[This post is continued from my previous post Kedarnath to Badrinath]
Day 8 :: May 28th- Wednesday :: Badrinath- Haridwar
Alarm rings at 3.30 am. Eyes refused to open, and yet we forced ourselves out of the bed. We got fresh and hurried to 'Tapt Kund' near the temple to have our hot water bath. We reached there by 4 am, but the kund was already overcrowded. But since there were 3 Kunds, the crowd was distributed. Unlike Gauri-Kund, here the Kund was very clean. Also the water in Kund was way too hot. We managed to get into the Kund, but could not stay for long, as it was too hot!! But I was happy that we managed to have our dips comfortably.
But the moment one gets out of Kund, the cold just beats you!! I was wondering at the contrast nature has provided!! We went to changing rooms and changed to dry clothes. Then we hurried to our room, packed things and started walking towards the bus stop. It was a good 15 minute walk to bus-stop. Time was about 5.15am and the sight of sun-rise was awesome. The best part was to see the snow capped peaks shining bright, and at some places, the color was looking golden.
This pic is awesome !! One range shining bright with sun-rays, while the others are waiting to get the sun-shine. Photo clicked at 5.15am
By 5.30am we reached the bus stop, where the Punjabi family had already arrived. They gave us a unexpected news that, due to some reason, the govt bus is canceled. But the bus folks had assured, they 'may' schedule a bus during later part of the day. By this time, the Lucknow family who were in our bus the previous day also arrived there to book tickets. We all were heading to Haridwar. So we decided to book a private taxi/vehicle. Punjabi family told they already looked for it, but all taxis are booked. But again, the men from all 3 family went in search of taxi and we ladies waited in the bus-stop. We started discussing that we will all need to adjust in taxi/sumo as we would be totally 10 including the driver.
Gautham came back in no time telling, a conductor of a private family tour bus, approached him and told there are 2 seats in the cabin. When Gautham told me this, I told its better to have a look at the cabin and the driver and then decide. We had a look at the cabin. It was clean and the seat was cushioned. The driver too seemed civilized and friendly. Definitely our journey would not be comfortable, but we thought it would be manage-ably uncomfortable. We went for it!!
We bid bye to our fellow Lucknow and Punjabi friends. They finally found a taxi and we were happy they would be traveling comfortably without us, as they would be only 8 in number.
Exactly at 6.30am, the gates opened and our bus started. It was my first experience to travel sitting in a bus cabin, and for a long time, I could not stop laughing secretly at the different kind of experiences we have been having in the tour and wondered what else was in store.
Just like we both, there was another cabin-traveller with us. He was from Mysore, who had come with a group for Himalayan trekking. The driver and conductor were local Garhwalis. In no time, we all started discussing about various topics. When people from different backgrounds and places meet, there will always be something new to discuss. Driver was informing us lots about local news. He told, majority of people here are Nepalis. He was also complaining "yahan ke log, doosre sheher jaake chahe barthan dhothe hai, lekin yahan kaam nahin karthe". Meaning, localites of this place, go to other cities and even do the job of cleaning plates there, but refuse to work here. He told thousands of Nepalis come here during the season, and slog. He told they have to make their yearly income in these 4 months.
Another nice part was, driver was playing many local Garhwali folk songs in the bus. We found it very pleasant, and so kept on asking him to play more. They were laughing telling, its always nice to listen to songs whose lyrics you don't understand. They told for the same reason, they love to listen to Nepali songs. Driver explained to us, some part of the lyrics of the folk song. They are very simple songs, for example, in one song, a local woman is singing for the forest officer, asking him , how will she feed her cow if he stops her from cutting the trees!!
Hence, with these talks, our journey was pleasant in spite of all physical discomforts we were having. I was initially skeptic, thinking I feel weird sitting in cabin with Gautham, among driver, conductor and a stranger. But my weird feeling soon vanished as we started laughing talking about n number of topics !!
