Calendar - 2023 - Appointments

Another year, time for new beginning. 

'Let's convert our disappointment's into appointments.'

One life - like a drop in the ocean, in this wide world, spanning over eons. 

So much to do. So little time - and to add to it, the digital mania. 

People, places, books, work, Gratitude, affirmations, exercises, meditations,

Time is time - which is just the same for every human being when they leave a day - God - bless me make the best use of it. 

Wishing You a Healthy, Happy, Peaceful New Year 2023. May all your dreams come true.

Be as glad as glad can be, be as good as good can be. 

Make appointments with your Disappointments.  

Live life with gratitude and make best use of your potentials.

 Delegate what you can and what you are not interested in. 

Thank You Life for teaching these in 2022 and each of you for being part of it .

Lessons from Pattabhi Ram Sir:

"Three things that I experienced in 2022, not that I didn't guess it. 

1. Once you come out of your private grief after losing a close one, you realise something inside you, a part of you, has gone forever. 

2. Solitude and a cool head that keeps the clutter from out of the mind leads to great work. There is no need to prove everything to everyone. 

3. Life has more to offer than a profession; it's alright to be shortchanged; move and seek out other experiences because you cannot control everything."

Bhubaneswar - Puri - Konark Via Chennai

Finally this year too, could make end of the year travel and make Amma's wish come true. Four years after wedding, went to meet Chechi and family at Chennai. Thanks to delay in booking and no direct fights are reasonable price, our booking was via Chennai, technically six of us where in three coaches and Amma had taken the upper birth in two tire AC. As we reached Chennai on 24th morning, she fell giddy twice in station, and was taken to the railway Apollo Hospital, where she was diagnosed with low pressure. She held tight her plants for chechi and insisted she would go to meet them and is fine. 

After keeping luggage in a nearby hotel (which was changed, as the one booked was not up to the mark) we reached chechi's house in two Auto's. Their garden was amazing, with variety vegetables - on the terrace. Otherwise hot Chennai, this was the only place that was cold. Back to room, we just took our luggages and left to the airport in the metro, where Neil left his back back in the security check in, but ran to get it, which helped us click some pics in the station as we missed the train. 

The testing, was at it's heights, when the flight reached Orissa, at 10 , and the Oyo booked homestay, was said to be closed for past couple of months :-( As the location was not very far, Thankfully an alternate one was booked, and the driver agreed to carry all of us with our luggage's in the car to the Tribo hotel, which we struggled to find the location.

Most of us had become fans of Naveen Patnaik, but being there, and knowing his family background, we did feel, that Orissa could have progressed much more, and there is lot of hype around him as well. Interesting fact was, there were lot of movie advertisements in Chennai, especially an upcoming movie of Vijay - even a whole train was painted with it's poster, but no posters of any movies in Odissa. Yes  there were placard of the upcoming Hockey world cup being played there in January. 

Next day, 25th morning, our driver, arranged by Amit - Babuni,  came and took us to Nandakannan - Zoo which was crowded like Thrissur Pooram. White Tiger being the speciality there, enroute went to Lingaraj temple - I was asleep inside.

 Dhauli was very crowded, we decided to drop by another day. Decided to skip Khandagiri. Reached hotel at Puri - which was just an average with partial view to the ocean. We had ride on the camel, and played in water for sometime. Hotel arranged a person, who would take us through the temple next day morning. 

On 26th we started to the temple at 5 am - and the person took good care of amma, told about the temple, and gave us a good Dharshan, explaining. Showing us Balram, Subdhra and Jagannath and how it's made of wood and changed every decade. He also arranged for amazing temple prasadam.

There are many significance to this temple like the flag flowing up is on the opposite direction to wind, no birds flow above that or sit there, the sound of ocean waves is not heard inside the temple.

 Afternoon we left for Konarak temple - and that day,  lights were off being Monday, but the architecture was amazing. 

Chandrabhaga beach was beautiful, but we did not have time to be there.  There was CM visit, and roads were diverted. We got beautiful flowers, Thanks to Rajesh

Though we had planned to go to Chilika, Dolfin side, Alarnath temple on 27th- we were back to Dhauli, visiting the Shiva temple and the Buddhist stupa - it is belived that it was here Ashoka turned to Buddhisama, seeing the river water turn red. 

Multiple & Sidhi temple was amazing. 

Then Neil wanted to do Parasailing, but for that we had to reach in the morning, Rajesh got down at Konarak, but because of the crowd could not go inside. The day had started with me wanting to visit Shankaracharya's Gowardhana Mutt - belonging to Rigveda. But because of the crowd on the road, could not finish it as we spend much of the time in traffic jam. While returning, Rajesh said - 'Let's convert our disappointment's into appointments.'

As we were returning on the 28th morning towards airport, visiting Ram temple was amazing, as it was Neil's birthday too. 

Flight was delayed, so we could move around viewing the beautiful paintings at the airport.

Though there were plans to book a room near Central station to keep the luggage expecting that we will need this only from 3/4 PM to 7 PM. Virtually 3-4 hours. Or we would buy locks for our bags if we have the option to keep them in the Central station, nothing was needed. We reached Chennai central station only after 5 pm. Reservations for the train was not confirmed, until we got into the train 6 of us had 3 sleeper, which was upgraded to 5 in the middle of the night. 

Finally as we returned Amma with Thara and Neil, got down at Chalakudy and we at Edapilly. 

Amit who helped coordinate the travel gave this beautiful gift. 10 Avataram painted on leaves which got framed instantly. 

Though Puri was not as expected, it left a mark on my mind and kept thinking and reading about it.

Ram Setu

 Ram Setu directed by Abhishek Sharma with actors like Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Satya Dev, Nasser, Nushratt Bharuccha, and Pravesh Rana is a stylish movie.

It's a mix of facts and fiction. How much of it is fact, and how much if fiction, only a few if at all would know. The story is about an atheist archaeologist turned believer (the lead actor) races against time to prove the true existence of the legendary Ram Setu before evil forces destroy the pillar of India's heritage.

Dr Aryan Kulshreshta is felicitated in Afghanistan by the archaeological department for discovering a treasure on archaeological site and saving it from Taliban. Upon his return he is promoted as the director in his organization and gets the chance to make a report on going issue in the country about Ram Setu being natural or man made as government plans to demolish it due to industrial development. Aryan's being an atheist drafts his reports which creates and issue over the country about Ramayan and existence of Ram for which he faces suspension and his family has to face the brunt. Like what is shown in 'The Rocketry: Nami Effect'.

His wife asks him to stay away from the controversy for family sake but Aryan decides to clear his name and gets chance to work with Pushpak Shipping whose owner Indrakant is behind the urban development and wants evidence on Ram Setu not being built by Ram. Aryan arrives at the site of Ram Setu and gets to work with project manager Bali and his team one being Dr Sandra Rebello but underwater he has to work carefully and not cross Srilankan borders due to ongoing civil war. Aryan discovers a floating stone underwater which proves that Ram Setu existed before BC and was possibly built by Ram but Indrakant asks to get more evidence to prove the same. Aryan, Sandra and Dr Gabrielle go on a night mission underwater to unfold the mystery but find that they are made scapegoat in a plan and left to die under water in stormy weather by Bali and Indrakant. Dr Gabrille acts smart by taking the floating stone along with them as she suspected Bali, in mid sea they are saved by a Srilankan fisherman AP. Bali finds that the stone is missing and decides to chase them but AP helps them cross the borders and the stone goes missing in the chase while Gabrielle is shot by Bali. Aryan now along with Sandra and AP decides to prove the existence of Ram and Ram Setu by doing his research across borders in Srilanka which has existence of Raavana which by itself will be a big evidence that Ram Setu was not natural but built by Ram.

