New Delhi - Agra - Amritsar

New Delhi - Agra - Amritsar

2023 November 4 - 11

Delhi was a dream destination, so started charting dates, searching trains, finalised for Nov 4 to Nov 13

As budget travelers booked sleeper tickets to & fro New Delhi, Delhi to Amritsar bus, Amritsar to Delhi train. Booked Hotel Peace Point a small hotel near New Delhi 5 mins walk from station. Amritsar accomodation booking window was 15 days, booked at Saragarhi Nivas a SGPC run NRI guest house with all amenities like a hotel 500 mts from Goldentemple 

Booked Hop on Hop off bus :

Delhi - Agra - Mathura - Vrindavan

Booked Hop on Hop off bus : 

Delhi darshan

Booked Hop on Hop off bus : Amritsar - Wagah 

4.11.2023 12.40 pm Ernakulam boarded Sampark Kranti express

6.11.2023 6.15 am reached New Delhi 

DAY 1 6.11.2023 

Yamunaghat

Ladakh budha vihar

Jama masjid 

Agrasen ka baoli 

Masjid khairulamanazil

Purana qila 

Safdarjung tomb 

Qutb minar (light & sound show at 7pm)

We used all sorts of transport cycle rickshaw, e-rickshaw, auto, metro, bus, DMRC app was very useful for getting down at stations for interchange

DAY 2 7.11.2023

by HOHO Delhi - Agra bus

Agra fort 

Tajmahal 

Mathura

Vrindavan 

Picked up from our hotel at 8 am moved thru Yamuna expressway, a stop over for breakfast, reached Agra fort at 12pm, only 1 hour was only given to explore Agra fort, we missed the bus, took an auto to Taj Mahal, no bags are allowed, only mobile phones and cameras.  

Taj Mahal, symbol of love, an exquisite work in marble, usual photo stops one near the entrance and one at the platform infront of the fountains, we got about 4 hours moved around all corners of Taj, not much people on the Yamuna side and the backside. Taj would be more beautiful on sunrise and sunsets. Taj opens 30 mins before sunrise and closes 30 mins before sunset. A ₹200 ticket for viewing the masouleum which is inside the Taj, we didn't opt for this.

Mathura the birth place of Krishna is high security area no ele gadgets allowed, a Barbari masjid mosque like building with 3 domes and a temple below that structure, a new temple nearby, spend sometime as aarti was going on

Vrindavan have numerous temples as it was very late could no see any instead took to a diety and a poojari, spend some time there and he explained the importance of donations and returns some fell and others just moved out, reached hotel at 2am. Delhi - Agra is about 200kms ride

DAY 3 8.11.2023

HOHO Delhi darshan bus 

Birlamandir (Lakshmi Narayan temple)

Lal qila (Red fort)

Rajghat 

India gate

Kartavyapath (Raj path)

Indiragandhis home 

Qutb minar 

Humayuns tomb 

Lotustemple 

Akshardham temple

Rama Krishna Ashram metro was the pickup point, a guide was on the bus, informing the important places moved around New Delhi, a brief stop over at India gate for lunch.

Akshardham temple,6th largest temple in world, no ele gadgets allowed, it's like a small heritage township, the temple is spread in acres surrounded by waterfalls, The domes with intricate work in sand stone and marbles a must visit place in New Delhi. 

Akshardham metro was nearby took tickets to Central Secretariat the nearest metro to see India gate adorned in colorful lights 

Delhi - Amritsar bus was from ISBT Kashmere gate 10:30pm. The uncomfortable journey just 1 feet leg space and over the head just six inches, a volvo bus converted as sleeper, honking all the way, somehow got some sleep reached Amritsar at 6am

DAY 4 9.11.2023

travel mode : HOHO Amritsar

Maharana Ranjith Prathap Singh statue 

Durgiana temple 

Govindgarh fort 

Khalsa College ( drive pass)

War museum  

Attari (India ) Wagah (Pakistan ) border

Golden temple opens at 3 am, saw long queues when I reached at 6am, have to cover your head when you enter the temple complex, bags are frisked by Sikh security guards at all entry points. Amrit sarovar the sacred pond, temples, big and small, dedicated to different Hindu deities are located around the pool.

Free shoe, baggage counter & toilet complex outside the temple.

Free bus to and from Amritsar railway station.

