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A VROOM WITH A VIEW

03:27 AM

01 August 2009

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Lost on the way from Lhasa

Posted By Vamsi & Charu

It is really early in the morning and still dark when we set out for a walk. There is a whiff in the air, not the smell of fresh momos, this one lingers longer; the nostalgia of hundreds of Tibetans for the motherland that they have left behind. Of course I am imagining it. I have just finished reading the Dalai Lama’s autobiography and am thinking about the history of the place and the people.

Breakfast

It was over fifty years ago, on March 31, 1959 that the Dalai Lama entered India after a gruelling and dangerous journey across the Himalayas. He was offered refuge in India and land up on a hill in Himachal Pradesh, in McLeodganj also known as Upper Dharamshala. Today, it is a bustling community, populated largely by Tibetans, who have slowly recreated their lives here. So in the market, there are the thukpa vendors, the women selling assorted jewellery and sweaters, the locals from the plains below, the foreigners in search of their personal nirvana, and finally the monks in their bright maroon and yellow robes.

Big momo small momo

There is really nothing much to see or do in McLeodganj, a friend has warned us. And that is indeed the best way to spend time here – in a blissful routine of nothing-doing. Our days are filled with late lazy breakfasts, mid-morning momo snacks, long walks up and down the winding hill roads browsing through the second-hand bookshops, lunch at Nick’s Kitchen – rooftop restaurant with stunning mountain views, followed by afternoon siestas and evenings in the monastery watching the glorious sunset in the distance.

All our prayers…

Waiting

Actually it is not true that there is nothing to do here; every tiny tea shop and building offers trekking and assorted mountain adventures, including an alluring trek all the way up to Triund, at 3350 meters the closest point to the Dhauladars. However, that sounds too much like work, and like with most people who visit McLeodganj, we decide – conveniently – that this is a time to look inwards.

Faith

Discussion

The only exception is a morning at the Church of St.John in the Wilderness, hidden in the mist, followed by a drive to Naddi village. Our lone car is parked in the middle of a mountain road, the tall deodars whispering their secrets, little children scurrying about like busy ants in the school yard way down in the valley and the Dhauladars within touching distance. Almost. And we stand there watching their snow-capped peaks of early winter now visible through the trees, now hidden by the cotton-candy clouds.

It is truly a time and place to look inwards.

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Beautiful drive from Nashik to Bombay, one of THE best roads we have driven on!

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Had fallen in love with Cedia. Now, it s time for detachment.

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Touched Kerala once more. At Bekal Fort

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Morning drive through misty Coorg

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2361 Shivpuri

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Madikkeri - Ghats, rains and pot-holed roads

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In Wayanad. Western Ghats Kerala episode

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In Varanasi, walking along the ghats and looking at the Ganga

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Through Nagarhole National Park

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At Akad Cars, the Mitsu showroom. Mr. Abhinav, the MD, is tellim us the best way around Jaipur.

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Cedia Sports turns its SUV mode on. Climbs Kemmana Gundi peak.

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Superbly bad roads on route to Varanasi. Soaking in the last sights of Madhya Pradesh.

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Driving through coffee estates to Kemmana Gundi peak

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Bhadra dam & WLS. Touch & go.

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In Jodhpur old markets - SHOPPING!

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As the sun sets, we enter Jodhpur, today s travel - 396km, but not feeling blue at all :)

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On state highway 07. Namrata s driving while I m writing and Enrique s crooning.

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At the Vintage Villa of classic cars, droolin over the sports tourers. Got here after blastin the 88km NE1 Expressway in 42mins! Cedia, take a bow!

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Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary A manmade forest spread over 84 sq km A haven for deers peacocks an many birds

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About us

Charu is a travel writer & photographer who publishes regularly in a number of magazines and dailies. She's usually either traveling, or planning her next travel spree. To support her itchy feet, she doubles up in her spare time as a qualitative market researcher.

Vamsi is usually found driving Charu around - within Mumbai as well as around India & executing her next round of travel plan. He is a digital marketing consultant. We live in Mumbai & are currently involved in making our love for travel our career too.

Lost on the way from Lhasa

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