Chandigarh, whose last memory I have is of roaming around in the city at 10pm one night in October 2011, seemed unexpectedly uncity like. The characteristic planned area, intersecting roads gave me impression of being in my own city. Little did I know, some exhilarating time was to come.
A year ago internet radio was a relatively unfamiliar term, and now its an important aspect of my life. This small yet cohesive group of listeners can really make anyone feel on top of the world, such is their love. Excited, I was to spend time with a couple of them besides Dr Ankit.
By far I have known of only 3 main attractions in Chandigarh, Lake Sukhna, Rock gardens and Elante mall. While I skipped first one, second one was not to be missed being a delight for the photographer in me, while third one as my friend quips has lots of MAAL in it.
So there I was at sector 17 bus stand. One more thing about Chandigarh is that people are very helpful and kind and thus I was correctly instructed to catch bus 7C to high court which was to pass through rock garden.
This beauty of a place where you can easily spend a day in the correct mindset. A place that would tempt you to take out your camera and shoot till battery gives up. Right from waterfalls to structures made up of recycled materials and you say to Nekchand who built this place WELL DONE! Though I have no idea about the man but what he did is commendable. Time is up and I have already spent hefty 4 hours inside this place photographing and reading the classic LOVE STORY by Erich Segal.
Plan is to get to Sector 32 via Sector 17 bus stand. I finally manage to catch a bus near lake sukhna which is in close proximity to rock gardens.Thanks to courtesy of people, I get there. On the way I meet a Kashmiri gentleman who insists I sit on my place instead of offering him. He introduces himself and tells me he has come with his sister for treatment and about his profession. We subsequently discuss difference in geographies of two distinct states Kashmir and Goa and bid farewell as conductor announces his stop is up. While its worthy of mentioning that Chandigarh`s bus stops do not have names written on them and you have to ask people about place you have to get down. Within 2 hours we are at the Chandigarh domestic airport and the celebrity of Indore has landed already. Leader of the pack, the Go to person one and only Acchu! And soon after we are joined by RD and he exudes awesomeness himself.
Fun continues as we head to sector 17 in the evening for walk and plans for the next day, to Amritsar. Having always dreamt of visiting this place I am excited as hell but these 3 have only one thing on their mind MISCHIEF and suddenly I feel like I am with a bunch of teenagers.
Amritsar enjoys vast importance as the place where the Golden temple is located.Air here is filled with spirituality, you start feeling the vibes as soon as you enter the city through one of the six entry gates. And you will find many selling an assortment of scarves as you walk by. While I feel bad for not tasting the famous Amritsari Kulcha thanks to my ill health. I certainly ravished visit to wagah border. Where patriotism flooded the air but its equally ironic to see the same patriotism fading away after the ceremony.
Upon return it was Elante time, the most celebrated mall of Chandigarh had its own ambiance. You feel like as if you entered another country when you see the assortment of stores and the atmosphere is just chilling.
Sadly like all the times, Chandigarh time was up and I found myself at the Chandigarh railway station waiting for the shatabdi, and refreshingly the station is very clean and was pleasant to harbor me for time being. The train felt like a volvo on tracks with lunch being served along with ice cream and neatly arranged luggage racks and crisp cooling. Happened to meet an army man who gave me company for three and a quarter hours journey that seemed to end in virtually no time.
Unwillingly got down and headed to the executive lounge at the New Delhi railway station. Finally some respite from blazing Delhi heat in the comfort of the lounge, you do however need an onward or inward journey to get in. Though things weren't proper, I found solace in the comfort of the ac as compared to rousing heat on the outside. Evening kicked in and I found myself in the Indore express to my next and final destination Indore.
Hot in one word is what is Indore, while I started feeling home lorn my buddies Acchu and RD left no stone unturned to see to it that I enjoyed the last leg of my journey. From Sarafa bazaar at night to Dukaan 56 I relished every moment spent here. Made new friends too Mradul, Goldie,Ankit, I really felt at home and didn't want to go.
Then came the Duronto, or the restless as it actually means, a train renowned for being point to point and could be identified from a distance with its colorful skirting. I was on my way to Goa via Mumbai, and sadly the journey was to end here. Duronto turned to be comfortable and cozy as I conked up volume in my headphones and slept like a baby.
Sadly the journey Mumbai-Goa in 2nd class sleeper was the worst part of the trip with leaky basin water flowing almost into my luggage and a drunk man hovering over like some zombie. And to add insult to injury train got delayed. Unfazed as it was the last thing I walked to my last destination at 2:30am with a bag not full of cloths but with a huge chest of memories.
Traveling alone has its own perks, you make friends, you are independant of moods of others, expenses can be handled with ease, there is plenty of room for spontaneity and foolishness too if you don't know what you are doing.
While bonds and memories created are priceless, so is the experience of being on own.
