Day-1 – 5th April-2012
Delhi – Moradabad – Tanda – Bajpur – Kaladhungi – Nainital – Almora – Binsar (385 kms)
We started @ 0400 sharp from Noida and target for the day was Binsar Wild Life Sanctury.Delhi – Moradabad highway is good but driving on it before sunlight was not that easy due to 1 – Not enough sleep 2 -The central divider does not have bushes or trees to prevent the blinding incoming high beam lights from other vehicles 3 – Lots of medians in-between and someone or other keeps jumping in between (reminds me of the CEAT add – Streets are filled with idiots) so I drove rather at an easy pace of 70-80 which was slow considering the good road. The first stop was @ mc Donald’s Gazrola and the time was 0530 hrs.We had our breakfast and spend around 30 mins here. Solaris was about to arrive ; and as we all know when he comes things change ; things change for good as he brings light and camera loves light – The natural sunlight.
Apollo rises @ Moradabad 
The views along the highway were good too 
We reached Moradabad in no time and headed towards our next destination Tanda – Bajpur road. There was very little information available about this section of road but we chose this route as it seemed to be the shortest one. The initial 5 kms were good and then started the potholes and then soon after it was gravel only. The good thing was it was still early in the morning so very little traffic as the road passes thru some markets as well. The gravel road was bumpy but not that bad as well and we continues for another 10-15 kms.We came to a halt just about 8 kms before Bajpur when we saw that the bridge which we are suppose to cross has been shut down for major repairs.
On enquiry we were told that we have to go via kashipur ; which meant we will have to go around like a 30-40 kms to reach Bajpur.Not a good start on day one we thought but we found while talking few locals that there was a small link road which can connect us to Kashipur – Bajpur road in somewhere middle and we will not have to go all the way to Kashipur.We were happy after hearing this but the trick was that this small road was not meant for small vehicles like my Black Bull. You must have seen how the inner road which goes between the fields is. We didn’t had any choice so went thru it. After about 8 -10 kms we joined another road which was little better and this road connected us back to Bajpur.From here on the road was nice and nice views around.
Bajpur – Kaladhungi Road or should I say straight as an Arrow 
I rather went quickly through this section to make up the lost time.Soon we were at Kaladhungi and took the left turn towards Nainital.The road was among one of the best in this circuit. Well metaled and well paved with sign boards.
Kaladhungi – Nainital Road 
We stopped for tea break @ road side dhaba @ Khurpa Taal.Nothing much to see here but lots of resorts surrounding this taal.After the tea break we also went down the road for about 1 km detour to have a look. We saw the lake and turned around as out destination was Binsar and it was still far away.
Khurpa Taal view 
We reached Nainitaal around 1045 hrs and stopped to get few necessary items and cash and continued our journey towards Almora. Also we were looking for a nice place to have lunch, the scarcity of road side dhabas was evident as we did not found a single one till Almora.To make things worse the road to Binsar is a bye pass (Actually that’s good as you are saved from city traffic) and does not go inside the Almora town where we could have found good food joints. We filled up petrol in Almora and continued towards Binsar and the search for a place for lunch was getting stronger by each passing moment.
Almora – Binsar Road 
After we crossed one of the dusty sections on the road we stopped for a water break and mohit created this master piece on Black Bull’s bonnet.
Metallic wildlife 
We continued our journey and reached the Binsar WLS gate @ 1345 hrs, no lunch for us as could not find a decent place on the way. The first thing you notice here is the big wall which displays some figures and these were the figures.
Entry fees for Binsar WLS 
Binsar WLS gate 
Now this is something which we did not understood, if you are staying in Binsar KMVN why should we be paying to enter Binsar WLS.Anyways we paid the amount Rs.700 in Total at the gate to proceed.KMVN is 14 kms from the gate and the road is quite scenic. It’s not very well metelled at sections and steep at sections, but nothing to be worried about. Just keep at your pace and enjoy the ride.
Roads inside the Binsar WLS 
After about an hour we reached KMVN Binsar and checked in @ 0300 hrs.We had prior bookings done as the place is quite popular. One month ago, when we were planning for this trip, we saw that there were only 2 rooms available and before waiting further we booked one for Rs.1700.Although now we were 3 but and extra bed was arrange by adding Rs.600.The place is not cheap as you can understand, however the good thing is Breakfast and Dinner is included in it and it’s served in the buffet in common dining area.
KMVN Binsar front view- 
KMVN Back view- 
First thing we asked when we met the manager “can we get something to eat? And the answer was – a polite NO not before 1630 hrs when snacks are served. We ordered the snacks as if we had been starving for months. After about an hour we had our snacks and eat like there was no tomorrow. After the tummy full it was time to explore Binsar WLS, so we started a leisure walk towards sunset point.
Roads inside were filled with Rhododendron 
The rain gods were too happy and came down in full force when we were at about half way mark, but not before we say some amazing scenes formed due to cloud formations. We had to run back for cover to KMVN.
Heavenly rays formations 
For rest of the evening we spent inside the room as rain gods were gunning in full force. Before sunset the rain gods stopped only to give us some views.Interesting thing about this KMVN is that there is no light here. You get light only between 1800 hrs to 2100 hrs and that’s about it. Rest of the time use the candles , a different experience overall. We had our dinner around 2100 hrs and slept around 2200 hrs.The rain gods have decided to empty their tanks today itself so they continued thru the night. We slept in hope that tomorrow morning we will get clear sky and see what we came to see here. We have heard that views form Binsar KMVN lawns are amazing and voila when I woke up at 0630 hrs next day the sky was clear. Although we missed the sunrise but no problems we can still get some nice views around.
Good Morning Binsar 
And the views around were great 
A closer look
After spending some time enjoying the views we enquired about routes to Munsyari from manager. After the discussions it was decided that we will have to leave Binsar by 0800 hrs and take Bageshwar – Chakori – Thal route to reach Munsyari before Solaris goes to bed.Munsyari is around 200 kms from Binsar and I was wondering , if roads are good as they have been so far , why is everyone so skeptical if we can cover 200 kms in 10 hrs.After all I’m a certified ATD (All terrain driver) just joking. But I’m born and brought up Himachal so quite used to hill roads and driving on it since childhood , that’s why I was little surprised.Anyways we agreed to leave by 0800 hrs after the buffet breakfast , which was quite nice with lots of variety. On the way back mohit captured this nice scene on the road from the moving car.
Colors of Nature 
