Visiting Southern States in India

After Gujarat Visit visiting the Southern Fort (Southern States in India)


Having spent almost four weeks in the national capital of Delhi, it was time to rework and revisit the Southern tally. Having returned from Gujarat State it was time to brood over Bangalore fate. The Gujarat stay brought my way the flavours of the state flush with funds that GST sends (criticism of GST is by no stretch a worthy move); day in day out i was amidst a swirling crowd never ever willing to show its clout.

As i stepped into Southern Theatre (Visiting Southern States of India a little before Middle of May), the likelihood of multitude of options coming my way seem to recede on occasions and seem to accelerate on other occasions. The meals to gulp, the train to chase and the plane to trace may have taken considerable time; the long winding traffic showed the enormous amount of money that went into to retain the shine. Big SUVs dot the landscape but at least they have spared the cities and towns from  pollution that largely retains its base in some metros of India.

AS i write amidst intermittent rains lashing Udhagai the threats belted out at TV journos shows the growing intolerance in certain quarters of country and there is a need to have a rulebook in place where those who believe in free speech are free to visit any template and those belting out threats need to be shown the door. A country of over 130 crore (1300 million) people, a wish made here and a truce reached there, the freedom to fare and freedom to share should all be visible and retainable.

On another front the Man first walked out of Iran deal and ambitious enough to hold talks with North Korea  swayed by ringing sentiments of euphoria has decided to withdraw sensing he could be easily hit by a rock which won't be raw. 

Sightings in Dwarka in Gujarat State

Sightings in Dwarka

- Krishna Vijay Hotel (meet Mr Batuk bhai and Mr Shyam  bhai)
- Kant Sweets Kant Restaurant
- Kanbhuram Dharamshala
- Kamlesh Kesh Kala
- Rukesh Mani Krupa garment shopp
- Chandni travels
- Rukshmani krupa garment shoppy. Think different
- Darpan creation
- Swastik tour and travels
- Asian paints
- New Shyam Sundar
- R R Bakers
- HDFC
- Ambica Fashion
- Shankar bakery
- Shree Vishnukrupa
- Shri Dwarkesh Bhojanalaya
- Hotel Wisnu
- Jay Jhulelel Bhawan
- Radhe Parotha House
- Ht Jayanti
- Shriram bhawan
- Yamuna Guest House
- Chamunda pan centre
- Balram restaurant
- Shree Krishna Nasta Bhandar
- Sheetal ice cream
- H K Hirani travels
- Hotel Aarti
- Paavan travels
- swastik travels
- Hotel laxmi
- Shri ram ice cream and fruit
- Shakti travels
- Sriram Bhavan
- Murlidhar Guest House
- Hotel Times club
- Blue Buddha
- Krishna Travels
- Chola Insurance Express
- Dwarkadish Vamantra
- Hotel Swastik
- Hotel Milan
- Hotle Vaibhav
- Sugar N Spice

More sightings

- Govt of India Ministry of Finance
   Income Tax office Dwarka 361335
- Shri Navi Haveli
- Welcome Pan centre
- Shri Vrindavan Guest House
- Dwarka Nagar Palika DWK
- Hriday rejuvenation
   rejuvenating the soul of urban india
- Hotel Naryan Inn
- Riddhi communication
- Tamil Nadu restaurant
- Hotel Madhav
- Gayatri Pan
- Hari Om Bhojanlaya
- Vishal cold drinks
- SBI
- VIVO
- Dwarka Nagar Palika Darshan DWK
- Raghuvanshi pan and cold drinks
- Shri Mahalaxmi
- Lakshmi pan
- Jalaram Stores
- R C Enterprise
- Bank of Baroda
- Shiv travels
- Airtel 4G
- Bansuri silk
- Lady's paradise
- Bharat Laundry
- Shankar Novelty
- Shiv pan
 - Milan Art
- Shree Lunai stores
- Kishan mobile
- Gokul store
- Madhram handicrafts
- Rathod Hair Art
- Vivek footwear
- Krishna fashion
- Himanshu garments
- Kanyadan selection
- Dwarkesh handicraft
- Shriram Novelty
- Mahesh Dairy Farm
- Tulsi fruit centre
- Janta mobile shop
- Shimla fruit
- Krishna Dining Hall
- Anand Medical (Mr Bharat Bhai)
- Dwarkesh Hair art
- Priyank Emporium (Dwarkadish ke liye dhwaj aur vastra milega) (For Dwarkadish temple the flag     and cloth can be availed from here)
- Gold Pan
- Dwarkapuri Guest House
- Iskcon temple
- Gayatri fruit centre
- M/S Kantilal Karshandas Mavani
- Jalaram cold drinks
- Gita store
- Gayatri store
- Modern
- Taran Emporium
- Shri Dwarkesh Emporium
- M/S Gandhi Premji Pranjivan store
- Gandhi General store
- STD ISD PCO
- Haridas Devibhai

