ढेला (कॉर्बेट) से मरचुला की मस्ती का सफ़र (भाग – 2)

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पानी इतना साफ़ था की नीचे के पत्थर साफ़ चमक रहे थे। इतनी छोटी सी जगह पर इतना आनंद भी लिया जा सकता है, सोचा न था। धूप धीरे धीरे हलकी हो रही थी और पानी भी अब ज्यादा ठंडा लगने लगा था इसलिए सोचा कि अब यहा से चलना चाहिए। इसी बीच मनमोहन दो तीन बार पानी से निकला तो हर बार एक मच्छर उसको काटता था और वो चिल्लाता था और गालिया देता था। हम सब हँसते थे कि मच्छर को गोरी चमड़ी पसंद आ रही है लेकिन अब जैसे ही हम सभी पानी से बाहर निकले तो उस मच्छर ने मेरे पैर मे बहुत तेज काटा, अब चिल्लाने की बारी मेरी थी और हसने की मनमोहन की। खैर हमने जल्दी जल्दी कपड़े पहने और वहा से बाहर की और चल दिए।

पानी मे इतनी देर रहने के बाद अब काफी थकान महसूस हो रही थी इसलिए प्रदीप को भी बोला कि अब सीधे गेस्ट हाउस चले लेकिन उसने रास्ते मे गाड़ी एक लम्बे से ब्रिज के सामने रोक दी। जगह अच्छी थी लेकिन अब रुकने के मन ही नहीं था लेकिन फिर भी उतर गए की कुछ फोटो ही खीच ले। उतरने पर देखा कि वो केंद्रीय जल आयोग से सम्बंधित था। हम वहा पाँच दस मिनट ही रुके और फिर वापिस चल दिए। वापिस आते हुए हम मोहान से थोड़ा आगे ही निकले थे कि देखा वहा बहुत भीड़ थी, हम भी गाड़ी से बाहर आ गए तो पता चला कि हाथी का बच्चा झाड़ियो मे उलझ गया है, सड़क के एक तरफ जंगल ही था और उसमे थोड़ा सा अन्दर ही वो बच्चा फसा हुआ था और उसके पास हाथियों का पूरा झुण्ड था, उनको देखने के लिए ही वहा भीड़ जमा थी। लोग हाथियों को परेशान कर रहे थे और बार बार अन्दर जा रहे थे जो कि खतरनाक था अगर एक बार हाथी पीछे भाग लेते तो भगदड़ मच जाती। हाथियों ने बच्चे को झाड़ियो से छुड़ा लिया था लेकिन वो वही थे। हम लोगो ने वहा से निकलना ही सही समझा। रास्ते मे हमने रामनगर से जरूरी सामान ख़रीदा और वापिस गेस्ट हाउस की और चल दिए।

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Amarnath Yatra : Panchtarni – Holy Cave (Part 7)

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Searched lights were switched off and we went towards check post, one CRPF man came and asked me to stay with them and allowed only Naresh Saroha to go towards Dispensary. I waited there for his return. After 10-15 minutes Naresh cane and we returned to our tent. Due to medicines, Naresh slept soon but I could not sleep after that. In the morning all wake up early and after completing our daily routines, we get ready to start the last day tracking. We took hot tea and Rusk/biscuits in breakfast and started the journey.

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Ghumakkar Interview : In an insightful chat with Rakesh Bawa

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Ghumakkar: Yes, Spic Macay was very active in ‘University of Delhi’ as well. Infact for one of the ‘North Zone Fests’, back in 1994, a large contingent from DU was in Chandigarh . I was part of the theatre group from Kirori Mal College. I was pretty impressed with the overall infrastructure. So did this continue post college ?
Rakesh : Yes. When I joined H.P. university Shimla, I simply auditioned for the plays to be held during annual function and student organisations functions and did 7-8 plays there during that stint, not more. But I was more a part of their Quiz team and Debate team which I used to enjoy more as i was a good quiz master to be sure, if not perfect and was highly influenced by Siddhart Basu,s programme Quiz Time. During University days I once interacted with Vijay Kashyap jI, theater personality and local theater artists . I remember one name, Deven. Nothing specific or any juicy titbit about those days except for long rehearsals and endless cups of tea in dhabas.  A great influence on me , those days was of Prof. A.R. Khan, who is no more. He was an eminent historian though I was not his student as he taught medieval India whereas I was student of modern India. Simla is famous for Indian institute of Advanced studies and myself and him used to go strolling there from campus discussing intricacies of History.

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Trip to Riyadh: Sunday 12th May 2013 to Friday 17th May 2013 – III

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It was almost noon when I finished scouting the area. There was an Afghani restaurant here, so I decided to have my lunch here. They served me Alu Palak, and it was really delicious, so I ended up ordering some take-aways in the form of an extra plate of alu palak, and a plate of a chicken curry. I then went to meet Dr. Deepti Chauhan, a Mumbai-based Ophthalmologist who has recently come to Riyadh for a short 3-month assignment to work in the King Faisal Specialist Eye Hospital; we had been in touch by phone through a mutual friend, as she needed guidance on how to manage one’s life in Saudi Arabia, esp. as she would be travelling and staying here as a single woman.

