BECOME ONE WITH NATURE ON A ROAD TRIP FROM KAUSANI TO RANIKHET WITH SPELLBIND PICTURES

Basic mantra of people who love to travel is to Work – Save – Travel – Repeat. Now days when I am at home and not travelling due to covid-19 pandemic, all I can do is remember my old memories, when i was really free to fly. Lets me take you to my kasauni to ranikhet road trip.

It’s that day, 27th December, 2019, when the weather was clear and cold. I am woken up to the most enticing views of Himalayan ranges I have ever seen. When sun rays fallen on peak of the mountain it felt like ranges are wearing a crown and slowly that orange colour spread across the sky. The temperature was near 3 degrees Celsius, but cold breeze was so exhilarating. I was so keen to get ready and take few beautiful clicks of mine in that ambiance.

Would you really ask for more than a cup of tea, yummy breakfast and a mountain view?? That’s what the Hotel Pratiksha Himalayan Retreat offered us, a panoramic view of the breathtaking valley from the dining hall. After breakfast, first place was on our list was Baijnath Mahadev (Bhageshwar, Uttarakhand). It is located in the Bageshwar district at a distance of 22 km from Bageshwar and 16 km from Kausani.

This mahadev temple is situated on the bank of the Gomti river in Baijnath Village.

The main temple, dedicated to Baijnath or Vaidhyanatha (a name of Shiva). Baijnath or Vaidyanatha is also called as the Lord of Physicians.

The main temple has a beautiful idol of Goddess Parvati carved in black stone. These temples are known for possibly being one of the very few temples in the world where Parvati is depicted with her husband Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga.

There is a small lake outside the temple full of fishes, which attracts the tourists. You will have a clear view of the snow-capped Trishul Mountain from there. Being a devotee of lord Shiva, this place mesmerised me.

Do you remember when did you last write letters to your loved ones? While passing by Laubanj Village, I saw post office and thought to send some love to my friend from uttarkhand. You know, in era of whats app and Instagram, it feels so good to wrap your emotions in your handwriting and send it through post. Not only I wrote to my friend, i wrote letter to myself also just to remind me “You have nothing to lose and world to see. Forget all worries and live your life. The World won’t change for you, so you also please don’t change for world”

It’s always the journey, which makes the trip unforgettable and happiness is when you do something which is not included in your itinerary. When you are on holidays in the mountains never forgetting to enjoy what surrounds you. Make efforts to stop by river banks, make your feet wet in freezing water, take a small trek, enjoy local food and talk to local people, there where I feel most alive.

On our way we halt by a small channel of Gomati river. Flowing river has its own aroma, sound of flowing water makes my heart tender and my mind calm. It was 3 pm, Kids were returning from school, the Ladies were back from the fields, for them it would be there day to day chaos, but when I am in nature surrounded by mountains, a weird feeling of belongingness takes over. We sat on the river bank for an hour. Just sitting there in the cold breeze is so refreshing, that beautiful feeling continues to evade us until we live in our own cosy comfort zones.

The greatest parts of a road trips are all that wild stuff you do along the way. Dancing to punjabi songs in the middle of the road was maddest thing I have ever done. While writing this post in I am smiling and happy deep inside my heart that i really did these things which won’t be forgettable.

Finally, around 5:45 we reached Ranikhet. It was all about getting there….So I would say whenever you are travelling “EMBRACE THE JOURNEY’’.

Travelling to a new place is serendipity to me. PS (To my love one) You’re my favourite serendipity, I wasn’t looking for you. I wasn’t expecting you. But I’m lucky I met you.

There are many blogs on” Places to visit in Kausani and Ranikhet on internet”, But as Deepika Padukone said in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani movie “Life me jitna bhi try karo, kuch na kuch to chootega he. Isliye jahan hain, wahan ka he mazaa lete hain na”, Though I missed a few places to visit which was on my kausani and the ranikeht travel list but I stayed where my soul was happy and peaceful.