The colorful Hop on Hop off double decker bus was parked at Maharaja Ranjith square, boarded and moved around Amritsar, lunch break at Govindagarh fort moved to Attari / Wagah border this place was thronging with people, separate queues for men & women for security checks. Wagah border have a mini stadium first sections are for VIP's and the rest for public. Patriotic movie songs are played and girls have the opportunity to dance on the border. Beating retreat border ceremony starts at 4.15 pm in winters and 5.15 pm in summers.

The ceremony unfolds with march past of BSF jawans, opening the border gates, lowering the flags & closing of border gates. 

The emotion at the viewing gallery, literally swell with true pride as you cheer for your country, the feeling must be euphoric, cant be explained truly in words, too good, its going to be a very special memory of my life.  

After the ceremony the people will be running behind the BSF jawans for selfies, back to our accomodation at Amritsar

Golden temple and all entry points are immersed in colorful lights,at night and it's feast for the eyes

DAY 5 10.11.2023

Golden temple 

Harmandirsahib 

Jalianwalabagh 

Khairuddin masjid 

travel mode : walk

Amritsar was having thunder, lighting and showers in the morning, after the rain stopped, went to Jalianwala bagh, a historic garden and memorial in memory of the massacre, moved to Khairuddin masjid, back to golden temple in queue for darshan, took the steps leading to the top of the temple, and sat inside the temple with kirtans in background.  

Took the free bus to Amritsar railway station, boarded the train to New Delhi at 18.55 pm

DAY 6 11.11.2023

Rashtrapathi bhavan 

Lodhi gardens 

Sarojini nagar

travel mode : metro & auto

Rashtrapathi bhavan is open to public for Main building, Museum, Amrit udyan ( August - September) Change of guard only on Saturday online booking window is one week.

We got entry for main building, reached at gate 37 after security checks moved to Rashtrapati bhavan saw the horses participated in change of guard. 

A guide took us thru Asoka hall, the meeting rooms, banquet hall after that photo ops infront on Rashtrapathi bhavan, when we moved out we can see the Jaipur column to celebrate the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi and as a token of allegiance of the princely state of Jaipur to the British Crown.

Lodhi gardens the place we missed on our 1st day in New Delhi, a beautiful place, home to the tombs of several rulers from the Lodhi dynasty that are architectural marvels, moved around the gardens took an auto to Sarojini Nagar 

Diwali eve the place was jam packed with people on the move flanged by textile shops, a small shopping, off to New Delhi railway station collected the bags from cloak room boarded Kerala express at 20.10 pm, reached home on 11.11.2013 Monday 17.10 pm 

Food : Karims hotel, Jama masjid roti and panneer masala and rest of the days we were mostly on street food Musambi, Orange, sugar cane juice, charmuri, bananas, panneer sandwich, masala dosa, veg thali, fried rice, kersar malai, masala tea, tender coconut and free prasad from golden temple langar rotis, daal, rice and kheer

Travel gear Decathlon forclaz 60, forclaz 40, forclaz 20 back packs

Reels

reels images

reels day 1

reels Qutb minar

reels Purana Qila

reels agra fort

reels Taj Mahal

reels Lodhi garden

reels India gate

reels Amritsar

reels Rashtrapati bhavan

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Mannavan shola

The Anamudi Shola National Park consists of three Shola reserve forests Mannavan shola, Pularadi shola and ldivara shola 

HATS is a trekking society run by Ajeesh, had attended few treks had a great time, saw the WhatsApp message announcing the Mannavan shola trek, booked my seat as it was only for 10 people 

Last trek was a long time back to Ranipuram in 2019 then Corona came so after a gap of 3 years nice to have a trek again to get fresh air and beautiful views

Day 1, 25th February 2023

6.30 am Bus from Kaloor to Munnar reached Munnar at 10.30, had breakfast idli, sambar from a tiffin stall, Ajeesh also reached Munnar, a Tamil Nadu bus to Marayaoor was on the bus stand reached Marayoor after 1.30 hrs drive thru the winding hairpin roads with tea estates on both sides

The last leg Marayoor to Kanthaloor, a KSRTC bus came, boarded the same. Justas Chetan came at the same time at Marayoor and we boarded the car reached Kanthaloor, Nest Cottages perched on a small hillock with nice views of the mountain ranges

Anoop has already checked in, Sajan, Shyam, Santhosh, Anil also reached on time to move to Brahamaram view point a 2km walk. A beautiful place dotted with trees, tree house, thatched sheds & view of Marayaoor from the view point, and a nice sunset, Joy reached the view point after some time 

Kanthaloor was with cool breeze when we came in, and continued the same thru the night might be around 15-20 C but not so cold. A good dinner Chapati, chicken curry & veg stew. 3 bed rooms with double beds ample space for 3 people and extra beds & blankets for the rest, not a nice sleep with Dolby snoring from both sides of the bed

Day 2, 26th February 2023

Woke up with black tea, and moved out on the cold breezy morning with Anil to take pics of birds, seems he got 2 new birds 

Rufous bellied eagle & bar winged flycatcher shrike

Dosa & chutney for breakfast, Mannavan shola forest office a few Kms from Kanthaloor, a guide accompanied us started trek thru usual trek paths and deviated to a new path reached a small waterfall, spotted a pug marks on the way, by 12 O clock we reached the 1st view point spend some time and moved on to the next to see the tip of Anamudi peak the 2nd highest peak in Western ghats 2695m, as we have to reach by 3pm as it would be difficult to get bus from Kanthaloor, started to move down and reached down by 2pm.

Anil dropped me at Marayoor got a bus to Aluva - Metro to home

Kanthaloor a nice place to unwind, good weather, good cottages, only BSNL & JIO connectivity,most of the cottages provide free Wifi 

 

Jallikattu

Day 1 

January 16th 2023

Jallikattu was in the bottom of my bucket list for a long time as Pongal coincides with Makara Vilakku maholsavam at Ayyapankavu temple, couldn't plan for Jallikattu, but this year, everything went well, got info about dates at Palamedu & Alanganallur

Amritha express sleeper ticket was not available from Ernakulam north, so booked Udumalapetu to Madurai, booked dormitory retiring room @ Madurai, return ticket, but had a tough time, only option was to sit on the floor upto Palakkad Junction. From Udumalpet moved onto my reserved seat, reached Madurai at about 10am

Madurai junction is very well connected, the Periyar bus terminal is very nearby, got a bus to Thirumala Naikar Palace, a palace with huge pillars & courtyard, Pongal cultural activities was going on, spend some time inside and moved to Palamedu

Palamedu is about 24 kms most of them were to Jallikattu, the ride to Palamedu is with nice views flanked by green paddy fields on both sides, a 45 mins ride from Madurai

Vadivasal the main area were bulls will be set free, is covered with coir husk, so bull tamers will not be injured when they fall. Both sides are with galleries , double wooden barricades with iron mesh, gallery on both sides, and battalions of police for crowd control

People sneak in between the barricades to have a closer look of Jallikattu.

Around 500+ bulls are accompanied by the owner & assistant, they will release the bull and run away, bull tamers will catch the hump and if they can hold for 60 seconds they get , gold coins, plastic chair, air cooler, pillows, almirah, cycle, steel container it changes randomly, if the bull runs free, bull owners also get the same things. Bumper prize a car for the best bull tamer, decided most number of catches

As a camera person, perched on the barricades, had a nice view of the action, and most of them inside the barricades were removed by the police

A dangerous game of death, with no regard for life, saw a tamer gored by a bull, later heard that he died on the way to hospital

Back to Madurai, went to Meenakshi temple saw, never ending queues, on all entry, so decided to come early morning, went to Thirumalai Nayakar palace saw the light & sound show it was in Tamil so couldn't follow

IRCTC retiring rooms are run by private operators, with a PNR number we can book retiring rooms at stations, charged for hourly slots. A nice lobby, got the key from the reception, a AC dormitory

a room with 6 cubicles had a nice sleep

day 2

Woke up early morning, moved to Meenakshi temple, mobiles are not allowed, so kept everything in temple locker,moved inside saw a winding que which was not moving waited for 1.30 hrs, due to time constraints escaped from que, bought Ladoo prasadam and back to Periyar bus stand

Alanganallur was also on the same route of Palamedu 17 kms from Periyar bus stand,

bus stopped, way back from the event place after a short walk reached the place, galleries on both sides, people will be allowed for 1 hour, so everyone can view the Jallikattu, waited for sometime, as the place was congested with narrow lanes, police lathicharged to make way for the Ambulance as it was the only access to the venue, dropped the plan and moved along the barricades to see the bulls coming from the Vadivasal, moved to the back of the venue to see were the bulls are taken to Vadivasal area

 A hearty meal with mutton, chicken curry & rasam from a bull owner met on the bylane of Alanganallur 

by 2 pm left Alanganallur, reached Madurai jn, Amritha express was at 16.10 reached home at 00.40 am

Jallikattu main venues are Avaniapuram, Palamedu & Alanganallur, most of the placesin and around Madurai are conducting Jallikattu, at the time of Pongal and the following days