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.
A panoramic view of main road & market of Tarikhet
Tarikhet is a big
hamlet, which is the Block headquarters that goes by the same name and
comprises of 134 village Panchayats. The STD code of the destination is –
05966 and PIN code is – 263663.It is at
a lower elevation of about 1500 odd meters above mean sea level and apart from
the Block Development Office, it houses banks, ATMs, a Primary Health
Centre, Govt. Inter College et al. With Indian
independence struggle movement in its credit, Tarikhet is a charming, verdant
and beautiful cute village nearby Ranikhet on the way to I have been away from
writing blogs for a long time and as I am struck down because of the pandemic,
while searching for smaller destinations in the region of the internet, I could
find only some scanty and scattered information.Accordingly, I decided to gather information
and put them on the internet in form of blogs for the readers and hence
starting this series as ‘Nondescript destinations of Kumaon’.In this series, I am starting with Tarikhet
being the nearest township from my village.
A panoramic view of Tarikhet from Gandhi Kutir
Tarikhet is a
charming, verdant and beautiful cute hamlet nearby Ranikhet on the way to
Ramnagar. It is a rather big hamlet, which is the Block headquarters that goes
by the same name and comprises of 134 village Panchayats. It is perched at a lower elevation of about
1500 odd meters above mean sea level, but has salubrious climate the year
round.Being the block headquarters, apart
from housing the Block Development Office, it also has two banks and their
ATMs, a Primary Health Centre, many private run as well as Government run
schools, Govt. Inter College et al. The STD code of the
destination is – 05966 and PIN code is – 263663.
Outside view of the Gandhi Kutir
Close up of the pillar commemorating visit by Gandhi ji
A plaque indicating the Gandhi kutir
Tarikhet is well
known for its association with the Indian independence struggle movement in its
credit.The recognition of Tarikhet and
its association with freedom struggle is attributable to the famous ‘Gandhi Kutiya', a small hut where Mahatma
Gandhi stayed for three days in June, 1929. Tarikhet was the nerve
center for all the activities related to the freedom struggle. This is a must
place to be visited to get the feeling of the history of India and
its independence. This prime attraction is now in a rather neglected
state here, which is the small hut known as Gandhi Kuti, where Mahatma Gandhi,
the great symbol of peace and tranquility and Father of our Nation, stayed once
during the freedom movement. This place is thus,
a symbol of India’s freedom struggle against the British Raj.
However, as you approach this venerated place, the government apathy is palpable
& noticeable straight away. The condition of the approach road is
atrocious, with no maintenance whatsoever. Even more so is the actual
Kutir, which is ceremonially spruced and decked up during the Gandhi Jayanti
etc., as informed by the local residents, or else in case when some local
leaders troop in and make tall claims, only to disappear later. The
staircase is in bad shape, the place where Gandhiji stayed was converted into a
school but the same is now in a state of total disrepair and the locals have
even removed the doors & windows from the building, that sans any kind of
security or periphery wall whatsoever. The statute of Ghandhiji that was
placed inside the Kutir and was on verge of being vandalized, has been kept in
safe custody by the Principal of the local school of Prem Vidyalaya,
Tarikhet.
The statue of Gandhi ji kept in Prem Vidyalaya in Tarkhet
The
place bristles with activities all round the year, with people moving to and
fro in the market or visiting Government offices for their works.The market is spread across both sides of the
State Highway that connects Ranikhet with Ramnagar and is the main market for
local villagers for sourcing their requirements, be it clothes or other day to
day sundry requirements.It houses some
quaint little sweetmeat shops and a few restaurants that cater mainly to local
cuisine.There is a small hotel or
rather a home stay that goes by the name of ‘Pine grove Hotel’ and is situated
in the outer vicinity of the township.The
place also offers an opportunity to visit a temple housing the famed Golu Devta,
the reverend deity of the region and also is home to a small temple dedicated
to Lord Hanuman inside the temple complex.
Thus, this destination
known as Tarikhet, although may not be a destination of great tourist
attraction, but is definitely a quaint and tranquil little destination, where
the nature lover traveler can spend a few days in solitude.
Here is a link to a short video of the destination
Himalayan ranges from Badan Khet of Timila
village
(A photo blog)
Sunrise as viewed from Badan Khet, Village Timila
After having visited my
pad in the month of January, when I had visited Padampuri & Sitlakhet also
and as narrated in my earlier blogs, I had some work and had to visit my pad in
Bdan Khet of Timila Village in March, 2017.
The day we reached the place, I found that it was all cloudy and covered
with no view of the Himalayas. But I
also did not get time to explore much as I was busy with other chores. However, during the ensuing days, I not only
got some good views, but was able to stitch a panorama of the Himalayan ranges
visible from the village.
I have described the geographical location of this little village in my earlier blogs in detail, but for the benefit of the new viewers I am describing it again. It is situated on a ridge on the State highway running from Ramnagar (Corbett National Park) to Ranikhet and in between Bhatrauch Khan and Tarikhet, just about 3 Kms. before reaching Tarikhet, while coming from Ramnagar side and is about 14 Kms. from Ranikhet Market. Placed on a spur of a mountain ridge, the entire valley is open as far as eyes can see and was once the fruit basket of the region, with Apples growing in the region. But with the climate turning warmer and migration of the people from villages, now hardly any apples grow here, but it is resplendent with Plums, Apricots etc. during the fruiting season. The scenic beauty of the destination is sublime and as I was unable to find much data about the pictographic description of the peaks that are visible from here, I did some research and am presenting my take on the mountain peaks in the photographs that I am posting in this blog –
The Chaukhamba peaks panorama
The Gangotri peaks panorama
The Hathi & Ghoda peaks panorama
Some unidentified peaks panorama
The Kedar peaks panorama
The Trishul & Nanda Devi peaks
In case any of my readers/viewers have a
different opinion about the peaks they are free to post in the comments to
correct me.
