Take Me Anywhere

Hey all Varanasi!!! September 13, 2017 Picture source-Google It was our last day in Kashi!! As we sat down for breakfast at Granny's Inn(our homestay); as usual I was looking forward to meet the sisters, the Granny's Ashaji and Arunaji. It was the routine, that they usually sit with us over breakfast.  Also Read-  My first homestay experience at Granny's Inn-Varanasi But that day Arunaji not showed up. I was later told by Ashaji that today Arunaji is fasting; as it was Jivitpurika Vrat(Jitiya Vrat). Jitiya Vrat is a 3 day fast, a very strict fast. It's a no water fast(Nirjala Vrat).  Jitiya Vrat is one of the main festival celebrated mainly in Nepal and in states of Bihar, Jharkhand and U.P. In further conversation with  Ashaji she told me; it's an auspicious day for motherhood, women's  from far states comes to Varanasi on this day, to take a dip in Holy Ganga river and pray for the longevity of their sons. Arunaji too fasted for he...

Hey  all Year 2017!!! Time was running out of my hands; October already half passed. New year was right around the corner.  With just f ew leaves in hand; I was in constant struggle, where to head next!! It has to be Mountains, I was for so sure!!  The urge to reach the heights was high and so was my spirits.  It's being a while, I visited ridge of hills. Chakrata-Uttarakhand Mountains, that too in limited days???  Hmmm??? The best possible option came to my mind was "Chakrata" .  3 hrs ride from Dehradun, this peaceful hill station is nestled at 7000 ft height.  It's an army cantonment area, foreigners are totally restricted to this area; even Indian to some part of Chakrata. You should know,  Chakrata is less traveled and is not that popular and preferred as compared to other hill stations in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.  With thin crowd, no happening "Mall Road"; Chakrata is definitely not a "Fancy" take, it's y...