04 Apr

Dalhousie – how we made the most before the onward journey

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The church just stood behind, surrounded by tall and dense trees. It was an old Catholic church built in 1894 exhibiting elegance of Victorian architecture. This church is a look alike of a church of England. Construction of the church was financed by people posted there during that time and local inhabitants. That is why its door remains open for all.

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Winter Drive to Snowy Dhanaulti

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Few days ago, one of a reader asked me that why have I stopped writing on Ghumakkar. I had no particular answer. She told that I should again start writing.

So here I am back again to share few of my short travel tales. Starting with one of the trip which I remember was Dhanaulti which I visited in FebтАЩ14.

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Rain Fury in Chakrata, Uttarakhand in June 2013 (Part III)

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By 7:30 in the evening the passage got cleared by JCBs, and as soon as the vehicles started to enter Damta the police authorities started announcing: Aap sabhi yatriyon ka Damta gaon mein swagat hai, apke bhojan ki vyavastha school aur mandir dharamshala mein ki gayee hai, kripya ghabrayein nahi aur bhojan grahan karein We were overwhelmed with this gesture of the authorities of this small village who were offering free food to stranded travellers. The local villagers also offered places for night stay to travellers at very nominal prices, and all the shopkeeper were warned not to overcharge any travellers for any food items. After having dinner at Sharnarthi camp, we also took the shelter in the house built over local Police Station.

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The Waghdoh Male: The largest male tiger in India

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We clicked her at a short distance while she oblivious to the attention she was getting continued with her innocent play. ┬аThen we heard some grunts form the bushes behind her and the cub vanished behind them, probably her mother was hiding in the bushes and called her back. Next visit we saw the mother and cubs again from a short distance and the cub entered the waters to cool down in the April heat while the mother lurked from the bushes behind her.

All this while I was longing to see the ruler of this kingdom, the Wagdoh male who┬а is considered the largest male tiger in India. Though I wonder who would have dared to go and measure his size or of other tigers to compare them ? When I enquired with Mangesh our guide for all the safaris, if we will get a chance to see the Wagdhoh male he simply said, тАЬSir, he is the king of this jungle he holds durbar only once in a week, so you can see him only if he wants you to see himтАЭ. On further query we learned that the elusive king was last seen almost 8 days ago, so we had a good chance to see him.

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рд╣рд┐рдорд╛рдЪрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдирдореЛрд▓ рд░рддреНрди  ‘рддреНрд░рд┐рдЙрдгреНрдб’ : рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдХ рдкрд░реНрд╡рддрд╛рд░реЛрд╣рдг рдХреНрд╖реЗрддреНрд░

рд╣рд┐рдорд╛рдЪрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдЕрдирдореЛрд▓ рд░рддреНрди ‘рддреНрд░рд┐рдЙрдгреНрдб’ : рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рдХ рдкрд░реНрд╡рддрд╛рд░реЛрд╣рдг рдХреНрд╖реЗрддреНрд░

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рдЬрд┐рд╕ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рджрд┐рд╖реНрдЯ рд╡реНрдпрдВрдЬрдиреЛрдВ рдХреА рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рднреВрдЦреЗ рд╡реНрдпрдХреНрддрд┐ рдХреА рднреВрдЦ рдХреЛ рдУрд░ рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рдмрдврд╝рд╛ рджреЗрддреА рд╣реИ рдЙрд╕реА рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░ рддреНрд░рд┐рдЙрдгреНрдб рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдХреГрддрд┐рдХ рд╕реМрдВрджрд░реНрдп рдХреА рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рдиреЗ рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рдХреА рд▓рд╛рд▓рд╕рд╛ рдХреЛ рднреА рдмрдврд╝рд╛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛. рдЬрд┐рдиреНрд╣реЛрдВрдиреЗ рддреНрд░рд┐рдЙрдгреНрдб рдХреА рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝реА рдирд╣реАрдВ рдХреА рд╣реИ рдЙрдирдХреЗ рдорди рдореЗрдВ рдЕрд╡рд╢реНрдп рд╣реА рдпреЗ рдкреНрд░рд╢реНрди рдЙрда рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реЛрдВрдЧреЗ рдХрд┐ рддреНрд░рд┐рдЙрдгреНрдб рдХреИрд╕реЗ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪрд╛ рдЬрд╛рдП,

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рдЪрдореНрдмрд╛ рдХреЗ рдЪреАрдбрд╝ рд╕реЗ рдзрдиреМрд▓реНрдЯреА рдХреЗ рджреЗрд╡рджрд╛рд░ рддрдХ

