10 Oct

Hello Havelock!

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The Phoenix Bay Jetty is situated in the city and is home to all merchant vessels which are responsible for trade and commerce. The Jetty is the boarding point for the ones who want to visit Neil or Havelock Islands. We had our tickets in hand which were booked prior by Mr. Ravi (Tour Manager, Contact: 09434261219). The tickets for Havelock Islands are sold out within minutes. It is advisable to ask your agent/tour manger to get the same booked as soon as you land up in the city. There are private as well as government ship operators which provide connections to Neil and Havelock. Being the off season (August) the private operator (called as Makcruzz) was closed down and the only available option a government run ship.

The tag тАШGovernmentтАЩ automatically lowers the standards and gives me a bad impression of what so ever even before I see it. Anyways, the ship that we had to board was called тАШM.V JollybuoyтАЩ. We were booked in the only available option of seating lounge. One needs to spot his vessel and then proceed for boarding. As we stepped inside the ship, we were greeted by the Chief Officer of the ship who also checked our tickets. He later on transferred us to the seating hall. The so called seating hall had three rows and seats faced opposite to each other. It also had a television set which was cleverly hidden in one of the compartments. The hall seemed more like my seamanship class room with lots of safety boards and demonstrative visuals. Good enough! The ship departed right on time at 0630 and that is when I got to know that we can go on the bridge.

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рд╣рд┐рдорд╛рдЪрд▓ рдбрд╛рдпрд░реА : рджреЛ рдкрд▓ рдХреЗ рдЬреАрд╡рди рд╕реЗ… (Sirmour рд╕рд┐рд░рдореМрд░ – рднрд╛рдЧ 1)

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рдХрд╛рдВрдЧреЛ рдЬреЛрд╣рдбрд╝реА рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рдореБрдЦреНрдп рд╕рдбрд╝рдХ рд╕реЗ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдЪрд╛рд░ рдХрд┐рдореА рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдХреА рдЙрддрд░рд╛рдИ рдкрд░ рдХреИрдВрдк рд░реЛрдВрдХреНрд╕ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдордВрдЬрд┐рд▓ рд╣реИ | рд╣рдореЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рджрд┐рдЦрд╛рдиреЗ рд░рд┐рд╕реЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд╕реЗ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдЗрдиреЛрд╡рд╛ рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рд▓реЗрдХрд░ рд╕реМрд░рдн ( рдЗрд╕ рдХреИрдореНрдк рдХреЗ рдорд╛рд▓рд┐рдХ рдХрд╛ рдмреЗрдЯрд╛} рдЖрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЕрдм рд╣рдореЗ рдЗрд╕ рдХрдЪреНрдЪреА рдФрд░ рдкрдерд░реАрд▓реА рд╕рдбрдХ рдкрд░ рдмрд┐рдирд╛ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рд╕реБрд░рдХреНрд╖рд╛ рд╡ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ рдкрд░ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рд╣реИ | рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдбрдХ рдкрд░ рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рдмрдврд╝рд╛рддреЗ рд╣реА рд▓реИрдВрд╕рдбрд╛рдЙрди рдХреЗ рд╣рд┐рд▓ рд╡реНрдпреВ рд╢рд╛рдВрддрд┐ рд░рд╛рдЬ рд░рд┐рд╕реЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХреА рдпрд╛рдж рддрд╛рдЬрд╛ рд╣реЛ рдЖрдИ | рдмрд┐рд▓рдХреБрд▓ рд╡реИрд╕реА рд╣реА рд╕рдбрд╝рдХ рдордЧрд░ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдЙрд╕рд╕реЗ рднреА рдПрдХ рдХрд┐рдореА рдФрд░ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рд▓рдореНрдмрд╛, рдКрдкрд░ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд░рд┐рд╢ рдФрд░ рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рд▓рдЧрд╛рддрд╛рд░ рдЖрд╡рд╛рдЬрд╛рд╣реА рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдмреАрдЪ рдмреАрдЪ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреЗ рдкреЛрдЦрд░ рд╕реЗ рдмрди рдЧрдП рд╣реИрдВ рдЬрд┐рдирдореЗ рд╕реЗ рдЧреБрдЬрд░рддреЗ рдбрд░ рд▓рдЧрддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдХрд╣реАрдВ рдЖрдк рдХреА рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рдХрд╛ рдкрд╣рд┐рдпрд╛ рди рдлрдБрд╕ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗ, рдордЧрд░ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рд╕рд┐рд╡рд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рдФрд░ рдЪрд╛рд░рд╛ рднреА рддреЛ рдирд╣реА | рдирд╛рд╕реНрддрд┐рдХ рдкрддрд╛ рдирд╣реА рдХреИрд╕реЗ рдЗрди рд▓рдореНрд╣реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рд░ рдкрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реЛрдВрдЧреЗ, рдордЧрд░ рд╣рдо рддреЛ рд░рд╛рдо рд░рд╛рдо рдФрд░ рд╡рд╛рд╣реЗрдЧреБрд░реБ рд╡рд╛рд╣реЗрдЧреБрд░реБ рдХрд░рддреЗ рдФрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╕реЗ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рдпреЗ рд╕реЛрдЪрддреЗ рд╣реБрдпреЗ рдХрд┐ ┬ардЗрд╕ рдмрд╛рд░ рддреЛ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдЖ рдЧрдП рдЕрдЧрд▓реА рдмрд╛рд░ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рдРрд╕реА рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдирд╣реА рдЖрдирд╛, рдкрд┐рдЫрд▓реЗ рдХреБрдЫ рд╕рд╛рд▓реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдЗрд╕реА рддрд░рд╣ рд╕реЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдбрд░ рдкрд░ рдХрд╛рдмреВ рдкрд╛рддреЗ рдЖ рд░рд╣реЗрдВ рд╣реИ | рд░рд┐рд╕реЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХреА рдЗрдиреЛрд╡рд╛ рдЖрдЧреЗ рдЖрдЧреЗ рдЪрд▓ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рд╣рдо рдордЧрд░ рдЕрднреА рддрдХ рддреЛ рд░рд┐рд╕реЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХрд╛ рдирд╛рдореЛ рдирд┐рд╢рд╛рдБ рд╣реА рдирд╣реА | рдордЧрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рджреВрд░ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдШрд╛рдЯреА рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреА рдХреБрдЫ рдЯрдБрдХрд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рдирдЬрд░ рдЖрддреА рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдорди рдореЗрдВ рдЖрд╢рд╛ рдХреА рдПрдХ рдирдИ рд▓рд╣рд░ рдХрд╛ рд╕рдВрдЪрд╛рд░ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬрдм рдЗрддрдирд╛ рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рдЧрдП рддреЛ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рднреА рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рд╣реА рдЬрд╛рдпреЗрдВрдЧреЗ рдФрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╣рдорд╕реЗ рдЖрдЧреЗ рддреЛ рдЗрдиреЛрд╡рд╛ рд╣реИ | рд╣рд╛рд▓рд╛рдВрдХрд┐ рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐ рд╡рд╣реА рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐ рдХреЗ рдирдЬрд╛рд░реЗ рднреА, рдордЧрд░ рдЕрдм рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪрдиреЗ рдХреА рд╣рд╕рд░рдд рдореЗрдВ рдЗрд╕реЗ рднреЛрдЧрдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рдЗрд░рд╛рджрд╛ рдирд╣реА, рдЕрдиреНрдпрдерд╛ рдЖрдк рдХрд╣реАрдВ рднреА рдЕрдкрдиреА рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рд░реЛрдХ рдХрд░ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдШрдВрдЯреЛ рдЧреБрдЬрд╛рд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ | рдкрд░рдиреНрддреБ рдЪрд╛рд╣рдд рдЕрдм рдпрд╣реА рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рдмрд╕ рдЕрдм рдпреЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рддрд░рд╣ рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рд╕реЗ рдХрдЯ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗ |

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Sonar Kella - The Golden Fortess of Jaisalmer

Reaching Jaisalmer – A road review

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Childhood memories coming backтАж in those early days like every other child, I used to love crime fiction and there is a great tradition of detective fiction in BengalтАжthose month long Summer and Puja breaks were spent mostly reading Tenida, Ghanada, Kakababu, Bomkesh, Pandob Goenda, Feluda Series*. These stories were written mostly for kids and we enjoyed reading them a lot. Sometimes our wait for the next issue to come, would have been a month or even a year. Would we mind? No, not at all. Those were the perfect gifts for kids to inculcate reading habit.

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Baratang: A Tribal Treat

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Long back, a group of tourists shot a video of the Jarawas and uploaded the same on the web. According to the United States, this act was not justified and it was classified as hindrance to the tribal life of the Jarawas. The issue was raised out loud and was finally brought up to the Indian Government. After all sought of discussions and panel meetings, the government decided to offer protection to the community. The jungle was then handed over to the police and CCTV cameras were also installed amidst the wild. A convoy system was setup wherein a convoy of vehicles at specific time will be accompanied by the Police officials to cross the jungle from Jirkatang to Baratang and vice versa. The government also banned the use of mobiles and cameras in between the journey. The first convoy had to depart at 0600 hours and we were to go in the same.

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Golden Trip to Sri Harmandir Sahab, Amritsar

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The entire ambience is soothing and spiritual with kirtans being sung by the gurus sitting inside the temple. Even though the entire journey from the start of the line till one enters the actual temple where the Guru Granth sahib is kept and Gurbani is recited takes about three hours, thousands of people from all castes, creeds and ethnicities throng the Golden temple every day. The temple is open all through the day and night except from 12am to 3pm when the routine cleaning takes place. Awaiting their turns to enter the holy chamber the тАЬEkonkarтАЭ mantra is chanted by all the devotees. The environment is extremely divine. Despite of the rush, a true believer in God can easily connect with the creator here. The actual darshan is even more mystical. One feels as if one has attained the ultimate peace.

