Leave Ajmer; reaching Howrah

 Leave Ajmer; reaching Howrah

Leave ajmer at 1.03 pm by Ajmer-SEaldah Express from Platform No 2.First comes Madra followed by Kishanganj. The area between Basham and Kanakpur is fairly green. Reach jaipur at 2.40. A jaipur- sikar- chiru train can be seen stationed perhaps not in use. Twenty km before bandikui rains are seen. Bandikui comes at 4.15, Biwai at 4.30, helak at 5.25 and bharatpur at 5.35. Ikran comes at 6pm. Here dmu agra goes on other side. There are two other stations, Idgah Agra and Agra Fort, the latter coming at 6.30.

Mughalsarai coming at 7.20

Tundla comes somewhere after 9pm, Chunar coming at 6.36am and  ahrau ra road at 6.49.  Here i see a white ambassador something of a rarity these days. Jeonathpur comes at 6.54, Mughalsarai at 7.20. Here the pco booth is on pf 1. and the platform on which our train is there is no rail neer. I notice a Guwahati- anand vihar train passing through followed by a Varanasi Rajgir and Varanasi Ranchi train. At 8.20 dheena comes followed by darauli at 8.35. In Darauli a jeep going with some people sitting on roof  can be spotted.
What is to be noted here is after Darauli huge tracts of fertile land can be seen.  Dildarnagar junction comes at 8.50, Gahmar 9.20. Here going past our train is a malda-new delhi one. Few minutes later comes Dumrai After dumrai station a board showing the land on sale can be seen. Perhaps the deal is worth a try.

Buxar comes at 10.20am, huge tracts of fertile land

Buxar comes at 10.20, Arrah at 11.30. The Abdul Bari Pul is grand and it needs to have swelling water. Bihta  comes at 12.05pm. Here a rail linked logistic and dry port is coming up. Neora comes at 12.40
Near Kansa station a boat being rowed on a small river that is deep. Patna comes at 1.30 pm. The train is inordinately delayed. Gulzar bagh comes at 2.10, banka ghat at 3, fatuha east at 3.05, barh 4, hathida 4.30. Mind you huge tracts of fertile land after gahmar, bihta, fatuha, barh and hathida can be spotted. Kiul comes at 7, jhajha 10.30 and jasidih 11.30. After reporting to the authorities about why i deboarded the train at Jasidih, a written explanation is given along with all facts and the train that was getting inordinately delayed, i started from Jasidih at 11.50pm.

Bardhaman comes at 5.40 am, Pundooah at 6.15, Adisaptagram 6.32, bandel 6.40, Chandnagar 7 and finally Howrah at 7.30. Mr S Ahmed is the train driver and i happen to meet mohammad in the train.
Mohsin khan the boy giving tea in jan ahar is great. Perhaps one should avoid jan aahar as on occasions some people visiting the outlet tend to misbehave.

In Howrah station the local trains that can be spotted are:

uluberia local, bandel local
amita local
seoraphuli local
belur mutt local
midnapore local, bardhaman local
The cloak room charges rs 15 for 24 hours, with the need to improve the services. I spot wheeler and co established in 1877 and Jan Ahar and food plaza. Rabindra Setu Howrah Bridge looks majestic. A Majestic Rabindra Setu Howrah Bridge needs constant monitoring.
I take a local to Bally to reach Dakshineswar.


In Dakshineswar the sightings are as follows

Hoarding of a school remarkably consistent result for 8th consecutive year, 97 per cent secured 60 per cent. Twelve new campus coming up in baranagar.  Another ad with child holding a stethoscope. Have you planned for his future. How many get inspired from such ads is debatable.

In Rani Rashmoni road
sona tori guest house
dakshineswar guest house
purnosri hotel
mandir palace guest house

There is Adyapeath where too there is a guest house. As for Dakshineswar the time spent in the platform of the station is no time wasted. Not only you get to spot the locals on either tracks. The number of hours i was there on most of the occasions i was caught in a rain spell. As for station dormitory / room facilities, the response of none available seem to be not true. Similarly the IRCTC run yatri niwas should have a display board at the reception counter where the rooms availability should be shown. A truthful exercise would halp the passengers.

The ride from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

The ride from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

The ride from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer had winding tracks with a special mention of Phalodi station. A query on why so many people deboarded elicited that it has to do with employment. Summers have been hard, there have been fewer rains in the areas we were travelling. Perhaps Phalodi retained some shine as far as jobs went. In Jaisalmer as well, the discussions centred around the dwindling employment opportunities and how farmlands are in distress. Left Jaisalmer on a Monday at 1.50.


Having stayed in Jaisalmer for four days, with Friday and Monday  spent on cancelling a confirm ticket and seeking a new one. It were the autos that proved handy in accessing the station and the place of stay.  In Jaisalmer you can hire autos which are a treat to travel in as most of them are run by locals not charging huge. A special mention may be made of  tiptop taylor and Hukumchand, the auto man who took me to the Jaisalmer bus station.

Left Jaisalmer at 1.50 on a Monday.  One can sight near the roundabout near nagap palika parishad office, which occasionally has a fair collection of people, who wish to undertake journeys that could fetch them employment.  Going past army public school around 2.10 somewhere before or later a board shows bikaner 315 kms. As the bus made its way came across a hoarding of cool beer and english wine. Not to miss the point the road here is winding and strong. Somewhere here basanper is shown 3kms away.

Sighting first railway crossing

At 2.16pm jodhpur is shown 258kms, pokaran 84 kms and philodi 140 kms. We reach Jaisalmer byepass at 2.20 pm followed by Chandan at 2.35.  The first railway crossing comes at 2.47. Reach Lathi at 2.55. At 3pm jodhpur is 215 kms. Reach chacha at 3.20. At 3.29 the second railway crossing comes and 11 minutes later we are in Pokaran. In Pokaran delhi ki mushoor thandi shikanji cart can be seen on side of the road. From here jodhpur is 175 kms.

A 4.30 we reach Dechu, break for snacks and leave in 10 minutes. At 5pm jodhpur is shown 104 kms and fifteen minutes later we reach 54 mile. At 5.35 comes balser and around 6.45 we reach jodhpur, and it takes over 30 minutes to reach the bus stand. The time the bus took to cover the outer limits of the city to bus station shows the expansion of the city with fewer inclination to keep it green. Perhaps the earlier period would have seen a city much in thrall. From here the preferred mode to travel to Ajmer would have been a shared taxi. The Jodhpur bus stand doesn't bring good tidings, cleanliness and discipline is something in short supply.

Leave jodhpur at 9pm, reach Jatt or a place with that name around 11.20pm followed by a railway crossing at 12am.  Swift and pacy is the response of the staff manning the railway crossing. Beawar comes at 12.30 and we reach Ajmer at 1.40am. Against not to be appreciated conduct by a bus staff member, here in Ajmer this time things look much under control. If honest attempts are made to have a share taxi counter next to the bus stand in Jodhpur,  perhaps passengers who wish to travel towards Ajmer and beyond could avail them. The ride from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur looking dignified but the one after that illustrating the travails of travelling.

In Ajmer go past madar gate and stay in a lodge near Dargah. The lodge is inside lane and the floor above stores every possibility for peace to prevail. After putting clothes to dry, hit the bed around 3am and i am off the bed by seven. Tea from another inside lane is good. A visit to Dargah is amidst additions being made to the sanctum sanctorum  in the form of marble. Perhaps the previous order looked to be more strength-giving. THe marble addition could be something that some would debate. Later hire a cycle rickshaw and reach the station.Amidst sightings in Ajmer are
calcutta gift
kachodi from azad kachodi centre run by azad kumar chaurasiya.

Take some Kachodis from him and consume some during the ride from Kolkata station to Delhi.Here the rickshaw i engaged went with the tide and the man looking to be fairly simple.All in all the stay in Ajmer this time was wonderful.

Thoughts

WE tend to live in times where wheels of rough and smooth side of justice move along.We tend to come across stories where a newly joined personnel in a govt hospital has to grease the palms of a clerk to get his monthly salary. We tend to come across instances where roads built in the past give way to pressure of vehicles and still fake bills and favouritism prevail. A speedy check here, a data bank of roads there could be the way to steer ahead. Vigilance and transparency can do wonders.
People come across new variety irresponsibly raised showing how the rules have been thrown to wind. In cities the people tend to be arrogant aided by flush of money and flush of power. They tend to give sleepless nights as they are committed to the idea of raising a variety whose very  bottom instills fear and no freedom.Arrogance of a big city won't be of no use if things are not in control. People will migrate to new towns and cities in search of employment. THe fertile land of their homes in villages would discourage them to move. But when they would come across new variety raised in cities that have people live in shadow of fear one can imagine the impetus the people would have got to raise this variety that hurts the commoner.  

Lodges were hard to come by in Kolkata

Lodges were hard to come by in Kolkata

Lodges were hard to come by in Kolkata. It was the month of July when taking a train ride from Ajmer to Sealdah, i happenned to  secure a train connectivity to Howrah from Jasidih. Having spent the entire night sitting in the coach, the need to take a lodge in Kolkata became all the more essential. Took a local to bally and after laborious search lasting three hours zeroed in on a lodge in Dakshineswar. When in the evening decided to pursue the room i was told to check in, the circumstances in the developing hour suggested i better take another lodge. So a lodge near the Dakshineswar railway station was all i could get. Given for a little over 14 hours, i had to check out by 10 the next morning. The entire day was spent in seeking a room in Surya Sen Street and beyond. When it emerged by five in the evening that i won't be able to get a room , i purchase a sleeper class ticket for a train to depart the next day. And collected my luggage from the store room of the lodge where  had i spent the previous night.   The night was spent in the waiting hall meant for sleeper class passengers with the bench strength equal to the capacity of those reporting there. By morning the crowd assembling inside looked to be unmanageable.

