Visit to Nainital

 Nainital is always a treat to visit. To me it is also associated with childhood memories. I studied in 6 th and 7 th class in 1966 and 67,  here, when Dad was posted in the border area in the army and families were not allowed. We had stayed near my grandfather in the Nainital club,an old Colonial structure made of wood and an imposing structure with large number of rooms, with huge dancing halls,  and open spaces covered with green lawns. Unfortunately it was burnt down and a monstrous brick structure has replaced it and my heart weeps when I see it in the place of the grand old structure which  stands tall in my memory. During our childhood, we would walk down  to the flat, listen to the music being played on the bandstand. The major attraction was Capitol cinema Hall and Ashoka where we would go to watch the films of yesteryears. During exam test results a visit to Naina devi temple was a must.We would also go to the bazaar to watch the Ramlila during Dusherra. So this trip was like catching up with those memories though every thing looked changed now. I enjoyed roaming around this new Nainital, visiting some old and some new places like the jungle cave newly opened for tourists from natural rock formations. I wandered around the Bhotia market enjoying the hawkers with their wares but hardly any tourists to sell them to. We took a boat ride in the Naini lake of which we were in such awe as children and had heard such stories about what was under the lake. It is sad to see manyof these boatmen out of business with hardly any tourist taking  the boat rides. Indeed a beautiful trip filled with nostalgia. We stayed at a hotel called Swiss Villa which is a heritage hotel established in 1937. It must have been a beautiful hotel earlier nestled amidst the jungle but now lots of buildings have sprung around it and most of the forest surrounding it have been cut. Though the interior is still beautiful and has been modernised the exterior is not much to boast of. Indeed a beautiful trip down memory lane.