An Amazing Trek to Dayara Bugyal Uttarakhand

By Agam Kaushik

Dayara Bugyal is truly bliss for the trekkers. It is one of the most scenic, appealing and high altitude alpine meadows in Uttarakhand. Situated at an elevation of about 3048 m, this vast meadow is second to none in natural beauty. 

In winters the meadows are covered with snow & are extremely beautiful. Decked by the enchanting beauty of the Himalayan Range, Bhagirathi River, snow clad peaks and some of the evergreen patches of oak, pine and rhododendron forests, this quaint meadow offers one of the most enthralling trekking routes in the world. 

Let me share my experience with this travelogue. I went to this amazing trip along with my two other friends. 

We have started on 24th of December and boarded the bus at around 3p.m from ISBT Kashmiri Gate New Delhi.

After reaching Dehradun at around 11pm we couldn’t get taxi’s or buses for going to Uttarkashi. But luckily we found a Dainik jagran delivery car which we boarded from Patel Nagar Dehradun at near about 12’o’ clock at night. It was a beautiful moonlight night however the bundle of newspaper were real pain and uncomfortable we were 11 people traveling  in that jeep along with half of the Uttarkashi's newspaper but still we didn’t felt the uneasiness because of the excitement. It was a wonderful journey. 

Early morning we reached Uttarkashi and stayed there on that very day. 
A delightful journey through the scenic terrains and narrow passes will take you further to Barsu. We took a jeep to Barsu and it was around 2 hours drive from Uttarkashi to Barsu. 

After arriving at Barsu we had to pay some fee to the forest department for our belongings like camera, tent, etc. The trek starts from Barsu.

It is advisable to take a horse from Barsu to Barnala if you are a beginner since the trek is very steep. It will not take more than 3 hours to reach Barnala from Barsu. There is an excellent campsite at Barnala Meadows as small stream, woods everything is available at that site.

If you are planning to go there during winters then take some burning fuel for camp fire as woods become a little bit wet because of the snow. In winters the meadows are covered with snow and are extremely beautiful. 

Next morning we started for Dayara Bugyal. A steady and gradual trek, and this part of the trek will take you through scenic meadows, lush forests of silver oaks, deodar and rhododendrons.

Climbing through Barnala and the alpine meadows for around 3 hours, make it to a flat piece of land, the campsite, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the Himalayan Range i.e John Lee and the Draupadi peak. The widespread Dayara Bugyal looks different from every angle. Bakaria is the highest point from where you can get a mesmerizing view of the sunset.  

We stayed there for some time and then came back to Barnala at our campsite. Then next morning we trekked down to Barsu. Within the 2 hours of this trek, we enjoyed the scenic views all around and make it to Barsu, from where a drive through the narrow and whirly passes finally took us to Dehradun. Barsu to Dehradun is around 200 km drive. 

Note: Travelers are expected to carry their own backpacks, tents and all other personal belongings because the last shop is there in Barsu after that you won’t be getting any shops. 

About the author

Agam Kaushik
Passionate about traveling and loves adventures. Travel takes me to some of the most rural parts of the country, and the time spent there is often the most memorable. 

Read More

Kausani :Into the arms of Valleys and Mountains.

Kausani is famously known as the ‘Switzerland of India’ and no wonder why it is called so. It is famous for its picturesque views, Dazzling Sunrise and enchanting places around it. One can just never come over the pleasure which the Himalayas give you, It is just amazing!

Kausani is a small town which falls at the foothills of High mountains and is hugely covered by the dense pine forests and valleys all over. It is largely inhibited by Kumaoni people.
Kausani is blessed with immense natural beauty.

Places to visit

Tea garden: One of the must visit places for every traveler in Kausani is its Tea Garden. Giria Uttaranchal Tea Estate is the famous Tea Garden spread over 208 Hectares of land. It envisages varieties of export quality tea leaves all around it.

Baijnath temple: One of most sought for tourist spot is the Baijnath Temple which is located at a distance of 16 kms from the town. This Lord Shiva temple has a historic and religious significance and it was constructed by the rulers of Katyuri dynasty in the 12th century. This place is also declared as ASI site by the Government.  

Pinakeshwar temple: This Shiva temple is situated in the mountains and is almost at the height of 29           00 mts. above the sea level. You reach this place by trekking for around 5 hours. Pinakeshwar Temple is surrounded by such picturesque view that it gives you immense pleasure to just sit and watch. 

