Chopta, Uttarakhand

From Images of Incredible India

From Images of Incredible India

From Images of Incredible India

While moving from Kedar nath to Badrinath, we take turn from Guptkashi, cross Ukhimath &  head towards Chopta. 2-3 kms before Chopta, we found this beautiful valley at village named Duggal Bittha. We stopped to have our breakfast at this place. We must say the food is very tasty over here. More so, when had on a morning full of fog & mist.

Devprayag : The Other Side of the Confluence

From Images of Incredible India

From Images of Incredible India

From Images of Incredible India

Previous post showed the views of Ganga at Village Byasi, between Rishikesh & Devprayag. These are a few pictures of the Confluence at Devprayag, the tourist guest house & the Hilltop Temple visible from there and another views of River Ganga after crossing Devprayag and moving on to Badrinath / Kedarnath.

Incredible India, Uttarakhand- Mana-The Last Indian Village near Badrinath

This picture was taken at Mana Village. This is the last village of indian Territory on this route. This village is just 3 kilometers from the Badrinath Temple, one of the Most Important & Holiest Shrines of Hindu Religion.

Devprayag- Last Confluence of Ganga Rivulets

Moving on from Rishikesh on way to Devprayag, We reach a small village Byasi. Some breathstopping views of River Ganga were visible, which we captured in our camera.
Here are some images... Devprayag will be our next stop.

Rishikesh, The Holy City on the banks of Ganga

Rishikesh is one of the holiest places of the Hindu Religion. This is the place where Ganga touches the plain lands after its arduous journey from the Himalayan peaks.
Anyone having interest in Hindu Religion has to visit Rishikesh.

 This photo series is the first in our journey along the Ganges Trail.

We start from Rishikesh & go upwards in Himalayas till Badrinath & Kedarnath.

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The Great Indian Jugaad...

India is Incredible....
There are so many colors in an Indian life, it never stops feeding your thoughts, your imagination... !!! Sometimes, you find India to be incredibly weird also.

Necessity is the mother of invention, & The Great Indian Jugaad is an example of it. Literal meaning of "Jugaad" is : "something functional made out of whatever resources are available".
The above pictures are of a Jugaad as it is popularly known. It is also known as "Maruta" (masculine word for Maruti-the popular car brand) at many places. In Haryana hinterlands, its also called "Bhoond", a variant of Haryanvi word "Bhoonda" -meaning "Bad Faced".

Howsoever bad names it might have earned, it is an example of solid will power of rural Indian folk, who have to live on.. despite the shortage of money, technical support, advanced technology, etc etc. Made from the water pump, Jugaad is the most popular, most workable & one of the most successful transport vehicles of rural India. This is an original example of Indian Ingenuity, which has bloomed in recent times after finding the right environment in the shape of IT revolution.

Kerala: Mannar

Here are some beautiful pics from the Southern End of Incredible India... Mannar, Kerala. No need to say much, the pics themselves speak for the incredible beauty of the place... (photos contributed by Sachin Verma)

A Village on the banks of River Yamuna

Beauty is in abundance in India. You just pick your camera, aim it anywhere & just click. It is bound to come back with a beautiful picture. These pics were taken during journey through a small village on the banks of River Yamuna, on the border of Haryana & Uttar Pradesh states.
A watered field, Trees on the roadside forming a cave like view and A bulging River Yamuna looking like a sea on a rainy day.

The Giri Ganga Temple, Khara Pathar, Himachal

So here are the pics from the Giri Ganga Temple. This dates back to Mahabharat Age, i.e. approx 5500 years ago. Beleived to be built by Maharishi Ved Vyas as told by the local priest, This shrine is full of peace. Far far away from the maddening world, situated on the banks of Giri Ganga river, Surrounded by the thick deodar jungles, 100% pure peace awaits you here. You suddenly feel like meditating to rise above mortality. in winters, this entire space is filled with snow. An overwhelmingly peaceful place, very highly recommended by us if you are seeking a break.

The Path to Giri Ganga

So, We start moving from Khara Pathar to Giri Ganga. A trekking I'll never forget. Here are a few pics of the path moving up to Giri Ganga Temple, supposedly approx 5000 yrs old.

Road is paved with Silver Dust presenting an amazing view. (The mountain is of Mica stone, the powder form shines no less that Silver).

It takes almost 45 minutes to cover 7-8 Kms of upward journey on a rough road barely wide enough for a single vehicle. You have to drive so slow out of the fear that sometimes you prefer to get down & walk on foot. Going through the jungle is a bad idea... we came to know this when, on the way back, we lost our way in the jungle & had to travel all the way back, wasting an hour or so .

The track itself was enjoyable, the destination all the more so.

Untouched Corners- Reckong Peo, Kinnaur

This is a view on the way to Reckong Peo, District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Taken on April 2, 2010.

