Delhi

RSVP: The Rashtrapati Bhavan – A Mute Spectator of History

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Once the past is passed, and we come out of that state of hardship and enter into another phase of life, only then we realise what had been those pleasurable moments which we exhausted without really enjoying it, however wonderful that had been. Here, I am referring to the time I spent in Rashtrapati Bhavan by virtue of being posted there for a span of 5 years (2012-2017), co-terminus with the tenure of the then Rashtrapati Ji, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

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Hyderabad to Delhi and back

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A few days back,  I was surfing all possible internet sites for the quest to perform self-driven road journey from Hyderabad to Delhi and further north to Himachal. Earlier I never drove down on this route in one stretch so I was little apprehensive about practicality issues. 

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Delhi – Patna road review

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Once you are out of Agra, the road gets a little better and traffic reduces. Press the pedal and hit Firozabad. This is the first city (after Agra) where you would start to feel the Mughal Era. Some of the old buildings could be still seen, the city is known for its bangles and glass work. There are these big tempting bangles showrooms which you need to pass quickly else a female fellow traveler’s urge makes you stop.

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Humayun’s Tomb & Lotus Temple…….

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It was just another busy week at the office and after much anticipation Sunday arrived. Movie session on Saturday night did the trick and we woke up late on Sunday Morning. So we abandoned our plan to visit the Lotus Temple in the morning and  decided to go to Humayun’s Tomb first….

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Knowing Delhi – Khan-i-Khanan Tomb in Nizamuddin

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Rahim says; Do not break the thread of love between people. If the
thread breaks, it cannot be mended; even if you mend it there will
always be a knot in it. The friendship will not be same anymore.
Now, that sure brought an instant childhood connection with Rahim and a smile to the face.
Abdul Rahim Khan was the son of Bairam Khan. History is amazing – how can a son of a Mughal general infamous for atrocities could turn out to be composer and poet.

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Photo courtesy – M M Philip

Delhi-Orchha-Charkhari-Khajuraho

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We stayed with a friend there in real rural settings enjoying farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.
Khajuraho is 80 km away from Charkhari and we made the trip the following day.
Stunned by the beauty unfolding before us we wandered around the temples craning our neck unable to absorb all that is in the spread – amazing architecture, heights of craftsmanship.

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To Chakrata, with my family and two dogs

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We , walked uphill and reached a lonely, newly built cottage which was uninhabited at that moment. We sat on the porch of the cottage and watched the color of the sky slowly changing as the sun started descending. The valley down below looked so beautiful. Smoke was coming out of the chimneys of some mud huts. The villagers have lit up the chulhas

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Picture perfect beaches on Jolly Buoy

The Emerald Islands of Andaman and Nicobar

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The view from underwater is breathtaking. Corals, oysters, sea weeds, colored fish  and the surrounding blue water is mesmerizing. Touching endangered species such as corals are  not allowed. The best part of the sea walk actually came when we fed pieces of bread to the  fish. As soon as you hold up the bread pieces, fish of different colors gather around you and it does get a bit ticklish but it is definitely a wonderful experience.  After 20 minutes of  “seawalking”, the divers  escorted us back up to the pontoon. When you climb up, one is likely to experience  the pressure factor again . At the end of it, the whole experience leaves you spellbound and the sparkling blue water always tantalizes you to go back underwater.

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Visiting The Chattarpur Temple – Seat of Shree Adya Katyayani

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It is not the grandeur of its architecture which makes the Shaktipeeth different from the other temples, but the moving spirit of its founder, Shree Durga-chranan-anuragi Baba Sant Nagpal, who dedicated his entire life for the service of the down trodden and the needy people.
Baba’s mission to reveal to them the Sanaatan Dharma in its true and undistorted form with a view to spread the message of brotherhood, tolerance and patriotism attracted more and more people, who were willing to provide not only the financial support but also the physical labour required for building of the temple.

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Battlefields of Delhi – Part II

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The Government of and an-independent India, on its 25th Independence day in 1972, had changed the name of the Mutiny Memorial into “अजीतगढ़” to commemorate the sacrifice of all the native forces that had fought the war of the Independence and dedicated the same to the country.

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Delhi to Bengaluru

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The road from Nagpur to Hyderabad is a love hate relationship the moment you start loving the road it turns horrid, we started early, a strategy that has helped us get out cities in time and got on the NH 7.

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