This is a quick summary of our Holiday trip to the Kumaon and Siwalik Hills in September 2011.
We set off from Bangalore on Saturday morning – Sept 24th for Delhi. The cabbie picking us from Mantri Sarovar at the break of dawn at 5.30 to drive us to Bangalore Airport. The Indigo Airline was on time. The family – Miss Devika all of 10 months old, 9 year old Chinmay were quite relaxed during the flight.
Devika did attempt to cause some havoc on the flight, however inadvertent, with her sporadic squeals of and delight – but her Mom was upto it –and steered the aircraft to safety – much to the delight of Devika’s father, who sat in a seemingly nonchalant state. I do distinctly remember that the Dabili Burger breakfast on the morning flight was quite cloyingly sweet, eeeky, drab and was left unfinished.
Uma was quite excited to be back in Delhi after 7 years – her face aptly displaying her state of mind..
The hotel booking was done through the office of Achal, our business partner in Delhi. I had briefed him that I wanted to stay in Connaught Place. He fixed us up at Hotel Corus. I did some checking on Booking.com to confirm the existence of this Hotel beforehand.
Landed in Delhi Airport by 11am. Delhi Airport to the Hotel Corus in Connaught Place – was on a typical Dilli kee Gaadi. A re-re-repainted Maruti Omni that was the choice from the Prepaid Booth – instead of the Meru Taxis. This helped get into the Dillli Groove right away.
Hotel Corus in Block B of Inner Circle- is tucked away in a vantage location. Bang in CP. With a CCD available just outside its doorway on the first floor. It seems to be frequented by backpackers and foreigner tourists wanting to stay in the heart of Delhi. The location was nice. The Hotel was typical Dillli again.
After a quick clean up operation of the kids, we set off into CP for a walk through the inner corridors. Had lunch at a Peruvian Fast Food QSR – which had newly opened in India. Nice quick food. Then stepped into Wengers for a quick delightful dessert session. Wengers was crowded with the weekend folks clamouring to indulge their sweet tooth
We seriously explored watching a film at Odeon or Plaza in CP – but the choice of films was so poor. There was Pankaj Kapoor’s directorial debut film ( Mausam ) with his son Shahid in the main role. Practically every show was only for this film – which was quite a repellent. This put paid to our movie intentions.
In the evening, we hailed a Dillli Auto – with all the trappings of Dilli bang on. A big avuncular Sardaarji Uncle for the perfect role of driver. As expected, Sardaarji overcharged us for the drop from CP to India Gate. But we went along with this for the joy of it all. Sardaarji saw the excited state of the passengers in his vehicle and politely enquired as to which country we were from! Told him that we were travelling from Bangalore.
Sardaarji also told us that he has a grand daughter who is 6months old – in comparison to our own 10month old Devika in tow.
Sardaarji took us on a quick auto view drive past Parliament House and Rashtrapathi Bhavan. Chinmay asked his father what exactly is tne need for a Parliament and what did happen inside the precincts of this big building.
As to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, he said that he certainly prefers to stay in his current 3 BHK house than in the Presidential mammoth house.
India Gate was a place which excited Uma more than it did the kids. Chinmay thankfully found a paper-parachute-wallah to peddle his Rupee Ten gizmo to Chinmay. This gizmo kept Chinmay busy while his Mother sat watching the India Gate lit up in its splendor for the weekend visitors and Dilli-ites.
We then realized that the baby bag was missing from the various bags that was being lugged along by us – and this bag had the medicines and change clothes. Chinmay suggested that it might be in the Hotel Room. Just to be sure, we headed back to CP to confirm if we had lost the Bag.
Thankfully, Chinmay was proved right and the Baby bag was in the Hotel Room. We headed out for Dinner – as Chinmay wanted a Delhi kind of special dinner.
Walked and walked around CP. Decided to finally have our dinner at Embassy Restaurant – an old place that served good food. Quite expensive – but worth a holiday dinner with family. Notwithstanding this, or because if the price tab, this Restaurant still had folks waiting outside to be seated.
Got back to the Hotel Room for the night.
Off to Corbett
The next morn on Sept 25th, Sunday, The resort cab with Driver Pooran picked us up from the Hotel in the morning at 9.30 am. We started off on our long drive to Corbett which is 250 kms away.
Stopped for lunch at Tadka Dhaba alongthe way. The Dhaba run by a sardaarji ( surprising?) had pictures put up on the walls – of the smart dapper Sardaar posing with John Abraham, and a few other Bolly characters.. All supposedly having visited his Tadka Dhaba.
There was also a Music and Chooran Shop peddling stuff beside the Tadka Dhaba. If the English have their Fish and Chips, we sure have our Music and Chooran for a heady combo.
