Halfway through - we at Adkuvari

We were enjoying the surroundings while walking. Rain was keeping us a company. We started walking by about 12/30 pm. it was past 2.00 pm now. wWe saw ahead that there were no shops ahead after half a kilometer.  We took a halt for a cup of tea. in this hour and a half we covered little over 2 kilometers. Total climb to Adhkuwari is six kilometers. Some rest and refreshing tea recharged us. Enhancement in energy level was necessary in this chilly, rainy afternoon. We were walking continuously, yet cold was biting. We resumed our climb, still the gradient was low. In next one hour we covered another kilometer and half. Now there were no shops around. We had tea in a small outlet of shrine board; from here real climb has started. On some of the bends it was really steep. Neha is asthmatic from childhood.  Her physician was not in favour of her climbing the hills, but she was determined. We kept the pace low to ensure she is comfortable right from the beginning. We decided now to take about 500 steps in one go and then wait for some time to ease heavy breathing. We realized that we have climbed a significant height.

It was 4.15 pm. I was feeling hungry. There is a wash room, tea coffee stall and a restaurant at every half a kilometer on this road. These facilities are provided by shrine board. we decided to take a break. This restaurant had a scenic view compelling to take a snap. Restaurants run by temple administration provide very economical food. These outlets have a short menu. It has three rice dishes with rice namely Rajma rice, kadhi rice and dal rice. Each had a price tag of Rs. 40/-. There was Puri bhaji for Rs.25 and tea and coffee at Rs 7 and 10/- each. We decided to taste different varieties at every meal. We were there for about 30 minutes. After this good rest and relaxing time spent, we started our walk. About half an hour later I realized now Neha needed a short break to regain her breath every 300 steps. 

The hills were magnetic. Whole atmosphere here was radiating supernatural force. Devotees of various age group, gender and physical condition were climbing up and down happily. They were encouraging each other with a chant of "Jai Mata Di". The power I felt was a culmination of inspiration from nature, Devotion of pilgrims and force majeure (Daivi Shakti)). With heavy rains, biting cold, increasing steepness of climb and reducing oxygen in air nature was taken a test. Yet Mothers attraction and power was giving us strength and enthusiasm to overcome all odds and continue climb. In this transcendental state we reached Adhkuwari by 5.30 pm. 

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Me and Neha At Adhkuwari