11 Nov

Ahmedabad Trip Part 2

Ahmedabad Trip Part 2

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Sabarmati Ashram : I think every Indian knows the name of this place :) It is located on Ashram road near Vadaj on the bank of Sabarmati River. Sabarmati Ashram or Satyagraha Ashram had played an instrumental role in the non-violence movement and India’s struggle for independence. Mahatma Gandhi’s famous “Dandi March” started from here in 1930. At present the site functions as a museum and an institution whose aim is to preserve and propagate the legacy of the Mahatma. At the entrance, a map of the area acts a guide for tourists. The site covers a large area and the Ashram premises a museum (Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya) which has five units – office, library, two photo galleries and an auditorium. The museum has eight life-size colour oil paintings and an exhibition on Gandhi’s life “My life is my message” and “Gandhiji in Ahmedabad”. An archive is also set up, which stores  letters written by Gandhiji, manuscripts, photographs etc. The library has large number of books, coins, postal stamps and letters of felicitation received by Gandhiji. The grounds of the Ashram include the Hridaykunj, Gandhiji’s humble living quarters, Vinoba-Mira Kutir, Prarthana Bhoomi, statues of the three wise monkeys etc. The tranquility of the place is impressive and the memorabilia of Gandhiji and Independence Struggle reminds us of what we owe to our forefathers. Timing: 8.30 am to 6.00 pm throughout the year and admission is free.

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

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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.

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Trek to Sandakpu, Darjeeling – Final Part

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The path was a combination of mule track and foot path and it was passing through varieties of jungle landscape and fauna. We passed through pine forest, then came the small structured bamboo jungle locally called “Mallebu”, then came giant sized ferns heralding the path on both sides like a natural decoration to welcome the weary traveler. As we consumed the distance and moved closer towards Gorkhey the path became steeper descent that was not very kind to my old creaking knees. The umbrella stick was a great help and support. We indulged ourselves with quick halts sipping ORS water and passing body water. We trudged along slowly and surely.

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Red Fort

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

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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.

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Trek to Sandakpu, Darjeeling : Part 2

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Phalut has only one Government owned Trekker’s Hut that looks an imposing colonial type hill cottage from outside but a haunted house from inside. The rooms were shabby suffering from years of neglect. Kitchen had the ancient wooden fire place for cooking and most part was black with wood fire soot collected over the years. I walked into the kitchen and found couple of people, not tourists, sitting by the fire and chatting, obviously this was the only available place in the huge colonial house that was warm to sit by. I walked in and announced in Gorkhali to the people present,” I am 70 year old retired colonel, just arrived after 21 kms trek, how are you guys going to make me comfortable”. Immediately there was commotion and everyone got up. The forest Guard got up and offered me the coveted chair. I asked as to who was who and found out that the one by the fire place was the care taker as he proudly told me, “ I am from the Tourism Department”. Rest was guides who had arrived earlier. I asked for a cup of tea and the care taker got busy brewing it in a black kettle, hardened by years of sitting on wooden fire. I learnt that the Tourism guy was the one and only representative of the Government. He was cook, care taker, cleaner, maintenance man, procurement officer, house keeper and overall in-charge. However, the Forest Guard being more elderly as also senior man of the Government, with beat post located adjacent to the lodge, was the de-facto boss of the town, specially for the weary guides and porters. When I pulled my rank and age he chickened out of the comfortable chair against the fire to my advantage and I promptly occupied it. How small things matter at the right time and place. Like when we march in the Army, during breaks the best shaded tree obviously goes to the senior most without questions asked. When I was climbing a snow covered mountain in Arunachal Pradesh in the winter of 1989, we had to camp for the night. It was snowing and the ground was too wet our tents, our local guide found a cave and made himself comfortable with a wood fire to boot. I walked into the cave with authority and sat by the fire occupying the only comfortable rock to sit on. Slowly my company commander followed and sat next to me and then another. Finally we found ourselves, a party of 10 reconnaissance team sitting by the fire. Later we ate and slept there, needless to say, me occupying the most comfortable slot next to the fire.

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Ahmedabad Trip Part 1

Ahmedabad Trip Part 1

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The city of Ahmedabad or Amdavad is located on the banks of Sabarmati Lake in the state of Gujarat, India. In earlier times, the city was the capital of the state of Gujarat Sultanate. It is the seventh largest metropolitan city in the country of India. It is also usually phrased as Manchester of the East of India. Ahmedabad is the land of the ‘Father of the Nation’. Mahatma Gandhi and has observed numerous movements of Indian Independence. So the city is rich in history and culture. This post is about the places I visited during my trip to Ahmedabad.

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Mehrauli – The Second City of Delhi

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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.

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Lake City Udaipur

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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!

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मसूरी की यात्रा मे पानी का विकराल रूप

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हरिद्वार से रूड़की के रास्ते मे पता नहीं कितनी बार हमारा रूट बदला गया, रास्तो का तो पता ही नहीं चल रहा था। लोगो के आगे पीछे चलते हुए और लोगो से पूछते हुए ही हम आगे बढ़ रहे थे। किसी तरह रूड़की पहुचे तो फिर से हमें नए रास्ते पर डाल दिया गया, उस रास्ते पर आगे गए तो फिर से गयी भैस पानी मे। आगे फिर सड़क पर पानी ही पानी दिख रहा था और बहुत सारी गाड़िया किनारे पर खड़ी हुई थी, हमने भी गाड़ी रुकवाई और पैदल ही वहा पहुचे, आगे का नजारा भी डराने वाला था। सड़क का एक हिस्सा टूट चूका था जो की बस की वजह से टूटा था और पूरी सड़क पर पानी था, वाहन ले जाते हुए लोग इसलिए डर रहे थे कि उसके वजन से सड़क धस न जाए। हमारी भी हालत ख़राब क्योकि पीछे भी रास्ता बंद और यहाँ भी कभी भी हो सकता था। उसके बाद १-२ गाड़ी वालो ने आगे निकलने का मन बना ही लिया क्योकि वहा रुकने से कोई फायदा नहीं था, अगर एक बार सड़क टूट जाती तो फिर हम कही भी नहीं जा सकते थे, उन लोगो ने पहले गाड़ी से उतरकर पैदल ही रास्ता पार किया ताकि गाड़ी का वजन कम रहे उसके बाद ड्राईवर ने अकेले गाड़ी धीरे धीरे बाहर निकाल ली, उन्हें देखकर हमने भी ऐसा ही किया और फिर से यात्रा शुरू कर दी। उसके बाद हमें इतनी दिक्कत नहीं हुई और लगभग ५ बजे हम पुरकाजी पार कर चुके थे। फिर हम कुछ खाने के लिए एक ढाबे पर रुके, वहा पर भी काफी लोग थे जो पीछे से आये थे और कुछ को हरिद्वार ही जाना था लेकिन रास्ता बंद होने की वजह से वो वही फस गए थे। एक व्यक्ति से हम मिले जिसकी पत्नी और बच्चे हरिद्वार से आ रहे थे लेकिन रास्ते मे कही फसे हुए थे और वो भी आगे नहीं जा पा रहा था, वो काफी चिंतित था। उस वक़्त हमें लगा कि अगर हम मसूरी से सुबह न निकलते या कही और रूककर और थोडा समय ख़राब कर देते तो शायद हम भी पीछे ही कही फंसे होते।

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A Weekend Trip to Agra

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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.

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सरिस्का के जंगल से भानगढ़ के रहस्यमय किले तक का सफ़र

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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,

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Badami Delight

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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.

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