As i made a series of calls to different lodges to find about the room and the availability, some banging the phone and some proving to be staff member rather the owner when one could fairly make out it was the owner on the other side.  The best part about Howrah station is that it has no structures so as to speak about eliciting a response that does not fall short of hysteria. As for some of the houses in the city it has been built on hope and with enough goodwill not generating a response which an irresponsibly raised structure whose very foundation and the floors above can be lethal on a broad scale. Queries on why i was moving from here and there was something on which the response was kept to myself. Took a train leaving from Kolkata station in the evening, taking two nights and two days to reach Delhi. In the coach, the guy from marketing research firm was a blessing indeed. As for rest of the journey, the art of keeping yourself tied to reading can take away the challenges that a long distance train entails.

Dakshineswar station has a charm of its own. Taking a ride to Sealdah brought me face to face with a student pursuing animation from an institution affiliated to a state in the northeast.

The stay in Jaisalmer; drip irrigation system and lake development

The stay in Jaisalmer; drip irrigation system and lake development

The stay in Jaisalmer began on a Friday, not routinely associated with acts that would drive you mad. As one steps out of station apart from a big cream of jeeps waiting to transport you to the lodge, there are autos as well near the entrance/exit points. One who has had the opportunity to visit this city in the past could seek an auto the next time to employ a search that is clinical and not cumbersome. As i checked into a lodge in the vicinity of Shiv road, the vicissitude of everyday life was as visible as the blue sky. After a quick shower lasting barely 10 minutes, a tea from the terrace of the adjoining lodge, belonging to the same group was invigorating. As you begin to explore the city and saints, among the stoppages are cooperative store (sahkari upbhokta bhandar) on shiv road and Azad Tailor, the shop on the way to Fort. As for the former, housing some of the best products in town at a reasonable price, the middleaged manager perhaps had thoughts on occasions on how to proceed with little leaks.  As for Azad Tailor, putting the pant to perfect use was something he could do with dexterity despite the small space he had and the fan that was not too high. Proceeding to take grub from Chandan shree restaurant, the  meals come for a tidy 90rs; one should resist attempts to take more rounds of the same as it could entail enduring digesting task. There are two eating points with the same name; one near Hanuman Chowk, the other near the fort.

Kanhaiya Lal of the Jaisalmer bus depot was warm enough to greet me on more than one occasion occasionally putting to rest the speculation that the bus depot may not be witness to huge traffic, still it has a charm of its own. The tea from the bus depot is energetic, with mild sprinkling of sugar and of a kind that is hard to find in the entire city.

Approaching Jaisalmer Fort, the shops on the way

As you approach jaisalmer fort, the shops on the way
hotel rasvila or something close to that  (a man can be seen watering plants; fewer spots with such indulgences)
local taxi service/point
lassi  ice cream shop/parlour
english wine and beer shop
lalita travels internet std
seema communication std
There is a warning, the mesage etched on wall of fort savdhan deewar se doori bana ke rakhe 
Another follows let us keep jaisalmer clean hoarding//board
This is followed by
om restaurant
midtown restaurant
monica restaurant
jaisalamer fort written on right (Adjacent to this is an ad on summer camp)

As you enter fort, the first shop on left is of leather and sunglasses

shree art palace
kashmir carpet emporium
baba ramdevji ka mandir
head straight turn right and then turn left
damodar patchwork factory
std
ice cream wah makhania lassi
k k travels
on left before entering another gate a hoarding saying dear tourist don't hesitate
to book camel safari with us
after gate there is dussehra chowk , there are four different lanes

As for cannon points
kotripara cannon point
chogan para cannon point
vyaspara cannon point

Vyaspara cannon point

Going towards  vyaspara first comes hanuman juice centre. A little later from hanuman temple turn left, go further and you reach bellisima cooperative store. After some minutes as you have reached a cannon point you see below jodhpur computer sansthan , hotel raj palace(the staff of Raj Palace is wonderful).
Near hari om jewellers is city view point. From here windmills can be seen far and further. Right below is sbi atm, again jodhpur computer sansthan can be seen from here.

For chogan para from dussehra chowk the lane is most clean and hospitable. From dussehra chowk to chogan para up to the point where it is etched internet burn your cd with digital camera, the passage is wide and good. On way to chogan para is moti palace. Below is raj hero online, movie centre.

City mired in sandstone
On way to a cannon point where you come across little tibet restaurant , the city mired in sandstone is widely visible followed by windmills on left and right.
From another cannon point from where the city looks to be mired in sandstone, with the area between  homes with sandstone and windmills a little greenery can be seen. Irrigation if revived can be helpful. In the distant is a water tank and cell towers too can be seen.

The message etched on jasalmer fort may be to do with its somewhat vulnerable standing. Som, which some suggested is around 50kms, could not have warnings of this nature. Sand dunes with cottages spread out could be a sight to transport oneself for sometime. But there could be challenges coming from Som and beyond. Missions may not have their offices or some may have plans to pitch in later. As for Jaisalmer Josh the fort of the mid 80s looked more splendid and solid, rules not thrown to wind to hurt its foundation. Power and water connections looked timid to not throw up a challenge. Sewage pipes have taken a hit, the streets wide enough to let nature bloom have been replaced with tiny passages, commercialisation raising its pitch to pose a challenge to the famed fort and its cannon points. As of now cannon points look sturdy. Corrective action if one assumes could have been set in motion way back in mid 80s. Meeting guides working inside the fort, they spelt the energy the fort brings unmindful of the strength and valour the fort has been deprived of. A synergy to keep the fort going and the foot soldiers tapping would have to be found.

Lake near the bus depot
Relocation one is not talking about. If ever the stay in the fort during night is banned and tourists are taken on a tour of the fort and brought back the same day, the lake-development  in the area near bus depot or in the bus depot with the bus depot being shifted elsewhere could be one of the options. Or raising a tower/structure in the area meant for bus depot from where one could view the fort partially could be some of the options to keep the fort from giving in to the unwarranted burden brought on it. There are enough vacant space in and around the bus depot so raising a lake here or a tower/structure there can be deflty tried to view the fort from outside.  Bus depot need not be shifted far as vacant lands abound in the area.Outside the fort it has been spared from the spectacle of structures raised illegally that is hurting the people and the city at large. There is no unbearable heat on account of illegal structures that aims to hurt the sanctity of the place. The heat is more to do with the desert zone the place is in. The different lodges that i visited in and around Shiv Road have been brought with a clarity that does not disturb peace and harmony.


Drip irrigation system
As for the train ride from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, a large number of people deboarded at Phalodi junction, with a view to get employment. Between Phalodi and Pokhran, there are stretches of land that is being put to use through drip irrigation system. The drip irrigation system could be extensively used as there are huge patches of land not put to any use. As for those talking about Barmer vis-a vis Jaisalmer , the oil discovery may have spawned emergence of malls and multiplexes in Barmer but that is no barometer of success. Jaisalmer has been spared the malls and mulitiplexes and it should remain that way. The pollution is also under control. Shared autos are a pleasure . As for employment a development of lake here or a  camel safari (mind you, camel safari alone may not bring in the traffic) there could be tried. There could be occasions when dwindling tourists could be a cause for alarm. A lake development here and building of tower (one would have to climb stairs to reach the top of the tower) there from where the fort could be viewed from outside during night. Dwindling tourist number shouldn't cause concern, attempt should be to keep the fort from the unwarranted pressure it is faced against.

A word or two on Kasauli; the ride to Jaisalmer

A word or two on Kasauli; the ride to Jaisalmer

Before one begins to write about the ride to Jaisalmer a word or two on Kasauli. There are no STD/ISD booths in and around the town. Perhaps one could find them in Dharampur or on the way to Kasauli. Second cyber cafes are hard to locate; sighting of a large number of eating joints and general stores is a regular feature. Jakimulls building has some general stores in its premises but none on phone booths and cyber cafes. A special note on central research institute and coming across some who have had the opportunity to work in the same. There is a STD counter near the Kasauli military station but it has remained defunct for some time.

As i made arrangements to leave Kasauli for Parwanoo and beyond, the repeated calls made from the bus stand for Sholan didn't entice me  as already two nights had been spent in two different city bus terminals.  Mind you the sleep i gathered in a lodge near post office was spectacularly wholesome; the room itself was neat and tidy except for the flush that needed to  be overhauled. The road to the lodge is paved with stones neatly put and from here there are two ways to the bus stand. From main market to Sadar bazar road one can take a left turn towards heritage market and  go further taking another  left turn to reach the bus stand.  Another path is from sadar bazar road you sight one road going down and up and then taking a left turn
finally  merging at the point where the heritage market opens to those coming from bus stand.  It looks majestic and has some portions done with cement slabs.


Ala Hazrat Express

As for Jaisalmer, the ticket to choose was taken from Delhi Cantt station, the man at the counter helpful to an extent. The ticket ride was meant for Jaipur to Jaisalmer journey. Ala Hazrat Express 14311 meant to leave Delhi Cantt  at 12.15pm started well past 12.50pm.  The coach i got in had a fair sprinkling of waitlisted passengers, one passenger kind enough to offer a  side berth. Reaching Gurgaon at 1.20, Alwar perhaps came after 3.15, Bandikui after 4.10, Dausa some time later, Gandhinagar Jaipur after 5.45 and Jaipur finally at 6.20pm. It was the month of July  and the coach was choc-a-bloc with passengers some among whom took vegetables at regular intervals that were not dry. Post meals and checking of mails they took to cards perhaps a reminder that playing cards is more important than taking a regular bath.

 With Jaipur accessed, the next train to Jaisalmer was well after 11.15 pm and this time was spent in taking a roundabout of the city.  Hotel Mewar in Sindhi Camp (Jaipur Bus Stand) was the place to work on a cyber cafe with the manager informing the keys to the room could not be secured as the man had not reported. It has another personnel hailing from Kerala perhaps a place near Ernakulam or Thrissur. Perhaps Restaurant with the name Kanji sweets has one of the best chach (butter milk) priced reasonably.  The restaurant has sitting arrangement on first floor.  There are share autos in and around the area, with attempt yet to be made to get a cyber cafe working for general public next to the station. With food taken from a IRCTC restaurant (more of a food plaza), the other eating point ,Jan Aahar, has to do a lot to get its service on track. Whoever approached them they asked them to wait.


