Mount Abu’s New Tourist Attraction

Mount Abu’s New Tourist Attraction, floated by Mars Enterprise

Mount Abu’s New Tourist Attraction, floated by Mars Enterprise, At the beginning of this month Mount Abu inaugurated.“The Tethered Helium Balloon”. I really don’t know if it has had its maiden flight. As of the moment, it seems grounded. I believe the formalities towards the aviation department have yet to be met.

If it has anything to do with the differences between the Forest Department and that of the Municipality regarding permission of allowing this operation of going through then it could take a while as these two departments don’t see eye to eye. Like the Salgoan Dam project that was sanctioned aeons ago, but is still lying in limbo.

The place where the balloon is parked right now is the same spot that was made into a musical park years before for the entertainment of the tourists. It was a lovely spot, but somehow it seems to be jinxed and the musical park, with all its lovely lights and sounds, faded away like the mist that visits this lake regularly. I really wonder how long this present project will last, guess as long as it ropes in enough dinero and is workable.

 The tariff for an 8 minute spin to a height of about 350 feet is Rs300/- almost a buck per foot, pretty steep and for a child its goanna be Rs 200/-. Tourists know that you are to buy your ticket in advance and only mount the podium after 20 individuals have bought tickets. Your waiting period would amount to the ratio and volume of visitors on a particular day. Take your time to read the rules and regulations carefully.                          

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Monsoons & the Weatherman MT. ABU

Monsoons and the meteorologist MT. ABU

The monsoons this year have been unpredictable, with meteorologists’ forecasts missing the mark and leaving everyone in a state of uncertainty. Despite predictions of an above-average monsoon, the rains have been sparse and scattered.

It began raining on July 10, 2010, followed by a significant downpour on August 8, bringing 6.2 cm of rain. There was a brief pause until a modest 5 cm rainfall on August 11. On the night of August 12, the rain gained momentum, and by morning, Brother Gale had recorded another 3 cm. The rains continued throughout the day, with the gauge reaching 3.6 cm by around 3 PM. Afterwards, a thick mist descended, shrouding the Abode in a heavy, silent blanket.

Today, the lake overflowed, reminiscent of the Lower Khodra Dam’s overflow from August 13 to September 28 last year. This year, the dam’s level was at 36 feet on July 10 and has now risen to 40 feet after today’s rain. GOSH! We still need 20 more feet! Will the gods perform a miracle to reach this target? I hope not to face the ordeal of a flooded house this year. After every heavy and prolonged shower, friends and well-wishers call to check if everything is alright, reflecting the collective concern and cautious optimism we share during these unpredictable monsoons.

Taken with my mobile

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A PORCUPINE MT. ABU

Kali Small Face had an encounter with a porcupine

I had hit the sack at the stroke of midnight and had drifted off into a dreamless and sound sleep. At around 2.20 am my slumber was shattered by the wild anguish yelping of one of my dogs, Liz, who had also been awakened by the din sat up and added to the confusion by yelling at the scenario to try and curb what she assumed was an assault by the leopard. I knew it was not the leopard as the incessant cry of the dog indicated otherwise.

I scuttled out of bed grabbing my searchlight and my faithful “लाठी” (Bamboo Staff), and rushed outside to see what had happened. The visibility was low as there was heavy mist, and the mutt had clamoured to the back of the house, I did an about turn and rushed to the back door to find it was our ‘Kali small Face’, she was in shock and her torment was extreme. I could see she had been riddled with quite a few quills, a few more than an inch embedded into her chest and legs. She flew past me into the house and scurried under a bed. I tried coaxing her to come out when this did not work I got stern and tapped my staff on the floor, she whimpered and limped into our room and headed straight for Liz.

Liz stroked her gently all the while talking to her in a soothing voice; I shut the doors to our room and reached for our First-aid box, taking out a broad bandage to act as a muzzle. I knew I had to act fast and remove those quills before she tried gnawing and clawing at them to alleviate the extreme pain imparted by them.

I gagged her securely and proceeded to remove the quills. It took me a minute or so to remove the barbs, she was very fortunate she had none on her face or mouth.

Guess she has learnt a lesson, No more chasing after curious creatures that roam late at night.

Kali small Face on of our stray dogs

Kali's small face came squealing home with quills from a porcupine

Quills deeply embedded.

Retrieved quills from Kali

Mount Abu The Playground of the Gods

Mt. Abu the playground of the Gods is a raised oasis in the Aravalli Range, an expanse of granite rocks covered with creation of trees ranging from deciduous to evergreen. The beckoning hills yearning travellers to come and indulge in its mystic and mysterious facades, Travellers who make it up the hill are elated to be able to walk on cloud 9.

After the initial torrential down pour on the 10^th July, 12, (15.8 cm) the weather Gods are content to lounge on the heavily laded clouds mantling this Abode, and smile on creation below relishing the flickering and swirling foggy weather which is the hallmark of this habitat

Tourists are thrilled that this type of weather has held for so long, they know it wont be long before the onset of the main monsoons sets in and puts a damper on their freedom of movement through this fresh misty and green haven.

Three days ago the lake took its first “bhog” an offering by a human in the form of suicide. It is believed every time one soul goes this way the lake looks up to the heavens for fortitude in setting this spirit free in the form of an overflow to get it started on its journey to the realms of its next life.

Monsoons in the Abode Mt. Abu

The monsoons have finally declared their initial charisma in the Abode. Dawn was covered with a dense shroud of mist, and then the rain came pouring down.

 I took a drive to Delwara and returned via town to appraise the situation, it was BAD, the roads in most places we're waterlogged, thank to contractors who used the side of the roads to dump tractor loads of debris. The stench all around was sickening, the temporary covered pot holes now exposed reminded me of the craters I had viewed on the moon through a friends telescope.

Its time the people of this Grand semi-hill station aired their voices and grievances to see that this place is restored to its former glory of being "GREEN N CLEAN"

How long it will take? Well most would, shrug and say, It's only a pipe dream. Man wake up, you know how the wheels churn, real slow through the mud and grime.

The lights blinked off early in the morning and only returned in the evening, the area around Delwara is still without lights and it’s a bet they will only be restored sometime tomorrow, hope this end hold or we’ll be back to lighting candles and having our dinner by candle light. “Imagine candle light dinner”. Three Cheers for the Advent of the monsoons in the Abode.