FOREST OF THE GODS
The ethereal deodar forest of Devalsari T all trees of deodar extend their boughs high up towards the blue sky in devotion. The forest is so dense that it gives an ethereal feeling to the lesser mortals like me. As we drove beyond Thatyur – a small sleepy Himalayan town – the narrow and endlessly winding mountain road along the Paaligaad stream took us to the northern aspect of the mountain beyond Bhangseel village carpeted by thick and green forest dominated by deodar trees. Botanically known as Cedrus deodara , the word deodar means ‘tree of the gods.’ Rightly, the very imposing architecture of the tree implies a sense of heavenly descendance. Leaving our car behind near Pujalda village, we take a short walk of about half-a-kilometer to the Forest Rest House that could be as old as 95 years! Excited as we were, the sight of a yellow throated marten ambling through the scrubs and bushes was a surprise welcome gift for us. The trail through bushes of Prinsepia utilis, Berberis chitria