Road Journeys – Ahmedabad to Jungarh

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Finally a huge granary, a few steps from the step-wells, covered with stage wise storage facilities enabled the curators to use the stocks in hardships as per its requirement by taking it out of the selected chamber designed by high class engineering technique without disturbing the entire storage. Preserved with natural herbs and their way of modern-ancient techniques of keeping the grains dry and free from pesticides is a matter of research. We are happy with pride to know that we were always ahead of time.

An interesting fact, which I feel prominent to mention, is that Zulfikar Ali Bhutta, the deceased veteran of Pakistan, hanged in a political trial was an administrator of the Nawab of Junagadh and played a role during annexation, post independence. Also the very famous, beautiful actor in Bollywood, Parvin Babi was a kin to Junagadh Nawab of Babi dynasty, sadly died in pitiable condition. A few fresh blooms and a solitary eagle on a dead dried tree impressed me with the balance of nature.

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Ae bhai jara dekh kar chaloтАж Be Safe while on road

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I was travelling to Bareilly from Moradabad, distance is about 80 KM, highway is nice but with 5 railway crossings. I was lucky to pass 2 of them without any stop, 3rd one took me 55 minutes and 4th one took 40 minutes to cross. Reason, I stopped my car in the lane I was driving and watching people zooming from right, left, sidewalks, everywhere, not just the cars but state transport buses as well. Once the train got passed, I am not sure whether my car was moving or not, but after 30 minutes, I was able to see railway line men getting ready to close down the crossing again for another train. Same story is during traffic jams. So, guys, please wait patiently, be in your lane, donтАЩt try to rush from your right or left, otherwise you will also be contributing to the traffic jam.

I thought of writing lot of things, but I do not have right words, we experience these things when we are on road, I should have a video for it. Long back I read in one of the article that your child observes your driving, they adopt the same driving habits as yours, so, be careful.

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Road journeys – Nashik to Ahmedabad

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In 30 minutes we reached the famous abode of the Mahatma, the father of the nation and a legend preaching lessons on peace even today. We were enthralled with the mere feeling that we are actually at the site where, Mahatma Gandhi once lived, preached, enlightened our political revolutionists with his successful spiritual ideas of peaceful revolution and earned independence through his ardent anshans, un-armed and without blood shed. The river Sabarmati alongside flowing timidly adds tranquility in the already pacific atmosphere of the heavenly adobe. A few foreign visitors accompanied with philosophers on Gandhian studies were keen in learning with humility. We visited the whole area pursuing every facts preserved in pictures, models and writings with great respect and honour. A stall with GandhijiтАЩs books and relevant works by other legends was very worth visiting. A classic piece on crystal with GandhijiтАЩs portrait in it was what we couldnтАЩt resist purchasing besides few artifacts and books. The hutment of Mahatma, a much revered place and the replicas of the items used by the immortal was also of interest. A charkha in working condition at its verandah is still there, in remembrance to the veteran, honouring his omnipresence in every Indian heart and beyond. A man weaving on the charkha drew every ones attention and was framed in all cameras including mine. The room, where Gandhiji resided was found locked for no better reasons but one can see through the netted wires on its windows, the resting place of the Mahatma, Later we also visited VinobajiтАЩs hut which is a thatched roofed mud hutment with two rooms one for him and another for Mira Ben the Anglo follower of Gandhiji.

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Ghumakkar Featured Author Interview – with Upanshu Singhal

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We froze a mid week day 8:30 pm slot for our telephonic conversation. After a tiring day at work, would the person have mood to give an interview? Well, I was really skeptical about it. TO add to my apprehensions, the phone rang for longer than expected rings. I cut it and redialed again. Now, the network provider shooted an automated message тАЬThe person you have called has redirected calls to another number. Please hold on as we connect to the other numberтАЭ and some тАЬmelodiousтАЭ tune to keep me happy waiting яБК Well, I thought I would try once last time and then send a mail to reschedule the interview slot. But, there is always light at the end of the tunnel! A friendly voice answered the call. What happened next is spread on the table for you readers to relish!