Leaving for Jaisalmer

Next to Platform One  near the exit point is a waiting hall for general public and here those who don't have the capacity to sleep elsewhere were ruthlessly told to vacate the same. May be five to seven in numbers but all were told to leave. The reservation centre near the gate has ac running to the maximum, a moderate touch would do.   Delhi Jaisalmer Express starting from Delhi after five pm becomes Malani Express from Jaipur leaving at 11.45pm. The train left well after 12am reaching Jodhpur at five. It reached Pokhran around 10.15-10.30. The stoppage is for at least half an hour as the engine has to be put in the reverse direction. Time was utilised to get a paste from Prakash Giri who runs a general store outside the station. Giri had a query on whether i was an  nri or one  not willing to return to home. Because in  the neighbourhood malpractices having been carried out in utter violation of law hurting the people and nation by and large. A structure whose very exercise of laying the  foundation shook the faith of the people in institutions and people being subjected to merciless thrashing for over two years shows how laws are to be subverted and how those with fewer resources are to be treated in this country.  Coming back to Pokhran, the railway canteen here has sumptuous  Kachori with tea adroitly prepared. A small woman called Parvati looked resoundingly cheerful including others who were in attendance at the platform. These two facts for some time took away the worries and turbulence that accompany the act of living peacefully.

Reaching Jaisalmer

The train reached Jaisalmer well after 12.20pm. Sighting of Fort and its fortitude was simple indeed from the station as well. Exterior dripping in yellow sandstone, the story on its strength and reservoir of support  was yet to filter in. Among those  in the vicinity of the coach were a lad working in a spectacle lens concern having boarded the train from Jodhpur and another one going to appear for a test meant for a career in armed forces. The platform has a majestic look and as you exit there are hordes of jeeps waiting outside to take you to different lodges. I board one with a guy who hails from South Korea. In the Interregnum ride to the hotel we discuss about South China Sea and how Ukraine is being razed to the ground for its tilt towards Europe. Hotel Oasis Haveli is where i take a room. The stay is ok.
The place  from where one of the brothers work on a laptop has a charm of its own . The stay in Jaisalmer is for four days, taking time out to visit the fort and the famous cannon points.


First Sightings in Jaisalmer

Near Hanuman Chowk

opposite maheshwari sewa sadan
vinayaka army store
airtel the smartphone network
Hotel Rajputana
Bawarchi Restaurant
Chandan shree restaurant

next to Maheshwari sewa sadan is modern optic
next to that is jagdish photostat

Maheshwari Sewa sadan Jaisalmer and nearby has

Sai baba juice centre
manoj juice centre
shree LMB sweets & namkeen
bikaner sweets
shree kheteshwar sweets corner
ganesh mobiles
Nearby a  hoarding of Kalyan bhawan a budget hotel

After Amar Sagar Gate

Restaurant the trio
Shree Govindam
Shreeram sweet house
sumit cyber cafe book your railway ticket here
nokia priority dealer

Nachna Haveli
opposite is Tibetan Kitchen Restaurant

As you go past tunnel there is Hotel Jaisal Palace inked on a wall, the wall has been turned to a relieving point.

After tunnel
Hotel Shree Palace
Rajshree Carpet House
Hotel Jaisal Palace
Sahil Number Plates
The facilitation centre and Pan centre
Vinayaka Printing Plaza
Marudhara Gramin Bank
Krishna General Store and tea centre. After this it opens to fort road


On Shiv Road

after going past bus station (entrance to bus stand is written aapki yatra mangalmaye ho). As you cross the road there is state bank of bikaner and jaipur (SBBJ) on right side. A little further on the left side are a series of shops.
G G Traders and Engineers
Communication PCO Speak to World
Mahadev Credit Cooperative society
ICICI Bank
HDFC Bank
Hotel Sangam
Chaudhary Transport
Hotel Raj Palace
Govind Telecom
Anil Telecom
Azad tailor

After exiting shiv road there is talariyabada, inside there is jindani chowki

In Jindani Chowk
deepak bakery
kailash juice centre
vegetable market
inside lane has a cyber cafe.

Leaving Mussoorie, the ride to Kasauli

Leaving Mussoorie, the ride to Kasauli

Having stayed in Mussorie for almost a week, the night preceding the start of the day spent in Dehradun bus terminal, it was time to head to a new destination. On a Thursday having done almost two rounds of Picture Palace to Library bus stand on foot, the interaction with a host of residents gave a mixed response. In Mussorie there were a large number of people hailing from Nepal working as porters. They were committed to their work for four to five months, the rest of the period spent in traveling or at their homes. Most of them hailed from Birganj, Bhimtal, Kathmandu and places that took almost one day to reach by road from the capital.

Leaving Dehradun

Left the town after 12.30pm reaching Dehradun a little after half past one. Apparently, Dehradun of mid 90s had transformed showcasing its share of advantages and disadvantages. The night i had reached Dehradun  from national capital, a deserted bus stand with stray dogs making appearance now and then was all one was witness to. Having spent the entire night, the waiting room had chairs with some attempting to sleep on the floor. This time round i was in the bus terminal late afternoon liberated from the thought that another night would be spent at the same place. After due deliberations the right way to approach Kasauli was put forward through Dharampur. Met a father-son duo in the bus terminal. The son had probably appeared for a law test and both appeared to be down to earth.

Tree lined roads on way to Nahan, Dharampur
The man seated next to me was from Nepal heading towards Jammu. The bus left at 5.57pm. Going past IMA, the area around it has plenty of green gain with the hope that attempt would be made to maintain the same. Going past tyagi market, traffic congestion is the norm here, one could spot a good collection of enriching bananas next to a board which spelt "yahan gadde milte hai". Between 6.45 and 7.40 you come across a good stretch of roads with trees lined on either side. Before Kalhar power project the ride is cool and comfortable courtesy trees.  At 7.20 we reach Herbertpur , 7.42 Kalhar power project, 7.45 Paonta Sahib and Dhaula Kuan at 8.15pm. Ascent begins at 8.40 with Nahan coming at 8.50. The area around Nahan raises hope. Around 9.15 the board shows Chandigarh 71 km. Finally we are in Chandigarh at 11.15 pm.

The next few hours are spent in Chandigarh bus terminal. Mind you in Sec.17 bus terminal, the mango shake dished out is not easy to digest and passengers could well try for a small offering or if need be try something else . In the name of doing brisk business, the number of glasses prepared each hour is mammoth but with a milk that is straight poured from a pouch , boiling it something not taken care of. Boiling the milk and then putting in the aforementioned mango shake would be better.  Around five in the morning the bus heading towards shimla i board and reach Dharampur  a little before seven. Garkhal and roundabout is all i am headed towards for the next three hours with a lodge near post office coming as a relief.

Sightings in Kasauli

From Main Market to Sadar Bazar road
- Lucky star jeans tailor
- Raju Seth Kirana Store
- India Post 173204
- Mobile Repair Lamination Downloading
- BSNL Doorbhas Kendra
- Mahinder General Store
- STD ISD PCO Photostat
From here turn right and there is a Heritage Market

In Heritage Market
-Walson Cards
-Fancy Hair Dress
-Watches Sons
-Good Luck Export House
-Koncepts Restaurant. This restaurant is run by a man hailing from Udhagamandalam.
- Dad's corner
- Cafe Rudra
- Vaishno Dhaba
-  Kasauli Dhaba
From Heritage market as you walk straight there is officers mess. As you turn left there is Angoori Bros followed by Kalyan hotel and restaurant, chai nashta maggie bhojanalaya. There are 20-25 odd shops including those dispensing fruits. Earlier known as Tibetan Market renamed Pine Mall. Earlier the shops had bamboo tarpaulin replaced with aluminium sheets. I come across Mr Jam who runs shop number nine. After Tibetan Market head straight and there is Jakimulls Building, having some stores dealing with clothes. Probably the sighting of this building made one wonder whether there would be some reasonably priced lodges. But there were none.

Manki Point

As you head towards Manki Point, you go past lodges that are highly priced. Winding roads coupled with a private home here and there the walk to the airforce station takes almost one hour. There are two cafeteria, the second one near the point from where you take stairs for Manki point is not required. A temple surrounding should be free of such hospitality. Manki Point is a Hanuman Temple and it takes around 12 to 15 minutes to complete the stairs . Begin at 3 and by 3.15 pm i am there. The temple is fairly clean and a need for advisory to be issued to those entering it that they better have eatables outside.  The man selling the prasadam is dignified. As you take a return walk to Shiv lodge, the near absence of vehicles and fewer spotting of people who wish to litter is a grand achievement. Thick in green surroundings and some in black frame, the walk back is ok. The lodge near the post office is comfortable but the stairs leading to the room appear vulnerable. Perhaps  the stairs need to be redone and the structure too needs a little refitting.

Hooting was least visible in public space. A public discourse defined by hooting never pays. Similarly full page govt ads propagating infrastructure leads should be avoided. Insertions in papers should be less and less concerning infrastructure and other announcements. The key is to utilise public money in a most prudent way. Similarly bio degradable toilets in railway coaches is more important. DEdicated freight corridor is more important. High speed trains should be tried much much much later. Putting the story in papers won't do.

In Kasauli apart from Manki point there is a Gilbert Trail. In Kasauli one can stay at the most for a day or two as theren't other exciting sightings. Leave Kasauli on a Saturday. Reach Parwanoo in one hour. From Parwanoo head towards Kalka. After a brief stay in Kalka head towards Chandigarh. Take a bus after 11pm in the night and reach Delhi at 4.30am. The Himachal Pradesh State Transport Corporation bus manages its way to delhi with all alertness, the alertness of the driver and conductor a high point. A ruffian enters the bus and starts misbehaving, one can make out from where he hails, otherwise the ride is ok.
In Kasauli the seating arrangement in the bus stand is a major plus. The ride to Parwanoo on winding and not that broad roads comes against fewer sighting of stops.
If in Mussoorie, the attempt to not stay overnight should be exercised in all fairness, in Kasauli one can stay at the most for a day. A early morning ride to Mussoorie followed up with a full day stay can be tried. The Post Office, established Dec 1, 1909 is a major plus. In Mussorie came across a maths teacher of Tibetan School, the ride from Library point to the school in a shared vehicle takes 10 to 15 minutes.

