Story Behind The Mukteshwar Marathon

If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon. And once you have run enough marathons - organize one. That truly is a life changing experience.

Run Forrest Run

Yes, we run Marathons everywhere - Bhatti Mines (go Google it!), Shimla, Bangalore and the streets of Delhi, Mumbai and Gurgaon. But the idea of organizing a marathon never crossed our minds until Pankaj Wadhwa of Himjoli appeared.

Running for a reason

The motivation was simple. Chirag, a local charity in Mukteshwar runs a school and they needed some help with the fundraising. Could we help them raise money? And so the Mukteshwar Marathon was born over cuppas of coffee in the company of like-minded people. After all, aren’t folks always keen to run for a reason! In this case, they would be running at 2200 meters above sea level.

More Than A Day’s Work

Like I said, the idea was a simple one but executing it was a different job all together.  It required the ability to pull off a website, do promotions, take permissions and get marketing and fundraising done in addition to putting a whole range of logistics together. Fast forward 3 months, it’s the fifth day of May 2013 and the marathon is actually happening. There is a huge flex welcome banner, people are pouring in for the run, everything is set and in place. It’s time for the flag off.

Enthusiasm is in the air!

In the 3 months that I quickly fast-forwarded, we did everything that it takes to execute the marathon thanks to Pankaj, Anurag and the whole team of Chirag. We launched a website, asked for registrations, got permissions in place, did the route planning, organized everything including banners, posters, bibs and goodie bags etc.

The Kick Off

The Mukteshwar Marathon had two categories - Half Marathon (21kms) and Fun Run (5kms). Our theme was - Run at 2200 metres above sea level and run to help educate kids. The bib collection was organized a day before the marathon. We also organized a Kumaoni song and dance by the local school kids on the same day to bring a cultural flavour in to the event.

For a lot of people from the plains, Mukteshwar is a secret hideaway in the hills far from the madding crowds. It is a one horse town about 50 kms away from Naintal that on a clear day offers some breathtaking views of Nanda Devi. So if your idea of a holiday is to go out on lovely walks, watch the mist play hide and seek and enjoy chai and samosa, then Mukteshwar is the place to be.

On 5th May 2013, 7:30 am was the flag off time. Aid stations were all set with Gatorade, biscuits, water and all the good things that runners like. The volunteers were in position. As soon as Vihan waved off the green flag, 150 runners who had came from all over the country sprung to action in one of the toughest runs in India. The running route had some really mean looking climbs.  Our advice to all the runners was: Take it easy and take breaks to smell the flowers.  

All For One, One For All

We runners always knew that running connects people like how! But to see the way the Mukteshwar Marathon connected the natives, visitors, volunteers and the local administration to the love of running was simply amazing.

Thank you volunteers!

Three months before the event, this was just an idea. None of us had a clue on what it takes to organize a marathon. So, it was even more special to see it actually happen. It is like your idea has come to life and so many people all across the country have contributed to it. But none of this would have been possible if MakeMyTrip, B2r.in and Sure wave media had not supported us so generously.

For us Mukteshwar Marathon connected the twin love for mountains and running thanks to Himjoli Baba (as Pankaj Wadhwa is affectionately called). Now that the idea has finally taken shape and been received so well, we will be back with a bang in 2014.

Two Days & Ten Lakes

“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer”, some great philosopher had once quoted.

As I was sitting at my desk pondering how to make the best out of the coming weekend, this quote was the perfect catalyst to set my tripper soul on yet another adventurous expedition. I’d made up my mind; I was going to visit my hometown, Nainital. But this time it wouldn’t be the usual lazing around but an adventurous trip in search of some undiscovered places. I convinced four of my colleagues who were desperately looking for an opportunity to break away from the concrete jungle, and here’s how it went:

Geared up for a two-day vacation, we threw our bags in to the boot of a monstrous Ford Endeavour and landed in Sattal after a seven-hour long drive, cruising on the highway which, as I remember, was nothing short of an off-roading adventure; a usual thing on Indian roads.

