tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16483517956351655222024-03-18T08:33:15.606+05:30Climber & ExplorerAnil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.comBlogger289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-70709283297461817322023-09-02T21:05:00.000+05:302023-09-02T21:05:15.447+05:30Places to Visit in Sikkim - Khecheopalri Lake<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRebvm27MJFk9qqgaIhNex2Njc1CSb2EZoiBO2kh_MoVnwafYYGltMFoiYpQ185Lo9SfqoTdfrhXR3aVeqhzOISpGt9vTJCTGEm5y0Pklw00DborMi-42h4mpQxzdRl2QZ6DxXVEZOT6CSnFMJDjYHjtOwhRYtF69eduz2mlh2nI69s8CUWJcVGolSJqD/s3200/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="3200" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRebvm27MJFk9qqgaIhNex2Njc1CSb2EZoiBO2kh_MoVnwafYYGltMFoiYpQ185Lo9SfqoTdfrhXR3aVeqhzOISpGt9vTJCTGEm5y0Pklw00DborMi-42h4mpQxzdRl2QZ6DxXVEZOT6CSnFMJDjYHjtOwhRYtF69eduz2mlh2nI69s8CUWJcVGolSJqD/w640-h288/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(4).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">Khecheopalri Lake, Sikkim</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Khecheopalri
Lake, also known as Khechuperi Lake is located in West Sikkim at a distance of
about 32 km from Pelling. In Pelling I was staying at Rufina Palm Bliss Hotel and from there it takes about one and a half hours of drive to reach
the lake from Pelling town amidst forests and multiple waterfalls.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FriEeNPE356TgJpnc8_cxRYNSwz74MqjDwdMdNBBSCF7whvhkdOkkSOhBpsR17VcNWiS0B_1028xnYuB1IAxwxQ8C-af7ghQY9r0MTYQyNpCHZc69bV-t66t8YV2gbzo5SkKFe_Nd8jfhWUY34yxnF-XqTK6_SSRRp0b6lovqRLXK0DIrTvz_5DX0j8l/s3200/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="3200" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FriEeNPE356TgJpnc8_cxRYNSwz74MqjDwdMdNBBSCF7whvhkdOkkSOhBpsR17VcNWiS0B_1028xnYuB1IAxwxQ8C-af7ghQY9r0MTYQyNpCHZc69bV-t66t8YV2gbzo5SkKFe_Nd8jfhWUY34yxnF-XqTK6_SSRRp0b6lovqRLXK0DIrTvz_5DX0j8l/w640-h288/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">View of Khecheopalri Lake at the ground level</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
lake, situated at 5938 feet altitude, is surrounded by dense forests and forms
like a bowl to accumulate the water of the surrounding Ramam Mountains. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i-XdR1eruao" width="320" youtube-src-id="i-XdR1eruao"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">A walk on the periphery of the <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Khecheopalri Lake, Sikkim</span></div><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From
the last vehicle point, the walk towards the lake is serene and easy next to
the wetland area and one can hear the chirping of a lot of birds. The Buddhist (and Hindus)
revere the site and one can see many Buddhist prayer flags next to the lake. Since the local consider the lake as sacred so bathing in the lake is not permitted.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRyBhHo2Rule-jFoY2q5qaKfiM8selTE5ED7rFkc6giiHoKHWK8nm4qnb1ea89m-91fzfQC_AwxyafHawG9juMwN3zAZ1jIiymMOBDE2QRnwFPcYkCI5DvlWjjJOF0SKWLLgB8mH7uH4T9wg2IvLJC8ElqcAwrXVVL2Ah03kRcduKPH2GhnspMpXMU6zw/s5184/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRyBhHo2Rule-jFoY2q5qaKfiM8selTE5ED7rFkc6giiHoKHWK8nm4qnb1ea89m-91fzfQC_AwxyafHawG9juMwN3zAZ1jIiymMOBDE2QRnwFPcYkCI5DvlWjjJOF0SKWLLgB8mH7uH4T9wg2IvLJC8ElqcAwrXVVL2Ah03kRcduKPH2GhnspMpXMU6zw/w640-h426/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddhist Prayer Flags in the wetland of Khecheopalri Lake, Sikkim</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the path at the lake level, you cannot see
the full form of the lake. To see the complete lake and the nearby forests one
should make an effort and go up a steep climb of about 15 minutes and then at
the top all of a sudden the full view of the lake and the surrounding areas is
beautiful and mesmerizing. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9ByyIKocgPs2ndTjix39kte_a-GMh8JIMD1HNOBrDvKkf0sp6tJbx8hIUt4vtIt1GMOrI0Xw-h6_eP6LRNljr-DqbN20UfMLLEYZLMk2OH_1IGVi9VV-4uK49MxWNCM25kQcBtPZeF8fPudeKwRcdbQL1XyV3ISwTmQIY-pLPpXXr7Iz9JAszJa3D5au/s3200/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9ByyIKocgPs2ndTjix39kte_a-GMh8JIMD1HNOBrDvKkf0sp6tJbx8hIUt4vtIt1GMOrI0Xw-h6_eP6LRNljr-DqbN20UfMLLEYZLMk2OH_1IGVi9VV-4uK49MxWNCM25kQcBtPZeF8fPudeKwRcdbQL1XyV3ISwTmQIY-pLPpXXr7Iz9JAszJa3D5au/w288-h640/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(3).jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cave used by Buddhist monks for solitary meditation </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While going on this climb just a few meters
from the top is a small cave which is used by the Buddhist monks for prayers in
isolation (quite common among the Buddhist monks to stay alone in a cave or
room away from others meditating where there is no contact with the outside
world. (For sustenance, their food is
kept outside by other monks, who then leave without meeting the monk).</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl1UXT9Rs-cgZRWHHOyJz99DzWnWdO4AuqexqiKJsL-Kjw8p7ZSoWvKkKv00qtHa-N1gZJpflG0GaLz2CwdnnhoQrlfOW4zZqdsS9dDYDLGtPVpHzmtzRSVcjfWTff3cIK9kESlGlPNeO84NdwEqdbGoTolOX0idrNqRC4M78FGQ9za6ZoucED_vO6IZD/s5184/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl1UXT9Rs-cgZRWHHOyJz99DzWnWdO4AuqexqiKJsL-Kjw8p7ZSoWvKkKv00qtHa-N1gZJpflG0GaLz2CwdnnhoQrlfOW4zZqdsS9dDYDLGtPVpHzmtzRSVcjfWTff3cIK9kESlGlPNeO84NdwEqdbGoTolOX0idrNqRC4M78FGQ9za6ZoucED_vO6IZD/w640-h426/Anil%20Yadav_khecheopalri%20Lake%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khecheopalri Lake, Sikkim</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
area has dense forest around the lake. I had earlier visited West Sikkim nearly
34 years back (that time I had done the Kanchenjunga Base winter snow trek in this region) but after such a long gap also I did not see much deforestation.
Maybe this is due to the very environment friendly campaign of the Sikkim
government of planting 100 saplings for each birth. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dr7Zr09mx9U" width="320" youtube-src-id="dr7Zr09mx9U"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">A complete view of the Khecheopalri Lake and its surrounding Ramam mountains</div><p><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">If you want to reach directly to Pelling then the nearest Airport is Bagdogra in West Bengal at a distance of about 145 kms. Pakyong airport in Sikkim is closer but has lesser flight options.</span></p>Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com0Khecheopalri Lake, Sikkim 73711327.349221 88.1882768-0.96101283617884548 53.0320268 55.659454836178845 123.3445268tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-50348675032350661802023-01-01T23:33:00.000+05:302023-01-01T23:33:08.529+05:30Places to visit in Ladakh - Pangong Tso<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n792Yi5MhjFb5nA_6jxlB96s6iEuy5o32OZv6SqkvKO5rpTYK5CErO9qIaB8BKhwifxjDdMGBG0cSqcs_rNMCdgKInKEa-EycjWATcDJtIBTAesvxWaKPpADhcASX4VvXeLxKW-3oaScGYUYY4QRWfkCAEpx-cT6WG22zGves_MXByVqQy9UmBgwRA/s2508/IMG_6177.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2508" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n792Yi5MhjFb5nA_6jxlB96s6iEuy5o32OZv6SqkvKO5rpTYK5CErO9qIaB8BKhwifxjDdMGBG0cSqcs_rNMCdgKInKEa-EycjWATcDJtIBTAesvxWaKPpADhcASX4VvXeLxKW-3oaScGYUYY4QRWfkCAEpx-cT6WG22zGves_MXByVqQy9UmBgwRA/w640-h426/IMG_6177.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pangong Tso, Ladakh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is said
that sometimes the journey is equally important, if not more, than the final
destination. The same can be said for most of the journeys & destinations
in Ladakh, an erstwhile province of Jammu & Kashmir and now a Union
Territory. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOBciBcdxqc6BRAkEJISWb8yIOyfp-n7G5zDaGCoKxOgkI_hYtJG36ja-7gmRPvFk8Wk5i735fi7XVtsi5T5oqUbnteDCqSts5ZRGlBddUDU1LWOMaY0kMsEDm8TIHR8TzI5Q1G4wRvzejKQqlDPK-5yyXOum9hP_wSI3TWX3oUaHSBcAFcZiRa_xiw/s2363/IMG20211102114517.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="2363" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOBciBcdxqc6BRAkEJISWb8yIOyfp-n7G5zDaGCoKxOgkI_hYtJG36ja-7gmRPvFk8Wk5i735fi7XVtsi5T5oqUbnteDCqSts5ZRGlBddUDU1LWOMaY0kMsEDm8TIHR8TzI5Q1G4wRvzejKQqlDPK-5yyXOum9hP_wSI3TWX3oUaHSBcAFcZiRa_xiw/w640-h480/IMG20211102114517.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On way to Pangong Tso, Ladakh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My journey from Nubra region to Pangong Tso (or Pangong Lake),
though long, was mesmerizing what with the clear green waters of the Shyok river
and rivulets on the way as well as the moonscape mountains having different
hues at every turn.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYpTLaQcFJJf-2zrNbXAZke2_TnG9M52jfGkzLjVaAKh6ZKLNBfta_vAaIC8R-eo4qNnKmUF7HgXdLegpxuMbhQqR1aCRvYI62soWeJ11myWrASmq2dn89Gx_G8htI2s3SxffNFFLSi3KJmKD8s0t4l5x1JHh-2Zvr_A_i6kRp3CvSg_Z34LIBW5OlQ/s2348/IMG20211102083704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2348" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYpTLaQcFJJf-2zrNbXAZke2_TnG9M52jfGkzLjVaAKh6ZKLNBfta_vAaIC8R-eo4qNnKmUF7HgXdLegpxuMbhQqR1aCRvYI62soWeJ11myWrASmq2dn89Gx_G8htI2s3SxffNFFLSi3KJmKD8s0t4l5x1JHh-2Zvr_A_i6kRp3CvSg_Z34LIBW5OlQ/w386-h640/IMG20211102083704.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shyok River, Ladakh</td></tr></tbody></table> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik37xKAaMAZ1bH2zA_NWiqHNs9l7tnCWIs5Gc_0Qym9tarLEX0ckZJCXd909BzbdyDNKdhIncy6mddgPkkzOsr7GCBgZkfVDdflYjUyPyaonqokPwSMAawHxq0fZZ4qSH0rP1qiIB9JYAAOeiH469-tJSJA8myAAQpVF3hSyEfJ76gHdN_wqKb2X2-dg/s2364/IMG20211102114944.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2364" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik37xKAaMAZ1bH2zA_NWiqHNs9l7tnCWIs5Gc_0Qym9tarLEX0ckZJCXd909BzbdyDNKdhIncy6mddgPkkzOsr7GCBgZkfVDdflYjUyPyaonqokPwSMAawHxq0fZZ4qSH0rP1qiIB9JYAAOeiH469-tJSJA8myAAQpVF3hSyEfJ76gHdN_wqKb2X2-dg/w640-h480/IMG20211102114944.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Changthangi, Ladakh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the way I
saw the Pashmina goats, also known as Changthangi (for the region they come
from) grazing at high altitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/um9h9WsQ2nI" width="320" youtube-src-id="um9h9WsQ2nI"></iframe></span></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Yaks grazing, Ladakh</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there
were the Yaks feeling at home and grazing in the frozen pond and grass
landscape. Yaks are at home in extremely low temperatures at these high altitudes.
Yaks are sturdy beasts of the region providing not only milk and cheese but
also as beasts of burden to the locals especially in winters when all motorised
transport may cease in remote areas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UrWzX7PB8Gk" width="320" youtube-src-id="UrWzX7PB8Gk"></iframe></span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Pangong Tso, Ladakh</div><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The lake at
14270 feet is 134 km long though only 1/3 is in Ladakh & the remaining is
in Tibet. The lake has an endorheic basin, which means that it retains water
and has no outflow. The lake completely freezes over in winters. Due to being endorheic,
the water is salty and the Pangong is considered the world’s highest salt-water
lake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFp9YVWNe9ObRb3glTb6nDSqrFyp6-0KV0NoxcYuK0l8DmTw8TreJKL7eaFIFy5yaKPj-lAv99VtbPLqSAnff2yM-hbuBdRfm7L-Jyw9RV_v2I6bP-Qzn7hyR2ZSZ7E5MiulrAgL77knK7AHs0dWnZOukGefPpXDExmzTDKyn-bBvSBdnNWkK2G9SDA/s2508/IMG_6175.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2508" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFp9YVWNe9ObRb3glTb6nDSqrFyp6-0KV0NoxcYuK0l8DmTw8TreJKL7eaFIFy5yaKPj-lAv99VtbPLqSAnff2yM-hbuBdRfm7L-Jyw9RV_v2I6bP-Qzn7hyR2ZSZ7E5MiulrAgL77knK7AHs0dWnZOukGefPpXDExmzTDKyn-bBvSBdnNWkK2G9SDA/w640-h426/IMG_6175.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pangong Tso with mountains on the eastern side<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #262626; line-height: 17.12px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #262626; line-height: 17.12px;">The photo does not justify the beauty of the place with the lake having multiple colours of blue, which is mesmerizing.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> One can just sit here and watch the lake changing colours – i.e. various shades of blue.</span></div></span><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJIgMkQ7bzxCIE2EdABF9KYuMxvz7LMWaF69zCXGXlTo9Pmk8hB6ne2DWUrcGVPeFPenAl6KkA5zsb1VGUWzthu6stJR45y-X7W3hUrhSYq8Mq_I1b0xBesliBY8n60OMzhTYYmcw6reE4ZKiKN30fnvCp_kBVdf43v8Y9pJjMMbTFBb8OT6afrVAEQ/s2363/IMG20211102124237.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="2363" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJIgMkQ7bzxCIE2EdABF9KYuMxvz7LMWaF69zCXGXlTo9Pmk8hB6ne2DWUrcGVPeFPenAl6KkA5zsb1VGUWzthu6stJR45y-X7W3hUrhSYq8Mq_I1b0xBesliBY8n60OMzhTYYmcw6reE4ZKiKN30fnvCp_kBVdf43v8Y9pJjMMbTFBb8OT6afrVAEQ/w640-h480/IMG20211102124237.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the Pangong Tso, Ladakh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The hills, some bare and others snow clad add to the aura of the place. In summers, there is accommodation available here but after end-October most of them close it for winters though few eateries are still open in November.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nksWZoaxZUY" width="320" youtube-src-id="nksWZoaxZUY"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shades of Blue, Pangong Tso, Ladakh</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can reach
Leh, capital of Ladakh by air or by road (long journey). From Leh you can book
cabs/bikes. Travel in Ladakh is expensive because of long distances between
destinations. Best time to visit Pangong Tso is summers but then be prepared to
see lots of tourists trying to be ‘three idiots’. From Nubra to Pangong Tso the
drive is about 270 kms and takes about seven hours. If one goes from Leh via
the Chang La (at 17688 feet) then the distance is about 225 kms and take about
five and a half hours.</span></span></p>Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com2Pangong Tso33.7595131 78.667440399999995.449279263821154 43.51119039999999 62.069746936178845 113.82369039999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-5388115692146522442021-09-26T14:25:00.000+05:302021-09-26T14:25:18.608+05:30Places to Visit in Himachal: Serolsar Lake<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I
revisited the Banjar Valley & Seraj Valley in Himachal after a gap of
thirteen years. This time I stayed at three different locations in the valley. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eQGduBwE-QYFjtOLc3dckwQoAI6O9qMPSpiYqOCWzSzyJsvqh3KL4nSJeak5TwoKUAP3nSUkXZESYWpNt5wejlS6VN6YTGF0NZcnU_py4vTY-CmexLpSSsMzFI14NLScjCO-Lr_NHLyQ/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252820%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eQGduBwE-QYFjtOLc3dckwQoAI6O9qMPSpiYqOCWzSzyJsvqh3KL4nSJeak5TwoKUAP3nSUkXZESYWpNt5wejlS6VN6YTGF0NZcnU_py4vTY-CmexLpSSsMzFI14NLScjCO-Lr_NHLyQ/w640-h480/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252820%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Serolsar Lake, Seraj Valley, Himachal</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Banjar valley is more beautiful than the Kullu valley and less touristy as it is away from the main Delhi-Manali-Leh highway. While
staying at Shoja I decided to go again on the trek to the Serolsar Lake. Since
I had driven from Delhi by car (it would take anywhere between 15 to 17 hours
from Delhi to Shoja as the road conditions from Mandi till Kullu tunnel are not good) so I went
from Shoja to Jalori Pass by car.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/upsFPt4-M4I" width="320" youtube-src-id="upsFPt4-M4I"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The drive from Jalori Pass to Shoja</span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jalori
Pass is at a height of 10280 feet from Sea level on the Kullu-Shimla route. I
encountered patches of snow on the road and sides even though it was end-March
and early-April period.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEPJ0M6I0ZZwfKdESmkreoocKRAnyFbARmLc_SU95f6446cFBcCbEZaJnEYrCxWsCOZJwHRwdqz4YokVQnDc1NdXZ8x74aSI-yfvjsk5hgSbPiC6sYjZ7-YV0s8sY3PWD0LAIw36GmPFe/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%2528119%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEPJ0M6I0ZZwfKdESmkreoocKRAnyFbARmLc_SU95f6446cFBcCbEZaJnEYrCxWsCOZJwHRwdqz4YokVQnDc1NdXZ8x74aSI-yfvjsk5hgSbPiC6sYjZ7-YV0s8sY3PWD0LAIw36GmPFe/w640-h426/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%2528119%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Jalori Pass-Serolsar Lake Trek path through forest</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">From
Jalori Pass the trek starts to the Serolsar Lake (also known as Seruvalsar
Lake). From Jalori Pass to Serolsar Lake the distance is around five km and I
would rate the trek as ‘easy’. However, it is advisable to carry sufficient
drinking water and eatables as once you leave Jalori Pass and almost upto the
Serolsar Lake you won’t get any place to have water, tea or snacks (especially
if it is not a tourist season). I did see some shacks on the way but they had
not opened for the season yet. The trek is through forests and therefore the
walk is pleasant. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnxNPbeYDoIz0e1VAZPK_IqdMCl56qEhBPwHXDVcQV2_yireA5-HLA6Tcrn-7qSofgWJn4PlUzPQvRSA_RrgykM5SgBnlr8Cbp0HQLA1biFWVOvGUKjIENw_Aja3-2z-5aaY9Oq4nKMGr/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252826%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnxNPbeYDoIz0e1VAZPK_IqdMCl56qEhBPwHXDVcQV2_yireA5-HLA6Tcrn-7qSofgWJn4PlUzPQvRSA_RrgykM5SgBnlr8Cbp0HQLA1biFWVOvGUKjIENw_Aja3-2z-5aaY9Oq4nKMGr/w640-h426/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252826%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Tried bouldering on a rock face on way to Serolsar</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">There
are at some places huge rock faces so I did try doing some bouldering. However,
I would advise against it if you were not a rock-climber.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRtLV_sitcqj1dqyhuSUj_6v6fvySDcy6EgO0hpxd4YSZLq7HGhE9LyYZB6EN7Tc_WNNW1UThw1VdG67SUHgEiQi5n7SWS_M1yTHV1bFJ93fO_4bHBP3pniuzcqPZgdOOAZxz1TyR0gv1/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252858%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRtLV_sitcqj1dqyhuSUj_6v6fvySDcy6EgO0hpxd4YSZLq7HGhE9LyYZB6EN7Tc_WNNW1UThw1VdG67SUHgEiQi5n7SWS_M1yTHV1bFJ93fO_4bHBP3pniuzcqPZgdOOAZxz1TyR0gv1/w426-h640/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252858%2529.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A pond near the Serolsar Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very
close to the lake, there is a pond that collects rain water from the catchment
area – so do not get confused and assume that you have reached the lake. This
pond does not have clear water and has some weeds.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE6vD1JPNLl-GaCwzBekUnbHOp6QD6O6u4faVj_Gj8s33q_OSGpdRnfvJgKcy52IGcHAvuTNgvqzMfdlKsUeFA-LzeEiOGFhP11JZAU5ROQ-KC0xF5egNThNtxWpvM74g3N1GQ0tV4w0r/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252873%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE6vD1JPNLl-GaCwzBekUnbHOp6QD6O6u4faVj_Gj8s33q_OSGpdRnfvJgKcy52IGcHAvuTNgvqzMfdlKsUeFA-LzeEiOGFhP11JZAU5ROQ-KC0xF5egNThNtxWpvM74g3N1GQ0tV4w0r/w640-h426/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252873%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A view of the Serolsar Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
moment you see some dhabas offering tea, snacks and food you would realise that
you are about to reach the lake site. The lake is in a depression with hill
surrounding it on all sides to form a bowl, which is perfect catchment area for
rain and </span>snow-melt<span style="font-family: inherit;"> water to accumulate. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qowyqpnAY_I" width="320" youtube-src-id="qowyqpnAY_I"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A 360 degree view of the Serolsar Lake area</span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The first view of the lake itself is beautiful with clear water and surrounding hills still having the winter snow.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m68-wALvwZDWy1z3HLLZUjLCcIS8KdaDy7uTMSzJN3l7o_-JkOJVvPOYFLF5MDQHaAGbCMAx5iFPpX00yuIjdMhsAPhJ50e0nAr6rP1gHIzL6_n_kwGTZXAvfOP495Bf2_xe3QQeRqiG/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252842%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m68-wALvwZDWy1z3HLLZUjLCcIS8KdaDy7uTMSzJN3l7o_-JkOJVvPOYFLF5MDQHaAGbCMAx5iFPpX00yuIjdMhsAPhJ50e0nAr6rP1gHIzL6_n_kwGTZXAvfOP495Bf2_xe3QQeRqiG/w480-h640/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%252842%2529.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At the Serolsar Lake </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like
most of the lakes in the Himalayas, the locals also consider the Serolsar Lake
holy. Therefore, it is advisable not to enter the lake for bathing or to wash
clothes etc. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBDzmL4WGDsV6i_DxEGiN8ty3RpSi_TkK3u0XKpa0O0fNPScRhGSsGpCngoqgKJFNLAQmjN5jS7Humq6HYqSLkXE9zmeWB9295Aeco6jIMpr1ho70UPOEdEJy0tw9g49_f2rji7eW4OoF/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%2528101%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBDzmL4WGDsV6i_DxEGiN8ty3RpSi_TkK3u0XKpa0O0fNPScRhGSsGpCngoqgKJFNLAQmjN5jS7Humq6HYqSLkXE9zmeWB9295Aeco6jIMpr1ho70UPOEdEJy0tw9g49_f2rji7eW4OoF/w640-h426/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%2528101%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Serolsar Lake with Budhi Nagin temple in the background</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There
is also the Budhi Nagin temple close by. Before starting the return journey you
can have hot (and tasty) meal of Rajma-Chawal or Kadhi-Chawal and tea etc at
the few dhabas located nearby. One should keep at least half a day for this
excursion if one really want to enjoy nature leisurely. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrNwVyXwkCNuITv-1oGsvCSPn8HSo0Ej7KCtZ_T6aYtUrVWy6PgOG7wNO8FykNvlx8IHM90WA-kEzkuTy6hvm65mp9wm49aXACcdV3aPEQUBwWVIqihk4Kmt-nI5yrcGGX8rlGvk2huyf/s2048/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%2528132%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrNwVyXwkCNuITv-1oGsvCSPn8HSo0Ej7KCtZ_T6aYtUrVWy6PgOG7wNO8FykNvlx8IHM90WA-kEzkuTy6hvm65mp9wm49aXACcdV3aPEQUBwWVIqihk4Kmt-nI5yrcGGX8rlGvk2huyf/w426-h640/Anil_Yadav_Serolsar_Lake+%2528132%2529.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Even in April there were patches of snow on the Jalori Pass- Serolsar Trek</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">If
you are the more adventurous type then you can try to climb the hills on the
way and do some snow walking as well. My advice to travellers – carry good trekking
shoes, water, snacks and do not litter. In case you are not carrying water etc