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рдзрдиреМрд▓реНрдЯреА рджреЗрд╡рджрд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рдкреЗрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдмреАрдЪ рдмрд╕рд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ | рдЗрд╕ рдЫреЛрдЯреЗ рд╕реЗ рд╣рд┐рд▓ рд╕реНрдЯреЗрд╢рди рдХреЗ рд╣рд░ рдУрд░ рдХреЗ рд╡рд┐рд╣рдВрдЧрдо рджреГрд╢реНрдп рдЖрдкрдХреЗ рдорди рдХреЛ рдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрдп рд╣реА рдореЛрд╣ рд▓реЗрдВрдЧреЗ рд╣реИ | рдкреВрд░рд╛ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рджреЗрд╡рджрд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рдкреЗрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдЖрдЪреНрдЫрд╛рджрд┐рдд рд╣реИ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рдмреАрдЪ рд╕реЗ рдЪрд▓рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд▓рдХрдбрд╝реА рд╕реЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ рдмрдирд╛рдпреЗ рдЧрдпреЗ рд╣реИрдВ | рд╣рдо рд▓реЛрдЧ рдЙрди рдЯреЗрдврд╝реЗ рдореЗрдврд╝реЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рд╣реЛрддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдЖрдЧреЗ рдмрдврд╝рдиреЗ рд▓рдЧреЗ рдФрд░ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рд╕рд╛рде рдЖрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рд╣рд░ рдПрдХ рдордирдореЛрд╣рдХ рджреГрд╢реНрдпреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдЖрдирдВрдж рдЙрдард╛рддреЗ рд░рд╣реЗ |

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рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдХреБрдорд╛рд░реА  рдЖрд╢реНрд░рдо  рдХреА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рд╡ рдЖрдзреНрдпрд╛рддреНрдорд┐рдХ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рди  рдХреЗ рдкрд▓….!

рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдХреБрдорд╛рд░реА рдЖрд╢реНрд░рдо рдХреА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рд╡ рдЖрдзреНрдпрд╛рддреНрдорд┐рдХ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рди рдХреЗ рдкрд▓….!

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рдЕрдм рдореИрдВ рдордзреНрдп рдмрд░реНрде рдкрд░ рдерд╛ рдФрд░ рдкрддреНрдиреА рд▓реЛрдЕрд░ рдмрд░реНрде рдкрд░. рд╡рд╣ рдорд╣рд┐рд▓рд╛ рдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗ рдмрд░реНрде рдПрдХреНрд╕рдЪреЗрдВрдЬ рдХреА рдереА рд╡рд╣ рдЯреНрд░реЗрди рдЪрд▓рддреЗ рд╣реА рдРрд╕реА рдирд┐рдВрджреНрд░рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рд▓реАрдВ рд╣реБрдИ рдХрд┐ рд╕рд╡реЗрд░реЗ рдЪрд╛рдп- рдирд╛рд╢реНрддрд╛ рдХреА рдЖрд╡рд╛рдЬреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдХреЛрд▓рд╛рд╣рд▓ рдФрд░ рдЪрд▓рдХрджрдореА рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдЬрд╛рдЧреА. рдЬреИрд╕реА рдореБрдЭреЗ рдЪрд┐рдВрддрд╛ рд░рд╣рддреА рд╣реИ рдорд┐рдбрд┐рд▓ рдпрд╛ рдЕрдкрд░ рдмрд░реНрде рдХреА рдРрд╕реА рдХреЛрдИ рджрд┐рдХреНрдХрдд рддреЛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реБрдИ рдХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рд╕реЛрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдмреЗрдб рдкрд░ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рдлрд┐рд░ рддреЛ рдореИрдВ рд╕рд╡реЗрд░реЗ рд╣реА рдЙрдарддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ рдЪрд╛рд╣реЗ рдиреАрдВрдж рди рднреА рдЖрдпреЗ. рдмрд╕ рдмрд░реНрде рдореЗрдВ рд╢рд░реАрд░ рдХреЛ рдШреБрд╕рд╛рдирд╛ рдФрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╕реНрд╡рдпрдВ рдХреЛ рд╕рдореЗрдЯрдирд╛– рдЗрди рджреЛ рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдУрдВ рдХреЗ рдЦрддрд░реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдореИрдВ рд▓реЛрдЕрд░ рдмрд░реНрде рдХреЛ рдмреЗрд╣рддрд░ рдорд╛рдирддрд╛ рд╣реВрдВред рдпрджрд┐ рдкрддреНрдиреА рдХреЗ рд╕рд╣рдорддрд┐ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реЛрддреА рддреЛ рдореИрдВ рдЙрди рдорд╣рд┐рд▓рд╛ рдХреЛ рдЙрдкрдХреГрдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рде. рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдПрдХ рдорд╣реАрдирд╛ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдмреБрдХрд┐рдВрдЧ рдХрд░рд╛рдУ, рд▓реЛрдЕрд░ рд╕реАрдЯ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП, рдФрд░ рдПрдХ рдХреНрд╖рдг рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рдЖрдЧреНрд░рд╣ рдкрд░ рд╡рд╣ рдмрд░реНрде рдЖрдк рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдФрд░ рдХреЛ рд╕реМрдВрдк рджреЗрдВ, рдпрд╣ рддреЛ рдХреЛрдИ рдмрд╛рдд рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реБрдИ. рд╣рд╛рд▓рд╛рдВрдХрд┐ рдкрддреНрдиреА рдХрд╛ рд╕реЛрдЪрдирд╛ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рд╡рд┐рдкрд░реАрдд рд╣реИ, рдЪреВрдБрдХрд┐ рд╡рд╣ рднреА рд╕рдордп-рд╕рдордп рдкрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рд▓реЛрдЕрд░ рдмрд░реНрде рдХреЛ рд╣рдерд┐рдпрд╛рдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рдирд┐рдкреБрдг рд╣реИ, рддреЛ рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рд▓реЙрдЬрд┐рдХ рдХреЗ рдЕрдиреБрд╕рд╛рд░ рдЙрд╕ рдмрд░реНрде рдкрд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдорд╣рд┐рд▓рд╛ рдХреЛ рд╕реЛрдиреЗ рджреЗрдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рдХреБрдЫ рднреА рдЕрд╕рд╣рдЬрддрд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИ. рдФрд░ рдпрд╣ рдХрд┐ рд▓реЛрдЕрд░ рдмрд░реНрде рдкрд░ рдорд╣рд┐рд▓рд╛рдУрдВ рдХрд╛ рдкрд╣рд▓рд╛ рдЕрдзрд┐рдХрд╛рд░ рдиреИрд╕рд░реНрдЧрд┐рдХ рд░реВрдк рд╕реЗ рдмрдирддрд╛ рд╣реИ (рд░реЗрд▓рд╡реЗ рдХреЗ рдирд┐рдпрдо рдЪрд╛рд╣реЗ рдЬреЛ рдХреБрдЫ рд╣реЛрдВ).

