I put this thought here because the journey of India is guided by the young, free, ready to explore generation of today. In this journey of India’s exploration, the epicenters of education are a vital stakeholder. IIT’s and IIM’s pictures the great education system we have in our country. Married with the young and intelligent minds with the motive to explore the new dimensions of life, IIM Kashipur is one of the most happening education destinations in India. With serene surroundings of mountains and valleys one can imagine the beauty and prospect of nature nearby.
Mountains are the dream destination, ask any biker. The turns, the ups and downs, the thrill, the speed all in one platter. The more you explore more you want to, one can only experience the feeling and it can’t be explained. Fortunately, IIM Kashipur is blessed with enthusiastic bikers who are ready to explore. One such act of exploration happened on children’s day 2016.
We gathered in the new campus sharp at 8.00 hours. As demonetization affected us too, the common verdict was to have a breakfast at the campus only. Got ready at 9.00 hours with ten of us in five bikes, the music from silencers started entertaining our ears. We put ON our headlights, wondering why, to identify each other in the crowd from the rear mirror (Smart isn’t it..?). The route we would take is Ramnagar to Kaladungi to Nainital to Pangot. I would not call our farthest stop a destination as it is never meant to be. The motto is riding not the destination. We soon touched the highways which is 8 km. away from the campus. Surrounded by green, with shadows of trees covering the full path, the highway is nothing like in metros.
Soon we crossed river Kosi and reached Ramnagar. Hoardings of Corbette started flashing every where. Those iconic green safari Jeeps queued up for the service, crowded paths full of excited people, all in the midst of such greenery is a treat to experience. We crossed Jim Corbette and just before the start of the mountains we stopped for a click.
Soon our bikes roared into the mountains and moved with the curves of the valley. We stopped in between for some clicks and started our journey again.
We were moving slowly along the narrow roads and suddenly after a blind turn we saw a group of people standing around with big mounted binoculars. We wondered and suddenly saw the mountain peaks on the right hand side covered with white snow. We stopped and parked our bikes to see the white mountains of Nandadevi stretching along the horizon (Binoculars could help you see a better picture @ a cost of Rs. 30 per person). The beauty of the white mountains will call you but unfortunately there are limitations in human life. Enjoying the ride again we reached Nainital-Pangot road split.
Pangot is a small hilly region 15 Kms, from Nainital. Unexplored, natural and with no trace of commercialization. The roads are narrow and certainly not smooth as one would imagine mountain roads to be. The best thing to experience was that the mountain roads were by the side of shadow mountains i.e. no sunlight hence much colder than the other roads we has traversed.
Our hands were freezing and condition would force us to stop at a small sight of sunlight just to make our hands warm enough to continue our journey. It was 13.00 hrs and we were shivering regardless of the fact that we has put on our best warmers (Jackets, Boots, Gloves). Shivering and moving with the only road we could see we reached out final stop. Sunny weather, green mountains, small monkeys jumping and guess what, a small tea house serving hot beverages with our very own omnipresent Maggie.
The place was worth the shiver and cold. We ate and clicked some photos. After spending some quality time there it was time to start our backward journey. We decided to explore Nainital too as we had time. We traced the same path backwards and reached Nainital lake. We took a small tour of Nainital around lake and started back for our nest. We came back with minds full of memories and with increased appetite for more. The calling of mountains will always be there and the passion for riding will certainly meet the mountains soon again.
We at IIM Kashipur find a balance between our rigorous study and action outside the classroom. Such a combination can only be experienced at IIM Kashipur. With this small story of an experience I will stop here. Keep Riding, Keep Smiling.