CANOPY

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 ...

  26 November 2019: The odyssey begins It was a special day as I arrived at Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneshwar. Emotions were high as my batchmate and close friend Rohita Kumar Lenka greeted me with his effervescent giggle and hugs at the arrival gate….we were meeting after a gap of pretty long five years. The occasion was spiced up by the wonderful smiles and reception placed forward by three of my Officer Trainees Tatini, Ashutosh and Mohan. Little was I aware of the great experience that awaited me in Odisha in the coming seven days. Tired I was, but a sumptuous meal at Tatini’s home, just elevated the energy levels. The multiple dishes on the table got even tastier with the motherly love generously sprinkled over the platter. By evening, I was accompanied to Lingaraj temple, a visit to which no pious tourist would miss in Bhubaneshwar. Bright yellow incandescent lights lit up the massive group of rock carved temple into an ethereal sight full of divinity. As we walked bare fo...