At the end of the film, we get to see that the Court agrees to the Conclusions and the evidence provided by the Aryan and Puts the Stay order on the work at RAM SETU.  One would wonder who was AP played by Satyadev, when Aaryan opens the Dairy of AP, he was shocked to see that only ‘Jai Sree Ram’ was written all over it.

Irrespective of the movie, the debate and the discussions in the court continue. 

Crossroad

Crossroad is an anthology of 10 Malayalam films released in 2017 on the lives of 10 women. The short feature films of 15 minutes each look at life from the varied perspectives of these women.

Directed by Lenin Rajendran, Madhupal, Nemom Pushparaj, Pradeep Nair, Babu Thiruvalla, Ashok R. Nath, Sashi Paravur, Avira Rebecca Albert, Nayana Suryan , 

Oru Raathriyude Kooli, Padmapriya Janakiraman as Seema, V. K. Baiju, Suryakanth,

Kaaval, Priyanka Nair as Devi, Shibu Laban, Roslin, Pranav Nair as Devi's child

Pakshikalude Maanam: Mythili as Photographer, Vijay Babu as Husband, Joe, Sidhartha Siva as Resort Owner, Chethan Jayalal

Mounam Manasa Radhakrishnan as Sally, Seema G. Nair as Mariyamma, Sally's MotherAnu Mohan as Jomon

Badar Mamta Mohandas as Badarunneesa, Babu Annur as Madhavan Nair, Kailash as Unni

Mudra Isha Talwar as Gaya Parameshwaran, Anjali Aneesh as Padmavathi, Poojappura Radhakrishnan

Lake House Richa Panai as Aimy, Rahul Madhav as husband, Shobha Mohan

Kodeshyan Punnasserry Kanchana as Grandma

Chrerivu Al Sabith F as small son, Srinda Arhaan, Manoj K. Jayan as Driver

Pinpe Nadappaval Anjana Chandran, Joy Mathew, Sagar

I got attracted to it viewing the trailer of Mudra in Youtube. 

Like the name of the movie suggests, the film delves into important moments in the lives of a bunch of women and how they deal with these situations. Ten completely disconnected stories, they which are trials and tribulations that happen in protagonists lives.

The anthology starts with Oru Ratriyude Kooli, directed by Madhupal, which introduces a sex worker called Seema and her desire to be a mother. Dilemmas of Devi, a widow of a soldier, are portrayed by Priyanka Nair in the next one titled Kaval directed by Nemom Pushparaj. A womanphotographer’s love for the wild is the theme in Pakshikalude Manam directed by debutant Nayana Suryan. Actress Mythili returns to Mollywood through the film in the role of the shutterbug. Actor Vijay Babu supports her in the film as a control freak husband.

Maunam by Babu Thiruvalla revolves around a girl named Sally, played by Manasa, who is forced to become a nun. Mamta Mohandas is the protagonist in the fifth tale that looks at religion and human bonding.

The first half is relatively lukewarm but the second has heart-warming stories of womanhood. Mudra directed by Albert introduces Gaya Parameshwaran, a celebrated classical dancer (Isha Talwar) and how she empowers her friend Padmavathi (Anjali Aneesh Upasana). Lake House directed by Sashi Paravoor traces the memories of young airhostess (Richa Panai) and how she deals with the untimely death of her husband (Rahul Madhav).

What stands out is Pradeep Nair’s Kodeshyan which talks about the bond between a grandma and her pet street dog. Veteran actress Punasseri Kanchana proves her skill as the lonely lady in a luxury apartment with only the dog for company. Cherivu directed by Avira Rebecca talks about a woman (Srinda) who braves a journey with a stranger as driver (Manoj K Jayan). Tee final one is a directorial by Lenin Rajendran titled Pinpe Nadappaval which features debut actress Anjana Chandran as a Malabar girl who faces marital rape.

Worth mentioning is the work of debutante director Nayana Suryan. Young cinematographer Gowtham Lenin also seems impresses with his picturesque frames.

The anthology is like a story book that has something for every kind of viewer. If one disappoints, there is always another to make up.

Becoming A Mountain - Stephen Alter

 

Stephen Alter is an author of non-fiction and fiction, who was born and raised in India, where he grew up as the son of American missionaries. He lives in Littleton, Colorado and in Landour, India. Landour, a small cantonment town contiguous with Mussoorie, is about 35 km from the city of Dehradun in the northern state of Uttarakhand in India. The twin towns of Mussoorie and Landour, together, are a well-known British Raj-era hill station in northern India.

Mussoorie is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India, the place is endowed with the most scenic landscapes you will find anywhere in India and it is no surprise that it has earned the sobriquet, the Queen of Hills. The name Mussoorie is often attributed to a derivation of mansūr, a shrub which is indigenous to the area. The town is often referred to as Mansuri by Indians. In 1803 the Gorkhas under Umer Singh Thapa conquered the Garhwal and the Dehra, whereby Mussoorie was established.

Following an unexpected attack, which remains an unresolved mystery, and his fathers death, Stephen Alter undertook expedition to three major mountains, those, are the major chapter's in the book, though others too are covered in due course. 

Beginning with a Note on the Himalayas, the book covers as main topic, which are further subdivided:

• Flag Hill - (Distant Prayers)
• Nanda Devi (Chasing Bliss) - walking is writing with the feet - 'library inside, study out of the door' - Poet Wordsworth,  inspirations from walking outdoors'.  Tigers Nest, Bhutan. 
• Kailash (A Pilgrim's crossing)- Entering the Mandala, Frontiers of Faith, Trans-Himalaya, Brahma's dream, Upon the Treashold, Circling the summit, Cave of mysteries
• Bandarpunch (Returning Home) - To the North of Mussoorie, it appears the largest and easiest to identify. Hanuman got Sanjeevani booti from here. Hidden behind Bandarpunch is a third peak that is bearly visible, except from certain angles. Known as the 'Black peak' or 'Kaala Naag'(Black Cobra), it is the highest summit of the three. Together the monkeys tail and cobra's hood evoke a mysterious. allegorical landscapes, promising answer to eternal riddles. East of Bandarpunch the mountain concede a valley where the Bhagirathi tributary of the Ganga cuts a passage through the main thrust of the Himalaya. Further on, the Gangotri group and Kedarnath bulge up in a monumental heap of snow-capped ridges. But the peak that catches eye is Nanda Devi. 

These mountains represents three different aspects of the Himalayas. Bandarpunch offers healing and solace, while Nanda Devi promises ananda or happineess that releases us from anger, fear and doubt and Mount Kailash, beyond line of sight, marks an elusive threshold of transcendence. Each is linked to the other by a mysterious triangulation of the foul, an inner cartography that maps the routes to be followed. Trinity of sacred peaks signifying stages of search for reconciliation and recovery. They pull like the same primal impuse that carries a migratory bird across the Himalayas. A ride on the wings of a Himalayan griffon across the mountains, soaring from Bandarpunch to Nanda Devi, then follow a straight line towards Tibet, the trajectory of flight would take one directly to Kailash, no more than 300 kms away. 

