Traveling is good
धनौल्टी देवदार के पेड़ों के बीच बसा हुआ है | इस छोटे से हिल स्टेशन के हर ओर के विहंगम दृश्य आपके मन को निश्चय ही मोह लेंगे है | पूरा पार्क देवदार के पेड़ों से आच्छादित है जिसके बीच से चलने के लिए लकड़ी से रास्ते बनाये गये हैं | हम लोग उन टेढ़े मेढ़े रास्तों से होते हुए आगे बढ़ने लगे और साथ ही साथ आने वाले हर एक मनमोहक दृश्यों का आनंद उठाते रहे |
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morning freshness of the hills greets you from all over your surroundings and now you experiencing all this with a cup of tea holding with both your hands, in the semi open dining area of the camp, surrounded with lush green trees and chirping
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After having explored most nearby places in Maharashtra, we decided to go the other neighbor – Karnataka. After my research on Google, I thought Mangalore was the closest fit to our ‘Travel criteria’.
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अब मैं मध्य बर्थ पर था और पत्नी लोअर बर्थ पर. वह महिला जिससे बर्थ एक्सचेंज की थी वह ट्रेन चलते ही ऐसी निंद्रा में लीं हुई कि सवेरे चाय- नाश्ता की आवाजों के कोलाहल और चलकदमी से ही जागी. जैसी मुझे चिंता रहती है मिडिल या अपर बर्थ की ऐसी कोई दिक्कत तो नहीं हुई क्यूंकि एक बार सोने के लिए बेड पर जाने के बाद फिर तो मैं सवेरे ही उठता हूँ चाहे नींद न भी आये. बस बर्थ में शरीर को घुसाना और फिर स्वयं को समेटना– इन दो क्रियाओं के खतरों के कारण मैं लोअर बर्थ को बेहतर मानता हूं। यदि पत्नी के सहमति नहीं होती तो मैं उन महिला को उपकृत करने वाला नहीं थ. लगभग एक महीना पहले बुकिंग कराओ, लोअर सीट के लिए, और एक क्षण में एक आग्रह पर वह बर्थ आप किसी और को सौंप दें, यह तो कोई बात नहीं हुई. हालांकि पत्नी का सोचना इसके विपरीत है, चूँकि वह भी समय-समय पर अपनी यात्रा में लोअर बर्थ को हथियाने में निपुण है, तो उसके लॉजिक के अनुसार उस बर्थ पर किसी महिला को सोने देने में कुछ भी असहजता नहीं है. और यह कि लोअर बर्थ पर महिलाओं का पहला अधिकार नैसर्गिक रूप से बनता है (रेलवे के नियम चाहे जो कुछ हों).
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“We are from Calcutta, you have got a beautiful place here”
“Ki je bolen babu, ki ache ekhane… khaowar jal parjyonto nai…” (what are you saying sir, nothing is here… not even water to drink…)
“Lok ashena ekhane ghurte?” (Don’t you get people visiting this place?)
“Ho, 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 jai” (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 – and we were served with a good meal. And more notably, we had to forcefully pay him.
“Babu-ra sokalbela khali pete aaichen, aapnader kach thika khaowar taka kemne lomu?” (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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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 don’t 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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The show began! At the beginning, various movements of the body, face, hands, legs etc were demonstrated to give the audience an idea of how the things are expressed in Kathakali. It was an interesting initial part of the actual play. The main play followed shortly after this.
It was a play from the epic Mahabharata, named Kichakavadam, the killing of Kichaka. The evil character, Kichaka, an-anti hero, was in the make-up of face, half green and half red. He was the commander-in-chief of the Army of the kingdom Matsya ruled by King Virata. Kichaka was the brother-in-law of King Virata. During their one year hide out, Pancha Pandava (five Pandava princes) and their wife Draupadi took shelter in the palace of King Virata. While Draupadi was disguised as Dasi (female servant of the Queen) calling herself Sairandhri……….
Sitting in a restaurant on the Mall Road, you feel happy. The early December air is nippy, fresh and clear. There are few tourists this time of the year. Sun rays reflect off the dark green water of the lake creating silvery ripples. Wisps of clouds float in the incredibly blue sky. Such blue skies are seen over Delhi for maybe two days a year. You have chosen to sit in the open sided area. The sun is soothing. You are almost in a trance. It seems life has receded leaving you in a glowing fuzzy ball of warmth. And then you see the tree.
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In last post of this series I had described you about our visit to various temples of Haridwar which we had left last day…
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In the last post of this series I had narreted how we arrival to Haridwar and performed Ganga Snan at Har Ki Pouri. Now…
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It has been really a long time since I last posted any travelogue on ghumakkar. Due to various official as well as domestic engagements…
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The third day, we went to see a river and waterfall. We went there by trekking, starting early in the morning. It was a very lengthy journey. I kept on asking my guide that when we will reach the river. All the time his reply was that it is just a few kilometers far. The area was full of pine and oak trees. I collected many pine flowers (pine cone).We heard birdsongs of many types. One particular bird with long tail was very attractive. The guide told that the bird’s name may be ‘paradise bird’ but he was not sure. After coming to the guest house I searched in the internet and identified that it was a ‘red billed blue magpie’. It was an extremely beautiful bird which glided smoothly down the valley. I slipped on the fallen pine leaves and fell down many times on the way but it was all fun! After walking for about four hours we heard the sound of water rushing through the rocks. I started running in the direction of the sound and found a very fresh and clear stream, crashing through the rocks. This place was not visited by many tourists and hence very clean. Usually people throw things in the water. The sound of water falling from the high mountain was very loud. I missed my brother because with him I would have enjoyed more. The water was cold and green. Whenever I see water I can’t control myself and I started swimming.
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