then these can be bought at the Jalori Pass as it has few shops and dhabas.</span></span></p>Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com5Seruvalsar and Manimahesh Lake, Himachal Pradesh 17202631.5372894 77.41694433.2270555638211533 42.2606943 59.847523236178844 112.5731943tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-45447417860988438932019-06-23T18:47:00.000+05:302019-06-23T18:49:38.596+05:30Top Ten Restaurants in McLeodganj, Dharamshala<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When you visit a place you also like to eat the best food available there. McLeodganj has plenty of dining options at affordable prices specifically if you are interested in Tibetan, Chinese and Italian foods. The listing below is not in order of preference or ranking but in the simple order that I visited them. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2trAkXUwfKveeUsq0PhFhEy6_Y6ISNxr4T-Xl9erh60vKOomWFj_3Q4f9DO8sttLHPjnujMQFvfY_4hZO1s_UXgaDwT0k5g-meHtAhnTR4ZkfFJHMNN_6pdVaN7CYbqAaizzJGYo1qJLN/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2trAkXUwfKveeUsq0PhFhEy6_Y6ISNxr4T-Xl9erh60vKOomWFj_3Q4f9DO8sttLHPjnujMQFvfY_4hZO1s_UXgaDwT0k5g-meHtAhnTR4ZkfFJHMNN_6pdVaN7CYbqAaizzJGYo1qJLN/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Cheese Pizza at Om Restaurant </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Om Restaurant – It has a good ambiance and beautiful location and you can sit for long and enjoy the view of the undulating mountains. The Blue Cheese Pizza that I had was very good. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypV6eTgy-UKvdshRvBg5wnK9OzGXrqJeIqXY7JkG1ASnmkbIX7Ltd1h03-GDY7hMN5MxoNbaFF_Hp-8WTKxb5HDHh-nAXCbduWkEixIyFG_z85rE-DvAfitsQn_wjHCwzWfxjLGD5YlWk/s1600/Norling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypV6eTgy-UKvdshRvBg5wnK9OzGXrqJeIqXY7JkG1ASnmkbIX7Ltd1h03-GDY7hMN5MxoNbaFF_Hp-8WTKxb5HDHh-nAXCbduWkEixIyFG_z85rE-DvAfitsQn_wjHCwzWfxjLGD5YlWk/s640/Norling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thukpa, Tingmo & Phigsa at Norling Cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Norling Café- Not a very big place but has been maintained nicely. However, it has no views as it is in the middle of the market. The Norling Café Special Thukpa was good with lots of meat in it. The Phingsa and Tingmo were also well prepared. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOMbKUsjiLqqiUNezEP26KivXzkcTISzy90-oO7hAjv4bO4RaxHgiQ1VD0odNXtrj0qofMliuIMgVjKutSzlizGUH39ncl6nqmjeFpfe6HI7gmNryyO3lA6BbSRytOlmtipRKXbaztFVj/s1600/Rewa+Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1598" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOMbKUsjiLqqiUNezEP26KivXzkcTISzy90-oO7hAjv4bO4RaxHgiQ1VD0odNXtrj0qofMliuIMgVjKutSzlizGUH39ncl6nqmjeFpfe6HI7gmNryyO3lA6BbSRytOlmtipRKXbaztFVj/s640/Rewa+Cafe.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rewa Cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Rewa Café – They may not score high on ambiance, location or view but the Thukpa (Rs 80 for a mutton Thukpa) and Momo (Rs 90 for a plate of mutton Momo) score highly. The Momos were really juicy. On top of that they kept the hot water in a thermos for drinking without being asked. The Tibetans prefer to take hot water throughout the day to keep them hydrated and therefore keep hot water in a flask. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUiWMFDaCgyjbZ6J0kTKt2x0rSQIvgW3mvoXFAeHZ4hgbHj0BVJRgcxl7ufZJkg9YN3kxxR-5I9Ff45VXbdtvU-mx6fTeNM_oP2YBpNsE6LQeJhgctMpoNT_DyxmoT7j0YKnphQVrs5-e/s1600/Commonground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUiWMFDaCgyjbZ6J0kTKt2x0rSQIvgW3mvoXFAeHZ4hgbHj0BVJRgcxl7ufZJkg9YN3kxxR-5I9Ff45VXbdtvU-mx6fTeNM_oP2YBpNsE6LQeJhgctMpoNT_DyxmoT7j0YKnphQVrs5-e/s640/Commonground.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commonground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Common Ground – This restaurant is five minutes away from the main market, has been beautifully done and also has a good view if you sit outside. They specialize in Chinese (not Tibetan). I had ordered Dawa’s Sweet & Spicy Sizzler (Rs 200 for a plate), Sha Tag (Rs 230 for a plate), Momo and Tingmo. Both the sizzler as well as Momo were excellent. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGmlhZdFystLpWPxpDP-Pi8Lf0pY1UpYPnSUx-JNbZsTv1T2KaOlWZ_CK8vywidZJ7Ho3Ld92a8LbN9XzTXORueJ_h5hpTmvGED4g2xUYRTtjkKZrh0zvbcuvxdqFKQxSuISs4bTlWigK/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav_Family+Pizzaria.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGmlhZdFystLpWPxpDP-Pi8Lf0pY1UpYPnSUx-JNbZsTv1T2KaOlWZ_CK8vywidZJ7Ho3Ld92a8LbN9XzTXORueJ_h5hpTmvGED4g2xUYRTtjkKZrh0zvbcuvxdqFKQxSuISs4bTlWigK/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav_Family+Pizzaria.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuna Pizza at Family Pizzaria, Dharamkot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Family Pizzaria, Dharamkot – This is not in McLeodganj but in Dharamkot. Lots of foreigners and Indians who come for longer stays stay in Dharamkot to do Vipasana etc. The walk to Dharamkot is also nice. The restaurant is located amidst a small orchard and one can enjoy the food in this beautiful setting. The Tuna Pizza and Tea that I had here were good. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflHV6JXbDn5NV-slkNsfneHWk1fp4mm0E0iAqRauDKNnraYx1znBirBynmEMIllVan598kiMnV83DdvQ6Sg8pFAlXNydXq8WHKdWodKStKzLUnIYBB4uJ8CFMKHAGu2TbdDmcl9Mac8qS/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav_Peace+Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflHV6JXbDn5NV-slkNsfneHWk1fp4mm0E0iAqRauDKNnraYx1znBirBynmEMIllVan598kiMnV83DdvQ6Sg8pFAlXNydXq8WHKdWodKStKzLUnIYBB4uJ8CFMKHAGu2TbdDmcl9Mac8qS/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav_Peace+Cafe.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veg Cheese Bhakleb at Peace Cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Peace Café – This place is good for breakfast. The inside ambiance is good but the location is nothing to write home about. Has only vegetarian options. I am seeing that over the years more and more vegetarian-only outlets are coming up in McLeodganj as it is becoming fashionable in the west. The Veg Cheese Bhakleb (Rs 150 for a plate) that I ordered with banana shake was good. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDzC8vRMOUKJs91akRLPA6Khacls3O-iqcwCO7vKL9Lx_hfyr3BVItnrq6ZNyp0eHcso1yVY7pvNIksWKcdBfTSoKD_EV0YQWFkzHf97hcBwwlcomAZCrfAiK8L3qr2_Kyhop3m9Ui0LI/s1600/Palden+Tea+Stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1600" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDzC8vRMOUKJs91akRLPA6Khacls3O-iqcwCO7vKL9Lx_hfyr3BVItnrq6ZNyp0eHcso1yVY7pvNIksWKcdBfTSoKD_EV0YQWFkzHf97hcBwwlcomAZCrfAiK8L3qr2_Kyhop3m9Ui0LI/s640/Palden+Tea+Stall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momo & Shapalay at Palden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Palden Tea Shop – This place has no ambiance or view. It is a very small place with just two tables. I has ordered Shapalay and Momo and both of these were without doubt the best that one can have in Mcleodganj. It was manged by just one person only who managed to make the food, serve, clean utensils etc single handedly. If you are not fussy about going to glossy looking places then choose such small ones to get real authentic and delicious Tibetan food. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnao0fSEPTKubo74Mpmd44MwMDRcpnd3CALzCIEmoPmi3s2GUe_PMBfO_yF4EXg1f1kaGVtiNVcH4IFBS272SLbcV3JnTZPeKzmxX7zpMepJbpKAYTgo5lWHYmGFsrrE7BMqeO78hef-xd/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav_Kailash+Kunga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnao0fSEPTKubo74Mpmd44MwMDRcpnd3CALzCIEmoPmi3s2GUe_PMBfO_yF4EXg1f1kaGVtiNVcH4IFBS272SLbcV3JnTZPeKzmxX7zpMepJbpKAYTgo5lWHYmGFsrrE7BMqeO78hef-xd/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav_Kailash+Kunga.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shifan Pautse at Kailash Kunga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Kailash Kunga – This place is good for breakfast etc. Again the ambiance and location are not good but the Shifan Pautse that I had were delicious. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8BzZW4iXLbSXzlmhJK0N9ItPtWlKFdvAN4X5rMOvOxFAsSQ6Rv61SQsJaurVXmVOewL8cDwn4B5v6CLQpDsaKKhGmDyUEgkaJKJ10yI-0khzd9oKzRkS1CDq34Cc96ujdSFU9DM3jyRs/s1600/The+Clay+Oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1600" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8BzZW4iXLbSXzlmhJK0N9ItPtWlKFdvAN4X5rMOvOxFAsSQ6Rv61SQsJaurVXmVOewL8cDwn4B5v6CLQpDsaKKhGmDyUEgkaJKJ10yI-0khzd9oKzRkS1CDq34Cc96ujdSFU9DM3jyRs/s640/The+Clay+Oven.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meat Ball Thukpa, Momo at the Clay Oven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Clay Oven – The place is located near the Main Square and has very well done interiors with real live clay oven working where you can watch your food being prepared. The Meat Ball Thukpa (Rs 130 for a plate) was well prepared and the Momo (Rs 120 for a plate) were very juicy. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRexBqv2W0P1cMNptAf49ZIhp_GE3miFhZenIeEdQwi7M7VZlSVIrSXDClVz8gD5OGidqzz2JDBca3sWlbsomRmQ2xYmRsnlnhCvMm4P-oqRVb8FB53POMn9xfZQL9822zV-_dFMdl-Uj/s1600/Carpe+Diem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRexBqv2W0P1cMNptAf49ZIhp_GE3miFhZenIeEdQwi7M7VZlSVIrSXDClVz8gD5OGidqzz2JDBca3sWlbsomRmQ2xYmRsnlnhCvMm4P-oqRVb8FB53POMn9xfZQL9822zV-_dFMdl-Uj/s640/Carpe+Diem.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Garlic Steak & Dessert at the Carpe Diem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Carpe Diem – I had an excellent Chicken Garlic Steak with rice, chips and butter veg (Rs 240 for a plate) followed by dessert called Hello to the Queen (Rs 130 for a plate). The place is spread over two floors and has good ambiance, western music and is popular with foreign tourists. The place also serves liquor. Comparatively expensive place but it is still value for money. <br />
<br />
There are several vegan cafes also coming up as the demand is rising for such cafes.<br />
<div>
<br />
The food in all the restaurants that I visited was good and comparatively much cheaper than in Delhi/NCR. The Momo prepared by all of them are fresh and juicy unlike the ones you get mostly in Delhi. So be prepared to give some time for your Momo to arrive! The best point about all these restaurants are that either they don’t charge GST at all or is part of the printed price so you know exactly what you would end up paying at end of the meal.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Also read:</div>
<br />
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2018/12/things-to-do-in-mcleodganj-kora-circuit.html" target="_blank">Things to do in Mcleodganj: The Kora Circuit</a> <br />
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2014/10/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-bhagsunag.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: Bhagsunag Waterfall</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2008/09/mcleodganj-dharamshala-himachal.html" target="_blank">McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/11/why-i-love-to-go-to-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Why I love to go to McLeodganj</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/03/skywatch-friday-sunset-at-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Skywatch Friday - Sunset at McLeodganj, Himachal</a><br />
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2014/11/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-church-of.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com13McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India32.2425758 76.32127809999997232.2157163 76.280937599999973 32.2694353 76.361618599999971tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-61995805010796599212019-05-26T12:56:00.000+05:302019-05-26T12:57:27.715+05:30Bharatpur National Park - a Birders Delight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZd58OUsbOS83nAs41GmQJJcivONhzntqt0bFLXcLJjkhm1CsGM8oNmcHVn6vdQedBlN7oOxGMI-lpzK1v7Dnu6vEbriz3ECdjDyCT3oA9fyLFXI0mk5jkZ1wei9u4iM4POkv5GakVi9X/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Snake+Bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="1600" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZd58OUsbOS83nAs41GmQJJcivONhzntqt0bFLXcLJjkhm1CsGM8oNmcHVn6vdQedBlN7oOxGMI-lpzK1v7Dnu6vEbriz3ECdjDyCT3oA9fyLFXI0mk5jkZ1wei9u4iM4POkv5GakVi9X/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Snake+Bird.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Snake Bird in flight at Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Barely 185 km away from Gurgaon, a four-hour drive can take you to the birders paradise of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorP17L8Dbh1aZTPZH4dU7mCfkQ33sIF93IgagwmLKxVpBSG_IJ84p9Iyx8pap_lpK3o9j6lyc3HtmPWWVxnYv4XIJkEoK6oPMXt-hF3Fm_Kv_bH_xNunc_xef7XByuxXyyrLIDqcUJar7/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%252879%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorP17L8Dbh1aZTPZH4dU7mCfkQ33sIF93IgagwmLKxVpBSG_IJ84p9Iyx8pap_lpK3o9j6lyc3HtmPWWVxnYv4XIJkEoK6oPMXt-hF3Fm_Kv_bH_xNunc_xef7XByuxXyyrLIDqcUJar7/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%252879%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamingos & Ducks at the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best time to visit the Park is in winters when the place is swarming with migratory birds from as far away as Siberia and even Africa! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg6jloC0GkqeOkcsJm-NnmN2vq_gNrNIqa1pcO3zYuzTjf172ouGCCfcYQXGKGTpRmMkWFOotOO6JFWXXLRObeCNbgYyzh9JWJE8AAZ4LN8gPeoYoimGYa30zy1eH7McRdPOSIKpVR8r_/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528245%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg6jloC0GkqeOkcsJm-NnmN2vq_gNrNIqa1pcO3zYuzTjf172ouGCCfcYQXGKGTpRmMkWFOotOO6JFWXXLRObeCNbgYyzh9JWJE8AAZ4LN8gPeoYoimGYa30zy1eH7McRdPOSIKpVR8r_/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528245%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Deer & an Egret at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are plenty of stay options at Bharatpur including the hotel inside the park as well as several hotels and guest houses at a walkable distance from the Park. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw02iTiPXkVkgnAwsTP2OkNdtDkXt_udQKyecXWjwLslDkoClPGjfEbBA2S5T7QcOYzyMXvyjk0hVrOyK43Hnj-7PtyI_BSh1RZsPaVJ5HLHzWGYPfaeeQCM6lB-4BGKl2n-yoEEEJWbTu/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Sparow+Hawk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1529" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw02iTiPXkVkgnAwsTP2OkNdtDkXt_udQKyecXWjwLslDkoClPGjfEbBA2S5T7QcOYzyMXvyjk0hVrOyK43Hnj-7PtyI_BSh1RZsPaVJ5HLHzWGYPfaeeQCM6lB-4BGKl2n-yoEEEJWbTu/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Sparow+Hawk.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge Sparrow Hawk at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz92rlobs4Tghy4x_GtfkcEdXHBK7dwsfZsVBu5yqx_QnwRA6foBZEMTWG3SW9ZmKgAU4L-3mfpE-gUK1y1AA6ir5z5gC6Lc0ueLwsgww_8WO2FdzWcjMQyA9qsj4M0hIrql4DZAclmPe/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Owls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz92rlobs4Tghy4x_GtfkcEdXHBK7dwsfZsVBu5yqx_QnwRA6foBZEMTWG3SW9ZmKgAU4L-3mfpE-gUK1y1AA6ir5z5gC6Lc0ueLwsgww_8WO2FdzWcjMQyA9qsj4M0hIrql4DZAclmPe/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Owls.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owls at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Best time of the day for bird watching is early in the morning as the birds are more active then. The entrance fee is Rs 50 per person. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi36HqYmXjHliB9LciButkJZX-_adS9R5FQjSraBJn4y585SeBo5i0RvkhJQLlKtE30pxl9QNuP8yvfwEPkDcmb6c1p8nDsam-cOS3bgWxJPc9oO3JInFjJQunLsLNKH-p-Cmm8pfXQNw/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Egyptian+Vulture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi36HqYmXjHliB9LciButkJZX-_adS9R5FQjSraBJn4y585SeBo5i0RvkhJQLlKtE30pxl9QNuP8yvfwEPkDcmb6c1p8nDsam-cOS3bgWxJPc9oO3JInFjJQunLsLNKH-p-Cmm8pfXQNw/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Egyptian+Vulture.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the way from Africa - Egyptian Vulture at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once you reach near the entrance of the Park you will notice that there are lots of cycle-rickshaws. It is a huge Park of 29 sq km. So it is advisable to take some form of transport. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd2p9w08nTON5ppMy2lsUXLwC9T3uBrvW218HVRkZv4Zlw5WVdowYDoF7jCPhjy0uxiJnXaA8RGHx4GZZofbinhTFlPx-kyYC9pplXpa3P2rzueHLSa_LQZrHS90zQzIbdPzlKHVjCCM5/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Cormorants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd2p9w08nTON5ppMy2lsUXLwC9T3uBrvW218HVRkZv4Zlw5WVdowYDoF7jCPhjy0uxiJnXaA8RGHx4GZZofbinhTFlPx-kyYC9pplXpa3P2rzueHLSa_LQZrHS90zQzIbdPzlKHVjCCM5/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Cormorants.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darter & Cormorants at the Bharatpur National Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4_XWFRL-rfamxYmi4DRXo2Uk7AL0IfA76fRf5lnPxmQaMEB8PkdhdtF2qU7B3XDfNdgs_eLvlGJusCLp_92EMWcG6SMGvJXpK8DwBYz8HCtS6_kcO50oV5E5UeBy2Kjvkbq6h0J-dj4L/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528218%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1238" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4_XWFRL-rfamxYmi4DRXo2Uk7AL0IfA76fRf5lnPxmQaMEB8PkdhdtF2qU7B3XDfNdgs_eLvlGJusCLp_92EMWcG6SMGvJXpK8DwBYz8HCtS6_kcO50oV5E5UeBy2Kjvkbq6h0J-dj4L/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528218%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother comes to feed its Kids at the Bharatpur National Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Avoid taking a rickshaw from outside. Rather take one from inside the Park as the rikshawalas inside also serve as guides (they have done the guiding course and are experienced and competent). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7VRW8dKkB0ZgUvD51zWzcKcjS150NkBs7Pq8xtLS0akK6FEOTzlIMn_ZaXI56XCK5euQPm5ClrCp8SrNFPURpvilaaPS876cVfmqas80bzB3nvQrDZF8kiofrfKq-wLjEzxirWQUkXvh/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528323%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7VRW8dKkB0ZgUvD51zWzcKcjS150NkBs7Pq8xtLS0akK6FEOTzlIMn_ZaXI56XCK5euQPm5ClrCp8SrNFPURpvilaaPS876cVfmqas80bzB3nvQrDZF8kiofrfKq-wLjEzxirWQUkXvh/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528323%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Flock of Birds being watched by Cormorants at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2018 the Cycle cum guide rent was Rs 150 for an hour. They also have binoculars for which you pay extra but it is definitely useful as the birds like to keep their distance from the tourists. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDdaiQJMWy0UNsw4jCAVF_TrtgLo0Guq2J4K4LBoeWmc9AadXH7zBXFfsXUML5R11CSzVgekkzpyFHvuEPu-XX3hN7btl0qExdXqfFTJ4_2TjtS_jO3HcTtIsl5udUo3EK6vQGZ_LkO2l/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528234%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDdaiQJMWy0UNsw4jCAVF_TrtgLo0Guq2J4K4LBoeWmc9AadXH7zBXFfsXUML5R11CSzVgekkzpyFHvuEPu-XX3hN7btl0qExdXqfFTJ4_2TjtS_jO3HcTtIsl5udUo3EK6vQGZ_LkO2l/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528234%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A Glossy Ibis watching another bird at the Bharatpur National Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Several of these guides are Sikhs (as was mine) who were given land near Bharatpur when they migrated from West Punjab (now Pakistan) in 1947 at the time of partition. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg8CpxRj_E67xrXiUrNtFPSfyS_EeGKF9VPXxmTnT_d0zWUV076_T8sn__QA-P3cHvWyo9F7nRhwdNENHlPtc18t-qodwGD3sV9kbCnNiQEp6UjkH-OKJQq1MM5pIkmEmFhs9hvqRwRdg/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528171%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg8CpxRj_E67xrXiUrNtFPSfyS_EeGKF9VPXxmTnT_d0zWUV076_T8sn__QA-P3cHvWyo9F7nRhwdNENHlPtc18t-qodwGD3sV9kbCnNiQEp6UjkH-OKJQq1MM5pIkmEmFhs9hvqRwRdg/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528171%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Purple Pond Heron at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One can also hire cycles inside the Park but as my partner could not cycle, I therefore took the rickshaw for 5 hours. After that I let the rickshaw go and explored further on foot going on trails not visited by too many people. For bigger groups there are options of battery operated golf-carts and horse drawn carts as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHP_e0x4pwNs98wSidcv6MIIdLFBM7xaECtz3KrLL98NZTAm18REeo0Yw6Bh5kJN1NlX003YYjmfKE0n2as4_Nivsblepf9LwtnhyVGVH2EmbwQc0JwEvGLQeOEtrBp7TJK3tSnD2SY2W/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528173%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHP_e0x4pwNs98wSidcv6MIIdLFBM7xaECtz3KrLL98NZTAm18REeo0Yw6Bh5kJN1NlX003YYjmfKE0n2as4_Nivsblepf9LwtnhyVGVH2EmbwQc0JwEvGLQeOEtrBp7TJK3tSnD2SY2W/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528173%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glossy Ibis at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The rickshaw pullers cum guides know the routine, the nests and the favourite spots of birds and they can also identify them for you. Our guide knew exactly the nests of owlets, eagles and kites, snakes taking siesta in the sun etc. They also tell you anecdotes, so it is worth the money. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5EU0e8hJTsGjBsSQe_0fnG5B_radL7NC0ak0FGhjL8v26emPP4Nb-D70rhyphenhyphenC31-UqxvtLsxbrU4Ex0GNrBJuuFvhBHGsRHliosF3i0f1REQM2GnYozTw3nc6_t7pOHFT8AAkLwooqn7R/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528236%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5EU0e8hJTsGjBsSQe_0fnG5B_radL7NC0ak0FGhjL8v26emPP4Nb-D70rhyphenhyphenC31-UqxvtLsxbrU4Ex0GNrBJuuFvhBHGsRHliosF3i0f1REQM2GnYozTw3nc6_t7pOHFT8AAkLwooqn7R/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528236%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An eagle about to attack its prey at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is advisable not to hurry. See the birds and the wildlife at leisure. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNvk3QBTmrOG9_pHdMwfjJId6BH5dYLyoMgcTEUoAM0I2t2bQJtjX_NqhtkLu-nqoW3hnORCK5TfZFZ2kZ1vdyMBKyKzJVAcsCKiNFqn0dvD1fZIRhh11OMK54aIDbuAB0QN6mjXY8Lqu/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Kingfisher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNvk3QBTmrOG9_pHdMwfjJId6BH5dYLyoMgcTEUoAM0I2t2bQJtjX_NqhtkLu-nqoW3hnORCK5TfZFZ2kZ1vdyMBKyKzJVAcsCKiNFqn0dvD1fZIRhh11OMK54aIDbuAB0QN6mjXY8Lqu/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Kingfisher.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, keep in mind that if you are going to spend a long part of the day inside the Park then do carry sufficient water bottles and eatables (please do not litter) as inside the Park the two canteens serve miserable snacks. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPy45P1wnip0bTMVk2jnmHJWAkU1_Hjl0JLoKI-YX0c0aXP2ni2kOMH0unaVqHCPPRNLMD-LJbV6D1MwfN_R-5mn0IM9mOd-i7YgyPwZ-zoQ_3Q2mXaOoipfeEzpXbIIk_08qOr9j1bWj/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Storks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPy45P1wnip0bTMVk2jnmHJWAkU1_Hjl0JLoKI-YX0c0aXP2ni2kOMH0unaVqHCPPRNLMD-LJbV6D1MwfN_R-5mn0IM9mOd-i7YgyPwZ-zoQ_3Q2mXaOoipfeEzpXbIIk_08qOr9j1bWj/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Storks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bharatpur National Park has a huge colony of Storks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kn5ObMzOM2LjkkOvjKYsHFPTEKSXVO3q97yOcZ6FawwttnrLhu1ppDKGQncnM6Mrdy20lc776pRvP_Q8vVqkhIMG0D99TqYaoqvB_qqmSRq-93QqkuV4ZDbh7jG1aPcT_mi-MrbsstVe/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528214%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="1600" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kn5ObMzOM2LjkkOvjKYsHFPTEKSXVO3q97yOcZ6FawwttnrLhu1ppDKGQncnM6Mrdy20lc776pRvP_Q8vVqkhIMG0D99TqYaoqvB_qqmSRq-93QqkuV4ZDbh7jG1aPcT_mi-MrbsstVe/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528214%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storks displaying themselves at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nUAcPoux6dAUdardmfAZKDgPYjjHRrxIevsPtcZ-0Atqw8krgEiebbKInj38sXy7a30fz3ETAWaIS1lrJBojmglV4HPbsxVRVzrn-Qp1mk8_EapA44zXZVXbyE9t88pLafDO92JDf29f/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528135%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nUAcPoux6dAUdardmfAZKDgPYjjHRrxIevsPtcZ-0Atqw8krgEiebbKInj38sXy7a30fz3ETAWaIS1lrJBojmglV4HPbsxVRVzrn-Qp1mk8_EapA44zXZVXbyE9t88pLafDO92JDf29f/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528135%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Let's take 'Stork" of the Situation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I sat for half an hour at one place and was rewarded by this - absolutely still like a statue - Pond Heron catching a fish. It was a delight to watch. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIaE8GA7epQ5cxt-fpBaP6Pw0IaLF1pBkk_bhbnm0ERm7z34qWOXU4rhGjnGvy5SllmV8hSRcl8WoP_S1riMR9hpgWVxqPKE2EKaGhJ6SqBCxPJl5voWULWjGSYFPEh3cG90ZZA_WkhQZ/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Heron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIaE8GA7epQ5cxt-fpBaP6Pw0IaLF1pBkk_bhbnm0ERm7z34qWOXU4rhGjnGvy5SllmV8hSRcl8WoP_S1riMR9hpgWVxqPKE2EKaGhJ6SqBCxPJl5voWULWjGSYFPEh3cG90ZZA_WkhQZ/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Heron.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice catch - A Pond Heron with its prize - Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytcaCuDvYsLaNxIFVrKYeMofTddeQ-87KfCXpe_6dbFcKno44h4corl4juoOhDdrUXIAWLHn6NClD4pCkNLoOnEIIzihHiAOR6gRlOWiCQnfTWMF0Mp1ApO0YMRTjpiHjqdCSglMMjHmA/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Pelican.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1039" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytcaCuDvYsLaNxIFVrKYeMofTddeQ-87KfCXpe_6dbFcKno44h4corl4juoOhDdrUXIAWLHn6NClD4pCkNLoOnEIIzihHiAOR6gRlOWiCQnfTWMF0Mp1ApO0YMRTjpiHjqdCSglMMjHmA/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav_Pelican.JPG" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pelican at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