When we travel, as Edmund Hillary reminds us, 'It's not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.'

Gretel Ehrlich from Wyoming in 'Questions of Heaven' summarises her experience after viewing paintings in New York and reading Himalayas to be 'the most beautiful mountain in the world' discovered a different view from her first destination being Mount Emei. Wholesale corruption of natural beauty beginning with the  'Stalinesque' architecture of the buildings in the town below, marauding monkeys, shrines to gods of greed, and rat-infested hotels. Summit flattened into a concrete arcade of tea stalls and gaudy souvenir shops with loudspeakers blaring Chinese pop music. Most of her stories are about disillusionment and the impositions of a modern industrial society on the once pristine face of Emei Shan. 'Everything we ae continually invites us to become one with nature'. Dust thou art to dust return, was not spoken of the soul. 

Mom & Me: Whether it be the ziggurats of Mesopotamia or the tiered pyramids of the Aztecs, Hindu temples, Christian and Muslim domes or Buddhist chortens, the architecture of faith attempts to replicate a mountain so that devotee enter its depth and worship at its core. 

Bhagavad Gita explains, 'When the sage climbs the heights of Yoga, he follows the path of work; but when he reaches the heights of Yoga, he is in the land of peace.' The Katha Upanishad echoes these thoughts with the exhortation: ' Awake, arise! Strive for the Highest, and be in the Light! Sages say the path is narrow and difficult to tread, narrow as the edge of a razor.' - This reminded be of Swami Vivekanada's quote - 'Awake, Arise and stop not till the goal is achieved. '

Nanda Devi is often translated as the 'bliss-giving goddess', though the Sanskrit word 'ananda' at the root of her name is better understood as 'contentment'. 'Darshan' releases from discontentment rather than evoking euphoria. Darshan does not require the intercession of a priest, so it is appealing. The act is unencumbered by liturgies, pious rhetoric or moralizing. Can appreciate the spiritual experience others claim through Darshan without accepting the theology and dogma. At Nanda Devi - mountain and goddess are inseparable. Topology and myth converge in a mysterious, multi-layered landscape of narratives where nature takes on may different forms, such as rock and ice, lichens and moss, air and sunlight, just as the gods assume their various permutations - Shiva, Bhairava, Rudra and Mahasu - consorting with feminine aspects of Uma, Maya, Parvati or Nanda all of them being one and the same. 

Similarly I have often wondered - first Shiva and then Shankaracharya - at various places - are they one and the same or different? 

Search for Nanda Devi (ND) begins at the Kauri pass, where the Curzon Trail crosses over into the Dhauliganga Valley above Joshimath. She is hidden behind the Pangarchula Ridge. Lata is the last village before the ND Sanctuary.  The route is referred to as the Curzon Trail as it was prepared for the viceroy of India in 1900, though he never made his intended visit. 

Enroute there is Roopkund with its mysterious legend and lore, and pilgrims who came to this place sacrificed themselves to the goddess by leaping from the cliffs of Junarali, above the lake; and those wanting to continue, brace themselves to a slippery, instable descent to Bhugubasa.  Even in Kedarnath, people do that from Bhairav Jhamp.

Formation of the Himalayas is one of the greatest creation myths ever told. Gaia's dance displacing oceans, a process that continues even today, mountain eternally reaching up to meet the sky. 

While flying over the Himalayas one is overawed by the vast expanse of snow-caked ridges and summits extending form one Horizon to the next stretching beyond the limits of history and human imagination. It seem as infinite as an ocean, frozen at the climax of a storm. Tsunami of ice and rock rearing up. 

His Majesty the King of Bhutan has decreed the Gross National Happiness is the primary objective of his Himalayan state. With an attempt to turn itself into a modern Shangri - La, a mountainous Eden that excludes all forms of discontentment and banishes sorrow. But authority dictates its own cheerful benevolence. Happiness isn't truth - too absolute a noun. Nor is it faith, which is a charade of human psyche. Peace might serve as a suitable synonym, though it leads in far too many directions. Happiness is a transient motion that can arise out of discipline and meditation to some. Surprising at the times when we least expect. View of mountains reduce human travails to insignificant proportions. Terrible things happen in beautiful places just as beautiful things happen in terrible places. Yet we are alive and grateful to be here. Destination here is Taktsang.  

'Walking' Henry David Thoreau's essay - is as much a sermon as an essay, exhorting us to get outdoors and discover our place in nature. 

Before the trip to Kailash, a picture of Shambala was procured from Kathmandu. Inside it like the petals of a lotus, were various scenes of human figures and buildings. It seemed an enchanted garden, the promised land, a country of eternal happiness.  During the time of Shambala all languages would be understood, and one could see with the third eye. 

'Yatra' means both pilgrimage and journey - when a 'Yatri' boards an airplane, bus or train in pursuit of business, pleasure or salvation, it fulfils that person's dharma and leads them on a quest, both secular and spiritual. 

Kailash itself is stark black granite, but the stones in the valley are variegated hues of every shade and texture extending deep into the earth? What lies above the surface appears to be huge and magnificent, but even more compelling must be the molten currents beneath the earth's crust, where the mountain foats upon a raft of magma. The geological forces that thrust Kailash into the sky hundreds of millennia ago also formed its subterranean structure, the buried weight of rock that provides its hidden foundation.  The colours in the landscape, the myriad shapes of rocks around, trail of footprints in the dust is like a giant sand mandala, with the sacred mountain at its axis. Created through aeons of erosion, it could easily be a natural diagram of the cosmos. Compared to Kailash, each of the boulders is a granule, and the mineral pigments create mysterious patterns, like a maze that leads beyond perception. The valleys and mountains around Kailash are believed to be full of terma,  buried texts and treasure that will be found when the time is right. Intended to be discovered at auspicious moments by protectors of the Dharma, tertons and oracles who reveal the truth contained in terma, thereby renewing and reaffirming the faith. Padmasambhava is said to have rescued Buddhism from occult and profane influences, including the so-called sorcery and shamanism of Bon tradition. Bon pilgrims shout  'Tashi Delek!', while Hindu Pilgrim chant 'Om Namah Shivaya!', and some with the prayer wheel. Most of the Tibetan pilgrim carry prayer beads, which slip silently between their fingers. 

There is the great Kailash temple in Ellora. The landscape in this treeless valley has a hypnotic quality. Rocks and boulders take on weird and magical shapes like an optical illusion. You experience trance walking here. Though ancient writers about being lost here, it seems impossible now, could be because of the crowd, and dozens of trails that separate and re-converge along the eastern bank of the Lha Chu River laid out over centuries by the wandering footsteps of pilgrims, each taking their own circuit around Kailash. 

As we walk towards the base camp, the tea shops- just a couple of them are large tents, outer fabric a sturdy green canvas, inner fly made of printed cotton, a floral pattern of blues and pinks. In the centr of the tent stands a cast-iron stove, where two cauldrons of tea are brewing slowly over smouldering yak dung. These tea shops are set up during the pilgrimage season, from end of May to October and is dismantled during winter when the Kora route is closed. 

Some Pilgrims circle Kailash in a single day, walking a total of 56 kilometres. Some prostrate themselves at every step, lying flat on their stomachs and progress by lengths of their body. Then there are men with wooden blocks in each hand and pads on knees but instead of flattening himself completely , they move forward in a tight squat, like a frog.  There are trail of garbage accumulated over many years. There seems to be an equation between faith and filth. Religion is nothing more than the detritus and debris of spirituality discarded on the refuse heaps of credulity. 

