Bhimtal (Uttrakhand)- Travel

It was June and sun was glaring at Delhi. There was a dramatic rise in temperature and everyone was predicting that it would break the last year record. People were heading toward hill stations.

I also took one week off and wanted to go for adventure this time, so after lots of research, I made up my mind for Uttrakhand because it has been situated in Himalaya, and known for lakes, wildlife, adventure-sports, meditation and religious places. Finally, I selected Bhimtal as my first spot. Say congratulation to me, which was in district Nainital.

I was at home and going through my final checklist because it was day of my journey, so after 20 minute exercise with my suitcase I was ready to go.

It was 10:00 pm in evening and I was sitting in one compartment of Rainikhat Express train, which would leave at 11:00 pm for Khathgodam railway station nearest to Bhimtal.

There one hour was left so I got my tab out from suitcase and started exploring about Kathgodam. The Kathgodam was 305 km away from Delhi and train arrival time 7:00 am. I also came across one thing that Uttrakhand has two regions Garwal and Kumau. These regions have different languages and cultures. Kathgodam was the gateway of Kumau, that’s why I had chosen Bhimtal which was famous for lakes, mountains and adventure sports.

It was 12:00 am and train was running on track, and all seats were occupied by passengers. The compartment was alive with people’s chit-chats; some were lost in their phone calls while other debating over politics and general issues. They were speaking in Hindi but in different accent like Hindi would have been mixed with Urdu so it was Hindi but you could smell Urdu’s fragrance. My eyes also caught some people tossing on their seat and trying to sleep, and I was one among them.

It was 8:00 am and our train was arriving at Kathgodam station slowly like a beautiful girl stretching her arms and running slowly on grass field bounded by mountains under the blue sky beside you could hear the echo of her musical laughter in those valleys.

I had come out of the compartment and was standing on the platform like a bird had been caged for many years, and now it was free, so it was stretching their wings and eager to touch the blue sky.

Standing outside the platform, my eyes took a glimpse of the Himalaya that was my destination. It was hot there but not like Delhi.

Taxi, Taxi, Taxi, sir.

Nainital, Almora, Rainikhat sir, we leaving soon, come with us.

There was a picture like cats’ fighting for mouse, so I took a corner, observing what was going on there.

It took half hour to calm down the situation and the fight was over, cats and mice were gone. I was pretending like have to go nowhere and thought better stay invisible more to understand this place from all angles.

It was 9:00 am and it was right time to come back in the picture, so I took a little walk to explore the place. I was standing in national highway which would lead to Bhimtal and local market.

I was in a Restaurant, enjoying coffee with biscuits. Everyone was speaking in hindi, and life was not very fast like Delhi.

I was occupied in local newspaper; I felt someone standing near table. I lifted up my eyes. It was waiter with smiling face.

“Sir, breakfast”

“No, thank you”, I replied. He was still standing there, like wanted to talk with me

“Well, what’s your name”

“Anand Singh Rawat, sir”

“Good, where do you live”

“Sir, Golapar”, he answered with interest.

“What is called this place”

“Haldwani city sir”,

“Here only cab goes to Bhimtal”, I asked him. He could guide to get something for Bhimtal.

“Anyone going Bhimtal, one cab moves”, one person in deep blue pent and white shirt announced, which interrupted our talk. I got up and approached him

“Where is driver”, I asked.

“Me sir”, he replied with smile, like I had cracked a joke.

“How much you charge”, I questioned.

“As you wish, sir”, he responded.

“I have two passengers, waiting one more to go”, he replied in hurry, “Ok Rs 500”.

I turned back grabbed the suitcase, paid the bill, and in a few second, I was outside the restaurant. Well it was Alto 800, two men middle aged sitting back seat and front was vacant. The drive took my suitcase and kept behind.

“What’s your name”, I asked.

“Naresh Kumar, sir”, he replied.

Now the car was running toward huge mountains wall in front of us, and those were getting bigger and bigger. After twenty minutes drive, we touched the base of the mountain and the car started climbing uphill. There road was narrow with number of turns like life paths unpredictable full with happiness and sorrows.

There were trees; I didn’t know their names, blue sky without any spot and cool breeze blowing. I had got a glimpse of Mother Nature and I was speechless.

“Would you stop a moment here” I requested to Naresh. I wanted to capture those moment.

