On a cold early Sunday morning, CATS set their paws at Nepli Forest only to be greeted by a huge lock at the entrance to the Nepli Gate. Apparently CATS had beaten the expectations of even Mr Ishwar Singh (Dy.Conservator of Forests & Director Environment-Chd Admin.), who had thought that we would be arriving after 8am or so!
CATS had sprung yet another surprise :-)
However, since Nepli Forest is where we CATS had cut our teeth, we decided to march on till the appointed guides caught up with us. Another reason to keep marching was that it was the only way to ward off the bitter cold, stop our teeth from chattering and falling on the trek! Cold it may have been, but the onset of dawn in the wilderness left us all speechless. It was as if the sun rays were fighting through the leaves and branches to reach us and warm our hearts.
Another interesting incident happened. The headcount just before leaving for Nepli was 47. However, when the headcount was repeated at the gate of Nepli, surprisingly were 48! Whilst I was still scratching my head and going through my lists, CAT Rahat suggested that perhaps one of the expectant CATS had had one bump too many on the road to Nepli, resulting in the additional CAT :-)
Jokes aside, the addition we later realised was that one of the regular CATS had brought a guest with him, who's name was scratched on the reverse of the registration sheet. With all in order, we marched ahead, recognised some familiar bends and of course the old well where we had had tea with biscuits and water from the well, all courtesy Mr Ishwar Singh. We were back at our patch and we were served ever so courteously by the staff of Nepli Forest.
Thereafter we went off our path a little once again to reach Hawa Mahal where we decided to have breakfast, which was quickly followed by a quick session of 'Nach Balliye', without music of course! Check out our videos if you have missed the action :-)
Then came the final leg of the trek, from the last Watch Tower towards Kansal Log Hut. It was a magnificent view from the top. A beautiful log hut set in pristine gardens was a view to die for. It was hard to imagine that we were in Chandigarh. This was a face of Chandigarh, unexplored and unexploited. Nepli is full of flora and fauna, quietly waiting to be touched and felt and admired. Something which would have never been experienced by the ones who arrive at Nepli in their climate controlled cars, get their minions to fetch sustenance to fill their bellies, yawn, belch and then head back to their cars. Nepli is beyond the beautiful Log Hut or Inspection Hut. Go and explore it for yourself.
The youngest of the pack was CAT Aman (6yrs) and whilst the eldest was CAT Daljeet (56yrs). I would also like to make a special mention of CAT Vansh (7yrs), who had started crying on the trek and wanted to go back. Since there was no way to head back and all temptations seemed to be failing to convince him, I had made a promise to write about him in the blog. Not sure if he actually understood what I was offering, but it seemed to have worked! Not only did he start walking again, but he thoroughly enjoyed himself along the way. He was even found making Christmas tree with dry grass at the Kansal Log Hut :-)
After resting their paws a little, CAT Dilawar got the younger ones together for 'Spoon n Potato' race. This was followed by the elder CATS getting their concentration in order. Can you imagine how daft we were? We ran for the prize money - A bag of potatoes!
If this was not silly enough, we indulged in a game of 'Dog and the Bone' where CATS of all ages played together, divided into two groups. I will let you see the videos to see what transpired there :-)
With this, I sign off the Nepli-Kansal trek.
CAT Supreet
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