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Some days in Gujarat – Finally We Reached (Part 2)

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Anyway we crawled through this part dreaming about the great highway ahead as I had heard of. And our dream came true sooner and an awesome highway welcomed us and our Maruti was behaving like a luxury car on this highway, so good is the highway, a zigzag movement notwithstanding. Now all of us were feeling hungary and in search of a good Dhaba was our priority.

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Trek to Nag tibba

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We started at 4:30 from Gurgaon – our usual time of leaving. It gives us an extra edge in avoiding the Delhi traffic. But still at this hour there were trucks plying in the middle of the road. Sometimes, I think what economic super power we are going to become when we can’t build a simple bypass to avoid Delhi. Anyway, we continued. In around 3 hours we reached Muzafarnagar bye pass. Now there are 2 routes to go from here.

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рд▓реИрдВрд╕рдбрд╛рдЙрди : рдЕрд╣рдБ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рд╕реНрдорд┐ рдХреЗ рдкрде рдкрд░ рдХреБрдЫ рдХреНрд╖рдг

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рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ-рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреБрдЫ рдиреМрдЬрд╡рд╛рди рд▓рдбрдХреЗ-рд▓рдбрдХрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рдЦреБрд▓реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдЧреНрд░реБрдк рдмрдирд╛рдХрд░ рдмреИрдареЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдХреБрдЫ рдЗрдзрд░-рдЙрдзрд░ рдШреВрдо рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реИ, рдХреБрдЫ рдЫреЛрдЯреЗ рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЗ рдЦрд░рдЧреЛрд╢реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рднрд╛рдЧ рд░рд╣реЗрдВ рд╣реИрдВ, рдХреБрдЫ рддреЛрддреЗ рдФрд░ рдЪрд┐рдбрд╝рд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рднреА рд╣реИрдВ, рджреВрд░ рддрдХ рдлреИрд▓рд╛, рдЦреБрд▓рд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╢рд╛рд▓ рдХреНрд╖реЗрддреНрд░, рдЪрд╛рд░реЛ рддрд░рдл рдЪреАрдбрд╝ рдХреЗ рдкреЗрдбрд╝, рдЖрдкрдХреЛ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓ рдореЗрдВ рдордВрдЧрд▓ рдХрд╛ рдирдЬрд╝рд╛рд░рд╛ рджреЗрддрд╛ рд╣реИ | рдПрдХ рдХрдк рдЧрд░рдорд╛-рдЧрд░рдо рдЕрджрд░рдХ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдЪрд╛рдп, рдЖрдкрдХреА рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ рдХреА рд╕рд╛рд░реА рдердХрд╛рди рдЙрддрд╛рд░ рджреЗрддреА рд╣реИ | рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдХреЛрдИ рд░рд┐рд╕реЗрдкреНрд╢рди рдпрд╛ рд╣реЙрд▓ рдирд╣реА рд╣реИ, рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рд╕реЛрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрдорд░реЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдФрд░ рдЖрдк рдЦреБрд▓реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдмреИрда рдХрд░ рдкреВрд░реА рддрд░рд╣ рд╕реЗ рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐ рдХреЛ рдЬреА рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реЛ | рдЪрд╛рдп рдкреАрддреЗ-рдкреАрддреЗ рдЖрдкрдХрд╛ рдХрдорд░рд╛ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ | рд░рд┐рдЬреЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХреА рд╣реА рддрд░рд╣ рдХрдорд░рд╛ рднреА рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕рд╛рдзрд╛рд░рдг рд╣реИ, рд╕рд╛рдзрд╛рд░рдг рдкреНрд▓рд╛рд╕реНрдЯрд░ рдХреА рд╣реБрдИ рджреАрд╡рд╛рд░реЗрдВ, рдЯреАрди рдХреА рдЫрдд, рдЬрд┐рди рдкрд░ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рд╕реЗ рд▓рдХрдбрд╝реА рдХреА рд╕реАрд▓рд┐рдВрдЧ рд▓рдЧреА рд╣реИ, рдХрдорд░реЗ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЕрдЯреИрдЪреНрдб рдЯреЙрдпрд▓реЗрдЯ рдХреЗ рдЕрд▓рд╛рд╡рд╛, рдПрдХ рдбрдмрд▓ рдмреИрдб, рджреЛ рд╕реЛрдлрд╛-рдиреБрдорд╛ рдХреБрд░реНрд╕рд┐рдпрд╛рдВ, рдПрдХ рдЫреЛрдЯреА рдореЗрдЬрд╝ рдФрд░ рдЯреАрд╡реА | рдХрдорд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдЬрд╛рдХрд░ рдХрдкрдбрд╝реЗ рдмрджрд▓рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдкрд░ рдХрдорд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдорди рд╣реА рдирд╣реА рд▓рдЧрддрд╛, рд╡реЛ рддреЛ рдХрдорд░реЗ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд┐рдХрд▓рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рддрд╛ рд╣реИ | рдореЛрдмрд╛рдЗрд▓ рдХреЗ рд╕рд┐рдЧреНрдирд▓ рдЕрдХреНрд╕рд░ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рдирд╣реА рдорд┐рд▓рддреЗ, BSNL рдЕрдкрд╡рд╛рдж рд╣реИ | рдЯреАрд╡реА рдХреЛрдИ рджреЗрдЦрдирд╛ рдирд╣реА рдЪрд╛рд╣рддрд╛ рдХреНрдпреЛрдВрдХрд┐ рд╕рд╛рд░реА рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддрд┐ рддреЛ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдмрд┐рдЦрд░реА рдкрдбрд╝реА рд╣реИ, рд╡реЛ рдХрдорд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рддреЛ рдЖрдПрдЧреА рдирд╣реА, рдЕрдкрд┐рддреБ рд╣рдореЗ рд╣реА рдЙрд╕рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рд╕ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдкрдбрд╝реЗрдЧрд╛, рдпрджрд┐ рдХрдорд░реЗ рдХреА рдЪрд╛рд░-рджреАрд╡рд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╣реА рдмреИрдардирд╛ рд╣реЛрддрд╛, рддреЛ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдШрд░ рд╕рд╛ рд╕реБрдЦ рдХрд╣рд╛рдБ ? рдЕрд╕рд▓реА рдирдЬрд╛рд░реЗ рджреЗрдЦрдиреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рддреЛ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд┐рдХрд▓реЛ, рдорд┐рд▓реЛ рджреВрд╕рд░реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ… рдзреАрд░реЗ-рдзреАрд░реЗ рдЖрдкрдХреА рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдЬрд╛рди-рдкрд╣рдЪрд╛рди рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рд▓рдЧрддреА рд╣реИ, рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛рддрд░ рдпреБрд╡рд╛ рддреЛ рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рдпрд╛ рдЧреБрдбрдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рд╣реИрдВ, рдХреБрдЫ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рддрд░рд╣ рдЖрдЬ рд╣реА рдЖрдпреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдХреБрдЫ рдХрд▓ | рдкрд░ рдЬрд╣рд╛рдБ рд╕реЗ рдЕрднреА рддрдХ рдХреЛрдИ рднреА рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рд╣реА рдирд╣реА рдЧрдпрд╛ ! рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдкреВрдЫрд╛, рддреЛ рдХрд╣рдиреЗ рд▓рдЧреЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдХреНрдпрд╛ рджреЗрдЦрдирд╛ рд╣реИ ? рд╕рдм рдХреБрдЫ рддреЛ рдпрд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИ, рдЗрддрдиреА рдЦреВрдмрд╕реВрд░рддреА рддреЛ рдпрд╣реАрдВ рдмрд┐рдЦрд░реА рдкрдбрд╝реА рд╣реИ | рдЗрд╕ рд░рд┐рдЬреЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХреЗ рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рддрд░рдл рдХреЛрдИ рдЪрд╛рд░рджреАрд╡рд╛рд░реА рдирд╣реА рд╣реИ, рдмрд╕ рдмрд╛рдВрд╕ рдХреА рдЦрдкрдЪреНрдЪрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рджреЛ-рдврд╛рдИ рдлреБрдЯ рдКрдВрдЪреА рдмрд╛рдврд╝ рд╣реИ, рдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗ рдмрдЧрд▓ рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╛рд░рд╛ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓ рднреА рдЗрд╕реА рдХрд╛ рднрд╛рдЧ рд▓рдЧрддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕ рдХреЛ рдФрд░ рд╡рд┐рд╢рд╛рд▓ рдмрдирд╛ рджреЗрддрд╛ рд╣реИ |

