Hills

Summer in Sikkim-part ll- Pelling

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Pemayangse means “ the perfect sublime lotus”. Lhatsun Champo, one of the three Lamas of Yuksom, founded the monastery in 17th century. It is the most important gompa in Sikkim and belongs to Nyingmapa sect. As we entered the gate we explained to Rachit about Prayer Wheels that were on both the side of gate. After this, a winding and climbing road is lined with fluttering prayer flags in all colors, sending the wishes riding on the horses of air in all the directions, till it reaches to Gompa.

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मनाली का सुहाना सफ़र: सुंदरनगर, मण्डी के रास्ते मनाली और माँ हिडिम्बा देवी के दर्शन

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फिर भी उनमे से २ लड़को के ज्यादा जिद करने पर हमने आपनी गाड़ी उनकी बाईक के पीछे दौड़ा दी जो की हमें एक होटल में लेकर गए, ये होटल रोहतांग वाले रास्ते पर व्यास नदी के उलटे हाथ की तरफ था जो की हमें कुछ ठीक नहीं लगा इसीलिए हम वहाँ ना रूककर वापस मॉल रोड की तरफ आ गए और हिडिम्बा मंदिर वाले रोड पर हमें एक आच्छा होटल दिखायी दिया, मैं उस होटल में पूछताछ के लिए गया और वहाँ पता लगा की २ कमरे तो मिल जायेंगे पर ₹२००० /- प्रति कमरे के हिसाब से, रात ज्यादा होने और बहुत ज्यादा थकान होने की बजह से हमने वहाँ रुकने का फैसला करा, यही सोचकर की अगर अगली सुबह कोई दूसरा आच्छा होटल सस्ते में मिल जाता है तो हम वहाँ पर शिफ्ट कर जायेंगे। हमने होटल के बराबर से खली जगह पर गाड़ी पार्क करी और सामान निकालकर अपने अपने कमरे में सोने चल दिए।

अगली सुबह लगभग ६ बजे जीजा जी ने मुझे फ़ोन करके होटल के बहार का नजारा देखने के लिए कहा, आपने कमरे की बालकनी में आकर जो नजारा मुझे देखने को मिला मेरे लिए उसे शब्दो में लिखना बड़ा ही कठिन कार्य है क्युकी वो एक अनुभूति थी जो की मैंने उससे पहले कभी भी महसूस नहीं करी थी, सुबह ६ बजे होटल की बालकनी में बड़ी ही ठंडी हवा चल रही थी जो कि शरीर में कपकपी पैदा कर रही थी, होटल के नीचे की तरफ जहाँ हमारी गाड़ी खड़ी थी उसके पास ही “सेब का बाग़” था, और हमारी आँखों के ठीक सामने बर्फ के बड़े बड़े पहाड़ थे जिन्हे की हम रात को अँधेरे की बजह से देख नहीं पाये थे, बर्फ के उन पहाड़ों पर सूरज की किरणों के पड़ने के कारण वो एकदम चाँदी की तरह चमक रहे थे उनका रंग सफ़ेद ना होकर सुनहरा महसूस हो रहा था, इससे पहले मैंने पहाड़ों पऱ कभी भी बर्फ नहीं देखी थी पर आज तो पूरा बर्फ का पहाड़ ही मेरे सामने था, एक पल के लिए भी उस चमकदार पर्वत श्रंखला से नजरें हटाने का दिल नहीं कर रहा था शायद कुछ ऐसी ही अनुभूति साथ वाली बालकनी में जीजा जी भी कर रहे थे।

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Chhotta Chandratal – A journey through the clouds

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“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
and Eternity in an hour…”
– William Blake

After a month of planning and constantly living in fear of my leave getting cancelled, the trip finally happened. A destination which I had already unsuccessfully planned twice was finally happening.

The Destination – Chhotta Chandratal

Chhotta Chandratal (the small Moon Lake) or Base of Deo Tibba peak is a high altitude lake (approx. 14500 ft) in Kullu-Manali region of Himachal Pradesh. It is usually confused with the much bigger Chandratal lake in the Lahaul-Spiti region which for most part now has a motorable road.

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Chail alone

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Next morning, by 9.30am, the folk market work was on full swing and I was saying adieu to Chail. Hold on, experience did not end here; I just started driving my car, the first turn left and a person standing there with thumbs up. Lift? Seems decent, he accompanied me till Panipat, and we shared lot of thought, and that was also an amazing experience to share the values of life with him.

