The Slumbering Himalayan Village- Naggar

Away from people, away from noise, I long to travel to a place where I can hear the sounds of Nature and stay close to Nature. Guess why? No...not to get rid of any kind of work pressure or depression or stress. I stay at Mumbai and all I get to see after stepping out of my home is – people, vehicles and buildings! And this sight is certainly not very amusing all through the year. Phew...

But above all, I have always been in love with the Himalayas. So every year, I need a break or two to see, feel and touch the mighty mountains. Sigh!

This time we (Sid and I) decided to take the road less taken to reach Manali.

Naggar, around 20 kms before Manali, is a laid back quiet village tucked beautifully in the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas and lush green flora. I would undoubtedly say that it’s the best region of the Kullu valley. 

Enjoy the pictures.

  

Village Naggar 

 The road that takes you to the village 

Snow capped Himalayas 

We went inside Naggar Castle (an architectural masterpiece built by the Sikh kings of Kullu valley) to gaze at the spectacular view of Naggar village from the roof top restaurant (pic below) of the Castle. It was late afternoon, cold, and what could be better than being served with garam garam chai and coffee by the locals.

                     

Folks, travel the planet Earth before you die. There’s lot to see, worth an experience! Isn't it? 

Much love

In Conversation with the Universe

The river flowed through tranquil meadows where pine and fir trees grew in abundance, the snow capped mountains stared at me and the chilly breeze seemed to carry a message for me...For a moment I couldn’t realise “where am I”? It was euphoria, mixed with doubts of not clearly perceiving that my long cherished dream had come true. A dream to sync with nature, to stay close with the mountains, and to listen to the song of the river and chants of the trees... Yes, every fragment of my dream existed in the reality. I was in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

It was an evening in the month of March. The temperature plummeted below 0 degrees, with some weak showers making the climate a way too cold. I walked through the local market until I reached a partially deserted and strange stretch of low land covered completely with snow. I immediately wanted to go there... I stepped down a few stairs from the main road and was about to enter the mystic valley when someone called me from behind. I turned back; apparently he was asking me to buy an entry ticket. I did so and moved ahead.

I walked through the snow, slipped over and again yet managed to reach the bank of the river. As the locals said, it was the River Lidder and I was standing on Lidder valley in Pahalgam. The place was completely deserted, except a couple who was seeking for privacy amidst the beauty of Nature. I walked past them to the interiors of the pure white land just to find out a few bright yellow painted benches arranged in rows, overlooking the mountains and the river. I sat in one of those benches. Till now, I was completely in sense, but I guess that bench had a magical spell that made me lose myself completely. Yes, I was lost in the hypnotic beauty of Nature. Everything around me seemed so beautiful...I was thrilled and totally awe-struck! I jumped and screamed in utter joy, “Hell yaa! This is Heaven, this is Universe, and this is Almighty.” And today I am here- the exact place that I saw in my dreams. I regained my composure quickly and sat on the bench once again to relish the natural beauty.

I believe whatever we are and whatever is happening in our life is not only our Karma. These two aspects are rather a consequence of the energy and signals we send to the Universe, who ultimately accepts or rejects our wishes. This further depends upon why we need and how strongly we desire. Today I was in the right place to strike a conversation with the Universe...I greeted,  “Hello Almighty”, can you hear me? “YES...”, came the answer from the lofty mountains, the murmuring river, the tranquil meadows, the whispering trees, and the mischievous frosty wind. I offered a prayer of gratitude for everything I have in my life whether I deserve or not deserve, expressed my humility and asked forgiveness for my mistakes.

It was the best day of my life- pure, peaceful and absolutely in sync with Nature. Happiness to All! 

P.S. The pictures are clicked by me- the amateur S

This and That of Mumbai Monsoon

Well…the much touted “Mumbai rains” is definitely not an understated hype. And this season I experienced its audacity to the helm. I am not an exception to those zillions of Mumbaikars, who dare to commute for grueling hours to reach office on time and this daily chore becomes spicy in the company of my dear friend cum colleague Rakhee.

