Forest Paths of Lansdowne - "INTO THE FOG".
IN THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS, 5 HOURS AWAY FROM DELHI, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, there is a beautiful, idyllic and a fairy tale town, LANSDOWNE.
I lived here for 7 years before moving to Delhi.
Some of my most beautiful and blissful memories and moments were born in Lansdowne.
In my heart, Lansdowne is like a timeless dream that exists in another dimension.
A dream I feel all the time.
In winters, the clouds descend down, covering the gorges like this.
This is a spot in "Tip-in-top", Lansdowne.
My dreams float on these clouds :)
HERE, IN LANSDOWNE, my canine babies “adopted” me ! :D
The town of LANSDOWNE, INDIA , WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE BRITISH IN 1800s, as an Army Cantonment.
The Indian Army takes care of it.
It is the headquarters of the Garhwal Regiment (Infantry) — a peace time army base.
All the bungalows primarily belong to the army.
A typical Lansdowne Bungalow is like this -
ONLY ABOUT 15 BUNGALOWS are with private owners.
Our bungalow is one of the private bungalows.
It belongs to my Uncle.
THIS IS MY HOME OF 7 YEARS....
MY GARDEN -
THE CANTONEMENT AREA is away from the local market area. And it is beautiful.
THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL BRITISH ARCHITECTURAL BUILDINGS IN LANSDOWNE, THAT GIVE IT A FAIRY TALE CHARM.
In some other post I will write about the architectural heritage of Lansdowne.
TODAY I WANT TO TAKE YOU ON A SOUL JOURNEY to that part of Lansdowne which is my favourite.
The part created by the Universe. the Natural heritage of Lansdowne !
MOTHER NATURE ......
The entire town is a network of BEAUTIFUL TREKKING PATHS.
These trekking paths weave through the beautiful oak and pine forest patches.
And AS YOU WALK ALONG THESE FOREST PATHS, TREE WINDOWS OPEN and bless you with beautiful views of the HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS.
LANSDOWNE BORDERS RAJAJI NATIONAL RESERVE PARK AND KALAGARH TIGER RESERVE.
Hence LEOPARD TRAILS & TIGER TRAILS PASS THROUGH LANSDOWNE.
Stories of domestic animals disappearing at night are common in Lansdowne. And Tiger attacks in the neighbouring villages do occur sometimes. Once our hired labourer told us a story of how the villagers caught a tiger that had attacked humans in his village and handed it to the authorities !
Also, close to Lansdowne on the way to Lansdowne, you cross an ELEPHANT CORRIDOR .
Sometimes, when the elephants are passing through, the traffic can be held up for quite a while.
If you have a train to catch, then well ... Pray to Lord Ganesha :) :) .
The CLIMATE OF LANSDOWNE is simply beautiful. Very English.
Colourful spring..Cool Summers. Windy Autumn. Cold Winter. And we have a gorgeous misty, foggy, rainy , slushy Monsoon. Just like South England. It is like living in "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights" . The Britishers often referred to it as "native climate" .
This is the BACK YARD OF OUR BUNGALOW IN WINTER FOG .
Oh How I have sat here and dreamt and relived all Daphne Du Mauria mysteries and romances with a cup of black coffee ! :)
Because of the beautiful climate and distinct seasons, Lansdowne is a destination for MIGRATORY BIRDS.
In Autumn, Spring and Winter, migratory birds from cold Siberian and Himalayan regions, invade the gardens and woodlands of Lansdowne.
This is a little migratory bird that I painted. It is a tiny clipping from my watercolour painting "A WOODLAND BENCH"
If you are lucky, you may come across wild animals in the trekking paths.
We have come across many.
Sometimes leopards and tigers used to cross the gorge beside our bungalow at night. Of course we were safe inside ! :D
ONCE WE CAME ACROSS THESE BEAUTIFUL DEERS ON OUR WAY HOME FROM THE MARKET.
Thankfully the dogs were not with us at that moment.
I THINK THIS FELLOW WAS EQUALLY SURPRISED TO SEE US !!
WE LOVE to walk down the BEAUTIFUL ROADS of Lansdowne, UNDOUBTEDLY. ...
(My Tippy, Bella, Coco, Wally out on an early evening walk with us)
BUT WE TOTALLY PREFER AND CHOOSE TO WALK DOWN THE UNTRODDEN FOREST PATHS of LANSDOWNE.
(Me and my canine babies exploring the forests)
ON THESE LESS TRAVELLED PATHS WE SOMETIMES STUMBLE UPON UGLY CARCASSES AND DANGERS.
We found this on one of our walks.
Perhaps killed by a tiger.
BUT THIS DOES NOT DETER US. ;)
WE CONTINUE EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN.
AND OUR PATHS MOSTLY OPEN GREAT FUN, ADVENTURE AND BEAUTY IN FRONT OF US ...
They also give us great selfie and PHOTO MOMENTS... :D
A typical day and walk for us in Lansdowne is like this.
I HAVE MADE MANY PAINTINGS OF LANSDOWNE.
TO WIND UP THIS SOUL JOURNEY, I share with you one of my favourite trekking route in Lansdowne and my oil painting of it.