- Shreejee Shringar
- Poojara
- Lakshmi Novelty Store
- Alpa Handicraft
- Krishna Kangan Store
- Gayatri Novelty store
- Mahavir Medical store
- Shree Shringar
- Bhavesh Novelty store
- Art Tailor
- Giriraj Dresses
- Rudra Cold Drinks
- Shree Krishna Jewellers
- Dharmesh handicraft
- Havmor ice cream
- Rudra parlour
- M/S Haridas Anandji
- SBI welcomes you
- Jai Dwarkadish Prasad bhandar

- Dwarkadish temple

- Prasad Ghar
- Train reservation centre
- Dwarkadish footwear
- Hotel Guruprerna
- Manmohan Shopping mall
- Ashish Emporium
- Kishore stores
- Paneri
- Parth tour and travels
- Priya sel
- Sanjay Novelty
- J J Jewellers
- Oppo Camera Phone
- Aaradhaya
- K K Sel
- Vaman
- Shreeji travels
- Janrang Emporium
- Janta Footwear
- Parmar Handicrafts
- Devbhumi Shopping point
- Mehman restaurant
- Shree Siddhi Vinayak Travels
- Bansi
- Shreeji restaurant
- Kishore footwear
- Mayur footwear
- Hotel Mayur
- Vimal Tailor
- Samir handicraft
- Hotel Krishna
- Priya
- Chai doodh coffee nasta
- Vasudev selection
- Prafulla selection
- Aaradhya computing
- Shivam cold drinks
- Ganesh Footwear
- Shree Radhe Krishna selection
- Kumkum selected
- Hotel Gandhi
- Shreeji Krupa Guest House
- Hotel Sky
- PNB
- Kinara Guest House Dining House
- Hotel Nandan
- Samparn NX
- Hotel bansi
- The great Newspaper
- Jay Ashapura travels
- Bansuri NX
- Hotel Kailash
- Amul Vijay refreshments
- Hotel Shreeram
- Annaporna Bhojanlaya
- Vinod Tailor Fashion Zone
- New Madhav restaurant
- Dr K M Gandhi Dr C M Patel Clinic
- Hotel Uttam
- P and P ice cream parlour
- Shree Shyam Sadan
- Hoelt Shreeji Darshan
- Lucky medical store
- Dharam Pan
- Hansquare
- Mashru selection
- JD tour and travels
- Kanhaiya Dairy Farm
- Shivlehri travels
- A - 1 Medical store
- Bhagwati tour and travels
- Modern Hair saloon
- Madhav Footwear
- Anant Dairy Farm
- Shree Bhagwati Bhonalaya
- Hotel Shree Darshan and Tirth restaurant
- Dharmesh flour mill
- Sahaj silk
- Krishna bakery
- Darshan shopping centre
- Samarpan selection
- Vijay communication
- Jio Digital Life
- Kajal cold drinks
 - Adhunik hair art
- Idea 4G
- Hotel Radha Madhav
- Dwarkadish Medical Store
- Shree Dwarkadish Hospital
- Sagar paanipuri cart
- Shree Vakol Krupa
 - Bhagwati tourist
- Om selection
- Chetan selection
- Vishal Tailor
- Hotel Krishna
- Prakash hair art
- Shree Jodiyar Pan cold drinks
- Jay Jhulelal mobile
- Gandhi Pan
- Gandhi Pan House
- Vodafone supernet

More sightings

- JIO Digital Life
- Videocon d2h
- Vaishali Pan
- Hotel Shiv
- Tip Top Gift Shop
- Shreeji tour and travels
- Shiv lassi
- Hotel Trimurti restaurant
- M P Sons and electronics
- Anand Novelty
- Shilpa Stores
- Shree Radha Krishna Mandir Shyam Ashram Trust
- Vrijvihari Dharamshala
- Shiv travels
- Aryan Articles
- Avdesh Emporium
- Janki Fashion
- Shree Vishwakarma dhramshala
- Lady Shop
- Agrawal Seva Sadan
- Shree Ganesh Optician
- Laxmi Shringar readymade
- Ambika Novelty store
- D . N . Bros
- K P Tailor
- Gandhi Dudhalaya
- Shiv shakti restaurant and pav bhaji
- Shree Krisna complex
- Shivam stores
 - Madaliya tailor
- Hoarding of Std Ist to 5th admissions open Kidzee Pre School
- Keshav cold drinks
- Parmar brothers
- Shree Harsiddhi sweet mart
- P M Brothers
- Govind Art Studio
- Datani Farsan House
- Raju Art Gallery
- Jalaram readymade and dresses
- Prince
- Shivam selection
- Aadhunik
- Jalaram Pan House
- Bhagirath Juice bar
 Meeting Mr Sharad bhai Jetwa



The stay in Dwarkadish was for five days. Travels to Nageshwar, Okha and Byet Dwarka came with ease with conversations tending largely towards cheese. Opportune time to be in a place which was not being excessively torched by Sun, the day to evening itinerary had enough spell of fun. The day began with a cup of brew fetched from Krishna Vijay tea centre or any other centre that had among its possession the train calendar. Day time was spent flocking to different destinations. Meeting Mr Shankar Prasad Agrawal who came from Orissa to Ahmedabad by train and from Ahmedabad by car and he never missed an opportunity to take a shower.  He was in his elements when i started interacting with him having not known him in the past nor able to place him in place as varied as gym.

