Theme

Road Journeys – Somnath to Diu – Sea and Sand

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On the way, we deliberately stopped at one point sighting a very unusual Palm-Tree with multiple branches. Later we found jungles of such trees in entire Diu and its adjoining areas. Browsing, it revealed, those were the Hokka-Trees, African specie of Palm brought by the Portuguese which in due course adapted DiuтАЩs atmosphere and grow in plenty throughout. Locals call it Hokka, not found any where else in the country and also bore edible fruits that have medicinal properties.

Unlike Daman it was pleasing to notice a decent surrounding without the chaos of liquor shops and drunken-brawls instead, the hard drinks were available in much civilized and socialised manner. The places worth a visit in Diu are the Ghoghla Beach, Diu Fort, St. PaulтАЩs Church, Nagoa Beach, Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple, Shell Museum, Naida Caves and Fortim-do-mar (Panikota).

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Dekha 1 khwab to…Seattle Tulip Festival

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We visited Tulip festival first time in April 2002, and after that it was a yearly to do event. I didn’t knew about Tulip festival till my friend Amit asked me if we are interesting to go there coming weekend. I said yes, I was having office provided rental car that time, and pretty excited for a long drive. But my friend shattred my dream saying that he will take his car as I am not not an experienced driver in United States, I argued for some time without any luck. Anyway, it was a sunny day, not very common in Seattle, we took I-5 North towards Vancouver, I-5 connects West side of Canada and Mexico, passing through Washington, Oregon and California states. We were 3 families and it took about 2 hours of drive as I-5 is crowded, seems that everybody was driving towards Tulips. We took Exit 231 for Tulips, and I think it was wrong exit or it was much closer to Tulip fields.
Prasad, one of the other friend, took the charge as guide as he was supposed to be knowledgable about different Tulip fields. There are multiple Tulip fields, and you can see different colors of Tulip flowers like red, yellow, orange, white, magenta, some mixed color Tulips. We entered the first field, and it was the WOW moment, a Kodak moment, “Dekha 1 khwab to ye silsile…” moment. As it was a sunny day, place was crowded, everybody was taking pictures, we also settled ourselv and took few pictures. I didn’t had a any camera that time, so I was completely dependent on my friends.

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Road Journeys – Towards Somnath, In search of enlightenment

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Soon, we reached at my fourth Jyotirling, Somnath. Parking the car a few meters away in a very large space with unorganized parking facility though I hurriedly jogged to have the glance of the magnificent temple about which I have read so much in our history books during school and also in visual media. Soon a right turn left me in awe with eyes wide open to see the magnitude and glamour of the historical and mythological grand shrine at the shores of Arabian Sea, an architectural marvel standing erect in pride.

A large boundary around the shrine, with many visible vigil eyes, armed guards, innumerable CCTV cameras and steel barricading with metal detectors, scanners besides checking physically to every entrant beyond the permissible limit, reminds the history of destructions of the shrine in the past and its prone to vulnerability in the future.

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Sanchi тАУ of Serene and Secluded Stups

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After wandering around the hill, you are drawn back to the crown jewel that is the Stup 1. The four magnificent gateways with their exquisite carvings are the main attraction of Sanchi and its trademark. The stup was embellished with the eye-popping carved torans in the 1st century BC by the Satavahans. Satavahans were the right people with the right credentials for the job. They gave us the glorious Ajanta temples. You are just relieved that the torans have survived for over two thousand years in almost pristine condition. Of course credit goes to Cunningham and Marshall for the restoration efforts.

The four gateways are installed at four cardinal directions of the stup. They have a common design тАУ two square pillars with capitals and surmounted by three parallel architraves. All sides of the columns and the rear and front of the architraves are profusely carved. You could mistake the carved panels for wood or ivory. A lot of carving is overlapping and would require highly skilled workers. Reportedly, the workers were ivory carvers of Vidisha.

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Road Journeys – Towards Sinh SahebтАЩs Abode at GIR

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How many of you have sighted a big cat in wild? Will all of you agree that sighting it for the first time is a nerve-breaking, shaky, crazy, ecstatic, intoxicating, heavenly, euphoric, blissful and rapturousтАжтАж.., short of words to explain, state of mind and body! All eyes still, hoping another sight of the shy animal petrified motionlessly for another few seconds. No chance, assured by the whispers of the guide. Everyone on board was busy browsing their cameras, for the best clip out of multiple shots taken in few seconds. Triumphantly, only my camera crowned the honor with one better close-up with a promise to share it with everyone later.

Soon, we sighted one more leopard crossing the road much closer, but that one was in haste and soon out of sight before, anyone could shoot it. The guide and driver were unanimous view of our better luck to spot two, too shy animals so easily in our first few minutes. I feel, they were right because back home, surprisingly we were informed that none have sighted any big cat that morning.

