Nakuchiyatal (Uttrakhand) - Travel

It was the day to explore Nakuchiya Lake, around 5 km from this hotel. I fetched a small bag kept phone, water bottle, and diary. I locked the door and came down stairs.

“Hello sir”, I heard. I turned back found Naresh.

“Hello Naresh, nice to see you”, I replied.
            “Seems going to explore some places”, he asked.
            “Yeah heading to Nakuchiya Lake”, I told.
            “I suggest you, take me as a friend to explore this place, and you wouldn’t regret”, he said smiling.
            “How much will you charge”, asked I.
            “First Two hours no charge, if you satisfy then hire me”, told he with friendly smile.
“Ok then deal”, responded I and smiled back.

We came out of the hotel, and Naresh took his car and stopped in front of the hotel. I got in without any delay, now the car was moving slowly through the crowd, and left side the lake was visible.
            “So we heading to Nakuchiya Lake”, asked he.
            “Then, my first advice is better we go by bike”, suggested he.
            “Why we go by bike”, asked I.
            “see, there is a lot of traffic on road, and it will kill our time”, told he. It was a fact, so I got agreed.
              “Then, first we’ll go home for bike”, told he.

Now we were in market, hadn’t seen it before, narrow road without traffic, local people walking either side, seemed like small city, and mountains standing far away like natural fence. Now I understood, Bhimtal was a valley, like a big bowl, and rain water recharges it.
            The car stopped in front of a sky blue color, single floor Bungalow.

“Come to my home”, said Naresh smiling. We got out of the car. Naresh opened the gate, and we were in. It’s colorful garden with flowers and green grass everywhere. We were on the porch, Naresh took the stairs which lead to first floor, and I followed him. He opened the door, and we got in. It was main room.

“Relax”, said he, gestured to the sofa, and he went outside. I settled on sofa, and looked around; this main room was connected with three rooms, one kitchen and one washroom. It was 10:00 am.

Naresh came in with tea and biscuits. I felt, like a guest there. We took tea, and felt like at friend’s home.

“This is your house”, asked to break the silence.
            “Yeah, it was built by my father in 2006 when he got retired”
            “What was your father”
            “Junior Engineer, in Army in Punjab”
            “Then you would have spent a lot of time there”
            “Yeah, I was born and raised there even completed education there”
            “Then, you would feel as a Punjabi”, asked I.
            “Yeah, of course”
            “I’m also Punjabi”, told I, and found a spark of happens on his face.
            “Where do you live”, asked he.
            “In Chandighar”

 Now he started speaking in Punjabi language, felt like at home with him, and my heart had accepted him a friend in some corner.
            “What’s plan for today”, asked I as a friend.
            “First we’ll go for paragliding, and then move to Nakuchiya Lake, which is deepest in this state”, told he. Now our tea was over, and it was adventure time.
            “Let’s hit the road”, said Naresh, and got up.

Naresh was riding the bike, and I behind him enjoying, watching people busy in their life. I caught lake view, means: we were on same road. Traffic, people, I already knew it. Our bike was making a way through the traffic, and finally it was behind. I saw hotel where I was staying. Now we were on new track, I noticed the beautiful landscapes on my right side.

We had been riding for half an hour, and muscular mountains were standing little far away. The Bhimtal represented the beauty of the nature but Nakuchiya strength and toughness. Now there was fork, and Naresh took right turn.

“Where we going”, asked I.
            “Paragliding”, told he.

Dense trees on either side of the road covered the sky, which were casting cool shadow on us. The road seemed abandoned sometime, and few houses were found in long distant; this part of the Nakuchiya was more beautiful and untouched by human activities and muscular mountains were dominating here. I got speechless to see many stones a size of a big house.

I heard some excited shouting, and found cars parked on roadside. We stopped near a roadside sign printed: welcome at eagle eye.

“I want to give you a surprise, and paragliding after that”, said Naresh with smile.
            “Alright”, replied I.

We were riding on the same road, and there was steep rise so Naresh was riding slow. We were riding toward the cliff of the mountain, and could gaze extremely far away where sky felt nearer to us.

“Could you see anything there”, Naresh pointed his index figure at his right side, and stopped there. I looked at there, and experienced a kind of sweet sensation in my body. There was a lake far away, shaped like a star.

