Kanatal- A short Weekend Destination for Nature lovers!

Kanatal is a small package that covers many activities if you plan your trip right. Be it trekking, jet skiing, water gliding, speed boating, rope way- flying fox, sky walking- Kanatal offers it all

The journey to Kanatal mountains is more beautiful than the destination itself, you would never want it to come to an end.



Our adventure with Kanatal started in Delhi itself as the train was 3 hrs late and we ran to get tickets for a movie at a nearby mall to kill this time and after 3 hrs ran back to railway station to catch our train – trust me the scene from Jab we met did flash in front of our eyes.

We reached Haridwar early morning and another 3 hours drive to Kanatal. Had our breakfast at the camp site and headed for a trek.

There’s a small trek to Surkanda temple in Tehri District.

Location- Surkanda, Tehri District
Distance from Kanatal- 11 km
Distance from Kaddukhal (motorable road)- 3 km
Trekking Route altitudes: 9976 ft

Though there’s a proper cemented path going towards temple from Kaddukhal, it’s a 3 km uphill walk. However we, being nature lovers, took a mountain forest route to the temple. ;)





We took a localite’s help to guide us through forest to reach the temple. The trek was steep but the entire route towards the temple was mesmerizing. The journey was so beautiful, serene and peaceful that we couldn’t stop ourselves to sit and admire the beauty.
We chose a quiet place at the edge of the mountain to a see the marvelous valley beneath. You go in trance when the clouds walk by beneath your feet- the phrase ‘walking on clouds’ will have a different meaning altogether.



It took about 2 hrs to reach to the top, we stayed there for about an hr and returned via cemented route.

After our trek we decided to visit Dhanaulti Eco park where you can enjoy activities like Flying Fox- they tie you up with a cable and you glide down towards the valley, Sky walk, etc..



Our evenings were full of music, dance and bone fire at camp site.

Next Day we visited Tehri Dam – Beautiful place but strict security. Even if you cross the Dam bridge with Security permission you cannot return for about 1 hr.
We had no idea about this and crossed the bridge, we had to pass our time roaming around uphill and clicking pics (you are not allowed to take pics while you are crossing the bridge)

There are few water sports in Tehri- like Jet Skiing, speed boating, Zorbing, Bandwagon ride, Banana ride





We ended this day with a short visit to Mussoorie, so we can include this too in our itinerary ;) :D.

Day 3- A quiet morning forest walk under mystic trees, beautiful pathway- if only you know how mesmerizing are the mysterious forests







After our morning walk, we headed back to Haridwar, you can either directly take train towards Delhi or can enjoy Hari-ki-pauri Aarti or Rafting in Rishikesh and do an overnight train journey.


Have a safe journey! :))

Just Another Walk! ;)

Yet another short trek, unexplored and unknown to most of the people:  Nag Tibba

Location : Nag tibba, distt.- Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Distance from Mussoorie: 57 km

Trekking route altitudes : Min: 4590 ft. (at Pantwari) & Max. 9915 ft.(Nag tibba top)

This was a dream destination I always wanted to visit :)

We were a group of 15 people started our journey from Dehradun by car to Pantwari village from where the trek began. Trek was of moderate difficulty- actually easy till camp site but moderate due to snow clad mountain trek the next day.

We started our trek at around 12.30 pm carrying our backpack with only essentials like warm clothes, raincoat, some energy drink, chocolate/ energy bars, camera (most important), etc.. Trust me- that too felt like a tons of weight after some time.

Trek was steep and continued so but easy to climb. We stopped at a nice meadow for lunch, took rest for 30-45 mins and again started the journey for the camp site.

The trek was muddy and steep, typical mountain trek but as we continued the view started to unfold and we could see the ranges of Lesser Himalayas.

The air became cooler and cooler as we hiked.. We reached to a small clearing and clicked some shots J

People generally camp here instead of Nag Tibba base which was 2 km further up.  One can see the entire beautiful valley from this place.

The first site of Nag Tibba base was amazing as the place was covered in snow. Bright yellow camps were ready on white snow bed. We were served pakoras and tea and our trek leader briefed us for next day’s hike. We had our dinner by 8 pm, by then it was dark, chilli, windy and we were hell lot of tired, But just as we looked up at the sky all tiredness vanished.

Gazing up at the naked sky was one of my dreams come true. I could see all the constellations and actually started counting the stars which are numbered in a place like Delhi. We made plans to start our trek to the peak at 5.30 am so we could see sunrise from the peak; chit chat with bonfire and music went on and later we retired to our tents.

