Mukteshwar

One of my passions in life is Travel. Given a choice I'd love to hit the road at a moment's notice. Luckily most of my trips to places that I've been to have been memorable ones. Both because of the place as well as for the company. And thus my memoirs of such journeys. If I think of one to start this stream, my first trip to Mukteshwar comes instantly to mind. For various reasons varying from total lack of planning to the actual destination not being the one that we intended for. Also perhaps because of the fact that it was my first outing from IIM-Lucknow.

It was the month of August (mid) and we had just started settling down at hel(L). For me it was a heaven in hell off course. We had just made a few good friends while getting used to the hectic lifestyle at the institute. And as so happens, with some people you become good friends faster than others. So we three had become pretty good friends in no time, more so because of the course BIO (Behaviour In Organization).

Planning (or the Lack of it): I remember it was Thursday at lunch table my friend came up with the idea if we should go to Nainital and if I'd like to come. And I said yes, lets do it. But there was a nagging doubt - courtsey MANAC (Management Accounting - I hate that subject till date). As luck would have it there was a quiz announced on the coming Saturday. And one of us got worried over losing the 5 marks it was worth. But I was still game and more so for the lovely weather that had come up to play. Till next day afternoon it was should I go or should I not for her. By evening we were able to convince her that lets just go. Anyways at 6:30 it was finalized and at 7 we were on our way to the station!! Thus started the journey of me and the two ladies who became the very best of my friends in times to come.

The Start : There was a train at 8:15 to Kathgodam and we rushed to buy the tickets. Only to realise reaching the train that there was absolutely no scope of sleeper berths!! The ladies were obviously uncomfortable by the prospect of of travelling in that packed general compartment. While we were still pondering what to do, the train started and we stood there with our tickets .. gone waste !! What next? The next train was at 12 and we thought of it to be imprudent to waste 4 hrs with the doubt of not getting a berth there as well? So we decided to board a bus for Nainital. We went to the Charbagh bust stand only to realise that we had come to the wrong one as the bus for Nainital leaves from the other one at Lal Bagh (till then we thought there was only one bus stand in Lucknow). And thus began our journey on a rickshaw through most shady of lanes lined with small theatres playing C-Grade flicks, deserted to the extent of making you feel lonely and bumpy enough to remind me the torture my bum suffered in travelling from BHU gate to Assi ghat in Varanasi. Nonetheless we reached the bus stand in one piece. To our more amazement the last bus to Nainital had already left and we were literally clueless till one of the conductors told us to get into the bus going to Delhi. He said we could get down at Bareilly and then go to Kathgodam where we could get a cab for Nainital. And we jumped in without thinking too much.

Lucknow to Nainital : And what a bus ride it was indeed. Truely a rickety-rockety ride with the head banging here and there. Icing on the cake was the cassette that the bus driver chose to play. It would figure amongst the best (worst) of the Bollywood style audio masala with full emotional effects. All three of us couldn't help out bursting into laughter every now and then. Finally after 6 hours of pain and joy thanks to the bus and the roads in UP we reached Bareilly. And suddenly as I stepped into the bus stand I felt like an alien with all the eyes following us. Then it struck me that a guy with two girls was not particularly a usual sight for the people at that earthly hour. Nonetheless we had no choice but to wait there as we realised that the bus for Kathgodam (Haldwani) was at 5:30 !! So one and a half hour at Bareilly bus stand half asleep on a bench we sat sipping a few cups of tea and discussing what's next and what a wonderful ride we had. Specially one of the two ladies who had never travelled in a Deluxe bus till date, forget the ordinary one!
At 5:30 we took the bus and the ride proved out to be even bumpier then the previous one. We arrived at Haldwani and got off at the wrong place. So to reach the "correct" place we took a six seater for another breezy but bumpy ride. Reaching Kathgodam we realised that it would be better to book our return tickets in advance to avoid the Lucknow episode being repeated. And thus another torturous ride for my bum on a rickshaw. Only to realise at the station that the reservation counter had not opened yet. Outside the station there was a mad rush to grab the passengers in shared cabs for Nainital. We boarded one when we came to know that there was a reservation counter in Nainital also. The ride to Naintal was beautiful if it was an indication of anything lying ahead. The clouds trying to kiss the hills. The sun trying to come into its own. The streams giving the background music. The air much pure and cleaner then the plains we came from. And three tired but happy souls who just lost there sleep while wondering in amazement about what lied ahead. Finally we reached Nainital at around 10:15 and first things first we booked the return tickets for Lucknow.

