Pines (that makes up the Ranikhet that means queen's meadows)I was just out of this Delhi–Almora Uttarakhand Transport Corporation bus that I boarded the night before, from Anand Vihar ISBT, Delhi some 9 pm and, got down near the bridge. The time was 7 am. I took morning tea at a small restaurant which had just opened up. It was chilling amidst the fog as I awaited bus or jeep – whosoever comes first to get a drop to Ranikhet. First, came bus, and then the jeep but all full. Then, again came another jeep followed by two buses, off which, the later one I managed to get but not without any struggle. I just jumped before it. Reaching Ranikhet, I decided to go to Chiliyanaula as the place was too crowded and looked sordid and moreover I had a rough plan in my mind which was indeed peaceful. Therefore 6 kms did not look much to me to cover on foot though a jeep ride for Rs. 10 could be taken. I preferred walking.
Khairna (The Bridge Over Kosi and the road seen here goes to Ranikhet) I was just out of this Delhi–Almora Uttarakhand Transport Corporation bus that I boarded the night before, from Anand Vihar ISBT, Delhi some 9 pm and, got down near the bridge. The time was 7 am. I took morning tea at a small restaurant which had just opened up. It was chilling amidst the fog as I awaited bus or jeep – whosoever comes first to get a drop to Ranikhet. First, came bus, and then the jeep but all full. Then, again came another jeep followed by two buses, off which, the later one I managed to get but not without any struggle. I just jumped before it. 
Reaching Ranikhet, I decided to go to Chiliyanaula as the place was too crowded and looked sordid and moreover I had a rough plan in my mind which was indeed peaceful. Therefore 6 kms did not look much to me to cover on foot though a jeep ride for Rs. 10 could be taken. I preferred walking. 
I was quite not coherent neither I wish to be, but off-late thinking about how much good these hills have made to my life. My survival quite much is dependent on them. They are to me a friend, my first love, destiny and a world. Finally I reached the destination. I chose not to sleep and visit the Baba Haidakhan ashram. It was a fortunate day with light showers and soft breeze touching up wet hairs from the mist. I sat there for a while and came back to my rest-house at KMVN, which was adjacent to the Ashram. I ordered for tea and ate paranthas, then slept for 2-3 hours. 
The Clouds Swollen With Water
At 12:30, I was again ready to take a stroll and decided to go down the road that was narrow and leaves no scope for any vehicle to ply. It connected to some village down. I decided to sit after I saw a flat field which gave stunning 360 degree view to both sides of the valley. The clouds were forming again and I returned back to the rest house after some half an hour. It rained soonafter while I ordered my dal-chawal with dahi, and witnessed the thunderstorm and downpour. 
At 3 around, I decided to walk a bit towards Ranikhet. The view seemed greener than usual and fresh with water drops shining over the pines and deodar in the evening sun sort scene. I could smell the vintage aroma of pines as I tried pulling all of it inside my lungs in one go.
I saw children playing cricket, a school hostel upside the road and some tourist passing by the road who stops now and then to click the pictures of beautiful meadows surrounding. 
I returned back once more to ashram after walking few kms to and fro. I sat there in silence though this was the one thing that I have been observing since last night. Sometimes silence is wonderful, it soothes and it creates ripples in your brain to analyze what worth you deserve.
An Evening View from KMVN Rest House
Next day, I had two choices - to spend the day at Ranikhet visiting Chaubatiya apple orchids which was nothing more than poorly managed gardens where you have to abstain yourself from plucking the apples and the high tension wires (normally to restrain the animals in nights to destroy the garden) that if you try to cross from within can give you a shock of your life. Or I could go to see Binsar, the temple of Shiva which was some 20 kms from this place. 
Morning View from Rest House
I was told earlier that alone in Garhwal region; there are some 20,000 temples of Shiva in various forms. The statistics did not surprise me because in any case Lord Shiva is more popular than any other deity. It is also said that more than half the deities are the forms of Shiva. Anyway, I chose to visit Binsar, not because temples are worth a visit but because I have been there before and I knew it is different set of silence that awaits me there. After all I meant to be still and silent. 
I became the fan of Lalit Mohit Joshi ever since I heard his album ‘teri bholi anwar’ that featured quite some songs for all the moods, and there he was singing in the cassette and me singing along and Beeru understood I was a locale too.
It was another fortunate day linked with the sentimental decision – to be myself or to lose myself. I had to lose myself to find it all. I was prepared quite much.
Binsar Mahadev at Sauni, Ranikhet-Ramnagar Road (some 20 kms from Ranikhet)Binsar happened to be full of motley crowd while temple in the setting appeared very much white made up of marble and looked fine after repeated rains. Despite the light showers, and misty weather; the crowd already was multiplying but it was nevertheless noisy. The loudspeakers all over the place could be heard chanting aarti and shlokas and sometimes wishing the visitors. It was a colorful sight with white and green in the backdrop.
Binsar Mahadev(a closer view)
The Last Upside View At Binsar Before Leaving
It was 4 around; I ordered for tea and sandwich and came to my room. I rested a little wondering I re-visited to see Ranikhet which I never went to see.
I wondered, how much true it is that – we think and plan something and we do and act something and I begin to evaluate - should the life be planned? In my case I am still drawing the line.
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