Just Managing to Stay Afloat!

Looks so Peaceful, At China Peak, Nainital, Uttranchal

Probably I had never been so busy in my life after completing my Ph.D. But I hope things will start falling in its place now. I thought this a week before too, I hope I have not spoken too soon again.

Can You Spot IIT Roorkee in the Picture Below?

Maybe you will have to enlarge the image to see IIT Roorkee in this picture but what a shame, the way we deface the public buildings. This was a small hut on top of the China Peak at Nainital.

A Trip to Nainital and the Stay at Shervani Hilltop Resort

Some trips are fated. That is how I view my recent trip to Nainital with my younger nephew Sunil. I almost could not believe it, when the good folks from the Shervani Hilltop Resort (they own Rodeo too) wrote to me about a possibility of my staying with them as their guest and in return, I had to blog for them! Can you imagine such a good deal? I anyway blog about all my travels! But at that point, I remember thinking, “Now this sounds good but let us see if anything comes out of it actually.” After all, there are so many blog leads that turn out to be nothing in the end. However, this turned out to be one fine trip and a break I desperately needed. They also offered that I could bring a guest as I may not feel safe alone. Sadly, that is true, I do not venture out alone in India. As Sesha had already planned to go to Bangalore, finally Sunil and I went together.

Reaching Naintal

I am so used to traveling by bus that it felt a bit strange to be going by taxi this time. Our journey was smooth and the driver (I somehow never asked his name) a very decent one. We started around 5am in the morning and after a while both Sunil and I feel asleep. I woke only when we were nearing Moradabad and requested that we may stop for breakfast somewhere. Soon after, the three of us had breakfast and then started again. The road was in a bad shape (they always are after the rain) and whenever we neared a town, they were chock-o-full too. However, when Nainital was 30 km away, the road became narrow, empty and flanked by forest on both the sides. We switched off the AC and stuck our necks out. The first sight of the mountains again made me realize how I had missed them. As we were 10 km away from Nanital, a small mist descended on us making everything more beautiful.

Naini Lake, Nainital

The Shervani Hilltop Resort

We reached the resort around 12 noon and frankly the Avomine (anti nausea medicine for motion sickness in the hills) had taken its toll. I announced myself at the reception and was wondering if everything would go right? The person at the reception immediately greeted me, made me fill a small form and handed me the key to our room.

The room was big and well furnished. Once again, we were attended to and informed that our welcome drinks are on the way. I requested them if they could make it tea? They readily agreed and in a short while we were drinking it. After freshening up a bit, it was time for me to admire the flowers around the resort, they really have a lot of beautiful flowers hanging from different corners and some kind of cactus literally growing from the walls!

Soon, we decided we were hungry and headed to the dining hall for lunch. Some good food tucked inside and we headed back to our room. I thought for a fraction of a second if I should catch up on sleep but we decided to head out.

Flowers at the Resort

A Walk to the Naini Lake

The resort is really up a small hilltop and the road to it is steep. But as we are used to walking, we just decided to walk to the Naini Lake. When I went to the reception to give my room key, I told them my plan. They were a bit skeptical and told us that the resort jeeps go to the mall road at regular intervals and we could hop into one. We told them about our motion sickness and our preference for walking. Then we were told, “OK, do let us know when you want to come back” and I replied, “Don’t worry we will walk that way too.” I thought some eyes were rolling upwards at this reply.

Well, we headed out, and soon reached the lake. This was the first time for my nephew at Nainital and soon we decided to go for boating. Our boatman was Harish and he is from the nearby town of Almora and has been coming to Nainital in the season for the last 20 years. In the middle of the lake, we requested him to take our photographs. We offered him the Nikon 3200. Then after taking the picture, he asked for my camera. My face was full of hesitation. Sensing it Harish told me, “Aap de do ye camera, meine ek se eak camera chalaya hai.” (You can give me the camera, I have used really state of the art cameras). Still all hesitation, I gave it to him, and no wonder he handled it like a pro! So much so for my city bred assumptions!!