Nainital : First agenda on our mind was to have something to eat and then book a hotel. So we started strolling along the Mall Road searching for an "affordable" acco. We walked across it once to realise the affordable was not so affordable. Then we first decided to eat. And had our sumptuous lunch. By the lake, watching the clouds trying to engulf the lake. Finishing of the lunch we restarted our hunt for the hotel. This time round we hired a cab to look around for hotels even beyond Mall road. We reached one which seemed affordable but the moment we asked if they served liquor he back tracked as if we were demons. In the meanwhile came the suggestion of going to Mukteshwar and come back and look for an acco. As it turned out the driver of the cab (Sonu) gave the suggestion of infact staying in Mukteshwar and visiting the places around there only. One minute we were thinking about it and the next we were headed to Mukteshwar.

Mukteshwar : Having said tata, bye-bye to Nainital we headed for Mukteshwar. The long route to Mukteshwar was as good as any. With each kilometer that we moved towards it, the changing landscape beckoned a breathtaking experience ahead. With minimal traffic and like a virgin territory not yet raped by mankind it was stretching its arms for those who just wanted to get immersed in it. We stopped at a few places to touch a few streams and feel their purity. And it was bliss.

Finally we reached Mukteshwar. I believe the word comes from the sandhi of Mukt + Eeshwar.
Now we could interpret it .. the free god or the freedom to meet god or whatever .. All in all for the want of better superlative qualification I would say its god's place. Where the moment you set the foot you realise you are in a different world. Surrounded by peace, enchanted by the scenery and hypnotized by the beauty. You either feel like god or you feel closer to him/her. Having reached there we found accomodation in most easiest of ways with no questions asked (except for our address) at Red Roofs. What a wonderful place it is. Mr Dixit the owner is an ex-marine engineer settled down there. I envy his life for a change. And the whole place seems so much like home with the due comforts and the warmth of family as well. So finally we nestled in that place which as I said exuded so much warmth that I still remember it (and I'm sure all of us do).

When we reached Mukteshwar we actually realised how tired we were. But the abundance of freshness there just made us forget our fatigue and we were soon headed for the sunset point and other known areas around. First We reached a guest house near GMVN hotel. Jumping, skipping, hopping and running literally. And so it had to be. Its just so alluring that you wish to feel free in all manners with noone even giving a glance of doubt. When we reached what a site it was. You could see the Garhwal range from that point. To add to it we got garm-a-garam pakode and some tea. Rarely have I tasted such good food (apart from my mom's cooking off course). After seeing the snow capped ranges we headed to the sunset point through a small trek. And we sat there on a rock. Watching the sun set in its full glory. One of the most picturesque sites that will remain etched in my memories. The colour changing from a golden to an orange before bleeding to red and then fading away in crimson like a last cry from heart. And finally we came back to the lodge. Much of the distance in silence. Perhaps we just wanted to capture the moment as a treasure. And were reluctant to let go of the image.
We came back and had a few more snacks before settling into cozy comfort of the blankets. And then the conversation started. We chatted. And we chatted. About the craziest thing that we had done in life and the life at hel(L) the way it was shaping up. Before we realised it was dinner time and my two partners ditched me for the drinking session. The bottle went the way it came, back to the campus. After dinner we decided to crash early to get up early. And by 11 we fell asleep.

