Pahado Ki Rani:Mussorie

Travel Alone Day 4 Part 2

I reached Mussorie and got blank, because I had thought I will first got to Kempty Fall and then decide which Spot to travel (in Mussorie)  from there only, but I reached Mussorie first. I already had the details ki Mussorie me kaun-2 si ghumne ki jagah hai. I prepared my mind to visit Laal Tibba first; It is th highest point in Mussorie. Let me tall you one more interesting fact about Mussorie, It is situated 6000ft above sea level and is also known as Pahado ki Rani. Now I was moving towards Laal Tibba, with a heavy bag on my back. I started my journey, by asking the route, local guyz told me cross the Mall Road, then after check point go upwards and upwards. It was like 5km vertical cum round route. Meri to chalte chalte halat kharab hogai thi. Normally people prefer going there by vechicle, par apne ko to paise bachane the. As I was marching, two-3 taxis came near me and said “will take you up, just pay us rs300” I denied. Some driver also added “will also drop you back in mussorie with a total sum of rs500.” But I sticked to my plaan and went on foot only. En route I got some lifts also, but only for 1-2km. I must tell you in pahado ke bich bike par ghumne ke alag hi maze hai. If you have a beloved 1 take her to Mussorie and travel on bike there, arrange bike anyhow, and enjoy the nature with 1 and only one.

I saw a gurudwara, I thought that I should put my bag here and collect it at return time. There was no Pandit(actually I don’t know ki gurudware ke panditji ko kya bolte hain, for That I am sorry), I waited there for 10 mins to see if he returns, my badluck, he didn’t.

As I reached a relaxing station, one man called me and said “hey Bro please have a seat for some time, you must be tired,we have been watching you right from Gurudwara”. I said ok I should take some rest. He was from Delhi, we talked a little, he told me “ki mussorie me sirf Laal Tibba and Gunhill point dekhne layak hai, baaki to kempty fall, just 1 fall hai(I feel relieved kyoki me vaha nahi ja paya thaa) and company garden sirf Garden”. Now at this point, I made my mind that first Ill complete Laaltibba then Gunhill point and then Over with mussorie. Lest see that jaisa socha hai vaisa hota hai yaa nahi.I said by to my new friend and started my journey again, he said we are also coming, you carry on. I said Ok.  

As I was completely exhausted, at one point I thought to take a shortcut, by climbing mountain rather than going by road. I tried that but two cleaner came and said you will waste your time by going this way, go by road only. I came down and with new zeal started my journey again. Now I saw a woman going upwards, and a car came (a Govt Car). Woman got in that; I thought apan bhi chale chalo, lift mil gai. The driver said “who are you”, I said “a student”, he said “so” I also added “so”, he said close the door, I got in car and closed it, he said “I said close the door and you came in” I said “aapne andar aane ka kab mana kara”. He said “get out”, I said “to aisa bolo na ki bithaoge nahi” He said “this is not a taxi”. I came down laughed a lot and said to myself “to apan kaunsa taxi ke rupe dene waale the”.

After travelling few more I got a lift by a bike rider, who dropped me to 4 corner point. It is a spot 1km before Laal Tibba. The rider said your bag is too heavy, put it in a shop. I went to one of the shops, and said I want to put my bag here, the shopkeeper (a beautiful girl) said OK.Please put it in a corner. As I was leaving the store, I asked for a Mazaa, she gave me. She asked “aap kitni der me vapas aajaoge?” I said just half hour “yu gaya aur yu aaya”. I was running now (since I didn’t had backpack), I saw a man at a relaxing station, he was smoking cigarette and his bike was parked nearby. Although he seemed dangerous sort, still I confirmed route from him. He enquired “akele aaye ho”. I was scared ki kahin akela dekh kar, he might do something to me (aur vahan dur dur tak koi banda/bandi dikahi nahi de raha tha). I replied “haaa me akela hi kaiyo ke barabar hu”.(aisa reply sunkar koi kya mujhe kuch karne ki sochega). I reached Laal Tibba Finally; saw Mussorie from there, via binoculars. As I forgot my camera in bag only, I asked other tourists to take my pic and mail me. (Aaj tak nahi kiya unhone).

