09 Sep

AN ANNUAL DATE WITH OOTY

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We stuck to our usual route of  Tiruppur-Mettupalayam-Kotagiri route for the onward journey to Ooty  and the Ooty-Coonoor-Mettupalayam-Tiruppur route for the return journey. The Kotagiri route has very little traffic, even in peak season and hence a much more enjoyable drive.

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देल्ली – कोट्द्वार सड़क विवरण – मंदिर दर्शन – नदी के किनारे पिकनिक – सुल्ताना डाकू का किला – गढ़ मुक्तेश्वर

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यह सचित्र लेख आपको ले जायेगा कोटद्वार, बिजनौर गंगा बैराज होते हुए, और देल्ली वापस लायेगा गढ़ मुक्तेश्वर के बैराज होते हुए! साथ में आप जानेंगे नजीबाबाद के सुल्ताना डाकू के किले के बारे में भी!

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Somnath Pilgrimage / सोमनाथ: एक अद्भुत, अभूतपूर्व एवं अविष्मरणीय अनुभूति

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यात्रा की योजना एवं तैयारी: वैसे तो अब तक घुमक्कड़ पर सोमनाथ के बारे में बहुत कुछ लिखा जा चूका है, लेकिन एक छोटा…

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

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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.

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Ghumakkar inspired trip to Renukaji

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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.

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Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling / घृष्णेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग: आस्था का सैलाब

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मेरी पिछली पोस्ट में मैंने आपको अवगत कराया था औरंगाबाद तथा आसपास के दर्शनीय स्थलों से, और आइये अब मैं आपको लिए चलता हूँ…

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Vaishno Devi Yatra – A Pilgrim’s Progress

Vaishno Devi Yatra – A Pilgrim’s Progress

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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.

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यमुनोत्री यात्रा- हनुमानचट्टी से यमुनोत्री

यमुनोत्री यात्रा- हनुमानचट्टी से यमुनोत्री

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यहां मुख्य मन्दिर के बराबर में ही एक गुफा है। इस गुफा में सालों से एक महाराज जी रहते हैं। वे कभी नीचे नहीं जाते, सर्दियों में कपाट बन्द होने के बाद भी। अकेले ही रहते हैं। कहा जाता है कि नीचे जाना तो दूर, उन्होने कभी सामने बहती यमुना को भी पार नहीं किया है। कुछ भक्तों ने उस गुफा के सामने मन्दिर भी बनवा दिया है। महाराज उसी में रहते हैं, खुद बनाते हैं, खाते हैं। बाद में अगले दिन मैने उनकी फोटो लेनी चाही तो उन्होने मना कर दिया। तो मैने उनका फोटो लिया ही नहीं। आज जब कोई नहीं दिखा तो मैं उनके पास ही पहुंचा –“बाबा, आज रुकने के लिये कोई कमरा मिल जायेगा क्या यहां?” बोले कि मिल जायेगा, अभी थोडी देर सामने खडे होकर कुदरत का मजा लो।

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Lebanon – Baalbek & blue river

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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.

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यमुनोत्री यात्रा- दिल्ली से हनुमानचट्टी

यमुनोत्री यात्रा- दिल्ली से हनुमानचट्टी

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अब मुझे कम से कम नौ घण्टे तक देहरादून में ही रहना था। समय बिताने के लिये मैं सहस्त्रधारा चला गया। चूंकि रात का सफर था, यह सोचकर मैं सहस्त्रधारा से वापस आकर देहरादून रेलवे स्टेशन पर खाली पडी बेंच पर ही सो गया। शाम को सात बजे सोया था, आंख खुली साढे दस बजे। वो भी पता नहीं कैसे खुल गयी। मन्द मन्द हवा चल रही थी, मुझे कुछ थकान भी थी और सबसे बडी बात कि मच्छर नहीं थे।

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Lebanon – Paradise lost !!

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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.

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