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Category Motorcycle
Ride de Shinku La
π³πππ πππππππ, πΈ ππ πππππππππ ππ ππππ π²πππ πΉπππππππ πΉππππ ππ ππ’ ππππ πππππ’. πΉπππππππ ππ π πππππππππ πππππ πππππ πππ π π ππππππππ ππππππ ππ πππππ π ππ ππππ πππ. Catch him at Insta @capt.jaipreetjoshi / http://www.fitcomb.com / twitter : @fitcomb
Introduction
The evil tentacles of Covid19 held our heads down for long but now in Oct 2020 after things had started easing out we also planned a much awaited ride . Also, the Atal Tunnel at an altitude of 10,000 ft was recently inaugurated and made open for the public and I thought of being one of the first few to ride through it.
The Plan
I zeroed down on Shinkhu La or Shongo La which lies at an altitude of 16,703 ft linking Zanskar and Lahaul as it is one of the most unheard of passes and wanted to nail it before it becomes commercialised like another ‘Pangong Tso’ courtesy (sic) ‘Three Idiots’ (a bollywood blockbuster). The plan was quickly scribbled :
Day 1 – Gurgaon – Kullu
Day 2 – Kullu – Manali
Day 3 – Manali – Shinkhu La – Manali
Day 4 – Manali – Swarghat
Day 5 – Swarghat – Gurgaon
Total Distance – 1500 kms
My dear friend and martial arts student Shridhar Sinha was itching to ride to the hills and hence this plan of a hill ride crystalized so quick.
Prep
Post plan acceptance , it was time to prep our machines for this challenging ride from 600 ft of pure non sense to 17000 feet of heavenly glory. Since mine is a carbureted machine , I did not forget to carry a few small size main jets to cope with the high altitude sickness called fluttering and loss of power. A set of spare tubes and Motul tube inflator was catered to also. Complete overhaul and check was carried out post which we shopped for some snacks , energy bars, meds and other essentials.Winter wear was also dug out and shown some sun , riding boots cleaned and polished . We were now fully prepped or at least that is what we consented on and now it was time to kick off.
D Day (Gurgaon – Swarghat / 370 kms / 10 hrs)
Captains log started on 9th Oct 2020, RV for start was opposite Suncity at 0530 hrs but Shridher got delayed by 30 min hence we kick started at 0605 hrs .The nip was in the air and the feeling of riding in the nice cool breeze was elevating. Karnal byepass was crossed in less than an hour and we were now zipping on NH1 which had by now swelled up with traffic. We meandered our way through and stopped for breakfast at Aman Dhaba near Sonipat. Post a light meal comprising of butter toasts and tea we resumed our journey. It was now around 4 pm and we were nearing Swarghat after intercepting a farmers agitation near Ropar which delayed us by good 45 minutes. It also coincided with my RE riding boots tearing open (probably due to non usage for long). Paid Rs 120/ to get the wide open lips of my boots stitched together as I had no other option available. Since we were in no hurry to reach Manali, we decided to anchor at the Hilltop Hotel at around 1600 hrs.. What followed was a small stroll through the local market where we picked 2 cans of Budweiser to celebrate day 1 of the ride . Dinner comprised of Chicken Rarha and we hit the bed early.
