Episode 234 : The Devbhoomi Experience- Part 5

Day 7: October 6, 2008

I had seen a statue of Hanuman at Bhimtal the previous night. Named after Bhima the Pandava, the place has a Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple, which is believed to have been built when Bhima visited the place during the exile period of the Pandavas. We take a few photos and continue on narrow village roads to Muktesar.

We scarcely get out of Bhimtal when Muthu loses his balance and drops his bike. For some strange reason, he loses control at speeds as low as 10kmph. Apart from a few bruises, he appears fine. He tells us he was thinking of work as he took the curve and realised his lapse of concentration a few seconds too late.

Muktesar, Uttarakhand @ 59700km

For as long as I remember, I associate Muktesar with Jim Corbett- the Man-eater of Muktesar, to be precise. A misty morning, with a view of the peaks in the distance, my only regret is that we chose to stop at Naukuchiatal for the night instead of Muktesar. I make a note to self- buy Jim Corbett's book on man-eaters.

Breakfast is a little while in coming, so we tend to Muthu’s bruises. Ronald is beginning to get an inflamed toe-nail, so he goes off with Srini to look for a doctor.

We get our first group photo taken by an elderly couple from England. The man is English but his wife is Indian. He claims their marriage was arranged. We are in splits when he says he met her and she arranged their marriage! That the wife has a crush on Zim is evident, so I give her his email address and ask her to send the photograph as soon as possible...

This one was taken with a timer, a rock played the part of a tripod very beautifully.

We take a jungle road from Muktesar to get to Almora. The group splits into ones and twos. I, for most part of the ride to Almora, am alone. From a small settlement called Khwarab to Almora, I chase a Swift Dzire that is intent on not letting me overtake it. I have it on video if you want to see it. ;-)

Almora, Uttarakhand @ 59745km

We re-group outside Almora. Muthu requires a little welding to be done on his bike. The group splits into two- we go hunting for food, deciding to meet 15km outside Almora, at a small village called Kosi by the banks of the river Kosi, if I remember the names correctly.

The bike needs fuel, and I miss the only petrol station that had fuel. There is nothing but food at Kosi, so I eat my fill and ride back to the outskirts of Almora for fuel.

The village is picturesque, but also has an outpost for the Indo-Tibetan Border Patrol. So photographs of the river are not allowed.

We begin ascending the mountains again. I am keen on capturing the setting sun before we stop at Ranikhet. We find a suitable spot for photography and start clicking the orange hues of the setting sun.

Ranikhet houses the regiment centre for the Kumaon Regiment. We see young cadets assemble for a jog in the night. The hubbub in the town has an air of the military in it.

Ranikhet, Uttarakhand @ 59818km

The only good thing about reaching a place just after sunset is that you know what to look out for the next morning when the light is right.

The downside is you don't get to see the place well. After dinner, we agree to reach our destination before sunset. It means starting earlier- at 150-200km a day, we've made our routes long.

The golf course and the army training grounds look appealing. I have to see them in the morning before we start for Bidthi.