Best Time

Best months to visit a place

Summer Road Trip – Birding in Lansdowne

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The next two days are packed with bird watching. The commonest of the birds around command our attention for they are new to us plains dwellers. The ubiquitous Himalayan Bulbul, Blue Whistling Thrush and the Russet Sparrows are everywhere. In fact, we do not see any house sparrows there at all! The Streaked Laughing thrush is trying to catch our attention by peaking at us from just beyond the tree trunk. The Black headed Jay is wandering around as common as the Rock Pigeon in the plains!

Meanwhile, two green birds fly up to a nearby tree. There is a distinct yellow on them and the flight indicates woodpeckers. We hurry and try to get in position for at least a record shot to identify the specie. The Lesser Yellownape it is! Hard on the heels of this pair is another pair, this one of the Brown fronted Woodpecker… birds are raining down on us hard and fast! The Himalayan Woodpeckers are also plentiful. The Grey headed Woodpecker makes an appearance… I am very happy. The bird count for the trip is increasing rapidly.

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Taksang Gompa: A Holy Trek in Bhutan

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Some more local families overtook us and surged forward at a fast pace, almost a routine walk for them. I wanted to keep my own steady pace using the umbrella as walking stick. At the age of 68, one needs to listen to one’s body and not rush to compete with others. We pushed every step, slow and steady and continued climbing. My thigh and calf muscles started aching demanding rest. As we kept climbing my breathing became harder and started roaring into my ears. We trudged on. The mountain breeze, when it came, helped me like a breath of fresh air. A crow hovered upwind in search of a prey perhaps. The climb became grimmer as we continued to angle towards the top. My shirt, which had been soaked with sweat, now felt stiff and uncomfortable. I wiped the perspiration from my forehead that was trickling into my eyes. I glanced at the rock face towards my right and saw the holy Gompa across that looked like toy houses stuck together on the rock face with glue. It became bigger as we climbed further up and reduced the distance with the rock face. We pushed slowly with no sense of hurry. The aroma of the jungle was printed on every whiff of breeze that I savored. The mist rose from the valley below and started blotting out the tumbled slopes of the rocky cliff below the Gompa.
After about an hour and a half we reached a midpoint, rested and sipped water. It would be unwise to rest for too long as once the body gets cold it will be difficult to climb up, better keep the body warm and maintain the rhythm of the climb.

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आगरा: ताज की तरफ वाया सिकंदरा (अकबर का मकबरा)

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मुगलों के बनवाए कुछ मकबरे तो वाकई इतने बुलंद और आलीशान हैं कि आपको उनकी मौत से भी रश्क हो जाता है | इस काल की जितनी भी मुख्य इमारतें हैं, उनमे कुछ ना कुछ ऐसा जरूर है, जिस से आप उनकी भवन-निर्माण कला के मुरीद हो जाएँ, इस मामले में ये मकबरा भी आपको एक ऐसा नायाब पल देता है, जब आप, (चित्र में लाल घेरे वाले) पत्थर पर खड़े होकर जो भी बोलते हैं, वो इस के हर हिस्से में सुनाई देता है यानी कि आज के दौर का Public Address System. और आप हैरान तो तब रह जाते हैं जब इस स्पॉट से दो फुट दायें–बाएं या आगे-पीछे होने पर. आपकी आवाज केवल आप तक ही रह जाती है |

सदियों से, जो मौत इतनी डरावनी और भयावह समझी जाती रही है कि कोई अपनी मरजी से उसके पास तक नही जाना चाहता, उसे याद तक नही करना चाहता, ऐसे में उसकी यादगार को कायम रखने के लिए इतने भव्य और आलीशान मकबरों का निर्माण, वाकई कमाल की बात है |

मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब का एक शेर इस मौके पर बेसाख्ता ही याद आकर लबों पर एक हल्की सी मुस्कान बिखेर देता है –

