My trip to Te Aroha at Dhanachuli (on invitation) was fixed even before I headed to Nepal. And then in Nepal I heard about the devastation at Kedarnath and in Uttarakhand. Even till date I have not been able to watch any visuals from the region apart from the passing images I saw on news channels. Whatever I saw disturbed me deeply.
So when the time came to review the plans for my visit to Dhanachuli I asked the hotel about their opinion. They said the roads were open and even though there was some rain there was nothing much which would warrant a cancellation but they left the final decision to me.
For the first time in my life I looked at Google Earth to see how the region looked like, not that I could tell much by looking at it! But it certainly looked very different from the affected areas. Then there was the task of convincing the family. Surprisingly they agreed quite quickly. So by the time you read this I would be already at Te Aroha, Dhanachuli, Uttarakhand as this is a scheduled post. The hotel is located in a small village and does not have a wifi hence the need to schedule my posts!
There has been so much news about cancellations and I do not wish to follow the same path as I am traveling to a region in Uttarakhand that is not directly affected. Travel has given me so much, this is one small bit that I thought I would do. I would be back late on Monday and will of course talk much more about my Uttarakhand tales then!
If you have travel plans for Uttarakhand for an unaffected region, please consider before you cancel them. The region needs your support now.
Take care and have a safe journey!
http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Be safe n keep us posted!
Just be careful. Whole of Uttarakhand is not affected.
It is good that Uttarkhand is opening and you came back safely, but in my opinion, we should give enough space to the state govt as well as the armed forces to carry out their unfinished work and rehabilitation. If require, we should pause our pilgrimage for some time at least.
Congrats! it is really courageous of you to visit Uttrakhand at this time … hope you are having a great trip out there. Lots of our travelers who booked travel to uttarakhand through us were actually looking to cancel! we can now share your blog with them and motivate them to travel. Looking forward to reading about your first hand information and experience from the scene.
Am sure you would have had a safe and wonderful journey…
Wish you a safe journey. Way to go Mridula, in distressing times, we can stand by them and help them earn a living with dignity since it is a tourism dependent state,.
Niranjan thank you.
Meena I am back safely. Thank you.
Shalu I am back now 😀 Thank you.
Aamjunta I was nowhere near that route, Uttarakhand is big and not everything is affected. That was the point of this trip. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Travelopod update will follow soon.
Meghana I had a great and safe trip. Thank you.
Sangeeta just my little bit as I had the opportunity.
Nice read. Appreciate your idea of holding onto the plans. But, take care.
Easwar thank you, I am back safely.
That’s great. Life should go on in spite of calamities.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts Matheikal.
my inlaws place 🙂
Aparna 😀 it is a beautiful place.
Best wishes. Have a safe journey
Thanks Shrinidhi.
One who is footloose with an intense love for nature is not be buffeted by the travails of any situation and you have proved this. May you always succeed!
Thank you Kajal.
Mridula, Congratulations for supporting Uttrakhand and not cancelling your trip! I love that state, and wish them all the best on their road to recovery — though I do think they need a sustainable tourism plan. SO glad you are SAFE!
Thank you Mariellen and I agree they need a sustainable development plan and this earth needs sustainable development.