After the ride, we took a walk around the periphery of the lake and then we felt real hungry. We found a place called Bawrachi (that turned out to be not so great) at the mall road. While I ordered something fancy called noodle cutlet Sunil sensibly went with an omelet. As we were having tea, the skies opened up. The lake and the clouds met and the people, who were out there boating, really had it. We also panicked and called the hotel and asked if they could pick us up. While we were waiting, the rain went off and we were impatient to start again. I called them again and asked if they had not already sent the vehicle, we would like to walk. I was given the best wishes for my walk up. Of course we managed it with a sweat. I told some good folks that just in June we were trekking at the height of 14000 feet in Spiti and this climb was a cake walk.

Later, it was time for us to play some TT and to show Sunil that there is still a game left where I am better than him! Later, after dinner (I am not a foodie but Sunil is and he liked the food) and a big helping of the sweet dish later (I have a big sweet tooth) we sat out in the well lit corridor and I was reading my book. But then, I was just too tired by now and started feeling cold, and I decided to turn in. A little bit of TV and book and it was time to call it a day.

Shervani Hill Top Resort, Nainital (Picture courtesy the Shervani Hill Top resort)

Day 2

We got up late and hurried for the breakfast. I liked it a lot when they asked me for tea for a second time and gave it to me promptly! There were a lot of guests around and I thought the staff tried to chat up with everyone. Then it was time to hand over the key at the reception again. We mentioned that we may not turn up for lunch as we had ambitious plans for the day. We wanted to take the rope way and then from there walk to the China Peak. And that is what we exactly did. The end point of the rope way is too crowded and full of shops and with clouds and all there was no view, so we were waiting to get out. We had an interesting ride though, where they haul you up to a point and them the ride comes crashing down at an enormous speed. I have to say both of us enjoyed it. We then had a cup of tea and off we went to China peak on foot.

This was the only time when we were ale to leave the crowds behind. We must have taken around 2 hours to reach there and we were lucky that it rained lightly on the way. I am not really worried about us but more about my camera! The way was green, with flowers and some slugs too (that Sunil promptly photographed and wants me to put on this blog! No way is my answer).

At the top is a canteen run by the forest department and we had more tea and omelet. We got busy taking picture and then once again the skies really opened. We took shelter at the other side of the hut. The rain showed no sign of stopping. Soon one of the persons from the hut approached us and asked if we would like to have some food with them! We tried to be polite and said no once. But when he repeated the offer we took it up gladly. We were served Kichdi (A dish of rice and pulses) and it tasted so good. The rain still continued. We once again started getting a bit worried and asked the people more than once, “Ye barish rukege na?” (Will the weather clear up?) and the answer was always in the affirmative. After a long time we headed back again to the Naini Lake and this time we had to walk all the way down as the rope way tickets are valid only for an hour.

We headed to another shop at the Mall Road (Sakley’s Pastry Shop) and polished off a lot of stuff which was good. Then we decided to take a stroll around the lake again. But after walking for a while we decided to take a peddle boat out to the lake. Later, Sunil and I both cursed our decision to row on our own as we were already tired. Yet, in our allotted hour, we managed to peddle to the end and come back. It was almost sunset now and after taking a few pictures it was time to turn back.

Back at the Resort

Guess what we did after coming back? It was a bit late and with a lot of guilt I asked if we could get a cup of tea at that time. They readily served it to us in our room. While I was waiting for it, sitting outside, the door to the room was open. A few of the guests passed (they did not notice me as I was quite close to the wall) and peeped in and claimed a loud Wow! I guess they liked our room. After tea, we played TT again. Then we attacked our dinner (I really liked the Shahi Tukda, that is bread made sweet with a lot condensed milk and garnishing) and Sunil enjoyed his chicken. There was a huge group of kids at the resort on a school trip and were enjoying themselves at the disco. We once again sat out, me with my book and Sunil with his MP3 player. But once again I started feeling cold quickly and it was time for some TV again. The next day after breakfast we were heading back.

