Meghalaya : A Beautiful State of North-East

I just return home from my journey of Meghalaya.  Meghalaya is a North-East part of India know as ‘Abode of Clouds’ also...

I spend almost a week in the place and explore so much about Meghalaya...

Khasi is a tribe of Meghalaya and Khasi women are very friendly but don't like anybody click there pictures. These women I met in Mawshbuit village. They refused for picture but start laughing when I clicked there pictures...

 

Police Market in the night

Traditional attire of Khasi Tribe

Elephant Fall : Though the water is very less because there is no rain from 3 months

Khasi women are self depend and business women. 

They work outside and take care of the family too

Cherapunji without rain

Kidos Having fun with my camera

Nohkalikai Fall but looks very weak without water

Living root bridge : Local people use these bridges in monsoon when rivers flows with water. Bridges are made by the local people for their use but now these bridges are main attraction for outside people

Village Mawlynnong

                                                        Church of Village Mawlynnong

River Umgot, the clearest river of India. It flows between
India and Bangladesh

Sunset in Umgot River

Experience of My Delhi – Kolkata – Darjling – Sikkim – Delhi Journey – Part 3

wake up early I went to morning walk. Streets of Kolkata are still in sleeping mode. Footpath has acquired by baggers for sleep. I stop at bifurcation and not able to decide which road I should follow. I saw tram lane is passing through one road so I will follow the tram lane road. This area has many societies and shops but not big shopping malls. School going students are giving life to the road. Kolkata is simple metro city. Life doesn’t run like Delhi or Mumbai here. People are not rich but well literate and simple. After a long walk, I way back to hotel. Road become alive while I return to the hotel… 

I get fresh and off to see the city without any fix agenda. I ask hotel boy about tram. He says – Tram stops in stopping points only so you have to go to stop points. He also shows me the direction for tram stopping point. First tram come and I sit in it without even knowing where the tram will go ? interior of tram tells that this is oldest tram. Paintings on wall are depicting British time. Sitting arrangement for ladies and gents are separate. I sit in ladies area. A huge old fan is hanging on the roof and blowing wind with full speed. Driver wearing khaki dress ask me - ticket. But as I have no agenda so I ask him with smile - Where the tram will go? He looks at me with smile and asks - New in Kolkata? I move my head in agreement. He suggests - I will drop you after two points, from there take another tram for metro station and then take metro for Maidan. Great!!!  I am glad that I have agenda now…

He drops me after two points. I wait for another tram and enter into it. When I ask conductor for ticket to Maidan he tell me – its wrong tram and said he will drop me on next point. He didn’t collect ticket from me. Next tram was again a wrong tram and conductor again drop me into next point without ticket and tell me that I should wait opposite direction for Metro station tram. People are really helpful. Anyway I travel so much in tram now but next time I get right tram for Metro station…

Watching city through the tram is also an experience. This tram is new tram. Interior is new inside. No separate seats for ladies and gents. Fan is new and driving seat has also new technology. Kolkata is really a different place in so many means. This is the place where every old machinery is still in working condition and rents are still cheap. Kolkata is still a cheap state according to expenditure…

Most of all now I am enjoying my nomadness…

I stop in Metro station and went inside. Crossed few security checks I reach to ticket counter and take ticket for Maidan. This station again decorated with mosaic paintings depicting Hindu Mythology and British era but photography not allowed here. Waiting for few minutes’ metro comes and I get in. Metro is jam-packed but luckily this is new metro so I will get all the announcements and this is AC too…

After 30 minutes, I reach Maidan. Maidan is huge and posh area of the city. This is newly made area so it is well managed. I didn’t find any hustle-bustle here. Roads are broad so traffic jam is very less but before go anywhere else I will search a restaurant and eat something coz I am hungry and drizzle has also start so I need a shelter too…

I find a restaurant and went inside. This is double story restaurant and I went to upward. Boy around 18-19, come to me and ask me in Bengali. I request him to speak in Hindi. He speaks in Bengali mix Hindi and put menu in front of me and asks - what will you have? I don’t see the menu but ask him – what you have? He tells me everything in single breath. I stop him in middle and look up the menu card where I find all North Indian food. I order for Aloo Paratha and tea…

