07 Jul

From Kolkata to Mandarmoni Beach (December 2009) – Road Review and Trip Report

By

Kolkata has a lot of places within the proximity of 4-5 hours that could be considered as ideal places, for thoroughly enjoying weekends with total peace of mind far away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded city. One of them is the Mandarmoni beach which is around 180 KM from Howrah and is arguably the longest drivable beach in India. Located very near (within 30 KM) to the famous Digha beach, Mandarmoni is very easily accessible and reachable from Kolkata.

Read More

Ghumakkar inspired trip to Renukaji

By

Darkness soon settled in as the lake waters caught the last rays of the fading sunrays and it was time to get back to the hotel. We pedalled to the shore and receded to our hotel and anchored ourselves on the terrace. Darkness coupled with the sounds of the forest was mesmerizing. We had a warm interaction with another group also chilling out on the terrace and junior had an awesome time playing with the big friendly pet dog of theirs. Relaxing was the ‘mahamantra’ of the tour – our mantra materialized into genuine tranquillity.

Read More
Vaishno Devi Yatra – A Pilgrim’s Progress

Vaishno Devi Yatra – A Pilgrim’s Progress

By

Even appointments with gods come with privilege. A pilgrim with VIP pass could bypass all number and answer his/her calling with a privilege which a poor barefoot pilgrim couldn’t even dream of. An Amitabh Bachhan has more easy access to god than a mere “Nikhil Chandra”. Perhaps gold is a precious metal even among gods…who knows why the world is the way it is.

Read More

Lebanon – Baalbek & blue river

By

So there was Baal Temple, there was Jupiter, Fire, Moon, Mars and other temples which were there before Romans and before pheonician re-built them ! I was thinking was it some distorted form of Shakta tradition of Sanatan Dharam, which was followed here, because in Shakta tradition, Fire and other planets were worshipped and sacrifices of animals or even humans were present then.

Our guide was a Syrian and he explained so beautifully in perfect English, all the aspects of Baalbeck, quite patiently and in details.

Read More

Lebanon – Paradise lost !!

By

Once upon a time… there was Lebanon which was called “Paris of Middle East”…and then something happened and the Paris and Pearl of the Middle East.. changed from heaven to hell…. Let us have a look and see what Lebanon has to offer now for Ghumakkars !

It was 2004 and I boarded Air India flight from New Delhi to Dubai for my journey to Lebanon.

The coastal plain of Lebanon is the historic home of a string of coastal trading cities of Semitic culture, which the Greeks termed Phoenicia, whose maritime culture flourished there for more than 5000 years. Ancient ruins in Byblos, Berytus (Beirut), Sidon, Sarepta(Sarafand), and Tyre show a civilized nation, with urban centres and sophisticated arts. Present-day Lebanon was a cosmopolitan centre for many nations and cultures. Its people roamed the Mediterranean seas, skilled in trade and in art, and founded trading colonies. They were also the creators of the oldest known 24-letter alphabet, a shortening of earlier 30-letter alphabets such as Proto-Sinaitic and Ugaritic.

Read More

Portsmouth & Spinnaker Tower – Day 15

By

Today was our 15th and second-last day in England. Our plan for the day was to be at the beach in the morning, then go to see the Spinnaker Tower in Gunwharf Quay in the afternoon, and finally take our Coach back to London (we’re in Portsmouth, remember?)

Read More

Portsmouth Ahoy! – Day 13 & 14

By

Our 14th day in London was much more fun – for me. Our plan was to go to this town called Portsmouth. It is a waterfront city, with a lot of fun stuff to do, like arcades, amusement parks, and the most important of all, beachesJ. It is also the birthplace of Charles Dickens. Mausi Ji has a house there, and so we were going for an over-night trip.