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ढेला (कॉर्बेट) की मस्ती और रोमांच

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हमें घुमते हुए वहा के गार्ड ने बोला कि सर यहाँ से बाहर मत जाइएगा, इस चारदीवारी की अन्दर ही रहना और पीछे के रास्ते से तो बाहर निकलना ही मत। हमने पुछा कि यहाँ भी डर है क्या तो उसने बोला साहब जी एक शेर तो रोज ही पीछे वाले रास्ते से जाता था और हाथी तो कई बार इन खेतो मे घुस चुके है। जोश मे तो थे ही तभी सोच लिया कि खाना खाकर एक चक्कर तो लगायेगे बाहर का। हम जल्दी से डाइनिंग रूम मे पहुचे, खाना तैयार था, दाजू ने तुरंत लड़को को परोसने का आदेश कर दिया। खाना मजेदार था। खाना खाकर हम वापिस कमरों मे आ गए और दाजू को भी अन्दर आने के लिए बोला। अन्दर आने पर हमने पूछा कि बाहर कहा तक जाया जा सकता है। वो पक्ष मे नहीं थे लेकिन हमने भी बोला कि हम अन्दर जंगल मे नहीं जायेगे सिर्फ बाहर सड़क तक तो जा सकते है और वैसे भी गाड़ी से बाहर तो निकलना नहीं था। । तब जाकर वो तैयार हुआ।

बारह से ज्यादा का समय हो रहा था और हम बाहर गाड़ी मे बैठे थे। आधा घंटा हम सड़को पर गाड़ी दौड़ाते रहे। वहा पेड़ो के बीच कच्चा रास्ता था जो दिन मे शोर्टकट के रूप में प्रयोग होता था, उस रास्ते से जब निकले तो रोंगटे खड़े हो गए बिलकुल सुनसान, सड़क भी कच्ची, डर लग रहा था कि अगर गाड़ी फस गयी तो निकालनी मुश्किल हो जायेगी क्योकि छोटी गाड़ी थी, अँधेरे मे हिरनों के झुण्ड भी दिखे जिनकी सिर्फ आखे चमक रही थी। वो अभी तक के सबसे यादगार और रोमांचक क्षण थे, शायद ऐसा रोमांच कभी जंगल मे भी नहीं आया था। प्रदीप का मन तो वापिस आने के लिए कर ही नहीं रहा था। एक बजे हम वापिस आये तो थोड़ी देर कमरों के बाहर ही बैठ गए कि कल कहा जाए। जिम कॉर्बेट के बिजरानी गेट से तो प्रवेश मिल सकता था लेकिन जो जानवर अन्दर दिखते थे वो बाहर ही दिख गए थे फिर ऐसा रोमांच भी हो गया था। इसलिए चार हजार रूपये खर्च करना अक्लमंदी नहीं लगी। प्रदीप ने बोला कि सर कल मे आपको मरचुला लेकर चलूगा, आपको जगह पसंद आएगी। मरचुला के बारे मे हमने कभी सुना नहीं था लेकिन कही तो जाना था इसलिए वही सही। जगह पक्की हो गयी तो हम भी अपने कमरों मे आ गए सोने के लिए।

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Ahmedabad Trip Part 2

Ahmedabad Trip Part 2

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Sabarmati Ashram : I think every Indian knows the name of this place :) It is located on Ashram road near Vadaj on the bank of Sabarmati River. Sabarmati Ashram or Satyagraha Ashram had played an instrumental role in the non-violence movement and India’s struggle for independence. Mahatma Gandhi’s famous “Dandi March” started from here in 1930. At present the site functions as a museum and an institution whose aim is to preserve and propagate the legacy of the Mahatma. At the entrance, a map of the area acts a guide for tourists. The site covers a large area and the Ashram premises a museum (Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya) which has five units – office, library, two photo galleries and an auditorium. The museum has eight life-size colour oil paintings and an exhibition on Gandhi’s life “My life is my message” and “Gandhiji in Ahmedabad”. An archive is also set up, which stores  letters written by Gandhiji, manuscripts, photographs etc. The library has large number of books, coins, postal stamps and letters of felicitation received by Gandhiji. The grounds of the Ashram include the Hridaykunj, Gandhiji’s humble living quarters, Vinoba-Mira Kutir, Prarthana Bhoomi, statues of the three wise monkeys etc. The tranquility of the place is impressive and the memorabilia of Gandhiji and Independence Struggle reminds us of what we owe to our forefathers. Timing: 8.30 am to 6.00 pm throughout the year and admission is free.