This restaurant is small but well managed and well designed. All young students are here and they are talking about their studies and there preparation for next exam. I think this restaurant is also an Adda type restaurant. After a while, he gets my food. After food, he brings me tea in an earthen pot. I appreciate it. This is natural and harmless stuff. I ordered two glasses tea now…

I came out but it’s raining heavily. Sardarji sitting in a main chair tell me to wait there and we start a little conversation. He tells me – I was child when my father migrated here and established this restaurant. Now I am more Bengali then the Punjabi. He tells me – in Kolkata you will find Punjabis’ South Indians and Bihari doing business. Rain has stopped and my final question to Sardar ji is – Where can I go from here ? Sardar ji advise – take taxi and go to Victoria Memorial, which is not very far…

I take taxi to Victoria Memorial, my next destination. Traveling through the taxi, I saw this area with broad roads, huge buildings, big shopping complexes. Few minutes later, I was in Victoria Memorial. Tourists are taking pictures at the building gate where two huge marble tigers are taking place. I went inside the gate. Huge white color building has surrounded with the green grass fields. Grandness of the building is showing the luxurious life of British period. This is more lavish inside. Huge rooms have decorated with precious stuffs. I follow the stair and reach second floor. When I saw downwards, it was like I am standing on high peak and watching downside. Many tourists are here so after roaming little more I went to other side of the building where I find the Canteen. I went inside the canteen just to check the rate list and I am again surprised that the rates are very low. Even when I went to the toilet – worker sitting outside demand me for 1 Takka. When I asked takka ? he says – 1 rupees which is so cheap…

After spending some time, I back to road and start walking. As I have no agenda so want to know my next destination. Again I ask to a local person - where I can go ? He suggested me concentrating his eyes on his wristwatch - take walk for metro station, which is nearby, and go to the Thakurbadi, home of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore…

With my next agenda, I walk on footpath towards metro station. While walking I saw many huge buildings along the road including Birla Planetarium. Roads are broad and neat. Many type of mosaic works I can see on wall on different topics. Weather is sultry so I am not enjoying walk but metro station is not coming. Everybody tells me – just to come. After a long-long walk I reach metro station and collect ticket for Thakurbari. In next 30 minutes, I reached but still have to walk… 

I crossed long footpath. Sidewall of the footpath has decorated with mosaic art. Actually, this is good to see and keep city beautiful and clean too. Anyway, after crossing footpath I enter into a busy market. Whole area is showing the essence of old Bengal. People are lethargically sitting on road and busy in talking. Road is cramped with rickshaws, hand pulling rickshaws, car, scooter, pedestrian everything. I take my way between everything and watching the architect of old buildings too. Now I am in broad and open society area. I ask here the way of Thakurbadi. He hurriedly replied – go further and take left from there. This is first time when someone replies me in hurry…

Heavy rain starts when I reach Thakurbadi. I wait almost half n hour at the reception. I saw a big red color building through the heavy downpour. When rain stops I move to take ticket and deposit my bag inside then went upstairs. I went into room belongs to Rabindrnath Tagore and then went to many other rooms. All rooms are showing the luxuries life style of Rabindranath Tagor. Rabindra music is blowing in the air and making everything calm and cool. I saw a girl showing reverence to Rabindranath every time and in every room. She seems to be influence by the Rabindra. I ask her. She says with glittering eyes – I am learning Rabindra Music and I am a huge fan of Rabindranath. This place is like a temple to me. I love to come here whenever I get time…

Now I have to back to hotel so I didn’t ask anybody where to go ? I crossed a long lane of different markets. First market is Idol market. Huge idols of Hindu God and goddess are here and makers are making them here too. School kids are going home from the school, heaving fun with each other, and teasing each other too. Crossing this market, I reach to sweet market and sweet makers are making sweets here but unfortunately no one is making Misti Doi and now I enter into iron smith area. This area is dirty and road is clogged with rain water. I anyhow cross the area and take taxi to my hotel…

Collect my bagpack from hotel I take taxi for the Syaldeh Railway Station for Jalpaiguri. Now time to say bye to Kolkata but with promise that I will back again, and again I will wander like this… 