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Some Days in Gujarat: Kankaria Lake front (Part 1)

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After going some distance , we saw that in lake there was a big balloon like structure near the shore only and kids were packed inside it and they enjoyed floating inside it for sometime. We witnessed the scene for sometime and I asked Pavani if she wanted to experience it. She replied in affirmative as she had not done it before. The ticket rate for this was Rs. 50. I guess it was fun for her.

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Road journeys – Daman to Mumbai-Shirdi-Nasik

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After relishing the home made graceful dinner, after so long, we started our onward journey to Shirdi at 9 pm, a 250 km drive was supposed to take 5-6 hrs. Kavita on the front seat, immaculately navigated through the zig-zags and soon through the Ghodbander road we were on the Eastern expressway to Nasik. I was told that Mumbaikars often travel on this route on weekends for Shirdi and Nasik at this hour so no issues driving till late night there. On the contrary, I didnтАЩt find much private vehicles and was little uncomfortable regarding the route to Shirdi from Igatpuri which is a single and bumpy 100 km drive. Engulfed with apprehensions of adversities, with three ladies on board, I was a bit skeptic to whether go Shirdi or halt at Nasik which is relatively safer because of the HW throughout. Kavita on the other hand was confident and relaxed about the safety issues. In a state of topsy-turvy, I stopped at a large food joint (not many on this route) at Igatpuri for a stretch, fags & refreshment to ladies. I was pleased to see a few private vehicles parked there, on enquiring most of them revealed of their return journey to Mumbai and suburbs. One Innova driver was however, going Shirdi with ladies on board and assured about a safe journey except that the road from Ghoti to Shirdi is single and mostly dusty and bumpy.

He was on first instance very impressed about knowing us from Delhi. He had once tried luck in Delhi and stayed in Laxmi Nagar for one year was fallen for the city as usual but luck pushed him back because of his motherтАЩs ill health and since then staying in a slum in Khar near Bandra. While chatting, he was extremely happy recalling the names of the Delhi-NCR localities, praising proudly, every thing about his lavish life style way back in 2002-03 during his stay in Delhi.

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Rome – The city of just-about-everything

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Like Delhi, Rome is also circular and even has a ring road (called Autostrada) that is about 56 kms long. So travelling from one place to another takes a maximum of an hour in regular traffic. Cab fares begin from 4 Euros and for a single hop should not exceed 30.

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Road Journeys – Udaipur to Daman (UT)

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Locals suggested visiting the Jampore Beach in the morning for the oblivious tangible apprehensions of countering unreasonable clashes with drunken-brawls. Being sensible, when with your family is I feel is an intelligent act though, the macho mind always resists fearing such instances. I suppressed my macho-ness and preferred to visit the beaches next morning and utilized the evening in walking along the bustling market place counting the wine shops which were more than 39 within 2 km, later stopped doing it and entered into one of the eateries. Every small or big food joint is equipped with a bar too besides those shops I referred. A bottle of KF strong costs Rs. 60/- in shops and Rs. 100/- to 140/- in bars depending upon the size and shape of the furnishings inside. We were in one of the best hence had to pay the maximum. Every table had a countable number of bottles in different colors and shapes with families enjoying wining with dining in loud atmosphere. The liberal city has no age bar supposedly for serving alcohol because a group of very young stags sitting beside our table were so intoxicated that two of them fell down a couple of times while making way to the loo.

Jampore beach is a nice and cool place and worth visiting. A row of hutments on the shore blocking the sight of sea serves liquors, sizzlers and sea food mostly comprised of small sized prawns and pomfrets. You need to make way to the beach only through those shops which have small openings on their back, fronts are sea facing. Plastic chairs specially designed for a leisure seating, half immersed in the sand are arranged in sequence in front of the shops. Early morning, we found a number of tourists mostly with families enjoying their drinks leisurely on the beach side budget-resorts. Fresh catch of prawns lured us to give a try and we ordered a plate containing 8 pieces at Rs. 150/-. The prawns were definitely fresh but cooking in too much of spices spoiled its natural flavour. We therefore, again ordered a plate without spices and the later was better. The sea was calm with a far stretched beach along the timid water which was creeping gradually closer in natural course. On the way back we were amused to see a decorative piece in one the government office premise and couldnтАЩt resist from putting the image here.

