Tucked Away in Tirthan - Part 5 by Mandvi

River Run

After a hearty breakfast of delicious Siddu drowned in homemade ghee we venture down the mountain to the river. The valley below is overrun with resorts and homestays.

We find a deserted stretch where the river cascades over boulders, shimmies into little quiet pools to catch its breath before rushing off again.

River birds dart around as we chill our feet and drink in the icy water. Bliss! Later from a hippy café where we had lunch, we see the sky turn slate grey behind a rugged golden mountainside. Colourful houses at its base make a striking contrast.

A brief shower that follows, brings welcome relief from the unusually high temperatures for spring season but it doesn’t douse out the forest fires on the slopes above.

Stephen, our host at the homestay, has been telling us of the combustible mix of superstition and greed that leads to these fires.

The evenings here have been spent ambling down the road leading to the village. The dusty haze has settled with the afternoon shower and there is a nip in the air.

Now that the last bus has thundered back, the road is deserted. A woman walking home offers a cup of tea and I regretfully decline as I try to chase some birds in the dying light. The golden roof of the Shringa Rishi Temple glints in the last rays.

In a clearing below a wooden shrine sits next to flowering rhododendrons.

The mountains are silhouetted against an ombre sky. Then as if a switch has been thrown the lights across the valley come on.

The night light show is live! It can be magical when man and nature come together in harmony.

To be continued…………