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| View from Abbott Mount |
Judy,Kate and Allen were at the back seat of Maruti Suzuki van and I was at the front next to Raja , our driver.Though I had suggested strongly to take a good car from Delhi and travel by road all the way to our destination, Judy insisted to go by night train from Delhi to Kathgodam, the gateway to Kumaon from where we took a taxi in the wee hours of a cold morning to embark upon a journey to an off beat, exotic and a mystic place at the height of about 2000 meters-
Abbott Mount near Nepal border.
Kate and Allen in spite of cold and cloudy weather were excited with the prospects of journey ahead. However, when they talked to each other, I felt something more than a friendship which I had been observing since few days. A glint, a suggestive anticipation seeking some unspoken response. A situation where you don't know when you have crossed the borders of a simple friendship and entered into some thing heavenly called "love' ! Each craving for the other to look, talk, read the unwritten. Waiting for the other to take an initiative but that "first" eluding them but perhaps grudgingly enjoying that dull pain in the chest, eyes searching for that moment when the ice will be broken. Every thing around you becomes beautiful with a soft glow
These observations about Kate and Allen and many other instances over period of time strengthens my views that no matter how much our high tech life separates us, we will always need each other and therefore, as Steven Spielberg said
"The ability to show love must always be part of the equation.Technology has not crossed that barrier. The day love dies will be the virtual end of the world"
Suddenly, a shout brought me back to our scene where Judy, a middle aged graceful Caucasian was pointing toward a high and very sharp cliff at a distance where a goat was grazing with a small village girl holding the goat with a rope. It was an awful sight, most beautiful with sun coming out from clouds behind the girl.
It was supposed to be 6 hours journey from Kathgodam to Abbott Mount , a bit longer than if you come by road from Delhi then it is to Tanakpur to Champawat to Lohaghat and to Abbott Mount.
However my friends believing in natural beauty and forested road preferred this route of Kathgodam to Bhimtal to Padampuri to Dhanachuli Bend to Lohaghat and finally to Abbot Mount. A distance of
150 kms and we covered it in 4+ hoursView Larger Map
The breath taking views of a great drive over Dhanachuli Bend and the splendor of unspoiled part of Uttarakhand called as "Kali Kumaon" was just a beginning of what to come.
When we entered Abbott Mount it was out of the world--a sheer magic and an incredible creation of God's craftsmanship.
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| Abbott Mount Cottage |
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| Abbott Mount Cottage grounds |
Our accommodation was booked at "
Abbott Mount Cottage "situated on a small table land on a hill. Wow! What a place!
The village of
Abbot Mount is a picturesque and hidden destination situated at an elevation of 6400 ft. above sea level. It offers a tranquil, salubrious and serene environment. The enchanting snow clad Himalayan peaks can be seen from Abbot Mount. It is located away from hustle bustle of the city and
there are only 13 secluded cottages spread over this hill.The nearest popular town to Abbot Mount is Lohaghat. Abbott Mount was founded by and named after John Harold Abbott, an English businessman. Contrasting other hill stations of India. Abbott Mount has changed little since its inception. A picturesque church is situated amidst the forest in Abbot Mount and you can also see an old cricket pitch with ravishing view of the mountains.
Why Abbott Mount?
Abbot Mount is an ideal place for birding,trekking and photography. This place also serves as a base camp for anglers who wish to fish
Mahseer at Pancheshwar, a confluence of Saryu and Kali rivers. For Deodar and Pine forest, mountains Abbot Mount an exquisite destination.
Updated post of 6/9/2007