Now I returned to 4 corner shop. I saw It was a cyber café, the same girl said its 20rs for half hour, I said OK, I used there PC for 7 mins and said I am done, she still charged me 20rs. I thought in mind (chalo bag rakhne ke rupe de diye, kam se kam kisi ka ehsaan ni liya apan ne). Now I was returning to Mussorie, buyed one more mazaa from her, just as I left her shop, my Delhi friend (who told me about gunhill point) reached there. I was going back and he just came. He said wait for us till we return, we will go mussorie together, I said maybe / may notbe. Because I had to cover Gunhill Point, the same day. I waited for 5min and started going downwards, soon I got a lift which was for around 3-4km. So it was easy to come down.

Travel Alone Day4 and the LAST day

Since It was a long day, I will write this day in parts.

I woke up early in the morning in Dehradoon. Hurried and got ready, cleared my bed. I went to manager and said I am done here, I want to check out, but ill keep my bag here till I come back from Buddha Temple/Monastries, I was hungry at that time, so I first went to a restaurant ordered 2 parathas, as I saw next table, parathas were were very big so I called the waiter to cancel 1 paratha, he did not, I requested him to pack that for me. He said since our service is very fast, we can’t cancel order. After having breakfast I went to Buddha temple, it was good, I returned back to hotel in around 2hrs, the manager said “kya attendance lagane gae the kya? Itni jaldi aa gae ”. I said I am fast.

Next spot was Sahastradhar, I said manager I m leaving now for sahatradhara, he said its very far, so put your bag here only, since it was a sardars hotel I believed on him. I went to sahastradhara, It’s a waterfall having natural swimming pools in it, with depth of only 2.5ft, so small children can also play there. Remember to have your undergarments and towel with you before going there. I stayed there for some time, then I purchased some gifts for my close ones (me too). You can have bhaav-taav in that market. After this I returned to hotel took my bag, said a final goodbye to manager and went to railway station to catch a train for mussorie. Soon I knew that trains don’t go to mussorie, so I came back to bus station and get in line to catch the bus. After some time a conductor came and said passangers for kempty fall get in bus, Kempty fall is 5-6kmz ahead of mussorie. As I wanted to save time, I thought let us get in this bus, first will see kempty then mussorie.

But God has different plans for me, since there was traffic in mussorie entrance some passengers left the bus, I thought I ask my neighbors, I want to roam Mussorie, is it ok to leave the bus , they said “yaa, u can njoy mussorie from here only”. (Actually you should first go to Kempty fall then come back to mussorie).

Now we will Travel Mussorie in next parts……….   

Narmada Maiya Ki Jai

Visited Omkareshwar on Tuesday 14^th Aug. So it goes in this way…

I was preparing a paper for International Confrence in Lucknow at Passi Mam’s house. I got a call from my cousin, since I was talking to Passi mam, so I didn’t received the call at that time, he called me twice, but I has no choice. As he seemed eager to talk to me I called him as soon as I came out. He told me about the plan and to bring cam if I came there (Hidden agenda).

I said Ok, Ill confirm you when Ill reach home. I talked to Mom about the same, she agreed, I also agreed as I thought, It does not look good to say No.

Next Morning, I got up early and went to school to teach my students. When the car arrived at my place, my mom called me, I hurried back to home thereby taking half day from school. Masaji told the driver to take exit via Navlakha, but the driver said, will take from Bhavarkuan only, so we had to take few zig zag routes to come out from Bhavarkuan.

We stopped at roadside store to buy Corn, my cousin sister really took half hour just to buy 8 corns. She was having bhav-taav with the seller. Next our car stopped at Shani Navgrah mandir. After some time we crossed Mortakka Bridge. When we were there, water level was 10-15 ft below bridge, but just before 10 days water level was 10 ft above the bridge. Local people say that, it broke the record of last 13 years. After looking at the bridge you can’t imagine ki paani is bridge ke 10 ft upar tak gaya hoga!!.

We reached Mamleshwar opposite bank of Omkareshwar. Since the river had sppedy flow, so people started taking bath at Mamleshwar side only. Masaji, 3 cousins took bath, while me, mom, masi and jiyag did not. As they were going to have bath, one of my cousin told me to have a watch on masaji’s trouser, as it has money. Just a minute later a man came towards me and said that there are some notes dropped from our clothes. I asked cousin to get them. She handed them to me, saying they do not belong to her. Few minutes later same man again came to me and said two more coins are there. At this time I thought he is trying to make me fool, he might have heard my sister’s sentence regarding “to have a look on masaji’s trouser’. I told him I don’t want this money. It appeared to me as he was constantly looking at me for another 5-10 minutes. God knows he was telling lies or not.