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Nainital to Kausani and back to Delhi by road

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Though the entire Kumaon region is divinely beautiful, Kausani & Gwaldam are the authentic highlights due to its spectacular landscape with 300 km panoramic view of the range of Himalaya’s few of the very high peaks at hand shaking distance. The Nanda Devi and Trisul are the main attractions that attract tourists from far and near to glance the breathtaking scenic splendor at dawn which is unparallel. Mahatma Gandhi has rightly called the place the ‘Switzerland of India’. Located amidst dense Pine forest atop a ridge at an altitude of 1900 m, Kausani is a cool and tranquil place with limited tourist turnout hence still raw, retaining the natural essence.

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Nainital – Kumaon’s Capital

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Sadiatal and its cascade also fall on the way just after climbing a few kilometers on the serpentine road. A short halt for photography there is never a bad idea. A little before reaching Nainital is Bara Pathar, an ideal Rock climbing spot conducted in supervision of trained professionals and maintained by Nainital Mountaineering Club. Horse riding activities are another attraction in the area. We have though neither tried hand in rock climbing nor horse riding but couldn’t ignore the next spot i.e. the Cave Garden just a few minutes from Bara Pathar. It is relatively a new tourist spot carved out of natural rocks as caves for a feel like entering the real caves named after predator viz. Panther Cave, Tiger Cave etc., a better place for kids rather. A KMVN run restaurant opposite to cave garden was a worth one to quench our hunger. By around 4 pm we reached Nainital. A hotel was the immediate search with safe parking space. Soon we found one just behind the famous and most expensive Manu Maharani. The Langdale Manor, though not a star hotel but it was very nice and comfortable with very professional and courteous staffs at a reasonable rate of Rs. 1,200/- for three including extra bedding (off season).

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गंगटोक सिक्किम Part-2

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रोपवे 70 /- रूपये किराया था एक बार में करीब 20 से 25 लोग इसमें सफ़र कर सकते थे। इसमें बैठने की व्यवस्था नहीं है इसमें खड़े होकर आस-पास और नीचे का व्यू देखते हैं। एक अलग ही नजारा देखने को मिल रहा था साथ ही साथ जब बस नीचे को तेजी से उतर रही होती है तब हल्का सा डर भी लगता है।

रोपवे की यात्रा के बाद सीढियों से नीचे उतरते हुए एक रेस्टोरेंट है। इस समय तक भूख जोरो की लग रही थी सभी यहाँ पर खाना खाने के लिए रुक गए। यहाँ पर हम लोगो को आधे घंटे से ज्यादा समय लग गया और अब 4 बजने वाले थे। ड्राइवर जल्दी से पास में ही Namgyal Institute of Tibetiology ले गया। जो 4 बजे बंद हो जाती है अभी हम अन्दर घुसे मुश्किल से एक मिनट ही हुआ था कि केयर टेकर ने लाइट बंद कर दी बोला टाइम ओवर।

अब तक शाम ढल चुकी थी सडको पर और मार्किट में लाइटे जगमगा रही थीं। परन्तु सारे दिन की भाग दौड़ के बाद शारीर इतना थक चूका था कि लग रहा था कि अब कुछ देर आराम किया जाय। आठ घंटे से ज्यादा समय घूमते हुए हो गया था।
एक बात और हम लोग इतने सारे व्यू पॉइंट पर गए पर कहीं भी कोई टिकेट वगैरह नहीं चार्ज किया जा रहा था। हाँ कुछ एक जगह टैक्सी स्टैंड वाले जरुर 10 /- रूपये प्रति कार चार्ज कर रहे थे।

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Day trip to Mount St. Helens, Washington (USA)

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I’ve always had a fascination for volcanoes. The sheer power exuded by nature in it’s form kept me awed and humbled whenever I watched volcanoes erupting on TV channels. Living in Seattle provided a wonderful opportunity to explore the volcanic mountains of the Pacific North West (like Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Mount St. Helens). The most interesting amongst these is Mount St. Helens that last erupted in 1980 (5.1 on Richter scale), scooping off the head of the mountain in the process and making it “the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States.”As quoted in the wikipedia, “The volcano is located in the Cascade Range and is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes over 160 active volcanoes. This volcano is well known for its ash explosions and pyroclastic flows.”

You can visit either the north face of the Helens or the South face (you can’t do both in a day). I have been told that the north face has the best view of the crater (and is closer to Seattle as well). The southern face has interesting points like Ape Caves, but I am yet to visit it.

