The Winged Heart A Mountain of Daisies by SONU TANW

It was a sunny afternoon as our train puffed into the small station of Kotdwara, nestling on the foothills of the mighty Garhwal Himalayas. Surrounded by the red-faced porters, who spoke loudly in their local language, we moved to the bus stop, from where we took a small green coloured bus to the tiny hill station of Lansdowne. I was filled with excitement as I thought of being surrounded with hills covered with pretty, dancing daisies.

The road was bumpy as we climbed the hairpin bends; the breeze chilly and fresh, while the valley seemed a silver ribbon of stream and sunshine. Turning another bend, we were greeted by a sea of pretty, dancing daisies dotting the hillside, hand in hand with the ferns, moss, creepers and the carpet of grass stretching for miles.

Soon our bus huffed and puffed through the cantonment and finally into the hustle and bustle of the colourful bazaar. A maze of wooden shops stood lining the sloping pavement, filled with sweet shops, clothes, souvenirs and daily supplies. It was evening and far from the valley, I heard the temple bells tolling, a sweet sound travelling across the valley. The twinkling lights seemed fairy like as dusk descended on the bustling city.

We spent the night at ‘ Roberts Hall’ in the cantonment . We were ready to see the bright and sunny town in the morning. Across the valley was a beautiful range covered with sparkling snow peaks. We discovered a telescope and a compass from where we could see the towering peaks of Nandadevi, Gangotri and Jamunotri. We were fascinated by the peace, cheered by the call of the mountain raven gliding in the valley through tufts of cottony clouds. The sky was electric blue and the leaves looked like silver mirrors as we stood at ‘Tiffin Top’ at 6000 feet. I felt on top of the world with the smiling daisies and sunflowers waving their bright faces all around.

We also heard many stories of wild leopards, langoors, and other animals who roamed the dense jungles and the valleys around Lansdowne, as we sat for a cup of hot tea. Soon night descended as the stars twinkled a silent goodbye as the next day we were to head back home, but I knew I would carry the memory of the mountains with daisy faces and delightful sunflowers forever in my mind, reminding me of the peace, joy and the quiet beauty of the hills of Garhwal.

Sonu Tanwar