Naini Gaon
Gitanjali
I am writing from a place called Naini Gaon, 9 Kilometres from
Ranikhet, on the Ranikhet-Almora road. I am getting a spectacular view
of the Himalayas straight ahead and the Naini valley below.
Its good to see that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
are making their way into the interiors of Kumaon. I have a BSNL
internet connection here and the connectivity is pretty good.
Yesterday we drove down to the government owned apple orchards called
"Chaubatia Gardens". The way to the gardens is through a thick jungle
where leopards and panthers have "the right of way". The walk around
the orchards was absolutely refreshing; it is a sprawling orchard.
Located within the gardens is a research centre for fruits. However,
our trip to the shop at the Orchard's fruit shop was most worrying.
Though the apple season has just started, the quality of apples
offered were the size of golf balls and some no bigger than marbles-
the big and the juicy ones are packed off for the VIPs (we were
told!).
On our way back we stopped by at a Goddess Durga temple called Jhula
Devi. Legend says that the temple was built by the local villagers 700
years back to protect their children, cows and crops from Leopards,
Tigers and other wild animals. As one enters the temple one can see
hundreds of bells of different shapes and sizes. People normally offer
bells to the goddess.
I will upload the pictures on the page on my return to Delhi.
Best,
Gitanjali