Shawl factory: the best thing which you can possibly buy at this place are the woolen items which are made here locally. You can actually have the opportunity to witness how the artists work on their wooden machines to make the wonderful patterns on the shawl and other woolen items. The shawl factory has been recently opened for the visitors to promote the Kumaoni art and culture. Though the place is very small but it is interesting to witness the local art. You can do some buying at the factory itself and get some really good quality stuff here, but these guys don’t bargain much.  

AnashaktiAshram: Anashakti Ashram is also known as the famous Gandhi Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for almost two weeks in the year 1929 and wrote his commentary on AnasaktiYog. Ashram is situated at just 10minutes drive up the mountain from the town. This place is definitely a treat to all the Gandhi fans as this place exhibits many rare pictures of the great works of Mahatma. It is like a story of Mahatma Gandhi told through Photographs. This place has been now concerted into a study and research centre. But still, there’s a lot more to this place. This place has the most amazing sun rise point and is probably the best place to see the sparkling Sun coming out behind the Himalayas. You just cannot miss to be here early morning and witness the ice capped golden peaks of the incredible Himalayas, which is just breathtaking to look at. It is advised to have a pair of binoculars with you for such sightseeing.    

Where you can stay: 

You can easily get a place to stay here. It has a number of decent hotels which are not too expensive. My advice, whichever hotel you choose to stay in, make sure it has clear sight of the wonderful Himalayan ranges and green valleys from your room. It’s a must !

How to reach:

Kausani can be reached directly from Haldwani or Kathgodam for which you have to take a bus or a train from Delhi. Since I travelled in a bus, so I tell you, bus is okayishfor a 7 hour journey and will cost you around 600-700 bucks. Once you reach Haldwani/Kathgodam, you can easily get a bolero or tavera on sharing basis which will cost you around 250 to 450 bucks per head and will drop you directly to the mall road, Kausani. But for those who suffer from motion sickness, it is advisable to book a car from Haldwani, for a more comforting and enjoyable journey for which a Maruti 800 or an Alto would take around 2000-2500 bucks but remember the amounts hugely depend upon on your bargaining skills too. 

Don't Miss: 

Trek: one of the few other things which you just cannot miss here is the trek. Since you don’t have to plan a lot about how to go to different places around kausani, as almost any of the hotel where you happen to be staying provides you with a car/jeep facility to see the places around for some money ideally 600-700 buck a day, so you can easily plan a visit to the Rudradhari falls and Caves. It is one of the top most visited places by tourists. Once you reach the base, you hire a guide for a mere 150-200 bucks who takes you to the falls and adjacent to the falls is the cave which is the Lord Shiva’s Someshwar temple. This place has an amazing natural attraction. You reach this place by trekking for around 45 minutes which is a simple yet interesting trek.  Once you reach Rudradhari, you can continue your trek to reach Pinakeshwar temple which is at the height of 2900 mts. This is one amazing trek full of trills and wonder. This is 4 hours of conscious trekking and if you keep fueling up your body then you can continue the trek beyond this point too !

Also don't miss out  nature walk, bird watching and star gazing.

Author's Advice:  For all those who booze, it is extremely advisable to carry your own booze from Delhi because you don’t get it in the town. However, it is not difficult to manage it in black though it will cost you double!

 And it is a very romantic place to go with your partner but going with your best buddies is a different treat altogether. 

P.S: Special Thanks to our guest author Rajat Singh Yadav for this amazing piece of writing along with the wonderful Photographs. :)

About Rajat:
My name is Rajat Singh Yadav. My profession is Law but I have a sense of travelling. I believe travelling 100 kms gives you far more experiences than reading 1000 books. So my message- Go Travel !


Tagged: #Kausani #Uttarkhand #Kumaon #Kumaoni #Uttaranchal 

Read More

Mussoorie: a travelogue right from the pages of a Ruskin Bond Novel

Mussoorie also known as the 'Queen of Hills' is famous for its scenic beauty, a charming hill station established by the British around 1823. The town retains much of its colonial charm and is well worth a visit for its beautiful scenery and lovely walks.  It is believed and said that the ghosts of that era linger on in the architecture of the churches, libraries, hotels and summer palaces. 

Situated in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, Mussoorie is one of the most popular destinations in North India.  It commands a wonderful view of the extensive Himalayan snow ranges in the north-west and glittering views of the Doon Valley. Elevated pine trees form a canopy, and morning rays fight to touch the ground. The shadows form a beautiful mesh on the road adding to it’s beauty. Mussoorie has a poetic charm to it. It is a hill station right out of a writer’s imagination. Over the years, Mussoorie too has fallen prey to commercialisation. 