Along the way, we were fortunate to pass through quite a few Mayawati sponsored Faatak/Dwaars. One might have expected these structures to be large concrete structures in memory of her heroes like Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram. Instead, these Faataks were some make-shift iron structures put up to possibly prove to the masses that the project has been completed . Mission Completed.
Reached the Resort after a topsy turvy drive for almost an hour past rocky crater stretches of roads past Moradabad and Kashipur. Moradabad – yes our own Azharuddin is the MP of this large constituency. The roads on this prime drive from Delhi to Corbett had to be seen to be believed. Rather, had to be experienced to be believed.
Reached the Resort at 5 pm. Corbett is just beyond Ramnagar, a town with a Railway Station. Just another town like every other small town. We stopped by at Ramnagar and got some essentials like bread, curd and fruits before reaching the Resort.
The Room Number 1904 at the Resort had a fabulous view – placed on the banks of River Kosi. The room facing the river and the Hills. It was a great relief for all of us to witness this scenic beauty – all the more after the long drive from Delhi.
Room 1904 was going to be our Home for the next 3 nights – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
Devika was showing signs of fever and cough as we arrived in Corbett. Uma had stocked up on medicine for her – having consulted with her paediatrician Dr Sheetal in HSR Layout, Bangalore before we set off for our holiday.
On Monday, we decided to lze around in the Resort – if you can term Rafting on the River Kosi that. We decided to explore the tough waters of River Kosi – with a mini rafting session. This lasted all of 30 minutes in the waters. Just about time for some photo opportunities and videography by Uma – from the balcony of our room.
On Tuesday, Chinmay and Papa set off for the Safari expedition from the Resort. This was meant to be our tryst with the famous Corbett Tiger. Chinmay and Papa prepared for the early morning safari trip by equipping ourselves with the needed tools and gadgets – ie a T-shirt with the picture of the Tiger. The mood was set right with our attire.
Well before the break of dawn, while the rest of humanity was fast asleep, Papa and Chinmay set off on our Safari – in a Gypsy that picked us up from the Resort at 5 am.
Just outside the Resort, the Gypsy Driver slowed down on seeing some movement in the bushes – and showed us a good sighting of the Sambar and the Antlered Spotted deer. WE drove to the Government Office that issues the passes every morning for entry into the Jhirna Gate of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Only 26 passes are issued every morning – so it was a First Come, First Get melee. Thanks to some Good Jugaad done by our middleman ( yes, may this tribe survive on and on) , Chinmay and Papa were soon on their way with the Last Pass of the Morning. Wd also had Pandeyji as our Guide for the Safari.
We drove around after entering the Jhirna Gate – the only Gate that is open at this time of the year while the other three main gates are closed. The drive helped us spot some spotted deer, Jungle fowl ( a good exotic term for our Naaadan Kozhi) , a fox, some more deer and some more deer. Chinmay began asking why the tigers and elephants were not making their appearance before us.
The Gypsy stopped in front of a Tree House ( machaan) – and encouraged us to scale the Machaan. Papa and Chinmay ventured forth and relived and revisited the feelings of Jim Corbett seated on a machaan waiting for his tigers.
By 7.30 am, we reached a Jungli Restaurant ( yes, that too is assured). Stopped by for chaay and Maggi Noodles !
So our Safari escapade came to an end with the Gypsy dropping us back at the Resort by 9am.
So our Safari trip in anticipation of sighting the Corbett Tiger ended with not even the sighting of pugmarks or even tiger excreta!
Uma and Devika had woken up by this time – with Devika showing signs of improvement from her fevered state.
We spent the rest of the day ( Tuesday) at the resort – with Chinmay cycling around the Resort – and delighted that he could successfully manage to tame the mannerisms of the bicycle that had been refusing to obey his instructions earlier.
Setting Off for Mussoorie
On Wednesday morning ( Sept 28th), we checked out of Corbett Resort – and had the Taxi drive from Corbett to Mussoorie. We began early at 6.30 am from Corbett.
This drive is about 275 kilometres distance – between Corbett to Mussoorie. We passed by Haridwar enroute. Reached Dehradun, the capital city of UK state ( Uttara Khand). The climb to Mussoorie began from Dehradun – and is about 30kms away.
During this drive from Corbett to Mussoorie, Papa and Chinmay took some good photographs whiels eated inside the Tavera. We clicked pictures on the Sony Camera – of Devika in action.
We reached Mussoorie Mall Road by 1.30 pm. The Taxi was not permitted to enter Mall Road and we had to get off at Barrier, as the entry point of Mall Road is called.
From the Barrier , we engaged two Cycle Rickshaws to transport all of us –comprising Papa, Mama, Chinmay, Devika and 8 pieces of luggage. The Rickshaws dropped us at the Point from where the Mussoorie Resort Vehicle picked us up.
