Hotel

??????? ????? ???? ????????

स्वर्ण मंदिर – लंगर और रामबाग पैलेस

By

लंगर से बाहर निकल कर पुनः वही प्रश्नचिह्न सम्मुख आ खड़ा हुआ – “अब क्या?“ अचानक मुझे याद आया कि एक मित्र ने रामबाग समर पैलेस यानि, महाराजा रणजीत सिंह के महल का ज़िक्र किया था और कहा था कि मैं उसे अवश्य देख कर आऊं। रिक्शे वालों से पूछना शुरु किया तो सबने 30 रुपये बताये। मुझे लगा कि अमृतसर के रिक्शे वालों को तीस का आंकड़ा कुछ ज्यादा ही पसन्द है। रामबाग पैलेस चलने के लिये एक रिक्शा कर लिया। स्वर्ण मंदिर में हर किसी को कार सेवा में तन्मयता से लगे हुए देखते देखते, मुझे लग रहा था कि यह रिक्शावाला भी तो इस विशाल समाज के लिये एक अत्यन्त उपयोगी कार सेवा ही कर रहा है। अतः उसके प्रति सम्मान की भावना रखते हुए मैं रिक्शे में ऐसे सिमट कर बैठा जैसे मेरे सिमट कर बैठने मात्र से मेरा 82 किलो वज़न घट कर 60 किलो रह जायेगा। मेरा वज़न घटे या न घटे ये तो वाहेगुरु जी की इच्छा पर निर्भर है, पर मुझे उम्मीद है कि उन्होंने मेरी भावनाओं को तो अवश्य ही समझ लिया होगा।

Read More

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Munsiyari…Ride to Binsar

By

Well, I must share that I have travelled on some very lonely stretches; this was proved to be the scariest of all. Completely dark it was, we brothers rode our bikes non-stop in the only source of lights – the bikes’ headlights! This was a typical forest track, and rains made it all the more difficult to negotiate the ride. We stopped several times to check the signal of the phone – no respite. What made us ride ahead in this pitch dark jungle located upon the mounts in the dead of rainy night was the my belief/experience – people in hills don’t lie! After all, the guard had said that the forest track would end in 13kms and route to Dhaulchhina would emerge!

Bang on right he was! Just as my bike’s meter clocked 13kms, we came out to a neat tarmac. By now, we were completely drenched and shivering. And it didn’t help that there weren’t any signage that could guide us to either left or right. Fortunately, mobile phone’s signals were back and we called the Camp to locate the address.

30minutes later, amidst heavy rains, we arrived at Dhaulchhina, a hamlet where Binsar Eco Camp was located above a hillock.

Read More

Our Leh Trip in August 2012

By

We all are ready and fit to explore “The Leh” our first destination to Nubra valley. We get up by 7.00 am and start to Nubra Valley by 8.30 am. We drive just 4-5 km. From leh and one of our friend feeling hungry and said please stop the car in front of any hotel to take some food. Any way after 30 minute drive we found one small road side cafe, and their she take some bread and butter etc. Then we start to Nubra, On the way of nubra valley we cross the worlds highest motorable road “Khardungla pass” we stop at khardungla cafe which is “world’s highest cafe” run by indian army. We all take black tea hear. Khardungla is situated 18350 feet from the sea lavel and oxygen is very low their, we all feel the same little bit altitude problem. We stay their 30 minutes, Aditi one of our friend is busy in photography, and roaming around rest of us are just sit beside the car, we met some bikers their, now-a-days many Indians are coming by bike too.

Read More

Wanderings in South Goa.