 

 Mussoorie consists of mainly two developed areas which are Gandhi Chowk also known as Library Bazaar at the western end, and the Kulri Bazaar and Picture Palace at the eastern end, linked by the 2km Mall, beyond Kulri Bazaar a narrow road leads 1.5km to Landour Bazaar.

If you are an ardent reader you can go visit the famous author Ruskin Bond. I can’t recall when I first heard of Ruskin Bond. He seems to have been around for as long back as I can remember. Though I can only remember that he was there in my school text books and eventually I fall in love with his writings since then. I read his short stories and essays in books and newspapers. From Adventures of Rusty to The Night Train at Deoli or even Roads to Mussoorie I read it all. I have often escaped from the smoke and dust of my city by hiding among the trees and hills that populate his books.  

He lives in Ivy Cottage, Landour near Lal Tibba. The mere mention of that name filled my mind with images of hills and mountains, deodar and pine tree, rain and snow, and of course birds. The front part of Ivy Cottage is taken up by Doma’s Inn, the frontage of which is covered with various colourful, traditional Tibetan thangka paintings depicting Buddhist scenes.  The slopes of the hill we’re on are full of deodars. Bond had written of them in Notes From A Small Room—“Having lived with deodars (divine trees), I can understand God having a favourite among trees.” You can visit Cambridge Book store where Bond keep going every Saturday to meet people. 

Through his writings he tells us the secrets about the beauty of the hill station that travel guides cannot. 

Things to do in Mussoorie: 

• Get a room with balcony view of Doon Valley. It looks amazing during the night, just like twinkling stars. Trust me the experience will be worth it. As dusk falls, the magic begins. First a small light goes on in the valley below, then the next. And so on, until the entire Doon is but a carpet of light, shimmering, enchanting and iridescent.

• Visit Kalsang where you will get amazing Tibetan cuisine, Lovely Omelette Centre and Chic Chocolate are must when you are in Mussoorie.  
  

• Take a Walk Along The Mall. The entire stretch of the Mall, starting from Library Point and going up to the Picture Palace, is a good 2 kms walk. However, as you stroll along you will hardly feel the distance owing to the variety of life that you witness. 

• You can visit to the Gun Hill, it is the second highest point of Mussoorie which is around 15 mins from Mall road. 
  

Don’t forget: If you are looking for some peace, try wandering in the less taken routes. You can take a walk down trails which will give you a unique experience. Also I would definitely recommend the Buddh Temple at Happy Valley Road near IAS Academy, there are prayer wheels, idols of Buddha and prayer/meditation halls with beautiful carvings on the walls, ceilings and panels.

Don’t forget: If you are looking for some peace, try wandering in the less taken routes. You can take a walk down trails which will give you a unique experience. Also I would definitely recommend the Buddh Temple at Happy Valley Road near IAS Academy, there are prayer wheels, idols of Buddha and prayer/meditation halls with beautiful carvings on the walls, ceilings and panels. 

You can also visit: Dhanaulti which is around 25 Kms from Mussoorie and is very calm and serene. Also Kanhatal, it offers treks through its forests, drives on forest roads. The best part about these places is that these places are quiet, calm and less crowded unlike Mussoorie.

P.S : Special Thanks to Zamie Habib for some amazing clicks :) 

Tagged: #Mussoorie #Uttarkhand #Landour #RuskinBond #Dhanaulti

Read More

In search of Man Eaters of Kumaon: Jim Corbett National Park

The Jim Corbett National Park is a heaven for all those who are even remotely interested in wildlife and wildcat. With the best tiger population, the park is the best place to spot the elusive animals. Other than the tigers, the park has a lot more to offer. Rich grasslands, varied avian populace and diverse creatures make the park an interesting bio hot spot. The park has a picturesque location at the foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of river Ramanganga along the sandy banks. 

It was one of the most thrilling and adventurous trip I have ever experienced till now.

How to reach: This is located in the district of Nainital in the state of Uttarakhand. From Delhi, take the Ranikhet Express, or Jim Corbett Express an overnight train from the Old Delhi railway station to Ramnagar, the nearest railhead. Otherwise, you can drive down about 295 kilometers through Hapur, Garhmukteshwar and the Moradabad bypass.

By Air: Patnagar airport is the nearest airport that is around 80 kms from Jim Corbett National Park and is connect to Delhi with daily flight.
By Rail: Ramnagar is the nearest railways station from the National Park which is situated around 5 kms away. Ramnagar Railways station is well connected with major cities of India. By road: It is well connected by motor able roads with major cities of Northern India. 


