Travelogue approved.

Wonderful start Ranjeet..

Waiting for the next part of your ride..

Nice photos mate. waiting for more

A water crossing en-route:


Bad Roads Continued:




But the views were equally good:


Well Managed:


Vertical drop:


Lovely Twists


As soon as I hit the main route, I was welcomed by a small slide. Couple of minutes and I was moving again.Th road to Almora is all messed up due to rains this year. At some places it is just hanging over the river. It used to be a wide road where many a times vehicles have to pass one at a time.


couple of good shots from the river:




Adrenaline rush, First view of snow, few kms before Almora:


Passed through those green trees:




Hiding out:


From here onwards, those snow mountains became my fellow travellers:
















Reached Almora around 1 PM, but a city is not my place for holidaying but a quite and calm place. Kept on moving to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.
There is a barrier at the entrance of the sanctuary. You have to pay INR 150/- for a visit, the coupon is valid for three days. Th guy at the gate told me that there is a FRH, Tourist rest house and a few private resorts. The cheapest accommodation is at TRH for 1800/-
It was a really a bad news for me. Therefore I had to go back to Almora for night halt
Took the entry pass and entered the Sanctuary. Green and long pine trees standing over the brown carpet both the sides have welcomed me.


The TRH is the last point, 10 kms away from the entry gate, upto where one can drive, after a turn towards the other side of the hill, flora changed and I entered into the dense forest with a dead single lane road. Since I entered the gate, I could not see anyone and to be true I was a little concerned after seeing such an ambience, may be scared

Great snaps bro... Keep them coming...

nice travelogue with some amazing pics....keep it up

Day 2 Continued:
Evening at Binsar: Nothing Special yet Different



After a 15 mins break and some light food on request of my host, it was time to explore the Sanctuary. By 3 PM, picked up my bike and headed further towards TRH and then FRH. Riding into the forest through nostalgic aroma was a sheer amusement.


The Temple at Binsar:






The Valley View:





My Shelter at Binsar:






This is Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, though I did not see any wild creature, but its beautiful. No camera can do justice with the beauty of the place:











This is another thing, Binsar is famous for:


Atumn Colours and Sunrays, a Deadly Combination:
















This is FRH, can be booked from Almora:





A Jungle Trail:


This is Binsar, Quite, Calm and Green:
















Found some good light for backlit and macro shots:
















1.5 kms walk to zero point from TRH and one can see almost 180* view of snow capped Himalayas ranges consisting of Panchchuli, Nanda Devi, Trishul, Ohm parvat (Not sure) and others which I do not know.
Alas! I cannot cover that panorama in my Digicam, but no regrets because I know it will not be as beautiful as what I have seen: I was looking for a better place to get a clear view, when a person suggested me to tress pass the TRH property and go to its terrace. He said: "allowed nahi hai lekin kisi se kuchh bole bina chupchaap ghus jaao". the person was from the TRH staff



Nanda Devi Peaks:







Panchchuli Peaks:













The Sun has started setting by the time I was taking pics from TRH terrace. Now it was the time to get back to nature camp because it was west facing:















There is no electricity at Binsar, people use Solar power for basic needs like mobile charging. This was our power house:


My host Mr. Gopal:


Mr. Ram Singh, the Forest Guide and Gopal's friend:


Pahadi Mooli:


Our Kitchen:


When Gopal asked me about the dinner and offered to prepare Daal, Rice, Veg and Chapatis, I promptly asked can I have some local food. He said yes but I might not like it, but who cares, this was a different day and so I agreed. He and his friend Ram Singh prepared chapatis of "Kala Maduwa ka Atta" and a delicious veg from Pahadi Mooli which looked like this. :


After a long discussion with them ranging from their daily life to forest conservation and modernization of hill areas, I bade them a good night by 10.
The next day's plan was to see Sunrise from zero point and leave for Chaukori or Munsiyari, if time permitted. But How? Will see tomorrow.

Till then have a Good Night

Nice experience Ranjeet...

Picture came just awesome...