In Dwarkesh restaurant which is opposite Swaminarayan Mandir came across Mr Prem, Mr Subash, Mr Manek, Mr Nikhil, Mr Hari bhai and Mr Laloo bhai all desiring visitors to give their eating point a try. Other owners Mr Nilesh Thaker and Mr Ashok Thaker i was not able to trace them, the newspapers were flooded with stories of visit to China by Korean leader Mr Kim. In Balaji Bhawan  besides Mr Somnath and Mr Kanti Lal, Mr Vijay bhai was equally helpful as  he opened the gates a little after five in the morning and was equally cheerful. In Krishna Vijay tea centre there were Mr Batuk bhai and Mr Shyam bhai. They seem to relish my innumerable visits to their tea centre. For stitching pant New art tailor proved handy where i came across Mr Jayanti bhai who professed his love for candy. Had met his brother Mr Ishwar bhai the previous day who had retired from BSNL after spending 39 years in the fray. Near HT Travels there was  Dipak bhai run tea centre.
For newspapers Om Prakash book store was the most accessible point and for key chain Khushboo store and Deepak store had enough roar. Came across Mr Dinesh bhai another fruit vendor.
The day i am supposed to leave Dwarkadish i leave bed by 4 am little known about town which has been visited by innumerable GM.
Morning was opportune time to take a walk say a little after 5 am. With little crowd and no traffic, the air was fresh, a brisk walk was best amidst surroundings when you could garner thoughts on new range of bondings. A scooterman here, a travel company rep there, the marvels of technology were to be least found and least to fear. A little after 5 am i was in Deva bhai run tea centre opposite Radha Parotha House which seem to have a fresh coat of paint by a painter. Here i met Mr Fateh bhai from Gondal, Mr Simi bhai going to temple on foot minus vehicle.  In temple met Mr Rau a Priest who i tell him i will keep him in my prayers and he among others would be alert enough to prevent heist. Near Dwarkadish temple there was Mr Trivedi bhai selling garlands, there was Mr M K Vegad the security gent.

A house which was being constructed near Dwarkesh restaurant i came across Mr Manish, Mr Shyam and Mr Harish who were all out in the open with no tent.

Came across a board
Career point
All educational learning centre
All computer courses
Spoken English


Near temple Bhartiya State bank parivar sabhi yatriyo ka hardik swagat karta hai (State Bank of India welcomes all travellers) . 
The stay in Gujarat was great. There were outpouring of affection from different quarters. The people were good and weather was moderate. At least we were saved from poll afflictions and poll sermons. Days would turn to months, months would turn to years, round the year we would be greeted with election heist and fears. The sum total of cash that is being doled out for different political parties leaders bash-cum-brash is not a proud moment to ponder, it is tax payers money that is being plundered. Appearing in an avoidable press conference taking pot shots at your opponents hoping against hope the tide won't turn them from govt in command to outsiders not in demand.

Close shave for Go Air flight

As for near miss for Go Air flight on Delhi runway it is ATC at fault. That flight had a very close shave. How could ATC let another plane come on the runway when this Go Air flight had been given all clearance to land.

Polls in Karnataka; global warming in Antarctica

Polls in Karnataka; global warming in Antarctica

The political party is inching ahead this is what poll survey said. According to Ageing Age report, the political party Digress would get enough vote to secure something like 90 to 100 seats, even to get to that mark one need not ignore the number of caveats. This poll survey done away from a polling day is a survey of no surety and with no bait hitting at the detractors who question the poll survey and its gate. If ground reports are to be believed none of the party would cross three figure mark, even if one comes to that it would well be short of members that would be equally hard to be enticed through loan sharks.

This poll in the Southern State of Karnataka is no less than holding a poll in Antarctica; the poll decibel leading to uncontrollable upheaval. Parties are promising moon as if poll, results and wheeling dealing would spill over to month of June. This poll is more about rhetoric and dramatic appearances, the insurmountable money that has found its way to poll machinery shows as if instalments are being lend by dozens of emissaries. Emissaries-turned Missionaries come under the cover of darkness hold out bags which is no cashless, drank themselves into oblivion only to be traced by a Kenyan.
This poll and the pulse one has lost interest, the poll may well throw a fractured dust. We had enough polls and enough surveys now it is time to get serious on rash driving on highways and individual named Musharraf Pervez. Perhaps this Pak resident has faded into oblivion as less is heard on what is his opinion.

