March 2025
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Uttarakhand Darshan
A khand separated from the erstwhile undivided Uttar Pradesh, initially Uttranchal (2000). In 2007, Uttarakhand comprising thirteen districts, with Haridwar, Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar as plains and the rest of the districts as hills in the two regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. Barring a bike ride to Nainital, this was my first trip to the famous Kumaon hills –familiar to me thanks to Jim Corbett. Holi holidays gave a few days to cover the 500 odd kilometres to Munsiari, almost 7200 ft above msl.
My plan was a motorbike ride to Champawat. It was my confrere, Fr Jimmy, who suggested that I join their team, which was any way going to Champawat. Once there, my predecessor at Sacred Heart, Sitapur, and long-time friend, Fr Denny took over, and stretched our trip beyond any of my plans for this short break.
Sitapur – Maigelganj – Mohammadi – Powayan – Philibit Reserve Forest - Puranapur – Khatima - Banbasa – Tanakpur – Shukhi Dhang – Champawat – Lohaghat – Pithoragarh – Jauljibi – Baram – Madkot – Munsiari
Almost 500 kms one way – hills and winding roads, hairpin curves. Champawat about 6000 ft above msl itself is cool and pleasing; Deodhars and pines all around, and open areas spotted with wild pear and peach trees in full bloom of white and pink. As we go up, Rhododendrons in deep red, red and pink colours welcome you. These lower Himalayan stretches in this season provide a wide varieity of flowers – from grass and herbs to shrubs and trees. A reat to the eyes, and a feast for Munsiari stretch from Madkot presents the hills snow caps and powdery snow below them. It is fabulous. Eco park is a private resort on forest land, however, done with taste, with ten triangular tents erected on platforms about 10 ft high, with the green tin roofs covering the two-storied triangular structure, suitable to accommodate a family of four. There is a kitchen to provide food as per your orders. The Eco park has patches of snow from the last snowfall in February.
It was drizzle in the evening, and heavy rain in the morning, which prevented us from a much looked forward to trek uphills at Khaliya, about 6 kms, giving a clear view of the snow fields. Hopefully another time. The experienced members of our team were almost sure that it would snow, but it didn’t.
The staff at Eco Park say that there had been very less snow this year on account of the warm year. That is sad news. Back, with a detour to Darchula a town on both Indian and Nepalese sides of the river Sharada, which flows there with youthful vigour. The small town is so congested that you can’t find a space to park your vehicle. We have a quick walk around and across the bridge, finding a ‘tea-stall’ with great difficulty, and try some veg momos. Typical Indian style tea stalls could not be found, but food stalls all around, invariably with spirits available. I am yet to make sure if I got this right.
We travelled back to reach Champawat at night, and the morning we were blessed with a resounding shower of hail stones, which covered school ground with a white blanket for about half hour. Fortunately, it appeared not to be the season of any major crops in the area, though the pretty peach blooms did bear the brunt.
We drive down to Sitapur, another 6 hours. In all about 1100 kms on the Kumaon hills, a refreshing treat to eyes and mind. To my surprise, the scorpio, with a provision for the display of fuel efficiency, indicated at certain segments down hill upto 32 kms per litre of diesel, while the trip averaged around 18 kms per litre! That was a consolation! Fr Jimmy says, that vehicle is indeed a unique one, as far as fuel efficiency is concerned.
My plan was a motorbike ride to Champawat. It was my confrere, Fr Jimmy, who suggested that I join their team, which was any way going to Champawat. Once there, my predecessor at Sacred Heart, Sitapur, and long-time friend, Fr Denny took over, and stretched our trip beyond any of my plans for this short break.
Sitapur – Maigelganj – Mohammadi – Powayan – Philibit Reserve Forest - Puranapur – Khatima - Banbasa – Tanakpur – Shukhi Dhang – Champawat – Lohaghat – Pithoragarh – Jauljibi – Baram – Madkot – Munsiari
Almost 500 kms one way – hills and winding roads, hairpin curves. Champawat about 6000 ft above msl itself is cool and pleasing; Deodhars and pines all around, and open areas spotted with wild pear and peach trees in full bloom of white and pink. As we go up, Rhododendrons in deep red, red and pink colours welcome you. These lower Himalayan stretches in this season provide a wide varieity of flowers – from grass and herbs to shrubs and trees. A reat to the eyes, and a feast for Munsiari stretch from Madkot presents the hills snow caps and powdery snow below them. It is fabulous. Eco park is a private resort on forest land, however, done with taste, with ten triangular tents erected on platforms about 10 ft high, with the green tin roofs covering the two-storied triangular structure, suitable to accommodate a family of four. There is a kitchen to provide food as per your orders. The Eco park has patches of snow from the last snowfall in February.
It was drizzle in the evening, and heavy rain in the morning, which prevented us from a much looked forward to trek uphills at Khaliya, about 6 kms, giving a clear view of the snow fields. Hopefully another time. The experienced members of our team were almost sure that it would snow, but it didn’t.
The staff at Eco Park say that there had been very less snow this year on account of the warm year. That is sad news. Back, with a detour to Darchula a town on both Indian and Nepalese sides of the river Sharada, which flows there with youthful vigour. The small town is so congested that you can’t find a space to park your vehicle. We have a quick walk around and across the bridge, finding a ‘tea-stall’ with great difficulty, and try some veg momos. Typical Indian style tea stalls could not be found, but food stalls all around, invariably with spirits available. I am yet to make sure if I got this right.
We travelled back to reach Champawat at night, and the morning we were blessed with a resounding shower of hail stones, which covered school ground with a white blanket for about half hour. Fortunately, it appeared not to be the season of any major crops in the area, though the pretty peach blooms did bear the brunt.
We drive down to Sitapur, another 6 hours. In all about 1100 kms on the Kumaon hills, a refreshing treat to eyes and mind. To my surprise, the scorpio, with a provision for the display of fuel efficiency, indicated at certain segments down hill upto 32 kms per litre of diesel, while the trip averaged around 18 kms per litre! That was a consolation! Fr Jimmy says, that vehicle is indeed a unique one, as far as fuel efficiency is concerned.
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