EVENTFUL EXCURSION

I had been  to Binsar in Uttarakhand with my family around 9 -10 years back.

We had hired a car from Delhi for our entire tour. We were going stay there for a week.  After two days of our stay and local sightseeing we enquired with staff if they could suggest some places worth visiting. It was only then when we came to know about this place Patal Bhuvaneshwar in Pithoragarh district. 

It was far from resort, approximately 4 hours one way journey .We decided to visit the place. Next  day we started  at around 7 am, so that we could return by evening . 

After taking few halts for tea and breakfast and taking timely directions from the locals, we reached the small village Bhuvaneshwar by 12 noon.

The mystifying place is in the midst of dense cedar and oak forest. It offers a spectacular view of Panchachuli peaks, a group of five snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.

 We then headed towards the cave.

After fulfilling all the necessary formalities like paying the entry fees, removing shoes, surrendering our cameras etc. we decided to hire a guide. We followed the guide towards the entrance of a deep limestone cave. Tourists were allowed to enter the cave in batches or small groups, as the entrance and exit of the cave were the same, a narrow tunnel like passage. We had to wait for our turn; there were metal chains on both the sides for support to descend steep, uneven, slippery steps .It was like entering the earth’s core. 

It is not just one cave but a series of interconnected caves and are electrically illuminated . It is believed to have enshrined Lord Shiva and 33 crores (330 million) Gods. There are several stalactite and stalagmite figures of various hues. The guide was giving us information of the caves, different depictions and stories related to them in Hindu mythology. It is a fascinating place and a must visit spot when in Kumaon region.

Listening to the evocative descriptions, lost in the antiquity we came out of the mysterious cave. After that we freshened up and started looking out for descent restaurant but, to our disappointment, there were very few eating options in that area. So we enquired with shopkeepers if there was any place where we can get good food. They suggested a good Dhaba however, it was on the outskirts of the village and not on our way back. We all were hungry enough, that we went on hunting for that Dhaba , it took nearly an hour to reach that place.

 After finishing our food we took directions from the owner and started our return journey. It was evening by the time we reached the main road. The saffron hue of the sky warned us…

 ‘The journey ahead is not going to be easy’.

Slowly we left human habitation behind and were on the lonely road which led to the forest that we had to cross.

After sometime we discovered that we had lost our way…

No network, no map to follow!! 

The forest seemed never ending. The rustling of leaves, chilly breeze and howling of wolves made it even more scary. The beautiful hills and charming valleys during day had become ominous as the darkness grew. 

Our car was moving slowly and suddenly the driver stopped we looked in front, we saw a leopard crossing the road, it disappeared into the forest in the blink of an eye. We were petrified by the sight of the leopard. All we could do is just pray for 'reaching any human settlement ‘as soon as possible. 

After traveling for another 20 minutes we saw the first signboard for our resort and we all heaved a sigh of relief. We further followed the directions and then it was easy for us. We reached our resort after 45 minutes at around 11: 30 pm. 

Looking back, when I remember that day, I think we shouldn’t have traveled so late, instead should have spent that night in some hotel.

‘What an eventful day it was!!’

We were fortunate enough to find the way out of the forest and safely reach our resort to sleep peacefully. 

Thank you God for helping us….

Yes ‘Miracles do happen!!!’   

BLACK FOREST TOUR

 Unknown friend ( part 1)

We reached Zurich Airport station in the morning from Lausanne. I had always wanted to visit the Schwarzwald (Black Forest),home of the cuckoo clock, so my dear husband had booked a tour to Black Forest. Since it was an online reservation, we had carried a printout of our booking.

We had just enough time to keep our bags in our room, as we rushed to get to the place from where the tour began. It was already 1030 hrs and 1215 hrs was the departure time of our tour bus. As we left we had taken directions from our hotel reception to reach this place.

We boarded a tram to the train station and got on a train. After getting off the train, we had to walk for another 5 minutes to reach the address. As we reached there we saw that our bus wasn’t there and the office was also closed. It was 1145 hrs by then.

 Oh my God!…”did we get cheated”…was my first thought. We were about to ask the people staying in the vicinity to reconfirm the address, when we saw this beautiful lady in her fifties, elegantly dressed walking towards us. She smiled and wished us  “Morgan“. We smiled back and wished her good morning. We explained her everything and showed her the printout. She came with us to the office. It was still closed .

Once again she, went through the booking voucher. After reading it carefully, she saw the watch and quickly removed her phone from her purse and dialed  the number on the printout. We couldn’t understand what was wrong… It was 1205 hrs and I had already given up!

After finishing the call she told us to follow her and  further elucidated that the office address was right but the buses depart from the bus stand near Zurich HB, she then added “I have requested the person in charge to wait for 15 minutes“ and suggested us to go by cab. She then immediately made a call and arranged for the cab. Within two minutes we were in the cab. The lady briefed our ordeal to the driver and requested her to hurry. We thanked her and waved her goodbye. She said “Let me know once you reach. I hope you get the bus”.

We managed to reach at 1225 hrs. We quickly got into the bus which was waiting only for us. We apologized for keeping everybody waiting and relaxed in our seats. We were not even out of the city when our tour guide came to our seats with his phone and said “there is a call for you”. My husband attended the call. I could hear him thanking again and again. I had already guessed who it was on the other side, but wanted to confirm.

After the call was over I asked him. He replied “yes, it was same lady “she wanted to know if we got the bus and wished us happy journey”.

I leaned back and started thinking of the adventurous morning. I was thankful to my son, for cooperating with us and soon the thought of that lady occupied my mind….Who was she? What was her name? Was she free or was she going out for some work, but decided to help us first? Why did she help us…?

As I stared out of the window, I realized my husband was clicking pictures of the scenery. So engrossed, I was in her thoughts that I didn’t even realize, we had reached Black Forest!! 

Black Forest has picturesque valleys, canopy of evergreens. We had our lunch in a quaint town of Titisee-Neustadt. Later we took a lakeside stroll.
On our way back we visited the spectacular Rhine falls. We enjoyed our tour and returned to the hotel with beautiful memories of the day.

Before going to sleep that night I closed my eyes and once again thanked that lady, an ‘unknown friend’ without whom my wish to visit the Schwarzwald would have remained a wish. God bless her.

 I can’t explain her presence. However, ‘Her selfless act has engraved her image on my heart !!!