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The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.

Skywatch Friday - Mountains and the Sky


Lush green, pine-covered mountains extend till the horizon, while the snow capped peaks are hidden by the clouds.... this was the typical scenery as we travelled across Almora and Binsar.

For more skies around the world, go to Sky Watch Friday


Comments

  1. Wish I could see the snow capped mountains, at least that would have brought some coolness to escape the sweltering heat here.
    Was it cold there?

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  2. Those moutains look so inticing..wonderful photo...hope you enjoyed your adventure!

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  3. @Chitra: the weather was good early in the morning and in the evenings... afternoons were really hot , but of course, nothing as it is here! it was,after all, summer! you too should go sometime.. the sight of the snow capped mountains is wonderful, but even better if you go to those mountains themselves....

    @smalltown RN: thanks.... oh yes, we did ! it was just too wonderful!
    and i saw the sunrise pics in your blog! wow! what was that dark thing?? did u find out??? it almost looked like a whirlwind in the sky!

    @J Bar: thanks....and your pics are great too! the moon looks awesome!

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  4. What a beautiful scene. I would love to be standing there gazing at that!

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  5. Beautiful, soft and mystical atmosphere here in these mountains! Lovely photo!

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  6. Mountains are so refreshing! Beautiful picture.

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  7. The place looks so beautiful and inviting! Almora and Binsar are the names now added in my TO VISIT list :-)

    Pixellicious Photos

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  8. Snow capped mountains- always makes me sing the age old tamil classic song- Pudiya vaanam, Pudiya boomi- engum pani Maalai poligirethe---

    I loved the snap.. :)

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  9. @CarolynL thanks...... it was really great, looking at the wide expanse of mountains....

    @Greyscale territory: thanks a lot!

    @Mridula: thanks.....

    @Kcalpesh: yes, you should certainly go! would love to see what you come back with.. pics i mean!

    @muthu: oh yes..... these are places which surely make you sing!

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