рдп рдХреЗ рдкреИрд╕реЗ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд▓рд┐рдП рддреЛ рд╣рдордиреЗ рд╡реЛ рдкреИрд╕реЗ рдЙрдирдХреЛ рджрд┐рдП рдФрд░ рдЧреЗрдЯ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдЖ рдЧрдПред рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ рдореЗ рдореЛрдиреВ рддреНрдпрд╛рдЧреА рдХреЛ рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рд╣реЛрдЯрд▓ рдкрд░ рдЙрддрд╛рд░рд╛ рдФрд░ рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рдХреА рд╕рдбрд╝рдХ рдкрдХрдбрд╝ рд▓реАред рдЧреЗрдЯ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддреЗ рд╣реА рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдзрд░реНрдордкрддреНрдиреА рдХреЛ рдлрд╝реЛрди рд▓рдЧрд╛рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рд╕рдорд╕реНрдпрд╛ рдмрддрд╛рдИ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рд╡реЛ рдирд╛рд░рд╛рдЬ рдереА рдКрдкрд░ рд╕реЗ рдореЗрд░рд╛ рдЪрд╛рд░ рд╕рд╛рд▓ рдХрд╛ рднрддреАрдЬрд╛ рдЬреЛ рдмрд╛рд░ рдмрд╛рд░ рдЙрдирдХреЛ рдбрд░рд╛ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛ рдХрд┐ рдЪрд╛рдЪрд╛ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓ рдЧрдП рд╣реИ рдЙрдирдХреЛ рд╢реЗрд░ рдЦрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛ред

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Ghumakkar Featured Author Interview – With hearty Amitava

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Amitava: Again there are plenty of them, but I chose to write one for all of you, which I thought, is very relevant here. It happened during our trip to Kasauli. Just after our marriage, we went there along with one of my friend, Abhi (Abhikarsha Sinha Ray), in his brand new Alto. We had a very nice time together. Though, we had a driver at our expense, he wanted to drive in the hills. We didnтАЩt allow him, as he learned only few months before. We were staying in Hotel Maurice (a very good hotel, near the Church) and after spending two days, we were leaving for Shimla. This time, without giving us any time, he took the key from the driver and asked him to follow us till the Check Post. If you are aware of Kasauli, just after the Church, there is a downhill and a Check Post. Just when we were crossing the Church, he switched-off the engine (all he wanted to check is to save petrol while going downhill). Then we saw a truck just before the barrier and it took a fraction of second for us to realize that he was not able to stop the car. Both the ladies in the backseat didnтАЩt even aware of what was going on. My friend completely surrendered to the fate, closed his eyes, folded his hands and rested his head on the steering. I had no idea about the arithmeticтАЩs of any car at that point of time and waiting for the collision. The car hit the rear of the truck with a loud sound and after a few seconds it stopped, by the time the lower portion of the truck was just in front of my eyes and the windshield is only barrier between us. Everybody realized what had happed and I donтАЩt think I need to elaborate anything further about the over friendly, warm conversation between Abhi and his wife.

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