"What if I told you that there is a Switzerland in India!"
"Oh come on! There's nothing new in that. Ofcourse you're talking about Kashmir "
"What if, I said that this Switzerland lies close to Tropic of Cancer"
"Wait. What!!!"
Wedding seasons are stressful, especially, when you're 'of age' and still single. You cannot dance freely to the tune of "mere yaar ki shaadi hai" without thinking "agle saal shayad meri baari hai".
After attending a five-day, alcohol sloshed Punjabi wedding in Delhi, I decided to pack my bags and go far away from this bustling city to a laidback coal township, in Chhattisgarh, that I call home, because that's where dad's posted!
This small coal township lies some 200 km south of the capital city of Chhattisgarh, i.e Raipur. Now, one might wonder, what's so great in travelling to your hometown. That's doesnot count as a trip! But, isn't travelling and exploring all about taking that unchartered road and experiencing the unexpected?!
Situated right in the middle of vast stretch of coalfields, with the landscape, mostly plain and weather, mostly hot; this elevated getaway, is no less than Switzerland for the locals.
Sure, the peaks aren't as pointed and the slopes aren't as white as you thought, but, I guess, you get the idea!
On a lazy sunday afternoon, I decided to take a small road trip to CHAITURGARH- the Switzerland of Chhattisgarh! A 50-km drive from Gevra township to Chaiturgarh offers you a peak into two completely different worlds- from a place filled with helmet headed miners to the place filled with special backward tribes of Chhattisgarh.
After manoeuvring my car through the coal mines, in Bilaspur-Korba road, alongside some really heavy vehicles; I decided to make a stoppage at an ancient Mahadev Mandir in Pali- from where I had to take a turn for Chaiturgarh. This 9th century marvel has been declared as "Protected monument of National importance" by ASI.
The small pause in this really secluded monument, was all I needed for my journey further. Setting my gps on, I resumed my drive towards my destination.
The relief, now began to change- from vast plain with distant horizon to the roads with higher gradients. The narrow road through small settlements undertook sharp turns. The sign board on sidewalk began to display the "start of valley", "wild animals ahead", and "end of valley" on a 22 km stretch to the destination.
On reaching there, I parked my car, and set out for a hike to the Maa Mahisha Sur Mardini temple on top of Meccal mountain, about 3060 ft above the ground level. This small hike, is all I needed to burn the "holiday fat", that came as a consequence of home visit.
The small trek through the slope, devoid of tourist clutter, was all I wanted for a peaceful mind and soul. This trip was although physically exhausting but it was also mentally refreshing. It is indeed a gem, that's hidden in the hinterland of India.