Why is ‘Mahalaya’ more a nostalgia rather than just a religious occasion?

The day of Mahalaya, according to the Hindu mythology, marks the culmination of the Pitru Paksha period and the beginning of the Devi Paksha. It is believed to be the day when Goddess Durga begins her journey from the Kailash Parvat to the earth. On this auspicious day, hymns are chanted and pooja is done. The hymns are basically called the ‘Chandi paath’ and are recited in Sanskrit. In the year 1931 All India Radio decided to broadcast the chanting of ‘Chandi paath’ as a part of their programme ‘Mahisasura Mardini’. The voice of contemporary playwright and broadcaster Birendra Krishna Bhadra was chosen for the recitation of the ‘Chandi paath’ alongwith the live music arranged by veteran musicians, singers, and songwriters Pankaj Mallick and Kazi Nazrul Islam. And henceforth, the favourite programme of all Bengalis across the globe ‘Mahisasura Mardini’ began its journey and made its very special place in every Bengali’s hearts.

Right from transistor to radio to Doordarshan to cassettes/CDs and now to YouTube, Mahisasura ‘Mahisasura Mardini’ in the voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra is alive for us as a moment of happiness and nostalgia. It still gives goose bumps and a lump in our throats. Whether you are a non-believer or a stringent orthodox worshipper, or an agnostic; how does it matter, Mahalaya binds us all together.

I remember as a kid, on other days it seemed too difficult for me to leave the bed and go to school, but on the day of Mahalaya, my eyes would pop open even before the 4 am alarm. We would all sit together surrounding the radio and listen to Mahalaya on All India Radio. The volumes were always kept at the maximum so that everyone could listen to it and feel the essence, even if they did not own a radio. Neighbours and relatives wished each other and would be excited as Durga Puja was just a week away. The feeling was almost equivalent to when we came to know about a favourite aunt or uncle coming home for a vacation. Maa Durga is treated like a family member by Bengalis; a daughter who is coming to her father’s house after a year.

Now we could be in different parts of the world but yet, the ritual goes on. Parents might be away from us but they never forget to remind us about Mahalaya. All India Radio might be replaced by YouTube or some other music app, but Mahalaya still brings smiles to our faces and moistens the corner of our eyes. The childhood days come floating in front of our eyes and for some moments all worries just vanish in the thin air. And hence, Mahalaya is more than just a religious occasion. It is a piece of our childhoods, a piece of memories with dadu, thamma, dida (grandparents), ma-baba (parents) siblings and cousins, that we all relive, even if it just means for an hour or so, it feels special.

2020 has taught us to relive small moments and value the love and happiness that surround us. Come, let us all sit together once again and listen to Mahalaya this year. Even if not at 4 am in the morning, but let’s fix a time and connect through video call and listen to Mahalaya together. Like everything else, this year Durga Maa will also keep us waiting a bit more than usual as Durga Pooja this year is not a week but a month apart from ‘Mahalay’. But as they say “Sabra ka phal meetha hota hai” (Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet).

Best wishes!!!

#MaaAshchen

Must see places in Jodhpur!

It was the film Dor actually, after watching which the blue houses of Jodhpur etched into my mind. I have wanted to visit the city for so long but even after being settled in Delhi for over a decade, hadn’t been there. So, this year as soon as my friend proposed a trip to Jodhpur, I jumped at the opportunity and agreed at once.

We left on January 2^nd by Mandore Express that leaves from Old Delhi Railway station at 9:30 pm. We reached Jodhpur next day early morning at about 8 am. Jodhpur is called the Blue city but that’s not the only name that the city of has. It’s also called the Sun City because the weather remains bright and sunny all around the year, and to keep the houses cool, the blue colour is used on the houses. Blue paint is a mixture of limestone and copper sulfate.

We hired an auto at Rs. 80 and reached our hotel, Jodhpur Heritage Haveli in about half an hour. The owner welcomed us and as we were before time than the check time, he took us to the tearrce the biggest attraction the hotel. The Mehrangarh Fort was right in front of us bright and clear and also the view of the whole city from there. After a sumptuous breakfast of poha, paranthe and all we finally went downstairs in to our rooms.

Mehrangarh Fort as seen from the tearrace of our hotel

The hotel room was designed in a way that you actually get a feeling of a typical Jodhpur house. The low ceiling, the traditional wall murals, the small spaces going into the walls, the doors and everything had a quaint feeling.

Watch the video below to have a look at the room:

We freshened up and in about an hour left to visit the fort. The fort was about a walking distance from there. We had to climb up a pack steep stairs but it was all worth it. It was sunny and in a while we started feeling pretty hot. There was ticket counter at the entrance of the fort. It costs Rs. 60/- each for Indians and Rs. 400/- for foreigners. The fort was huge like any another fort in Rajasthan but still had a beauty of its own.

One of the biggest forts in India, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur was built in 1459 by Rao Jodha. It is built 410 feet above the city. It’s a beautiful place to spend your day at.

It took almost two hours to cover the whole fort. From the handicrafts shops to the museums, to the temple and many other places, it was a real treat to the eyes. It’s very is spic and span with clean toilets, cafeterias and also a flea market.

The Fort has some eye-catching Insta worthy doors

Though the whole old city is visible from every corner of the Mehrangarh Fort one can get the best view from the topmost part of the, the temple area. Here you may visit the Chamunda Mataji’s temple.

This area of the fort where you get to see these old cannons. You get the view of the whole city from here.

View of the old city from the topmost area of the fort.

After we were done, instead of going back to the entrance of the fort, we decided to walk towards the old city instead. That is where exactly the blue houses can be seen. Though the number has dwindled now as compared to what you might have seen in films, posters or photos earlier, there are still quite a lot of them. We asked the locals about the reason behind this beautiful colour being chosen as the colour of their houses. Some said it’s the colour associated with Lord Shiva, some said it’s a cool colour and reflects heat. Whatever the reason may be; walking down the old city surrounded by these quaint little houses was surreal indeed.

From there we again hired an auto and went to the Umaid Bhavan Palace. This place also needs you to buy entry tickets. After having coffee and some snacks at the small kiosk at the entrance we went inside the palace. Architecturally rich this palace cum museum was once the home to the former royal family of Jodhpur and is now the world’s sixth-largest private residence. It is located 20 minutes away from the airport, on the Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur.

After spending about an hour at the palace, we again took an auto the most famous market of the city, the Tipolia market. We had lunch at a famous local restaurant called Priya restaurant. After lunch we did some window shopping at the local shops but could not find anything worth buying as the prices seemed to be pretty towards the higher side.

We then walked to the clocked tower or the Ghanta Ghar. Right in the middle of the nayi sadak market, stands this architectural delight. Built by Maharaja Sardar Singh, between 1880 and 1911, the Ghanta Ghar is one of the most significant spots in Jodhpur and people do not forget to mention it when listing down the ‘things to see in the city’. As the sun sets, the building is lit with these lights and looks beautiful. You may also buy tickets and climb till the first floor of it and watch the hustle bustle of the city from there. And once you’re done with this, you can check out the city’s largest wholesale market. A shopaholic’s delight, this market has a vast range of all sorts of Rajasthani handicrafts from sarees to jewellery to juttis and what not.

