The Happiness Place

I boarded a taxi from Kathgodam to Nainital. The hilly road is a perfect candy for eyes. My eyes could breath the trees and mountain en route. The plan was to visit Jim Corbett national park from nainital. After 3 hours of drive, I reached Nainital. A small town of about 5000 people.

As I got down from the taxi and headed to tallital, where I had booked my hotel I saw on my left  the grand Naini lake.

At around 7000 ft above sea level, the lake is a mystery. I couldn't believe the beauty nature has bestowed on this place. Calm, serene and infinite, the lake was so placid and cool, I just got lost in the study water of the lake.

I was actually tired, was travelling the night before from Haridwar (10 hrs journey). But, the placid lake and the cool weather of Nainintal just stripped off my tiredness, I was bubbling with energy and had decided will do boating in the lake for sure.

I reached my hotel, got freshened up and headed back to market. I was actually hungry and to my great surprise I found 'Chocolate Room' in Nainital. I ordered coffee and cheese sandwich, the interior of chocolate room was nicely decorated. As soon as I entered the store, I could smell the coffee, I still remember that smell, it was so refreshing and stimulating.

I finished my food, paid the bill, though we had to take the card swipe matching outside the store (network issue) to swipe my Visa card.

At the car stand I hired a car for Nainital sight seeing. I roamed in Nainital for around 3 hours. The sight seeing was worth every paise. After finishing the sightseeing, the driver left me at the taxi stand, it was about 5.00 pm and I just thought of walking down to my hotel at tallital.

The road to tallital is parallel to Naini lake. It's a kilometre stretch road and is very scenic. I crossed the road to walk beside lake. I saw an old man with empty boat in the lake and I thought why don't I tour the lake today instead of tomorrow.

I called out the boat man, "how much for the round?"
"Rs. 200 for an hour."
"Ok, pick me up."
And the old man took his boat near the passenger boarding place. I climbed down to his boat and slowly taking careful steps I took my seat.
"Is life jacket needed?" I asked him.
"No, it's ok."
"Glad, I prefer it without life jacket as well."
And with a slow swipe of his paddle, the old man pushed the boat forward.

As we were sailing on the study water of lake, I forgot all my worries and problems, I thanked God for this wonderful life.

At 7000 ft high, this lake was a miracle, I remembered Dal lake of Srinagar. Although I haven't been to Kashmir. Another boat joined in lake with me, it had 3 tourists. However, I couldn't see many boats, so enquired about it.
"Why so less boats in the lake?"
"September is off season for us, come in season, you won't see the water but the boats everywhere."
"I am lucky, I could see entire lake empty." I said.

Indeed that was the truth. I could see calm water till infinity. The lake is huge, bigger than one can think of a big lake. I was clicking picture of surrounding and the old man told me,
"Give me the phone, I will click your pics."
I was glad, happily I stood up and walk towards him and handed my phone, i come back and took my place. He clicked my pictures almost for 5 mins, I was like, that's eternity.

"You love your job." I told him
"Very much, I am in Nainital from 1970."
I was taken aback, 1970s this guy is really committed to this place.

"Look to your right, that's Hanuman temple." He said.
I turned my head and saw hanuman temple at the edge of the lake. Lord hanuman was in seating position and in dhyan mudra.
"This is the one of the few temples were Lord hanuman is in a seating position." Old man told me.
"Indeed, a perfect idol in this calm lake." I said.

We moved forward, the boat speed was slower than the slow, I thought if there is a place for happiness then this is that place. I could not stop myself from taking pics, in the first half an hour of our sailing I clicked roughly 100 pics. I wanted to capture everything of this lake, wanted to keep this memory alive with me throughout my life.

I missed Nehal though. She was busy and couldn't get the leaves, I had to come alone. However, I promised myself I will come agin to this place with Nehal.

With every stroke of paddle, the small boat was moving forward, we were now returning to the base point from where we started our journey.

"This place is magical." I told to the old man.
"Yes, it is. Come in the season, you will love that time."
"Sure, will come here again." I assured him.
Why did I assure him? He wasn't my friend, nor my relative. But I understood that this place belongs to natives like him and they owe this place.

I paid him Rs 200/- for that incredible hour of my life in Naini lake.
"You going to Tallital?" Old man asked me.
"Yes, I am."
"Take the mall road and walk down the road, it would be a great walk." He said.
"Thank you for your advice."

And I walked down the mall road from lake to my hotel. The best lake experience of my life. My 7 day trip to Haridwar was concluded with this great lake ride and a promise to come back again with my wife.