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The wait is over! The Lost in the Clouds series is back in 2010 after a gap of 1 year. The previous versions in 2007 and 2008 opened up a whole different perspective of the Kumaon himalayas and taking the legacy forward we have just concluded the 2010 trip, yes, again in the Kumaon Himalayas.
The team consisted of Salil, self, Nadya (hereon to be referred as The Misus) and Dixit . While The Misus and myself headed to the hills on Thursday, 5th August, Salil and Dixit joined us the day later.
DAY 1 - 5th August - ~ 400 kms
Delhi - Hapur Bypass - Garhmukteshwar - Moradabad Bypass - Bazpur - Kaladhungi - Nainital - Bhowali - Almorah - Kausani
An early shift at work meant I could get atleast a 7-8 hours of sleep before a day long ride, well, that was the plan. In reality I slept for less than 4 hours but thats a story for another day . A 30 second engine warm up post tying the saddle bag and we are off at sharp 5:30 am.
I was worried about encountering traffic jams in the Garhmukteshwar area due to Kawars going for their annual Sawan pilgrimage however was pleasantly surprised. The double laning of NH 24 after Hapur Bypass to Garh has advanced a bit however there are still enough construction and pot holed roads to slow you down. Post crossing the Ganges however its a rip strip! It was a cloudy morning and pleasantly cool and we were comfortably cruising at speeds between 70-90 kmph. We encountered steady drizzles from Moradabad bypass and the once we entered the State Highway leading to Kaladhungi, broken tarmac and uneven road surfaces welcomed us in all their monsoon glory. We didnot stop for breakfast or any other break (only exception was a stop to put on the rain gear) till we reached Kaladhungi. After a sumptous breakfast of Paneer Paranthas it was time to get lost in the mist and cloud on the Nainital road.
The Misus had some work in Nainital and we had to spent around half an hour while the drizzle became a sort of downpour. The rain accompanied us right till Almorah and thereby robbing us of any oppurtunity to photograph the GREEN vistas which were all around us. We stopped for tea in a small cafe after crossing the Almorah bypass and the owner of the cafe, a very nice Kumaoni gent immediately took great interest in which is probably his first mixed race couple customers. His questions were endless but knowing Kumaoni villagers for a while now, they werent meant to be offending anyone but was rather simple curosity and innocence - thats how our average hill people are!
We reached Kausani at around 4:30 pm and went straight to the same hotel where I have stayed a few earlier times. They have had a change of ownership and name and call themselves "Negi Guest House". The Himalayan peaks view facing room cost us the same Rs. 350 as in 2008 .
The rooftop restaurant of the Guest House is a great place to sip a cuppa and watch the magestic Himalayan peaks like Trishul, Devisthan, Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, etc. But in monsoon? Yes, of course even in the monsoon but only when you get Lost in the Clouds.
To be contd.
Photos from Kausani on Day 1.
Cheers,
Shamik
The team consisted of Salil, self, Nadya (hereon to be referred as The Misus) and Dixit . While The Misus and myself headed to the hills on Thursday, 5th August, Salil and Dixit joined us the day later.
DAY 1 - 5th August - ~ 400 kms
Delhi - Hapur Bypass - Garhmukteshwar - Moradabad Bypass - Bazpur - Kaladhungi - Nainital - Bhowali - Almorah - Kausani
An early shift at work meant I could get atleast a 7-8 hours of sleep before a day long ride, well, that was the plan. In reality I slept for less than 4 hours but thats a story for another day . A 30 second engine warm up post tying the saddle bag and we are off at sharp 5:30 am.
I was worried about encountering traffic jams in the Garhmukteshwar area due to Kawars going for their annual Sawan pilgrimage however was pleasantly surprised. The double laning of NH 24 after Hapur Bypass to Garh has advanced a bit however there are still enough construction and pot holed roads to slow you down. Post crossing the Ganges however its a rip strip! It was a cloudy morning and pleasantly cool and we were comfortably cruising at speeds between 70-90 kmph. We encountered steady drizzles from Moradabad bypass and the once we entered the State Highway leading to Kaladhungi, broken tarmac and uneven road surfaces welcomed us in all their monsoon glory. We didnot stop for breakfast or any other break (only exception was a stop to put on the rain gear) till we reached Kaladhungi. After a sumptous breakfast of Paneer Paranthas it was time to get lost in the mist and cloud on the Nainital road.
The Misus had some work in Nainital and we had to spent around half an hour while the drizzle became a sort of downpour. The rain accompanied us right till Almorah and thereby robbing us of any oppurtunity to photograph the GREEN vistas which were all around us. We stopped for tea in a small cafe after crossing the Almorah bypass and the owner of the cafe, a very nice Kumaoni gent immediately took great interest in which is probably his first mixed race couple customers. His questions were endless but knowing Kumaoni villagers for a while now, they werent meant to be offending anyone but was rather simple curosity and innocence - thats how our average hill people are!
We reached Kausani at around 4:30 pm and went straight to the same hotel where I have stayed a few earlier times. They have had a change of ownership and name and call themselves "Negi Guest House". The Himalayan peaks view facing room cost us the same Rs. 350 as in 2008 .
The rooftop restaurant of the Guest House is a great place to sip a cuppa and watch the magestic Himalayan peaks like Trishul, Devisthan, Nanda Devi, Nanda Devi East, etc. But in monsoon? Yes, of course even in the monsoon but only when you get Lost in the Clouds.
To be contd.
Photos from Kausani on Day 1.
Cheers,
Shamik
Three hundred and fifty rupees with that kind of view is purely out of this world.
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