Tuesday 18 June 2013

A Slightly Gothic Anniversary

This year we had a great anniversary celebration with my D's cousins who came from Delhi. For the past two years we used to go to the restaurant, have dinner and go back home. So this trip was fun, a little adventurous, and did I say already, it was pleasantly different from all other celebrations. 
We started from the city on Saturday, and were escorted by the rain all the way. There were few traffic jams, because hilly roads here are usually narrow, so one has to be very careful while driving. However in a good company you feel happy and secure.
Driving to Kasauli hills. My D, I shall admit, is a good driver (touch wood). If you never were on Indian roads, you would never understand why I highlight his driving skills so much. The serpentine of the road, the rising level of it as you go up, makes driving hectic at times. Also that day, it started becoming foggy as the rain proceeded... Adventure!
Yes, we were heading towards our destination - Kasauli hill station. The weather didn't improve even when we reached the hotel. However we had to go out and see the city. My and my D had been to Kasauli few times before, but  it was a new experience for our cousins. 
We were very hungry and were planning to find some nice inn or a restaurant to dine in, but to our surprise and disappointment, every hotel said that they weren't serving food what was strange. After walking in the rain for about half an hour, we finally found a small kind of cafe (called dhaba in Hindi), and literally threw the food into our stomachs, though not completely satisfied with the quality and quantity of it. The weather didn't want to give up and continued to pour rain on us. We were wearing only thin jackets, and some of us (including me) didn't get any good shoes, because of which all the clothing became immediately wet, and water was dripping from my hair.  Furthermore it became very cold.
In spite of all of that, one of the cousins bought beautiful bracelets in the local market. Whatever, but we  still were enjoying the rain and our cozy company. 
The most famous sight seeing of Kasauli is a Christ Church - a heritage of India's British past. The church was built in 1844.
When we entered the church's gates, my eyes immediately noticed this pretty lilac-like flowers. They grew all around the church walls, and later I saw the same bushes in the city too. Thank you, my friends, now I can identify it as Hydrangea macrophylla, and it is for sure now among the plants I want to see in my garden!
I don't go to the church frequently in India, so whenever we are in Kasauli, we necessarily visit this one. It was so quiet and peaceful there on that rainy day. There was no one else in the church, except us and a candles seller. We all wanted to stay there more, as it is so rare we get such serene  moments among daily bustle.
The church has been built in a typical Gothic style, incorporating rib vault and pointed arches (I read in Wiki), which mesmerised me. The second arch and a porch you see is a modern addition to the construction.
The last time we went there, I said my D that I saw a beautiful, old furnace in the church, he didn't notice it. So this time I made sure I showed this useful vintage piece of house interior to my D and also took its picture. I love it!
Searching for an answer, dear? Look, I am here.
While leaving the church's premises, I looked at the outer wall, and admired the moss and some plants sprouting throw the stone.
As you know the bad weather can't last forever. By the time we left Kasauli and were going back to our hotel, the rain stopped and revealed beautiful sunset colors. We stopped a few times to see it and take photos - how could we resist?
The next day brought other beautiful scenery - a view opposite our place of stay. I would like to live in that house...
The plan for Sunday was to visit a Monkey Point - the highest peak of Kasauli, where the Hanuman temple is located. Unfortunately you are not permitted to carry any camera or mobile there with you, as the area belongs to Indian Air Force. But the climbing up the stairs, which was making us breathless, breathtaking views of the valley and snow peaks afar, funny monkeys trying to snatch stuff from the visitors, the temple and the way back along the fragrant forest roads - all is in our memory now, unforgettable.
We stopped at this point for a while when going back from the Monkey Point. The tree fell long time ago and was still supported by its comrades.
And just on the foot of a low hill I saw these pretty pink flowers - such beauty.
The day was coming to its end, when we decided to have one last adventure and drove to another city in the same area. Its name was Sanawar.
I told you it was an anniversary with a slightly Gothic inclination. So here is a St. Lawrence School graveyard - one of the places to see when you go to Sanawar side. The gates were locked and the sign said that the trespassers would be fined. I think they had good reasons to do so, as many people don't respect such places of last rest. You can read about the school here.
 A long graveyard wall was going and going down...
Picture credit to my D's cousin
Besides, we also checked out an amazing Sanawar nature camp situated in the forest - a lovely place to be and to relax. We are sure now that we would stay there during our next trip to the hills.
Picture credit to my D's cousin
These are just few moments of our last weekend, nice memories of a special day, filled with love, smiles, good mood and beauty of nature. Thank you all, my dear friends, for all your kind, sweet wishes to us - they certainly worked and will work :)
Have a nice week ahead and plan something good for a weekend!

29 comments:

  1. Glad to know that you enjoyed your trip :) I have been to kasauli during my honeymoon in Nainitaal. We visited that temple too.
    I will suggest not to take risk going to hilly places in rainy days... lot of landslides are happening in some places in Uttarakhand. Be safe.

