Sometimes for my job, I get to travel to different places across India with university programs. For about three weeks, I’ve found myself in Bhimtal India.
Bhimtal is this smaller city in the state of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand used to be two rival kingdoms of Kumaon and Garhwal. The rivalry was so strong that Kumaon used to celebrate a festival by burning an effigy of a Garhwali ruler! While the rivalry is still present, the fact that the two are now one state may have eased tension a bit.
Uttarakhand is a beautiful state. The district that I am in, Nanital District, is known for the lakes in the area. (“Tal” means lake). As someone who grew up on a lake in the middle of a state forest in Wisconsin, I find myself feeling at ease as I stroll to work every morning.
However, one cannot ignore the mountains looming above. Their foreign presence makes me feel a bit small and in awe whenever I look up from the bumpy road and see the clouds scrape the tops of the trees on the mountains.
Where I stay isn’t bad either- in fact it feels like a paradise! I’ve been graciously offered a separate space in a house owned by a retired Brigadier – who is the kind of man who salutes you as you come and go- and his wife. The both of them are big into homeopathy and natural food as a medicine. They are looking fantastic in their age – so something is working!
Their house is on the lakefront and a few minutes walk away from the upper lake (or Mallital) market. Waking up everyday to the site of the lake and mountains has been one of the most refreshing things in a while.
I adore Delhi and Varanasi, but there is something great about staying for a while in a new location with a landscape!
Stay tuned for more updates from this little lake town!
