Often we imagine that we will work hard, arrive at some distant goal & then we will be happy. This is a DELUSION.
HAPPINESS is the result of a lived with
purpose. Happiness is not an objective. It is a movement of Life itself, a
process, an activity.
It was a weekend in late November and
was browsing Thrillophilia and the hill station “Chakrata” a cantonment town,
also known as the “Forgotten Hill station” in Uttarakhand caught my attention
on the site after reading about the place.
It is between the Tons and Yamuna Rivers,
at an elevation of 2118 m, it was originally a cantonment of the British
Indian Army. To the west lies Himachal Pradesh, and to the east are
Mussoorie and Tehri Garhwal.
That’s when I decided to go on my first
solo trip in 2019 December to welcome 2020 because of the Snow and Mountains
for 3 days.
After getting to know more about the
place and the travel route, I book my air tickets from Bangalore to Dehradun
and also my stay via Airbnb & a cab for myself from Saavari Car Rentals and
ordered my winter Hand gloves and mufflers from Amazon for this trip and here I
am all set for the first solo trip of my life.
The last 2 weeks of December was only
Travelling , Had been to Shirdi, Pune, Mumbai and then Chakrata.
I had my early morning 6:25 am Indigo
Flight to Dehradun on 30th Dec’19 so had decided to come over to Bangalore
Airport at night on the 29th Dec and spend the night in the airport lounge.
Reached Bangalore airport around 11:30 am and after security check went to the lounge. Unfortunately could not
go so early to the lounge and I could go only 3 hrs before the boarding time as
per the receptionist in Plaza Lounge. So walked thru to one of the Gates at the
end near KFC and catch up on sleep on the sofas. There were many of them who
had occupied the sofas to rest of. I had never seen people like this in
airports unlike railway stations and I also decided to have a nap on the
Bangalore airport sofa……
Dozed off for a few hrs and woke up
around 4:30 am and went to the lounge courtesy HDFC CC J for coffee and breakfast. The lounge was full and managed to
get hold of one place for me and had a good breakfast.
A good 1 hr at the lounge it was time
for boarding and proceeded towards the Gate. A chilly morning in Bangalore with some pretty faces in
the Doon flight J and the flight took off on
time. Caught up with sleep again mid air and woke up just when the flight
touched Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun at 9:20 am.
As soon I come out, Gave a call to the
cab driver and he was right there near the airport entrance. The weather was
chill, refreshing and fresh oxygen and no sight of pollution in Doon. The
temperature, I guess was around 8 to 10 degree Celsius.
And the journey begins towards the Sun-kissed Himalayan ranges, dotted by coniferous forests & located at an altitude of about 7000 ft above the sea level. The drive is around 140 kms to the Stunning Hills Guest house which takes around 4 hrs and the route takes you via the NDA Doon Defence Academy & snuggled scenic mountains with spellbinding views around this quaint and charming petite hamlet up in the hills of Uttarakhand.
After clicking a few pics in the market
and a walk around, I proceed towards the Stunning Hills Guest house in a
village called as Asmarh which is a 1 hr drive situated on Kanasar forest range
hilltop in Chakrata and witnessed breathtaking views from the hill tops and snow
kissed mountains on route.
Reached the Stunning hills guest house around 2:30 pm and checked in. The guest house is small and run by a family of 4 brothers. I settle down and have a double Bun Omlette for lunch and hot masala chai. Here you can witness nature at its best. Complete silence surrounded by deodar cedar trees all around the vicinity.
I decide to have a small walk down the roadside after lunch and come back to rest for a few hours.
As the sun sets the temperature dips to 2
degree Celsius and mid-night it dips further.
Woke up around 7:30 pm when the owner
called me and said he has a bonfire arranged and some hot
spicy Maggie ready.
Opposite each and every room he had a few bonfires set up and one on the road. I decided to go on the road and was all alone myself that day sitting in the open air and sipping 100 pipers. It was a bliss supreme feeling of you being all alone away from the maddening city, noting to think off, you being just by yourself in peace.
Food was like home made cooked by the brothers and they have a dining place next to the kitchen and every one comes there to have food. I had some lip-smacking chicken gravy and hot hot chapattis right out of the tawa and some steam rice.
Day 1 comes to an end after a short walk in pitch darkness amidst chill air and stars above you.
The temperature in middle of the night
dropped further to minus 1 degree Celsius and I could feel the chillness in the
wooden cottage.
Day 2, 31st Dec’19 – Woke up around 10 am and the sun was out basking it glory on the hills of Chakrata. Loved Sipping a hot cup of Nescafe to beat the chill in the hills along with hot hot finger licking aloo parathas with spicy chutney for breakfast.
After breakfast ventured for a walk on the narrow curvy roads of the forgotten hill station admiring the nature’s wonders and the beautiful natural surroundings and making videos and clicking pics of nature and snow kissed mountains and snow on the roads.
It was a sight to behold! This was a
quaint offbeat town that was nestled comfortably in the lap of nature. This
place is hidden jewel in the lap of Uttarakhand. The tranquility and
peacefulness away from the bustling city culture was extremely overwhelming.