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Rain Fury in Chakrata, Uttarakhand in June 2013 (Part I)

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We made ourselves comfortable in the tents, opened our bags to change the clothes but got the shock of our life as all the clothes inside the bag were equally wet like the clothes we were wearing. I decided to continue with my present set of clothes which got dried with my body heat in next two hours. The camp guys brought a battery driven LED light which ware barely emitting any light, some pakoras and masala tea by 7:30 pm in the evening. Our gang enjoyed these snacks and felt a little relieved and energetic, since we have not ate anything after breakfast. The Sun was setting behind the hills quickly and with the absence of electricity and inability to light the fire outside due to rain, darkness was building up inside the camp and outside. The sound of rain smashing against the camp started to scare us. Rajesh the dabangg, got dumb struck, the thing that was enthusing voice in him were the never ending songs of Gurdeep ‘Dil ro raha hai…’ to which Rajesh was getting irritated and saying ‘yaar chup ho ja, tere aise gaano ki wajah se hi itni barish ho rahi hai‘. Rest of us were enjoying this cat fight between the two and were trying to be back in holiday mood. Sanjay and me were quite sure that rain will subside by morning and we will be able to visit Tiger Fall. All were keen to visit Tiger Fall, but there was no voice coming out from dabangg bhai’s mouth. By 9 pm dinner was served, and post-that we slipped inside the quilts after closing the zipper inside tent. Very soon the camp got quite warm inside assuring us that atleast we will manage to have a decent sleep. We keep chit chatting inside our camp and occasionally across the camp of Gurdeep and Arun. The rain kept turning mightier with the darkness of night, and at a point we were not able to hear each other’s voice because of deafening collision sound between rain drops and tent. With prays for God, we slept in a hope of better tomorrow.

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Trek to Sandakpu, Darjeeling – Final Part

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The path was a combination of mule track and foot path and it was passing through varieties of jungle landscape and fauna. We passed through pine forest, then came the small structured bamboo jungle locally called “Mallebu”, then came giant sized ferns heralding the path on both sides like a natural decoration to welcome the weary traveler. As we consumed the distance and moved closer towards Gorkhey the path became steeper descent that was not very kind to my old creaking knees. The umbrella stick was a great help and support. We indulged ourselves with quick halts sipping ORS water and passing body water. We trudged along slowly and surely.

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Red Fort

A day in the historic Red Fort – Shahjahanabad, the Seventh city of Delhi

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Recently, I went to visit Red Fort and come back home with so many thoughtful memories. It was not my first visit but this trip was an amazing experience.
The Red Fort of Delhi has witnessed so many rulers and an important link between the past and the present. It had witnessed the downfall of Mughal dynasty, as well as pains and sufferings throughout our freedom struggle. It has also witnessed the day when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, unfurled the national flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th of August, 1947.

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Trek to Sandakpu, Darjeeling : Part 2

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Phalut has only one Government owned Trekker’s Hut that looks an imposing colonial type hill cottage from outside but a haunted house from inside. The rooms were shabby suffering from years of neglect. Kitchen had the ancient wooden fire place for cooking and most part was black with wood fire soot collected over the years. I walked into the kitchen and found couple of people, not tourists, sitting by the fire and chatting, obviously this was the only available place in the huge colonial house that was warm to sit by. I walked in and announced in Gorkhali to the people present,” I am 70 year old retired colonel, just arrived after 21 kms trek, how are you guys going to make me comfortable”. Immediately there was commotion and everyone got up. The forest Guard got up and offered me the coveted chair. I asked as to who was who and found out that the one by the fire place was the care taker as he proudly told me, “ I am from the Tourism Department”. Rest was guides who had arrived earlier. I asked for a cup of tea and the care taker got busy brewing it in a black kettle, hardened by years of sitting on wooden fire. I learnt that the Tourism guy was the one and only representative of the Government. He was cook, care taker, cleaner, maintenance man, procurement officer, house keeper and overall in-charge. However, the Forest Guard being more elderly as also senior man of the Government, with beat post located adjacent to the lodge, was the de-facto boss of the town, specially for the weary guides and porters. When I pulled my rank and age he chickened out of the comfortable chair against the fire to my advantage and I promptly occupied it. How small things matter at the right time and place. Like when we march in the Army, during breaks the best shaded tree obviously goes to the senior most without questions asked. When I was climbing a snow covered mountain in Arunachal Pradesh in the winter of 1989, we had to camp for the night. It was snowing and the ground was too wet our tents, our local guide found a cave and made himself comfortable with a wood fire to boot. I walked into the cave with authority and sat by the fire occupying the only comfortable rock to sit on. Slowly my company commander followed and sat next to me and then another. Finally we found ourselves, a party of 10 reconnaissance team sitting by the fire. Later we ate and slept there, needless to say, me occupying the most comfortable slot next to the fire.

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