Golden Trip to Sri Harmandir Sahab, Amritsar

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The entire ambience is soothing and spiritual with kirtans being sung by the gurus sitting inside the temple. Even though the entire journey from the start of the line till one enters the actual temple where the Guru Granth sahib is kept and Gurbani is recited takes about three hours, thousands of people from all castes, creeds and ethnicities throng the Golden temple every day. The temple is open all through the day and night except from 12am to 3pm when the routine cleaning takes place. Awaiting their turns to enter the holy chamber the тАЬEkonkarтАЭ mantra is chanted by all the devotees. The environment is extremely divine. Despite of the rush, a true believer in God can easily connect with the creator here. The actual darshan is even more mystical. One feels as if one has attained the ultimate peace.

Making our way out of the chamber, we looked into the sarovar which is house to a multitude of orange and black fishes. We managed to make our way out and sat for a long time in the premises of the temple overlooking the sarovar.

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Ghumakkar Digest – August 2014

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Over the last 7 years of GhumakkarтАЩs existence, one common and often repeated request was to have some kind of face to face interaction within the community. Many of our community members have met with each other, and have developed long lasting friendships. In fact, at times it is very humbling to know that someone met someone else at Ghumakkar and now both the families not only interact and meet each other but also travel to new places, together. That gives the Ghumakkar crew a feeling of true accomplishment. I, myself, have met many of you and each experience has been a rewarding one. But we never had a so-called тАШGhumakkar MeetтАЩ. What better way to start this monthly digest than to share with all of you that first such organised meeting is finally happening in September 2014 in Delhi. This meet is a brain-child of one of our seasoned trekkers and someone who just moves on with a travel with little to nil planning. Gives me immense pleasure to announce that Vipin Gaur has graciously invited all of us to be together on September 7.

Here are more details, right from the event which Vipin created at Facebook.

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Setting Sail to the Three Islands

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Always remember to carry your ID Card along with you as it is need at almost every tourist spot in the Andamans. The ferries depart every hour and we were to go by the 0930 one. We were not offered any lifejackets and the ferry setup made me worry. Safety was on compromise but yet again one doesnтАЩt have any another option. Recently, a ferry sailing from North Bay to Ross Island sunk and as many as 21 people died. Why canтАЩt we follow safety guidelines rather than waiting for accidents to take place? As soon as the boarding began, I was the first one to step in and occupy the seat ahead of the wheel room.

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Visiting Kaluk in West Sikkim

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If you are an aficionado of history, then Rabdentse is a place not to be missed if you are on a trip to West Sikkim. Located on a ridge near Upper Pelling, Rabdentse was the ancient capital of the kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. It was destroyed by the Gurkha invasion and now only the ruins of the palace remain. The remains of the palace have been declared as of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. The ruins offer panoramic views of Mt. Kanchendzonga.

Vikram dropped us at the point from where we were to trek about 1.5 km through forest to reach the ruins. A huge decorated gate leads to the trekking path. We started our journey through a stone-cobbled path through the forest. The path was narrow and dark. The forest was deep. There was not a person to be seen anywhere. It was super-thrilling!!

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Amarnath Yatra :: Sheshnag & Wahbal (Babbal) Top

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For the first time at Sheshnag we felt shortage of oxygen, we were breathing short while climbing the nearby areas, thatтАЩs due to rapid climbing of altitude, more than 2000 feet in less than 5 hours, thatтАЩs for sure was against the general norms of mountaineering which suggest climbing of not more than 1500 feet a day. We knew that, and therefore were on AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) preventive drugs тАЬDiamox 250mgтАЭ (not to be taken without consultations of physician) from the previous day. We took the second dosage immediately here, because higher the altitude, greater the risk and ahead of us was the Wahbal Top and then Ganesh Top at an altitude of 13500ft and 14500ft respectively. Not to get dehydrate we took plenty of water and ORS. I am writing this not to make anyone scare, but to let all know that there is a little scope for heroic action in climbing high altitudes.

True that, every single life is precious and it is the responsibility of the Government as well as the authorities organising the pilgrimage to care for that, but we must also know how precious the life is to ourselves and to our families who pray every day back at home for our safe return. So it is essential that one have the knowledge of AMS, first aid medicines and their uses before undertaking the pilgrimage or otherwise they should go slow, get acclimatized, not over stress the body and report immediately to the nearest medical camps on the route in case of physical discomforts.

