Uttaranchal

A droplet of tranquility,
Encased in an oyster of peace;
Hidden under rocks of serenity,
Buried under oceans of calmness...
A snow-white pearl awaits discovery,
Uttaranchal is the gem, time forgot;
And where one forgets time.
Clear starlit skies are an astronomer's delight,
Where Venus shines like a silver top;
And where Mars winks at the break of dawn.
It is the paradise of Hindu deities;
For heaven is better than anywhere else.
Discover Uttaranchal to discover heaven.
-------------------------------------------------Kumaon
Where fire meets earth,
And earth meets snow;
Where dew, mist and clouds abound.
Where mist is engaged to pines,
Where clouds wed snowy mountain peaks;
Where dew courts grassy knolls,
And where rain flirts with conifers.
Where blankets of snow kiss the verdant earth,
Where clear blue skies rarely turn grey!
Kumaon is the place to meditate and pray!
-------------------------------------------------Naukuchiatal
Teardrop of some ancient Goddess,
Rests in the midst of Kumaon's hills;
Spread over all of corners nine;
Placid waters of this mini-ocean.
Lap along its Byzantine edges;
Mildly rocking the wooden boats.
Naukuchiatal is the Queen of Kumaon's lakes,
Boating here is meditation for one's soul.
Where else do peace and serenity meet?
Nature is both, merciful and kind;
Snow and rain keep away from Kumaon;
And pleasant weather greets you in every town.
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Jageshwar
Tucked away in a secluded corner of Kumaon,
Guarded zealously by tiny hillocks;
Shielded by countless deodars,
Jageshwar is hidden in a canopy of green.
Flanked by twin thousand year old trees,
The three-eyed one rests in secluded glory;
Ancient stones placed one above the other,
Cemented by cosmic energy;
Have stood undisturbed over centuries,
Mute witnesses to history.
Cascading streams and thick woods,
Pine covered slopes and grassy knolls;
Beckon nature walks.
Friendly treks over gentle slopes,
Lead you to oasis of tranquility;
Breathe the pine scented mountain air,
Lose yourself in meditation and peace.
Destress, detoxify, rejuvenate your aching bones,
Visit the hills of Kumaon to discover.
Hidden gems in this valley of the Gods.
----------------------------------------------Binsar
Billions of dried rhodenderon leaves,
Describes the forest at Binsar;
Lost in meditation are the bees,
Migratory birds sing alien melodies in nature's tongue;
Barking deer slip invisibly between trees.
Binsar is cosmic Mother's sanctuary,
Leopards and wildlife are her tributaries;
Clear mornings offer Himalayan views,
Nature is bountiful to a select few.
Wild flowers are your tourist guides;
As divinity exists in every stride,
Welcome to the land of misty peaks;
Meet migratory birds with colourful beaks
Binsar is the tranquilizer,
Every city dweller needs!
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Kausani
Golden rays steal their way,
Blessing snowy peaks;
Like flames in a cave,
Spreading rust to crimson to golden hues.
Birds begin their flowery tunes;
As darkness surrenders, sunlight rules.
At dusk Kausani has a new tale to tell.
Sun hides like a shy bride;
Shadows lengthen,
Crickets sing with pride.
Twilight gives way to night,
The crescent moon takes over the darkened skies;
As electric stars play hide and seek.
To absorb the three junctions of the day,
Kausani shows you the game nature plays.
-------------------------------------------------Bageshwar
An ancient temple
Steeped in mythology and lore,
Hidden in Kumaon's secret groves;
On the banks of sacred waters,
Lies Bageshwar- the temple town.
Every stone an antique,
Every stone a treasure;
Sacred chants and rituals,
Rosary, sacred ash, camphor and vermillion;
Heads bowed in reverence for the holy one!
Giant fishes swim in endless turns,
Illuminated in the clear water;
Of the mountain stream;
Lessons many one can learn,
As nine thumbs lift a heavy stone;
Chanting Om in one united tone.
-------------------------------------------------Thal
A river of tiny rocks,
With silvery pebbles;
And shiny stones.
Gurgling sounds of cascading waters,
Is soothing music to one's ears?
Ramganga flows gently through Thal,
Its turquoise waters;
A sharp contrast
To the grayish stones;
Arranged in concentric rows.
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Chakauri
An obscure village,
Nestled below Himalayan ranges;
Surrounded by a foliage of green,
Firs, spruces and ferns,
Vie with each other for views,
Isolated cottages scattered...
Randomly across the hillside;
Is one's summer retreat.
To escape the biting cold in May,
One seeks the warmth of the embers;
Nay, it is winter here in May.
Trekkers seeking glaciers,
Trudge up the hills like snails;
To experience eco-tourism at its best;
A visit to Chakauri is a must.
A park full of musk deer is also very near;
Patal Bhubaneshwar - a labyrinth of underground caves;
And the ancient Kalika temple,
Dotted with many power symbols;
Should interest devotees of the Mother Goddess;
One seeks her blessing by planting a tree;
At this powerful shrine.
----------------------------------------------Sunrise over Kumaon
Silhouettes of rocky peaks,
Like giant sculptures abandoned;
Appear like ghosts;
On a moonless night.
Skies transform from dark to crimson,
Reflecting molten gold;
Anticipating Sun-God's chariot
Streaks of fire light the dawn,
Spreading warmth and heat.
Savour every moment
Of Nature's incessant meditation.
Sunrise over the Kumaon Himalayas,
Touches spiritual chords of one's soul;
Align your energy with the cosmos,
Balance the subtle with the gross.
Recharged body, rejuvenated soul, distressed mind.
Kumaon is the place to rewind and unwind.
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Didihat
Thick forests of oak, pine and deodar,
Line either sides of my mountain path;
Resembling hundreds of students,
Lining up for prayers at school.
Its darkness at noon here,
As crickets continue their song,
Tricked by the dark shady groves.
Leopards rule the roost here,
Making stealthy appearances after dusk.
Bears are a common sight,
Though rarely seen in summers,
As they move up to cooler climes.
Wild chital and spotted deer,
Are seldom seen from near.
Forest log cabins, centuries old,
Oasis of peace, hidden under nature's folds;
Where evenings are pleasant,
And nights are biting cold.
Where every rock, is poetry on stone;
Didihat is Kumaon's protected zone.
---------------------------------------------Ascot
Perched on a quiet hill,
Under a giant peepal tree;
I rest silently,
Listening to nature's songs;
Emanating from our feathered friends.
Chirping away like musical bells;
The forest guest-house at Ascot,
Is the nest of Kumaon's colourful birds;
Early at dawn, they begin their melodious tunes,
Soft whistles, sharp hoots, ceetees and coos;
Magpies, cuckoos, parrots and peckers,
It's like fusion music;
Played by musicians of every tribe.
This is nature's philharmonic orchestra;
Guided by the omnipotent conductor.
Minutes turn into hours,
But the soothing strains;
Of these therapeutic sounds,
Continue to hold one spellbound.
As one experiences,
The power to relax.