Besides the birds that I could identify like the Egyptian Vulture, Green Himalayan Pigeon or the Ghuggi (in Punjabi), Common Babbler, Dove, Sparrow Hawk, Goose, Oriental Magpie Robin, Pelican, Herons, Cormorants, big colonies of Storks, various types of Kingfishers and wildlife like the Deer, Wild cows (there were some domestic ones also roaming around. Villagers get rid of unproductive cows by dumping them in the Sanctuary over the boundary walls), Wild Boar, Snakes etc. There were several others, which were a delight to watch. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBPJEwkUUuZ9NoZDQ28Ro6B24yKN_LwvM9bBU7zJ1N6mgGqakHiUda2-XCsQed6agCz0eJKSlV6rcJX2-6pKWZ5Ky8vZug6Bh4uea1GVXm03WQnWwf9posVL8pRC-MER-cjsZkYA6SoE6/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBPJEwkUUuZ9NoZDQ28Ro6B24yKN_LwvM9bBU7zJ1N6mgGqakHiUda2-XCsQed6agCz0eJKSlV6rcJX2-6pKWZ5Ky8vZug6Bh4uea1GVXm03WQnWwf9posVL8pRC-MER-cjsZkYA6SoE6/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ajgar Snake sunning itself at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This UNESCO World Heritage Site incidentally was earlier was a royal Duck game reserve where the local royalty use to come and shoot the ducks as a game.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWher0QzeosY7vIab3bOXrdBrpeoPHG-xzamYZghKIZh1asKuHf4PZi9B43pAz8qItwqJSDuC9O_ZhE_rLygJgrUP4ne6SirK7gjC5lRUjJD_N3U7Cze_ZEMf5RoTvBjOYIN4gJCpMXn-/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%252861%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWher0QzeosY7vIab3bOXrdBrpeoPHG-xzamYZghKIZh1asKuHf4PZi9B43pAz8qItwqJSDuC9O_ZhE_rLygJgrUP4ne6SirK7gjC5lRUjJD_N3U7Cze_ZEMf5RoTvBjOYIN4gJCpMXn-/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%252861%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perched high on a tree at the Bharatpur National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnSYkN7afjd3YJn6aF4DqsXDKOtL-fpDxey62dLdOUhXHwowvjf_aXCRwIeJEjNIa8XfEE5xK0mZ80teuZWqPOd5s9qD4sRTl2AKegRgaHZD7Gw0hxAPduChnx-gx3TsccVvy_SidBr5s/s1600/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528226%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1600" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnSYkN7afjd3YJn6aF4DqsXDKOtL-fpDxey62dLdOUhXHwowvjf_aXCRwIeJEjNIa8XfEE5xK0mZ80teuZWqPOd5s9qD4sRTl2AKegRgaHZD7Gw0hxAPduChnx-gx3TsccVvy_SidBr5s/s640/Keoladeo_Anil+Yadav+%2528226%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Swamp-hens at the Bharatpur National Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Do remember to have good walking shoes, water bottle, snacks, good binoculars (if not then good zoom camera) so as to enjoy your birding experience!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also Read:</div>
<div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2013/01/guda-bishnoi.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Guda Bishnoi</a></h3>
</div>
<div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2015/04/this-is-also-gurgaon-sultanpur-national.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">This is also Gurgaon: The Sultanpur National Park</a></h3>
</div>
<div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2015/06/sultanpur-has-more-than-just-birds.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sultanpur has more than just birds</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com2Keoladeo National Park, Agra-Jaipur Highway, Bharatpur, Rajasthan 302001, India27.159269 77.5231999000000091.6372344999999981 36.214605900000009 52.6813035 118.83179390000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-16864085149504299652019-02-04T21:08:00.001+05:302019-02-04T21:08:36.884+05:30Places to visit in Narnaul: Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRILoBaJj14Dyd39e6WfPUJcB5nWTH-8B0YgAU9lh221jHVgaYETFqViF28iKgFvGV17PtFNHk9hsQO1ipigjSqXeMVho-Y7QXJU55Gtj9bYPTFKO8-aBvFe7kXzSW1GMx_Raa3CCb8jlv/s1600/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRILoBaJj14Dyd39e6WfPUJcB5nWTH-8B0YgAU9lh221jHVgaYETFqViF28iKgFvGV17PtFNHk9hsQO1ipigjSqXeMVho-Y7QXJU55Gtj9bYPTFKO8-aBvFe7kXzSW1GMx_Raa3CCb8jlv/s640/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%25286%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb, Narnaul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Most of the times while crossing Narnaul I do not make a detour and pass through this town without looking at the local attractions. However, this time I factored in couple of hours extra to visit few monuments which are the heritage of the area and architecturally important. <br /><br />I decided to visit the Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb located in the Piran Mohalla of the town. To reach there either put on Google maps or ask for directions from a local as it is situated in the middle of a inhabited colony and there are no markers to guide you there. <br /><br />When I reached there I was surprised that how well it has been maintained over the years as it has been built by Sher Shah Suri during 1540-45 in memory of his grandfather Ibrahim Khan Sur who died in Narnaul in the year 1518. The square structure made of red and grey sandstone is built on a platform and is entered from the east gate. The monument is surrounded on all sides by houses. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-8xgGTfSDGp9UvyCCBJkZoMZrgt7lK5QsDK8Bar8uFIiQ0wR0ZPaMGhl2AHT3DYmCwk8gN5WhTthoxOtIlIfgRsHrswgh0tUtccM5lMVYHxZuVYco3bNBoEtWWQ9nAyJtyzBFCsbC4k1/s1600/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-8xgGTfSDGp9UvyCCBJkZoMZrgt7lK5QsDK8Bar8uFIiQ0wR0ZPaMGhl2AHT3DYmCwk8gN5WhTthoxOtIlIfgRsHrswgh0tUtccM5lMVYHxZuVYco3bNBoEtWWQ9nAyJtyzBFCsbC4k1/s640/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%25289%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tomb of Shah Ibrahim, Narnaul </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
The structure is two storey high. On the ground level besides the main tomb of Ibrahim Khan Sur there are also few other smaller tombs as well. The light filters in through the trellised grills. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI9YsaDxR7nOluCSOP2ZbfCaqgvU6CuGkME4VSUhD3XsSFqPFHIb1Nj5sZVfnHikblyqVJy8lf84_EIuljFTUWd-LwqkRmx5Zud4L4L6_l6qugukXC3GtYNG4Gi1xFb09r_SguzJh_niV/s1600/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI9YsaDxR7nOluCSOP2ZbfCaqgvU6CuGkME4VSUhD3XsSFqPFHIb1Nj5sZVfnHikblyqVJy8lf84_EIuljFTUWd-LwqkRmx5Zud4L4L6_l6qugukXC3GtYNG4Gi1xFb09r_SguzJh_niV/s640/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%252823%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the cupola at the Shah Inrahim Tomb, Narnaul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One can go up by means of narrow (and dark) stairs. On the second storey besides the main dome there are four cupolas giving the structure a symmetry and elegant look. One can get a 360 degree view of the city from here. </div>
<br />
<div>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJw54VRBMC-K3dJva24JQ5BiBjuWvcVBU9JWdEJl-_SDJ-YeN3bZJioNG7e2TwAdoCzFDh38R2Fc5pTvKJVEtJ9jpHpiouT0GvuOqic1s8vTlOM_hhhL9AOaX3_Y_dsOkRcLlgCnWl1ek/s1600/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJw54VRBMC-K3dJva24JQ5BiBjuWvcVBU9JWdEJl-_SDJ-YeN3bZJioNG7e2TwAdoCzFDh38R2Fc5pTvKJVEtJ9jpHpiouT0GvuOqic1s8vTlOM_hhhL9AOaX3_Y_dsOkRcLlgCnWl1ek/s640/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%252812%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pir Turkman Dargah as seen from the Shah Ibrahim Tomb, Narnaul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Close to the Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb is the Dargah of Pir Turkman. I was told that the building of the Pir Turkman predates the Shah Ibrahim’s Tomb by nearly 200 years! The buildings of the Pir Turkman though are in a dilapidated state. <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHTHMjxJfWQ7G2SKfzWqksg0CDjmUF8Q34NIQ06-ApQIrxlAC5lVJuUG-vEGs-0a0klQX-ZRN0E8Lfj-tO4KTAv4JlXnxRz8N-MH7ocvWBnbiVCGAtJlj3OJxwkwjJNBQ8OJWn9UnQ8G3/s1600/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHTHMjxJfWQ7G2SKfzWqksg0CDjmUF8Q34NIQ06-ApQIrxlAC5lVJuUG-vEGs-0a0klQX-ZRN0E8Lfj-tO4KTAv4JlXnxRz8N-MH7ocvWBnbiVCGAtJlj3OJxwkwjJNBQ8OJWn9UnQ8G3/s640/Ibrahim+Tomb_Narnaul_Anil+Yadav+%252817%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backside view of the Shah Ibrahim Tomb, Narnaul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />An advice to the Archaeological Survey of India and to the Tourism department of the Government of Haryana is to provide road markers so that this important heritage site is easy to locate and reach. <br /><br />Narnaul, a small town in Haryana, is about 170 km from Delhi on the Delhi-Rewari-Khetri route and can be reached by road in about three and half hours. It is also the district headquarters of Mahendergarh District <br /><br />Also read: <br /><a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2017/07/places-to-visit-in-narnaul-chor-gumbad.html">Places to visit in Narnaul: Chor Gumbad</a> <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2011/08/dhosi-hills.html">Dhosi Hills</a> <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/03/rural-tourism.html">Rural Tourism</a> <br /> </div>
</div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com10Narnaul, Haryana 123001, India28.0657961 76.10147810000000827.9536906 75.94011660000001 28.1779016 76.2628396tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-61642926626291878332018-12-08T10:38:00.001+05:302018-12-08T10:43:11.035+05:30Things to do in Mcleodganj: The Kora Circuit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been visiting Mcleodganj since the year 1987 but somehow had been unaware of one important facet of the Buddhist tradition – the Kora. Kora is a form of pilgrimage wherein you circumambulate a holy site (<i>Parikrama</i> in the Hindu tradition). In Mcleodganj Buddhist, young and old, take the Kora circuit around the hill that has the residence of Dalai Lama and the monastery and therefore considered holy. Surprisingly it is little known.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8ogqIzXwL3QCkxTQbpVqq-LHhRPL12_L6yE0vOTxVDZ7mo8IsGRTsIS0-yfs4YJEK1rG_RIeNZTOq89cJ_AD2L9_AhNrwKsh05BtsLskWDohi9MJKhFDZeFAWicqVSx5zOLLLVOLRht1/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528208%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8ogqIzXwL3QCkxTQbpVqq-LHhRPL12_L6yE0vOTxVDZ7mo8IsGRTsIS0-yfs4YJEK1rG_RIeNZTOq89cJ_AD2L9_AhNrwKsh05BtsLskWDohi9MJKhFDZeFAWicqVSx5zOLLLVOLRht1/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528208%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kora in Mcleodganj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This tradition on circumambulation is common in both Buddhism and Bon. However, in Buddhism the walk in a circle is clockwise whereas in Bon it is counter clockwise. Two famous Kora are the Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuujmYZsfsToxPgXbUB9hI9wSKw0uEhO7HlUtb-OEo7Ntw67gW7KjzCnpLEOict09LXTIQDMf0kHXP2HGbeTKjGTDpj25EdTYeJWs2Doan0YRqB52v7sjGysO-awLLvUg83lvodlhM43Hs/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528209%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuujmYZsfsToxPgXbUB9hI9wSKw0uEhO7HlUtb-OEo7Ntw67gW7KjzCnpLEOict09LXTIQDMf0kHXP2HGbeTKjGTDpj25EdTYeJWs2Doan0YRqB52v7sjGysO-awLLvUg83lvodlhM43Hs/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528209%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge prayer flags on the Kora route, Mcleodganj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The route in Mcleodganj is well paved and away from the town’s honking traffic amidst pine and deodar forest. The route has stringed prayer flags small and large. Buddhists believe that the fluttering of the flags carries the prayers written on them onwards.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMKrkuHQnw_ZXCiivHGQhXPS0oA5joV-n5vHfcaMC2nEZxZ22SlIvkCU2fkuyjAUijHImosjAFaKmy206b9NlKPYGTBc3pBYiNWbDtdGhn8YkRPOeHkzzg4__wNfa1GSlkYTcuYXkq689/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528226%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMKrkuHQnw_ZXCiivHGQhXPS0oA5joV-n5vHfcaMC2nEZxZ22SlIvkCU2fkuyjAUijHImosjAFaKmy206b9NlKPYGTBc3pBYiNWbDtdGhn8YkRPOeHkzzg4__wNfa1GSlkYTcuYXkq689/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528226%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kora route has benches placed all along for people to take rest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If one gets tired then one can sit down on one of the benches lined up along the route. The older people do sit down to take rest and chant prayers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6DRsRfcA4PmABb8upiyeYNh9kAaViCPanvTyWqbOLi_X8HL390bQ-uyG5sE-9eDJdmpcdu1hB-bxwriGbJZeUShuAJXVoRHfCdxarOfM5XNCwbnsE4sUkYGBDmSQGQwC0nEtjjWu3MZq/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Prayer+wheels_mCleodganj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6DRsRfcA4PmABb8upiyeYNh9kAaViCPanvTyWqbOLi_X8HL390bQ-uyG5sE-9eDJdmpcdu1hB-bxwriGbJZeUShuAJXVoRHfCdxarOfM5XNCwbnsE4sUkYGBDmSQGQwC0nEtjjWu3MZq/s640/Anil+Yadav_Prayer+wheels_mCleodganj.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prayer wheels of all sizes on the Kora route in Mcleodganj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The path is lined with prayer wheels in different sizes. Some are made of metal; others are of wood. Some are very small and look antique as if they have been brought from Tibet while there are others that maybe be 8-10 feet in height. The prayer wheels are always on the right side of the devotee.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aGdDWv291UE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGdDWv291UE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Tibetan lady at the prayer wheels on the Kora in Mcleodganj</div>
<br />
On the Kora route there are stones carved with the Buddhist prayer <i>Om Mani Padme Hum</i>. The stones are in various sizes and some of them are brightly painted.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTd1A7YIsDUAF32r6nvbY7jeTYEYpF4B02wMXv5iPS4nqTF-cuBgTfuxKbQsQa6_wUrHk62aaQ6s9K6GhMhLcg8443nJ8mNg9iWnD2vEYz1I2jZKwdraDRTK2jhNXoVemS7qdBomDshDp/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%252857%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTd1A7YIsDUAF32r6nvbY7jeTYEYpF4B02wMXv5iPS4nqTF-cuBgTfuxKbQsQa6_wUrHk62aaQ6s9K6GhMhLcg8443nJ8mNg9iWnD2vEYz1I2jZKwdraDRTK2jhNXoVemS7qdBomDshDp/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%252857%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artistically carved stones with <i>Om Mani Padme Hum</i> written on them on the Kora in Mcleodganj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Apart from the serenity and the beauty of the path, the dense forest is a paradise for the birdwatchers. I saw several birds and one could spend several hours just observing them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwV7MB_jvhQLooEM0iXs8FJjYy7NYj2yG2oCU-uPmQK3H4eS5xww1yxTujOnH2oFhjuggz64FaHggeTdOe-W0KwZ20LiHL3IwGw7V49k_KjHX3Y7AIcXoUR4O5tztfYmkb-Ferkc81yXj/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Birds_Mcleodganj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwV7MB_jvhQLooEM0iXs8FJjYy7NYj2yG2oCU-uPmQK3H4eS5xww1yxTujOnH2oFhjuggz64FaHggeTdOe-W0KwZ20LiHL3IwGw7V49k_KjHX3Y7AIcXoUR4O5tztfYmkb-Ferkc81yXj/s640/Anil+Yadav_Birds_Mcleodganj.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kora route in Mcleodganj is a Birdwatchers paradise </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Langurs come down the mountains in winters and one comes across them in this area. Unlike monkeys they do not trouble people. They are busy with themselves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nqh3na33ZAHssqu61eRHiJizP183pECluqiLssmpAnweBvrPTaT4OVSq94FGFmUAIdtaZ8lktChUVu0-k3VbKfH0KzXoRu3xeRPHQD_V1x_Y4-ZKW3oWsUPE3BJM7XF_jWSh0vGHM9AH/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%252859%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nqh3na33ZAHssqu61eRHiJizP183pECluqiLssmpAnweBvrPTaT4OVSq94FGFmUAIdtaZ8lktChUVu0-k3VbKfH0KzXoRu3xeRPHQD_V1x_Y4-ZKW3oWsUPE3BJM7XF_jWSh0vGHM9AH/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%252859%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Langurs preening each other on the Kora route in Mcleodganj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I liked the Kora circuit so much that I performed the Kora twice in three days. I thank my Tibetan friend who introduced the Kora to me and took me around explaining things on the first visit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBPhdrSSOhtqG2mFPGVXN6sJes83rq50Xi4Sx0EU4ZUbrEPj_aphqpwS10uYQtNbXPg6y-M8Xv1eExAxD7cPjHxBEFCt8TmxZ1tRKgjEn8aLKb9X2B8i328sGTrkS7yhfjP4MkCWlcHtO/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%252874%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBPhdrSSOhtqG2mFPGVXN6sJes83rq50Xi4Sx0EU4ZUbrEPj_aphqpwS10uYQtNbXPg6y-M8Xv1eExAxD7cPjHxBEFCt8TmxZ1tRKgjEn8aLKb9X2B8i328sGTrkS7yhfjP4MkCWlcHtO/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%252874%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prayer flags and prayer wheels on the Kora in Mcleodganj </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This route is, fortunately, little known to most tourists and therefore not crowded. There is something special about it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0fs2BgR-c6A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fs2BgR-c6A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wind carrying the prayers written on the flags</div>
<br />
The cleanliness is impressive. Jute bags function as dustbins.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3WLikqn605WunixFs7JDp4Bwmv4IQq1Os19hpKrXf_QCASIs80N8o6ITHRwgkaf3WJ7WbPWe-Xw7H6QL7PB6PQzqpYbuCgnVBurrxj6bEwl2lFdJPc3mbphXlVzK2oxbZY0I3cZfwzM-/s1600/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528241%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3WLikqn605WunixFs7JDp4Bwmv4IQq1Os19hpKrXf_QCASIs80N8o6ITHRwgkaf3WJ7WbPWe-Xw7H6QL7PB6PQzqpYbuCgnVBurrxj6bEwl2lFdJPc3mbphXlVzK2oxbZY0I3cZfwzM-/s640/McLeodganj_2018_Anil+Yadav+%2528241%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The serene Kora route in Mcleodganj</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All in all the best part of McLeodganj, for the devout as well as the curious tourist.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Also read: <br />
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2010/05/bon-monastery-in-himachal.html" target="_blank">Bon Monastery in Himachal</a><br />
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2014/10/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-bhagsunag.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: Bhagsunag Waterfall</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2008/09/mcleodganj-dharamshala-himachal.html" target="_blank">McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/11/why-i-love-to-go-to-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Why I love to go to McLeodganj</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/03/skywatch-friday-sunset-at-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Skywatch Friday - Sunset at McLeodganj, Himachal</a><br />
