15. Mayavati Ashram, Champawat Tea Gardens & the Beautiful Drive to Pithoragarh (23rd Nov 2022).

#roadtrip #kumaon #sleepinginthecar #vridhjageshwar #lohaghat #champawat #mayavatiashram #pithoragarh 23rd Nov, 2022, Wednesday…Day (15) Lohaghat-Mayavati-Champavat-Bisang-Pithoragarh (135 km). Road Trip to Kumaon, Day (15)…Lohaghat-Pithoragarh. After a comfortable stay at Hotel Ranjeet Palace, Lohaghat, we woke up fresh and ready for another day of exploring Kumaon. Our first stop was Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, barely 10 km from Lohaghat. Nestled at an altitude of around 6,400 feet, amid dense forests and magnificent Himalayan views, the ashrama offered an atmosphere of deep peace and tranquillity. Built for spiritual practice and meditation, it welcomes visitors to a gallery where silence and serenity take precedence—no cameras, no noise, just a moment to pause and soak in the calm. Next, we headed towards the Botanical Tea Gardens near Champawat, spread across rolling slopes with a watchtower offering lovely views of the surrounding landscape and the Himalayas. But the most memorable treat was an unexpected one! A lone, cute blue Maggi cart tucked inside a grove. The young fellow cooked us fresh vegetable Maggi over a wood-fired chulha. The smoky aroma and rustic flavour made it taste quite unlike the usual Maggi—simple, hot and absolutely delicious! After returning to Lohaghat, we drove a few kilometres along the Almora road to the entry gate of Banasur Fort, followed by a two-kilometre uphill hike. But the afternoon heat was intense, and Neeru wasn’t keen on the climb. So, we decided to leave the fort for another day and turned back. From Lohaghat, we continued towards Pithoragarh. The drive was beautiful, with winding mountain roads and captivating landscapes unfolding at every turn. We stopped a few times to admire the views, enjoying the journey as much as the destination. By evening, we reached Pithoragarh, checked into KMVN, and settled in for a relaxed evening. Another beautiful day in Kumaon—spiritual serenity, Himalayan vistas, smoky roadside Maggi and scenic mountain drives. Sometimes, the simplest moments turn out to be the most memorable! For more videos and travel stories, google "Sunil Azaad".