On 15th July 017 early morning myself and my wife got into our Ola Taxi and reached the Central railway station Chennai. We were a bit early for our train. We were to catch the Garib Rath to Delhi_Hazrat Nizzamuddin. We were on a two week trip to Haridwar, Varanasi, Mussoorie, Dehradun and Varanasi.
The travel by Garib Rath was good, fast, cheap and on time. We reached Delhi only half hour late i.e. by 11 am next day. We went to the New Delhi Railway station by bus. After lunch in a small restaurant we were in the platform for more than two hours. The layover time was more than four hours. There was lot of commotion in the platform because of Kanwar Yatra. Many people flocking to Haridwar for the Holy dip in the Ganges. Our train Jan Shatapti to Haridwar reached Haridwar late by nearly two hours. It was 9.30 pm by the time we reached the Hotel. Had dinner and rested overnight.
The travel by Garib Rath was good, fast, cheap and on time. We reached Delhi only half hour late i.e. by 11 am next day. We went to the New Delhi Railway station by bus. After lunch in a small restaurant we were in the platform for more than two hours. The layover time was more than four hours. There was lot of commotion in the platform because of Kanwar Yatra. Many people flocking to Haridwar for the Holy dip in the Ganges. Our train Jan Shatapti to Haridwar reached Haridwar late by nearly two hours. It was 9.30 pm by the time we reached the Hotel. Had dinner and rested overnight.
Hotel Aditya is where we stayed in Haridwar. It is right next to Vishnu Ghat with its own private Ghat. The hotel is neat clean and spacious. We stayed in non-Ganges facing rooms. But spent time sitting on the banks of Ganges with the chair provided by the Hotel. The rooms were average sized, neat and clean bathrooms with hot water. There is a small kitchen with limited but good food. If your aim is to bathe in the Ganges then this is the place to be in. The hotel is value for money.
We got up in the morning and had a bath in the Ganges. Mentally energizing though the water was cold. After the breakfast in the hotel we set out for a walk seeing the enormous crowd of the Kanwar Yatris. The never ending slogan of "Bham Bham Bole". Then we proceeded to Mansa Devi temple. Since the vehicles are banned in most of the roads, one has to walk towards most of the places.
One can walk up the small hillock or else take the rope way. They charge Rs.75/- for the ropeway. We took the ropeway and worshipped the goddess Mansa Devi. There was a heavy crowd and I lost my mobile in the rush. So I rushed back to the room called the call center and blocked my number. The afternoon was spent on buying a new mobile phone and another SIM but the SIM did not get activated because it is in a different Telecom circle.
On the way back to the room we went to Maya Devi temple which is one of the Sakthi sthals. An important temple which draws less visitors and is not known to many. Rest of the evening was spent on downloading the apps in my new mobile and a long walk along the Ganges. Spent some time sitting on the banks of the Ganges . After dinner packed the belongings and next day after the breakfast took a cycle rickshaw to the railway station.
Just for a fare of Rs.10/- in a passenger train we went to Rishikesh. After nearly two hours of journey we reached the Rishikesh station and took an auto to reach our Hotel Trihari.
Hotel Trihari, Rishikesh is a nice place to stay well maintained rooms if you are in the last room then you can have the view of the hills. The ambience of the restaurant is also very good.
After lunch and brief rest we started for a long walk. Our first stop was the ISKCON temple - the Madhuban Ashram, a comparatively small but beautiful temple which has a hotel and restaurant also. After attending the 'aarti' there we continued our walk towards Lakshman Jhula. Due to the Kanwar Yatra even walking was made one way and we had to walk through the circuitous route to reach the Laksshman Jhula.
We took a little rest near the Lakshman Jhula. View of the Ganges from the Jhula was great. The fast flowing and turbulent waters of the Holy Ganges. But what we saw on the other banks of the Jhula made it remember for days to come.