“ मत पूछ, के क्या हाल है मेरा तेरे पीछे?, सोच के क्या रंग तेरा, मेरे आगे ! “

मिस्त्र के पिरामिड और ये मकबरे, ऐसा नही, कि मौत को कोई चुनोती देते हों या मौत पर इंसान की जीत का परचम फहराते हों, पर हाँ इतना जरूर है कि इन्हें देखने के बाद मौत इतनी भी बदसूरत नजर नही आती! बहरहाल सूरज अपना जलवा दिखाने को बेकरार हो रहा है, और घड़ी की सुईयां भी सरपट भाग रही हैं, ऐसे में हम फैसला करते हैं कि हमें अपनी ऊर्जा ताजमहल के लिए भी बचा कर रखनी है | अत:, हम जल्दी से अकबर के मकबरे को अपनी यादों में समेट, मुगलिया सल्तनत के एक बेताज बादशाह को उसकी फराखदिली और पंथ-निरपेक्षता के लिए उसे अपना आखिरी सलाम देते हुए, एक और मकबरे, ताजमहल को देखने आगरा की और कूच कर देते हैं…..

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Trip to Bhutan – Thimpu, Paro and Phuntsoling

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We met our guide who took us to our destination, Galling Resort, about 3 kms away from town along a graveled road. Located on the banks of Paro chu; the property was tastefully constructed and painted in unique mud color ethnic Bhutanese style. The view from the balcony was breathtaking with Paro Chu rumbling right in front across the road, part of Paro beyond and finally the valley rising to meet the misty mountains that made the distant horizon. Anyone with an eye for the nature or a plain nature lover is bound to be enchanted by the natural beauty, landscape that would make not spending couple of days almost impossible. We did just that. The resort was warm, comfortable with a cozy lounge, wood paneled bedroom and comfortable attached bath. Our rooms had the same view as balcony and decided to keep the curtains drawn and windows opened so as to be part of the beautiful view.

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Summer Road Trip – National Chambal Sanctuary, Morena

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We take a turn around the gardens which are alive with bird calls. The abundant peafowl with their splendid trailing tails compete with the woodpecker, kingfisher, parakeets and the babblers for our attention. Everything else takes a back seat as the children are uncomfortable in the heat of the day. When the situation does not improve till late evening and after nightfall (the ACs are not working in spite of the gensets!), we have dinner at the FRH (which is very good) and fall back to Morena for the night.

Picking up our guide at Devri, we are at the boat pool on the river by 0530hrs. The much anticipated safari is underway with all of us on the edge of our seats, craning for the first glimpse of wildlife. At that point, the sun has just risen and is casting a golden glow on the ragged ravines on the banks and the tranquil waters of the Chambal. Suddenly, the calm breaks and a gentle giant breaks the surface with an elegant roll… the Gangetic Dolphin! It is a blind creature which does all its hunting and navigation by sonar located in the bump on its head. Cameras are ready but shots are very elusive since the dolphins are very erratic sightings.

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A Foodies Journey through Bangladesh

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Now that we have gorged on heavenly Mughlai delicacies, lets  salivate for earthy Bengal food- “Bangla Khabar”, as the locals call it. Bengalis are famous for their preparation of fish, fish in any form, fried, baked or steamed. But that’s only one side of the coin, Bengalis can cook a wide variety of  delectable greens as well. So lets turn our steps towards all that “Sonar Bangla” has to offer. We will go to a small eatery in Old Dhaka called “Nirob” or “Silence”. Located at Nizamuddin Road, it is very popular with the local people. The name of this place probably comes from the fact that once the food is served , its variety and taste makes the chattiest guest “Silent”. The USP of this hotel is that it offers around 19  different eatables  in small plates to the guest.

