Travel

In the Mists of the Bridal Veil (Memoirs from Niagara)

Pankaj Kumar Mandal

On August 6, 2009, we started our journey to the famous Niagara Falls which is about 450 miles from New Jersey. Our party consisted of three generations---myself and my wife, our daughter, Ritwika, and her husband Pushpak, and their daughter, Shreya (16), and son, Rik (9).

Immediately after the start, Shreya fell asleep, while Rik was busy with his 'Game Boy'PSP during the journey. Pushpak would, at times, ask his son, Rik to look outside to see the passing scenic beauty of the wayside as they were on vacation.

It was almost a seven hours’ drive. Puspak, and Ritwika were driving, by turns, via Scranton, Binghamton, Syracuse and Rocheser, all major cities in the New York State. We drove past hundreds of miles of cornfields, thick forests of oaks, elms and ashes, over the hills and dales and ultimately at about 6pm we reached our hotel 'Holiday Inn Express'in the city of Buffalo, opposite the Buffalo Airport, ten miles away from the site of the Niagara Falls.

Since the Inn was for Bed and Breakfast, Ritwika got busy in preparing the dinner, while Pushpak went down in the Front Office to enquire about the trip to the Falls. The lady at the Tourism Counter was pleased to give a smart but brief discourse on the travel spots-the American Falls and the Bridal Veils Falls on the American States side and the Horse-Shoe on the Canadian Border. Besides, the Luna Island, the Goat Islands, the Cave of the Winds, Niagara State Park, the Maid of the Mist Boat Tour, Visitor Center, Observation Tower and of course, another must-see thing was the Film on Niagara Falls. She also provided a handful of tour literature.

Next day after breakfast we drove slowly along the East bank of the inky, rapidly- flowing Niagara River. As we approached the Falls, we could hear its roaring and soon we saw a beautiful rainbow formed in the mist and water particles of the Falls.

Hundreds of visitors had already arrived. From the visitor's gallery, we could see the most panoramic and beautiful Falls from the American border. We could also see only one side of the Falls which was on the Canadian border. We had also noticed hundreds of visitors on the Canadian border. We were overwhelmed with joy and ecstasy to see beauty of the Falls and took a number of snapshots from all possible angles.

By about eleven, we proceeded to the "Maid of the Mist" Boat. To begin with, we were provided with Blue raincoats. Soon, we all boarded a steam boat and proceeded towards the horse-shoe side of the Falls from Canadian Border. As we were brought nearer the base of the Falls, a massive volley of water started crashing down incessantly, fiercely with great thunder and fury. It was stunningly beautiful. Momentarily we forgot our mundane existence and felt ecstatic. Yes, we suddenly felt as if it was mother Ganges descending to the Earth from the heavens and none but Lord Shiva could contain its great force on His matted hair, and thus save the mother Earth from the tremendous force of descent. The fantastic impressions of Niagara will last forever.

After about 20 minutes, we returned to the American bank and dried our wet clothes in the bright sun sitting on the benches in the Park just in front of the Maid of the Mist Store where one can buy mementoes of Niagara Falls.

The interesting point was the Cave of the Winds. Before proceeding to the Cave, the visitors are supplied with a pair of special sandals to avoid any accidental slip-up and also a bright yellow raincoat before one is led over a series of wooden walkways to the famous Hurricane Deck. With only twenty feet between the visitor and the thundering Falls, one is sure to get drenched with the spray of the rushing water. Then every now and then there is the blast of the Winds. Pinky was bold enough to go near the rear end of the Deck. A dare-devil, indeed!

In the evening, we went to see the film on Niagara Falls. It showed all about the Niagara Falls-its legends, myths, magic, mystery and adventures.

It was interesting to watch how, in the ancient time, a young girl, in a desperate effort to avoid a proposed marriage with an old chieftain, ran away from her home, and spreading her bridal veils about her outstretched arms, jumped into the mighty Falls! That is, perhaps, why it is called Bridal Veils Falls. It is said that her spirit rises up, again and again, in the form of the frequent rainbows that are seen here. Besides, the film goes on to show the wonderful acts of some dare-devils who completed the tight-rope walk over the Niagara Falls. It was also fascinating to know that "on October, 24, 1901, one Mrs. Annie Taylor, a 63 year old widowed school teacher, had a dangerous trip over the Falls in a wooden barrel. She became famous being the first person to survive a trip over the Falls." This was followed by several others in different ways.

In the end, I must say to the young readers of Joydhak, wherever you are in the wide world, make it a point to come and visit this wonderful place at least for once in the coming days. You will always remember its majestic beauty.

Photo courtesy: writer