Let's Go Wanderers

Event: Trip to Kalsi

Little known Kalsi slumbers on the banks of the writhing Yamuna. Once an important little township in the region (the two parganas which were once a part of Sirmour which were annexed to the British Empire after the expulsion of the conquering Gurkhas), it deteriorated eventually into a decrepit little village. In earlier days the region has seen the invasion of Timur in 1398 and in the 3rd century BC it marked one of the furthest limits of the dominion of King Ashoka amongst the Himalayan foothills. Today this tiny hamlet shoulders its historic lineage with quiet ease.

This gorgeous tract of land, enriched and nourished by the waters of the Asan River, and the confluence of the Yamuna River and the Tons at Kalsi, offers some of the finest landscapes of the Doon Valley. Bounded by the summits of the densely wooded hills of Chakrata, this picturesque plateau offers visitors the pleasures of hill living without its discomforts.

Situated as it is in the cleft of the hill states of Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh, Kalsi is a divine location for enjoying this gorgeous slice of the Doon. It's also the perfect base for forays into the Chakrata and Mussoorie Hills. The prefect scenery invites long drives and leisurely picnics by the riverside and for the more active there's river rafting (for the first time on offer on the Yamuna) and angling for mahseer, and hikes and treks in the surrounding hills for all age groups.

Walks
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An incredibly charming and easy walking trail (about 3.5 km) runs along the ashram road all the way to Katta Pathar Village, where the Yamuna first bursts out of the mountains.

To your left are the glorious 180 degree panoramas of the Chakrata Hills embellished at their base by the patchwork quilt of cultivated fields edging the banks of the turbulent Yamuna River.

The river may be a muddy brown when it rains, but it's a glorious aqua, clear as crystal, when the monsoons are banished. River crossings in the shallows are then most rewarding for anglers who can find a secluded spot to lure mahseer, which abound in these waters.

Drives and Picnics
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Widen your explorations of this side of the Doon's landscape with driving, tours and picnic out of Kalsi. The drive to the Asan Barrage last the power house (a true engineering marvel as the water of the Tons is channeled through a tunnel cut through the hills) and Dak Pathar further on will enchant you with their waterways and birding opportunities. You can stop at Paonta for darshan at the temple, by crossing the sturdy bridge over the Yamuna, after the Asan Barrage. The return drive to Kalsi via the serene and verdant Timli Pass (through which columns of British soldiers once moved to assist Major General Ochterlony in his retaliations against Gurkha general Amar Singh Thapa's army) is a delight.

For the History Buff
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Pencil in a tryst with history in your crowded agenda for enjoying nature's bounty at Kalsi. Cross the new iron bridge over the Yamuna to Haripur (see the handsome carved stone piers of the old cantilever bridge, a magnificent example of engineering expertise, on your right) and the Kalsi bazaar where a rocky path leads down to the celebrated Ashokan Rock Edict.

Housed within a brick structure (created in the early 20th century to protect it from vandals) is the 2000-year rock edict of the Emperor Ashoka, discovered by an Englishman one Mr Forrest in the year 1860. When first discovered the rock was covered with the grime of ages. Once this film of moss was cleaned the surface emerged almost marble white.

The Kalsi edict appears to be in fine condition in comparison to other Ashoka edicts that have been discovered. The 10-ft high and long and 8-ft wide pear shaped quartz boulder inscribed with the edicts of King Ashoka, is the third of fourteen scattered in the outer reaches of the dominion of the emperor's kingdom in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and several cities in Pakistan.

posted by Sanjukta @ 6:09 AM