LAKESIDE LAZY DAYS

Keetham Lake, with its greenery and birds is the most convenient and idyllic getaway from Agra

    We Army wives have to face the reality of staying alone at many points in our lives. Although we know at the back of our minds that it will happen, our hearts don’t always accept the reality so easily. And this is my exact current situation: my husband is miles away in another country as part of a UN peacekeeping contingent and I’m in Agra, keeping peace in the house!

    So an opportunity to go for a picnic — that nice relic of the Raj! — was a welcome change for me and my little son, instead of whiling away time at home on a Sunday, wondering what the hubby was doing, so far away... This picnic was for all army officers and families in station, so I was also looking forward to being with my friends as we headed for Keetham Lake.

    This little tourist spot, also known as Sur Sarovar, is a little over 20 km outside Agra city, off the Agra-Delhi Highway. Haven’t heard of it? Well, trust us fauji types to tell you all the places you didn’t know about, right in your own country! Part of the Surdas Reserved Forest, the lake is one of the largest reservoirs built by the British a century ago to cater to the water needs of Agra, and is now home to some 1.5 lakh birds, both indigenous and migratory.

    We started out in three buses on a bright and sunny February day. The bus ride was the most exciting part of the picnic for my four-year old son and he was most disappointed after the hour-long journey, when we reached our destination! The knowledge, however, that there would be a return journey in the same bus perked him up considerably!

    We had to walk on a dirt track in the forest to reachthe clearing to the lake. The lake was beautiful, with crystal clear blue waters and an unspoilt beach at one end (where we were standing) and forest on the opposite side. I stood there breathing in the cool, clear air and absorbing the wonderful sights around me. Far away in the distance, I could see flocks of birds crowding into the lake.

    After hearing about the scarcity of water in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, which is also near Agra, I wondered if the migratory birds were looking at this lake as their new-found home! I learnt later that I wasn’t off the mark: for the past three years, birds have flocked to this 783-hectare area, which has also now been recognised as a wetland by the National Wetland Commission.

    All around the lake, I also

noticed that neat semi-circular scallops had formed naturally on the shore, giving a different overall appeal to the lake. And I also learnt that the area was said to be the legendary place where Renuka (Parshuram’s mother) was born and where Surdas met the poet-saint Vallabhacharya. There’s even a Shani temple somewhere...

    All the children were soon busy throwing pebbles in the water, including my son. Suddenly one of them discovered that the sand was full of different types of shells and the whole horde of around 20 children made a bee-line for them. It was ideal for their scrapbooks and I helped my son with his shell cache too.

    After the initial euphoria, my son and I walked hand in hand, exploring the other parts of the beach. Our stroll towards the left brought us near what looked like white bark from a tree. Upon closer scrutiny, we realised that they were bones!! They were the remnants of a skeleton belonging to a crocodile, maybe.

    I felt like I was in a detective movie, looking for clues on a deserted island and stumbling upon unexpected ones! There were also some odd-looking green fruits lying in bunches all around the sand. I wanted to touch them and see what they were, but I was afraid my son might just decide to eat them, so I desisted.

    Lost in our ‘explorations’, we hardly noticed the music starting to play in the background. Like all good get-togethers in the Army, everything was properly planned and catered for! There was music and party games, drinks, piping hot snacks, and even hot cups of tea to round off!

    We hardly felt as if we were out in the middle of a jungle...well, almost jungle! It felt more like a party in someone’s backyard. There were rounds of tambola (where I won!) and Dumb Charade during which all of us laughed till we dropped...

    If you’re wondering what’s so great about the place anyway? Well, if you’re a harried urban mom (fauji or otherwise!) these places are a godsend for not only is there some fresh air but there’s enough for the kids to do and for the parents to relax in — all within comfortable driving distance.

    While the children tried their hand again at catching frothy “bubbles” in the water which hit the shore, all of us ladies decided to make the most of the down time and play Antakshari and sip tea. The husbands — yes, our brave men in uniforms — cast forlorn glances in our direction, wondering when the biwis would budge!

    The ride back home was enjoyable too as it was quite short — and peaceful too, as many dozed off while the children amused themselves. Isn’t that a perfect recipe for a weekend away from the hustle-bustle? More so in the Army, for we are never made to feel alone.