<a href="https://climber-explorer.blogspot.com/2014/11/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-church-of.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-75779914954984458552018-04-30T13:46:00.000+05:302018-04-30T13:46:04.533+05:30My Experience of Digital India: A Case of UCO Bank<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaZOJR8XB6Ay-5LJG3j7my3yt4gmeunTn3pxgQV5YgvhTrKLmstMlhUXL5nEZVVJvPZrJADs3DTBbDmdUA7kzCjZJ2HdiJEe8vpS8HAc6sFnKcHR98WnP3AcmWye_leigprYe3JuyFhtv/s1600/scanner_20180430_130113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="1142" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaZOJR8XB6Ay-5LJG3j7my3yt4gmeunTn3pxgQV5YgvhTrKLmstMlhUXL5nEZVVJvPZrJADs3DTBbDmdUA7kzCjZJ2HdiJEe8vpS8HAc6sFnKcHR98WnP3AcmWye_leigprYe3JuyFhtv/s640/scanner_20180430_130113.jpg" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UCO Bank is one of the Nationalised Banks of India</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I worked at a location near Chandigarh for about a year and my organization’s salary account was with the local UCO branch. After a year, I moved to NCR Delhi. At that time, I did not close my UCO account, as the final salary was yet to come in my UCO Bank account. Once all my financial transactions were complete, I decided to close my UCO Bank account, as there is no point in maintaining several bank accounts. In addition, one has to mention all bank accounts (irrespective of whether it is operational or not) when you are filing tax returns.<br /><br />Since all banks are nowadays connected with each other digitally, I went to a local branch of the UCO Bank in Gurgaon. I went there sharp at 10 AM which is the timing of their customer dealing but had to wait for at least half an hour for the ladies and gentlemen of the bank to start dealing with customers. Then I was in for a shock when they told me that I cannot close my account like this and I will have to physically go to the branch where I have the account to get it closed. This despite the fact that I was carrying all documents to prove my identity as well as Original Pass Book, unused chequebook etc. <br /><br />Well I did not give up. A friend of mine was going back to the place where I had worked and he had his account in the same bank branch. Therefore, I gave him an application for the Bank Manager along with the Pass Book and the unused chequebook so that my account can be closed. He called me from the bank and said that the bank is not accepting the documents. I called the Manager from my registered mobile number with the bank asking them why my account cannot be closed despite presenting all documents and that the person carrying the documents also is an account holder with the bank. The manager told me that I have to be physically present to close the account. They expect me to “physically” make a round trip to 700 km spending two days and five thousand rupee only in order to close an account.<br /><br />I did what any sensible person would do. I withdrew whatever little money I had in the account by making some purchases. Now the UCO bank can do whatever they want to do with the account with Rs 4 that is now left in the account! <br /><br /> Digital India with rules from colonial times!</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-28123335064330642392018-03-25T12:37:00.000+05:302018-03-25T12:37:06.448+05:30Places to visit in Manali: Jogini Waterfalls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9M5Oickwxy4jmqgEcu0yV57Ylu-T0Q7J09N8lUb6EipgiCyWTpXtddRAi1TXyhfxqjnLlH24SQ-bkysFuISTJBEYtQ8nEOlkNagQsX5lMdETLTqyyoMMNajyRC8f-u3PSJaqb4WjYME4X/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9M5Oickwxy4jmqgEcu0yV57Ylu-T0Q7J09N8lUb6EipgiCyWTpXtddRAi1TXyhfxqjnLlH24SQ-bkysFuISTJBEYtQ8nEOlkNagQsX5lMdETLTqyyoMMNajyRC8f-u3PSJaqb4WjYME4X/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+444.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Jogini Waterfalls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />During my last trip to Manali I stayed at Vashisht which is about 3 km from Manali. It is less crowded and has better views of the mountains. But it was only when I had gone to Old Manali that I noticed from far off there is a big waterfall above Vashisht. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qS537fvhG0IrgqrGRESnMoii5udNKaamtyeSIDW-oKIGZH8rZWacqOhurmKWTEab2QTYQKBmvzk7mWN3uXwa146kiKIssOTE5dkD6Pbm8qhqyFwEmnUbqNJm9G_T4yG5C3JBfnXKV66T/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qS537fvhG0IrgqrGRESnMoii5udNKaamtyeSIDW-oKIGZH8rZWacqOhurmKWTEab2QTYQKBmvzk7mWN3uXwa146kiKIssOTE5dkD6Pbm8qhqyFwEmnUbqNJm9G_T4yG5C3JBfnXKV66T/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Jogini Waterfalls from Old Manali</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So I decided to go trekking there. The trek to the lower base of the Jogini waterfall is an easy one from the Vashisht temple. Beyond the temple you pass through the narrow lanes of the village and then once you come out of the village the walk is very pleasant among the pine woods and small rivulets. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizriMXyqr41gn9NUKkjXhPY8wjBBa_X5ahXn9HstsHuBfYupS2Kdd_onH3dwqjPotbzaaDJ1C-LuDMVJYbkh1TfKGKvbl3BjsWzrAh1UpR-FxivC6ZAZjgNOZ-rs0ogIyTbOdxIA3tIYz0/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizriMXyqr41gn9NUKkjXhPY8wjBBa_X5ahXn9HstsHuBfYupS2Kdd_onH3dwqjPotbzaaDJ1C-LuDMVJYbkh1TfKGKvbl3BjsWzrAh1UpR-FxivC6ZAZjgNOZ-rs0ogIyTbOdxIA3tIYz0/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trek to Jogini falls goes through beautiful Pine forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are a few eating joints also on the way till the Jogini shrine. The shrine and the area are considered holy by the locals. To reach the lower waterfalls there is a slight climb after the shrine.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eM6XZMbGYHhiNHe4ejoqdUvJ_Kkq6vq5RZQOXb2_GWXywr_fNlwtupODSDdXbNn88k4yUzmyBHqAkbCfIQSd0S5WaaAPiKED3vhjwYjQBnfYUZupGGZKBMrKhqapSMmkdBaOdhECyVhU/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eM6XZMbGYHhiNHe4ejoqdUvJ_Kkq6vq5RZQOXb2_GWXywr_fNlwtupODSDdXbNn88k4yUzmyBHqAkbCfIQSd0S5WaaAPiKED3vhjwYjQBnfYUZupGGZKBMrKhqapSMmkdBaOdhECyVhU/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+135.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jogini shrine near the waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Majority of the locals and tourists come only to the lower Jogini waterfalls as it is easily approachable.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJBNMRk5nmnrgCNssJMmcPXLH6inwpET3yB2tsj2rqzZkdNiDldMgGI-TluF2jN6S_dSEkv4wvdXwW4bp-RItETFqKwdzw_uwOC54wc-aymg_7WDRM4cHRLszm9zTE2kmH4k4er2L-pka/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJBNMRk5nmnrgCNssJMmcPXLH6inwpET3yB2tsj2rqzZkdNiDldMgGI-TluF2jN6S_dSEkv4wvdXwW4bp-RItETFqKwdzw_uwOC54wc-aymg_7WDRM4cHRLszm9zTE2kmH4k4er2L-pka/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+082.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower Jogini Waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the lower Jogini waterfall I met a gentleman who runs a hotel in Manali who discouraged me to go the upper Jogini waterfall stating that it will take me at least 45 minutes of hard climb to reach the top as I am a city dweller. Fortunately I did not heed to his advice and went up the path. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MDmVQNxdbyQNZ-34ep1wlGaMuDUUmZa_trt6UXCnm3xBMNoqBh5fvnVEzIHeqwPAYNtNiF6c1xmWOmm65edA8GAd5gJSiM-tGda9mrrKNjhnuWg8s2ll75Ugeyoh7krE6c_GPQzX6O-i/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MDmVQNxdbyQNZ-34ep1wlGaMuDUUmZa_trt6UXCnm3xBMNoqBh5fvnVEzIHeqwPAYNtNiF6c1xmWOmm65edA8GAd5gJSiM-tGda9mrrKNjhnuWg8s2ll75Ugeyoh7krE6c_GPQzX6O-i/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+088.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower Jogini waterfall as seen from above while climbing higher up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trek from the lower waterfall to the upper comes in the category of a moderate climb. On this stretch there are no kiosks and no water till you reach the waterfall so it is advisable to carry your own water and eatables. While climbing one can see the lower waterfall as well as the scenic view of the valley and the Beas River and the snow clad mountains. There are plenty of wild flowers blooming making your trek more pleasant. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcaAbjsHHiySQP5g_kjReohBM2vtQ9u74DuG3813wRkSe_rHz9dVAIhyphenhyphenKMZj0h-vnRPWwLSGUeoJH0ZsUqT-Ro_3kz75a0JvtWP_vgjtGSa6zvKsrEdZ3sW1jX_6N8bvjaE4xlEQrFimW/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcaAbjsHHiySQP5g_kjReohBM2vtQ9u74DuG3813wRkSe_rHz9dVAIhyphenhyphenKMZj0h-vnRPWwLSGUeoJH0ZsUqT-Ro_3kz75a0JvtWP_vgjtGSa6zvKsrEdZ3sW1jX_6N8bvjaE4xlEQrFimW/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+105.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upper Jogini Waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I reached the upper Jogini waterfall in another twenty minutes and was mesmerized by the view. Unlike the lower Jogini waterfall the upper one falls over an overhanging rock and therefore has a free fall. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP6f3bdXTzlYAq8XyjOM_hKGdhM8luSna7_-ljgOcjW1iPAWqMcisnQ9D_okGWMFU-1mfatU88xlzPGnHWMQO3ZQ3c_ufNDhyphenhyphenva2C48I4EpHPvm0G37DNM4hAKWWMnDMqGEnFeQMJnZOi/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP6f3bdXTzlYAq8XyjOM_hKGdhM8luSna7_-ljgOcjW1iPAWqMcisnQ9D_okGWMFU-1mfatU88xlzPGnHWMQO3ZQ3c_ufNDhyphenhyphenva2C48I4EpHPvm0G37DNM4hAKWWMnDMqGEnFeQMJnZOi/s640/Anil_Yadav_Manali_2017+119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow at the Jogini waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As it was the second half of the day the sun created beautiful rainbows on the falls. The spray from the waterfall also cooled me after the climb. I spent about an hour there soaking in nature at its best and then it was time to head back.</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com8Jogini Falls, Vashist, Himachal Pradesh 175103, India32.2752471 77.1890217000000126.7532126000000012 35.880427700000013 57.797281600000005 118.49761570000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-34915705400382615232017-07-09T15:16:00.000+05:302017-07-09T15:16:01.915+05:30Places to visit in Narnaul: Chor Gumbad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B3WZhtJuY45n_8lJup8bRALHYYb4pMZPnq7YVB17W4thagI6URrgVK1vKvxRH-7oEu00LuYCmy-XUoHaYWE0VAvkJ3u4Qcn4rWWCCA3rivInNIdlrM4DOlEtzjGmAAeIp1BvAYfNlFsr/s1600/IMG_4020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B3WZhtJuY45n_8lJup8bRALHYYb4pMZPnq7YVB17W4thagI6URrgVK1vKvxRH-7oEu00LuYCmy-XUoHaYWE0VAvkJ3u4Qcn4rWWCCA3rivInNIdlrM4DOlEtzjGmAAeIp1BvAYfNlFsr/s640/IMG_4020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chor Gumbad, Narnaul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
I have been crossing Narnaul over the years and used to notice an old structure from the road but somehow did not see it up close. Now it is no longer visible from the road as residential houses hide the view from the road. This time, despite the fact that I was passing the place very early in the morning, I decided to stop over and see the place.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBf51omAuBYOYXfq3lHU2IzegJN7veLf8JLlfa7BPehSbbMDfO8eyZ-QTKIqg1LPFI2G_bUfgIXCuU9qiPIAzqLiI4ZsuR5zzRYFxDcU_DbAvmaBMw2SYYHh7ju0ni60mIaRdpruYDJhy/s1600/IMG_4013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBf51omAuBYOYXfq3lHU2IzegJN7veLf8JLlfa7BPehSbbMDfO8eyZ-QTKIqg1LPFI2G_bUfgIXCuU9qiPIAzqLiI4ZsuR5zzRYFxDcU_DbAvmaBMw2SYYHh7ju0ni60mIaRdpruYDJhy/s640/IMG_4013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chor Gumbad, Narnaul basking at Sunrise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The structure is located on top of a hillock in the sleepy town of Narnaul. It was built by Jamal Khan, an Afghan during the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351 to 1388 AD) as his tomb. What I heard from the locals though is that right now there is no tomb inside. It is a square shaped building with minarets at each corner. Though the administration has done some repairs to the structure but it has also closed all access to go inside the building by putting a closed perimeter fence with grills. So one can only look at the Chor Gumbad from a distance.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_b3aNqi9a2OPHtQVXAhKddyabQGU9P-_ZEVkQTJQfWPi7ZSaPjUdPr-xhmg1JZ32DJVHLpBXcz0JwZqIEaA1Yn0N_UweHb2veaHJpUGtHCRViB63xvwMSQFWWUTOegiIbkUm6KgeywByq/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_b3aNqi9a2OPHtQVXAhKddyabQGU9P-_ZEVkQTJQfWPi7ZSaPjUdPr-xhmg1JZ32DJVHLpBXcz0JwZqIEaA1Yn0N_UweHb2veaHJpUGtHCRViB63xvwMSQFWWUTOegiIbkUm6KgeywByq/s640/IMG_4023.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dawn, Statue of Subhas Chandra Bose and a man doing Yoga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Over the centuries the place got into a state of disrepair and it became a hiding place for the thieves and vagabonds and that is why it probably acquired the name of Chor Gumbad (the dome where the thieves reside).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGtCPA5zusymyGTWdRxlmvUDtcmbKThQK1TbMAEwYcjUoYmM8Ci-zlBCzpt_Ctwj8IPH98GhOkfJHBhnc0wM22oeqPPPAKANWxQfExkFuh_oBXovQtiyj5n3yxrG4v504DrzklpLgZBDx/s1600/IMG_4025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGtCPA5zusymyGTWdRxlmvUDtcmbKThQK1TbMAEwYcjUoYmM8Ci-zlBCzpt_Ctwj8IPH98GhOkfJHBhnc0wM22oeqPPPAKANWxQfExkFuh_oBXovQtiyj5n3yxrG4v504DrzklpLgZBDx/s640/IMG_4025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chor Gumbad from a distance with the statue of Bose in the foreground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
During the current days the local administration has developed a park with walking paths encircling the structure. It seems to be popular among the locals for morning and evening walks as well as a place for doing Yoga etc as I believe there are not too many parks in the city (and at that one which is well maintained and has a beautiful backdrop!). There is also a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6GBOJTF4XfZ2wNGkJnPck_9-9IXonIdF9cmteD7EpiCEb-jaxdlSnbNQURTzjmYkE0w9UpE2wso1RgoYborh-xnEfsFidEwd50oEccBP4YIY6j9qhKbBuCX8ApH9MJTQ3sCFQCw3xKe9/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6GBOJTF4XfZ2wNGkJnPck_9-9IXonIdF9cmteD7EpiCEb-jaxdlSnbNQURTzjmYkE0w9UpE2wso1RgoYborh-xnEfsFidEwd50oEccBP4YIY6j9qhKbBuCX8ApH9MJTQ3sCFQCw3xKe9/s640/IMG_4008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A well maintained park is popular among morning walkers at the Chor Gumbad </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Despite being arguably the most important historical building of the town there is just a small signboard. Haryana Tourism department must make proper signage’s to encourage tourists to visit the site.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLUqKSYBZLOrh8IbHmYeeCyShRZcCmmEHDNNLUaeWj9oYlf_8DZtEy3N6Aw88zKugAXkm4atJztwsvDV2Xi9mx63l4ZIqQdG42KYltnFoW2RegmN6ELXU4GcmkPCyYMVklOGghIDlZI1f/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLUqKSYBZLOrh8IbHmYeeCyShRZcCmmEHDNNLUaeWj9oYlf_8DZtEy3N6Aw88zKugAXkm4atJztwsvDV2Xi9mx63l4ZIqQdG42KYltnFoW2RegmN6ELXU4GcmkPCyYMVklOGghIDlZI1f/s640/IMG_4027.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the Park at Chor Gumbad, Narnaul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Narnaul, a small town in Haryana, is about 170 km from Delhi on the Delhi-Rewari-Khetri route and can be reached by road in about three and half hours. It is also the district headquarters of Mahendragarh District<br /><br />Also read:<br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2011/08/dhosi-hills.html">Dhosi Hills</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/03/rural-tourism.html">Rural Tourism</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com24Moti Nagar, Narnaul, Haryana 123001, India28.0570872 76.1030366999999612.5350527000000014 34.794442699999962 53.5791217 117.41163069999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-60122838744145474302017-05-21T17:56:00.001+05:302017-05-21T17:56:30.980+05:30VFS Global -- a Kafkaesk nightmare<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Cz4Y1o67T38AP9_2x_rWY2JOUiphkYGGzrZzSkM170oIoWoMx9EfyKjw2fLUEBqC6MyMTeL-kHhiN3oGpvsAQXaG67KmhNM3UIRkgZnnezL1FEI6GaDj-rBC1sgafp7Ea-ZntKgWnx4/s1600/Passport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4Cz4Y1o67T38AP9_2x_rWY2JOUiphkYGGzrZzSkM170oIoWoMx9EfyKjw2fLUEBqC6MyMTeL-kHhiN3oGpvsAQXaG67KmhNM3UIRkgZnnezL1FEI6GaDj-rBC1sgafp7Ea-ZntKgWnx4/s640/Passport.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passport to travel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I belong to the elite club of JNU professors. We think the world of ourselves. We are waiting for a revolution, just as the Jews wait for their Messiah. Once in a while we are forced to venture out of the self-sufficient campus established on the Aravalli hills. Why? Silly. To apply for visa of course. We often get invited by this and that Western university as guest and visiting scholars. I decided to go to the Gurgaon VFS, with my visa application thinking it will be less crowded. “Your appointment is at 9 am. Please come 15 minutes early.” said the online mail. I’ll be free by 9.30, I thought and innocently I planned the rest of my day. Here is where my nightmare with VFS office begins. Till 10 am there is no staff in this dystopia except the <i>Safai Karamchari</i>. Finally one young woman troops in, unapologetic. After going through my check-list, she asks me to wait for the Bio-metric staff. The wait is futile. After having wasted the whole day, I demand that I be transferred to VFS Delhi. An email is sent to Delhi VFS to get rid of me. This place is worse than a Government Office, I crib. It should first introduce biometrics for its own staff. My husband nudges me gently: “Keep quiet. They can spoil your application.” Delhi is Delhi, I tell him undeterred but a little anxious. Next day, the airport metro takes me to the gates of VFS Global. It was the first time I was travelling by airport metro and I was indeed impressed. Then start the problems. My water bottle and the humble biscuits I always carry in my bag are not allowed inside. Security is so tight that you can barely breathe. The gate-keeper would not let me in without an appointment letter. It takes me nearly an hour of argumentation, pleading and grovelling to get in. The words of the doorkeeper in Kafka’s famous parable Before the Law resound in my head: “I am powerful. And I am only the least of the doorkeepers. From hall to hall there is one doorkeeper after another, each more powerful than the last.” Why do I feel claustrophobic despite air-conditioning? Waiting for my turn, I soak in the surreal surroundings. It is a truly Kafkaesk world. Badly paid employees, all in early twenties, in ill-fitting, low-waist black trousers and velvet shirts, stuttering around like peacocks, enveloped in an aura of authority. Indians have a deep love for uniform. It starts with schools, the malls, the guards, the auto drivers and what not. Nowhere in the world does one see such an intense culture of uniform. <br /><br />My turn comes fast. The young man at the counter has terrible nails. Must be a hard-core nail biter, I imagine. Well, with a job like this it is inevitable. Cash or card? Card. Access denied. Once, twice, thrice. You have only one card, he asks astonished. What about cash? No, then come again with a fresh appointment. How long will that take? I don’t know. My cup of sorrows is full. They cannot harass me in this manner, I am Prof in JNU my head screams. The echo replies back “darling, you are not at home.” You leave your den and the world pounces on you. All of a sudden the young man looks at his phone and says excitedly “twins”. The neighbour in the next booth congratulates him. Should he not be in the hospital, I ask myself. Probably no leave. He looks at me in the eye, smiles and directs me to an ATM where I could try my luck. Expecting absolutely nothing from machines, humans or the gods, I drag my tired feet to the ATM. Cash tumbles out! I dash back and the rest is history. <br /><br />I am relieved to be back in the sanctuary called JNU. Recuperating from the ordeal, I try to find something positive in the experience. Maybe the Monaco biscuits will be eaten by some poor, hungry children. I wonder, how will the embassy treat my application? Am I really a Guest Scientist or an intruder? Also I cannot help wondering why we complain about Western arrogance when our own people are so mean to each other? I sigh, I seek azadi from this absurd world. <br /><br />Meanwhile I plan my revenge. You are reading it! <br /><br />Note: This is a Guest Post.</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-28371459004973114932017-01-31T22:37:00.002+05:302017-01-31T22:37:36.578+05:30Food Review: Amritsari Kulche at Breakfast Point<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1gxCGcJMlhPh57eotOqxQfTQkajZOYnhhr0p2NVfcRIHtPqo_IDTCuvSSbN4VkCMsVyWDvDapAxkFyU4u6SYNUIp83wMu3nVpU-A3TeDFVp8n9cXqNBveVFqktGEoeseO5B1_l-gaLKG/s1600/IMG_20170128_152615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1gxCGcJMlhPh57eotOqxQfTQkajZOYnhhr0p2NVfcRIHtPqo_IDTCuvSSbN4VkCMsVyWDvDapAxkFyU4u6SYNUIp83wMu3nVpU-A3TeDFVp8n9cXqNBveVFqktGEoeseO5B1_l-gaLKG/s640/IMG_20170128_152615.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amritsari
<i>Kulche</i> with <i>Chole</i> and Tamarind Chutney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Chole-Kulche</i> is a popular fast food in the northern parts of India and is available at every nook and corner is most towns and cities. Most of the <i>Kulchas</i> (flatbread made of maida) though are made of <i>maida</i> (wheat flour without the bran) and lots of oil/ghee is put on it. <br />
<br />
However, one joint that I have now visited thrice serves real authentic Amritsari <i>Kulche</i>. Unlike the normal <i>kulcha</i> the Amristsari <i>Kulcha</i> is made of wheat flour and is stuffed. It was just a matter of chance that I discovered the place called Breakfast Point in Prashant Vihar of Rohini in Delhi. I was passing by and noticed the board and since I was hungry I decided to give it a try. The Amristsari <i>Kulcha</i> is served with delicious <i>chole</i> (Chick peas) and tamarind chutney sprinkled with chopped onions. One can order either a single <i>Kulcha</i> (Rs 60) or a full plate having two <i>kulcha</i> (Rs 100). <br />
<br />
The food is so yummy that despite the fact that there is hardly a place to sit (only two tables – eight pax - for sitting) but people stand and eat at the standing tables placed outside the shop. Lot many customers also order on phone as it has a free delivery service as well. If you are to go on weekends then be prepared to wait for sometime to be served due to the rush. I even saw few persons being served in their parked cars.<br />
<br />
For eating this is the only thing on the menu. If you want something to drink then there is either sweet or the salted <i>lassi</i> (buttermilk). In fact I think such joints which have a fixed small menu are more successful as they served more authentic food then the ones putting several items on their menu but not able to make any one of them properly. <br />
<br />
Though the Breakfast Point would get either no points or maximum a single star for their ambiance but for quality and taste they are finger licking good.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/07/pundit-gaya-prasad-shiv-charan-paranthe.html" target="_blank">Pundit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan Paranthe Wala Restaurant</a><br /><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1582280570836728551" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 858px;">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com17Prashant Vihar, Sector 14, Rohini, Delhi, 110085, India28.7157406 77.13514540000005628.7018146 77.114975400000063 28.7296666 77.155315400000049tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-88124544414866722852016-12-27T22:12:00.001+05:302016-12-27T22:12:31.126+05:30Places to visit in Delhi: Safdarjung Tomb<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtrB8IWhb_A/WGIWYn1DRPI/AAAAAAAAPlg/mdkCTRyWG5wydWkkGSOjBsEl9uB_2jBywCPcB/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtrB8IWhb_A/WGIWYn1DRPI/AAAAAAAAPlg/mdkCTRyWG5wydWkkGSOjBsEl9uB_2jBywCPcB/s640/IMG_1960.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safdarjung Tomb viewed from the arch of the entrance gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
The Safdarjung Tomb could be considered as the ‘last flicker of the lamp of Mughal architecture’ in Delhi. Though on a smaller scale, compared to the grandeur of the <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/04/places-to-visit-in-delhi-humayun-tomb.html" target="_blank">Humayun’s Tomb</a>, it is still no less beautiful.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt8tUXu4SkM/WGIWYir2foI/AAAAAAAAPkw/ed3FJeiRTRouvev3AiAPFq-2PAqEGuMWgCPcB/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt8tUXu4SkM/WGIWYir2foI/AAAAAAAAPkw/ed3FJeiRTRouvev3AiAPFq-2PAqEGuMWgCPcB/s640/IMG_1953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance gate of the Safdarjung Tomb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
