Matheran

Neral-Matheran toy train

Matheran Railway Station

Matheran is a smallest Hill station of India. It is situated in Raigad district in Maharashtra.  It is located on the Western Ghat  range at an elevation of around 800 m (2,625 feet) above sea level. It is located around 90 km from Mumbai, and 120 km from Pune. Matheran's proximity to the three Metros makes it a popular weekend getaway for urban residents. The name Matheran means either "forest on top" or "mother forest".

Matheran is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. It is one of the few places in the world where vehicles are not allowed, which makes the place different from others. Matheran takes you over a hundred years back in time when there were no vehicles.Because of vehicles being banned in Matheran, the place is quite peaceful despite the thousands of visitors coming to visit throughout the year.There are lots of lookout points that provide spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Matheran has a reasonably dense forest cover.

There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorma Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town. From this point, the view of sunset and sunrise is breathtaking.

Matheran has been declared an ecosensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry and can be called a Health Sanatorium in itself. The only form of automobile allowed in Matheran is an ambulance operated by the Municipality. No private automobiles are allowed. Within Matheran transport facilities available are horses and hand-pulled  rickshaws.

Switzerland Of India

Kausani - Early morning clouds descended to the valley

KAUSANI is known as the “Switzerland of India”. After my visit to Kausani, this summer, I find it as an ideal destination for those who seek to escape from the din and dust, hustle and bustle of big cities and wish to spend a quiet holiday in the lap of nature. Here, in the early morning, the birds sing for you to rise. Indeed, Kausani is a veritable heaven of beauty and it makes you feel that heaven has descended on this earth and the beauty of nature and heavenly calm of the place will inspire you to think differently. It is situated at a height of 1890 meters (from the sea level) in the Kumaon range of mountains. Kausani commands an unobstructed view of the Himalayan peaks. Several snow- capped peaks of Himalaya stand in a row, over 300 kms. in length, are visible from Kausani and enviable spectacle (if the climate favours you).

Every moment it changes its picturesque beauty. From the hotel rooms it is sometimes seen that the clouds are stagnant at the valley and the same is fully covered by the thick clouds which looks like a ocean of snow.

The peaks of Kumayun ranges spreads over the regions looks like paintings on a canvas with little variation of colors and stand like layers. These picks are sometimes covered by the clouds and nothing can be visible underneath. The thick white clouds comes down to the valley and stagnant there when you will feel like walking on those clouds because they are below your level. In the early morning from my Hotel rooftop when I found the entire area has been covered by thick dense clouds like snow, I wished walking on the clouds. T

Natural beauty, a heavenly calm inspired to think about the vastness and beautiful creation of the God. The natural beauty, calmness, clouds and Himalayan peaks standing tall at the horizon inspired me to bring out the poet in me to compose the following poem :

KAUSANI

I met her in an evening dusky and rainy

Attracted me, as if known for years many.

Welcomed me raising her large eyes to my face,

Four eyes met and made everything into a mess

Her happiness reflected on her cloudy face,

Breezy evening set my heart in faster pace.

We came closer, felt the presence of each other,

Slowly opened her beauty with her peaks and cedar.

Eyes were meeting while watching the peaks few,

I was gazing her peaks and curves that she knew.

Splendid beauty of the valley, like a trove, 

Moving clouds form a lady on the move,

Seen the similarity of nature and women,

Beautifully crafted by God, both of them.

Windy breeze made hairs out of control of hers, 

She was shy, raised her arms to knot the hairs.

I imagined her body turned into a great posture,

Smiled at me, I mutely thanked for her gesture

Her breasts like peaks raised, lovely and inviting,

She appeared to me as a beautiful painting.

Calmness came in the valley, after the wind and rain,

But we were unrest to come closer, suffered the pain.

She came closer looked at me, at last,

Walked through clouds, landed on the terrace,

She mutely hinted me to follow her fast,

Her lovely valley waited long for me to embrace.

She came nearer and asked me again to follow,

She took me to the clouds in the valley below. 

While walking with her on the clouds under the sky,

I told her I had seen you somewhere, don’t be shy.

Tell me your name my dear lady, if I am right,

With her smile and glances she looked bright.

I am Kausani, don’t you know my dear?

She was shy, wanted my name to hear.

My love story with Kausani ended suddenly,

Filled with her memory, I left Kausani sadly.

I still carry memory of her for tomorrow,

I lost her in the valley with pain and sorrow,

Her valley, peaks, mountains and pine,

Lives in my memory, treasures of mine.

Copyright : Anil 2010

Valley of the God : Manali

Manali in the Beas River valley, at an altitude of 1,950 mtrs, is an important hill station in the Himachal mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India. Manali and its surrounding areas are of great significance to the Indian culture and heritage as it was the home and abode of the Saptarshi or seven sages. The ancient cave temple, Hidimba Devi Temple is not far from town.

Manali is named after the Brahmin lawgiver manu. The word Manali literally means “the abode of Manu”. Manali is known as the "Valley of the Gods". The Old Manali village has an ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu.

It is famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, and mountain biking. It also offers hot springs, spectacular religious shrines and temples, Tibetan Buddhist temples.

Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 13,050 feet above sea level, is another adventure tourist site where it can be cold even on a summer day. It is the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking.

Queen of the hills : Simla

In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the erstwhile British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills". Located in north-west Himalayas at an altitude of 2,130 metres, the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes in India. Shimla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.