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Reaching Manali and drive back to Delhi

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We reached Rohtang at or around 4 PM and passing through the beautiful pass and its valleys amidst dense fog reached Manali at or around 5 PM. Since, Manali was visited many times by all of us and also due to the exertion of the long drive, we preferred heading towards our home without stopping. Steadily, we reached Sunder Nagar via Mandi in Himachal Pradesh covering another 140 km to reach as closer as possible for the return journey, on the following day. On the way we had some apples straight from the trees by courtesy of one of the owners of the orchard. We stayed in a road side Motel situated a few kilometers away from the town of Sunder Nagar, constructed alongside the river Beas at a bargain price of Rs. 1000/- for an excellent room equivalent to a super deluxe room of a 3 start hotel, with excellent facilities and river view balcony.

Lethargically, we started for the journey back to home and reached Delhi by evening with enormous sweet memories forgetting all hardships of the way. A total journey of 2200 kms in 9 days is the most memorable travel I have ever made in my life so far. My car has never betrayed even in the most adverse situations. Next day when we showed the photographs to our friends and relatives, the astonishing remarks filled the heart with joy and smile on the face. I still remember the journey while browsing the photographs and recall each event clearly one by one. My laptop has a screen saver of the picture of Taglang La and my office computer is loaded with the desktop picture of the landscape at Drass. Not many believe, it to be conquered by driving a small car all the way without a professional driver, the photos however, leaves them in awe. Many of my friends are now planning for the trip and insisting me to join them but honestly, I don’t have the dare to repeat this road journey again. Moreover, a lot more destinations are still on my list and want to cover them all one by one and share with all esteemed readers in future. Your valuable comment is most sought on the write up.

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Drive to Manali from Leh

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The road upto Upshi was good and at par the Highway, a route from here diverts towards left for Pangong Lake. Hereafter, the character of the terrain starts changing and the road is gradually treacherous and rigorous with sudden steep ups and sharp curves. The little above 100 km journey was a mixture of adventure, peril, test of driving skill and curiosity. We were now at the world’s 2nd highest motorable road at Taglang La at an altitude of 17582 feet. The air here was so rare that we were feeling the scarcity of oxygen despite acclimatizing since last few days. The mountain peaks were on parallel to us and the sight of snow covered mountainous stretches around us was spellbinding. A board on which written, “Enjoy Tea/Coffee at 2nd Highest Motorable Pass” by courtesy of the BRO was very satisfying and proud moment. Multi coloured prayer flags flurrying in air tied around a tiny roundabout on the small flat top plateau at the stopover seemed blessing all of us for reaching there. A triumphant feeling brought tears in my eyes out of immense ecstasy, reaching upto there was never easy and I longed for years with intensity for this moment. Though I wanted to stay longer at this impossible site but it is not at all advisable, due to prone to AMS. With immense joy and satisfaction, we started descending gradually on the journey to confront the onward adverse challenges.

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Drive to Leh from Sonmarg

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Suddenly we came under the shades of very gigantic mountains on both sides of the road with a river with very dull and grey colored water full of silt, flowing along side. It was shadowy because the cliffs of the sand stone mountains hanging on the roof allowing little light to penetrate and the road turning in sharp curves. The sight was so delightful and panoramic that I don’t have words to describe it neither my photographs can do the job. You need to be there to experience the nature’s charisma. A triumphant feeling of almost reaching the dream destination highlighted our joy to a greater extent. Engulfed in excitement and ecstasy we continued keep rolling. It was an unforgettable moment to see the sun setting behind the gigantic sand stone structural mountains with figures appearing on them like shades of brush strokes creating abstract impressions on the nature’s canvass, opulently defining the gracefulness of creativity through visual delight. Lost in the illusionary of vision and spellbound with the bounty of natural wealth, we in fact reached our “dream come true” destination. A toll of Rs. 100/- is levied for entering the city and thus we were through. Yes, it was almost dark and I lit the head lights of my car, with a usual bowing head and prayer on lighting the car’s head lights, practiced by every Indian driver, I guess. Simultaneously, I thanked God for the safe journey so far. We were in Leh, a city that surprised me with its beautiful modern amenities as good as in any big city in the country.

Street lights, one way road, traffic signals with excellent traffic system, sufficiently crowded matching any urban development with multi branded showrooms, big shops, automobile dealers, service stations, parks, roundabouts and what not. I was very shy and sorry about my skepticisms by underestimating it. Leh is the second largest district in terms of area after Kutch in Gujrat, in the country with an area of over 45,000 sq. km at an altitude of 3525 meters however, very scarcely populated inhabiting around 35,000 – 40,000 only. Leh experiences a cold and harsh winter from October to early March with minimum temperatures well below freezing point with occasional snowfalls. The weather in the remaining months is generally fine and warm during the day with cool to cold nights. The temperature ranges from −30 °C in winter to 30 °C in summer. A weather chart compiled from authentic sources will well illuminate the factual.

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