By

You are really spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants in Goa. Besides the beach shacks, where you can sit on the sands and gaze out at the sea, sipping on a drink, while waiting an hour or two for your meal to arrive, there are many restaurants inland which also serve excellent food at very reasonable rates. There is a fusion of East and West, Portugese and Indian, meat and vegetables, which makes Goan cuisine unique. Coconut is used liberally, along with other Indian spices in the cooking. ‘Fish curry rice’ is the most common food and available virtually in every restaurant. The different types of seafood on offer in Goa includes pomfret, kingfish, ladyfish, mackerel, tuna, shark, crab, prawn, lobster, squid and mussels. Chicken, pork, mutton and beef dishes are also on offer at all the restaurants, cooked in the popular Goan flavours such as vindaloo, balchao, recheado, xhacuti and caldin.
We had already planned that we would include at least one meal out at a shack or restaurant in our daily sight-seeing itinerary. One precaution we always took was to carry our own drinking water if we did not want to order a drink, or pay for a bottle of branded mineral water.

Read More

Revisit to Johannesburg

By

We checked in our rooms which were designed in the shape of Huts with African furnishing. The ambience of the room was stunning. Everything in the room was just perfectly done. Rooms were decorated with bright coloured African fabrics, artwork & handmade furniture. Our next four days program was well placed on the side table.

Read More

Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 5 – Bang Saen to Kampaeng Phet

By

We had plans of visiting heritage sites and local night market, but lassitude takes over as soon as we arrive. After strolling around the neighbourhood, spying on local shops and outlets, we are back to the guest house.
There are number of cosy sit-outs within the house. In the evening, guests have gathered here to relax and chat-up. Soon I connect up with Bill, an Austrian from Vienna and Shoo, a Thai traveller. Yes, they tell, they are also travelling across Thailand. While exchanging notes I discover that both of them (though travelling separately) are very special Ghumakkars. Bill (actually Bills, a couple) has arrived here Cycling all the way from AUSTRIA! Well, the story goes like this. They are avid cyclists. They have covered large parts of the globe cycling. Bill roughly cycles for an year in one go! By end of the year long loop, he is back in Vienna to earn his livelihood. After earning for about 6-8 months, he is again out for the next trip. He tells us that he does not own a car and has a very small house in Vienna. He works just to make enough money for the next trip. Same is the story of his partner. She is from the same place and they share the same passion. They are 6 months into the current trip and plan to cycle north to China and then through Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe to Vienna. Their belongings, typical for cyclists, comprise of two rucksacks (strapped to either side of the carrier) and a sleeping bag cum tenting equipment.

Read More

आ पहुंचे हम श्रीनगर – कश्मीर

By

इस सड़क की एक और विशेषता यह है कि उस सड़क पर पर्यटकों की भरमार होने के कारण स्कूटर, मोटर साइकिल, हाथ ठेली पर ऊनी वस्त्र बेचने वाले हर रोज़ सुबह-शाम भरपूर मात्रा में दिखाई देते हैं।  रात को हम खाना खा कर लौटे तो भी वहां बहुत भीड़ लगी थी और सुबह आठ बजे तक वहां ऐसे दुकानदारों का अंबार लग चुका था।  कुछ स्कूल भी आस-पास रहे होंगे क्योंकि छोटे-छोटे, प्यारे – प्यारे, दूधिया रंग के कश्मीरी बच्चे भी स्कूली वेषभूषा में आते-जाते मिले। कुछ छोटे बच्चों को जबरदस्ती घसीट कर स्कूल ले जाया जाता अनुभव हो रहा था तो कुछ अपनी इच्छा से जा रहे थे। भारतीय सेना की एक पूरी बटालियन वहां स्थाई कैंप बनाये हुए थी। हमारे होटल के बिल्कुल सामने सड़क के उस पार सेना के सशस्त्र जवान केबिन बना कर उसमें पहरा दे रहे थे। मुझे आश्चर्य हो रहा था कि यहां तो बिल्कुल शान्ति है फिर इतनी सतर्कता की क्या जरूरत है? पर जैसा कि एक सेना के अधिकारी ने मुझे अगली सुबह गप-शप करते हुए बताया कि यहां शांति इसीलिये है क्योंकि हर समय सेना तैयार है।  अगर हम गफलत कर जायें तो कब कहां से हिंसा वारदात शुरु हो  जाये, कुछ नहीं कहा जा सकता।   दो दिन बाद, 18 मार्च को हिन्दुस्तान और पाकिस्तान के बीच में एक दिवसीय क्रिकेट मैच था ।  हमारा ड्राइवर प्रीतम प्यारे गुलमर्ग से लौटते समय बहुत तनाव में था क्योंकि दोपहर तक पाकिस्तान का पलड़ा भारी नज़र आ रहा था।  वह बोला कि अगर पाकिस्तान मैच जीत गया तो शाम होते – होते कश्मीर की स्थिति विस्फोटक हो जायेगी । 

