In my earlier series, you have read a lot about Iceland. As you know now that Iceland was named incorrectly by earlier Vikings. They came and saw the Greenland island full of glaciers and ice and no vegetation, and would have given the name “Iceland” to it… then they passed by Iceland and saw the beautiful waterfalls, lush and green valleys, smoking marshes and might have given it the name “GreenLand”…and then perhaps the over-doses of Vodka worked its way down the stomach, then the liver and finally the brain and they forgot which name was for which island. Hence Greenland name was given to a country with glaciers and ice only… and Iceland name was given to the country which was actually “Green”.
Now that mistake can not be rectified and the country Iceland is feared for being a boring country with Ice and glaciers only, which is partially true… specially in winters.
The hot summers (+15 Deg C) had gone and slowly the winters were setting in. I was waiting anxiously for the goddess of snow to decorate Iceland, like a new bride. The Sun was becoming paler and had lesser shining times, coming out leisurely and running away hurriedly.
Now let us see the beauty of those places of Iceland, about which I have already explained in my earlier posts…. a different view of Iceland in winters.
and finally the winters came, this year too early in end November…. and beautified the dry shrubs, leaves-less trees and pale grass, giving another meaning to their existence.
the way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
(Robert Frost)
बर्फीली… सरदियों में
किसी भी पहाड़ पर..
वादी में गूंजती हुई
खामोशियां सुने..
आंखों में भीगे भीगे से
लमहे लिये हुए…
दिल ढूंढता है …फिर वोही
फुरसत के रात दिन
(गुलज़ार)
(This is the photo of ping-valley with biggest and deepest lake of europe. In summers this valley is lush and green with birds and waterfalls…. in winters it remains so silent)
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
(Christina Rosetti )
ये कौन चित्रकार है…. ये कौन चित्रकार ..
ये किसने फूल-फूल पर किया श्रंगार है..
ये किस कवि की कल्पना का चमत्कार है ??
ये कौन चित्रकार है…. ये कौन चित्रकार
(भरत व्यास)
Ice sculptures in city hall – natural formation in winters
Remember GulFoss ?… Yes one of the top 10 water falls of the world. This is how Gulfoss looked like in summers..

Gulfoss waterfall in summers
This is GulFoss in winters .
Throughout the afternoon I watched them there,
Snow-fairies falling, falling from the sky,
Whirling fantastic in the misty air,
Contending fierce for space supremacy.
And they flew down a mightier force at night,
As though in heaven there was revolt and riot,
And they, frail things had taken panic flight
Down to the calm earth seeking peace and quiet.
I went to bed and rose at early dawn
To see them huddled together in a heap,
Each merged into the other upon the lawn,
Worn out by the sharp struggle, fast asleep.
The sun shone brightly on them half the day,
By night they stealthily had stol’n away.
(Claud Mckay)
The forcefull currents of the water were stopped by the mighty force of the Ice, which stopped the time for the waves and forced them stay where they were.. so that we could count each wave and each droplet .
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
(Bing Crosby)
(Photo of a christmas tree presented by Norweign Government to the people of Iceland )
this is not ski-resort … but the stairs of my house.
This is ski resort !!
The Blue Mountain skiing center is about 10 Kms from the city. This center is humming with activity from Feb till April when basic courses of skiing are given and we can see little children learning to ski.
