By Anchal Singhal
Ode to the Hills: Foraged Food Tales in Gushaini
Before I embark on the tale of why a quaint small town based in and around the Falachen river became my go to destination, every summer, its important I take you back to how I developed an ever lasting love for the hills.
Back in the days, where parents didn’t have to snatch smartphones from kid’s
hands, when the terms Facebook, Insta even Orkut didn’t exist; yes, that
unfiltered period was our teens. Summer vacations meant mother would pack us
off to maasi’s (aunt’s) house in Himachal and we had our ‘Secret Seven
Moments’.
Teenage memories often carry a special charm, and trekking through hills can
indeed be a transformative and memorable experience.
Exploring Nature, Creating Memories, and Unleashing the Spirit of Adventure
became our way of life every summer. The only gadget available being an old set
of video game with remotes on which Mario and Contra championships were held.”
In the age of screens and digital distractions, there’s a growing need to
reconnect with the great outdoors. A group of spirited corporate folks recently
embarked on an exhilarating adventure to the hills, breaking away from the
monotony of everyday life.
The adventure commenced with a convoy of excited corporates from diverse fields
boarded a Volvo for overnight journey to Banjar- Gushaini.
The destination? A picturesque hill range that promised breathtaking views and
the promise of untamed wilderness. As the wheels rolled and laughter echoed
within the vehicle, the anticipation of what lay ahead electrified the
atmosphere.
Only after reaching the belt did I learn about the multiple small trekking
points there- Chhui Waterfalls, Seroulser Lake trek, Sainjh Valley. The beauty
of the landscape is such that apart from these tourist points that locals guide
you to, there are also options to hike around in an apple orchard which belongs
to the homestay owners. We navigated through rocky terrains, and winding paths.
Each step was a triumph, and every pause offered an opportunity to appreciate
the natural beauty of peach and apricot trees surrounding us.
Now, coming to that one distinct experience which makes me revisit the belt every year. One can go on higher altitudes and pick morel mushrooms, buransh flowers (rhododendron) and lingad also known as lingda. The first time I had the insanely delish morel mushrooms was in a French restaurant in Delhi wherein the owner had quoted that in big stores in the metros, this is one of the most highly priced vegetable. To put it colloquially, it gave me a kick, something for which other folks are shelling out 1300/- a kg, we are picking it up from under trees and making vegetable of it in the homestay. Same with rhododendron, these huge beauties when up on the trees are a feast for the eyes and when you pluck a bunch and bring them home, used as welcome drink and chutneys. Lingad, a unique fern is used as a vegetable dish or for pickle making. Largely, this non plastic life led by the locals is so admirable- pure milk of cows being reared in one’s backyard and fresh eggs coming from their pet hens; almost all day to day products. This unfiltered, far-from-chaos lifestyle enriched with the flora fauna makes the Tirthan valley a must-do experience for all.
