So i woke up early, around 7, (That's early, mind you!) and started off to my destination. A quick auto ride took me to Mango bus stand, where a half-loaded Ranchi bound bus was dutifully waiting near the gate. 70 bucks from my wallet gave me a place in the boxy vehicle (the seat wasn't very bad, considering I slept through most of the journey). It takes 3.5 hours to cover 2.5 hours in this part of the country, I realized today; It was nearly 12 when I finally disembarked at Ranchi bus depot.
The plan was to take a rick to Dassam or Hudru falls, whichever was closer (read cheaper). Here came my first shock. On my questioning, the autowala solemnly scratched his head, perhaps trying to stimulate the underworked brain cells and said - "Reserve jaana padega - Che so rupaye lagega!"
It was my turn to scratch. with a hung face and dampened spirit I walked off in search of cheaper conveyance. After much questioning and haggling one kind-hearted autowala suggested that I pay him 550 and take a trip to Jonha instead of Dassam or Hodru, as it
is nearer and on my way back I can see another falls called Sita falls. I took the offer.The roads of Ranchi are good at one thing. They make you remember. Coupled with the bad suspension and a broken seat of my hired auto, the effect of the numerous potholes was magnified like a pic through a fish-eye lense. Thankfully, it lasted only till the city limit was crossed.
Then began a jorney through the open expanses of the fated Indian countryside. It is winter, so greenery was hard to find. For miles I could see dull yellow fields of god-knows-what and dull grey dwarf mountains in the background. The road, lined with high canopy trees, undulated through this terrain, on which our auto struggled and screeched to keep pace with the racing hands of the clock. I took a pic as my pilot took a 'break'.
The scenary changed after about quarter of an hour. Dry and bushy jungles
cropped up on both sides and the road became more like a series of tsunami waves frozen in time.Then came high hills and deep abysses. the auto struggled on, and we kept moving closer to the falls.
After an hour and a half's herculean effort, our auto reached Jonha Falls and I stumbled out and stretched my screeching limbs and joints. It was a nice spot, at the foot of a hill, which we had to climb and go over, shady and serene. Some local people were playing the drums and singing. there were loads of tourists and picnickers though.
the descend into the gorge, guided by my dutiful autowala was a painful affair. I always though climbing stairs was tough, descending wasn't. How wrong I was. The view from top was blocked by trees, but still I managed a few snaps at the nearly-dry rockbed below.
After a knee bending (literally) journey down the steps, accompanied by the incessant chatter of my autowala, we reached the rock bed. It was dry mostly, as this is not the season for gushing foams and spray, but was a pretty sight after all. And the whole place was abuzz with activity. Small knots of picnickers, children and women, bathers, sunbathers, the place was a collage of multicolored dresses and faces.
We walked around the rock bed and went to the point where the water tumbled down volubly. I sat on a rock and wetted my feet on the cool, gushing water. It was soothing and gentle on the tired feet. We rested for sometime before starting the hardest part of the journey, the climb back to the top.
It drove all the air out of my lungs and made me feel like I'm trying to br
eath through a bunch of wrestlers sitting on my chest. My legs were visibly shaking by the end of the climb. It isn't that bad usually, but we were in a hurry, so we didn't have the luxury of taking rest in between.On our way back, we took a distant look at the Sita falls. It was much higher and the gorge much deeper, but some locals advised us to not venture into it. It was deserted and wasn't safe even in daytime. Wild animals, and naxalites... I took a few pics and started on our way back.
the return journey was more or less the same... I found some nice sunset shots near a local village where my autowala took one of his pit stops. It is a nice countryside that we have in this country...
A quick snack at Ranchi bus stop and a snoozing journey back home. My solitary foray into nature was over!
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