Using Collocations

In this blog post, I’ve used a personal experience of mine to demonstrate, how by employing collocations you can achieve an ease in expression, depth in description to describe what otherwise could be simply beyond words!

Do pay attention to the collocations in bold..

Just a couple of weeks ago, we made a trip to Gangotri, the penultimate point from which the holy Ganges flows (the ultimate being Gomukh-the headwater or the source of Ganga).  Travelling from the scorching heat of the parched city of Delhi to Rishikesh, crossing over Haridwar was already getting pleasant for six of us on journey. The stopover at Rishikesh, just at the banks of the holy Ganges, and to stay there for a night, actually so close to the shimmering river, that flowed relentlessly, with inexplicable grace against the picturesque mountains of Gurhwal hills, had started to quench our souls. But that was just the beginning; the beauty of Uttarakhand was yet to unfold.

Next day, our journey began early. Our vehicle climbed up and down, rounding a bend on the cobbled roads of the wooded mountains, we saw throughout our journey the meandering river of Ganges flowing across the countless mountains, tiny hamlets, and plunging valleys. It was a spectacular view to see Ganges from varying altitudes – sometimes at the sea level, and sometimes from the climbing hill top –all so serene as serenity could be!

On the way up, we stopped to see the Tehri dam, built over the river Bhagirathi, the main tributary of Ganges.  What a panoramic view to see the dam, hustled in the midst of the huge mountain ranges, under a clear blue sky, surrounded by lush green wooded hills and gushing river, overseeing the Tehri town, with its waters looking completely green from one side, and absolutely muddy brown on the other!  Well, Tehri dam may well be the fifth largest dam in the world, but I bet, it is the most beautiful one world over! it was

We covered a distance of about 250 kms in a good eight hours time, crossing some of the world’s tallest bridges, passing over some of the most difficult terrains, looking at the breathtaking views of the lush vegetation and the terrace farming done on these jagged peaks, sensing the simple Gurhwal spirit, moving between the towering mountain ranges and plunging valleys, to reach Gangotri by the fall of the evening.

Like in Rishikesh, we stayed at GMVK (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) guest house. These guest houses, being government run, had the advantage of not just giving a good accommodation, but to be placed in locations that are the best!

In Gangotri, I cannot forget that moment when we first saw the dramatic view of the roaring and rushing Ganges at Surya Kund! It seemed like the flood gates of the heavens were open, and the river was flowing from up there, making huge roar that was heard far and wide!

Next morning, at the break of the day, we stood in the front yard of our guest house, in the biting winds and the light rain, against the background of the roaring Ganges, watching the mighty mountains some snowcapped, some covered in patches of fog. And, the sunshine was trickling down slowly to bathe them in their golden light. That moment, we were transported to another world. Indeed this was a place for Gods!

We then slowly moved to the banks of Ganges, and sat across the Ghat seeing tens of hundreds of people taking a holy dip in Ganges. It was beyond us to understand how it feels to take a dip there, until we put our feet in Ganges. The water was biting cold. And, keeping our feet in those ice cool stream even for 10 seconds was clotting the blood and turning out feet red. And, there, right across us were so many of them enjoying a shower! We sat at its banks, for a long, long time, admiring the panoramic views around.

Next morning, we started back from Gangotri, truly captivated by its beauty, grandeur, and tranquility. We stopped at Harshil to have our breakfast.  Harshil was a real beauty, having all that Gangotri has – the mountains, rivers, lush greenery, everything, but here it seemed the wild beauty of Gangotri had turned a lot gentler and motherly.

The rest of the journey went by between spells of sleep and wakeful hours. And, we returned from what was more than just a journey!!!

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