Ramgarh and Mukteshwar, December 2005

View from Himalayan Heights

Spent one night with the Mukherjees, Masi's friends who used to live at Kasar Devi (Almora) but have now moved to a cottage built in a resort area in Ramgarh. This was the view from their 'Himalayan Heights' complex early in the morning. Ramgarh was much colder than Almora even though it was only 200m higher, and there was frost on he ground throughout the day.

View of Almora from Mukteshwar

Mr Mukherjee drove us all to Mukteshwar, about 30 km away. We didn't initially realize that the 180 degree view of the Himalayas included Almora, and even the Kasar Devi hill where I had spent the last 3 weeks.

More views of the Kumaon Himalayas

More gorgeous views of the Kumaon Himalayas, from Nanda Devi to the Panchachuli peaks. From Mukteshwar, all 5 of the Panchachuli peaks are visible.

The Mukherjees

Mr Mukherjee, Dr Mukherjee, and Basanti, who initially came to work for them when their mothers were staying with them in Almora, but stayed on afterwards. Mr Mukherjee was often (incorrectly) called Dr Mukherjee because he worked at the Dena Hospital in Almora (as an administrator) and well, looks like a doctor I suppose.

Guide at Chauli ki Jali

After we parked at the PWD inspection bungalow in Mukteshwar, this dog trotted ahead of us, and it seemed as if she was making sure we took the right trails to get to Chauli ki Jali - a rocky outcrop and viewpoint just under the Mukteshwar temple. After we got there, he trotted back to the parking lot on his own...

At Chauli ki Jali

I didn't dare sit any closer to the edge because the cliff dropped straight down to the valley from this point

Height marker

Mukteshwar, 2286m above sea level.

- Sujai. More pictures at phlog.net/user/sujai