Nainital - My first ever visit to Himalayas

My first ever visit to Himalayas and it has been magnetic and magical till date that I have been visiting almost every year since 2012. My mind and soul pulls me towards this place anytime and keep waiting for an opportunity to visit any part of it. We in India are very lucky to have such an amazing place on our planet!

The temperature on the Mukteshwar hill was almost zero and we were facing the first ever such cold temperature in life :)

Mukteshwar-Nainital-Ranikhet-Almora were the places in the itenary. We booked Kumaon govt. guest houses online for 3 days in different places.

Took a train from Delhi and reached Nainital. Having seated in the taxi and while driving through the gigantic mountainous valleys, I happened to observe a weird design in the sky with whitelining. I focused more and was wondering how unique these clouds were! Our driver said 'Madam this is the Nanda Devi range of Himalayas' Shocked and I blinked my eyes couple of times to notice the unbelievable massive snow white structures in the sky! My heart knew no bounds and was overwhelmed with joy. Throughout my journey I got excited each time I was able to see this range of Nanda Devi.  There were many tals/lakes Bhimtal, Sattal, Nainital, etc.

Mukteshwar: We were able to view Nandadevi range including Nanda Gunti, Trishul and others too.

Raniketh: The contonment area and the Museum that had the detail History with their weapons, armors used during Ino-china wars and many others. We also visited a place where the widows of the army men had martyrd their lives for the country working and making varied products taht included wollen garments.

The Horse Shoe View:

Nainital, The Lake:

Treknic to Gavi, Kerala

26.9.12

Was longing to take a break from TV, net, phone 

Registered myself with Bangalore Ascenders, I was not very confident if I really could get along well with strangers, moreover going on a trek and places far off! Saw a mail which had awesome snaps sent by Jinu for Gavi, Thekkady trip, which specified little of trek and more to see kind of places. Felt this could be ideal as i have been lazy for quite sometime.

After reaching kumbly the first day, got freshened up and walked until a lake and then made a choice of attending Kalari and Kathakali shows in the evening. I had never heard of Kalari, it was a breathless show!

Way back when I was a child, in Mangalore I often watched live Kathakali shows throughout night. Though, I couldn't understand the story, I was so attracted by the dresses they wore & dances they performed. Unbelievably, they were free of cost and rarely it was for Re.1/- for a show sometimes. I still remember how i tried peeping behind the curtain to see their colorful dresses and make-up they wore, and couldnt believe that a man was doing a make-up of female artist :)) and wondered why ladies cannot participate! 

Fantastic shows, I was forced to leave and one hour was too very less for satisfing my ears and eyes!

Next day was a long travel in an open jeep into the forest of Gavi @ Tekhady. Got to get some fresh air to breathe, see green all around, a stream passing by, birds chirping, what more, the worst part is all of our folks were having huge cameras! I slowly slipped my digi cam inside and was not a bit ashamed to asked many of them to take my snaps and of others too :-)

What more I was the only person make loud noise of absolutely being protective about leeches, and as usual one had caught me as if it heard me, thanks to Navnit who saved me from the leech huh!! Anytime I go out atleast one of them welcome me :(

While breathing hard during trek in the forest, with terrible pain in the feet, I was equally enjoying the scenic views, the cool breeze, the forest, silence and the company of sweet people who were  no more strangers. Now, I am all geared up to travel more this way which i was longing for in life :-)

Tons of thanks to Jinu, Bangalore Ascenders and to all of my new found friends. I shall cherish this Treknic for a long time from now :-)

https://plus.google.com/photos/102223081727164158676/albums/5792446764611354865?authkey=CPXXwoLK-OP16QE 

The Tirupati Experience

June 2012

My grandmother often asked me to visit Tirupati which I was not so keen. I hated to sit for 6 long hours in the bus through the night with almost no sleep. This wouldn't have been the case if I were visiting any other landscapes in India.  After refreshing in a hotel, taxi dropped us at the end of a long snail moving queue around 10.30 a.m into a fence which reminded me of a Lion’s cage in circus!  Outside the fence  was a total noise pollution environment of people talking, vehicles, recitals on the speakers and amidst all this, few people had managed to have a sound sleep on the other side of the fence. I silently wished if I ever could get that lucky to have a sound sleep atleast one night in a silent room back home! 

Not very keen, but always wondered and finally made up my mind to check the reality which almost every other person talks about.  Despite my leg pain, I made my mind to visit this place. However, in a corner of my mind my granny's words echoed if there could be any miracle as she says! Any small issues she often mentioned I should go once to Tirupati!

At about 2pm, I was excited after seeing scanners and counters where we need to pay and enter, but my excitement was short lived, as I heard we were only half way through and needed few more hours to reach inside.  As no phones are allowed inside, this can be considered one of the best places to spend quality time with the folks you go with. Balancing left and right leg throughout, all that was going in my mind was OMG,

 ‘I think it is fine to come once. ummm again? I don’t think so!’

‘My legs are going to be in worse condition and I will not be able to move on Monday morning’, also thinking of an excuse to take off Monday!

Finally, with a great sigh of relief around 4.30pm at the huge entrance I was   pushed, pulled & stamped no. of times to witness God ‘Venkateshwara at Tirumala’ for the first time in my life.

A glimpse of few seconds, I forgot what I was there for! I felt as if a supernatural powerful person stood up, right in front of me, and it was like my body, mind and soul was set with a refresh button! It was a MAGNIFICIENT and a MAGNETIC feeling! Speechless and thoughtless!  

I now realize why thousands throng and wait for hours/days to just have a glimpse for a second or few! Wonder why this place is not still declared as one of the wonders of the world.  I am not a religious person, however, proud to say ‘IT WAS ALL WORTH IT’ and maybe think of visiting AGAIN!

Back home as scheduled on the Monday morning; when my physiotherapist asked how is my leg pain? Oh! I couldn’t feel as much pain as I had felt 3 days ago though I had expected the worse!

Could this be an exercise which my body needed of standing, pushing, pulling required to reduce the pain or is this a MIRACLE?!

I am still confused...