Khirsu, Uttarakhand, India Tommy Singh was incorrigible! Without giving me any choice, told me to meet him at KOTDWAR, a gateway town to many places in north east of Garhwal region. Tommy with his beautiful daughter Amrita will pick me up for our adventure to KHIRSU and CHOPTA fianally to AULI the ultimate destination of a skiing heaven in India. Though Tommy considered western Garhwal gems of Deoban,Kanasar and Mori but finally decided about KHIRSU and CHOPTA as these places still remained relatively undiscovered. "All arrangements are made. Don't look at the glass half empty!" my old friend told me rather sternly in reply to my apprehensions.
I was excited on two counts. One-to explore two hitherto unknown heavens and second-the company of my lovable friend and his beautiful daughter Amrita! There was a hurry in my preparations to leave Dehra Dun to Kotdwar and I caught the first morning bus to reach by 12 noon. I guessed that it will take Tommy about 6 to 7 hours from Delhi via Modinagar, Bijnor and Najibabad, a rough distance of 200km. I was right. Around 12.15 pm I saw red Tata Indica entering Kotdwar bus stand. With the excitement mounting we left soon on our onward journey via PAURI bypassing LANSDOWNE to discover KHIRSU!
The climb has started and we reached the road leading to LANSDOWNE. We went straight though I wanted to spend at least a day at LANSDOWNE. Remembering the serene hill station of LANSDOWNE named after Lord Lansdowne in 1887, I recollected my last visit-the great Himalayan views from "snow view", it's cantonment , Tiffen top, dense pine forests, rejuvenating easy walks and not to forget "Mishra's" famous fudge (a kind of chocolate). I wondered about those British "Sahibs"and their families galloping in the horse drawn carriages on the shaded winding roads of LANSDOWNE to the church!
After 19 km drive, the great Himalayan range of "CHAUKHAMBA" welcomed us as we neared PAURI the district HQ of Pauri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. I could feel a faint scent of forests, silent and dark. We passed through the crowded market of Pauri, Messmore Collage and the other colonial era houses, leaving behind Kandoliya temple on an off road and headed to our heaven KHIRSU.
It was dark and cold when we reached KHIRSU. The mystic and silent KMVN guest House welcomed us with the same old charm. I thought I noticed a mist creeping in from somewhere with the temperature further dropping. KHIRSU at the height of 6000ft was an awesome jewel hidden in the forest. I could smell a fragrance of herbs, a crisp air slowly turning into a breeze!
The drama started soon after our dinner when I was trying to look through the glass window of my bedroom. I heard the sound of a thunder. Outside it was misty, shapes unclear and the rain making a bizzare picture on the glass panes of the window. Then the shower was head on the window. I knew, tomorrow it will be a white KHIRSU!! And as if it was not enough, the light failed. A bit frightened but hopeful of a white morning,I drifted into sleep, to an unknown dream.
Next morning, KHIRSU was snow ladden! The sky was clear with a light cool breeze. Wow! What a sight I had as I walked into a small garden of the guest house with Rose and Marigold trees! Entering into the nearby forest the silence was broken only by chirping of birds but there was an unexplained tranquility, a calmness. Though I had a beautiful view of Himalayan range but to have the best view, after our breakfast, we climbed a hill to a stiff height of about 2000ft up to RA-KHAL and my God! What a panoramic sight! Later I was told there were 300 named and unnamed peaks... a total heaven !
After enjoying the serenity of pine and deodar forest, we decided to proceed to ULKHAGIRI a 2km drive and a 2km to a splendid valley and let me tell you, it was the most memorable trek we ever had.
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