Khirsu: A Picturesque Hill Station in Pauri Garhwal

~one of those few days when the towering snow-capped mountains are visible~
(This isn't the best Himalayan range one can capture during these days. The Horticulture is where a wide range of the Himalayas can be photographed. The Chaukamba will be mighty up there.)

 Khirsu is a hill station located at around 1700 meters above sea level and about 19 kilometers from the capital district, Pauri. From Delhi, the routes to Khirsu are Delhi-Kordwar-Pauri or Delhi-Rishikesh-Pauri. The latter is longer.

Khirsu is a community development block headquarters in the hills where villagers practice terrace farming and animal agriculture (cows, sheep, and goats for milk and meat). The market, though small, has three to four vegetable shops, a few grocery shops, small tea stalls and hotels, stationery stores, computer service, among others. Because it is a block headquarter, all government offices which cater the need of the Khirsu block are located here including India Post office, State Bank of India (with ATM), BSNL (broadband is available), police station, government hospital, veterinary office, Forest Department and rest house, GMVN Hotel and Restaurant, Inter-College, etc.

Khirsu is known for the Himalayan range view in winter (November to February )  and the Forest Department's Botanical Park in winter and summer.

Because of the two features mentioned above, many tourists from nearby states of India come here to unwind and keep themselves from the hustle bustle of the cities even just for a few days. (Well, some are so detached with nature that even at this serene place they play loud music without realizing that their stupidity disturbs the forest and the animals in it and the neighbors, the nearest happens to be a hospital which is supposed to be a silent zone?).

Summer seems to be the season when tourists flock in great number to this place to escape the heat and deadly pollution of industrial cities. They generally stay at GMVN where accommodation can be arranged by phone or in person. Inquiry reveals a whopping Rs. 1600 per room for a night stay in season and Rs. 200 less during offseason. 

Quite costly huh? 

Well, that's what tourism does (one of)!
(I'm not sure though if it's the same price this year).
There are also cheaper accommodations available in and around Khirsu. The Hotel Taj Himalaya which is located along the national highway, a few meters from the entrance to Khirsu is one. Another one is Shri Badri Vishal guest house located just a few meters from The Hotel Taj Himalaya and just along the highway. I am not familiar with their charges, but they are cheaper than GMVN.

~a home away from home, GMVN, Khirsu~

People in the vicinity come on weekends with their families, too, to enjoy a day of tranquility and greenery of the Forest Department Park.

~one side of the park~

It's pleasant, quite big, and with open spaces and huts where one can lay their picnic baskets and simply savor the pleasant sight of the forested surroundings, the bees and other insects that are busy doing their day's work and the mellifluous songs that birds sing.

Or, one need not bring their own food supply. A few local hotels serve tea, pakoras (gram-coated onions or potatoes), and chow mien (noodle snack) and other cold drinks.

Where there are people, hotels are always in operation! It's always is.

~another part of Khirsu Botanical Park where kids' playground is situated~

(It's upsetting and maddening to witness how a beautiful place is being turned into a dustbin where people leave and throw thoughtlessly litter: plastic bags, paper plates, bottles, cans, etc. Please, be always reminded that doing such -not disposing of unusable things properly -reflects who we are. Also, since we love and are happy to be in this kind of places, we have the responsibility to maintain its beauty, protect it, and keep it clean. Let us do our part!)

~bloom time @ Khirsu Botanical Park~

So, let's move on!

In and Around Khirsu

Chaubatta

The nearest, walkable market in Khirsu is Chaubatta. It is the stop point towards various villages. It has a bigger market so people generally get their goods and other items from here, if not from Srinagar or Pauri.

Khirsu Horticulture

The first place (longest trek) we visited a few days after we arrived (June) in Khirsu was the Horticulture, which is located in Raikal, around 3 km. from Khirsu, about an hour walk through the shortcut via Khirsu market with an 800 meters trek climb among Deodar, Oak,  Rhododendron, Kafal, and among other trees and bushes.

