{"id":6798,"date":"2017-04-05T09:32:07","date_gmt":"2017-04-05T09:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asoulwindow.com\/?p=6798"},"modified":"2022-12-27T16:54:25","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T16:54:25","slug":"offbeat-weekend-break-from-delhi-village-walk-to-kafura-in-mukteshwar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asoulwindow.com\/offbeat-weekend-break-from-delhi-village-walk-to-kafura-in-mukteshwar\/","title":{"rendered":"OFFBEAT WEEKEND BREAK FROM DELHI: VILLAGE WALK TO KAFURA IN MUKTESHWAR ."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A casual walk in the villages of Kafura, Peora, Nolikan and Sonapani<\/strong> in Mukteshwar treated me with more surprises than I had anticipated. Out of these, I spent most time in Kafura. As I left Leela Orchards Home Stay<\/strong>, Sona Pani in Mukteshwar, within minutes I arrived at a cemented path way leading to the village. Thick forests of pine trees dotted the either side of the path way. A pair of birds<\/a><\/strong>, which I was unable to identify, sat atop a tall tree, filling the otherwise calm looking jungle with their shrill calls. The pathways were flooded with dry cones and dry leaves of pine trees. People from plains take these back home for decoration and other such frivolities. People from the village use the dry pine cones and leaves for bonfires and fuel for cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Me amidst pine trees in Kafura village near Peora and Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

DO YOU KNOW THE USES OF PINE TREE?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Extraction of resin from a pine tree. In Kafura village near Leela Orchards Sona Pani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A mysterious object<\/strong> on the fringes of the path-way caught my attention. It was an unpolished metallic cone, smooth from outside, coarse<\/strong> from inside. I picked it up, trying to understand its purpose. Nearby, I saw some cuts on a tree. \u201cAn assault by a black bear?\u201d<\/strong> I asked myself. A bear has no sense of design. A bear can\u2019t scratch a tree in faultless symmetry.  A bear won\u2019t stick a cone under the cut, eh! Turned out, the cones were the collection bowls used to store the resin dripping from the cuts of the pine tree. The cone is not tied but inserted in the cuts, the resin binding it naturally to the tree. The resin thus collected is used in making adhesives like Fevikwik<\/strong> and paints. A cone typically fills up within 20-30 days. Sometimes acid is applied to the cuts to hasten the process. I picked up a discarded metallic cone from the ground as a souvenir<\/strong>. Perhaps, I will make it a pen holder or a tooth brush holder and remember my trip every-time I use it. I didn\u2019t know that pine trees produced resin. Mostly the much romanticized pine trees are actually disliked by the locals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the traditional house in Kafura Village near Peora and Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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Me lying on a bed of dry pine needles. On my way to Kafura near Peora and Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

LYING DOWN ON A BED OF PINE NEEDLES AND SAYING HELLO TO GOATS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving a little ahead, I came across a bed of dry pine needles.<\/strong> These are slippery and can cause a fall during trekking and hikes. I made a pit stop and decided to lie down on the bed, close my eyes and put my olfactory and hearing senses to work. Expecting it to be itchy, I was surprised to feel its soft, smooth texture under my back. A brief rest later, I was greeted by a herd of goats.<\/strong> I sat down on a rock. A credulous calf came running to me and buried his\/her nose in my palms, looking for roti<\/em>.  The adult goats grazed at grass dispassionately.  \u201cRoti maang raha hai.\u201d,<\/em><\/strong> (The calf is asking for roti<\/em>) the lady shepherd told me in her indecipherable speech. It was hard to communicate with her due to her speech impairment. Though verbal communication was irrelevant! The lady handed me over some roti<\/em>. The adult goats abandoned their pretense and rushed towards me<\/strong>, competing with the calf for that small piece of cooked wheat paradise. I have never tasted grass, but I am sure roti<\/em> tastes better than grass. What did they say\u2026.The Roti<\/em>\u2026err\u2026.grass is always greener on the other side.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Breaking a roti<\/em> with goats with the lady shephard. On my way to village walk in Kafura. Near Peora and Leela Orchards Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The pine forests gave way to a clearing. The cemented path-way disappeared. The large open field was utilized well by a gang of boys playing cricket.<\/strong> I turned left and discovered visually delighting paths. Big sized white stones were half buried in mud, making it perhaps, useful in the season of monsoon. Sometimes, the path was accompanied by walls of stones placed above each other. My most favourite part was<\/strong> when it took a U shape. The white peach flowers, the lone traditional house in the distance, the local women sitting and chatting made it all the more atmospheric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The U shaped path to Kafura Village. Near Peora and Leela Orchards, Sonapani Home-Stay, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CONNECTING WITH THE LOCALS OF KAFURA, MUKTESHWAR NEAR LEELA ORCHARDS, SONAPANI. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Bonding with local kids in Kafura Village near Peora and Leela Orchards Sonapani, Mukteshwar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u2018Jai Shree Gorakhnath Devta\u2019,<\/em><\/strong> the board at a temple read. The brown exterior of the temple was complemented by a riot of pink peach flowers<\/strong>. The flowers were in abundance and added drama to the already picturesque views. I am told, people from all over the village come here during jagar<\/em><\/strong>. Dagariye<\/em><\/strong> come and sing in the night. They convey people\u2019s problems to Gods. Every village has their own. \u00a0While I was immersed in silently admiring the yellow and pink flowers, rows of houses atop a mountain in the distance, the sounds and smells of the place, three shy village kids<\/strong> were staring curiously at me. \u00a0They would hide and seek, giggle when our eyes locked, unaware that the backdrop of the lovely village<\/strong><\/a>, their home, is making them all the more charming. A casual walk in the villages of Kafura left me with more memories than I had anticipated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The view from my #SoulWindow is<\/strong> PICTURE POSTCARD PERFECT!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The picturesque temple in Kafura Village. Near Peora and Leela Orchards Sonapani, Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FAQ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n