In the midst of all the confusion to transport the luggage from the Tavera to the Cycle Rickshaw, we realized ( 3 hours later) that the Sony Camera had gone missing. This camera had done itself proud over the last 4 years. Along with this camera, the pictures also went missing that had been captured with this camera. May the camera rest in peace and do its new owner and finder proud.
The Avalon Resort, Mussoorie is reached after a steep climb from Mall Road. This was going to be out abode for the next 2 nights – Wednesday and Thursday.
After having spent time at many Resorts, this property was not really upto the mark. More from the perspective of its cleanliness, facilities available and overall impressions.
September month end is also less of a season in this Hill town – and the roads were less than teeming with the holidaying masses.
Over the next two days, we spent time walking around the Mall Road, window shopping, actual shopping and fooding.
Mussoorie is the town that Ruskin Bond has chosen to settle down in – and we shopped at the Book Store on Mall Road that stocked lots of his books. Ruskin Bond visits this Book Store every Saturday – and autographs someof his books. We purchased some autopraphed books for ourselves and also for Mrs. Saha Ghosh ( Ayesha’s mother) , who was going tp be hosting us in Delhi soon.
With all the time to spend on Mall Road, we did our best to add to the economy of the Hill Town by indulging at Sagar Ratna, Nirulas and also at the local Mom and Pop stores.
Chinmay and Devika were then put through the joy and ordeal of being decked up in local Hill Station attire – with some good pictures captured in their attired splendor. Many many years later, Chinmay and Devika might give their parents a dressing down for having made them go through the ordeal of these dressing sessions, notwithstanding their objections and not-too-pleased expressions.
We also took the Ropeway from Mall Road to Gun Hill – a steep climb for about 500 metres. This Ropeway has been in operation for tourists since 1970. Our fellow passengers in the Cable Car were a family of tourists from Nepal. At Gun Hill, Mama and Chinmay spent their time picking up some magic tricks from the local shops. Chinmay has serious plans to expose his new skills and talent to his unsuspecting friends and family soon on his successful graduation of the Ten Minute Long Magic Tricks Course from the Mussoorie Roadside School of Local Magic.
We checked out from Avalon, Mussoorie on Friday ( Sept 30th) by 1 pm. Took a Cab from the Mall Road to Dehra Dun.
Enroute from Mussoorie to Dehradun Railway Station by Taxi, we stopped by for good lunch at a Restautant. The taxi driver told us that his routine is basically made up of this shuttle service from Mussoorie to Dehradun. During the season, which is primarily three months of April – May-June, he gets some good business. Otherwise, during off seasons, he gets a trip once in 2-3 days. His life is made of Rupees 1500 of salary alongwith 10% of the Taxi fare. The Taxi Fare from Mussoorie to Dehra Dun is all of Rs 600.
Dilli Darshan
While in Corbett, we had booked Train tickets online from Dehradun to Delhi by Shatabdi Express. This was a good experience for us – the Train travel was relaxed and peaceful.
Shatabdi Express reached New Delhi at 10.30 pm
Spent the night of Friday at a vacant Flat of a school classmate of mine - in Mayapuri.
Woke up on Saturday morning (Oct 1st) and decided to have a quick drive of Delhi city.
We took a taxi and went around India Gate, Rail Museum , a few embassies of Chanakyapuri, quick sightseeing of Red Fort, Lunch at Hotel Pindi on Pandara Road, Quick clothes Shopping for all of us at Sarojini Nagar market and then reached Dwarka by 5 pm at Ayesha’s mom’s house.
Red Fort happened thanks to the insistence of Chinmay – who wanted to see Akbar’s Palace – as he has been reading a lot of Akbar-Birbal tales of late!
Shopping for Clothes happened because we needed to get decently attired to go for a Durga Puja Pandal visit with Ayesha’smother – to Chanakyapuri Bengali Association of IAS families! This was a bonus that was unanticipated when we set off on our Holiday.
ON Sunday morning( Oct 2nd) , we had a quick travel on Delhi Metro – from Dwarka Sectior 10 to Dwarka Mode and back. This was to experience the Indian Metro for the first time.
Returned by 1 pm for a feasty lunch at home with aunty.
We left Dwarka – dropped by Aunty at the Delhi Airport to take our flight to Bangalore in the evening.
This piece is being typed in furiously on the flight to Bangalore - as the flight is shortly landing in Bangalore. The time now is 8 pm on Sunday.
So it is back to Bangalore after 8 days of North Indian holidaying. Devika is much better now – and glowing as she is heading back home!
Chinmay is happy that he is getting home soon – and his school is not reopening for another week.
Mama is glad to be back home – to get her home back in shape and pack the stuff for her hubby who has to leave for an official London on Monday night.
Papa is happy to be back home – to catch up on some hours of sleep before heading to the Railway Station to pick up Daddy at 4 am on Monday morn!
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