Hills

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh (Sarchu – Leh)

By Rishi Raj Gupta

After 20kms of very good roads, we hit the under-construction roads. Bad, very bad they were! It was as if I was riding perennially over speed-breakers! The area appeared uninhabitable and has no construction at all, and also no population, save the migrant construction workers. Its was an extremely tiring and tedious ride; we also were forced from time to time to off-road into sand and ride wherever the roads were blocked for construction – BRO is constructing a two-lane road here. I always find riding in sand really painful and painful it was even this time. As we ascended, the road became worse – it is all under construction. Heavy amount of gravel on the road made the ride very tiring and I was in fact forced to stop several times before reaching Taglang La – the second highest motorable pass of the world. This was the worst patch to ride till now.

Despite a mild headache (one shouldn’t wait at high Passes in such case), I rested at the Pass for a good 15minutes. I needed it, badly!

कश्मीर चलना है क्या?

By Sushant Singhal

कोच नं० C-6 में प्रवेश कर के, मेरी पत्नी ने पूछा कि कौन – कौन सी बर्थ हैं तो पंकज का जवाब आया – “20 – 21” | मैने पूछा “और बाकी दो?” पंकज ने रहस्यवाद के कवि की सी भाव भंगिमा दोनों महिलाओं की ओर डाली और मेरे कान के पास आकर धीरे से बोला, “अभी दो ही कन्फर्म हुई हैं, बाकी दो यहीं गाड़ी में ले लेंगे।“ मेरी पत्नी को हमेशा से अपनी श्रवण शक्ति पर गर्व रहा है। बात कितनी भी धीरे से कही जाये, वह सुन ही लेती हैं! इस मामले में वह बिल्कुल मेरे बड़े बेटे पर गई हैं! जब वह यू.के.जी. में पढ़ता था तो उसे घर के किसी भी दूर से दूर कमरे में पढ़ने के लिये बैठा दो पर उसे न सिर्फ टी.वी. बल्कि हम दोनों की बातचीत भी सुनाई देती रहती थी। बीच – बीच में आकर अपनी मां को टोक भी देता था, “नहीं मम्मी जी, ऐसी बात नहीं है। स्कूल में मैम ने आज थोड़ा ही मारा था, वो तो परसों की बात थी !

सिर्फ दो ही शायिकाओं का आरक्षण हुआ है, यह सुनते ही दोनों महिलाओं के हाथों के तोते उड़ गये। मेरी पत्नी तो बेहोश होते होते बची ! तुरन्त दीवार का सहारा लिया, बीस नंबर की बर्थ पर बैठी, फिर आहिस्ता से लेट गई। पानी का गिलास दिया तो एक – दो घूंट पीकर वापिस कर दिया और ऐसी कातर दृष्टि से मेरी ओर देखा कि मेरा भी दिल भर आया। पंकज की पत्नी ने भी तुरन्त 21 नंबर बर्थ पर कब्ज़ा जमाया और पंकज से बोली, “अब आप पूरी रात यूं ही खड़े रहो, यही आपकी सज़ा है। हम दोनों बेचारी शरीफ, इज्जतदार महिलाओं को धोखा देकर ले आये। हमें पता होता कि टिकट कन्फर्म नहीं हुए हैं तो घर से बाहर कदम भी नहीं रखते!”

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh… (Delhi – Kaza)

By Rishi Raj Gupta

As I rode though barren patches, I would not help admire the exquisiteness of the rocks all around – they were as spellbinding as the Grand Canyon, all through the journey on the Indo-China border. No images can describe this splendor!

During last 100kms, as the terrain turned bad to worse, I had consumed all my water. Thirsty and tired, I found water only at Dubling, after riding for over 3.5 hours. As I gulped down water, I couldn’t help observe that the same Kinley packaged water bottle we paid Rs.40/- at the HPTDC hotels (a premium of double the cost!) was being sold by this mom-&-pop shop at the MRP!

Summer Vacation – a wonderful run through NH-2 from the Ghats of Varanasi to Home – Part II

By Amitava Chatterjee

I went to check whether they washed the car or not, as promised yesterday. The outer body of the car looks like we just finished, sorry ‘Won’ the cross-country rally…several layers of dust all around the body and required a considerable amount of time and efforts to bring it back to its’ original colour. The security guard was of immense help and cleaned the car within next half an hour.

Hundred in Gangtok – Part 5 (Final)

By Deependra Solanky

But me and my camera was not having any desire of sleeping as I wanted to capture the beautiful Teesta river in my eyes as well in the camera lens. The views from the bus window were amazing. Early morning, cloudy weather, green high mountains and flowing Teesta; I could not ask more from the Nature. I clicked endless photographs. After some time it started raining which made the surrounding more beautiful. Around 7.30 we stopped in the middle near a small tea shop just near the banks of the Teesta. It was a great experience to have tea on the banks of Teesta while is was raining outside.