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рдкрд╡рд┐рддреНрд░ рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рдФрд░ рд╣рд┐рдорд▓рд┐рдВрдЧ рджрд░реНрд╢рди (Part 4)

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рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддреЗ рд╣реА рдореЛрд╣ рдорд╛рдпрд╛ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╕реЗ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдЬрдХреЬ рд▓реЗрддреА рд╣реИред рдореИрдВ рднреА рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдЖрдпрд╛ рддреЛ рдореБрдЭреЗ рднреА рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╕рд╛рдерд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рдпрд╛рдж рдЖрдИ. рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рд╡реЛ рдХрд╣рд╛рдБ рд░рд╣ рдЧрдП? рдпрд╣ рд╕реЛрдЪрддрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рдФрд░ рднреЛрд▓реЗ рдирд╛рде рд╕реЗ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рд╡рд░реНрд╖ рдлрд┐рд░ рдмреБрд▓рд╛рдиреЗ рдХреА рдкреНрд░рд╛рд░реНрдердирд╛ рдХрд░рддрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╕реАрдбрд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдЙрддрд░рдиреЗ рд▓рдЧрд╛ред рдЬреВрддрд╛рдШрд░ рд╕реЗ рд╕реЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдЬреВрддреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП ред рдЙрд╕ рд╕рдордп рдареАрдХ 2:30 рдмрдЬ рд░рд╣реЗ рдереЗ рдпрд╛рдирд┐ рдХреА рдореИрдВ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рднреА рд╣рд┐рд╕рд╛рдм рд╕реЗ рд▓реЗрдЯ рдирд╣реАрдВ рдерд╛ред рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдЙрддрд░ рдХрд░ рдПрдХ рд▓рдВрдЧрд░ рд╕реЗ рдмреЗрд╕рди рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдкреБреЬрд╛ рдореАрдареА рдЪрдЯрдиреА рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЦрд╛рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдХрдЯреЛрд░реА рдЦреАрд░ред рддреАрд╕рд░реЗ рд▓рдВрдЧрд░ рд╕реЗ рдЧрд░рдо рдЪрд╛рдп рдкреА рдФрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╕реЗ рддрд░реЛрддрд╛рдЬрд╛ рд╣реЛ рд╡рд╛рдкрд╕реА рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд░ рджреАред

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Welcome to Andamans!

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The pilot announced тАЬCrew, Ready for takeoff!тАЭ The flight from Chennai took off sharp at 0500 hours. It is advisable to opt for a windows seat as on the approach towards the beautiful Islands, one gets a visual treat offered by Andamans.

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рдордгрд┐рдХрд░реНрдг – рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐ рдХреА рдЧреЛрдж рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╕рд╛ рдПрдХ рд╕реБрд░рдореНрдп рддреАрд░реНрде рд╕реНрдерд▓

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рдкрд┐рдЫрд▓реА рдкреЛрд╕реНрдЯ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдкрдиреЗ рдкрдврд╝рд╛ рдХреА рдордирд╛рд▓реА рдХреЗ рджрд░реНрд╢рдиреАрдп рд╕реНрдерд▓реЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕реИрд░ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рдХрд░реАрдм рдЖрда рдмрдЬреЗ рд╣рдо рд▓реЛрдЧ рдХреИрдВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ, рдЗрд╕…

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Amarnath Yatra :: Pishutop, Zajipal & Nagakoti

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These Bhandars provide tea, snacks, breakfast and hot vegetarian foods to the pilgrims, free. They camp all major places on the way to the Holy Cave to serve hot foods to the pilgrims. A holly attempt, I must say, may be the path, to their belief, to receive grace and blessings of Lord Shiva. The holy songs of Lord Shiva in the tunes of most modern bollywood songs were playing in these Bhandaras and were lifting up the spirits of pilgrims.

Pilgrims, who climbed up on foot the first steep mountain тАШPishu TopтАЩ, were standing exhausted there. But they had an aura of achievement too, the aura of victory over the first hurdle, тАШPishu TopтАЩ and for some of them it was no less than the climbing and conquering of Mount Everest. They were proud pilgrims, posing for snaps before and on the stone painted with welcoming message тАЬSwagatam PishutopтАЭ. They deserved that too, but for us who came here on horseback, it was not a party time yet!

We set off again and it was now an easy road along the East Liddar River. Soon we left behind the beautiful Pishutop, I looked back, may be for a last sight in my life. I was enjoying every bit of this route and realized beginning of the most beautiful journey of my life.

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рдмрд╛рд▓рдЯрд╛рд▓ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╡рд┐рддреНрд░ рдЕрдорд░рдирд╛рде рдЧреБреЮрд╛ : рд╢реНрд░рдзреНрджрд╛ рд╡ рд╢реНрд░рдо рдХрд╛ рдЕрдиреЛрдЦрд╛ рд╕рдВрдпреЛрдЧ (рднрд╛рдЧ 3)

рдмрд╛рд▓рдЯрд╛рд▓ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╡рд┐рддреНрд░ рдЕрдорд░рдирд╛рде рдЧреБреЮрд╛ : рд╢реНрд░рдзреНрджрд╛ рд╡ рд╢реНрд░рдо рдХрд╛ рдЕрдиреЛрдЦрд╛ рд╕рдВрдпреЛрдЧ (рднрд╛рдЧ 3)

