02 Feb

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

By Gaurav

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.

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

By Amitava Chatterjee

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.

Mehrauli – The Second City of Delhi

By Nirdesh Singh

Mehrauli quickly became a hotspot for construction which continued for centuries and today perhaps boasts of more monuments than any other part of Delhi. The building of Mehrauli started just a kilometre away from Fateh Burj where Ghori and Aibak entered Qila Rai Pithora after defeating Prithviraj.

Lake City Udaipur

By Kiran

Other important landmark in Udaipur is Maharana Pratap Smarak on Moti Magri. On top of small Hill, this smarak is located, where we can go in our own vehicle. There used to be “Moti Magari” mahal built by Maharana Udaising. Light & Sound show is organised here every evening. The smarak has big statue of Maharana Pratap and a small garden surrounding it. The smarak also has one museum where different weapons and models of forts- Chittorgar, Kumbhalgar and battlefield of Haldi Ghati are depicted in nice manner.
The history of Mewar cannot be complete without the great Maharana Pratap, who never surrendered to the enemy, while other Rajput kings decided to surrender or established relation with Akbar by wedding their daughters to Akbar. But Maharana Pratap had taken oath not to live in Mahal, not to sleep on bed and not to eat in Utensils until he could free all his kingdom from enemies. He lived in forests, slept on straw bed and ate meals on hand for twenty six years. What I came to know here that Maharana Pratap used to keep two swords with him as he would never fight with anyone who did not have weapon. When local people tell the history of great Maharana Pratap, you can sense the proud feeling they have about their Maharana. Such a great feeling to witness the heritage!

A Weekend Trip to Agra

By Gaurav

Next day we checked out of hotel to visit Taj, and as we were approaching Taj Mahal, a number of people stopped our car seeing the Delhi number plate, and tried to lure us on some pretext or other. Some said, “Bauji, Taj Mahal se 4 km tak koi parking nahi hai, main apki car bhi park kara dunga aur auto se le chalunga” -“Sir, there is no parking within 4km of Taj Mahal, I will get your car parked and take you there in the auto”. We overheard all those guys and parked our car at Shilpgram parking, buy tickets from the counter, hired a battery cab in just Rs 10, that dropped us close to Taj. Battery operated cabs hop between authorized Taj parkings and Taj Mahal.

Reaching there, we were welcomed by a long queue of tourists getting restless to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The guards were checking the entry tickets of each visitor and randomly asking for identity proofs of tourists (There was no standard rule for checking authenticity of individuals). Soon after entering, there were rooms made of red sandstone which used to be the rooms of guest of the Shah Jahan, made in almost the same manner as the ones in Fateh Pur Sikri. After entering a huge gate, the sight of marvel made of white marble got visible. The Taj is magnificiently built structure of equal dimensions from all four side and even its distance from the mosque at both its sides are at same length. The entire dimensional symmetry of this architectural marvel is a treat for viewer’s eyes.

सरिस्का के जंगल से भानगढ़ के रहस्यमय किले तक का सफ़र

By Saurabh Gupta

गाइड से पूछने पर पता चला की हाल फिलहाल तो शेर की कोई हलचल वहा नहीं दिखी है, अब हम इतनी बार जंगल जा चुके है कि एक विशेषज्ञ की तरह ही गाइड और ड्राईवर से बात करते है। तभी हमारे ड्राईवर लकी ने १-२ बिस्कुट जीप से बाहर हिरनों की तरफ फ़ेंक दिए तो हमने तुरंत उसको डांटा, वो बोला सर कोई गलत चीज़ नहीं फेंकी है, इससे क्या नुकसान होगा। हमने बोला भाई वो प्राकृतिक चीज़े खाते है उनको ये गन्दी आदत मत डालो, अगर बाद मे उनकी इच्छा फिर से ये खाने की हुई तो कहा से लायेगे, किसी हिरन की मादा ने फरमाइश कर दी कि वही वाले बिस्कुट चाहिए तो उस बेचारे हिरन की गृहस्थी ही टूट जायेगी। वैसे मजाक अपनी जगह है लेकिन जंगल मे इस तरह से कुछ भी फेंकना गलत ही है। जैसी की उम्मीद थी कि कोई शेर नहीं दिखा इसलिए हमने ड्राईवर को भी बोल दिया कि वो बाहर चल सकता है और वैसे भी समय हो ही गया था। इस समय हमारे मन मे भानगढ़ जाने की प्रबल इच्छा थी क्योकि इतना कुछ सुन रखा था इन किलो के बारे मे कि अब इन्तजार नहीं हो रहा था। बाहर आते ही हमने जिप्सी ड्राईवर को बचे हुए २० ० ० रूपये दिए और अपनी गाड़ी मे बैठ गए और लकी को भी इशारा कर दिया कि जल्दी से भानगढ़ की तरफ चले।

भानगढ़ और सरिस्का के बीच की दूरी लगभग ७०-८० किलोमीटर है, सरिस्का से आगे थानागाजी, अजबगढ़ होते हुए भानगढ़ जाया जा सकता है। अभी कुछ भी खाने की इच्छा नहीं थी इसलिए हमने पहले भानगढ़ जाने का ही निश्चय किया फिर वहा से वापिस आने के बाद ही खाने के बारे मे कुछ सोचेगे वैसे भी ७०-८० किलोमीटर ही दूरी थी तो सोचा कि एक सवा घंटा ही लगेगा पहुचने मे लेकिन थोड़ी देर मे ही अच्छी सड़क का रास्ता खत्म हो गया और ख़राब रास्ता शुरू जो योजना थी उससे दुगना समय लगा पहुचने मे।
भानगढ़ के बारे मे कहा जाता है कि वहा की राजकुमार रत्नावती बहुत खूबसूरत थी और लोग उसके रूप के दीवाने थे, वही एक साधू भी था जो रत्नावती को बहुत चाहता था, वो साधू काले जादू मे माहिर था। एक बार राजकुमार बाजार मे इत्र खरीद रही थी तो उस साधू ने उस इत्र पर मंत्र पढ़ दिए जिससे कि वो इत्र लगाते ही राजकुमारी उसकी दीवानी हो जाए लेकिन राजकुमार इत्र देखते ही उसकी चाल समझ गयी और उसने वो इत्र की शीशी एक पत्थर पर पटक दी,