Polls in Germany, polls to Italian Parliament all threw up surprise choices, one had the coalition in shape after months of negotiations and haze, Italy showing no forward movement where it could get a govt to chase. Polls to Indian Parliament should be held after every seven years, five year is too short a period to remove the incumbent fears. Polls or no polls in Karnataka, the ice would speedily melt in Antarctica; global warming is here to stay and here to play. How to let Antarctica save itself from swinging like pendulum could well be unearthed in a place called Ernakulam. As for the big heat hitting the cities belly and feet,  Big cars need to be phased out from cities and towns of India despite demonstrations taking place in far away Armenia. Mr Nikol Pashinyan is the new man at the helm and we hope for the country he turns out to be a gem. You never know demonstrations can well break out in any theatre of complacence, we desire for peace in the Middle East where women have begun to share equal space with gents.

Post polls in Karnataka the members would be taken on an expedition to Antarctica where they would express their desire to set up a base given the unbearable heat they would have to face in the Assembly and the opening gate. They would explore and that would be no less than a repeated roar that let them stay in that continent as that is the reigning sentiment.  Thereafter Repeated calls would be made to hold elections afresh as the current makeup is something that can easily digress.

Stay in Dwarka (Gujarat State); Sightings in Okha; Meet Byet Dwarka students studying in Okha

Sightings in Okha; Meet Byet Dwarka students studying in Okha

A day which saw me visit Nageshwar and Okha was followed by a visit to Byet Dwarka the next day. Meeting Mr Baluba and Mr Kada bhai in Okha brought back memories of December 2015 visit to this place.

Sightings in Okha

- Mujibhaijivabhai
- Dwarka Tailor
- Vishwas Selection
- G N Tailor
- Yamuna Electronics
- Amul Doodh
- Vinay cloth store
- Vodafone super net
- Amit Provision Stores
- Viswamitra xerox and online services
- Vibhuti studio
- Prabhat studio
- Jetwa boot house
- Jalaram novelty store
- Ambika sweets and namkeen
- Shivam printers
- Here i sight a car bearing Kerala State number KL 7 BX 1737
- Akshay sweets
- In Vaishali pan and cold drinks store i meet Mr Bharat bhai brother of Mr Vijay bhai

While coming from Okha meet Ms Habiba and Ms Naseem hailing from minority section. i extend them my best wishes.

On a Wednesday i decide to visit Byet Dwarka. The share taxi is driven by Mr Jagdish bhai. Leave Dwarka at 11.51. At 12.07 Byet Dwarka is shown 16 km. At 12.10 go past Tata Chemicals Pvt Ltd.
There is a Bust of Jamsetji Tata. A large number of workers filing out of factory perhaps an indication that Tata Company provides employment to large number of people and it would continue to do so for million of years. In share taxi meet Mr Hussain working in Okha port. Meet Mr Abdul Hamid.
Spot a billboard of Rashoi se Rishte tak
Tirupati India's No 1 Cottonseed Oil
At 12.28 we are in Nauveer Nagar
At 12.32 we reach Jetty from where we would take a vessel to Byet Dwarka.

Ten thousand Muslims in Byet Dwarka, 20,000 in Okha and they are doing well

In Jetty come across a camp seeking funds for cattlefeed. I purchase a hat from Mr Sooraj Kumar who has come all the way to Gujarat State from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh State. Extend my best wishes to him. Go past Jetty canteen. We board vessel  MFB Noor Jaha Okha 64. Meet Mr Kishore, Mr Bhima Mori, Mr Shanti Lal, Mr Deva bhai all hailing from Porbander in Gujarat State. The Vessel moves from jetty at 12.46 pm. Meet Mr Noor Mohamad doing fishing business. Meet Boatman Mr Faqir Mohammad. There are in all 190 vessels and their turn comes once after four days. According to Mr Noor Mohamad there are 10,000 Muslims in Byet Dwarka and in Okha they are around 20,000. That excessively shows the people from minority section  are at peace with themselves in Gujarat State. Mr Noor Mohammad tells me the fish from here goes to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa among other places The Fishing is done about 100 kms from here as nets are roughly 4km long. There are 350 nets of big boat and 200 nets of small boat. Apart from Mr Noor Mohammad meet Mr Ahmed Salem, Mr Irfan they too residing in Byet Dwarka. In Byet Dwarka meet Mr Yesh Dubey Priest in temple, meet Mr Haribhai water vendor, meet Mr Hari Haran who has come with another family member from Chennai capital of Tamil Nadu State.
In Byet Dwarka sight new bisleri rockstar mineral water for rs 10. Near temple there are different  messages like take a look at your favourite wallet from Khita Kataru. Perhaps meant to say that one should watch out for their wallets.