Tawaghat
Gigantic mounds of stone, sand and rock,
Separated by the icy Kali;
Amidst miles of rocks,
Lies a valley - untouched by time.
Patches of green dot this arid landscape,
Like oasis across the Sahara;
Each patch of green nurtures a village,
Tawaghat is one amongst the many;
Icy springs abound in this speck of green,
Many a miracle, this town has seen;
Acidity and ulceritis disappear,
As you sip this medicinal water;
A refreshing dip in this stream,
Cures arthritis, psoriasis and skin disorders;
Tawaghat is a peaceful paradise,
Where time, stops.
-------------------------------------------------Pangu
An arduous trek,
Through the rugged Himalayas;
Leads to the confluence,
Of silvery mountain streams.
Pangu is this sacred site,
The cradle of India.
Icy waters of these streams,
Is freshly melted snow.
The chilly winds,
Cut through like knives;
Bathing in these frozen waters,
Is only for the courageous;
One needs blessings of cosmic deities,
To enter the freezing waters.
I continue my dip;
On this auspicious wintry day.
Your fingers turn numb;
And body turns bluish long after!
It is a torturous trek,
Over soft round pebbles;
Which decorate the banks,
Of this poetry in molten snow.
It feels like coming out of Mansarovar,
On the trek to Kailash in December.
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Malpa
Perched on a secluded cliff,
Between giant Himalayan peaks;
Overlooking the snowy Kali,
Cascading down like in violent rage;
Over a bed of rocks and boulders.
I snuggle into my cozy bed,
At picturesque Malpa;
Tons of melted ice flow below me,
A cascading silver stream of snowy water;
Winding its way between the peaks,
Like a snake slithering across grass.
Across the river, in verdant Nepal,
Evergreen trees, sway in gentle gusts of wind;
The manicured Indian hills,
Are a sharp contrast to Nepal's greenery.
At ten thousand feet above sea level;
Shops resemble tiny stones.
Giant rocks resemble tiny pebbles;
The mighty Kali resembles a narrow stream,
The roar of the waterfall becomes a soft hum,
As the sun plays hide and seek with the clouds.
---------------------------------------------Lamari
Two monolith hills,
Divided by the snowy Kali;
Demarcating India and Nepal,
Lush green forests,
Cascading mountain streams;
Two fiberglass huts,
And few scattered rock shelters;
Is known as Lamari.
The indecripit camp,
Of soldiers of India's border police.
The constant hum of flowing water,
Preponders the air, day and night;
There is a nip in the air,
As the starlit skies,
Shift the balance of the cosmos;
To water and earth.