Badami Delight

By Nirdesh Singh

You have started from Bagalkot and your first stop is Badami. You have only one day to see the triple wonders of Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole. It is hot and the area is drought affected. You drive into the dusty town and abruptly turn left into the parking lot. The parking lot seems to be at the foot of this ravine with sandstone hills rising on either side. On the right, the red rocky outcrop rises almost vertically housing the rock-cut temples. On the top of this South Hill sits the Badami Fort. Few yards straight ahead to the parking lot is the lake called Agastya Teertha hemmed in between the two hills. On the left of the lake is the North Hill of Badami. North Hill also has fort ramparts, few temples, guard posts and the ASI Museum. The forts were initially built by Chalukyas & Rashtrakutas and then Tipu Sultan installed cannons and his treasury to the original structures. On the west, the town is threatening to push into the lake with houses built on the edge of the lake. Beware of a snarling dog that apparently dislikes city slickers and is ready to chew your neck. Into the east, you can see the Bhootnath Temple complex built on the edge of the lake with another hill rising behind it. Kids bathe in the cool lake water and women wash laundry spreading it on the steps.

इन्दौर – सैंट्रल म्यूज़ियम और ज़ू दर्शन

By Sushant Singhal

संग्रहालय के मुख्य द्वार से अन्दर घुसा तो देखा कि टिकट खिड़की बन्द है। मुख्य भवन के बाहर भी नाना प्रकार की सैंकड़ों मूर्तियां वहां पर सुसज्जित देख कर मैने कैमरा निकाला और बकौल नन्दन झा, न्रीक्षण-प्रीक्षण शुरु हो गया। एक सज्जन मेरे पास आकर बोले, कैमरे का टिकट ले लीजियेगा, अपना भी। अभी थोड़ी ही देर में टिकट काउंटर खुल जायेगा। मैने पूछा कि तब तक मैं क्या करूं? इंतज़ार करना पड़ेगा? वह बोला, “नहीं, नहीं, आराम से देखिये, जहां भी चाहें, फोटो खींचिये। मेन बिल्डिंग में भी बहुत कुछ है। रास्ता इधर से है।” धन्यवाद कह कर मैं बेधड़क इधर-उधर घूमता फिरता रहा और एक डेढ़ घंटे में पूरा संग्रहालय उलट-पुलट कर देख डाला।

Prashar Lake – A Hidden Gem

By Vipin

Summers are already in, cities are heating up, school are closed for summer vacations, children are craving for an outing, isn’t it enough to…

Family Trip to Mussoorie and Rishikesh (Part II)

By Naresh Sehgal

We also took tickets for a round trip in boat. These tickets were valid for one hour for return journey. It means we had sufficient time to bath and roam at another side of Ganga Ji. The boat took us to another bank in just few minutes. As it was Baisakhi day, a lot of people were taking bath on Eastern Ghats. We also took bath in Holy Ganga ji.

A trip to the Galapagos Islands – Part 1

By Pavithra

On this hike, we saw hundreds of marine iguanas and we were less than 5 feet away from them. We walked past sea lions happily lazing in the sun. We saw the bones of a whale which were collected by the rangers of the Galapagos National Park. We saw the great blue heron and also watched a Galapagos hawk catch a marine iguana and eat it when it was alive. (Ewww Gross!)

Finding Delhi – Sunder Nursery

By Nirdesh Singh

Sunder Bagh, then known as Azim Bagh housed rare plant species from different British colonies across the world. It was also used to experiment with trees that were proposed to be planted in the new city. About 1500 shady trees we see today along the wide roads of Lutyens’s Delhi came from this nursery. Those days, Azim Bagh stood on the historic Grand Trunk Road between Humayun Tomb and Purana Qila.

1 himalayanwheels Along the old silk route – East Sikkim

Really enjoyed reading this detailed travelogue of the Old Silk Route. You’ve captured the raw beauty and challenges of the route so well, especially Zuluk and Lungthung snowfall moments. It…
2 Thinairexpedition The adventure of driving to Leh and Pangong from Kargil

Really nice Asif. I am going to Leh–Ladakh this June, feeling excited already
3 B Chandramouli Experiencing the temple town of Puri, Oddisha

Hi. Thanks for sharing your experience. Kindly share the Panda's contact details on my email id and also the dakshina that can be paid to him.
4 Shivani शिव खोडी – SHIV KHODI

What a wonderful blog, written very precisely and informative. This blog will definitely help me to plan my trip to shivkodhi.
5 sunil kumar गौरी से वो मुलाकात व इकाकुला का हसीन समुद्र तट !

Very well written about Bhitarkanika .
6 rjnivah Andaman and Nicobar – Around Port Blair

Really enjoyed reading this detailed Port Blair itinerary—it nicely captures both the sightseeing and relaxed moments like Wandoor beach and Chidiya Tapu. The mix of history, nature, and local experiences…
7 armaan Andaman and Nicobar – Around Port Blair

Really enjoyed reading this, it feels like a well-paced and genuine travel experience rather than just a checklist. The mix of relaxed beach time, museums, and a bit of trekking…
8 Abhinandan Sharma Delhi to Nepal in my Honda City!!

Great post. Planning to take my Honda city there soon. Was not sure if i can take a sedan there.