When I was sitting there I saw the loss of property caused due to 20ft high water waves. Lot of shops at the bank collapsed. Shopkeepers were making new ones.

After bath, we had Darshan of Omkareshwar. And went upstairs in the temple, I never had been there, It was completely a secret place and so is the name of God there “Gupteshvar”. Now we went to see big murtis of Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman.

 Then we came to our car, and went to nagar nigam bagicha of Omkareshwar to have lunch. I also gave some to the driver. One incident to add here is that, when I asked our Driver, what is his name twice he did not replied, by look he seemed a Muslim, I just don’t understand, when I knew this, still I gave him parsad, but he didn’t told us his name.

In last we saw Dadaji’s ashram just after crossing Mortakka Bridge in Barwaha. 

We also requested our driver to take us to tincha fall, for which he has to take extra 20km round, for which he said Ill charge you extra 800rs, we refused the deal, and came back Indore, I had to met one of my friend, so they dropped me at navlakha Bridge. After meeting my friend I came back to my  Home Sweet Home.    

Samanvaya and Me

Social Animal

It is said that “Man is a social Animal”, but do you think, it is real. If man would have been rightly social, all the problems of today’s generation would have not been generated. It is a story about how I came to understand real problems of society, big meanings behind small things, and practical problems of common man. It all started with a call, one (Tasneem) of my friends called me to wish me happy Diwali, we talked for few minutes and I asked her what was she doing, she told me she is going to donate few things to poor people with her friend (Tabbasum). As I had pre interest in such activities, I requested her to allow me to join, she confirmed this with Tabbasum and I joined them. Tabbasum told me about a socio youth organization run by two educationists Dr. Passi and Dr (Mrs.) Passi. She invited me to attend the meetings of the group. Since that day, I am working with Samanvaya. In the starting I was a bit irregular but when I was given a topic (RTE), and I was made a speaker of one session, I become regular in the meetings; soon I was given office bearer post by Passi mam. Now I had a responsibility, so I became more concerned about the activities of the group and now I was an integral part of Samanvaya. Samanvaya has four sub groups in it Srijan, Safalta, Seva and Samarpan, since I had interest in Seva activities; I took the responsibility of that sub group. In Safalta and Srijan we generally have dialogue. In Safalta we think holistically. In each and every meet I have learned a new thing, my perspective of seeing people has changed completely. I am still with Samanvaya and have gained a lot in last 3 years. I hope I can give more than what I have gained from the group to the Society only then I will be able to call myself a Social Animal.

Travel Alone Day3 Part3

Travel Alone Day3 Part3

So I came back from Gucchu Point (Robbers Cave) via lift, and started searching a low fare hotel. I was travelling from one square to other in search of Hotel in Vikram (Auto rickshaw name). Let me tell you one incident of Vikram, there is a bell placed on the ceiling of vikram, its purpose is to put it on, so a sound comes which tells the driver to stop. As  I took my seat in that, I saw that switch, I thought it’s a light switch, since it was dark, I tried to put it on, bell rang. All the people in Vikram laughed, including me. That was fun, but soon driver stopped and told a girl to step down, the girl said Y, he said u rang the bell na, I interrupted the conversation saying that it was me.

Vikram Picture

One more incident of another Vikram, I stepped into next Vikram and told him that I have to go to certain place, that place passed way back, and he might have shouted saying the spots name, but I didn’t understood that time, and now we reached at last spot till where Vikram goes, it was 10’ O clock in night, Vikram driver said “ur stop has passed away, now take another Vikram and reach there, We also don’t like to leave our passengers at wrong place in night, but you should have stepped out there only” I can only say I didn’t had idea.

 I crossed d road to catch another Vikram and I was starving, immediately I saw a restaurant in front of me. It looked costly but I was hungry so I went there, as no one else than restaurant workers was there, I asked Manager, is it open, he said yes, I saw menu, every item was above 150, so I ordered a pizza least cost item there costing Rs120. I enquired about the hotel room, he also saw me travelling alone, as many people have noticed, from the start.

 He told me about a low cost hotel, but a marriage was goin on there, so I asked more people about room, one fellow told me cross the road and you will find one, I went there. Manager said me 350, I said ill come later, and went to its neighbor hotel he said 600, I became mad. As I came out of 2^nd one a rickshaw driver saw me, he said “need a room”, I said yes but I have only 200rs for that, he said “ok give me 30rs and Ill get you a room for 200” I said ”In case u did not find that room, you have to drop me here only”. He said ok, since he was a sardar I believed on him. He took me to just Next Street to a hotel named Oriental Hotel, there was a dormitory available at just Rs100, I agreed easily. I gave Rs30 to driver for finding room and manager a100rs note. Now first time I called my badepapa about my travelling, he got angry a little, and said “you should have told us, hum mana thori karte”. And handed phone to my bigbrother, he enquired “kaun-2 hai sath me” I said “am alone”. Bigdad piche se aur ghussa hogae. Then I got into the dorm room on my bed, drank 2 glasses of water, so that subah uthte se I get fresh, and then I went to sleep. 

Dorm Room Picture

My Heart

Something happened today because of which I could not resist myself writing this one.

Forbid me for writing some other things rather than my travelling. Today I am going to tell you what I really think, what my heart says, what my mind speaks. This post may help my enemies in case there are to have emotional weapons against me, and my well wishers to understand and help me.

As I am afraid to open my complete heart in front of all, Ill write only few details…

Let us start from friends only, if I can have few exceptions, rest all my friends are like, they use me when they need, rest of the time, they won’t remember me. Well this is how it is and I do not blame anyone for this. I myself might have done many times. But at least I don’t say words like “time nahi hai” or “I have other priorities” or any other false excuses. I have seen many of my friends finding out time for a lot of other things, but for me, they easily make excuses. What I think is a weakness in me which helps so called friends to behave with me like this. Let us not go into the details of weakness.

Coming to relatives, if I look beyond close ones, they are also the same, they will remember me when they need me, rest times they might forget. Still few closed ones always remember me, and I am happy with that. I also take care of them, as soon as I got to know they need me. One more thing to add many of my relatives think I am angry young man, but they don’t call me Amitabh Bacchan, I don’t know why?

Strangers, since I meet strangers for a very short interval of time, they seem to be nice to me.

Now let me tell you how I treat people. First I treat them as regular casual friend, and if they come close to me, I treat them precious, ready to do anything and everything for them even if they consider me trash Next stage comes when they start considering me worse than trash; I keep myself calm and give them everything I can. Now the worst scenario comes if my infinite limit gets over and they still treat me the same. I throw them out of my life completely. But yes they have made their footprints on my heart, so there will be a special place for them in my heart. I can just put them out of my life but not from my heart.

Travel Alon Day3 part2

Dehradoon a place where cool people live, really people of Dehradoon have helping nature. Dehradoon is capital of Uttrakhand, since I saw CM’s house when I was passing for a picnic spot.

Lets come on my journey. I reached Dehradun in eve, and started getting details of all picnic spots nearby. One rickshaw driver gave me complete details that there are 3 points worth watching. Gucchu point (robbers cave), saidhara(later I knew it is actually Sahastradhara) and Buddha Temple. He said since it is eve, so we can only view one point either saidhara or gucchu point, since saidhara was sounding like a temple, which I already seen in the morning only. So I asked him how much for gucchu point, he said Rs200, it was a big amount for me, so I said him Ill come later if I want to go. To confirm the fare I asked a local vendor, about the route to gucchu point and its fare. He said me hire a Vikram (taxi name) and go to parade ground and then hire a bus, it will take me to gucchu point and further 2kms downwards pedal yatra. I did the same, as soon as I entered Gucchu point it mesmerized me. It was waterfall, but to reach there I had to go in between the mountains on foot in water nearly 500m-700m in the cave.

I removed my shoes and put them in my backpack, I had to carry my bag on my shoulders only, I had no choice. When I put my foot in water people nearby which came out of cave were talking about snakes in the cave, I scared listening this. I thought pahle hi to apan hoshiyari me akele aa gae hain aur koi saanp kaatkhaya to ghar vale bolenge “aur jao akele ghumne firne”. However I went in the cave for 50m and decided to quit. Since it was all dark

And all people were coming out only, I thought If I go in and there is no one and if something happens to me no one will know till the next day. I came out of the point, and started going 2kms upwards; I was tired like hell after covering so long distances from morning. Still I took lift from gucchu point stop and reached parade ground.

Abhi 3^rd Day ki kahani baaki hai, abhi raat bhi to baki hai…..