Binsar Diaries

The excitement was high and had to be, after all this was the most awaited holiday of the year. We had planned this trip to celebrate my mom - dad’s 25^th wedding anniversary.

Finally the excitement was put into action at five in the morning when the journey began. But amidst all the fun and excitement there was a moment of sadness. You would relate to what I am saying if you also have a pet. Those glittering eyes turn sad in just an instant. It is heart breaking to leave your pet behind when you are going for a family vacation. But thanks to this brilliant pet care centre in Delhi, we were almost tension free.

Mountains calling, that's why we sing -
सात समुन्दर पार मैं तेरे पीछे पीछे आ गयी 

The morning was bright and filled with pastel hues of sunshine. We stopped for breakfast, gorged upon delicious paranthas and that’s where our new camera clicked into action. Actually the new camera was also one of the reasons that the excitement of this trip was more than any other trip. After a sumptuous meal we again hit the road. As the day and our journey proceeded, the feeling of happiness and anxiety also grew. Chit chatting, page flipping and humming romantic Kishore Kumar songs, we made the transition from plains to mountains.

As we began the journey uphill, the breeze became cooler and the divine fragrance of eucalyptus engulfed us. It was late evening and we could see lights flickering at a distance and the stars shimmering at a greater distance. Making way through the meandering roads we reached our destination – Club Mahindra Binsar - Manipur Villa (No, I am not being paid to write this)

Those of you who have been to Binsar would know how dainty this town is. And for those who haven’t you have to read this to find out

This is what prettiness looks like! 

 The villas totally took us by surprise. Log huts right in the middle of nowhere; it was a scene out of the fairy tales. After relaxing for a while it was time to unveil the celebrations. I went to the restaurant and made some enquiries. The staff helped me arrange a candle light dinner with champagne for my parents. And the icing on the cake was the cake itself; I had called the resort from Delhi and told them to arrange for a surprise cake and Bingo! the dinner was great and the proof was my parent’s zealous expressions.

For 25 years of togetherness and many more to come :)

The next morning we went for sightseeing around Binsar.  I so want to thank the resort staff again for recommending us to go to Zero Point - a major tourist attraction of the town apart from the numerous temples scattered around the place. It is like a jungle safari but this one comes with a twist. You can drive till the sanctuary and please remember to wear comfortable walking shoes. Also I highly recommend that you take a guide. From the entry point we drove 8 km in the buffer area to reach the point from where the 2 km trek begins.

यह कहाँ आ गए हम यूँ  साथ साथ चलते...

I have been to jungles before and trust me this was poles apart from the commercialized jungles of Jim Corbett. Walking through this Himalayan jungle gave a real life experience to what Ruskin Bond always described – the woods, the rhododendrons and the sunshine filtering through the trees.

Keep walking and suddenly you’ll reach Zero Point. You have to trust me when I say ‘suddenly you reach’. Zero Point is a platform right in the middle of nowhere. It offers an enthralling view of the Himalayas. And just in case you are thinking what is so special about the view, well be there to know. On a bright sunny day you can see Himalayan peaks Nanda Devi, Trishul, Shivling and Kedarnath Peak. Your guide would know them all.

Zero Point

Mountain Love!
This was the epic view I was talking about...

 The walk back was rather informative. Our guide showed us Oregano shrubs, various medicinal plants, beautiful birds and this unique plant which was used to make Japanese currency notes. Ask your guide to take you to Binsar Sanctuary Museum, a small museum in the sanctuary itself.

धूप किनारे और Ray Ban!!! 

There are lots of temples in and around Binsar and Almora. When in Binsar you must visit Bineshwar Temple. Hop on a taxi and reach this small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. And for extra doze of blessings, visit Kansar Devi Temple. Just 8km from Binsar, it is hidden in the thick deodar forests.

I don’t call it a vacation if it is bound by an itinerary. It is good to chuck the plans and do random happy things – visit a local dhabha for delicious home cooked food, talk to the locals, have chai at a local tea stall and enjoy the untouched beauty. Binsar certainly was a greatly rejuvenating trip and the memories keep ringing in our mind and are etched onto the data card of the camera forever.

Vacation Bliss

Binsar will leave you pleasantly surprised, so what are you waiting for. Pack your bags and head awayyyy….And while driving back don’t forget to carry back the delicious Baal Mithai.