I really enjoyed my no-madness here…

Tapovan : A Life Time Experience – Part 1

After much confusion, I am finally packing my rucksack for adventures trek of Tapovan. It’s too dark when I wake up 3 ‘o clock and there are two reasons for this too dark. First, its night and second is no electricity since night. I somehow manage my works and off to station in wintry dark. Station is busy with buses so I struggle to find out bus for Haridwar and 6.30 am I starts journey. Bus is almost empty. In Rudrapur bus had an accident. Actually, driver left bus without lock. Suddenly bus starts moving forward but luckily, driver see and manages to jump inside and stop the bus. It could be a serious accident coz road was engage with paddlers. Bus reaches Haridwar by 2.30 and I went to Rishikesh from where I can get bus for Uttarkashi. Getting bus for Uttarkashi is another expedition coz no bus is going there and taxies are asking for high charges. After lots of struggles, I get taxi. Rishikesh is very hot but it becomes cold when taxi reaches upward. Taxi driver is less talkative short height chubby man. Road is stunning with beautiful valleys. On the way, I saw groups of nomads who are walking with their families, cattle and dogs. Nomad has always been my favorite. They walk in huge groups and every group has many buffalo. Local people always become happy to see them coz they are very lovable and trouble-free people. They sale milk and other milk products, which is only source of their income…  

Soon it become dark and villages are showing their presence through the light. Villages are blinking like stars in dark valley. Tihri Dam Reservoir is also showing presence through reflection in water. In Chamiyashoud village, I saw beautiful reflection of Tihri Dam Rservoir. I finish dinner on way and by the time, I reach my rest house in Uttarkashi it was 11.30…

I wake up 7’o clock in the morning. Temperature is pleasant yet. I went for short walk to the bank of River Bhagirathi, which is flowing, near to my rest house. River bank is dry and mining work is going on there. Far from this, I hear the prayer sound of primary school students who are singing national anthem with drumbeats. This made me nostalgic. When I was student, I used to do all these too. Hearing it again is good experience. After breakfast I off to shopping for trek in sultry weather but unfortunately, I could not get anything in Uttarakhshi’s unmanaged market. In this heat, getting taxi for Gangotri is another struggle. Though I get share taxi but taxi driver starts after 2 hours when taxi become full with passengers. Man sitting next to me is blind follower of RSS and spewing so much poison for others. This is sad to see that where we are going. What the fake reality is incubating in the brain of people on the name of patriotism and religion. Disgusting! He keeps talking about Hinduism and other topics. He is from Uttar Pradesh and going to Gaumukh…

Hence, for me it’s better to enjoy the beauty of mother nature. Bhagirathi is with us all the time. Somewhere it is broad and somewhere it’s narrow. Somewhere it is jumping through the high hills and somewhere it is flowing through the deep gorges. Somewhere color of water is bluish, somewhere it’s greenish, somewhere it is flowing like ribbon but every appearance of Bhagirathi is beautiful and gorgeous. Driver is insolent young guy. He is not stopping taxi anywhere. This valley is famous for apples. I see many apple orchards on the way and want to buy some but driver is not ready to stop. When I ask him to stop, he badly replies – I will not stop taxi anywhere. When taxi reaches Harsil, one more passenger, from Mumbai, wants to get out and see the open valley of Harsil for a while only but driver didn’t stop. Now it was height of his rudeness so I tell him – Is this the way you behave with tourists ? They are the source of your earning. You should pay some respect to them. They are not coming here again and again. But driver again rudely reply – I don’t want them to come here. You go back. We don’t need outsiders here in our area. This is unbelievable for me. I still remember the Kedarnath catastrophe when tourists stopped coming here. That time, these were the people, who were saying - We will die hungry if tourist will not come coz we have nothing else to do. How will we survive if tourist will stop coming. Now when tourists are coming they are behaving like this. Selfish people though I am not saying this to all... 