“What that lake called”, asked in excitement I.
“Nakuchiya lake”, replied he, and could you see nine corners of it.
“No, there are seven corners”, replied I, after counting, had found seven.
“Yeah, two hiding behind the mountain”, told he, “actually that lake has nine, that’s why called Nakuchiya Lake”.

Now we were riding back, but I wanted to stay longer to admire the nature, anyway I could visit tomorrow. Those landscapes, mountains, trees, and wide sky had stolen my heart. I promised them, I will return back.

I saw many cars parked near roadside sign “Eagle eye” and excited shouting of people cheered me up. We stopped there, and followed a narrow path going up to the mountain. It was not very far, and finally we discovered the launching spot. Under the tree I found some chairs, and without taking second thought I captured one.

There sitting on a highest mountain gave an incredible view of the surroundings. The sky looked wider and closer, and I felt like a king besides experienced the influence of these mountains on me.

For paragliding people were coming to the launching spot which was covered with green mate. One man carrying big duffel bag on his back reached near launching spot. Two men took the bag, opened and stretched it up to its full size, oh it was parachute. Two persons fastened harness: one seemed pilot, other tourist, and before any thought, it seemed like the air had lifted them gently.  They were gliding in sky like an eagle and would have got an incredible view. I could not wait for my turn now.

“Ready for flying”, asked Naresh with smile.
“Yeah”, replied I.
“Get your ticket”, told he, pointing toward a ticket window. So I went there, it was not far away.

“What charges for paragliding”, inquired I while it was crowded.
“2000/- rupees sir”, replied the person sitting on ticket window. I came back to Naresh. “It’s 2000”, I told him.
“It’s too much”, said Naresh, and went toward the ticket window. I saw him talking to the person, and getting one form.

“Fill it and Sign there”, told he. It was formalities before Paragliding.
“Give 1000 rupees”, told he.

Now, under tree on chair I was eagerly waiting. It was my turn next. My wish for being bird was getting true. Naresh was talking with people, seemed like everyone were know to him.

“Come”, heard I, it was Naresh, calling me. So waiting was over, it’s time to fly.

Behind me Pilot fastened the harness and guided me to buckle the belts. So we were ready to fly, oh my god, I was being lifted by wind on its invisible hands, and could hear heart beating like a drum. After few second, it was normal; we were gliding in sky.  It was the most incredible experience; I had felt in this travel. This place was stretched in front of me now. I could track the road which we had taken to reach here.

“Take me to the top of this mountain”, I requested to the Pilot, I wanted to see the other side of the mountain. The pilot pulled the right rope, and now we were getting higher and higher, and long trees were getting smaller and smaller. Now I felt a push; there were high winds like it was their kingdom, and we had entered without their permission. I had seen their muscles power, and felt not more than a toy in front to it. At top of the mountain, felt like soul out of the body experience, a divine touch of god, a meditating stage where you step into your unconscious self like returning home after many births.

Other side of the mountain, I found many small houses, it was a village there. How would have been living there, those people; these forest would be their source of income. A lot of questions were coming on surface. I looked my right side, got a glimpse of Nakuchiya Lake.

We were gliding straight; I saw landing spot. It was a landing time so I held harness tightly. We got lot of swings in air, and came down extremely fast, and before blinking my eyes I found myself on ground like winds had kept us with tender hands. I looked around, many people were there, and many parachutes were landing in front of me. I thanked Himalayan winds for this unforgettable flight.

The pilot lead us to a Jeep, and we got into it. It was 1 km away from the Nakuchiya road; the jeep was running through a farm so it was an off road driving experience. It took five minutes, and we were on Nakuchiya road.

“How was glide”, asked Naresh with smile, standing beside bike, was waiting there.
            “It was amazing”, replied I with smile.
            “Let’s move to lake”

I got on his bike, but I was drifting in paragliding; the top of the mountain the cold strong winds, the sky, I was still there, flying. Opps, a jumper brought me back to my consciousness. We had come far away.

“How far is this lake”, asked to Naresh like a child.
            “In ten minutes, we are there”, he told.

Cottages, Bungalows, and stones houses were on either side of the road. It was quite dense with concrete houses, human interference in nature. But there were dense trees, and wide landscapes.

On the foot of the high mountains and surrounded by it, I got a glimpse of the lake and it captured my full attention. White-pink lotuses and green flat leaves floating on a pond, it was my first experience to witness its beauty. One thing, I realized today that this body senses could give us this outer pleasure, but this mind could take us to the real contentment. This outer pleasure is just a glimpse of it.