We walked down to our hotel from there. After freshening up we went up to the tearrace and the view from there was breath taking. The Mehrangarh Fort was all lit up and looked marvelous. With the fire keeping us warm, we spent a couple of hours there and called it a day with a sumptous dinner.

Yummy chicken pakode and veg. spring rolls.

Day 2:

We woke up early the next day, as we had a plan to visit the Osian sand dunes and safari. I would suggest you to not take a package from the hotel. We instead Googled and and listed out some local cab services and after negotiating with a couple of them fixed a rate of Rs. 2000 plus toll tax of Rs. 70 for both Mandore and Osian, with one of them. The owner who himself drove us, was a well behaved and cordial person. It was a great experience.

Jodhpur Taxi Booking

Phone number – 094147 00816

We left at about 11 am and in an hour reached Mandore. The temples reminded me alot of the temples in Khajuraho though both the places are from different eras and built in different architectural styles. It is an ancient town that’s located 9 kms north of the city. It’s a huge area covered by temples and gardens. The historic town boasts several monuments. The now ruined Mandore fort, with its thick walls and substantial size, was built in several stages and was once a fine piece of architecture. A huge, now ruined temple is a highlight of the fort. The outer wall of the temples depicts finely carved botanical designs, birds, animals and planets. The place has a huge history and is a must visit when in Jodhpur.

One of the temples at the Mandore Fort complex.

Osian is about 54 kms away from Mandore. After visiting the famous Osian Ji temple, we set out to look for the best prices for safari. Here again you will come across different prices but try to bargain and get the best offer. We were just two of us and agreed for Rs. 1300 that included camel ride; which you may opt out and pay Rs. 1000 only. We shared the jeep with 3-4 more people.

It was thrilling but if you have been to Jaisalmer, this might not interest you much. The sand dunes and the camel ride were exciting and after all that we came back to where our cab was waiting.

We were hungry by then so hogged onto some local cuisine a t a restaurant and again left for Jodhpur. We didn’t have much time so we did not wait but if you can then please wait for the sunset also.

Though we did not visit Kaylana Lake and Jaswant Thada, you may visit them if you want.

We reached Jodhpur at about 6 pm and after dinner, checked out of our hotel at night as we had our train for Delhi. We came back with some amazing memories made in these two days.

Having dinner by the fire at the terrace of our hotel.

This mangrove forest in India is the World’s Largest Delta

The Sundarbans:

Sundarban had always been in my bucket list. And finally 2019 brought me this amazing opportunity. Sundarban is a restricted area and it takes some legal permission for tourists to visit the area. So it is better to go there with a travel agency. Although there are a couple of travel agencies which arrange trips to the delta forest, we visited it with Holiday Tours and Travels based out of Jamshedpur.

Wherever in the country you are coming from, you will have to first come to Kolkata to begin your journey for the Sundarbans by a bus or rent a car. After about 5-6 hours of road journey, we reached Sundarban. But our journey did not end there. We had another 2 hours journey by a water launch ahead of us. There was an amazing lunch arranged for us on the launch itself where the vast water body welcomed us with a misty breeze blowing across our faces. We reached the island called Pakhiralay and checked into our hotel, S2. It was a simple hotel with minimalistic amenities but you won’t complain about food, cleanliness or the staff. Actually amidst nature, you just can’t afford to complain about anything when you get fresh oxygen to breathe and are surrounded by nature. With a very bad internet service here, it was a digital detox for me. Only a particular corner of our hotel received a little bit of internet connection but it was definitely bliss to just enjoy the beauty of nature with my family and the fellow travelers.

The day ended with an awesome dinner. We went to bed early as the next day was full of adventures.

It began pouring right from 4 am and left us disappointed. Although the view from our room balcony was beautiful, I was disheartened. But fortunately it stopped raining at 6 am and the sun shone upon us. After having our breakfast, we left for island hopping at about 8 am by the same launch that we came by. Island hopping is not only a thing in Thailand but also in our very own Sundarbans. Though the glance of the mighty Royal Bengal Tiger is a matter of luck, various other flora and fauna can be seen during the day trip to the islands surrounding the great delta. Though most of the forest areas are restricted for tourists, some of the bird sanctuaries and islands are a must visit to experience the magic of nature. The whole day tour on the launch, with breakfast, lunch and evening tea accompanied by a scenic sunset is such a breathtaking experience. And monsoons are the best time for Hilsa (Ilish maachh) lovers. We visited many wildlife reserves, small villages and after a full day of adventure we reached the point of the river where the sea and the rivers meet. It was breathtakingly beautiful. There were ships and submarines passing by which were coming in from Bangladesh.

Our guide told us so much about the surroundings and the life of the villagers. The villagers of Sundarban know every day that there is no surety of their coming back home in the evening after fishing or collecting honey, (the only 2 major modes of occupation in the region). They don’t know which day would be their last one before they fall prey to one of the ferocious man-eater Royal Bengal tigers.

But they still leave home every morning to go to work to be able to feed their family.

According to our guide every year about 50-60 villagers get hunted down by the tigers while fishing or collecting honey. But for tourists they’re a rare vison as tigers are cowards otherwise and never come out in front of a huge group of people/tourists.

It is definitely a rare experience to get a glance of the Royal Bengal tigers, but it’s not just the majestic beasts that the Mangrove delta is worth visiting. About 80% of the types of trees all across the world are just found here. The simple life of the villagers is worth your time too. The natural beauty, scenic sunsets from the boat at the middle of the huge water body where the river and sea meet are a rare vision and the sunrise from your room balcony is something you wouldn’t want to miss!!! Sundarban is a lifetime experience and a visit for you wildlife and nature lovers.

After coming back to our hotel at about 6 pm, there was a performance arranged for us, by the local dancers and musicians. They travel all the way from a neighboring village to perform for the tourists and earn a minimal amount. Their local folk performance was as moving as their innocence. It was a lovely experience and we had a great time.

Our last and final day in Sundarban also had a few experiences stored in for us. We checked out from our hotels and boarded the same launch. We headed towards a village island called Gosaba. This is the place where Lord Hamilton, a Scottish businessman, had made his home and built a small cottage in and worked for the social upliftment of the local villagers.

Later, in the year 1932, Nobel laureate, great poet and novelist, Rabindra Nath Tagore came to Gosaba and lived in the Hamilton bungalow for months as he fell in love with the natural beauty of the little island.

Even though the building is now a deserted, wrecked house, tourists flock in to have a look at it and the statue of Tagore in the premise that still stands tall.

After leaving Gosaba, we visited another village and experienced a real Indian village and the life of the villagers. We visited their homes, sat with them and had a chat. The fresh fruits and vegetables grown by them was such a treat to us, people living in the city and eating preservatives and junks every day. The fresh milk from their pet cows was so much more real and tasted just too great. After a whole lot of detoxification, our 3 days of trip came to an end and we headed towards from where we had begun our journey. We boarded our bus and reached Kolkata by 5 pm in the evening.

