Weekend-Delhi

प्रताप गढ़ फार्म , झज्झर

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आप का तो निश्चित है कि सुबह वाली गलती नही दोहराएंगे, मगर बच्चे तो अपने मन की मर्जी के मालिक ठहरे, अत: उन्होंने उस मेन्यु को चुना जो उत्तर भारतीय शादियो में बहु-प्रचलित भी है और हिट भी | चाऊमिन के भारतीय संस्करण से लेकर दाल मक्खनी और शाही पनीर तक, मगर अपने राम ने तो निश्चित किया है, हम तो आज जीमेंगे उस खाने पर, जिसका स्वाद हम शहरी जिन्दगी की इस अंधी भागदौड़ में कहीं पीछे छोड़ चुके हैं, और यदि चाहें भी तो हमारी आज की डिज़ाइनर रसोइयाँ में न तो देसी चूल्हे के लिये कहीं कोई प्रावधान हो
सकता है और न ही हमारी आज की शरीके-हयात उन्हें बना सकती हैं| सो, चूल्हे की हल्की आँच पर सिकी मकई और बाजरे की देसी घी में तरबतर रोटी, साथ में लहसुन की चटनी और बनाने वाली हमारे गाँव देहात की ही कोई ग्रहणी, न कि कोई व्यवसायिक कारीगर, जैसा कि आप आजकल की शादियों में या फ़ूड फेस्टिवल में पाते हैं | वहाँ आप ऐसा खाना पा तो सकते हैं पर वो होता रस विहीन ही है, ये हमारा व्यक्तिगत अनुभव है कि जब तक खाने में अन्नपूर्णा के हाथ न लगें हों आपको तृप्ति नही हो सकती | जी भर इसके रसावादन के बाद मीठे के शौकीनों के लिये बाजरे की खिचड़ी बूरा उकेर कर और साथ में गर्म गर्म ढूध जलेबी | ऐसा खाना वास्तव में आपके केवल पेट को नही वरन आत्मा तक को भी तृप्त कर देता है | भले ही इस जगह के आस-पास की महिलायें चार पैसे कमाने और अपने परिवार को कुछ आर्थिक सहयोग प्रदान करने के लिये इस फार्म में रोज़गार पा लेती हैं मगर इसका सबसे बड़ा सकारात्मक पक्ष ये है कि यूँ लगता है कोई आपकी परिचित ही आपको प्रेम से बैठा कर खिला रही है, आपके किसी भी गुण का उपयोग कहीं भी हो आखिर काम तो काम है और हमारे जैसे और भी जो इस देशी खाने के शौक़ीन हैं, पूरी मोहब्बत और खलूस के साथ खा रहे हैं | आप को सबसे अच्छा यह देख कर लगता है कि नौजवान पीढ़ी के जो लडके-लडकियाँ भी यहाँ आये वो इन महिलायों को पूरे सम्मान के साथ आँटी-आँटी कह कर बुलाते रहे और थैन्कू थैन्कू कर जाने से पहले फोटो खिंचवाना न भूलते…. आखिरकार परम्पराएँ भी कोई चीज़ हैं…. That is why I love my India!!!

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Wagah border beating retreat ceremony

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Not sure if there’re any celebrations when the flags are hoisted in the morning. As we came out, a bunch of people had blocked the road and were protesting against something.

It was a memorable event to witness. A better seating and proper visitor management would have made it even great. To quote an example, world trade centre memorial in New York has an online pass system. Only specific number of people are let in every day at designated timing.

To conclude: Evening ceremony at Wagah is a must visit experience if you’re going to Punjab. If possible, get a  VIP pass. If that doesn’t work out, give the camera to women in your team- they will have better visibility and can take better pics. Water and refreshments are available inside, but when the ceremony is in progress you may not be able to walk out and buy something. Post ceremony you can refresh yourself. Photos, DVDs, souvenirs are all available for sale. Mobiles will NOT work in the border. So if your loved ones are separated from you because of gender or crowd, you need to have a meeting place pre-decided- like in front of the washroom or near the car etc, to avoid confusion and panic.

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A day in Ranthambore

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There is also a small pound near Ganesh temple. After visiting Ganesh temple, we visited Jain Temple. Since we all were hungry, we had “कचौड़ी with कढ़ी” from a street shop.

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Chokhi Dhani Sonipat : Little Rajasthan near Delhi

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We relished the Bajra ki roti in a traditional village way and went back to the dining hall, because the clock hit 8 PM and our time for dinner was 8.15. So when we reached in the diner hall, again we had got a warm welcome in Rajathani style “raam room sa/shethani sa”….

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Chandigarh

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“Try the pancakes, with honey – they are good” She suggests.