рдЗрд╕реА рдХреА рдмрдЧрд▓ рд╕реЗ рджреЛ рдХрдЪреНрдЪреЗ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддреЗ, рдФрд░ рдЖрдЧреЗ рдХреЗ рдЧрд╛рдВрд╡реЛрдВ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реИ, рдХреБрдЫ рд▓рдбрдХреЗ-рд▓рдбрдХрд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рдЬрд┐рдиреНрд╣реЛрдВрдиреЗ рд╢рд╛рдпрдж рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдХрднреА рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рдпрд╛ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓ рдирд╣реА рджреЗрдЦрд╛, рдШреВрдордиреЗ рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рджрд┐рдиреЗрд╢ рдХрд╛ рднрддреАрдЬрд╛ рдЬреЛ рд░рд╕реЛрдИ рдХреЗ рдХрд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рд╢рд╛рдпрдж рдЕрдм рдирд┐рд╡реГрдд рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЙрдирдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдЧрд╛рдЗрдб рдмрдирдХрд░ рдЪрд▓рдиреЗ рдХреЛ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рд╣реИ, рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдПрдХ рдЫрдбрд╝реА рдФрд░ рдЯреЕрд╛рд░реНрдЪ рд▓реЗрдХрд░ | рдЫрд╛рддрд╛, рдЫрдбрд╝реА рдФрд░ рдЯреЕрд╛рд░реНрдЪ рдпреЗ рдРрд╕реА рдЪреАрдЬрд╝реЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЬрд┐рдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рд▓рд┐рдП рдмрд┐рдирд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рдкрд╣рд╛рдбрд╝ рдХрд╛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реА рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдирд╣реА рдирд┐рдХрд▓рддрд╛, рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХрдм рдЗрдирдХреА рдЬрд░реВрд░рдд рдкрдбрд╝ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗ…. рдФрд░ рдЗрдзрд░ рд╣рдо, рд▓реЛрдЧреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдкрд░рд┐рдЪрдп рдХрд░рддреЗ-рдХрд░рддреЗ рд░рд╛рдд рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░реЛрдЧреНрд░рд╛рдо рдХреА рдЙрдзреЗрдврд╝-рдмреБрди рдореЗрдВ рд▓рдЧреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рд░рд┐рдЬреЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХреЗ рдПрдХ рдХреЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдПрдХ рдЫреЛрдЯрд╛ рд╕рд╛ рдЯреЗрдВрдЯ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЙрдзрд░ рдХрд┐рдЪрди рдХреЗ рдкреАрдЫреЗ рдПрдХ рд▓рдбрд╝рдХрд╛ рд▓рдХрдбрд╝рд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рдлрд╛рдбрд╝ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ | рджрд┐рдиреЗрд╢ рд╕реЗ рдкреВрдЫрдиреЗ рдкрд░ рдкрддрд╛ рдЪрд▓рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЖрдЬ рдЗрдирдХреЗ рд░рд┐рдЬреЛрд░реНрдЯ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рд╕рд╛рд▓ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рдЦрд╝реБрд╢реА рдореЗрдВ рдЗрдиреНрд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдЧрд╛рдБрд╡ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЛрдВ рдФрд░ рдХреБрдЫ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдЬрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдкрд╛рд░реНрдЯреА рджреА рд╣реИ, рдЬрд┐рдирд╕реЗ рд╕рд╛рд▓ рднрд░ рдмрд┐рдЬрд╝рдиреЗрд╕ рдорд┐рд▓рддрд╛ рд╣реИ | рд▓рдХрдбрд╝рд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рд░рд╛рдд рдХреЛ рдмреЛрди-рдлрд╛рдпрд░ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдХрд╛рдЯреА рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИрдВ, рдПрдХ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдХрд┐рдирд╛рд░реЗ рдкрд░ рдбреА-рдЬреЗ рд▓рдЧ рд░рд╣рд╛ рд╣реИ, рдХрдорд░реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рдордиреЗ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдереЛрдбрд╝реА рдЦреБрд▓реА рд╕реА рдЬрдЧрд╣ рдкрд░ 3-4 рд▓рдбрдХреЗ рдПрдХ рдЯреЗрдВрдЯ рдЦрдбрд╝рд╛ рдХрд░ рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЬреЛ рд╡реИрд╕рд╛ рд╣реА рд╣реИ, рдЬреИрд╕рд╛ рдЕрдХреНрд╕рд░ рдорд┐рд▓рд┐рдЯреНрд░реА рд╡рд╛рд▓реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рд╕ рдпрд╛ рдлрд┐рд░ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓ рд╕рдлрд╛рд░реА рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдкрд╛рд╕ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ | рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рд╣реА рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЛрдВрдиреЗ рджреЛ рдЯреЗрдВрдЯ рдЦрдбрд╝реЗ рдХрд░рдХреЗ рдЙрдирдореЗ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди рд░рдЦрдирд╛ рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛- рдЧрджреНрджреЗ, рд░рдЬрд╛рдИ, рдЯреАрд╡реА, рд╣реАрдЯрд░ рдФрд░ рдмрд┐рдЬрд▓реА рдХрд╛ рдмрд▓реНрдм рдпреЗ рджреЗрдЦ рдХрд░ рдХреЗ рддреЛ NCC рдХреЗ рджрд┐рди рдпрд╛рдж рдЖ рдЧрдпреЗ | рджрд┐рдиреЗрд╢ рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рдд рдХреА, рднреИрдпрд╛ рд╣рдореЗ рдХрдорд░рд╛ рдирд╣реА рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдП, рд╣рдореЗ рддреЛ рдпрд╣реАрдВ рд╕реЗрдЯ рдХрд░реЛ… рдЖрдЦрд┐рд░ рдПрдбрд╡реЗрдВрдЪрд░ рд╣реЛ рддреЛ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рд╣реЛ ! рдФрд░ рдлрд┐рд░ рдЖрдЦрд┐рд░, рдЬрд┐рдирдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЯреЗрдВрдЯ рд▓рдЧрд╛рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдерд╛, рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдЯреЗрдВрдЯ рдХреЗ рдиреБрдХреНрд╕рд╛рди рдФрд░ рдХрдорд░реЗ рдХреЗ рдлрд╛рдпрджреЗ рдЧрд┐рдирд╛рдХрд░ рд╣рдорд╛рд░рд╛ рдХрдорд░рд╛ рджреЗ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ | рд╕рдмрд╕реЗ рдордЬрд╝реЗрджрд╛рд░ рддреЛ рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдпреЗ рдмрддрд╛рдирд╛ рдерд╛ рдХрд┐ рдХрдИ рдмрд╛рд░ рд░рд╛рдд рдХреЛ рдпрд╣рд╛рдБ рд▓рдХреНрдХрдбрд╝рдмрдЧреНрдЧреЗ рднреА рдЖ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИ, рдЖрдЦрд┐рд░ рдЬрдВрдЧрд▓ рдЗрд╕рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рд▓рдЧрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ, рдЗрд╕ рдмрд╛рдд рдиреЗ рдорд╛рд╕реНрдЯрд░ рд╕реНрдЯреНрд░реЛрдХ рдХрд╛ рдХрд╛рдо рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдЪрд╛рд╣рдд рдХреЗ рдЕрдиреБрд╕рд╛рд░ рд╣рдо рдЯреЗрдВрдЯ рдореЗрдВ рд╢рд┐рдлреНрдЯ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпреЗ, рдЖрдЦрд┐рд░ рдЬреАрд╡рди рдореЗрдВ рдРрд╕реЗ рдореМрдХреЗ рдХрд┐рддрдиреА рдмрд╛рд░ рдорд┐рд▓рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ…?

