The Himalayan Adventure at Khirsu once more

What drew me back to Khirsu- a tiny hamlet in Pauri District of Uttarakhand, that I visited by chance way back in 2005 while hunting for a petrol bunker, towards the fag end of our first journey into the Himalayas by road. Was it the tranquility of the place or the stillness in the air? Or did the sunrise over the five ice capped ranges, viewed from the room balcony, capture my imagination? 

I am  not going to write about the journey where we took the Delhi-Bijnor-Kotdwar-Lansdowne-Pauri and finally Khirsu.I will just talk about the things that remain etched in my memory. This is the first time that i have seen the upper reaches of the Himalayas so brown- brittle - almost crackling.Many a moment I found my mind wandering to what would happen if I put a lit match on the forest floor- and the mind was coming up with images of a raging and crackling forest fire.And this feeling started right from the terrai region to the mountain tops

.A brown Himalayas is a stark contrast to the green or white Himalayas that I am used to.

Khirsu as a place has evolved somewhat- time has not stopped for this beautiful place, and I found myself wishing that it did.

However the stillness is very much there, along with the melody of the chirping Himalayan birds.

The other image that clings onto my mind is the wrong turn that we managed to take and discovering the absolutely untouched section of the Himalayas as we traversed through rough mud roads, bumping and grinding our way. Not a single human or vehicle in sight for many kilometers at a stretch. Boys playing cricket in the middle of the road, careful not to let the ball fall in the cliff side of the mountain, clambering like monkeys on the mountain side.

cricket anyone?

The spectacular birds eye vistas, specially of the one tiny nameless hamlet on a single chunk of rock formation was almost spiritual by the monastic look about it.Having to get off the car so that one could guide the driver into safety because the road had caved into the gorge is another memory that will stay in the mind.The adrenalin rush doesnt quite settle down even on recollection some months later

No monastery this-just a tiny hamlet somewhere 

The water restaurant was a first for me.On this nice hairpin bend, the owner managed to harness a small mountain rivulet with a high pressure jet machine. He built a very functional car ramp and a shack by the side. One just drove up the dirty dirt ridden cars/trucks on the ramp and ordered a tea with a biscuit called fan. As one sips the tea and dips the biscuit one has an option of playing with goat kids with fancy names like Sridevi or Mithun, or watch the mist that the jet makes on the car while little droplets seduce the senses.All for a princely sum of 50 rupees.

Lying on a bed of dried pine needles is not at all a prickly affair. This I can guarantee as we lay down on a bed of dried pine needles and almost dozed off in a hypnotic trance looking at the pine tree laden with fruits.

The first view of the shrieking men as they flew on the flying fox or the girl taking her first bungee jump almost brought my heart in my mouth at Rishikesh.

The bridge to nowhere

Many more such instances,but these remain the ones that would remain etched in my memory for a long time- well at least till the next trip happens.The fact that we are stationed at Delhi gives us plenty of scope for quick trips into the Himalayas without much prior planning or leave.And PashaTuks uses every available opportunity to travel and wander.

Sridevi getting attention