It was the Tryambakeshwar temple. Definitely what looked like a shopping complex with shuttered shops turned out to be a eleven story temple with most of the innumerous Hindu gods. Being a Hindu to me it was wonderful. The view of the Ganges from the top of the temple was great.
To cap it we participated in the Ganga Aarti of the temple which unlike the public aarti's was more pious and holy being conducted inside the temple campus and was also less crowded. We felt blessed at the end of the day and walked back to our Hotel after having a light dinner.
To cap it we participated in the Ganga Aarti of the temple which unlike the public aarti's was more pious and holy being conducted inside the temple campus and was also less crowded. We felt blessed at the end of the day and walked back to our Hotel after having a light dinner.
The next day morning it was a visit to Triveni Ghat, it was nearly a 2 km walk. On the way we went to a small temple with a small museum attached to it. It was nice.
In the Triveni Ghat both myself and my wife had a holy bath in the Ganges. The water current was very high so one venture further than the second step in the ghat. One has to use small mugs to take bath, no dip is possible.
Back to the room after the bath and a good lunch. We ventured back to Triveni Ghat again in the evening to watch the Ganga Aarti. It was good. But the earlier days aarti was more intimate and holy.
In the Triveni Ghat both myself and my wife had a holy bath in the Ganges. The water current was very high so one venture further than the second step in the ghat. One has to use small mugs to take bath, no dip is possible.
Back to the room after the bath and a good lunch. We ventured back to Triveni Ghat again in the evening to watch the Ganga Aarti. It was good. But the earlier days aarti was more intimate and holy.
The next day after breakfast we got into an auto to the main bus stand. The bus stand is quite close the hotel. Auto charges were only Rs.50/- Our next destination was Missouri. There was no direct bus to Missouri, we took a bus to Dehradun, the fare was around Rs.50/- per person. The route was very good, lined with trees on either side. The journey took more than two hours. In Dehradun we had to go from our dropping point to the "Hill bus stand" which was near the Railway station. We took an auto to the new bus stand and at 1 pm we got the bus to Missouri. After crossing the city the bus climbed atop the hill, the rise was sharp. The bus was full and the bus conductor was a lady who looked like a college going girl. The travel route was quite scenic. By 2.30 pm we reached the "Picture palace" bus stand of Missouri. The bus stop was lined with taxis. The place got its name from the theatre which was there earlier. My Hotel was quite close and we walked. But the climb was steep to reach the hotel.
We were staying in Hotel Super in Missouri, it is close to the Mall road and the Picture Palace bus stand, the reason I chose it. Since it was late I ordered lunch with the Hotel. The lunch was horrible to say the least. We took some rest and went for a long walk. Had dinner on the Mall road.
After a good night's sleep and freshening up, we went to Lovely Omelet and a good bread & omelet. Lovely Omelet is a famous shop and he has been on many travel magazines and TV. The break fast was good.
We were staying in Hotel Super in Missouri, it is close to the Mall road and the Picture Palace bus stand, the reason I chose it. Since it was late I ordered lunch with the Hotel. The lunch was horrible to say the least. We took some rest and went for a long walk. Had dinner on the Mall road.
After a good night's sleep and freshening up, we went to Lovely Omelet and a good bread & omelet. Lovely Omelet is a famous shop and he has been on many travel magazines and TV. The break fast was good.
After breakfast we continued our walk in the Mall road it was good experience to walk. After the end of the Mall road we continued towards the Company Garden which is a small garden with a restaurant, wax museum, and a small boat house strictly for kids. We were back in Mall road for lunch. It was more than 10 km walk in total.
In the evening we went for a stroll in the Mall road. Its a nice place to relax , have a walk in the Mall road and do nothing. The next day we were on to Dehradun in the bus. The bus reached by noon and our hotel was close to the Hill bus stand & Railway station.
In the evening we took an auto to the Forest Research Institute or FRI in short. It is a huge place with a beautiful very long lawn and a wonderful large building. The building is an architectural marvel and it houses the tree museum. Though I did not go inside the museum, I spent nearly an hour feasting on the beauty of the building and the lawn. Next our visit was to the Tapkeshwar temple.
