My birthplace is a small city, Srikot located in Northern part of India. Being brought up in mountains, I have an intrinsic connect with them and they are so dear to me. I received my formal education in different cities namely Dehradun, Srinagar and Pauri but one thing was common, they all are mountainous regions with beautiful landscapes covered in lush greenery and river Ganga flowing through their hearts.

I have also visited many other cities surrounded by mountains & established on them only. My village also is one of the places established on hills. I really love the feel of mountains, friendly and simple people engaged in small occupations, fresh water, rich flora and fauna, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, winterline, majestic sky and many other flavors of life in their true form.

Mountains are majestic and once we live here, we won't like it anywhere. They might be harsh in terms of winters and water scarcity but are very humble when it comes to teach you the basic elements of nature.

How is it so?

If you have been to mountains or belong to mountains, you definitely know the feel of cooking on woods. Every evening of life is a bonfire for us dwelling in mountains. Fire is the force of life be it winters or cooking or to guard against animals, it is a powerful form of energy.

Connection with the soil is something we cherish here at mountains. People love farming, there are houses made of special types of soil having a scent of their own. This develops a lifetime bond and makes our heart rooted to these mighty walls of nature.

Domesticated cattle is backbone of households in mountains. They are tamed for milk, ploughing fields and many other religious purposes. There is ample grass for them to feed on and from where I belong, we worship our cattle for providing this much to us. They are a form of god to us. Also in Indian mythology, cow is treated as goddess and worshipped from heart.

We mountain dwellers bloom with the help of natural forces and respect them with all our souls.

Simple people

I have come across very simple people for the entire duration I have spent in mountains. They are very lively and helpful. Where ever I stayed, crime rate is still 0 till date and people are engaged in simple professions. We are farmers, small businessmen, dairy farms, stores for day to day needs, some people working in government offices, people engaged in government policies to make both ends meet(MANREGA etc) and generally there is enough for every family to eat and live as every family has land to grow their own crops. I have had a very profound experience of talking with people in my region and they are always funny and simple in nature of their talks, there are no complexities in lives and everything is sorted. We really believe in god as supreme strength and lots of temples are there to pay our obeisance to the almighty.

A day in mountain

I have spent 100% of my life in mountains so far both in busy cities and serene villages. For the village days, there is cool breeze both in evening and the morning. You would never need a fridge for stuff, cold water supply is always there in pipelines or natural sources. In summers, weather is fairly hot but temperate comes down as the sun sets unlike cities where you need air conditioner to make your nights cool. In winters, you can cherish direct sunshine and evening really brings drastic fall in temperature. I still remember sitting by my grandma's side while she makes a fire when sun used to set and all the family members getting ready washing their hands, feet and face to get themselves packed inside houses or kitchen outside house made of soil where we had our fire setup for cooking. We really enjoyed eating around that fire a lot. Nights are always cozy be it summer or winter. In summers, cool breeze took control at night to soothe souls while wintery night's fun is all attributed to fire and comforting blankets & clothes.

There is a whole set of qualities these mountains have developed in me. They always teach me to stand mightily in chaos deflecting all that is bad. They have taught me to be fresh, lively and cheerful. The sanctity and serenity has been locked in my soul just by living here and I seek their refuge when there is a turmoil in my life. The always stay composed like mature of all.

If you have spent enough time with these, you will learn to communicate and receive instructions too. Birds, splashes of brook's water, rustling leaves and sharp sound of wind being their voice and weather being the emotions. Their nature, bold and caring like combined mother and father's love being harsh while providing all the basic needs in form of herbs, fresh air, fruits and vegetable, timber and what not.

All they need is a little care and caution on their part so that the may remain pure and mighty as always. Do not pollute them, they love to be clean. Their wrath is something you really don't wanna face.

Thanks for reading!!!!
Image source are my mobile phones only!<3