Day 2 (Swarghat – Manali / 240 kms / 6.5 hrs)
Manali was now about 240 kms but we decided to start at leisure and then reach there by eve. But our plan changed as soon as I read a message from my unit officer Col Amitabh , Shaurya Chakra (my first company commander) to join him for lunch at his place at 1330 hrs . I treated this like a dictat and how could I even say ‘no’ to my senior officer who was extending himself so wholeheartedly , so we hurried up and finally started off at 0700 hrs. From Mandi we took the more cleaner and definitely much picturesque route through Katoula to Bhuntar and then Manali. The road was meandering and left almost no scope to overtake but it was very much worth all the efforts out in.At 1345 hrs we were at Manali Green Cess Collection Point, another 20 min and we were knocking at ‘Ambrosia’ , Amy sir’s (Col Amitabh) cottage built out of pure love and passion standing tall in the village of Kaniyal about 600 ft above Manali town.We had some beer to wash down the sumptuous meal prepared by Sudha mam’ , who is one amazing cook and a very warm and jovial hostess. By the time we finished the meal and were about to take some rest we were told by them to join them for a dinner hosted by Border Roads to celebrate the inauguration of the Atal Tunnel. It was a wow feeling to be amidst the entire team of engineers and military officers who made this dream come together as a formidable team in a resort on the left bank of Beas. It was a sheer pleasure to hear about the insights into the making of history at 10,000 ft by none other than the Chief Engineer (Project) – Atal Tunnel , Mr K P Purushothaman. It was an evening well spent but we decided to call it off a little early to prepare ourselves for the ride next day to Shinku La , also known as Shingo La .
Day 3 (Kaniyal , Manali – Atal Tunnel – Darcha – Shingo La / 140 kms / 5 hrs)
Though we started early to cross the tunnel before its maintenance shut down from 0900 hrs to 1000 hrs but we got a little delayed at the Manali Gas Station due to some Paytm payment not showing credited into the account of the Fuel Station but getting debited from mine. The lesson learnt was to either pay in cash or card to ensure immediate remittance. We somehow managed to reach the entry point just before time.
We were feeling absolutely heavenly riding through this work of art at 10,000 ft stretching at 9.02 kms. We soon passed through the tunnel and steered our way towards Sissu. The ride on the newly constructed road through Tandi , Keylong , Jispa and Darcha was a sheer pleasure where we zipped past 80 Kmph on the odo. We took a well deserved halt at Darcha over momos and thukpa after getting ourselves registered at the Darcha Police Post. The next 2 hrs of ride from Darcha to Shingo La was not only arduous but challenging. The stretch is about 40 kms which winds through gravel, rocks and dry patches. The turns are sharp and some of them hair pin tight . Maintaining momentum acquires significance or it becomes very tough waddling the bike up hill with depleted oxygen levels.
Shingo La Pass is at a height of about 17000 ft with piercing wind chill making it tough to stand tall for long. Since the rider with me – Shridher reached after about half hour, I had a terrible time weathering the strong cold winds. As soon as he joined me we clicked a few pictures and shot some video to fall back quickly as the cold winds were torturous. We started back at 2 pm and took our first halt at Darcha over a cup of tea. Another cup of tea and sandwiches happened at Tandi Transit Camp as the Officer Commanding was my Army course-mate and there was no way I could miss out on him. Having done with the adieus and good byes we resumed our ride , overtook a beeline of cars waiting to get back to Manali and beyond through the tunnel. By about 1920 hrs we made it back to Amy sirs’ Ambrosia, took a nice hot water shower in his state of art bathroom which can give any upscale condominium in Gurgaon a run for its money. Having washed away the fatigue, we clinked our glasses to cheers and had some amazing food over loads of chit chat. Finally we retired at around 2350 hrs.
Day 4 (Manali – Swarghat / 225 kms /6.5 hrs)
We took the standard route via Pandoh – Mandi – Bilsapur – Swarghat which for sure was a pathetic decision. With loads of road construction work enroute, the ride back to Swarghat was actually bone crushing and equally so for our bikes, Tired and battered, we called it a day at Swarghat where we chilled ourselves over Budweiser and some nice mixed veggies and egg bhurji. It was goodnight at 2130 hrs to prepare for the final home run.
Day 5 (Swarghat – Kharar – Mohali – Dera Bassi – Ambala – Panipat – Delhi – Gurgoan / 350 kms / 7 hrs)
The early birds hit the roads at 0600 hrs to avoid crazy traffic being a working day. I was zipping past on open stretches and crossed Mohali at 0800 hrs. Thereafter there was no stopping and I took my first stop 10 kms short of Ambala. Next was a refuelling break near Karnal. I entered Delhi at around 1130 hrs but the traffic at Karnal Bye Pass was maddening. I meandered through the loads of vehicles on the dusty, grimy roads and hit home at 1300 hrs sharp.