Budhi
Where mighty peaks,
Mock human achievements;
Challenging valour of men.
Trishul, Annapoorna and Panchachuli,
Snowy heights stretch horizon to horizon;
Sanctuary of cosmic Gods!
Deodars, pines, oaks and elms,
Budhi is but several shades of green.
Thick woods, virginal waterfalls,
Unspoilt beauty, verdant hills
Azure lakes, Temples steeped in history;
Glaciers many, a few caves too!
Kumaon is serene and tranquil,
Where time always stands still.
-------------------------------------------------Gunji
Following the banks of Kaliganga,
One reaches..
Snowy peaks as far as eye can see,
Sulphur springs are one's giant bathtub;
As steaming water overlooks cascading icy streams,
The cold winds numb your face,
As sulphurated water massages one neck down.
The tepid hot water is soothing relief;
From the freezing breeze.
Strong fumes of sulphur,
Hit your nostrils;
As the steam meets the mist,
Gently purifying your skin.
The temple bells ring at dawn,
And rocky steps lead you down;
Over small wooden bridges.
Napalchu village is at the other end.
Shielded by obscurity.
A collection of rock palaces,
Hidden away from prying eyes.
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Garbhiang
A silvery moon,
Shines behind clear starlit skies;
The gurgle of the Kali,
Is music to my ears;
As she flows gently,
Across the rocky valley;
Besides the hamlet of Garbhiang.
Garbhiang is the home of Tibetan Bhutias;
The lost tribe of a pure race,
Untouched for centuries;
Living in self-imposed seclusion,
In the Himalayas.
--------------------------------Kalapani
High velocity winds are your only companion,
As you climb to over fourteen thousand feet,
Trekking to the source of the Kali;
The temple crowning this sacred place,
Is an island of peace and serenity.
Water drops from the feet of the goddess.
Cascading into a fiery river rapid,
Flowing down the plains.
Like a surfer riding a wave,
And landing on wet beach soil.
Giant boulders encircle this holy temple,
Like carved mosaics since creation began;
Protecting cosmic mother's sacred abode.
---------------------------------------------Nabhidang
A helipad crowns lush green meadows;
With Om Parvat and Nabhidang peaks
Overlooking the craggy, rocky valley.
Devoid of trees and vegetation,
They resemble fortresses of stone;
Crowned in snow and ice;
Like two bodyguards with sharpened spears.
Giant rocks, round stones and tiny pebbles,
Are scattered all across Nabhidang;
Like footprints of Celestial God,
Formed during the birth of time.
The snow white, fluffy clouds a stark contrast to the azures blue sky,
Resembling black Pagodas covered with snow;

Providing a picture postcard view.

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