*Tagore’s statue near Hamilton* Bungalow

The natural beauty, scenic sunsets from the boat static at the middle of the water, is rare visions that you wouldn’t want to miss!!! Altogether the trip was an experience of a lifetime for me and I am sure it will be for all you wildlife and nature lovers.

This is why Pune and surroundings are perfect monsoon destinations!!!

During my recent visit to Pune I happened to explore these amazing places that I had never thought would be so beautiful. I had heard a lot about them and had seen photos and videos but to be honest these do not do justice to these places. One has to be there to experience them to the fullest. I was lucky enough to have a close friend living in Pune.

Our first choice was Lavasa as I had heard so much about it. It opened to public in the year 2016 and was a dream project of the Maharashtra government, a privatized planned city, based on the Italian town Portofino. We booked an Ola outstation for the trip. We stopped at some really picturesque spots that seemed to have come straight out of a poster. It kept drizzling on and off throughout our way. We reached Lavasa in about an hour and a half and spent about 2-2.5 hours. It was very less crowded giving us a chance to click a lot of awesome pictures and shoot videos.

Though it was surprising, that a place, which was once full of hustle and bustle, a hub of fancy cafés and eateries, providing boating and lavish hotels for tourists; is now a deserted place indeed. But its serene beauty would make anyone want to go back again and again. I was mesmerized by the place, the lakeside, the colourful buildings lined up on both sides and the clouds playing with each other.

There weren’t many places open so, we sat at a small chai shop and had an amazing tandoori chai. The shop vendor told us how this place faced environmental hazards and due to lack of funds has now been closed and their business has also suffered due to that. Now, only a few local tourists visit the place and the 500 Rupees entry fees charged now has only been started since a few months back in order to maintain a little bit of what is left of the place. After loitering around a bit more we started from there in our cab. We again stopped at some amazing places in between for photos. The best part was the road trip to and from Lavasa.

We finally reached Pune and bought some amazing savories from the infamous Kayani Bakery. We then explored the street food at MG Road.

The next day we wanted to experience a bit of a journey on the Pune local so we reached the railway station by the local bus that cost us only Rs. 5 each. The train ticket was also only Rs. 15 each. We boarded the women’s compartment and very easily got comfortable seats. We caught the first local at 8:05 am that left for Lonavala. Working women, college students and other passengers gradually kept coming and going at various stations within the Pune city. The mornings were a bit nippy. I actually had to pull out my stole from my bag as the cold wave of wind gave me shivers.

In about an hour or so, we reached the Lonavala station. It was a small station with not much crowd.

As we went out we could not resist ourselves from gorging on hot vada pav and piping hot onion bhajjis just brought out from the oil. After that sumptuous breakfast we enquired the auto wallahs lined up there waiting for tourists. After some negotiations one of them agreed to take us to both Lonavala and Khandala for Rs. 1000 only. We were 3 of us so it seemed to be a pretty fair deal. As we started our journey excitement caught us. Our first halt was at the Lonavala Lake and dam and then we headed to Bushi Dam which gave us a very rare sight. The water from the dam lake actually flows down wide step stairs. The force of the water was very high but the locals told us that it’s much higher when the monsoons are at its peak. It was really beautiful but also very crowded. The pictures could not be as beautiful as one would expect. People were literally taking a bath there and it was too funny to watch fat uncles rolling down in the water with weird poses for photos.

Helpful Recommendation – You should definitely take off your footwear at the shops lined up before you reach the dam if they are not water proof. You may buy or rent water proof foot wear from those shops. We rented 3 pairs for just Rs. 20 each though they had first asked for Rs. 30 each; bargaining works everywhere in India.

After clicking photos and getting a little drenched in the water, we stopped by a local shop for some hot chai and coffee accompanied with yummy corn bhajjis.

After Bushi Dam we stopped at many other lovely spots with amazing scenic view that my eyes could not believe I was looking at. Every spot looked like they were out of a poster. On the way we came across many such places and luckily our auto wale bhaiya was too sweet to stop at every place demanded by us to click pictures. We just could not resist. It also rained heavily making it more beautiful. The rains are also very tricky and come and go like playing hide and seek. The best location was the lion’s point which was too romantic and brought out a filmy me. It was too windy with the clouds coming down like white sheet shielding every sight in front of us. It was unbelievably beautiful.

The monsoons are the best time to visit these places. In about an hour and a half we were back to the Lonavala railway station to catch our local train to Pune. But before that how could we forget to buy some ‘chikkis’ from a local shop as they are the best in Maharashtra.

The train journey again began at about 4 pm and we were back to Pune in no time.

For dinner we headed to Koregaon Park, famous for awesome cafés and lounges. After taking a walk across the street amid the heavy traffic, we chose German Bakery, one of the most famous places in Pune. The food was delicious and so was the ambience, service and the prices. We had a great time.

On the 3rd and the last in Pune we had to choose between Shaniwar Wada and Sinhagad Fort. Though there were many other great places in and around the city, we chose Sinhagad Fort and I must say our decision was not disappointing at all. There are two ways to reach the Fort. One is by local bus that you get from Shaniwar Wada. The bus drops at some kilometers away from the fort and from there it’s about 2 to 2.5 hours of hike to the fort. We chose the other option i.e. by cab which dropped us at the gate of the fort and from there too it was a long hike to the topmost point of the fort.

It kept drizzling on and off. It was windy and humid all at the same time and was a mesmerising experience all together. My eyes could not believe there could be a place like that. The fort was built about 2000 years ago and is not a usual fort that you generally might have seen. It is rather situated on a single cliff on a hill area about 1312 meters above the sea level amidst greenery. The view from there is something one can only come and experience. The videos and photos also do not do a justice to that. The whole fort area takes about 2-3 hours to be covered and explored. There are temples too inside and mats are laid out for visitors to sit and have a splendid time amid nature with friends and family. The local delicacies like ‘bhel’, ‘kulfi’ and raw mangoes with ‘masala’ are a must try. We loved every bit of the place. The entry at the fort closes at 6 pm. We left at around 5 pm as we had to catch a flight but you should not miss the sunset for sure.

*Statues of Maratha Warriors inside a temple*

*Mats laid out for visitors to enjoy this amazing view.*

It was really amazing and I can vouch for the place. I would love to go back to Pune and explore the rest of the places we could not visit this time. Do let me know in the comments section if you liked this story and also what I missed.

Exploring the ‘Djinns’ of Ferozabad

A Heritage walk by Karvaan India

I have been in Delhi for the past 11 years and have almost covered most of the historical monuments, forts and tombs around. But still a lot of them are left to be explored. They are lesser known but have huge history buried beneath them. One of them is the Ferozeshah Kotla Fort which is situated beside the Ferozeshah Kotla international cricket stadium.

I came across a post about this Heritage walk to be organised by Karvaan India about the ‘Djinns of Ferozabad’ and without any contemplation, immediately signed up for it. The name and the subject both attracted me the most. I reached there by the metro. The nearest metro station is Delhi Gate on the violet line of the DMRC.

