When you reach Mcloedgunj which is around ten kilometres from Dharamshala, take an auto rickshaw which will take you to Dharamkot. As the Deodars flank the road and you enjoy the bumpy uphill ride, do look onto your right side....you will find the snow clad mighty Dhauladhar Ranges. If you strain your eyes a bit more, you can distinguish the thin stream of crystal clear waterfall at a distance. After the fast paced (similar to a James bond in a rickshaw) ride which lasted ten to fifteen minutes, the gaddi (nomadic tribe of Himachal) will ask you to pay Rs. 50/-. As you are smitten by the whole arrangement of things around, you care not bargain for a few rupees. Make peace at Rs. 40/-.
Standing amidst the hills on all sides, you remember phrases from your Class III text book....in the lap of Mother Nature. The clamour of birds might break your reverie however, its already time to move on. Take the muddy downhill path on the right of the huge round water tank(built by the Britishers). You won’t get confused about the path as there are footsteps of hundreds of travellers who came before you, unless you are visiting the place in peak monsoon. When you arrive at the foot of the sloping path, you might want to curse the person who gave you directions as there are only houses around with no road or muddy path further ahead. Make your way forward from the verandah of these slate roofed, pale green houses. Be careful lest you might step on tiny polka doted shit strewn around. Walk around the golden hay stacks and brown coloured cows tied to the crooked wooden poles in every house. The mountain air, chill, will be filled with smell of cow dung; the fragrance fresh mustard crops and the gentle aroma of wet soil. As you go past the slated verdah and step down the thatch and mud stairs, properly smeared with fresh cow dung, you will be welcomed by a patch of open field. Short green blades of pahari spinach on either sides of a twirling dusty pathway provide you with the exotic hilly terrain experience. On a lucky day, you might encounter the long tailed languor basking in the sun, on a branch on Tirmar tree. After crossing the concrete bridge which is about two meters long and totally incongruous to the scheme of things around, you have to climb narrow trail hidden by monolithic grey boulder. Get down towards the right of the constricted path and as soon as you see the two concrete single storey houses , thank God. Enter the second house(on your left side) by pushing the frail iron gate with creaky hinges. Walk towards the compound area and relax on the off white plastic chairs. Order your favourite pizza with the topping of your choice. As the pizza might take sometime, enjoy the view with a hot lemon and honey drink. You bet it that this homemade pizza with the freshly prepared dough and baked in the ancient clay oven, served after an hour, dripping with best of cheese available can beat the dominos, the pizza huts,the Tropicos, the Da Giovanni, the Basilico, the Moche's,the jazz by the bay...etc. etc. etc
Lip smacking, yummy, scrumptious, delicious, mouth watering...and all the synonyms fail to define the experience.......
Bon Appetite !!!