Our bus waiting at an intermediate gate to let upcoming vehicles pass. Driver and Conductor of our bus buying something from a localite. You can see me waiting in the cabin ;-)
Mountain ranges one after another glowing in sun-light.
The bus in which we were traveling, belonged to a private travel agency. It was booked by a single huge group from Nagpur under their package tour. Our cabin door was separating them from us, so I don't think they found us intrusive in their private travel plans. Only a couple of ladies from their group interacted with me during breakfast break, asking about our where-abouts.
We had lots of breaks-for breakfast, tea, lunch, water etc. Our driver had to oblige, whenever the family asked for a break. Our journey was pleasant till 11.00 am. After that, the only thing that was beating us was scorching sun. And with time, it only went worst, we felt we were sitting in an oven and were sweating like hell !! We were laughing at the contrast in weather up in Badrinath and weather as we descended !! Sunscreen, sun-glasses did not good to me. I was the one sitting next to the front glass of the bus, and sun was hitting me so hard from 11.00 to 3.30 that I got sun burn on my face !! I still have a mark, as a token of remembrance ;-)
We finally reached Rishikesh at 7.00 pm where the family wanted to stop for tea. We had plans of going for white water rafting the next day at Rishikesh, so when all were having tea, we went around inquiring about it in nearby firms which advertised about it. We were told that, they had no booking for the next day so far, so it would be only we two us, so the price would be slightly high. We lost interest in it, because rafting would be fun, only if there was a huge group going for it. The idea of only two of us, did not excite us much. So we dropped it.
At 7.45 we started back from Rishikesh to Haridwar. I loved this part of journey very much, because after a long long time, I was seeing and traveling on a straight road. I was kind of tired of seeing scary blindly curved roads high on hill for 8 days!!
Finally at 8.30, we finished our journey when he dropped us at Haridwar. He charged 500Rs together for both of us. Bidding them bye, we took a cycle-rikshaw and reached Kashi-mutt where we would spend our night and also the next day.
Reaching Kashi-mutt was the end of our adventurous , "unplanned" journey, as everything from now on was planned. We easily managed to get a room in Kashi-mutt. Also we had reached just in time for dinner. We were very very tired after the long 14 hr journey in the small cabin of the bus. After a nice dinner at the canteen there, the next thing we longed to do was to have a good bath. Need not say, its heavenly to have a bath after a dusty , sweaty 14 hrs journey !! After doing some laundry, we slept at 12.00 midnight. The best part, was the thought that,we need not set alarm for the next day !!
Day 9 :: May 29th- Thursday :: Haridwar
We wake up lazily at 7.30am. Get fresh and go to Veda-Vyas temple for pooja(Our room, temple are all in same premises. All are run by Kashi-Mutt) Have breakfast and come to room. We then do remaining laundry. After this, as we were lazily lying down and discussing what to do next, we fall asleep ...... zzzzzzz.......!! We wake up at 12.00 and jump out of bed, hurrying to temple for the afternoon Pooja. After pooja, we have a nice simple lunch at canteen, and then come to room again at 1.30pm. Our room had no chair, but only a huge bed. As we sat on it, talking "Enough of sleep...lets go somewhere!!"......once again, as we were discussing this, we lazily lie down, and fall asleep.......zzzzzzzzzzz....!! Ha ha ha :D
Veda Vyas temple of Kashi-mutt, Haridwar
We wake up only at 4.30pm and laugh at ourselves for the way we fell asleep!! Looked like all our fatigue and lack of sleep from 8 days, was showing up now!! We were still feeling like sleeping, so we decided to do something fresh!! We pulled ourselves out of bed, and walked to the Ganga ghats near the temple. The ghats of our temple, is something I love!! Because Ganga is clean there, as very few come to these ghats. And more-over temperature is very high in Haridwar, so it is cooling to have dips here, unlike in earlier places, where the freezing weather does not let you do it. And not to forget, the absence of crowd.
Ganga ghats of VedaVyas temple.