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सुनहरे अतीत की परछाईओं का एक गाँव: गोकुल

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और फिर आगे-आगे वो पंडित जी और उनके पीछे-पीछे हम सात लोगों का कारवाँ, गोकुल की गलियों में निकल पड़ा उस जगह को देखने के लिए जहाँ यमुना में आई बाद के बीच, नन्द बाबा वासुदेव और देवकी के नवजात शिशु को एक टोकरी में रख कर लाये थे और यहीं उसका लालन-पोषण हुआ| कौन जानता था उस वक्त कि ये बच्चा एक पूरे युग का भाग्य-विधाता होगा और कभी भविष्य में इन गलीयों को देखने के लिए दूर-दूर से लोग चल कर आयेंगे| गोकुल की गलियों में पाँव रखते ही आप इस आधुनिक दुनिया से इतर, बिलकुल ही पारम्परिक ग्रामीण दुनिया से रूबरू होते है, जिसके लिए शायद समय का चक्र रुका हुआ है या यूँ कहें जिन्होंने स्वयम ही अपने को उस काल से जोड़ कर रखा हुआ है, जब कृष्ण अपने बाल-गोपालों और गोपियों के साथ इन गलियों में खेला करते होंगे| यदि गलियों में बिछी तारकोल की काली पट्टी को छोड़ दें तो आज भी गोकुल का पूरा गाँव उसी दौर का नजर आता है| सड़क से 3 से 4 फुट ऊंचे मकान पर अर्थशास्त्र को ध्यान में रखते हुए, लगभग हर घर में एक छोटी सी दुकान, पांच गुणा पांच के आकार की जिनमे बहुतायत है हलवाइयों की! पर वो केवल लस्सी, पेड़े जैसी दो-तीन वस्तुएं ही रखते हैं | उत्तर प्रदेश में बिजली की स्थिति तो हम सब जानते ही हैं, सो हर दुकान के मालिक के हाथ में एक हाथ से ही झुलाने वाला पंखा! बाहर से आये हुए लोगों को देखते ही हर हलवाई अपनी गडवी में मथानी घुमाने लगता है और आपको यहाँ-वहाँ से आवाजें अपने कानों में पडती सुनाई देती है, “लस्सी- गोकुल की लस्सी …”! और फिर आपके जेहन में सूरदास की ये पंक्तियाँ कौदने लगती हैं –

“मुख दधि लेप किए
सोभित कर नवनीत लिए।
घुटुरुनि चलत रेनु तन मंडित मुख दधि लेप किए॥“
आखिर दूध, दही और मक्खन के बिना गोकुल की कल्पना कैसे हो सकती है !

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Talakadu – Town of Lost Temples

Talakadu – Town of Lost Temples

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A town with an atmosphere rich in history, mythology, religion, belief and faith with the river Cauvery quietly flowing agelessly, a witness to the rise and fall of several kingdoms, to the fervent prayers and resonant chants of devotees, to the happiness and sadness in their hearts and to the progress of human civilization over time.

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Trip to Bhutan – Road trip from Siliguri to Thimpu

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It was getting dark so without wasting time, just after a cup of tea, we set off to experiment the capital street with a look-see walk. The street was clean and lined by weeping willow trees that looked very nice. The buildings were Bhutanese style architecture that had four to five storey. We walked through light drizzle along the stone paved sidewalk. Surprisingly a melodious and rhythmic Western music filled the air; the source of the melody was a small open air stand that was extension of the main street. It looked quite unusual to see Bhutanese boys in traditional dress playing and crooning Western Tuned Bhutanese songs. A group of about 100 young men and women, gathered around the band stand were gyrating with the melody and rhythm of the music. All were wearing Bhutanese traditional dress, no jeans, pants and skirts. The dress code is strict; men wear “Gho” a kimono like knee length gown type of dress, tied by a long kamarbandh with long shocks and shoes. Women’s dress is called, “Kira”, an elegant wrapped around skirt like with a check or brocade jacket for the top. Both Tibetan and Bhutanese dress is alike except for few variations. There is also the marked difference in the material used in Bhutan. Whereas Tibetan men and women fancy any type of clothing materials for their “Bakkhu”, Bhutanese use only the traditional and colorful Bhutan made check cloth material for their “Gho” and “Kira”.

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Toronto – Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

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In the visitors guide we can find special mention of “ICONIC must see treasures of the ROM” of each level. Thus one can not miss the special display. We took almost 01 hour to complete level 1 itself. As usual we got tired and hungry so we went to Café at ROM.We were sure that we will not get anything vegetarian to eat and may be we have to returned with just eating French fries.

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