We are so used to travelling when ever we get time however due to office work, we had long gap this time. Our feet were itching for a long drive and vacation due to extended weekend of good Friday.
We decided to make Chikmagalur our next travel destination. This destination was ideal in all sense as we want to relax and enjoy quality time with family and kids.
Chickmagalur, the name literally means ‘Younger Daughter’s Town’. It is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna.
Chikmagalur is a calm, serene town full of scenic surprises, hills, valleys, streams and snow-white coffee blossoms. Situated 270 kms from Bangalore, Chikmagalur is a trekker’s delight, with its rugged mountain trails. We did not choose to trek as small kids accompanied us.
We all were ready to enjoy the long drive but thought of hiring Temp traveler so that all 4 families can stay together and have more fun.
I had to give explanations to Ghanshyam bhai, owner of the hotel Annapoorna in Sasan Gir.
I requested him on phone, to book a room for 27th and 28th December night. During our conversation he told me that December end is a peak tourist season. Since only a limited number of vehicles are allowed inside the jungle for three safari slots of 6:30 am-9:30 am, 12:30pm–3:30 pm and 3:30pm -6:30 pm, he advised me to book the safari in advance. For this he suggested to fax an application along with identity proof, to the forest office, with his name on top of that application so that he could collect the permit on my behalf.
I bought warm chestnuts from a steaming cart in the empty Aya Sofya Square and walked over to the benches before the Blue Mosque, where there were only three others, sitting on the benches and meditating on the mosque. I shivered in spite of the layers of clothes and marveled at the mosque lit by electric lights from below, and from the sky by the stars and a classic crescent moon. I felt alright. At this time there were no more touts to ask me in their pleasant but pesky way: Where you from? India? Pakistan? (And once, Jordan?) The mosque was aloof, unaffected by the white birds wheeling over it, focused only on its relentless effort to stare off the Aya Sofya, just as the Aya Sofya has stared at the Blue Mosque for five hundred years. The Blue Mosque is Aya Sofya’s junior by a thousand years but is as tall and more handsome with six minars to Aya Sofya’s four.
Dalhousie-Khajjiar-Chamba Excursion Apr 12-15, 2007 – By Ripple (ripple4it@gmail.com)
It was a Thursday before a long weekend, due to elections in Noida on Friday & we had an opportunity to go out for any hill station in hot summer days of April. Vikas suggested Dalhousie & I agreed for the same. Without any plan we moved to ISBT-Delhi & found that there is no direct bus for Chamba at around 2300 hrs. Without wasting time we left Delhi to Pathankot at around 2300 hrs in night on Apr 12. We planned it late to visit Dalhousie but one can plan and leave Delhi via train to Pathankot and then take another short journey to Dalhousie or Chamba. We took a bus to from Pathankot to Banikhet (A station between Pathankot & Chamba) & changed the bus for Dalhousie.
Day-1: 13th April, 2007 (Dalhousie & Panchpula)
We reached Dalhousie at around 1300 hrs on APR 13 (half of our day gone astray). We were really impressed by the beauty & weather there. Then we started searching a good Hotel. One can find numerous numbers of Hotels, Resorts and Guest Houses there. After negotiation, we got a discounted room in Hotel Geetanjali(HPTDC Hotel) for around INR 400. One can have a decent single room for INR 300-1000 in April, but in May/June it’s very difficult to find rooms even for 1200 min. After checking in to the Hotel & taking Lunch we went to the Mall. Spent some time in Gandhi Chowk & then had a round back through Subhash chowk. Dalhousie city is spread over three little places connect to each other with road, called as The Mall. Gandhi-Chowk, Subhash-Chowk and Bus-Stand. Dalhousie is a gateway to Chamba (10th AD primordial state), with its innate exquisiteness. Situated at an altitude of 6800 ft., it’s an incredible place. Dalhousie in its present shape was founded in 1850’s when the British acquired five hills from the ruler of the ChambaState for developing the area as a sanatorium.
Dalhousie is better known for its stretch over 5 hills. But I liked the cool breeze with fairly good amount of sunlight at the ridge. We took some snacks and without delay left for Panchpula.
