Covid 19

                       Covid19

The most dangerous virus attacked millions and millions of people all over the world, swallowed their lives causing a great loss to their dependents, making them no roofs over their heads, no shelter, no kith and kins, no food to eat leaving them behind helplessly

hopelessly in misery depression and the like.

Last year nearly in the month of March 2020 it started as I left India to Brunei with my husband. Till now it has not been ended. 

It is every where in the world.People are going through a worst crisis that mankind faced in a hundred years. 

              I read that India fights a deadly second wave that has strained the healthcare system also and lakhs and lakhs cases are getting added to the country's caseload everyday for more than a week.

     What a terrific Pandemic it is!!!

What steps a layman can follow to keep away from its spreading?

 One should keep himself and others safe

from Covid19.

Stay safe by following some preca

utions......

   

    physical distancing,.     

                      wearing a mask,

            keeping rooms well ventilated,

 avoiding crowds, 

                   cleaning your hands, 

           avoid contact with people who are sick.

If we follow such patty things in our day to day life we can stop spreading it and save civilization.

            

 Be at home and be safe.

                                

                                      Indu Naik

     

My grandson

 I am your grandma

 He is your grandpa

You are our 💕😘 little

Kanishka Muddu

Cute 🥰🙂 cute grandson 

Lovely😘 and handsome

Let's play▶️ together

and have fun ☺️😜 more

Hey hey 😊⭐ hey

Ho ho 😂😏 ho

Ha 😄 haa 😂😏 haaa haaa

                   Indu Naik

Prakriti Aalay-Abode of Peace

Prakriti Aalay-Abode of Peace

One of the best places of Tourists Attractions in Darmshala is Prikriti Aalay ,a real Abode of Peace, known for its serenity and quietness.

After running 15kmts, driver stopped our car, pointing towards awesome vast area in down land said, 'that is the resort 'Prakriti Aalay'.

All of us got down by the side on Highway and eagerly viewing the lovely sight widening our eyes.

Wow!

Beautiful

Wondreful

Fantastic

each one exclaimed in different ways. 

                     I just had a glance standing on the uphill...beautiful resort, colorful garden, wheat grain plants dancing in the breeze,  foot-path big and small rocks here and there, a small foot bridge, a rivulet flowing below... are visible.
"but how to reach the resort, it's in down land and we are on up-hill"
"I find difficult to walk with my leg-pain"

         A few grumbled as we had to climb down around 50 meters through the hilly pathway from the main road to reach the footbridge that connects straight to the resort. Hk Bhavayya helped Shivanand and all were  fit and fine when we reached the resort.

Rahul had booked already huts in the resort for our stay for two days. So Ganesh and I wished to consult the office-bearer or resort- owner whoever is in-charge.So at first we went to meet them.
They are very friendly spoke with us always with smiling face.

We stayed in three rooms two in each room . The stay was pleasant. Rooms were clean and the utensils like glass, jar, beverage-maker, plates for meals etc.. are made of copper and bronze.



  Rooms were tiny and attractive looked like country-side. Each room has good view of mountains. Nearby a rivulet is flowing  through the property with burbling sound that gave us immense pleasure through out our stay.  the resort owner told us that the cool water straight away comes from Himalayan Glacier. The name of rivulet is Manooni. Its sound is just soothing!!



We spent time on  sitting on rocks, laying legs in cool flowing water, chatting for a while, splashing and sprinkling water on one another. It was awesome moment!!
Swinging was very joyous.

We walked through the Pine forest-the safe beautiful scene of Lush green forest.  It was calm and quiet, an absolute treasure of serenity and bliss.

Food was excellent and reasonable also. I liked  tasty pakoda with chutney.We had both veg  and non-veg that was delicious and sufficient. Service was quiet good.

Over all the environment of Prakriti Aalay especially the antique style of mud house, adjoining rivulet Manooni, foot-bridge, bushy surroundings, copper and bronze utensils certainly proves an ancient world charm. I felt the entire credit goes to the kind-hearted resort owner Kishore Thakur and his spouse who treated the guests very well, hardly we see such guys nowadays. The staff was also good.