Meet Students

Meet students of Shree VAEM School Okha. Meet Mr Prem (7th class who wants to be a swimmer), Mr Kunj (5th class who is a budding cricketer), Ms Karna (7th class who wants to be a doctor), Ms Vishvanti (5th class who wants to be a doctor), Mr Vansh (5th class who wants to be a pilot). They don't have to pay for the vessel which they board to access the school they study. Perhaps they would make a note of the story as they take my blog address.

Sightings in Byet Dwarka
- Ashish pan
- Toys of the shell
- Gayatri prasad bhandar

While waiting at Byet Dwarka (temple is closed from 1pm to 5pm), one can spot shops on either side, conversation varying from places from where people hail to severe shortage of water in Byet Dwarka. Here water comes after every 25 days. There are chakdas (sort of autorickshaw with no roof) ferrying water containers. One container costs 300 rs and the people of Byet Dwarka are at the receiving end. Here the State Government should set in measures to see water comes regularly to Byet Dwarka  every day; limited hours would do. The State Government is requested to do this on a priority basis.

Two Hanuman Temples

There are two Hanuman temples in Byet Dwarka: one is  Ekriwal Hanumanji 1 km away and another  Hanuman Dandi 6km away. During Hanuman Jayanti (celebrating Lord Hanuman's birthday) a large number of people were here to visit the temple. Meet Mr Dhansukh bhai who looks after the security of temple from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm and he has to manage with whatever limited salary he gains. At least he has a job as there is a large scale unemployment across India and the Middle East.  I wish him well for his future endeavours. The temple is open from 7 am to 6.30 pm.

Meet Mr Uday a priest. Meet at a tea centre Mr Abu Bakram, son Mr Akram another boy Mr Afridi. Meet Mr Jeetu bhai from Ahmedabad. Besides Mr Deepak bhai a priest meet Mr Dharna bhai doing civil engineering from an institute in Jamnagar. There is Byet Dwarka Marine Police Station and the day i am visiting temple there is a mock drill.
After visiting temple i head to board a vessel. The Vessel leaves Byet Dwarka at  5.58 reaches jetty 6.17. Meet Mr Ramesh Sahoo selling God pictures crafted in wood in jetty. Meet Mr Motibhai a security man at jetty.
I board a bus from jetty at 6.35. On way sight Mayur cart, Jay Jalaram, Nashta Gruha, Sreenath ice cream. In bus meet Mr Mohan Bhai Mistry from Amreli which is about 400 kms from Ahmedabad. Reach Dwarka 7.28. Take dinner from Madhav restaurant.

Meet in Dwarka Mr Jayush bhai a fruit vendor, Mr Kroo bhai running a tea centre, Mr Rajeev bhai, Mr Vipul bhai fruit vendor,  Mr Baba bhai fruitwallah. In Dwarka Mr Jadeja bhai guides me to bus stand. It has been  five years since he retired and staying in Dwarka for over 20 yrs. Automan Mr Abhiskek drops me at the bus stand.
Near Madhav restaurant in Dwarka which is opposite Annapoorna  restaurant there is Mr Anees, Mr Nagraj  and Mr Ishaq. There is Mr Arun bhai in Aryan Articles store. Took tea from Mangal bhai tea centre. Took tea from  Hirabhai tea centre as well which is near Aryan Articles store. Near Krishna Dining Hall there is Daya Ram tea centre.
Meet a a group of 58 from Jafara in Amreli in Gujarat State working in Pipavav shipyard and Ultratech. From Amreli they came to Somnath and from Somnath they came to Dwarka.
The bus ride to and fro came to Rs 30,000.

Meet Mr Shivapatnam of Chennai

Meet Mr Shivapatnam of Chennai who is part of a group travelling extensively across India covering States of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Gujarat and other places. In Krishna Vijay tea centre meet Mr Ravesh bhai, Mr Batuk bhai and Mr Shyam bhai. There is Brahminishri store for Music CD.
The other day Mr Ram bhai gave lift till Rabari gate in Dwarka. Meet Mr Kishan bhai of Jamnagar doing business in mobile accessories. Meet Mr Hirabhai of Dwarka.

There are no cyber cafes across Dwarka. Even the ones which were putting up a limited show have folded up. Mr Chandu bhai has internet but he has instructions to be not used for surfing. Hotel City Palace which is run by Mr Kishore Barai is kind enough to let me use internet for two hours.  Here Mr Shyam bhai who is related to Mr Kishore Barai is very cooperative and humble. My best wishes to Mr Kishore Barai and entire staff. On a Thursday i visited Dwarka railway station to book a ticket from Dwarkadish to Ahmedabad. Friday i visited Dwarkadish temple. Later took meals from Dwarkesh restaurant which is in the basement and which i have visited in 2008. Mr Deepak bhai priest in Byet Dwarka guides me to this restaurant.
AMU  (Aligarh Muslim University) should be at peace with itself. The picture is their for over 100 years. Let it remain there as it is. Let peace return to AMU and precincts. AMU is a great institution.