Each of the summits here has a name - Chenresi Ri, the peak of Avalokitshvara or Jampelyang Ri, the pinnacle of Manjushree. Though trial at feet is littered with trash summits rise up in pristine grandeur, inaccessible to man. There is a small pond called 'Mirror of Yama.' People discard cloths, and carry dozens of pebbles from the pass, tiny fragments of the mountain, each representing miniature version of Kailash. Norther face gives a feel of awe and reverence. Dolma La is a dramatic landscape but it does not move one. Just below Doma La is another pond, not more than 9 metres across. Hindus call this Gauri Kund and Buddhists refer to it as the Lake of Compassion. For most of the year it is frozen, except in summer when it is chalky green in colour. Some believe that it was here Ganesha's head was transplanted to that of Elephants.  From the crest of the pass, the trail cuts down a steep slope, traversing a field of rocks and boulders. Farther on, the Lham Chu Valley open up and leads one back towards Manasarovar, descending on foot. The path is too step for horses to carry riders to valley floor. East side of Kailash, unlike the other three sides, there are no telltale bands of rock and snow. Instead, this side of the peak is a pure white cone wedged between clefts in the ridges. Enroute there is Zutrul Phuk, a monastery and settlement where the poet-saint Milarepa took shelter in a cave and meditated for many years. A few photographs of aged monks are on display but no pictures of the Dalai Lama, whose image is forbidden in Tibet. This side has some vegitations and plants. There is a vulture flying above - which is believed to be Garuda, vehicle of Vishnu. Finally back to the small settlement called Tangsar. 

Healing light, Jwala booti, magical herb. Despite our doubts and disbelief, the spiritual radiance of a mountain flows off its glaciers and shines like a beacon of eternity. in the course of acnt and retreat to Bandarpunch, one can see various summits like that of Srikantha and a dozen other mountains above. This mountain can be viewed on the way to Yamunotri. The name of Bandarpunch properly applies only to the highest peaks of this mountain, all the subordinate peads and ridges have their own peculiar names. Jamnotri has reference only to the sacred spot. According to native account there are four peaks, only two to be seen from south-west. The travel path is driving from Mussoorie to Uttarkashi, then further up the Ganga, to Dodital passing Gangori, there is the Darwa pass. Mountains rise above the Ganga. They wait at Sukhi to begin the journey. Base camp is Phurbu. 

Mountaineering is different from trekking. Acclimatization is important. Tom Longstaff, one of the Himalayan pioneers, wrote in his memoir, This My Voyage, 'To know a mountain, you must sleep upon it.'

Bharatha Dharsanam - Dr. A.M.C.Menon

 This covers places like Thriveni where one is taken in a boat to the place where Gana joins Yamuna and underneath the surging and gurgling Saraswathy.  Ayodhya - dip in the Sarayu river, Kasi, Gaya, Varanasi, Indraprastham - Centre of Mahabharatha and now the capital of India, Akshardham opened on 8th Nov 2005 on the banks of Yamuna in 100 acres of land owned by BAPS foundatin - the builder of various swami Narayan temple across the world exactly after 5 years of Shilanyas with world class facility including the story of Swaminarayan travelling 8000 miles in 7 years on bare foot covering the whole India, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath & Neelakantha Parvath.

Ages ago our 'Muni Shreshtas' have defined Bharatham in three planes; the southern part as 'Karm Bumi', Uthar Pradesh as 'Punnia Bhumi' because of the sacred birth of Rama and Kishna and the vast mountainous region north from Haridwar as 'Deva Bhumi'.

Bhudh Gaya has various monastery from across our neighbouring countries - Japan, Thailand, Butan, Tibet. All four depicting the image of their country. Emperor Asoka raised the original shrine here in early 3rd century.

Gaya was named after Gayasura, the son of Tripurasura who dominated this place once and it was believed who ever touched him attained the entrance to heaven surpassing the power of Yamaraj.  

Bhadrinath - The Nar Parbat mountain is located opposite to the temple, while the Narayana Parbat is located behind the Neelkanth peak.

In Hindu mythology, there was initially no mountain on the spot where Nilkantha stands today. There was a route between Kedarnath and Badrinath. The "Purahita" or the worshiper of the two temples worshiped them in one day. This continued for a long time until due to some sins of the worshiper, Shiva became displeased with him and stood blocking the way as a huge sky-kissing mountain, which is said to be modern Nilkantha.

The Distance between Kedarnath to Badrinath by road is 218KM. The aerial distance from Kedarnath to Badrinath is 41KM.

Situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Nilkanth or Neelkanth peak stands at a towering altitude of 6,596 meters over the Alaknanda valley and the town of Badrinath. Legendary mountaineer Frank Smythe described the peak as “second only to Siniolchu in Himalayan beauty.” The Satopanth Glacier lies on the northwest side of Nilkanth.

Siniolchu is one of the tallest mountains of the Indian state of Sikkim. The 6,888 metres (22,598 ft) mountain is considered to be particularly aesthetically attractive,It is situated near the green lake adjacent to Kangchenjunga.

This is located behind Badrinath temple.  From Mana, you go to Hanuman Chati, Lakshmi Van to reach Nilkanth peak base camp. On the trekking route first comes Charan Paduka at a distance of 3kms- the foot steps of Lord Vishnu, from were you can view the Rishi Ganga fall. From there the terrain gets tougher, but in another 9 kms, you reach Nilkanth base camp, from where you can view Nanda Devi Peak. 

10 most beautiful places to visit in the Himalayas

Borong, South Sikkim. Borong is scenic beyond imagination. ...

Yumthang Valley, Sikkim. ...

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. ...

Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh. ...

Lachung and Lachen, North Sikkim. ...

Ladakh. ...

Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh. ...

Kausani, Uttarakhand.

Glacier

 A glacier is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and often liquid water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity.

A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries.

Series: Types of Glaciers

• Ice Sheets. 
• Ice Fields and Ice Caps. 
• Cirque and Alpine Glaciers. 
• Valley and Piedmont Glaciers. 
• Tidewater and Freshwater Glaciers. 
• Rock Glaciers.

Fedchenko Glacier, also spelled Fedčenko, extensive valley glacier, situated in the Central Asian Pamirs range, central Tajikistan. The world's largest glacier found outside the polar regions, it is about 45 miles (70 km) long and covers up to some 350 square miles (900 square km).

Siachen is the longest glacier in India. It is 78km long and the source for the Nubra River that waters the Nubra Valley near Leh in the Trans Himalayas. It is the Second-Longest glacier in the World's Non-Polar areas.

The highest glacier in the world is The Khumbu Glacier (Nepali: खुम्बु हिमनदी) is located in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal between Mount Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. With elevations of 4,900 m (16,100 ft) at its terminus to 7,600 m (24,900 ft) at its source, it is the world's highest glacier.

The age of the oldest glacier ice in Antarctica may approach 1,000,000 years old.

The age of the oldest glacier ice in Greenland is more than 100,000 years old.

The age of the oldest Alaskan glacier ice ever recovered (from a basin between Mt. Bona and Mt. Churchill) is about 30,000 years old.

