The Cosy Little Cafe by the Canal

This truly will sound like a “Once Upon a Time” tale to many who have not seen how things used to be till just around twenty five years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago to me too! The days when we used to travel from Dehra Dun to Delhi and vice-versa by the good old Deluxe Coach (bus) that started from Dehra Dun at 9.30 a.m. and then at 10.15 a.m. If one was eager to catch the 9.30 bus, one would have to wake up a bit earlier. Many times, we managed that while at other times, we considered ourselves lucky even if we caught the 10.15 Deluxe.

The excitement was amazing. The tonga came right in time and waited outside till we gathered the travelling bags  and locked our house to go to the old bus stand (now it is called old-at that time, it was the only one in town). There was no sprawling ISBT. The bus stand was in the heart of the town and easy to reach. The buses were not too posh but were quite comfortable (I mean, the Deluxe ones) and we loved to travel in them. Those were the pre-Shatabdi days.

Those were leisurely times indeed! One would reach the stand and then buy comics and biscuits before settling into the coach. It was as if one was going for a picnic. Many families would travel in the coach and often made friends with each other while sharing cookies and namkeens on the way. The highpoint of the journey was the half an hour stop midway between the two cities–at Khatauli, next to the Ganga Canal. All of us waited keenly for the bus to reach Khatauli so that we could enjoy the small meal we would have in that picturesque location where the breeze was lovely and fresh. Did you guess? Indeed I am talking of Cheetal in its earlier days .That was the beginning of this wonderful restaurant that has been giving joy and comfort to innumerable travellers for long years now. In its nascent form, it was on the banks of this canal and had some animals for us to look at and feel thrilled–some deer and colourful, exotic birds besides some rabbits.

We have beautiful memories of the place and the sumptuous pakoras and omlettes that we had there .The paneer pakoras and the masala omelettes were a great speciality of that little cafe by the little river! The kitchen was open on two sides and food could be ordered and received through these huge windows from where we could see it being cooked. It was a whole lot of fun and one would be reluctant to leave the place and get back into the bus. We could buy some interesting books from this small unit.There was a stall of books and toffees right from the beginning at Cheetal.

We grew up and so did Cheetal. And how! It expanded many times over and became popular with people all over the country and abroad. All kinds of cuisine can be found there now. I have not been there for quite some time now (as I travel more by train). However, I have seen the tremendous growth of the place. In fact, the old Cheetal, by the canal, is still there. But I am sure it could not be all that simple. It must have also grown. I have a good mind to go and check it out soon.

Our young and innocent minds looked upon this cafe in the deer park as a haven of lovely food and thrilling moments. We did not bother as much about our destination as we did about this stop mid way and the little books we could find there. Our requirements were simple and the old Cheetal fulfilled them beautifully. As we boarded the coach for going further, we would wait for our visit to the place on our way back from Delhi. It was such a wholesome, satisfying experience which the grandest of places may not be able to provide us with now.

It was a sweet world; there were no TV or Video coaches, no Volvos, not many luxuries around. The simple Deluxe bus with its cushy seats and the little resort by the Ganga canal were more than enough to give us the most memorable and beautiful moments of our lives. It was a great adventure for us. Indeed.