04 Apr

Delhi тАУ Mussorie тАУ Delhi | Highway Men rides 800 KMs on 100 CC Bike

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They best moment was that Hammad who has been first time to see the hills he woke up and get out of the room to get freshen up, ItтАЩs not be a second he rush back to room so fast that we thought of is something happen wrong. However, the moment he said that what a beatuiful moment outside i need a camera to click some moments from the nature, A bang of Lolz Ha ha ha happened in room pack with seven guys and gradullay moving out from the rooom at a certain viewpoint of nature we also feel the sense of touch of that beautifull nature where the clouds are covering up the hills articulatedly

Since we have a plan to get back to Delhi on 18th Eve. Without wasting time everyone get ready and by 08 AM we again started driving and reached to the biggest water fall, Kempty a 15KMs down from the queens of Hills Mussorie. As it was a long weekend (mix with some holidays) the Mussroie roads were packed with Cars and the tourist. Oh! One thing i have missed to bring to your notice that there was a landslide just 5 KMs before the Mussorie which also created a long queue of the vehicles.

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A beautiful sunset at Bargi Dam (Jabalpur)

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But Chhotu drove his machine like hell. I still do not know whether he was driving in anger or driving made him happy. The other plausible reason, of course, would be his pressing urge to go to the toilet after finishing off his sorties quickly. He was putting the boat into the ultimate efficiency test. The boat was flying on the waves. At number of times, it was on air for a second or so. At other times, it skidded off the waves at full speed. Chhotu was fast and furious. I had been to the drive on the speed boat at many places in the country and had experienced the speed and the thrill connected with it. But, here was the fastest pilot driving his machine like a maniac. And, he did not say a word. I also started believing whether he could listen to our shrieks or not.

Half an hour and a few rounds of the circles on the water later, Chhotu sped his boat towards the jetty. Docked it, took the keys out of the slot and immediately sprang onto the dock. When I came out of the boat, I heard him saying тАЬThank youтАЭ, two evergreen words that trickled up his throat. I have yet to understand the nature of his thanks. Either it was his graceful way to thank his passengers to survive his driving that day or it was just a normal gesture from a stubborn grumpy man, who could not say anything else. Anyway, that fast drive in the speed boat was also a pleasure. WhatтАЩs the fun of speed boating, if it was not dangerous? And, I was standing safe and sound on the land to start the same life once again. Thanking Chhotu in return, I returned to the Maikal Resort.

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The mystic jungles of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

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Further ahead, the scenery again changed. We were drawn more deep into the actual jungle. The forest cover got dense and our excitement jumped higher. Under the shade of the trees and some swamps, we found a herd of the world renowned one-horn Rhinos. It was not the first time in my life that I encountered them but still, they being the pride of my State, rakes up my pride too.

Our Gypsy driver suddenly had a rush of adrenaline and after few minutes of some sway-and-swanky driving, he brought us into this clearing, which was clearly bang in the middle of the forest. With a few words of prayers, we de-boarded our vehicle for a photo-shoot!!

Now, you must be wondering, why we were having a photo-shoot when we had prayers in our lips. Well, thatтАЩs because inspite of the heavy forest cover, the view and the vibes took our breath away.

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Bhutan : The Land of Thunder Dragon!

Bhutan : The Land of Thunder Dragon!

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Perched on a cliff-top, Bhutan’s Taktshang monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest, is one of the most breathtaking temples in the world. The Buddhist place of worship is built on a rock around 3,000m (10,000ft) above sea level and stands above a beautiful forest of blue pine and rhododendrons. The main temple complex was built in 1692 and is considered to be one of the holiest for the Bhutanese people. There are no proper roads and visitors have to trek for hours to reach the temple. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tigressтАЩ back to subdue a local demon. Thereafter, he meditated here for three months. It is blessed and sanctified as one of BhutanтАЩs most sacred religious sites.
Apart from monastry, we visited old fort of Paro and museum and then started for next destination, i.e. Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan Royal Kingdom and power centre of the country (around 50 K.m. away from Paro) taking with us wonderful memories of beautiful Paro. Again following the same pattern, we reached Thimphu in the evening and stayed in hotel to get ourselves recharged for next day’s tryst with the capital city.