The climb starts from the first bore well found along the road a few meters from this intersection. You have to take the road towards Khirsu-Khakra-Rudraprayag route.

~The boards that tell you which way to go. Raikal is forward ahead.~
(This is connecting road: one forward goes to Rudraprayag where Rahaikal road is, to the right goes to Khirsu and Pauri, then the back section goes to Srinagar)

After around 20 minutes of climbing with a few stops for photographs, we reached the area and welcomed by the area-in-charge, Mr. Bisht. (This year -2016-, it is Mr. Premsingh). We told him we will take whatever fruits or vegetables he has. He then told us to roam around and pluck whichever fruit that is ready as much as we can eat. That, indeed, we did! I got to climb their trees, too, which I haven't done in a long time.
The feeling that you are eating fruits right from the tree was simply delightful. Plus you get to eat pesticide-free produce.

~aadu or peach (maroon variety) which was not ready at that time~

In 2015), we were not able to taste this peach. It seems like we were late and Balu or bears have also claimed our share. Anyway, it's good to know they got something to eat. So it doesn't matter if we didn't.

This year, 2016, they were diseased...must be the weather. Though there were a few which seem okay enough to eat, Balu, again, knocked down the trees before they are ready. So, yeah, guess we just need to wait for next year?

~fresh, half-eaten apricot (bigger variety) which is so juicy~

This variety was nothing like in the market, or at least, I haven't found this variety myself. Generally, what's available is the smaller variety. Earlier this year though they didn't yield much because of climate change. We were only able to take home about 3 kilos. And the department itself was not able to harvest for the local market.

~The view of the community health center (CHC) Khirsu (tallest building) and 
GMVN  (white building, right) from one of the house roof-tops at Khirsu market area~ 

My husband worked at PHC Khirsu, now CHC, as a resident doctor and wherever he works comes the adventure of exploring the place and its neighbors, documenting everything our camera can capture from cycling, trekking, to hiring a taxi to take us to places far enough for our feet could bear, let alone the bird watching and naming, leopard spotting, and barking deer bark-tailing.

The next photo was taken after it rained the whole night:

~view from the hospital~

The three-pointed snow-clad mountain is Gangotri range. The towns and villages which are normally visible from afar on brighter days are fully covered in fog. What's visible is the helipad hill. It's non-operational, never was, I guess. Only the H sign is still there.

To be continued........

Some more pictures to be uploaded once broadband is back. Right now, I am on a data card. Keep visiting!

Immorality: Which One Really Is Immoral?

~via wholelifemagazine.com~

Once upon a time, there was a situation when I have to question what immorality truly means. 

For most people, especially those who follow Christianity (being a Christian doesn't mean one has the characteristics of Christ for I see the big difference between the two), they concentrate its meaning base on sex (intercourse, pre-marital sex in particular) and they couldn't see anything else. I am not that sure about the views on this from other religious sects but I believe they share the same. 

Anyway, I see immorality differently.

This once upon a time happened when a woman employee was kicked out of her job because she got pregnant out of wedlock. What? Yes! The management specified the following: get married and you get to keep your job otherwise, you have to resign! Why, if you ask? Because according to some company policy (this company particularly), pregnancy out of wedlock will ruin its image, its reputation! 

As simple as that! 

You might agree with what the policy entails but it is wrong and heartless!

Sex out of marriage is not an act of immorality, and definitely, a woman is not immoral if she gets pregnant with a runaway father!

When a single woman employee gets pregnant and the boyfriend refuses to marry her, does she need to lose her job? Kindly also tell me whether the company is "not" immoral when it denied its employee the job she needed the most, denying her child the comfort her salary can give?

Sex is private - between two people - and as long as the employee is doing her job properly and efficiently, the company has no right to interfere with her personal life. It's a personal choice. 

Sex becomes immoral only if one is against in doing it or if one is forced to do it.

Do you know what's more immoral than having sex out of marriage?