Places to Visit: Only some selected areas in the 521 square kilometers’ expanse of the park are open to tourists. These are classified into five zones named Dhikala, Bijrani, Jhirna, Domunda and Sonanandi.
For morning and evening jeep safaris you can visit the different areas like  Bijrani Zone, Jhirna Zone, Dhikala Zone etc. Corbett National Park is famous for the richness and diversity of its wildlife which includes over 50 species of mammals and over 580 species of birds. It is an important refuge for the tiger, Indian elephant, wild dog, leopard cat, Indian pangolin and hog deer. Different birds and deers like Sambhar, Barking Deers, Spotted Deers, Monkeys, Crocodile, Jackals, Hog Deer, Leopards, etc. However, the chances of a spotting one are rare given the abundant cover the forest offers.

 At this point, it is important to re-emphasize that a trip to Corbett or any other forest should not be centered on spotting a tiger alone. While tigers are undoubtedly majestic creatures, a jungle needs to be enjoyed for what it is  a absolute treasure trove of diverse flora and fauna.

Where to stay: Resorts on the outskirts of the national park appear whichever way you look, each one promising a more magnificent view of the region than the other. Though, a stay in a Forest Rest House inside the jungle is preferable if one wants a real experience of the Jim Corbett National Park.
Dhikala comes highly recommended and is perhaps, the most popular. From the entry gates of the Corbett national park, it takes about two hours on a rocky road to reach the Forest Rest House.
It is a picturesque location at the edge of a grassy plateau perched high above the Ramganga reservoir and set into a bend in the river. Overnight stay provides the unique opportunity to experience the thrill along with the tiger’s roar which will actually get you goose bumps. There is no mobile network and no electricity.

Nature and Landscapes:  No other park in India offers such a breathtaking diversity.
As night falls, the jungle comes alive; the serpentine Ramganga gleams under the moonlight and lights twinkle from the villages atop the foothills.

Nature's best offering is the green and copper beauty of the forest of Sal; she has spread a carpet of the glowing red flowers of the flame of the forest, different kinds and varieties of flowers can be found, a scene or remarkable beauty, nestling in the foothills of Kumaon, the delicate drapery of ferns and creepers and the waving Tiger grass producing an unforgettable scene of grandeur, while the different colorful birds and their continuous chirping, add to the enchantment. Although the Sal timber is felled and extracted in certain parts, the natural beauty of the Jim Corbett National Park area has remained unspoiled, particularly beautiful when the flowering trees are in full bloom.

Elephant Safari: One can choose to see the jungle on an elephant safari, a completely different experience. It is only on an elephant that you will be able get an opportunity to go deep inside the forest.

Excursions around the reserve area of the Corbett National Park is the nature lover's ultimate reward - wild and dense, the forest treks start from right outside the reserve area of the park. The natural and man-made trails will take you as deep inside as you may dare to go.

Corbett museum and Fall Corbett's home at Kaladungi, around 32 Kms from Ramnagar on Nainital Road, is now a museum which houses memorabilia of the legendry hunter.
Today this unique home is a comprehensive museum housing souvenirs, relics, mementos related to Jim Corbett.

Tip: Be careful not to throw any plastic bottles, packets and any such rubbish. Also, taking of flash-light photographs and driving of motor-vehicles in the night is prohibited.

The best season to visit: From March to June when the wildlife comes out of hibernation or their lairs, to welcome the visitors. The weather is very pleasant and the visibility is excellent. In May and June the days begin to warm up, but the night remains pleasant. The park is closed from June to October 31.
   
For booking and more information please contact : http://www.corbettnationalpark.in/

Tagged: #JimCorbettNationalPark  #Ramnagar #tigerreserve #NationalPark #Dhikala 

Read More

Weekend respite – LANSDOWNE (from Delhi)

Sunrise from our hotel in Lansdowne

How to reach:  By road you can cover the 256 km distance between Delhi and Lansdowne in about 4-6 hours.

Where: Situated at 1700 mts above the sea level Lansdowne is the regimental Office of the formidable Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army, located in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

This cantonment town has a timeless charm with its pine trees and mossy surfaces. Little bungalows belonging mostly to army officials dot the slope at intervals. A walk through the slopes or drive on the well maintained meandering roads will surely grant anyone the elusive peace of mind. In the middle of the town stands the market place with a grand little white-washed post-office of British architecture and an old time stand-alone movie theater staying in sync with the nostalgic charm of the town. Though the ambience of this place in itself merits being a good enough travel destination there are a few must-visit tourist spots:

