The year 2024
is almost drawing to a close and we are in the last month of the year.But due to several issues, I could not
compose my blogs and decided that at least for the sake of records, I should
conclude the year with some of my blogs in respect of places visited during the
year.After visiting Puducherry for some
admission related work of my daughter, we decided for a short visit to Ranikhet
during July, 2024.
Panoramic view of Binsar Mahadev temple
A view of 'Dolia Pahadi' restuarant in Ranikhet
As my car was
due to complete its 15 years life time tenure in September, 2024 we decided to
make a last trip in my car to Ranikhet.Usually, I refrain from visiting the hills during the rainy season, but
this time around as the rains were scanty and there was no other time available
for the visit, we decided to take a chance.It was hot and humid as we proceeded for the journey from Delhi and
remained so till we reached the hills.We had two short breaks for B’fast, around Gajraula and for lunch at
Bhimtal (having driven via Haldwani) and on the way to Bhimtal, tried some fire
grilled Maize (Bhutta in Hindi), but due to lack of rains, the taste was not as
good as we were used to having during our past visits.Having started at 6.30 A.M sharp from Delhi,
we reached my pad in village Timila in Ranikhet Tehsil in the evening at around
4.00 P.M.
Hydrangea (Guldasta in Hindi) in bloom
We settled in
for a few days in the peace and tranquility of the hills, although it was not
very hot, but lack of rains had made an impact all around and the hills were
not as green as they are during monsoons in the hills.During this stay, we visited the famed
‘Binsar Mahadev Temple’ that is about 2.5 Kms. from my village home.We also visited Ranikhet main market also
during the said visit and headed for lunch in a restaurant that boasts about
its cuisine etc. named ‘Dolia Pahadi’.It had started drizzling by the time we could locate the restaurant
entrance, which is about 100 odd meters away from the road head and finding a
parking space is also a challenge.But
apart from the ambience, the food was not at all to our satisfaction,
especially the chapattis were smelling, as if made from stale atta (flour) and
despite asking them the replace, the second serving was also the same.So despite having high hopes of having a
sumptuous lunch, we had to retrace our steps back, simply dissatisfied with the
outing.The only silver lining was that
we could get half a plate of famed mutton chap from Prakash dhaba in Ranikhet
market for my daughter on our way back.As it had started raining, we simply retraced our way back to our pad in
the village.
A Khalij pheasant (male) in jungle adjoining my house in village Timila
After having
settled for a few days in our pad, simply enjoying the tranquil enviorn, we
started back for Delhi.However, this
time around we decided to travel from Ramnagar side, as it is shorter distance as
compared to coming back via Haldwani.But I rued my decision , as after crossing Kashipur the road heads
across a short bridge built over a small rivulet and therefrom the entire road
was splattered with huge potholes and a journey of about 40 odd kilometers took
3 hours to complete and the experience was atrocious.We reached Delhi late in the evening and
thus, completed my first visit to Ranikhet for the year.
Road along Shipra River - from Kainchi Dham towards Khairna
On the way towards 'Binsar Mahadev temple'
Himalayan ranges at sunset - as seen from my pad in village Timila
A panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges as seen from village Timila
The second
visit to my pad in village Timila in Ranikhet Tehsil was undertaken by me with
a family friend of mine in November, 2024.Since my vehicle had been scrapped on completion of the tenure, we had
no other option but to travel by train.We boarded the Kathgodam Shatabdi from New Delhi Railway station at 6.20
A.M in the morning, after having had an altercation with the Taxi Driver, who
dropped us on the road on Paharganj side, without completing the journey citing
jam and we had to trudge about 500 odd meters to reach the station.However, the train journey was smooth and we
got down at Kathgodam at around 12.00 Noon and therefrom commenced on our
journey towards Ranikhet via Jeolikote side by local Taxi driven by my long
standing trusted driver Mr.Amit (Monu being his nickname).On the way we had a sumptuous lunch of Mutton
and rice at a road side eatery (dhabha), but were struck in a mild jams
starting from entrance to Nainital till the time we crossed Kainchi dham.Although my friend was inclined to visit
Kainchi Dham, I insisted that he undertakes the visit during his return
journey, which was scheduled earlier than my departure.We reached my pad in village Timila in
Ranikhet Tehsil at around 3.45 P.M and it was quite cold in the evening, as the
winters had started setting in, I had asked my caretaker to prepare a fire wood
stove (Angithi in Hindi) to ward for the extreme dampness and cold faced during
first day due to the fact that the house remains closed for months
together.During my friend’s very short
visit, we went to Binsar Mahadev temple one day and rested for the remaining
days.I continued for some more time and
spent my time cooking and washing utensils etc. and enjoying the environs of
the village to soothe my strained nerves, away from the hustle and bustle of
the city life.I returned back following
the same route, but after collecting and purchasing some local vegetables, ginger
and kidney beans from village home.Thus,
ended my second visit to Ranikhet region for the year.