Most of the people of Reykjavik spend their weekends here going up the mountain by trail and coming down skiing)
ये पर्वतों के दायरे…
ये शाम का धुंआ…
ऐसे में क्यों न छेड़ दें…
दिलों की दास्ताँ…
ये पर्वतों के दायरे… ये शाम का धुंआ
(साहिर लुधयानवी)
(This is photo of Akureyri city North of Iceland. The photo was taken at night when someone had decorated his house with these heart shaped lights)
मधुर हैं स्रोत मधुर हैं लहरी
न हैं उत्पात, छटा हैं छहरी
मनोहर झरना।
कठिन गिरि कहाँ विदारित करना
बात कुछ छिपी हुई हैं गहरी
मधुर हैं स्रोत मधुर हैं लहरी
कल्पनातीत काल की घटना
हृदय को लगी अचानक रटना
देखकर झरना। प्रथम वर्षा से इसका भरना
स्मरण हो रहा शैल का कटना
कल्पनातीत काल की घटना कर गई प्लावित तन मन सारा
एक दिन तब अपांग की धारा
हृदय से झरना-
(श्री जय शंकर प्रसाद)
(The above two photos are of Goda Foss (literally God’s water fall) in North of Iceland. It is said that before christanity, this area was a center of pagans and then christians came and threw the idols of pagan gods into this water fall. This fall was thus named God’s water fall as pagans considered god still present there under the water)
My Garden in Summers —
And the same garden in winters… both have their own beauty !!! Seems Mother Nature has slipped the quilt of snow on the Tulip flowers, so that they can rest and cooldown…. and wake up again to spread their fragrance and beauty around !!!
सर्द मौसम का मिज़ाज़ कितना अलग सा है
तवील रात में इन्तज़ार कितना अलग सा है
धुंध बनी नकाब, और छुपा लिया सितारों को
उनकी तनहाई का अब एहसास..
कितना अलग सा है
(शायर – अज्ञात)
Absence of Sun light for most of the year brings a feeling of depression and lonliness. 50% Icelandics are suffering from depression. There are some centers coming up where they treat such patients with the help of artificial Sun light. The above photo of mine is during such depressing times when I remembered my nears and dears and my country…but soon came back to senses… ..)
तूने देखा है कभी एक नज़र.. शाम के बाद
कितने चुप से लगते हैं शज़र…शाम के बाद
इतने चुप चाप के रस्ते भी रहें गै ला-इल्म
छोड़ जायेंगे किसी रोज़ शहर शाम के बाद
मैं ने ऐसे ही गुनाह तेरी जुदाई में किये
जैसे तूफान में कोई छोड़ दे घर, शाम के बाद
शाम से पहले वो मस्त अपनी उड़ानों में रहा
जिस के हाथों में थे टूटे हुये पर शाम के बाद
तू भी सूरज है तुझे मालूम कहां…. रात का दुख
तू किसी रोज़ मेरे घर में उतर… शाम के बाद
लौट आये न किसी रोज़ वो आवारा मिजाज़
खोल रखे हैं इसी आस पे… दर शाम के बाद
(कलाम जनाब.. फरहत अब्बास शाह का)
So this cold, silent evening of Iceland.. has knocked at my door…. and I take leave of you.
Bye bye, फिर मिलेंगे, शब्बा खैर, Au revoir ….
Waiting for some poetic Comments !!!!!!!!
?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ??? ? ??? ???
?? ???? ???????? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? …LOL
Oh my God ……………………Wonderful pictures Sir………………………………..
The contrast ( between summer and winter) what you have shown is amazing.
??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ? ?? ???? . ??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ??.
And Finally I was shocked to hear about depression of Icelanders……………..Sad………………………..
tks Vishal, the post was delayed by a month for some reasons but I am glad it is finally published.
Iceland is beautiful in winters.. yes and I am here for another 2 years… so you can be my guest if you come !!!
you are seen less now a days and Bhalses have completely vanished ? what is happening ?
Sir,
Since last one wk we were there at parents home to attend the wedding of my niece, now came back yesterday.
Now something about post, the post is simply superb. I have gone made looking the pictures, I just can’t believe that you live at such a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful photo essay with us.
Thanks.
Welcome back Mukeshji, I was missing you and Kavitaji. Hope all went well at your end. Thanks for your comments and it is love of friends like you that I do not feel alone in this forgotten frozen heaven….
with good wishes
???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?? ………..
?? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ………….???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ……..???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???????
?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ……….
???? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ………..???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? …………..