When rooms were hard to come by in Kolkata

Sightings in Landour Cantt in Mussorie; Meals from Rice Bowl

Sightings from Library bus stand


- Faisal motor workshop
- Sheetal Bhojanlaya
- tourist bhojanalaya
- Panwar  restaurant  & tea stall
- taxi association
- guide and hotel workers
- uttaranchal parivahan
- ram  and sons
- tulip in
- lakshmi mistaan bhandar
- games parlour  (STD  booth)
- Sanskar pure vegetarian
- himalayan sweet shop
- Prince hotel (inside lane)
- Akhlak Fruit juice
- Mussorie shawl
- city point restaurant
- whispering windows
- hotel mallview
- hotel paramount
- hotel silver rock
- himalayan associates
- uttaranchal handloom shawl
- second resting place
- kashmir art palace
- hotel padmini niwas
- interspersed with murals of a religious centre
- Tibet market (tibetan welfare super market) upstairs as well as downstairs
- Third resting place
- Say no to polythene (hoarding)
- Hasan Fresh Fruit Juice corner
- Beachwood hotel
- Kailash General Store
- Kashmir Shawl House
- Hoptel Garhwal Terrace
- Hot spot bar and restaurant
- Hotel Madhuban Highlands
- Hotel Surya Kiran
- Udupi  - The south Indian Cafe

Other sightings
- Howard Revolving restaurant
- Learn Magic tricks
- Public toilets MDDA
- Jawahar Aquarium
- Hakman's hotel
- STD booth made to function as a paan centre
- Tourist information centre
- Ismail Mussorie Gift House
- Bags Craze
- Mussorie Handicrafts
- fifth resting point
- Valley view hotel
- Take a left turn
- Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir High School
- Mussorie Novelty store
- UP Cottage and village Industries
- Kalsang Friend's Corner
- Mussorie summer shopping carnival
- Kashmir art emporium

Meals from Rice Bowl were indeed good. And the manager who happenned to be a Tibetan had a tone not alarming as Big C 's Capital Beijing. So was the offering from Kalsang restaurant. The guide from New Bharat Hotel suggested Khana Khazana as another place where meals could be tried. Curd from Jagat Dairy proved handy. And the man running the laundry store nearby proved helpful as well.
As for Landour Cantt, the four shops have taken the shape of five as the all pervasive post office has been replaced by another shop. St Paul's Church and areas roundabout Landour Cantt should not be missed.
Sighted Ruskin, the writer, the other day in a car. Looked cheerful and radiating confidence. You need more such persons to lend a semblance of normalcy to the area. Except for local residents, no other vehicles should be allowed to go towards Landour Cantt because this is one of fewer frontiers that has not been  invaded excessively by market forces.

Reaching Mussorie; stay and sightings

Reaching Mussorie; stay and sightings


Having reached Dehradun, it took a little over one hour to reach Mussoorie. A public transport bus choc a block with passengers, the ride essayed the significance of preserving the eco diversity of the region with hoardings at regular intervals imparting the message. A footwork lasting three hours delivered a lodge on camel's back with a surety from those manning it that peace won't be hard to secure for the duration of stay. That was not to be felt/sighted with ease as random moments suggested the vociferous boast the inhouse caretakers had. Two lodges occupied during two different occasions showed the best deal lay in to never check in a lodge where those manning it tend to create a ruckus. In the first one, the room was just above the reception and i mistaking it for the fact that a rent a little beyond 500rs a day was a godsent opportunity not realising how disturbing would be the stay. Whenever i sought milk or tea (milk or tea was all i sought from this lodge)which i preferred to have it from terrace, i would make it a point to make the payment then and there itself. In the second lodge as well payments were made on spot for milk/tea delivered.
As a friendly advice refrain from staying in the hills and if need be just for a day.

A walk from from Picture Palace to Library bus stand constantly reminded the congestion that had gripped the region with fewer efforts to check it. Simple steps like the private vehicles making their way to Mussorie from Dehradun could be dissuaded by imposing a congestion tax of 100 rs or more for every hour of stay in Mussorie. The lodges and the liberty to charge exorbitant rents simply stemmed from the fact that there were fewer such establishments which were run by locals; most having been taken over by parties from Delhi adding to the din.The search for a simple room with no interest to seek one with a view were rejected point blank by different managers and those reporting to them. A season sauce they had been dipping themselves in now and then and so how they could afford to tame the rents and tame those who were willing to pay  irrespective of the size of their pants. The common refrain being there were no dearth of parties coming from distant lands or lands adjoining Mussorie sands who could pay any amount they sought showing the entire machinery to manage it had begun to rot.

Steps to check degradation
A few steps can indeed do some good to this hill station. Restrain those from charging huge rents; those who wish to let out their premises for lodging/boarding irrespective of their size and the number of rooms have to pay some form of congestion tax for the duration the season is on. Second impose congestion tax on those tourists who ply their vehicles inside For any stay more than a day, for every rent accrued for the following day, 50 per cent would go towards govt kitty. A lax administration lacking in conduct for over 15 years has brought things to such a standstill. Even for a govt functionary who wishes to visit Mussorie from Dehradun should do it not more than once in two weeks. Let the locals run at least a quarter of the guest houses as a partner or full fledged owners and the govt should encourage this process.

For a tourist visiting the hill station a stay not spread for more than two days would be advisable and if a large contingent has come the stay by no means should exceed 24 hours. Lack of discipline in everyday conduct shows the mushrooming of hotels and hitlers-turning-to-whistlers, a telltale sign of commercial contingent that we all seem to swear by. For hill stations and those with a rich green coating of the past , the commercial caravan with  green spaces being gobbled by merchants of merciless marketing  should be discouraged. This reminds me of the green and ever mushrooming cover  that areas beyond Bhiwandi/ Thane has and for residents of  the city, they need not travel more than 20 kms from the heart of the city (say Dadar) to witness the bounty boast of green with no grunt. The rich eco diversity shows at least for now the green gain would endure and hopefully no mad and merciless constructions would be applied.

Returning to Mussoorie , few steps to discourage commercialisation, bringing a lake to check the hullabaloo and asking the tourists to return by evening or next day if Mussorie Motor has to run.

Sightings in Mussorie

-Shree Gandhi Ashram Khadi Bhandar,
  registers brisk sale (woolen, khadi, shirts, blankets)
  Tej Pal Singh , the manager, opening time 10 am to 8 pm
- Neelam Restaurant
- Standard opticians
- Delhi Hair Saloon
- Bengali Sweet Shop
- Priya Appartments
- Central Methodist Church, Established in 1885
- Hotel Doon Place ( it provides a perfect view but exorbitant charges that no person
   in his or her senses would pay)
- Raj Cold Storage
- Game point
- Readymade garments
- Meeting Prem Singh, vendor
- Honey Hut
- Beachwood Hotel
- Kashmir Art Emporium
- Rama Hotel (would settle to give a room only next to kitchen)
- Indian terrain
- Cottage Industries Emporium
- Khanduri Store (for coffee)
- Chic chocolate
- Jewellery emporium
- clark's restaurant
- Mussorie Wool House
- Cambridge Book Depot
- Chander book depot
- SBI. Since 1955, SBI is operating from the historical building. Banking in Hills
   began in 1836. In 1923  came the imperial bank of india as the board at the entrance suggests.
After chander book depot a lane going inside
- Hotel Glenvilla
-  Hotel Sheela
-  some old structures
- Hotel Nand Residency
-  Further away is etched on a stationary cart "Yahan Durbin se camel rock dekhiye"
-  Mussorie Public School Vivekananda Bhawan

 Two breathtaking viewpoints were
 1 View from winter line point
  2 View from New Samrat, New Bharat Hotel

Other sightings
- Mussoorie Tourist Photo Deal
- Taking tea from Peak View Hotel, getting the perfect view
- Meeting two students of Saraswati School Vidya Mandir, class 10th and class Ist , janak and pankaj
- Royal cafe, another breathtaking view from here
- Central Command Holiday Home
- Value Hotel and Spa ( has chessboard tiles at entrance)
-  Near hotel broadway sedbrough appartments. From here as well the view is breathtaking

Sightings near Landour Road

Jasmine Mist
PG G House
Hotel Darpan
Meeting Nima, a Buddhist running a store, discussions centred around Ladakh  and Mc Leodganj

While milk from Green Restaurant was the order of the day, meeting cloth vendors from Kashmir was no less forgetting. As for getting to Dehradun, from Baramullah to Banhal it takes three hours by train, followed by eight hours ride by road from Banhal to Jammu. From Jammu to Dehradun it takes roundabout 24 hours by train .

A share taxi ride from Tirumala to Chennai would be handy

Share taxi rides that we relish

A share taxi ride from Jodhpur to Ajmer was all that we would have sought. A share taxi ride from Tirumala to Chennai could be handy

The stay in Capital

Stay in Capital

Having returned to the national capital, it would be prudent to essay some thoughts on duration of the stay. During the stay had the chance to visit North Campus. Meals from IRCTC run canteen in Arts or Law faculty is one among fewer reasonable canteens run in the national capital. Rail Neer on occasions one finds hard to get in the canteen and the 10rs coca cola from a vendor outside the IRCTC run canteen is conducive in an era when plastic bottles and plastic money has become an irrefutable trend. There are other shops in and around Connaught Place that dish out kanch ka rs 10 coca cola.
For seeking return rail tickets before proceeding to the South had the opportunity to visit Nizamuddin station on two consecutive days. The rail ticket that i got showed a waiting status with the counter man suggesting the seat availability/confirm status would show sooner than later. Not convinced visited the reservation premises the second day to get a ticket for a train from Tambaram. On  another day visited civic centre near Minto Bridge. The complex is huge and the amount of energy that goes to keep it cool is mindboggling.

