By Reema Sathe.
Traveling opens my mind, helps me learn new
principles of life, and unlearn some. I have travelled alone for work
plenty of times, but this year, I decided to take a vacation to the hills of Kumaon – alone.
a bigger leap of faith in life.
Apart from the fact that I wanted to go to some place away from the crowds, I had nothing else planned. I read several travel blogs (esp. my favourite travel blog The Shooting Star) and did research on the internet about places in India which are best for soulful travel. When I set the date and destination, my mind started jumping up and down, worrying about the dos and donts of traveling alone to an offbeat location. However, my excitement of the unknown beat my fear and I began my much awaited trip to Delhi >> Bhimtal >> Shaukiyatal >> Binsar. Few books and clothes, my iPod, camera and backpack became my companions.
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| The welcoming locals at Shaukiyathal. |
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| Enroute to Kathgodam from Delhi. |
quieter cousin of Nainital. My colonial homestay, located on a quiet hill, is run by a warm-hearted Anglo Indian family. The house has an old
world charm with a piano, a bookshelf stacked with classics and a fireplace
surrounded with wooden furniture and tea kettles. The moment I saw my room with
a cosy reading corner and a large window facing the forest, I knew that I would
spend the next 3 days indoors. My plans were pleasantly altered when I met an
awesome group of travellers from Delhi. I spent the rest of my time in Bhimtal
hiking, exploring the forest and lakes, and swapping travel stories over a
glass of wine and delicious home-cooked food.
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| The cosy reading corner in my room at the Bhimtal homestay. |
first surveyed the place where I was about to stay for three days. That night I
was worried as hell about my safety at the homestay. A few frantic phone calls
later, I calmed and believed in the good things this experience would bring to
me. My faith proved right, and the next few days at Shaukiyatal were filled with
experiences of a lifetime – meeting the locals, hiking across villages and the dense forest of Binsar, and reading books in complete solitude while gazing
at the mesmerizing valley.
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| The meditative solitude at Shaukiyathal. |
The Lessons
Traveling alone has a charm of its own and
to understand it, you have to experience it yourself. Make basic preparations of supplies
that would help you in trouble; basic medicines, a map, a Swiss knife, some
snacks and phone numbers of a few trusted locals form my survival kit. It is okay to be scared or to think of things that could go wrong, but always counter such
thoughts with the excitement of experiencing things you have never seen or felt
before.
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| Lessons of a different kind – bread making with Paddy in Bhimtal. |
Making no plans. Little or no planning helped me discover the unknown and find joy in whatever my journey offered to me.
Making friends with locals and fellow travellers. Not only did I meet some lovable people but came across stories I never thought existed in the world.
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| My warm hearted hosts and fellow travellers in Bhimtal. |
Ditching the “famous travel spots” and
instead hiking around the villages and forests. I met wonderful locals, walked
the forest trenches with mountain dogs, gazed at beautiful fields and pristine mountains, and spent time in meditative solitude.
Sharing love. My biggest learning from the trip. Be kind and respectful
to everyone in your journey – people, animals, nature. When you love someone or
something, it always loves you back.
Following my curiosity. Whether I was on
foot or in a car, whenever I saw something interesting, I explored it. The
temple with letters to god, the SOS Village factory, the paddies and potato
fields, and the sight of a barking deer – a few wonderful outcomes when I
chased my curiosity.
Staying alert but positive. My mind was always alert and prepared for unpleasant situations but I placed trust in the goodness the world holds around me. It worked!
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| Accidental discover of a diety temple; people tie handwritten letters to god and bells here to fulfill their wish. |
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| The rice paddies and quaint town of Bhimtal. |
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Do you dream of a solo trip to the Indian Himalayas? What’s stopping you?
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