Poanta Sahib

India has held a spell over me, and without doubt, captured my fastidious attention even after umpteen global trots. India 🇮🇳 definitely has a mystic appeal.

Back in the days, I was lead into that ultimate hearth chase. I lived in a place called Poanta Sahib in the year 1996.

Weather is mostly pleasant there with light fog settling around the river side every morning. Monsoon showers make everything lush and within minutes the surroundings seem like heaven on earth. The echoing valleys are a gateway to many awesome places and views.

Those hillsides — with their deep  valleys are laborious enough to climb but all else is so freshly pristine, with the river Yamuna eagerly meeting brooks in a melodious stream and then passing by into a hurried haze. Seeing it from a level of spectrum it all comes through with a peaceful, spiritual vibe.

That perfect scenery can take anybody under its spell.

And, out there, stands this small town Paonta Sahib, bordering humongous mountains at its periphery ; with boundaries stretching between two worlds-- one with its foot in the real and the other far into the summits of mountains.

Time spent in such regions is like looking beyond discrete lines to finally hit common grounds of joy and relief.

Within moments somebody can feel brand new especially after bathing in its radiant sunshine and sparkling waters.

And with this essence in the presence of time, I was headed towards that town, where people were resolute to bear the heaviest burdens cheerfully. They remained calm and devout, almost truthfully and ever more so unfalteringly. If , then , I felt long lost and confined to some distant scheme of things, it was purely because I was brutally lost temporally or ever-more-so, totally ignorant geodesically; tucked away in my own closed sub-space of switching realities. The possibilities of life soaring high was all set before me. I readily casted away inhibitions and followed through this path. Located on the banks of Yamuna  river and surrounded by Himalayan mountains, this region was held ,and fervently revered for its' spiritual reverie; giving it an gentle ambiance, reverberating mystic rhythms all around its' near vicinities. Ever since the days of the yore, at most, this sort of living, resonated as beginning of beginnings.  It has increasingly precipitated a monastic- asceticism in its making. I found myself instinctually gravitating towards this native tendency to accede to the vesper calls of spirituality

Staying in such surroundings, where everyday acts gave expression to intimate solipsism. Thinking of it, I still long for those singing matins residing in those gentle trebles of the early dawns' sightings. Those ancestral traditions longstanding in the never ending cycles of sacred gleams ; all this come back to mind. Right there, concurring its ethos to all plausible means are the Himalayan ranges stretching up to the Nepal -Tibetan frontiers. This is a land in which the essential spirit of the yogis are nurtured in the metaphysical mindset, and for times immemorial, this place has emancipated itself by looking upon the past with a rationalistic shared meaning.

In its essence, the present connects to the past ,and note worthily, transcends into 'morrow with its own inner workings.

That’s “Poanta Sahib,” all that is naturally good and fully deeper in its faith, proceedings and belongings.

And here, in my case, my fresh fruitful impulses are drawing me into echoing whispers of wisdom, spangling me into an age which sits  on perpetual splendors of immortality. And scrimmaging through this passing evolution of evolving miens, I feel caught up in a false sense of identity. This, in turn, has almost invariably turned me into an unrecognizable alien; distinguishably as both unbelieving and unyielding—an entity entirely left to feel nothing with no holdings to any tidings.

This article stirred its lingering effects upon me,  as though I still perpetuate somewhere in it. Perhaps, as a defter or wading off elsewhere, I am anyhow and somehow, once again living that moment in time.

And in such muddled sense of spurning knock -backs, I still exist.

And positioned so I listen to reason, pitching upon its own speculation, and wonder whether such a rumination is a prepossessed probe of profundity or was I conceiving its foundations in posterity then?

Either which way this throw back : whither, wherefore and whence, I seem to have continued to get drawn towards those irresistible feelings.

All this while, I have been living by the sole influence of the externalities in some distant land locked in its own laws. How could I possibly have been able to live so?!

And now, the impending reality, aloft in air,is looking at me, in the face.

A terrible awakening, which I have held no insight of, grappling ineffably by it.

But even in this age of AI influence, I often find myself reasoning that whether it would trivialize humanity. Yet, on the contrary , accustomed to seek major truths , I am determined to drive my tittering impulses to seek clarity with those inklings.