This IS MY FAVOURITE FOREST PATH.
It connects Lansdowne to a neighbouring town ...
.
My OIL PAINTING of the above forest path "INTO THE FOG"
"UNTRODDEN PATHS HOLD UNTOLD DANGERS AND UNSEEN BEAUTY.
THEY ARE PATHS THAT TAKE US FORWARD & CONNECT THE DOTS.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS AN OFT REPEATED< WORN OUT CIRCLE.
CALCULATED RISKS ARE THE GAME CHANGERS " :)
Thank you for walking with me. I hope you had fun.
Thank you for your support and appreciation.
Success to all. 🍷🍷
Neha Bisht @nehab
Mountain regions always attracted me there is more prana in the montain.
This area look pristine not much human activity which make it even more valuable. BTW Tigers(not Lions) is one my favorite animal since I was a kid I believe it is also one of my totem animals that I am very connected and atracted to :). One day in near future I want to leave the big city and go live in nature producing my own food. I want to become involved with center for a retreat and healing and recreation build around small community of like minded people. Me and my wife are very excited about this idea we know we will find a way to realize it somehow in the future.
Thank you Neha for sharing I really enjoyed your articles and I will be happy to see it more ofthen :)
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Yes, @mihail.tsvetkov , This place is very pristine and very symbiotic. It has a very beautiful eco system in place. Do you know, monkeys and birds warn the deers, humans and all animals that there is a predator around ? We have actually seen it happen. Here animals, plants and humans coexist without hurting each other. I hope the place stays like this.
By the way, we worship Goddess Durga , whose ride is the Tiger. Tiger is a sacred animal for us. Tiger is the embodiment of "SHAKTI" (Goddess Durga) - The Feminine Power in strength & war energy !
I like your idea of "a centre for retreat and healing and recreation built around small community of like minded people" . I would love to be a part of it. It is a dream in my mind too. And there are beautiful and quiet places in my ancestral land that can be developed. But right now my hands are tied and I do not know how to go about it. Perhaps someday we can work on something. Till then the idea can grow ! :)
Thank you Mihail. :)
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When the time to make a move come you will know until then get even more excited about it and think about it as much as possible daily so you give it life :) and make it grow and materilezd - manifest. This is what I have been doing and along that path doing this you will start finding people that will say man that is my dream also :)
Look at this video
and here some more for inspiration I realy like the new consept of building that Michael Reynolds develop true poiner they call him the garbage warrior :) so called Earthships
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Yes ... let the seed germinate in the mind first. Build the structure in your soul. Manifest.
Thank you, @mihail.tsvetkov. Talking to you I have clarity on how I want to take the road forward. Things get foggy and weigh you down. But clarity of destination opens a path always. Awesome videos. I agree that a symbiotic living is the best way. And Reynolds designs are awesome :) . Thank you :)
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I am happy that was intersting to you I already have an ideas I am excited to realize :)
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i hope you realise all your ideas and dreams :)
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this is a continuous process it go on and on :) thank you for the wishes I wish you the same
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:) :)
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thank you so much for the resteem, @mihail.tsvetkov. I am truly honoured :)
Thank you Mihail. :)
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It is pleasure to interact with you Neha :)
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The feeling is mutual, Mihail. It is a pleasure to interact with you too 😊
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:) win win
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🍷🍷
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That is a real journey @nehab, reading your post it is easy to feel how this place is dear for you, your whole soul and spirit there, and it is not possible not to love that wild natural paradise. It seems to be a great place to grow the children so that they learn the nature and learn to appreciate it and live in symbiosis and not to destroy it. It feels like the children would feel themselves as a Mowgli, that might be experience for life.
Your painting of little bird is so realistic, I thought that it was a photograph when I glanced at first time. Nice watercolor work. The misty path looks very inviting. Gorgeous scene!
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Thank you @stef1 . I am so happy that you enjoyed the journey. Yes, this place is very pristine and untouched by modern day consumerism. It is a time warp :).
Yes, children , nature and animals live in harmony. An amazing thing about Lansdowne is that there are no stray animals. All stray animals are fed and have a space to sleep in the verandas of homes and army messes. Monkeys are made to move away from private property by sound pistols and dogs, but they are never hurt.
Our dogs had adopted 6 bungalows to protect from the monkey menace :D :D :D . And they ate everywhere.
Yes , you are right, @stef1. The whole place is very symbiotic . I am very happy that you liked the post :)
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thank you for the resteem, @stef1. I am very honoured :)
Thank you Stef :)
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Hi @nehab.... It was really an awesome 'Soul-Journey'
I felt as though I am walking along with you, in real!!
Thank you so much for such a wonderful explanation with every details of this heavenly place- Lansdowne!!
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Thank you, @geetharao for your appreciation. It was a pleasure to take you on a virtual journey to a place I love 😊
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:) :)
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Long awaited post. Wonderful sceneries and beautiful house you had in Landsdowne. While going through your post it reminded me of Mr Anil Prakash ( Jam maker ) I have never tasted better jam then his. He told me that this recipe was given to her Grandmother by a British lady.