The Walk:

It happened to be a pleasant Saturday evening. The lingering petrichor after the rain had an intoxicating effect. The wind kept seeping across my hair and the sky looked beautiful. As I reached the fort, the crowd and the fellow walkers had already gathered. I quickly bought my ticket and stood there beside Mr. Mohammad Asif Ali, our travel curator, as he liked us to call him. After everyone’s brief introduction, we walked inside the fort. The rain earlier that day had made the landscape more attractive. The walls had re-gained their ceramic colour and the greenery around looked even more picturesque. It was not that crowded otherwise. We too were a group of about 20 people.

We stood there listening to Mr. Asif as he engaged us all in interesting conversation about the history of our country; like how it got its name Bharat, from where the Mughals came, Indus valley civilization etc. The conversation then led to Delhi, its oldest civilization, the early sultanates and eventually to the 7 cities within it.

About Ferozeshah Kotla:

Yes, it’s true that Delhi has total of 7 cities within the whole region and Ferozabad is the fifth one. Sultan Feroze Shah Tughlaq shifted his capital from Tughlaqabad in 1354 due to water crisis and built this fortress of Feroze Shah Kotla as his capital due to proximity to water and housed his version of Delhi city known as Ferozabad. The city in those days was built across the river Yamuna. The roads we see surrounding the place today, was once the mighty river Yamuna. This gives us an idea about how the river gradually diminished and its area dwindled.

Along with the conversations, one by one, we kept exploring the different sections of the whole fort.

The whole complex has 3 major attractions.

The Jami Masjid is the major mosque that was built for the common public. It is one of the most ancient and largest surviving mosques and monuments that are still in use even today. A perfect example of the Tughlaq architecture, the Masjid was made of quartzite stone, covered with limestone. It is surrounded by a large courtyard with cloisters and a Prayer Hall that is totally ruined now but was used by the royal women.

The Jami Masjid as seen from a Vantage Point

The second attraction of the Fort is the Ashokan Pillar. The entrance of Jami Masjid that lies on the northern side is connected by a causeway to the pyramidal structure of the Ashokan Pillar. It was first erected by the great ruler King Ashoka between 273 and 236 BC in Topra Kalan, Haryana. It was re-installed by Sultan Feroze Shah Tughlaq in 1356. The inscriptions on it are in Brahmi script.

The third is the baoli that is the well, the major source of water in those times. It has been kept close nowadays so we could not visit it.

Exploring the ‘Djinns’

Eventually we came across the ‘Djinns’ that we were waiting for all this while. No, not really the ‘Djinns’ but the dark corridor, which is now, a house of bats is believed to be the abode the ‘Djinns’ earlier. Worshippers who followed them used to come and drop letters into the dungeons expecting the ‘Djinns’ to fulfill those. Even in these modern times, people do believe that the ‘Djinns’ exist and have the power to fulfill their wishes. So, every Thursday pilgrims and worshippers flock into the fort, to bring their long unfulfilled wishes hoping to be fulfilled by the ‘Djinns’. They also bring and offer milk, sweets, fruits and even meats to the ‘Djinns’ in order to please them.

As we entered the dark corridors, the place gave us an eerie feeling. It was only the bats that we could hear and could smell a strong stench.

Mr. Asif told us about the mentions of ‘Djinns’ in Islam. He said that as per the Islamic theology, Allah had first created the ‘Farishtas’ or the angels then the ‘Djinns’ and then the humans. So the ‘Djinns’ were between the humans and ‘Farishtas’ and hence, had the power to choose between good or bad and right or wrong. Therefore, there are bad as well as good ‘Djinns’ according to Islam and thus, some people do worship them. Some Islamic scholars believe that ‘Djinns’ still exist and live among us but the connotation of the modern scholars says that if they really existed, then they would have ruled the world as they are much more powerful than us, the humans. ‘Djinns’ love greenery and peaceful places so are believed to be residing at Ferozeshah Kotla Fort. Legends go back in time during the 1975-76, when Lattu Shah Baba came to live here and started healing people with possessed minds and that is how the practice still remains.

The Culmination:

We then went to the topmost area of the fort where the Ashokan pillar is placed. It was almost dusk by then and we had to vacate the place. It was 7:30 pm by then and was getting dark. The walk finally ended with still a lot of questions and curiosity about the ‘Djinns’ that in fact no one can answer. But it was a great experience indeed.

Things to be kept in mind:

Tickets are available online or you can buy them at the ticket counter itself.
Ticket cost for Indians 25/- cash and 20/- cashless (by card payment).
The best time to visit the fort is during winters as it’s more pleasant.
If visiting in summer, the best time is after 5pm.
Carry umbrella, sunglasses, caps etc. according to the weather condition.
Comfortable clothes and shoes to be worn as it’s quite a long walk.
Best way to reach is by metro.
Nearest metro station is Delhi Gate on the violet line of the DMRC.
You can also take a cab or an auto if you are coming from somewhere close by.

Top 6 things you can’t miss when in Ahmedabad.

I am a regular corporate employee but also a huge travel junkie. Work and other responsibilities keep me busy but I somehow manage to explore the places and enjoy some ME time whenever I am on office trips, even the shortest ones, whether a new place or the one that I have visited a 1000 times before. I never miss a chance to explore something new on my trips. When I came to know about my one day trip to Ahmedabad on a Friday, I got so excited and insisted the HR to extend it till Sunday. My colleagues teased me saying it’s not Goa or Himachal and that I would get bored. They wondered what I would do in Ahmedabad for the whole weekend. But it was my first time to the city and I could not miss a chance to explore India’s first World Heritage city inscribed by UNESCO.

Let’s skip my first day details of the boring conference, and jump straight into the second day full of fun and excitement.

Day 2:

I just had a day and a half to explore the city as much as possible. So, I decided to begin my day with the heritage walk that one can book online from the below website.

Home

I decided to take a chance and without any booking, headed straight towards the Swami Narayan Temple at Kalupur. I left my hotel sharp at 6 am by a cab. The whole city was still peaceful with deserted roads and hardly any people to be seen anywhere. It was an hour long journey to the temple. Devotees had started flocking into the temple for their morning prayers. I quickly enquired about the heritage walk and found out that the office had not opened yet. To my surprise there was hardly anyone except me. So, I waited and meanwhile visited the Mahila Mandir. I was the only person till then loitering around for the Heritage walk office to open when I noticed another foreigner girl who was also there waiting. We started chatting and handed each other our cameras to take pictures. She was Barbara from Brazil and was in India for a 3 months architecture internship at a university in Vadodara (Baroda). We both were hungry and bought bananas, our only option there, to gain energy before the 2 hours long heritage walk. In no time, some more people gathered for the walk. At around 7:30 am, we walked inside the temple which itself was the first stop of the walk. The beautiful architecture took us all by surprise. The temple was too clean for an Indian temple. Our guide showed us the map for the walk.

