Chimera

Was this person bewitched and transmogrified into a tree?

Frozen

Evening Primrose

As the sun sets, an unusual humming sound pervades the atmosphere of Mountain Resort, Khali Resort in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary near Almora in Uttarakhand. The buzzing can be located around a patch of innocuous looking shrubs, crowned with green buds and shriveled pale-yellow flowers.

Soon, to the "ooohs" and "aahs" and other exclamations of surprise from the onlookers, one can see the sepals of the buds being pushed aside by bright yellow petals, while the pollen-laden anthers of the stamens are hustled to one side by the lascivious pistil.

Evening primrose in full bloom

'The early bird gets the worm'; here it is the case of the early insect (bee, bumble-bee, cockroaches) getting to the precious drop of nectar at the base of the pistil. In the process of all this jousting pollination occurs and the future generations of evening primrose are assured.

Out come the cell-phones and cameras, settings are adjusted are filming starts. Unfortunately all one captures are out-of-focus yellow blurs and a lot of noise. Moreover, the photographer misses the real action and is left ruing his video-creating endeavors.

Click here for video of blooming evening primrose 

Click here for another video of blossoming evening primrose 

Click here for the third video of evening primrose flower unfurling its petals

A cockroach stealing a drop of nectar

Beetle feasting on the pollen

Purported benefits of evening primrose oil:

• Good for all skin types including psoriasis, eczema, damaged, and wrinkled aged skin.
• Rich source of gamma linoleic acid (GLA), omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
• Soothes inflammation and is often used for rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Widely used for alleviating distressing symptoms of Sjorgren’s syndrome, Raynaud’s phenomenon, peripheral neuropathy, Premenstrual syndrome and Menopause.
• Nourishes hair and is great for hair loss (especially hair loss due to thyroid issues), seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff.

Evening Primrose Carrier Oil is a rich source of gamma linoleic acid (GLA), omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which can be used to nourish the skin. It also soothes inflammation and can be used in dandruff applications. Small amounts are often added to other carrier oils for fortification.

Evening Primrose (Unrefined) Oil has a reputation to help with many ailments. It helps nourish the skin and hair; reducing signs of eczema and psoriasis, fights the effects of aging, is used to help with symptoms of many debilitating health issues. Unrefined means that the Evening Primrose Oil is left in a virgin state after being pressed. The oil is not filtered or processed. Therefore, it has a stronger fragrance (odor) but maintains more health benefits.

People suffering from Seborrheic Dermatitis have had wonderful results using evening primrose oil directly on their scalp and also taking evening primrose supplements.

Vrindavan to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary

We started on our trip on 8 June 2016 at 3:30 am and zipped to Noida on the Yamuna Expressway.  Breakfast was at MacDonalds Gajraula. It was smooth sailing till Moradabad. Here we turned off on to the Kashipur Road. It was infested with sand and brick laden bullock carts. Then there was a bottle-neck (in the strict sense of the word): an extremely narrow bridge - almost like a sclerosed coronary artery. Kashipur was chaotic, with bedlam ruling the roads but Ramnagar was worse. There was anarchy and unruliness on the congested and cramped main road. Wriggling out miserable town saw the once desolate road crowded on both sides with dhabas, resorts, hotels and sundry shops. Almost all had the prefix or suffix of Corbett or Tiger, even one photocopy shack!

After गर्जिया we drove off the road to see the hoary old Forest Rest House at मोहान. It was deserted and peaceful but its quaintness was marred by dish antennae.

मोहान Forest Rest House

Snowflake in front of Corbett Park

The once gushing Kosi River across the road had now deteriorated into a disconsolate rivulet. The melancholy atmosphere worsened as we ascended. The hills were barren and devoid of any trees or vegetation.

Denuded hillsides

Kosi valley

The narrow road took its serpentine course up and down the cheerless hills. I reminisced the lush drive this used to be back in the sixties and seventies. At the tri-junction from चौखुटिया and भिकियासैण there used to be tea-stall that has now matured into a township called भतरौंजखान . The drive onto ताड़ीखेत was amidst cypress and chir trees recuperating after the devastating forest fire.

The usual pandemonium prevailed in the erstwhile idyllic cantonment of रानीखेत . Mercifully the road to अल्मोड़ा  was spiffy after मजखाली . Encountered the Kosi river once again and on ascending, bypassed the unholy mess of buildings proliferating like pathogenic fungi all over the hillside - Almora! 

Finally, after a scenic drive via काफरखान we arrived in the serene environs of the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.

My odometer read 585 kms (the discrepancy of 10 kms according to Google Maps can be attributed to the distance from GLA to Vrindavan).

Woodpecker

The rat-a-tat AK-47 like sound of Woody Woodpecker living up to its name wakes one up in the Binsar Widllife sanctuary. He/she is very shy and one needs a lot of patience to observe him/her at work.

Ha ha ha haaa ha!

Abortive attempt at pecking and making a nest

Euclidean accuracy in cutting out a circle

Nest after the chicks have flown. Note the moss used as a cushion for the tender skin and feathers of baby woodpeckers

Waterfall

On the drive from Thal, once you start the dizzying ascent from Nachchni to Munsyari, a silvery vertical streak is seen across the valley. It seems impossibly remote and yet, as you navigate along the serpentine and vertigo inducing roads, the natural wonder appears closer and closer until finally you are driving on a bridge below the cataract.

Click here for video of the waterfall

Rufus Turtle Dove

The Panchachuli or Panchchuli Range

The many moods of the Panchchuli range - now you see me now you don't - from Milam Inn in Munsyari, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand.

Sunset

Sunset

Golden sunset

Dusk

Garlanded by moisture laden clouds

View from Milam Inn, Munsyari

The fifth peak

Peaks range from 20,000 to 22,000 feet in height

Dandeshwar

Before one reaches the chaotic and crowded valley of Jageshwar, soon as the deodar trees start on either side of the rivulet, there is an idyllic spot where the relatively peaceful Dandeshwar Temple is situated.This secluded place is ideal for a bit of meditation and savoring the sylvan surroundings.

Mahaseer tiddlers going to 'school'

Cruel humans, will fish drink Fanta?

Not for the Claustrophobic!

After a drive along serpentine roads from either Almora or Binsar, there suddenly emerges a sylvan deodar forest with a sign pointing towards 'The Cave Temple', better known as पाताल भुवनेश्वर।

Do deodar trees (meaning the tree of the Gods - देव दारु) grow in places of spiritual significance? I saw this in the Jageshwar valley also.

Unfortunately, cameras are not permitted inside this naturally formed cave, that has assumed religious significance (or is it exploitation by the priests?).

The discovery of the cave goes back to mythological times before even the Mahabharata, but Adi Shankaracharya is credited with isolating it in modern times.

After a steep descent through an extremely narrow passage (fortunately well lit), slithering on one's back over uneven rocks, polished smooth by years of pious bottoms, there appears a cavernous space. There are no idols, but a helpful guide will point out rock formations, dripping stalactites and their counterparts, the stalagmites and attach mythic and religious overtones to them. Marvel at them either as a cynic or devotee. These have formed over centuries by the abrasive action of water over soft sandstone and the site is worth a visit.

A graphical representation. Looks more like a discharging sinus from the mastoid bone!