The Shades of Sun; The Scent of Rains

Sunset over the Himalayas

Sunsets have always been intriguing and sunsets of Himalayas have always intoxicated me to the extent of loss of distinction between enlightenment and delirium. Himalayas have always attracted my body and soul with combined powers of an enchanting seductress and divine commandment. Thus the slightest of opportunity to get in the laps of Himalayas is a good reason to get away from Delhi, No matter for howsoever little period of time.

Monsoon  Blessed Naldehra

Although every moment in the pristine folds of the mountains are worth living lifetimes, as greedy as my heart can get, I long for the  moments that are  referred to in photography as golden hours i.e. a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer; when the shadows cast are long and the land meets the sky at horizon in diminished individuality becoming a canvas for unsurpassable pictures painted with elements of creation.

It was during the late monsoons when I had a chance to visit Naldehra in Himachal Pradesh.      Naldehra, a small place 22 kms from Shimla,  is almost a picture perfect destination for the monsoons. The blue skies with scattered clouds every now and then,  green forests of Deodars and an occasional rainbow thrown in makes the place look like it has been painted on a canvas, purposefully with more than naturally saturated colours. It was here that I was lucky to have witnessed one of the best sunsets that I have seen so far.

Colours of  Monsoon Sunset

The pictures do convey the grandeur of  the landscape and the skies. Scattering clouds, being blown by  moderately gusty winds and the near perfect illumination by a setting sun provided frame after frame of vividly painted sky and intriguing silhouettes the undulating mountain ranges. Interaction of wind, clouds and the setting sun gave birth to unusually shades of colours and textures, worth being seen for hours at a stretch. What neither pictures nor words can justifiably describe is the atmosphere created when rains meet the mountains.

Rain after a dry spell cause one of the most intoxicating scents of nature and captivating session of aromatherapy that so human intervention can replicate. The scent of rain, circulating in the moist monsoon air casts a spell that is strong enough to linger on for long after physical detachment from the place and alluring enough to crave eternally for more. 

This earthy fragrance was named “petrichor” by Australian researchers in 1964. They described it as a combination of plant oils and the chemical compound geosmin which are released from a class of soil-dwelling bacteria, called actinomycetes when it rains. Petrichor! A nice word to describe one of the most beautiful exeriences of rain. Science sometimes does peculiar things. It unearths complex phenomena and brings forth unbelievable gems of knowledge but at the same time simplifies them to an extent that the ecstasy of experiencing such phenomena by an ignorant is lost.  As an erstwhile student of science, when it comes to nature and natural phenomena, the knowledge of it seems to be useless without the ability to experience and get involved in nature itself. Given a choice, I would prefer to be in state of blissful ignorance, awestruck with all surprises thrown in by nature. Personal choice of course!