Beautiful architecture inside the Temple

From the Swami Narayan Temple we headed towards the Kavi Dalpatram Chowk, named after a renowned poet who was a favorite among children in his times. The old architecture and a typical township was a proof of how well maintained lifestyle the people used to have. The guide explained us the nitty gritty of the old township. Each and every building, temple or sculpture had a story behind it. Each and every corner of the ‘gullies’ of Old Ahmedabad had a logic or a reason behind everything, whether why the roads were laid or how the colonies were formed. There was a Jain Temple, a Dargah and also a Lord Rama Temple, the only black idol of Lord Rama. All this prove that people in earlier times were so much more culturally united than us today.

*Whenever you lose hope there’s always a window of hope open!!!*

The walk was about of 2 kms. and the number of tourist spots were 20. The best part of the heritage walk was that it began with a temple and ended with the infamous Jama Masjid of Old Ahmedabad. And of course the icing on the cake was the Gujarati local breakfast that was included with the Heritage Walk.

Pillars inside the prayer room of the Jama Masjid

The walk was over by 10:30 am and we still had the whole day to ourselves, so Barbara and I decided to explore the city together by ourselves. We hopped into an auto and from Old Ahmedabad headed towards IIM Ahmedabad, the second in my list. The classrooms, the walls and the buildings were too impressive. Famous for its architectural beauty, the institute is worth a visit.

Spiral stairs inside one of the buildings

From there we went to the Sabarmati Ashram. The third point obviously that you cannot skip at any cost. The spic and span Ashram located across the banks of the River Sabarmati is a place one can go for some solace. As we were pretty tired due to the scorching heat of the sun and our adventures since early morning, the cool breeze and the greenery around rejuvinated us. We rested under the huge shady trees; talked, laughed and shared so many anecdotes from each other’s travel and life diaries. The museum, the charkhas and all the rooms and amenities that had been used by Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturbha Gandhi were so well maintained and gave us goosebumps. We did not even realise how time flew by in there.

The statues of the infamous ‘Gandhi Ji ke 3 Bandar’

Fourth in my list is the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, another beautiful mosque in the city. Built in 1572-73 AD, is one of the most beautiful and famous mosques in the city. It was beautiful sunny afternoon and we spent some time inside the mosque. We had some water and washed our face and feet from the tap inside. It was really relaxing and peaceful inside the mosque.

We ended our day expedition with the mesmerisingly huge and beautiful Kankaria Lake, the fifth spot in my list. No one can imagine that there could be such a huge lake amidst this chaotic and busy city. Amusement park, fun rides, eateries, toy train and parks; what else do you need? The perfect place for outing for people of all age group.

It was 6 pm by then and we bid adieu to each other with the promise of meeting again the next day at the Adalaj Step Well. I came back to my hotel and dozed off immediately.

Day 3:

The next day again I left for the Adalaj Step Well, the last but not the least spot. It was pretty far off from my hotel. I had taken an auto and it took me about an hour and a half to reach there. It was a Sunday, so the place was crowded with local tourists.

I waited for Barbara but she did not come but dropped a message which said that she was unwell and would not make it. I explored the place all by myself and an aged guide. He narrated the whole History behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was cloudy and breezy. I had a pleasant Sunday.

Tombstones of the architects who made the Step well

I came back to my hotel after spending a lovely time. It was time for me to leave for the airport. It is so easy to travel from one place to another in an auto in the city. It is crowded but pretty safe. Hope you too have a good time exploring all these places in Ahmedabad.

As we exchanged messages, Barbara and I promised that we would meet again when she would visit Delhi. Every trip gives a new experience and you never know you might find a friend for life.

Ahmedabad, I would be back again very soon. Ciao!!!

When artists come together with ‘Travel’ stories…

Immense Artists Collectives’ third Open Mic

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add colour to my sunset sky. You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”

As truly said by the great poet and Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, travelling does not just happen through imagination but we all have to put one step forward. And art; it flourishes through travel. As much as we travel, our art gets better and better. So, I think these two go hand in hand. I witnessed the same very recently at an event that happened in Delhi.

Immense Artists Collective (IAC) Open Mic 3.0 happened last Sunday at Odeon Social at Cannaught Place, Delhi. I came to know about this event through social media and one of the organisers Deepa invited me to it. I have winessed many open mics before. Some were for singers, some for poets and some for comedians. But this one was very different. I was pleased to see an exuberant audience ready to cheer for the performers that included poets, rappers, beat boxers, singers, musicians, comics, storytellers, musical storytellers and more.

It was 23rd June, a Sunday, and I was totally charged up for the event. I reached the venue right on time, just as the show was about to begin. The place was all packed with young, vibrant and jovial people cheering for one another as artists and art lovers poured in. The most interesting part was the theme, ‘Travel’ and that was the first reason of all why I was invited.

Travel is something that I can talk for hours and being a travel freak myself, was quite thrilled and curious to see the stories that the artists would bring. I was told that the idea of keeping travel as the theme was to bring all kinds of artists to celebrate something that we all enjoy in our own way. I was really excited about the whole event, being a travel buff and a traveller myself who loves to meet new people, especially storytellers. I quickly took a seat before I ran out of them as people were pouring in and soon the place was jam packed. Performers, musicians, bloggers were all busy with their conversation when everyone’s attention went towards the stage as Deepa and Kanishka took the centre stage. They introduced themselves. From everyone’s reaction, I could make out that a lot of them were first timers like me but some were by now familiar with them and IAC. Soon the performances began. There were slam poets getting into the zone with their poetry, musicians with their final tweaks on their guitars, Ukuleles, Kahoons etc, somewhere in the corner a few musicians had already started an impromptu jam before the flag off, rappers and beat boxers getting the groove on with some catchy riffs. Every artist had a story to tell, taking us all through a journey of their own. Travel of time, personality, nature or life, every performance equally inspired me. Every artist was given time of 5 minutes and it was a mixed bag with every performer startling the audience. With laughter, joy, emotional and inspirational performances it was sure a cathartic journey for me.

As you know that these open mics are platforms for artists to share their artistic work with fellow art lovers. The organisers, Deepa and Kanishka, two extremely artistic individuals in their own right themselves rein the platform of IAC wherein they bring bouquet of artistes from all corners of the city.

Deepa

“Well, for me Immense Artists Collective is a happy space. A space that is home to all artists. We all work in our real life but this is that small corner of the room where you come to relax and spend ‘me time’ with a lot of like minded people so you’re not alone nor judged. I’m happy that Kanishka and me are able to take small steps together in spreading the idea that art of any kind is all about appreciation and we all must do that earnestly.
The theme mics allow us to get fresh content everytime from artists and also works as a connection between 15 odd strangers who meet one evening and connect to the idea or theme of the event.
We hope to do more mics and keep building our family!”

Kanishka
“The idea of Immense Artists Collective as the name suggests is a platform for all artists who come together to appreciate art.
In an effort to build a community of artists- storytellers, poets, musicians, singers and comics we want to create a space that breathes creativity.”

Drishti, a young slam poet, lit up the stage with an effervescent act titled “Pause”. The act, poignant in its idea and execution, touched everyone and brought a huge applause. Two comics, Pratik Jain with his witty takes on living the life of a corporate honcho and Akhilee, a comic who drew laughs like a boss with her set on motherhood and her relationship with her child.

