Viha Dixit
The bus wound up the mountain roads as Nainital came into view. Pixie pressed her face to the window. 'Is that the famous lake? It looks like someone dropped a giant mirror in the mountains!'
Noddie consulted his guidebook. 'Naini Lake is named after Goddess Naina Devi. Legend says her eyes fell here when Lord Shiva was carrying her.'
'Eyes fell here?' Pixie made a face. 'That's both romantic and slightly gross.'
At their hotel near Mall Road, they dropped bags and headed straight to the lake. Colorful boats bobbed on emerald water while tourists haggled with boatmen.
'Boat ride?' a weathered boatman called out. 'Best price for beautiful couple!'
Pixie blushed. 'We're not a couple, uncle. Just travel partners.'
'Even better,' he grinned. 'Friends have more fun!'
As they paddled across the lake, Pixie trailed her fingers in the cool water. 'This is so peaceful. I can actually hear myself think for once.'
Noddie pointed to surrounding hills. 'Seven hills surround this lake - Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi-Bandi, Naina, Alma, Lariya-Kanta, and Sher-Ka-Danda.'
'Show off,' Pixie laughed. 'But seriously, how do you remember all this stuff?'
Early morning at Naina Devi Temple, devotees climbed steep steps carrying offerings. Pixie huffed behind an elderly woman who moved faster than her.
'Aunti, what's your secret?' Pixie panted.
The woman smiled. 'Fifty years of mountain living, beta. You city people need more practice!'
At the temple, Noddie explained the significance. 'This is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Very sacred for devotees.'
Pixie rang the temple bell enthusiastically. 'I'm asking for good weather and no more uphill climbing!'
'That's not how prayers work,' Noddie chuckled.
Later, at Snow View Point via ropeway, they soared above treetops. Pixie gripped the cable car seats. 'Why does every scenic spot require defying gravity?'
'Because the best views come after the hardest climbs,' Noddie replied, surprisingly philosophical.
From the top, snow-capped Himalayan peaks stretched endlessly. Pixie stood mesmerized. 'Okay, this was worth the terror. Look how tiny everything looks down there!'
They shared hot chocolate at the viewpoint cafe while Pixie took selfies with every possible mountain backdrop.
Mall Road buzzed with tourists and locals. At Sonam Fast Food, they ordered famous Kumaoni dishes.
'What's Bal Mithai?' Pixie asked the vendor.
'Local sweet made with khoya and coated with white sugar balls,' he explained proudly. 'Nainital specialty!'
Pixie bit into the brown cube suspiciously, then her eyes widened. 'This is incredible! It's like chocolate and condensed milk had a mountain baby!'
At Mamu's Sweet House, she insisted on buying boxes for everyone back home. 'I'm becoming a Bal Mithai ambassador!'
Tibetan Market offered colorful woollens and handicrafts. Pixie immediately zeroed in on prayer flags and singing bowls.
'These will look perfect in my apartment,' she declared, bargaining with a Tibetan seller.
'Your apartment already looks like a souvenir shop,' Noddie reminded her.
'Exactly! I'm maintaining a theme!'
At Eco Cave Gardens, they crawled through interconnected caves. Pixie emerged from Tiger Cave with dirt on her clothes. 'This is like an adult playground! Who knew caves could be fun?'
'These are man-made caves designed to mimic animal habitats,' Noddie read from the information board.
'Don't ruin the magic with facts,' Pixie laughed, heading into Panther Cave.
At Bhimtal Lake, larger and quieter than Naini Lake, they found peace away from crowds. An island temple sat in the middle connected by a small bridge.
'This feels more mysterious than Nainital,' Pixie observed, watching fishing boats drift silently.
They visited the small aquarium on the island, India's first fish aquarium. 'Even the fish have better mountain views than most people,' Pixie joked.
Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat) required a horse ride up steep paths. Pixie's horse, named Raja, seemed to have his own agenda about speed and direction.
'Raja, we're supposed to be friends!' Pixie negotiated with her stubborn mount while Noddie's horse trotted obediently ahead.
From Dorothy's Seat, named after an English artist, the panoramic view included seven lakes scattered across the valley.
'Dorothy knew what she was doing picking this spot,' Pixie said, finally dismounted and relieved to be on solid ground.
At Sakley's Restaurant for their farewell lunch, they ordered the famous pastries while reviewing trip photos.
'Look at this progression,' Noddie showed her pictures. 'Day one you looked terrified of heights, now you're posing on cliff edges.'
'Mountains change people,' Pixie replied, stealing a bite of his chocolate pastry. 'I feel braver somehow.'
'Braver, or just more reckless?' Noddie teased.
'Both! That's what makes life interesting.'
On the bus back to Delhi, winding down mountain roads, Pixie clutched bags of Bal Mithai and local handicrafts.
'I'm already missing the cool air,' she sighed, watching plains approach. 'And the boat rides. And those mountain views.'
'Missing the mountains or missing the adventure?' Noddie asked.
'Missing the version of myself that exists in places like this,' Pixie said thoughtfully. 'The one who tries new things and talks to strangers and isn't afraid of cable cars.'
'That version travels with you everywhere,' Noddie smiled. 'You just need the right destinations to let her out.'
'Then we better start planning the next trip,' Pixie grinned, already pulling out her phone to research new adventures.
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