According to the GLIMS data set, the three largest glaciers in the world are Vatnajokull Glacier in Iceland, Flade Isblink Ice Cap in Greenland, and Seller Glacier in Antarctica.

Gem Glacier is the smallest named glacier in Glacier National Park (U.S.).

The Seas - Tethys , Partethys ....

The Tethys Sea or the Neo-Tethys, was a prehistoric ocean that covered most of the Earth during much of the Mesozoic Era and early Cenozoic Era, located between the ancient continents of Gondwana and Laurasia, before the opening of the Indian and Atlantic oceans during the Cretaceous Period.

It was preceded by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, which lasted between the Cambrian and the Early Triassic, while the Neotethys formed during the Late Triassic and lasted until the early Eocene (about 50 million years ago) when it completely closed.A portion known as the Paratethys formed during the Late Jurassic, was isolated during the Oligocene (34 million years ago) and lasted up to the Pliocene (about 5 million years ago), when it largely dried out. Many major seas and lakes of Europe and Western Asia, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Aral Sea are thought to be remnants of the Paratethys.

Karakoram & Pamir

The creation of the Karakoram fault started with the closing of the ancient Tethys ocean seaway which once separated the two modern continents of Asia and India. The Karakoram fault itself does not trace a plate boundary, except for where it possibly ends in the Indus-Yarlung Suture Zone.The original thrusting occurred by linking existing thrust faults in what is now the Pamir Mountains starting between 17 and 20 million years ago.

The Karakoram fault is an oblique-slip fault system in the Himalayan region across India and Asia. The slip along the fault accommodates radial expansion of the Himalayan arc, northward indentation of the Pamir Mountains, and eastward lateral extrusion of the Tibetan plateau

The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range between Central Asia and Pakistan. It is located at a junction with other notable mountains, namely the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush and the Himalaya mountain ranges. They are among the world's highest mountains.

Much of the Pamir Mountains lie in the Gorno-Badakhshan Province of Tajikistan. To the south, they border the Hindu Kush mountains along Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor in Badakhshan Province, Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan regions of Pakistan. To the north, they join the Tian Shan mountains along the Alay Valley of Kyrgyzstan. To the east, they extend to the range that includes China's Kongur Tagh, in the "Eastern Pamirs", separated by the Yarkand valley from the Kunlun Mountains.

Since Victorian times, they have been known as the "Roof of the World", presumably a translation from Persian.

A pamir is a flat plateau or U-shaped valley surrounded by mountains. It forms when a glacier or ice field melts leaving a rocky plain. A pamir lasts until erosion forms soil and cuts down normal valleys. This type of terrain is found in the east and north of the Wakhan -  a rugged, mountainous part of the Pamir, Hindu Kush and Karakoram regions of Afghanistan., and the east and south of Gorno-Badakhshan, as opposed to the valleys and gorges of the west. Pamirs are used for summer pasture.

The Karakoram is a mountain range in Kashmir region spanning the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwest extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under the jurisdiction of Gilgit-Baltistan, which is controlled by Pakistan. Its highest peak (and world's second-highest), K2, is located in Gilgit-Baltistan. It begins in the Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan) in the west, encompasses the majority of Gilgit-Baltistan, and extends into Ladakh (controlled by India) and Aksai Chin (controlled by China). It is the second-highest mountain range in the world and part of the complex of ranges including the Pamir Mountains, the Hindu Kush and the Himalayan Mountains.

The Karakoram is bounded on the east by the Aksai Chin plateau, on the northeast by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and on the north by the river valleys of the Yarkand and Karakash rivers beyond which lie the Kunlun Mountains. At the northwest corner are the Pamir Mountains. The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed, west to east, by the Gilgit, Indus and Shyok rivers, which separate the range from the northwestern end of the Himalaya range proper. These rivers flow northwest before making an abrupt turn southwestward towards the plains of Pakistan. Roughly in the middle of the Karakoram range is the Karakoram Pass, which was part of a historic trade route between Ladakh and Yarkand that is now inactive.

Himalayas - Uttarakhand - From Nainital on

Nainital is located in the Kumaon foothills of the Jagbeer Himalayas at a distance of 285 km (177 mi) from the state capital Dehradun. The town of Nainital covers a total area of 11.73 km2 (4.53 sq mi), and is  at an average elevation of 2,084 metres (6,837 ft) above sea level. The slopes of the nearby mountains are most populated.

It is said that the left eye (Nain) of Sati fell here and this gave rise to patron deity of town Nainital . It is said that the lake is formed in the emerald eye shape . Naina Devi temple is located at the northern end of the lake . Thus name of Nainital derivated from Naina and the tal (Lake).

Naina Peak is highest hill top and one of the the famous tourist spots in Nainital. This peak is also called as China Peak and Cheena Peak by locals in Naintal. Due to high altitude and lush green forest path, Naina Peak is favourite place in Nainital for trekking among travellers.

Naina Peak offers the splendid Bird's eye view of the Nainital town, the Himalayas and also the vast expanses of the Kumaon region. It is a bliss for people who love walking. One can go for long walks, breath fresh air and enjoy the scenic beauty.

Kaladhungi is a beautiful town seated at the foothills of the Himalayas at an elevation of 500 m in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Surrounded by forests and with River Boar flowing alongside it, Kaladhungi comprises a beautiful landscape that’s ideal for hiking, sight-seeing, and enjoying a peaceful recluse. Haldwani is 22km from here. Located in Choti Haldwani just 3 kms from Kaladhungi is Jim Corbett (JC) Museum, which is a former home of the renowned hunter, environmentalist and tiger conservationist Sir Edward James Jim Corbett.  JC - Falls, Heritage Village, National Park, Garjiya Devi Temple are places to visit here. One of the famous Shakti Shrine in Uttarakhand, is the holy temple of Garjiya Devi, presiding deity of the temple. Legends believe that Garjiya Devi is the incarnation of Goddess Parwati, daughter of King of the Mountains Himalaya also known as Giriraj. Temple is near JC National park, 13kms from Ramnagar and 75 kms from Nainital. 

Khairasain is a small village in Kotdwar Tehsil, in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. The Kotdwar region is located alongside the bank of River Khoh and serves as the gateway to the Himalayan regions.  It is one of the main entrance points to Uttarakhand. The Kotdwar Railway Station, which was established by the Britishers in 1890 is one of the oldest railway stations in India and was used to transport timber from the Himalayan regions. Distance between Nainital and Khairasain is 6 hr 22 min (270.4 km) via NH534

Home to some of the majestic peaks and mountains Uttarakhand is a paradise for those who are in love with heights. Some of the highest peaks in Uttarakhand like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Abi Gamin, Mana Peak, Hardeol, Chaukhamba, Trishul I and others stand tall with utmost grandeur. 

1) Hardeol or 'Temple of God' is 141 kms away from Nainital and is one of the major peaks of the Kumaon Himalaya. 

It is the highest peak on the northern side of the ring of peaks guarding the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, and lies at the northeast corner of this ring. It is situated at the northern end of the Milam valley, in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. To its immediate north lies Trishuli, and just south is Rishi Pahar, on a north-south trending ridge leading eventually to Nanda Devi East. Hardeol is also known as Trishuli South.

2) Milam Glacier Trek 307 kms from Nainital and 58.5 kms from Hadeol is a gateway to explore the mystiques of Uttarakhand. Milam Glacier is one of the remotest yet accessible glaciers of Uttarakhand. Milam Glacier is the largest glacier of Kumaon covering an area of 37 square kilometers. The base camp for this 16km long glacier is at Munsiyari.