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Road journeys – Delhi to Udaipur-the Lake City

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Enjoying the splendid landscapes we reached Baewar by 1.30 pm on our first major stop for refreshment and lunch. I was so energetic till then that my wife didnтАЩt ask me why we are heading towards Udaipur and not Chittorgarh for the break journey. Filled the tank of the car alongwith our tummy, we were again lost in the nostalgic picturesque landscape full of greenery, on an average speed of 100 kmph with ease due to good tar and less traffic. Our first visiting place was Rajsamand Lake which soon appeared with an awesome view of a natural wild lake on the left side of the road. Rajsamand Lake is an artificial lake created in the 17th century by Rana Raj Singh of Mewar. We stopped and hurriedly captured the view both in our eyes and in the camera. Surprisingly, none other was available to enjoy the serene virgin beauty of the so natural place in wilderness. A clear water in the lake, yet uninterrupted by artificiality, was a soothing sight. A rusted board mentioning victory of Maharana Pratap over AkbarтАЩs huge army in 1582, fought there was boasting its historical importance. We stayed a few minutes clicking photographs and watching the silence in the tranquility, glooming hearted was back to our seats. It was sad to see that a place of so rich history, so beautiful is so unattended.

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Majuli тАУ The Island of Dancing Monks

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The half a dozen shopkeepers were honking to sell their wares. You can reach, Gharmur, the largest habitation in Majuli by bus, shared taxis or own cars. One of the Sumo drivers, constantly tailing us offered us a ride to тАЬME: PO OKUMтАЭ (which means happy home); our abode for the night, for Rs. 500. Considering the distance of around 15 Kms, we found it acceptable. Passing aside the small creeks, lakes and water bodies, we reach the market center of Majuli, which has a number of shops selling all kinds of goods. It is surprising that despite being connected to Jorhat only by three ferries plying in a day, the modernism has reached there, with the setting up of medical centers and educational institutions. Housing too, has segued from traditional bamboo and mud construction to ones made of concrete. There are ATMs, shops selling electronics, Airtel and Tata Sky outlets and what not. We picked up some eatables for the young ones and some cokes, sodas and bakery products for our use.

Me: Po Okum is an eco camp located at Chitadar Chuck village in Majuli. Haren Narah, the owner of the camp received us with a big smile and guided us to three cottages reserved for our stay. The camp has 10 cottages including a large one. All these cottages made of bamboo; thatch and wood have been raised on stilts around 4 -6 ft. above the ground, probably to mitigate the fear of floods during the monsoon. The camp looks like a group of traditional huts around a small mustard field. The cottages have attached basic western toilets with some basic supplies.

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рдЖрдореЗрд░ рджреБрд░реНрдЧ : рдЪрд▓ рдЦреБрд╕рд░реЛ рдШрд░ рдЖрдкрдиреЗ….