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Some days in Gujarat : Kankaria lakefront (Part 2)

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Exit gate of the glass cabin led us into the park in real with various species of flowers thrown in great abundance and small placards indicating to us that a particular flower catered to which particular species of Butterfly. As the weather was quite hot, we could not find the butterflies in a significant number though.

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рдПрдХ рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рдРрд╕реА рднреА… рдкреАрд░рд╛рди рдХрд▓рд┐рдпрд░, рдкреБрд░рдХрд╛рдЬреА рдФрд░ рд░реБрдврд╝рдХреА рдХрд╛ рд╕рдлрд░рдирд╛рдорд╛

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рд╕рдордп рдХреА рд╕реБрдИрдпрд╛рдВ,┬а┬ардЕрдкрдиреА рд░рдлрд╝рддрд╛рд░ рд╕реЗ рдЖрдЧреЗ рд╕рд░рдХ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИрдВ, рдЕрдд: рд░рд╛рдд рдореЗ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рджреБрдмрд╛рд░рд╛ рд╕реЗ рд▓реМрдЯрдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рд╡рд╛рджрд╛ рдХрд░, рдкреБрд░рдХрд╛рдЬреА рд╕реЗ рд╡рд┐рджрд╛ рд▓реЗрдХрд░ рд╣рдо рд░реВрдврд╝рдХреА рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдмрдврд╝ рдЪрд▓реЗ | рд░реВрдврд╝рдХреА рд╢рд╣рд░ рдкрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдХреЗ рд╣рд░рд┐рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ 24 рдХрд┐рдореА рджреВрд░ рдкреАрд░рд╛рди рдХрд▓рд┐рдпрд░ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдкрдбрд╝рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЬреЛ рдпрджрд┐ рд╣рд░рд┐рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рд╕реЗ рдЖрдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗ рддреЛ рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рд╕реЗ 12 рдХрд┐рдореА рдХреЗ рдЖрд╕рдкрд╛рд╕ рд╣реИ | рд╕рдм рдХреБрдЫ рдареАрдХ рдЪрд▓рддреЗ рдЪрд▓рддреЗ рдЕрдЪрд╛рдирдХ рд╣реА рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рдХреА рдЕрдЧрд▓реА рдЦрд┐рдбрд╝рдХреА рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рд╡рд░ рд╡рд┐рдВрдбреЛ рдиреЗ рдХрд╛рдо рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдмрдВрдж рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ | рд╕рд╛рд░реЗ рдпрддреНрди рдХрд░рдХреЗ рджреЗрдЦ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ, рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдмреАрдЪ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рдЕрдЯрдХрд╛ рдкрдврд╝рд╛ рдерд╛, рдлреМрд░рди рд░реВрдбрд╝рдХреА рд╢рд╣рд░ рд╡рд╛рдкрд┐рд╕ рд▓реМрдЯрдХрд░ рдПрдХ рдХрд╛рд░ рдореИрдХреЗрдирд┐рдХ рдХреЛ рдвреВрдБрдврд╛, рдЬрд┐рд╕рдиреЗ рдЕрдЧрд▓реЗ рджрд░рд╡рд╛рдЬреЗ рдХреА рд╕рд╛рд░реА рдкреИрдХрд┐рдВрдЧ рд╡рдЧреИрд░рд╣ рдЦреЛрд▓ рдХрд░, рд╕рд┐рджреНрдз рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдХрд┐ рдЗрд╕рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд▓рдЧ рдЦрд░рд╛рдм рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЕрдм рдпреЗ рддреЛ рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рдФрд░ рдЭрдВрдЭрдЯ рдХрд╛ рдХрд╛рдо рдерд╛, рдордЧрд░ рдЙрд╕рдиреЗ рдХрд┐рд╕реА рддрд░рд╣ рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдКрдкрд░ рдЪрдврд╝рд╛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдХрдиреИрдХреНрд╢рди рд╣рдЯрд╛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛, рдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗ рдХреЛрдИ рдЧрд▓рддреА рд╕реЗ рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдирд╛ рдХрд░ рджреЗ, рдХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рд╢реАрд╢рд╛ рдПрдХ рдмрд╛рд░ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдЙрддрд░ рдХрд░ рдКрдкрд░ рдирд╣реА рдЬрд╛ рдкрд╛рддрд╛ | рдмрд╣рд░рд╣рд╛рд▓, рдЪрд▓рддрд╛рдК рдХрд╛рдо рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпрд╛, рдордЧрд░ рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдм рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рдорд╣рддреНрд╡рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдШрдВрдЯрд╛ рдирд┐рдХрд▓ рдЧрдпрд╛ | рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЕрдм рд╣рдо рдирд┐рд╢реНрдЪрд┐рдВрдд рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдХрд╛рд░ рдХрд╣реАрдВ рднреА рдЦрдбреА рдХрд░ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рдереЗ | рдЗрд╕ рдЕрдХрд╕реНрдорд╛рдд рд╣реБрдпреЗ рдЕрд╡рд░реЛрдз рдХреА рд╡рдЬрд╣ рд╕реЗ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдкреАрд░рд╛рди рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪрддреЗ-рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪрддреЗ, рд╢рд╛рдо рдХреА рдзреБрдВрдзрд┐рд▓рдХрд╛ рдЫрд╛рдиреА рд╢реБрд░реВ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпреА рдереА, рдЕрдм рд╕рдорд░ рд╕рдордп рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рднреА рдерд╛, рдЕрдд: рд░реБрдХрдиреЗ рдХреА рдЬрдЧрд╣ рд╕рдм рдХреБрдЫ рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдерд╛ |┬арддрдорд╛рдо рддрд░рд╣ рдХреЗ рдЭрдВрдЭрд╛рд╡рд╛рддреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рд░ рдкрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реБрдпреЗ, рдЖрдЦрд┐рд░рдХрд╛рд░ рдЧреМрдзреВрд▓реА рдХреА ┬ардмреЗрд▓рд╛ рдореЗрдВ рд╣рдо рдЗрд╕ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ | рдмрд┐рд▓реНрдХреБрд▓ рд╕рд╛рдзрд╛рд░рдг рд╕рд╛ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рд╣реИ, рдпреВрдкреА рдХреЗ рддрдорд╛рдо рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡реЛрдВ рдХреА рддрд░рд╣ рд╣реА,┬арддрд░рдХреНрдХреА рд╕реЗ рдмрд┐рд▓реНрдХреБрд▓ рдЕрдЫреВрддрд╛, рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдЬрд╛рддреА рдХрдЪреНрдЪреА-рдкрдХреНрдХреА рд╕рдврд╝рдХ рдФрд░ рджреВрд░ рддрдХ рдлреИрд▓рд╛ рдорд┐рдЯрдЯреА рдХрд╛ рдореИрджрд╛рди | рд╣рд╛рдБ, рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢ рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдкрд░ рдкрддреНрдерд░ рдХрд╛ рдмрдирд╛ рдПрдХ рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рд╕рд╛ рдЧреЗрдЯ, рдЗрд╕ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдХреА рдХреБрдЫ рд╡рд┐рд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгрддрд╛ рдХреА рдореБрдирд╛рджреА рд╕рд╛ рдХрд░рддрд╛ рдкреНрд░рддреАрдд рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдордЧрд░ рдЗрддрдирд╛ рд╕рдордп рдирд╣реА рдирд┐рдХрд╛рд▓ рдкрд╛рдпреЗ рдХрд┐┬ардЪрдВрдж рдкрд▓ рд░реБрдХ рдХрд░, рдЗрд╕ рдЧреЗрдЯ рдХреА рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдЙрддрд╛рд░ рдкрд╛рддреЗ,┬ардХреНрдпреВрдВрдХрд┐ рдЬрдВрдЧ рдЕрдм рдШрдбрд╝реА рдХреА рд╕реБрдИрдУрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рднреА рдереА, рдФрд░ рдЗрдзрд░ рд╢рд╛рдо рдЕрдм рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╕реБрд░рдордИ рд░реВрдк рдмрджрд▓, рдХрд╛рд▓рд┐рдорд╛ рдХреА рддрд░рдлрд╝ рдмрдбрд╝рдиреЗ рдХреЛ рдЕрдЧреНрд░рд╕рд░ рдереА | рдЕрдд: рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдХрд╛ рдореЛрд╣ рдЫреЛрдбрд╝ рд╕реАрдзреЗ рдЗрдорд╛рдо рд╕рд╛рд╣рдм рдХреА рдЦрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд╣ рдореЗрдВ рд╕рдЬрджрд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ | рдРрд╕реА рд░рд╡рд╛рдпрдд рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рд╣рдЬрд░рдд рд╕рд╛рдмрд┐рд░ рдЕрд▓реА рдХреА рджрд░рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдкрд░ рджрд╕реНрддрдХ рджреЗрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдЗрдорд╛рдо рд╕рд╛рд╣рдм рдФрд░ рд╢рд╛рд╣ рдмрд╛рдмрд╛ рдХреА рджрд░рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдкрд░ рд╣рд╛рдЬрд┐рд░реА рднрд░рдиреА рдкрдбрддреА рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рдЬрдЧрд╣реЗрдВ рдПрдХ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рд╕реЗ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ 2 рдХрд┐рдореА рдХреА рджреВрд░реА┬ардкрд░ рд╣реИрдВ | рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд╣рдордиреЗ рдпрд╣реАрдВ рдЗрдорд╛рдо рд╕рд╛рд╣рдм рдХреА рджрд░рдЧрд╛рд╣ рдкрд░ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╕рдЬрджрд╛ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдордиреНрдирдд рдХрд╛ рдзрд╛рдЧрд╛ рдмрд╛рдБрдзрд╛ | рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рд╕реЗрд╣рди рдореЗрдВ рдХрд┐рддрдиреЗ рд╣реА рдзрд╛рдЧреЗ рдФрд░ рдЕрд░реНрдЬрд┐рдпрд╛рдВ рд▓реЛрдЧ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдордиреЛрдХрд╛рдордирд╛рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рдкреВрд░реНрддреА рд╣реЗрддреБ рдмрд╛рдБрдз рдЧрдпреЗ рдереЗ |