Life is a journey taken alone, people come and go, just like fellow travelers. Some make memories, some give experience. With those very memories playing in my eyes, I live on.
A year ago internet radio was a relatively unfamiliar term, and now its an important aspect of my life. This small yet cohesive group of listeners can really make anyone feel on top of the world, such is their love. Excited, I was to spend time with a couple of them besides Dr Ankit.
By far I have known of only 3 main attractions in Chandigarh, Lake Sukhna, Rock gardens and Elante mall. While I skipped first one, second one was not to be missed being a delight for the photographer in me, while third one as my friend quips has lots of MAAL in it.
So there I was at sector 17 bus stand. One more thing about Chandigarh is that people are very helpful and kind and thus I was correctly instructed to catch bus 7C to high court which was to pass through rock garden.
This beauty of a place where you can easily spend a day in the correct mindset. A place that would tempt you to take out your camera and shoot till battery gives up. Right from waterfalls to structures made up of recycled materials and you say to Nekchand who built this place WELL DONE! Though I have no idea about the man but what he did is commendable. Time is up and I have already spent hefty 4 hours inside this place photographing and reading the classic LOVE STORY by Erich Segal.
Plan is to get to Sector 32 via Sector 17 bus stand. I finally manage to catch a bus near lake sukhna which is in close proximity to rock gardens.Thanks to courtesy of people, I get there. On the way I meet a Kashmiri gentleman who insists I sit on my place instead of offering him. He introduces himself and tells me he has come with his sister for treatment and about his profession. We subsequently discuss difference in geographies of two distinct states Kashmir and Goa and bid farewell as conductor announces his stop is up. While its worthy of mentioning that Chandigarh`s bus stops do not have names written on them and you have to ask people about place you have to get down. Within 2 hours we are at the Chandigarh domestic airport and the celebrity of Indore has landed already. Leader of the pack, the Go to person one and only Acchu! And soon after we are joined by RD and he exudes awesomeness himself.
Fun continues as we head to sector 17 in the evening for walk and plans for the next day, to Amritsar. Having always dreamt of visiting this place I am excited as hell but these 3 have only one thing on their mind MISCHIEF and suddenly I feel like I am with a bunch of teenagers.
Amritsar enjoys vast importance as the place where the Golden temple is located.Air here is filled with spirituality, you start feeling the vibes as soon as you enter the city through one of the six entry gates. And you will find many selling an assortment of scarves as you walk by. While I feel bad for not tasting the famous Amritsari Kulcha thanks to my ill health. I certainly ravished visit to wagah border. Where patriotism flooded the air but its equally ironic to see the same patriotism fading away after the ceremony.
Upon return it was Elante time, the most celebrated mall of Chandigarh had its own ambiance. You feel like as if you entered another country when you see the assortment of stores and the atmosphere is just chilling.
Sadly like all the times, Chandigarh time was up and I found myself at the Chandigarh railway station waiting for the shatabdi, and refreshingly the station is very clean and was pleasant to harbor me for time being. The train felt like a volvo on tracks with lunch being served along with ice cream and neatly arranged luggage racks and crisp cooling. Happened to meet an army man who gave me company for three and a quarter hours journey that seemed to end in virtually no time.
Unwillingly got down and headed to the executive lounge at the New Delhi railway station. Finally some respite from blazing Delhi heat in the comfort of the lounge, you do however need an onward or inward journey to get in. Though things weren't proper, I found solace in the comfort of the ac as compared to rousing heat on the outside. Evening kicked in and I found myself in the Indore express to my next and final destination Indore.
Hot in one word is what is Indore, while I started feeling home lorn my buddies Acchu and RD left no stone unturned to see to it that I enjoyed the last leg of my journey. From Sarafa bazaar at night to Dukaan 56 I relished every moment spent here. Made new friends too Mradul, Goldie,Ankit, I really felt at home and didn't want to go.
Then came the Duronto, or the restless as it actually means, a train renowned for being point to point and could be identified from a distance with its colorful skirting. I was on my way to Goa via Mumbai, and sadly the journey was to end here. Duronto turned to be comfortable and cozy as I conked up volume in my headphones and slept like a baby.
Sadly the journey Mumbai-Goa in 2nd class sleeper was the worst part of the trip with leaky basin water flowing almost into my luggage and a drunk man hovering over like some zombie. And to add insult to injury train got delayed. Unfazed as it was the last thing I walked to my last destination at 2:30am with a bag not full of cloths but with a huge chest of memories.
Traveling alone has its own perks, you make friends, you are independant of moods of others, expenses can be handled with ease, there is plenty of room for spontaneity and foolishness too if you don't know what you are doing.
While bonds and memories created are priceless, so is the experience of being on own.
Life is a journey taken alone, people come and go, just like fellow travelers. Some make memories, some give experience. With those very memories playing in my eyes, I live on.
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