Thanked God for a safe, no trouble, one amazing ride to Shinku La !
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Road to Leh, Lifetime experience
The best part of visiting Ladakh could well be the mesmerising, serene journey on road. Two roads connect Ladakh to the rest of the India. Of these, the Srinagar β Leh highway, or National Highway 1 (Srinagar – Leh route), is easier to handle, and more convenient than the Manali β Leh highway.
The terrain is not so challenging, the Srinagar β Leh route is also dotted with scenic, ethereal spectacles, that transport you to another world altogether.
Coming More, keep visiting my site.
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Road to Leh, Hunder
Sun-kissed apricots and pink apples from the trees entice visitors. Many guest houses even have these fruit trees growing in their courtyards. You can ask your hosts and feast on a few, straight from the tree! The Nubra river paints this village in rich strokes of green although this place is in the middle of a βcold desert.β The desert is the main attraction, with its long stretches of sand dunes and camels. People can view and experience the desert while staying at the green and comfortable Hunder village. Donβt miss a ride on the two-humped Bactrian camels that can be seen there.
With : Harish Bhargava, Letsleh.com
Photograph : Jassi Oberoi
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Road to Leh – Lamayuru
Lamayuru, the first view as you approach from Kargil on NH1 towards Leh.
While Manali Leh highway is adventurous. The Srinagar to Leh road is scenic, has a better support system, great stay options and is easier in terms of acclimatize.
With : Harish Bhargava & LetsLeh
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Leh, Ladakh–Little piece of Heaven
The roof of the world, the land of the lamas, LEH, LADAKH– Indiaβs cold desert amidst the majestic Himalayas, has some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. Situated at theΒ northern tip of the country and nestled at an altitude of 3500 meters above sea level,Β the small and bustling town of Leh is one of the highest habitable places is the world. Ladakh is nature in all its glory and the beauty is awe inspiring.
The Road to Leh is legendary and traverses through some of the highest passes in the world within the Himalayan range. The rugged beauty all around, itβs winding roads, blue rivers and green valleys, skies that create drama with ever changing weather, sunrise and sunsets creating an array of colors, monasteries hanging off cliffs, will draw you into a trance. Words can barely do justice to describe this magical place and the records stand testament. Lonely Planet has rated Ladakh one of the Top 5 destinations in the world for photography.
Two of the must see places in Ladakh are Pangong Tso and Nubra Valley. These locales are close to heaven on earth. En route Pangong you will see breath-taking panoramic views and the first sight of Pangong Tso is unforgettable. Itβs a pristine blue saline lake, 125 KM long and by the hour the water takes on the color of the sky. The cloud formations on the mountains create stunning shadows and water holds the reflections of the surroundings. The lake is completely frozen in the winters and is a sight out of a fairy tale.Β Natureβs miracles are bewildering and Pangong Tso is one of them.
On the way to Nubra Valley you drive through the Khardungala Pass, the highest motorable road in the world at 18380 feet above sea level. Itβs an exhilarating experience to be at such high altitudes; the air is thin and crisp and makes you literally feel βOn top of the worldβ.Β Nubra valley is a desert with sand dunes, two humped camels and the flowing river cuts through the mountains. Taking a fun camel ride across a high altitude cold desert, where else in the world can you do that? An oasis called Hunder in the midst of the desert houses nature camps where you can experience wilderness, peace and quiet.