There is an ornamental gate at the entrance. Also there is a three domed mosque on the right side of the entrance though it is not being maintained properly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5_S0d2HIRA/WGIWYhNNA-I/AAAAAAAAPlg/rZXk99ok_8gR1GkF9f760TG5XjuQqZyBQCPcB/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5_S0d2HIRA/WGIWYhNNA-I/AAAAAAAAPlg/rZXk99ok_8gR1GkF9f760TG5XjuQqZyBQCPcB/s640/IMG_1988.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three domed mosque at the Safdarjung Tomb Complex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Safdarjung Tomb was built in 1753-54 by Nawab Shujau’d-Daulah in memory of his father Mirza Muqim Abdul Mansur Khan or Safdarjung who was the Governor of Awadh under Muhammad Shah. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6z4djoHHBmY/WGIWYlPiwRI/AAAAAAAAPlg/9Qex9TX4-EYDVX5keW4M7HhUYyrMvarOwCPcB/s1600/IMG_1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6z4djoHHBmY/WGIWYlPiwRI/AAAAAAAAPlg/9Qex9TX4-EYDVX5keW4M7HhUYyrMvarOwCPcB/s640/IMG_1977.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomb of Safdarjung</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
Red and buff color sandstone has been used for construction of the tomb. Marble has been used for the flooring, inlay work and the dome.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zd-3L9bIwZ4/WGIWYoheD_I/AAAAAAAAPlg/krMZoxTP6WUjvK5JRL2i2nDxhYdJYM1CACPcB/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zd-3L9bIwZ4/WGIWYoheD_I/AAAAAAAAPlg/krMZoxTP6WUjvK5JRL2i2nDxhYdJYM1CACPcB/s640/IMG_1981.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floral pattern on the domes of the Safdarjung Tomb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The domes have interesting floral patterns. The tomb is encircled with beautiful and well maintained garden which is in the shape of Charbagh or quadrilateral garden.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAUnAneBsw0/WGIWYvQg9II/AAAAAAAAPlg/A5z28GAvxCMwQYhEanu_21IJ2nFyQWQFgCPcB/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAUnAneBsw0/WGIWYvQg9II/AAAAAAAAPlg/A5z28GAvxCMwQYhEanu_21IJ2nFyQWQFgCPcB/s640/IMG_1973.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gardens, water channels and the pavallions at the Safdarjung Tomb Complex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The gardens are then surrounded by pavallions which were used as resting places. The Southern pavallion is called <i>Badshah Pasand or </i>the King's Choice, Northern one is <i>Moti Mahal</i> or the Pearl Palace and the Western side as <i>Jangli Mahal</i> or the Palace in the Woods.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0V1ZMsF9dQ/WGIWYkjNpvI/AAAAAAAAPlg/7sfICPMF8ss7XRtieDrn5BtaIs_FJ1X8gCPcB/s1600/IMG_2000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X0V1ZMsF9dQ/WGIWYkjNpvI/AAAAAAAAPlg/7sfICPMF8ss7XRtieDrn5BtaIs_FJ1X8gCPcB/s640/IMG_2000.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Safdarjung Tomb is not very crowded compared to the Humayun Tomb so one can really enjoy the place at leisure. Since the ticket is not very exorbitant, I noticed lot of young couples sitting in the gardens who had no romance for the the monument but for each other only! Safdarjung Tomb is a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YSlrxhszJ0/WGIWYi3ne1I/AAAAAAAAPlg/2_dbydcYR7EuEt4Y2yq9gXwgwIAVRljSgCPcB/s1600/IMG_2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YSlrxhszJ0/WGIWYi3ne1I/AAAAAAAAPlg/2_dbydcYR7EuEt4Y2yq9gXwgwIAVRljSgCPcB/s640/IMG_2009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view of the Safdarjung Tomb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I wonder why the ASI or other relevant authorities do not have some decent tea, coffee and snacks kiosks as people come from far off and would like to rest and spend some time at the monument. Also I did not see any ramps for the disabled to use wheel chairs.<br />
<br />
Situated right next to the Safdarjung Airport (not a functional commercial airport) and very close to the Lodhi Gardens, Safdarjung Tomb is a must see place if one is interested in history and architecture. If you plan to go by the metro then the Jorbagh Metro station is the closest to the monument.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/04/places-to-visit-in-delhi-humayun-tomb.html" target="_blank">Places to Visit in Delhi: Humayun Tomb</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/10/places-to-visit-in-delhi-qutub-minar.html" target="_blank">Places to Visit in Delhi: Qutub Minar, Alai Minar and the Iron Pillar</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/07/places-to-visit-in-delhi-mirza-ghalib.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in Delhi: Mirza Ghalib ki Haveli</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/06/places-to-visit-in-delhi-isa-khans.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in Delhi: The Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/04/places-to-visit-in-delhi-ugrasen-ki.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in Delhi: Ugrasen ki Baoli</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com8Safdarjang's Tomb, Delhi Race Club, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India28.5938443 77.20099319999997128.5799023 77.180823199999978 28.6077863 77.221163199999964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-69496276696596940752016-10-24T23:02:00.000+05:302016-10-24T23:02:17.444+05:30Places to Visit in Delhi: Qutub Minar, Alai Minar and the Iron Pillar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been to the magnificent Qutub Minar a few times. Recently I visited Qutub Minar with a Dutch friend and a German. Actually the area is not only about the Qutub Minar but there are several monuments within the same complex like the Alai Minar, the Iron Pillar, tombs of Imam Zamin and Alauddin Khalji, a mosque (Quwwatul-Islam <i>Masjid</i>) and a <i>Madrassa </i>(School/College). Therefore one must keep at least a couple of hours for sightseeing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLsq88IE_Dqa4frNpbLhYYZyMeBvZGku_gMX_Hfw2zUvMEfKd9Pxblq-YiHpL9P9B5XZZuPuSZ06Xr4mLsBJO2GHr4snI6yn8gqrNQIoJkAULhPclUzmtZDLjAGZfIa0EkqWpcL4DM4sb/s1600/Anil_Yadav_JNU4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLsq88IE_Dqa4frNpbLhYYZyMeBvZGku_gMX_Hfw2zUvMEfKd9Pxblq-YiHpL9P9B5XZZuPuSZ06Xr4mLsBJO2GHr4snI6yn8gqrNQIoJkAULhPclUzmtZDLjAGZfIa0EkqWpcL4DM4sb/s640/Anil_Yadav_JNU4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qutub Minar and Alai Minar (on the left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When we reached the ticket counter my friends got an unpleasant surprise that my entry ticket cost only Rs 30, but for the foreigners it is Rs 500 per person, 17 times over! Nowhere else in the world is there such a discrimination.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w5a62MUJHqC1DEpLVg8-qxZhrtiSTnwTtm2DLvAEz7HMqz590t_iwMmomwwb7nOLyGm2Azn-51BEVqawXlHfpKmZxqR5IH7Hhiik0olVo_Vi0N2qfKHVj0SZ8KtlI949Ht-fJVKVWPb8/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w5a62MUJHqC1DEpLVg8-qxZhrtiSTnwTtm2DLvAEz7HMqz590t_iwMmomwwb7nOLyGm2Azn-51BEVqawXlHfpKmZxqR5IH7Hhiik0olVo_Vi0N2qfKHVj0SZ8KtlI949Ht-fJVKVWPb8/s640/IMG_3776.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qutub Minar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The structures have been restored painstakingly. It is commendable that the impression of fragments and ruins is maintained. The complex has well manicured gardens and paths. There are ramps also at a few places for the physically challenged persons. The location also provides a popular backdrop for Bollywood songs, particularly when the film is based in Delhi.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkz3KH1Fx0oxxbSLME0sDFewoMd6rbFIfLeXwCDAaTG3CEgH_2VO_z90H1Rin5gl2RFYAMG4CecFcD3FFS8HkaHgV3fuEwSgjyxrcgwFPiJAYULlifh374cT9XZqkwRlJAegXVZWWi2VP/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkz3KH1Fx0oxxbSLME0sDFewoMd6rbFIfLeXwCDAaTG3CEgH_2VO_z90H1Rin5gl2RFYAMG4CecFcD3FFS8HkaHgV3fuEwSgjyxrcgwFPiJAYULlifh374cT9XZqkwRlJAegXVZWWi2VP/s640/IMG_3790.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calligraphy on the Qutub Minar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Qutub Minar, at 73 meters, is the tallest brick minaret in the World and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Made of red sandstone and marble it has beautiful calligraphy on it. As the name suggest the construction of this Minaret was started by the ruler Qutubddin Aibak in 1200 AD.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAxH41n0cBvHYM9KRonb_aXIxzF9vlmt3QAkCZ8ODlMUBzJvgto61xi3fpg-DVTLUkjb73ggGnVoIDfDfqqD-3ymLsnTXMyjdnjrigtq6fi6CaWmRm-Y3t6Yki5vqs7tMrFNuokHtPq4j/s1600/IMG_3798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAxH41n0cBvHYM9KRonb_aXIxzF9vlmt3QAkCZ8ODlMUBzJvgto61xi3fpg-DVTLUkjb73ggGnVoIDfDfqqD-3ymLsnTXMyjdnjrigtq6fi6CaWmRm-Y3t6Yki5vqs7tMrFNuokHtPq4j/s640/IMG_3798.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My happy friends under the arch of Quwwatul-Islam mosque & the Qutub Minar </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I remember climbing up its stairs as a kid but after a stampede in 1981 the public is not allowed to climb up the Qutub Minar.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNERi3XRh6-kE7GUdDkZk8kXscBJHlU4fVeAOKJnNWoTPhQw91-q3eNeNUZDRtx_p-GdQAxJs28Q5ZJkn5K-_QpmQ_DwHZadvjndYfiG1vG0r0OZT2bSX37vJH1D9P8GdDqEboUjN3YmRJ/s1600/IMG_3782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNERi3XRh6-kE7GUdDkZk8kXscBJHlU4fVeAOKJnNWoTPhQw91-q3eNeNUZDRtx_p-GdQAxJs28Q5ZJkn5K-_QpmQ_DwHZadvjndYfiG1vG0r0OZT2bSX37vJH1D9P8GdDqEboUjN3YmRJ/s640/IMG_3782.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tomb of Imam Zamin, the Alai Darwaza and the Qutub Minar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The above photo has the Tomb of Imam Zamin in the foreground then the Alai Darwaza or the southern gateway to the Quwwatul-Islam <i>Masjid</i>. It has intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble. And also in the same frame is the Qutub Minar!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfri3Xwn_Fgf2YXggpJ3xPdeEd1L0xPhbXJpvCTH8muiIGryvK_qCZJAeabx_psi2XXegOxEuPQQzQE0lfjMSQI7Z08S030vBPJwQCfE4A6Turh1KOdxwgrJbFbDt4pTxsARNauB1YyKX4/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfri3Xwn_Fgf2YXggpJ3xPdeEd1L0xPhbXJpvCTH8muiIGryvK_qCZJAeabx_psi2XXegOxEuPQQzQE0lfjMSQI7Z08S030vBPJwQCfE4A6Turh1KOdxwgrJbFbDt4pTxsARNauB1YyKX4/s640/IMG_3816.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Iron Pillar and the beautifully calligraphed arcged of the Quwwatul-Islam mosque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The seven meter tall Iron Pillar, a victory pillar, predates the Qutub Minar. It was erected first in Udyagiri during the Gupta period (402 AD) and established at its current location in 1233 AD. What is interesting is the non-corrosive property of the pillar that has withstood the vagaries of the Delhi weather over such a long time. I do remember people used to hug the pillar backwards for good luck earlier but now there is a small enclosure surrounding the pillar and one cannot touch the pillar anymore. The pillar has inscriptions written in <i>Brahmi </i>script of the Gupta period. Behind the Iron Pillar are the huge, beautifully cared arches of the Quwwatul-Islam <i>Masjid</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAglMz6aC0yvqsiDycI2PnZov-fHJyx85lMfZRoa8J8r8gKG_KvQCBJwNDnZZBo2Wjcb9P35agmEdIbUBEpR9oWzExoDAlcS_Eudts_0cUqUj6VBgEVXyWqS_Xy_ZQrzsqNOkoCw8M4KR/s1600/IMG_3819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAglMz6aC0yvqsiDycI2PnZov-fHJyx85lMfZRoa8J8r8gKG_KvQCBJwNDnZZBo2Wjcb9P35agmEdIbUBEpR9oWzExoDAlcS_Eudts_0cUqUj6VBgEVXyWqS_Xy_ZQrzsqNOkoCw8M4KR/s640/IMG_3819.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carved pillars of the Quwwatul-Islam mosque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Quwwatul-Islam <i>Masjid </i>or mosque is the earliest mosque in India that is still surviving. It was constructed between 1193 and 1197 AD. The mosque was built by Qutbuddin Aibak and later enlarged by Shamsuddin Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji. It has massive stone screen and arches. The screen is carved with inscriptions. The pillars have carvings that have human and animal figurines. This is definitely non-Islamic and it is believed that these pillars were brought from temples from elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nfHH9yBkpeTAdh-LO8BL_NxJwu9QKA2HePhBhAQOcX4KcSpetZALaCuoMP82L9o7NYgNx4InJ6MUKljY9FwFeZMfq11QjljDLihvPkyKd2Hv7_SkqI1GJnCvOmom95SBtlPUHQcvRxNV/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nfHH9yBkpeTAdh-LO8BL_NxJwu9QKA2HePhBhAQOcX4KcSpetZALaCuoMP82L9o7NYgNx4InJ6MUKljY9FwFeZMfq11QjljDLihvPkyKd2Hv7_SkqI1GJnCvOmom95SBtlPUHQcvRxNV/s640/IMG_3809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Madrassa and the tomb of Alauddin Khalji</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The <i>Madrassa </i>and the tomb of Alauddin Khalji (AD 1296-1316) have thick walls. This part of the complex is damaged to some extent as none of its buildings had a roof on it and some of the walls have also broken down.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRxELyf_A5XBCFW0D36F8BWxjSHfc_jUpn9uuGZGlpm1cl73KQ-FwQzmTC8cFrmPUqucJHP8oEaClcPtae_XmuMHVocFUXkZppUuuFiPC7zqzBzkUBsI58WZxQ7aTr3xntKwRZHvgtDSM/s1600/IMG_3824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRxELyf_A5XBCFW0D36F8BWxjSHfc_jUpn9uuGZGlpm1cl73KQ-FwQzmTC8cFrmPUqucJHP8oEaClcPtae_XmuMHVocFUXkZppUuuFiPC7zqzBzkUBsI58WZxQ7aTr3xntKwRZHvgtDSM/s640/IMG_3824.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alai Minar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Inspired by the grandness of Qutab Minar, Alauddin Khalji planned another minaret which would have been twice as tall as Qutub Minar called the Alai Minar. However only one storey was built and after his death the plan was shelved. Its diameter is the proof of it!<br />
<br />
My friends were happy visiting the monuments but the humidity and heat of Delhi probably took its toll (it was Monsoon period) and it would have been nice if there was a cafeteria inside the complex to recharge our batteries. It is unfortunate that despite the expensive entry ticket, there is no place for the tourists to even enjoy a cold drink.<br />
<br />
In the first photo of this post I was able to capture both the Qutub Minar and the Alai Minar in a single frame. The photo was taken a couple of km away from the complex.<br />
<br />
The Qutub Minar complex is located in Mehrauli in South Delhi and can be reached by bus, auto, taxi and the metro. The Delhi metro has a station named Qutub Minar which is the nearest from this complex.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/07/places-to-visit-in-delhi-mirza-ghalib.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in Delhi: Mirza Ghalib ki Haveli</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/06/places-to-visit-in-delhi-isa-khans.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in Delhi: The Isa Khan’s Garden Tomb</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/04/places-to-visit-in-delhi-ugrasen-ki.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in Delhi: Ugrasen ki Baoli</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/04/places-to-visit-in-delhi-humayun-tomb.html" target="_blank">Places to Visit in Delhi: Humayun Tomb</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com8Qutub Minar, Seth Sarai, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India28.5244281 77.1854558999999650.81604310000000169 35.876861899999966 56.2328131 118.49404989999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-66117172063095188232016-08-31T15:37:00.001+05:302016-08-31T15:37:43.884+05:30Baru Sahib in Sirmaur, Himachal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrCjcFDJ5q_D3Qf4MHlj_ddEtM8iv4fK5IJs1hnc2MGC4ZwvwWDcL7V74RUirQMcpx2hGVYh7RED5SZCVnV7Ek1Idw_Ilk6SUZkBo9VKPuLFxLz-Jql_eghesDX2f7JskuE0tJWS7juVA/s1600/IMG_3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrCjcFDJ5q_D3Qf4MHlj_ddEtM8iv4fK5IJs1hnc2MGC4ZwvwWDcL7V74RUirQMcpx2hGVYh7RED5SZCVnV7Ek1Idw_Ilk6SUZkBo9VKPuLFxLz-Jql_eghesDX2f7JskuE0tJWS7juVA/s640/IMG_3675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gurudwara Baru Sahib, Sirmaur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->On the Solan to Nahan road hidden deep in the Sirmaur valley of Himachal Pradesh lies Baru Sahib. I had heard of it when I had gone to Rajgarh in 2008 but due to time constraint could not go that time. But this time I decided to go and see the place. I had not done any research on it before going and the place was a complete surprise for me.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYs2PHUWc1GIpN7ssLOWt_bR4_zhqiTomLiQhdH1IXxVrxujfLHLGzfsxic78MV9S-GN9auTFSXt2_KQYaJWFxSAp_EutJcyJoGWS2TSm78k8RpmIq1_gxG4YDMIl6ojrp8rV70DevCPiG/s640/IMG_3653.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Giri close to Baru Sahib</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />From Rajgarh Baru Sahib is about 30 km and first it is all downhill till you reach the river Giri (a tributary of river Yamuna) and then uphill for a few km. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_L4E9MCV-Rka1cm9Xrqe6VJjv7mWpWGTSR4rC8vTxw430EGBtSLJVi-QMxzW7c-ywp8GTUlbVLKE0ZQIhAY64QSSt0kHeJ-KfJ2sJND3EUidOImMs1HYvGnTVwwEtVNgCmD3G64_nxmk/s640/IMG_3658.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baru Sahib, Sirmaur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />I thought by the name that Baru Sahib will have a Gurudwara and maybe a township or village but when I reached there I saw that besides the Gurudwara there was no village or town but almost an exclusive educational township managed by the <a href="http://barusahib.org/" target="_blank">Kalgidhar Trust</a> under which there is an Akal Academy, an IB School and a private University. Basically it is a venture of NRI Sikhs, mainly from Canada. The Trust runs Eternal University here and the Akal University in Damdama Sahib in Punjab. Most students seem to be from Himachal or Punjab. Some NRI students are also present. The main focus of the studies in Baru Sahib is theology but there are the usual professional courses as well. The undergraduate programmes specially are only for the women. There are several hostel blocks and all seemed full. The place had its own vibrancy. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlfVmTOftrnz38vmpkflhgnPzdX9bBzH1C2hvpzL2JuHBf7BzDJrn98d-IcYZvwdQhvqhMzeu6fxIIoDKuwnuQOBO8jYQj4z1hpwtJwvY4prxuCebd0iRUHzKvOlcnBIy-lV8r4JDJ6BI/s640/IMG_3682.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baru Sahib Gurudwara & the education township</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />The place is also called land of meditation or <i>Tapobhumi</i>. Baru Sahib valley is also known as 'Valley of Divine Peace' (and probably that is why the name of the University as Eternal). Baru Sahib was ‘discovered’ by Sant Teja Singh, a disciple of Sant Attar Singh, with the help of Bhai Iqbal Singh in 1956. It is said that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, had also visited the holy site of Baru Sahib. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nVM53FUm00ORtzNAsz5ejnGNOOgc9m15IekKp7ZIx7WJVITYna9bBdShcdA4psZXf4IuEMnsbxhys2yrhXZvWmtSvknMAJidmmxIsomc3hQTblLlQmTOsmuBToLAo_RDFQSEBgumsxfV/s640/IMG_3664.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darbar Sahib of Baru Sahib is huge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />When I entered the Gurudwara I was amazed to see the size of the hall. It is the biggest that I have seen till now but otherwise very simple and not gaudy. The work on the outside is yet to be finished.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm3ZNhc2x2BY5JEFA51k7Qv9fk8ycU8BfDNrTBmPlAlxwI9xc6y-nbAvIC06nblzNeCJ20r2uO9Q59HNOmdxTbhqtRtVSkSvxMJdia-cDDRVoclY2wUy7CoeFNExTo4fpz-_nyy04YaOe/s640/IMG_3666.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls singing hymns at Baru Sahib</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another big change was that there were girls who were doing the recitation from the Guru Granth Sahib. In another room I saw several girls taking lessons in the recitation of the sacred texts. There is a huge music drum (nagara) to accompany the prayers. There is a non-stop Langar in the basement which I also partook. The Darbar Sahib building is 6-7 storey high and has various rooms for various activities of the Gurudwara. The place has made special efforts to tap the solar energy and I could see several solar panels on the hills nearby. <br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXetT9R2ON0WHvRYV3FxMxNNXXJrIwnQpc7NiYNR39YIVe3VTFF4VOpe25CcXwLa-6BoXW6t6C1RACTT6nS3y2iqajMrfFkOYd6z1Yz_53fb7bRIxlskIuvn29jk-EE47LJLbtfxzKslZ/s640/IMG_3670.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nagara (drum) used during prayers </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The way from Rajgarh to Baru Sahin and back was laden with wild flowers and there were plenty of birds to see. <br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMfsIkI4IrWMXNuwFGs_BZVaPopCt4Hy5yXdobk9se27zR6D5Yc1wmm4wnlRXUbrC3OchyphenhyphenRENjjZlqcdUZlgoT9iB_tnmUgZdtl0aCLlHXyPTYKVZ3WDY2Kh8NvHHyjS54YaPU_1HT9u/s640/IMG_3652.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild flowers on way to Baru Sahib, Sirmaur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also read: <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/08/hidden-himachal-rajgarh.html" target="_blank">Hidden Himachal: Rajgarh</a> <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2009/12/rajgarh-pretty-as-peach.html" target="_blank">Rajgarh: Pretty as a Peach?</a> <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2010/01/around-rajgarh-in-himachal-pradesh.html" target="_blank">Around Rajgarh in Himachal Pradesh</a> <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2010/01/wild-flowers-of-rajgarh.html" target="_blank">Wild Flowers of Rajgarh</a> <br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2010/03/wildlife-in-rajgarh.html" target="_blank">Wildlife in Rajgarh</a> </div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com67Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh 173101, India30.7536737 77.29654200000004530.7400282 77.276372000000052 30.7673192 77.316712000000038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-52210438282588468722016-08-04T15:27:00.000+05:302016-08-04T15:27:26.826+05:30Hidden Himachal: Rajgarh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are so many places in Himachal that the mainstream tourists do not visit or are not aware of.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-FSkZTX-MVmH6xyPQ_YbtjYIFPd1euMUpAqAHXLPS5IvRTy517LLWb6fO8ebS18K-T2FxzKjOHvY8neF4hndMeRmEHL6P-mXNBrhjBXLMIuFtvpfPFo8a4Ia0VEcQXsivathYOjUs0hq/s1600/IMG_3625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-FSkZTX-MVmH6xyPQ_YbtjYIFPd1euMUpAqAHXLPS5IvRTy517LLWb6fO8ebS18K-T2FxzKjOHvY8neF4hndMeRmEHL6P-mXNBrhjBXLMIuFtvpfPFo8a4Ia0VEcQXsivathYOjUs0hq/s640/IMG_3625.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheeps & Goats grazing in the fog covered forests near Rajgarh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One such place is Rajgarh, a small town located at an altitude of 1555 metres in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The town in itself has nothing to boast about but it is the surrounding areas that are bountiful in their nature and beauty. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNbb3LdBbul92J5KBs4_e7NTVQUjveglJtvKUtTjdT-zTw0SWyXTvp8o0HIOIxLCo58N5EhwJqSboqQUZ7BGQdnCu-ifMHUMPpI9wOYlwW0pXCUmT1M1fIWrIfI_7bLMyA6wSD5BrKbHz/s1600/IMG_3700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNbb3LdBbul92J5KBs4_e7NTVQUjveglJtvKUtTjdT-zTw0SWyXTvp8o0HIOIxLCo58N5EhwJqSboqQUZ7BGQdnCu-ifMHUMPpI9wOYlwW0pXCUmT1M1fIWrIfI_7bLMyA6wSD5BrKbHz/s640/IMG_3700.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fruit laden tree near Rajgarh in Sirmaur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Economically the area grows lots of peaches and in fact is also sometimes called the Peach country. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lfaf3YWX-94U899enUMTm5byUnimBOU3rK_ELxgg0NWDL-GxtM1xZGkDB8YoNECDVdwhWOKfG1vpN13bN6SjII4XC5513iz8gQlxgcmn81O57H1_zUNc2AhdNji3I3xb8nzY9okR5Dn3/s1600/IMG_3605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lfaf3YWX-94U899enUMTm5byUnimBOU3rK_ELxgg0NWDL-GxtM1xZGkDB8YoNECDVdwhWOKfG1vpN13bN6SjII4XC5513iz8gQlxgcmn81O57H1_zUNc2AhdNji3I3xb8nzY9okR5Dn3/s640/IMG_3605.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resin being extracted from the pine trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are wood and wood products like the resin and turpentine oil extracted from the pine trees. See the cone shaped receptacles attached to the trees in the above picture. Cuts are made on the bark of the tree and the resin that flows from it is collected in these receptacles.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbITy47PuBjrNi0ZEOC2vBXC8www4s2SKq9yZHUj1R7CijvC3cX2vHREKbe-TumrKk1VN76JLJkGFq6AupTpGYhfzAU3Ao5rl4_0Lw9WI0aYxVuZeLbdk7KRH0TdymDjZA95SINIvU0wvN/s1600/IMG_3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbITy47PuBjrNi0ZEOC2vBXC8www4s2SKq9yZHUj1R7CijvC3cX2vHREKbe-TumrKk1VN76JLJkGFq6AupTpGYhfzAU3Ao5rl4_0Lw9WI0aYxVuZeLbdk7KRH0TdymDjZA95SINIvU0wvN/s640/IMG_3608.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A farmer carrying a tomatoes laden basket from the field</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also some commercial vegetables are grown in plenty like the tomatoes. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQGWhamShmhtmZCX48-XZaHgp6b8ywlVVoU-Bh3aveVUOIGIpVJ7_LIuaZPQrmPbPQfqQw9pH3__Q4fFYOYPtuLETM1fsE9sETxWgRs3W2kiI4NuI8QBnqNjnnRhXumo3lZPM5Fq20aqa/s1600/IMG_3627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQGWhamShmhtmZCX48-XZaHgp6b8ywlVVoU-Bh3aveVUOIGIpVJ7_LIuaZPQrmPbPQfqQw9pH3__Q4fFYOYPtuLETM1fsE9sETxWgRs3W2kiI4NuI8QBnqNjnnRhXumo3lZPM5Fq20aqa/s640/IMG_3627.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A misty path near Bhuira village beckons you to its secrets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