Bhulla Tal

• The Tip and Top viewing point affords a breath-taking view of the snow-covered Garhwal Himalayas. Spend some magical moments lost in the majesty of the range during sunrise/sunset. You can make a quick trip to the Santashi Maa temple which is a bit beyond the viewing point. 
• The Garhwal Rifles regimental Darwan Singh museum and their parade ground radiate the hard-earned glory of this famous regiment. The history of the illustrious regiment, the never ending honour-rolls and medals earned by the soldiers and their valiant stories are all very over-whelming. 
• Situated amidst the thick oaks and pine trees are the St John and St Mary churches where you are transported to the British era with their serene and untouched beauty. Inside, the monochrome wedding pictures held in the church from that era gives you a certain hit of nostalgia. 
• The artificial dam erected by the Army to create the Bhulla Tal is a perfect spot to sit and soak in the sun and the simple charm of this town with ducks, birds and rabbits vying for your attention. It is the perfect spot to spend some time with a book or your loved ones.

Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple

But religious or not, it is highly recommended to take a short excursion to the Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple. The 40 km drive on the narrow bendy roads is a joy in itself. Once you reach the spot you have to walk through the pine forests for a good 10-15 mins to reach the temple. It will certainly take your breath away in every sense and awaken your spiritual side. In a clearing of the pine trees are the small temples dedicated to unique shiv-lingam. The last bit of path leading to the temple is lined with rows of temple of every size. You can ring them as you walk along and they reverberate through the solitude of the forest.  It does make you wonder that it is indeed a befitting place for the Almighty to reside. Pray and leave your burdens behind in this temple and the adjacent Gauri Kund. There is a small ashram adjacent to the temple compound for tourist to stay and meditate to get in touch with their inner-self. Admittedly, I have not been able to avail of these facilities but the was sorely tempted with the thought of changing my plans and stay blissfully lost to the outer world. It was indeed a place worthy of attempting to achieve nirvana.

If you want to escape from your everyday life and travel back in time for the weekend, Lansdowne is the perfect place – just laze around, soak up the ambience and feel invigorated to face your everyday challenges again.

[Heads-up: Tata Photon did not have any coverage there when I went. So your taking work along is probably not a good idea. Though Airtel had good coverage throughout, and the phone data connection was sufficient for the bare minimum].

Dam at Bijnor

On the way:

At Bijnor, on our way to Lansdowne, we drove over the massive dam on the River Ganga. We stopped here for half an hour for the expansive view and to go to the ghat and pay homage to Ganga.

Detours:

In our attempt to add some adventure to this leisurely trip we visited Karnamuni ka Ashram on our way to the Lansdowne and Hastinapur on our way back.

Kanwamuni ka Ashram (the temple barely visible)

Kanwamuni ka Ashram is where Shakuntala grew up and met King Dushwant. Her son, Bharat, from whom India inherits her name Bharat, was born here. Enough reason for about 20 Km detour from our chosen route to Lansdowne.  After an uneventful drive through the not too crowded locality where everyone can point you towards the Ashram, a turn in the road suddenly changed the scene. The greenery and the solitude remind you of the stories as this place to be where King Bharat played with lions as a kid while growing up. Malini River flows along the road and on the other side, perched on the hill is a temple dedicated to Kanwamuni. Houses and a foot bridge being constructed right where we stopped to reach the temple contrasted starkly with the surrounding. We crossed the icy cold river on foot to reach the temple, only to realise that the path to reach the temple was too overgrown with creepers to make an approach possible. We later learnt that the path is cleared at a certain time of the year (around March) when people come to pay pilgrimage to the temple. At other times it just remains isolated and unapproachable.

The wall at Hastinapur

Hastinapur is a fully developed town and have no hope of holding on to any grand illusion of it remotely resembling the seat of power of the Kouravas, around which the story of Mahabharata revolves. Gigantic innumberable Hindu and Jain temple complexes dominate this overcrowded town. We were short on time and only interested in finding out the remnants of the palace of the Kouravas, if any. Hence, we gave the temples a miss and our search led us to an extremely old and secluded temple at the edge of the town. From here, directed by the locals we reached a walled area within which we were told once stood the palace. It sure looked like some great structure stood there once upon a time, now disappeared beneath the soil, and overgrown trees. We proceeded on foot to the centre of this walled area to be rewarded with a very tiny portion of some extremely old wall  of some fort like structure still standing in the middle though am extremely doubtful if it has any relation to the actual palace. And to our bewilderment, there were families cooking and spending a leisurely outing on top of the only ruin that stands there. Absolute anti-climax. Basically, not worth the detour in my opinion but then the importance of Hastinapur in indisputable.

Read More