Even had the opportunity to visit Kashmere Gate Bus Terminal on a Saturday. Stayed inside for over five hours. The stay brought me face to face with some students hailing from Himachal studying in Chandigarh. A meeting with a Buddhist Monk was another redeeming feature. He came with a collection of flags which he hoped to send to Ladakh, a place he had been visiting quite often by air. His official assignments lent him the air advantage and his visits and stay had been quite extensive.

The ride to Uttaranchal

The ride to Uttaranchal

It was a Wednesday i decided to leave for Uttaranchal. Took a bus from Kashmere bus depot. The bus  left at 4.45 pm. Going past Shastri Park, Seelampur and Mohan Nagar crossing. Perhaps before Mohan Nagar crossing there is a Modern Building factory. A series of trucks could be seen parked. Going past Sidheswar Nath Mandir with the board showing Dainik Jagran. Somewhere Agra is shown to be 220 kms away. In the first hour as the bus negotiates through a rough road , there are scores of people riding two wheelers with no helmet. Around 5.45 the bus goes past movieworld. Here movies at Rs 60 (gold Class) , movies at Rs 80 (premium Class) are shown, something not visible in New Delhi capital  With single screens all but gone.the multiplexes have honed the skills of those who believe in multitasking.
The bus reached Muradnagar at 6.02 pm. At 6.17 Modinagar water tank is seen.  A hoarding of 2 BHK, 21 lac onwards is seen.  At 6.30 the bus goes past Moniuddin Sugar Mill. Soon we come across a green belt that is thick and tempting. A greenery that eludes us from 4.45 to 6.30 pm. At 6.52 the board shows delhi 63 km away.
When the bus stops at Muzaffarnagar by pass for meals, the water at Sooravanshi food outlet is amazing. The taste and resonance that it leaves is quite appealing. Few areas in the national capital would have come across this rich form of water. Finally the bus reaches Dehradun a lttle after 11pm.

Again a share taxi ride from national capital to dehradun could be something to look at.

Stay in Tirumala

Stay in Tirumala

Having reached Tirupati with meals taken from Srinivasam complex, the next task was to reach Tirumala and take accommodation in Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. The bus ride lasted a little over 40 minutes. The manager of the said mutt i was in touch from Bangalore and he had promised me accommodation for two to three days. In Raghavendra Swamy Mutt the manager mahesh babu was not to be seen during my arrival and guru rajan from the kitchen department and nara hari from the same mutt i came across. About 20 minutes later the audience with the manager revealed his inability to part with a room and for the dormitory as well the inability impression was largely displayed. As a result had to check in uttaradhi mutt.

The stay was for three days, with the rent having been fixed at 500rs a day. There are other rooms in the mutt as well with fare a little over 100 rs, coming with a common bathroom. On a Friday joined the queue a little after eight in the morning. A little  before 12 came to the ticket section. The rush was huge; the best part being there were fewer standstill moments, the crowd movement being registered almost every other minute. There were a series of stairs to be negotiated, all done with the avowed aim of ensuring a seamless movement. After 12, the assembled crowd had been put in different halls. Exit a little after 12.40pm from the hall i am in, the time taken to reach sanctum sanctorum was another 30 odd minutes. Managed to get in and secure a fleeting glimpse of the lord. Came out by 2pm. Nowadays there has been some changes in the queue system as reported in papers where it takes less time and in all there are three lines with pushing and shoving almost absent.

A little before 3.30 went for meals at Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadana complex. The meals refreshing, the Superintendent happenned to be Raghu with Muni Ramaiah taking charge of CRO complex.The following day got into the queue at railway reservation office to secure a return ticket, the effort yielding a waiting list status. Decided to proceed to Tirupati to figure out the chances by other trains and if not that by air from a distant destination. The cyber cafe in Tirupati is near the bus stand. For flights from Hyderabad and those from Chennai to the national capital, the fare looked reasonable going by on spot booking that generally leaves a big hole in the pocket. But the same fare when tried to reason out with airport officials showed a different price tag. In Tirupati airport, the drinking water meant for public is too hot and there are no water coolers outside. As for those waiting in the cars to ferry passengers and others assembled outside airport the drinking water becomes an issue.

The ride to the airport is taxing and with no public transport, except for one bus which departs at 2pm for tirumala everyday,  one has to search for a return transport. Took a lift on a bike and later followed this up with a bus ride. Took meals from Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadana complex after 3pm. While coming out of the complex came across a young lad wrapped in a dhoti who looked to be tired. Engaging in a conversation he revealed to be tired and was preoccupied with thoughts on things to do while entering the complex. Haling from Bangalore, the boy seemed to convey the rush inside the temple had sapped him of the energy that each day brings with. There was another gentleman  hailing from  Mandya or Shimoga who said the Lord of Tirumala was his home god and he visited the place every month.

On a Sunday got into the queue by 6.40 am and was able to get a return ticket by Duronto meant for next day. Left Tirumala by 10 pm. It is advisable that to get a bus seat for Chennai one should book in advance from Balaji Station. While coming to Tirumala from Tirupati, a share taxi ride would be advisable. Similarly if there could be shared taxi ride from Tirumala/Tirupati to Chennai it would be handy for devotees. Having reached Chennai a little after 2am, the benching arrangement next to 6a platform is noteworthy. The ride on Duronto wasn't good; the relaxed template could only be availed once i had a change of seat. Those seated next to you could well be an anthropologist, scientist, scribewallah, someone who is good to talk at and surely disposed to hygiene surroundings. A berth with a large number of occupants is acceptable if things are within limits On a ride from Ajmer in the month of March, there were a series of vacant berths, probably to do with fewer willing to take the train on that particular day

The stay in Tirumala was ok with meals from Tarigonda Vengamamba Nityta Anandana complex proving to be an enrighing experience. The four streets have an aura of their own. Came across Chandra, the paper vendor near the STD booth which is run by R Anadan. The tea from an outlet near Lepakshi seem to carry different price tags at different hours, with other vendors too charging over rs 7. Rs 7 should be the desired rate and for soaps like medimix which come for 3 rs, the asking rate at places were above six or seven. Similarly other necessities too could have been overcharged and the brunt being borne by common pilgrims. As for those with an i card, the accommodation in TTD rooms/cottages  should be considered. Tirumala one can stay for two to three days if accommodation at reasonable rates can be provided.

Stay in Tirumala

Having reached Tirupati with meals taken from Srinivasam complex, the next task was to reach Tirumala and take accommodation in Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. The bus ride lasted a little over 40 minutes. The manager of the said mutt i was in touch from Bangalore and he had promised me accommodation for two to three days. In Raghavendra Swamy Mutt the manager mahesh babu was not to be seen during my arrival and guru rajan from the kitchen department and nara hari from the same mutt i came across. About 20 minutes later the audience with the manager revealed his inability to part with a room and for the dormitory as well the inability impression was largely displayed. As a result had to check in uttaradhi mutt.

The stay was for three days, with the rent having been fixed at 500rs a day. There are other rooms in the mutt as well with fare a little over 100 rs, coming with a common bathroom. On a Friday joined the queue a little after eight in the morning. A little  before 12 came to the ticket section. The rush was huge; the best part being there were fewer standstill moments, the crowd movement being registered almost every other minute. There were a series of stairs to be negotiated, all done with the avowed aim of ensuring a seamless movement. After 12, the assembled crowd had been put in different halls. Exit a little after 12.40pm from the hall i am in, the time taken to reach sanctum sanctorum was another 30 odd minutes. Managed to get in and secure a fleeting glimpse of the lord. Came out by 2pm. Nowadays there has been some changes in the queue system as reported in papers where it takes less time and in all there are three lines with pushing and shoving almost absent.

A little before 3.30 went for meals at Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadana complex. The meals refreshing, the Superintendent happenned to be Raghu with Muni Ramaiah taking charge of CRO complex.The following day got into the queue at railway reservation office to secure a return ticket, the effort yielding a waiting list status. Decided to proceed to Tirupati to figure out the chances by other trains and if not that by air from a distant destination. The cyber cafe in Tirupati is near the bus stand. For flights from Hyderabad and those from Chennai to the national capital, the fare looked reasonable going by on spot booking that generally leaves a big hole in the pocket. But the same fare when tried to reason out with airport officials showed a different price tag. In Tirupati airport, the drinking water meant for public is too hot and there are no water coolers outside. As for those waiting in the cars to ferry passengers and others assembled outside airport the drinking water becomes an issue.

The ride to the airport is taxing and with no public transport, except for one bus which departs at 2pm for tirumala everyday,  one has to search for a return transport. Took a lift on a bike and later followed this up with a bus ride. Took meals from Tarigonda Vengamamba Nitya Annadana complex after 3pm. While coming out of the complex came across a young lad wrapped in a dhoti who looked to be tired. Engaging in a conversation he revealed to be tired and was preoccupied with thoughts on things to do while entering the complex. Haling from Bangalore, the boy seemed to convey the rush inside the temple had sapped him of the energy that each day brings with. There was another gentleman  hailing from  Mandya or Shimoga who said the Lord of Tirumala was his home god and he visited the place every month.

On a Sunday got into the queue by 6.40 am and was able to get a return ticket by Duronto meant for next day. Left Tirumala by 10 pm. It is advisable that to get a bus seat for Chennai one should book in advance from Balaji Station. While coming to Tirumala from Tirupati, a share taxi ride would be advisable. Similarly if there could be shared taxi ride from Tirumala/Tirupati to Chennai it would be handy for devotees. Having reached Chennai a little after 2am, the benching arrangement next to 6a platform is noteworthy. The ride on Duronto wasn't good; the relaxed template could only be availed once i had a change of seat. Those seated next to you could well be an anthropologist, scientist, scribewallah, someone who is good to talk at and surely disposed to hygiene surroundings. A berth with a large number of occupants is acceptable if things are within limits On a ride from Ajmer in the month of March, there were a series of vacant berths, probably to do with fewer willing to take the train on that particular day

The stay in Tirumala was ok with meals from Tarigonda Vengamamba Nityta Anandana complex proving to be an enrighing experience. The four streets have an aura of their own. Came across Chandra, the paper vendor near the STD booth which is run by R Anadan. The tea from an outlet near Lepakshi seem to carry different price tags at different hours, with other vendors too charging over rs 7. Rs 7 should be the desired rate and for soaps like medimix which come for 3 rs, the asking rate at places were above six or seven. Similarly other necessities too could have been overcharged and the brunt being borne by common pilgrims. As for those with an i card, the accommodation in TTD rooms/cottages  should be considered. Tirumala one can stay for two to three days if accommodation at reasonable rates can be provided.