One can make Rajgarh a base for some beautiful treks including the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary. If you are with family and do not have the skills or options for a longer trek then you can do small day treks for which the area has plenty of options like going to the Bhuira area (Yes the famous Himachal jam maker Bhuira is from this region) or the Bhat-ka-Saina with beautiful meadows all around. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAH9Hxu89sja8f6RVM3n3-IZC1SQB_-UE1lWFBEaaALTi23JcDap-VwQPlSOMvRF6U5fk29jBQtJKbYyNZ74bZ3SUhdwYPijM6G04BI6x1BS0Lx7tEnT5_GBRVv_-hiEL7Gz_4czmbVCB/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAH9Hxu89sja8f6RVM3n3-IZC1SQB_-UE1lWFBEaaALTi23JcDap-VwQPlSOMvRF6U5fk29jBQtJKbYyNZ74bZ3SUhdwYPijM6G04BI6x1BS0Lx7tEnT5_GBRVv_-hiEL7Gz_4czmbVCB/s640/IMG_3621.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fairy tale picture? This is Rajgarh in Sirmaur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As the altitude is such that the pines are in plenty but the deodars have also started (though not big ones) the effect in the mist is beautiful.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fvdxfA1n8VIZZ3wmLvoRBOxb8sgNBHVPa93StMy1nQ8LPiK_NfdgxiL5Bbb8wbBVZkzTk5lETZ6gnq8T3OoQCi5dUaEN2zt80MrbxxY7WFGZ1BFDoXWXA2D2bzYU9sZAZBlEroDjLxqQ/s1600/IMG_3637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fvdxfA1n8VIZZ3wmLvoRBOxb8sgNBHVPa93StMy1nQ8LPiK_NfdgxiL5Bbb8wbBVZkzTk5lETZ6gnq8T3OoQCi5dUaEN2zt80MrbxxY7WFGZ1BFDoXWXA2D2bzYU9sZAZBlEroDjLxqQ/s640/IMG_3637.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful meadow near Rajgarh, Sirmaur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
I went to Rajgarh close to Monsoon, 1st July. It was drizzling mildly and thus it was perfect weather. The other advantage was that we got Off-Season discount in the HPTDC hotel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ZjxZyUk8g9YV9ST4-oNwO7-1CarjyzRxniM5LnEckMFM0GJdnVZMtX4o8dvn2MwTf3Yvda3rxsAAIYFKJGNdPZjAcwBr-nvxz-8SQTWTzN1QrNWJzOyRgQBTqK7nBAp0zF7dm-ZYSWF/s1600/IMG_3612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ZjxZyUk8g9YV9ST4-oNwO7-1CarjyzRxniM5LnEckMFM0GJdnVZMtX4o8dvn2MwTf3Yvda3rxsAAIYFKJGNdPZjAcwBr-nvxz-8SQTWTzN1QrNWJzOyRgQBTqK7nBAp0zF7dm-ZYSWF/s640/IMG_3612.JPG" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plant with multi-coloured stem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One could see all kinds of vegetation growing in the wild like the multi-coloured stem of this plant trying to camouflage itself in the surrounding area. The area was full of wild flowers. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CW2Sr0aHbwlGFJIAukIlF8PHBiNhKEb7fhSTejcLb1Om03ubr-0y-XXfgoYs5npn7O_hI3g0likwU72GIFhZyLF-e7BrT79dQi8rfamy4yNO-TrryTum-gmDj69Ub9CHBajLphWPfTWE/s1600/IMG_3628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CW2Sr0aHbwlGFJIAukIlF8PHBiNhKEb7fhSTejcLb1Om03ubr-0y-XXfgoYs5npn7O_hI3g0likwU72GIFhZyLF-e7BrT79dQi8rfamy4yNO-TrryTum-gmDj69Ub9CHBajLphWPfTWE/s640/IMG_3628.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Blue Berries near Rajgarh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also saw several berries including the blue and black berries. Sometimes I felt as if I was walking in the clouds and at other times as if I was walking above the clouds. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VIjsDzm_Th5mOLN_qiJk2QSMZiotJFUPzCJseY8NwKyoz36V5gyl9QtOEwHDq9fq67J2SIIDTj-0e3rnOiCNZys-I5UnR08W4HIT48fZGWZI4sDaQJJtK_bcCRVVhYesSKzdm1-_6kQe/s1600/IMG_3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VIjsDzm_Th5mOLN_qiJk2QSMZiotJFUPzCJseY8NwKyoz36V5gyl9QtOEwHDq9fq67J2SIIDTj-0e3rnOiCNZys-I5UnR08W4HIT48fZGWZI4sDaQJJtK_bcCRVVhYesSKzdm1-_6kQe/s640/IMG_3617.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild flowering plant with water droplets </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The fog and the mist added to the surreal beauty of the place. The water droplets on the leaves after the rains were shimmering like diamonds. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kzsd3nj4_PSycQ8ERhll7Z2wdIkMGIIKWE4UTcxYOu8txp1sIsonKpDYyTmhFTYpp20k4EIEcrvv6DzsbLMeujGvIpoXJgl8kA6ZDmL6saJL_TFgOPqTQjMTZR5NyfAhJLb8wrhsaPBd/s1600/IMG_3633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kzsd3nj4_PSycQ8ERhll7Z2wdIkMGIIKWE4UTcxYOu8txp1sIsonKpDYyTmhFTYpp20k4EIEcrvv6DzsbLMeujGvIpoXJgl8kA6ZDmL6saJL_TFgOPqTQjMTZR5NyfAhJLb8wrhsaPBd/s640/IMG_3633.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fairy tale house?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
However, in terms of food joints Rajgarh is not the right place. There are few eateries in town. The town has practically nothing interesting to offer. The Tourist Inn run by Himachal Tourism is located at a height. It has decent rooms with view of the nearby hills. It serves decent food. On the positive side, its rates are much less than the more popular tourist destinations in Himachal.<br />
<br />
How to reach Rajgarh: Rajgarh is about 340 kms from Delhi, 100 kms from Chandigarh and 39 kms from Solan. One has to leave the Chandigarh - Shimla national highway 22 at Solan and take a State Highway road for Rajgarh via Ochhghat and Giripul.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2009/12/rajgarh-pretty-as-peach.html" target="_blank">Rajgarh: Pretty as a Peach?</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2010/01/around-rajgarh-in-himachal-pradesh.html" target="_blank">Around Rajgarh in Himachal Pradesh</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2010/01/wild-flowers-of-rajgarh.html" target="_blank">Wild Flowers of Rajgarh</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2010/03/wildlife-in-rajgarh.html" target="_blank">Wildlife in Rajgarh</a></div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com96tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-59697840172716151202016-06-22T22:51:00.001+05:302016-06-23T21:38:55.220+05:30Jaggo – a Punjabi wedding tradition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-IN</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>TH</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:ApplyBreakingRules/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Punjab has several rituals cum celebrations that take place pre and post wedding. These may be shared functions or they take place either at the bride’s or the groom’s home. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUz1V-ZMHhk2a_aZBC48MgdI5llH9Dc0srF2VT3Qq4EaRFBcjzuzRjBmkqC6BbMCsy68zj9hlFWYmRlkvKN5qCgssQlDNTiLQjUGzDLemtAjnRJbXPC5iTbsVBhg37mWZtC3DW5jtw4DmH/s640/IMG_2570.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the Jaggo ceremony </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of these functions are the <i>Rokka, Mangni, Sagai, Chura</i> etc. Although Delhi has a sizeable Punjabi and Sikh population I have never seen so far a <i>Jaggo</i> (literally translated as Stay Awake!) function in Delhi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MquQSNtDEMY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MquQSNtDEMY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The start of the Jaggo procession from the bride's home </div>
<br />
It seems it is more specific to Punjab, particularly in the interiors of Punjab. So when I was invited to a wedding in Hoshiarpur I decided that I must attend the <i>Jaggo</i> function which happens a day or two before the wedding. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhAbm9fLkqCHB_V4Gb1OkDC4WSqdJrOPrsVdcCx1r-Fix1EYVKow-RpxGu5zQE11JO9IaAgobYCgXvcxY50uDtY4Ung17eOQWXEsIRuppz2ZqnKkpIo_pYvrE_k6y4j-g4_VG51Kjy448/s640/IMG_2577.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The decorated pot is carried through the streets to the homes of relatives & friends </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<i>Jaggo</i> is celebrated at the bride’s home at night. This is a ceremony in which there is lot of dancing and singing on <i>boliyaan</i>. It is mainly attended by close family and friends and is decidedly more women-centric.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CTmKrQfebPM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTmKrQfebPM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Jaggo moves from house to house</div>
<br />
Two decorated <i>gharas </i>or copper pots with lamps filled with mustard oil are carried by the bride on her head accompanied by the beats of a <i>dhol </i>and a professional <i>boli</i>-singer. <i>Bolis </i>are to put it in simple words four line verses with references to various family members.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LrTKa99URdW3-1i5Fgl0en-5Ewr9H9uYMIvAcygVErLWRFalI0ny1nuM24oGCHYGOk_hxMRSEm1UuuPak2Kgwmj8AB3vXz2z8NHS-zbTJj9qMPu2WY5-CMS4uP3vdn8Y5SrFhXH5mHSJ/s640/IMG_2583.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bride along with friends in the Jaggo ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The procession moves through the streets of the village/town singing folk songs and <i>boliyaan </i>in the darkness of the night. The maternal aunts take turns in carrying the pots on their heads. In fact the pots keeps getting transferred to various friends and relatives.There is also a decorated stick with bells on it to announce the arrival of <i>Jaggo</i>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hXEPVwuSVzc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hXEPVwuSVzc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Jaggo moves to another house<i></i> </div>
<br />
They halt in front of a relative or friend’s house where the woman of the house pours some mustard oil at the threshold, as a form of welcome and then the women enter the veranda singing and dancing <i>gidda</i>. The punch line is: <i>Jatta jag, vee jaggo aia</i>. Sweets are distributed and then they move to the next house.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKhaNW4SLBoBHPYN7CFRZufNCG_0ttSptXJZz4zRghIqlYW17RBVFKayHnLGFR0Q14uwVI7xL5owDxI7KxyvxufV3nhqWyk2B0PWklDgofNsqHc_br3qXctoDIF4Z-yLIu9XJFCQDX52i/s640/IMG_2589.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles at the Jaggo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The bride, her sister, parents and other relatives enjoy the ceremony by vigorously participating in the fun and frolic. It is a kind of announcement of marriage for all in the village. <i>Jaggo</i> retains the charm of old Punjab, when <i>Phulkaris</i> and <i>Baghs</i> were embroidered by young girls as their <i>daaj</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fawz2F3GUJg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fawz2F3GUJg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The aerial view of Jaggo at a house </div>
<br />
What is probably new is that once the round of the village/town street is over they assemble at one place where there is further fun, dancing to the DJ and of course drinks and food. After all how can a Punjabi evening be complete without fish <i>pakoras </i>and alcohol (at least for the men!).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFlsTSqilEjpVG02zKZhfJYkRofHqL1FcqTphcDZT_pGXt-no1Q-cgp_Yzrl3YKzAmRHH4tIA8fzewexLRDCOVw3jKD8OckktlDcbHJi_B5EUI1i_EGyBa828DfT3qbiAat1xHCo8clkr/s1600/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFlsTSqilEjpVG02zKZhfJYkRofHqL1FcqTphcDZT_pGXt-no1Q-cgp_Yzrl3YKzAmRHH4tIA8fzewexLRDCOVw3jKD8OckktlDcbHJi_B5EUI1i_EGyBa828DfT3qbiAat1xHCo8clkr/s640/IMG_2603.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lady beating the winnower at the Jaggo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/07/no-it-is-not-painting.html"></a><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/07/no-it-is-not-painting.html" target="_blank">No, It is not a painting</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/06/the-clock-tower-of-hoshiarpur.html" target="_blank">The Clock Tower of Hoshiarpur</a><br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/06/water-tank-themes-in-punjab.html" target="_blank">Water Tank Themes in Punjab</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-59403712529790964632016-06-01T16:00:00.002+05:302016-06-01T16:00:28.339+05:30Visit to a Tea Estate in Kangra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have visited tea gardens in the Palampur area in Kangra earlier also but this time I was able to see the process of making tea as well. Kangra is the tea capital of North India.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOolVwBEZJdv_MbhGuedH-pd71kwSUvk2oF00bUoleoiCtYyjqzzpAkvlYJcm-Bvo8vmhsNfcntOmJfnWHaIpA3Iw0v22r3tIXsFC00wZ0Fru2FrfI_dseuj7IkqRW0drT8S_rC9PJSg4/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOolVwBEZJdv_MbhGuedH-pd71kwSUvk2oF00bUoleoiCtYyjqzzpAkvlYJcm-Bvo8vmhsNfcntOmJfnWHaIpA3Iw0v22r3tIXsFC00wZ0Fru2FrfI_dseuj7IkqRW0drT8S_rC9PJSg4/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+230.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Tea Garden in Palampur, Kangra, Himachal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was staying at the Himachal Heritage Village which is on one side of the town whereas the tea garden that I visited was on another side of the town and we passed through pristine pine forests to reach the gardens and factory of the Himalayan Brew.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnodaAojbkrXu9kzRx9Z-Dn2FIQvzJO_wOtM45EmvNLCBUOfMI4gwtzaDkhFzBZNChkgVj0HSjyZRwQNWkqtuJxpgma4T2YXGvzNJqyzAsKVQmaIiMJ5sAAvjGXskMvU38OCftIl4It9p/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnodaAojbkrXu9kzRx9Z-Dn2FIQvzJO_wOtM45EmvNLCBUOfMI4gwtzaDkhFzBZNChkgVj0HSjyZRwQNWkqtuJxpgma4T2YXGvzNJqyzAsKVQmaIiMJ5sAAvjGXskMvU38OCftIl4It9p/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+247.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green tea leaves being processed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is a 150 year old tea estate that has its own tea plantations, processing and blending unit where the tea is produced under strict quality controls. They mainly produce the green tea with various flavours.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2X7t4nAlngvKI0WC6Ru5l-r1kNTZUB-MM67PrJ3LHz4-RJyQKH1PbtGAfLPaGIOA-VbNIr5FspWVjR3Gjvx0Ovy23sKxMNRYcwM1nkUV-ea1ewbml6rtGj9dTP7QG4YVtqq7ZQHepkTE7/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2X7t4nAlngvKI0WC6Ru5l-r1kNTZUB-MM67PrJ3LHz4-RJyQKH1PbtGAfLPaGIOA-VbNIr5FspWVjR3Gjvx0Ovy23sKxMNRYcwM1nkUV-ea1ewbml6rtGj9dTP7QG4YVtqq7ZQHepkTE7/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+244.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A woman sorting tea leaves at the tea factory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After reaching the tea estate we were welcomed by Mr Rajiv Sud, the owner of the estate and Himalayan Brew. In fact Mr Sud is a Singaporean national but came back to take care of his family’s tea business. He showed us around the processing factory and explained how the blending and processing is done right from green leaves to the steaming, pressing, retention of the flavour etc to the final product. Most of the staff at the factory was female and he explained that the work done by them was better than the males.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CocHZij3P5tbkS4SsJQNuHwPdqK6m8BI_thBTAZ8agRkY4ggz04iQYlFsVxEYJkSnaWjpeeQai3pn9dcIv7sYrn7RR1yDvVkXRe2eDqlWimcSm4iWgfX9SeVmvUXTDOiILuXDKjuAtt8/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CocHZij3P5tbkS4SsJQNuHwPdqK6m8BI_thBTAZ8agRkY4ggz04iQYlFsVxEYJkSnaWjpeeQai3pn9dcIv7sYrn7RR1yDvVkXRe2eDqlWimcSm4iWgfX9SeVmvUXTDOiILuXDKjuAtt8/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+234.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various stages of process of tea making at the Himalayan Brew factory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Later on he took us around his estate including the meadows where he sometimes camp. From the meadows the view of the surrounding area was majestic. After this we went to one part of the tea garden where some women were plucking the leaves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMez2AK_Uqhqumw0pSGnvVZrtgl8-oVuerQGMtqe2gD3cswMgACGCBU0KON_9Oi-xj4XU3yIsTcReVAGSbtmdHutdLnCFeKVKSKae8rRmPxbGOtq_DLZvpsahdsTSD1TFIH0IYRXT3QMZx/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMez2AK_Uqhqumw0pSGnvVZrtgl8-oVuerQGMtqe2gD3cswMgACGCBU0KON_9Oi-xj4XU3yIsTcReVAGSbtmdHutdLnCFeKVKSKae8rRmPxbGOtq_DLZvpsahdsTSD1TFIH0IYRXT3QMZx/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+276.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women plucking tea leaves at a tea estate in Palampur, Kangra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The background of snow capped Dhauladhar Mountains did produce a magical effect and I wished that I could own a small house in that surrounding. Some of the plucking is done by hand though he has some Japanese machines also which does the plucking and pruning.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXgZy1o1SL05jDI5ak3UkePf-cDPIHav2bXu2wG6pyCQY-eEbEIFkYCV9LIk3FHMvvk9FYPesYBRu4X3JVt_2qCLXaC4782ZeOo-tw5i0lHD6Aym57iif6XLg8R4YIDVWiSUFW7ejPzU_/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXgZy1o1SL05jDI5ak3UkePf-cDPIHav2bXu2wG6pyCQY-eEbEIFkYCV9LIk3FHMvvk9FYPesYBRu4X3JVt_2qCLXaC4782ZeOo-tw5i0lHD6Aym57iif6XLg8R4YIDVWiSUFW7ejPzU_/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+277.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Rajiv Sud, Ownder Himalayan Brew at his tea estate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mr Sud prefers the hand plucking systems as it generates employment in the region. One thing I did notice was the fact that the persons employed at the factory were the locals whereas the ones doing the plucking work were mainly migrants. The migrants though were provided housing facility on the estate itself. There is of course division of labour with plucking at the lower end, in terms of wages, and the factory workers at the upper end.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEdA2aWChVwsYhimcUzAzfJEE1nS-BDXb_Q8imCnVgW4vqt8nBArqFAeVeqxIXSZkd8JELF1s4ine0bSSBA79vIv3cvsuDaHBZHzxfww5Hleob2LZhnOFAlrywjJNowCYedTHBEh3Ojcr/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEdA2aWChVwsYhimcUzAzfJEE1nS-BDXb_Q8imCnVgW4vqt8nBArqFAeVeqxIXSZkd8JELF1s4ine0bSSBA79vIv3cvsuDaHBZHzxfww5Hleob2LZhnOFAlrywjJNowCYedTHBEh3Ojcr/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Himalayan Brew products</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After this we went and saw the packing process and also bought some of the tea flavours like the Kangra Masala tea, Malouthi tea, Pinewood smoked Tea. I am even now enjoying a cup of the Kangra tea that I had bought from my visit.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/04/in-lap-of-nature-himachal-heritage.html" target="_blank">In the Lap of Nature – Himachal Heritage Village Palampur</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/05/when-i-flew-like-bird.html" target="_blank">When I flew Like a Bird</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2008/09/mcleodganj-dharamshala-himachal.html" target="_blank">McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal</a><br /> <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/11/why-i-love-to-go-to-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Why I love to go to McLeodganj</a><br /> <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/03/skywatch-friday-sunset-at-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Skywatch Friday - Sunset at McLeodganj, Himachal</a><br /> <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/10/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-bhagsunag.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: Bhagsunag Waterfall</a><br /> <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/11/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-church-of.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com3Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176061, India32.1108599 76.53625260000001232.003273400000005 76.374891100000013 32.2184464 76.69761410000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-73203567511004389652016-05-14T15:10:00.001+05:302016-05-14T15:10:32.819+05:30When I flew Like a Bird<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TGE6UEBbxBvoOsYupdysvPmcxMT29AwTrQ4KhtlS9OcJgTvVQTOA1_ryX6PyNZkjurfdyr8z_bqRa1KPLRXEjRu9xL1vvEpVUou4rtyJ24oJDIy61DkodpXJKRMfUPALMW_temwt58W9/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TGE6UEBbxBvoOsYupdysvPmcxMT29AwTrQ4KhtlS9OcJgTvVQTOA1_ryX6PyNZkjurfdyr8z_bqRa1KPLRXEjRu9xL1vvEpVUou4rtyJ24oJDIy61DkodpXJKRMfUPALMW_temwt58W9/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+0723.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paragliding - a lifetime experience at Bir-Billing, Himachal. PC: Akanksha Dureja<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the recent trip to Palampur in Kangra, Himachal I was very keen to do paragliding. So the moment I reached <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/04/in-lap-of-nature-himachal-heritage.html" target="_blank">Himachal Heritage Village</a> in Palampur where I was staying for couple of days I immediately headed to Bir-Billing. By the time I reached Bir it was already lunch time and on inquiry I was told that the weather conditions are not right for flying. For paragliding the wind speed, direction, thermals which provide uplift to a parachute and cloud cover do play a crucial role. In fact some of the fellow bloggers who had reached Palampur the day earlier were able to do paragliding in the morning but later on the conditions deteriorated. Listening to their accounts I was all the more interested to do it as well. I was disappointed but not defeated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgEn9_GA6aa9USZJjBQTn-eFLW7OKG477Ltp68MDPCCNlzhCrSspzOnz-vOllE8aR4SF0OdFbTALuTiXiPSaOb6bbsIUyJTg4wgSWTZiUqHLtyILvn-Xia2IGfZjH97P83-W165-THFs8/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgEn9_GA6aa9USZJjBQTn-eFLW7OKG477Ltp68MDPCCNlzhCrSspzOnz-vOllE8aR4SF0OdFbTALuTiXiPSaOb6bbsIUyJTg4wgSWTZiUqHLtyILvn-Xia2IGfZjH97P83-W165-THFs8/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My team unloading the parachutes from the Jeep at Billing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Next day when we inquired about the weather conditions we were told that it is perfect to fly. So we headed to Bir. At Bir we shifted to a Jeep of the Paragliding agency to go up to Billing which is the takeoff point for the paragliding.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaX8CaozqdEStIJIMWYdqVakooPYhD7FtIKF2-qhGfXhnSdc6IkXzuxKfInzcjS8RRDNEDE8fYSEM1V05QfSsKZJ3CWqviz4JFfRozA9pz3vmgHYSnHigt-pBruHCf5DMmhNXSiBE44kw/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaX8CaozqdEStIJIMWYdqVakooPYhD7FtIKF2-qhGfXhnSdc6IkXzuxKfInzcjS8RRDNEDE8fYSEM1V05QfSsKZJ3CWqviz4JFfRozA9pz3vmgHYSnHigt-pBruHCf5DMmhNXSiBE44kw/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+284.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The takeoff point at Billing is among the best in the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From Bir it is 14 kms of narrow, steep road along the flowering rhododendrons all the way up to 8000 feet (2400 meters). Billing is an excellent takeoff site.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zHLbYfYYJxE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zHLbYfYYJxE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A small video of takeoff at Billing</div>