Thanks to your manager, We could able to see such a nice travelogue..

Thanks Sunil!

Thank you guys, will post next part very soon

Day3:
Binsar to Munsiyari: A Ride which was as beautiful as the Destination.
Route: Bageshwar-Kanda-Choukori-Udiyari Bend-Thal-Nachni-Birthi-Munsiyari
Around 220 kms.

Morning at Binsar:The Golden Forest:


Magical shade over the Panchchuli peaks:






Thrishul Parvat:


Leaving Binsar:
I packed my stuff while Mr. Gopal was preparing tea and delicious Onion Parathas. After the much required and satisfying breakfast, it was the time for some planning and bading a good bye to Binsar and my host, though unwillingly. As I was tying my stuff to the bike, made a promise to myself that sooner or later I will come again.
All I decided in the name of a plan was that keep riding until Munsiyari but have a night halt somewhere if required. Because as per the map, it was surely less than 250 kms but I was a little concerned about the road condition after this rainy season. The God being in good mood today has made this journey as beautiful as it could be. I found butter smooth roads and some amazing silky twists up to Munsiyari, well almost except the slide areas between Thal and Munsiyari. No need to mention that while I was traversing through the length of the road, Trishul peaks, Nanda Devi and Panchchuli Peaks kept on playing hide and seek with me. Binsar to Thal is 130 kms well connected with black top road passing along beautiful valley views with snow peaks at the backdrop and fascinating pine forests filled with nostalgic aroma and green or brown carpet. I am really lacking of words to describe the phenomenon.
Binsar - Bageshwar: 58 kms
Bageshwar - Choukori: 46 kms
Choukori - Birthi: 62 kms.
Birthi - Munsiyari: 33 kms.

Morning View from Nature Camp:


The room:


















Near Chaukori:


Near Chaukori:



More pics from day 3, Binsar to Munsiyari:











Geometry on Road:





vroooommm.......




Malta:




















A Waterfall on the way, before Birthi:

excellent photography. wonderful places. awesome

Thanks Mahesh!
yes! Munsiyari is a unique place having nature poured all around

Day 3 continued, Reaching Munsiyari:






Day4:
An Unexpected Morning at Munsiyari:


Drove with the guide(Mr Gangaram) for approx 6-7 kms in the direction of Kala Muni and reached the starting point of the trek.

A Morning shot from TRH while waiting for my Guide to arrive:


Munsiyari, Main Chowk:


m lovin it






My bike parked for the day near the starting point:



The trek to Khaliya top started with this climb passing through the dense forest:







It was Atumn when I was there




The Solitude (Gangaram lost in some thoughts):


Aah... Those Peaks... so massive yet calm and quite, so vast yet decent...
what lies over there?


Trek to Khaliya Top

After approximately 3 kms on numerous stairs and steep climb through the dense forest, the flora started changing. The virgin forest with variety of trees was turning into mere bushes and small trees of rhododendron and other flowers. The PAINLESS trek turned into a SHAMELESS climb but the zeal to see entire Kumaon region at your feet and majestic Himalayan ranges was quite enough to retain the enthusiasm. I was stopping almost after every 50 meters to catch my breath and some clicks but Gangaram was doing it as if it was a child's play.
Trek was a stone laid path upto the bugyal and only the stone marks there after. Though one can go upto the top without anyone's help but taking a guide is advisable which would be helpful in case you encounter a wild beast. Bears and panthers are frequently seen in the region
A servey has been done by the tourism department to build a ropeway to khaliya top few years back but has been cancelled to avoid cutting hundreds of trees. Also there is an under construction KMVN TRH at almost mid of the trek but seems never ending, right now this place is serving as the only place where you can find water on the way.

A Veteran Tree with Moss. Gives me feel of wrinkled skin of an old man


Passing through bushes:








The Haunted:


Some Views en-Route:






Glimpse of Annapurna(Nepal, 3X Zoom)




Under Construction KMVN, mid way to Khaliya top:




That's Munsiyari:

Amazing vistas and beautiful clicks Ranjeet...
Bring on more!!