We as a family are almost always ready to travel, be it far; be it near. When the lock down happened last year, we were stuck. So, as soon as the lock down was lifted, we decided to travel.
This time everything was different. Where to go was a big question? Staying at the hotel sounded scary.... and the amount of stuff we had to carry to ensure our safety was beyond comprehensible.
In the end we decided to go to this village, a 11 hour drive, from our home in New Delhi and located far away from Amritsar, Punjab. Although it required huge planning and we were scared to our wits, it was the best decision ever.
The drive in itself was exciting and scary at the same time. Stopping at a restaurant, using the washroom, everything was a tensed affair, sanitizing thru each and every step and wearing our masks on the whole time, we crossed Amritsar city and entered the countryside.
Now villages are a very different genre altogether, every one looked at us as if we were aliens wearing masks!!!! but then social distancing is not an issue here. With each hut already situated at a distance from the other, and not being dependent on online sites or shopping malls to deliver them vegetables milk or daily necessities, we found that the villagers were Atmanirbhar (self sufficient) in their own way.
So, this is not a commercial farm or village setting that you can just drop by and visit. And for the best reasons I do not plan to reveal the name of the place. Set amidst of lush wheat and sugar cane fields; local dairies rearing cows and goats; camels and bullock carts carrying heaps of wheat and produce, it is as close to nature as it could get. The village has a small cluster of shops selling day to day items, a school, a handful of religious places and neatly thatched huts strewn in between.
None of us ever stayed or visited a proper farm so the whole trip was exciting for all of us.
Even though the sun was setting by the time we reached, we decided to explore the farm. My son had never seen ducks, rabbits and geese, pigs and cows all reared at the same place before and he was at complete awe.
Sunset at the farm was such a relaxing affair, you could see the birds flying off to their nests. Each animal guided to their coop for the night, all fed and ready for a sound nights sleep.
Nights at the village are very different, everyone retires to their sleep early and the sounds of crickets, owls and bats are all you hear. Slow, relaxed and soothing.
Mornings are different too. The animals are all up before sunrise. Spending the morning with these sweet creatures and watching the sun rise in the horizon is very refreshing. You get that quite time to think and reflect.
It is always fun to feed the animals. Almost all are hungry after a long night and need water and food. After everyone is fed, it is time to open their coops so that they can venture out freely.
We decided to explore the farm during this time. The fields all harvested and waiting for the next plantation. Garlic, spinach, fenugreek all grown in neat rows.......
There was also a grape wine :) The gooseberries and the lemon trees full of fruits. Every part of the farm ..........full of trees and shrubs....filled with fruits, birds, squirrels, butterflies and bees. All existing peacefully; nature, human beings, animals and birds. To my son's amusement there were three beehives at the farm. Though he could not see the honey being harvested, seeing beehives in the natural setting itself amazed him.
In the evening we lit bonfire and grilled. It was as rustic as it could get.
The next day we decided to visit Harike Wetlands. It is the largest man-made wetland in Northern India. It came into being after the construction of the barrage near the confluence of rivers Sutlej and Beas.
The canals formed after the confluence consists of the Indira Gandhi Canal (originally called Rajasthan Canal - it is the longest canal in India), and the Haryana and Punjab canal. The Harike Barrage is a modern engineering marvel. The Nanaksar Gurudwara- Sri Hari Ke Pattan is also frequently visited by many. The Harike Wetlands boasts of a large concentration of migratory fauna and you can spot goose, woodpeckers, diving ducks to name a few. The wetlands are also home to a large number of turtles, amphibians and fish most of them unique to the area.
Once we returned to the village we had a simple, but tasty dinner consisting of roti and dal, and achar which was one of the most satisfying meals we have had in a long time.
The next day we were ready to head back to Delhi, though none of us wanted to return. We still long to go back to the village to lead the simple yet self sustainable life, filled with gratitude and peace.
Happy Musings
Tina
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