Partly, this is why I find myself journaling —quite silently, groping preposterously in many ways and often looking at the first prospect of knowing “who I was---exactly.

Early -late Awakenings: I was like proto-testing the dangers inherent in knowing things in advance of one's time and remaining quite indifferent to it, definitively.  

But echoes of the past still haunt me...

At Poanta Sahib —an oracular heaven seemed to have directed me. 

Staying there I was at strong purposes, as if, staging myself for the future to unfold this mystery. The call in question is —Have I been  a passive witness or Is my conscience recanting and reckoning that mysterious happening. That's just it --an absurd hint. Some idea or the other bubbled there. Spiritually, It was more nor less of an inquiry shaking its hands with the almighty.

Following is an AI generated guide to Paonta Sahib, a sacred Sikh pilgrimage town nestled in the state of Himachal Pradesh, borders the neighboring state of Uttarakhand. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River, it’s approximately 90 kilometers from Dehradun, India, and 40 kilometers from Nahan.

Paonta Sahib holds immense significance as the residence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Sikh Guru ) for 4.5 years. During his time here, he composed a substantial portion of the Dasam Granth. The gurudwara stands where he used to sit, serving as a testament to his profound influence.

The Yamuna River, which flows alongside the town, adds to its spiritual ambiance. Pilgrims flock to the riverbank to partake in holy dips, seeking blessings and rejuvenation.

Paonta Sahib exudes a unique blend of tranquility and vibrancy. It’s a place where the Himachali, Punjabi, and Jaunsari cultures coexist harmoniously, creating a rich tapestry of traditions and customs.

Visitors can explore various attractions within the town, including:

- Gurudwara Paonta Sahib: This magnificent gurudwara boasts a golden dome, a 24/7 langar, and a large sarovar.

-Gurudwara Shergadh: Located just 3 kilometers away, this gurudwara marks the site of Guru Ji’s stable.

- Gurudwara Tirgarh Sahib: Perched on a hill, this gurudwara holds historical significance as the location of battles fought in the past.

- Yamuna Ghat: Witness the serene evening aarti, where a spiritual fire ignites, creating a calming atmosphere.

Surrounding Paonta Sahib are several captivating places:

- Nahan (40 km): As the capital of the old Sirmaur state, Nahan offers a charming hill station experience with its Mall Road, Rani Tal, and Chakkar.

- Dehradun (90 km): The nearest major city, Dehradun boasts an airport, ISBT, Robber’s Cave, and Sahastradhara, providing a range of attractions.

- Kalesar National Park (25 km):** Located on the border with Haryana, this park is renowned for its lush forests, diverse wildlife, and safari opportunities.

- Dakpathar (35 km):A picturesque picnic spot, Dakpathar offers a serene environment for relaxation and boating along the Yamuna River.

-Haripur Dhar (60 km):This tranquil hill area is known for its temples and apple orchards, providing a peaceful retreat for visitors.

Vikasnagar : 20 km | Market town in Uttarakhand, right across Yamuna bridge |

Quick Practical Notes

Weather: Hot in summer 35-40°C, pleasant Oct-Feb 10-20°C, monsoon gets humid

Food: Langar at gurudwara, plus Punjabi dhabas, Himachali siddu, and street chaat near bus stand

Language: Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari mix

Best time to visit: Sept to March. Avoid peak summer + monsoon landslides

People usually go to Paonta Sahib for a pilgrimage and then combine it with Dehradun or Nahan trip.

With that said , this write up sent me off to give a first hand report of the vibrations that came out of those  “other worldly,” realms.  Whatsoever it meant to reveal, it sure was mystical. One must immerse in such experience totality to understand the essence of it.

All I can say is this: If one has to resurrect and redirect one’s soul  from drowning in this tech age —then Poanta -Sahib is the place to visit.

Here are the links to some magical verses heard in those valleys :

https://youtube.com/shorts/bL2MjHpUJBM?si=2vOQtsewaoBGTaJU

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaMkYNay63G/?igsi=MTNidmdoOXQ3ZzZiYg==

https://youtu.be/KFKjYJFmPmo?si=3tdVuf3FlLdDlGl6