?? ??? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ????????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ……………?? ???? ?????????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ………..???? ???? ????? ?????
??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???… .???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??…. 2014 ????? ?? ??? ???? ???. ?????? ??????
????? ? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??… ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???.
???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ??
????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?? …
?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ……..?? ?? ?? 4 ???? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ……….??? ??? ?????? ????? ?? 4 ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?
lol
?????? ??, ???????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ???
????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???
??? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ??-
???? ????????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ?????
?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????????? ?? ????
?? ????? ??? ?? ??.. ?????? ?? ???? ?????… ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????..
?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ???.. ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??????
???? ??? ???? ?? ???… ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ?????…LOL
Hello SilentSoul…. you have an excellent way of describing nature and its beauty…Pictures are simply amazing…i guess if the place is beautiful; then the pictures have to be beautiful…. Picture with the caption “ski lift near Reykjavik ” reminds me of Auli in Uttarakhand…Many thanks for showing us that part of the world…
Cheers…
Tks Bhatt ji. I love Himalayas and have seen most of Himachal and Uttrakhand so Iceland became my favorite as it has many similarities with Uttrakhanda and Himachal.
I have seen Auli too and it is also beautiful in winters, only thing is its slopes are smaller
tks for reading and commenting
sir, u r my fevrt writr here on ghumakkar.
Tks Praveen ji… hope your encouragement will continue in my next posts too
amazing photographs.
tks Ashok sharma ji…. hope you continue reading my other posts
tks for reading and commenting
Beautiful post sir!!!
You beautifully captured both seasons; specially winters nights. One can feel that eerie silence of cold-white dark nights.
Loved the way you mixed the beautiful words with beautiful photographs.
Thanks a lot for sharing!!!
Bhaskarji thanks… the actual beauty of iceland is hundreds times more than these photos..
tks for reading and commenting
Very nice photos!
Beautiful place
tks Kanupriya… Iceland is waiting for you
??????? ??,
???? ?????? ?????, ?? ?? ?? ????? ??. ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ???. ?? ????? ?? ????????? ?? ????? ?? ????????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???. ??? ?????? ?? ……………???? ??????? ???? ??.
??????.
???????.. ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??… ??? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??. ??? ?????? ??, ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ??
??????? ???? ??? ??????
??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??. ??? ???? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ??.
????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?-? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?????? . ???? ????? ????? ??????
???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??.
??????? …….
? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ? …LOL
??? ?????? ??? ????… ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??… ?? ????? ??? ? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????…. ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??… ??????? ??…?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???
??????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ………?????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? 2014 ??? ?? ? ??? ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??
SS – Brilliant stuff. I am not a fan of sunless winters and can empathize (just a teeny weeny bit) of how it would get there with days and days of unending snow and less Sun. Salute to you for not only being there BUT having enough enthusiasm and motivation to share this with us.
It takes a lot of effort to shoot photos, select them from tons of clicks, write a story and then persist with Editors like me, he he. Commendable.
I am guessing that now the Winters would be on the wane, and probably Iceland is getting its share of green very soon.
Regarding poetic fervor, here is my minor contribution.
“??? ?????? ?? ??????, ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? | “
Tks Nandan, I dont like summers… winters are my favorite and I have seen temprature upto -20… even these photos were shot in -15. In Indian summers when it is more than 40 i start hibernating…LOL
winters are going..summers slipping in, but summers of Iceland are colder than winters of India…LOL 15 deg is maximum in summers… I am glad that people liked my idea of a poetic post and it went well…. thanks for cooperation
I am totally wonder-struck with awe,and dis-belief whether these pictures are of real place or the imagination of some godly creator. Are they real,really?The pictures and your poetic description so aptly matches the with the personality of SILENT SOUL( I am guessing)
There is,however a point I would like to make,if you don’t mind is about the line(again excuse my Roman Urdu as I am Hindi illiterate)”Dil Dhundtta Hai Phir Wohi Furset kay Raat Din” is not written by Gulzar.Gulzar picked up this one line from the famous Gazal of Mirza Ghalib and wrote a song around it.
