This bed is sooooooo good. It has a great blanket, clean sheets, soft pillows, sprung but comfortable bed. I recommend the Hotel Uttarkhand. Great views back across the Himalaya, the rooms and staff are great. Clouds have come across the range and are floating halfway up the mountains. Snow might be in the air. The Garden restaurant attached to the hotel charges exorbitantly which is not unusual for hotel restaurants but is probably the biggest down negative, but the italian coffee is great, nice and strong and 90 rup for a pot which is four espresso cups. Whilst at the restaurant Aris our waiter invites us up to a bamboo hut raised above the restaurant where a telescope allows us to inspect the mountains. It is quite good, but we thought free, nope 30rup when we hit the till on the way out.
Head first to the central mall and bump into Keith (UK) and Sidorne (Swiss) who are also at the same hotel and whom we met last night when they were checking in. Keith it turns out has been cycle touring for the past six months on a trip starting from europe down through Turkey and across central asia, pakistan and then onto Delhi. Taking a break post a wrist injury which came about due to an unexpected altercation with a tuk tuk in Pakistan. He had covered 10,500 km during this time.
Post comparing stories, we walk down via a locals path to the tea gardens back down on the Baijnath road. The road however switches all the way up the hill versus the path which cuts a straight but steeper descent.
When we rock up at what is signposted the tea garden two local men nod their heads when we point down a path leading to the tea plants below where the tea garden sign is also pointing. However when we walk down the path it just deposits us in the middle of a tea plantation and does not appear to lead anywhere else. Tea plants are kind of verdant and bushy but that is where the excitement ceases. The sign was technically correct, I guess.
On the same road we pop into the Kasauni Shawl factory, where we are given a hands on review of the factory. Not a sweat shop but for the work, the prices are miniscule. Still beautiful view back across the valley and open, light and airy for a factory, but more of a workshop than a factory.
We stick with the road on the way up through the firs, easier when not pulling luggage. Take another local shortcut which spits us out on the ridge above the town, it is all scenic until just past a short stream I think we pass what is one very pretty open air loo. The path down into town takes us onto some stairs that lead past the Ashram and senior girls public school. A small group of beautifully uniformed girls out in the sun with a teacher and a blackboard. The fresh air and sun looks like a great place to learn but I would really struggle to stay focused I think. The girls all hello as we pass and the teacher beams a smile.
Chai at a small place beside a grocer. Good choice because the freshness of the Ginger in the chai is self evident. Then down some stairs where I am invited to play a game that faintly resembles snooker or pool.
Called Caram Bold it is a game involving discs the size of a 20cent piece and made out of in this case plastic. Players sit opposite and have either eight white or black discs to try and pot in the four corner pockets. There is also one red disc that I believe has to be potted prior to the players last color otherwise the disc is placed back in the centre of the table. Instead of a cue ball you have a slightly larger disc, which in this case was decorated with a peacock. The discs are sunk by flicking what I will term the cue disc into your color discs and trying to get them into the pockets.
Once flicked the turn swaps to your competition unless you are successful in poting one of your color in which case you get another turn. The cue disc is placed within a marked area running parallel to the players side and pretty much the full length of the board. You can only shoot forwards. Before sitting down I asked whether the game was for money and I am glad I did as I was demolished by my smiling teacher and opponent. We sit and watch two more games before tracking down a cyber cafe which is the most expensive that we have used yet. In Kausani an Indian tourist town you are money on legs.
We decide to try one of the dhabas down on mall rd versus paying the restaurant more than we have for our accommodation. We find the Yogi 100% veg restaurant and order dhal mahkni, rajana masala, kheer and naan. The food is fantastic. Rajana which is a bean based masala versus chana which is chickpea stands out.
Back to the hotel via the back path which is quite dark even with a near full moon past the hotel staff who are camped around a small pot fire outside in the very fresh air. Comfy bed here I come.
View photo gallery with all photos of this area.
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
Head first to the central mall and bump into Keith (UK) and Sidorne (Swiss) who are also at the same hotel and whom we met last night when they were checking in. Keith it turns out has been cycle touring for the past six months on a trip starting from europe down through Turkey and across central asia, pakistan and then onto Delhi. Taking a break post a wrist injury which came about due to an unexpected altercation with a tuk tuk in Pakistan. He had covered 10,500 km during this time.
Post comparing stories, we walk down via a locals path to the tea gardens back down on the Baijnath road. The road however switches all the way up the hill versus the path which cuts a straight but steeper descent.
When we rock up at what is signposted the tea garden two local men nod their heads when we point down a path leading to the tea plants below where the tea garden sign is also pointing. However when we walk down the path it just deposits us in the middle of a tea plantation and does not appear to lead anywhere else. Tea plants are kind of verdant and bushy but that is where the excitement ceases. The sign was technically correct, I guess.
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
On the same road we pop into the Kasauni Shawl factory, where we are given a hands on review of the factory. Not a sweat shop but for the work, the prices are miniscule. Still beautiful view back across the valley and open, light and airy for a factory, but more of a workshop than a factory.
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
We stick with the road on the way up through the firs, easier when not pulling luggage. Take another local shortcut which spits us out on the ridge above the town, it is all scenic until just past a short stream I think we pass what is one very pretty open air loo. The path down into town takes us onto some stairs that lead past the Ashram and senior girls public school. A small group of beautifully uniformed girls out in the sun with a teacher and a blackboard. The fresh air and sun looks like a great place to learn but I would really struggle to stay focused I think. The girls all hello as we pass and the teacher beams a smile.
Chai at a small place beside a grocer. Good choice because the freshness of the Ginger in the chai is self evident. Then down some stairs where I am invited to play a game that faintly resembles snooker or pool.
Called Caram Bold it is a game involving discs the size of a 20cent piece and made out of in this case plastic. Players sit opposite and have either eight white or black discs to try and pot in the four corner pockets. There is also one red disc that I believe has to be potted prior to the players last color otherwise the disc is placed back in the centre of the table. Instead of a cue ball you have a slightly larger disc, which in this case was decorated with a peacock. The discs are sunk by flicking what I will term the cue disc into your color discs and trying to get them into the pockets.
 |
| From India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |
Once flicked the turn swaps to your competition unless you are successful in poting one of your color in which case you get another turn. The cue disc is placed within a marked area running parallel to the players side and pretty much the full length of the board. You can only shoot forwards. Before sitting down I asked whether the game was for money and I am glad I did as I was demolished by my smiling teacher and opponent. We sit and watch two more games before tracking down a cyber cafe which is the most expensive that we have used yet. In Kausani an Indian tourist town you are money on legs.
We decide to try one of the dhabas down on mall rd versus paying the restaurant more than we have for our accommodation. We find the Yogi 100% veg restaurant and order dhal mahkni, rajana masala, kheer and naan. The food is fantastic. Rajana which is a bean based masala versus chana which is chickpea stands out.
Back to the hotel via the back path which is quite dark even with a near full moon past the hotel staff who are camped around a small pot fire outside in the very fresh air. Comfy bed here I come.
View photo gallery with all photos of this area.
 |
| India, Gwaldam to Kasauni. December 2010 |