Also known as Little Tibet, Ladakh boasts of a rich and ancient culture where Buddhism is prevalent as a religion. Some of the Buddhist monasteries are centuries old and are situated at the most stunning locations, usually at the edge of cliffs creating a surreal feeling. The architecture of the monasteries is unique and the murals on the walls are beautiful works of art.Β A feeling of divinity sets in when you see the monks during their prayer session.Β Leh is an abode of Dalai Lama and he spends few months of the year in Ladakh preaching Buddhism.Β The monasteries host festivals each year to showcase their culture, tradition and the local artifacts. These festivals are marked by colourful dancers with masks, local folk music and food.
Ladakh has something unique to offer to all kind of tourists and does not fall behind on the adventure quotient.Β The land of bikers β its every ardent bikerβs dream to ride their mean machines on the highest, most rugged and picturesque roads in the world. The adventurous riders travel more than 300Miles to get to Leh and ride within Ladakh to Pangong, Nubra and many other unexplored destinations equipped with their camping gear. Bikers from across the world come to Ladakh just to experience this high.
Rafting the Zanskar and Indus rivers with views of the hills in the backdrop is an adrenaline rush. This is one of the most famous and sought after rafting destinations in Asia and the rafting tours can range from 3 hours to 16 days where rafters travel downstream, camp and stop to explore the terrain and the varied landscape.Β It is a trekkerβs paradise as well and the trek to the Stok Kangri summit at 20,182 feet is a dream climb and is known to be achievable by amateur mountaineers as well.
Ladakhi people are extremely warm and hospitable and they live a life of simplicity and honesty driven by the Buddhist way of life.Β The food has a Tibetan influence as well and you can try the local cuisine at some of the lovely restaurants in Leh town.Β The locals play a lot of competitive Ice Hockey in winters and Polo in summers. These sports are very unique to this region due to the climate and terrain.
Inputs : Harish Bhargava
Photographs : Harish Bhargava , Amit Vakil
About Harish Bhargava
The tranquility of the place grows on you and one such person who was awestruck and drawn to the beauty of Ladakh is Harish Bhargava.
He is from Delhi, India and his family hails from an Indian Army lineage. His first visit to Ladakh was in 1977 and he has been in love with the place ever since. Studied at the Air force school and being from an army background, he was exposed to many remote and rugged locations in India. On the professional front he has spent considerable part of his career working with the best multinational brands and before founding his passion βLetsLeh.comβ was the IT Director of Adidas in India.
Over the years, he has travelled the world and still feels Ladakh is one of the most magnificent and beautiful places incomparable to any other.Β His passion for the place compounded with every visit and 35 years hence decided that he wanted to do his bit for Ladakh and founded LetsLeh.
Letsleh.com βs vision is to provide the most accurate and upto date information and to guide people on how to plan and make the best of their trips to Leh, Ladakh.Β The motto is to grow awareness about the place and its incomparable natural beauty. He wants others to experience the passion and excitement of the place that he feels even today after he has been to Leh crazy number of times 
One could be lost in its serenity, awestruck by its natural beauty and Leh, Ladakh could leave you longing for more.Β History speaks for itself; most people that visit Ladakh want go back. The passion is in the air and spreading far and wide so LetsLeh.
Do visit www.letsleh.com for more details .
Do visit www.letsleh.com for more details .
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Pangong Lake
Situated at an altitude of 4,350 meters above sea level, Pangong Lake lies in the northeast of Leh. This famous blue blackish lake of Pangong is 5-6 km wide and over 144 km long with half of it running to the other side of the Indo-China border.
LOCATION
The 160-km trip to Pangong Lake from Leh is an experience of its own. The first stop on the way is Thiksey village famous for its huge monasteries, which cover an entire mountain ridge. Beyond this remote village, there is nothing but the extreme mountain ranges for company. The second stop is the Changla Pass (17,350 ft.), which could test ones lungs, for the lack of oxygen.
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
At Darbuk village near Tangste Valley stands a chain of war memorials with regimental insignias in commemoration of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo-China war of 1962. Some of the army bunkers and trenches are still in use. Villagers can be seen here along with their large herds of Pashmina sheep and long-tailed yaks.