Reaching Bangalore, leaving for Tirumala

Reaching Bangalore, leaving for Tirumala

Having reached Prashanti Nilayam, and having stayed for two days, the next destination to be approached happened to be Bangalore. Taking Coimbatore Express which departs a little after 5 in the evening, the waiting list of 6 wasn't much of a botheration as it involved a little over five hours journey. The gentleman coming from Mumbai and proceeding towards Bangalore was helpful. He happenned to be s k srikara
sales and application engineer, working in Bangalore. A stiff TTE, who became normal a little later, the transformation came about courtesy a gentleman from Bangalore doing the needful.


Hailing from Dawoodi Bohra Community

Adjacent to my seat there were a handful of people hailing from Dawoodi Bohra Community. Interaction with them brought forth the Bhindi Bazar and its redevelopment. How extensive would be this endeavour, something elaborately spelt by Shekhar, the writer, while doing walk the talk episode. Of late the paper in which the transcript appeared has been short of stories on the north east. One story spelling the last of Maruti 800 rolling out from its plant and the same car being shipped to the North East was quite engaging. It appeared in Eye which had an eye for detail as long as it appeared in A 4 format.  Bring more northeast writers or those hailing from Ladakh onboard. Instead of writing about art exhibition here or solo dressing effort there, bring stories of society in churn. As for the paper from the East,  a series of stories on Jute mill lands that had been taken over by developers as mills had not been functioning for long. On these lands series of electoral meetings took place during campaign period and the page that featured these stories had the facing page on real estate and the empire they were presiding over. The paper from the east is ok but be little careful about ads and on which page they appear.


Relaunch of Maruti 800 and Ambassador

As for Maruti 800, the relaunch should be tried in earnest, same as the need to try relaunch of Ambassador car from its plant in the State of West Bengal. Coming back to Bangalore ride,  the people hailing from Dawoodi Bohra community were in their elements and we discussed with them about redevelopment of Bhindi Bazar and the time it would take to complete the exercise. People were soft spoken and they divulged that one passenger among them had a waiting list of 12 and the TTE the previous night was kind enough to accommodate them. Among others in the coach were students and some destined to travel to Coimbatore.

No response on Sudharshan Token
The train after a series of halts, some scheduled, some unscheduled, reached Bangalore Central a little after 10.20pm. I checked into Subhadra lodge in SC Road after 11. The first night meant bed bugs had to be negotiated and following this night i had to shift to another lodge. Mind you except for bed bugs, there was no iota of inconvenience in Subhadra lodge where the staff is very helpful. Before shifting to Royal Lodge in Bangalore, i visited 16th cross Vyalikavel Malleswaram which houses the office of TTD. Here the TTD temple and the statue of the lord is quite enriching. As for the office it is in its own world, where queries on Sudharshan Token and its availability does not elicit any response. In Tirumala i was told the Sudharshan token has been made online. Till  now Arijitha  sevas had been online. Now even Sudharshan token has take the online route. Of all the pilgrims visiting Tirumala at least 88 per cent don't access net. So how come the online hooter is advisable.

Visiting K C Das outlet
Vyalikavel did not get me the requisite response. In malleswaram there is K C Das outlet, the curd dished out is quite wonderful. Headquarters of K C Das is in Kolkata. Opposite the K C Das outlet in malleswaram is a store whose occupants were kind enough to hand out the change.
Took the bus to reach  vyalikavel and took the return ride in a bus as well after spending almost an hour on the streets to figure out one road in that area which is narrow and sliding down and a has a bus stop on the right. Meals were taken from swathi delux andhra meals from kempegowda bus station.      Met sai sathya narayana who happenned to be editor of sai anantham, the publication coming out from Puttaparthi.

As for kempegowda bus station it is under major renovation, revealing the mammoth of operations during day as well as night time.

Sightings in Bangalore
ttd bangalore
16th cross vyalikavel malleswaram

S C  Road
-balaji provision stores
-royal regency lodge
-royal lodge
-abhishek dress materials
-abhishek bag corner
-new welcome footwear
-sri durgamba lodge
-mayur lodge
-anan regency
-srs travels
-janatha juice corner
-kamat hotel (tea is good from here)
-indraprashtha vegetarian

On  S C Road came across Subramaniam, the cobbler.
On left lane goes kapali theatre road. There is a tea/snack centre. Sometimes coming with moody staff.

On S C Road
srishankar provision stores near here there is a typewriter
raghu the fruit vendor
sri ramakrishna lodge
citi centre
ac shopping arcade
ac shopping arcade monthly holiday 27th of the month. business hours 9.30 am to 10.30 pm
ashok upahar. waiter malesh quite helpful. Opposite ashok upahar is a middleaged lady selling hankerchiefs. The punishing duty hours shows how difficult has been the effort to earn livelihood.

malinga cloth vendor
opposite shopping arcade is santosh airconditioned
badsha stores
central bank of india atm
theatres in the area, amma, triveni and movieland

Leave Bangalore at 1 pm

Reach kempegowda bus station. Take Karnataka Transport Corporation bus from this bus station. The ride is ok.
Reach Vidhan Soudha, take U turn, reach balakundi circle. Shree balaji plywood pic in blue frame is quite appealing.  Reach Lanco hospet toll plaza at 3.29. We are in hotel balaji bhawan around 4.05.  Reach palamner 4.40, reach bangarupalam  at 5.20. Reach chittoor around 5.40 and reach Tirupati 7.30 pm. Take meals from Srinivasam complex and leave for Tirumala at 8. 30. Reach Tirumala around 9.30.

Staying in a hotel is a challenge

Staying in a hotel is a challenge. Looking for simple rooms with attached bath and no other facility, the search and energy expended gets you the room but with a rider which remains invisible for the first few hours. This challenge was amplified in a town of Mussorie recently, where after deboarding the bus, i was on foot for the next three hours to search and secure a room. Rama, Doon Palace Amar,  Sheela, Peak View and some in Camel's Back were some where i made an effort to get the tariff known.
The first hotel which i took in town was in Camel's back coming alongside brouhaha which i could not anticipate. The second hotel looked liveable , and if you could trace commotion after two days , it was a signal that i should leave. Hotels have been known for their hysterical template; some have been known for their peace and their  bid to preserve the same. Mussorie may have brought forward a good number of gentlemen  who were willing to help but for the roof during the night the search and stay was a mixed bag.
The town is good to visit, if possible omit from staying during night. There were scores of men who preferred to visit early morning and leave late evening having been witness to a spectacle of joy and jostling.


 IN Kasauli the gentlemen running the hotel near the bus stand started with a tariff of 800 rs, asking me to come at eight in the morning. By this time the tariff had gone up to 1000rs and a search after two hours in the same hotel the asking went for 1400rs. Garkhal, which comes on the way to Kasauli, the asking rate for 600 rs was in the morning and when i returned after not getting the room in kasauli, the asking rate had gone up to 1200 rs. One boy took me on a bike to a road sliding down suggesting that two kms away from main road of Garkhal, the tariff would be reasonable. It was a bitter experience as the tariff they sought in a hotel was 2000 rs upwards. It was again the second visit to Kasauli and with the help of Chetan, the local resident, a lodge with a resonable tariff i could locate. There were no STD/ISD booths in Kasauli and a stay not spread over two days would be handy.

In Kolkata, there are ample lodges in Chittaranjan Avenue, some coming with the name like City Heart, Avenue and Central. Rates hover between 400 to 500 rs and upwards depending on the rooms. In Lipika Inn and Metro, the first in Surya Sen Street and second near Kalighat, non ac rooms are available on occasions. Both lodges are comfortable with no ruckus seen around.  In Esplanade lodges can be taken with little caution. 

Road discipline and commuters


Issues on road that women and elderly gentlemen would face if corrective measures are not put in place

Reaching Tirumala; stay in Tirumala 

Reaching Prashanti Nilayam

Reaching Prashanti Nilayam

It was early morning when i reached Prashanti Nilayam station to proceed towards Puttaparthi. In the station there are no buses around four or little after that in the morning . So one has to stay put at the station platform for a while. Came across a gentleman who introduced himself as software engineer roaming the platforms at that odd hour probably waiting for a train that would take him to bangalore; coaches to be definitely pulled by at least one engine. Took a shared auto whose other occupants had to visit a medical centre. The auto was not meant for Puttaparthi, and the place where i alighted i had to look for a bus that would take me to Puttaparthi. After a while secured a bus ride lasting over 20 minutes (the road is neat and well laid) and reaching the bus stand of the temple town at a time when fewer were willing to show up.Perhaps the information filtering out suggested that accommodation could be tried in the Prashanti Nilayam Temple complex. There were parents filling forms for their wards as entrance test was in the offing.

A large number of students from Darjeeling enrol for courses in college run by SAthya Sai Trust, with teaching methodology and course fee looking to be quite rewarding. In fact one student suggested that tuition fees are almost negligible. Officials were willing to give dormitory and as for single rooms they had a different set of criteria. Perhaps the identity card should be enough to get a room, something authorities should explore at. As a result, i stepped out of complex and started looking for a lodge. The search for an accommodation took me to S K Lodge, with Mukunda the host looking forward to reward me with a room, the rent somewhere around 400rs, letting the word out that rooms with attached bath can be availed if one does search by himself/herself. THe lodge is inside a lane, with a surety that no amount of nuisance would be forthcoming as residents in and around looked to be disciplined and simple. It was past seven when i left the lodge to gain the first morning tea cup coming against the backdrop of those serving the same hailing from Rajasthan and having joined this enterprise a few days earlier.

