ghumakkar.com

Read the article from point of view of a person, who loves to travel, is deeply in love with nature and enjoys serenity and solitude.

I was soon going to fall in love with the world I was entering!

This was a package tour offered by MP tourism and was gifted to us. I can assure you that it is not at all expensive especially if you do not want to spend time raking your brain every now and then for deciding on lodging, food, sights to see, local traveling, tips etc.

8th Feb It was the year 2006. The Bhopal Express reached Bhopal at 6:30 in the morning after an overnight journey from New Delhi railway station. MP tourism extension office is right at the entrance of the Bhopal station. We reported there, the package was confirmed and we were helped with our luggage by our driver (who turned out more of a chauffeur). It was Wednesday but the office crowd had not ventured out by that time. The empty roads guided us to the Palash Hotel (three star) where we freshened up in the common but more than decent restrooms. Tesu restaurant at the Hotel was where we had our breakfast (with buffet options). We started from there in our own sweet time and headed to Pachmarhi. Our chauffeur, Mr Shahvar Khan, made good conversations and knew exactly when not-to-speak. Settled in Mumbai he was well traveled and was “known” in bollywood circles. He also claimed to be personal driver to Mrs Big B for a few years. He referred to my wife as didi and never talked to her directly!

The package includes two stoppages en route to Pachmarhi. The first one is an ancient Lord Shiva temple at Bhojpur, 28 kms from Bhopal. We offered our prayers to the Lord. The Shivalingam we were told is the tallest in India.

(more…)

Year 2002. Month of October. Same planet, India, Kerela, Varkala but an absolutely magical world. We were on a road trip, Bangalore-Kanyakumari-Bangalore. We touched Thiruvananthapuram and were trying to navigate to Kovalam beach when I noticed boxed information in The Lonely Planet about this beach resort less traveled called Varkala. I had been to Kovalam and anything less traveled and commercialized than Kovalam would have been better so we navigated ourselves to Varkala beach. We reached the main town and from there it was another 30-minute drive through narrow and meandering lanes. We could hear the roaring call of the sea from far. We checked into a moderately priced hotel and I remember that the street was narrow, cobbled and very clean. It was almost nightfall and the roar was still on. We dumped our suitcases and rushed down the street and to our surprise, a short walk led us straight to the panoramic view.
Including us we were only 15 odd people on that long beach. No shops, hawkers, junk, beach umbrellas, vehicles, hotel lights. Call it off-season, odd time of the day, our luck or simply Varkala.
(more…)

Ludhiana, the Manchester of east!! - By Sanjeev

Ludhiana, the land of my in-laws, has become the most frequently visited place for me since I got married in February 2006. The statement does not reflect much enthusiasm but let me tell you that if you have relatives (read in-laws) you would love to go there repeatedly. So if you want to taste Punjab, marry a punjabi or simply go there!

Let us get back to Ludhiana now.

The best way to do that is to catch the Shatabdi Express. One leaves at 7:20 AM and the other at 4:30 PM from the New Delhi railway station. Takes only four air-conditioned and well-served hours. If you like to be your own boss and steering is your middle name the Delhi Ludhiana highway is well maintained. Other advantage of taking the road is that one can try the roadside Punjabi dhaba cuisine. Don’t miss the sweet malai loaded, Lassi in summers and hot milk in winters, baingan bharta or the eternal saag & makki roti

Ludhiana does not have buses as public transport and not many taxis. The city runs on shared autos. Next time someone tells you of big autos in sada ludhiana don’t make fun, pay attention.

I must admit that Ludhiana is mainly a destination for people in transit, businessmen for the bulk shopping of winter apparels or the non-Ludhiana son-in-laws. However, I have recently discovered that there are places to see (http://ludhiana.nic.in/html/places_to_visit.html) and facts to feel about http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2006/02/28/280206_ludhiana_manchester_feature.shtml when in Ludhiana.

I have simply pasted these links as I have not been able to do any sight seeing yet except for a visit to Punjab Agricultural University (my dad-in-law works for PAU and I wanted to meet a scientist-acquaintance over there). I particularly liked a large physical map of Punjab made in cement on the ground depicting river & canal distribution of the state and what all districts they quench. For the first time I saw mushroom “farms”, bater, turkey…but I wonder whether as a tourist one is allowed to enter these “farms” etc. If one has the inclination, one can enroll for the weeklong course on various small-scale entrepreneurial ventures.

We also visited the Chaura bazaar. It is like unurban (not rural) version of Chandni Chowk of Delhi. From household articles to clothes at throwaway prices, you will also get to see the past in these streets. Right above the shops are old havelis with many of the original facades and elaborate window frames. I was there on a hot summer noon and the place was kind of deserted and quiet. My thoughts immediately went to-“this is how old Pakistan would also look like”…purposefully narrow and winding streets, a few of them still brick paved. It was like being on the sets of Buniyaad. Of course, to see them you will have to leave the market aside and get into the non-commercial area of this region.

If that does not interest you…how about Shoppers Stop, KFC, Pizza Hut or the IMAX (in the making still)? Ludhiana is soon going to boast of the most modern community center too, The City Center and the upcoming Festival City Mall with a lot of traditional stuff served on a jet age platter, or the dazzle of a metro at the Mall Road.

Make up your mind!