All Latest Travel Stories - Page 69 of 236 - Ghumakkar

A Yatra to Takstang Monastery

By Anupam Chakraborty

Here winds are blowing strongly, carrying everybody’s prayer with it and bringing blessing for all- truly a heavenly experience. We enter into the monastery. There are small temples inside, each of them with images of Buddhist deities. The smell of incense fills the air, a divine atmosphere altogether. We are now near the Tiger’s Nest, a small board indicating that, the cave where the Guru Padmasambhava meditated. We peep into the cave one by one and feel great to witness such a sacred monastery.

On our way back down we stop in the cafeteria for our meal. But they charge Rs.460/- per head for buffet lunch, of course a vegetarian meal, so we remain happy with a bottle of cold drink at Rs.60/-. It takes less than an hour to get down. We thank God for blessing us with the opportunity to witness such a sacred place, to view such an architectural wonder and to accomplish the YATRA once in this life.

We are driving to Chelela Pass, the highest motorable roads in Bhutan which locates between the Haa and Paro valley. We are passing continuously through oak trees, at times glimpsing wild fowls with long tail feathers and free roaming yaks, then through snow capped roads climb slowly to the Chelela pass. A milestone placed along the road indicates the highest point on Dantak Road at an altitude of 3988 meter above the sea level. We see a perfect white Himalayan Mountains view from here.

Week long Kumaon Trip – March 2014

By Asha

Fortunately clear skies gave us a chance to say proper goodbye to mighty tops. Chukhamba, Trishul, Nandadevi and Panch-chuli were among many shikhars visible today morning. It is said, only from Kausani, distinct trishul shape can be seen on the equilateral triangle shaped Trishul peak. In fact these are three peaks on one massif. Though we might be seeing mountain tops still from our next points of visit but not all of them in one go.

We started descending for Ranikhet. The valley was green with wheat and mustard farms. Most of the farms were carved in hill terraces. Different shades of green were splashed on round curved fields. Apple trees were leafless but were bearing white flowers. Some of the other trees were total yellow and some red. But many others had shed their leaves in the winter and were waiting for warmer weather. Spring has almost arrived but frequent unexpected snowfall has delayed blooming season. Anyways, fall does have its own beauty. I could not resist myself from comparing seasons with life-cycle.

On the way, we visited a kalika temple. Next was a Golf Course which was covered with yellow grass. It was noon time so couldn’t stand in open for long and moved ahead. One more temple, a shawl factory and a barren empty fruit orchard could not interest us much.
Ranikhet is basically an army cantonment area. Lots of training facility buildings and practice grounds occupy most of the town. Security connected jawans and their families form majority of population. Cleanliness and environmental care was visible in the town. Civilian areas had not matched that standard.

Road journeys – Diu to Porbandar, Land of the Father of Nation

By AJAY SHARMA

“Mangrol is an important harbour as far as the fish industry is considered. There are many fisheries located here and exports to many European nations. The fishermen of Mangrol are infamous for being caught many-a-times by the Pakistan Coast Guard for entering their naval territories in search of fish”.

We were looking forward to see the much heard and boasted coastal highway running parallel to the Arabian Sea. Though almost the entire highway runs along the coast but the sea or its shores is visible only for a stretch of one kilometer. After long wait we finally reached a concrete fly-over kind of bridge at Madhavpur. The sight of infinitive majestic blue of Arabian Sea on our left at a hand shaking distance and rows of palms and greenery comprising tall pillars with massive blades of the wind mills standing erect with pride & humility on the right was like reaching a dream land. The SUZLON wind-mills claim providing 24 hour power to the state. According to official data, wind power generations capacity in the state has increased a staggering ten times in just six years. As per C-WET data, the total installed capacity in Gujarat stood at 3093 MW.

Ghumakkar Monthly Digest – March 2014

By Nandan Jha

Ghumakkar Guide is something which we have spoken about in the past but we could publish the first only now. The intent is write a under 10 minute read quick guide with all the useful and important information around ‘How to Reach‘, ‘How to move around locally‘, ‘What to do‘ in a short and useful structure. We also refer some of our top stories which we have published on the particular destination and we hope to keep these guides updated over time. The first one was on San Francisco and if you would want to write one on your favourite destination then give me a shout, we would love to work with you and publish it.

Getting back to time machine travel part of this guide, my pick is to not miss Vijay’s log on Goa in Monsoons, Vishal long ride back home from Leh, and Mala’s hueful Kashmir.

If Holi and a visit to temples excite you then please accompany Munesh on this travel to Barsana and Nand Gaon or with Naresh where he paints a vivid picture of ‘Prem Mandir‘.

