My Recent Road Journey ( 985 km) – Delhi – Bareilly – Ranikhet – Nainital - Delhi - Part 4

Day Four – Ranikhet (Bhalu Dam Trek and Holm Farm Heritage)

Bhalu Dam from Google earth

 Our Bhalu Dam trek which got postponed yesterday was planned today. Me and my son left for the trek at 0830. It is a dam constructed by British in  for supplying water to Ranikhet garrison. It is about three km (or little more) trek from Chaubatia Fruit Garden through thick forest of Pine and Dev dar. 

Moterable Trail

                                                                 Carpet of Flowers

                          

                                                                     Bhalu Dam

                                                                     Lake Behind the Dam

Dense Forest

Gum Extraction

Stone Hut - Almost Midway

Return journey was tough. The footpath now was leading up. A steep fall had now become a steep climb. To me, though fit but not acclimatized and all of 53, I admit that it was tough. But anyway with one or two rests we returned home by 1030 hrs. 
 

Return Leg of the Trek

 On return when we looked at trek recording app on mobile, we realized that we had covered about 5.8 km.  The reason for me to get tired also became clear, the altitude change in about 3 km travel was 375 m. it was obviously tough change of altitude. Another similar altitude that I had faced was some 13 years ago between Govind dham to Hemkund Saheb in Garhwal Himaliyas (1 km altitude change for a 6 km walk) when I has only 41 years of age. In all it was a lovely though tiring experience.

Post lunch we decided to go to Holm Farm Heritage (hotel) for a visit. After driving through Ranikhet town we came to a detour on the right of the road. It was a concrete road capable of taking one vehicle at a time or so it looked to me, leading down.   After a drive of about two km through winding road with a doubt emerging every few minutes as to if something exists at the end of this road, we reached a beautiful bungalow overlooking beautiful Himalayas.

The Bungalow

Another View

What a beautiful and refreshing sight it was. The owner stays in a cottage, belongs to a freedom fighter family. The bungalow was built in 1869.

Dinning Hall

Dinning Hall

Old Kerosine lamp

Piano & Fire Place

 It still has old brass tumbler switches, old kerosene lamps, original wall paper in dinning hall, original piano which does not work now, stately rooms and a beautiful garden, tennis court, etc. Excellent place for groups / families or loners or love birds. We roamed around the property, enjoyed it, the staff was very hospitable forthcoming with information about the property.

Laila the Dog

  We also played with a cute mixed dog of one year called Laila. We also had a cup of well made ginger tea.  

Blossom

Mighty Himaliyas

Post tea we returned back to our accommodation by about 1700 and rested for the day.

My Recent Road Journey ( 985 km) – Delhi – Bareilly – Ranikhet – Nainital - Delhi PART 3

Day Three – Ranikhet Town

Originally, our plan for day three was to go on trek to Bhalu Dam in the morning session. The cold weather had resulted in slight health problem for our son. So that plan had to be shifted to the next day. 

Hence it was decided to use they for sight seeing at Ranikhet. Our first site was famous Shakti Peeth Jhula Devi Temple. A temple adored by thousands of brass bells. It is believed that all the boons sought from Jhula Devi are granted. All those devotees whose boons were granted come back for Darshans and tie one bell into the temple.



Jhuladevi temple Entrance


Temple Complex Full of Bells

We left at about 1030 for Ranikhet town to explore feasibility of repairs to Power Steering. The Maruti dealership in the town was of no help. Then a local mechanic referred us to another mechanic near state roadways bus stand, who agreed to reconnect the pipe.

He did a good job with a Jugad (wire locking of the pipe since he did not have the necessary clamp to fit). I found him to be a helpful person who was ready to try to do his best. After which, we went to Gandhi Chouk and parked the car. This is where I got the necessary fluid (Automatic Transmission Fluid or ATF) and refilled the system. It was of not much use though the steering marginally improved but it was of not much use. It was evident that the pump is gone.

After this effort we roamed around the Gandhi chouk ( a half a km stretch that is main bazaar of Ranikhet). Bought Bal Mithai and Chocolate (Bal Mitahi without sugar balls) from Pandey Sweet Shop at Gandhi Chouk (we were told it is the best place for Bal Mithai in Ranikhet). Had our lunch at Prasad Veg Restaurant in (obviously) Gandhi Chouk. Lunch was testy and hot. We recommend this place.

Post lunch we visited Kumaon Regimental Center’s Woolen Factory and Shop (on the main road between Gandhi Chouk and GPO (which is as one hits Ranikhet from Bhowali). It was an education to see scores of Hand looms and hand loom weavers at their work creating various types of woolens, Shawls, Dress material, Tweeds, etc. 



Tweed Weaving on Hand Loom



Shawl Weaving on Handloom



Rows of handlooms

Had never seen a handloom working before this visit. This is the first time I understood meaning of Taana (the vertical or longitudinal strands of the thread in a cloth) and Baana (the across component of threads of the weave of the cloth). 



Weaving by War Widows, etc

We bought a Tweed kind of Coat piece (3.5 m) for just Rs 1140/- and also Hill Honey. This shop closes for lunch (I think at 1300 hrs and opens at 1430 Hrs). It is a must visit place. See it for yourself and buy something if you like it. It also is a way to encourage War Widows of Kumaon Regiment soldiers who are the main people employed for weaving. 

Next stop was Kumaon Regimental Centre (KRC) Museum. A beautiful museum depicting history, velour and progress of this regiment raised in 1817. Everything is well preserved. 



KRC Museum

The curator of the museum explains everything to the visitors. The recommended plan of action for the museum is to first go with the curator and listen to him and then see the museum yet again at leisure. I must admit that we did only the first part but visiting at leisure is also important and should not be skipped. Museum closes from 1300 to 1500 hrs for lunch and is closed on Tuesday due to weekly holiday. Photography is not alowed, not even cell phones are allowed. 

By the time we finished with the museum, it was already 1630. We returned home post our visit.