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| Mystic Dhanaulti |
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| Mysterious fog in Dhanaulti |
I had dumped my car in
Delhi and had left for
Mussoorie as a backpacker.
With a heavy heart of missing the early morning invigorating and serene walk on the
"Camel Back Road" on the northern side of the city, I left for the Library Bazaar bus stand to continue my mystic journey to an hitherto unknown world of beauty and splendor.
"What are you waiting for" I asked the bus conductor.
"We have to wait for the other passengers. Children. ladies, old guys; you know, its early and cold. Poor fellows! Don't you want them to come with us?," the conductor replied smilingly. A typical Indian compassionate and an emotional attitude! I thought. People may be more important then time and schedules in these hills where they are in minority to the vast expense of the mighty Himalayas!
The bus encircled down
Mussoorie with a rattling of the glass windows. I looked around at the other passengers. From Gujrat, West Bengal, locals going to the distant villages and a trio of foreigners, may be French- our eyes locked, a nod and a smile!
Downhill, we were passing through
"Tehri Bypass", Mussoorie being on our left at the top of the mountains. Then we started climbing again, windows rattling more angrily, the cold wind piercing my neck below the left ear as I was trying frantically to hold the glass window in vain and a typical unexplained smell of village people mixed with the perfumes of tourist spreading all over the closed bus interior.
I shifted to the right side on a vacant seat and looked down at the great valley in the south-
"The DehraDun valley" and a vast expense of plains, a foggy sight. I knew it wasn't but probably smog and then I shivered...may be cold or...a thought of going back there to pollution, heat, dust, millions of inhabitants, with two/three/four wheelers on the roads. Money and greed, a race against time, frustrations and stress..I shifted back to my seat on the left side and prayed. No! I don't want to go back let me be here close to the nature, close to HIM till my last breath.
I was staring at the swiftly passing landscape without looking at it. The truth dawning upon me of facing the "life" below! There is nothing as problems in life...only situations and how you tackle them depends on your attitude...positive or negative
Dhanaulti
The bus entered
Dhanaulti, my first heavenly retreat. A small township, thickly wooded on the north with Deodars and Pine trees and with a glimpse of the great Himalayas. A perfect peace and tranquility. I lodged myself at
GMVN Rest House, situated at the top of a hillock next to the road with a typical welcome of the ever friendly staff.
The knock came as I was watching the news on TV after a quick bath. The smiling waiter was a pink faced,small. egg shaped man, a fringe of feathery white hair clung to his otherwise perfectly bald head. The lunch of minced eggs(
Bhurjee) and Indian bread was hot and tasty!
Soon I left to explore the surroundings and ventured into the nearby woods feeling distinctly pleasant with the cold breeze fanning my cheek. Through the trees I could see the lovely snow peaks of great Himalayas. The color changing from golden white to light blue to dark gray on the slopes with the fading of the evening sunlight!
I climbed back to the only road leading the guest house when on the road to the left I saw a signboard-"
ANDIJI RESTAURANT".A queer name for a restaurant! Inside was a small room with the few tables and chairs and nobody in there. "Yes Sir?" A young local appeared from nowhere and asked me. "Just passing by" I replied. While I was sipping the tea it was told to me that today was a special night and there will be celebrations with a band from Delhi. The the young man Govind told me about the owner, an Englishman who manages the joint and drops in once a while. Somehow I felt everything strange and being curious, decided to attend the evening party
It was a cold moonlit night. I decided to relax my rule of no alcohol day, took a large shot of vodka with a warm lime water sprinkled with salt and pepper. Feeling great, reached across to "
AndiJi" and to my surprise found a wooded area behind the small restaurant, a slope leading to the forest. There were lights, some sort of decoration a camp-fire in the center and about a dozen people all young perhaps from Delhi. There was a bar hurriedly made at the end towards the forest creating a strange aura.
WhileI was enjoying my second large shot when a girl came to me and mockingly invited me to dance. The way she spoke I knew she was probably wanted to have a laugh thinking that this old guy me be a fun to watch! She was in all surprise as I danced reasonably well.
And then I saw
Mr. Andy Baines, the owner. He was tall thin with long hair covered with a black round hat and a bushy salt and pepper beard. In the evening the hotel staff had told me about Mr Andy Baines that he is a nice fellow but at that moment, with his two black dogs he reminded me (with due apology) of Count Dracula! Suddenly he disappeared behind the bar never to be seen again till past midnight when feeling groggy and tired I left for the guest house. But it was an exciting and a strange evening to be remembered for a long time to come! I saw him again next day in the afternoon and found him to be a nice looking elderly man!Next day I took a horse to go to the enchanting meadows on heights and to visit a Yoga center through the thick forests of Rhododendron and Oaks. I found out about treks and made a point to take them next when I come again. Still thinking about my strange and an interesting evening, I left by afternoon to yet another destination-
KANATALUpdated post from 08/ 17/2007
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