Visiting Sathya Sai Samadhi Mandir

After nine or so visited the Sathya Sai Samadhi Mandir, the morning prayer session coming amidst a gathering that looked limited with a hope to swell in the coming days. After paying respects at Samadhi Mandir, one can go inside a hall which too is used for prayer session. Here those not hailing from Prashati Nilayam Trust can just have a look and come out. The Ganesh Temple Fort at the back of the Prayer Assembly Session looks as resplendent as ever and a round on days when you are there would be handy.

Visiting North Indian Canteen
North Indian canteen had some of the best meals on offer during afternoon, with a special mention of butter milk and curd. Vegetables on offer were good, with a little alertness to be shown that spice adding has to be little less. Overall the meals whether during afternoon or early evening hours were exciting and good to the stomach. On the second day visited the western indian canteen, with those serving you from across counter need to be residents of india. Here among other offerings orange juice was in a class of its own. Butter toast and fruits too came handy. Overall North INdian Canteen could be tried for as many days as one wishes to stay if meals with rich fibre and nutritional nudge is what one is looking for. Opposite the North Indian CAnteen is a shop dishing out cool drinks . Here they need to stock with curd, butter milk as well. A bull driven cart brings the cartons everyday; those running the large shop should be equally careful about the labour the bull undertakes and instead of concentrating all on their earnings should spare a little effort to keep the bull and the man riding it in good template.  Adjacent to this large shop is a small shop that offers tea and coffee with little sensitisation on dealing with small demands. At least in the Prashanti Nilayam complex, the human hint should be all pervasive and money mint should be at least controlled. From top officers to lower staff, they need to evolve towards a larger goal, a majority may have endured that sentiment to hone their skills for less profitability, others need to follow suit. One can believe there won't be dearth of resources if commercial colour of the outside world is not allowed to get inside. Still the Prashanti Nilayam Complex has a lot going for it with the need to get a statue or a bust of the Lord right next to the samadhi platform.

Providing a shade
As one enters the complex from the main gate, the distance that one has to traverse brings one with no shade for a good length and perhaps from where the Ram Sita Lakshman and Hanuman statue is up to the point where there is a std booth (some metres after the token counter for south indian canteen), a shade could be raised.
Came across Sridhar Andre from Rajmundhry, belting out the story that from Rajmundhry to Vijaywada it takes three to four hours and from Vijaywada to Prashanti Nilayam it takes over 16 hours by train.  The stay in Prashanti Nilayam was smooth except for one incident where  visiting a restaurant for tea, some three to four persons ( one can understand who they were) tried to create a ruckus because i was all alone during that time. This restaurant is inside and has an appealing picture of sai.  Except for this incident, on other occasions, the tea-taking exercise was wonderful  with probably SAi Surya restaurant whose middle aged staff member was wonderful. The second day when i visited, this staff member, lean and middle height, presented a picture of perfection observing that on that day he was somehow late to leave the bed as always he gets on time.On most of the occasions trust members used to be inside the restaurant sharing exciting tales about the place. Mr Mukunda of S K Lodge was helpful  and so was  Dada Khalandar of tours and travels who arranged a train ticket to Bangalore for a train heading towards Coimbatore.

The Puttaparthi bus stand has enough benches, adding to its attraction are a series of new shops. The water cooler needs to be rejiged to get the best and cold water.The railway reservation counter works for limited hours as there is not enough crowd. Overall the place was good and the cool template that surrounds it soon after three in the afternoon is a surprise of sorts.
As for Yajur Mandir, it could be opened up for general public one to two times in a week or all seven hours between eight and nine in the morning. Let Yajur Mandir be accessible to all.
There is a need for more std/isd booths across the temple town; the tirumala tirupati devasthanam office near water tank showing no tickets for days i wished to visit.Bring buses for morning ride from station to puttaparthi bus stand. Similarly in Tiruapati airport there is a lone bus service towards Tirumala at 2 in the afternoon. No buses before or after that. And look at the airport how far it is from the city.And here TTD air conditioned cars were ferrying passengers. Why waste money in running airconditioned cars/suvs from Tirumala to Airport. Invest the money in wise projects, in removing faulty wiring or old wiring on which acs run in sanctum sanctorum. Sanctum sanctorum has to have best cooling facility with acs with the best wiring and running template. Free meals counter in Tirumala is great. The new iron pillars being put there or digging taking place where Lord Krishna is in a sitting posture near the steps do we need such new iron pillars or digging. Invest wisely. As for the fares they quoted at the tirupati airport ticket counter it was beyond the levels one could have imagined.

Before writing about Puttaparthi railway station, a word or two on the proposed plan to raise new structure in Nizamuddin station. You don't need a tall structure housing food court, enquiry counter, railway reservation counter, waiting hall. Don't waste money, tall structures in public space aren't good. With limited budget try to bring all these in the existing complex. You already have a restaurant which is exceedingly expensive. Commuters in trains are simple, give them simple thoughts. If DRMs are not falling in line or board members visiting abroad without any purpose try to make them see reason. Railways has backlog of projects. Safety is important, these projects can be set aside. Tendering process with all visibility would do a world of good to railways.  
Took a bus from Puttaparthi bus stand to the railway station. One S Reddy who happenned to be electrician took a seat next to me. Puttaparthi had a good collection of banana sellers and so were bananas in plenty in railway station. The railway station has two platforms, with the enquiry on seeking status of train ticket on first floor. Bathrooms in waiting rooms/halls have a stench which needs to be doused.Otherwise the station is in perfect shape with mountains in the backdrop. The book shop has a good collection.

Some sightings in Prashanti Nilayam
On Gopuram gate main road
- Girnar tea ice, tea coffee & more
- indian optics
- Meena crafts
- Sai saundarya
- abs tours & travels sai lakshmi silks
- Restaurant Sai's Agaman
- HDFC Bank Puttaparthi branch
- Help ever net cafe
- Yaseen & Co dealers in Jewellery, handicrafts
- Sai Narayana Guest House
- Neem Tree restaurant
- Hotel Sai Paradise
- Sai towers
- Public telephone STD  & ISD
- Sairam Photo Centre
- Hari Om Cafe & Restaurant
- Shanti Cafe
- Sai Surya Restaurant

Tapping for the past three and a half years, making us live in fear

Tapping for the past three and a half years, making us live in fear

Conversations which we can't have in any room and movements that remain restricted, the agenda pursued in the past three and a half years by those supposed to maintain law and order is highly unethical and irresponsible. For the past three and a half years,tapping from adjoining house has been the mandate with a never-ending urge to create commotion here and there. Commotion with different patterns which a normal man would find it difficult to take in his stride and that too for such a long time.  A normal conversation which anyone would have cherished and a seamless movement inside the house which we would have desired has not come about.

We dread to think of what the man or different men during different duty hours from adjoining house would resort to if we don't comply to their diktats. They had a free reign during the raising of a new structure, the amount of fear and commotion they delivered us would have fewer parallels.   If we raise our voice against injustice being handed to us on a platter, they air their disapproval through much-depleted water supply. If that is not all, they ask outsiders to seek more water, more than four to five times a day, to make us believe that there is no getting away from their acts which are entirely inhuman. You see the outsiders can give tough times to old members of our household. Mark my words, the amount of water you ask them to waste and thereby give sleepless nights to old people here, the same commodity you won't find in abundance elsewhere. If that is one act, this is followed by banging the floor above our rooms during odd hours, the attempt is to create an atmosphere of fear.

We have never been in argumentative spell with anyone in the lane despite they provoking a delivery boy, vegetable vendor here or a courierwallah there  From adjoining house, they decide when to send delivery boys, whom to employ in banging the gate and the door and when to raise commotion here and there. A simple courierwallah task also they make it look dreadful with banging the gate during odd hours or pressing bells without a break. There would be scores of vendors working in the lane. They have a right to livelihood. But there are some whom they employ with no hesitation to give us trouble. Every time we went to bathroom during morning hours, these men would send this vendor upstairs who would scream and shout. How can one justify this act that when we are passing motion say at 8 in the morning or 11 in the morning that very moment this vendor would pass through bathroom and not before that or after that. We had to literally persuade the vendor to let us complete the bathroom formalities and how come he had to pass through the bathroom only at that time when we are in the bathroom.

Different men during different duty hours who are engaged in the task of tapping and tailing define the time when we should go to sleep and the time when we should leave the bed. Even a foray to a bathroom during night hours can spell trouble as each and every movement they tail. We dread to think of their conduct and what shape and provocative colour it would take in the next coming hour (in the next coming hour). From early morning to late night, not a single minute passes when they don't tap and in the process making our lives difficult. Tapping has been one among different instruments they have employed to make us repeatedly beg to them for peace and any ruckus in any part of the country if ever it takes place, one can understand their role and commitment. Otherwise who is bothered about whom and why would anyone create a stir here or a stir there unless told by them. 

Ride to Prasanthi Nilayam

Ride to Prasanthi Nilayam


On A Saturday left for Prasanthi Nilayam with hopping across four different buses looking to be a more reasonable way to approach the station. At Nizamuddin station, the earlier arrangement of getting the current status of seat availability from ground floor has been done away with and in store is a window counter on first floor with no display status on trains and the berths available. You can only know the status once your turn comes, not before that. SEcond, the govt run canteen is not to be found and whatever little you would like to take, one has to settle for a private restaurant whose charges are exorbitant. This is happening in national capital what to talk of other cities and towns in tier I and tier II. The loo too has been moved further away on platform one and during late evenings it cannot be safe for women. At least the loo should have been equidistant on platform one.