“It’s Kamaltal”, told Naresh.
       “It’s amazing”, I replied.
       “Next is Nakuchiya Lake”, asked I.
       “Yeah, hardly five minutes walking distance”, told he.

“Shall we go on foot”, requested I, and he didn’t refuse.

Strolling along the road and watching green mountains covered with dense trees besides less crowded place was helping me to introspect myself. One thing was crystal clear my thinking process was changing; I was considering things around me differently.

My feet got stopped and mouth remained opened when eyes witnessed the lake. It had male features: wide, deep, strong.

“This is the deepest lake in the state”, told Naresh.

  “A master peace of the nature”, I replied.

Still builders had not invaded here; local people had small shops so it was untouched. A thick log on edge of the lake caught my attention like saying come sit with me for a moment, I want you to show something. How could I refuse?

“Naresh come, we sit there for a while”, I requested him. He smiled and followed me.

Under green trees, sitting on log, and watching lake had been the simplest pleaser I ever felt. We say God is nowhere, but today I understood to feel him a simplest attitude is needed. The sun was glaring at mountains so green color was reflecting everywhere, the sky looked spotless blue, and evergreen as was the lake.

It was a kind of a retreat that I never found in Bhimtal and this place was like me. Sitting on the edge of the lake and strolling around was not less than meditation.

‘You like horse riding’, asked Naresh.
           ‘I do’, I replied.
            ‘Come, my friend has a horse here’, Naresh got up and walked up to the road.

Clip – Clop, Clip – Clop, Clip – Clop, a horse tapping sound on road got my attention.
‘Come for ride’, called out Naresh from road.

I got up, stretched up myself, and walked up to the road. A fellow around six feet tall, fair    color, in half blue jacket, holding rein of a dark black horse, was talking with Naresh, and both looked familiar. The horse more than seven feet height, strong structure, and swiftness on its face made me eager to take a ride. 

‘What’s its name’, I asked tapping the horse back, a sensation ran in my body.
‘Badal’, the fellow replied with smile.
‘What’s your name’
‘Hari’, the fellow told.

‘Where do you live’
‘Nakuchiyatal’
‘You are very luck. You live here’. I guess; he didn’t understand what I said.

One thing I had noticed in this place that most of the people had fair color and were slim. It was due to this beautiful climate and hard mountain life.

I held saddle with left hand while left foot in stirrup and sprang on horseback. It was my first experience on horseback and it felt amazing.

‘Well you take a round. I’ll wait here’, said Naresh.

Hari pulled the rein and Badal followed him. Long time ago in Mugal rule Guru Govind Singh had come this region for meditation that place is called Hemkund Sahib now. Guru Govind Singh would have used horse for travelling that time. There were no road so horses had played an important role here.

After some time, I got the horse rein and officially I was a horse rider. Watching mountains and lake on horseback were increasing my excitement. On other hand Hari was walking along quietly.

‘Hari, what are the popular places here’, I asked.
         ‘There are many places like Sattal, Nanital, Ramgard, Almora, Ranikhat and many more’
          ‘Nakuchiyatal is not crowded’
           ‘Yes, tourist doesn’t like to stay here, mostly they stay in Nainital. This region is known for lakes and Nainital is the most beautiful lake here’
           ‘Hari, you have any other business’
           ‘Yah, I have four boats.’
           ‘Well, I’ll do boating after riding’.

I asked many things to Hari; he replied like a friend. I wanted the horse would run little faster so I could really taste the plesure of riding.

‘Hari I want to ride little faster. What I do’
‘It’s little riskly sir’, replied Hari with smile.

After many requests, finally Hari got ready.

‘Sit straight, keep rein contact’
‘Rein contact means’
‘your rein shouldn’t be pulled or freed just stay connected’

‘Do nudging with your leg to encourage him to go forward in the walk. For trot transition, put a bit more pressure with the legs and lighten your body. And occasionally nudge him with leg. For faster trot close the legs round and put a bit more pressure on and use a bit more leg. For slow down, stop with leg, make a little bit heavier, and keep contact with rein’

I repeated all instructions in my head and got ready to execute them. It was ready a fun. I did a little nudge with legs to encourage for walk, Badal really followed it. For trot, I put a bit little pressure with legs, and lighten my body. Really it worked. After little distance, I thought it better to stop it down so I stopped with legs and got a little heavier.

