Ranikhet - II

Got some more pictures of the kumaon trip and thought will post some - those that i liked. Here they are:

This one is a bunglow of one of the media guys. In a awesome place, abode himalayas - bang opposite to one resort called the Valley View resorts in Ranikhet. Though I did not quite like the resort - as it was on a mountain peak and gave me an eerie feeling.

I particularly liked this one, that I took from the car - because in minutes, the clouds/mist/fog - whatever engulfed the mountains, right in front of us. This is enroute Nainitaal around 5 in the evening. Lot of people sttod by the road to capture this moment. The last bit of drive for Nainitaal wasn't as steep as people said it was and we wondered if at all Nainitaal was at 6000 plus feets. Well, it was - but the drive was not steep and the curves were shallow too.

This one is the back and front view of The Naini Retreat - quite an interesting place I must say. Did not quite expect it to have the kind of ambience I wanted - amidst such a cramped place as Nainitaal. They had a live band in the night and lots of games for the kiddos, which Mili thoroughly enjoyed. To top it all, there was a secret short route to the market place from this resort, only about 500 metres in distance, which we tried and repented taking for it was dark and slippery and Mili kept asking me - mumma, buddha baba aayega kya?

The best route I would have driven ever - Ranikhet to Almora - I freaked completely. Awesome breathtaking sites all through the 55km drive. Both Manish and Mili were sleepy and hence dozed off, and I enjoyed the entire drive, hearing to Metallica. The small foothills on both the sides, with cheed trees all around, it sure was beautiful. To add to it, were small villages in between, with narrow streams of water flowing by - perfect landscape. I recommend, nature admirers to drive through this route - Ranikhet to Almora - and if you want to enjoy, then go in an open jeep or a gypsy.

The step farming, which is ever so famous of the Kumaon region - wait till you watch those terraced paddy fields. This is kumaon - will post some more whenever I have the time to download the pictures from my camera.