Nature

Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA

By Mahesh Semwal

We were totally muddled what to do to see the long queue .We were doubtful that whether we would be able to visit the temple the same day but to our surprise unlike other temples our turn came within one hour as there one can afford to do hasty darshan because of too much of rush.The main entrance gate of the Badrnath is very colourful and known as “Singhdwar.”

Badrinath was originally established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. It is said that Shankara discovered the image of Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund (Hot Spring). Later the King of Garhwal moved that image to the present temple. Since then the temple has undergone several major renovations by many people.

Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath

By Mahesh Semwal

On the way back from Kedarnath we had our light breakfast and started our downwards journey. At slow pace we covered 3-4 kms but after sometime my elder daughter started complaining of leg pain , I advised her to use either pony or kandi for rest of the distance but she did not like the idea and continued her journey.

While coming back we tried shortcuts in between but it is advisable not to use if kids are with you.As sometimes short cuts are really very risky too. We experienced that downward journey is more painful than climbing up. Around 12 o’clock we reached Rambara (Midway) , we had our traditional lunch , rice & dal and relaxed ourselves for a while and again proceeded further for Gaurikund.

Baagon Mein Bahaar Hai… Meri Kashmir Yatra (Part 6)

By Rakesh

NISHAT means joy, khushi and whence this garden is the garden of joy. Though not as large as Shalimar garden, this garden is more beautiful than that and quietly bring smile on your faces. Numerous fountains adore this garden and is a famous picnic spot for the native people.

जिम कॉर्बेट का जंगल, बाघ और हम – २

By Saurabh Gupta

वापिस गेट पर परमिट दिखाया तो वहा के एक गार्ड ने नम्रता से बोला कि सर गलती से गेस्ट हाउस पर आपसे छ चाय के पैसे नहीं लिए तो हमने वो पैसे उनको दिए और गेट के बाहर आ गए। रास्ते मे मोनू त्यागी को उसके होटल पर उतारा और दिल्ली की सड़क पकड़ ली। गेट से बाहर निकलते ही मैंने अपनी धर्मपत्नी को फ़ोन लगाया और अपनी समस्या बताई लेकिन वो नाराज थी ऊपर से मेरा चार साल का भतीजा जो बार बार उनको डरा रहा था कि चाचा जंगल गए है उनको शेर खा गया होगा।

Disappointing ‘Wular’ – The largest fresh water lake in Asia

By Naresh Sehgal

Each year during Amarnath Yatra we try to cover one new place of Kashmir excluding Srinagar. By this method we have covered Aru Valley, Betab Valley, Lidder valley, Pahalgam, Anant Nag, Avantipura, Verinag spring ( the chief source of the river Jhelum) Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Mansabal lake etc. During 2009 Amarnath Yatra, we had planned to visit Wular Lake. After Darshan we started returned journey from Baltal towards Srinagar early in the morning.

COORG DELIGHTS-DUBARE, MADIKERI AND MYSORE

By Venkat

We reached Dubare Forest Camp at 4.30 PM. All our tiredness from the ride vanished at the sight of the serenely flowing Cauvery and the joyous screams of the people frolicking in it. Even before our car halted at the parking area, my first impulse was to rush out and throw myself into the river. But my wife calmed me down and reminded that we had a lot of time in our hands. As soon as we got out of our car, we were swarmed by the locals advertising their boating and rafting rides.

जिम कॉर्बेट का जंगल , बाघ और हम

By Saurabh Gupta

महावत बोल, साहब वो शेर है, वो डरता नहीं है, यही कही झाड़ियो मे होगा, किस्मत हुई तो फिर दिख जाएगा आप कैमरे हाथ मे रखिये, तब हमें होश आया की फोटो लिए या नहीं, उस वक्त कैमरा मनोज के पास था हम सभी उसके पीछे पड़ गए की उसने फोटो क्यों नहीं लिए, वो बोला, शुक्र मनाओ कि मैंने कैमरा नीचे नहीं फेक दिया, वहां अपना होश नहीं था और आप लोगो को फोटो की पड़ी है।

अन्नू भाई चला चकराता …पम्म…पम्म…पम्म (भाग- 3 ) टाइगर फाल (TIGER FALL)

