Daily Dance with the Dhauladhars: My Journey from Dharamsala to Jogindernagar

Every morning, as the crisp Himalayan air caresses the slopes of the Dhauladhar range, I set off from Dharamsala on a 72-kilometer journey that has felt, for over seven years, less like a commute and more like a pilgrimage. This daily route to Jogindernagar, passing through Yol Cantt, Chamunda, Gopalpur, Chauntra, Palampur, Paprola, and Baijnath, is not just a stretch of tarmac — it’s a ribbon of memories, blessings, and silent conversations with the mountains that have shaped me.

As I now approach the final phase of my official journey — with retirement due in May 2026 — I find myself reflecting on these years of unwavering dedication, during which this daily rhythm became more than routine. It became a sacred part of my identity.

In a world constantly chasing speed, I passed each day through a living canvas — valleys breathing mist, forests whispering secrets, rivers that remember, and towns that tell stories. This was never just travel. This has always been a dialogue between life and purpose.

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Paprola – Where My Journey Took Root

Among all the sacred places on my route, Paprola holds the most intimate space in my heart. This isn’t just a village I pass — it is where my journey truly began. It was here, in the serene corridors of the Rajiv Gandhi Government Ayurvedic College, that I completed my BAMS degree in 1990. Those years were not just academic — they were the making of a life’s mission, and a canvas for many of my passions.

I was not only a student of Ayurveda, but also a dreamer with a pen, burning with curiosity and creativity. During those vibrant college years, Sh. C.R. Patial was a constant support — helping me print my student magazine HimView, inspired by my interest in pen-friendship, youth expression, and independent publishing. It was a small yet bold attempt at giving voice to young minds.

I also ventured into journalism, working as a stringer for Jansatta, Veer Pratap, and Punjab Kesri — carrying stories from Kangra Valley to the city desks. It was an era of typewriters and telegrams, and I still remember the thrill of getting published. It was during this time that I met respected journalists like Sh. Gurmeet Bedi and Sh. Anuj Acharya, who shaped my understanding of grassroots reporting and the social pulse of Himachal.

With a bit of humor and satire in my soul, I also tried my hand at political and social cartoons, contributing to these newspapers. Within the college, I proudly served as the Editor of Kritanjali and contributed frequently to regional and popular magazines of the time.

Paprola was also where I learned responsibility and leadership. I fondly recall an incident during my Second Prof, when I was the Class Representative (CR) and had organized a class tour to Chandigarh and Shimla. Just before departure, I had filed my nomination for the post of Joint Secretary in the Student Central Association elections. However, when two girl students fell ill during the tour, I stayed behind to care for them and wait for their parents — missing the entire election campaign.

In my absence, my dearest friend Dr. Sunder Sharma took it upon himself to campaign on my behalf, wearing my photo on his shirt and speaking to students with heartfelt conviction. When I returned, Prof. Dr. A.S. Rathore, with his characteristic humor, greeted me as “George Fernandes”, joking that I had won the elections “in absentia.” I had indeed been elected — and by a generous margin — without a single speech of my own.

I was also blessed to study under an extraordinary lineage of Gurus whose guidance still shapes my life:

• Prof. Dr. Y.K. Sharma – for his sharp diagnostic insight
• Prof. K.L. Suri and Mrs. Suri – for their disciplined and gracious mentorship
• Dr. Ena Sharma – who inspired us in Ayurvedic gynecology
• Prof. B.L. Mehra – who made us see the wider mission of Ayurveda
• Prof. Dr. R.K. Sharma (Dravyaguna) – who made plants speak through their properties
• Prof. Dr. A.S. Rathore – a scholar with wisdom and warmth
• Dr. Kashyap – known for clinical realism and deep Ayurvedic thought
• Dr. Nageshwar Mishr – a profound teacher of philosophy and classical texts
• Prof. J.P.S. Oberoi – an institution builder with unmatched vision

Paprola did not just educate me — it ignited me. It nurtured the vaidya, the writer, the editor, the volunteer, the leader. And every time I pass by, I bow — in reverence, not nostalgia — to the soil that shaped me.

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Chauntra – Serenity Between Hills

Just beyond Paprola lies Chauntra, a peaceful town surrounded by pine forests and Tibetan monasteries. The flutter of prayer flags, the silence in the air, and the tranquil spiritual rhythm make it a pause for reflection. A town that whispers, rather than speaks.

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Jogindernagar – My Karma Bhoomi

And then comes Jogindernagar — not just my daily destination, but my karmabhoomi.

To many, it is a quaint Himachali town. But to me, it is the epicenter of Ayurvedic heritage. Here stands:

• A 24-acre Herbal Garden
• A rich Herbarium
• A LokAyurveda Museum
• A Government Ayurvedic Pharmacy
• The Ayurvedic Pharmacy College

Each morning, I bow my head — not out of habit, but out of sacred gratitude. Because this is the land that made me what I am today.

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A Guru’s Concern, A Disciple’s Duty

In the early 1990s, shortly after my graduation, the Herbal Garden of Jogindernagar was under threat — with orders from the then Telecom Ministry for its conversion into a housing colony.

Prof. Dr. Nag, my Guru, was alarmed. I filed a court case against the move — driven by resolve, not legal experience. The cause received unexpected yet powerful support from Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, now the Deputy Chief Minister, then the Bureau Chief of Jansatta, Shimla, who highlighted the case with a detailed bottom story — turning it into a public issue.

The court ruled in our favor. The garden was saved.

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2017 – Destiny Comes Full Circle

In 2017, I was appointed SAMO and later Regional Director of RCFC NR-1, Ministry of AYUSH, to serve seven northern states.

My posting?

Jogindernagar.
To the very garden I once fought to protect.

I touched the soil with closed eyes that first day. I knew — this was not a coincidence. It was karmic return.

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The Route – Not Just a Road, A Ritual

• Yol Cantt: Discipline and pines
• Chamunda: Devotion by the river
• Gopalpur: Whispering tea gardens
• Nagri: Green fields and quiet lives
• Palampur: Thought, flow, and books
• Baijnath: Shiva’s eternal silence

And the Dhauladhars — always standing tall, always guiding.

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My Companions Along the Way

Through every season, my humble Hyundai i20 remained my steadfast companion — rain or fog, it never failed. Its hands-free call system let me stay connected while driving.

On many days, dear friends and colleagues would join me or meet along the way:

• Dr. Anish Kumar,
• Dr. Dev Raj,
• Conversations with Mr. Suhail Soni and Mr. Ashwani Kazal — all made this journey a circle of meaningful friendships.

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Evening Returns – A Silent Celebration

As the sun dips behind the mountains, I return. Smoke rises from village kitchens. Children wave from courtyards. The hills wear orange halos. The Dhauladhars whisper again: You are home.

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Why I Never Tire

People ask: “Don’t you get tired?”

But how could I?

When the path becomes part of your story…
When every milestone is a memory…
When you return fulfilled, not fatigued…

This journey becomes a prayer. A meditation in motion.

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The Road is My Prayer

As I prepare for retirement, I carry no burden. Only gratitude.

Gratitude for Paprola, for my teachers, for friends, for the Herbal Garden, for this blessed land… for the privilege to serve Ayurveda, not only in clinics, but in soil, policy, people, and memory.

Each day on this road, I have not traveled — I have worshipped.

And every evening, as I return, I whisper to the Dhauladhars:

“Thank you for letting me return.”