Reaching on cloud nine remains just not a phrase for me … It rained thrill and adventure after the clouds clashed the heat of our excitement on 25th May 2008 in Nainital. The lake flanked area Hill Station splashed a welcome to us.
Scroll on to learn what followed thereafter …
Tickets Bookings
We were four on our trip. I, Jincy, Katty and Clara wanted break from our Delhi roasting; Gaush! It was too hot in Delhi. And, finally, we decided to take a break and nudged holidays lying in our almanac. It was Jincy of all who surprised us … we chugged off, gleefully, to Kathgodam in Ranikhet Exp—only train plying from Delhi to Kathgodam. The train leaves from Old Delhi Railway Station at 10:30 pm.
On Old Delhi Railway Station
We landed at the station quiet sometime before the train could make its appearance. I liked Jincy for booking AC Compartments. Well, the scene of Toilets disheartened us. We reached Kathgodam the next day at 6:30 in the morning. Katty and Clara were surrounded by many taxi drivers, many of them started pulling our luggage when I and Jincy intervened and decided to pick the one most decent cab driver. Three Cheers for us. We all were happy later about our right decision as Kabir; the driver did double up as acquainted guide and expert driver, all in Rs 500.
Kathgodam Railway Station to Shervani Hill Top Inn
It was an Alto and we all snuggled into the car. Kabir, a chatterbox, kept our attention engaged throughout. Before getting into the car Kabir signalled us to toward a local dhaba. Well, we were not in mood to grab morning breakfast as we didn’t even brush our teeth by then. Our omniscient driver has every clue of it, and took us to a water resource. After finishing our brushing business and other things we hit the dhaba for Chilly Potato Pakoras and mouth-watering chutney. Jincy grabbed them as many as 7. Clara kept quelling her satiation for chutneys while Katty and I got drowned in our pool of water eyes and nose. It was all due to chilly pakoras. Meanwhile, Kabir waited patiently while we winded our spicy affair. He handed over Avomin Tablets after we entered the car, we didn’t know why. However, it was discovered later why. On our way see saw fellow travellers stopping near the car and vomiting their heart out. Jincy gulped her tabs and Katty puked despite the tablets. I could gauge Kabir’s kind-heartedness. Later Kabir ranted well about all places of importance on the drive way. Jincy felt sleepy on the drive while I, Clara and Katty started picking heat of the Kabir’s blah on Mallital, Naukuchaital, film hoot of Kaal, Corbett and what not aaagh … the Alto screech stopped at Shervani Hill Top Inn. It was a full 40 km drive for 2 hours. As I stepped out of the car I felt enlightened.
Shervani Hill Top Inn
The hotel that Jincy booked for us was through www.IndiaHotelReview.com. Although the hotel was not a budget one, the cost we incurred were shared by all four us. Shervani was a good choice and woooosh … the edifice amid the green veil was really mesmerizing. You can see the greens to the end your eyes can see. Clowny Katty sipped his welcome drink and asked for more. We hated and mocked him for that. Our rooms were so well done up; everything was in match. Clara and I got transported to the future mode. We were deciding for our honeymoons even. Jincy rushed to the bathroom and came back smiling. I told you “finicky Jincy”. We took bath and gorged on our breakfast. Shervani Hill Top Inn provides the facility of free pick up and drop. So we got a drop to Mall Road.
Mall Road and beyond
Naini Lake
We reached Mall Road at 11:30 am and decided to go for boating in Naini Lake. We had to obtain tickets and wear the life jacket before stepping on to the boats. I was overburdened and was reminded to not exceed more than 110 kg. Folklore has it that Naini Lake was named after Goddess, the divine-better-half of lord Shiva. Linked empirically to Puranas, Shiva’s Tandava Dance after Sati’s demise, Naini Lake is in the shape of eyes. The lake looks adjacent to the huge parking slot and flanked by mountain ridges on one side. A water terrain to succumb, Naini Lake is choc-a-bloc with boats tied to the harbour/stairs of the lake. We paid a handsome amount of Rs 400 for two boats. The boat rower was happy initially, but in haste later. He said, “Clouds are uncertain at Nainital”. And By Jove, we were drenched by the time we reached back. There are arrangements of photography in local Garhwali and Kumaouni attires by the lake side.
Mall Road
We took 45 minutes refuge under the roof of—the only cinema hall (Capitol Cinema)—at Nainital Mall. Jincy and I laid hands on the most gorgeous of the umbrellas; we desperately waited for the rain to stop. Nainital Mall is the quiet an attractive section of the hill station shopping wise! Clara shopped heavily for souvenirs and oh-so-pretty-girlie umbrellas under the roof refuge. Soon after the rains retreated we decided to walk the distended Mall. The Mall Road faces the lake choked up with shops of all sizes mastering the collections of souvenirs and decoration items. Fabrics, rosary beads, sweaters, caps, shawls and bangles, footwear, candles, dry fruits etc. Best buys are the candles and dry fruits. For the woollen garments the Bhotia Bazaar is the best place whereas the Mall road and the Mallital are places for good bargain of candles and wooden stuff. In the evening, the Mall Road was blocked for the traffic and we didn’t get a chance to stroll more. It was 3:00 in the evening by the time we decided to take a look and darshan of Naina Devi Temple.
Places surrounding the Lake: the northern side
After a stroll at 4:30 our gang embarked onto the flat area. This is a favourite strolling ground of tourist settled towards north of the Lake. Marked eminently with a huge statue of Pt. Govind Ballabh and parking slot. Here is a Chat and Bhotia Bazaar or Tibetian Market. A shoppers and bargainer’s paradise, there are umpteen numbers of sweet little mementos and keepsakes. Jincy picked many colourful glass bangles for a petty amount of Rs 25. Clara and I chose good footwear, but aaaaghhh!!! too expensive. Katty led us to Naina Devi to wash away the bitter feeling of paying extra bucks. Besides, there were new club, boat house club, masonic hall are in the periphery of the flat area for recreation.
Naina Devi Mandir
We all went to Naina Devi Temple. It is situated on Shivalik Mountain and after getting down at a point we had to walk 2 km on foot. We took the pathway over the ropeway and enjoyed much. The priest smeared us with a teeka and offered Prasad and that we munched on the moment.
Trek to Snow View
At 5:00 in the evening we still had time after a feast ful lunch and whole view of Mall area. At a place called “Barapathhar” pony men offered us ride and trek to Snow View point. Four of us bargained the ride for Rs 1000 and places to seen from an album. Katty took a copy of it with himself. We began our trip in Van that dropped us at a stable point. It was time to choose our riding four-legged friend. What else?? Our ponies. We started off one by one with the respective guides. I was somewhat frightened to sit on a pony and especially on the bumpy pebbled and rock filled treks. Well, with our share of frights and phobias we covered the whole of Suicide Point, Tiffin Top and Dorothy‘s seat etc… Everything went well but alas, the rains snatched our pleasure. It rained hard again for exact 40 mins. Again we had to seek a refuge under a dilapidated roof on the trot. The ponies also enjoyed a bath and Katty nearly fainted with cold mountain waves. However, the pony man contributed much and clicked many good photos too. We reach to Barapathhar and searched a tandoor to dry up out wet clothes. A round of hot coffee and tea soothed us. Back to Delhi I really remember the four some shower.