The boat ride from Jetty to Byet Dwarka and back takes more passengers than it can handle. Besides there no lifeguards. To prevent any untoward incident from happening there should be a limit on number of passengers a vessel can take on both sides. Overcrowding leads to capsizing and the state government should see to it that overcrowding is avoided during every vessel ride. 

Gujarat is a state at peace with itself. From Armenia to Afghanistan the residents of the state have set up a base mirroring a promising future not in a haste. Unemployment is rampant in Gujarat but that is not the sole state doing average; there are other spots across world where people have yet to find a way out of  unemployment lasting blast and page. North America and the West should be cautious and up its security, you never know who is waiting in the wings to hit the city. We desire for peace in Afghanistan and hope peace investments begin to pour in ton.

Tamil Songs are great.

Pudhu Vellai Mazhai

Vaaranam Aayiram- Nenjukkul Peidhidum 

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa - Hosanna

Thani Oruvan - Kannala Kannala


Paiya- En Kadhal Solla

Ok Kanmani

Subramaniapuram- Kangal Irandal

Ko Ennamo Yeadho

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa - Hosanna

Thalli Pogathey

Rummy- Koodamela Koodavechi

Maryan - Innum Konjam Naeram

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa - Hosanna

Leaving Somnath; Reaching Dwarkadish; Leaving for Nageshwar, Okha; the real gems

Leaving Somnath; Reaching Dwarkadish; Leaving for Nageshwar, Okha; the real gems

After staying for two days in Tanna Guest House of Somnath Trust i decide to shift to Shyam Guest House on Jain Derasar road in Somnath. Mr Wasim of Shyam Guest House  repeatedly persuades me  to take a well furnished room for two days. Hail an auto driven by Mr Altaf and reach Shyam Guest House on a Sunday. After getting ready head to Somnath temple. In the afternoon head to Bhabha restaurant to take meals. In the evening head to Veraval to do a story from Cyber Town (the Digital Online Hub) run by Mr Jaydeep C. Chauhan. Mr Chauhan is kind enough to lend his laptop. He is very humble and i extend my best wishes to him.

Sightings in Somnath
On way to Prabhas Patan
- Way to Shree Somnath Trust VIP Guest House and Sagar Darshan Atithi Bhavan
  All sea facing room
- Raj restaurant Chinese, South Indian
- Gajanand Guest House
- Hotel Metro
  Samrat restaurant ghar jaisa khana (Home Food)
- Nandi hotel
- Hotel Shiv Darshan
- Bhola Guest House
- Sagar general store
- Raunaq ladies wear
- Sheetal ice cream
- Shivam Provision
- Santosh Tea Stall
- V L Shah Dharamshala
- Mira Enterprise
- Gokul Dairy farm
- Shraddha beauty parlour
- Shiv Shakti kirana bhandar
- Nikunj Digital Studio
- Vivo Jayant Telecom.  Here AC is very effective
- Prince Jewellers
- The cool
- Ashrat traders
- Neeldeep chemist
- Sabri medical store Here i Meet Mr Yaseen
- Sabri store Here i meet Mr Ali Ahmed bhai whom i could not meet on previous occasion as he     had to attend Urs in Surat.

Meet Mr Anant Rai H Mehta from Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Coming from Dwarka to Somnath and from here expected to go to Diu and from Diu the travel time to Ahmedabad  (all places in Gujarat) i am told is 11 hours. I also happen to meet Mr Srinivas who has done his studies from IIT Madras and at presence working in Reliance Refinery in Jamnagar. The other day Mr Dharmesh bhai  was willing to give lift to Shyam guest house which i politely declined.

Monday after taking tea from Mr Narain bhai run tea centre i return to Shyam Guest House to get ready. Participating in afternoon aarti is followed by taking meals from Bhabha restaurant. The search for Mysore Sandal Soap takes me to different shops with none in a position to give out even one pack. In the evening meet Mr Suresh bhai of Somnath Trust who is kind enough to hand me laminated pictures of Lord Somnath. A little after 8.30 pm leave Shyam Guest House for Somnath railway station. Meet Mr Jayesh bhai of Jalaram store near SBI ATM  who is able to recall the laminated picture of Lord Venkateswara i gave to him in December 2015 when i visited Gujarat. In Somnath railway station there is a big clock right up there which one won't find hard to notice. There is a waiting room for ladies. The general waiting room has fewer occupants as it has offensive odour. The taps from where one can collect cold drinking water is in a hall which too is soiled. These aberrations apart, the station is neat and clean. While waiting for train which will depart at 10.30 from Platform One, i begin to have grapes which are in abundance in Somnath and beyond. They are fresh and entire stock comes from Nashik in Maharashtra State.

