A mini holiday in the hills with friends and family

Exams are taxing. Exams are tirirn

AT Kandigaon, near Damta

With my friends 

 Exams are taxing. Exams are tiring. And after they are over, you need to relax really well. That was the thought when we went off for a short trek last weekend immediately after my 1^st semester exams. This time my friends Iswit and Ranvir too were there with their family, and that made the trip all the more enjoyable .

On Dusshera day, after biding farewell to Ma Durga and asking her to come again next year, the three of us set out for the small town of Damta located about 70 kms from Dehradun. We reached at around noon and stayed at the PWD guest house ( arranged by Pradhan). It was an old colonial bungalow crying for maintenance.

The next morning , Pradhan uncle took us to his summer village Kandigaon, which is about 12kms from Damta. The village is located at a mountaintop and commands a very beautiful view of the surroundings. My mother talked with some villagers and explained the home stay concept. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have home stays in this lovely village? I wish it happens soon.

Next, it was time to meet up with my friends and their families who had started in the morning from Dehradun and were very exhausted after being caught after up in the infamous “Kempty’ jam.  

After having lunch together, we set off for the farmhouse of Gajju uncle, located amidst apple orchards. Gajju uncle is Ishwit’s own uncle. The house is very beautiful , but to reach it you have to trek 4 kms – up a steep hill and through a dense jungle. We had started walking at late afternoon from the village Tya and by the time we reached Gajju uncle’s house ( after slipping and falling down a number of times), it was quite dark .

We were exhausted but very happy. 

At Rarhi top 

At Devrana Temple

Up the apple tree- friends and me

Gajju uncles house in the apple orchards

Kumaon Hills, I am here again

At Kumati- longest house ( 300 ft) in entire Kumaon. 

Just after my FA2 exams were over, I got a chance to accompany my mother on a trip to the Himalayas. It was a 2 day trip, but packed to the full with loads of things.

In the process, I acquired a new aunt ( Kalyani Aunty) and grandpa ( Bisht dada of Peora).

Immediately after getting down at Kathgodam, we got into the cab already waiting for us. First stop was at Bhimtal to meet Kalyani Aunty. The lake looked beautiful in the mist, like a water colour picture.

After meeting Kalyani Aunty and having some goodies and cold drinks, we set off for Peora to Aaraohi office where my mother met many people for her work. In the afternoon, we visited some old villages with sad looking beautiful old homes, most of them lying abandoned.

What a waste! Wish some of them can be converted into beautiful home stays.  

Old home or Bakhli in Peora

By now it was almost evening so we retired for the night in the home of Bisht dada. though I met him for the first time that evening, after talking for a few minutes it felt as if I have known him all my life I told my mother why not start a home stay chain called "Staywithdadaji" where young urban boys like me can come and stay with our rural grandpas. We can learn so many new things and have so many new unique experiences like calf patting, jungle walk with dadaji 

My mother was not very impressed with the idea right then, but I have asked her to give it more thought. 

My Peora( and Pyara) Dadaji

Next morning, we bid goodbye to Dadaji with a promise of coming back again. Dadaji also gave me Rs 50, just like my own grandpa Dadai gives me.

Then we went to Mukteshwar and saw the PWD bungalow where Jim Corbett had once stayed. 

Mukesthwar PWD bungalow made famous by Jim Corbett 

 Today we were really on a Jim Corbett trail because after Mukteshwar , we went to Gurney House in Nainital where Jim Corbett had spent a good number of years. Kalyani Aunty also joined us here.

At Gurney house- with Kalyani Aunty

inside Gurney House 

 Now it was time to return home. It was pouring by the side of the Nainital lake as we sat at a lakeside cafe and had fresh warm pizzas while enjoying the rain and view.
After that it was back to Kathgodam and Dehradun.

Goa- all ingredients for a happy wholesome holiday

Just like a wholesome meal, Goa because of its beaches, hills, forests, quaint clean county roads, ancient Portuguese houses offers everything to make up a happy wholesome holiday experience. 

Really, Incredible Goa.  

In Goa we spent 6 days on our own and roamed around with a rented self drive car. 

Day1 -  On the very first day of our Goa trip  we were staying at Fontainhas , Panaji , which is the oldest Portuguese quarter in Asia. These Portuguese quarters have a special feeling about themselves .

The amalgamation of pure whitewashed Portuguese quarters and bright colored Hindu temples representing their Gods and Goddesses was really a feast for the eyes.

Day 2 – We visited Calangute beach, the most famous beach of Goa . In Calangute  we tasted some seafood  along the beach the beach front . Calangute seafood was good but that at Baga was even better . In Baga we stayed in a quiet resort called LINOS . There the best thing I liked was the serene environment and the company of a fat , lazy and a loving dog called champ . In the meanwhile we also saw Ashwem and Morjim beach.

Seafood feast at Baga beach 

 

 

 

Baga beach- LINOS . Champ time

Morjim beach is a turtle nesting site

Day3 –We went to Aguada fort , an ancient Portuguese fort which is situated on a hill overlooking the sea. In the evening we had some special chicken burger made by Pepper Aunty a portuguese lady .

 

Aguada Fort, North Goa

Day4 – We were out out exploring the extreme North and saw Keri ( temple )beach , Arambol  beach and  Tiracol Fort , which is near the border of Goa and Maharashtra . We also had our car on the barge  to cross the tiracol river by just paying 10 rupees . Tiracol fort is in Goa, after which the state of Maharashtra starts.  . As our rented car was a Goa permit we were asked by the car company while we were at Tiracol if we were entering into Maharashtra . We then became cautious  to be in goa only . We then went back to Anjuna and were out on the road to the extreme south towards  Palolem beach .  In the evening we went agonda beach , which is a very quiet  and a serene beach . I made a sand castle  there itself .

Inside fort Tiracol,

Making sandcastles at Agonda beach

 

At Palolem beach

 

Day5   We saw Galgibagh beach another turtle nesting site. We then went Palolem , had a good sea bath and were out on the road to Bogmalo in Mormogao. But before that we saw the Cabo de rama fort and also tasted the  local brand of ice - cream . Then ,On our way to Bogmalo we did some window –sightseeing of the beaches coming on our way .  Then we finally reached bogmalo and saw the Dabolim airport , Japanese garden , Mormugao port, Baina beach and Vasco da  gama.

 

Day6 – Next day we left Bogmalo and visited  the Holland beach  and the naval aviation museum and then went to Dona Paula beach which is also a good beach . We then Visited the Kala academy ., which is a beautiful place and has a good riverfront . We also went to old Goa and  saw the largest church complex in Asia and high church walls also called the flying buttresses . We then went to Panaji by the old road by the side of the Mandovi river .

We went to Miramar beach , relaxed  a bit and went to mall de Goa for dinner after which re returned the car . Our trip ended when we reached Madgaon station and boarded  the train to  Dehradun to return to our Home , Sweet , Home !

At our cottage overlooking Bogmalo beach

Anywhere in Goa, the sea is never far away. Can you see it behind me?