A singer-cum-guitarist Kanishka Sablania was one of the outstanding acts with his song “Brainstorming” bringing a boundless energy with his stupendous skills with his guitar and a unique style in his vocals.

One of the performers, Gauri Kapur, brought an inspiring story of how she overcame adversity at its extremes and came out a stronger person on the other side. She shared her journey of being diagnosed with cancer, being told by top doctors that there was almost no chance of her overcoming it and yet actually pulling it through to recover and get better going on to follow her dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. Her story actually gave me a lump in my throat and moistened eyes. I was so glad that I could there to hear this powerful girl’s story.

A duo singer-cum-guitarist and a Kahoon player who go with the name of ‘The Chai Biskut project’ were one of the outstanding acts of the evening with their original composition ‘Kasturi‘ bringing a boundless energy Last but certainly one of the most memorable performers of the evening was Guneet, she brought a new energy in the program with her musical storytelling in songs and a unique style in her vocals, she simply rocked the stage alongwith Sarthak (on the Kahoon) and Prajawal (as the guitarist).

The beatboxers and rappers that go with their stage names – Freezak FreemindRapid Response, Utkarsh, Ani, Vishisht and Nitish Kwatra grooved the audience with their amazing raps and beatboxing skills. Freezak and Ani use their voice as an to create a variety of sounds, beats, and melodies that are unbeatable. The rappers like Rapid Response (stage name) write lyrics that speak stories of struggle with his rap – Life is tough but you gotta keep it moving. This is a new trend picking up in the Millennial generation that captivates the audience.

Deepa and Kanishka, it showed clearly, had a personal connect with each of the performers and equally with the audience, putting the effort to give insights about each artists and making a space where artists could appreciate each other and encourage fellows.

They told me a lot about how they started the Collective and the idea to start these shows. They said, “We are trying to build a community, a space where creativity breathes freely and we appreciate each other to become better at our crafts.” This showed how much it mattered to them, especially going as it was Deepa’s birthday that day.

Deepa and Kanishka, storytellers with a pedigree, professionally trained filmmakers, quite candidly put themselves as artists with a proclivity for writing that allows them to easily explore arts like storytelling, cinema, stand-up comedy, poetry and more.

The duo has deep roots in the domain of performance and cinematic arts. Subsequent to years of meticulous and diligent efforts, they built their independent platform Immense Pictures—a forum for young artists—to promote artistic expression, cinema, cultural diversity in the arts, and building leadership capital. An artistic intercultural dialogue in an ever evolving multicultural society is an emphasis point in their endeavours. Deepa and Kanishka have a vision for holistic training of individuals in contemporary visual arts like cinema, performance arts like drama and theatre, as well as literary arts. They actively engage with the young and upcoming artists, to celebrate their efforts for an enhanced mobility of artists and facilitate wider access to culture.

It’s always heartening to meet individuals with a clear artistic vision which is inclusive, collaborative and yet rounded on putting up a great act. Before I knew it, it was 6 pm already and the curtain drew on the show which could’ve gone for hours more just as fine. It was a pleasure being part of the event and meeting such interesting people.

Quotes by some of the performers:

Pratik Jain (Comic)

Having spent around 20 years in corporate life, I have learnt to joke around all the time, it’s just that you have to say it with straight face so others don’t get to know. Immense Artist Collective is an excellent forum for me to finally see people laughing at my jokes. Deepa and Kanishka are one the best creative mind that you can come across, who are working selflessly to promote art of all form. Their passion is so infectious that you want to be around them all the time. Open Mic 3.0 at Odeon was a huge success and showed how people with pure hearts can appreciate each other and enjoy. Look forward to 4.0 and much more…

Vishishth (Rapper)

This was my first open Mic with IAC. First off the the warm welcoming and love showed to us was heart fulfilling. Love how to they bring together artists from different spheres of life. The gathering felt more like a family celebrating together which goes beyond a normal open Mic. My best wishes with deepa and kanishka in their endeavours.

Yash Jain (Musician)

The 3rd edition of the Open Mic by The Immense Artists Collective couldn’t be expressed in words! There was a colossal of beautiful artists whom I met and witnessed their arts.. Every other participant had a different story to tell, a song to sing or to give the entire crowd a belly laugh. Different age groups, yet different, big surprises. ♥️

I am glad to be a part of the Immense Artists Collective. A big thank you to Deepa& Kanishka for their constant efforts to get a successful closure to this.

Drishti (Slam Poet)

Immense Artists Collective Open Mic 3.0 was absolutely flawless in its entirety.

The theme was travel and as a person who loves travelling, I had to attend this event. Performing after so many months was like recharging my performance skills. Standing on the stage only to make the audience feel their goosebumps is what I call ‘’my kind of performance’.

It was beautiful to perform for them. Lovely audience, and loveliest organisers!

Himanshu Lohani (Comic)

This was yet another amazing event by Immense Artist Collective. This is one of a kind event where a theme binds all the artists from different genres together.

Being a stand up comedian, I really look forward to being a part of Immense Artist Collective’s events. The audience and specially the host Kanishka and Deepa make it so much exciting, fun and entertaining that you wouldn’t want the show to end.

Praneet (Poet)

I attended the last open mic with Immense artists. The theme was traveling and participants at the open mic shared a lot of new perspectives on traveling. The vibe of the event was extremely friendly and cheerful. You can’t have a dull day with these people. Audience was very encouraging and supportive. They made performing easier and exciting.

Taking back a lot of energy and new ideas from the event. Waiting for the next one already.

Salica (Singer)

It was an fantastic experience at Immense Artists Collective as the theme was travel so the artists, performers, poets,writers took all the people of oden socia on the journey of music,poetry through their soulful performences.

Audience their was very enthusiastic and the lovable hosts hosted the event in a very intriguing manner.

I felt really happy to be surrounded with the wibes of positivity.

Akhilee (comic)

I recently attended an open mic Immense Artists Collective organised by Deepa and Kanishka and i must say what a brilliant platform it was. There was laughter, cheer and appreciation in every performed act. Like the way it is not easy to get on a stage similarly it is not easy to organise such a great and successful show. With such supportive organizers you can add feather to your performance every passing day, it gives you some confidence which can only be experienced. Thank you so much IAC

My first ever abroad trip! Mesmerising Maldives

I had travelled a lot across India earlier; with friends, family and also alone. But the chance to travel abroad had just come. I had always wondered in the past that which country would that be on which I will step into for the first time outside India. Little had I ever imagined that the place would be the mesmerising Maldives? That fine day came eventually when I as a journalist received an invitation from, Club Med to visit their resort Club Med Kani in Maldives. My parents were a little apprehensive about me travelling totally alone to a foreign land. But I knew it was going to be awesome as the trip days also included my birthday. My 4 days 3 nights trip began. I flew from Indira Gandhi international airport, New Delhi to Colombo. At that time a direct flight from Delhi to Maldives had not yet started. So, I reached Sri Lanka and had a stopover for a night. My entire visa and other formalities had been taken care of by Club Med. I stayed at a hotel in Sri Lanka just for that night. It was my first time in a foreign land but as it was pretty late I had to get in to my room and I could not go anywhere else. I was dead tired so after dinner I slept. Next day early morning I quickly took a shower and left for the airport after breakfast. Though just for a night Sri Lanka had great vibes and I would surely go back very soon.