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A trip to Shillong, Meghalaya

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Later when I Googled, I found that it is indeed a reservoir and an artificial lake and was created by damming the Umium river and covers about 220 square km. This is first hydro-power project in this part of the country. Barapani is a major tourist attraction. Plenty of photos are available on the web.

We reached Shillong late afternoon. I was very excited, keen to find Shillong of my dreams: hills, fern, orchid and low cloud. Unfortunately, the sights and sound of the city did not match my imagination.

We drove past the crowded Police Bazaar area, the assembly and the polo ground and reached a quieter part of the town called Upper Lamthumai. Our hotel, Roseville Hotel, is located there.

Roseville Guest House: The hotel, more like a home stay, has cottages for guests and a well maintained garden. I identified Pine and Birch trees and some flowers. It has an old world charm. The property is famous for beautiful rooms and heritage rooms and was earlier managed by ITC Welcom. The tariff: Rs 3,000+25% tax per day.

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рд╣рд┐рдорд╛рдЪрд▓ рдбрд╛рдпрд░реА : рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдЬреА рдЭреАрд▓ рдФрд░ рдкрд╛рдБрд╡рдЯрд╛ рд╕рд╛рд╣реЗрдм рдХреА рддрд░рдл… рднрд╛рдЧ 4

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рдЭреАрд▓ рд╢рдмреНрдж рддреЛ рд╕реНрд╡рдпрдо рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рд╕реНрддреНрд░реА рд▓рд┐рдВрдЧ рд╣реИ, рдЗрд╕рд▓рд┐рдпреЗрдВ рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдо рддреЛ рдЕрдкреЗрдХреНрд╖рд┐рдд рд╣реИ, рдкрд░рдиреНрддреБ рдкреВрд░реЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ рднрд░ рд╣рдореЗ рдЬреЛ рднреА рд╕рд╛рдЗрди рдмреЛрд░реНрдб рджрд┐рдЦреЗ, рд╕рднреА рдкрд░ рдЭреАрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдо рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛рдЬреА рд▓рд┐рдЦрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ, рд╣рдореЗ рдЖрд╢реНрдЪрд░реНрдп рддреЛ рд╣реИ, рдкрд░рдиреНрддреБ рдЗрд╕рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдЕрдВрджрд╛рдЬрд╛ рднреА рд▓рдЧ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рд╕рдореНрднрд╡рддрдГ рдЗрд╕рдХрд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рдзрд╛рд░реНрдорд┐рдХ рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдЕрд╡рд╢реНрдп рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛, рдкрд░рдиреНрддреБ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдорд┐рдердХреАрдп рдЗрддрд┐рд╣рд╛рд╕ рд╕реЗ рдЕрднреА рддреЛ рд╣рдо рд╕рд░реНрд╡рдерд╛ рдЕрдирднрд┐рдЬреНрдЮ рд╣реИрдВ, рд╣рдордиреЗ рддреЛ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рдЗрддрдирд╛ рднрд░ рд╕реБрдирд╛ рдерд╛ рдХрд┐ рдЗрд╕рдХреА рдЖрдХреГрддрд┐ рдПрдХ рд▓реЗрдЯреА рд╣реБрдИ рдорд╣рд┐рд▓рд╛ рд╕рд░реАрдЦреА рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рдлреА рдмрдврд╝реЗ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдкрд░ рдХрдорд▓ рдХреЗ рдлреВрд▓ рдЦрд┐рд▓рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ |

рдЗрдзрд░ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдЬрд╛рд░реА рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЕрдм рдЬрд┐рд╕ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдкрд░ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рд╡рд╣ рдкрд░рд╢реБрд░рд╛рдо рдФрд░ рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛рдЬреА рдХрд╛ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рд╣реИ | рдПрдХ рд╣реА рдкреНрд░рд╛рдВрдЧрдг рдореЗрдВ рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛рдЬреА рдХреЗ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдкрд░рд╢реБрд░рд╛рдордЬреА рдХрд╛ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░…, рдорд╕реНрддрд┐рдХ рд╕реЗ рд╕реНрдореГрддрд┐ рдХрд╛ рдзреБрдВрдзрд▓рдХрд╛ рдорд┐рдЯрдиреЗ рд▓рдЧрд╛, рдпрд╛рдж рдЖрдпрд╛ рдХрд┐ рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдЬреА рддреЛ рдкрд░рд╢реБрд░рд╛рдо рдХреА рдорд╛рддрд╛ рдЬреА рдереА, рдХреБрдЫ рд╣рдордиреЗ рдпрд╛рдж рдХрд┐рдпрд╛, рдХреБрдЫ рдЗрд╕ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рд╕реЗ рдкрддрд╛ рдЪрд▓рд╛, рддреЛ рдХреБрд▓ рдорд┐рд▓рд╛рдХрд░ рдЬреЛ рдЬрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд░реА рдЗрдХрдЯреНрдареА рд╣реБрдИ, рдЙрд╕рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╛рд░ рдХреБрдЫ рдЗрд╕ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░ рд╣реИ-