We have nice refreshing holy dips in Ganges. All fresh, we head to room, change to dry clothes and start off on an Phat-phatia (shared auto) to go to the famous Hari-Ki-Pauri Ganga ghats to see the Ganga aarthi. We had already seen most of Haridwar 2 yrs back , so decided only to do something relaxing.
Hari Ki Pauri
We loafed around in the narrow, colorful crowded streets just observing and enjoying the sight of everything happening there. As we did this, we treated our taste buds with fresh made gulabjamun, rasmalai, dhokla etc. It was yummm...mmm !! ;-) In the rush, I hurt my toe nail badly in stampede and rushed to one of the doctors there. He gave me a tetanus injection :( After having dinner in a restaurant, we return to our room and sleep by 11.0pm!!
Day 10 :: May 30th- Friday :: Haridwar -New Delhi
We had our train to Delhi scheduled at 10.30 am. We wake up at 7.00 am, Pack up our bags, go to temple for Pooja, have breakfast and leave on an auto to the railway station by 9.15am. We reach Delhi at 2.30pm. Journey was quite un-eventful. We take a taxi to our relatives house there and spend the rest of the day there. We had seen most of Delhi couple of years back, so just spent quality time at their home.
Day 11 :: May 31st-Saturday :: New Delhi -Bangalore
We take our scheduled flight to Bangalore at around 3.30pm. Flight is usually the borest means of travel, with everyone busy in their own world. So I too spent the journey, dreaming and re-living some of the wonderful moments from our tour. We reached Bangalore airport and I loved the new Devanahalli airport. I felt it in par with the international airports I have seen in other countries. But saddest part was the bus journey from airport to Jayanagar. We started at 8.00pm from airport and after all traffic jams, reached Jayanagar at 10.00 pm!!!
It was a lovely feeling to be back home after 12 days of travel and tour!! Truly, no matter where we travel, at the end of everything, nothing can beat the feeling of returning to our HOME SWEET HOME !!!! :)
Day 8 :: May 28th- Wednesday :: Badrinath- Haridwar
Alarm rings at 3.30 am. Eyes refused to open, and yet we forced ourselves out of the bed. We got fresh and hurried to 'Tapt Kund' near the temple to have our hot water bath. We reached there by 4 am, but the kund was already overcrowded. But since there were 3 Kunds, the crowd was distributed. Unlike Gauri-Kund, here the Kund was very clean. Also the water in Kund was way too hot. We managed to get into the Kund, but could not stay for long, as it was too hot!! But I was happy that we managed to have our dips comfortably.
But the moment one gets out of Kund, the cold just beats you!! I was wondering at the contrast nature has provided!! We went to changing rooms and changed to dry clothes. Then we hurried to our room, packed things and started walking towards the bus stop. It was a good 15 minute walk to bus-stop. Time was about 5.15am and the sight of sun-rise was awesome. The best part was to see the snow capped peaks shining bright, and at some places, the color was looking golden.
This pic is awesome !! One range shining bright with sun-rays, while the others are waiting to get the sun-shine. Photo clicked at 5.15amBy 5.30am we reached the bus stop, where the Punjabi family had already arrived. They gave us a unexpected news that, due to some reason, the govt bus is canceled. But the bus folks had assured, they 'may' schedule a bus during later part of the day. By this time, the Lucknow family who were in our bus the previous day also arrived there to book tickets. We all were heading to Haridwar. So we decided to book a private taxi/vehicle. Punjabi family told they already looked for it, but all taxis are booked. But again, the men from all 3 family went in search of taxi and we ladies waited in the bus-stop. We started discussing that we will all need to adjust in taxi/sumo as we would be totally 10 including the driver.
Gautham came back in no time telling, a conductor of a private family tour bus, approached him and told there are 2 seats in the cabin. When Gautham told me this, I told its better to have a look at the cabin and the driver and then decide. We had a look at the cabin. It was clean and the seat was cushioned. The driver too seemed civilized and friendly. Definitely our journey would not be comfortable, but we thought it would be manage-ably uncomfortable. We went for it!!
