Journeys to remember: June 2018

While this trip was in September 2017, I have decided to photo blog it after almost a year. This year began with quite a bit of bad news for us-- why so-- We called up Raj, our driver in Delhi to wish him new year and his wife informed us of his sudden demise during Diwali :(( A gentle & kind soul who was working hard for his 2 sons- elder one being an amputee. Now this is the reason I decided to come back to my blog and finish up this blog with whatever I could remember from this Delhi trip. While I would have loved to put down everything I experienced, seems like my memory is already fading away :( I so wanted to record every place we ate, enjoyed the food...places that Raj our cab driver introduced us to. While I started blogging about this trip, I did not find the time to complete this coz of some developments at my workplace.

9 days-- 8 places
Nainital>> Haridwar>> Rishikesh>> Dehradun>> Mussoorie>> Agra>> Mathura>> Delhi

Delhi discussions began the moment I saw Om showing interest in seeing Delhi. We finalized that Dasara vacation would be the best time to go, neither too hot, nor too cold.

Seeing places, eating, shopping and meeting friends got into our agenda.

Spicejet Flight tickets for 5...a week before our travel dates..cost us 65k- to and fro.

Bangalore- Delhi- September 23 noon

Innova & Raj waiting to take us to Nainital. Lunch at Haldirams-- yummy chana batura, dahi aloo tikki & butter milk. Nainital is all about lakes. "Tal" refers to Lake. Horrible Saturday traffic in Delhi delayed our schedule by more than 3hrs and we ended up reaching our destination- Hotel Palace Belvedere around midnight. Thanks to google maps we were able to take the shortest possible route. Comfortable and quiet hotel...probably quiet because this was off-season. Large rooms with seats by the window giving you a view of the naini lake.

Shiv Ling

Sept 24th @ 9am we walked down to Naini devi temple. This Devi temple has a huge Hanuman welcoming you inside. Large open space right next to the Naini lake. Adding some pics in for you to get a good view of how beautiful, clean & calm this place is. The moment you step outside the temple, its bang opposite of what you experience inside-- with all the hustle bustle of market, vendors, hotels! Post the 'darshan' at temple we went into one of the hotels just outside the temple. Got some hot tasty parathas to eat.

Enjoying our morning tea

That day we toured around Nainital, enjoying the greenery, the landscapes & all the tal's- Bhimtal, Sattal, Saritatal.

From Nainital, next day- Sept 25th we headed to Haridwar & Rishikesh. It had rained when we reached Haridwar, hence the whole place was wet & with muck. Experienced Har ki pauri..ended up paying 2.5k. What should you be aware of-- there was well dressed & well spoken brokers who will approach you for doing Ganga arti. Don't fall for it. They cash in on your emotions and help you lighten up your wallets. Just sit on the

View of kids @ school playground

banks- stair case and enjoy the arti that takes place...its a divine feeling if you don't feel cheated :) . Post this visit we headed to Rishikesh, but by the time we reached there it was already dark (hence no pic). Chilling breeze on laxman jhoola is what we experienced. Dinner at a hotel next to jhoola and then we headed to Dehradun.

Sahastradhara

Sept 26th- Morning was visiting all the places in Dehradun & Mussoorie. Tapkeshwar temple, Sahastradhara, Kempty falls. All of them had rivers flowing near them or through them...clean & cold water. And then the view points & mall road.

Akshardham Temple

Next day Sept 27th- morning drove back towards Delhi and saw Akshardham temple in the evening. It was good that we covered Akshardham this day coz our next 2 days were so jam packed that we wouldn't have got a chance to see it. No camera/ bag allowed here, so I have no pics to show you. Expect to feel lost when you go there..the place is HUGE!

No intro required- Taj Mahal

Sept 28th- Agra & Mathura covered & back to Delhi. This trip even the kids were excited to see, but unfortunately both the kids ended up with an upset stomach but braved it through walking in hot sun and making it to Taj mahal. From Taj mahal we headed to Mathura. Note: Do not give money to the beggars, never know where its going. While we were buying some Mathura peda there was this girl- 10ish standing outside and begging for money-- she kept asking people for money to buy 'atta'. Since we were buying sweets, I picked 1 large gulab jamun for her and went over to give it. She refused to take that and asked for money. When I refused to give money, she arrogantly threw the gulab jamun to a cow which was nearby. That's the last time I have given anything to a beggar.
Thankfully, by the time we were returning from Mathura kids had recovered(post medication & ORS).

Most awaited moment

Sept 29th- Change of driver..bad experience with this new driver..missed Raj terribly. Friends visit- OPS uncle & his family welcomed us with Big smile & a warm hug. Didi specially made us all feel so special. This was my first meeting with them and for my husband & mil meeting after 35 odd years. All old memories to talk through the day. Evening was Bangla sahib gurudwara, Jama Masjid & Lal qila. Night he & I did a quick visit towards Palika bazaar & Cannaught place. Fancy shopping, bling, pub, lots of walking & a chuski paan. Back to hotel room in a cab.

National Museum

Sept 30th- Delhi touring with some yummy food- India Gate, Agrasen ki baoli, Lal qila, Qutub minar, National Museum, Railway museum, Rashtrapati bhavan. Raj ghat unfortunately was closed because of Gandhi jayanti next day.

Oct 1st- Shopping & eating at Karol Bagh & more shopping at Sarojini market. And rushed towards airport for our flight back to Bangalore.

What we really wanted to do during this one week trip was to make sure we visit all the well known important places/ monuments in and around Delhi and visit close friends.

As for Raj- A genuinely nice man who got close to in just 3-4 days time. Mr. Agra (body building) in 1996 or so. May his kind soul rest in peace and may God help & give the strength to his family for the loss they've been through.