Mount Abu to Nainital

Mount Abu to Nainital

My daughter Jennifer asked me to accompany her on a trip to Nainital as it was Junior's Deepawali Holidays. He was to get a break for 6 days and bringing him home was out of the question as the journey back and forth was too long and tedious. I knew I was running the gauntlet by assenting to go with her, as my physical condition after the accident was far from sound. But I need this break to find out for myself whether I could weather the storm that was to follow.

I booked our tickets online both ways. Our going from Marwar to Kathgodam was confirmed, but we were on the waiting list  ( 8^th and 9^th )in IIAC on the connecting train from Abu Road to Marwar. I booked the tickets on October 13th, hoping it would get confirmed by October 30th. On October 29th, I tried to book a Tadkal ticket but couldn't because the IIAC was full. Just made it in time, as there were 3 berths available, which was close.

We left Abu at 3 a.m. on the 30^th Oct, to catch our train that was to pull out at 4.25 a.m. When we got to the station, I asked the taxi driver to stop at the far end to avoid having to climb the overhead bridge to platform No. 2.. I hobbled all the way around to the end of the platform and reached the second platform. Jen and the driver were a great help to encourage me along.

The scenario within the compartment left me blown away. It seemed we stepped into a General compartment and not a reserved one. There were individuals all over, some sleeping on the floor in between the berths; others huddled close to each other in sloughing in painful positions, fast asleep. Two callow youths occupied OUR TWO berths. When woken up they quietly move off to the end of the crowded compartment. Since they had allotted us a middle and upper berth, I knew here was my first run of the gauntlet. There was no way I could heave myself into that berth and hence resigned to sitting at the edge of the occupied lower berths. Jen climbed up to the top of the upper berth and tried to make herself comfortable with all our baggage. The two young guys left looking for a niche comeback. I told them to jump into my grave and make themselves comfortable. I’m sure they must have thought this Angrage was an eccentric old man.

Luck favoured me because after an hour some passengers got off at a way outstation and I could lie down on a lower berth till Marwar Junction.

From Marwar Junction to Kathgodam, our journey was pleasant as we had booked in 1AC. My brother Aubrey and his son Brian came and met us at the Ajmer Station, they had brought our lunch. I once again salute Dollar, his wife for sending us food that was out of this world.

I think I’ve ranted enough. Now I want you to feast your eyes on the few birds that I captured on my wavering legs during the time I was in Nainital. Appreciate my handiwork..

Bank Myna (Marwar Jn Station)

Eurasian Collared Dove (Taken Marwar Jn station)

Maroon Oriole 

 Spot-winged Tit

 Green-backed Tit

 Himalayan Woodpecker

 Himalayan Woodpecker

 Large-billed Crow

 Himalayan Bulbul

 Brown-fronted Woodpecker

 Grey-hooded Warbler

 Great Barbet

 Great Barbet

 Great Barbet

 Brown-fronted Woodpecker

 Rufous Sibia

 White-tailed Nuthatch

 Bar-Tailed Treecreeper

 Bar-Tailed Treecreeper

 Black-throated Tit

 Black-throated Tit

 Black-throated Tit

Black-throated Tit

 Blue Whistling Thrush

 Steppe Eagle

Large-billed Crow

 Blue Whistling Thrush

ID Please

Black-throated Tit

Oriental White-eye

Great Barbet

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