CLOUDS OF CHAUKORI, HIMALAYAS

Cloud watching was of great interest when I was a kid. Father used to show us various shapes in clouds, a pouncing Lion, an elephant trunk and head, profile of a bearded man etc etc. I used to be amazed. Slowly that habit vanished as I grew older.

But when I go th the mountains, far from the madding crowd, things are very different, watch sunrise and sunset, ( God willing and weather permitting), keep on looking at the dazzling peaks far away, spot all known stars at night, study plants and try to recognize them from books, look at birds etc.

If it is cloudy, specially if cloud is forming , try to find out various shapes and see them changing and vanishing.

Here are some photos of clouds, taken during sunrise. The peaks were covered with cloud  and could not be seen. So we looked the other way after a bed rum. These photos were captured by my nephew Arnab and my younger brother Ujan.

The last photo is my prized collection. It was shot randomly..but later when I looked at it, I suddenly realized as if Goddess Nanda Devi has streched her hand to bless us...Amazing feeling 

Goddess Nanda Devi  streching her hand to bless us.

NANDA KOT

I have been planning to upload some photos of great peaks in Nanda Devi range. I had mentioned names of some of the peaks in my Blog on Nanda Devi.

Here is another beautiful peak Nanda Kot. You cant miss it while travelling in Kumaon. The chisel edged flat face peak is so prominent from all places!! Unlike Nanda Devi, which is very difficult to see from most places, Nanda Kot is always visible form all the places.

Before proceeding further let me introduce the peaks around Nanda Devi. When you travel in the Hills, no one including locals can tell you the names, simply because they never  bothered to know.

The picture below shows the peaks and the names. Click to enlarge

The picture below is taken from Choukari and you see this view from the tourist lodge all day. Note the chisel edge characterstics of Nanda Kot 

SUNRISE

The pictures are arranged as the sun moves up from the horizon.

1. Before sunrise, the sun is still below the horizon, the tourist lodge lights are on. Nanda Devi twin peaks are to the left and Chisel edged Nanda Kot to the right.

2. the first rays on the peak.

3. Sun spreads

4. Now the lesser mountains have received sun, the lonely Oak tree is also glowing in early morning sun.

5. A  zoomed up shot

AS THE DAY ADVANCES

6, 7, 8

SUNSET

9. photo was taken a day earlier, when there was no bright sunshine

10. Evening is setting in

11. The crimson color is developing

12. This photo was taken some times in 2005 , when cloud started building up.

OTHER LOOKS OF NANDA KOT

The peak looks different as you travel away from Choukari towards west. But it maintains its chisel edge. These are few samples, shot far away from Choukari.

This photo was shot from Kausani, quite far away and with 500 mm zoom. The peak came out of the cloud for seconds only.The peak infront of Nanda Kot is Nanda Bhanar ( to be confirmed from authentic source)

CLOSE UPS

As explained under Nanda devi, close ups are quite deceptive, they look good in photo, or through telescope. You wont see this without optical support.

SUNRISE

LATE MORNING

SUNSET