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RANIKHET...'THE QUEEN'S MEADOWS'

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          Nestled into the breathtaking mountains of  Almora  is the small town of  Ranikhet , once the abode of Rani padmini ,wife of the katyuri ruler Raja Sudhardev  and hence the epithet. The drive from dehradun is around 340 kms ,winding through the stunning view of kumaon region of uttarakhand . Throughout my travels in uttarakhand, the pristine beauty of virgin forests and colossal mountains have never failed to amaze me and every hill station or town here boasts of its own rustic charm .                     KMVN guesthouse      In Ranikhet ,we stayed at the guest house of Kumaon mandal vikas nigam , situated at mall road next to the forest rest house. The guesthouse is aptly located ,spread over a large area in  the backdrop of thick green forests  with a mesmerizing view of the mountain peaks .One can enjoy a quiet solitude among sounds of nature with no noise...

DINDIYALI, HOMESTAY AND CAFE DEHRADUN.....TASTE OF AUTHENTIC GARHWALI CUISINE

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    I read it somewhere, no matter which part of hills you live , nearest  picnic spot is just 30 minutes near.And it holds true as we drive from dehradun towards the outskirts.   Gastronomical delights awaits as you enter this small homestay adorned with the traditional pahadi interiors and artifacts . 'Dindiyali' as the name suggests a touch of garhwali   , is tucked away in the forests of village Siron,  20kms from  dehradun .It offers the guests a glimpse of uttarakhand culture alongwith unforgettable garhwali/kumaoni cusine .                                                                                                                       ...

THE BEATLES ASHRAM IN RISHIKESH; SPIRITUAL SOJOURN OF THE 'GOLDEN BOYS'

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         BEATLES , the legendary British pop band of the early 60s found their spiritual solace in the small town of Rishikesh ,in the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh yogi built on the banks of river Ganges ,also known as 'chaurasi kutiya or 84 kutiyas' .On my usual excursion to places near dehradun, i stumbled upon this amazing historical place situated in the Rajaji tiger reserve . The structural ruins of the abandoned ashram are presently maintainted and preserved by the Forest department.The ashram can be accessed through the narrow lanes and bylanes of the town from side of Laxman jhula or via the forest chowki near AIIMs rishikesh .We chose the more scenic  forest route . When we approached the entrance of the ashram , the outer facade  did not  seem  much appealing .It is only when  ascending the  uphill path towards the ashram premises, the spectacular dome shaped meditation caves starts to perkup your curiosity  into that ...