The ritual begins early morning with hunting for rickshawalas, who dread the name, Saki Naka… Guess why?? Saki Naka is the place where my office is located… It’s one of the saddest places in Mumbai but the irony is, most of the leading organizations have found their niches here. The mere mention of Saki Naka sends chills to the spines of commuters, including me. The narrow lanes dotted with numerous potholes become worse during rainy seasons and to add on to the woes are the chaoses caused by the congested traffic struggling to move at snail’s pace while people walking on the same lanes like a speeding rocket. Don’t be bewildered because we have accepted this challenge and there’s no escapism- we have to reach the final destination by hook or crook. There are days when we deliberately commit the mistake of taking the highway to Saki Naka, just to get absolutely confined in the maze of thousands and thousands of vehicles. The outcome- we sit patiently inside our lofty auto rickshaw for hours, hoping to reach office at least on the same day if not within the stringently scheduled time, 9:15 am.

So every day is an adventurous ride with some or other incidents happening that make us laugh while reminiscing the day after reaching home sweet home.

Rakhee and I are residents of Malad (West), an urbanized place with upbeat and cosmopolitan crowd. Ideally, on a lucky day; well by lucky I mean “traffic free”, it takes 40 minutes to reach Saki Naka through the shortcut road of Arrey Colony. Folks, don’t get confused because there are two routes that we access daily. The first as I said is the Arrey Colony and the second is the highway, en route Andheri East. Usually we commute through Arrey Colony as the traffic is thin which lead us to office on time. Arrey abounds natural beauty and for a moment we can breathe fresh air, relish the charm of those densely planted lush green trees beside the main road and wish secretly to bunk office and stay back there to enjoy the rains. Yes we call it, “Chota Kashmir”… But hold on friends, don’t get jealous that we have the luxury to see the replica of Kashmir every morning…Crossing Arrey is the second challenge we have accepted. Again guess why??? The road has almost vanished in this heavy monsoon and all left behind are king sized cracks and potholes overflowing with muddy water and sewage… We get choked in this ridiculously beautiful “Chota Kashmir”! The not-so comfortable auto rickshaws of Mumbai jump and jerk while crossing this broken and punctured road and we are helplessly agonized with pain in every joint of the body. Arrrghhhh…We console each other, “Dude breathe, relax, think positive- we’ll reach office on time and then no work, no deadlines (a fact! no guesses here). Cummon man, it’s perfectly alright”…

 Trust me this works.

They say Mumbai rains are beautiful, but I say Mumbai rains cripple the city…It’s indeed sad… I was astonished, touched and sadly deepened to see an ambulance fighting to make its way through the jam-packed and immobile traffic on the road. It constantly blew its emergency lights and horn without finding any possible way to move ahead. It had to wait for clearance. What can we expect from a city like this? Is it giving life or taking away life? When heavy rainfall wrecks havoc on roads and life in Mumbai, how can it be beautiful? Practically speaking, we don’t have a choice other than accepting those challenges and hurdles of dwelling in this maximum city.

We ponder and then wonder…We think of changes and then go with the flow…We forget and then move on…In the same way Rakhee and I crib and then laugh at our so called “commuting woes”…It goes on…Mumbai is as paradoxical as human beings are. If it’s talking life of two, it’s giving life to four…

Friends, monsoon is in full swing and although Mumbai is seldom kind to us, you can beat the city down…How? Do something different this monsoon…Walk with a colorful umbrella on the highways, wearing your favorite monsoon footwear, don’t curse the passing car that splashes poodles on your squeaky clean dress, instead think it’s a high-end monsoon fashion to sport that “mud-splashed” dress, get drenched on the sea shore and sip garam garam chai…Go on a date, flirt and frolic with your friends under rains. Love the city during high and low tide and enjoy life!