No doubt, scenario is beautiful but roads are not good. In every 5 minutes, roads are bumping like hell. However, the good part is now I can see the Himalaya. RSS follower says after watching the Himalaya first time – It’s not real, it’s not snow, mountain has been whitewashed in white color that’s why this is looking beautiful. Taxi reaches Gangotri by 5’oclock and I went to hotel, which I have already booked. I searched hotel with the help of locals, put my stuff there, and went to permit office to get permit for Tapovan... 

I also met my guide there and went into the office. When I entered, I saw huge pictures of blue sheep, which is, I can say the specialty of the Tapovan.  Permit officer is a nice person. He gives me form and asks about my guide because I cannot go without any guide. I introduce my guide to him and then he gave me permission with few important advices…

After finishing this I stroll in the small market of Gangotri. Worship paraphernalia, warm clothes, shoes, and food products are available here but prices!!! Price is what shopkeeper wants to take. They sell 10 rupees Maggi in 40 to 50 rupees. 15 rupees chocolate is around 50-60 rupees. Reason behind this loot is that it becomes very expensive due to transportation. I can understand the logic but cannot believe that it could be that expensive. Anyway strolling through the market, I reach to Gangotri Temple...

Constructed with white tiles Gangotri temple is far away from my imagination. When I reach, only few people were here but slowly devotees are increasing. Arti will start in a while. Main temple has covered with curtain before arti starts. Priest will do the arti in honor of River Bhagirathi. When arti starts, one more priest starts beating drum in rhythmic high volume and other priest holding huge wick lamp in his hand and moving it into circular movement. He is doing this with the drumbeats. All temple campus is echoing with this sound and it was so soothing that I sit peacefully until 45 minutes when arti stop.  Now I come to market again and finish dinner for which I paid two times more money… 

River Bhagirathi flowing just next to my hotel with gushing and roaring sound. Flow of the water is amazingly speedy. I spend whole night with this roaring sound…

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Pune : Part 1

Once again, I am at Delhi’s Anand Vihar Bus Terminus; yes, the same Delhi which most of the time fills with hot, humid, Pollution and irritating touts who ask for Auto or Taxi then fool you demanding surplus money. But I take DTC bus for Nizamuddin Railway Station in 10 Rs ticket. Sun is rising behind the cluster of huge buildings. What an irony, in metropolitan cities sun comes from behind the buildings. Inside bus, everything is in super mess due to office workers and students. I reach railway station in half-n hour where I cross ocean of passengers to find out AC waiting room. I drop my sack on empty seat and turns to washroom meanwhile woman sitting next says – washroom is unclean and stinking without water. But as it’s nature’s call so I have to go. When I entered, it was seriously stinking. I already have many weird experiences about Indian Toilets so somehow I managed. I have to wait long for train so I roam around station. Filth, dirt, garbage and ocean of crowd making it hazardous. Railway announcements are echoing everywhere and in displaying on large screens as well. I pass 2 -3 security checks and reach other part where I found a cafeteria. I sit there with sip of much needed coffee. Spending good time, I back to waiting room where passengers of my train have started to come.

A family, a couple, couple with newborn baby. Mother of newborn baby is very smart. She entered into room and starts doing everything quickly along with giving instruction to her husband, which he follows like a good child. Poor guy taking care of baby and attending his office calls too. A woman with her teenage daughter is next passenger to enter, who sit next to me. Girl has all the new-age tantrums like she has smart phone, on which she is calling, messaging, chatting on whatsapp and updating profile on facebook. After finish, these serious things she comes to her makeup and starts from hair. She removes 1 hair clip 2 hair clip 3 hair clip 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10……….21, 22, 23, 24 and so on... I am amused how she had managed that much pins on her head but she did. Anyways now it’s time to study so she keeps out Arundhati Roy's book 'God in a small things'. I could not stop myself asking her - why you reading this book ? Her straight reply comes - this is bestseller book written by famous writer. She only knows this much about book and writer.

