Updated on January 26th, 2026
There are days when life feels like a race—one task after another, one responsibility chasing the next. We move forward because we must, not always because we are ready. In that constant motion, we forget that even the strongest wind pauses before it changes direction. This year, on its final day, we rediscovered something precious: rest is not an escape from progress. It is preparation for a stronger return.
To honour that pause, our office decided to take a small trip to Mini Goa, a lakeside near Pathankot. We didn’t choose it for luxury or fame. We chose it because it felt simple, untouched, and honest—like the kind of place where nature holds up a mirror and lets you see yourself again.
A Morning Wrapped in Fog
We planned to begin by 8:30 a.m. The universe, however, had a more poetic script. Winter fog covered the roads like soft cotton, slowing our journey before it even started. Some colleagues got delayed, but there was no blame, no irritation. It was as if the fog itself was telling us, “Slow down. You will reach where you must, not when a clock demands, but when the moment is right.”
One by one, everyone arrived—with smiles, shawls wrapped tight, warm breath misting in the cold, and that silent sense of relief that we were stepping away from routine. Teams are often defined by their work, but that morning reminded us that teams can also be defined by shared pauses.
We finally left, carrying laughter, tea cups, bags full of snacks, and the quiet hope that today would become a memory worth returning to.
Arrival at Mini Goa
By noon, around 1.30 pm, the fog parted like a curtain rising from a stage, and Mini Goa appeared before us—calm, steady, and beautiful. A natural lake stretched out like a sheet of blue silk. Sunlight touched the water gently, as if brushing it awake. Breeze carried the scent of soil, freshness, and the kind of silence that speaks louder than noise ever could.
The place was simple. No concrete boundaries, no man-made perfection—just nature being nature. That, perhaps, was its charm. There are a few temporary eateries and stalls, and Maggi is the ultimate theme on each stall. People come with friends and families to spend time and enjoy surrounding.
Mini Goa gets its name because it carries that carefree, relaxed energy one feels at a beach, without needing the sea. Green slopes hugged the lake, making it feel protected, like a secret the world hasn’t fully discovered yet.
In that first moment, just standing there felt like exhaling after holding breath for months.
The Beauty Around Us
The lake was alive with delicate ripples that looked like the earth was breathing. Birds floated lazily above the water, wings gliding without effort, as if teaching us that grace doesn’t always require speed. The sky felt endless, wide like opportunity, soft like forgiveness.
We clicked photographs not for social media alone, but to freeze moments that were already slipping into memory. Cameras can capture images—but places like this capture emotions.
Cooking Maggi and the Warmth of Togetherness
We had planned something simple—Maggi cooked on the spot. But simplicity has a magic that luxury often cannot match. Rajni, a caring friend, along with Sehaj, Priya, and Rinki, took responsibility for cooking. We had a small gas cylinder with us, which really worked very efficiently. The aroma of masala Maggi in the middle of nature felt like comfort taking physical form.
There was laughter. There was teamwork. There was the small chaos of too many hands offering help at once. But within that chaos lived something precious—a sense of family.
And there was Goldy, a staff member from Visa Times, Jalandhar, the “man of the match,” whose energy kept everything moving. Some people are not always in the spotlight, but the moment would fall apart without them. That day, his presence held everything together like invisible threads of support. We also had a bonfire over there.
A Place That Heals
Mini Goa is not just a travel spot—it is an experience of softness. It heals without trying. It calms without commanding. It invites without insisting. The place is completely untouched, natural. When we reach a tiny town, Dhar Kalan, we turn to road going down the side for a few kilometres. It passes through small villages, where there are few homestays. I believe this area has considerable tourism potential.
Standing there, watching the water, I felt as though the year itself was washing away. All the unanswered questions, the unfinished plans, the heavy days—they felt lighter. Nature doesn’t solve our problems, but it gives us the strength to return and solve them ourselves.
The Golden Ending – for the new year start
As we prepared to leave, the sun slipped behind the slopes as though the day itself were bowing in farewell. The light turned the horizon into a canvas of copper and gold, and the lake mirrored that radiance like a memory being gently sealed by nature’s own hand. In that moment, the place felt less like scenery and more like a silent blessing.
The drive back unfolded in soft silence—not the silence of distance, but the silence of understanding. There was nothing left to explain, and the day had already spoken. Sometimes words become unnecessary when the heart has already heard what it needed.
That trip did not just mark the end of the year; it renewed it. It gave us what we needed most: a pause to reflect, a breath to reset, and a moment to gather ourselves before stepping forward again. In the golden afterglow of Mini Goa, Pathankot, we energised ourselves for another better and progressive year ahead. I saw the glow of positivity in Rajni’s and all the team members’ eyes.
Master’s in Tourism and Recreation (M.A.) at EIIET Berlin
Master’s in Tourism and Recreation program, offered by the esteemed Institute of Berlin (EIIET) in partnership with the University of Tourism and Hotel Management (WSTiH). This intensive two-year postgraduate course meticulously equips ambitious students with the advanced skills and knowledge to position themselves as financial and strategic leaders in the ever-evolving tourism industry.
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