рд╣рд┐рдорд╛рдЪрд▓ рдХреЗ рдЗрд╕реА рдкрд░реНрд╡рддреАрдп рдХреНрд╖реЗрддреНрд░ рдХреЗ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓реЛ рдХреА рдХрдВрджрд░рд╛рдУрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдЛрд╖рд┐ рдЬрдорджрдЧреНрдирд┐ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдкрддреНрдиреА рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдПрдХ рдЖрд╢реНрд░рдо рдореЗрдВ рд░рд╣рддреЗ рдереЗ | рдЕрд╕реБрд░ рд╕рд╣рд╕рддреНрд░рдЬреБрди рдХреА рдиреАрдпрдд рдбреЛрд▓реА рдФрд░ рдЛрд╖рд┐ рдкрддреНрдиреА рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдХреЛ рдкрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреА рдЕрднрд┐рд▓рд╛рд╖рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдЙрд╕рдиреЗ рдЛрд╖рд┐ рдЬрдорджрдЧреНрдирд┐ рдХрд╛ рд╡рдз рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ | рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдиреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╕рдд рдХреА рд░рдХреНрд╖рд╛ рдФрд░ рджреБрд╖реНрдЯ рдЕрд╕реБрд░ рд╕реЗ рдмрдЪрдиреЗ рд╣реЗрддреБ рд╕реНрд╡рдпрдореН рдХреЛ рдЬрд▓ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рдорд╛рдзрд┐рд╖реНрда рдХрд░ рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛, рдмрд╛рдж рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░рд╢реБрд░рд╛рдо рдФрд░ рджреЗрд╡рддрд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдиреЗ рдЕрд╕реБрд░ рдХрд╛ рд╡рдз рдХрд┐рдпрд╛, рдФрд░ рдЛрд╖рд┐ рд╡ рд░реЗрдгреБрдХрд╛ рдХреЛ рдирд╡ рдЬреАрд╡рди рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рдареАрдХ рдЙрд╕ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдЬрд▓ рдзрд╛рд░рд╛ рдлреВрдЯреА рдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗ рдЗрд╕ рдЭреАрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдг рд╣реБрдЖ | рдорд┐рдердХ рдХреБрдЫ рднреА рд╣реЛ, рдкрд░рдиреНрддреБ рдЖрд╕ рдкрд╛рд╕ рдХреЗ рдХреНрд╖реЗрддреНрд░ рдХреЗ рдирд┐рд╡рд╛рд╕рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдЗрд╕ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдХрд╛ рдзрд╛рд░реНрдорд┐рдХ рдорд╣рддреНрд╡ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рд╡рд╣ рдЗрд╕ рджрдВрдд рдХрдерд╛ рдХреЛ рдорд╛рдирддреЗ рднреА рд╣реИрдВ рдЗрд╕рдХрд╛ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдмрдврд╝рд╛ рдЬреНрд╡рд▓рдВрдд рдкреНрд░рдорд╛рдг рддреЛ рдпрд╣ рд╣реА рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рд╕реНрдерд╛рдиреАрдп рдирд┐рд╡рд╛рд╕реА рдЬрдм рдЗрд╕ рдЭреАрд▓ рдореЗрдВ рдиреМрдХрд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╣рд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рддреЛ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдЬреВрддреЗ-рдЪрдкреНрдкрд▓ рдХрд┐рдирд╛рд░реЗ рдкрд░ рд╣реА рдЙрддрд╛рд░ рджреЗрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ |

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Destination Pooh…(Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh)

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The route winds along the Sutlej going upstream along its left bank. Crossing the Sutlej over the Shongtong brige, we reach Powari. Here, the road bifurcates left to Recong Peo, the administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district, some way up the mountainside and the highway (NH 22) continues along the river. Further up from Recong Peo is Kalpa (earlier called the Chini village) and the highest village further up is Roghi from where one can get stunning views of the venerated Kinner Kailash peak. IтАЩve heard that the route to Roghi with narrow, cliff hugging roads is one of the most amazing sights and rewarding places to visit. In fact Chini village, now Kalpa, has some more significance in independent India. The people of this village were the first to cast their votes in independent India on 25 October 1951 (since they get snowed in in winter) while the rest of India voted in Dec-Jan. Further back in history, the old Hindustan Tibet highway used to pass through this place on its way through Shipkila into Tibet.

