May 30, 2003 11:49 AM
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(Updated May 30, 2003 11:49 AM)
Preamble Traveling to new places has always fascinated me so I never miss an opportunity when I see one. I love to explore the unknown and unseen places. My dream is to be deserted on an Island (not for life but just for a few days) which has plenty of natural beauty, many coves and caves, ancient monuments and sculptures etc. Of course I must have a partner. How boring to be alone. After a few days of exploring, a boat comes along and takes me to another place another time and so on. What a marvelous life it would be. Alas! Dreams are but dreams. I have always been a little adventurous. I remember when I was in Class VI, 1964, we were in Srinagar and our house was just at the base of The Shankracharya hillock. Those were the golden days when peace prevailed in the valley. It had become a routine for me to run up the hill practically every day. Each time I would take a new route, avoiding the beaten path. I would scale the steep slopes hanging on to the branches of shrubs at places. I and my friends used to have a bet as to who will reach the top first. I try to fulfill my dreams the best I can, by catching hold of any opportunity I get to travel. Generally, whenever I go on a transfer, I drive down and utilize the time in seeing all the places enroute. I have visited some exquisite places during these years of traveling which I would like to share with you. I am presenting the five best hill stations that I liked. I have left out Srinagar because, it is a paradise beyond compare.
Udaipur Though Udaipur is not a hill station in a true sense, I am including it here as it has the ambience of a hill station with a few hillocks. When we (I my wife and daughter, then just two years old) were driving down from Pune (Maharashtra) to Suratgarh (Rajasthan) in my old but faithful Fiat (despite my wife’s protests at trusting the old war horse), I took a slight detour and went to Udaipur and spent a day there. It is a city of palaces and lakes. The largest palace in Rajasthan, The City Palace is located in front of the Pichola lake. There is a palace built in the middle of the lake too and looks exquisitely romantic. It is one of the main attractions of Udaipur. One has to get to the lake palace by boat. It has been converted into a luxury Hotel. There is a huge statue in the middle of the lake at the entrance to the Palace. We went inside and had a look a the elegant architecture. The gold and silver suites, which were once used by the maharajas were impressive and majestic. We enjoyed the most in Sahelion-ki-bari, a moughal garden. Which had a few pools with fountains. There were a few animals carved in marble. My daughter wanted to sit on each one and get photographed. The garden was lush green and one could hardly imagine such greenery in the midst of the desert. There are many other attractions like Fateh Sagar, a Museum, Gulab Bagh, etc, but due to shortage of time we could not visit all of them. To be able to enjoy the splendour of Udaipur one must stay her for three to four days.
Mt Abu From Udaipur, we drove to Mt Abu. It was rainy season and a cause way near Abu Road was flooded. I saw a bus crossing and thought I could take a chance behind it. I had hardly gone 10 yards when my car stopped. With the help of some bystanders I pushed the car back and this time I listened to my wife and took a detour or else we could have been washed away and become Bhutpoorv Tripathi Parivar (late Tripathi Family). A full day at Mt Abu was worth the effort of taking the detour. Mt Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan and is situated on the South Western tip of the Aravali Hills. The city of Mt Abu is located around Nakki Lake with a road running right around the lake. It is surrounded by forested hills. Those who are keen for trekking can have a wonderful time. One can have a beautiful birds eye view after climbing one of the hills. The famous Dilwara temples, said to be built in the 13th century are located here. These are Jain temples and are dedicated to the Tirthankaras. The Krishna Consciousness Centre is worth a visit. The atmosphere is very serene and peaceful. The Honeymoon point and sunset point are places where all tourists flock to have a view of the beautiful sunset. Unfortunately the day we reached there was a heavy mist. The atmosphere along the road is like a carnival with small shops selling souvenirs. My daughter was fascinated by a huge hat which was a big as her. There are many other attractions around Mt Abu. The Achalgarh Fort, Adhar Devi Temple, Trevor’s Tank, Mandakini Kund, Guru Shikhar to name a few. One can easily spend three to four days here and yet have plenty to see.
Kalimpong There is a saying “Shadi ke pehle Shillong aur Shadi ke baad Kalimpong” (Before marriage Shillong and after marriage Kalimpong). Unfortunately, I went to Kalimpong before marriage and to Shillong after marriage. Never-the-less, I did enjoy my stay in Kalimpong. As you climb up from Siliguri towards Darjeeling, Kalimpong falls on the East of Darjeeling. It is at an altitude of about 1250 meters set amidst gently rolling hills. I t is ideal for a quiet holiday with your spouse. Besides the scenic beauty, there is a famous Swiss Dairy located here. You can find various varieties of cheese and curd. I enjoyed the sweetened curd which was delicious. There are a number of flower nurseries which look beautiful when in full bloom.
Shillong Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is located on the Khasi hills some 1500 Meters above sea level at a distance of 100 KM from Guwahati. It is often described as the Scotland of the East. There is abundance of romantic and picturesque locations and beautiful girls. That is why is is a bachelors paradise. There are motorable roads all around and through the city so one can easily roam around. The city has a high taxi density. The flora and fauna, the climate, the people, all combine to make Shillong an ideal holiday resort throughout the year. At the foot of Shillong, just before the final climb is the Umroi Lake. It is a huge lake formed by making a dam in the midst of the hills. The lake is good for boating and enjoying a picnic.
Ooty I stayed in Wellington for six months and had the joy of visiting Ooty often on horse back.. Situated in the midst of the blue mountains known as the Nilgiris in Tamilnadu, Ooty is a queen amongst hill stations. Its full name is Udhagamandalam shortened to Ooty during the British era. The ride from Mettupalayam to Ooty by the toy train is a wonderful experience. The Botanical Garden of Ooty is amongst the best picnic spots. A visit to Ooty lake is a must for those fond of boating and fishing. A ride around the surrounding hills on horse back is an exhilarating experience. Kalhatty Waterfalls, Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose, Mukurthi peak are other attractions around ooty.