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Joychandi Pahar – a Recollection

Joychandi Pahar – a Recollection

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тАЬWe are from Calcutta, you have got a beautiful place hereтАЭ

тАЬKi je bolen babu, ki ache ekhaneтАж khaowar jal parjyonto naiтАжтАЭ (what are you saying sir, nothing is hereтАж not even water to drinkтАж)

тАЬLok ashena ekhane ghurte?тАЭ (DonтАЩt you get people visiting this place?)

тАЬHo, ashen bote. Majhe majhe chele puler dol ashe. Tabu lagiye thake oi okhane lake-er pare. Aar dori-dora niye pahar-e uthe. Pura jayga nogra kore diye jaiтАЭ (Yes, indeed some group of youngsters come. Stay in tents near that lake. Do some rock climbing on the hill. And finally leave transforming the whole place as dustbins) certainly true, that is.

His petty house was behind his pettier shop. But his heart was bigger than anything. Since his shop was not ready to supply anything yet, he ordered something from his home тАУ and we were served with a good meal. And more notably, we had to forcefully pay him.

тАЬBabu-ra sokalbela khali pete aaichen, aapnader kach thika khaowar taka kemne lomu?тАЭ (Sir, you have come here so hungry in the morning, how can I take money from you for this food?) where have those people gone today?

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Chail- a virginal suburb of Himachal Pradesh

Chail- a virginal suburb of Himachal Pradesh

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The hills were dead silent with occasional laughter and cries of ancestors of the HOMO SAPIENS. These brave hearts have made tall and fragile pine and deodar trees their play grounds. They dare to walk on high tension electric wires and water pipes at a height good enough to claim your life, if you lose your balance. They generally reside in abandoned homes, towering trees and earn their living by robbing from homes and climbing tall trees eating seeds and fruits. They were the sole owners of these lands encroached by humans. Their voices might be a welcome to us and an agreement to live peacefully with them or they might be planning a revolution against us or maybe they have an attitude that they donтАЩt care. Hills grow quieter as you glide down the day. Sky turns darker as sun takes your leave. You keep filling your lungs with the fresh air just to make sure that serene natural air reaches even to the last ruptured alveoli of your smoke and pollution damaged lungs. The mist is the best treat that you can give to your eyes next to actually snowing.

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