An Unexpected Thrill #HiddenGem #WeekendWorthy

It all began on the 1st of January, 2020. I and Swagata celebrated the New Year's in Jorhat and we were really glad when Swagata's Father (Deta) and Mother (Maa) decided that they would also accompany us back to Duliajan, our current place of work and residence. But then it so happens that my father-in-law is a socially active person and keeping him confined out here in Duliajan is a big task. And hence to appease him, I and Swagata made a promise that we would be taking them to Mayodia on the next Sunday, which was the 5th of January. We had booked an Innova for the day and asked Biraj (My Colleague-cum-My Best Man during my wedding), his wife Kalyani and their cute little angel daughter Barbie, to accompany us. But due to some last minute engagement, they couldn't make it and we got an able replacement in the form of Ambarish, Swagata's cousin who also stays here in Duliajan. As we had to leave very early on Sunday, so the night before we planned everything and Maa and Swagata prepared the travel essentials which included boiled eggs and parantha. The next morning we got up early, got ready fast and by 5-30 AM we were on our way. We picked up Ambarish on the way and our pilot for the day was Ramen, a young chap with an ever smiling face. And so the five of us, along with Ramen, embarked on our journey to Mayodia. We had no inkling at that time that this would turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us. The roads being empty, we reached our first pit stop-Sadiya at around 7-30 AM. We got down, had tea, boiled eggs and packed paranthas and proceeded further. The next stop was for the ILP's in a place called Bolik, a few kilometres before Roing and since it was still early, hence the queue for the permit was very less. For the ILP’s we had to show our photo ID cards and submit around Rs. 50 per passenger. After obtaining the ILP’s, we decided that we would proceed straight to Mayodia. The distance from Roing to Mayodia is around 56 km with an elevation of 2,655 m above sea level and we crossed Roing town at around 8-15 AM.  The traffic was scarce in the morning hours and it was around 9-30 AM and the distance on the passing milestones showed that we were just 4 Km away from Mayodia when, right in front of us, we saw a Hyundai I20 vehicle getting stuck and not being able to go up. I and Ambarish got down and along with the person who was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle, we pushed the stuck vehicle. And then it happened. All of a sudden there was snowfall. Initially, we assumed that it was raining but then on looking up; we saw a white blanket of snow alighting down from the skies. It was a sight to behold. We however had to get down to business-which was pushing the stuck vehicle. The vehicle slowly started to move up, but then as luck would have it, our vehicle got stuck. With the combination of mud and snow skidding of the tyres of our vehicle and the snow falling from the top, we again got down to the business of pushing a stuck vehicle, but the catch was that this time it was our vehicle. 

We had to get down around 3-4 times as our Innova kept getting stuck in the snow again and again. Finally me, Swagata and Ambarish decided to walk the 4 km to Mayodia and send the vehicle with Maa and Deta as it would be difficult for them to walk till the top. And the walk to the top turned out to be an experience as well as a photography session for the three of us. The snow blasting down on our faces, the skidding road, the numb hands, the slowly developing white envelope around us, and the snow covered trees; it was all surreal for us. It took us 30 mins (and some 100 snaps) to climb the last 4 Km. 

We reached the top of Mayodia Pass at 10-30 AM and Maa and Deta were waiting for us. We had another photography session with Maa and Deta and then we entered the small eatery where they served warm coffee, Maggi and chicken fry. Needless to say, they all tasted delicious in the freezing weather. There is hardly any other place to eat in Mayodia top and hence we were really fortunate to have got something to nibble in this inclement weather. With our stomachs and spirits recharged, we went for a small walk. The constantly falling snow had turned everything white. And Mayodia had turned into Switzerland, albeit for a few hours. It was such a picturesque place and it instantly reminded me of the words of the great poet Amir Khusrau, “Gar firdaus, bar ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast” which translates to “If there is ever a paradise on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here.” Even Deta couldn't stop himself from doing a few Bihu steps. 

We stayed there for around an hour or so but as the traffic was increasing every passing minute, we decided to go back. With the soaring number of cars, there was a traffic jam in every bend and it took around two and half hours for us to come down to Roing. 

We finally reached Roing at around 2 PM and stopped in a wonderfully located restaurant named Naruka, overlooking the Deopani river and right beside the Deopani/Eze Bridge. The coldness and numbness still evident on our hands and faces and our stomachs growling with hunger, the steaming hot rice, dal, chicken fry, chicken boil and chowmein were a welcome relief. We had the sumptuous lunch to our stomachs fill and yes, it surely was a contented stomach for all of us. But another thing which was more contented than the stomach was the Heart. Because what we witnessed was something that is the stuff of dreams- unrelenting fresh snowfall. I and Swagata, we are unabashed mountain lovers and to have got this feeling in a place just 170 Kms from our place of residence, our joy knew no bounds. It was a blessing straight from heaven, a new year’s gift from the almighty. And as we left Roing that day, we knew that what we witnessed was a dream come true and an unexpected thrill for all of us.