The last descent of the sun, unlike the day, feels leaving us the fastest. And how each day then once consumed, becomes thought of the night. Turning into complexly connected dreams in sleep. Each moment. Every missed yes, becomes only a memory once its gone and done with.
Deep in the valley of Almora, there is a temple hidden in the oasis of many layers of devdars called Chitai Mata Temple or the Golu Devta Temple. On a cold morning when i decided to walk through the jungle of celestial trees, i didn’t know that i will never reach there. Not because villagers told me it was far. Or because i got frightened as villagers tried to stop me for the tiger might find me alone. To tell you, this the story of every mountain. For each valley you will visit, you will find one fearless man telling you to fear. For a tiger or two, or certainly a bear might arrive. And as always. I left.
But as I left to not reach, i wandered as the jungle became dense, and even slept. Waking up to the flute i played for myself, taken up by many birds instead, pushing me to move, to walk but when i this time i started parading, appeared from no where, not even from behind my eyes, a world of wonder where there were only swings and swings every where. All around me. No one else. But a woman. An old woman with a bucket, slowly pouring water to the plants i did not see.
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Sharing some images from that unfinished walk which i called ‘Simtola’.
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Thank you.
If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste
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I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;
Lessons as a Traveller from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.
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If you wish to contribute to my travels, or towards My School you can please do so here
If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, please write to me at nara@road-to-nara.com
To visit other long-term photographic works, you can visit here.
To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at
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ROAD TO NARA 
Stunning pictures of the pristine nature is absolutely beautiful Narayan. I can feel the freshness of the cool air through your photos 💙
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Thank you dear Radhika, it was just an introduction to what is going to come in the next post. Something important, and something deeper from the Jungles of Uttarakhand.
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Thank you again for the appreciation Radhika.
Narayan x
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I love the photos. Recently have visited Rishikesh.
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Dear Kritika, much appreciate your visit here, and i can really imagine how other-worldly your trip to Rishikesh must have been. I am longing to go there for sometime myself.
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The memories I have collected will be cherished throughout my life. I would love to stay there forever and am planning to.
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I heartily wish for you that you do reach there well and reside dear Kritika. And whenever it happens it will be nothing other, but a blessing.
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Thank you so much Sir for your words. Hope you too get to visit the place soon.
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Yes, i am wishing very soon. Thank you Kritika. Shall i also write mam to you?
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Ah no. Narayan would be great from end 😀
Do post about your visit to Rishikesh. I would love to read it.
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Thank you so much again.
Narayan x
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My pleasure always 🙂 x
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Love your descriptions, definitely draws me into the forest!
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Jennk, lovely to have you here, and your words. Welcome. And i appreciate your kind comment here.
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Thank you so much again.
Narayan x
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What a very beautiful place, wonderful clouds. But how very sad about the couple that died. I hope you have stayed well.
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Caro, thank you for your kind comment. Yes, it is going to be such a tale that where ever I or us, go someone or the other must have been affected by this pandemic.
I stayed very well, and you will see in the coming post the jungle, the cottage and the divinity which even called westerners like Carl Jung, Bob Dylan, Cat stevens amongst few. You would love it i know.
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Thank you so much again Caro
Narayan x
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The forest is lovely, as are your captures. I am sorry covid took such a toll on this beautiful place.
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Dear Cindy, thank you for your always welcoming and kind comment. And what to say about the corona and its effects on people.
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Thank you so much again for writing.
Narayan x
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Amazing pictures!
The pictures of clouds are my favorite.
Best wishes.
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Dear Chaya Ji, thank you so much for your warm comment. I had to update the post again and importantly captioned them for visitors convenience.
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Much appreciate your presence here as always. Thank you.
Narayan x
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This short tale of your walk through the woods is enchanting, Narayan because apart from the atmosphere of this beautiful place, you have described it so eloquently, that I could smell the earth, the freshness of the air, added by the excellent photos of the fascinating sky.
Although, how you have achieved such a result is a mystery since you walked looking up at the unusual shapes of the clouds. Playing flute could have some creatures following you, and that would be a story to tell. I hope that you will take us again into this forest as I think there might be more things to be found in the village, apart from this magnificent-looking halva and refreshing chai. Good to hear that people are no longer suffering from the virus.
Thank you, Narayan, for taking us away from the realities of the depressing news,
and into Nature, the healer.
Joanna x
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You are so accurate my dear Joanna, as indeed playing flute has given me some experience which only an instrument player can understand. I am not at all good in first place but know a couple of times when cows and sheeps starting following me.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words Joanna, as this was only an introduction to the forests of Almora, a place known for swamiji’s abode here.
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The shape of the clouds only guided me to follow a pattern and light towards a ridge, where many decades ago, Bob Dylan himself must have played under these trees, and probably similar forming clouds. Thank you Joanna, for your uplifting words.
Narayan x
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My pleasure, Narayan, but write some more. And you are right about cows being interested in music, as it was noticed that cows in the field close to a music festival moved to the side of the field where they could listen to performances.
Just one suggestion here: I am sure that we would, your readers (as cows are not reading your post) love to have a video of you playing your flute. Could you oblige?
Joanna x
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my dearest nature, i am no good a musician. But i will take that suggestion and whenever it shall happen, i will share.
I cannot miss the pun and the humour you do and say words with. Have a great day dearest.