I would have walked for almost 1 km on
the narrow curvy roads with vehicles coming on both sided and decided to return
back. By that time the aloo parathas had also digested ;)
Upon return to the guest house , got
refreshed and Deewan, one of the brothers who runs the guest house had planned
to take me sightseeing to some nearby places and also for a short trek on the
hills which still had snow around as it had snowed a couple of days before I
went.
The guest house had a unique water
heater and it was an awesome invention.
Around 12:30 pm we got into the cab and went to Koti Kanasar. Kanasar is an attractive place surrounded by dense green deodar forest. Green meadows allures tourists and makes it a best picnic spot near Chakrata.
A 6.35 mtrs circumference Deodar tree is known to be Asia’s oldest and biggest Deodar tree.
A few steps next to there is a small Shiva temple, Kanasar temple which is a center of faith and devotion for locals.
Then we to Tuna Village and saw the
captivating views of the mountains and later stopped over for tea in one of his
friends shop.
After a refreshing tea we returned back
to the guest house and had lunch. After a sumptuous lunch of Dal Chawal, we
then went for a short trek up the hill very close to the Stunning Hills Home stay.
The walk was not that difficult bearing some steep walks and Deewan knew the place so it was easier to navigate on the hill surrounded by dense deodar forests and finally we reached the place where snow was accumulated and the location offered a captivating view of snow clad peaks and lofty ranges amidst the forest range.
Captured the moments on the snow kissed
hill and returned back to the guest house around 4:30 pm.
Was hungry and grabbed a bite of Bun and
Omlette and decided to take a short nap. Jagat had made some ice gola with lemon and mint and green chillies with fresh snow which had been accumulated in the hills.
Jagat had taken a music system on rent
and was playing Pahadi songs that day. There were lot of visitors on 31st nite who
checked in for a day to welcome 2020.
Later in the evening the bonfire was lit around 7 pm and Deewan and I started our second round of 100 pipers with Lays. We were joined by a family from Doon who had come to celebrate the 31st Dec night in Chakarta and sitting here amidst nature with new friends felt really nice and talking to them made me realize how the meaning of travel is different for everybody!
The sky was clear and the stars visible
in the chill wintry night amidst the forest range.
Winded up by 1 am after a few phone calls to friends.
Day 3 checked out at 10 am to Doon. Had one
last coffee & Maggie for breakfast, and bid aideu to Chakrata and the 4 brothers.
Reached Doon by 2 pm and checked in at Hotel Padmini Palace opposite the Jolly Grant airport on 1st Jan’20.
After taking some rest, later in the evening around 4 pm went to Rishikesh – The Divine Land which was my last leg of my trip to watch the Ganga aarti at sunset.
The drive was around 40 mins from the hotel. Parked the car near to Triveni Ghat and walked in the bylanes of Rishikesh and took a share auto along with the cab driver who accompanied me to Lakshman Jhula.
Had a walk on the Lakshman Jhula and captured the moments on
the flowing River Ganges and returned back to Triveni Ghat just before 6 pm for
the Ganga aarti.
When I reached the Triveni Ghat, many devotees had gathered, I went ahead and took a place to sit on the front to catch the glimpse of the Ganga Aarti ceremony.
Massive Mountains, Rugged River,
Soothing Greenery, Stunning Views, coated with the spiritual atmosphere; this
is what you actually find in Rishikesh. The awe-inspiring wonders of the city
will definitely attract you to the fullest.
As the sun was setting in the backdrop around 6 pm, the atmosphere turned dynamic due to loud chants of spiritual music, chanting of bhajan, beating drums, bells and diyas offering to Ganga.
The
priests stand on stools at the edge of the river embankment and hold large
lamps lit with ghee and perform aarti to Maa Ganga amidst ringing of bells and chants
of the mantras which adds a lot of exuberance to the whole set up.
I offered my prayers and after seeking
blessings from Ganga river by sprinkling the sacred water over my head, went to
a nearby temple and then headed back to the Hotel.
Reached the Hotel by 8:15 pm, settled
the Final bill to the Cab driver and Thanked him for the wonderful trip and
took a pic with him to capture memories.
By this time my tummy was carving for
food as I had surviving with only Maggie which I had for breakfast and skipped
lunch. I head on to the Padmini restaurant and had a scrumptious dinner –
Chicken Manchow soup, Hara Bara Kabab, Chicken Biryani & finally end with Gulab
Jamoons J . With a Happy tummy Day 3 came to an end.
Early next morning on 2nd
Jan, I had my flight back to Bangalore at 9:50 am and landed in Bangalore by
12:30 pm.
When I look back upon the 3 days spent
on my first solo trip, the memories are still fresh in my mind.
Chakrata was an awesome experience for
me. The whole place was breathtakingly beautiful, serene, and peaceful.
Spending time here was the best decision ever and hopefully when I come back
next time, the stay is going to be much longer and the memories much sweeter!
& Rishikesh is truly a surreal
destination. Its tranquility is etched in my memory forever.
~ Vignesh
Comments
I love the way you described the journey, little bits of detail, experience in this holy land with locals :) I can relate to a few of the spots from our journey from Uttarakhand to Kedarnath, Gangotri, Badrinath - that was 20 years ago - still fresh!!
Well - I just wish you take time out for more such adventures and share with us all!!
Cheers!