By GHOOMAKKAR PANKAJ

बिलकुल थोडा सा आगे जाते ही मन एक दम खुश हो गया होता भी क्यूँ नहीं …हम एक बेहद ही खुबसूरत सफ़ेद झरने का कुछ हिस्सा जो देख रहे थे। मन एक दम लालयित हो उठा चलो जल्दी …अरे पर जल्दी तो चले लेकिन चले कहाँ से सामने तो दोनों पहांड़ी नदिया मिल रही रास्ता कुछ दिख नहीं रहा था। एक बार लगता के इन्ही नदी में पड़े पत्थरों से होकर जाना होगा। लेकिन २ दिन पहले से बंद हुयी बारिश अब तक हमें इसी और खड़े रहने का इशारा कर रही थी।

Boomro Boomro, Shyam Rang Boomro… (Meri Kashmir Yatra – Part 3)

By Rakesh

The scene was just marvelous and my thought was …. YE KAHAN AA GAYE HUM….. We see pictures of the lake in the news papers or sometimes in television but can not gauge the extent of this lake from those visuals, this is what I think as the mighty DAL which was in front of me had rows and rows of houseboats parked in it . THE HOUSEBOATS WITH EXOTIC NAMES APPEARED TO BE LIFELINE OF THIS LAKE. (Char Chinar, Dreamland, Kashmiri beauty, Gulistan, Gul Gulshan Gulfam and numerous other names ….).

Listen to God in the silence of Mukteshwar, Mountain Trail

By Bidisha

The magical sight of the alluring waterfall spraying its way across made our efforts worthwhile. Leaving the less adventurous ones with the children to take snaps and shoot us as we climb up the rocks to a certain height, a few of us attempted the last leg of the adventure. We crawled, pawed and dragged ourselves to the overhanging ledge closer to the source of the fall. The water was cold and refreshing. It was already pretty cold outside with temperatures dipping as dusk was thickening. We climbed down and decided to stand under the fall and take an ultimate refreshing bath. But the experience was unexpectedly out of the world. The force with which the water tumbled down on the head and shoulders was tremendous. It seemed like you are being beaten with a pound of grounded sack of rice.

COORGI DELIGHTS-GOLDEN TEMPLE AND NISARGADHAMA

By Venkat

The place has a guest house and treetop cottages run by the Forest Dept. I heard from the regular visitors to the place that tourists were allowed to enter into the river at certain safe and shallow points to enjoy themselves under the watch of the guards. But I found all those entry points locked and out-of-bounds for tourists. The guards at the place said that this was a precautionary step to avoid any mishaps because of flash floods which were possible sometimes in January. He also added that in March and April, there was no restrictions for tourists to enter the river. I wondered how much water will be there in the river then !

भाग8: रुम्त्से (Rumtse) – कोकसर – मणिकरण – सुंदरनगर – नॉएडा…………… 16/17/18-सितम्बर

By Anoop Gusain

अगले दिन सुबह 8:00 बजे घर की तरफ दौड़ पड़े। शाम 7 बजे राहुल को घर छोड़ा और यहीं पर सबने अंकल का हिसाब-किताब भी दे दिया। वैसे तो अंकल के 2000/- प्रतिदिन के हिसाब से 20000 रुपया बनता था लेकिन अंकल ने गाड़ी की इंजन पैकिंग की मरम्मत के लिए 2000 रुपया एडवांस ले लिया था, वो कट कर उनको 18000 रुपया पकड़ा दिया। वो बहुत खुश हुए। अंकल ने आखिर मे कह डाला कि “आप लोगों की बदौलत मे भी लद्दाख देख आया हूँ। अन्यथा जिन्दगी मे कभी जाने का मौका नहीं मिलता”। राहुल को अलविदा कर दिया। हम सब लोग थोडा इमोशनल हो गए थे। 10 दिन एक साथ ऐसे सफ़र पर रहने से और एक दुसरे पर बिना संदेह भरोसा करने से दिल के तार जुड़ ही जाते हैं। यहाँ से अंकल ने मुझे घर छोड़ा। यहाँ से हरी और मनोज को वो दिल्ली एयरपोर्ट छोड़ने निकल पड़े। अगली सुबह हरी और मनोज का कॉल आया की वो सकुशल पहुँच गए थे।

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