Ticket to Ride
Day 1 - August 11, 2006
I zoomed into Bombay central station, a little before the meeting time. As I got of the cab apart from the normal Coolie`s pestering me to carry the luggage, two train-ticket touts came enquiring if I needed to buy the Rajdhani train tickets. I ignored the first guy, but when a second tout approached me , I couldn’t help asking how much it would cost, he replied just 200 rs extra. It would be interesting to know what kind of money these guys make in this business
At the station, the atmosphere is charged with steaming engines of the trains awaiting departure, people waiting for their travel companions. Hands packing and unpacking baggages, people catching a few winks before the train. & ofcourse the anticipation and excitement in the eyes of those viewing the train arriving at the station .As I await the arrival of my two friends & also my travel mates for the journey at Desi Deli I decide to look around. On one side is the old IRTC canteen serving the normal snacks and adjoining it is the swanky MC Donald’s & Desi Deli air-conditioned eatery. The arches and the architecture at the station remind me of the Grand Central station in New York. As we walk towards our train the Rajdhani,I remember the last ride I had taken on the train almost 10 years ago with Papa & Ma where we had just managed to board the train just a minute before its departure
We find our seats on the train, and are greeted by newspapers. One of my travel mates who has probably never traveled in a long distance train is amazed and reaches out for his wallet to pay for the newspaper & water just to find out that it is just a part of the services offered by the Rajdhani. Three of us park ourselves on or side window berth. It’s a nice view outside as we pass through the green fields, the rivers the lakes. As one of our travel mates rightly describes it, “ Its like viewing nature through a plasma screen” There aren’t any interesting people sitting around us, except two small kids in the next cubicle who keep scaring us by howling like dogs.
I walk around to the hot air buffet car, where some workers are peeling a sack full of potatos, one guy is cooking chicken in a pan, and another is frying the cutlets. Apparently they are cooking for the first class passengers. They also prepare the breakfast for the entire train. This is just a open kitchen no food is served here. I move ahead and check out the first class compartment which seemed very neat with each cubicle having private doors. The first class compartment also has a bathing room equipped with hot water.
Prank stories, annecdotes, weird experiences spiced with snacks and a scrumptious dinner later we decide to retire for the day. As I begin reading my book, I cant help remembering all the characters i had met on my last train ride couple of months ago. They had kept me entertained with their tales & queries keeping me distantly away from my book reading.
Day 2
Ride to Rishikesh
The day begins on an exciting note. Its 4:30a.m I wake up at Kota station, I struggle to open the door of the train as curious onlookers stare at me from outside the door. Finally one of the policemen standing outside, opens the door for me and I request the chai wala to make me chai without sugar and he sweetly obliges. Back in the train, I try to wake up my oldie travel mates but all my efforts are gone for a toss as they continue to sleep. Later I try to catch a wink, as I don’t want to miss the morning, which is beautiful. At 6am I am finally up and happily glaring out of my plasma screen window. Its beautiful, the clouds have just come out, the green fields with workers toiling away in the field, old village houses, women filling water, people resting on their khatiyas.
Finally we reach Delhi station and get out from Paharghanj section of the station and get into the swanky CRV that we have borrowed from Bhuj,who had just left the city a couple of hours back to spend her weekend in Rajashtan. Mukesh our driver is in full form with his swanky sunglasses. A lady Rickshaw driver passes by the station making us all excited.
As the three of us debate on whether he looks like Dubeyji from Monsoon Wedding or Om Puri, Mukesh takes on the role of the perfect Delhi guide and drives us around Akshardham. Akshardham is an impressive temple. At about 12 noon we halt at a nice Coffe Day and coax the outlet to allow us to eat the Sabudana Khicdi that Mom has made for us. At that time, sabudana khicdi seems like heaven for us, the fasting souls. As are Michael Schumacher, Mukesh takes on the wheel, we feel like we are on a jet passing through the sugarcane fields, the dhabas, the tractors, the rivers, the overcrowded rickshaws & buses with people hanging outside.
After crossing three states, Delhi, Uttarpradesh & Utranchal we finally arrive at Rishikesh at 3:30 a.m. After various discussions and debates we finally find a cozy place called Ishan Guest house to stay at Lakshman Jhula with the most outstanding view of Ganges. Later we check out the German bakery adjoining the hotel frequented by Firangs. We relish our chais & milks and begin our long walk to the Aarti in the evening. It an interesting walk through the Jhula, shops and the temples.
The Aarti is one of the most divine experiences, which every visitor to Rishikesh must definitely have. We sit on the banks of the Ghat, dipping our feet in the cold water of the river. Its yet sunny & the kirtaniyas are just setting up. On one side are the mountains, in the middle is the Lakshman Jhula( Jhula is a kind of bridge on top of the river and supported only at the edges, it sort of looks like the Howrah bridge).
The cool breeze, the setting sun, the scenic view of the Ganges, you just cant help but close your eyes to believe your actually here. Peace is all you can breathe in. But not for too long, as the bhajans, begin the crowd also starts pouring in . Some of them talking so loudly that you could easily get distracted . We do the aarti and then let the leaf bowl full of flowers and diya float into the water. The entire experience can leave you with so much energy. Some dignitaries have also come for the aarti, from the people we know its Murli Deora, the Petroleum minister, we later learn he was in town to attend some ONGC conference. We are in the mood to meditate so we walk further down the ghat, just to find a tranquil spot to mediate. Finally we do meditate on top of the well or waterboard. It is rejuvenating.
After that peaceful experience, we look forward to dinner at Chotiwala. Chotiwala is a simple eatery serving a mix of Indian & continental food. We get a spot at the terrace and gulp down the scrumptious thali full of vegetables and rotis and some good sweets. We all have mixed reactions on the food, I personally thought they put too much of oil in the food thus killing the actual flavor, while my other two travel mates liked the food.
Some arguments later we take a rickshaw ride back to the hotel.Well our tiredness does not deter us from further doses of laughter, music and free cyber cafe sessions on one of our travel mate’s computer, post which we retire for the day
I hope to write about my complete journey soon & upload some cool pics if my travel mates send them to me. Watch out this space for more