Narayan x
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These photos of the forest are beautiful. What interests me is that the people in the photos are so clearly from the other side of the world but the playground swings , slides and ladders could be anywhere in Ontario or in Florida where I am now. They seem to be universal.
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You are so right dear Anne. Somewhere our world is coming towards a certain level of similarity. With airports, shopping complexes, malls, most state buildings and architecture and now even parks. Really cannot decipher if it is exciting or is it the death of curiosity.
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Thank you so much again dear Anne.
Narayan x
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Wow you would have got an amazing experience. Excellent 👍
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Padamja, thank you for your curious comment. It was an important visit and i did enjoy it of course. This post also comes as an into to the article that is coming next week where we will travel to somewhere very important, not only for our eyes and body but for the spirit.
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Thank you so much again for writing Padmaja. Much appreciate it.
Narayan x
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What a beautiful walk!
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Dawn, early dawn it was.
And thank you for walking together, Dawn!
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This is beautiful Nara and I so love your reaching beyond always to follow your bliss and share it with us.
💖💖💖
“For a tiger or two, or certainly a bear might arrive. And as always. I left.”
And stunning pictures! 💖
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You yourself know how the intuitions work dear Cindy. Most kind. Thank you so much.
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Yes indeed my friend! Always messages to trust and follow-:)💕
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thanks for this walk through incredible India Nara
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A pleasure dearest Ananda, thank you so much.
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My heart beat very fast this morning as I looked at your gorgeous photos, Narayan. The clouds, the tall pine trees, the playground in the middle of the forest, and the photo overlooking the gorgeous town all are enchanting! How poignant the photo of the empty house where the people died of covid is! The abandoned house is such a concrete and visual symbol of worldwide suffering and death. Thank you so much for this inspiring post! ❤
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Why was your heart beat so fast dear Cheryl? I hope looking at the forest corrected it soon and well.
Its going to be long summers if everything goes fine dear Cheryl, and i hope to bring many a forests for you from the Himalayas.
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Thank you too, for always inspiring with your words.
Narayan x
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What a sweet walk. Your descriptions are wonderful and drew me right in. I’ve spent some time in Rishikesh and love that part of India.
Alison
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Dearest Alison, very aptly. it was a sweet walk. Rishikesh is divinity flowing itself everywhere. It makes me very happy to know that you remember those feelings and memories with the places. You like it here, India. I feel that.
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I love India. It’s a very special country.
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And the most beautiful aspect is that it lend her love, and speciality to each one who loves her.
Thank you so much Alison. I hope Don is doing very well.
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Thank you so much again.
Narayan x
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xo 🙏🙏
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Beautifully written, Narayan. As always you capture not just the sense of place, but the mood, and the culture. It was a pleasure to walk with you.
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And it is a pleasure to have you walking along, always. I really wish that someday you sit and really plan to come over for sometime.
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nice one, Narayan!
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Thank you for walking along dear Charly.
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Your words paint such a beautiful picture and then those pictures are divine images, in their own right.
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It is your kind observation dear Amrita. It is only delightful to have you here, as it allowed me to read about your painterly carved life.
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Thank you so much again.
Narayan x
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Lovely pics, Narayan – brought back some great memories. The swings are intriguing, as is your narrative, always – mysterious and intriguing!
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Thanks Hitha, the one who understands is, in equal part mysterious and intriguing. Ain’t it!!? 🙂 Hope you are very well. Wishes.
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Excellent photos! Thanks for sharing 😊👍
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Thank you Priti, It was indeed a beautiful walk.
Narayan x
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You are welcome 😊👌❤
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Around 20 years back I had visited Almora, but I had not realised then the place was so beautiful. Your eyes and camera capture the things so beautifully. The pictures are mesmerising. Thank you, Narayan ji, for bringing Almora live.
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Twenty years is a long time Kaushal Ji, given how fast the world has changed around us.
I will be happy to take you along on another post soon, on Almora and around.
It was indeed a beautiful day Kaushal. Much thanks for your appreciation.
Narayan x
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You’re right, Narayan ji, change is inevitable. Every time I visit Varanasi, I find some new things. Thank you. Looking forward to your next post.
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“I asked the way, while they were themselves finding theirs.” — I like this phrase of yours a lot. There are quite a few life situations to which it applies. Neil S.
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Thank you for coming Neil. Pleasure. And yes, it indeed is a very complex and in some ways deeply metaphoric. I am happy that you wrote.
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Thank you so much again.
Narayan x
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Clouds sure bring me joy. The perfect quilt to sleep under or summer’s day nap of a fantasy world yet to be explored. 💜
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Perfect Quilt to sleep under. Such a beautiful comment K. Lovely to have read on your blog that you have taught on so many continents. So many memories, thank you so much for this gift.
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Excellent description over Almorah.
I wish to visit the place.
All pictures are fantastic 👍☺️
Let’s see when I can see through my eyes.
Take care
Regards 😊🙏❤️
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Dear Arun Ji. Please ask Swami Vivekananda to grant you rather allow you to come to Almora and Kasar Devi Temple. I am certain he will then make sure that you visit and pray.
Thanks ver much for your kind words Arun Ji
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Yes Narayan ji 🙏
It is true that Swami Vivekananda will grant me and allow me to go to Almorah. I have heard about the place from my close friends 😊
Let’s see when the call comes.
Take care 😊
Regards 🙏
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Absolutely Arun Ji. Regards.
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☺️😊🙏
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