Have you ever had an urge to go somewhere, in isolation, in the midst of mountains, river and woods to get lost to find yourself? Have you ever had an intuition that Mother Nature is calling you to unbind the load of all social burdens and to conquer uncharted boundaries?
November last year I felt the same; I picked my bag pack put some clothes in it and started my Journey towards an unknown destination. I did not know where I was heading to but I had an idea or some feelings that someone is calling me from the mountains.
I boarded the metro from Rithala metro station and reached at the Interstate Bus Terminal (Kashmiri gate) and started looking for the bus which can help to reach my unknown destination. The destination isn’t very well known but the diamonds are hidden beauties, aren’t they? You just sometime stumble upon them unwillingly.
At ISBT I have found the bus of Uttrakhand Transport Corporation bound to Kotdwar. Kotdwar is situated in the southwestern part of the state and is one of the main entrance points in the state of Uttarakhand. At 10:00 pm I boarded the bus and reached the Kotdwar Bus Terminal at 4:30am. From Kotdwar bus terminal I resume my further journey and boarded a bus bound to Chaubattakhal. At 5:30am the bus started its journey and plying on the road surrounded by the mountains.
Once the first ray of sun falls upon the earth the view which was engulfed in the darkness of night lighted up like a diamond in the coal mine. All the mesmerizing view which was lost earlier became visible. The cool fresh breeze which was flowing from the woods when it touched the cheeks of mine felt like I am in another world and it’s brought the freshness in me. Mountains all around and the forest of pine trees spread all across the mountains and the sun rays falling through the pine trees.
After 3 hours of journey bus halted at “Satpuli” a small market situated at the bank of the river surrounded by the mountains. The market has not much to offer but the air of satisfaction drools over the locals. I don’t know if that’s satisfaction or a silent dismal attitude towards life.
Tea is ubiquitous. There were many small stalls of tea everywhere serving tea along with the bread pakodas and the smell of freshly fried pakodas awaken my hunger and forced me to have a bite of it along with the tea.
After 30 minutes the bus resumed its journey. Now the view of outside had become much more mesmerizing. At 10:30 I de boarded the bus at Naugaun khaal which was a small market and very popular among nearby villagers to buy the daily usable necessary stuff. I started wandering in the market, walking around the village; climbing random small hills and figuring out ways while walking; ending up in a dead place end place with nowhere further to go; then finally sitting on the edge of a hill which seemed more like the edge of the earth and ceasing the moment.
Walking along the rice field surround by terraced hills, this was maybe the first time I climbed up the barren terrace farming hill, absorbing the fresh air, penetrating into the tranquility of the place. I had lunch at nearby local restaurant which was serving pahari food, some tea and explored the village where in some houses women were preparing spices and some were beating the corn.
To be honest I cannot fabricate my experience in words because it was a place which you can just feel; carrying the feelings for the rest of my life; reliving each moment.
