M and me are both travel freaks. in the bargain, we have a lot of undiluted fun too. and sometimes, the extent we go to, to have fun i.e., is 16,000 ft above sea level.
after stepping off the bus at uttarkashi in uttaranchal, we had no clue where we were headed to next. aimless, as always. that's when our local help said he could take us to nachiketa tal. he warned us that we would have to trek for close to 3 hours through steep forests and hills. we could have hugged him!
trek we did, and on the way, plucked as many himalayan white flowers as we could carry. armloads of flowers, the trek up the picturesque mountain was heady. this is what fresh air feels like, i thought.
after nearly two and half hours, we reached a clearing from where we could spot a water body...the nachiketa tal (= lake). and by the lake was a tiny hut, just enough for one person.
just as were wondering if anyone inhabited the hut, we saw a sadhu emerging from another side of the forest. long grey beard, bushy hair, faded saffron robe, and wooden footwear. our local help said the sadhu hadn't uttered a word in decades. he lived in this hut, away from any signs of civilization, and went into the woods once in while in search of food.
M and me sat by the lake, which was filled with medium-sized black fish, that would come to the tip of our feet and nibble at them. as i sat on the stone steps of the lake, i looked at my reflection in the lake. that's when i knew that i felt no fear here. of being alone, away from human beings, amidst nature at its most pristine self.
nachiketa.does anyone know the meaning?
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