Happy New Year!
This New Year was so wonderful; a fitting end to a marvelous year. 2007 had been exceptionally good to me…even the unpleasant moments coming together to yield some goodness in their wake. After a spell of a couple of mediocre years, 2007 made them all worth it.
And then there was Bhowali. I went to Bhowali with a bunch of friends and family to bring in the New Year away from the madness of the cities. And what a good decision it turned out to be. Bhowali, situated in Uttaranchal, about 11 kilometers south of Nanital, is the perfect location for a quiet, yet eventful holiday. Getting there took us longer than expected, because one of the cars in our convoy kept hiccupping, but in the spirit of the holiday, it was all taken calmly, with everyone munching on sandwiches, chocolate and steaming glasses of chai while waiting for the mechanics to do their job. And once we got there, it was well worth the trouble. Our evenings in Bhowali were my favorite part of the day, spent listening to music, playing board games, watching movies, or chatting while sipping on glasses of red red wine- all huddled in front of the fireplace. Or perhaps visiting friends who’d had the same brainwave as us, and escaped to Sattal to wrap up their year. Days were spent driving around to various places- Almora for the views of the magnificent snow-capped Himalayas, Nainital for shopping sprees, the forest area to supervise the mountain house my mother is in the process of building, and also some temple visiting at a heritage site.
Mornings were lazy, beginning with large hot mugs of chai in the backyard, with views of the mountains in the distance and feeding our Bhutia dog her morning quota of biscuits. Breakfasts were always enormous; we were ravenous enough to consume large proportions of eggs, bacon, baked beans, toast, and juice each morning. After which we’d skip down to the cars for the outing planned for the day. Afternoons were usually out- picnic lunches were a special favorite with all of us.
The thought of ending this perfect holiday and returning to Delhi/Bombay was such a depressing thought that in the end we all stayed two days more than planned. And then it was time to head back to Delhi. The couple of days I spent in Delhi were fantastic too, but when compared to the sheer beauty of the Bhowali trip, it paled substantially.
Hopefully the coming year will be as kind as the one past was…with many more such holidays peppered in between. Cheers to that!
And then there was Bhowali. I went to Bhowali with a bunch of friends and family to bring in the New Year away from the madness of the cities. And what a good decision it turned out to be. Bhowali, situated in Uttaranchal, about 11 kilometers south of Nanital, is the perfect location for a quiet, yet eventful holiday. Getting there took us longer than expected, because one of the cars in our convoy kept hiccupping, but in the spirit of the holiday, it was all taken calmly, with everyone munching on sandwiches, chocolate and steaming glasses of chai while waiting for the mechanics to do their job. And once we got there, it was well worth the trouble. Our evenings in Bhowali were my favorite part of the day, spent listening to music, playing board games, watching movies, or chatting while sipping on glasses of red red wine- all huddled in front of the fireplace. Or perhaps visiting friends who’d had the same brainwave as us, and escaped to Sattal to wrap up their year. Days were spent driving around to various places- Almora for the views of the magnificent snow-capped Himalayas, Nainital for shopping sprees, the forest area to supervise the mountain house my mother is in the process of building, and also some temple visiting at a heritage site.
Mornings were lazy, beginning with large hot mugs of chai in the backyard, with views of the mountains in the distance and feeding our Bhutia dog her morning quota of biscuits. Breakfasts were always enormous; we were ravenous enough to consume large proportions of eggs, bacon, baked beans, toast, and juice each morning. After which we’d skip down to the cars for the outing planned for the day. Afternoons were usually out- picnic lunches were a special favorite with all of us.
The thought of ending this perfect holiday and returning to Delhi/Bombay was such a depressing thought that in the end we all stayed two days more than planned. And then it was time to head back to Delhi. The couple of days I spent in Delhi were fantastic too, but when compared to the sheer beauty of the Bhowali trip, it paled substantially.
Hopefully the coming year will be as kind as the one past was…with many more such holidays peppered in between. Cheers to that!
posted by Mojo | 8:05 AM
4 Comments:
Hey Insi! Such a perfect way to usher the New Year in the mountains! Happy 2008!!
Well, a beautiful new year you seem to have had. The side trips and the picnics, the visits everyday here and there. Almost like we must go immediately.
Lets plan something soon and do this. We don't have to wait till the new year. I want to experience it first hand.
Lots of love,
Adil.
Sure...I'd love to go up again with you. So you get to pick- this summer in Gulmarg or Bhowali? :)
This summer in August a week in Gulmarg is planned for sure. Its another untouched paradise in a way like no other... you'll see.
The miles and miles of green lush meadows with a horse grazing. A little brook to sit and read your book by. The beautiful green forests of pine where all you can here is the wind whistling through the branches. The Pir Punjab ranges staring you in the face, the clean air. Its an experience!!
And on a clear day the absolutely stunning view of Nanga Parbat and Nun kun (twin peaks).
Adil
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