An exam trip to Varanasi

Varanasi or Benaras, situauted on the bank of the Ganges is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited cities on Earth. The first time I had set foot on this holy land was in August 2017 when my train decided to change it's route on way to Delhi. I had to get down here and continue my journey to Allahabad on bus. However it was not long when I got my second opportunity to visit this famed city. CSIR NET December 2017. As I was staying in Allahabad, Varanasi was the closest exam centre. Though I was on tight schedule I managed to visit a few spots within the approx. 24 hours I was in the city. So this is my encounter with the holy city.

Walking Through the temples of Khajuraho

19th to 22nd October a long Diwali weekend. I was by then well settled in Allahabad and was eagerly waiting to make a trip to the 17th Indian state on my list - Madhya Pradesh. I planed this two day trip to Khajuraho.

Since no direct trains were available on 19th I got a current reservation ticket till Mahoba aboard the 11108 Bundelkhand Express. The train was scheduled to arrive at 10 pm but was an hour behind in Allahabad. I reached Mahoba at around 4 am next morning. From Mahoba I continued my journey on 22448 UP Sampark Kranti Express. The slip route from Mahoba to Khajuraho takes one across the beautiful Bundelkhand plateau. I reached Khajuraho station at around 7 am. I hopped onto a share auto that would drop me near the Western group of temples 10 km away(auto fare is usually rupees 10 per person for a share ride). 

Khajuraho is located in the Bundelkhand region of Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The town is situated within a picturesque back drop of the Vindhya Mountain Range and is surrounded by Khodar river in the south and Ken river in the northeast.

An Xtended weekend in Pondicherry

Pondicherry was on my cards ever since I settled down south here in Karaikudi. It was about 300km away but one year went by and it was still in the bucket list.

September 2016. A three day long weekend on Ganesh Chaturthi - I finally convinced myself for the trip.

2nd September 2016. Friday. I boarded the Cape-Pondicherry Express from Karaikudi Junction at 7:40 pm. I had a waiting-list ticket which luckily had got confirmed to sleeper class (SL)  upper berth.

Day-1. 3rd September 2016. Saturday.  Woke up at around 4:10am. The train was at halt at Villupuram Jn. Here the locomotive reverses its direction to pull away from the main route to Pondicherry. It was pitch dark but the Indian Railway vendors were already into business with their tea-coffee.

An hour more and the train finally pulled into Puducherry station. I made out of the station and headed to Rock Beach. As I walked the 700m distance I could hear the loud roaring of the waves and then the pitch dark Bay of Bengal lay before me. The Goubert Avenue runs along the rock beach. No vehicles are allowed from dusk to dawn leaving it solely for pedestrians.  The beach was pretty filled with early risers. I found a place to settle down at least till it's time for the guest houses to open.

Rock Beach

Torturing God

An early morning visit to the temple and this is what came to my mind while seeing the rituals at this Hanuman temple. The idol was of black stone and around 1.5 feet high. The priest had just finished bathing the idol and was wrapping a small white dhoti around it. Then a colourful cloth was tied as a waist band. Another metal idol but smaller was placed near it's feet. Next came the flower garlands. . . 1 . . 2 . . . I thought this was done. But wait here came in 3, 4 and 5. I could only see it's small stone face while none could guess the presence of the metal idol. A few more garlands of flower and tulsi and leaves were used to decorate the shrine. It seemed someone was buried in flowers and leaves. The priest was still not done. Chandan and saffron tika was applied on the forehead, earlobes and feet. Finally something white may be curd or cream was applied on the neck completing the makeup. It was time for the actual prayer with incense sticks and oil lamps and the ringing of bells. All this time I was wondering if all these were done to a live human he would surely have done a court case!!! Thank GOD it was just an idol. So why are we torturing Gods??? 

Extending this thought what if someone makes you sit by force and keeps pouring milk or water all day? This is I guess what happens to Lord Shiva. Not just one temple but across thousands of them across the world. 

I guess when we cannot handle this, even God should be spared. 

A trip to Hyderabad-Secunderabad

The year 2016 was to begin for me in a new place --- Secunderabad. I was here on a medical tourism. After the medical requirements being fulfilled it was time to address tourism. I was here for nine days this is Hyderabad-Secunderabad in my view.

• Birla Mandir = Located on a hillock near the Hussain Sagar lake, this white marble temple of Lord Venkateshwara offers a wonderful glipse of the city settled around the lake. Sit here in peace and cherish the God's eye view of the buzzling city.

Birla Mandir

 An idol on the premises of the mandir

The lake & the city