Repeated announcement about train to Dwarka; meeting a group from Silchar in Assam State

There is repeated announcement about the train meant for Dwarka pulling in the station and one need not board unless it has come to a complete halt. Leave Somnath at 10.37 pm. Some time in the night Rajkot comes. Semi fertile land at 7.20 am. Bhatiya comes at 8.07 and Dwarka 9.07. In the train come across a group from Silchar in Assam who talk about train connectivity from the city of Delhi to Northeast India. The group comprises among other people Mr Bimal Kumar Malakar and Mr Arun Kumar Seal. Mr Malakar has taken VRS  (Voluntary Retirement Scheme)and in his place his son has been absorbed in railways whereas Mr Seal continues to work in railways. Not to miss the important role played by pointsman and other staff members in railways which forms core of our discussions. In Somnath they stayed in Bharat Seva Sangh Ashram. They too are headed towards Dwarkadish. For return journey they would take a train from Dwarka at 2 pm on Friday and reach Guwahati on Monday at 6 am. Right from there the ride to Silchar would take six hrs.
There is another family from Gwalior in the train whose daughter Divya studying in class 12 has developed vomiting tendency given the stale food she had in one of the restaurants. One has to be extra cautious while taking food and water when one steps out of home.

On a Tuesday from Dwarka station i head to Balaji Bhawan. After checking in the room i head to Krishna Vijay tea centre where i meet Mr Batuk bhai and Mr Shyam bhai. After taking three to four cups of black tea which they dish out with comfortable ease i get ready to go to Nageshwar temple. I hail an auto driven by one who probably goes by the name Mr Gorung. Leave for Nageshwar from Dwarka at 11.40 am, reach Nageshwar at  12.17. Here in Nageshwar i come across Mr Rajkumar Gautam looking after temple security and he is very helpful. I get phone numbers of Mr Jitu bhai the photographer and Shivam studio. Having spent considerable time in and around the temple i leave from Nageshwar at 1.45 and reach Dwarka at 2.20. Covering a distance of nearly 40 kms and being at my service for almost three hours i have to shell out a little over 300 rs and that looks reasonable.

Leaving for Okha the same Tuesday
The bus from Dwarka to Okha leaves at 4.32 pm. Meet Mr Kushang Acharya a class 10th student of DAV school, Mithapur.
At 4.39 comes Varvaa and here i sight Ambassador car bearing Gujarat number GJ 9719
At 4.43 Okha 23 kms away. We are on State Highway 25.
At 4.52 Okha is 14kms away
At 4.54 comes railway crossing
Going past Tata Chemicals Ltd Mithapur.
At 5.00 going past Janta restaurant, Keval computers
At 5.04 Udhyognagar  At 5.07 Naval Park
Meet Mr Suresh bhai  who conducts group tours. According to Mr Suresh bhai a group at present is covering 11 Jyotirlingas in the country by bus. The 12th Jyotirlinga Kedarnath would open up in summers.  The duration of the tour is 35 days with each person supposed to shell out Rs 28,000. Mr Suresh bhai tells me the area before Okha has huge bauxite reserves for making aluminium.
At 5.13 Office Area proceed slowly
At 5.15 we are in Byet Dwarka Jetty
Okha nagar palika sabhi yatriyo ka swagat karta hai
kripya swatchh rakhe (Okha Municipal Council welcomes all tourists. Please maintain cleanliness)
At 5.16 National Coastal Security Academy
From Okha railway station Mr Zala Jaswant gives lift and i am in Okha sea shore at 5.18. I am visiting Okha sea shore after six years. The new addition is coming up of barricades at some places.
Later Mr Narsi bhai kasta gives lift .
Visit Om Kaleshwar Mahadev Mandir (Shiva temple) across railway tracks. There is recitation of maha mrityunjaya mantra inside temple. Later meet Mr Kada bhai of Shiv tea centre. Here i come across Mr Mansuk working in indian railways. Later i meet Mr Baluba again running a tea centre. I hand over laminated pictures of Lord Venkateswara to Mr Kada bhai and Mr Baluba. Incidentally, i met both gentlemen in 2015 when i visited Okha.
In Okha station come across  reservation, current reservation and enquiry counters. The station is neat and clean to the last mile. There is Saurashtra Mail stationed there which carries passengers to Mumbai everyday.

Take a share taxi GJ 08V 6082 from Okha at 6.45 driven by Mr Jagdish bhai who is very alert and cooperative. In the taxi come across Ms Naseem and Ms Habiba among other members from minority section (Muslims). They have discontinued their studies. Their father who is an engineer works in the Middle East.  They deboard well before Dwarka. Reach Dwarka at 7.35pm. Take dinner from Annapoorna Bhojanalaya. Tuesday was a hectic day with a packed schedule that saw me not only going to Balaji Bhawan from Railway Station, Nageshwar from Dwarka and even going to Okha from Dwarka. The people by and large were simple and true to their commitments. The sets of black tea from Krishna Vijay Tea Centre in Dwarka and Kada bhai Tea Centre in Okha were handy.  The weather was not hostile ; the ride was with fewer hiccups and people were in no mood to spell out the length of river called Nile. The Gujarat State least to be disillusioned by different communities presence; they all living under same roof gives them a sense of pride and showcases them as real gems.