Ghalib”Jee Dhundtta hai phir wohi furset kay raat din, Baithey rhain tusuver-re- Jannaha keeye hue,
Mudet hui hai yaar ko mehman keeye hue.Joshe keda say buzam-e chiragan keeye hue”
I think its time for me to say good-bye to ghumakkar because I am lost among the giants of story-teller
world-travelers. I really enjoyed all your posts. Even when snow-bound.
Jatinder ji thankyou very much… comments from a senior person like you are valuable. Mother nature is the perfect painter, singer and actor. What can be called our the most beautiful creation may be just an incomplete copy of Nature’s creation.
Yes you are right.. the lines are actually from Ghalib and Gulzar cooked a song around it. since I took Gulzar’s version I credited him. Ghalib is my favorite shayar.
Tks for giving full Shair of Chacha Galib.. and tks for your time
Wah, SS jee, kya post hai!
I can only find one word to describe it – lyrical.
There is poetry in the images, poetry in your description and poetry from masters like Frost, Gulzar, Jaishankar Prasad and Bharat Vyas.
Thanks once again for revealing to us the picture-perfect beauty of far away Iceland.
Thanks DL, your comments proved that my idea of this post was good. It is high time now to allow us to read your next post
thanks for your efforts to read and give beautiful comments
S.S. Ji _(“)_
???? ?? ?? ??????,
???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? |
????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ,
????? ?? ???? ?? ??? |
??????? ?? ?? ???? ???,
??? ??? ???? ??? ???? |
???? ?? ?? ?????? ?????,
????? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????? |
???? ?? ?? ??????,
???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? |……………..?????.??????
??? ???? ??? ….?? ???? ?? ??? ? ??? , ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????? | ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? | ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??? | ???? ????? ??? ???-??? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? | ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? | ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???…|
????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ……?? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ???????? …….|
??? ?? ??? ???? …..|
?????.??????
?????… ???? ?????? ?????… ?? ??? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??..
??? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???.
???????… ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???
S.S. ??….
??????? ?? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ” ????? ” ?? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ? ??? ???, ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? …..|
???????…!
OK Ritesh.. waiting !!!
Dear SS, beautiful photos and a nice composition.
I had one question – you might find it really dumb. Is it true that Iceland has nights that extend for months. And during these nights, does the sky ever get lighter or is it like proper night all through?
Thanks Vibhaji for your comments and cooperation in bringing this post on board.
Yes literally there are 6 months of night and 6 months of day here. Like in winters the Sun comes for about 2/3 hours and then sets. around 1500 hrs it is dead as night and till 11 in morning it is dead as night.
In summers there is bright light the whole night. The sun sets for a few hours and comes back hurriedly. even when the Sun sets, it remains in horizon giving enough light to enable us read a book in midnight.
It may cause some problems for locals but for me it is enjoying
Lovely post. There is quite a contrast between summers and winters, just like ‘saddi Dilli’!! So cold, living indoors, no sunlight, it is bound to cause mental stress. I wonder how you don’t fall prey to it? Oh yes, you get your “fursat ke raat-din” for the poetry :)
Thanks Roopesh for reading and commenting. Absence of Sun light causes some problems as I wrote about 50% are suffering from mental depression. Even my wife had fallen prey to it last winter.
I have not yet really felt so because I keep myself busy in meditation, playing old songs on casio, reading books, writing poetry and Now Ghumakkar has also helped in keeping me busy.
Our Hindu meditation system is so strong it can make you stronger for any situation
Tks again Roopesh
Amazing pics with supporting poetry !
tks manish ji and congrats for becoming FA again
lovely read and mystical photos!
You live at a very beautiful place indeed. So many charming places are shown here on ghumakkar, yet never felt such a desire in my heart to go to those places as i am feeling about Iceland.
Adding further to the poetry-
??? ???? ?? ?????? ??
?? ?? ????? ?????