This is just a glimpse & many more images of breathtakingly beautiful trip to Kinnaur are lined up. Its just awesome... Incredible India !!!

Khara Pathar - Base Camp for Giri Ganga

After Kotkhai, we reach Khara Pathar. It was not less than a shock for us to find Khara Pathar to be just like an ordinary destination.
Local people told us that this place got this name from a Standing Stone at a temple. But that stone is no more & two years ago it gave way to a calamity.
However, sharing some phhotographs of Sunrise & some Misty Mountains at Khara Pathar, District Shimla.

From here, we were advised either to go to Hatkoti or to see the temple of Giri Ganga, atop a hill, a 7 Km long trek.

We decided to go for Giri Ganga.... wait for the next post.

The Lonely Tree at Kotkhai Valley

From Fagu we moved on towards Khara Pathar, the base camp for Giri Ganga.
Kotkhai is a small town on the way. These are two pics. The Lonely Tree in the Kotkhai Vally and An Apple Orchard at Kotkhai.

Sunrise at Fagu, Shimla

Here we go...

Friends now we have set on a journey to Giri Ganga. An unknown untouched corner in Himachal Pradesh. This post is the first in this series.

We start from Chandigarh in evening. As discussed in one of the previous posts (click here), we decide to byepass Shimla & stay at Fagu. This helps us cover some miles before we sleep.

In the morning, we enjoy a beautiful Sunrise behind the Himalayan mountains. Pics are here for you.

From Fagu, we'll be moving on to Theog, take a side road towards Chhaila, Kotkhai & Khara Pathar.This road further goes to Jubbal, Hatkoti & Rohru. This area is famous for apple orchards.

But from Khara Pathar - we trek to Giri Ganga & take another unknown, untrekked route back to Chandigarh. Details & photos will be coming soon.

For the time being, here's the sunrise at Fagu.

Kangra

Kangra
Originally uploaded by Dainik Batoula

This is the last photograph of our journey towards Kangra, Himachal. Further to Kangra one can visit Dharmshala, Mcleodganj, Baijnath, Palampur. Dhauladhar Range of Himalays is visible in its awesome beauty from here.
We hope to explore all these locations in future.

In our next posts we'll resume our journey on Shimla route. Byepassing Shimla, we'll stop at Fagu.. and then we'll take you to a journey of rather unknown destinations. Untouched by crowd... seen only by some compulsive travellers.. some fanatics of beauty.. some devotees of beauty of Incredible India.

Plains of Punjab, The Land of Five Rivers

While we almost always cherish the photographs of Mountains,Valleys, Lakes, Sea Beaches, Deserts... beauty of plains is almost taken for granted. So for a change, here are some photos of plains. Lush green fields mark the entire territory of Punjab, the land of Five Rivers. This one is an image from the historical town of Ropar or Roopnagar as it is known these days. Another image is of a bridge on a river on the way to Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Well, in case you don't like these images, I don't blame you. But lets have them for a change. I hope you agree that all photos can't be enchanting, but simplicity is also incredible sometimes.

Valley of Peace, Kangra

On way to Kangra from Chandigarh, one has to cross the lush green planes of Punjab, the historic cities of Ropar, Anandpur Saheb & then Nangal Dam to enter Himachal Pradesh. After crossing first major town Una, the uphill journey starts. Somewhere there, while you are engrossed in scenic beauty, suddenly something strikes you... breath stopping peace... tranquility... serenity.

You decide to get down... breathe deeply... you try to store the air in your lungs hoping that the peace & life contained in this air will last forever. Lest memories fade, you also click a few images which you could share with all your loved ones & with all those compulsive travellers.

We don't know exactly what the name of this place was, But we decide to call it ....



Valley of Peace.

A Mountain Floating on Clouds-Dhauladhar, Kangra

Nothing much to say yet.. just enjoy the pick of mountains floating on clouds.

This is a view of Dahuladhar Range as seen on the way to Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

Route : Chandigarh, Ropar, Una, Kangra.



Some more beautiful images will be shared in coming posts.

Mhasu Peak

We byepassed Shimla, to reach Kufri . From here, we move further up skywards, towards Mhasu Peak. Barely one kilometer ride on car & then you have to take a pony to reach the Mhasu Peak. It derives its name from a temple of Mhasu Nag (Snake God namely Mhasu), a deity of local tribes.

Few glimpses of breathtaking view catch your eyes from behine the dense forests while you are enjoying the poney ride & one is tempted to stop in between to go out into the woods to enjoy the fantastic view of Himalayan Mountains. But wait... dont hurry... Once you reach the peak & go to the temple, the forests are left behind and the beauty of nature is available in its completeness for you to enjoy. Just stand there, inhaling all the beauty inside you, because you know you are here for a few moments only & the beauty is so overwhelming to be absorbed with just two eyes.