Nag Tibba

 *Nag Tibba* 

We reached Patwari from where we had to take a tempo upto the campsite along quite a rickety road ..so in we got into the back ( trying to emulate Bpllywood movies :p) and Bjorn,- Irams golden retriver clambered in behind us drooling all over the place .. The kids ran close on our heels until we took them in as well ... so we took the bone-rattling ride upto the campsite along the winding hill roads with the breath taking views .. and Bjorn's strong hairy tail literally wagging in our faces ...and we all felt quite adventurous .. kids were also quite thrilled by the ride

The colourful tents pitched on the hill top cheered us up greatly n then we sat around sipping tea chatting and watching the beautiful sunset ...the kids playing fetch with Bjorn and he entertaining them tirelessly ..he was so adorable and energetic  and a remarkably well behaved dog ! 

As night fell and the dark skies came alive with the shimmering stars - the stat gazing sessions started. .I lay on the cold grass straight on my back to look up at the night sky ..and fell into a trance .. I gasped as i realized I was witnessing the milky way stretched across ... the whole sky shimmered with millions of tiny lights .. and meteor showers took us by surprise and drew "Oohs" and "Aahs," from the expectant crowd 

The kids had a great time roasting marshmallows on the bonfire after dinner with Rudra and Rehaan treating the whole camp to yummy gooey marshmallows ! 

Aekansh asked an interesting q - why is bonfire called as such ..so i googled it ..n we discovered ..that the early human would light animal bones on fire and hence it was a "bone - fire "

We had to wake up at 2 am for the night trek and hence I asked Aekansh to sleep at 10.30 pm or so ..he was adamant he would stay awake the whole night as he was enjoying the night air and the warmth of bonfire ...but I convinced him. it ws still 5 hours till we start for the trek so he better sleep. 

He agreed reluctantly but fell asleep almost instantly. 

We were both so cozy in our tents with Sakshi and Anaya for company ..at exactly 2 am- the local guides woke us all up with their loud bellowing- It was soo difficult to crawl out of the sleeping bags but i was amazed at the enthusiasm and grit of Rehaan rudra and Anaya who were all geared up .when I woke up aekansh he woke up whining- "5 ghante itni jaldi kaise ho gaye Mumma ! "

 I  started having a small doubt about the trek as Aekansh was the youngest of the lot ...so I asked him gingerly if he was game for this 3.5 hour long moderate level trek ...n he nodded ever so slightly ...my brave boy 

So with torches in our hands directing our feet over the rocky uneven path we set off - 3 adults and 3 kids with Adi bhaiiya our shy local guide - and I couldnt believe how much i was enjoying this ...the solitude of the night , the dense foliage,  coupled with the crisp night breeze and  the soft shuffling of determined feet ..and we would be treated to a dazzling glimpse of the night sky every now and then between the foliage ..the sight  would transport us to wonderful lands ...

Theres an incredible bonding and camaraderie that can only happen on such treks and we were enjoying our stories too ... 

Soon a pitch black mountain dog joined us and started walking with us and we discovered she was pregnant and we christened her as " Bhairavi" ...her presence was so reassuring and Aekansh kept his palm on her slightly and walked alongside her leading the pack ..he walked with such ease and determination with not one word of complaint.. in fact in utter silence ...

at such times I find myself in awe of this little man 

As we arrived at the Nag Devta temple we could hear Dhol and a flute playing softly at 5 in the morning and it was such a harmonious sound not disturbing the peace of the forest but adding to the frangrance of the moment 

 We stopped and Aadi Bhaiiya built a bonfire and we all crouched around it ...waiting for the sunrise 

..

that moment was one of those pristine memorable ones ..the combined exhileration and exhaustion of completing the trek in the dead of  night ( the first night trek for me) with small kids in tow ..the enchantment  of the forest and the night sky ..and now the splendor of the first suns rays breaking through and lending an orange glow to the dark blue skies ...we said goodbye to the glorious stars with a heavy heart and welcomed the warmth of the sun ... It was one of those rare moments that get etched in on the minds eye 

The Nag Devta was a deity etched in stone ..this temple has been as old as the trees . it was like our pilgrimage had come to an end as we bowed before the powerful presence 

We started the walk back and if Aekansh had led the pack on the way up he was almost doing a Dandi March on the way down- laathi in hand .. so much so that we could hardly catch up with him.

at one point i had to run behind him.and he looked so angry and cross I thought he wasnt well or somethin, - Rudra tried to hold him and stop him physically but he pushed him.off with his stick ..almost grunting in exasperation ..! 

Finally he turned aroud.- and said loud and clear -  ,"Mumma I have to poop ! " he looked so.miserable poor guy 

lol...so that was the reason for his agonized rush ..I told him to get behind a tree and do the needful ..and Rudra Rehaan did their own bit of cheering him on too that he would just be providing fertilizer for the trees 

.lol...love the innocent banter of children

 

So he did and thankfully I had wipes ..he insisted we dig up the earth and dispose of it .. which i found so amusing 

..

He was a lot more cheerful and relaxed the rest of the way ..haha 

Another treat was meeting a herd of goats on the hill while on the way back with their little ones bleating so cutely and clinging onto their mothers- famished for milk 

.. this place was also called the Goat village for obvious reasons

Kids had a great time observing their little antics and frolicking alongside them 

As I watched them -the song - "The Hills are alive with the sound of Music " played in my heart and I imagined I had a bit of " Maria " inside of me :))