Some popular peaks and mountains in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state

3) Adi Kailash - The Chota Kailash 

Situated at a fairly impressive altitude of 6,310 metres, Adi Kailash also referred to as Chota Kailash or Little Kailash is in one or the other way a replica of Mount Kailash in Tibet. 

It is situated in the Indian Territory in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand within a proximity to the Indo-Tibetan border. In the quietude of the tranquil Kumaon Himalayas, Adi Kailash is a popular pilgrimage of the Hindu devotees. One can catch a glimpse of the emerald Parvati lake and the Gauri Kund adorned on the very foot of Chota Kailash.

4) Om Parvat in Dharchula

74% in Nepal. Can reach Dharchula via Almora. Nearest railway station is Tanakpur which is 150 kms away and nearest airport is 130 kms away.     

5) Neelkantha Peak Situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Nilkanth or Neelkanth peak stands at a towering altitude of 6,596 meters over the Alaknanda valley and the town of Badrinath. Legendary mountaineer Frank Smythe described the peak as “second only to Siniolchu in Himalayan beauty.” The Satopanth Glacier lies on the northwest side of Nilkanth. This is between Kedarnath and Bhadrinath. At 21,640 feet, Neelkanth is a pyramidal-shaped peak, which is dubbed as the “Garhwal Queen“. Steeped in mythology, this dramatic peak is revered for its beauty. The sunrise and changing colour of the mountain is amazing. 

6) Swargarohini Peaks: The Herculean mountain massif of Swargarohini Peaks is tucked at the Saraswati (Bandarpunch) range of Garhwal Himalayas. Swargarohini also known as ‘The Way to Heaven’ is adorned in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, west to the Gangotri group of peaks and can be accessed from Har ki Dun.

7) The Panchchuli peaks are a group of five snow-capped Himalayan peaks lying at the end of the eastern Kumaon region, near Munsiyari, in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state. The peaks have altitudes ranging from 6,334 metres (20,781 ft) to 6,904 metres (22,651 ft).

8) Nanda Devi is the second-highest mountain in India, after Kangchenjunga, and the highest located entirely within the country. It is the 23rd-highest peak in the world. Nanda Devi was considered the highest mountain in the world before computations in 1808 proved Dhaulagiri to be higher. You can move towards Nanda Devi from Joshimatt. Nanda Devi is a two-peaked massif, forming a 2-kilometre-long (1.2 mi) high ridge, oriented east–west. The western summit is higher, and the eastern summit, called Nanda Devi East, (locally known as Sunanda Devi) is the lower one. The main summit stands guarded by a barrier ring comprising some of the highest mountains in the Indian Himalayas, twelve of which exceed 6,400 metres (21,000 ft) in height, further elevating its sacred status as the daughter of the Himalaya in Indian folklore. The interior of this almost insurmountable ring is known as the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, and is protected as the Nanda Devi National Park. Nanda Devi East lies on the eastern edge of the ring (and of the Park), at the border of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts. Together the peaks may be referred to as the peaks of the goddesses Nanda and Sunanda. These goddesses have occurred together in ancient Sanskrit literature (Srimad Bhagvatam or Bhagavata Purana) and are worshipped together as twins in the Kumaon, Garhwal and elsewhere in India. On 7 February 2021 it was reported that a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke away, causing the Dhauliganga and the Rishiganga rivers to flood. The trek to Nanda Devi National Park starts from the village of Lata, located 25 kilometres upstream from the town of Joshimath on Niti-Malari highway.

9) Rudugaira  peak is seated between Gangotri and Kedarnath and offers stunning views of the majestic Gangotri Massif, Auden’s Col, and Thalaysagar. Though the usual route to Kedarnath is via Gaurikund, we can also get there through Rudugaira, if one is an expert trekker. Located in the Rudu Valley inside the Gangotri National Park, Mt. Rudugaira is a breath-taking beauty perched at an elevation of 5819 mts

10) Chandak Hills is a famous mountain range in Pithoragarh or ‘Soar Valley’ that offers a stunning view of the gorgeous landscape of this place. Situated about 8 km away from Pithoragarh, Chandak is a small valley that is stretched till Nepal border. The weather at Chandak remains pleasant with comparatively cold nights.

11) Hidimba Parvat is a lush green terrain located at a favorable distance of 5 km from Bhimtal. The hillock has been named after a demon called Hidimba, the wife of Bheema one of the Pandava brothers from the famous mythological tale called Mahabharata. 

12) Hathi Parvat sometimes called as the ‘Elephant Peak’ is a prominent peak in the Badrinathregion of Chamoli district. Hathi Ghoda is a peak with interesting nomenclatures. Hathi Parbat, which stands at an altitude of 22,070 feet is also known as Elephant Peak. And Ghoda literally translates to Horse. It is easy to see why they are named so. Up close, their resemblance to the said animals is striking.

13) Thana Danda Peak is undeveloped viewpoint near Chakrata. Thana Danda means small peak named Thana in local language. This peak offers scintillating views of Hills around and best for trekkers and campers. Located at about 16 km from Chakrata, Thana Danda Peak is best location for a day out trekking from Chakrata.

14) Dunagiri is one of the high peaks of the Chamoli District Himalayas in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. It lies at the northwest corner of the Sanctuary Wall, A ring of peaks surrounding Nanda Devi and enclosing the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. Mt Dunagiri on the Kuari Pass trek looms closer than any other peak. One can Camp at Khullara with Mt Dunagiri watching over in the background.

15) The Pangarchulla peak at 15,069 ft is right beside Kuari Pass. A good summit climb for summers, the peak looms over the landscape for a good part of your trek. Reflection of it over Taali Lake is amazing. The Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla trails share the same route for a good three days. So much so that you see the Pangarchulla Peak at 15,069 ft, up close before taking a deviation to Kuari Pass. The peak stays with you for a good part of the trek. 

16)  Chaukhamba Massif -Four Peaks - Not very often do you see a cluster of peaks that are as prominent as the Chaukambha Massif. It's imposing.  The four pillars stand tall and straddle together like brothers-in-arms. Chaukhamba I is the highest peak in the cluster, rising above the other three at an elevation of 23,419 feet. 

17) Kamet: Kamet will always hold a special place in mountaineering history. It is a landmark mountain, having been the first summit over 25,000 feet to be climbed. At 25,446 feet, it is the second highest peak in the Garhwal region, second only to Nanda Devi. Kamet peak lies in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand owing an inspiring elevation of 7,756 m above the sea level

Kuari Pass is a trail crafted for trekkers who are in love with the big mountains. More so that, you’ll be spoilt for choice all through your trek.

Located in the western fringes of Nanda Devi Sanctuary, the Kuari Pass trail doubles up as the perfect vantage point to watch some of the big mountains of our country. As you march along the trail, every known summit of Gharwal Himalayas start to pop up. It’s hard to sweep the view in one glance. There are big mountains to see everywhere — Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, Hati Ghoda, Kamet — they loom over you.