In another 4 hours I was at Ibrahim Nasir international Airport, Male. I still wanted to pinch myself as it was unbelievable. Bringing here some of the best moments of my adventure for you all dear friends.

Day 1:

Day 1 was just rest, beach visit and a beach dance party after a fancy dinner.

Ibrahim Nasir international Airport, Male

Day 2 was all about exploring the whole resort. We came to know all about the resort from our Club Med representative. The resort that offers an all-inclusive package is touted to be a prominent destination for Indian travellers. Serving an array of mouth-watering Indian delicacies, the resort is the perfect choice for high-end travellers. The resort is spread across the whole island and provides great facilities for family and kids.

Couples with children can enjoy all activities while their kids are taken care of at the kid’s corner. The resort provides a huge range of activities like snorkelling, glass bottom kayak, scuba diving, sailing and parasailing. The seven individual treatment rooms or duo rooms at the spa offer tandem treatments. It provides huge range of cuisines from across the world including Indian cuisine. Almost 95 per cent of the rooms offer ocean view. The three categories of rooms are Deluxe, Club rooms and 5-Trident Luxury Space Suites.

Day 2 – In the evening we went for the sunset cruise. Sunsets are always beautiful but this one was just out of this world. The cruise ride was so much fun and the experience was something that no one can ever forget. Though we did not spot any dolphins as we were promised but whole experience was worth it.

Day 3 began with a lovely sunrise just outside my cottage followed by a visit to the Club Med Finolhu Resort.

‘Club Med Finolhu’ villas are much more expensive than the Club Med Kani resort. As we spoke to the villa manager, we came to know that it’s mostly meant for couples. It is more of a romantic getaway unlike the Kani resort which is more family oriented. To our surprise also very less Indians visit Finolhu as compared to Kani. We also checked out the rooms and woah! They’re actually so lavish and looked so much larger than life. We also enjoyed some amazing drinks from the bar.

Day 3 After coming back from Finolhu, the evening started with a great party, people drinking and dancing like crazy. This is the first time I came to know about Jägerbomb shots. It was so awesome.

Day 4 – It was again a rest day and an ‘as you like it’ day. Exploring the surroundings, foam party, swimming, snorkelling, paragliding, Balinese special spa and chilling was all part of this day.

In the evening the Club Med people arranged a surprise birthday party for me. Oh! It was so overwheling. I had already made new friends and they all had become a family in these 4 days.

And 4 days went by so fast like a blink of an eye. It was time for me to go back home and I was already missing the place so much. The memories are as fresh and clear as the crystal blue water of the sea. Hopefully will plan a trip again very soon.

Sariska Trip – A Perfect Blend of both Jungle and History

Day 1:

Jungles have always intrigued me right from when I was a kid. My first experience was Jim Corbett with my parents. Recently my friends and I decided to explore another Tiger reserve of India over a long weekend in March. It was still nippy in Northern India and Sariska tiger reserve seemed to be the best option. It is in Rajasthan but is pretty close to Delhi. It was a very last moment planning but luckily we got our reservations in Ajmer Shatabdi Express that leaves from New Delhi railway station at 6:45 am and reaches Alwar at 8:40 am.

We reached Alwar almost on time and after a little negotiation, headed towards Sariska by a cab. There are plenty of cabs, auto-rickshaws etc. available right from outside the railway station which costs around 1000-1500 bucks only. It was an hour long journey and the amazing view of the Aravalli hills on both the sides of the road, added to the fun. We reached Sariska within no time but before moving straight away to our resort, Tiger Den, we took a little detour and stopped to enquire about the jungle safaris. There was already a long queue waiting for the ticket booth window to open for that day’s afternoon safari. This is when we came to know that there are 2 safaris in a day that happen every day. The morning one starts at about 7 and the afternoon one at around 2. We came to know from some people there who had already done the morning safari but were not lucky enough to spot a tiger, had come back to do the afternoon safari. After acquiring plenty of information we moved towards Tiger Den, a resort by the Rajasthan Tourism Department Corporation. We had already booked our rooms online. As it is a government run resort, they provide special discounts to women only travelers and also government employees. I was lucky enough to be accompanied by a friend who works at IRCTC which is again a Public Service Unit.

As soon as we reached, the lovely view of the whole place, the greenery all around, the fresh air and the call of the birds immediately rejuvenated us. The place was full of monkeys and the resort workers asked us to be very careful about our valuables and be more cautious all the time. We soon checked into our rooms and after a warm soothing shower headed towards the dining room for a delicious lunch that waited for us. The hotel had an MAP dining system i.e. the ‘Modified American Plan’ that provides any 2 major meals of the day complimentary. After a traditional Indian lunch we took a short nap. We were woken up calls of peacocks and the chattering of the monkeys. By the time we woke up it was almost dusk already. It had got colder due to the little drizzle. So, what could be better than a hot cup of tea and pakodas (onion and veggies fritters) for snacks. After munching on our evening snacks, we went for a little stroll at the garden outside. It was pretty dark by now and going out of the premises of the hotel was strictly prohibited. We joined in another group from Delhi who had lit a bonfire and were singing and dancing.

After quite an enticing session of music and dance we went back to our rooms and dozed off immediately as we had to wake up early next morning to go and stand in the queue for the safari as we had unanimously decided to do the morning one.

Day 2:

We woke up at about 5 am but it was too dark so we went back to bed. How stupid we were to think that as it was so cold and dark no one would reach the ticket booth window before 7 so we left our rooms by 6:30 and reached there at 7 but the crowd and the long queue took us by surprise. There were some people who already had online bookings. But we had to stand in the queue for about half an hour before we finally got the tickets but unfortunately all the gypsies were over so we had to settle for a cantor. This did not disappoint us at all as we would save a little money and the excitement was the same. Soon we hurried towards our cantor and we began our journey. It was freezing and was cloudy. So, if visiting in the winters a good warm jacket is recommended and an umbrella too. As soon as we entered the jungle we handed over the receipt that we had been given at the ticket booth. This was to keep a record of the number of vehicles that enters the jungle at a go. Gradually as we kept entering deeper into the jungle, the silence prevailed. The smell of the fresh air, the misty wind, the rustling of leaves, the clouds overhead made it all so enthralling. The guide with us had strictly asked us to keep our voice lower to the minimal or else we might scare away and disturb the animals. Deep in our hearts, hoping to spot the mighty beast, we kept hush. We came across various beautiful uncommon birds, spotted both male and female nilgai or blue bull which is the largest Asian antelope and is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Different species of deer came across our way like herds of Sambar, antelopes and spotted deer. A huge group or family of the langoor (kondamuchu in English) looked in on us as if waiting to greet us on our visit to their abode. It started drizzling too and this is where my umbrella came to rescue. The cantor stopped only at a point before exiting the jungle. We got down for some photographs and some of us had to attend to the nature’s call. After quite a breathtaking journey we were dropped off at our resort. We were a little disappointed about not having spotted a tiger, but were also quite contended by the whole experience all together.