• Throwing garbage anywhere is immoral. It simply puts yourselves at the center of the world because for you, getting rid of your waste is more important than anything/anyone else thereby forgetting your waste could bring harm to others!

• Killing animals for food or simply being the reason for these animals to be butchered so you'll eat is immoral and inhumane. It, again, puts yourselves in the center, for you don't value any other live beings apart from yourselves forgetting that they, too, are creations of god (if you believe so) that have rights to share the earth as much as you do.

• Cutting trees, bulldozing the earth for the so-called development is immoral. This, again, makes you forget that by doing so you make all the birds and other animals that depend on them homeless.

Is it moral to dip innocent beings in boiled water?
He or She didn't harm you in any way!

Examples could go on and on but one thing is clear, immorality does happen most of the times and that we should be ready to discuss many things about it other than claiming that sex is immoral. And that we should never agree to one thing and condemn another thing just because it doesn't apply to our liking.

But if having pre-marital sex is immoral, is getting married after doing it makes you moral? How about the man who got his girlfriend pregnant but refused to marry her, is he immoral? What if it's the mane employee got his girlfriend pregnant and refused to marry her? Will he lose his job, too?

I don't think there is a valid justification for firing an employee because the company believes that pregnancy out of wedlock is immoral.

The irony of this situation is that the company is into providing livelihood projects to communities, helping men or women, married or single become self-sufficient. How hypocrites and blind can the people in this company be when they could not even provide a decent livelihood to their own employees, and yet they talk about immorality? They better take care of their own first rather than showing some things to others and do different things on the other side.

~chopped trees as if no one lives on them;
as if it's so easy to grow one single tree;
as if felling has no consequences~

I saw how merciless the said policy is so I questioned it, not because the person concerned is a neighbor or a friend or a family member. I just refused to stay silent. That part of me just couldn't tolerate it anymore. I don't expect that after I brought their attention to this I could change them. No! Far from that. Because for change to happen it has to start from understanding what is right and what is wrong.

This case is just one of the many injustices, inequalities on earth that need change and change is difficult, even harder having people with such kind of mentality!

Tungnath & Chandrashila Trekking Experience

As promised, here is the post.

While heading towards Chopta, we saw a gathering of Langurs (there were about 20 of them including one newly born) along the road. The moment our car stopped, they slowly moved farther away from us. When they saw our cameras out, they even ran away, which is a good thing actually because as much as possible humans have to appreciate their beauty and agility from a distance. And when we got out of the car, the only way to photograph them is to zoom our camera in to its limit. Anyway, this one seems curious enough not to fully hide himself...or was it a she?

~ Looks like flat but think again, this is just the beginning trek
of a continues ascent towards Tungnath and Chandrashila. There are plenty of streams, too, along the road.~

~ The gate through Tungnath & Chandrashila trek. This is the parking/waiting lot and also a place surrounded by small hotels and lodging houses . . . including scattered plastics, too, which is seriously offensive to someone who is a real and responsible trekker and nature lover. ~

~ Zigzag trail towards Tungnath as seen from the upper area of the same road. I think there were 3-4 small hotels/stores all the way to Tungnath. Tungnath, of course, caters lodging, eatery, and refreshment.~

~ Tungnath temple and other "business" buildings as seen from below ~

~Tungnath temple...we wanted to go inside but since we needed to remove our shoes
 right at that gate we decided not to. We are nature lovers who admire, respect, and protect nature itself. We also acknowledge the work of men,  and in this case, 
those who built this structure.