?? ?? ?? ?? ?????
???? ?? ????? ?????
?? ???? ???? ????
???? ???? ???? ???
?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??
??? ????? ??? ?? ???
????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???
??? ???? ??? ?????
???? ??? ??? ??? ???
????? ????? ??? ?????
OMG…Jaishree ji… yeh kavita kahan se li ???? it brought tears to my eyes. This was simply great and fulfilled the purpose of my post
Thanks for taking your time to read and comment
From my collection of College days – when Mummy and papa took care of everything and I had all the time in the world! Sigh!
???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??
Ek bar phir se :-
Yoon to hain zamane main sukhanwar bahut achchhay
Kahte hain ki Galib(SS) ka hai andaazay byan aur.
Iss bar to SS sahab aapne saare ghumakkaron ko maano Mahadev Tryambak Ke Jyotirling ki param parikrama karva di aur poora ghumakkar.com ek satsang ho gaya. Aane wale samay main ye teerthon ka ek Mahakumbh kahlayega.
Poetic comments men to main etna hi kahoonga:
Teri taareef ko kisi taaroof ki darkaar nahin.
Niraj Jaat aur Manu Tyagi main se kaun aapke paas jaldi pahunchta hai dekhte hain.
Thanks for nice post, beautiful pics.
tks tridev darling… pata nahin ye mere paas pahunchate hain ya mein un ke paas pahunchata hun…LOL
Thanks SSji, for addressing me as Tridev Darling. You are one and only one person who called me darling. Even my darling has never addressed me with such an & affection and love.(LOL). May I change my name Tridev Darling instead of Tridev Charan, every family member of ghumakkar will call me by this name make me so young…. LOL
Yaar if I knew this will give you so much joy, I would have said it long ago…
May god bless you
———————————
People never tell of ice
Or the snow that glitters nice
Or of the icy crunchy snow
Of that most people do not know
The crunch that sounds beneath your feet
As your sole and ice compete
When in the morning as you wake
You see a single white snow flake
You look out of the iced window
The look out seems so very low
Because the snow fell all night
It has left behind its sheet of white
—————————————
The photos before and after ice shows the intensity and quantity of ice. This comparison technique used by you has very good effect while reading the post. So far I am only able to see the ice only from a distance in Shimla, but you are staying surrounded by Ice. Very beautiful post Sir.
Solankyji… first of all thanks for this beautiful piece of poetry … this fitted well with my Snow Saga.
Where are you missing for such a long time. I was remembering you most of the times
Thanks for reading and commenting specially for the poem
Thanks Sir for remembering me, I am obliged. I got busy in some assignments and could not devote much time on internet for past 2 months. I have a habit to read all Ghumakkar stories in order of the published date, so around 120 stories were waiting for me :) I have now started to read them one by one. Now I am hoping to be active once again.
Thanks also for liking the poem. I found this poem on internet, its not mine.
Dear SS,
Like a small child bewildered in a museum or zoo with so much to see, so much to enjoy, I could not concentrate for a long time on any one thing. Once I was reading a poetry and suddenly I saw a snow capped tree / house which was calling my attention. So, my mind was constantly and perpetually diverted from one item of attraction to another ! It was as if I was on an Australian beach and didn’t know what to see first and what to see later!
I had to find a way out to enjoy everything systematically and for that I decided to go through all the text, and then only to concentrate on the pics. Hats off to you for sharing all of it with us.
Sushant
Tks Sushant ji… after your comments, the log become complete
Hi SS Sir
First of all, thanx for providing me for the link, otherwise how could I see such an amazing post?
I am nearly two years late, and everyone already said in beautiful words, what I was feeling while going through the pics and the posts.
For me, the pics, the poetry and the comments( some brilliant pieces of poetry again in comments!), everything is an experience and I am just going to share this with my wife and son. Thanx again…:)
paahji thanks for going through this very old post…
you should have further enriched the post by your poetry/shayari…