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If you haven\u2019t seen Kanda, you haven\u2019t truly seen Uttarakhand.<\/p>\n
(Travel Memoir by Prof. S.S. Dogra)
\nNestled in the serene lap of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand, the village of Kanda in Champawat district was not just a tourist spot for me\u2014it became an experience that touched my soul. Famous for its mesmerizing natural beauty and unmatched hospitality, this hill village became my home for 15 unforgettable days (from March 31 to April 14, 2025).
\nDuring my stay at Kavya Homestay, I was warmly welcomed by my host Madan Singh Bohra and his affectionate family\u2014his wife Heera, son Vansh, and daughter Vanshika. Their simplicity, warmth, and sincerity left a lasting impression on me. Their grounded lifestyle, honesty, and spiritual perspective made a deep impact.
\nMoments to Remember:
\nEvery day brought something new\u2014a fresh lesson, a new exploration, and a little adventure\u2014whether it was a social interaction or a walk through nature.
\nA Humble Gift to Knowledge:
\nI donated a few books to the \u201cGlobal Library Project\u201d\u2014a small gesture, but one that gave immense satisfaction. Knowing that knowledge and stories would now reach more hearts and hands was deeply inspiring.
\nThis moment became even more special with the presence of renowned social worker and author Geeta Gairola, the vibrant Rang Karwan theatre group, and some tourists from Mathura, who truly appreciated this spread of knowledge in such a remote place. The growing Kanda Global Library, where people from diverse backgrounds come together, beautifully proves that knowledge knows no boundaries.
\nEducational Connections: Moments of Joy, Learning, and Bonding
\nSpending time with the little children at the Anganwadi center was truly heartwarming. Their smiles and curiosity reminded me that the seeds of learning must be sown in early childhood\u2014with love and care. Then came an interaction with 32 students of Simlata Primary School. Their enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge were heart-winning Later, I held a workshop at the Government Higher Secondary School, Fungar, with 81 students. This wasn\u2019t just a class\u2014it was a conversation about life, education, and the power of asking questions. It lit sparks of hope and awareness in young minds.<\/p>\n
Connecting with the Community
\nMeeting the 14 energetic volunteers of Rang Karwan\u2014Tarun, Pankaj, Nirmala, Lata, Ankit, Neeraj, Rahul, Sachin, Kiran, Gopal, Himani, Sangeeta, Uma, and Gunjan\u2014was unforgettable. Their creativity left a lasting impression. A special lunch hosted by them added joy to the day. Our deep conversations on literature, theatre, education, and cultural movements were immensely enriching and inspiring.
\nCurious Walks into Nature
\nThe 5-kilometer trek to the Champawat Tea Gardens was a delightful experience. I was joined by seven local schoolchildren\u2014Vansh, Aastha, Vanshika, Aryan, Mayank, Praveen, and Priyanshu. Their energy and curiosity made each step memorable. Amid lush trees, towering hills, and refreshing mountain air, the tea garden view was spellbinding\u2014an incredible blend of learning and nature.
\nA Spiritual Experience
\nVisits to sacred places like Goljyu Devta Temple, Koli Dhek Lake, Baleshwar Temple, and Swami Vivekananda\u2019s Mayavati Ashram filled my heart with peace and purpose.
\nUnforgettable Companions
\nTrekking through dense forests with fellow travelers from Mathura\u2014Mukesh ji, Naveen Paliwal ji, and Tapan Saxena ji\u2014was a joyful and enriching experience. Their companionship added color to the journey.
\nFurry Friends \u2013 The Playful Companions
\nMystery and Motu\u2014two adorable dogs\u2014became my everyday companions. Sometimes running ahead, sometimes quietly sitting beside me, they brought a playful, innocent joy to my trip.
\nIn Nature\u2019s Embrace
\nWhether it was visiting Bhasmasur Fort, the peaceful lakes and waterfalls, or local camping\u2014every experience felt like a dream. Bathing in the village pond, relishing traditional meals, and living close to nature gave immense peace to the soul.
\nSpecial People, Special Memories
\nSo many individuals made this trip precious: Suraj, Sundar Singh, Ganga Singh, Pawan, Prakash, Neeraj, Nitish Rai, Nisha, Soni, Devendra Singh Rawat (Branch Manager, Nainital Bank), educators Anju, Manju, Babita, Nirmal Pandey, journalist friends Chandrashekhar, Lalit, Girish, Sanjay, Ganesh Datt Pandey, Geeta Gairola ji, Rewa ji, Surekha ji, retired teacher Jayaram ji, and Tara ji. Each of them added a unique charm, turning this journey into a lifetime treasure.
\nA Glimpse of Village Life
\nI got a chance to closely observe local life\u2014walking through farmlands, visiting polyhouses, understanding solar energy systems, and living in harmony with the birds and animals. It was a rare privilege to witness the simplicity of mountain living.
\nHow to reach:
\n\u2022 By Road: Easily accessible via scenic hill routes from major cities in Uttarakhand.
\n\u2022 By Rail: Nearest railway station is Tanakpur\u2014from there, you can travel via Champawat to reach Kanda.
\n\u2022 By Air: Closest airports are Pantnagar and Pithoragarh, with taxi services available.
\nWeather that Soothes the Soul
\nThe cool, pleasant weather doubled the joy\u2014exploring during the day and stargazing at night. The rustling leaves and soothing sounds of waterfalls created a unique space for reflection and inner peace.
\nA Journey Engraved on Heart and Soul<\/p>\n
Kanda isn\u2019t just a place\u2014it is a living painting of peace, culture, and deep human connection. It calls you to pause, breathe deeply, and rediscover the beauty of a simple life.
\nA heartfelt thanks to Madan Singh Bohra (a government-recognized tour guide), whose knowledge, warmth, and hospitality made this journey unforgettable.
\nAs I bid farewell to this mountain paradise, I carry not just memories\u2014but peace, purpose, and a deep sense of belonging.
\nKanda doesn\u2019t just welcome you\u2014it finds a home in your heart.
\nAnd yes, I shall return.
\nA couplet to leave you with:<\/p>\n
“Let the journey of life keep moving forward,
\nDestinations will begin to shape themselves.”![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG-20250417-WA0083.jpg?resize=640%2C365&ssl=1\")
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you haven\u2019t seen Kanda, you haven\u2019t truly seen Uttarakhand. (Travel Memoir by Prof. S.S. Dogra) Nestled in the serene lap of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand, the village of Kanda in Champawat district was not just a tourist spot for me\u2014it became an experience that touched my soul. Famous for its mesmerizing natural beauty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[14,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","category-top-stories-of-madhesh"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG-20250417-WA0077.jpg?fit=1080%2C809&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS11m-1nV","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5327"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5327\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/himalini.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}