Sunil summed up the experience for me when I asked how did he find the trip? He said, “See, we like to go out and really walk a lot. But there are people who want cold weather, good food, drinks, a relaxing environment and a pickup and a drop to the mall on their holiday. Surely they are going to enjoy it. And admit it, for a change it was good for us too.” I agree. I should also mention that I realized that it is really the attention to the small things like asking how our day out was or realizing that I like tea a lot, which are going to remain with me for a long time.

Here is the contact information and the off-season package prices for the Shervani Hill Top Resort-

Tariffs at Shervani Hilltop Nainital:
Rs.2333/- to Rs.5833/- per person for 2nights and 3 days on twin sharing basis inclusive of Breakfast & Dinner + Taxes

Please note-The above-mentioned tariff is valid till March 31 2008 and not valid from December 29 2007 to January 02 2008.

Address: Shervani Hilltop, Mallital, Nainital 263001.
Phone : 05942 - 233800
email Id :nainital@shervanihspl.com

The Boat Ride at Nainital

Sunil Tries His Hand at Boating with some Help from Harish, Naini Lake, Nainital

As Sunil (my younger nephew) and I went on this trip to Nainital we tried things like boating and some silly rides at the end of the rope way. Sesha and I we often just end up waking from here to there but that also is pretty nice.

So with Sunil soon it was time to take boat ride that cost us Rupees 120. As you try to enter the narrow boat it sways a bit and I like that feeling. Soon, we were out in the lake and Sunil asked the boatman if he could try rowing. The boatman was all game for it. Sunil was a miserable flop at it. Then he came and sat next to me. The boatman could probably sense from my face that I too wanted to try my hand but was too hesitant to ask. So he offered, "Aao app bhi try karo" (come, you too give it a try). Of course, I too was a miserable flop at it! And while he did it, rowing looked so simple.

This broke the ice and we started chatting. We learned that the boatman's name was Harish and he is from Almora. His family lives with him at Nainital and they go back in October to Almora for farming. He has been coming to Nainital in tourist season for the past 20 years (he didn't look that old)!

Then we asked him if he knew to swim? He said to become a boatman one has to clear a swimming test and yes he could swim. Then I asked, "Has it ever happened that a tourist fell down in the lake by accident?" He replied, "Nahin per kuch suicide karne chale aate hain, us case mein saab boat wale sath aa jate hain aur bacha hi lete hain" (No, but a few come with an intention to commit suicide, then all the boats try to come quickly together and save the person). Hmm, that was something I could never have imagined!

Then we asked him to take a picture of us. He said, "camera do" (Pass the camera) looking at my DSLR. I was all hesitation again and we requested him to take a picture with the point and shoot digital. After taking the picture he again asked for my camera. Looking at my hesitation again he said, "Aaare laao do, meine eak se eak camera chalaya hai" (Ohh, give me the camera, I have used some real fancy ones). So, I gave it to him and he immediately adjusted the focal lense and took out a masterful picture! And Sunil and I really laughed and laughed at my city bred notions! So much so for my hesitation over handing him the camera! The picture Harish took can be seen here.

Pictures from Nainital

Naini Lake, Nainital, Uttranchal

While they are not be compared with Spiti pictures, I have finally uploaded some of my pictures from the just concluded trip to Nainital.

Now this is What I Call 'Taking the First Road Out'

Nainital- Photo by Sunil

My younger nephew Sunil and I took a trip to Nanital this weekend, and came back today. A few months back I got a mail from good people at Shervani Hilltop Resort, Nanital. They invited me to the resort as their guest, in return I had to blog about them. Now how could I ever pass over such a deal -)

But as the academic session had started, it was only now that I could manage to take leave. The detailed blog post about this trip will have to wait till tomorrow, as I am too tired today. Anyway I can't load the pictures from my camera as Sesha has removed the DSLR camera software and the CD is lying at my office. And no, this is not what I mean by 'taking the first road out.'