In the Kingdom of Bhutan :: Journey to Dochula Pass and Paro Valley

By Anupam Chakraborty

Reshmi, the hotel girl, knocks at my door and I turn towards her. She briefs me about the facilities in the hotel and I express to have understood the same. She returns back and I take a nice hot bath, change my dress and after a few minutes enter into the dining hall where Prakash is suggesting to visit Paro Dzong on this afternoon. Everyone is consenting to him and I raise my hand too.

Entering into the kingdom of Bhutan :: The Land of Thunder Dragon

By Anupam Chakraborty

It comes as an unpleasant surprise which is now doubled by a piece of information that from tomorrow there is a three days Public Holiday for the festival Losar. We all stand speechless as we are not feeling at our best. Our driver is promising to give a try tomorrow morning at RST office. But no words of him are taking away the pain we are now feeling because we understand the implications of not having permit for our vehicle.

ब्रज भूमि भ्रमण : बरसाना-नंदगाँव में होली का हुड़दंग

By MUNESH MISHRA

मथुरा-वृंदावन के मंदिरों के दर्शन के पश्चात सोमवार 11 मार्च, 2014 को बरसाना की यात्रा का कार्यक्रम बनाया. बरसाना की विश्वप्रसिद्ध लट्ठमार होली के दर्शन की उत्सुकता के कारण आज सुबह सभी लोग जल्दी-जल्दी उठकर तैयार होने लगे. मथुरा-वृंदावन-गोवर्धन आदि स्थानों की यात्रा का सौभाग्य तो कई बार मिला परन्तु बरसाना-नंदगाँव के स्थलों के भ्रमण का ये हमारा प्रथम अवसर था.
प्रातःकालीन दैनिक कार्यों के निवृत्ति और नाश्ते के पश्चात् बुआ जी-फूफा जी से विदा लेकर चलने कि तैयारी की. बरसाना तक पहुँचने के लिए गाडी और ड्राईवर की व्यवस्था के फूफा जी ने करवा दी थी. होली के रंग में रंगने के लिए राधारानी के जन्मस्थल बरसाना की और चल दिए.

बरसाना के होली महोत्सव में श्रीकृष्ण के स्थान नंदगाँव के निवासी बरसाना की गोपियों के साथ होली खेलने तथा राधारानी जी के मंदिर पर ध्वजारोहण के उद्देश्य से बरसाना में आते हैं. बरसाना में गोपियों द्वारा उनका स्वागत रंग-गुलाल के साथ-साथ लट्ठों (डंडों) द्वारा किया जाता है. नंदगाँव के निवासी भी स्वागत के इस तरीके से भली-भाँती परिचित होते हैं और वे रंग-गुलाल के साथ-साथ अपने बचाव के लिए बड़ी-सी मजबूत ढाल लेकर आते हैं. होली के इस अनोखे स्वरुप के कारण ही बरसाना की होली को लट्ठमार होली के नाम से पूरे विश्व में जाना जाता है. इसके अगले दिन बरसाना की गोपियाँ नंदगाँव में होली के लिए जाती हैं और नंदगाँव के निवासी रंग, अबीर, गुलाल से उनको तरह-तरह के रंगों में रंग देते हैं.मथुरा से लगभग 45 किलोमीटर दूर बरसाना जाते हुए रास्ते में गोवर्धन पर कुछ देर रूककर गिरिराज जी परिक्रमा मार्ग पर दंडवत और दानघाटी गिरिराज जी मंदिर को प्रणाम करके बरसाना की ओर चल दिए.

MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA (Kuala Lumpur & Genting Highland)

By Mahesh Semwal

We started our visit from Putrajaya. It is a planned Capital city located at 25 Km south of KL & 20 Km from KL International Airport .Most of the government offices are shifted here from KL , due to over crowding & congested place. Putrajaya is still nature. Lush greenery, botanical gardens are spread across the landscape enhanced by large bodies of water and wetlands. Five confluences meet at the north forming a main waterway which flows across the city area.

Bringing Back Some Hues from the Beautiful Valley Of Kashmir

By Mala Raman

This time around we decided to travel to Kashmir, the most “in news” state of our country, for all the very wrong reasons though! The Gurupurb holiday clubbed with a weekend gave us the three days to plan our trip. We left for Kashmir, fraught with all the apprehensions in the world, and yet excited. On arrival at the airport we were warmly greeted by Dr. M.H Wani, an academician, working towards nation building in his own humble ways; however we didn’t know how our myopic views about this breathtaking place were to be altered by the end of this trip!

Ladakh Calling… (Part 6) Leh – Sarchu (260 Kms)

By Vish.

From “Zing Zing Bar” it was more a downhill journey & our bulls were easily cruising through. By the time we reached “Darcha” it was 12:00 Hrs. We had a cup of tea with hot maggi & pushed of quickly. It started becoming cold with moderate rain. “Keylong” was just 8 kms away when it started raining heavily. We took a halt under a tree shade & after few minutes of (SuGa) break we resumed our journey. It was 14:00 Hrs when we reached “Keylong” & managed to get a decent room on the road side & parked our bikes just in front of our room.