It is a place where we can refresh our mind and soul being away from noise and crowds like in cities.


                                                Bye

          
                                                                      Indu Naik

Co-Ordinator

Shivanand G Naik    

O

Towards Dharmashala

Towards Dharmashala

Next we started at day break. It was the last part of our journey. Weather was cool and bit raining also. We were happy moving towards Naddi in Dharmashala for sight-seeing- Rahul made arrangement for us to stay in hotel The Eden, a very beautiful and secluded view-point it is best seen during morning early day time especially during sun when  snow clad peaks will be bright. 

We enjoyed the view of the mountain that was amazing. I felt it's place to feel inner-peace. 
The whole day we spent visiting beautiful places like Dal Lake-natural  attraction with boating, Dharmashala Cricket Stadium that lies in the lap of majestic Himalayan mountain range. It is at the height of 1,457 mtrs above sea-level, one of the highest sports ground in the world.

Tibet Museum famous for political, history and cultural exhibits. We can spin the prayer wheels and  appreciate the magnificent stupas that are common sight amidst the monks and monasteries.

Gyuto Monastery--one of the most famous monastery known for its study of tantric meditation, tantric ritual arts and Buddhist philosophy.

Norbulingka Institute--It was founded near Dharmashala in1988 for preserving Tibetan culture, literature and art.

Jwalamukhi Devi Temple --one of the most renowned ancient temples of goddess Durga. It is believed that Sati's tounge fell here and the goddess is manifest as small blue flames that burn through fissures in the old rock.

Library of Tibetan Works and Archives--one of the important library of Tibetan works.

Bajreshwari Temple- located 20 km away from Dharmashala, thousand years old temple dedicated to Bajreshwari Maa, the Goddess of Lightening.

St. John Church in Dhrmasala--One of the oldest church built by Britsh also known St. John Church in Wilderness.

The War Memorial is the very entrance Dharmasala town. It was set-up to commemorate the soldiers who fought for India in post independent India.

Tsechokling Gompa--beautiful plce for woship and meditation.


Masroor Rock Cut Temple-famous for monolithic rock-carvings situated in the Himachala Town of Kangra.  Baijnath Temple  Kangra Fort and Shiva Temple are remarkable and memorable.

The shrines of Rama Sita and Laxman is beautiful' In the temple is a water-pond of rectangular shape which is also considered divine We saw many temples of Gods and Gddess.

The day ended with sight-seeing, resting and shopping.

Bye 

 
                         Co-Ordinator Shivanand Naik

                   Indu Naik

khajjiar--Heaven of Nature-Lover

Khajjiar--heaven of Nature-Lover

The next day, on 14th April, we went to explore another hidden treasure. We were most excited and happy.

'It's a beautiful landscape, I heard, is it?' 

What madam? It's called Mini Switzerland, it is very pretty , my friend had told me -  Ganesh my bro said with excitement.

'Houda Ganesh' then we must see it, I am eager' Suma uttered

'I'm on my fore -toes Suma..'  Sheela squeezed

 her arm.

Hey! hoge Sheela what's this?-Suma pulled her arm back.

'It is a  popular place many film-shootings take place

 here especially Hindi movies, I read it many times' Shivanand added.

' even the new ones 

latest one of  Sharukhan I forgot the name..' MR Bhavayya also joined  our conversation 

Hk Bhavayya was silent  usually he won't show much interest in subject like movies.

'how far is Khajjiar from here?' I asked

;It's 25 km away from Dalhousie , awesome place, we can see Khajjiar Lake, Naga Temple and lot more things there' .. the driver said confidently for he is  basically  from HP.

We just went on talking how travelling around the world has made us realise how beautiful our own country is!

We were amazed when we reached the spot.

 Wah! what a lovely spot! It is a vast expanse of verdant meadows, dense deodar forest and the snow covered hills with some incredible tourist places in and around it.

We could enjoy its beauty in a number of interesting ways- the mountains, the flowers, the lakes, the temples and the greenery! Awesome!! There are cottages, shops everywhere.

