Munsyari

7/23/2019 Munsyari

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Munsyari: The Little Kashmir

The backpacker’s dream:

It was in December 2014, when we thought of visiting uns!ari", a sma## hi#station

nested in $ithoragarh district of %ttarakhand" It was supposed to be a bike trip but inthat season riding i#kha &'ur (ike) wou#d not have been a good decision" *o weturned towards the roadwa!s" The p#an was to catch the bus that comes from De#hito uns!ari at (howa#i at 1 +"" e got to (howa#i at nine in the night" Thepo#icemen positioned in (howa#i bus station were happ! to share the burning embers- some #ive#! stories about the cra.! things the! encounter" /ere we a#so met a !ear o#d man who accompanied us to uns!ari, Trivedii" Trivedii had heard about$anchachu#i since chi#dhood and a#wa!s wanted to go to unsa!ri" 3o##owing !ourtrave# dreams at that age was initia##! a big surprise and #ater an inspiration to us"

o##er coaster ride:

It was 5 +" and our bus was sti## not there" e cou#dn’t he#p but twist our necks onthe s#ightest sound of a whirring engine" (ut we were adamant that we wi## take thebus as p#anned" It was 5"50 + when the bus to uns!ari fina##! showed up" Thebus seats were the most comfortab#e thing we had to sit on that night" The (us wasmoving at its usua# s#ow pace unti# the driver changed in +#mora" 6ame in, aeev"/e is the reason wh! drivers in hi##s are referred as $i#ots" /e was practica##! f#!ingthe bus" e were #ater to#d that he was an e7pert and we## ac8uainted with ever!twist - turn in the road" e started interacting with fe##ow trave##ers on the wa! whichprovided us good information about the p#ace" hen !ou get to trave# with so man!peop#e #iving in such remote areas, something in !ou changes, !ou rea#ise how sma##are !our #ife prob#ems and how much resi#ience can peop#e deve#op #iving in this part

of the wor#d"

7/23/2019 Munsyari


9ove at first sight:

The minute we crossed Tha##, the view changed, the f#oating river, the hugemountains were there accompan!ing us" e knew we were in for a treat" The (irti3a## is a #andmark" It tru#! is" 'ur $i#ot continued to def! the #aws of gravit! whichadded new thri## to our ourne!" e reached uns!ari at :50 $" e were thengreeted b! $anchachu#i and it was #ove at first sight a## over again"The sun wasabout to set, it is one of the great wonders of mother nature to see sunset throughthe point of view of $anchachu#i" The perpetua# co#or change in peaks #ead to thewonder that was the moon, a fu## moon" It was so breathtaking, that #ost in that

moment, we forgot to capture it with our cameras" e were ust mesmerised withwhat we had witnessed" 9ater I met a #ad! who proc#aimed that she comes hereever! fu## moon a## the wa! from De#hi to see the moon rise"

The birdwatching:

7/23/2019 Munsyari


;e7t da! I was up ear#! for m! og and for the sunrise" e had p#ans for some birdwatching a#ong with another group who was there for the same purpose" e #ookedfor the state bird &ona#) for 8uite a time but as it often happens with the ro!a#t! wewere not ab#e to get a g#impse of it" /ima#a!an <u#tures did bestow us with theirpresence" The rest of the da! were spent (irdwatching with the group, wandering

and checking out #oca# de#icacies"

%phi## Task:

The da! after, we decided to trek" The thumb ru#e is no visit to an! hi## station iscomp#ete without a hike" e trekked to the renowned =ha#i!a Top" It was an > kmtrek" Initia##! it went through dense woods" The vibrant f#ora and fauna of the woodswas breathtaking" ?ver! time I took a g#ance at the $anchachu#i I cou#dn@t he#p bute7c#aim, AIs this for rea#B’" +fter Ckms of uphi## trek, we fina##! reached the(ug!a#& eadows)" This was a new wor#d, This was ;arnia" e had our #unch atabout 2 $"" 6aught up in a trance, we kicked ourse#ves for not bringing the tentsa#ong and s#ow#! dragged our hee#s back" I was a## for taking a shortcut in the wa!down, but m! wise friend resisted" e went down #eisure#!" ;o one comes back sadfrom a trek, tr! it" e went to s#eep seconds after we fe## into the bed"

7/23/2019 Munsyari


The after thoughts:

The ne7t da!, we had to #eave" e said goodb!e to a## the warm hi## fo#ks" The busback home was spent in deep thought on figuring out hat is happinessBE The8uestions that #ie dormant in norma# #ife sudden#! stare back at !ou in the hi##s andoften !ou find !ourse#f wondering"

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Munsyari