Making our way out of the chamber, we looked into the sarovar which is house to a multitude of orange and black fishes. We managed to make our way out and sat for a long time in the premises of the temple overlooking the sarovar.

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Setting Sail to the Three Islands

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Always remember to carry your ID Card along with you as it is need at almost every tourist spot in the Andamans. The ferries depart every hour and we were to go by the 0930 one. We were not offered any lifejackets and the ferry setup made me worry. Safety was on compromise but yet again one doesnтАЩt have any another option. Recently, a ferry sailing from North Bay to Ross Island sunk and as many as 21 people died. Why canтАЩt we follow safety guidelines rather than waiting for accidents to take place? As soon as the boarding began, I was the first one to step in and occupy the seat ahead of the wheel room.

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Visiting Kaluk in West Sikkim

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If you are an aficionado of history, then Rabdentse is a place not to be missed if you are on a trip to West Sikkim. Located on a ridge near Upper Pelling, Rabdentse was the ancient capital of the kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. It was destroyed by the Gurkha invasion and now only the ruins of the palace remain. The remains of the palace have been declared as of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India. The ruins offer panoramic views of Mt. Kanchendzonga.

Vikram dropped us at the point from where we were to trek about 1.5 km through forest to reach the ruins. A huge decorated gate leads to the trekking path. We started our journey through a stone-cobbled path through the forest. The path was narrow and dark. The forest was deep. There was not a person to be seen anywhere. It was super-thrilling!!

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Welcome to Andamans!

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The pilot announced тАЬCrew, Ready for takeoff!тАЭ The flight from Chennai took off sharp at 0500 hours. It is advisable to opt for a windows seat as on the approach towards the beautiful Islands, one gets a visual treat offered by Andamans.

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Montreal City tour

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On Saturday we had started our journey.Our train departure time was 0645 from Toronto (Union station ).Business class coaches were quite good , spacious and clean . We were given warm welcome and assistance by VIA Rail friendly staff.The difference in Business class and Economy class here is only food.In Business class food is included where as in Economy class we have to buy food.As a usual routine we got our tea , biscuits and later breakfast in train.In the end they had served complimentary wine.It was a 05 hour journey and we reached Montreal at 1200 noon.As we were entering in the Montreal City we can feel just by looking at the road , houses and other infrastructure ┬аthat it is a completely different city not similar to Toronto.
When we were booking our Hotel we thought of two factors; one is cost/location i.e. distance from railway station as our return train was also early morning train.Secondly as were not able to decide on Hotels as per reviews posted in Google we decided to go for a chain and brand Hotels which are tried and tested.Thus we finally booked our room in Sheraton Hotel Montreal.Our decision of choosing a Hotel Near Central station and close to city centre helped us a lot as we have not used any public transport / Cab service in Montreal.So we walked from station to Hotel.It was a 06 minutes walk.

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Unexplored Uttarakhand тАУ The Misty Mountains Retreat in Jhaltola, near Gangolihat

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It had been a long tiring winter and a recharging vacation had been on the cards for far too long. Sushil тАУ a close friend, suggested a new retreat in Uttarakhand – The Misty Mountains. He had been there with his wife and another couple in his friend circle. The name itself suggested just the kind of place I wanted to go to. Reminded me of the many exotic locales from fantasy books I had read over the years. I was sufficiently intrigued to check out their website at http://themistymountains.in and was soner convinced.

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The Magnificent Deeg Fort & Palace

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Deeg is a small town as close as 30 km from Bharatpur however, with good connectivity with Delhi & Agra. Its pre-historic presence is inscribed in the Skanda Purana as Dirghapura. Also important because of it lies within the range of 32 km Parikrama path starting from Goverdhan in Mathura.

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Udaipur – Single Day tour of close-by attractions

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Eklingji Temple: After visiting the Srinathji Temple, last on the bus itinerary schedule was Eklingji Temple (Lord Shiva). The Eklingji temple is situated on the way to Udaipur from Nathdwara and just 20 km away from Udaipur. Temple is surrounded by high walls. At the entrance of the main temple there is a beautifully sculpted huge Nandi. The temple complex has 108 temples built with sandstone and marble.

Inside the main temple bhajans were sung by devotees. It makes the devotional environment. The temple is well maintained and very few tourists are there. The main thing about this temple is the absence of priests. Devotees have to perform Puja themselves and offer flowers to Eklingji (beautiful lotus and rose flowers available at the entrance gate). Many guards are standing in the temple complex. They are appointed by the temple management to protect the idols and guide the visitors. Not all the temples are opened for visitors. (Photography inside the temple is strictly prohibited by Temple Management). Please check the images on Google.

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