<br />
When it was my time to get ready I wore the seat harness and locked the karabiners. Being a mountaineer I am familiar with this equipment. Next the parachute was spread out fully at the back and the strings were checked that they were not entangled. Then I and my pilot fastened to each other. Once done we ran a very short distance together and were airborne in only 5-6 running steps. In this sense the Billing takeoff site is among the best in the world. The thermals lifted us immediately several hundred feet above the takeoff site. I was also filming the whole ride using the GoPro camera with selfie stick as well as using my own camera as and when possible.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaDQ8crMdqva0NFQa0qBagY1mZ83Mqa1Ka8o0NcW9EP95_CNZNCds6pyi_kc9uQZ5uGjcfwIzY8676-kL4PfQDjTBnQL0LHQTlKpqQMzQ84AzXkeIREPhCyIi2skQAaoLELXx9Pn0-nDk/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaDQ8crMdqva0NFQa0qBagY1mZ83Mqa1Ka8o0NcW9EP95_CNZNCds6pyi_kc9uQZ5uGjcfwIzY8676-kL4PfQDjTBnQL0LHQTlKpqQMzQ84AzXkeIREPhCyIi2skQAaoLELXx9Pn0-nDk/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+326.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got amazing bird's eye-view of the valley below from my parachute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You get the adrenaline rush in the beginning and it is definitely an experience of a lifetime. Within seconds you can sit down in your bucket seat harness and soak in the scenery containing the mighty snow capped Dhauladhars, terraced farms, monasteries and villages 4500 feet below you. In fact taking advantage of thermals an experienced pilot can go up several times higher and higher instead of descending.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eFI2rA4z-pYT1Z1wm94KErFEI8REaNP7Hc32PgfAZXt-DGc5zc1CbpyXZpsIAj96cuzCjUx6KiSUjwZXGjgfdeDDbDKREdfuvVSKpXQyG8Nbp9518ZT6B4M31RKzGTuWb7MMzFFj9aLt/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eFI2rA4z-pYT1Z1wm94KErFEI8REaNP7Hc32PgfAZXt-DGc5zc1CbpyXZpsIAj96cuzCjUx6KiSUjwZXGjgfdeDDbDKREdfuvVSKpXQyG8Nbp9518ZT6B4M31RKzGTuWb7MMzFFj9aLt/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+342.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of Bir and surrounding area from my paraglide ride</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Now I realise what the bird’s eye view is and what fun they have up in the air!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALnISElUxwPSqvi5WfIZi5NtGNgryDK2cQxsF8dcKevZjULH7exN1sSQcOlBH536E71sm6vKiY55851n9ZJ251yd3H1MYYYCrGkKGpCW3KjMYEN6yu5COm3e_tcNdynh3YArfz97277QZ/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALnISElUxwPSqvi5WfIZi5NtGNgryDK2cQxsF8dcKevZjULH7exN1sSQcOlBH536E71sm6vKiY55851n9ZJ251yd3H1MYYYCrGkKGpCW3KjMYEN6yu5COm3e_tcNdynh3YArfz97277QZ/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+343.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steppped fields as I approach the landing site at Bir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was smooth ride that day as the wind conditions were very favourable. But when the pilot asked me whether I would like to get some ‘real experience’ of turbulent conditions and some wild swings I said why not. Then the pilot made the parachute swing like a pendulum and it did become a bit scary but I enjoyed that experience as well. We were up in the air for about 35 minutes and now it was time to land. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wI93qjaI4I4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wI93qjaI4I4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Watch my short video as I land at Bir</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I straightened my legs and had a super smooth landing. (I did notice one landing which was kind of a thumping abrupt landing). Again Bir as a landing site is very good as there is no obstruction nearby.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNerrSiDK5Oiv6FT8Nwowfisqx51QYDuOq26k4WzY7OmdmFWfHYTmoiu2oan8yo0lXqaFbh1iTfnWBrbAKtunTLuNKPxovfw23UjD7_5GKD1PlaLCgBgVsGIFOEk1fX4IckdJXBKJtMqvp/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNerrSiDK5Oiv6FT8Nwowfisqx51QYDuOq26k4WzY7OmdmFWfHYTmoiu2oan8yo0lXqaFbh1iTfnWBrbAKtunTLuNKPxovfw23UjD7_5GKD1PlaLCgBgVsGIFOEk1fX4IckdJXBKJtMqvp/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+0721.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I approach the landing site at Bir. PC:Akanksha Dureja</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_G7QqHp2db1BGUeNhP6xhn76ZqIOxlVAwzFk5ZdKqgkx9mkriRTa4urh36XhY87EfiJfxwjNO9gdKQoLC3YSU0LK7vtgknkk_YrhfsBtJRfYehvsZ0ZOjjC3m2k7tXv5YZehQnbg1gNl/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_G7QqHp2db1BGUeNhP6xhn76ZqIOxlVAwzFk5ZdKqgkx9mkriRTa4urh36XhY87EfiJfxwjNO9gdKQoLC3YSU0LK7vtgknkk_YrhfsBtJRfYehvsZ0ZOjjC3m2k7tXv5YZehQnbg1gNl/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+0727.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally I land at Bir. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">PC:Akanksha Dureja</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the exhilarating experience I reached the software shop where they downloaded the GoPro video and gave it to me on a CD. Then I headed back to the Himachal Heritage Village after this once in a lifetime experience.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/04/in-lap-of-nature-himachal-heritage.html" target="_blank">In the Lap of Nature – Himachal Heritage Village Palampur</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com2Bir Billing, Himachal, Bir, Himachal Pradesh 176077, India32.0598655 76.7157191999999676.5378310000000006 35.407125199999967 57.581900000000005 118.02431319999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-53283879136342308592016-04-30T21:17:00.000+05:302016-04-30T21:17:29.734+05:30In the Lap of Nature – Himachal Heritage Village Palampur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some days back the Travel Correspondents and Bloggers Group invited me to visit the Palampur area of Himachal so I accepted the invite immediately. It is another thing that due to office work I was unsure of going till the evening of the previous day.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKkY0JDddiOjLhyo4dkhKqQiSE-cpC7LpIal8VKkm50fdOL5PWLBExyfjy1tnGsGLXZYqwsz_UU3wAoQnc0rH0rlQ53yVRY9OIVBkMJXl6pbN2REWMLJo1g_k7_Ear8Kvixhr5j63JjmK/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+182.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Himachal Heritage Village with Dhauladhar Mountains in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I am currently located in Sanghol and from here it was showing 250 kms journey. I decided to go by my own car and left at five in the morning and landed in Palampur at 10. The place, Thala Kandi, where I was to stay was five kms from the town up the valley near Neugal Khad (rivulet). When I reached the Himachal Heritage Village I was amazed to see almost the whole of Himachal, architecture wise, located at one place with the Dhauladhar Mountains providing a beautiful backdrop. As of now there are five buildings and all of them have different architecture representing different regions/villages/towns of Himachal. Four of these are residential buildings for the guests. Una, Kangra, Barot and Khaniara style houses represent these areas while the dining area and office building is made in the Kinnaur style.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HWsParaSqBvIQi15QGMr3ibQLhmTIKPgFYOactuAKN_D6O1ZG5Kdmd4i2VZHcUjWc1t6i9HgF8Wgro-bMooDtUYN7nVg6HlKbULWnPrqZGxwEadZqhWFniInxuRRtUV013rIbFdB-E9Q/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HWsParaSqBvIQi15QGMr3ibQLhmTIKPgFYOactuAKN_D6O1ZG5Kdmd4i2VZHcUjWc1t6i9HgF8Wgro-bMooDtUYN7nVg6HlKbULWnPrqZGxwEadZqhWFniInxuRRtUV013rIbFdB-E9Q/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedroom at the Una House, Himachal Heritage Village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On the first day I stayed in the Una style house which is made completely of sun dried mud bricks and no cement has been used in its construction. The windows are beautifully carved and painted and the roof is made of bamboo whereas the floor is made of mud. Though the basic structure is made of mud but all modern amenities have been provided inside including glass enclosed shower area etc.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk_IPtrzEj64N3U3yiMUhV7CZJkIPaQdSHY0i-YshKk_59KXd7nU80nyiu4M8uXuodFnwS8LvRZeKUL6qdgNiBJxg5Xp7pnjyqonUQmLfHTd9-gSFPYyPBqO_Uus93IO0rWsM-aw6CRwZ/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk_IPtrzEj64N3U3yiMUhV7CZJkIPaQdSHY0i-YshKk_59KXd7nU80nyiu4M8uXuodFnwS8LvRZeKUL6qdgNiBJxg5Xp7pnjyqonUQmLfHTd9-gSFPYyPBqO_Uus93IO0rWsM-aw6CRwZ/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chullah at Una house, also observe the old style switchboards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first floor where I stayed also had a traditional <i>chullah</i> (earthen fireplace for cooking) for ambiance. The room made of traditional material was cosy and warm and I could sleep in only one blanket comfortably. The management has taken extra pains to ensure that the look of the building reminds one of the old days for example they had to secure the old style switchboards which are no longer used from Old Delhi.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWfBSWFkOk0Ncuy09KdHKmNiXnOrpA5qoYuV3x2-0WyfpBq7Q_xehaa0bE9e3HxSoVLrB0YrnfmJiu1yRb_Tj9hjiz9AQdvGuS0_z4tbrYfAIMQX_mjEPAXYbzgxQwqcYjy2Mw6cNh4Ip/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWfBSWFkOk0Ncuy09KdHKmNiXnOrpA5qoYuV3x2-0WyfpBq7Q_xehaa0bE9e3HxSoVLrB0YrnfmJiu1yRb_Tj9hjiz9AQdvGuS0_z4tbrYfAIMQX_mjEPAXYbzgxQwqcYjy2Mw6cNh4Ip/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+171.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonfire at Himachal Heritage Village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the evening we all sat together with the bonfire giving us warmth and the stars for company as we watched the moon rise above the hills. One can sit for hours in such a beautiful setting!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrcofyuzhGmISYvvLkHak0I-euXk5-jIVBWu80oatdyYnR9tKSd9OvqeoEje_uYNoIkN6TGyVGG8GBzv5mBP8Fz20szuyyzsDsloHxe6V5KyNoBFr3sWTvSM2oz0sQ_HwBILGOn3rgypx/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+196.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrcofyuzhGmISYvvLkHak0I-euXk5-jIVBWu80oatdyYnR9tKSd9OvqeoEje_uYNoIkN6TGyVGG8GBzv5mBP8Fz20szuyyzsDsloHxe6V5KyNoBFr3sWTvSM2oz0sQ_HwBILGOn3rgypx/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+196.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining hall is built in Kinnauri style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
After spending a wonderful evening under the stars we all went in the dining hall which has been made as per the architecture of the kinnaur region.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichFRXBrHRj7TzUBgCIIgSb2HTEZapGP_hk-rbCEh03zq3F3KgjA0diUlVra1KNzojbQB87yP65RpBKpqJ2MkZPTcp_zLdqmkvYbYrVmZhvpjt-XdooY5cm9f7XYRodHNvUttlvr4HutpU/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichFRXBrHRj7TzUBgCIIgSb2HTEZapGP_hk-rbCEh03zq3F3KgjA0diUlVra1KNzojbQB87yP65RpBKpqJ2MkZPTcp_zLdqmkvYbYrVmZhvpjt-XdooY5cm9f7XYRodHNvUttlvr4HutpU/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+177.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Kangra food being eaten in Himachli style </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The dinner was a local Himchali affair served on the floor in <i>Pattal</i> (plate made of leaves) and to be eaten with hands. The food was fantastic and truly prepared in the Hiamchali style. I especially liked their <i>Khatta Maas</i>. I am told that they serve the Himachali food at least once to all the guests.<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj-Zt_bm3vEwTmf2w0vwHG11zpW-nrX2c9j7jTAS57fcKcE5BFJTkWi1Zbb0zl6OcBYddPc8L1LKFoajbJPvekCXDrxewhfYdsgUEDooFIrXE12xEzIm5j3CH69fPo2H1RVIdNjNJ7H32/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj-Zt_bm3vEwTmf2w0vwHG11zpW-nrX2c9j7jTAS57fcKcE5BFJTkWi1Zbb0zl6OcBYddPc8L1LKFoajbJPvekCXDrxewhfYdsgUEDooFIrXE12xEzIm5j3CH69fPo2H1RVIdNjNJ7H32/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HImachal Heritage Village, Palampur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next day I had the full attention of the person behind the concept Mr Hem Dogra who narrated to me how they have brought the water from 500 meters away to form a pond as well as creating a waterfall. The project started in 2011 and took four years of painstaking work and skilled labour to make the houses in real traditional style. Nowadays most people even in the hills make concrete cement houses and it is difficult to find skilled labour to make such houses now.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcodHUgJta4rgrBHLe5dfQLRYSy_PMOWyEN-DhBcQ5VYEdTx712BJXEYtO6i2AVQ0K5Ts46B3TI2QxGqy52ZGiqu9N8lKde1AlelrqC14DiQTmkqlDd91MgiB0PaCmEQrjnclo5_RmUwd/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcodHUgJta4rgrBHLe5dfQLRYSy_PMOWyEN-DhBcQ5VYEdTx712BJXEYtO6i2AVQ0K5Ts46B3TI2QxGqy52ZGiqu9N8lKde1AlelrqC14DiQTmkqlDd91MgiB0PaCmEQrjnclo5_RmUwd/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+356.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khaniara style house at the Himachal Heritage Village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The second day I shifted to the Khaniara house so that I can experience it as well. Unlike the Una style this is made completely of stone found in Khaniara near Dharamshala (and that is why the name).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-c57u77Isb9q7PsLADMBqAQQwyBl000YyQA7SwQwic9tXbdifeiw6uJzNYFhdypPjLkX8RNymR7ImJTm6MkWOMuVtJAJq-US5tBrFrc7UWYdiZgmfuNwXj8kW3kv4OUpfkXA-R4HsaKz/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-c57u77Isb9q7PsLADMBqAQQwyBl000YyQA7SwQwic9tXbdifeiw6uJzNYFhdypPjLkX8RNymR7ImJTm6MkWOMuVtJAJq-US5tBrFrc7UWYdiZgmfuNwXj8kW3kv4OUpfkXA-R4HsaKz/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+359.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bedroom in the Khaniara house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Again like the Una house no cement has been used in this house as well. The floor however is made of wooden planks. The bathroom in Khaniara house is luxurious with even a cascading waterfall inside!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM94ydT2TIYO4hGbS7nc-lC3bfqKODXnLNff_YUz8-lI1pZFPNVyMZGofUXthHbbvv6jJ96QJzoMgcKljO_9tp0tg-YTMZZzFzibdx-2yxSei4OShNVUm6UzzSN8_MwAv5QB23FQI1mdH/s1600/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM94ydT2TIYO4hGbS7nc-lC3bfqKODXnLNff_YUz8-lI1pZFPNVyMZGofUXthHbbvv6jJ96QJzoMgcKljO_9tp0tg-YTMZZzFzibdx-2yxSei4OShNVUm6UzzSN8_MwAv5QB23FQI1mdH/s640/Anil+Yadav_Palampur_Bir+Billing+363.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom in the Khaniara house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are plenty of options to spend your time here. One can go on short or long hikes. There is a naturally formed serene pool, a short walk from this place, which gives the impression of a huge tub in the lap of nature. Palampur and its surrounding area is known for its tea gardens, temples, monasteries and paragliding. But about these things I will write in separate posts.<br />
<br />
I had a wonderful, though short, stay at the Himachal Heritage Village. I would like to go and stay there for a longer period.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2008/09/mcleodganj-dharamshala-himachal.html" target="_blank">McLeodganj, Dharamshala, Himachal</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2013/11/why-i-love-to-go-to-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Why I love to go to McLeodganj</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/03/skywatch-friday-sunset-at-mcleodganj.html" target="_blank">Skywatch Friday - Sunset at McLeodganj, Himachal</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/10/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-bhagsunag.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: Bhagsunag Waterfall</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2014/11/places-to-visit-in-mcleodganj-church-of.html" target="_blank">Places to visit in McLeodganj: The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness</a></div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-16510015524525793682016-03-11T13:29:00.002+05:302016-03-11T13:29:57.258+05:30Kila Raipur Rural Olympics – the unusual sporting events<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the earlier post I wrote about the sporting events at <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/02/kila-raipur-rural-olympics.html" target="_blank">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics</a>.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yJjVMDVR-MjrPmhJYpnRwsx-wrRdrKBuJvxyLvqqzrbIILS7Uisbhy2XKxZRpAxnFJthKMlJt2UKTJtAKttfjAIlHL9bQlONP13m2MyklGEowIT_A1SdlkBgDHdh_6ppD4cFK6AhUIFh/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yJjVMDVR-MjrPmhJYpnRwsx-wrRdrKBuJvxyLvqqzrbIILS7Uisbhy2XKxZRpAxnFJthKMlJt2UKTJtAKttfjAIlHL9bQlONP13m2MyklGEowIT_A1SdlkBgDHdh_6ppD4cFK6AhUIFh/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Horse racing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Other unusual sports event I saw was the tractor race. After all in the Punjab rural area how can you have any event, sporting or otherwise, without a tractor! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ON-Q7R9eIOw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ON-Q7R9eIOw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Tractor race</span></div>
<br />
Then there was a tractor tyre race. Some of you may have done a cycle tyre race in your childhood but imagine doing it with the huge tractor tyres! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cHn6X8ScsQA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cHn6X8ScsQA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Horse Cart Race</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Another one was the horse cart race. Also there was a horse race as well. But all these were more in the form of sprints at the stadium itself. I think to make it more interesting the cart and the horse races could be made long distance races. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sOyt_0W7Tg0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sOyt_0W7Tg0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Nihang rides two horses</span></div>
<br />
Then I saw a Nihang who rode (standing with each foot on a horse) on two horses and galloped at a great speed. What has been popular here at the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics events over the years has been the race of the bulls but I believe due to the intervention of an NGO and on the orders of the court this sporting event was not allowed to be held this year. There was a huge protest against this on the last day of the event when I saw several hundred people march with the bulls and raised slogans against the NGO and the court order. By that logic all races involving any animals (and not only bulls) should be banned whereas horse race and horse cart races were held. Do only bulls qualify for the animal rights protection and not any other animal? <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2Avd1liEwUPTDWiehyphenhypheniiduj8brSn_m14nVIO-vo82OGECHKq3DK401iC8GBc2AdxxfPzs126HUerIhX9pSyf933cUYr3npZd-ivL_67CUHbAoUIozGy75tU7AlGTcSfbMsw88M9XrC0n/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2Avd1liEwUPTDWiehyphenhypheniiduj8brSn_m14nVIO-vo82OGECHKq3DK401iC8GBc2AdxxfPzs126HUerIhX9pSyf933cUYr3npZd-ivL_67CUHbAoUIozGy75tU7AlGTcSfbMsw88M9XrC0n/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+040.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Muscle power</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was a competition between two teams on unloading and reloading a tractor trolley full of sacks weighing a quintal each in the fastest time. And how could the competitions be complete without the Tug-of-War. The funny part of one of these was that the rope itself broke in two and both the sides’ participants fell on the ground.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/StQ1yJQ9nuM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/StQ1yJQ9nuM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Tug-of-war</span></div>
<br />
Other unusual sporting events that I saw were guys pulling a bike, car etc by their teeth.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuITmxnK2uzOTPP0M77_9YNp0TzppJmStAXPJD8VBzRB93mKAslge3bbU0_jbFcI5KIA_bkj09_24Soo-KdG5IDXPGLktfWYLNnNEScCRGSIFKHIHktHt67UV1okXl-MTP2OTNUfXHVfa/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuITmxnK2uzOTPP0M77_9YNp0TzppJmStAXPJD8VBzRB93mKAslge3bbU0_jbFcI5KIA_bkj09_24Soo-KdG5IDXPGLktfWYLNnNEScCRGSIFKHIHktHt67UV1okXl-MTP2OTNUfXHVfa/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+099.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Man lifts a sack by his teeth</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another one lifted a bag full of vegetable by his teeth. Then there was a guy who stopped two bikes to move in opposing directions by the bicep muscle power. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xrcbjl1aIEw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xrcbjl1aIEw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Muscle power</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There was a man in a sitting position on whom a six quintal load was put.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNQQvZs3j-hQlX5ZDiT1Nn_Az8wppsJNAU_kJJUv8rKGIHWeZnj1jl9oaFlcE5P93md6rALdiR5q2mzhgTgmI05Jwxjwk-GCNgIYZDRW2osYyZblqfG8mNubb-ovMu_-VWKcKEZjiRq-i/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNQQvZs3j-hQlX5ZDiT1Nn_Az8wppsJNAU_kJJUv8rKGIHWeZnj1jl9oaFlcE5P93md6rALdiR5q2mzhgTgmI05Jwxjwk-GCNgIYZDRW2osYyZblqfG8mNubb-ovMu_-VWKcKEZjiRq-i/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+072.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - 6 quintals on the man</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was a show of stunts on the Royal Enfield’s by several men and one woman.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpZHXvYclJFPvXfd7_RtVLZCUnaBLWHpj1Z40KGqk8uN7NPksZkpSEQIK0ej5roYOYDmNgnwJYOiXGn90XL6zN5LeheAZ3t_Q6llgTj7bFlAcYRxXlZH3XytgR-rOwIe_GrXasMxnXyVU/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpZHXvYclJFPvXfd7_RtVLZCUnaBLWHpj1Z40KGqk8uN7NPksZkpSEQIK0ej5roYOYDmNgnwJYOiXGn90XL6zN5LeheAZ3t_Q6llgTj7bFlAcYRxXlZH3XytgR-rOwIe_GrXasMxnXyVU/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+104.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Bike stunts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The games meant competition but also fun and frolic and the stadium was full and surprisingly there were lot of female spectators as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKRifWTeqhdpkojgMYK3xaVNjXEBSPxu2h_Vm4PVQswfhePKMIiTfgaawzPlKkOCQhuPoon1VhyZMKPU46PLZfvDWydglhn06OzGrjZgp3gX1-lQ-aOUKMwHR0XKJA_RIwxMlfqK6SFWS/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKRifWTeqhdpkojgMYK3xaVNjXEBSPxu2h_Vm4PVQswfhePKMIiTfgaawzPlKkOCQhuPoon1VhyZMKPU46PLZfvDWydglhn06OzGrjZgp3gX1-lQ-aOUKMwHR0XKJA_RIwxMlfqK6SFWS/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics - Women spectators</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I saw only one race which was for the girls else all others were for the men. But then I attended the event only on the last day. Maybe some events for the females happened on the earlier two days. </div>
