Birds of the Indian Hills 



For the first two miles the journey is along 

 the cart-road to Naini Tal, on the right bank 

 of the Gola river. 



At Ranibagh the pilgrim to the Pindari 

 glacier leaves the cart-road and follows a bridle- 

 path which, having crossed the Gola by a 

 suspension bridge, mounts the steep hill on 

 the left bank. Skirting this hill on its upward 

 course, the road reaches the far side, which 

 slopes down to the Barakheri stream. A fairly 

 steep ascent of 5 miles through well-wooded 

 country brings the traveller to Bhim Tal, a 

 lake 4500 feet above the level of the sea. 

 This lake, of which the area is about 150 

 acres, is one of the largest of a series of lakes 

 formed by the flow of mountain streams into 

 cup-like valleys. The path skirts the lake 

 and then ascends the Gagar range, which attains 

 a height of over 7000 feet. From the pass 

 over this range a very fine view is obtainable. 

 To the north the snowy range stretches, and 

 between it and the pass lie 60 miles of mountain 

 and valley. To the south are to be seen Bhim 

 Tal, Sat Tal, and other lakes, nestling in the 

 outer ranges, and, beyond the hills, the vast 

 expanse of the plains. 



The Gagar range is well wooded. The 

 20 