The skyrocketing room tariffs in Udhagamandalam; the invincible high air fares

The skyrocketing room tariffs in Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu State

As we make plans to go to Udhagamandlam (Tamil Nadu State) and roundabout little do we know about Kotagiri and its amazing  clout. Kotagiri won't be the place where we would spend some hours what to talk of spending days, it is one place which has its own pace and craze. Little do we know about the airlines and their impeccable record to charge high fares, the flight from Delhi to Coimbatore can upset your budget and lend you more than ten thousand fears. The advance/prior booking even done a week ago won't let the airlines come up with the idea of keeping fares low. The airlines are here to stay, charge at will and have consistently refused to show a tendency where they can turn grey. Taking a train to the Southern Capital Chennai is the only option left as airlines are charging high and have considerable heft. This followed by another train journey that would take me from Chennai to Coimbatore hoping against hope i won't come across tedious situations where i tend to get bore. Lower berth and window seat in two sets of travel would be appreciated; anything less than this would keep travel enthusiasm saturated.

It has been over 15 days since we are planning to go to Udhagamandalam and it is the skyrocketing air fares that is making us swing like a pendulum. Perhaps there is no force on earth that can tame them and make them act simple.The dynamic fare pricing in train can well wash out over 5,000 rs from your pocket ; this is just for one journey as more would have to be shelled out to get the second set of ticket which would be dished out by a man who has in his possession his much prized locket. It has been seven years since i visited Udhagamandalam and that visit saw me stay in Kotagiri where cell phones had in their gear a set of tantalum. Little i can recollect about the visit in 2011 the place has been visited by characters like Sum and Pen. Making enquiry from Delhi about lodges in Udhagamandlam tend to script a story where one need not say yes to a bottle of rum. The message we get is that the room tariffs are high, the Month of May is something one should least try, a simple, clean room with attached bath would be fine taking cash by front desk/cashier would be better than taking in kind. Last time the manager every morning would come and knock at the door wishing to know whether i was vacating or not; some wishing to give hot water as it is mostly sought.

In Udhagamandalam hill station there is Regale Bakery Confectionery and General Store and there is a fetish for foreign names which has its own set of roar. The Shanghai Company Sports and Chinese Footwear; the Chungwah Chinese Restaurant, Shinkows Chinese Restaurant distant from those fascinated with Shanghai the city with concrete floor. The tea dished out by National Tea Centre and Veg puffs coming in Rs 5, 7.50, 8 and 10 range can well be tried in a place that has its own hype and little or no haze. The hoarding of litter free zone can be spotted here the moot point is how many tourists believe in cleanliness and thereby show affection and care. Some tourists throng Udhagamandalam with surplus cash and that is enough to throw a bash. One need to be wary of tourists with teeming budget as they can well derail the hopes of those who could be dismissed as shoestring reject. Despite this hours would turn to days, days would turn to months in Udhagamandalam it won't be hard to find hope radiating women and gents.
As the Lady Bird, the exclusive women shop, has no takers the commotion isn't swift either at a shop showing the prowess of photo scanning, negative scanning, including the facility on online passport shining. From The Quetta Shoppe to Biryani Hut to Capital Saloon, all are there and immersed in a world where people throng to these points only during noon.

As you step inside Octacamund Municipality, the information is not paltry.
Octacamund Municipality
Constituted 1866
Constructed 1894
Extended 1946
M Krishnaswami B.A. B.L. Chairman

Last time when i was here in Kotagiri the Kasthuri Paradise (Veg) restaurant and the old man probably with glasses who was serving  was something to cheer about the internet cafe Genesis in Udhagamandalam giving discounts and the Station Master of Udhagai who still retained the crown. Last time i made it a point to visit Kodanada view point probably the tight schedule this time may keep me away from Coonoor and all those who rule.

The hefty air fare; the dynamic pricing in train which makes it possible to board for characters like Lear and back to back travel would leave one exhausted and exasperated; the poll buzz in another Southern Kingdom would carry on with some not hesitating to take a glass of rum. The toxic/polluted lakes of Bangalore should be cleaned to the last mile and efforts should begin right away rather remaining in a state of Hile. The Women of Bangalore need to feel safe and secure (the same holds true for Women in State of West Bengal and other places), more women in uniform and some in plain clothes keeping a tab on unruly characters in different locales could take the sheen away from crime roar. A poll with tainted contestants doesn't make it look good; the poll that should throw up a surprise choice as far as cm is concerned and his core. A poll that rewards those with fewer stains to their clothes a poll that gives a befitting response to those who have allegiance to corruption and still want to be on a roll. Polls apart the nation has a lot of catching up to do; the stay in Udhagamandalam should be cool and conversations taking place over a cup of brew on who wants to eject and who wants to rule.