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Place being explored: Babina

Just an Army Cantonment and nothing more was how one would have described it about fifteen years ago. Quite literally it is a town that grew from a village that supported the faujis and prospered into its present day state.

Things to SEE and DO

There is not much do to in the cantonment itself, though it does boast of an institute that comes alive once in a while. At the same time there are few excursions which one can make with friends and enjoy.

First up is Sukhma Dukhma Dam. Its quite close and has a set of steps that one can climb down the side and view the river bed. During the dry season the river bed is quite empty and one can safely sit in it in the rocks and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Then we have Mata Tila. This is some what further away and requires planning to go to. The gardens are quite nice and the layout is conducive to unit gatherings of large scale. The kids can have the run of the gardens and the adults can sit under the shady trees. The fountains, when working, are an added treat.

There is a forest department bungalow perched on the top of a hill which gives you a beautiful view of the river and its causeway. Ideal for starry night dinners in the open. You will need to get permission from the forest department officials before you visit and they tend to enjoy joining in the festivities.

If you visit Babina out of choice, and not many do, you would have to know an Armoured Corps Officer posted there. So the opportunity for a tank ride should not be missed. While a casual jaunt around the garages is nice, its truly exciting to sit on the tank as it heads out for field firing to the ranges. Carry a big scarf to protect yourself from the dust that the monster will kick up.

Shopping

The proximity to Ranipur makes cloth very cheap here. There are two stores that were dealing with cloth from the Ranipur mills and today one of them has actually constructed a mall like structure of his own in the back lanes of Babina town.

Unique to

Wild boar and rabbit shoots are still organized by the keen Fauji shikaris in the field firing ranges. The local villages even act as guides and spotters. A real throw back to the days of the Raj.