By Lavanya Keshavamurthy.
My journeying from Bangalore to Munsiari (Uttarakhand) via Canada seems almost similar a fairy tale. When a friend shared amongst me a Times Now computer programme called Amazing Indians - "Transforming lives inward the hills" showcasing the go of Malika Virdi, I felt this was the sort of go that I was actually looking for. So, I took a intermission from my studies in addition to railroad train off to this beautiful identify nigh the edge of Nepal in addition to Tibet.
 |
| Stunning views of the Panchchuli range |
The journeying upwards to the beautiful "place amongst snow" at a tiptop of most 2200m inward a higher identify bounding main score (Munsiari means "place amongst snow" inward local language), amongst stunning views of the Panchchuli peaks inward the Kumaon region, was physically exhausting every bit I traveled inward a shared taxi from the plains of Haldwani through the lower Himalayas to the higher Himalayas. However, the exhaustion magically disappeared past times the way I was enthusiastically greeted past times the trouble solid unit of measurement who hosted my stay. In the 2.5 months I spent inward Munsiari, I had the chance to bask the hospitality of five dissimilar homes, all usage of the rural tourism program.
 |
With Basanti – my firstly hostess, friend in addition to farming guru |
 |
One of the traditional homes inward the home-stay program |
Work hard
During the firstly few days, a typical solar daytime involved clearing cow-dung, looking subsequently goats, watering the plants, helping inward the kitchen, in addition to knitting my scarf inward front end of the kitchen fire. For a few days, I worked amongst an intern from Poland on H2O mapping in addition to H2O testing projects. One day, I planted potatoes inward the morn in addition to drove a tourist taxi inward the eve & earned some money every bit a driver! H5N1 happy coincidence, in addition to I earned some to a greater extent than money every bit a inquiry assistant on a inquiry projection inward the village. Towards the terminate of my stay, I worked amongst a dozen rigid women to practise a fish pond for ane of the families I stayed with.
 |
Fish pond |
 |
On the way to work |
 |
Who's that? |
Play harder
It was non all go in addition to no play. On May 13th, in that location was fun in addition to frolic at the annual Mesar Van Kautik – a festival celebrating the Mesar Kund H2O source. We ate, nosotros played, nosotros sang in addition to nosotros danced throughout the day. I had never danced similar that inward my life.
 |
Never also one-time to dance |
In in addition to around
I also had the chance to trek to a dreamy fiddling identify called Paton inward awesome weather. Though the principal attraction on this trip was watching the violet Yak, I was attracted to other things inward the hamlet such every bit the off-grid solar electricity, the abode made rice wine, in addition to the H2O mills roughly the place.
 |
Dreamy hamlet of Paton |
 |
The violet Yak |
End or beginning?
The ii months I stayed inward Munsiari seems similar a long fourth dimension when I await at the things nosotros created together every bit a community in addition to the experiences I gained. But, every bit I packed my bags to leave, the same ii months seemed to become past times inward a flash. Over a conversation amongst Malika regarding my To Do list, I said ii months are non plenty to practise all the things that I wanted to do; she said xx years are non enough!
 |
Friends from Munsiari |
As my new-found friends from Munsiari said goodbye amongst tears inward their eyes in addition to packed local spices in addition to Rajma, it felt similar a 'Swades' minute for me. For them, it was in all probability an investment for my furnish to the place!
Author Bio: Lavanya is an aspiring farmer in addition to wanderer. When she is at base of operations army camp inward Bengaluru, she spends most of her fourth dimension inward her small, urban garden. She is associated amongst Ride H5N1 Cycle Foundation, a non-profit scheme that promotes cycling. Read to a greater extent than of her adventures inward Munsiari at http://lavanyakm.blogspot.in.
For to a greater extent than stories off the beaten path inward India, visit www.indiauntravelled.com or join on Facebook and Twitter. To contribute invitee posts / photograph essays to this blog, delight ship your storey ideas to shivya@indiauntravelled.com.