I also lived in Manduwala for a year and when I saw this picture
it reminded me of my encounter with the mountain leopard. Got goosebumps again :)
I also lived in The cottage in Jakhan for two years.
These were the best days of my life till now. I wish I could just fly back in time :)
Thanks for this lovely post-Neha. The mountain may be out of the sight but nothing can take it away from my soul. Loved your post....😊😊😊😘😘😘 A lot of thanks to you.
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Wow ! that is awesome. A tryst with a leopard ! :) Hmmmm !
I am happy that my post brought back happy and adventerous memories for you. @honeychum :) . Great to see your memories of happy times ! :)
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Super Post @nehab - I Love it... (breathtaking) - Landsdowne is now on my list of places to visit :-)
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I am so happy to take you on a virtual journey to a place I love. Lansdowne is a haven for writers, photographers, artists, thinkers and bird - watchers. It is very quiet. Modern lifestyle has not touched it. You feel yourself being thrown back into a very idyllic time zone. You must visit Lansdowne, @blackrussian. In fact , Himalayas are an experience in themselves. There are many beautiful and protected "virgin" towns in Himalayan foothills. Protected and preserved by the Indian Army 😊
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Thank you @nehab for the virtual journey (Inspirational)😊
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😊😊 my pleasure
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Wowo..i have been to lansdawne twice but never been so deep inside.....glad u made me explore some unknow places of the hill station...
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Wow ! that is great that you visited Lansdowne. It is a beautiful place. I am happy that I took you on an exploration, with this post, @steemflow. :) Lansdowne breathes in my heart :)
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Hello Again Neha! Trust you are well. Let me first start with the last picture and the painting. I may have said this before, you are a magician. What a beautiful painting. I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual journey. What a beautiful abode it must have been. Misty mornings with chirpy birds. That tiger trail mention brought back so many memories. Every trip to our village in Pauri , when I was child was filled with the fear of being eaten alive by a tiger. A tiger once attacked our cattle in the cowshed. Hell I am still scared as a grown up. In fact, a couple of years back we saw a tiger crossing the road on a rainy morning while going further up from Kotdwar.
The trails looks inviting. You are so lucky to have lived in such a place for close to a decade where for us even a weekend is luxury. Thanks for an excellent post. Love.
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Hi Swati... Great to have you visit here. :) I am happy that you enjoyed the virtual journey.
I know what mean about your goose bumps about the tiger trail. I have heard and experienced a few stories too :) . In our orchard, in Kumaon hills, the tiger used to periodically attack the cattle in the cowshed !
It is so nice that you have visited Lansdowne and Kotdwar and Pauri and all those beautiful places. It is so great to meet you, Swati.
If you ever come to Delhi, contact me. We will meet up over coffee :) ☕☕
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I am a garhwali! Aur kahan jaungi. Lansdowne I have yet to visit though. Will definitely see you when I am in Delhi. :)
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Me - I am a Kumaoni ! :D :D ... It is a small world.
I won't be surprised if we are related. You know how relatives pop out of nowhere ! :D
My cousin's wife is from Pauri . There you go :D :D
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Ha ha ha... Small world definitely. I had figured with your last name that you are either a garhwali or kumaoni! Speaking of Kumaon...It's beautiful! Lucky to.have visited Mundari, Kunjakhadak and Nainital!
I am not from Pauri main but a village called Kui in Pauri Garhwal :) That I have spent my childhood in Dehradun is another story. :)
Have a Good Night new friend!👍
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:D :D I think we can go on and on. I have many relatives in Dehradun. Been there a couple of times. I love Dehradun. I am from Pithoragarh. It is awesome that you have been to Kumaon.
Kumaon & Garhwal , we are the same. It is awesome to connect with a fellow "Highlander" :D ;) :) .
My best wishes to you, @swati-s
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wow, makes me really want to visit this place. great pictures and painting :)
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Thank you @jznsamuel. It is a beautiful place undoubtedly. And perfectly suited for quiet nature healing. You must visit it some day 😊
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for a moment it seemed like a am reading and viewing the pics of a discovery based adventurer.....really those pictures are so amazing...
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thank you, @amanrazz . We love to trek and take photographs. And Lansdowne is a haven for artists and photographers :) ... Glad you like the pics :)
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Very nice place! :)
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thank you, @matajingga . Very happy that you enjoyed the virtual journey :D
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Beautiful corner of nature, incredible walking paths, so many representatives of the animal world! Dream house! @nehab, your pictures and stories are great! You can write a book with your illustrations!
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thank you, @rajskij-sad . I am so happy that you enjoyed the journey.
Yes I do have a book in my mind. Just collecting and organising resource .
Some day :)
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Beautiful moments ! 🙏👏👍👌
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Thank you, @akkha. Very happy that you enjoyed the picture journey 😊
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You are welcome my friend !
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Very beautiful, I also want to see Lansdowne.
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Thank you, @nimik. I am happy that you enjoyed the picture journey.
You must visit Lansdowne. It is a great healing experience, after Delhi. Completely detoxes you 😊💕
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that is a great initiative. I will definitely check it out :)
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