ABHA (About Best Himalayan Adventures) – July 2019

steps connecting the temple and the

lake. The visitors were locals. There were

a few narrow short steps. The simple

tiny temple attracted believers. The fish

converged at the steps as soon as the

visitors dropped free fish food in the lake.

The remaining periphery was clean and

vacant. The surface reflected green, pale

blue, and gray hues and glittered under

sharp and bright afternoon sun. The

water was neither stagnant nor swift. Dry

leaves leisurely floated on the surface.

Wind gently patted the water and created

soft ripples. The fish came to the surface

to breathe, creating bubbles and moving

water in concentric circles. They pirouette

and wheel. Occasionally birds flew close to

the surface in search of a prey. Traditional

village houses and crop of wheat stood

around the lake. The rustic periphery did

not have any stalls, vendors, or any type of

market machinations.

Opposite the steps, the prime spot on the

periphery, a huge tree partly covered the

lake. The shady canopy provided favorable

ambience for gossiping and biting and

slurping ice cream. Under thick canopy it

was cool and comfortable, no eye squinting

required. Small- say six inch or slightly

more or less long- delicate orange, pink,

red, white, and brown fish swam under the

canopy. A few medium size fish, say one

feet long, occupied the area near the steps.

Teenage boys played cricket near the

lake. Appearance of an ice cream vendor

carrying a big dirty white thermacol box

full of unbranded or local brand ice creams

doubled the joy of kids playing with water

along the quiet and empty periphery. Kids

ran after him and suggested he should go

to their house. School kids passing by the

lake also followed the ice cream vendor

for a cool icy bite even though they wore

maroon uniform sweaters.

I walked around its full periphery that

neither had boats nor fishing nets.

Actually, navigation is not required.

Fishing is prohibited. According to locals,

the lake is linked to a narrow channel in

front of the mini temple in Gaithan. On the

contrary, fish of the two waters are quite

different. There was no bright colored

fish in the channel covered with a widely

spaced iron mesh. The channel had too

many fish like scores of prisoners stuffed

in a cramped space.

Gaithan is not very far from the Badhani

Lake. In fact, Gaithan comes first and then

the lake, but we stopped at the former on

return.

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Volume 4, Issue 1 | June 2019