The night was not as peaceful as the sky depicted at first. Sleeping bags, jacket, sweater, sweat pants- nothing could stop the chill coming from snow bed below, then it started to rain- first slowly, then vigorously followed by hail. It went on for the entire night and early morning when it finally stopped at 9 am.

We started our trek again with our 5 layers of clothing plus raincoat which also worked as windshield. 
We could see thick clouds all over Nag Tibba snow peak and were so determined to go into that dense white unknown as if walking on the vault of Heaven to experience hail and snowfall.

The entire journey to the peak was mesmerizing, I witnessed snowfall for the first time..it was beautiful. Snowfall continued as we climbed ahead in knee length fresh snow. Its difficult to hike in hard snow- we were also given spikes for that but luckily the snow was fresh which made it easy to hike but still difficult than normal hiking because though the snow bed seems to be at the same level the ground beneath it might not be. Also if you have low BP (as I do), make sure you take some chocolate/ energy bars with you, I had that bar in a middle of nowhere waiting for 2 guys to join us as they missed the track and took wrong route.

It felt so blissful as we hiked..all I could see was pure white everywhere…I could not make out where the mountain ended and where the sky started..it was as if walking on clouds J and thousands of wind chimes ringing rhythmically as snowflakes touched the leaves of forest trees all around me.. As the sound of silence pursued we continued our journey ahead.

The best part of trekking in snow is that you’ll never have shortness of breath the entire time you are in snow and because of normal breathing you won’t feel tired.

Few of us who were a li’l slower than others were following the track left behind by them. Walking on those foot marks is easier than making new ones. One- it gives you a right direction, and second- when snow is knee length its better to slide your foot in the existing foot hole, this’ll give you good grip and lesser chances of slipping in snow. But make sure foot marks are going ‘towards’ the top and not coming from there ;)  Usually hikers take different return route.

Our welcome was done with snow balls and the third world war began J

The view from top was breathtaking; I still wish we had more time to sit there. 
One can see Himalayan range from the top- all snow clad mountains, given the weather is clear.
Don’t forgot to visit the Temple at Nag Tibba base J

 

One of my favorite treks now- Nag Tibba is gaining popularity amongst Delhiites because of its snowy weather at a short distance.

Make sure to pack water bottles, rain coat and a trekking pole- kindda important for steep and snow trek.

Happy Trekking J

The Perfect Disguise!

You Hide in Plain Sight..

Beneath your Mask!

Everyone here wears a Mask,

The mask of perfect disguise..

The mask of pretense..

Sometimes people wear this Mask for so long

That they completely forget for who they actually are..

They bury that part of themselves so deeply that they are to be reminded that it still exist

And sometimes you just want to forget about your Disguise..

Forget about your Mask..

Just want to be free from this Pretense

Sometimes I like to be “Me”

Sometimes I like to dance with my demons..

Play my own strings..

Create my own music..

And this Melody is far from over..

 

Jyoti Arora

My Venture Alone - Exploring Sydney The Harbor Way!

 

I had 3 days with no plans...I grabbed a book and few dollars..and started my journey towards no-where..Trust me..its a beautiful place J

 

I travelled in city rail from South to North Shore..took all ferry maps from circular quay and started exploring Sydney the Harbor Way!

 

 

 

The city gave me entire Ocean to explore….!

Without thinking or wasting a single second I sat in one of the ferries which was about to start. The Cruise was for Manly Island.. J

Looking at the vast ocean from a side window while sitting in that Cruise with my book and a cappa coffee to accompany me, my journey began with a peaceful, beautiful sound of waves...

 

 

I skipped a beat at the first sight of Manly beach, it left me speechless...a greenish tint in water mesmerized me..

I still feel the same when I look at this first sight Pic...

 

I was shivering with cold as it started to drizzle but my spirits were too high for any cold...walking in rain has always been my favorite..

Manly is a very small island with a 3 km long beach...I walked almost the entire island and came back to where I started in not more than 3 hrs while picking some goodies :)

The most beautiful ferry ride was of Parramatta, a very serene river. It was awesome to get to know how the other side lives…on river side!

It was the longest ferry ride of all, and extremely alluring & peaceful..

Covered Manly Island, Watsons Bay, Mosman Bay, Neutral Bay, Milsons Point, Cockatoo Island, Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta River in those 3 days..Covered almost entire Sydney on water...

