Dalhousie: Photos, Friends, Fun.

- Ishan Kothari 

(ઉનાળાના આ વેકેશનમાં (મારો દીકરો) ઈશાન ડેલહાઉસી ગયો હતો. અગાઉ પણ અમે સપરિવાર ડેલહાઉસી, ચંબા, ધરમશાલાના પ્રવાસે  ગયાં હતાં, પણ આ વખતે વાત અલગ હતી. તદ્દન અજાણ્યા વર્તુળમાં પહેલવહેલી વાર બહાર નીકળવાનો આનંદ અલગ જ હોય છે. આ પ્રવાસની તેણે લીધેલી કેટલીક તસવીરો.) 

That was the day we were excitedly waiting to go for trekking at Dalhousie . It was for first time that I was going alone for trekking. I was thrilled as well as nervous.

When we (me n my sis, Aastha) get up in the train, nobody was familiar to us except  Anokhi and Parjanya (Hasitkaka’s children). But Nikhil (Mori) sir n Nita madam took great care of us.

Within half an hour of starting the train, we had a lot of friends and we enjoyed a lot in the train.

The journey from Ahmedabad to Pathankot was almost of one full day and a half.

Towards Pathankot 

When we reached Pathankot in the noon next day, there was too much heat (42^o C). Though I had been to Dalhousie with my family earlier, I thought that there would not be much difference in temperature of Pathankot and Dalhousie. We had a halt for 2 hours and then we started for Dalhousie.

The atmosphere gradually started changing. After reaching Dalhousie at around 9.30 PM,

we walked 2- 3 kms to reach the ‘Mehar’s Hotel’. Thus, our trekking started with this.

**** **** ***

‘Mehar’s Hotel’ is owned by Mr. Manmohan Bawa, whose elder brother Manjit Bawa was an eminent painter. 

view from Hotel 

somewhere in Dalhousie

Manmohan Bawa is also an artist. Next day, he gave us some important tips for trekking. He also demonstrated how to walk safely while trekking. He has an experience of 60 years. He demonstrated a stunning water color painting when he accompanied us for trekking. 

Manmohan Bawa demonstrating a water color 

water color by Manmohan Bawa

Each day, we left  in the morning in groups to a certain destination and returned in the evening. At the hotel, we were introduced various birds of that area through presentations in the evening. Mr. Bawa also accompanied us for two days.

some birds around Dalhousie

We trekked to Subhas Bawli, Panjpulla, Leopard Trail, Khajjiar on different days. Here are some of the photos I’ve taken during our tour. 

With friends like Sandipbhai Chavda, Sharan Mori, Bhavya Bhatt, Rujuta Bhatt, Adwait Desai, Yash Pandit, Yash Jadav, Alaukika Panchal, Shashwati Panchal, Priyanshi Upadhyay, Shweta Upadhyay and many other, it was a real fun.

fun with friends

Towards home after a memorable tour 

It was for the first time that I went to such a distant place without my family. But it was as if I’ve got a newer and bigger family.

(All the images are clicked with Nikon P 530.)