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рд░рд╛рдЬрд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрди рд╡рд┐рднрд╛рдЧ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд╕реЗ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рд╕рдкреЗрд░реЗ,┬ард╢рд╣рдирд╛рдИ рд╡рд╛рджрдХ рдФрд░ рд╕рд╛рд░рдВрдЧреА рд╡рд╛рджрдХ рдмрдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ,┬ардХрдИ рд▓реЛрдХ рдХрд▓рд╛рдХрд╛рд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдХрд▓рд╛ рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рджрд░реНрд╢рди рдХрд░рддреЗ рднреА рдорд┐рд▓ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗрдВрдЧреЗ,┬ард╣рд╛рд▓рд╛рдВрдХрд┐ рдкрд╣рд▓реА рдирдЬрд╝рд░ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд▓рдЧ рд╕рдХрддрд╛ рд╣реИ,┬ардХрд┐ рдпрд╣ рд╕рдм рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдордиреЛрд░рдВрдЬрди рдФрд░ рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдЖрдХрд░реНрд╖рд┐рдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕ рд╕реЗ рд░рд╛рдЬрд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдХреА рд╕рдВрд╕реНрдХреГрддрд┐ рдЭрд▓рдХрддреА рд╣реИ,┬ард▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдпрджрд┐ рдЖрдк рдЬрд░рд╛ рдЧреМрд░ рд╕реЗ рд╕реЛрдЪреЗрдВ рддреЛ рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдХреА рд╕реЛрдЪ рдФрд░ рдорд╛рдирд╕рд┐рдХрддрд╛ рдкрд░ рд╣реИрд░рд╛рдиреА рд╣реА рд╣реЛрдЧреА┬а|┬ардореЗрд░реА рдЕрдкрдиреА рд╕рдордЭ рд╕реЗ,┬ардЗрд╕ рд╕рдмрдХрд╛ рдХреБрд▓ рдордиреЛрд░рде рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЖрдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдЙрди рдпреВрд░реЛрдкрд┐рдпрди рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рджрд┐рд▓реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╕реА рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреБрд╕реНрддрд╛рди рдХреА рдЙрд╕ рдЫрд╡рд┐ рдХреЛ рдкреБрдЦреНрддрд╛ рднрд░ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдФрд░ рдХреБрдЫ рдирд╣реА рд╣реИ,┬ардЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рд╡рд╢реАрднреВрдд рд╡реЛ рдЖрдЬ рднреА рд╣рд┐рдиреНрджреБрд╕реНрддрд╛рди рдХреЛ рд╕рдкреЗрд░реЛрдВ,┬ардЬрд╛рджреВрдЧрд░реЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдорджрд╛рд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рджреЗрд╢ рд╣реА рд╕рдордЭрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ,┬ардЙрдирдХреА рдЗрди рдорд╛рдиреНрдпрддрд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рд╛рдЧреНрд░рд╣реЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╕рдЪ рд╕рд╛рдмрд┐рдд рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд╣реА,┬ардРрд╕реЗ рдХрд▓рд╛рдХрд╛рд░ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдмреИрдард╛рдпреЗ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ,┬ардЬрд┐рдирдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЖрдк рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЦрд┐рдЪрдБрд╡рд╛ рдХрд░ рдЬрдм рд╡рд╛рдкрд┐рд╕ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рджреЗрд╢ рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рддреЛ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреЗ рд╕рдорд╛рдЬ рдХреЛ рдРрд╕реЗ рдЪрд┐рддреНрд░ рджрд┐рдЦрд╛ рдХрд░ рд╕рд╛рдмрд┐рдд рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдХрд┐ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рднрд╛рд░рдд рдЖрдЬ рднреА рдЙрд╕ рджреМрд░ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рд╣реИ,┬ардЬреИрд╕рд╛ рдХрднреА рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рдЬ рдЫреЛрдбрд╝ рдХрд░ рдЖрдпреЗ рдереЗ ! рдЗрди рд╕рдмрдХреЗ рдЕрд▓рд╛рд╡рд╛,┬ардЗрд╕ рджреБрд░реНрдЧ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рдЕрд▓рдЧ-рдЕрд▓рдЧ рджрд┐рд╢рд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдЦреБрд▓рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рддреНрд░рд┐рдкреЛрд▓рд┐рдпрд╛ рджрд░рд╡рд╛рдЬрд╝рд╛ рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдкреНрд░рд╕рд┐рджреНрдз рд╣реИ,┬ардХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рд╕реЗ рддреАрди рдЬрдЧрд╣реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддрд╛ рд╣реИ,┬ардЬрд┐рдирдореЗ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдЖрдореЗрд░ рд╢рд╣рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рднреА рд╣реИ┬а|

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