18) Trisul is a group of three Himalayan mountain peaks of western Kumaun, Uttarakhand, with the highest reaching 7120m. The three peaks resemble a trident - in Sanskrit, Trishula, trident, is the weapon of Shiva. The Trishul group forms the southwest corner of the ring of peaks enclosing the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) west-southwest of Nanda Devi itself. The main peak, Trisul I, The three peaks are named Trisul I, Trisul II, and Trisul III. The massif is a north-south ridge, with Trisul I at the north end and Trisul III at the south. The massif runs roughly North-South, and hence appears compressed when viewed from the south (Ranikhet, Kausani), and more stretched out from the Southeast (Chamoli, Bedini Bugyal). Nanda Ghunti lies a few Kilometres to the northwest, while Mrigthuni is just to the southeast.The Trisul massif can be accessed via the following route: Almora - Kausani - Garur- Gwaldam - Debal - Bagargad - Wan - Bedini Bugyal - Kalu Vinayak - Roopkund - Trisul.

19) Bandarpunch is a mountain massif in the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand, India. The massif has 3 peaks: White Peak, also called Banderpunch II, to the west above Yamunotri; almost 5 km east is Bandarpunch main peak or Banderpunch I; and about 4 km to the north-east is Kalanag. It is part of the Sankari Range and lies within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary. It is a major watershed for the headwaters of the Yamuna River, whose source lies above Yamunotri, on the west end of the massif below White Peak.

20) Abi Gamin peak mostly situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state in India, 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of Kamet. Its summit is on the border with Tibet and its northern slope is in the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet.is located in the central Himalayas and at the culminating point of the Zaskar Range. It is situated on the watershed of the upper Alaknanda and Dhauli rivers between the famous Manna and Niti passes on the Indo-Tibetan border. Abi Gamin is the second highest peak in the immediate region, after Kamet. It is also one of the fifteen seven thousand metre peaks of Uttarakhand, and as such it is a significant peak. 

21) Mukut Parbat lies in the Zaskar Range which does not receive the heavy monsoon.20th highest located entirely within India.Mukut Parbat 96th highest peak in the world. There are two summits, the first one is 7,242 m (23,760 ft) and other one is 7,130 m (23,392 ft). It falls under Kamet Zaskar Range.

22) Mana Peak is the 5th highest located entirely within the Uttarakhand. There are two known approaches to Mana peak: one is the eastern approach through East Kamet glacier and the other is the southern approach through Nagthuni and Banke Kund glacier.

Mana Peak was first climbed solo in 1937 by Frank Smythe during his famous Valley of Flowers expedition.

Mukut Parbat, Kamet and Mana. All three peaks are linked by a ridge. A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for an extended distance.

The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union territory of Ladakh that separates the Zanskar valley from Indus valley at Leh. Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya, an approximately 100-km-wide synclinorium formed by strongly folded and imbricated, weakly metamorphosed sedimentary series. The average height of the Zanskar Range is about 6,000 m (19,700 ft). Its eastern part is known as Rupshu.

The Himalayas include the highest mountains in the world, and are known for their soaring heights, steep-sided jagged peaks, valleys, and alpine glaciers, deep river gorges, and a series of elevational belts that display different ecological associations of flora, fauna, and climate. The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas.

The Garhwal Himalayas are mountain ranges forming part of Sivalik hills in  the outer most hills of the Himalaya located in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, that stretches over about 2,400 km (1,500 mi) from the Indus River eastwards close to the Brahmaputra River, spanning the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is 10–50 km (6.2–31.1 mi) wide with an average elevation of 1,500–2,000 m (4,900–6,600 ft). Between the Teesta and Raidāk Rivers in Assam is a gap of about 90 km (56 mi). "Sivalik" literally means 'tresses of Shiva'.  Sivalik region is home to the Soanian archaeological culture.

Kausani is a hill station and Village situated in Bageshwar district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is famous for its scenic splendour and its spectacular 300 km-wide panoramic view of Himalayan peaks like Trisul, Nanda Devi and Panchchuli. It is called the Switzerland of India. 

This is just the outer layers of the beauty of the Himalayas. 

Himalaya - An Anthology Edited by Ruskin Bond & Namita Gokhale

 

" In a thousand ages of the Gods I could not tell thee of the glories of the Himalaya......" - The Puranas

An Anthology edited by Ruskin Bond and Namita Gokhale, the book is divided into:

1. Adventures
2. Meditations
3. Life

Each having short stories and essays. 

The preface is so beautifully summarised: 

For a sailor the site of the shore give joy, while for those leaving amidst mountains, it's the site of the sea. It is always what lies beyond the horizon that excites us the most. What we have grow monotonous after a point in time. 

Life in an Indian hill-station is pleasant enough, but two weeks in a remote village, at the end of a day long trek without water and electricity, one would want to be back home soon. So it is the travellers who come for adventure, who have written more about the Himalayas than those leaving there.

There are experiences of various mountain expeditions, reality of the lives in himalaya in the Sector Life.

Mountains are impersonal. You can climb a peak, but you cant possess it. They do shift. 

What it says is:

For some, the Himalaya is a frontier against which to test themselves. Others find refuge and tranquility in the mountains, a place where they can seek their selves, perhaps even God. And over millennia, the mountains have cradled civilization itself and nurtured teeming, irrepressible life.

With over fifty essays, this comprehensive volume brings together a dazzling range of voices—among others, Fa-Hien, Pundit Nain Singh, Heinrich Harrer, Fanny Parkes, Dharamvir Bharati, Arundhathi Subramaniam, Rahul Sankrityayan, Amitav Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru, Frank Smythe, Paul Brunton, Edmund Hillary, Mark Twain, Sarat Chandra Das, Dom Moraes, Manjushree Thapa—and the two editors themselves—in an unparalleled panorama.

Here you will find stories of great ascents and descents; the madness of war on the ‘world’s highest battlefield’; tales of exploratory derring-do; and a mutiny up on a mountain. A seeker has an intense spiritual experience on Mount Kailas, another among shamans on a mountaintop in Nepal; and, looking for the snow leopard in Ladakh, an author finds himself. A resident of a Sherpa village writes a heartfelt account of the aftermath of an avalanche which killed porters and climbers on Everest; and residents of Langtang record an oral history of the earthquake which wiped out their village. A matriarch describes her life and family in Almora of a bygone time; a prisoner in Dehra Dun jail draws solace from visits by birds and small animals; and the fragrance of lime makes a traveller’s night in a remote Garhwal village memorable for all time.

Edited by Ruskin Bond, India’s most-loved writer, and acclaimed novelist Namita Gokhale, this anthology spans the entire range, from the foothills to the highest peaks, and from its easternmost to its westernmost ends. Himalaya will keep you riveted.

Day-20 - Book writing & publishing

 Day-20 -  #marketing strategy - Russell Brunson - Author & co founder of Clickfunnels - FB AD library. 

(Many ways to publish thru Amazon, self publish, ebook, flipbook, Kindle, paper back edition, etc..do explore & implement by action today.

Yet another easy & effective tool / mode in Marketing of your products / services for businesses / self.

Do watch

Traffic secrets of Russell Brunson who introduced marketing as Ritual by transferring knowledge to consumers with his free books (kind of catalogue) funnel for marketing & getting customers in business.organically.

https://trafficsecrets.com/thebook-5?fbclid=IwAR1Di4pNJ4yCevCEVkorNTnMWuPU_F7oxo4GG2lwpHOaceOb3Q3gBoow77I

A book of 21 Day MagicIC

https://www.udumalai.com/21-day-magic.htm

Tips:-

To begin with write at least a book of 50 pages in your field / product / service / self journey related with your self expertise / experiences. Use chatGPT tool (நமக்கான அற்புத விளக்கு - A wonderful light for us) ChatGPT, which stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a chatbot developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT is built on top of OpenAI's GPT-3.5 family of large language models, and is fine-tuned with both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques. ChatGPT was launched as a prototype in November 2022, and quickly garnered attention for its detailed responses and articulate answers across many domains of knowledge. 