ब्रज भूमि भ्रमण : मथुरा-वृंदावन के कुछ दर्शनीय स्थल

By MUNESH MISHRA

निधिवन में विचरने के पश्चात् अभी भी मंदिरों के द्वार खुलने में पर्याप्त समय था. वृंदावन में आकर वृंदावनी लस्सी का मजा अगर नहीं लिया तो वृंदावन का भ्रमण अधूरा ही है. भूख भी लगी हुए थी तो कुछ खाने-पीने के साथ वृंदावनी लस्सी का मज़ा उठाने का यही सही समय था. बाकि बचे समय को श्री यमुना जी का तट पर व्यतीत करने का विचार कर पग यमुना तट की ओर चल पड़े. श्री यमुनाजी भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण की अनेक लीलाओं की साक्षी है. श्री यमुनाजी के तट पर बैठकर भगवन की चीर-हरण, कालिया-दमन आदि अनेक लीलाओं के दृश्य आँखों के सामने तैरने लगते हैं. श्री यमुना जी कि रेत में बच्चे क्रीड़ा करते हुए गीले रेत में सराबोर होकर आनंद के खजाने को खोदने लगे. और धीरे-धीरे समय मंदिरों के द्वार खुलने का हो गया.
सबसे पहले वृंदावन के प्राचीन श्री बांके बिहारी जी मंदिर के दर्शन के लिए मंदिर द्वार पर द्वार खुलने की प्रतीक्षा करने लगे. बांके बिहारी मंदिर भारत के प्राचीन और प्रसिद्ध मंदिरों में से एक है। बांके बिहारी कृष्ण का ही एक रूप है जो इसमें प्रदर्शित किया गया है। इसका निर्माण सन 1864 में स्वामी हरिदास ने करवाया था. वृंदावन में आने वाला प्रत्येक दर्शनार्थी इस मंदिर में श्री बांके बिहारी जी के दर्शन अवश्य करके अपने यात्रा को सफल करने का प्रयत्न करता है.

अन्य प्रसिद्ध मंदिरों में कृष्ण बलराम मंदिर (इस्कॉन टेम्पल) जो कि अंग्रेजों का मंदिर नाम से भी प्रसिद्द है. ISCON के संस्थापक स्वामी प्रभुपाद जी के आदेशानुसार इस मंदिर का निर्माण सन 1975 में करवाया गया. विश्वभर के प्रसिद्द इस्कॉन मंदिरों में से एक वृंदावन का ये एक अतिप्रसिद्ध मंदिर है. वर्षभर इस मंदिर में पूरे विश्व के कृष्ण-भक्तों का यहाँ आना-जाना लगा रहता है. मंदिर में प्रवेश करते ही स्वामी प्रभुपाद जी के महामंत्र (हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे. हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे) का मानसिक जाप स्वतः ही प्रारम्भ हो जाता है. मंदिर में सतत चलने वाला महामंत्र का संकीर्तन आगंतुकों को मंत्रमुग्ध कर दर्शन के साथ नर्तन करने को विवश कर देता है.

Ghumakkar Featured Author Interview with persistent and passionate Manisha Chitale

By Vibha

y a series of three after my visit to Khajuraho. As you may know Khajuraho captures your heart and brain both. It was a very engaging trip

1 Darjeelingyatra Along the old silk route – East Sikkim

The old Silk Route in East Sikkim has a special charm because it combines mountain scenery, history and the feeling of travelling through remote Himalayan landscapes. What makes North Bengal…
2 sms verification Importance of travel video marketing for the tourism industry post COVID-19

Great insights on video marketing for tourism post-COVID! When travel brands started rebuilding their digital presence, one operational detail became crucial for us: verifying user identities smoothly across borders. During…
3 Vayable Trip Dalhousie – how we made the most before the onward journey

Really enjoyed reading this Dalhousie journey. The way you described the last moments there and the return journey made it feel like I was travelling along with you. Beautiful memories.
4 Rajeev saini A Day trip to Fatehpur Sikri from Delhi

Hi Nitesh I m planning to trip to Agra ,fathe pur ,Sikri AND I WILL BE GUIDED BY UR ABOVE INPUT.
5 ucmini My trip to H.A.L Museum in Bangalore

I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made.
6 hire himachal cab गढ़वाल घुमक्कडी: कर्णप्रयाग – विष्णुप्रयाग – बद्रीनाथ

great article keep it guys
7 Ahmed Top 10 fun things to do in Dubai

Fun things about explained nicely, must read it article.
8 Rambahadur Pranami Orchha, A precious ‘Gem’ of Bundelkhand.

Bundelkhand avashya hi bharatvarsh ka hriday