32. NAUKUCHIATAL (UTTARAKHAND), INDIA

(This is the third of the five blogs covering this enjoyable trip.)

Naukuchiatal (Uttarakhand), India

I wanted to continue sitting at Bhimtal admiring the beauty of the lake but as per the plan, we had to leave for Naukuchiatal. Hubby insisted that we leave as we still had to cover quite a lot for the day.

“For all you know, Naukuchiatal may be even more beautiful,” he cajoled and I got up reluctantly.

Naukuchiatal is at a distance of only about 5 km from Bhimtal and following a narrow road, we were there in no time.  Naukuchiatal is said to be the deepest lake in this area, with a depth of about 40 mtrs and is spread over 1 km. Located at a height of 1220 meters above the sea level, it is perennially fed by natural underground spring waters. The water in the lake was absolutely clean and the thick forest on the surrounding mountains gave it a deep emerald hue.

As we walked down the kutcha path, we observed that there were some boats on the lakeside but the area bore an almost deserted look with not a single person to be seen except one boatman. He urged us to go for boating and told us, “Naukuchiatal has nine corners, but no human being has ever been able to count all the nine corners in one go. It is believed that if one can do that, s/he will attain nirvana. If you come with me, I’ll show you all the nine corners.”

“Huh!” was my spontaneous reaction.

The place was so quiet, so serene and so deserted that it was almost frightening. I was missing the sprawling open look of Bhimtal. Suddenly becoming uncomfortable at the solitude of the place, I insisted that we leave.

Jai Bajarang Bali

Almost crestfallen and driving back towards Bhimtal on way to Nainital, I saw on the left side of the road a temple with a huge statue of Lord Hanuman. Believe me, I am a non-believer, but my reaction was,“Chalo, let’s see this at least.”   And we stopped there, took off our shoes, went to the temple, enjoyed the clean hill air, looked down upon the valleys below, the lush green mountain peaks trying to kiss the azure sky and tried to ignore the muck under our feet. 

Once out of the temple, hubby gave himself a pat down and sounded alarmed, “Where are the car keys? Are they with you?”

“No, you only had it,” was my nonchalant response.

Jai jai Shiv Shankar

Taking off our shoes again in a state of panic, we went back into the temple retracing our steps all over and looking around for our lost car keys but no trace of it. We then rushed towards the car. Hubby was verbalising his concerns, “I must have left the keys in the car. How will we open it now? For this type of car keys, we can’t even get a duplicate made. And who will make it for us in this village?”

“You search your purse. It must be in there in some pocket,” anxiety was obvious in his voice and lines of worry getting darker on his face. Had we already spoilt our trip?

Trees trying to kiss the azure blue sky made the landscape very picturesque

Reaching the car, our only hope was lost when we realised that the keys were not in the car either. I quickly emptied my bag on the car bonnet to rule out the possibility of the keys lying in some pocket. 

“We should always carry a set of duplicate keys when we travel by car,” he had started strategizing for future trips, much to my chagrin.

And suddenly, a brain wave flashed, “Hey! Have you checked in your overcoat pocket?”  He took the coat off his shoulder and we heard the clinking sound of the keys inside which was plain music to our ears!

“Aaaahhhh…!” a sigh of relief came out of our tense throats and we burst out laughing. As we took off, I loudly announced, “Jai Bajrang Bali!”

The rest of the journey up to Nainital was a happy one although we missed our lunch that day for want of a decent place to eat en route.

En route Naukuchiatal to Nainital 

*****