The placid Pangong Lake is not just a tourist’s paradise but a geologist’s domain too. Travelers can enjoy the solitude for a day or two, zoom their cameras to shoot the black-necked Siberian crane around the Mahe marshes which are the only breeding ground for these migratory birds. At times, they are seen swarming in the cool colorful water of the lake.
The long and narrow lake lies in the neighborhood of the famous Chushul Mountains. The size of the lake is best inferred from the probable etymology of its name, Pangong, which means extensive concavity. The mirror-calm water is cold, clear, and extremely salty, holding sufficient quantity of lime to form a calcareous deposit, which cements the pebbles together in patches of concrete on its bank. It is believed that there is a large amount of minerals in the basin of the lake, which result from the melting of the snow. The water sparkles in distinct shades of blue, green, purple, and violet, being transparent to a good depth. With ease, one can pick pebbles from under the water, and if one is lucky enough, a fossil shell in the clay deposits may be a rewarding find.
HOW TO REACH
Regular flights go to Leh from Delhi. Once in Leh, one can hire a taxi to Pangong Lake. Otherwise, one can make arrangements with some travel agencies, which are ever ready to take one on a trip to the saltwater lake of Pangong Tso.
One can also take the motor route of Delhi-Manali-Jispa-Darcha-Sarchu-Leh-Khardungla-Pangong.
Pangong Lake Circuit :
Leh – Karu – Chang-la- Durbuk – Tangse- Luckung- Spangmik and return.
This route takes the visitor past picturesque villages of Shey and Thikse, and turns off the Indus valley by the side-valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh range is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 feet / 5,475 m) which despite its great elevation is one of the easier passes, remaining open for much of the year even in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot of the pass, has an ancient temple.
But the main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometer at its widest point and over 130km long, it is bisected by the international border between India and China.
Spangmik, the farthest point to which foreigners are permitted, is only some seven km along the southern shore from the head of the lake, but it affords spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflections shimmering in the ever-changing blues and greens of the lake’s brackish waters. Above Spangmik are the glaciers and snowcapped peaks of the Pangong range. Spangmik and a scattering of other tiny villages along the lake’s southern shore are the summer homes of a scanty population of Chang-pa, the nomadic herds people of Tibet and south-east Ladakh. The Pangong Chnag-pa cultivate sparse crops of barley and peas in summer. It is in winter that they unfold their tents (rebo) and take their flocks of sheep and pashmina goats out to the distant pastures.
Pangong Lake in Kashmir is the world’s highest brackish lake at 14,256 feet above sea level. A few years back the government decided to open it to tourists though the lake and its surrounding is under army surveillance. The tourism department intends to develop the infrastructure and facilitate the route leading to the lake.
A place too easily arrived at is scarcely worth traveling to at all. Consider the ‘tired tourist’ who simply seeks solace in much talked about destinations, where he tends to relax and stroll the evenings away, buy a few souvenirs and sample the cuisine from the endless menu. And there’s the ‘tireless traveler’ the learning by living person who opts for a destination in order to explore and experience the unknown.
The 160 km trip to Pangong Lake from Leh is one such experience. It begins with Thiksey village famous for its huge monasteries covering an entire mountain ridge. Beyond this remote village there is nothing but the extreme mountain ridge. Beyond this remote village there is nothing but the extreme mountain ranges for company.
The topography throughout the journey shoots up so abruptly that they throw off all calculations of distance – what looked to be a ten-minute crossing easily required an hour or more. At times, it appeared as if so many of nature’s forces were warning us away at the steep slopes and uneasy bends and not to forget the great chunks of ice appearing static and frozen in time. At Darbuk village near Tangste Valley stood a chain of war memorials with Regimental Insignias in commemoration of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo-Chinese war of 1962. Some of the army bunkers and trenches are still in use. Villagers can be seen here along with their large herds of Pashmina sheep and long tailed yaks.