‘Where is Hari’, asked Naresh with surprise, waiting at edge of the lake.
            ‘He’s coming behind’, I replied with little confusion because the horse was not stopping then I went deep to seat and squeezed on the rein. It worked; it worked, and gave him a gentle tap on his neck.

            After few minutes, Naresh had tied the horse while Hari also joined us. His face was little brighter and eyes wide opened while mouth ready to say.

‘You are natural at Horse riding’, commented Hari.
‘No, your Badal is cleaver.’
‘It’s two o’clock, you would be hungry’, Naresh asked. I was really hungry.
‘For boating, don’t forget to come after one hour’, reminded Naresh. And we left Hari there.

 Walking on the foot of the hill, following the road, and the company of the lake were healing my soul. There were many restaurants so it got difficult to choose.

‘Naresh which one is best here’
‘What you want regular food or local taste’. I preferred local taste then Naresh took into a

small restaurant. There rectangular tables and chairs were arranged in parallel, enough space between them to walk. It was not crowded; we took one corner table. Everyone was talking in kumao language. The walls were decorated with cultural photographs. For a moment, I felt part of this community.

‘What would you like.’ Naresh passed menu.
            ‘You are in driving seat.’
            ‘Your wish my command’, replied Naresh with smile. I noticed; we had become good friend. I didn’t know it was his skill but I liked him.

     Rice, Kari, Salad, and Rayta decorated on table, how I could stop, and its fragrance was irresistible. No gossip when there is food. The food was simple but it was delicious. I didn’t know that the Kari would be so tasty; the Salad with local sauce; the Rayta, where was chef wanted to kiss him. Later I came to know the chef was a lady.

    We got the bill; it was not heavy. I paid the bill and we came out for fresh air. Long trees either side of the road casting shadow, and the light breeze inviting like gorgeous girl smiling, and calling you. Standing alone I was missing something and Naresh had gone due to some work. Strolling on road I was thinking that it was my second day and five days were left. In these two days I had not thought about Delhi for a single moment. It was a plus thing or minus I didn’t know.

‘Hello sir.’ I turned back it was Hari.
            ‘Ready for boating’
            ‘Better wait for Naresh. He is not here.’
            ‘Right sir’, replied Hari.
             We waited long, but there was no sign of  Naresh so I made a call and came to know that he had stuck in some work.

‘Hari lets we do boating. He is coming late’. Then Hari lead me to a small dock. There were canoes like I had seen in Bhimtal, and paddle boats were looking like a big duck.

‘Which boat would you like sir’, asked Hari.
            I had enjoyed canoe in Bhimtal so choose paddle boat.’ Hari untied the boat, and I got on it, and he also instructed how it would work.

‘Well, you not coming’, I asked Hari. ‘I need company and you would guide me.’ Any way he got on the boat, and settled beside me. I paddled the boat, and turned the handle.

     It took few minutes to get familiar with the boat. Now we started exploring the lake. At center we stopped paddling then I turned around and got the breath taking view of the nature which was hiding from my eyes before. We were extremely far from the dock, and it was looking unbelievable small from there. Leaning down the trees and touching the water, and some fallen in lake, inspired me to write a poem.

‘Hari you married.’
            ‘Yah have two kids.’
            ‘Hari you are extremely good man.’
            ‘A good man always finds good things around him, and bad man is always followed by bad things sir’, Hari replied.
            ‘Do you believe in god Hari.’
            ‘Yes sir.’
            ‘Have you seen him?’

‘Yah, I see him in nature.’
‘How do you see him?’, I asked; I wanted to know.
‘Look, when you sow a seed and provide suitable conditions you get  reply from the nature.’
‘Good point Hari.’

After exploring the lake, we returned back to duck. Naresh was waiting there; it was 4pm so we decided to leave. When I was riding back, my mind was occupied with wonderful thoughts, and I had got unforgettable experience. I found with Naresh cousin like relationship. I did not want to leave him. When we returned back Bhimtal, I didn’t understand.

‘Sir your hotel’, said Naresh and stopped there. I was thinking either go with Naresh or stay in hotel. Finally I decided to stay with Naresh but I had not asked him.

‘Naresh I was thinking that how would it be if I stay at your house as paying guest, and you being my local guide for one week.’

‘Sounds great’, replied Naresh with smile. Without wasting a moment I went in hotel packed my bag, and checked out because I had found my friend.

Arvind Kumar