बैंफ

By Surinder Sharma

भारतवर्ष में हिमालय पर्वत विशाल है इसी तरह से नोर्थ अमेरिका में रोकी पर्वत है. अमेरिका और कैनेडा एक ही कॉंटिनेंट नोर्थ अमेरिका में है. जेसे अपना भारतवर्ष एशिया में है. हम सभी जानते हैं माउन्ट एवेरेस्ट सब से ऊँचा है, उसी तरह सब से ज्यादा लोग हिमालय पर्वत या उसकी तलहटी में निवास करते हैं. आज मैं आपको रोकी पर्वत के एक टूरिस्ट प्लेस पर ले के चलता हूँ. इस जगह का नाम बैंफ है और यह कैनेडा के अलबर्टा प्रान्त में है. यहाँ पहुँचने के लिए वॅनकूवर, कैलगरी या एडमंटन एयरपोर्ट का प्रयोग कर सकते हैं. निकटम हवाई अड्डा कैलगरी है. तब मैं एडमंटन में रहता था इसलिए मैं यह यात्रा एडमंटन से शुरू करूंगा.

Dayara Bugyal – Part 2/2

By Roopesh

Our trail was up and down over stones, tree trunks and crossing a couple of streams. We even witnessed last patch of ice around the streams. Arjun showed me how the place must be buried under snow as evident from flattened branches of shrubs. The forest was mainly comprised of Oak trees but there were others including Bhoj tree from where bhoj patracomes from. We were constantly descending and my knees started showing signs of wavering on trying to descend. As treking pole I picked up one tree branch and broke it in couple of strokes to make it suitable to which Arjun complimented that I have become a pro now.

Hundred in Gangtok – Part 4

By Deependra Solanky

The very first place to visit was Tashi View Point. It was around a distance of 7 km from our hotel. It is an observation point at an altitude of 6000 ft developed be erstwhile king of Sikkim, Tashi Namgyal. On clear days in early morning, this is the best place in Gangtok to view the mighty Mount Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. One final destination still remained to visit and it was Ban Jhakhri Falls. It is a theme park surrounded by lush green forest on the outskirts of Gangtok.

Dayara Bugyal – Part1/2

By Roopesh

We finally started at 5:45 AM and straight hit the road to Gangotri. The twists and turns were churning my stomach and sleep was dozing me off. I got woken up couple of times due to being thrown away by swerves. The journey up was not very exciting. There was no river following our route as Bhagirathi (or Ganga) comes into picture only near Tehri. There was lot of haze due to which mountains and landscape was not looking great. The road was broken at many places due to landslide and due to dryness, there was lot of dust blowing from passing vehicles. The mountain face also looked scarred at many places due to debris from landslide and construction spreading over it. The weather was unnaturally very hot and devoid of moisture because of which loose earth of rubble was flying & getting all over you. Finally the river was seen with muddy color but very less flow. The reduced flow turned out was due to ice having started to melt only now and river would be in full flow in June.

Hundred in Gangtok – Part 3

By Deependra Solanky

Vehicles are not allowed on MG Marg like in most Mall Roads in any hill station. A large sign board welcomed us at MG Marg. We were completely stunned after witnessing MG Marg, the feeling was kind of a European city. Gangtok administration has developed and maintained it in very good manner. It has been divided into two lanes, one lane for one side walking. And the divider is not a typical road divider. A large number of beautiful plants with flowers give the feeling of a green belt to the divider. On both sides of divider, benches have been placed so that people can sit and enjoy their time with no hurry. I didn’t have an experience of this kind of setup before.

मसरुर – mini Ellora of Himachal

By SilentSoul

Masroor temple complex is about 22 Kms from Ranitaal. RaniTal is a Railway Station for Jwalamukhi. If going to Dharmshala then Ranital comes in way a few Kilometers before Kangra. From RaniTaal one has to take direction of Nagrota Suriyan and on this road one can see directions for Masroor.

Road trip to Naukuchiatal and Mukteshwar

By crispair

We explored the property the first day and was happy to see that apart from a TT table and carrom board, the resort has a gym and two pool tables. My husband and son played a few games of TT and carrom, while i enjoyed the hammock in the garden with my book. Then as the sun set, it was mystical seeing the colour of the waters change. The next morning we decided to take a boat ride. Then, following a good breakfast we decided to take a walk around the lake and explore the small hamlet. The walk is around 3.5 km and will take barely an hour at a slow pace. You will meet smiling locals and few tourists, especially if you take this walk before 10am. The tourists generally don’t stay at Naukuchiatal but make a day trip and descend on the sleepy hamlet after 11 and move out by 5.

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