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Road Journeys – Ahmedabad to Jungarh

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Finally a huge granary, a few steps from the step-wells, covered with stage wise storage facilities enabled the curators to use the stocks in hardships as per its requirement by taking it out of the selected chamber designed by high class engineering technique without disturbing the entire storage. Preserved with natural herbs and their way of modern-ancient techniques of keeping the grains dry and free from pesticides is a matter of research. We are happy with pride to know that we were always ahead of time.

An interesting fact, which I feel prominent to mention, is that Zulfikar Ali Bhutta, the deceased veteran of Pakistan, hanged in a political trial was an administrator of the Nawab of Junagadh and played a role during annexation, post independence. Also the very famous, beautiful actor in Bollywood, Parvin Babi was a kin to Junagadh Nawab of Babi dynasty, sadly died in pitiable condition. A few fresh blooms and a solitary eagle on a dead dried tree impressed me with the balance of nature.

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Ae bhai jara dekh kar chaloтАж Be Safe while on road

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I was travelling to Bareilly from Moradabad, distance is about 80 KM, highway is nice but with 5 railway crossings. I was lucky to pass 2 of them without any stop, 3rd one took me 55 minutes and 4th one took 40 minutes to cross. Reason, I stopped my car in the lane I was driving and watching people zooming from right, left, sidewalks, everywhere, not just the cars but state transport buses as well. Once the train got passed, I am not sure whether my car was moving or not, but after 30 minutes, I was able to see railway line men getting ready to close down the crossing again for another train. Same story is during traffic jams. So, guys, please wait patiently, be in your lane, donтАЩt try to rush from your right or left, otherwise you will also be contributing to the traffic jam.

I thought of writing lot of things, but I do not have right words, we experience these things when we are on road, I should have a video for it. Long back I read in one of the article that your child observes your driving, they adopt the same driving habits as yours, so, be careful.

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Road journeys – Nashik to Ahmedabad

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In 30 minutes we reached the famous abode of the Mahatma, the father of the nation and a legend preaching lessons on peace even today. We were enthralled with the mere feeling that we are actually at the site where, Mahatma Gandhi once lived, preached, enlightened our political revolutionists with his successful spiritual ideas of peaceful revolution and earned independence through his ardent anshans, un-armed and without blood shed. The river Sabarmati alongside flowing timidly adds tranquility in the already pacific atmosphere of the heavenly adobe. A few foreign visitors accompanied with philosophers on Gandhian studies were keen in learning with humility. We visited the whole area pursuing every facts preserved in pictures, models and writings with great respect and honour. A stall with GandhijiтАЩs books and relevant works by other legends was very worth visiting. A classic piece on crystal with GandhijiтАЩs portrait in it was what we couldnтАЩt resist purchasing besides few artifacts and books. The hutment of Mahatma, a much revered place and the replicas of the items used by the immortal was also of interest. A charkha in working condition at its verandah is still there, in remembrance to the veteran, honouring his omnipresence in every Indian heart and beyond. A man weaving on the charkha drew every ones attention and was framed in all cameras including mine. The room, where Gandhiji resided was found locked for no better reasons but one can see through the netted wires on its windows, the resting place of the Mahatma, Later we also visited VinobajiтАЩs hut which is a thatched roofed mud hutment with two rooms one for him and another for Mira Ben the Anglo follower of Gandhiji.

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Some Days in Gujarat: Kankaria Lake front (Part 1)

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After going some distance , we saw that in lake there was a big balloon like structure near the shore only and kids were packed inside it and they enjoyed floating inside it for sometime. We witnessed the scene for sometime and I asked Pavani if she wanted to experience it. She replied in affirmative as she had not done it before. The ticket rate for this was Rs. 50. I guess it was fun for her.

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