Continued from Day 2 after trip to Kilbury Forest.
It poured as returned from Kilbury. The roads started to get jam-packed because of two reasons. One rains, and two the last day of Naina Devi Mela. The plan for more local sightseeing had to be canceled. Suddenly God made her presence felt. Nanda Devi Shobha Yatra (procession) crossed our hotel. It was the last day of the Nanda Devi festival before idol immersion in late evening. The energy, the enthusiasm and love of devotees was worth watching as they pulled the rath (chariot) of Naina Devi Maa across the steep lanes amid continuous drizzle.
Devotees swayed singing folk songs and praises
for Devi Maa. Prasad was generously distributed to everyone on the streets.
Each year the festival is celebrated with much pomp & flare and Devi Maa is
given a warm farewell, promising to celebrate next year again.
As rain halted, we sneaked out on Mall road looking for something unique to eat. We enjoyed tea and soya momos. (Veg for a change. Husband please take note of this!). It drizzled again as we took shelter in a tea stall.
As rain halted, we sneaked out on Mall road looking for something unique to eat. We enjoyed tea and soya momos. (Veg for a change. Husband please take note of this!). It drizzled again as we took shelter in a tea stall.
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| Spotted this attractive blue house on the street from the restaurant |
We rushed back to our hotel and stayed in till dinner time. Special mention of Hotel Treebo Cloud 7 for the things they have in their rooms for guests. Super cool !!
As soon as we stepped out around seven it started pouring again, adding to our worries for next day. It was indeed very sweet of the hotel manager to lend us his umbrella for the evening. We headed to China Town restaurant for dinner. The place is usually crowded with a queue in waiting always. The love for momos took husband there and we had a big meal at very economical price.
As soon as we stepped out around seven it started pouring again, adding to our worries for next day. It was indeed very sweet of the hotel manager to lend us his umbrella for the evening. We headed to China Town restaurant for dinner. The place is usually crowded with a queue in waiting always. The love for momos took husband there and we had a big meal at very economical price.
Don’t expect hygiene, nice ambiance or quick
service in the overtly crowded eating joint. Looks like a shabby canteen where
people huddle like chickens in coop. I found the food average, just like any
eating joint serving Chinese. Half my appetite died looking at the poor
sanitation. Back of my mind, I prayed we don’t get an upset stomach.
Shops in Nainital shut as early at 8 pm.
Streets start to bear the deserted look by 9 pm. Our plan of buying an umbrella
was shattered hence. We were worried for next day which we had scheduled for
Bhimtal and Naukuchitaal. How will we carry our expensive camera? The thought
was killing us!
Being in the travel industry and having a
travel freak wife (yay), husband strategizes holiday very well. So we had premeditated
the next day in sequence- a boat ride early morning, breakfast on hotel
terrace, check out at eleven, visit the nearby places whole day and board Delhi
bound volvo from Haldwani in evening. The success of the arrangement was
totally in the hands of Rain God.
Stay tuned for Day 3...
P.s - This trip was in September 2016
By the way this post made it to the top blog of the day on Indiblogger home page
