Road to Himalayas

Ever embarked on a 3000-kms road trip with just four days planning?

Yes, just four days!

This is what we did. Two Ghumakkads one from Kolkata (named DM) and the other from Hyderabad (named HB).

Courtesy social media, DM’s call to join a trip was answered by HB. Phones rang, excel sheet opened and plans began. Destination Uttarakhand! Four days and we are on the move! Both Ghumakkads being Navy veterans helped in tying up road halts enroute. Another roadie from Kolkata named  ST willingly joined.

What is common between the three roadies?

All love to travel.

All are in their sixties and still passionate about cross country driving.

All are grandparents!

Our ambitious itinerary goes as follows.

Hope we are able to stick to it. As you can see it, apart from the Himalayas we also spend a day in a Tiger Reserve bordering Nepal.

Why Uttarakhand?

Because it offers some unique views of four high altitude peaks of the Himalayas. Namely Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nandakot and  Panchchuli. See the map below.

Wish us luck and good weather so that we can bring you some breathtaking pictures! This story is the curtain raiser of our journey to the Himalayas.

Stay connected

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/11th May 2019

#Roadies, #Travel, #Driving, #Himalayas, #Uttarakhand, #adventure #roadiesinsixties #navyveterans #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Manas Where Crickets Sing Like Temple Bells

Ever heard the crickets in a forest?
But did you hear crickets who sing like temple bells?
If not, then come to Manas National Park (MNP) in Assam India. The crickets will follow your jeep with unending jingle of temple bells! As long as you don't make any noise the music will go on. Of course, they are quite used to the engine noise.

Ghumakkad brings you another facet of MNP in this story. We take you to the northern part called Mathanguri with the Manas river as the boundary with Bhutan.

Here is the complete set of stories of our Assam and MNP visit. We were a team of 20 Navy veterans and spouses all in their late 60s. This set of stories should be read together. Quick links are given below:

1. Who were the travellers?
2. Guwahati the Gateway to North East India
3. Driving through the Bamboo land
4. MNP- When a Safari Vehicle Breaks Down!
5. MNP- Where crickets sing like Temple Bells
6. Bodo Village- Living with Nature
7. Where to Stay in Manas
8. Deepor Beel A Ramsar Site

Let the pictures do the talking and let the crickets do the singing.

Our guide Binoy signalled all vehicles to maintain total silence and listen to the temple bells. Yes, it sounded like tens of temple bells ringing together. But where is the temple? It wasn't any temple, but the crickets singing together! Listen to the video clip.

These are the magical aspects of a jungle. Read on.

Here is another video clip of Manas river.

Time for more pictures.

We end with a quote on living life by Joel Osteen. A group of teenagers followed us on the banks of river Manas. See the picture below.

In the next part we will take you to a Bodo village in Assam now called Asom. Stay connected.

Thanks for browsing.

       - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 9th May 2019

#navyveterans #reunion #assam #manasnationalpark #manasriver #crickets #forest #goldenlangur #mathanguri #PQ #joelosteen #templebells #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Guwahati The Gateway to North East

Guwahati is the gateway to North East India.
Although the capital of Assam is Dispur, Guwahati is the nerve centre for transiting further east to the other states popularly known as the 'Seven Sisters'. Dispur is a suburb of Guwahati.

Guwahati has many places to see. Some of these are:
1. Kamakhya Temple
2. Umananda Temple and Island
3. Guwahati Zoo
4. Vashishtha Ashram
5. Planetarium
6. ISKCON temple
7. State Museum
8. Bhuwaneswari temple
9. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (33kms)

Ghumakkad along with his Naval buddies (click to view all the travellers) could not visit all the spots. We bring you the glimpses of the places which we visited. Pictures will speak.

 Memorial to Dr Bhupen Hazarika (8 Sep 1926 – 5 Nov 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam. Following few pictures were taken from our moving car. Please ignore the crossing electric wires in the frames.

 Lachit Borphukan defended Assam from Mughal onslaught in 1671. A statue has been erected in his memory in River Brahmaputra. From 1999 onwards the Best Cadet in National Defence Academy (NDA) Pune is awarded a Gold Medal in Lachit's name.

Brahmaputra River Cruise
A must for tourists. Tickets must be booked in advance.

The cruise boat has a dance floor with DJ. Tourists irrespective of age flock to the floor! Reminded us of the River Cruise in Goa.

Kamakhya Temple 
The icon of Guwahati. Ancient Kamakhya Temple was originally built by Kamarupa Dynasty the Varmans (350-650), and later became the seat of Shaivite Tantrikism during Pala Dynasty. It  could appropriately be called  the "Seat of Tantrikism". Readers may browse Wikipedia for details.

Located atop Nilachal Hill. 

 We also saw four legged visitors in the temple!

That's all about Guwahati. Our next destination will be Manas National Park. One thing that strikes you in Guwahati is the use of bamboos. You saw the boat jetty made of bamboos. Wall plants hung in bamboos and so on. See bamboo handicrafts below.

Did the pictures speak? Do tell us.
Stay connected.
Thanks for browsing.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Animesh Bhowmick/ 9th April 2019/ hbindia@gmail.com 

#Assam #Brahmaputra #gatewaytothenortheast #Guwahati #IndianNavyVeterans #kamakhyatemple #NavyBuddies #NavyReunion #NorthEastIndia #rivercruise #BhupenHazarika #lachitborphukan #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb