Dharamsala Sighting 1

Dharamsala Sighting 1

As i winded my stay in Dharamsala, the occasional sighting of shops dealing in daily needs and merchandise brought me face to face with the rich collection at Kotwali bazar.
Beginning with zobra beauty parlour (ganjepan ka pakka ilaj), there is midway hotel & restaurant, universal cyber cafe (internet,  fax,  photocopy),  kapahi brothers mobile handsets (all types of mobile connection) and kailash dhaba. 
Other stores sighted and recollected are

- mickey travels (photostat fax lamination), bus 2x2 delhi to manali,  air train ticketing


- sree ram sweets
- khadi india
- shree balaji dharampal & sons timber merchants


- dentist dental care
- jaura ornament house
- monal restaurant
- parmar electronic store
- dollar store rs 99 only

Moving  towards bus stand across the road, the sighting evolves with

- himalayan shawl emporium (pashmina shawls, kullu shawls, kinnauri shawls, stoles
chamba embroidery,  yak wool shawls and  kullu caps)
- soni covered paid parking
- quick computerised passport photo

On either side of the road are

- quality shoe store
-  villa cottages & heritage hotel
- minerva stationers (stationary and gift mart)
- mamta dhaba
- manocha medicare & general stores
- clearance sale up to 70 per cent; 30 to 50 per cent off on select merchandise

yes

When rains lashed Mcleodganj

When rains lashed Mcleodganj


It was Monday late night when rains showed the will to hit with a force that had the built up moisture as the defining source. Monday night/Tuesday morning rains came with fewer interruptions and by afternoon the sky looked clear enough to let the residents step out but this respite was for few hours. By evening cloud mustered enough will to lash Mcleodganj again which saw the residents yarn a tale of gain. Wednesday saw the thick sheets of rain lash time and again and by Thursday the respite looked to be gaining some fame. In all, rains lashed for three days which momentarily upped the sentiment of those who had been denied this roar in areas of the North which by no chance wetted their floor.

Rains have been lashing this place with a differing intensity, defusing the talk of a monsoon boycott but largely the rain revelation in the rest of the country has a disturbing-and-not-diversified entry. If rain revelation has been a storm in a tea cup, there are fewer and fewer storms here waiting to rub.The Himachal-entry was commensurate with an expectation that a lodge would be tried in Dharamsala for a few days before switching to Mcleodganj base. Little did i know about D'sala and roundabout and the stay was split between two lodges;  Holiday home and Swagat. Power and water were no matter to brood over and fewer eating joints still could retain my sense of humour. The first night in the first lodge saw some members from the North Front bang on the door late in the night; most resembling to be kids brought up in paddy field sight. The repeat could not happen the second night and entire surrounding had an awakening and positive sight.Those enamoured by the task of thumping the floor above your room belong to a tribe of individuals yet to shed their birth gloom. Gloom goads them to keep glued to a floor-hitting exercise as they are well aware of their tribe and which is yet to  evaporate in noticeable size. Mind you the stay in both the lodges were comforting enough to slip in and out at will except for the floor-hitting thrill. Wished well to both lodgewallahs and the slew of ice creams and smiling beam options suggested that Dharamsala was a place to be more than moderately rated.

From food joints to pursuits involving ascent and descent, it all illustrated the small town it may be in size but it has readymade solutions for those looking for a view from a height. From Gurdwara road this could be gained and the second lodge room too retained the fame. The Kunal of Himachal Tourism has more-than-one-to-be-desired poori bhaji option and this visit revealed the Kangra Rockcut sensation.   

               

The dal lake that was not dull

The dal lake that was not dull

Despite a string of rain revelations i decided to head to Dal Lake in the evening. Bench strength of those seated close to Bhagsu Taxi Union Office suggested that there were very few people going in that direction.  Just above the bus terminal is the auto stand which clinically spells out the destinations that an autowallah would enable you to cover with a seating capacity of three. This auto stand i can see from the top where the benches are and i decide to try it on foot. The roads are not that wide but still permissibly strong to let two vehicles pass each other.

First noticeable contribution is shown by Gorkha Rifles who have managed to put in place water thunder at one of the spots. Enquiries on how far and how easily i would be able to access Dal Lake point to the TCV School thrust that has been the benchmark of educational inroads in Mcleodganj and the vicinity. Splintered groups going in the opposite side can be seen at different intervals suggesting they headed to the lake quite early.

Once i am in the precincts of TCV School, the message is loud and clear that Dal Lake isn't that far and what all i can see is a steep climb coupled with winding roads. There are shops at different turns with most dealing in cell commitment, with equal gathering of kirana stores and tours and travel roar. One cyber cafe i spot which recommends 40 rs an hour usage. Those manning the  Vijay Luxmi confectionery and Jaaved Gift shop are a true picture of delight. It is 6 25 in the evening and i reach Dal Lake when showers for the evening haven't kissed the earth in the most imaginative way.The spread of the lake and those spread out across is not a tale of boast and the picture starts falling in place once showers begin and i have to take a cover in a structure housing Mahadev Mandir flanked by a tea stall; all opposite the lake. Revealed during conversation is the lake that has gone for a turnaround as far as depth and size is concerned. Tiles have been put to ease pedestrian movement.

With rains failing to abate i decide to walk back with no luck as far as getting a lift is concerned. Next to ML Station D'sala is etched a signboard 276. A restricted area suggesting that one needs to prove identity before stepping in. By the time i reach my destination i am drenched and deserving.

The ride from Dharamsala to Palampur

The ride from Dharamsala to Palampur

It was a day defined as Saturday when i decided to leave Dharamsala for Palampur. No sooner i had reached the place where the road dissects with one going towards bus stand and another going to Kotwali Bazar the private buswallah shed his private existence and tried to rope in as many willing and viable passengers on his transport. Though the bus was not headed towards Palampur, including me he got a sizeable sum and here i regretted the decision. At 12: 35 as the bus left Dharamsala,  Chamunda was shown 15 kms. Going past Souli Khad Bridge and Primary Health Centre Dari, the bus would effectively stop at every effectively raised bus stand and in effect give its assent to accretion of commuters with any disposable rant. Manjhi Khad bridge, Sant Nirankari Satsang and Gyuto Monastery the bus went past them interspersed with ad declarations of Bright Career Science Academy and Yahan Pe Taxi Ke Liye Sampark Karein. Yol Cantt Rising Star Corps covered by Heritage Wall 1943 showed the historical import followed by Shri Chamunda Devi Primary Health Centre.

As the conductor with a sizeable conduct to get in and out from front and back gates for umpteen times was not sizeably prudent to hand out ticket for the cash furnished, it sizeably proved that for private buses the ticket was as good as given once cash had been handed. As promised Malah came at half past one and there was another bus waiting to take the sizeable slept and left passengers to Palampur. Here too after a request had been made the ticket could be gained. Perhaps the rule here is no matter the sizeable size of journey for private and govt buses the ticket is least likely to cross fences; more and more true for private buswallahs. From Malah the first major halt happened to be Paror (1.45pm). In the entire D'sala-P'pur commute the two buses would have crossed bridges with little water underneath illustrative of the times we are in and the receding water that no one is finding fun. Just after two we reached Palampur and post meals i was told that Subhas Chowk would get me the bus for Neugal Cafe.  On foot it can be covered and once you are in the market road there is a rope that defines the pedestrian space.

The Neugal Cafe bus started once all commuters had been seen sitting, standing and some disposed to the idea of fainting.  Under 20 minutes i was in Neugal Cafe not known for notoriety but equally missing for any variety. It was at a shop adjacent to Sargrai Enterprises i had lemon soda which was dutifully prepared by an old gentleman who seem to be resigned to the idea of fewer customer and none of them happening to be a bummer. The board across the road showed Neugal Cafe 200 mtrs and Saurabh Van Vihar 1.8 kms. On the way i came across an old man in a blue outfit who had a stick perhaps scanning the water released from upper reaches.Wished him well and hope his tribe swell.

Once positively aligned to my real positioning in Neugal Cafe, it provided scenic surroundings but not amply strong to keep you binding. It has a resemblance to Kodanada Viewpoint near Kotagiri in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu. Except for few bright elements boasting of beer in a secrecy surrounding their share, the place hardly looked imaginative except for those who imagined a dip in the water here would be beneficial as it stored the quantity more than a quarter. On foot i decided to take the return journey which i broke at a place about 700 mtrs away where tea had been stored in a kettle outside just opposite the tea gardens which none fear. Here the teawallah and his family with miniscule earnings looked to me a man with prized thoughts,  if possible once should try tea which is placed in a turn of sorts. Any purchase from his store would help him to keep his life sure. On foot the most energetic space i discovered was St Paul's Senior Secondary School which has in its vicinity a road that has thick trees lined on either side.