The Bangalore bound train left Delhi at 8.50 pm , with seat number 37 taken by me as the lad opposite mine had taken 39. Having been allotted 39 i preferred to stick to 37. Amongst those closeby comprised a family and some preferring to spell out their  B Tech status. Mathura coming at  10.05 and Jhansi coming at 1.26. This time round i could not find any interesting character like Gomes working in Kitchen Department in Dubai whom i came across during my return journey from Chennai. Bina coming at 3.05 am, it presented a picture of India with the platform chock a block with passengers, most of them sleeping on floor. MNREGA has been of limited success with no effective checks and balances and this is just an illustration of that. If MNREGA had effective checks and balances, the wages meant for eligible people would have been delivered solely to them. More effective checks and balances needed. Not less than three hundred to four hundred passengers were on that platform during that point of time. Bhopal coming at 4.26, surprise of surprises, the train left before the schedule time. Betul at 7.35am, Amla 7.51, Hatnapur 8.07, Chichonda at 8. 11 and Nagpur at 10.25. Fruit vendors at Nagpur station could be seen doing brisk business. As the train pulled out of nagpur station, there is a blue colour structure followed in the same line by a series of appartments. Would returns come, it is hard to spell.
This was followed by semi pucca houses, which should be made sturdy and letting the residents stay should be the mandate. Then there was Narayana Vidyalaya, hoping fee would be less here.

Nagpur cricket stadium came after 15 minutes from station. Warora came at 12.30.  Before Warora long tracts of land not irrigable could be sighted and post Warora somewhat irrigable template could be seen and equal attempt being made for the same.

Majri station at 12. 41 and Ramagundam at 3.11

Majri station comes at 12.41 with a station after this that is fairly clean, Sirpur Kaghaz at  2.30, Manchiryal at 2.50, Pedamppet at 3.09 and Ramagundam at 3.11. From here fairly green belt.
Well nothing much could be said about the family carrying a kid, the JNUTU lad opposite me looked to be dipping in the non veg preparation with bare hands and with the same taking the curd, perhaps nothing to differentiate between the two. Another man who too seemed to have passed out from JNUTU spoke about the meet the PSU he worked in had organised in the national capital and they were made to stay in Surya, a five star hotel  at a much lower rate given it is yearly arrangement between the company and the hotel. That reminded me of struggling template of these five star hotels and the Kashmir Food Festival that was organised in the national capital in a five star hotel in Nehru Place. If Kashmir food charm is to be spread then during the course of festival at least 500 coupons each day should be set aside where commoner can take the grub at a price between 50 and 70 rs. Let the spread be limited but let there be the temptation of having the same.   This would do a world of good than just having 100 odd people each day.  

Secundarabad at 6.10
Kazipet came some time after 4.10 followed by Secundarabad at 6.10. Here one man from which coach of the same train he emerged God knows who insisted on coming with me to a nearby temple was not a good experience. Perhaps a better judgement i could not make at that point of time. Now the JNUTU lad had been replaced by an old lady who took pride in the fact that his son worked in an IT company. The way she was feting her grandson, offering chocolates, biscuits, mineral water and cool drinks (in the South people prefer to call cool drinks and in the north it is called cold drinks) every other minute and the way it was left half eaten and even the train food showed the disrespect they have for food and money. She herself left the food half eaten. IT Company does not teach you to show disrespect to food and money. Dharmavaram coming at 3.35 am and Prasanthi Nilayam between 4 .10 and 4.15. TTE Nagaraj was fairly cooperative and his stint in the railways has been good for either side.

The ride to Prasanthi Nilayam was ok except for the fact that it takes almost two nights to reach there from national capital.


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Ride to Prasanthi Nilayam

The ride to Prasanthi Nilayam

On A Saturday left for Prasanthi Nilayam with hopping across four different buses looking to be a more reasonable way to approach the station. At Nizamuddin station, the earlier arrangement of getting the current status of seat availability from ground floor has been done away with and in store is a window counter on first floor with no display status on trains and the berths available. You can only know the status once your turn comes, not before that. SEcond, the govt run canteen is not to be found and whatever little you would like to take, one has to settle for a private restaurant whose charges are exorbitant. This is happening in national capital what to talk of other cities and towns in tier I and tier II. The loo too has been moved further away on platform one and during late evenings it cannot be safe for women. At least the loo should have been equidistant on platform one.

The Bangalore bound train left Delhi at 8.50 pm , with seat number 37 taken by me as the lad opposite mine had taken 39. Having been allotted 39 i preferred to stick to 37. Amongst those closeby comprised a family and some preferring to spell out their  B Tech status. Mathura coming at  10.05 and Jhansi coming at 1.26. This time round i could not find any interesting character like Gomes working in Kitchen Department in Dubai whom i came across during my return journey from Chennai. Bina coming at 3.05 am, it presented a picture of India with the platform chock a block with passengers, most of them sleeping on floor. MNREGA has been of limited success with no effective checks and balances and this is just an illustration of that. If MNREGA had effective checks and balances, the wages meant for eligible people would have been delivered solely to them. More effective checks and balances needed. Not less than three hundred to four hundred passengers were on that platform during that point of time. Bhopal coming at 4.26, surprise of surprises, the train left before the schedule time. Betul at 7.35am, Amla 7.51, Hatnapur 8.07, Chichonda at 8. 11 and Nagpur at 10.25. Fruit vendors at Nagpur station could be seen doing brisk business. As the train pulled out of nagpur station, there is a blue colour structure followed in the same line by a series of appartments. Would returns come, it is hard to spell.
This was followed by semi pucca houses, which should be made sturdy and letting the residents stay should be the mandate. Then there was Narayana Vidyalaya, hoping fee would be less here.

Nagpur cricket stadium came after 15 minutes from station. Warora came at 12.30.  Before Warora long tracts of land not irrigable could be sighted and post Warora somewhat irrigable template could be seen and equal attempt being made for the same.

Majri station at 12. 41 and Ramagundam at 3.11

Majri station comes at 12.41 with a station after this that is fairly clean, Sirpur Kaghaz at  2.30, Manchiryal at 2.50, Pedamppet at 3.09 and Ramagundam at 3.11. From here fairly green belt.
Well nothing much could be said about the family carrying a kid, the JNUTU lad opposite me looked to be dipping in the non veg preparation with bare hands and with the same taking the curd, perhaps nothing to differentiate between the two. Another man who too seemed to have passed out from JNUTU spoke about the meet the PSU he worked in had organised in the national capital and they were made to stay in Surya, a five star hotel  at a much lower rate given it is yearly arrangement between the company and the hotel. That reminded me of struggling template of these five star hotels and the Kashmir Food Festival that was organised in the national capital in a five star hotel in Nehru Place. If Kashmir food charm is to be spread then during the course of festival at least 500 coupons each day should be set aside where commoner can take the grub at a price between 50 and 70 rs. Let the spread be limited but let there be the temptation of having the same.   This would do a world of good than just having 100 odd people each day.

Secundarabad at 6.10
Kazipet came some time after 4.10 followed by Secundarabad at 6.10. Here one man from which coach of the same train he emerged God knows who insisted on coming with me to a nearby temple was not a good experience. Perhaps a better judgement i could not make at that point of time. Now the JNUTU lad had been replaced by an old lady who took pride in the fact that his son worked in an IT company. The way she was feting her grandson, offering chocolates, biscuits, mineral water and cool drinks (in the South people prefer to call cool drinks and in the north it is called cold drinks) every other minute and the way it was left half eaten and even the train food showed the disrespect they have for food and money. She herself left the food half eaten. IT Company does not teach you to show disrespect to food and money. Dharmavaram coming at 3.35 am and Prasanthi Nilayam between 4 .10 and 4.15. TTE Nagaraj was fairly cooperative and his stint in the railways has been good for either side.

The ride to Prasanthi Nilayam was ok except for the fact that it takes almost two nights to reach there from national capital.

Normal lives we could lead not bound by those hearing every piece of conversation

In homes we can't speak, the rooms where we can't go as cameras are all over there. This has to stop and snooping has to stop. Everybody looks to peace and small rents than let them create nuisance.

Sightings in Ajmer Part II

 - Udai Guest house
- Sanjri Guest House
- Sunil Kumar Guest House
- Faluda Mix Icecream
- Kaayanat Guest House
- Mahaveer Marg (the lane going inside)
- Tamanna Manzil
- Anjum Guest House
- K M C Chinese Food Point
- A One Guest House
- Aaina Music Mahal
- Allah Rakha Studio
- Altaf Studio
- National Electronic Store
- Cool'n'fun parlour
- Garib Nawaz Sweets
- Jamalpur House
- Dewandas Kirana Merchant
- Ashok Cap Store
- Siddiqui Communications &Travels STD ISD PCO
- Khwaja Sweet Mart
- Momin Sweet Mart
- Darbar sweets
- Haji Flower shop
- Burraq Guest House
- Rauf Flower Corner
- KGN Photo
- Bharat Guest House
 Inside Mahaveer Marg one can seek tea from Kishore Tea Stall and milk from JK Bakery.

These sightings were primarily in and around Dargah Bazaar Road

In Kacheri Road

- Shree Number Plate ( the man sitting outside the shop a picture of consolation)
- Modern Internet Cafe (this cafe came handy when ticket could not be procured from railway station        window)
- Irfan Pathan, Peanut vendor
- Kishan, the paper Vendor

During different walks in and around the city had a chance to meet different people coming from different regions. Gulabi maharaj from bhardona village had come for meditation session and mohan, a tea seller, bravely putting up against extreme weather, could be sighted near Ajmer Press Club. Had a chance to meet Abdul Gafoor from Kutch. From Gandhidham, about 40 kms ahead is Bhuj and 100kms away is Rann of Kutch. As for the route that his team took to reach Ajmer, they went past Kutch, Unjha, Kapasari, Sarwar Sharief and Chittorgarh before reaching Ajmer. Also met abdul razzaq, earlier providing water in and around the dargah. His two sons working in shops was all that he could spell at that moment.

In the city meeting sheikh mukhtar who has been running a  furniture shop in mandi mola in Mysore. The stay in the city was ok except for a stray incident here and there. Only in extreme cases one should lengthen the stay beyond a day as one never knows when those who are supposed to show their power pitch can make a grand entry as they have been doing in a lane in national capital.Tapping and placing camera is their overwhelming assignment doing for reasons best known to them . Every word you speak, every movement you make they record each and every act coming on the back of support of fewer elements who are on their pay rolls.