Diary: Tuesday 29 February 2000

Tuesday 29 February 2000

Leisurely day seeing Ranikhet and the sights around. Drove out to Chaubatia for a pleasant walk through the pines to admire the views of the ‘snows’. On the drive down, we stopped to investigate a small Hindu temple which was covered in bells. According to the Army Officer we chatted with, the bells are offerings to the god who has answered the requests of the people leaving the bell.

Leaving Chaubatia, we toured the roads back to Ranikhet, passing through Chilyanaula, a village that houses a rather modern and concret temple – we didn’t stop as it wasn’t inspiring. We gave a lift to a school teacher heading back to Ranikhet and he gace us much information about the area. We dropped him off at the bazaar and went back to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon we wandered through the woods and down the hill to the bazaar. It was nice to wander through a shopping area and not be harrassed because you’re white, a tourist and likely to spend silly money!