We bid bye to our fellow Lucknow and Punjabi friends. They finally found a taxi and we were happy they would be traveling comfortably without us, as they would be only 8 in number.
Exactly at 6.30am, the gates opened and our bus started. It was my first experience to travel sitting in a bus cabin, and for a long time, I could not stop laughing secretly at the different kind of experiences we have been having in the tour and wondered what else was in store.
Just like we both, there was another cabin-traveller with us. He was from Mysore, who had come with a group for Himalayan trekking. The driver and conductor were local Garhwalis. In no time, we all started discussing about various topics. When people from different backgrounds and places meet, there will always be something new to discuss. Driver was informing us lots about local news. He told, majority of people here are Nepalis. He was also complaining "yahan ke log, doosre sheher jaake chahe barthan dhothe hai, lekin yahan kaam nahin karthe". Meaning, localites of this place, go to other cities and even do the job of cleaning plates there, but refuse to work here. He told thousands of Nepalis come here during the season, and slog. He told they have to make their yearly income in these 4 months.
Another nice part was, driver was playing many local Garhwali folk songs in the bus. We found it very pleasant, and so kept on asking him to play more. They were laughing telling, its always nice to listen to songs whose lyrics you don't understand. They told for the same reason, they love to listen to Nepali songs. Driver explained to us, some part of the lyrics of the folk song. They are very simple songs, for example, in one song, a local woman is singing for the forest officer, asking him , how will she feed her cow if he stops her from cutting the trees!!
Hence, with these talks, our journey was pleasant in spite of all physical discomforts we were having. I was initially skeptic, thinking I feel weird sitting in cabin with Gautham, among driver, conductor and a stranger. But my weird feeling soon vanished as we started laughing talking about n number of topics !!
Our bus waiting at an intermediate gate to let upcoming vehicles pass. Driver and Conductor of our bus buying something from a localite. You can see me waiting in the cabin ;-)
Mountain ranges one after another glowing in sun-light.The bus in which we were traveling, belonged to a private travel agency. It was booked by a single huge group from Nagpur under their package tour. Our cabin door was separating them from us, so I don't think they found us intrusive in their private travel plans. Only a couple of ladies from their group interacted with me during breakfast break, asking about our where-abouts.
We had lots of breaks-for breakfast, tea, lunch, water etc. Our driver had to oblige, whenever the family asked for a break. Our journey was pleasant till 11.00 am. After that, the only thing that was beating us was scorching sun. And with time, it only went worst, we felt we were sitting in an oven and were sweating like hell !! We were laughing at the contrast in weather up in Badrinath and weather as we descended !! Sunscreen, sun-glasses did not good to me. I was the one sitting next to the front glass of the bus, and sun was hitting me so hard from 11.00 to 3.30 that I got sun burn on my face !! I still have a mark, as a token of remembrance ;-)
We finally reached Rishikesh at 7.00 pm where the family wanted to stop for tea. We had plans of going for white water rafting the next day at Rishikesh, so when all were having tea, we went around inquiring about it in nearby firms which advertised about it. We were told that, they had no booking for the next day so far, so it would be only we two us, so the price would be slightly high. We lost interest in it, because rafting would be fun, only if there was a huge group going for it. The idea of only two of us, did not excite us much. So we dropped it.
At 7.45 we started back from Rishikesh to Haridwar. I loved this part of journey very much, because after a long long time, I was seeing and traveling on a straight road. I was kind of tired of seeing scary blindly curved roads high on hill for 8 days!!
Finally at 8.30, we finished our journey when he dropped us at Haridwar. He charged 500Rs together for both of us. Bidding them bye, we took a cycle-rikshaw and reached Kashi-mutt where we would spend our night and also the next day.
Reaching Kashi-mutt was the end of our adventurous , "unplanned" journey, as everything from now on was planned. We easily managed to get a room in Kashi-mutt. Also we had reached just in time for dinner. We were very very tired after the long 14 hr journey in the small cabin of the bus. After a nice dinner at the canteen there, the next thing we longed to do was to have a good bath. Need not say, its heavenly to have a bath after a dusty , sweaty 14 hrs journey !! After doing some laundry, we slept at 12.00 midnight. The best part, was the thought that,we need not set alarm for the next day !!