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    1. Yes, we enjoyed it a lot, Preeti, I didn't want to come back to the routine...
      Yea, it is quite dangerous, but all was well for us. Ba safe too! The weather there became soo nice :)

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  2. Beautiful photos!!! Looks like a place I'd love to visit too. And the purple flowers on those bushes are called Hydrangeas. Their colours range from dark purple to pink, depending on the acidity of the soil.

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    1. I know you would like to be there where it is the rain. It was a nice escape for all of us - change of place and weather.
      Thanks for naming the flowers for me, Jojo, - now I know what I possibly want to grow in my garden :)

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  3. I read of flooding in India. I know India is a large country, but hope you and your husband are high and dry. Great photos of your trip. The monkeys would frighten me, though.

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    1. Yes, Linda, the rains came very soon to the North India and such state as Uttarakhand got the worst of all. We pray for people there and hope that the element of water will have some mercy finally.
      We though live in a safe place, thanks for caring, Linda!

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  4. Srećna treća godišnjica braka i sve najbolje u budućnosti!!!
    Divno putovanje,prelepe fotografije!
    Pozdrav i srećno!:)

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    1. Thank you for your nice wishes, Ljubinka! :)

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  5. It looks like you had a great time while Nature rained her blessings on you three. I love the candle pictures--so very Gothic, indeed.

    I wish you many more wonderfully wondrous anniversary celebrations, my friend!

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    1. Nature definitely wanted to give us her everything that day.
      Thank you, Magaly, I am sure we will have even better celebrations in the years to come :)
      Blessings to you and yours!

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  6. An interesting trip, even with the rain and restaurants situation! You took some great photos!

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    1. Right, Debra, nothing could make our spirit to give up :)

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  7. Nice trip! Despite the rain :) We grow that pink flowers in pots at home :)

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    1. Thanks! Wow, they can be ink too? :) I'd love to see.

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  8. What a beautiful place even if it was raining. The blue flowers are called Hydrangea. I have one in my backyard.

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    1. It was very beautiful there, Charlotte. Great, do they blossom at this time there too?

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  9. Such beautiful pictures, Hindustanka! Thank you so much for sharing them with us! It sounds like a wonderful way to have spent your anniversary. :o)

    Those lovely purple flowers I'm pretty sure are hydrangeas. I've always wished we could grow them here in Alberta but it's just too darn cold! They grow everywhere out on the west coast though - they're so pretty, and my mom used to tell me that their colours would change depending on what soil they were growing in.

    It's funny how a person makes generalizations about a country ... I would never have guessed that it ever got rainy or foggy in India. I always just picture it as being INCREDIBLY HOT all the time! :o)

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    1. It was a perfect trip, with various weather every day, so we enjoyed a lot!
      Yes, now thanks to you and my other American friends, I know the name of this flower :)
      even I thought so when I was coming to India first time, but realized that I'd need socks and hats here too!

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  10. oooh! How lovely and Gothic! I'm glad there's some Victorian churches over there, they made elegant and peaceful buildings. The blue flowers are hydrangeas. They're native to south west Asia, so you should be able to get some for your lovely garden. The blue colour is wonderful, isn't it? So cool and delicate. They make nice cut flowers and they dry really easily, too.

    Thank you for coming over to my doll blog and making such sweet comments. I really appreciate your interest support; it makes me understand the artistic stuff I do isn't all alone.

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    1. The British architecture here is amazing. I wish I could show you more of it, as such churches and other buildings are situated mostly in the Himalayas.
      The Hydrangea is superb! I really liked its color.
      You should try to make some doll wearing a dress of this flower's color! .:)

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  11. Wow- what beautiful scenery. You did indeed have a beautiful weekend-- thank you for the amazing stories and photos:)

    Xoxo
    Vicki

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    1. Thanks, you, Vicki, for your visit! I am very happy you liked the story and the pictures :)

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  12. Thanks for the tour, beautiful pictures!

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    1. I am very happy you liked this little trip :)

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  13. Gorgeous adventure. I loved the
    church with the arches, the candles
    and even the rain lent an ethereal
    mood! Thanks for sharing your
    special time with your readers ; )

    xo Suzanne

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    1. It was a very special day for us, and we never had such celebration, with such surroundings and such weather! Thanks, Suzanne! I am glad you liked it :)

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  14. It seemed like a nice little trip, I enjoyed looking at the pictures ^^

    The old furnace is very pretty indeed!

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    1. It was a nice little trip, you are right, Sabina!
      I hope they will not throw it out, as it is so old and can be a good piece for an antique shop ;)

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  15. What a beautiful and magical trip for your anniversary! Filled with such special moments! Thanks for sharing everything! I loved it all! Hugs ;o)

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