Rappelling at Sattal

Well, this was a long time due outing. Although it is to a place which we have already visited once, still this is a place to be at many more times.
Its Sattal Gateway Jungle Camps. This time, I was organizing the trip from our office and we had in the end I think around 40 people coming for the trip including I think around 10+ families with kids ranging from 6 months to 10 yrs. It looked like going to a fantastic trip over the May 10-11 2008 weekend.

The route is fantastic, with the initial leg from Delhi to Kathgodam being covered by train. This time, I was one of the people to organize it, so what we did was, we got train tickets booked for all of us in Tatkal, as there were no reservations available. So, Del-Kathgodam was by train, then Kathgodam to Sat-tal lake it was cabs ( sumo, qualis, travera, etc) Whoosh, the hill drivers, how they drive , GOD only save us. And they are so deft maneuvering the cabs on those cheeky turns and mountain roads. There after its a 15 min boat ride to the other side of the lake and further half hour trek to the camp site. I can't tell you how that half hour was, but its just that with me, carrying the maximum luggage on this trip, it was almost like 2 hrs of trekking. And, we had all duffel bags for this trip, while we should have carried back packs and ruck sacks. Bad mistake.

So, soon we reached our campsite, this is how it looked like. From the looks, it is fantastic and the tents were pitched in some order with a slight height gradient. People ran to the tents and got hold of one for each family or so. We were the last ones to reach along with the tour co-coordinator. And the fellow, he was also carrying one of our bags. I couldn't with Nanna also on me.

So, we also looked for the remaining tests and chose one out of them. Neha is also along with us, so Nanna is also very happy. And I hope Neha also likes this place, cos we have been here once and did like it much. So looks fine and likes the place in general. We all had a fantastic train journey last night. The train is right on time and so are we in reaching the camp site. All see the camp site lay out and start getting ready. Some how, people get hold of the volley ball, so they start playing and so do I. It is fun , exhausting yourself early in the morning before 9, this time we are not even up from bed on week ends.
Now, started getting ready, Neha and Shikha are already ready, and so off I go, get ready, use a little Luke warm water. Last time I had used pitch cold water directly to bathe, while it was in March and this time even in May, am using warm water, I guess its age.

So, after breakfast, it was time for the adventurous activities. There were two, just like the last time, although the places were a little different, but still all the more fun included. They had rappelling and river crossing. And so almost all of us did that barring a few. And the best part, Shikha and Neha also did it. She is thrilled to have done that. She couldn't do the river crossing, cos it was already over when she got down and it was time for lunch, Nanna hasn't had anything since morning. That always happens, as soon as we are out, she stops eating anything, and we wlso are able to spend less time on her, so. Still she was spending more time with Neha also. This one the right side is our tent. We spent some time basking in the sun rays filtered by the dense cover of trees and had tea sitting over there.

The activities were to start now, we saw the warm up, tying of ropes to trees etc, sitting on top of the tree which was being used for river crossing activities. Nanna enjoyed a little atop the tree but was soon back mingling with the rest of the people. She spent a lot of time sportingly with many people , while me, Shikha and Neha went ahead with Rappelling. They were time consuming activities. Still, they were fun to do and are one of the 'it' things we have done till now.

So, all in all the activities started well and almost all enjoyed , everybody along with wives did all the adventure activities, although there were a couple of people hurt a little, but nothing to dampen the spirits and fun over there.

Back at the campsite, had lunch and many people went ahead to sleep. ut some of the people are not meant for it, and so we people still started playing volleyball. Then after some time, flying disc, some other small games. Evening, we had cool time, sipping tea in front of our tent.

Evening, we had some usual and some unusual games, some rassa-kashi, some water bucket games, and all the girls amongst us enjoyed them well.

Some gala night with usual refreshments and drinks, the camp staff served us well, I hope all were happy. This is my maiden attempt in organizing anything. Some people would always be nagging, am happy to see that but I hope rest of them enjoyed on this trip. It was still substantial money which we had to spend on this.

Next day was roaming around in Nainital and then going to Kathgodam to catch the return train to Delhi. The route was fantastic. The weather turned suddenly, as is the typical of hills, and it started raining, it became cold suddenly. We had clothes, but Nanna was still feeling shivers, so we immediately bought a lower and jacket for her. It was amazing, the weather and drizzle there.







The route from Nainital back to Kathgodam had surprise for us, we had a flat tyre, but the driver fast so fast we could not imagine. He changed the tyre so fast, we just took a breeze out and it was done.

So, the journey back home was un event ful. Enjoyed that as well, as we had some time to talk to each other, spend time with new people, know them more. How true it is, if you want to know someone, travel with them,. I recently heard this on TV as well, it is so very true.

All in all a fantastic outing.

Bathing in Ganges at Shivpuri-Rishikesh

It was a long weekend as Jayanta told me a few days ahead of the Monday, 14th April holiday, and boy, he did good to tell me about it. I had no idea about the long weekend coming ahead. So as soon as I came to know about it, the preparations started and we got in full swing to see how we can enjoy the most. For with our 4 yr old little angel with us, we decided to go to the Rishikesh-Devprayag sector.

