Nine years ago, fifty wonderful people gathered at Abbotsford Estate, my heritage homestay, tucked away in a quiet corner of Nainital for a literary weekend curated as the Abbotsford Literary Weekend - now known as Himalayan Echoes Literature Festival. Flowing seamlessly amidst the sylvan setting of Himalayan cypresses dotting the landscape, under the shade of the grand old oaks and the scented Deodars were words of poetry, shared wisdom, and gratitude towards the living world.
The ambiance and its inheritors for the day seemed enrapt with the colours of Kumaoni art, the rhythmic of folk dances of the Cholia warriors, the telling trials and tribulations of life in the hills and the resilience of mountain women in shaping the landscape of Kumaon. The mystic presence of the Himalayan Gods and Goddesses brought alive in esoteric avatars far removed from reality added to the surreal literary journey steeped in Himalayan heritage.
These curious and evolved individuals travelled to Nainital not just to enjoy the weather and the quiet charm of the woods. They wanted to unravel the stories and spirit of the mountains. They travelled miles to capture moments that would add to their repository of the numerous experiences that life has in store at each blind turn one takes.
If you have not experienced the mountains, you have not tasted life.
Experiential travel has moved beyond a niche. The tourist is keen to explore the Himalayas, clambering over commercial pursuits of travel. An untrodden path off the beaten track into the wilderness opens vistas of wildflowers and untouched fauna. Authentic hand-crafted textiles woven by mountain village women artisans under local cooperatives and self-owned award-winning brands like Peoli, keep sustainable practices alive and free from exploitative practices of the industry.
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