Pictures of Tapovan Trek (4330mt.)

I back from my Tapovan trek few days back. Tapovan is dream location for those who love adventure. Gangorti-Gaumukh-Tapovan trek along the holy river Bhagirathi takes you to the source of the river Ganga known as Gaumukh (Cow's snout). This trek is combination of adventure, mountain climbing, rock climbing and glacier traverse. The trek goes through an coniferous pine trees at Chirbasa and birch at Bhojbasa. From Bhojbasa one has to trek to Gaumukh and from Gaumukh to Tapovan traverses along the Gangotri glacier. After crossing the Gangotri glacier and traversing on a rocky face I reached to the meadows of Tapovan (meditating ground). From Tapovan views of Shivling, Bhagirathi, Meru Parvat, Kedar dome are fabulous. Herds of Bharal (Blue mountain goats) are a common sight here on mountain ridges…

 Here I am posting few pictures of my trek. Soon will write complete trek log…

Gaumukh

1,2,3 peaks of Bhagirathi 

 Bharal (Blue Mountain goat) at Tapovan

River Akash Ganga at Tapovan 

 Peak Shivling

 Meru Parvat

Peak Bhagirathi

Goa : Goa : Goa !!!

I spent few time in Goa to observe and explore the city. I will write detail travel note later but this time posting some pictures of Goa...


Goa ⁱ/ˈɡoʊ.ə/ is a state located in the western region of India, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa is one of India's richest states with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole.^[3] It was ranked the best placed state by the Eleventh Finance Commission for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the best quality of life in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators.^[3]
Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. Goa is a former Portuguese province; the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.<sup>[4][5]  

(From Wikipedia)</sup>

^{Life of Goa}

 Anjuna Beach

 Calengute Beach

 Candolim Beach

^{Vagator Beach}

Very Famous local Liquor of Goa : Fenny

 

 

 

Churches of Goa

 

 

 

Fort chapora

 

 Fort Aguada

 Beach Casino : Panjim (Goa)

 

 

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Pune : Part 4

 I wake up with bells and devotional music and think to go to see the street of Pune. I follow the road, which is going to street markets. This is completely different from metropolitan Pune. Here there are no big highways, no big hotels, no big malls or anything. This is simple city, which belongs to every part of India. I can see busy vegetable market. I can see truck unloading grocery between them I can see Ganapati Pandals too. I crossed many narrow streets adjoin each other and reach to highway…

 I back and get ready for Lonawala, which is 48 km. We reach cantonment area Kahdki. I find this place green and clean. A beautiful church is also here but it’s closed. Crossing river we reached to Lonawala side. Now I can see hills here and drive become smooth and cozy but tall tax is very high. It’s raining when we touch Lonawala. Here I went to see wax museum where all great people exist in the shape of wax statues. These are so original seems that every statue will start talking in a while. Time has been stopped here which I like a lot. I am happier to see others who are happy to click there pictures with these big names. However, for moments only but they can enjoy to be with these big names. It’s heavy rain but we move forward on Mumbai Pune Express Highway. We use local GPRS to reach beach and dam area. Between heavy rain and fog I can see huge waterfalls coming down from the top of mountains. I came out to enjoy and take a walk. This is an interesting and enjoyable walk. Wind is fast but not chilled. Deep fog is making it more adventures and mysterious…

We reach to waterfall where tourists are enjoying the way they can like bathing, laying on water, swimming in possible patches or whatever they can do. This is one of the happiest moments for me. Corn shops are engaged and in rain, demand has been increased. Other part of waterfall there is a dam, which is engulfing of deep fog. I start walk on small creek meanwhile a guy slipped in water badly but luckily he is safe and smiling...