There were huge mountains under open sky. My eyes caught some eagles, flying in circle. I took a long breath, and starched my arms to fly to join those eagles. Those were so luck, wished to be a bird.

“We have to go that top of the mountains?” I asked to Naresh in excitement.

“Yes sir, there is Bhimtal”, he replied.

It was amazing for I could see cars running on mountains, like toys. There were deep valleys that stirred a kind of sensation in my heart.

Now, my eyes noticed many houses were sat on slopes over the mountains. Those were villages, I guessed.

“Those are villages”, I asked to confirm myself.

“Yes sir”, Naresh verified.

“How would they live there and get daily needs, no road seems there”, I asked him to know.

“Yes, there is no road connected to market”, he replied.

“One should have an iron head and wooden legs to live here”, one person sitting behind joined the talk. I turned back and smiled.

“What do you do, sir”, Naresh asked.

“I’m a software engineer in Delhi”, I replied.

“You’ve come to see Uttrakhand”, he asked.

“Ya, first time”, I responded, half absorbed in outside view.

After one hour drive, our car was on top of the mountain and my eyes could see Kathgodam through window, stretching like Google map’s satellite view. I turned straight and got breathless; a bluish lake like a bride and there small island like a golden necklace, was waiting for us.

Our car stopped there and the two passengers got out of the car.

“Sir, where I drop you, it’s Bhimtal”, Naresh asked.

“At Gravity”, I replied. I had booked one room before living Delhi.

Now, our car was moving on the edge of the lake, the long trees standing around the lake like beauty was wrapped under green dress. I heard the sweet music of her smile when saw the small waves on the lake. We almost took a round and stopped near crowded spot.

“Sir your Gravity”, Naresh said in hurry. I opened the door and got out. I felt awoke like I was dreaming. It was 11:10 on my watch,

It was the lake bank. My right side covered with trees and stairs to the lake while a small market on left side and car parked could be seen in square. People were strolling around, talking and children in their full spirit. This place was alive.

“This way sir” Naresh gestured his hand, carrying my bag. I was behind him.

The hotel was white like small fort and front wall with big glass windows. Inside it was the busiest place on earth. People sitting together, gossiping and waiters in blue uniform serving their orders.

“Good Morning sir”, a beautiful girl greeted us with a childish smile, nature had given her admiring shape and curves but childhood was still in her heart.

“I have reservation” I inquired.

“Name sir”, she asked in sweet voice.

“Paras”, I answered.

“Good day sir”, Naresh smiled, “this is my card for any assistant”, and he left the hotel.

First time I felt alone in this adventure.

“Sir upstairs this way”, a person carrying my bags, guided me. I followed him and stairs lead us to a passage, connected with five rooms on left side.

“Sir, your room” the person said in formal voice and opened the door. It was 007, immediately Jams Bond reflected in my head.

It was small room with single bed, wash room connected and two wooden crafted chairs, round table placed near a window, beside a door standing quietly. It looked like everything in the room was shying from me. I opened the window and a fascinating hill view relaxed my eyes, so my hands got eager to open the back door. The door opened to a terrace and a chair waiting there. It was the lake in front of me like sitting there, smiling, and tender breeze playing with her while she settling her hair, really felt arrested.

I was sitting in a chair on terrace enjoying the lake’s company but ringing phone broke my dream. It was the receptionist, “call for lunch”.

I went down to ground floor, crowded as usual but I succeed to capture a table where I could get outside view. It was quite alive outside, and a glimpse of the lake drove my impulse, felt itching to go outside.

“Sir, what do you like”, I found a person standing in blue uniform.

I crossed my eyes quickly at menu, and ordered simple food. I was starving.

After 15 minutes, lunch was served an Indian typical meal rice-pulse, vegetable, rayta and salad. It was delicious but not like my mother’s.

I was done so asked for bill. It was Rs 400. I paid with my debit card and an impulse to go outside was getting stronger so it couldn’t stand any longer.

The sun was glaring at me but tall dense trees were enough to protect. I was strolling in the crowd. There were people from every walk of life retires, middle aged with kids and newly married couples. The kids were jumping with laugh on a jumping mat while some climbing on an air filled fort then diving down with scream, and parents standing beside and capturing moments in phones. A hand crafted animals in a shop caught my eyes, beside a farmer had local fruits stall, which I had not seen before.

