TreeCycle is a six-part environmental documentary series that takes you on a fascinating journey through the many facets of Incredible India. Come and join 'TreeCycle - Plant for the Planet' .
William Blake famously said "The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself".
After travelling for nearly 32 hours on the Sabari express, we finally reached Trivandrum. It was around 7:30 pm (IST) and the platform at the Trivandrum Railway station was bustling with people.
It was 6:10 am (IST) on June 5. I was at the Triveni Sangamam, a place where the Indian Ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal meet. The sun was slowly rising from the sea, showering its first rays on India. My mother was standing next to me watching the sunrise.
It was a 110 km ride through the Western Ghats and Gudaloor was 2080 mts above the sea level. I knew it was going to be a challenge and I was looking forward to cycle through the thick forests and inch along the Ghats.
Mudumalai tiger reserve has the highest density of the big cat population and hosts twenty per cent of asian elephants. As I pedaled along, I saw a big Yellow board which said Mudumalai tiger reserve.
I pedaled along from Kanyakumari. The morning was pleasant. But as the day progressed the temperature started to soar. By around 10 am, it was really hot and I could feel the heat cut through my skin. I felt like I was in an oven, roasting.
I have been getting a lot of mails asking me what Tree Cycle is, Why it is happening, where it is happening. So I decided to give a WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, HOW of TreeCycle.
I had a plan and I wanted things to go according to plan. But, as I pedaled along, not much was going according to plan. I wanted to start cycling early in the morning from 4 am. I trained myself and told myself that I would do so. But trying to keep to a specific time is making it more like a rally rather than an experiential journey.
I was hoping to stay in an environmentally friendly house boat in Alleppey and this was supposed to have been organized way ahead in advance. Alleppey has some breathtaking views and fantastic house boats. But, for some reason, it was not organized.
It has been more than a month since I started TreeCycling. Every day has been a challenge, every day has been a conquest, every day was new and every day was unusual and I wake up every day and look forward to more.
I was tired. It was almost 11 pm in the night and I was really looking forward to calling it a night. I had cycled for almost 130 kms and wanted to sleep.
As I entered Bangalore, I found a quaint little place called the Executive Inn. It was a house made into beautiful inn.
"Eat complex carbohydrates and protein. Control the fat intake, no junk food, no aerated drinks and drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. Shrenik - please drink as much water as possible and please don't eat fatty food as it might make you feel lethargic".
As I pass through the many states, as I try and speak to as many people as I can in various languages and dialects, I wonder what is the one thing that makes this country. I wonder how I can comprehend (if ever I can) the enormity of the complex reality.
As I look back at my schedule, I realize that I have covered 4100 kms so far. It still feels surreal. From Kanyakumari, I inched along the length of India through Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh. I still have 500 kms (approximately) to do.
NDTV-Toyota Green Anthem
A song for a cleaner, greener and better tomorrow. A special offering by Gulzar and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. So go ahead and hum along !
Sing along
The Green Anthem
Hawayein, patte, pani, per, jungle, sabz sona hain...
Hawayein, patte, pani, per, jungle, sabz sona hain..
Agar tum ho to itna hi zaroori inka hona hai
Hawayein maili mat karna ki jab tum saans loge
Ye dum wapas nahin ayega jab tum khaans loge
Hawayein maili mat karna ki jab tum saans loge
Ye dum wapas nahin ayega jab tum khaans loge
Ugaao zindagi aur yaad rakho dil ko bona hai
Hawayein, patte, pani, per, jungle, sabz sona hain
Per ugaao, chanon hawayein, saaf karo
Apni zameen se itna to insaaf karo
Per ugaao, chanon hawayein, saaf karo
Apni zameen se itna to insaaf karo
Ugaao zindagi aur yaad rakho dil ko bona hai
Hawaayein, patte, pani, per, jungle, sabz sona hain
Ugaao zindagi aur yaad rakho dil ko bona hai
Hawaayein, patte, pani, per, jungle, sabz sona hain