After these exquisite moments, we back to road and again with the help of local GPRS we reach to city. Lonawala is small and beautiful hill station of Maharashtra. Though now shops have been developed but other than this it’s still a village area. Now it’s becoming famous hill station, where every rich people of Maharashtra want to buy a land to make house. In weekend, it’s become more demanding. After taking coffee we back to city in rain and fog…

In morning, I follow the same routine and off to market where all are busy in struggle of their life. I take long walk between one street to another and back. Today I will go to Sirdi which is 200 km from. Sirdi Road is busy highway along with small and big cities and villages, which, makes you engage with the hustle bustle. Ahmadnagar is one big city on the road, where we stuck in heavy traffic jam. This city is polluted and absolute mismanaged. Sultry weather making it more woeful…

Though, highways is good but some parts are badly damaged where big holes are appearing on the road. I found this is truck road coz mostly trucks are running on the road which are from all over India. I saw all states trucks here and many dogs have been died on the road, which is sad part of driving. Soon we reached Sirdi…

Though the temple is busy temple but today for some reason no crowed is here. We cross market, which is same like other part of India, to reach temple. It’s an irony that I am going into temple after raising a big but stupid question by Swaroopanad that ‘Sai is not god’. Anyways when I reach inside, I found peaceful atmosphere, which I enjoyed and I am happy to be here…

We turn by another road but after few km drive we came to know that the road is under construction. After 7-8 kms tiring drive, we get one connecting road to Ahamdnagar and we back to highway again. It’s getting dark now and sun is going down between clouds which is making scenario awesome. We had Marathi food in dinner on a roadside restaurant and by 10.30 we reach to Pune which is still awaking…

 

Its raining heavily today so I cannot go anywhere. After 4 PM weather become clear and we off to see Tribal Museum. Nobody is here to give us ticket but and old man told us to see the museum but cannot see anything because all rooms are dark. From here, we went to see another Sai Temple, which is replica of real temple. I saw Arti (Main Puja) here which is done by a young priest, around 27-28. He hold lamp in his hand moving it in circular motion and his hands are doing it slowly and perfectly. I like the way he do this and I like music too. When Sai Baba Arti starts everybody sit silently and clapping with rhythm. Priest does the same thing he did before but in middle of the Arti he came out and sprinkles holy water on everybody. This is long Arti, which goes around 30 minutes. After this, we went for dinner and when we are returning I saw few artists performing Marathi Dance Lavni in a Ganapati Pandal, this is again a experience for me back to room…

Today I am going to see Shaniwar Wada, which is an ancient building. I stop into Mulla Mutha River and feel the cold breeze for some time. Traffic is on peak so as heat. Shaniwar Wada is huge palace and busy with lots tourists. In every part of the palace, I found people. Luckily, its drizzling so weather becomes cool. After spending time here, we went to see Chaturdashi Temple, which is again an ancient temple of Goddess but before this, I ate Wada Pav which is tasty Marathi street food. I saw many Ganapti Pandols here…

 Then we went to Parvati Temple. From here, bird I view of Pune city could be seen. We cross the city and reached to hilly area. I take a long and steep walk to reach temple, which is most enjoyable part for me. I saw temple and went up from where I can see a bird eye view of city and then back through Kalayani Nagar, a posh area of city. All huge buildings and malls and offices are here…

This is my last day in Pune and it was my luck that I saw one Visrjana too. Few children were taking their small Ganapti for Visrjan.  They are fully enjoying and dancing and shouting TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR… GANAPTI BAPPA SUPER STAR. For me it is the best Visrajan. In the evening when we went to dinner, I saw some more Visarjana…

 Morning, I off to railway station. This time my companies are an old couple and a group of teachers who are going to Nepal to perform devotional music in a temple. This is there first time in AC compartment so they don’t know anything about it but they are simple people. On the way, I saw many waterfall of this side and huge rivers which couldn’t see when I was coming here. I reach Delhi by 7 in the morning and luckily get bus to Nainital…

End

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Pune : Part 3

 I wake up with sounds of drums and devotional music précising Lord Ganapati but my day start at 10 when Prayag called me to Aga Khan Palace. Road is same but bustling with traffic and pollution. Aga Khan Palace is small but architecture is interesting and inside this there is good collection about Ganadhi ji. Graveyard of Kasturba Ganadhi’s is also here. Garden is maintained and few tourists are strolling or some are sitting in a corner…

I don’t like this sort of tourist spots much so we move from here soon and went to Rajiv Gandhi Zoo which is again not my interest of place coz I don’t like watching animals confine into fences. I enjoy peanuts and other tourist watching zoo. They are so much amused to see the animals. Some are busy in taking pictures and selfie, which become an infectious daisies these days, to update Facebook status or other social media. Some time I think they do everything for Facebook or other. Anyway its good entertainment for me…