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Shree Gajanan Maharaj – Shegaon

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Trip was fixed when I was coming back from office by Local Train in the month of December 2012 & in train one of the co-passenger given Laddu as a Prasad from Shree Gajanan Maharaj – Shegaon, as it was his native place & he visit regularly. On the same time we decided to go for the Darshan of Shree Gajanan Maharaj in Shegaon & other 3 friends to agree and now date to be fixed for the trip, finally we decided to visit in the Month of January 2013 from 25th January to 28th January, 2013 and accordingly we have booked Railway ticket on the next day & we have got the confirm Ticket too.. Jai Gajanan Maharaj… Gan Gan Ganat Bote

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Ashtur Dreams – The Technicolour Royal Necropolis of Bahmani Sultanate

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Just looking at the long line of tombs you know the big daddy is the Ahmad Shah I Wali Tomb. The tomb is the second from the east. Ahmad Shah shifted the capital to Bidar in 1430 and rebuilt the old fort. Riches from different conquests brought opulence to Bidar which turned the city into a centre of culture and progress. He was religiously inclined and invited saints to Bidar. He was devoted to Hadrat Banda Nawaz of Gulbarga and later to Shah Nimat Ullah of Kirman, reportedly a Sufi dervish. He also respected the doctrine of Lingayats, a religious order of Deccan established by the philosopher, statesman and social reformer Basavanna (1134-1196). Ahmad Shah was like an earlier Akbar.

