A Wild Inspiration- Living Root Bridge, Cherrapunji, India
As a nature lover, how
can I miss the living miracle of Nature?
Though our journey was
planned during the dry seasons at Cherrapunji, I knew I could make it easily only
during that time. Though not my first experience trekking, We, 8 of us,
youngsters planned the trek. Rest of the travelers planned for sight seining in
cherrapuji.
I loved the walk down
the steep steps leading down to a village in a valley & crossing a river
walking through the iron bridge which was hanging. It would have been an
exquisite sight in the monsoon as now it had little water and a blue pool with
a tiny fall.
Peoples' perceptions of
things vary. Though you are optimistic, there is always this thought in our
minds what if we could not make it? The day before our trek was planned, I
heard several people tell me that it is going to be risky. The trek route was
explained and we were given instructions not to carry much things. As nature
& adventure lover, I didn’t listen to what people said. I was determined to
take the trip.
The Journey:
The guy at our resort
drew a map of the trek explaining the route. There were a couple of single root
bridges, villages, natural pool with a double deck root bridge, Natural rainbow
pool (which we didn’t go due to time constraints)
We began early in the
morning (by 5:30 AM) from the resort we stayed and the driver took us to some
place nearby, a 15-20 minutes’ drive. Enjoying the sun rise, we began our trek
down by 6:05 AM. We were offered sticks and a guide also accompanied us. There
were around 1500 steps leading down to a valley were there was a village. From
that village were 2 routes. One in the right leading to a single root bridge
& the one in left leading to double deck Root Bridge naturally set up in
front of a small water fall. We marched towards the double deck root bridge. On
the way to the double deck bridge was another single root bridge, crossing
which was a small chai (tea) stall.
Now was a small climb up
leading to the wonderful sight of the double deck bridge. I am not good at
expressing my feelings while I look at nature. My mind becomes blank. Actually
no thoughts crosses that I fail to even listen. I capture those shots in the
camera of my mind. Then slowly coming to presence, I started taking pics with
my friends walking around. Few walking on the root bridge, few getting in to
the water falls, few enjoying the chillness of the water while my brother
Ganesh Anna (Vignesh Chaithanya ji) simply seated on the huge rock near the
falls and enjoying the sight calmly. The tiny waterfall had a natural pool
with ample water for us to have a chill dip. The water was crystal clear. The
fishes, black pricked my legs. I spent time accompanying them, and sooner they
started accompanying me, softly pricking my feet.
The bed of the pool were
covered with small pebbles and the crystal clear water hid the depth. The water
again fell down and ran as a canal. Above this second fall is the double deck
root bridge. The tree living for centuries, had created a bridge with its root,
letting people cross. Nature is wonderful.
The wild Inspiration
Taking few dips standing
in middle of the pool, enjoying the cold water which normalized sooner with my
body, with sun shining straight at me, peeking in between the two root bridges,
I had few moments of oneness with nature. There are lots of learnings from the
MASTER GIVER- NATURE. Everything in Nature is a GIVER. All the Pancha
Boothas: elixirs of life- Land, water, air, space and fire are all
GIVERS.
The root bridge which
stood in front of me, a miracle, also taught me how to be independent and
strong. It built for itself crossing the river, letting out its root, strong
enough and helping people walk through them. So, to help others, to be a giver,
we need nothing but to be STRONG and INDEPENDENT. No one can stop you from
being a Giver. The art of giving with expecting nothing in return is to be mastered
from the Nature.
The root bridge dawned
in me this thought to be a GIVER. Do I need to have something to give? I
questioned myself? To give love, I guess I need a good heart. Rest will happen.
When I am determined to be a GIVER, the universe will respond back, I thought. The
nature aided the formation of the bridge by itself. Nobody helped it. The tree
in itself had the capability!
Also, when I master
myself, out of which I will learn to be calm, I can stay where I am peacefully.
The feeling of oneness with nature will bring me peace of mind, inner peace, and
fulfillment. I can be a giver and be where I am. Period.
Though we exploit nature
by all means, it stays calm. It does not hurt us back. It expects nothing back
in return. The SELFLESSNESS.
Post the dip, we had a
quick change of clothes and started back skipping the rainbow fall. The guide informed
us that it is another 20 minutes trek to the natural swimming pool where one
can see a waterfall with the rainbow falling into it. Due to time constraint
& as we had elders travelling with us who were waiting for us in the
resort, we skipped the trek to rainbow falls and started walking back to the starting
point. The climb up was little tedious. We took a small break at the chai stall
were we had our breakfast which we carried with us form the resort, had good
chai and walked up the steep steps. The sight of the hills, valleys, rivers,
waters, trees, fruits, and fascinating flowers gathered our attention. We took
pics & selfies, groupies and slowly climbed back to the starting point. We were
back by 11 AM. I totally enjoyed the trek and immediately made up my mind to
take up more such treks and also to make it to rainbow falls during the monsoonJ. Hope someday I will.
We must look for means
to thank nature. At the least we must make sure we don’t harm them, exploit
them.