Read More

Aundha Nagnath / औंढा नागनाथ: भोले बाबा का एक और आशियाना

By

नांदेड में हजुर साहिब सचखंड गुरूद्वारे के पावन दर्शन के पश्चात अब हमारी यात्रा का अगला गंतव्य था श्री औंढा नागनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग दर्शन.
नांदेड में रणजीतसिंह यात्री निवास से लगभग 10 बजे चेक आउट करने के बाद औंढा के लिए बस पकड़ने के उद्देश्य से हम नांदेड के बस स्टेंड पर पहुँच गए, वहां जाकर पता चला की औंढा के लिए डाइरेक्ट कोई बस उपलब्ध नहीं थी अतः हम बसमथ के लिए बस में सवार हो गए और बसमथ से बस बदलकर लगभग साढ़े 12 बजे औंढा नागनाथ पहुँच गए. अब अपनी कहानी को यहाँ विराम देकर आपको स्थान से परिचित करता हूँ.नांदेड में हजुर साहिब सचखंड गुरूद्वारे के पावन दर्शन के पश्चात अब हमारी यात्रा का अगला गंतव्य था श्री औंढा नागनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग दर्शन.
नांदेड में रणजीतसिंह यात्री निवास से लगभग 10 बजे चेक आउट करने के बाद औंढा के लिए बस पकड़ने के उद्देश्य से हम नांदेड के बस स्टेंड पर पहुँच गए, वहां जाकर पता चला की औंढा के लिए डाइरेक्ट कोई बस उपलब्ध नहीं थी अतः हम बसमथ के लिए बस में सवार हो गए और बसमथ से बस बदलकर लगभग साढ़े 12 बजे औंढा नागनाथ पहुँच गए. अब अपनी कहानी को यहाँ विराम देकर आपको स्थान से परिचित करता हूँ.

Read More

सतपुडा नैरो गेज- दिल्ली से नैनपुर वाया छिंदवाडा

By

अब शुरू होती है नैरो गेज की सवारी। इस सिलसिले में अगर कोई और होता तो वो सीधा जबलपुर जाता। लेकिन इधर ठहरे टेढी खोपडी वाले, छिंदवाडा जा पहुंचे। छिंदवाडा से नैनपुर तक कई गाडियां चलती हैं, सारी की सारी पैसेंजर। मैं साढे बारह बजे चलने वाली गाडी (58853) में जा धरा। यह गाडी शाम को सात बजे नैनपुर पहुंचा देती है। यह इलाका भारत का सबसे व्यस्त और घना नैरो गेज वाला इलाका है। यहां रेल लाइन की शुरूआत 1905 के आसपास हुई थी। यहां सतपुडा की पहाडियों का बोलबाला है। ये पहाडियां इस मार्ग पर सफर को और भी मजेदार बना देती है। आबादी बहुत कम है। हालांकि ट्रेन में भीड बहुत होती है। गाडी की रफ्तार भी कम ही रहती है। लोगों को तेज यातायात उपलब्ध कराने के लिये इस नैरो गेज को उखाडकर ब्रॉड गेज में बदला जायेगा। जबलपुर-बालाघाट खण्ड पर आमान-परिवर्तन का काम शुरू भी हो चुका है।

छिंदवाडा से नैनपुर तक कुल बीस स्टेशन हैं। इनमें छिंदवाडा के बाद सिवनी सबसे बडा स्टेशन है। सिवनी जिला भी है। बीस स्टेशन और उनकी समुद्र तल से ऊंचाई इस प्रकार हैं:

Read More
Ground Zero

New York: The Big Apple

By

The only sound in this serene neighbourhood was the constant whirring of the security choppers patrolling the Hudson. Though there wasn’t much to see in New Jersey, I found its peaceful charm quite endearing. Whether it was driving through Harrison, or checking out the sprawling campuses of New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers Institute at Newark, or bagging great discounts at Newport mall, Jersey Gardens mall, Macy’s, Wal-Mart, BJ’s and Shop Rite, or simply walking along the Pier… New Jersey really appealed to my senses in a way that very few can comprehend.

Read More