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Udhampur to Nunwan Base Camp (Pahalgam)

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We reached Kud town at around 8 o’clock. Many shops were closed in the market at that time but only a few were open. We purchased 2KG Patisa from Prem sweets which is one of the oldest and famous shops at Kud.
“Kud, a place of extraordinary scenic beauty, is located on the Udhampur Srinagar Highway, Jammu and Kashmir, India. This popular resort is situated on the Jammu-Srinagar highway at an altitude of 1738 meters. It is 95 KM from Jammu and 37 KM from Udhampur city; it is just short of the tourist spot of Patni Top while driving to Patni top from Udhampur. Kud is famous for its sweet shops that make hot and fresh Patisa, which is very popular with the tourists.”

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AMARNATH Yatra starts: Ambala to Udhampur

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The Amarnath Yatra was starting on 30th June 2010.We had decided to leave on first week of July and was waiting for opening of online registrations which was due on 5th June. I was preparing but was not sure whether I will be able to go or not because my mother was ill for some period.
Recently she was diagnosed with stones in GB. She was already suffering from heart, asthma and BP. She felt severe pain many times due to stones and her condition was deteriorating day by day.

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Important information for the Yatra

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Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder Valley, Amarnath Shrine stands at 3,888 m, 46 Km from Pahalgam and 14 Kms from Baltal. Though the original pilgrimages subscribes that the Yatra (journey) be undertaken from Srinagar, the more common practice is to begin journey at Chandanwari, and cover the distance to Amarnathji. Pahalgam is 96 Kms from Srinagar. Amarnathji is considered to be one of the major Hindu Dhams. The holy cave is the abode of Lord Shiva. The guardian of the absolute, Lord Shiva, the destroyer, is enshrined in the form of an ice-lingam in this cave. This lingam is formed naturally, which is believed to wax and wane with the moon.

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रहस्यमयी नगरी – मांडू

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अल्टीमेटली हम उस भीमकाय भवन के निकट जा पहुंचे जो दूर से एक छोटा सा बुर्ज महसूस हो रहा था। वहां लिखा था – रानी रूपमती का महल ! वहां हमने थोड़ी देर तक इमली वाले ठेले पर इमली के रेट को लेकर बहस की। ये मांडू की विशेष इमली थी जिसके बारे में मुकेश ने बताया कि ये सिर्फ यहां मांडू की जलवायु का ही प्रताप है कि यहां ये इमली उगती है। मैं अपने जन्म से लेकर आज तक इमली के नाम पर अपने परचून वाले की दुकान पर जो इमली देखता आया हूं, वह तो छोटे – छोटे बीज होते हैं जिनके ऊपर कोकाकोला रंग की खटास चिपकी हुई होती है और बीज आपस में एक दूसरे से पेप्सी कलर के धागों से जुड़े रहते हैं। वह ये तो इमली के फल थे जिनके भीतर बीज होने अपेक्षित थे। बाहर से इस फल पर इतने सुन्दर रोयें थे कि बस, क्या बताऊं = एकदम सॉफ्ट एंड सिल्की ! दूर से देखो तो आपको लगेगा कि शायद बेल बिक रही है, पर पास जाकर देखें तो पता चलता है कि इमली के फल की शक्ल-सूरत बेल के फल से कुछ भिन्न है और साथ में रोयें भी हैं! जब रेट को लेकर सौदा नहीं पटा तो हम टिकट लेकर रानी रूपमती के महल या मंडप की ओर बढ़ चले जो नर्मदा नदी से 305 मीटर की ऊंचाई पर एक पहाड़ी पर स्थित है। यह मुझे किसी भी एंगिल से महल या मंडप अनुभव नहीं हुआ। अब जैसा कि पढ़ने को मिला है, ये मूलतः सेना के उपयोग में आने वाली एक मचान हुआ करती थी जिसमें मध्य में एक बड़ा परन्तु नीची छत वाला हॉल व उसके दोनों ओर दो कमरे थे। पर बाद में उसमें विस्तार करके ऊपर बुर्ज व दो गुंबद बनाये गये। ये बुर्ज वास्तव में आकर्षक प्रतीत होती है। ये सब काम सिर्फ इसलिये कराने पड़े थे चूंकि रानी रूपमती को नर्मदा नदी के दर्शन किये बिना खाना नहीं खाना होता था, अतः वह यहां से ३०५ मीटर नीचे घाटी में एक चांदी की लकीर सी नज़र आने वाली नर्मदा की धारा को देख कर संतोष कर लिया करती थीं और एतदर्थ नित्य प्रति यहां आया करती थीं। इसी कारण बाज़ बहादुर ने इसमें कुछ परिवर्तन कराकर इसे इस योग्य कर दिया कि जब रूपमती यहां आयें तो वह रानी से कुछ अच्छे – अच्छे गानों की फरमाइश कर सकें और चैन से सुन सकें। जैसा कि आज कल के लड़के – लड़कियां मंदिर में जाते हैं तो भगवान के दर्शनों के अलावा एक दूसरे के भी दर्शन की अभिलाषा लेकर जाते हैं, ऐसे ही रानी रूपमती और बाज बहादुर भी यहां आकर प्रणय – प्रसंगों को परवान चढ़ाते थे। खैर जी, हमें क्या!