After a quick breakfast and shower we again walked down to the ticket booking booth area. No, not to book another safari but to enquire about a ride to the Bhangarh Fort which is about an hour and a half journey from Sariska. It was quite sunny by then and pretty hot. Thankfully we got a cab for 1500 Rupees to and fro. We reached Bhangarh Fort in less than 2 hours. It was a pretty long walk from the main entrance gate to the fort complex. It was a sunny day and had got very hot by then but as it was windy too, the sun did not seem to be very harsh. It was pretty crowded and people from Rajasthan and surroundings had flocked into this place to enjoy a day out. On our way to the main fort we came across dilapidated portions of the fort’s walls, many temples and gardens with huge shady trees. We covered the whole area and finally reached the fort complex and climbed right up to the highest point. The view from there was so mesmerizing and refreshing. Though the place is considered as the most haunted place in India, the locals assured us that it’s just a rumour and a mythological story is connected to the ruins of the fort.

After spending about an hour or so, we headed back towards Sariska. After reaching our resort we had lunch and rested for a while. The evening was same as the previous day. But the clear sky and the bright twinkling stars seemed a rare view for us being from Delhi. After a little walk in the garden we went inside as it got chilly. Thankfully we were carrying some board games which gave us good company. Our returning train tickets were also done at that very time. Though last time bookings are a bit risky but fortunately we got reservation in Gareebrath Express. At about 8:30 pm, we went to the dining hall for our last dinner at the resort, at least for the time being. After dinner we did our final packing as we were supposed to leave the next day.

Day 3:

After a delightful breakfast, we left Tiger Den in a cab that we had already booked the previous day. It was again a bright and sunny day and we reached the Alwar station at about 11 am. We bid adieu to Sariska and brought back some beautiful memories.

Ladakh – a dream that you don’t want to wake up from!

Comes summer and we head towards some or the other corner of our ‘Incredible India’

Often my friends tease me saying that I should leave my parents alone to enjoy themselves and travel with them rather than my parents. But this has always been a mutual thing. My parents never want to travel alone and I being a single child find it a duty or may be an obligation to travel with them. No, it’s not that I don’t like it. I quite enjoy their company.

A week or two prior to our travel date I was really nervous and apprehensive about travelling to Ladakh with my parents as some of my colleagues had warned me that it’s not an easy place to be at for people above 50. But I can’t be more thankful to the agents from Yatra.com who gained my confidence and convinced me to book a 6 nights 7 days package for me and my parents without any hesitation.

Soon the day arrived when we had to board the plane for Leh. The mesmerising view of the snow capped mountains and its different peaks looked like some kind of a different world altogether. We couldn’t keep our glance away from the plane window even for a bit. Just didn’t want to miss a single moment.

The one hour and fifteen minutes journey soon came to an end and there we were, setting our feet on the cold desert of India. The mesmerising landscape surrounded by the snow capped mountains definitely took us aback. After leaving the airport we reached our hotel. The escorts and the people had a grin on their faces as they welcomed us. The escort explained us some of the important rules that we needed to follow in the next days during our stay in Leh and the surrounding places.

We quickly checked into our rooms. The beautiful mountains were overlooking us as we removed the curtains of the window. The first day we were asked not to take a bath which was very important in order to get acclimatised to the climate of Ladakh. After breakfast we went out for a stroll outside. It was sunny but windy, so we came back soon as we were supposed to take ample rest in order to stay fit for the upcoming days full of adventure.

In the evening we left for the Shanti Stupa. The beautiful white Stupa is a symbol of peace according Buddhism. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist and is a part of the mission ‘Peace Pagoda’. Then we visited the local market and came back to our hotel.

Next day was a local sightseeing day. We visited some of the local monasteries like Stok and ‘Sangam’ where the River Indus and one of its tributaries meet. We could actually make out the two different colours of the water at that place.

The third day was the most exciting trip for us as we were to go to Khardungla Pass, the highest motor able road situated at 18, 389 ft above the sea level. It was snowing there and we were freezing. But it was beautiful. We were not allowed to wait there for more than ten minutes. So we started our journey towards Nubhra valley.

As we reached there I was so thrilled to see the tents that we were supposed to spend that night in. It was my first experience to stay in a tent which was well furnished with an attached bathroom and toilet. The view around was fascinating. With very less vegetation around, clear blue sky and white clouds floating over the snow capped mountains looked like a poster rather than real. At around 4 pm we left to visit the sand dunes. We reached there in a jiffy. The spot was pretty close by. We enjoyed the camel ride. But soon after a sand storm started and we could hardly keep our eyes and mouth open. The wind was literally bone chilling. It is hard to believe that the wind blowing in a desert can actually make you feel a chill down your spine. We kept sitting on the camels that were slowly walking on the soft sand dunes of the cold desert. The local festival and attire were enthralling too.

We rested for a while after coming back. It was freezing cold as it had also drizzled a bit. At 8pm we had dinner and then dozed off. The electricity supplied there was from a nearby village which went off every night at 11pm and there was no phone signal at all.

After quite a thrilling night, we bid adieu to Nubhra Valley early next morning. We visited Thiksey Monastery on our way back, which is a Tibetan-style monastery affiliated to a sect Gelug of the Tibetan Buddhism. It is located on top of a hill in Thiksey approximately 19 kilometres East of Leh. The huge statue of the next incarnation of Lord Buddha overlooks the fascinating scenery around the place.

A lot of more streams, monasteries and lakes kept us busy on our way back to Leh. Before we could know, we reached the Leh main market. The hustle and bustle of the market was definitely like any other market in India but the local dialects and the lingo charmed us for sure. The Tibetan jewellery market and the dry fruits shops were luring enough for anyone to spend some extra bucks on them. The night was as usual silent and peaceful. After a sumptuous dinner, we went for a walk outside. The stars overhead looked so dreamy. The sky looked like a beautiful bride just about to walk down the aisle. The cold breeze brushed against my face as if wishing a good night.

The next day was another exciting day as we were to visit the Pangong Lake, the one that we all have seen in the film 3 Idiots. The journey to the lake was as fascinating as the place itself. The whole place was filled with dhabas and hotels named after the main characters of the film. The water was unbelievably crystal blue and the mountains were all barren but equally fascinating. The water was freezing and so was the wind. We spent about a couple of hours there and headed back to Leh. On our way back we stopped at Changla Pass another snow covered pass looked as white as milk. It was luckily a sunny day so we could get out and walk around in the snow that came almost till our knees. Unlike other hill stations they don’t provide boots etc. for the snow but you should wear them of your own to be more comfortable walking in the snow.

The next 3 days we spent visiting the Druk White Lotus School, the one that was also featured in 3 Idiots, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace and other local markets and temples in Leh.

The dream vacation finally came to an end and we came back home with some amazing memories of the one of the most beautiful places on earth, Ladakh. This barren cold desert with very little vegetation will surely stay fresh and green in my mind for the rest of my life and I wish to visit Ladakh again.