GMVN Guesthouse at Rajaji National Park, Haridwar, India

Hut style GMVN accomodation at Rajaji National Park

Ganga Canal at Rajaji National park, Haridwar, India

Ganga Canal Rajaji National Park

Rajaji National Park is situated quite close to the city of holy city of Haridwar in India. The photograph is of Ganga Canal at dusk which flows through the park. It is a short walk away from the only accomodation available at the park. The accomodation is run by a government body and though it is very basic it is ok. Rajaji National Park is an excellent getaway from New Delhi. More information about the park can be found at:

http://www.gmvnl.com/rajaji_nationalpark.html">Detailed Information about the Park

Off the Beaten Track

My husband has a penchant for walking on any Indian mountain trail that diverts from the main road. I am usually given two options- either to walk with him or wait for him in the hotel room.

Otherwise he is a pretty sane person. But as soon as he sees a mountain trail in the Himalayas all logic deserts him. Till date I have always dragged my feet along with him.

We were walking in Dalhousie (India) once at the forest reserve Kala Top. He spotted a dirt road and wanted to follow it. Thankfully, a forest reserve officer came to my rescue. He told us we cannot go there without a guide. We returned back to our hotel. But the respite proved to be short lived. Next day, my husband found a guide and we marched about 12 kilometers through forest from Kala Top to Khajjiyar. No doubt Khajjiyar is very beautiful but it can also be reached by bus or taxi from Dalhousie or Kala Top in less than half an hour. But not when my husband is around.

Next time it happened when we were walking around Renuka Lake near Nahan. Again, he saw a dirt road leading to a Parashuram Temple ahead at 10 kilometers. Again we took that road after a feeble attempt on my part to protest. After 8 kilometers uphill, I was completely spent. My husband of course saw the temple, which anyway was just an excuse. We did not find any lunch on the way. So I logged a total of 16 kilometer that day on an empty stomach. I had the best tasting Maggi noodles and omelet that evening once we came back to our hotel.

It happened at to me Chail and Almora too. The only time my husband admitted defeat was at Jageshwar when I started feeling giddy and refused to move an inch. Little wonder then, that soon after we have graduated to full time trekking.

My Five Pet Travel Peeves

Peace and Quiet (picture added in August 2009)

For me travel is a form of escape, from my daily routine and from my stupid job. If I am trekking then I do not carry a mirror, it is an escape from my own image in the mirror.

5. People who approach scenic places in their over speeding cars with blaring music. Have mercy on me, I have been trying exactly to escape it by coming to such a far away place. OK, the car is required but can't I be spared the latest bhangra craze?

4. People who organize parties with loud music till wee hours of night in peaceful places otherwise devoid of any night life. I wish they would stay away from sleepy towns.

3. People who shout their lungs out in restaurants in India, mostly telling everyone how good their last European vacation was. Do us a favor and go there again instead of coming to below your dignity Indian holiday.

2. People who assume I am getting bored because I am sitting quietly and gazing at nothing in particular. Then they offer me to join their musical chair or some such stupid game. Someone once even said "poor girl, how morose she looks," when in fact I was enjoying the sight of a river and listening to so many birds chirping.

1. People who throw cans, plastic, rappers and tin foils all over the place. They completely freak me out and leave me seething with rage.

Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh, India

Near Ganda-La, Ladakh (Photo uploaded in Augutst 2009)

I will be doing the Markha Valley trek in Ladakh (India) this June. I was searching google to see what others have to say about it. From the number of travel tour operaters offering the Markha Valley trek it seems half the world would be doing it. I hope it is not going to get crowded even there. But, maybe I am getting worried needlessly. Crowd in Delhi is one thing and it should mean something else altogether in Ladakh. At least that is what I hope for.

The idea of the trek, for us, is to escape the crowd which we find in plenty almost everywhere in India. I am a bit worried about high altitude sickness though. Still, the thought of sleeping in a tent again and living right in the middle of nature's splender for atleast fifteen days does manage to sooth my worry ridden mind. But the question is for how long after coming back from Markha and Ladakh? I hope for a long long time, till I find more peaceful employment. Boy! if you have stayed in a bad job you will probably understand what I mean.