Mountains are Calling - Part4
Mountains are Calling - Part4
It had been more than 2 years since we had gone on a trip to the mountains. Hence we planned this trip to the mountains. Read about how we planned the Trip here.
Reaching Noida, from where we had to start our journey to the hills, became an ordeal in. itself. Later on 30th October we started our journey and reached Haldwani. We enjoyed our journey to Haldwani. Enjoying the way and various stoppages in between was really fun. Read here.
On 31st we started our journey to Pithoragarh, it being my maiden driving experience in the hills we travelled via Hills and Valleys and enjoyed every bit of it. We travelled via Bhimtal, Padampuri, Paharpani, Saharphatak, Lamgara etc. Read here.
We kept moving ahead of Lamgara. Slowly moving through the coniferous we reached Suakhan diversion. This a place where the Paharpani route merges back with the Pithoragarh-Almora Highway. Until Suakhan most of the time we were on the side of the hill, i.e. the hill was on our left hence we were driving aligned alongside the hill. But after Suakhan most of the time we were driving towards the gorge, i.e. the gorge was on our left. What it meant was we had to be double conscious as a small mistake could lead to us into the gorge. Anyways we kept driving with utmost attention.
After driving for some more time as you move towards Danya the way becomes steeper, you need to keep your momentum to scale up the mountain. It was here on one of the steep turns I lost momentum and the car came to a standstill on a curve, again the handbrake came to my rescue. I put the car on hand brake and on first gear. Then slowly while lowering the handbrake accelerated to move the car. I must say it needs a bit of coordination to bring the vehicle to a moving state. Also one does have to panic if the car starts moving in the backward direction. Another driving skill was added to my experience. Driving through the hills was an enriching and learning experience, which I have summarized in my blog here.
It had already turned dark; hence the locals suggested that we should not make lot of noise at this place as that would disturb the departed souls.
We kept moving, it became pitch dark, we were moving slowly as it was dark and the road was also damaged at many places. The rains had wiped out some regions of the road; hence we had to drive through water clogged pot holes, mud and silt. We were very cautious of the fact that the areas where the road was broken due to landslide a wrong step could put the car in the gorge. Driving in the night in such condition is tough. Your driving skills are tested to the hilt.
As we moved ahead we crossed a region that was severely affected by landslide. The whole hill was kind of wiped off by the landslide that followed after the rains. The road was full of filth and mud. It was pretty slippery; on top of it it was inclined a lot. If you slipped on the inclined road you would directly fall into the deep gorge. As we were about to cross the area some local women started crossing with haystacks on their head. We had to cross the inclined area without slipping and without injuring the locals. Getting out of that region was very difficult and a very scary experience. It was by far the most difficult and the scariest driving experience I ever had in my life.
After getting refreshed we started driving again. We crossed the Panar Bridge. Locals throw coins from here into the river. It is believed that doing so would keep you safe and bring good health and prosperity to your family.
As we moved ahead we crossed the Ghat check post and started moving toward Pithoragarh. As we moved some more distance we saw a queue of vehicles. We were told by a truck driver that the road is a single lane road as majority of the section on the road was blocked by heavy boulders which had fallen on to the road during the landslides. He also told us that people were stuck here for hours, anyway we also got into the queue. In some time we saw some people coordinating and instructing, so as to give way to the vehicles like ours who were going uphill. Soon we crossed the single lane area.
The road after that point was quite wide and very well maintained. After driving for half an hour or so we reached another temple known as Gurna Mata Mandir. By then it was already 8pm and it was pitch dark. We stopped at the temple to seek blessings from the goddesses.
Locals told us that in the past there were many accidents that happened at this place. To avoid the accidents a small temple was constructed at this place. By grace of the Goddesses the accidents stopped happening at that place. Since then people going uphill or downhill stop by at the temple to seek the Goddesses blessings. The temple has also been converted to a big temple during the course of time.
Anyways moving ahead after driving for some more time we crossed Igyar Devi. Driving for some more time took us to Pithoragarh. Pithoragarh is big city, all illuminated in light. We kept driving and crossed Pithoragarh towards Wadda. Wadda is a small settlement just 8 km from Pithoragarh. We had to spend the next two weeks in Wadda to witness the mountain village life. It was such fun spending time in Wadda. Probably one of the best experiences of my life.
Continue Reading : Mountains are Calling - Part5...
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