Book writing is not a big thing, can also be done in 7-8 hrs with these tools (It's all about our mindset with efforts)

Use LT (LINKED THINKING) techniques, take inspiration, relate, generate ideas and incorporate in you & your business

Even if you are in off-line business like Ayurveda shop, sweet stall, super market, etc…

Eg. If you are an Dr / Ayurveda field  think like "50 simple ways  for healthy living" , "21 Tools for Super Market stores Management" etc…

Effects:

Make customers curious by giving  with your expertise & giving knowledge tips as bonus - educate -become Authority  in your field - create &  use as marketing/ sales tool & create your own funnels with earning huge customer base with multiple revenues organically

https://trafficsecrets.com/thebook-5?fbclid=IwAR1Di4pNJ4yCevCEVkorNTnMWuPU_F7oxo4GG2lwpHOaceOb3Q3gBoow77I

1 - Wrote books as Secret series that land to the tool clickfunnels - two way marketing

2 - Book Funnel - bring in customers - get lead details organically.

3 - Understanding the importance of writing and Community building - build Authority.. 

4-People are smart yet lazy as well.

5-Add value to the market place - we are valued by what we give back .. 

6- Books - Product & self image - branding together 

7-Bring people to the sales funnel by ETHICAL BRIBES / BONUS and encourage to take them the free trial and make them  customers and then build AFFILIATE ARMY , who can be the Word of Mouth ambassadors. 

8-Linked Thinking - Life feels complete when there is a cycle of give and take. 

9-Writing books - brand story / self journey / brand Image /authority / Our book will reach where we cant 

10 . designerr.io / Flip books.

https://designrr.io

5S Concept of Organising

5S is often summarized by the philosophy “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

 5S stands for the 5 steps of this methodology: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain. These steps involve going through everything in a space, deciding what's necessary and what isn't, putting things in order, cleaning, and setting up procedures for performing these tasks on a regular basis.

5S originated as 5 Japanese words: Seiri, Seiton, Seisou, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. In English these have come to be known as:

Sort: Eliminate that which is not needed.

Straighten: Organize what remains after sorting.

Shine: Clean and inspect the work area.

Standardize: Write standards for 5S.

Sustain: Consistently apply the 5S standards.

At their core, 5S activities build the discipline needed for substantial and continuous improvement by creating (and sustaining) efficient and effective work areas.

The Sustain step assures that 5S is applied on an ongoing basis. It transforms your standardized 5S processes into regularly completed tasks.

Day-19: Digital Tools - Live stream your business events

 Day-19: Digital Tools - Live stream your business events

(Like in TV Debate talk shows conducted by News Anchor in studio with different personalities from different places at a single point source)

(Like 'Naaptol' doing business kind of live thru TV)

Tool (1): https://be.live/

Subscription charges with 14 day free trial

Features:-

Multiple Invitees - compatibility with ppt presentation - company name logos -uploading offline videos - Live streaming possibilities thru FB,INSTA,YT upto 5 medias -  audience comments in live stream - In-built widgets like countdown timer clock for limited time/period offers - Typing Texts with titles, name of guest - products link display on-screen - Screen Frame designs templates - videos download possible but not during live stream.

Tool(2) : https://streamyard.com

Features:-

Cheaper & better clarity - possibility to run recorded videos as live transmission - studio facilities - Banners Scroll running facilities - intro music at start of program - private chat option - at side by side -multiple window invitees with speaking - stick notes  - beautiful screen frames - 1080 FHD - live to Amazon - place of live stream to go can be decided - video edits after recording - Max 5 pages in a screen possible..

Few ideas of Usages

Can record & put as reels

Free demo or sell of products / services in live

Teaching & coaching with live interactions - yoga / languages / cooking / etc…

Testimony in live from previous audience

Live tour to your office / factory / lands….

Daily/weekly sessions

Week / month end sale promo offers

Think out the possibilities of using these in your business can add more interesting and values

By Content Création, Marketing, Sales angles.

Mantras

 🙏 ये 16 मंत्र  जो सीखना और बच्चों को सिखाना चाहिए,

1. Mahadev

          ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे, 

           सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ,

           उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्,

           मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् !!

2. Shri Ganesha

              वक्रतुंड महाकाय, 

              सूर्य कोटि समप्रभ 

              निर्विघ्नम कुरू मे देव,

              सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा !!

3. Shri hari Vishnu

           मङ्गलम् भगवान विष्णुः,

           मङ्गलम् गरुणध्वजः।

           मङ्गलम् पुण्डरी काक्षः,

           मङ्गलाय तनो हरिः॥

4. Shri Brahma ji

             ॐ नमस्ते परमं ब्रह्मा,

              नमस्ते परमात्ने ।

              निर्गुणाय नमस्तुभ्यं,

              सदुयाय नमो नम:।।

5. Shri Krishna

               वसुदेवसुतं देवं,

               कंसचाणूरमर्दनम्।

               देवकी परमानन्दं,

               कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम।

6. Shri Ram

              श्री रामाय रामभद्राय,

               रामचन्द्राय वेधसे ।

               रघुनाथाय नाथाय,

               सीताया पतये नमः !

7. Maa Durga

            ॐ जयंती मंगला काली,

            भद्रकाली कपालिनी ।

            दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री,

            स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु‍ते।।

8. Maa Mahalakshmi

            ॐ सर्वाबाधा विनिर्मुक्तो,

            धन धान्यः सुतान्वितः ।

            मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन,

            भविष्यति न संशयःॐ ।

9. Maa Saraswathi

            ॐ सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं,

             वरदे कामरूपिणि।

             विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि,

             सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ।।

10. Maa Mahakali

             ॐ क्रीं क्रीं क्रीं,

             हलीं ह्रीं खं स्फोटय,

             क्रीं क्रीं क्रीं फट !!

11. Hanuman ji

          मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं,

          जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठं।

          वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं,

          श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥

12. Shri Shanidev

             ॐ नीलांजनसमाभासं,

              रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम ।

              छायामार्तण्डसम्भूतं, 

              तं नमामि शनैश्चरम् ||

13. Shri Kartikeya

        ॐ शारवाना-भावाया नम:,

         ज्ञानशक्तिधरा स्कंदा ,

         वल्लीईकल्याणा सुंदरा।

          देवसेना मन: कांता,

          कार्तिकेया नामोस्तुते ।

14. Kaal Bhairav ji

          ॐ ह्रीं वां बटुकाये,

          क्षौं क्षौं आपदुद्धाराणाये,

          कुरु कुरु बटुकाये,

          ह्रीं बटुकाये स्वाहा।

15. Gayatri Mantra

            ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः,

            तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् 

            भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि 

            धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

16. Truth/Sun Mantra

hiraṇmayena pātreṇa

satyasyāpihitaṁ mukham

tat tvaṁ pūṣann apāvṛṇu

satya-dharmāya dṛṣṭaye

 🙏🙏🏻