Read More

Ghumakkar Insights – Responsible Tourism

By

While strolling in the sprawling gardens of the Thai Buddhist Temple in Sarnath, I saw what seemed to be a rather amusing sign which read “धर्मचक्र पर चढ़ना बैठना मना है ” (Climbing or sitting on the Dharma Chakra is forbidden) and it made me involuntarily grin. A monk, who was keenly observing me, asked me what was so funny about it. I told him that I could not believe that anyone would climb onto the dharma chakra, let alone sit on it. He told me that he had to get it repaired on several occasions because of vandals climbing onto the chakra,  which is why he had this sign posted and instructed the watchmen to keep a close eye on visitors.

Read More
Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh… (Delhi – Kaza)

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh… (Delhi – Kaza)

By

As I rode though barren patches, I would not help admire the exquisiteness of the rocks all around – they were as spellbinding as the Grand Canyon, all through the journey on the Indo-China border. No images can describe this splendor!

During last 100kms, as the terrain turned bad to worse, I had consumed all my water. Thirsty and tired, I found water only at Dubling, after riding for over 3.5 hours. As I gulped down water, I couldn’t help observe that the same Kinley packaged water bottle we paid Rs.40/- at the HPTDC hotels (a premium of double the cost!) was being sold by this mom-&-pop shop at the MRP!

Read More

Road trip to Naukuchiatal and Mukteshwar

By

We  explored the property the first day and was happy to see that apart from a TT table and carrom board, the resort has a gym and two pool tables. My husband and son  played a few games of TT and carrom, while i enjoyed the hammock in the garden with my book.  Then as the sun set, it was mystical seeing the colour of the waters change. The next morning we decided to take a boat ride. Then, following a good breakfast we decided to take a walk around the lake and explore the small hamlet. The walk is around 3.5 km and will take barely an hour at a slow pace. You will meet smiling locals and few tourists, especially if you take this walk before 10am. The tourists generally don’t stay at Naukuchiatal but make a day trip and descend on the sleepy hamlet after 11 and move out by 5.

Read More

अनजान सफ़र : दिल्ली – यमुनोत्री – उत्तरकाशी

By

जानकारी मिली की पहले यमनोत्री जाओ फिर गंगोत्री फिर बद्रीनाथ और केदारनाथ. श्याम को वो सज्जन भी आ गए जो मसूरी से पैसे लाये थे, अच्छा ये बता दूँ की उत्तराखंड मे बसे तडके निकाल पड़ती है कियु की रूट लम्बा होता है, पता चला की सुबह ३.३० बजे की  बस है यमनोत्री की, और अभी टिकिट खिड़की बंद हो गयी है और सुबहे ३.०० बजे खुलेगी, अब रात काटने के लिए एक होटल मे १५० रूपए  मे कमरा लिया और सुबहे २.३० बजे सो कर उठा, फटाफट मुह हाथ धो कर सीधे बस अड्डे पंहुचा, यात्रा का समय होने के कारण बहुत भीड़ थी पता चला की यमनोत्री की बस पूरी फुल है पैर रखने की भी जगह नहीं है, तो सोच मे पड़ गया की क्या करू अगर ये बस छूट गयी तो फिर टाइम से यमनोत्री नहीं पहुच पाउँगा  (आप को ये बताना जरूरी है की मैं गढ़वाल से तो हूँ पर पौड़ी गढ़वाल से, और मुझे टिहरी और चमोली गढ़वाल के बारे मे कुछ भी नहीं पता नहीं है.)

Read More