Shailendra was also planning to come along but was still a little dicy to decide.
It took a couple of days, and as soon as he said yes, we got our bookings done with GMVN, Ganga resort in Rishikesh. It is the most fantastically located place I have ever stayed at. Right on the banks of Gangaji, it gives a fantastic view, cool breeze.
For me, Monday was holiday, but Shail didn't had this luxury, but anyways he used to go to office around 2 O clock.
Now, the plan is , start early morning 5 AM from Gzb and reach Rishikesh asap, check in to Ganga resort and have fun.
Soon, the day came and we tried to slept asap, still I could only get 2 hrs sleep, the anxiety creeps in, u know. Shail generally comes home by late nite 2 or early morning 4-5 AM or so. So, it was me who would be driving, although its not long, I think only 230 kms or so from our place till the resort.
So, we got up early, spoke to Shail at 4, they are also up and getting ready. Down by 5, we are bang on time, start around 5:20 AM from Gzb. I had forgotten to get the tank full at Delhi, so thought we will have to do it en-route. All as per plan, except, the kids. We thought both the kids would be fast asleep at 5 in the morning and we would be able to cover much distance pretty soon. But, both of them were wide awake fighting for space and enjoying the drive, and it took more than an hour of cool breeze for both of them to go into deep slumber. It was a huge traffic drive, it seems whole of Delhi was going towards that direction. In fact, I have seen it so many times now, Delhites throng to the nearby tourist places for weekend outings almost all year round and on long weekends, it becomes a mad rush. Now, we are also a part of it.
Little less than half an hour from Haridwar, the kids were moving a little, and it as evident they would be up any minute. We were also driving non stop for close to 4 hours now, yeah traffic is that huge, the avg is 45 kmph max, so we also thought of taking a stop. After many thoughts, Patanjali, the huge palatial ashram of Baba Ramdev was chosen as the place to halt at.

It is a magnificently made place and we enjoyed our time there. The kids got fresh and we had something to eat and drink.
Photo-ops time in front of the artificial water fountains there and we took almost 2 hours loitering here and there and enjoying.

Then, off we go towards Rishikesh, re-fuelling the car in between and reach Ganaga resort around 1 PM after much windings through the narrow lanes, phew the main road route was so much better, which we discovered later. The location and view from the hotel are fantastic, I can't describe enough.
We got 2 adjacent rooms on the first floor, they have huge balcony where you can sit and enjoy the view, evening tea. Keep sitting on there and you would loose the sense of the time passing by.
All of us were already very hungry, kids hadn't eaten anything at Patanjali and so, we ordered some snacks immediately. Went to take shower alongside, and then went downstairs in the restaurant to have lunch. Had a sumptuous lunch and we all were full to brim, much tired and thinking what to do now.
Gangaji is just flowing down there a few steps touching the wall of this resort And it is chilling hot outside. Shail and party were in a pretty lumber state, but we decided that we should be now going to Ganagaji and take a dip. And so we went down there, and soon they also joined. That was a good time there. Shailendra also after much deliberation, jumped in with his jeans on and we enjoyed the cool shallow water there for around 2 hours. Nanna was so ecstatic and was enjoying water like anything, we were happy. Shikha couldn't take a dip, nevertheless she enjoyed with all of us.

There after, we came back to our respective rooms, changed and then thought of going out to check the city, the famous Ram and Laxman Jhula. We spent a long time standing near and on the Laxman Jhule. Then we went to the famous Chotiwala's restaurant to have food. The food was ok, nothing great about it. But the chotiwala's are real treat to the eyes. Esp, our kids were very happy to see them. There are two of them now, I think they must be kin and are now running two Chotiwala restaurants adjacent to each other. And can believe, they always have a person sitting outside the restaurant on a high chair with proper getup and a feet long choti standing like a ruler. Wow, that is a sight.
In the late afternoon, when we were cossing the Ram Jhula, we saw a lot of rafters coming through, below the Ram jhula. It was a fantastic sight. Then we went back to our resort, took a good night sleep. We had decided to go to Shivpuri in the morning.
Sunday morning, we got up early, got the kids ready as well. Had breakfast at the restaurant and left for Shivpuri.
I don't actually know, if we reached Shivpuri or not. But it looked like we did. While going by, we saw a couple of shops on the right side and a little hustle bustle but we didn't notice much.Half a km ahead we asked someone and he said, go back, just before the bridge go down on the left side. So we did, and we parked almost at the river banks. Here she is, Gangaji mildly flowing with serene looks. And lots and lots of camps there, white sand beaches all around and unbelievably hundreds of people getting ready to go rafting. Every few minutes, there was a raft starting from that place. And the people were very enthusiastic about it. We soon took our positions in the river Ganaga, bathing and splashing water. Kids were a little reluctant today, so they kept out, so did Shikha. But, we were enjoying the weather, Gangaji, the rafters doing jai jai kar before embarking on the unknown 3 hr journey towards Rishikesh. These rafts would take around 3 hours to reach Rishikesh, these are the ones we were looking at yesterday also from Ram Jhula.
After spending a good time, we went back to the city, stopping in between at a lot of places , clicking snaps. All the time, it was actually Shailendra only, as I had as always not got my camera here.
Back i
Came back to the hotel, enjoyed in the evening with n town, had lunch, guess it was pretty late already, and then kept sitting on one of the ghats idly for many hours, till the time the beautiful evening aarti was over. Then went back to the hotel, had some masti, some food, and good sleep.

Early morning around 5, ready to start from there, Unevevt ful jouorney back home, midway ate like hippos at "The Grand Cheetal". It is a hugely expensive place but all the food material is of good quality and good taste, can stop here more in future as well.
Reached home before 12 in the noon and phew good long 4 hour sleep. :-)