Here in Palampur the softie comes for 10; the tea from Rotary Club can be tried as well. The walk to the Palampur bus stand was energetic enough to keep me energised for a while. Once the wait for a govt bus began i began to sense the situation i was in and it took me almost four hours to get in a mood to swing and sing.              

When i reached Dharamshala

When i reached Dharamshala there were fewer residents willing to enroll in a pathshala. Pathshala that is not mandatory for them given their daily encounter that has a rational semblance. Here the residents venture out to deal with vendors of all sizeable scale; those destined to operate from subzi mandi have a narrative on apple and the dwindling wail. On two occasions i went to seek apple of confidence; the price quoted for the one with shine and bloated was no less than 40 and in some cases going all the way to 50 a piece. Apples in the 40-50 shows one can't be witty and the cyber cafe too for hourly use begins at 30 cruise.

The food joints are fewer and most decked with reasonable fare. The first point of stay was in Gurdwara road where the Sardarji who commuted in a scooter was out and out pure. Hinted to him the trajectory of national capital stay and those with raging temerity and from his look i could make out that he believed my story had a ring of surety. Coming to the tea spectacle and those indulging in babble, the tea comes for six and here the conversation is all about the rains and how we can get rain-deficit fix.

Why rains aren't happening some bother to pose with none having any clue that could look close. Could rain-deficit be a thing of the past is hard to tell, as time has come to wind up blog as i have cash to out shell.

The scene at Palampur bus stand

The scene at Palampur bus stand

The return from Neugal Cafe was on foot and i headed straight to the Palampur bus stand. It was probably quarter to five or some minutes before when my wait began for a govt bus. The stress on a govt bus was to do with the fact that it would be least troublesome and a  Dharamsala direct would be handy. There are 10 platforms in all here with destinations like Panchrukhi, Kosri, Lamba Gaon, Jaisinghpur, Sulah, Malah, Dharamsala, Saroot, Jammu Katra, Pathankot, Chamba, Kullu, Manali, Shimla and Delhi. The HRTC bus stand Palampur with a covered roof is bang opposite the platforms. On the left side of the platforms is a shopping complex and on the right side is a public convenience.

There are confectionaries  and other stores in the structure that has platforms;  notably N K Sweets and confectioners, A K Sweets and confectionary (STD booth included) and Vijay confectionery. Brisk sale is reported from one dishing out samosa, bread pakora and aloo chat. As for N K Sweets, nine to 10 cartons of mineral water are unloaded late in the evening and i am told that all would be exhausted before the next evening. There is a mobile store as well that sees small attendance as thin as one seen in adda prabhari office.

Around half past five i visit the reservation counter manned by a personnel to enquire about a direct govt bus for Dharamsala. He is not communicative and remains so for most of the equiries directed to him. This reservation personnel has his moments of high when freed from the clutches of those who wish to make reservation he makes it a point to hold fort. Commensurate with his fort-holding activity he makes it a point to scream and crack jokes. The freedom that has been bestowed on him by the transport department makes him the boss and whoever has to approach him has to address him "Sir" and bend to a point when he is sitting so that it is convenient enough for him to answer to the commuter's query.

There is a enquiry counter as well where this reservation personnel makes a dash to  make his presence felt. This reservation personnel and the aura surrounding his fief may be true for most of the bus stands in the country and most of the commuters are at their mercy. As for Dharamsala direct bus, varied explanations come ranging from it has gone for repair and would be plying soon to "advice' from those working in the govt transport department that i better try a private bus. The wait is enduring enough to see that at least five private buses come and head towards Dharamsala. For other destinations as well the maximum rush is shown by private buses. There are govt buses for some destinations like Pathankot and Delhi; the latter seeing the maximum rush. In the Delhi melee, some have been stranded and some have managed to get in after trying every persuasive skills. It is around 8.20 in the evening that Dharamsala direct comes and there  is no dearth of passengers who want to board. Before boarding the bus this thought crosses my mind that if govt itself starts ceding space to private bus operators who would be blamed for poor bus service. More you cede space to private buswallahs, more you are leaving the commuters in a lurch.

The entire day exercise proved that be it private or govt, the bus staff are overworked and overprotected. The bus staff in the govt sector can be tailormade to passengers' convenience. But nothing can be said for private operators who for long have had a free run. In the National Capital, the private operators have been shown the door and those plying the chartered services would have to be rule adherents as transport is a sector that should be largely managed by govt if private entities fail to work within established norms. In other states as well, the govt of the day should see to it that undue favours are not given to private operators who are least bothered about commuters and more concerned with profit thunder. Thunder that is keeping the commuters on a back foot.