I nod and add a masala tea to the order. Her phone rings while she is scanning the menu. “An omelet for me…” she rushes out of the café to talk.

I find a corner table and start scanning my mobile for morning news. The café rings with laughter suddenly and I pull my face to see some young girls giggling their way in. She’s still talking on the phone outside the door, shifting herself from one leg to other.

There’s cassia blooming outside on a tree behind her. Surprised at its own fertility his young flower laden branches are struggling against the bitter January wind. Perhaps, the nature wants to have spring early this year.

My eyes focus back to her slightly troubled face. I wonder…

The tea arrives and while I soak in its aroma, the pancakes too. They are good – these guys at Nik’s – they won’t serve the omelet until she’s here.

She comes back in pulling her warm coat closer; her face is back to her usual blank-happiness state.

“How is it?”

“Ummm… pancakes are good, masala tea is better at CCD!”

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Amazing trip to snow covered Shimla

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Next morning when we woke up, the view outside our hotel room was awesome. We had our tea and a small walk on balcony of our room just to have a view of Shimla at that time. The only thing which I can say now is White White White everywhere. Now the next problem which we never thought of was that the water in pipes freezed. So we asked hotel manager to have plan B executed in such situation. He told me that he is going to serve warm water in a bucket for each person. That was a good news for us. After getting ready, we checked out of our Hotel and moved till Ridge. It was bright sunny day. When the sun light was reflecting on snow, it was very hard to see anything because it was shining very brightly. After 20 mins of walk we reached Ridge. Good crowed over there as everyone was busy in capturing the moments in their own camera and having fun in snow. We took some pictures out there also as never wanted to miss any single moment.

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Road Journeys – Dwarka to Jamnagar: Narara Marine National Park & Sanctuary

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Finally we reached at a point with a gate with board of No-Entry. The forest office on the left with a guard welcomed us. Mr. Thakkar’s references again worked and we were greeted with a cup of tea and snacks. The Delhi Plate car was a surprise to all and was more astonished to know that we were driving all the way from Delhi. He informed that the marine park is a restricted area and only allowed with a guide. Surprised! Please don’t, because there wasn’t any official guide, locals in company with the forest guards, engage in guiding the seldom visitors for Rs. 100/- only. They are generally students and natives of nearby villages. The forest guard asked us to pay Rs. 100/- each as entry fee the vehicle can be parked only just after entering the No Entry gate. We paid the same with official receipt, the guide may be paid in cash.

The entire area is a protected place and well guarded by CISF, posted on watch towers with sophisticated weapons because of its proximity to the international borders and the port. We were asked to wear shorts and slippers because of the mangrove and swamp ahead. After abiding by, we started our very exciting journey towards the sea. After traversing the bushes we reached the infinitive vastness of the shores with mangroves spotting here and there. During low tide the sea water recedes to as far as five km and gradually creeps back inundating the entire vast emptiness and the mangroves by noon.

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Road trip to Rajasthan: Chittorgarh-Mount Abu-Haldighati-Udaipur (Part 2)

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Guru Shikhar is the highest point in Mount Abu and Rajasthan and is about 18 km from Mount Abu town. Mount Abu is on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat and from Guru Shikhar one can view both Rajasthan and Gujarat. After the 18 km drive, there are steps to the top (something like Vaishno Devi) with shops on both the sides. There was a 360 degree view from the top and a small temple.

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Outstanding Orchha

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Orchha is breathtakingly beautiful. Regal on appearance and serene in ambiance. Apart from Jehangir Mahal, the Raja Mahal, Rani Ki Mahal, Rai Praveen Mahal and Sheesh Mahal adorn the dusty hill tops of Orchha. The last named has been converted into a heritage hotel by M.P. tourism with limited accommodation and unlimited scope for improvement in maintenance. There is an interesting anecdote about the Rai Praveen Mahal. Rai Praveen was a courtesan and an accomplished poetess in the Orchha kingdom. For her legendary beauty, she was once sent to the “Harem” of Emperor Akbar against her wishes, as she was deeply in love with Raja Indramani of Orchha. On a face to face meeting with the great Emperor in the Mughal court, she recited one of her poem telling that only “a crow and a dog eat off the used plate of another”. Akbar was too smart and generous to understand the subtle hint and immediately ordered Rai Praveen’s return to Orchha in full honour. All other palaces have their attendant history as well.

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Road trip to Rajasthan: Delhi – Chittorgarh (Part 1)

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Somewhere around Ajmer our GPS asked us to take a left turn on an elevated road and we dismissed it to continue ahead. We stopped about 25 km ahead from that point for petrol and enquired about directions to Chittorgarh. To our dismay, we had missed the turn and this mistake could cost us over an hour.

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