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рд╣рдо рд▓реЛрдЧ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рдиреНрдп рдЧрддрд┐ рд╕реЗ рдЪрд▓ рд░рд╣реЗ рдереЗ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдзреАрд░реЗ -рдзреАрд░реЗ рд░рд╛рдЬреВ рдФрд░ рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА рдЧрддрд┐ рдХрдо рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рд▓рдЧреА. рд╢реБрд╢реАрд▓ рдЙрдирдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рдЪрд▓ рд░рд╣рд╛ рдерд╛ рдФрд░ рдореИрдВ рдЙрдирд╕реЗ рдХрд╛рдлреА рдЖрдЧреЗ рдирд┐рдХрд▓ рдЖрдпрд╛ рдерд╛. рджреЛрдореЗрд▓ рд╕реЗ 1.5 рдХрд┐рд▓реЛрдореАрдЯрд░ рдЖрдЧреЗ рд░реЗрд▓ рдкрдерд░реА рдирд╛рдордХ рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдкрд░ рджреЛ рднрдВрдбрд╛рд░реЗ рд╣реИрдВред рдореИрдВ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдВрд░реБрдХ рдХрд░ рдЙрдирдХреА рдкреНрд░рддреАрдХреНрд╖рд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рдФрд░ рдмреАрд╕ рдорд┐рдирдЯ рдмрд╛рдж рдмрд╛рдж рд╡реЛ рднреА рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рдЧрдПред рдЪреЭрд╛рдИ рдЪреЭрддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рд▓рдореНрдмрд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╢реНрд░рд╛рдо рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рд╢рд░реАрд░ рд╢рд┐рдерд┐рд▓ рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдЗрд╕рд╕реЗ рдкрд░реЗрд╢рд╛рдиреА рд╣реЛрддреА рд╣реИред рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рднреА рдРрд╕рд╛ рд╣реА рд╣реБрдЖ рдФрд░ рдореБрдЭреЗ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рдХреА рдЕрдЧрд░ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд╣реА рдЪрд▓рддрд╛ рд░рд╣рд╛ рддреЛ рд╢рд╛рдпрдж рд╢рд╛рдо рддрдХ рд╣реА рдЧреБрдлрд╛ рдкрд░ рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рдкрд╛рдЙрдБрдЧрд╛ред рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдЙрдирд╕реЗ рдХрд╣рд╛ рдореИрдВ рдЖрдЧреЗ рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реВрдБ рддреБрдо рдереЛреЬрд╛ рдЖрд░рд╛рдо рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рдЪрд▓ рджреЗрдирд╛ред рдЕрдм рдореИрдВ рддреБрдореНрд╣реЗ рдмрд░рд╛рд░реА рдЯреЙрдк рдкрд░ рд╣реА рдорд┐рд▓реВрдВрдЧрд╛ рдФрд░ рддреБрдореНрд╣рд╛рд░рд╛ 11 рдмрдЬреЗ рддрдХ рдЗрдВрддрдЬрд╛рд░ рдХрд░реВрдБрдЧрд╛ред рдЕрдЧрд░ рдЖрдк рдЗрд╕рд╕реЗ рд▓реЗрдЯ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ рддреЛ рд╕рдордЭ рд▓реЗрдирд╛ рдХрд┐ рдореИрдВ рдЖрдЧреЗ рдЪрд▓рд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реВрдБред рдРрд╕рд╛ рдХрд╣рдХрд░ рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рджреЛрдмрд╛рд░рд╛ рдЪреЭрд╛рдИ рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд░ рджреАред

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Montreal City tour

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On Saturday we had started our journey.Our train departure time was 0645 from Toronto (Union station ).Business class coaches were quite good , spacious and clean . We were given warm welcome and assistance by VIA Rail friendly staff.The difference in Business class and Economy class here is only food.In Business class food is included where as in Economy class we have to buy food.As a usual routine we got our tea , biscuits and later breakfast in train.In the end they had served complimentary wine.It was a 05 hour journey and we reached Montreal at 1200 noon.As we were entering in the Montreal City we can feel just by looking at the road , houses and other infrastructure ┬аthat it is a completely different city not similar to Toronto.
When we were booking our Hotel we thought of two factors; one is cost/location i.e. distance from railway station as our return train was also early morning train.Secondly as were not able to decide on Hotels as per reviews posted in Google we decided to go for a chain and brand Hotels which are tried and tested.Thus we finally booked our room in Sheraton Hotel Montreal.Our decision of choosing a Hotel Near Central station and close to city centre helped us a lot as we have not used any public transport / Cab service in Montreal.So we walked from station to Hotel.It was a 06 minutes walk.

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Unexplored Uttarakhand тАУ The Misty Mountains Retreat in Jhaltola, near Gangolihat

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It had been a long tiring winter and a recharging vacation had been on the cards for far too long. Sushil тАУ a close friend, suggested a new retreat in Uttarakhand – The Misty Mountains. He had been there with his wife and another couple in his friend circle. The name itself suggested just the kind of place I wanted to go to. Reminded me of the many exotic locales from fantasy books I had read over the years. I was sufficiently intrigued to check out their website at http://themistymountains.in and was soner convinced.

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