Day 9 :: May 29th- Thursday :: Haridwar
We wake up lazily at 7.30am. Get fresh and go to Veda-Vyas temple for pooja(Our room, temple are all in same premises. All are run by Kashi-Mutt) Have breakfast and come to room. We then do remaining laundry. After this, as we were lazily lying down and discussing what to do next, we fall asleep ...... zzzzzzz.......!! We wake up at 12.00 and jump out of bed, hurrying to temple for the afternoon Pooja. After pooja, we have a nice simple lunch at canteen, and then come to room again at 1.30pm. Our room had no chair, but only a huge bed. As we sat on it, talking "Enough of sleep...lets go somewhere!!"......once again, as we were discussing this, we lazily lie down, and fall asleep.......zzzzzzzzzzz....!! Ha ha ha :D
Veda Vyas temple of Kashi-mutt, HaridwarWe wake up only at 4.30pm and laugh at ourselves for the way we fell asleep!! Looked like all our fatigue and lack of sleep from 8 days, was showing up now!! We were still feeling like sleeping, so we decided to do something fresh!! We pulled ourselves out of bed, and walked to the Ganga ghats near the temple. The ghats of our temple, is something I love!! Because Ganga is clean there, as very few come to these ghats. And more-over temperature is very high in Haridwar, so it is cooling to have dips here, unlike in earlier places, where the freezing weather does not let you do it. And not to forget, the absence of crowd.
Ganga ghats of VedaVyas temple.We have nice refreshing holy dips in Ganges. All fresh, we head to room, change to dry clothes and start off on an Phat-phatia (shared auto) to go to the famous Hari-Ki-Pauri Ganga ghats to see the Ganga aarthi. We had already seen most of Haridwar 2 yrs back , so decided only to do something relaxing.
Hari Ki PauriWe loafed around in the narrow, colorful crowded streets just observing and enjoying the sight of everything happening there. As we did this, we treated our taste buds with fresh made gulabjamun, rasmalai, dhokla etc. It was yummm...mmm !! ;-) In the rush, I hurt my toe nail badly in stampede and rushed to one of the doctors there. He gave me a tetanus injection :( After having dinner in a restaurant, we return to our room and sleep by 11.0pm!!
Day 10 :: May 30th- Friday :: Haridwar -New Delhi
We had our train to Delhi scheduled at 10.30 am. We wake up at 7.00 am, Pack up our bags, go to temple for Pooja, have breakfast and leave on an auto to the railway station by 9.15am. We reach Delhi at 2.30pm. Journey was quite un-eventful. We take a taxi to our relatives house there and spend the rest of the day there. We had seen most of Delhi couple of years back, so just spent quality time at their home.
Day 11 :: May 31st-Saturday :: New Delhi -Bangalore
We take our scheduled flight to Bangalore at around 3.30pm. Flight is usually the borest means of travel, with everyone busy in their own world. So I too spent the journey, dreaming and re-living some of the wonderful moments from our tour. We reached Bangalore airport and I loved the new Devanahalli airport. I felt it in par with the international airports I have seen in other countries. But saddest part was the bus journey from airport to Jayanagar. We started at 8.00pm from airport and after all traffic jams, reached Jayanagar at 10.00 pm!!!
It was a lovely feeling to be back home after 12 days of travel and tour!! Truly, no matter where we travel, at the end of everything, nothing can beat the feeling of returning to our HOME SWEET HOME !!!! :)
1 comment:
An absoluetly delicious, marvellous, mindboggling and, of course an extremly educating account of your journey. It was a sheer pleasure to read. I started reading from Bangalore and am feeling as if I had gone through the whole journey myself. Kudos and Cheers! And by the way, I reached your blog when I googled "Gourikund to Kedarnath" and of course I had expected some sort of account - but this is fantastic.
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