Mukteshwar Times

This July 16, 2009 we in the hills will be celebrating the Harela festival – to mark harvesting time. Apple, peaches and apricot plantations are ready to be harvested. All the villagers will bathe, wear clean cloths and get together at the temple of the local deity to pray and thank God for a good harvest. They will make an offering of maize or wheat that they have grown in their homes, especially for this festival, in the past 11-22 days. The village community will cook food and have lunch together at the temple.

Manoj

Motorbiking in the Himalayas - April 2009

Spring is here and the spirit is restless. Perhaps it is time for another biking trip. With cool breeze on my face, lush green mountains in view and the famous Hindi song "Suhana safar aur yea mausam haseen..." by Mukesh on my lips, I want to get on my bike to explore what the passing winter has left behind... this April! Starting from Mukteshwar, my home, to Wan, Bedni Bugyal, returning home via old temple town of Jaageshwar. The thought of awaiting adventure, gets my blood racing. Got to pack!

Best

Manoj

international mountain day

International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world's mountains and highlands.
It was the UN General Assembly who designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'.

Motorbiking in the Himalayas, 2007

"The beat of my Enfield Bullet reverberated through the mountains as we drove through the mist from Mukteshwar to Wan, the last stop for motorbikers. Beyond this point we started to trek Bedni Bugyal. One of the highest Alpine meadows in Uttaranchal."
Manoj Mehra, 2007.

Manoj

New Year in the Himalayas

December 25 - 31, 2008


Come December we are planning a 'yoga holiday' in the Himalayas, just in time to ring in the new year!
Here's my blueprint:
We start by unwinding ourselves in Mukteshwar on December 25. My friend Monica Chand, a yoga exponent, has promised to take time off from Studio Abhyas in Delhi, to conduct special yoga sessions designed to de-stress and rejuvenate us daily through the holiday. In Mukteshwar, we use rest of our time to explore the serene beauty of the mountains, take long nature walks. Rock climbing and rappelling near the famous 'rock jaali' in Mukteshwar could be other alternatives. Next day we could go on a trek through dense Oak forest to the ancient 8th century Shiva temple in Kapileshwar. Trek to Almora on way to Jaageshwar is on next day. We stay in Jaageshwar for following four days. Besides the regular yoga sessions, we have an opportunity to explore the mountains around and also go sight-seeing. The ancient 10th century old Shiva temples here are a delight to visit. After a brush with history, the new year's eve sees us back in Mukteshwar to welcome the dawn of the new year in the Himalayas!
Manoj Mehra, Mukteshwar.

Copyright Manoj Mehra, 2008. All rights reserved.

New Year in the Himalayas

Here's the blueprint:We start by unwinding ourselves in Mukteshwar on December 25. My friend Monica Chand, a yoga exponent, has promised to take time off from Studio Abhyas in Delhi, to conduct special yoga sessions designed to de-stress and rejuvenate us daily through the holiday. In Mukteshwar, we use rest of our time to explore the serene beauty of the mountains, take long nature walks. Rock climbing and rappelling near the famous 'rock jaali' in Mukteshwar could be other alternatives. Next day we could go on a trek through dense Oak forest to the ancient 8th century Shiva temple in Kapileshwar. Trek to Almora on way to Jaageshwar is on next day. We stay in Jaageshwar for following four days. Besides the regular yoga sessions, we have an opportunity to explore the mountains around and also go sight-seeing. The ancient 10th century old Shiva temples here are a delight to visit. After a brush with history, the new year's eve sees us back in Mukteshwar to welcome the dawn of the new year in the Himalayas.

New Year in the Himalayas

December 25 – 31, 2008

I 'm planning a week-long rejuvenating 'yoga holiday' to usher in the new year.

Here's the blueprint:

We start by unwinding ourselves in Mukteshwar on December 25.

My friend Monica Chand, a yoga exponent, has promised to take time off from Studio Abhyas in Delhi, to conduct special yoga sessions designed to de-stress and rejuvenate us daily through the holiday.

In Mukteshwar, we use rest of our time to explore the serene beauty of the mountains, take long nature walks. Rock climbing and rappelling near the famous 'rock jaali' in Mukteshwar could be other alternatives.

Next day we could go on a trek through dense Oak forest to the ancient 8th century Shiva temple in Kapileshwar.

Trek to Almora on way to Jaageshwar is on next day. We stay in Jaageshwar for following four days. Besides the regular yoga sessions, we have an opportunity to explore the mountains around and also go sight-seeing. The ancient 10th century old Shiva temples here are a delight to visit.

After a brush with history, the new year's eve sees us back in Mukteshwar to welcome the dawn of the new year in the Himalayas.

You are welcome to join us!!

Manoj Mehra, Mukteshwar