Zaid walks down the memory lane and revisits Nainital. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Some memories seldom do last forever. After abrupt planning we decided to visit Nainital. We were in a state of euphoria. However, as soon as we alighted from the car, we got so infatuated with the grandeur, beauty and the quietude of Nainital, that we were thrilled at the prospect of staying there for the next three days. We had a sketchy outline of our plan for the remaining days and selectively chose a location to shoot photos for our Instagram.

Some memories seldom do last forever. After abrupt planning we decided to visit Nainital. We were in a state of euphoria. However, as soon as we alighted from the car, we got so infatuated with the grandeur, beauty and the quietude of Nainital, that we were thrilled at the prospect of staying there for the next three days.

We checked into a palace-like hotel, which bore the name ‘palace’. We stepped in the palatial room with elite decor. We were besotted by the splendours of Nainital. This room bewitched us even more.

After relaxing a little, we freshened up. We were famished. We rushed for dinner, which was elegantly festooned with lights and motifs. It was tessellated with mosaics across the walls, catering multi-cuisines. We waited to savour the food but when it was served, we started devouring it instead. We were exhausted and slept like logs. We got up in the afternoon, past 12 noon. On the first day, a Friday, we were very keen to have a view of queen of lakes in the daylight, the night before, it was shrouded by darkness.

We were on Mall Road, among overcrowded shops, buzzing with shopaholics. Finally, we reached China Market, a blurry image has been in my mind for the last decade when we were in Nainital. It was time for boating at Naini Lake, which was densely wreathed in fog. The experience was tantalizingly indescribable. The mist rolling down the mountains and a soft drizzle of rain were beautiful. The ambience was mesmerising, making us feel as if we were experiencing spirituality. An exquisite experience.

It was time for boating at Naini Lake, which was densely wreathed in fog. The experience was tantalizingly indescribable. The mist rolling down the mountains and a soft drizzle of rain were beautiful. The ambience was mesmerising, making us feel as if we were experiencing spirituality.

We played lots of games, enjoyed a huge spread of food and shot appealing photos to embellish our social media profiles. A hotel, with elegant architecture, enticed us with its extravagant decor to the lakeside in a cafe. We sipped black expresso coffee under the spell of mellifluous English music. Though exhausted, the idea of cycling energised us. It was the last activity of the day.

Day three was slightly different when we visited Woodland Waterfall and then went for Himalayan Darshan, eight thousand feet above the sea level, which was indefinable. On the fourth day, we bid adieu to Nainital, in the morning.

Photos by the author and from the Internet