11 Nov

Temple trails of Karnataka – Part 1: SUBRAMANYA & DHARMASTALA

By

The famous temple route of South Western Karnataka is Mangalore- Subhramanya-Dharmastala-Hornadu-Sringeri-Kollur-Udupi-back to Mangalore.Murdeshwar beach temple can be included too if one has more time.

Kukke Subramanya temple is one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in Karnataka. Here Lord Subramanya is worshipped as the lord of all serpents. The devotees enter the courtyard of the temple from the main entrance at the back and walk around to go before the deity.

Read More

Kolkata to Delhi drive : Part 1

By

Journey from Kolkata to Delhi through the awesome Durgapur Expressway, was something I had dreamt of since the time I went to Kolkata back in August 2007. I had my plans sorted out that I will be working in Kolkata not more than 2-3 years and then when I return back to Delhi, I will do that by road. It was January 1st week, when I got an offer in hand for a job back in Delhi, and I immediately had in mind, it’s now or never.

We were all set to start on the 4th of February 2011 for Delhi from Kolkata by road in my most loveable Santro.

Read More

Araku valley

By

Araku is a picturesque tribal settlement in the Eastern Ghats, about 120 km to the north of the port city of Visakhapatnam a.k.a. Vizag, which also happens to be my hometown. For me, the drive is an end in itself, a mind-blowing experience as one navigates through umpteen hair-pin bends on a steep mountain road which snakes its way up the Eastern Ghats to an altitude of some 1200 metres above sea level. This is one of those road trips on which one does not feel like driving fast but prefer to gently cruise along the serpentine path, inhaling the pristine air and feasting on the visual candy being proffered so generously by Mother Nature.

Read More

Leaving Munsyari – The long drawn route

By

So with full gusto, I rev-ed the engine and started back amid beautiful landscapes, away from the thoughtful and calm gaze of Panchachuli, the peak which was in the back yard of our stay. The journey from Munsyari to Birthi was spent gazing at mountains, standing tall and quite, looking at the occasional habitat along side the road with Pahadi folk wearing black topis, half jacket over long shirts and pajamas and throwing infectious smiles as they go through with their daily chores. Because of rains, the road was not in its prime so we were a tad cautious; but there was an natural desire to drive a little faster and be able to reach Sattal, which as per our friends from Pahad was not a realistic goal.

Read More

Our Trip to Kanatal, Uttrakhand

By

We were on a 8-10 feet mud track with the rock face on one side and a steep fall on the other side of the track. One of the kids in our group was playing. While running around the child fell and tumbled down the fall. The child’s landed onto bushes growing at the side of the mountain and the child was lying on the bushes. One of the instructors immediately went down with the help of a rope and carried the child back up. The child was in a state of shock and all of us were shaken up too. However the child was perfectly fine physically. We went over to a local doctor who examined the child and reconfirmed that the child was fine. All of us thanked almighty for the grace and agreed to be more cautious. Although shaken we wanted to move forward.
We were back in the camp by 5:30 and were raring to take up many other activities. There were a range of activities including Burma Bridge rope crossing, a ropes course, and a range of sports including football, cricket, volleyball, etc.

Read More
Of Seven Capitals and New Delhi: Chapter III – Mehrauli

Of Seven Capitals and New Delhi: Chapter III – Mehrauli

By

The urge to talk about Mehrauli Archaeological Park is literally irresistible now. After weeks of traveling and researching over the internet and books, I could not but wonder whether this is the most architecturally and historically rich places in the world. Turning the pages of history brings alive every alley and stone of Mehrauli area with a vigor which I had never ever imagined in wildest of my dreams as I passed through these streets over last several years I have been in Delhi.

Mehrauli is the site of plethora of monuments, so much so that a sense of history and legends pervade every lane and even stones, for here lived kings, sultans, generals, warriors, saints and monks. Prehistoric tales associate Mehrauli with the descendents of the Pandavas. Later it saw the building of Lal Kot, a bastion of the first real city of Delhi whose archaeological proof could be found. Then it became the dominion of legendary Rajput warrior prince Pritviraj indelibly ingrained in Hindu courtly love tradition. Qila Rai Pithora was witness to the glory of Prithviraj Chauhan who was later defeated in Second Battle of Tarain by Ghauri, whereupon the latter’s death, his slave Qutubdin Aibak made Mehrauli his capital and the Sultans and emperors who followed him ruled from there.

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- बालाघाट से जबलपुर

सतपुडा नैरो गेज- बालाघाट से जबलपुर

By

अभी तक आपने पढा होगा कि मैं सतपुडा इलाके में फैले नैरो गेज के जाल को देखने सबसे पहले छिंदवाडा पहुंचा। छिंदवाडा से नैरो गेज की गाडी में बैठकर शाम तक नैनपुर चला गया। अभी मेरे पास एक दिन और था। सोचा कि बालाघाट चला जाऊं, कल बालाघाट से जबलपुर खण्ड भी देख लेंगे। रात तीन बजे तक बालाघाट जा पहुंचे। यहां से पौने चार बजे एक डीएमयू (78810) चलती है गोंदिया के लिये। गोंदिया भी चले गये।

Read More

तख़्त सचखंड श्री हजुर साहिब गुरुद्वारा नांदेड़/Sachkhand Gurudwara Nanded

By

सभी घुमक्कड़ साथियों को  मेरा सप्रेम नमस्कार. एक बार फिर उपस्थित हूँ मैं आपलोगों के सामने अपनी नूतन धर्म यात्रा के अनोखे अनुभवों के साथ. अपनी ज्योतिर्लिंग यात्राओं के क्रम में पिछले वर्ष सम्पन्न की गई श्री महाकालेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग की यात्रा के बाद अगली ज्योतिर्लिंग यात्रा के रूप में हमने महाराष्ट्र के मराठवाड़ा क्षेत्र में स्थित दो ज्योतिर्लिंगों औंढा नागनाथ और परली वैद्यनाथ को चुना. इन स्थलों के बारे में जानकारी जुटाने के लिए जब मैं गूगल महाशय की शरण में गया तो उन्होंने बताया की दोनों ज्योतिर्लिंग नांदेड शहर के आसपास हैं. नांदेड का नाम पहले भी कई बार सुना था लेकिन ज्यादा जानकारी नहीं थी, अपनी सर्च के दौरान नांदेड के बारे में बहुत कुछ जानने को मिला, और पता चला की यह शहर सिक्ख धर्म एक…

Read More