Garud TalThe refreshing native mountain breeze beckoned me to go trekking in the woods as soon as I set foot in Nainital, but my fellow travellers dumped the plan as they weren’t in the best of spirits after the nauseating drive through the winding hilly roads and extreme hairpin bends. As I had trudged these roads throughout my childhood, I was fit as a fiddle to take this opportunity to explore some unknown hotspots, and I chose to begin with Garud Tal. A small lake which is a part of Sattal, Garud Tal is unheard of by most of the tourists (and many locals, for that matter). After clocking 27-odd kilometres amidst lush green forests, I reached Garud Tal. I must confess with all due respect to their bloating stomachs, my fellow travellers missed out on some scenic beauty. The lake has an air of serenity and tranquillity around it, and the nearby Christian Ashram adds to the feel of this location as an exquisite hill station from the British times. I personally love places like this since most hill stations have lost their charm due to heavy commercialization in the recent years.

On the way to SattalThe next stop for me was Nal-Damyanti Lake, a small natural lake in which King Nala is said to have been drowned. This place is considered sacred by the locals, and is also the home of some conserved species of fish. The drive to Nal-Damyanti Lake was a gruelling task because of a landslide on the main road, which meant driving through the wilderness to reach the Lake. Although I tried to put my mind on admiring the scenic beauty, at the end of it all I was still thanking god that I got an SUV along; there is a reason why I was happy to own these fuel-guzzling monsters, after all. Exhausted, I called it a day and drove back to the resort, where my friends awaited me for an evening full of song, dance and partying. The day ended on a good note, and we all went to bed a little early as we had to tour 10 different lakes the next day.

Naini LakeWe started off with a full round of the Naini Lake on a paddle boat. We then drove down to Sattal once again, as I haughtily guided them around the seven different lakes (including the two I discovered on the previous day) as if I knew them forever! These lakes are situated almost adjacent to each other, and each one has a story behind it, which is very well rehearsed even by the little kids to be seen around the fast food joints and chaiwallas in the area. We stopped for some kadhi-chawal and kheer at Sattal, which the locals refer to as a “speciality”, even though there’s no apparent reason behind it. On our way back, we covered Naukuchiatal, the nine-sided lake and Bhimtal, which has a picturesque island in the middle of it.

At the end of this 10-lake tour, we were all a happy lot of travellers as my friends got an excellent tour of the lakes with a driver and a guide that came free of cost (well, almost!), and I got the chance to discover some secret destinations around my hometown, which I can always boast about!

Naini’s 6 Points Of Contact

Let’s face it – Nainital is no mountain hideaway. Unless you visit it in off season, it is crowded, noisy and dirty, milling with the very people you wanted to escape when you drove off from your urban abode. But don’t be disheartened, the good thing about Nainital is that it offers all the trappings of civilization while nestled in the beautiful Himalayan landscape. Simply follow these 6 golden rules and you will come back relaxed and happy.

1. Boating
If you stand facing the Naini lake and filter out the honking of the cars, you will be enchanted by the splendour of the landscape. The sapphire lake lies at the foot of verdant mountains, dotted with psychedelic sail boats. Hire a boat for yourself and set sail. You might prefer the paddle ones if you like privacy but there’s nothing like sailing in the company of oars with a boatman regaling you with ancient anecdotes. Sail boats are another option.

2. Thandi Sadak
The Thandi Sadak runs opposite the Mall, on the other side of the lake and is everything the cluttered mall is not – quiet, scenic, pictorial. It offers a quiet walk by the dappled lake, little joys of beautiful Kumaon.

3. Kilbury Get away from the crowds and head towards this beautiful region that offers picturesque treks, amidst thick groves of pines and deodars, offering a great view of the snow peaks. This is maidenly Nainital, which the British made their summer capital and which Jim Corbett talked about so fondly in his books. Pack a picnic lunch and indulge in some bird watching.
4. Heritage
Visit the church of St. John in the Wilderness. Built in 1844, the church showcases typical Victorian architecture, built in stone with thick walls and stained glass windows. The altar inside the church is inscribed with names of the 1880 landslide victims. When at the Flats visit the Gurudwara here, resounding with the peaceful strains of the Shabad Kirtan, an oasis of tranquility in the teeming Tibetan market. The Naina Devi temple at the edge of the lake is where the lake and the town get their names from. It has thousands of bells strung all over the complex by the devotees.

5. Nainital at Night
Get away from the mall as dusk falls and stand facing the lake from Thandi Sadak, or even the Tibetan market. The opposite hill looks strung with fairy lights and the twinkling is reflected in the lake, making the place look like a fantasy world. The picture will always stay with you, long after you have left Nainital.