Beating the
lockdown blues – a visit to my village Badankhet
(A Photo blog)
Panoramic view of Himalayan ranges seen from village Badankhet
As my daughter is
to appear in the Board examination this year, there were no big plans for the
year 2020 as such, regarding our summer vacations or winter vacations.But still everyone looks forward for a short
trips, as a break from the mundane and in order to replenish our souls and
body.I had last visited my home in
Badankhet in Ranikhet Tehsil in October, 2019 for undertaking cleaning and
maintenance works.Thereafter, although
we had made a very brief winter trip, but had gone to our home only for a day
in December, 2019.In the year 2020
also, we had planned to take a few days break in summers of 2020 at our home in
Badankhet village.But the COVID-19
Pandemic that resulted in total lockdown in the country being imposed from 24th
March, 2020 onwards, resulted in all the plans for the year going haywire.Everyone was struck in their homes, with
children having online classes and tuitions, ladies busy in collecting
essentials through online portals and as the offices and businesses had started
opening up gradually by June, but inter-state movement remained barred.
A male Khaleej pheasant in Badankhet village
A female Khaleej pheasant in Badankhet village
A close up of the Moon against an azure blue sky and pine tree top in foreground
Close-up of the perennial mountain spring in village Badankhet
In order to
maintain my blog, I had stitched together a few blogs using my old journeys,
albeit being presented in a different manner.It was only in November, 2020 that we finally decided to take a break
and head for our home in Badankhet village for a week.Accordingly, after procuring the mandatory
e-pass from the Uttarakhand Government portal, we commenced with our journey
from Delhi in the first week of November, 2020.The journey was a lot different this year, as it was sans any stoppage
at any restaurant or eatery, which was one of the favorite parts of our usual
journeys.The road was almost free with
very few vehicles, due to the lockdown and we went past the first bottle neck
i.e. Gaziabad in a jiffy, as during this period of almost a year, a bye-pass
over the entire crowded stretch had been constructed, which resulted in a
smooth and hassle free ride.Having
covered a sizeable distance because of the good road conditions coupled with
scant vehicles, after turning towards Moradabad for onwards journey to
Ramnagar, we had our first stop at around 10.00 A.M for Breakfast.Wife had prepared stuffed sandwiches and hot
piping coffee in thermo-flasks, we had our belly full and thereafter we headed
towards Ramnagar.After having crossed
Ramnagar, Corbett and Mohan region, we took a short break and as some stuffed
parathas had been prepared for partaking in lunch and I had also purchased a
Butane stove and cans for heating up the food, just before start of the
journey, but everyone declined to skip lunch as we were still full.We had some chips and biscuits only during
this short stop over.The journey
upwards on towards the hills gradually begins after Mohan and finally the steep
gradient begins from Kumheria onwards.I
and the driver took another break only for tea en-route and did not even stop
at Bhatraujkhan for purchase of groceries etc., as my wife had carried
everything from Delhi.Thus, we reached
Badankhet in record time and were home by 3.15 P.M.
Wild Himalayan Pear tree flowers in Badankhet village (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_pashia )
Wild Mexican Levander flowers in Badankhet village
A rose flower - early morning shot - in village Badankhet
A bouquet of Chrysanthemums in my garden in village Badankhet
Close up of Gazania flower growing in my garden in village Badankhet
Some acorns growing on an Oak tree in village Badankhet
As my caretaker had
got the verandah and garage cleaned up, we just opened up the flat and within a
few minutes had got the rooms swept, as there is hardly any dust etc. and
quickly settled in.We had the parathas
heated and served with piping hot tea and thus, had a late lunch cum tea.It was quite cold as the evening started
setting in, so as already instructed, the caretaker had arranged for some fire wood
to light up a fire and accordingly, he lit up two wood stoves and after the
smoke stopped emanating, the wood coal alongwith the stove was moved inside and
this heated up the rooms and it became quite comfortable inside the flat.We had an early dinner that day, as the
driver also was tired, having driven more than 350 Kms., almost at a stretch
and we all retired for the night.We
woke up late the next morning, all refreshed and rejuvenated, away from the
hustle & bustle of city life and its pollution, but had a vacation that was
coupled with chirping birds, fresh air and refreshing view of the Himalyan
peaks, although this year they were not as clearly visible due to dust, since
there had been no rains for past quite some times.
View of Jakholi village as seen from village Badankhet
View of Mori village as seen from village Badankhet
View of another typical Kumaoni village as seen from village Badankhet
As we drive back towards Delhi - some view of the hills
As we drive back towards Delhi - typical Kumaoni style collection of grass for use in winters by woman folk of the villages
As we drive back towards Delhi - we are about to enter Corbett region - just ahead of Kumheria
The famous north
Indian festival celebrated by the ladies i.e. Karva Chauth was also scheduled
during this break taken by us and the fiery reddish moon rise on that day was a
sight to behold, I have attempted to capture the essence, but the camera does
not do the justice, as against what the eyes perceive and see.The usual birds and flora was all around including
some flowers blooming in my plot and I have incorporated the photographs to
introduce the readers to the vivid scenes and scenery that defines my village
home in Badankhet, Gram Panchayat Timila in Tarikhet Block in Ranikhet Tehsil
and I leave you with visuals of the lifeline of the village i.e. the perennial
mountain spring and the flora and fauna around.I had kept this blog pending, so that I could start with my first blog
in January, 2021 and hope to continue blogging thereafter, as time &
happenings around take place.Wish you
all a fruitful and refreshing year ahead.
The moon with reddish hue over Ranikhet hills on 'Karva Chauth' day
Here is the link to videos of the journey and my village
mountain spring –