<div>
<br />
I would attend the full event next year!<br />
<br />
Also read: <a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2016/02/kila-raipur-rural-olympics.html" target="_blank">Kila Raipur Rural Olympics</a></div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com1Kila Raipur, Punjab 141201, India30.762428 75.82288990000006430.7487835 75.802719900000071 30.7760725 75.843059900000057tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-56261496521361042832016-02-19T19:17:00.000+05:302016-02-19T19:17:36.938+05:30Kila Raipur Rural Olympics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You may have watched or participated in various sports events be it at the School, State, regional, National or International level in the recognised and popular sports. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rKuz9Qp2oRHds_YiGf64b97snhYPjISPvv1KVvhT9UZctMQzVL46W5mAb4meZ7_MPsybE1v4U83mn87oPXaXYx_XMonSBoNIhntonBKFQRGScstG6G7Op99iP3dvbEoeynKFL0v-Rjo_/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rKuz9Qp2oRHds_YiGf64b97snhYPjISPvv1KVvhT9UZctMQzVL46W5mAb4meZ7_MPsybE1v4U83mn87oPXaXYx_XMonSBoNIhntonBKFQRGScstG6G7Op99iP3dvbEoeynKFL0v-Rjo_/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kila Raipur Sports Festival 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But have you have watched sports with a local rural flavour to it. Yes I recently happened to attend one sports festival at Grewal Stadium at Kila Raipur which over the years has now become very popular and has been termed as the Rural Olympics. Kila Raipur is a small village about 20 km from Ludhiana. The Sports Festival is held every year as a four day event.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KzEkXzHhewWRgfC9x1aEbqVU_7GYb9j0pqyigv1S9mT9W4AXR5RRes99JqAFuIIV1iicZseXlOEcZdvUxhm0kiUlq_PX7cttTG2QEvhL_xfEJz4548VsN25whBwDm_RusMn7EFp7fsiJ/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KzEkXzHhewWRgfC9x1aEbqVU_7GYb9j0pqyigv1S9mT9W4AXR5RRes99JqAFuIIV1iicZseXlOEcZdvUxhm0kiUlq_PX7cttTG2QEvhL_xfEJz4548VsN25whBwDm_RusMn7EFp7fsiJ/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+068.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 800 meter race for women at Kila Raipur Rural Olympics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some of the sports events are the same as the ones popular elsewhere like to 100 to 800 meter races etc. A keenly participated event was the 100 meter track race for the persons above the age of 70!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasCgFRncJfHU2szpTwnatn69qS5p-wtmyysp6jfkmXDTPyfQVdhjI1mugfrUwSzEk9wATPysN3AOAWr53XnvnWpZqP9pIkhOOx_6y_QV7zqBuZnBPQb0FOy-1yAPt1lIGZjkcPATlWPlM/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasCgFRncJfHU2szpTwnatn69qS5p-wtmyysp6jfkmXDTPyfQVdhjI1mugfrUwSzEk9wATPysN3AOAWr53XnvnWpZqP9pIkhOOx_6y_QV7zqBuZnBPQb0FOy-1yAPt1lIGZjkcPATlWPlM/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 70+ race was a keenly contested & watched event at Kila Raipur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I could not believe when I saw these 70+ years young sprint with so much zeal and stamina. It does remind one of Fauza Singh who even at 104 years still participates in marathons. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqlG0noHpt7erZ4a2jG7RBpgQ_lOUqW3gSod7lYkBriyGh1aa6oIDnsSx1BBoMT-lIUc_nNdYdBTOX-i6N3YYMx19kXi8JzqAXYIqvjyqAYzpE8jLm522es72Vy9WY2_Qt91yGVc08R7n/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqlG0noHpt7erZ4a2jG7RBpgQ_lOUqW3gSod7lYkBriyGh1aa6oIDnsSx1BBoMT-lIUc_nNdYdBTOX-i6N3YYMx19kXi8JzqAXYIqvjyqAYzpE8jLm522es72Vy9WY2_Qt91yGVc08R7n/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+079.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cycle race at the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was a cycling race also though not in a velodrome but on the athletic tracks itself.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhUWXdm0HmkSCRtDWcB4zY0Tw0mTYDniL-yZksaIFFzonZq8R4je6sqB4U8HA-2FWtF-kcI01kEAN_kGhWeGIvtik_igyc8l9eFEmumNpjnVqCH6qEoE7BGbqumc_qapOb6GDskC5nEhQ/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhUWXdm0HmkSCRtDWcB4zY0Tw0mTYDniL-yZksaIFFzonZq8R4je6sqB4U8HA-2FWtF-kcI01kEAN_kGhWeGIvtik_igyc8l9eFEmumNpjnVqCH6qEoE7BGbqumc_qapOb6GDskC5nEhQ/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+080.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man got the loudest cheers from the crowd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Though most had racing cycles and proper athletic gear and dress the loudest cheer was for the local guy who had the ordinary cycle (which used to be a norm for commuting in India for School kids and still does for lot many workers) and normal day wear clothes. Infact several people announced cash rewards for this person! <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmjdGqsukUWv6_5Ig5FAe2eyLyCgX34x4c7mClJOYsegnAekFDkcjku9hQssvEOU5pejwzHioTuekxt2aMTEtFet_z_lQu5kcLQ4VZUgWLxza1_q3UPDXEztnO9HT-lI3VjUS2hb7DwQT/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmjdGqsukUWv6_5Ig5FAe2eyLyCgX34x4c7mClJOYsegnAekFDkcjku9hQssvEOU5pejwzHioTuekxt2aMTEtFet_z_lQu5kcLQ4VZUgWLxza1_q3UPDXEztnO9HT-lI3VjUS2hb7DwQT/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tricycle race at Kila Raipur Sports Festival</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then there were also tricycle races for the physically handicapped. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPB2_mwOTTrdYSTM7ka1ydkYfaOaf8qv5uEXc4he5SWDD9jD8bHkYhE_CPOFVJnAEGNdyOKGGtoAvSpJ9GhfFU2ThKDVUXOY5xPSPn07BG2TqZm9_y2vdnAEnBm2aMGJzGityxFWegZxt/s1600/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPB2_mwOTTrdYSTM7ka1ydkYfaOaf8qv5uEXc4he5SWDD9jD8bHkYhE_CPOFVJnAEGNdyOKGGtoAvSpJ9GhfFU2ThKDVUXOY5xPSPn07BG2TqZm9_y2vdnAEnBm2aMGJzGityxFWegZxt/s640/Anil_Yadav_Kila+Raipur_Rural+Olympics+061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kabaddi rural style at the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Another event which is also an international sport originating from India is Kabaddi. But the Kabaddi that you observe in the events and the Kabaddi played at Kila Raipur varied a lot. First of all the size of the Kabaddi ground was huge (at least half the size of a football field in a circle). Watch this video for the game and the size of the field.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eDz-GbpwMus/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eDz-GbpwMus?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A short video of rural Kabaddi at Kila Raipur Rural Olympics</div>
<br />
Secondly, there are four players to a team but once a player touches the player of the opposing side then it remains a fight between only two contestants as a one to one duel and not a fight of four against one. And all the players were bare-chested and one could see the ripping muscles at work! <br />
<br />
I would be writing another post on the unusual sporting events at the Rural Olympics of Kila Raipur.</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com0Kila Raipur, Punjab 141201, India30.762428 75.82288990000006430.7487835 75.802719900000071 30.7760725 75.843059900000057tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-40061597810782972016-01-10T15:47:00.002+05:302016-01-10T15:47:41.111+05:30Sanghol Archaeological Museum – a gem among museums<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Normally one would associate museums with capitals or big cities. But the Sanghol Archaeological Museum is different in the sense that it is located at the site where the Harappan, Buddhist and Kushan period artefacts have been unearthed. <div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyp-vcQhl4tGJAeNb3PG_DLw34c8TmwDMNWGMWwDt235sJ5Y2oDutsLoNGjoKVifjUTzceJf9IK_bcRum0_rSugqZW3acs-MIX-14Ram5npb1pMX7ZI0e3tzBOGTPEI_i7dgba2iTrR2J/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyp-vcQhl4tGJAeNb3PG_DLw34c8TmwDMNWGMWwDt235sJ5Y2oDutsLoNGjoKVifjUTzceJf9IK_bcRum0_rSugqZW3acs-MIX-14Ram5npb1pMX7ZI0e3tzBOGTPEI_i7dgba2iTrR2J/s640/IMG_2339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sanghol Archaeological Museum Building </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Located in Ucha Pind Sanghol the place has been inhabited from Late Harappan to Medieval to the current days. In fact during Kushan period of 1st to 3rd century AD this place was an important town and was on a trade route. The museums displays antiquities, sculptures, coins, household materials found in the excavation here.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK52BPEiBCjSwQ53kZh14zMwDTaQ7isd3JzCFdaRRoOb8su8i-AQZcZTIHHVnKJU7q5STRvkbuKoo88yLYOYhUT5rFEKr9Ectg2HKqnKHz-QP73he1LSUfq9TknE3wnxQSw280c4n-oC8p/s1600/IMG_2341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK52BPEiBCjSwQ53kZh14zMwDTaQ7isd3JzCFdaRRoOb8su8i-AQZcZTIHHVnKJU7q5STRvkbuKoo88yLYOYhUT5rFEKr9Ectg2HKqnKHz-QP73he1LSUfq9TknE3wnxQSw280c4n-oC8p/s640/IMG_2341.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Buddha Statue outside the Sanghol Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Two Buddhist Stupa sites here revealed the largest collection of sculptures belonging to the Mathura School of Art found outside Mathura. And these sandstone sculptures on pillars, railings, coping stones and crossbars are the pride of the museum. There were 118 pillars that were unearthed from the Sanghol site and about 60 of them are displayed in the museum and I must say they are in excellent condition.</div>
<div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxf_6CZ-fGR1Kx73a0LNab4JL57eq58GwN_m2jRsMJwcgAgNSrQD8h0YyeZmmehgyV4ajtBS_YTlc90D0ZQtFuI3cVRXOwLLV-aIltougITKYcfms2TyhhIMoC9Uo1GC6ctEFZ2PJEmRd/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxf_6CZ-fGR1Kx73a0LNab4JL57eq58GwN_m2jRsMJwcgAgNSrQD8h0YyeZmmehgyV4ajtBS_YTlc90D0ZQtFuI3cVRXOwLLV-aIltougITKYcfms2TyhhIMoC9Uo1GC6ctEFZ2PJEmRd/s640/IMG_2734.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Salabhanjikas on the railing pillars at the Sanghol Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />There is a section on Salabhanjika which is an art motif of the Kushan period. It means the lady breaking the branches of the Sal tree.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2h7Jfzr1ed-RSCL75bVCTt36d8GO-dmDtcDxWzc-qs-jEGSrlan8E1gWZQQoXA5ci227wvuGxahhexuGNpSjPUpMXb6OVV2Mi7DjJPm6HSw702GNtrzeyxZa6wLCAJegx019GKpvxW0b/s1600/IMG_2731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2h7Jfzr1ed-RSCL75bVCTt36d8GO-dmDtcDxWzc-qs-jEGSrlan8E1gWZQQoXA5ci227wvuGxahhexuGNpSjPUpMXb6OVV2Mi7DjJPm6HSw702GNtrzeyxZa6wLCAJegx019GKpvxW0b/s640/IMG_2731.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pillars depcting Gandharva and Salbhanjikas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />There is a section of pillars where women are drinking wine. It tells us about the culture during that period when women use to openly partake liquor whereas in today’s world (Indian) it is considered as a bad habit even among men!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFElRf2vi69AJwp6SJw_6tAOSCsYzqBctkrkxKYnXAzwKS7Xxu-eU_RsTXLuwV6JyV_891LYTBMFtR9f-qhH8H0nryKtquQqTs8XVClKMJk6o7dDQnXQjVdpqsLzkz4qyYoN6LXGouaBYQ/s1600/IMG_2737+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFElRf2vi69AJwp6SJw_6tAOSCsYzqBctkrkxKYnXAzwKS7Xxu-eU_RsTXLuwV6JyV_891LYTBMFtR9f-qhH8H0nryKtquQqTs8XVClKMJk6o7dDQnXQjVdpqsLzkz4qyYoN6LXGouaBYQ/s640/IMG_2737+%25282%2529.JPG" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A woman dancing and balancing a pot on her elbow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />There is a Toilette section where the pillars depict different aspects of beautiful young maiden’s toilet in a number of railing pillars – be it looking at themselves in the mirror or making braids of their long hair or a woman squeezing out water from her hair after bath. It goes on to prove that taking care of their beauty is an old art among women!<br /> <br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwKGyMQVZ72RyCse1VlxGy7UfZ5eUWE1vyQ_C0fuYyrKQQsdpqKLXR6OCtPK9xQQZdOQ8hIHvLZ3_Tslr18SrwZbZTRLPMFwWTVXAiR8bYqGPJwqlIERaF9vhYUNDK_Sa3uaarctdHXqG/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwKGyMQVZ72RyCse1VlxGy7UfZ5eUWE1vyQ_C0fuYyrKQQsdpqKLXR6OCtPK9xQQZdOQ8hIHvLZ3_Tslr18SrwZbZTRLPMFwWTVXAiR8bYqGPJwqlIERaF9vhYUNDK_Sa3uaarctdHXqG/s640/IMG_2737.JPG" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A Mother playing with her child</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />The round shape museum has only two floors. The first floor has seals and Late Harapppan pottery belonging to 2000 BC to 1200 BC, stone and terracotta objects as well as jewellery unearthed from the place. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4-xLqnXFWXgc81ynlqd0ycr0aTgdotOz4v5o-7sR6w4scLJdO0rdcucDgg5FnnQ284hJJRNRDK9TG7rw9yZTReqqRCCEEWs8IahDhocUGWidc-lZNJbxdwhC2zXFqHIadw84SHTPwM7E/s1600/IMG_2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4-xLqnXFWXgc81ynlqd0ycr0aTgdotOz4v5o-7sR6w4scLJdO0rdcucDgg5FnnQ284hJJRNRDK9TG7rw9yZTReqqRCCEEWs8IahDhocUGWidc-lZNJbxdwhC2zXFqHIadw84SHTPwM7E/s640/IMG_2732.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A Jataka tale motif</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br /> There is a nominal entry fee of Rs 10 for adults and Rs 4 for children below 12 years of age and the Museum remain open on all days except Mondays from 10 to 4. Photography inside the museum is not allowed. If one wants then a special permission and payment of Rs 1100 have to be made at their office in Chandigarh. One can reach Sanghol from both Chandigarh (40 Km) and Ludhiana (55 Km) as it is located on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is a must-visit museum for those who are interested in art and history and on top of that a history that dates back to Harappan civilization!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also read: </div>
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/12/buddhist-vestiges-of-sanghol-punjab.html" target="_blank">Buddhist Vestiges of Sanghol, Punjab</a><br /><a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/12/punjabi-folk-music.html" target="_blank">Punjabi Folk Music</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com8Sanghol Archaeological Museum, Punjab 140802, India30.7901885 76.40125660000001130.789336 76.39999610000001 30.791041 76.402517100000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-35205902150721574062015-12-31T20:11:00.001+05:302015-12-31T20:11:47.836+05:30Punjabi Folk Music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First of all let me wish all the readers of my blog a happy, successful and peaceful 2016.<br />
<br />
I was recently visiting a site of Buddhist Stupa remains which are 2100 years old and where at the same site carved statues and pillars and coins of Kushan period of 1 to 3 CE have been recovered. The site also revealed several artefacts of the Late Harappan period. <br />
<br />
But today's' post is not about the site but the person I met there and who rendered Punjabi Folk music in his rustic voice. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMslh5MsYT1OTO0Tb0P33UBaCv6JtgZpSehOInp7S-z_BnJIAvr745pSvCJkj0CR46ouqhmhE1mSzYTqAfO0qZL1LHCbVP1jT0JuSbSip7fzykegl3rDz6SqsEMNNR1nULlmdp0E4ModM/s640/IMG_2394.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teja Singh on Tumba at Sanghol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Teja Singh, an employee of ASI is also a prolific Punjabi Folk singer. Here he sings in the majestic setting of Buddhist and Harappan ancient site of Sanghol in Punjab, India. The musical instrument that he is playing is called Tumba or Tumbi.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S2IF3hEcKNY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S2IF3hEcKNY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Teja Singh on Tumba</div>
<br />
He is singing the folk song on the Punjabi legend Puran Bhagat.<br />
<br />
Also read:<br />
<a href="http://climber-explorer.blogspot.in/2015/12/buddhist-vestiges-of-sanghol-punjab.html" target="_blank">Buddhist Vestiges of Sanghol, Punjab</a></div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com1Sanghol, Punjab 140802, India30.7844978 76.38832649999994830.7776773 76.378241499999945 30.7913183 76.398411499999952tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648351795635165522.post-50869675688523811902015-12-18T16:38:00.000+05:302016-02-12T11:12:43.085+05:30Buddhist Vestiges of Sanghol, Punjab<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One would not associate Buddhism with Punjab in the current era. But you would be surprised (at least I was) that Buddhism was thriving in Punjab 2100 years ago.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyih9yyV07ZTg7s42OJumUnCU4MCzPKypTqthHFDREv13WpJsQOojfFA9vY4DEI1WqZeKhW6XirrigUsSTDM3Qign-vCmKdiga-q0WATx6Csc7xwfvnuW2V7UwQH8l_7h6_-hlnZas5CQ/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyih9yyV07ZTg7s42OJumUnCU4MCzPKypTqthHFDREv13WpJsQOojfFA9vY4DEI1WqZeKhW6XirrigUsSTDM3Qign-vCmKdiga-q0WATx6Csc7xwfvnuW2V7UwQH8l_7h6_-hlnZas5CQ/s640/IMG_2401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddhist <i>Stupa </i>site at Sanghol, Punjab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is corroborated by the fact that recently (in comparative terms) <i>Stupa </i>and monasteries were unearthed in Sanghol on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway. (<i>Stupa </i>contains relics of a Buddhist teacher.) <a href="http://traveltalesfromindia.in/" target="_blank">Sanghol</a> is also called Ucha Pind (high village) as it is situated on a mound. Seven sites in the village were excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from1968 to 1990. Two of these are significantly important which I visited and are called SGL5 and SGL11.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-O_KtF04lBITbJT-W06tlymqKNw7Gcf4JXoXhodFctzp_avz8lJO_EOvcUN2Jq_fR3RvdHW4kitI6CtWsSUarq4vYvLS-YHqWmwH7bvmcr2ijiOaYUE-sMC-zKX37zXsiHPdpMqz8Sca/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-O_KtF04lBITbJT-W06tlymqKNw7Gcf4JXoXhodFctzp_avz8lJO_EOvcUN2Jq_fR3RvdHW4kitI6CtWsSUarq4vYvLS-YHqWmwH7bvmcr2ijiOaYUE-sMC-zKX37zXsiHPdpMqz8Sca/s640/IMG_2417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the entrance of SGL5 Buddhist <i>Stupa </i>site at Sanghol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The larger site contains the bigger <i>Stupa </i>having three concentric circles with spoke-like radial walls raised on a square platform. It has a diameter of 16 meters on a 17 meter square platform.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn47h_qfjThXyZwBrjRSv0kXllOiq5V73qTvgCccuaQ7pAV3rchXDPMAKqlztHc5THkFl5iy2jtFRuborSjZJlYbrRQSgt5owKa1t8zMf2xSBuu4Npp4imuAoH1_E6Ms5bv1kvkcTJKtcu/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn47h_qfjThXyZwBrjRSv0kXllOiq5V73qTvgCccuaQ7pAV3rchXDPMAKqlztHc5THkFl5iy2jtFRuborSjZJlYbrRQSgt5owKa1t8zMf2xSBuu4Npp4imuAoH1_E6Ms5bv1kvkcTJKtcu/s640/IMG_2407.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concentric circles placed on a square platform, Sanghol Buddhist <i>Stupa </i>site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The smaller site also has a <i>Stupa </i>but much smaller in size. Both the sites also have <i>Vihara </i>(residences for the monks). What has been excavated is only the base which was mainly below the ground as the super structure was completely destroyed (by man or nature over time). Maybe the ASI should reconstruct at one of the sites to give a feel of the place as it was at that time.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzq3i-2_NU6eXlxUC8c-7gvVA4QP8-gutyf0SFbymJh0RwHGUK_bHRM-zH6JqEeh6MaAMSpf8lPpJ9OosLeqFW_Q1mmNsGFmxcJDo-6uUmyv_ozIlt-ZhqXvYoaxcMx4ww6cJNVBmoapX/s1600/IMG_2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzq3i-2_NU6eXlxUC8c-7gvVA4QP8-gutyf0SFbymJh0RwHGUK_bHRM-zH6JqEeh6MaAMSpf8lPpJ9OosLeqFW_Q1mmNsGFmxcJDo-6uUmyv_ozIlt-ZhqXvYoaxcMx4ww6cJNVBmoapX/s640/IMG_2453.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smaller Stupa at SGL11 Buddhist Stupa site, Sanghol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A rich treasure of 69 pillars and 35 cross bars have been unearthed from Sanghol containing figures of <i>Yakshis </i>and <i>Salabhanjikas </i>(art motifs of the Kushan period). Also found on the site were seals and pottery of the Late Harappan period. These are no longer on the site and have been placed in the Archaeological Museum at Sanghol. As both the sites are out in the open a security fencing around both the places have been put up to prevent encroachment.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBa_7bl05pG8bAcE_pDZH_FjYFtFwdrd392hFB_a9Q6GNxmXaCQ6UNuhgjHgfiPLKQDUQqcNKvWMyIsI48zEIR-o6Ti1Fh0-ZxCLl1Iz-pGi5oHPZyIKnQF78DI60qnyVzPnRcAzh6yuD/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBa_7bl05pG8bAcE_pDZH_FjYFtFwdrd392hFB_a9Q6GNxmXaCQ6UNuhgjHgfiPLKQDUQqcNKvWMyIsI48zEIR-o6Ti1Fh0-ZxCLl1Iz-pGi5oHPZyIKnQF78DI60qnyVzPnRcAzh6yuD/s640/IMG_2458.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The squarish ones were the living quarters of the monks, Buddhist <i>Stupa </i>site SGL11, Sanghol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Teja Singh, an employee of the ASI was kind enough to show me the first site and explain about the place. Not only that - he has a hidden talent of Punjabi folk music – and he enthralled me with the rendition of few folk songs with the accompaniment of <i>Tumba</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIeUgaPprDRM3zchsxmoC4mvpiscv3RaHYla9mC7OlKji53AxlDxDJxcPiM049wgGxaF3vRDzAVLmnsUhmz4ULUX2DQr35KvPgpNN8OYiVgxvM4hYLhNTm-cWIvm56ato5cKCzKYhf9Rm/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIeUgaPprDRM3zchsxmoC4mvpiscv3RaHYla9mC7OlKji53AxlDxDJxcPiM049wgGxaF3vRDzAVLmnsUhmz4ULUX2DQr35KvPgpNN8OYiVgxvM4hYLhNTm-cWIvm56ato5cKCzKYhf9Rm/s640/IMG_2394.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teja Singh with his <i>Tumba</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Tourism Department of Punjab should give more publicity to such a great heritage site.</div>
</div>
Anil Yadavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12077447975939295090noreply@blogger.com2Sanghol, Punjab 140802, India30.7844978 76.38832649999994830.7776773 76.378241499999945 30.7913183 76.398411499999952