Dalma never ceases to surprise me. 3 years back when I climbed dalma on Kausik’s bike and another time on foot by a shortcut root, both were extreme experiences. In the bike trip, we spent the night in the open. At night it was chilling cold as clouds were engulfing us. Also the view of Jamshedpur town from there was a sight to remember. And the other one where me and other 4 friends trekked along a shortcut route to the dalma top, it was raining heavily and we were least prepared for it. We were soaked to the bone. At the end of the day when we climbed up and also climbed down the Dalma hill in that heavy rain we were shivering in cold. Yet we were totally satisfied.
So this time when I was in Jamshedpur I had to go to Dalma. We made a plan to visit Dalma on13th july. But we had to cancel it as I would not be free until Saturday evening. Then again on Friday morning I came to know that we will be free on Saturday 12pm itself. So I rushed to the forest office at Mango to book room for us. I didn’t get room at the top of hill, ie Pinderberia as booking was paused due to scarcity of water. So I booked 2 rooms at the foothill, ie Makulakocha.
So on 13th July at around 3-4pm we started from Kausik’s house after having lunch there. This time we were five persons, me, Sourav, Kausik, his wife Nabanita and his 4yr old daughter Ayeshi. We took the newly constructed bridge over Subarnarekha river and reached Dalma wildlife sanctuary in no time. At the checkpoint we submitted the entry fees, 3 captive elephants welcomed us in Dalma. Then we checked in at Makulakocha Forest Rest House. It was beautifully maintained but it would have been better if we got booking in Pinderberia Rest House. We quickly unloaded our luggages in the room and decided to go to the top as it was only 5pm.
Everything was going smoothly. We climbed a few kilometres, stopped to enjoy the view, everyone was super excited. Then as we were about to start to go further we found that Kausik’s bike had puncture in the rear tyre. We were confused about what to do. In no way we would get puncture repair shop nearby in that remote area. So after some time we decided that Kausik would go with his bike to find a shop and repair the puncture. I would go to Makulakocha rest house with Ayeshi on bike. Sourav and Nabanita would come to the rest house by foot.
So I followed Kausik’s bike and at the rest house we enquired about the puncture shop. They told us about a shop within a kilometre from there. So we decided to go together but as we reached the shop we found that it was closed. We had no option other than going to highway which surely would have a puncture repair shop. And we were right. There was a shop at the junction of the highway. But due to riding on 5-7km on punctured condition the inner tube was totalled, he had to replace it. While the repair work was going on, we were having tea. Ayeshi found a playmate. A juvenile dog, named laly started to play with her. We passed time watching them play for some time. Then we returned to the rest house. Sourav and Nabanita had reached the rest house just a little bit earlier.
As evening came, a few lights lit up the lawn. The rest house looked beautiful in the backdrop of Dalma hills. No one was there except us. We were enjoying the environment in the lawn itself but caretaker came and warned us about scorpions and centipedes. So we shifted our chair on the paved road. We had already ordered our dinner in the rest house so no worries were there. As the night was progressing we found that there were a few other people also. One of them started singing Lalan’s song. It was late so we had our dinner. Delicious chicken and dal fry was in the menu. After that we headed straight to our rooms. We hoped to reach Dalma top tomorrow morning.
Next day morning I waked up early but could not wake up any other. So roamed alone in the lawn for some time then told caretaker to give us tea. Everyone started to wake up as tea came. Then quickly we became ready for that days adventure. Loaded on two bikes we started for Dalma top. Weather was a bit hot that day as it had not rained for last 7days. But in the dense jungle temperature was not very high. We were high in spirit. Enormous trees, dense undergrowth, open plains everything made us forget that we were only 30 km away from hustle and bustle of Jamshedpur city. Little wild flowers were adorning the undergrowth. After climbing approximately halfway we stopped at a water hole. We expected to find Serpent eagle there. But we found numerous tadpoles of many species of frogs. After spending some time there we started our bikes again for the top.
Kausik’s bike again failed us. We couldn’t understand how a new tube can get punctured so quickly. We were completely confused about what to do. Should we continue to go upward leaving the bikes behind? Should we climb down and attempt to repair bike? What will be the next plan? How to carry so many persons to the rest house?
After some time we decided to leave the bike at that place and continue to go up on foot for some time as it was early in the morning. After that we would come back and attend the bike.
It felt good to walk on the forest path in the morning time. Everyone was really enjoying. We forgot about the bike and were enjoying the forest atmosphere. Numerous bikes were going in up direction as it was sunday. We were getting irritated by this. The calm environment of the forest was repeatedly broken by the chaos. So we came back to the puncture site. Kausik started his bike and climbed down slowly and carefully to find a repair shop. Sourav started on foot. He would take lift on a empty bike if possible. I carried Nabanita and Ayeshi on my bike to the rest house.
We reached the rest house at around 10am. When we enquired about breakfast we found as we hadn’t informed them about it earlier they couldn’t provide us. So we had to wait for Kausik with only tea and biscuits. Then we all decided to head towards Chandil dam on the way to Kausik’s house. Chandil was not very far but temperature was high. High temperature and humidity made us uncomfortable. But weather on the bank of Chandil was different. In the shade of a tree the cool breeze made us sleepy. We all just enjoyed there. It was getting late, we had not eat properly from the morning, so we had to head back. But disaster struck again. Kausik’s bike got punctured again on the same tyre.
Again the same routine. Kausik went ahed with his bike, Sourav started on foot, me Nabanita and Ayeshi with my bike. But after some time I came back to pick up Sourav. We four adjusted on our bike and started our journey on snail’s pace towards highway. At the junction of highway he sure would find a repair shop and we were right. Another tube got scrapped. We prayed to god to reach home with out any more delay. Enroute we had lunch at a hotel.
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