The placid Pangong Lake is not just a tourists paradise but a geologist’s domain too and if one is to brush up with political history, the place is a melting pot of confusion and for sure it in no fun for the army in the biting cold to take care of the strategic landscape.
Travelers enjoy the solitude for a day or two, zoom their cameras to shoot the black necked Siberian crane around the Mahe marshes which are the only breeding ground for these migratory birds. At times they are seen swarming in the cool colourful water of the lake. If one has boating in mind, one is heading for disappointment. Very few boats are available and they belong to the army who may consider your request but won’t allow you to go beyond half a kilometer though one third of the 150 km lake belongs to India. The remaining 100 km stretch of water belongs to China. The lake was once divided between Ladakh and Tibet as early as 1684 under the Treaty of Tingmosgang signed between the king of Ladakh, Deldan Namgyal, and the Regent of Tibet. As of today it is shared by India and China.
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Dost Logo ki Meeting : 21st June 2008
Rains, Dinner , Talk , Ride and photo shoot at Delh’s Famous ” Landmark”, 11 Murthi
Paraj , Kaptan , me & Shuja
Now Hirak Da’ in the Picutre
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Mystical, Magical Mukteshwar – by Hirak Dutta
“A paradise for bird watchers, Mukteshwar is a sanctuary to over 400 species of birds.” 
Delhiβs sweltering heat is devilβs curse. Blame it on anyone, but believe me, the term βglobal warmingβ is a passΓ© in so far as North India (barring the hills) is concerned. I just coined this new terminology, itβs βGlobal Boilingβ. Somewhere down the line, we all are to be blamed for this phenomenon. But we all have shortcuts to skip the βboilingβ β air-conditioned offices, cars, and homes and if not that, for bikers like us, a short weekend trip to nestle in the laps of the mighty Himalayas. This weekend ride came after a long, long while and in the best of company of Shekhar Patil, Pravin Rao, Saurav Singh and myself. After a long while I felt that zest (thank God for the time!) to break free from the chaos of the cubicle at work and the ennui of family melodramas. Thank God, for freedom. Thank God, again, for making me a biker! On 6th May 2006, Saturday, I was at the rendezvous at the appointed hour. At 3.30am, NH-24 IBP petrol bunk near Akshardham Bridge was abuzz with activities. I saw a morning walker, a Sikh gentleman, about 60 plus β walking erect in a tee and a short and a red sneaker with a short stick (looked like a baton). I saw Sahara Channel reporters sipping a cup of tea there. And I saw four guys snoring their time away on a single bedsheet on the footpath; their cycle-rickshaws parked besides them narrated to me their pain. It is just the beginning of another hard day before them, and here I was, escaping βGlobal Boilingβ syndrome. What a pity, but I guess, thatβs what life is all about. Couple of phone calls to and fro and at about 4.15 am arrived Sobby aka Saurabh and Pravo aka Praveen Rao. They filled their tanks at the pump and we headed towards Gajraulaβs most famous Giani selling paranthas. Shekhar joined us at Ghaziabad. And we were on our way to Mukteshwar. The ride to Mukteshwar was practically eventless; no hold on one second, it was actually. We took nearly 13 hours to complete the journey which should have been done in 6-7 hours. But slow and steady wins the race, right! You bet! Let me tell you some things about Mukteshwar before I tell you what we all did there. Mukteshwar gained prominence by the establishment of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in 1898, which owns much of the land around the little town, including acres of dense virgin forest. We were told by the local PWD caretaker that the forests are home to tiger, leopard, Himalayan black bear, wild boar, langur, rhesus monkeys, deer, and a host of bird species. We doubted the authenticity of this guyβs statement but for the birds. The morning raga of so many mellifluous voices had put the local rooster at shame. Well maybe not, I guess we ate him up the night before! Didnβt we, guys? From the PWD guesthouse, one can get a direct glimpse of the range of peaks including Neelkantha (Blue-throated Shiva, 