Soon we move from here too and off to FTTI where we are going to watch movie as they show it every evening. Crossing heavy traffic and pollution we reach FTTI but guard send us to National Archive for show. Man, bald head, thin and speaking Marathi, says that show is only for annual members not for outsiders. When I told him I am here all the way from Nainital for the show and when I inquire about show nobody told me about it.  He is a nice person but the way he was talking was very strict. In his strict voice he says - You can see the show but don’t tell to anybody that you are not member though there is no harm in watching movie…

Members start coming one by one and taking seat inside AC hall. Only few members are there but all looks intellectuals. This film is Russian film Amor based on psycho women. First part of the movie was expression wise good but second part was mysterious…

 After movie we went to see Ganapati Pandal in night. Scenario is completely changed this time. Pandals are illuminating with different type of lights. Many pandals are showing different type of religious show to attract the crowed. Watching these shows is also an fascinating experience coz they are depicting religious and historical stories using all the new age technology. It’s an interesting fusion. Every pandal has its own specialty. I came to know that lighting expenditures is very costly but all want to look best. Between these big pandals there are some pandals which are simple and they don’t have costly lights. Seems that some Ganpati are very rich and few are not so rich. Once open there was no DJ culture in Ganapati but now every pandals play DJ though this year there is no DJ because of village tragedy, in which whole village demolished in heavy rain but still few are playing DJ with new movie songs like Jony Jony haa ji…Tune pi hai na ji and Nimbura- Numbura and more. Crowed is dancing madly in these songs. It’s hard to understand relation between Ganapati and these songs…

 We went to see Dagru Seth ka Ganapti for night decoration and no doubt, that temple is looking awesome. This year theme of decoration is Ajenta-Alora caves. Whole area is bustling with crowd but one can see Ganapti far from temple. After Ganapti festival temple would be destroyed and original Ganapti will back to his original place and replica will go in to see for Visarajan…

It’s raining again so we come to Maharashtrian hotel for dinner. Specialty of this restaurant is unlimited Marathi Thali. Hotel is packed so we wait for an hour to get seat. I enjoy Marathi food and specially Sri Khand, which is a Marathi sweet. We back through FC road which is a happening place because collage area. Youngsters stroll here every time make the place happening…

Drizzle has been stopped and weather becomes awesome. Sky is blinking with stars and roads are almost empty and long array of street lights making it charming. Good to drive in empty roads. We cross Mulla Mutha river which is again a happening place of city coz all youngsters come here for date and enjoy beautiful moments and family people enjoy with families. Soon I reach to my room…

Next morning I wake up early as we decide to go for trekking. Pune has lots of fort for trekking. We are going to Purender fort which is 48 km so we will drive long and then our trek will start. It’s drizzling but not heavy rain.  After crossing city we reached to village area. Which is beautiful and due to rain all green everywhere. Road is going between huge green fienld. I can see the hill range which is known as Shahyadri hill range but like everywhere here also unmanaged construction is going on which is destroying nature badly…

 

Anyways road is going to upward and becoming narrower. Temperature is also dropping and fog is all over. It’s hard to see anything due to dense layer of fog. When we move little more upward road become thin and rough. We park car here and start walking but before that we took permission from Army as this area is in charge of Army now. They check my camera and tell- don’t take lots of pictures…

I am excited to see the fort and so as trek but by now heavy rain start. I start trek in rain and fog and soon reach to fort. This is small trek for me. Fort has been almost abandoned but Army is taking care of it now. I get nothing much to explore here so off to other side where I found a small pond full of tadpoles and other water insects. I move forward though its rainy, windy and chilled but enjoyable. This weather making it adventures too. After finishing trek till last point I back to road where I talk with army guard who is from Rajsthan and few days ago posted here. He tells me – now people don’t come here much. Only those come who want to enjoy chilly weather. After this small talk I move to see Shivaji temple and then back…

Weather is getting clear and I can see the valley all green and surrounded by small shahyadri hills. No doubt so peaceful and away from city chaos and pollution. We drive back to city and as we enter into city everything become hot, noisy and pollute. I come to my room after finishing lunch in a restaurant. In the evening, we went to see movie Mardani in multiplex which is again a different world. Everything is glaring with high voltage light. People come here in search of happiness. Though I can see happiness in there smiling faces but don’t know it’s true happiness or fake… 

continue....