“From Office to Mountains: My Unexpected Escape in Lansdowne”

We always hear the names of hill stations mentioned. But very few people pay attention to this tranquil, green, serene, and quaint hill station named Lansdowne. Lansdowne is a picturesque and peaceful place located at an elevation of 1,706 meters near Kotdwar in Uttarakhand.

The town is named after Lord Lansdowne, then Viceroy of India (1888-1894). It now accommodates the command headquarters of the Garhwal Rifles regiment of the Indian Army. Dotted with tall green trees and towering mountains, Lansdowne's beauty and attraction lie in its simplicity and natural, non-polluted state.

While it lacks major tourist attractions, there is a viewpoint (Tip-n-Top), a temple, a museum, Bhulla Lake, and a lovely church. The energy and serenity of the location immediately lifted my spirits.

Yes, I have been to this gem, not as a casual trip, but on an official visit with one of my good office colleagues. She too, ended up having a great time—neither of us had expected that an official visit could end up being such a memorable trip.

Since we are both HR staff, this tour was for the recruitment campus/job fair arranged by the Kotdwar government. On that day, I experienced how we steal small moments of our official commitments and convert them into our individual getaways.

We boarded a train from Delhi at 7:30 AM and arrived at Kotdwar at 1:30 or 2:00 PM. This is the only direct train from Delhi to Kotdwar at that time. After arrival, we checked into our hotel and took a short rest. Then I thought, 'Why waste the remaining half-day?

Without any further delay, I hired a personal cab, and we set off towards Lansdowne, which is only 7–8 km from Kotdwar. The ride was scenic through green oak forests and blue pine forests.

We went to Tip-n-Top, the church, Bhulla Lake, and the museum, taking tonnes of photos at each location. The journey from Kotdwar to Lansdowne is half hilly and scenic. I'm sure I exhausted my whole phone memory on that day!

Lansdowne is an unspoiled place, picking up quiet popularity after the British era, and one of the most serene hill stations in the nation. There's something magical in the atmosphere—no tension, no honking of cars like Delhi—just serenity, quiet, and calm.

The next day, we visited the job fair and returned to Delhi. And since then, whenever a peaceful place comes up, the first name that strikes my mind is Lansdowne.

And here's one of my favorite photos from Tip-N-Top.

“A Mother-to-Be’s Heart Meets Homeless Hearts”

Whenever I see a dog—especially a stray—on the road or while going outside, my heart fills with sympathy and compassion towards them, whether they are dangerous or not. I have a kind heart towards them, especially puppies. I dearly love them.

I still recall when I was 8 months pregnant and used to take a walk after lunch with my colleagues. There was a tiny roadside stall where a woman used to sell essentials like tea, biscuits, and cigarettes to corporate individuals who went there for their lunch break, or what we corporate people term as the "chai-sutta" break. She also used to sell milk.

I would go to her stall every day at 1 PM—lunch time—just so I could feed milk to a litter of five little puppies and their mother who lived nearby. I would wait impatiently for 1 o'clock, and immediately after lunch, I would take my walk outside. As I was pregnant, everyone was excessively worried about me. They would say, "Don't touch them, they might bite," or, "They may trigger allergies, it's not good for you."

But despite their worry, I still went on and touched them, played with them, and fed them. I couldn't help it, but I  loved being around them. They did not belong to anyone—they were stray dogs with no home. Yet, the way the little puppies wagged their tails was like a symphony of happiness. a pure call of unconditional love.

They taught me something very special—how to love without conditions.

Even today, whenever I happen to see a stray dog, I attempt to assist by giving them food. I keep a packet of biscuits in my bag for the very purpose. Unfortunately, I also notice people hurling stones at them or getting angry. To them, all I have to say is: they hurt as well. Like us. So before you harm them, try to imagine how you would feel if someone hurt you.

I've always felt like doing something great for them, something like constructing a shelter, particularly for the winter. But due to a hectic lifestyle, duties, financial constraints, and lack of support, I couldn't. Yet, I feel that one day, I will initiate something good for them. Only then will my heart be at peace, only then will I feel I’ve truly lived as a good human.

Please, share kindness with animals as well. They are entitled to love just like everyone else.

A Special Bond

In 2023, I chose to celebrate my birthday in a meaningful way—by spending it with the lovely children at Rashmi Niketan NGO, Najafgarh.

Though late in posting, this is close to my heart. Rather than the usual celebrations, I had something simple but sacred in mind.  A trip to Rashmi Niketan was an exclusively wonderful experience. The children welcomed me with utter joy and pure smiles. We had a small cake and snacks and spent some time smiling and singing along.
Among all the beautiful moments at Rashmi Niketan, one that truly touched my heart was meeting this little girl, just 8 months old. Dressed in a soft pink outfit, with a smudge of cake still on her lips, she reached out and took my hand so delicately. That one little act filled me with a feeling I can't even put into words. Automatically, I cleared out my phone and took a picture of the moment.
There was something so innocent and pure in her eyes. She said not one word, but how she looked at me and hugged me created an instant connection.