 It's really stupid to go worship a god and then all you can do is destroy the
 beautiful surroundings around you. 
If you've been into these kind of places, I hope you have noticed how dirty humans make these "holy" places are -
.......all sorts of garbage, particularly plastics, are all around (I have noticed Snickers chocolate wrappers all the way from the middle point to Chandrashila itself, whoever was eating it doesn't have the right to throw the wrappers irresponsibly, including of course those who threw their garbage without even a thought); 
.......fat/obese/overweight people (including priests -you would wonder how did they get fat) are in plenty; 
........and really these places are just business hubs aim at looting people, who, by the way, let themselves to be looted, too.~

~The beginning trail from the temple towards Chandrashila. It's quite narrow and precipitous. The place is a yawning fissure, a deep cleft in the earth's surface. When the mist was lifted for a while all you can see are chasms, broken walls of mountains, or split mountains -the sight would really make you feel like you'll be pulled down anytime. 

Standing on one of these made my legs tremble. Whew!~

~ The temple at Chandrashila peak. No one else was there, just the breeze trying to shoo away the evening mist.~

~Cairns: piles of rocks at Chandrashila peak, didn't make one though ~

~A mini-temple made of marble located at the edge of Chandrashila. Looking around was a spectacular and awe-dropping view despite the white background ~

~Well, it's me! That rock is where the above mini-temple is.~

~ Banu passing by swiftly the fallen half-side of the road.~

~A stairway to a temple? There were quite a few of them along the road~

~a charming pose amidst drizzling rain~

~a playful pose while going back, guess I was happier -no more climb!

 Descending is tough actually, you've got to have strong knees! ~

When we trekked Tungnath and Chandrashila, we took local apples to munch on the way.

 I also had Chomp chocolates -the wrappers, of course, came back with us to Gauchar. 

This video shows what to expect upon reaching the peak of Chandrashila. The peak gives an outstanding view of the Himalayas.
Take a look!

So basically, 

we came and left nothing but footprints; 

we took nothing but pictures; 

we kill nothing but time.

And I encourage everyone to do the same. It's best for our planet!

Devariyatal In Rainy Season

Okay, we knew what to expect when we climbed Devariyatal. It's rainy season and on that day itself there was a battle between the sun and the rain going on. Obviously, the rain and the mist reign all through the day so we knew there was no way we can get a glimpse of Chaukamba and the Himalayan ranges and yet we trekked with an umbrella and our cameras.

The picture above is all we could see of the tal -it's not covered with mist but it's surrounding areas were fully white.

The paved road towards Devariyatal -
a continues ascent. For someone who is not
a regular trekker, best advice is to walk
slowly but continuously. No stopping, the
frequent you stop, the more you lose
the boost to move up.

We started our trek at around 3 pm that day, July 16, 2014, and it took us, my husband and I, an hour to reach the tal. Devariyatal is about 3 kms from Sari Village and it's a continues ascent. Three o'clock was quite late to start a trek but due to tight schedule we needed to do it that day itself right after our transaction was done with the SP Office, Gopeshwar in the morning. (It's about stamping my passport with X-Visa). Anyway, for a two-day trip (Gauchar - Gopeshwar - Chopta -Sari Village for Devariyatal - back to Chopta for Tungnath and Chandrashila - Gauchar), we paid Rs. 4000 for the taxi and arranged lodging for the driver. His food was his own because we are not the usual "dal, chawal, roti, sabzi" eater. We are great with fruits and munching on cucumbers and nuts.

So,

these are a few of the images we took that day.

Road somewhere between Gauchar and Karanaprayag.
The mountains were covered in mist, the
Alakhanda river was covered in fog, too. Even the road was
half visible.

Since we planned to trek Tungnath and Chandrashila the following day, instead of pursuing the original plan of staying at Dugalbbita that night, we stayed at Sari village itself. We stayed at a lodging and hotel owned and managed by Rakesh Singh Negi (his hotel is just right in front of the gate to Devariyatal). Mr. Rakesh seems to know the place very well. He also rents tents for a night of stay at Devariyatal itself.