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Journey to Riyadh – An overview

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It was a delight to pass sand-eroded hills, empty roads, beautiful desert landscapes and so on. At the same time, it got lonely at times, and one actually yearned for good music or company while doing such a long journey.
It was about half past one when I saw the emerging suburbs of Riyadh (Fig 9), and then, I was past them and into the heart of the city. Asking around, I managed to locate the way to the venue of the university. It seemed like a prudent thing to do, so that I would be able to decide where to take a room in a hotel. The condition would be that it should be near enough to the University.

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Journey Tale of Both tracks (Pahalgam and Baltal)

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Dates (28th June to 21st Aug.) have been already announced for The Amarnath Yatra 2013 and duration has been extended to 55 Days. Yes, this is for first time in last 5 years, that Yatra Duration is set over 50 Days. Last time, it was only in 2008, the Duration of Yatra was 58 days. In 2012, Shri Amarnath ji Yatra was reduced to only 37 Days, for which the J&K State Government & Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board had faced a lot of heat from the various Social & Religious Organizations.

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Family Trip to Mussoorie and Rishikesh (Part II)

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We also took tickets for a round trip in boat. These tickets were valid for one hour for return journey. It means we had sufficient time to bath and roam at another side of Ganga Ji. The boat took us to another bank in just few minutes. As it was Baisakhi day, a lot of people were taking bath on Eastern Ghats. We also took bath in Holy Ganga ji.

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North Bengal Trip

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The Darjeeling Mail which leaves Sealdah Station at 10.05pm reached us New Jalpaiguri Station(NJP) the next morning. I was quite pleased to see the easy availability of cab at the station. After a quick bite we took a cab and set off for Darjeeling. Narrow meandering roads reached us Darjeeling at noon that day. We just could not take our eyes off the picturesque view through the window panes of our hotel room. We could not wait to visit the famous Mall at Darjeeling. We had a pre-concieved notion(from people around us) that The Mall is a very congested, dirty and such other things.

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Jai Jai Shiv Shankar… Meri Kashmir Yatra (Part 8)

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We can say , a pocket size dynamite that engulfed the visitors with its charm. The garden shows the same Mughal feeling as the bigger gardens around the lake. The spring around which this garden is built bumbles up in a large stone vase that hovers up in a hall like structure and this is specialty of this garden.

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Famous Candles of Nainital

Nainital – The Jewel of Kumaon – Dream Fulfilled – Part – II

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Why do we need vacations? There is a very simple answer to it. We need vacation to rest, rejuvenate, relax, as well as to recharge ourselves at least for the next few months. It’s very important to get away and de-stress oneself in today’s world. When we work for a living, we must get away from the work once in a while. Recently, we went to Nainital and we were mesmerized to see the place & surroundings. You can also plan a trip there.

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