While Sunil and I were walking around in Nainital I saw a girl whom I recognized from my IIT days. She too stopped and said, "I know you." When I asked her what she was doing here, an interesting story unfolded. She and her husband after working for 5-6 years in software industry decided that they like the wildlife too much. So what do they do? They write IFS (Indian Forest Services) together, get through and get posted in Uttranchal! They leave their software jobs behind. Now this may not be taking 'the first road out' but I consider it as taking the proper road out.

Now that I have told this to Sesha, he is after me, why don't you apply to one of the Hill universities. Well, the problem is I like my job a lot and have no intention to change it in a hurry. But as a long term plan, the idea of applying to a hill university is certainly attractive.

Not Good Technically But I Love the Picture Now

Sunset at Khurpatal

We were coming back from Nanital to Khurpatal in December 2006 (this was a college trip) when I noticed this glorious sunset and took the picture (Nikon Coolpix 3200) from a moving jeep.

Obviously, at that point of time the actual scene was crystal clear in my mind and I was pretty disappointed with the picture. But now after 3-4 months, this picture reminds me of the actual sunset and I am much more forgiving about its technical flaws (don't ask me what they are, I just know this one looks flawed).

PS. A damn busy week ahead (even till now it has been very hectic). Not sure how much I would be able to blog, worst still, I have not been able to read much (blogs or otherwise).

A Trip to Khurpatal, Nainital and a Stay at Dynasty Resorts in Uttranchal

I went on a short trip to Khurpatal, 10 km ahead of Nainital on a college sponsored trip. We stayed at the Dynasty Resorts which is secluded and next to a small lake but I feel their normal rates are a bit too high.

I visited Nainital again after ages. Last that I can remember is when I was in standard 8th. And of course, places change in so many years. I was pretty apprehensive about the Khurpatal trip. I have traveled a lot as a student for various sports meets but this was my first trip as a member of faculty! And now that I am back in one piece, I can say it is pretty OK to go with 18 year olds! And you get to interact a lot with your colleagues too, not a bad thing at all.

I am sharing a few photographs of the trip. The one below was taken from a walk through a forest near Dynasty Resort. It was a short 30 minutes walk and this view of the valley was one of the best I got in the entire trip.

A View from a Walk through the Jungle near Dynasty Resort at Khrupatal

While we were freezing to death in Nainital

Our entire group made a short trip to Nainital and I clicked this picture while we were waiting for our cabs to take us back to the resort at Khurpatal. I wish I could make the cars vanish from the picture but they are very much the part of all the popular hill stations in India.

It was damn cold and I don't know why I did not take a thick jacket! Actually, I finished the major part of grading by 7 in the evening of our departure date to Khurpatal and then went home to pack. No wonder my packing was stupid. And all this while I was cursing myself and wondering if I was finding Nainital so cold in the beginning of December what made me decide to go to Sikkim at the end of the month? I am sure I am going to freeze to death there.

Khurpatal Lake

By comparison to Nainital, Khurpatal (tal means lake in Hindi) is so peaceful, I was the only person around when I took this picture. But people at home say it looks more like a pond than a lake and I will have to agree. But for me, any day give me peace and quiet by a pond rather than loads of people by a large lake.

In the far distance you can see the Dynasty resort (Khurpatal). By the lake, one could not guess that the resort contained 40 screaming teenagers!

At Naini Lake, Nainital

I have seen so many pictures of boats taken from above that when opportunity came I had to take one myself and I am pleased with the result. These boats were resting at Nani lake.

On our way back the bus got a flat tire. That and a lot of traffic, and we took nearly 14 hours to get back from Khurpatal to Gurgaon. I also realized that if bad music is played on the music system of a bus it messes up the thought process and sets my teeth on edge. But all said and done, it was a much needed break from grading, grading and some more grading.

Some more pictures of the trip are here.