Day Two: I got up early in the morning with beautiful sun-rays falling on my face. At 6:30 in the morning it was one of the most beautiful morning visuals. From the balcony one could see the sun making itself visible. Slowly but surely. The rays filtering through the leaves were playing hide and seek with the eyes. And the slow wind, so quitely was cajoling the trees to reveal more of sun's beauty while the clouds were reluctant to give way. The owner had asked for an early morning trek but I couldn't make it because the ladies were still in bed. Nonetheless taking our own sweet time we got ready by 10 and then went for a trek. One of the ladies (lemme name them as A and K) fell once on the way and Miss A also almost repeated the act. But it was fun with knowledge on what is to be done when a bear comes (btw you are supposed to run downhill when attacked by a bear so that his falling hair block his view. Those who think feigning to be dead may not help coz it entirely depends on how long you hold your breath). So Miss A and K along with me enjoyed that small but wonderful trek and came back for our next outing.
We had hired Sonu for the day and he had stayed overnight for the next day. So we started off saying good bye to our wonderful host. We first went to an animal farm/research centre. It was one of the most touching scenes to see one or two day old sheeps ! The people there were too eager to show us around and I realised how in the smallest of places you find the largest of hearts.
For our next endeavour the choices were two, a temple and a waterfall. All three of us unanimously chose the waterfall. And we were headed to have one of the most memorable experience of ours. We reached the place but didn't know the way to the fall. We decided to find our way but just a little way down we realised were heading down towards river rather than the fall. So dejected we started our way back. And then we met Ganesh. He had come around from nowhere and Sonu interjected him to assisst us. And thus with our able guide (just a teenager kid) we headed towards the fall. The path it was so exciting that we were just too eager to reach it. After much of jumping and hopping apart from careful stepping we reached. But just before reaching Miss K had another fall and just as ever she bravely got up without a twitch on the face. But we all know she was really hurt and yet she never showed. Hats off dear. Finally we were there. We the only signs of humanity there with all the love of nature around us. The ladies jumped into the water like mermaids while I was a little heistant. But after that bit I jumped in too. And then the fun started. The energy of water got into us and the next hour or so was just too much fun. It can only be felt and I can't describe it. Finally when we were tired enough we decided to head back to the car.
Drenched to the skin, shivering but too happy as well. Then we headed for lunch. We stopped at a small time restaurant where it was too dark to eat. So we headed for its roof where we had our meals under the sun. For that small place perhaps the spectre of a guy with two girls was something strange and almost the whole place was watching us having food. And a too enthu guy acutally started playing a bit of pathetic bollywood number as well. Nonetheless we just enjoyed the breathtaking view visible from the roof and the good food. After the sumptuous meal we started back for Kathgodam. En-route there was still more spectacle that mother nature beheld for us. We stopped at one such point. Had snacks and Miss A got more interested in a puppy. She was even eager to take it along with her and but for our resistence she might have even carried it along. But brief snacks were all that we could have and were on our way again. But mid-way the mouth watering sights of corns stopped us briefly and trust me they were amongst the best I've had (other than the ones available in Varanasi).

Finally after the journey of one and a half hours we reached Kathgodam and enjoyed sweets at
a sweet shop. And then we were ready to say bye to Sonu. Apart from paying we obviously tried to come up with words to thank him enough but I guess we would have anyways fallen short. So with heavy hearts but wonderful memories we boarded the train well in time. The train started leaving behind the hills and the rivers. But the glimpses were there. Under the brightly lit sky (thanks to the moon), the faint outlines of the hills and the sparkles of the streams were bidding us good bye. And to add to it the ladies decided for an aural treat as well. They sung the song that would have best summed up the song perhaps. "Aaj jaane ke zid na karo .." by Fareeda Khanum. How well they sung it !! I'd always remember that ladies. With those memories fresh we soon fell asleep ..

Back to Lucknow : We reached lucknow in time to attend the classes and for many days to come were the topic of many a talks and many a gossips. But hell if we cared. We knew we had come from one of the best of our trips of our life and would do anything to repeat it.

In the end I'd like to say only one thing. It was one of the best things to happen me. I've been to mukteshwar twice after that but that touch of innocence and spontaneity was not always there. The other trips being special as well, the first one still comes closest to my heart, just like first love perhaps.