~The view of the surrounding mountains and villages at Devariyatal. The sky was white, the ground was white. It was like some "spirit" or "ghost" being lifted to join the rest up for some sinister performance before the day ends. 
It was a spectacular sight.~ 

~ Somehow while slowly walking up, sweat dropping from your nose, and your mind is full of statements such as "It's not that far anymore." or "We're near." or "A few more steps.", you'll stumble upon this. And just when you thought that you still need to go on farther this sight will just make you smile and maybe would even make you jump and say "Yey, we're here finally!"~

~The view up ahead from one of the view points set up by the Forest Department. In this picture you are facing the road back. In one of the videos I watched of Devariyatal, foxes were filmed late in the afternoon and early morning. Although I was looking forward of seeing them when we were there, it didn't seem to have been possible at that time.~

This LINK is a 0.43 seconds video that shows the views that are supposed to be visible during clear days. Click it to quench your curiosity.

~ Finally, a pose of the trekkers that day taken by Mr. Rakesh who we met right before we started our descent. He has taken us to one of the highest ground around the areas. He was also narrating to us his adventures, what he's up to, etc. He's a friendly guy! We found out that he is a trekker himself and has 
been to many tourist places as guide.~

Staying at Sari village that night with a plan of going back to Chopta to trek Tungnath and Chandrashila the following day was a very bad idea during rainy days. One particular area -2 to 3 kms. from Sari village towards Chopta is a landslide-prone and it just got cleared when we passed it towards Sari village. That night, it rained quite heavily again and another slide happened during the night so the following day, July 17, 2014, we were stucked for about 3 hours waiting for the stretch to get cleared. The GSB was clearing another slide near Ukimath when we arrived at the place so instead of reaching Chopta and heading towards Tungnath at 9 am, it was already 11:40 and drizzling when we moved up.

It was still a great adventure though!
Who knows in winter we might get a magnificent full view of the Himalayas somewhere else 'coz that's we're up to.

Travel, Explore, Discover, and Be awed with Nature's grandeur.

Tungnanth and Chandrashila trek will be the next post.

  

Spread The Seeds, Spread A Message

Spread The Seeds, Spread A Message is a personal attempt to help animals get back what they lost because of human interference and stupidity. Over the years I have witnessed and pondered how difficult the lives of these animals have become. I often wonder how and where do they get their food just to sustain a day's forage when only a few fruit-bearing trees are available around. They are the only ones who truly feel and endure the suffering of their existence, and I, looking at them, have to do something about it.

On the road, one can witness large groups of monkeys sitting and waiting for people to throw food at them. For the people's side, it is highly irresponsible of them to throw slices of bread or any other forms of food to these monkeys thinking they are doing the right thing for these animals. Hardly any help at all. What they are doing does more harm than good. Why? Because by doing so they are encouraging monkeys to stay on the road and become dependent on human "goodness" thus putting the lives of these animals in a high danger zone for most of the times they become victims of hit and run. This action makes them dependent on humans (and making anyone dependent on you is the greatest mistake you can ever do). Doing this is like making them eat one day and letting them starve for the rest of their lives.

Any sane person who is genuinely wanting to help animals get food must do something other than this.

One can start reforestation by planting or spreading fruit-bearing trees.  One can plant fruit-bearing trees in their own compound -some other animals will definitely be happy about it. Collect seeds including vegetable seeds, flower seeds and spread them in areas less frequented with people, in the forest. This action does not need an organization to start. Individuals can do it.

So this is what I am doing. I am collecting any kind of seeds (the above pictures are mango and ado or peach seeds) and spread them somewhere in the forest. Some may come up, some may not, or all may not come at all but it's an act worth trying. It's not a big one but I know some animals might benefit from it.

And to you, dear readers, if you have understood my cause, you already know what to do.

The Road Less Traveled

The road less traveled for only 2 or 3 jeeps come and go to a village unknown to my knowledge. It's near yet far and seems at the edge of nowhere but it offers a scenery of jaw-dropping beauty. 

This place is breezy especially in the afternoon towards ealy dusk. The roads here are perfect for contemplation abou the hustle-bustle and chaotic atmosphere of the cities.