It is said that Kinner Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva and is thus considered sacred by the Hindus. Legend goes that Bhasmasur, after getting a boon from Lord Shiva that anybody on whose head he places his palm would be turned to ashes, tries it on the Lord himself. The Lord hides from him and prays to Lord Vishnu at this place after which Lord Vishnu comes to his aid and slays the demon. The Shivling is visible atop this Kinner Kailash peak.

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A visit to Kalakund near Indore, the birth-place of legendary Indian sweet

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Then came the most awaited phase of the trip. The Patalpani тАУ Kalakund ghat section. One could feel the extreme beauty of it complimented by the railways. The tunnels, viaducts and being surrounded by lush green mountain ranges mesmerised the passengers. I would recommend this place to creative minds. Such views have the potential to fill their minds up with optimistic thoughts and also to photographers. This rail route was laid about 150 years ago by the British rulers. Soon admiring these charming scenes we enter the Kalakund railway station.The locomotive honks make the тАШKalakandтАЩ vendors become active. Kalakand is a famous sweet dish with Kalakund as its origin, it is a fine treat for all the sweet tooths. On the right side, behind the railway station building river choral flows and on the left side, on a hill we have a building for scout guide, locally known as тАШMahalтАЩ. After spending a few hours there, exploring Kalakund we returned home. But that tranquillity had took over my heart. I have fallen in love with that place. Human needs peace from the hectic life and the minds too need peace and such places serve the purpose.

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Chhitkul… The emerald green Valley!

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There are flowers blooming everywhere. There are huge swathes of beautiful yellow blooms, more captivating as they seem to be haphazardly flourishing without the predictability of a manicured garden. These are Evening Primrose I am told. They have a lovely mild fragrance… also known for their therapeutic properties. There are profusely flowering wild rose bowers and daisies and many other flowers I know not the names for!

The camp is surrounded by orchards of apples, pears and apricots. In fact, the entire valley seems to be one big orchard. In these idyllic surroundings I wander down to the river to find most of the group already there taking delight in the splendorous sights!

A delicious breakfast complete with a variety of homemade preserves and relishes later, we are all off to Chhitkul, the last village in this valley towards China border.

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Sonamarg, Golden Meadow of Kashmir

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We enjoyed the morning amidst the splendour around the hotel and decided to see the view points in the afternoon. Here, all the viewpoints come on the way to its main attraction тАШThajiwas GlacierтАЩ. To reach the glacier, one may go either by riding pony from Sonamarg town or by a cab which drops near the spot тАЬRam Teri Ganga MaileтАЭ. A nice motorable road is available upto this spot and thereafter one has to hire pony or walk down to the base of Thajiwas Glacier. Walking from there is much preferable to riding pony because it is only a short distance to cover and walking is mainly through the plain roads.

Like most tourists places, pony rides as well as the cab rates are overpriced here and one has no other option but to accept an unreasonable price after much bargaining. How tough it was to agree with a price of Rs.2100/- for a ride of 6kms, to and fro! But did we have any option?

We started the journey and soon saw the beautiful Sonamarg Club, a popular staying option for the bollywood stars when they are here for shooting. Surrounded by the giant conifers and beautiful mountains it locates on a hillock by the side of the road to Thajwas Glacier.

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Delhi тАУ Sangla … journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal

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As we go further, this road climbs higher till it reaches sheer cliffs of stark, unadorned rock where the road is but a scooped out C-shaped tunnel embedded in the vertical cliff side. While we enjoy the drive along the banks of the Sutlej in all its moods, I am almost willing the road to start climbing to this, one of the most celebrated and recognised sections of this route. And when we do hit that stretch, we are all spellbound! Such is the precarious nature of the road that there are precipitous drops on the only open side and encased in solid rock on the other three sides.

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