Wednesday, 3 June 2015

The Silent Trail

So when I would look at my facebook friends' pictures in the mountains, a desire would knock at my heart, constantly reminding me of the places I would love to go to. Generally, I do not count myself to be a mountain person. I'd rather prefer going to the seas. There is something innate that pulls me naturally towards them. However, it doesn't mean, I do not like the mountains. I would love them if I do not have to set upon the roads that lead me to them. That is because I have motion sickness as many others have I believe.

Despite my dread of undertaking the tortuous path, I have still taken those ways a few times. But those few times were to places that attract too many tourists. I found these places to be too commercialised.

This time once again I set forth to some place in the mountains but only it was less commercialized, too close to nature and exactly the way I would have liked it to be.

So with my sister, brother in law and niece, we went to a place in a village called Padampuri. It is some 16 kms ahead of Bhimtaal. We reached the village in the evening when night had already descended. Fortunately, the Moon shone bright in the sky, giving us some light as there was no light around. We had to take a 4 kms trail up hill to reach to this property where we were going to stay. Horses had been sent for us but it was advisable not to ride them.during night.  This had been told to us by the property owner, Radhika, a very warm and hospitable lady. However, these boys kept on asking us to climb the horses as it would take us around one and a half.or two hours to climb up.

I had only once sat on a horse before and that too in plains only for a matter of two minutes or so. Therefore, I was quite skeptical to not set on foot but on the horse's back. As we started, we knew it was going to be a very difficult trail for everyone of us and especially for my brother in law and sister who took turns to carry my niece. A little while later, we climbed up the horse's back as our feet was on th verg of betraying us. And for whatever time I sat there, it was quite an adventure. Though I was scared to death as the horse would tread only from the corner of the path giving me  feeling that I d tumble down along with it, but it was quite an experience. Amidst so much of fear I managed to find the situation quite comical too. However, that was for a short while and I got down from the horse to cover the rest of the trail on foot. What a trail it was! There was the moon, I so wanted to enjoy the moonlight trek completely but the strenuous path wouldn't allow me.

Then finally, we reached to this property. And boy! It was worth the trek. A beautiful house with gardens and trees all around and some rooms for the guests. The owners had been waiting for us. It never felt a if we had come to a hotel or a resort. The feeling of being at home was all over the place. There was a library with books of many subjects. One could just stay up there and get immersed in the books.The kitchen was open to the guests. If we wanted to cook something, we only needed to tell the staff in advance to get things required. There was another couple staying at the place. It felt indeed as a family gathering, only the family had new members.

We stayed over the weekend. We decided to leave in the morning. The trail looked so beautiful with the mountainous landscape that we had missed during our hike in the night.

It was one of the kinds of experiences that I d like to have more often. So thanks to my sister n brother in law who put some sense in my head and made me finally say yes for this trip.


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Random thoughts or deliberate messages from the universe?

 It's been a while. Almost two years! So much has happened in these two years. Or maybe not.  Let me begin with things of the last year....