I was on an alone road, and the crowd far behind, while the lake on my right side like my hand around her waist, feeling the sensation of her touch while her fountain of hair falling on my shoulder, and wanted to absorb in her sweet talk.

It was evening, and the threatening sun was gone while small clouds were playing with cool breeze, and the stars had started hide-seek behind them. The life in the Bhimtal was getting slow. I had not met with such beautiful evening before, because there was complete calm.

It was 9:00 pm so came down for dinner. I took same table where had perfect outside view. It was little calm here. The lake was hiding behind trees and breeze was chasing them. The cars movement was keeping the square awoken, and some people could be seen talking and laughing, which was audible now.

I was in my room after dinner, planning next day schedule. It was my first evening in Bhimtal. I was in Delhi yesterday. I wanted to witness the beauty of this evening so I preferred to spend some time on terrace.

The mountains were covered with many twinkling lights like starts had got down on there, and their reflection on the lake was like room lighted with candles and bride waiting in twinkling dress. I was tired after journey, good night Bhimtal.

In morning I woke up early and made my mind for walk so I changed my outfits and got ready for walk. It was cold outside because it had rained last night, which reminded winter season. I started walking along the lake shore. There were many people enjoying the magical moments. It was absolute calm, no cars on road. Birds gathered on trees and singing songs. A layer of fog had covered the lake like beauty in bed wrapped in white sheet, still enjoying the sweet dreams and a glimpse of her glowing face was good enough to start the day.

After long walk, I was sitting on the lake’s stairs leading down to the boats, my foot in water besides hands playing with it. The waves tapping on edge of the lake, creating a musical sound like she was talking with me, really felt connected first time. There a flock of ducks started gathering around me, and ducklings playing in separate group. They had come very close to me like demanding something.

“They want food”, a man standing beside me smiled.

I climbed up the stairs, approached the nearest tea stall, got some slices of bread, and came back. I made small pieces, and dropped near the flock. They were enjoying it.

“Boating sir”, a man asked going down stairs, fish rod in one hand and a bag in other. I could not resist. Let’s have boating.

After sometime, we were in the center of the lake. It was an amazing experience.

“Sir you want to see how we catch fishes”, the man asked.

“Of course”, I replied with smile.

He took fishing rod in his hand, and got some food out of his bag, and attached with the hook. He put the hook in deep water and kept the rod in the boat. It was cold there and the fog had covered the valley, so mountains were covered under it but bird’s song was audible. Few birds hovering on lake’s surface could be seen for catching fishes.

I noticed some movements in fishing rod, so the man grabbed the rod, and slowly started pulling the wire. My eyes caught the fish, it was extremely big, so the boat man grabbed a bucket, filled it with water, and after five minutes combat, the fish gave up. The fish was alive in the bucket, and I could touch it.

“Please take the boat to the island”

“Right sir”, replied the man.

The boat turned right, and started moving slowly toward the island, it appeared like going to a wonder land. I got surprised to see a bird came out of the water and again went inside, what was that.

“A bird came on the surface and went in water, what was that”, asked I like a child in a curiosity. “Water hen”, replied the boat man with smile.

I felt a jerk, and found the boat was on the edge of the Island. Without wasting a second, I jumped on the Island. My eyes caught some crabs around like waiting for me. There was an aquarium, visiting timing 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, but it was 7:30 am so got disappointed.

“This island had been built by the Mehabharat Bhim, that’s why it’s called Bhimtal”, told boat man standing beside me.

Morning boating was an incredible experience, standing on shore, mesmerized by the rising sun behind the mountains, I was thinking. I stepped up the stairs, crossed the road, and entered in the hotel. It was alive with people; I took the stairs, and opened my room. There were two calls of my mother, so did call back. She asked about my stay and trip, and told me always keep phone in my pocket, but you know I don’t carry phone everywhere; I always keep it in my bag. Anyway it was the breakfast time.

I was on same table, enjoying breakfast, and hotel clock was striking at 9:00 am. Now people were gathering outside, and enjoying the weather, and many cars were on road; Bhimtal was fully awakened. I looked around the people in hotel, everyone was unknown here. I finished breakfast, and thought to go my room to recheck today’s schedule.

Arvind Kumar