The Ahmad Shah I Wali Tomb is majestic and looks solid. The walls are about twelve feet thick supporting a huge orb dome on the top. There are three doors built into huge recessed arches. The walls carry three tiers of arches of varying dimensions. The tomb looks similar to its contemporary tombs in DelhiтАЩs Lodhi Gardens.

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Amarnath Yatra: Baltal – Srinagar – Ambala (Part 8)

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The beauty of Sonamarg forces the tourists to stop there. It seems that someone has laid green carpets on mountains. Once a great tourist puller and favorite place for shooting of Bollywood films, Sonamarg is perhaps the best health resort in the country. Sonamarg also hosts the International Championships of Rafting on River Sindh.

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Summer Road Trip – Auli, Tapovan and Kanchula Kharak

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Kanchula was a forest dept. Musk Deer breeding centre which is now non-operational. This is a very remote place with no habitation around but there exists a very nice bamboo cottage with two bedrooms and a common dining-drawing area for eco-tourists. [The cost per double-bedroom is Rs 650/-, making the cottage worth Rs 1300/-] This can be booked through the DFO, Kedarnath range, Gopeshwar. Definitely worth it!
On reaching we realize that there is no provision for meals and one has to drive to Chopta about 8 kms further away for food. We drive there and have lunch at a dhaba which is quite good. Situated on the Gopeshwar-Ukhimath road, Chopta is a beautiful little hamlet situated at the highest point on this road (2900 m). This route to Chopta offers a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and deep wooded valleys. This area gets copious rainfall annually and also sustains very high humidity levels giving a distinct character to its vegetation. The trees are moss laden and support good varieties of moist temperate plant life.

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Kuchh din guzaarey humne Gujarat mein – How we reached (Part 1)

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I was still on the highway between Jaipur and Ajmer, 3 Hrs behind my schedule courtesy potholed roads near Mahendragarh and rush in the towns of Haryana where no byepass facility was available. Now I was laughing at Google as well as crying inside. Ajeeb feeling aur oopar se yeh Garmi that about Rs. 600 was spent on chilled bottled water that day…

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The retreat of the tide

The Emerald Islands of Andaman and Nicobar-II

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Our plan was to take a government ferry to Havelock and halt there for two days. For our return journey we planned to take the Makruzz back to Port Blair. We had to wake up at 5 in the morning to catch the ferry which leaves at ┬а6:30 am. The harbour at Port Blair is lively even at these early hours as it caters to to the goods coming in from the mainland, as well as from nearby countries like Thailand. The ferry which we were to travel on, was operated by the Shipping Corporation of India. Our reserved seats in the first class compartment akin to the Indian Railways chair car coaches made our travel comfortable. During the journey to Havelock, you are free to go on deck. Travelers can hear the soothing sound of the waves hitting the craft and enjoy the vast expanse of the ocean. The blue sea, and the green emeralds dotting them, complement each other, and add to the experience. After standing on deck for 15 minutes, we decided to get a quick nap.┬аWhen we woke up, the ferry was docking at the Havelock Jetty. After getting off the ship, we were picked up by a taxi our friends had arranged. ┬аWe were dropped at our hotel, a government enterprise called the “Dolphin Hotel”. There are various grades of rooms available and it is important to reserve the rooms early.You may reserve the rooms through online payment on the website. Make sure to get a sea facing cottage. The drawback about Dolphin Hotel was ┬аthat though it was set in a nice sea-facing location, it did not have a beach.There are a multitude of options to stay at in at Havelock, which suit all budgets.

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Summer Road Trip – Badrinath Bound

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The first glimpse of Badrinath is mesmerising!! It is nestled between the Nar and Narayan ranges. The towering Neelkanth lies just behind the Narayan Parvat on which the Badrinath shrine has been built. In the pristine morning sunlight and the crystal clear visibility of this place, this brilliant megalith has a strange magnetism. I think everyone who visits this place must be a little bit under its spell. [Pic: Neelkanth] The little settlement haphazardly built around the temple is but a random patchwork of colours in a vast magnificent landscape meant to command… dominate… enthral… hypnotise… inspire… all at once!

The lofty snow capped peaks in the backdrop of the gurgling Alaknanda far below … this is the place which has so much spirituality that you can almost reach out and touch it. Nothing is godlier than nature itself!
It really puts things into perspective. One senses how small, insignificant and petty are human egos, wants and conflicts in a scale this extravagant. It is at once uplifting and calming… a place I felt at peace with myself and the world at large. The Himalayas in their splendorous beauty! IтАЩll let the pictures do the talking…

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