My waiting time passed with these sweet and small stories. I move to platform where train comes after 10 minutes delay and everybody ran like anything. Anyway, I am the first one, who entered into compartment then two young guys enter. Last entry is old couple, who are carrying a factory of luggage and now adjust it everywhere in our compartment, next compartment and next other compartment too. Sweet lovely people need everything to survive for few days. When everybody adjusted, lady introduce herself then we all follow her. Now I came to know that one is army guy and second one is singer and couple belongs to Meerut. Couple and army person are quite talkative. Singer is less talkative. I am happy that someone on this earth is less talkative then me…

Train crossing through Delhi’s slum but from yellow glass of AC everything looks amusingly tremendous though reality is just opposite. One after one train crossed many stations and reaches Ballabhagrah, a small station of Uttar Pradesh. I remember this station coz architect of station gave me hunting feeling which I saw in many horror serials and movie. Anyway lady start questioning and first is me – what you do ? I answer looking out from window – journalist. Why are you going to Pune ? For Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. I start watching out.  now it’s army guy turn – where you from ? what you do and why are you going Pune? Bunch of questions together. Guy reply – I am in ARMY posted in Leh and going Pune for transfer. He is beyond his personality like he talks like Haryanavi but belongs Jaipur and worked in Leh now going to Pune. Before singers turn comes, he move to upper berth and lay down. She is still talking but no one is there to listen…

Everybody come together when lunch arrive. Couple is still chattering. Suddenly singer look at me with smile and offers me his curd saying – my throat will caught cold so can you take this ? I accept it with pleasure and big smile. When ice cream arrives, he offered it again. I ask him – what singing you do ? classical – he replied in short removing hairs from his face. I went Delhi for music test. He smiled and went to his berth. Train is in full speed and has been crossed a long way. I wanted to sleep so everybody went off to their berth and don’t know when I fell asleep. T.T. came and woke up us all. We are now in Kota, Rajasthan. Topography has changed. Rocks are all over as Kota is famous for stones. Now all come together except singer…

Scenario changing quickly. Now it’s all green everywhere, no sign of drought, as I came to know that due late rain drought is everywhere but might possible that few rain gave life to earth and it become green. I saw a woman working in field below scorching sun wearing bright red long skirt, yellow blouse and long red scarf on her head. She is looking beautiful amid of green field but thought shakes me that they do such a hard work then why they get suicides in result. They should have to be prosperous but no, they are not. Scene changes quickly and small thatch appears on screen. This always gives me feel of live movie. Inside compartment old couple still busy in chatting with Army guy. Man have habit to say ‘you understand you understand’ after every sentence or sometime after a word. Its evening and I can see sun set and all become beautiful red then become dark in a while. Now it’s dinner time. Singer again gave his curd to me. After dinner soon all fall asleep.

Mid night I woke up when, train stop in station it dark all over. Train is also in silent mode I also lie down. After 2 hours, all are wake up. We are in Maharashtra and place is Lonawala. It’s rain, fog and green everywhere. I saw small mountains, stone roof houses and people wearing local dress, men dress is similar to my hills. Between these, I reach Pune…

My Marathi brother Prayag is there to pick up me with whom I went to my room where I will stay for next few days. Its early morning and city is still sleeping. I am sure as day will come city will also get ready to run. I am hungry so Prayag take me into restaurant where I first time ate Maharashtrian dish Missal Paw n coffee. Crossing huge buildings of metro city, I reach to my room. Prayag drop me there and tells that I can attend Ganapati Sthapna Ceremony at his friend’s office. I got fresh and went to his friend’s office…

 When I reach her office, everybody was ready to take Ganesh ji from shop which is also a big function. All office works walking with band and shouting GANPATI BAPPA MORYA. Whole city is echoing with this phrase. I think whole Pune is going to take their own Ganpati Bappa according to their status. My group is singing, dancing and enjoying. When we reach shop, I amuse to see different type and size of Ganpati. All shops are pack with customers. We took our huge Ganpati but before taking him out they did some rituals and cover Ganapati’s face. My friend tells me that face would reveal after completing more rituals in office. All set up Ganpati onto Truck and move beck to office with same passion and enjoyment…

 In office, they establish Ganapti on a decorated place where priest is waiting for further ceremony. He starts worship, which goes almost hour or more and after completing all rituals he uncover face of Ganapti. After scrutiny of Ganapati face, everybody has their own opinion like face should be like this or that day face was not like this or statue should be little more big or color should be like this and so on. I move off from there now as Prayag is taking me to city for more Ganapti Pandols…    

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