Almora: Nature, Mountains, and a Way to Coexistence 

I could not have witnessed the magical moment, not in this manner, had I not decided to take the long-mile walk to the nearest bazaar. It was just before the twilight hour. The dense clouds had begun to part steadily, making way for the sunrays to pass through. Shafts of light fell softly on the earth, lighting up everything that lay in its direction, like the glistening rain drops on the green grass, or tiny hamlets glimmering from a distance, and the lovely Kumaoni women, whose sunlit faces radiated with smiles and laughter as they walked down the road. 

As if the mood of the entire valley had lifted all at once, the most ordinary sight had turned extraordinary. To experience a composition so brilliant–of rolling hills, rivers, birds, flowers and trees endemic to this part of Kumaon Himalayas–it could not have been any less surreal for my mind and soul. 

Of all the valleys and mountains I have traveled to, Almora never appeared on my list of places to visit. It was always the stark landscapes of Ladakh, Spiti, and Zanskar that allured me. Those barren mountains, icy-cold rivers, and sparse flora enamored me with their strange beauty and solitary characteristic, time and time again. 

But who knew that my trip to Almora would become one of the most memorable journeys I have taken so far? Certainly, I could not have envisaged. When you leave a place with a feeling of incompleteness, not like a lack or an absence of anything, but a sense of unfulfilled business, as if there is more to explore, you understand the place has yet to offer–plenty of places to see and things to discover. 

In a place like this, one escapes from the chaos and commotion of daily life to slow down, feel the quietude, experience the stillness, and observe its pure wilderness. You become privy to the Mother Nature that is abundant and pulsating with life at the most microscopic level. There is a sacred ecosystem, constantly at work, that brings together the diverse fauna, flora, and the humankind into a beautiful coexistence. 

Unexpectedly, Almora became one of our most memorable retreats. Each morning, we woke up to the pristine air and tranquil surroundings, and spent our days in a leisurely manner sipping hot cups of tea over long conversations, taking walks, and listening quietly to the melodious bird songs. And who could have missed the verdant valleys far away, with white houses dotting the panorama that made for such a delightful sight!

Nestled amid tall deodars, blooming hydrangeas and myriad flowers, Almora was spectacularly a healing abode for the days we stayed. Along the way, the people of this valley never failed to give us their cheerful smiles and warm-hearted greetings, every time we met. And just when I thought this quaint town could not be any more charming, the monsoons arrived to dramatically change the scenery, slowly metamorphosing it into an enchanting land. With the occasional drizzles, mists in the air, and clouds almost descending onto the earth, the scenery turned even more dreamy and romantic! 

If you visit Almora someday, then you must take your days slowly. The place demands an unhurried approach to the way you travel, mindfully and meaningfully. For us, there were no fixed itineraries and tourist spots to cover. We were content with the spontaneity that came along and simply went with the flow. All we had to do was unwind, give ourselves the space to reconnect with nature, savor the tiny moments, take in the fresh air, and breathe deeply.

There are only a few times and few places that will give you such beautiful, immersive experiences. Of all my Himalayan sojourns, I have felt such calming energy only one other time–when I took a road trip to Ladakh. The ever-changing landscapes, snow-capped peaks, wide stretches of land with no sight of civilization for miles and miles, left me with a deep, meditative experience.
In that moment of time and space, it was just me and my mountains, and everything else, every noise simply faded away. 

And after more than decade, I once again got a chance–this time in Almora–to relive and reconnect at a deeper level, with the Mother Nature and with the inner self. 

I could only be grateful!

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