 

We took a walk through the landscape and clicked many photos, videos by ourselves.

Photographers are there, and they take out photos in different sizes, in different location if we wish and keep ready our photos with in no time.  We have to pay for them it's not expensive

All  of us took photos and enjoyed a lot .Our joy knew no bounds





Shivanand wished to sit and view the beautiful scenery so we didn't disturb him.


We further went to see the other parts of the landscape.

It is real fun to see snow-clad mountain ranges in the surroundings. There is Naga temple, it's one of the holiest and ancient  Hindu temple in HP, built  by Pandavas during the time of Mahabharat 

     This temple is dedicated to snakes and decorated with ornate wood-carving.

    It is a temple of Lord Shiva, local people visit this temple before they start any good work... that's what we learnt from people over there.



                     Next we went to Chemera Lake one of the great scenic beauty. Two types of boat are there. One is the speed boat and it has limited seating. it's more expensive. Another is motorized boat, it has more seating arrangements.

        We took speed boat. When we wore life-jacket we were thrilled, sitting in the boat, it is real fun to see snow clad mountain ranges in the surroundings. This lake is tranquil picture of natural-beauty and we enjoyed it at the most.


        We are very much pleased visiting such attractions in Himachal Pradesh. Once again thanks to Rahul and Pooja for there great planning.

After delicious food, we had a good rest with a lots of happy memories of Dalhousie that soaked our soul in the midst of nature.


               Which  place did we visit on 15th and 16th? 


                          Read in my next post.

                                                     
                                                           Bye

                                                                      Indu Naik

                       
                          Contributor: Shivanand G Naik


                                    



  

              

Dalhousie--Treat for the eyes

Dalhousie- - Treat for the eyes and mind

It was April 13th. As per the tour program sent by Rahul, we set out to Dalhousie after visiting Jalianwala Bagh.
 Before that we had early lunch at Kesar da Dhaba, Amritsar as directed by Rahul. 

"Suma, you look so joyous What's the matter?"

" Arrey, not only Suma, all of us" Sheela added.

"Yeah, we all" Ganesh, MR Bhavayya and HK Bhavayya nodded with delight.

That's true, we were moving to the charming hill town of Dalhousie that's known for enchantic scenic beauty.



              ' The mountains are at the height of   nearly 2700 meters above sea level in this hill station' when the driver revealed it we were surprised.

It was a bit long road journey four and half hours and the distance 210kms.

Even then we were not tired, we didn't lose hope for the very thought of  visiting the calm and soothing place made us lively.

When our car drove inside the campus of  Grand View Hotel, all of us exclaimed 'Wow', looking at the sprawling hotel.


The hotel was on top and we had to climb the steps we didn't mind as the beautiful surroundings covered with trees, creepers lovely hanging flowers, cool breeze added more joy to us. We were fully relaxed when we went to our couch and woke up when the server came with the tray

contained welcome drink.

It was too cold we couldn't bear it so we first decided to go out and buy the winter wares like  shawl, sweaters, hand glove and caps.

Just we stepped out we saw a complete lane of small shops where we bought all these things.

My husband Shivanand was literally shivering and the lady shopkeeper rushed towards him with a shawl and covered him I liked her concern and thanked her and bought more things in her shop. Then after we could comfortably sit in the yard.











We spent three days in Dalhousie.  Even then we couldn't cover all the top attractions but only a few ones.

 The joy of experiencing the thrill of watching the breath-taking vistas-charming cottages, exquisite churches, snowy Himalayan peaks, water-falls lakes is unparalleled.

We had occasion to pay tribute to great freedom fighter of India Subhash Chandra Bose at the Subhash Baoli.

The environment of Grand View Hotel was very pleasant and peaceful. It has many facilities like indoor games. We could listen best songs sung by popular singers in Live Band while eating food.

 Food was good both veg and non-veg. Service was excellent.  surroundings and view was extremely good. All of us had comfortable feeling.

 





Second day on April 13th we were much eager to visit the other lovely spots in Himachala…. Until then wait for my next write-up.

Bye 

Indu Naik
Contributor..Shivanand G Naik