I really did enjoy in Sydney city..its fantastic, rocking and maddening but the experience of wandering aimlessly in the Pacific was Divine!

Yes, they say that right: Not all those who wander are lost! J

 

The journey that started beside a window with a book, ended with dancing on a deck with strangers as I headed back to my favorite Circular Quay.

I love to travel alone…love to wander and be lost..coz the journey back always brings with it a brand new experience, new faces, new friends, new souls, new places..and new Me!

I still keep re-discovering myself ;)

 

Moments!

Time!
..is the most precious treasure that no one can dare snatch away from you..
And its the only possession which is yours and only yours.. Everything else is material..
If you can...gift me few moments from your time!
Cherish each moment...you'll never get those moments again...there could be some better ones, some worse..but never ever the same..
Time is still flying at its own pace..grab some moments and keep it in your memory forever..that's the only thing you could possess!

Jyoti Arora

Everything happens for good

 

No matter how hard the present may seem,

it leaves you with a lifetime experience..

Experience you sometimes share..

sometimes you won't..

but whatever it may be, it helps you grow..helps you learn...

helps you make sure that you are not stagnant in life..

Keep Walking..Keep taking Risks..

if it gives you courage, you'll become strong..

if it leaves you with tears, then bingo! it proves you are still alive..

that you are humane..

What-so-ever that experience brings with it..

it definitely changes your perception towards life, people, reality, truth, happiness, forgiveness..

Life is short! Live it to the fullest...read it somewhere..time to apply it..

 

Jyoti Arora

Make a wish!

What makes you happy? ...whatever it may be..I wish you your choicest happiness, good health, more wealth, quiet peace, true dreams and best regards in your life...Happy Diwali ! :)
Jyoti Arora

Who will cry when you die!

People have a very short memory...So I don't want people to remember me when I die...I want them to think of me today.. I don't want them to cry when I die..I want them to laugh with me today..I don't care if they don't keep me in their memories..(I don't want to be kept anywhere...)..I want them to fly with me today.. I don't want to be a legend..I don't want to live forever...(only vampires live forever...trust me..;) ..I want to live only today..
Let Go! Live! Laugh! Today.... Tomorrow is a perception... Tomorrow never comes..

My Beliefs

Freedom: When your Mind is at peace and your
Heart is free from chaos of the World!
- Jyoti Arora +Srinagar 

My Beliefs

Truth is..has always been..and will always be in open...but to see it clearly we just need eyes to adjust with its brightness!
- Jyoti Arora

Experience is not for me to keep, Experience is to share!!! - @Mount Abu :)

Mount Abu is now one of the top 10 weekend destinations for me.

One can experience customized hikes, village safari, scenic beauty of sunrise and sunset at one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world.

View from hill top

 

We were a group of 7, started our trek around 8.30 am. Trekking was easy-moderate difficulty; the journey had a nice blend of rocks, water streams, caves, meadows. We trekked for about 5-6 kms while clicking pics, and enjoying every bit of the nature's beauty, then took a nice 2-3 hrs break for lunch and rest.

Some interesting Rock formations on the way

The journey

 

Black Squirrel

 

Again started the journey for sunset point and reached the hill top much before sunset.

Its a breathtaking view from the top- the wide Aravalli range...I can sit there for hours without speaking a single word. Its peaceful, beautiful and energizing out there- all at the same time. Sunset is the most beautiful color, and from a hill top its fascinating. The spectacular view of sun vanishing into thin air, one can fall into reverie.

Magnificent view from top

 

We also went to Gaumukh temple which is an experience in itself. It is situated in the center of wild greenery and thick forest, at a very remote place where We enjoyed our walking expedition. Stream of Spring water flowing from the mouth of cow-head statue is said to be the origin of 3 sacred rivers in India. You need to climb down over 700 stairs (yes, we counted on our way back), might experience some landslides as we did. As per locals there, landslides are often and they have to mend the steps everytime it happens.

PS: Climbing up those 700+ steps on your way back could be very tiring, don’t forget to keep water bottle in your bag and energy drink (if necessary).

 

 

Mount Abu is also famous for Dilwara temple- beautiful stone carvings,  Nakki Lake, and Guru-Shikhar- highest peak of that region. There are also some tourist places which can be covered in a day, but all are really crowded and it might take hours to reach at each destination due to traffic on long weekends/holidays.

 

 

 

Jyoti Arora