Tapkaleshwar temple is one of the old temples in Dehradun and very holy. There was heavy rain when we visited. We felt the holiness and peace exude throughout the place. We returned back to the room. We went for a small walk and my wife twisted her ankle and fell down. She had a muscle tear. The pain increased heavily over the night. Next day was a Sunday and most of the hospital were on leave and we went to Dehradun medical college and showed her leg in the Emergency. She was given an injection and semi plaster was put on her leg. Next day we visited the hospital again and no fracture was observed. But we were grounded for two days and it was not possible to go out anywhere.
Next day evening we got our train to Varanasi which took 24 hrs to reach Varanasi from Dehradun. The train was very slow and waited pretty long time for crossings. The train was near empty after Lucknow. We took an auto from the Varanasi junction to our Hotel Ganges Grand. It was raining heavily and roads near the Hotel were closed due to the Kanwar Yatra. Luckily hotel sent people to pickup my luggage and it was a small walk but by the time we reached hotel we were covered with mud.
Next day evening we got our train to Varanasi which took 24 hrs to reach Varanasi from Dehradun. The train was very slow and waited pretty long time for crossings. The train was near empty after Lucknow. We took an auto from the Varanasi junction to our Hotel Ganges Grand. It was raining heavily and roads near the Hotel were closed due to the Kanwar Yatra. Luckily hotel sent people to pickup my luggage and it was a small walk but by the time we reached hotel we were covered with mud.
Hotel Ganges Grand was a LKasi Viswanath temple website. So we got up uxurious, clean quiet hotel in a happening place. Close to Kasi Viswanath temple and Dasaswamedh Ghat. The in house restaurant was good. We had already booked for the early morning "Mangal Aart" through the Kasi Viswananth temple website. So we got up in the midnight had bath and were in the Gate no 1 of the temple by 1.30 am. They allowed us in by 2.45 am. It was an experience of a life time, to sit near the deity and witnessing the puja being performed by the Pandits for nearly 45 mts. Then we went inside the sanctum sanctorum and were allowed to worship and touch the deity. We were blessed.
After the Holy Darshan we were back in the hotel took, some rest, had breakfast and booked for a day trip in around Varanasi.
After the Holy Darshan we were back in the hotel took, some rest, had breakfast and booked for a day trip in around Varanasi.
We visited couple of temples inside Varanasi including the famous Sankat Mochan temple and then after lunch went to the new Kasi Viswanath temple in Banares Hindu University campus. The temple was big surrounded by lush gardens. A good place to worship and spend some time. From the temple we went to Ramnagar fort on the outskirts of Varanasi.
Apart from the antiquity of the fort, the real surprise was the museum. You see the dilapidated buildings it houses one of the wonderful museums. The entry fee was very less, I think it was Rs.15/- But what we saw inside was a huge collection of cars, palanquins and chariots used by the Royal family. Also there were a huge display of fire arms, vessels and dresses used by the Royal family. That was wonderful feast to the eyes and the mind. Due to limited time we could spend only an hour and we moved our next location. The Buddhist Holy place of Saranath.
The Temple, stupa and the third holiest Bodh tree with a large bell. Once we were inside the main temple we could feel the peace overcome our hearts and never wanted to leave. By the side of the temple is a Bodh tree which is considered third holiest Bodh tree. There is also a huge bell and the prayer wheels. We also went to the Chinese temple nearby. By the time we returned to hotel we were dead tired but there was one more place to go. We went to the Dasaswamedh Ghat and sprinkled water on our head. We decided against taking Holy dip in the Ganges because it was already night and was cold and my wife's leg under bandage.
After a good nights rest we started quite early for our flight back to Chennai. Varanasi is famous for its traffic jams and a chaotic traffic so always start early. We were in airport well ahead of time due our driver who circumvented some areas where traffic totally came to a stand still. Finally we were back home after a wonderful and holy journey.