6596 m), Nandaghunti (the Veil of the Goddess, 6310 m), Trishul (the Trident of Shiva, 7120 m), Nandadevi (Goddess of Bliss, 7817 m), and the majestic Panchhuli peaks provided the skies are clear. We werenβt lucky. Situated at an altitude of 2286 meters on Bhowali Devidhura Road, Mukteshwar is a small hill station covered with a thick wooded forest and offers a majestic view of the Himalayas. Still a virgin hill station by many counts, tourists seldom venture here but unfortunately, those who do have literally turned some good forest parts into a garbage dump. I trekked inside the forest early in the morning and was welcomed by the singing birds nesting on treetops, soothing misty air which kissed my body and the litter of mineral water bottles, tetra packs, beer and whisky bottles, and plastic glasses which lay scattered almost everywhere. Near Mukteshwar is a stone hole of Chauli Ki Jali, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The legend has it that, if a woman who is unable to conceive passes through this tiny hole on the rocks, she will definitely gain pregnancy. But hey, hold on, donβt take it on face value, for on the other side of the hole is a freefall of more than 1200 feet! The Chauli Ki Jali, from a distance looked like a remarkable sperm head though. Some esoteric significance (or should I say coincidence) here! The other places to see at Mukteshwar are the Mukteshwar Mahadev temple, a quaint little British bungalow now converted into a post office, some very old and well maintained cottages now converted into tourist hotels, but its not what you get to see here. The abundance of freedom, indolence, respite and peace Mukteshwar offers is a non-peril. It was in Mukteshwar that Jim Corbett came to kill a man-eating βbaghβ but fell in love with the hill station instead. Mesmerizing, right? Rabindranath Tagore composed his Geetanjali here which also won him the Nobel Prize for Literature. This was the first Nobel Prize to be given to an Asian! Inspiring and well worth visiting now, I guess! A paradise for bird watchers, Mukteshwar is a sanctuary to over 400 species of birds. Unfortunately, we had just 16 hours to pitch the tents, cook food, have drinks while enjoying the romantic whiffs of fresh air before hitting the NH and be back in 44.5 degrees Celsius from a mere 15 degrees Celsius. I could only see some variants of the hill sparrows, the differently textured babblers, heard the βKoyalβ sing and spotted just one unmistakable crow! Inside the forest floor, there was a fancy dress competition amongst butterflies. There was a riot of colors as they draped the green; this mesmerizing moment couldnβt be captured by me on camera. As I left the forest floor, I knew soon there would be many more of them, for their season has just commenced. I never felt so good after a long time and wished I had more time at hand. The gilded cages of our office spaces beckoned and we slowly bade adieu to Mukteshwar. I know, like many other places that I have visited, I would be back here again. The next time will be for sloth and pure relaxation and no hurrying at all. Everyone did their bit to make these 16 hours their most memorable β no please deduct 6 hours of sleep β Sobby continued his filming saga, never saw Praveen perform antics before like he did it here at Mukteshwar and Shekhar was mesmerized by his adopted child β a doggy β which was later chased off by two other doggies as Shekhar rushed to beat their behinds. Oh emotion, where in the grey cells is thy residence? (Sorry Vijayaji, this breaking news was to happen sometimes, it just came early). En route home, two more doggies dropped by to say hello to him β one looked like the βadopted childβsβ mama (maternal uncle) and another a distant cousin! Only the biker community understands the βfun-is-a-stress-relieverβ concept on long rides. Leaving what you love is always painful and pained we all were as we sped down towards Delhi. We took a shortcut to Bhimtal, taking a village dirt track, saved about 15 kms and the ride was well worth it. We drove down the Himalayas and the weather God told us what to expect in Delhi. At 1am on Monday the 9th of May 2006, we reached home, tired and broken, but not shaken. God, when will it be a four-day office week?
For more visit http://www.barfanibaba.com
bArfaNi bAbA 