Kudos to Dixya Sharma Poudel for the article “Beautiful Pokhara” (THT, December 4, Page 8).

Pokhara is indeed very beautiful city. As our bus entered Pokhara on a late evening in March 2015, I got stunned by the bright lights of the city along the Fewa Lake with its dazzling restaurants and market on both sides of the road thronged by Western tourists. In the morning, I got awe-struck by the sight of the towering and “never ending” Annapurna range with the snow-capped Machhapuchhre as its crowning glory.

What to say about the exciting boating on the vibrant waters of the Fewa Lake meandering along the Himalayan ranges with a cute temple located on an lake island! Bindabasini Temple, Mahendra Caves, the milky white Seta River, Davies Falls, Gupteshwar Cave hosting the underground portion of the water falls indeed made our day. Ending with an anecdote.

Just yesterday, my wife was discarding the dresses of my son which have got torn or short in size. Suddenly we stumbled upon a greenish-yellow T-shirt which has turned out to be short as my son has outgrown it in size. But we didn’t discard it. Because it was bought in a Pokhara market just after we emerged out from the Gupteshwar Cave! A message of ‘I Love Nepal’ is also inscribed on it. So as a memento of our beautiful experience in Pokhara, we have retained that dress as it will continue to rekindle our memorable trip to Nepal!

There are other beautiful places with home stay facilities in hilly villages outside the Pokhara Valley where tourists can enjoy the panoramic views of the high Himalayas from a close distance.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

Cyclone

Cyclone Ockhi has left a huge trail of destruction in south Kerala, south Tamil Nadu  and Lakshadweep. As a result of the cyclone, Tamil Nadu’s southern districts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari have experienced heavy rainfall. Fortunately, these districts that have faced the drought conditions so far have now been enriched by the torrential rain. At the same time, proper warning system and safety measures should always be in place while handling the cyclones.

In the melee of Cyclone Ockhi, many fishermen have been reported missing. However, precautionary measures should have averted such bad things. Besides, serious efforts and immediate steps are required to repair the roads and mend the power supply damaged by the cyclone in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari. For myself, I had phoned some of my students located in Kanyakumari to know about the situation there.

On the other hand, the recent incidents of dolphins/whales being stranded on Tiruchendur and Tuticorin Beaches in Tamil Nadu, India remind us of our responsibility towards  nature. As the people and the countries have long been benefiting a lot from Mother Nature,  natural creatures like the earth should be protected at all costs through sensible plans and serious actions.

p. Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai