Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Mission accomplished - Back to the Square - Part [VIII]

Home alone, yes after spending over ten days all by myself, yesterday my family came back from the tour. During this period I also enjoyed a day with my students and of-course there was Laxmi Puja, which remembered for the prasads  that I have to consume on behalf of my family.
Now let me come to the last and concluding part of my tour. August 31, left Pipalkoti as our daily scheduled time, exactly 7am. Things were not as smooth as expected; we were stuck over one hour due to Landslide near Rudraprayg. We took that opportunity to have our breakfast. We also stopped by the Rudraprayag confluence for half hour. Four of our group members left us at this point. Suhash Kasande and  Suhash Kulkarni planned to visit Kedarnath so they decided to depart from here and Soumitra Biswas and Sutapa Biswas decided to stay back in Rudraprayg for the day.
On way to Hrishikesh ->
Rudraprayag named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers and at an altitude of 1000 m. The meeting of the Mandakini and Alaknanda  rivers has a unique beauty of its own and it seems as if two sisters were embracing each other. The entire region is blessed with immense natural beauty, places of religious importance, lakes and glaciers.
Rudraprayag ->>
This time too, we stopped at Srinagar for our lunch. This journey was not very pleasing one, sun was blazing and obviously it was very hot. Late afternoon we stopped by a small village for tea but I decided against it. Finally, we reached at GMVN Yatra office in Hrishikesh by six evening. From here onwards, all departed their own way. Madhusudhan Bhaiji and myself decided to lodge for the night at Gujarathi Bhavan, a mutt in Hrishikesh. Got nice hot meal served by the mutt, I was tired so gone to sleep immediately.
Village life hard way		Landslides		God is the painter
Hrishikesh or Rishikesh : is a city and in Dehradun district in the state of Uttarakhand. It is at an altitude of 372 metres (1,220 ft). It is located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located around 25 kilometres away from another holy city, Haridwar.
All from Mahabharata		Here comes Ganges		Born Free
Next morning, September 1, my return ticket booked for Upasana Express from Haridwar and scheduled time was night 11.55pm. Morning decided to go for little sight-seeing around Hrishikesh, Laxman Jhula and near by places only. Hopping around the temples is not a pleasure for me but visiting the bank of Ganges was a good one. After coming back to Gujarathi Bhavan had our lunch and packed our luggage. It was raining heavily, got an auto-Rickshaw and went to Hrishikesh station to catch the 2pm. Harishikesh-Haridwar train. Madhusudhan Bhaiji decided to get himself lodged in Gujarathi Bhavan but this time it was in Haridwar. For me it was just process of killing the remaining time. After a light dinner around 8pm. decided to go to the Haridwar station and waited there for the train.
River Bank		Laxman Jhula		Nature at its Best
There were no hitches, train was on time and boarded without any difficulties, but I reached in Kolkata well over 9 hour late. Indian Railways seems very rich; imagine the cost occurred to keep the coaches cool. Disembarked at 1pm on 3rd September, end of a memorable yet very successful trip. Hot and humid Kolkata climate welcomed me back with a big smile like ‘eureka! Got you ’. By 4pm., I was back to my worktable even I was tired.
I must thank a few people, Mr. Rathi, the bus driver, driving on those routes is very dangerous. The conductor of the bus, do not know him by his name, Mr. Narendra Rana the tour guide and last but not least to all my group members, their co-operation which mattered the most. While moving around Garhwal, two persons was always there in my mind, one is my late friend KS and other was a 18 years old and  innocent boy named Bharat, who worked in my office 30 years back as a peon and one day gone back home to join the Indian Army. I always treated him like my kid brother; both of these fellows were originally belongs to this district. Bharat wrote me a few letters but unfortunately, I was in aboard, by the time I received those he was not traceable. Hope he is living happily in one of those beautiful valleys.
Unbelievable, planning for next destination, this time with a few students and most probably heading same way. If it is going to happen it have to be next year itself. Because, I do not have another twenty-three years  in my hand to chase this one.
!!!Isolated? Just look within you, someone is always there to share all your emotions, your pains, gains, joys and sorrows, identify, you will always be in good company.!!! [Journey Concluded....]

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Culmination [Part - VII]

Life clocked back to normal after Durga Puja and believe it or not people in Kolkata is looking forward to October 3, 2011, the schedule for next year Durga Puja. I am all alone as folks are gone to North India and enjoying my space. Laxmi Puja will be the next celebration and that falls on October 22. Morning August 30, after bath had a very light breakfast, packed my luggage and boarded the bus. This time we were going back to Joshimath and then to Auli, famous for skiing and other winter sport. Auli : Altitude 3000 mts, is an important ski destination.Auli is surrounded by high peaks like Mana, Kamet and tallest of all Nanda Devi. Auli also boasts the Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car. The world's highest man-made lake is at Auli, right next to the private hotel, Clifftop Club. The government has developed this in view of creating artificial snow on the new ski slopes in the event of low snowfall.
Ropeway		Nanda Devi Peak?		Village House in Auli
Auli, sounds very poetic, One can reach there by the rope-way maintained by the GMVN. We altogether twenty-five person boarded in a single cable car. Induji and Kailashji decided to visit Sankaracharya Mutt instead and most probably Mr. Ahuja too skipped it but reason was unknown. Therefore, there were other reason for us to visit Auli, from here, one can view Nanda Devi peak, but weather was playing spoilsport, the day was very cloudy. On our way to Auli, we got Nanda Devi for a couple of minutes but it was difficult to click from inside a cable car where all twenty-five people standing very near to each other, so I missed that blink and miss opportunity.
World's highest man-made Lake		Ski slopes waiting for winter		A Lazy Gossip Session
After reaching Auli, we waited there for around two hours but clouds never had pity on us. Of-course during those two hours we enjoyed every bit of time with chitchat and gossip session over a hot cup of tea and pakodas that served by the makeshift restaurant over there. Once, we got back Induji, KailashJi and Mr. Ahuja joined us too. After about half hour bus ride we reached at Joshimath. Madhuri and Madhusudhan Gilda departed to join their relatives for another trip. Madhuji and myself decided against the lunch and just had a bottle milk and lassi, of-course Induji served us with some bananas while other group members had there respective lunch at the different restaurant. We started once more and after another two hours we reached at a small town/village known as PipalKoti, the place where we due to stop for the last night.
Nice place to Relax		Houses on the Slopes		The Peaks from Auli
Pipalkoti, a scenic town, is situated ten km from Birahi in Chamoli District. It is located at an elevation of about 1,219 m. Pipalkoti, is a busy town cradled in the lap of lush green mountain and terraced fields. GMVN was having a small hotel over there, it was modarate one for one night stop-over. Weather was better than other places so decided to dry up some wet clothes that I was carrying from Ghangaria. Once again night I had dinner with Induji and Madhuji. That was the last night for us, so after dinner we sat together in the hotel reception and had a nice little gossip session. Mr. Seth, Mr. Ahuja, Mr. Goyel, Mr. Mohan, Dr. Kahndelwal, Mr. Rajesh, Induji, Madhuji and myself all were there and finally retired for the day. Next day we supposed to back to Hrishikesh and there after our own destination. While lying down thinking about the tour where we were moving between 1000mt. to 4000mt., Sometime up and some time down.
Pipalkoti Village		GMVN TRH		Pipalkoti Step Farming
!!!Up’s or Down’s is just a normal process of our life, no carrier is available to take you up and  there is no break available that can be appliy to prevent you from going down.!!!

[Journey Cont..]

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – From the edge and to the God [ Part - VI ]

It is Durga Puja time in Kolkata, this year decided to stay back at home during this break. My folks will leave for Uttarakahand on October 16, so I will be all alone for this ten days but work will start from coming Monday. Today, October 14, it is Maha-Saptami and believe me or not, Kolkata is rocking. Let me get back to my OXY-Tour, August 29, it was time to bid adieu from the heaven. Once again it was raining and we had to start early, we took two horses from a boy named Raju. Once again I was in company of Madhuji. Same route through which we had gone up to Ghangaria looked very dangerous due to rain. It was very scary while sitting on a horseback and on the mercy of it. Madhuji was very worried about Goyelji, who was behind, but finally she was relieved when she got the news from Suhash about Goyelji’s safety. We stopped by a tea stall and had a very light breakfast. Reached Govindghat around 11.30, it was very hot, the fifteen minutes walks from the bridge to Badrinath road where GMVN bus was waiting for us was a tiring one. It was nice to see Madhusdhan Bhaiji back with the group. We left for Mana Village. Mana Village : It is the last village on the Indo-Tibet border. Many places famous in Hindu mythology lie close to Mana Village such as Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Bhimpul and Vasudhara falls. Mana Village10248 ft above sea level and with a population of around 3000 to 5000. is
First sight of  Mana Village		A typical  Village House		Waterfall
I was feeling bit down and tired, so decided to stay back. While moving around met Mr. Ahuja, who was there in a village tea shop. We talked about different topic for sometime until all other members returned. Once all were back, immediately we moved towards Badrinath. Many of our group members were already been there but it was first time for me. I am not a religious person and failed to believe about God existence in temple. My idea about god is one who is always within me as my friend and guardian and tells me what’s right and what’s wrong, often I may not listen to him but most of the time I consider myself to be an obedient one, at the same time I cannot overlook my roots and my orthodox upbringing. Badrinath : It has an average elevation of 11,204 feet. Located on the right bank of river Alaknanda, is one of the four Dhams that a devout Hindu has to visit in his lifetime to attain salvation. Known as 'Tapobhoomi' (land of meditation and penance) and 'Bhubaikunth' (heaven on earth). It is surrounded on either side, by two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan, with the Neelkanth peak, providing a spectacular backdrop. Badrinath was re-established as a major pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. In the Mahabharata, Krishna, addressing Arjuna, says, "Thou wast Nara in a former body, and, with Narayana for thy companion, didst perform dreadful austerity at Badari for many myriads of years." The mountains around Badrinath are mentioned in the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas are said to have ended their life by ascending the slopes of a peak  called Swargarohini
Badrinath Temple		Badrinath Temple at night		Hot spring
We reached Badrinath by 3pm and lodged in GMVN hotel named DEVLOK, the place was at a stone throwing away from the famous temple. I am not very comfortable bathing with full view so instead of taking a bath in hot spring the one was at temple, decided to bath at the hotel bathroom and then visited the temple immediately. Surprised to see that a temple at stature of Badrinath look deserted, while performing puja there were couple of people present apart from myself. After puja I stayed back for an hour and stroll around the temple, clicked a few photos, one of my best photo came from this spot. A peeping  mountain peak with all glory and blessed with sun shine, while other neighbouring mountains were covered by thick cloud. At Night had food with Madhuji and Induji at the hotel restaurant and finally retired for the day. I was more relaxed because all major destinations of our tours were almost over.
Incoming Devotees		Sun’s step Motherly behavior		At the dusk

!!!If presence of God in ones life gives peace and harmony then why so much destruction in the name of religion?!!!

[Journey Cont...]

Cloud Nine Ecstasy – Over the Clouds, at Guru’s Doorstep [Part – V]

Today, October 7, a very auspicious day for Hindus, it is Mahalaya. This day, when an invocation and invitation given to the mother goddess to rise, awake and descend on earth to wipe out the evils. In addition, start of Devi Paksha, people offer Tarpan in the memory of their deceased ancestors. After many years got up in the morning and was listening the age-old recital of Chandi sholaka from none other than Lt. Birendra Krishna Bhadra and company. In this era of satellite television nothing can compare to that piece, it is just incomparable. Therefore, Navaratri will start from tomorrow and seven days countdown just started for Durga Puja. Now, let me continue with my tour diary. Hemkund Sahib: The place is famous for the Gurudwara that known as Sri Hemkund Sahib, it is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru and it is a Sikh worship-place. Hemkund with a glacial lake surrounded by seven mountain peaks. Situated at an altitude of 15,000 ft., only accessible by foot from Ghangaria but now this day’s one can hire a horse to reach there.
Handshake with Cloud		Cloud Covered Lake		Flowers
Next morning, August 28, all mountain peaks fully covered by dark clouds, the sight was not encouraging. After bath and tea when we were all set, it started drizzling. Mr. Rana, tour guide asked us to put on our raincoats, it was very cold too. Hemkund sahib, six-kilometer stiff trekking from 10000ft. to 15000ft. and equally difficult for any horse rider. Started early but the route was narrow and it was raining. It was dangerous but at the same time it given a rare experience, climbing a mountain and rain was pouring down. Clouds and clouds hardly could see anything below. I was with Madhuji, her husband Goyelji decided to dropout from this trip from the midway and gone back to the hotel. Some of my group members too decided to skip this tour, among others Induji and Kailashji decided to visit Valley of Flowers once more and Madhusudhan Bhaiji surprised everyone with his decision to return back to Govindghat a day earlier. Stopped for fifteen minutes at a tea stall but never had anything over there. On the way could not take any snap as it was raining but just before entering Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, for the first time got the view of the flower which we heard all along, “Brahma Kamal’, a rare lotus, in Hindu mythology it is believed that this flower use for worshiping Lord Brahma, the god of creations.
Brahma Kamal		The Glacial Lake		Holy Dip by Pilgrimages
When we reached at Hemkund Sahib, all seven peaks were cover by cloud and water in the lake was very cold but slowly sun shows up. After washing our hand in the lake, we visited the Gurudwara and then to langar, where they served us hot tea and khichdi, had both, it was marvelous feeling while eating a bowl of hot food at that time and that altitude, it tasted like nectar. Langars in all Gurudwars always fascinate me a lot, only place where rich and poor eating same food without any fuss. That make the Sikh community apart from other Indian and whole world too, no mater where they are and how difficult it is they will always ready to feed the hungry one. I visited many famous Gurudwars, includes Golden temple, Anandpur Sahib, Manikaran and one in Singapore too. Singapore Gurudwara, which I visited many times during my stay over there. stayed over there for one and half-hour and then returned to Ghangaria, this trip was more dangerous than one which when we gone up. By mid afternoon we were back and instantly dropped to my bed. That particular evening tried to explore Ghangaria a bit, Bought two Kada (bangles made out of steel) from near by shop, then visited the Ghangaria Gurudwara, the biggest concrete structure can be seen in Ghangaria, remembered that there was one just near the bridge of Govindghat. The Sikh pilgrimages those comes from different parts of India get their first halt at Govindghat Gurudwara, then trek to Ghangaria, where they rest for the day in this Gurudwara and next morning they proceed to Hemkund Sahib. Therefore, all their woes taken care off, but still it is very tough journey. One thing that I missed out the forest that situated just behind the GMVN TRH, because by the time it was discover it was very dark to visit the place. Hope will come back again, sometime. Night decided to skip the dinner and instead took a hot glass of milk and gone to sleep. Looking forward to the next day, have to go back to Govindghat, down the hill and the same fourteen-kilometer route.
The Langar		The Gurudwara		Coming Back

!!!Blind folded steps, fifty-fifty chances, just forget the equation, it is worth taking.!!!

[Journey Cont….]