Evening View From My Window

These are a few of the hills surrounding the town of Gauchar. A small village is visible, which is around 800 meters aways from the town, which can be accessed through the two climbing roads. This place is even more beautiful when rain starts pouring. It would be greener and denser and just below the zigzag road is a seasonal river so it will start to flow by then.

Roads to farther villages are continually being constructed. Road construction is equal to forest destruction, that also leads to the destruction of homes of few animals left in these areas.

Hollyhock or Alcea: What an Enchanting Beauty!

Alcea or most commonly known as Hollyhocks are ornamental plants that grow as tall as 11 feet. You may notice that the flowers look like Hibiscus or Gumamela as it is called in Philippines, although its pistil is longer than Alcea. And you are right! Alcea flowers look like Hibiscus flowers because they belong to the same family, mallow family Malvaceae.

Most varieties are biennials - they grow foliage the first year, flower the second then die. Good thing though is that they seed every year and these seeds grow wherever they fall that easily. We just got a few seedlings and seeds yesterday, planted them and hope to see them grow come early winter and blossom early spring next year.

~ Inside these round, purse-like holder are hollyhock seeds (flat coin-shaped) that seem to grow wherever they fall ~

The flowers open from the bottom to the top of the spike throughout summer. No wonder they grow as tall as 11 feet! Interesting huh! They are best planted along the fences or places where they can get natural support. They need support! A giant flower plant like this need support huh...interesting indeed!

Color variations include dark purple, red, white, pink or peach and other color combination of any of these.

Hollyhocks are now one of my favorites! But I believe I like all flowers...hmmm!

Alaknanda River @ Karnaprayag

(Shot at Pokhari-Karnaprayag Road)
Alaknanda River (river that is visible) at Karnaprayag (the town in the middle), which is situated at one 
of the five confluences of Alaknanda River (Alaknanda and Pindar River). The road (left) goes to Badrinath and the snaky road on the right goes to Pokhari Nagnath.

Gauchar (Gochar): A Town Surrounded By Rolling Hills

The pictures shows one of the fields of Gauchar and is . The river is Alaknanda. Gauchar is in Rishikesh-Badrinath highway in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India. This photo was taken uphill in October 2012. 

Fields of houses along Badrinath highway crowd this part of the small town of Gauchar. This place is busy, busiest during Yatra season. Facilities include GMVN, which is located just right next to the highway before GREF chowk, two ATMs (one of Central Bank of Asia and State Bank of India), Government Hospital (as of now, there is an MBBS contract doctor running it, along with its staffs, of course), Schools and Inter-College Institutions, Post Office and First Flight Couriers. There are a few grocery stores, tea shops and small, cheap hotels along the road. Internet cafe is also available. The sources of living among people here include farming, cattle raising, government employment, and businesses.

With quite a number of population it's no wonder that there is almost always a water shortage anywhere. Electricity comes and goes also, especially during rainy days.  Gauchar is no exception.

If not for its people's apathy towards cleanliness and environment preservation and protection, Gauchar would have been a beautiful place in the hills, and so would others. So for us, here we come, in no time from here we go to a new land. We are just passersby.

Bampa Valley

You are facing Bampa Valley from Ghamsali area where Bampa Hospital is slightly visible. Bampa is in Joshimath-Malari-Ghamsali road. It is situated in Uttarakhand, India and around 10000 feet above sea level. Bampa is one of the three villages in India-Tibet border where Niti Village is the last.

Leafless Tree At Pokhari

Sunset illuminating this leafless tree in small town called Pokhari.

7-Foot Ant Hill

A grotto? A rocket? Nah! It's a 7-foot ant hill and growing...a palace for ants and it is found inside our farm in Mysore. Extraordinary ants, aren't they? No wonder they have been  considered one of the most hardworking creatures on earth.

Sunrise At Home

Sunrise taken at 7:20 in the morning in September 2010 at our farm house in Mysore

Hills Framed

Hills after hills visible clearly in winter at Pokhari-Nagnath on the road to Dudkhamba Temple.