Danish Fort , Tharangambadi (Travelogue)

Danish Fort or Tranquebar is 35 Kilometres north of Nagappattinam on the coast of Bay of Bengal situated in a small town of Tharamgambadi.  Tranquebar  means "place of the singing waves" in Danish and was a Danish colony from 1620 to 1845. The Danes landed at this place in 1620 AD and constructed fortifications on the coast at Tranquebar. It was a major trade center on the Coromandal coast for the danes till 1845 AD, and was later handed  to the English.  This fort was declared as a protected monument by the Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamilnadu in       1977 AD.

Construction of Fort dates back to 1620. Most parts of the fort have been reconstructed several times. The rampart wall is a fairly large four sided structure, with bastions at each cardinal point. A single storied building was constructed along three inner sides of the rampart, with barracks, warehouse, kitchen and jail. The rooms on the southern side remain in good condition, but the rooms on the western and northern sides have been substantially damaged. On the eastern side of the fort, there was a two storied building facing the sea. It was the main building of the fort.  The sea on the eastern and western side protects the fort. The fort was protected by a moat which has been completely destroyed over the years.

A visit to this place from Karaikal, made us awe at its architectural skills which existed during the earlier years and has stood many erosion and the major devastation, like that of December 2004 Tsunami.

Still standing like a rock, the Danish fort escaped the tsunami fury on December 26. Although the waves had reached the main road and washed away several coastal hamlets in Tranquebar for about a kilometre, killing about 700 people, the nearly four-century-old fort, which is just 100 metres away from the seashore, was not at affected, due to its huge wall built around.

The view of the Fort from the seashore

Along  the seashore lies a temple , which is crumbling due to the sea ingress. Maravarama Sundarapandian, a later Pandya King, constructed this temple called the Masilamani Natha temple in    1305 AD.

The Masilamani Temple 

At the vicinity from the seashore is the Zion Church on King’s Street, which was sanctified in 1701 and is the oldest Protestant church in India.  Its intricate ornamentation is reminiscent of the architecture of European churches.

View of the Church

Darjeeling ; Champagne Of Tea

Darjeeling is renowned for its high-quality tea, with the altitude, rainfall, and climate of the region contributing to the exceptional taste. Situated in the Himalayan range, Darjeeling possesses all the necessary factors for producing premium tea.

During our tenure as Station Commander in Kurseong, West Bengal, we visited Makaibari Tea Estates as part of an adventure camp organized for children under the Eastern Air Command (EAC). The tour provided us with valuable insights into the traditional 'Orthodox' processing of Darjeeling tea leaves.

Tea Leaves

Tea plucking

The tea leaves are carefully plucked by local women using bamboo baskets known as "Doko" and then weighed at the factory. The process of 'Orthodox Production' begins with withering, where moisture is slowly removed from the leaves over a period of 14-16 hours.

Following withering, the leaves undergo rolling to maintain their style and prevent overheating. Fermentation then takes place to develop the unique flavor and aroma of Darjeeling tea. The final step involves drying the leaves to produce black tea, which is then sorted, graded, and packed for sale.

Stages of Manufacture:

Withering: During this process, the green leaves are evenly spread on troughs, through which hot & cold air are blown in a regulated manner. This withering trough is normally 4 to 5 feet wide and 50 to 70 feet long. The object is to remove moisture in the leaf slowly over a period of 14 - 16 hours and in this process approximately 65% of the moisture is removed from the green leaf.

Withering Process

Rolling: The withered leaves are loaded into rollers where they are twisted by a mechanical action. The process is carefully monitored so that the style of the leaf is maintained and overheating does not occur as the delicate leaves will loose its aroma and taste. In this process the green colour of the leaf is replaced by brown coppery colour as the process of rolling under pressure twists the leaf, ruptures the cells and releases the natural juices, promoting oxidation and acceleration of pigmentation.

Fermentation: After Rolling, the leaf is spread in a cool and humid room in very thin layers. The process lasts between 2- 4 hours, depending on the temperature, humidity and leaf quality. During this process the tea develops a unique flavour and aroma. The flavour of the tea can be affected by a minutes delay in adjusting the correct fermenting period. In this stage the flavanols combine with oxygen in the air, which develops the unique flavour of Darjeeling Tea.

Drying ( Firing):The fermented leaf is taken to a dryer, where it is subjected to regulated varying temperature of 200 to 240 c for a period of 20 - 30 min. The result is the black tea whose moisture is now completely lost.

Sorting & Packing:This is the final stage, where the tea is graded according to the size of the tea granules and is packed in specially designed foil lined packages for sale.


A short note about Makaibari Tea Estates

Visit To Makaibari Tea Estates

Makaibari Tea Estates, established in 1859, is the world's first tea factory and follows sustainable practices such as permaculture. The estate retains 70% of its area under forest cover, creating a biotope for various animal species to thrive. Makaibari is known for producing the most expensive tea brand, Silver Tips Imperial, which is plucked under the full moon and highlights the essence of Darjeeling terroir.

Coorg, Karnataka

View Of Coorg

Coorg lies on the SouthWestern end of Karnataka, set amidst valleys, imposing mountains and teak wood forests. This is one of the most beautiful hill stations one can probabaly visit. Coorg is also known as the 'Scotland of India' and it offers a captivating natural beauty, great cuisine and an aroma of the coffee, oranges and honey. A holiday on a coffee plantation can provide the tourist a heady first-hand  experience of the entire process of coffee production from harvest to shop shelf. This district is one of the largest producers of pepper, cardamom and honey in the world.

Places To See In and Around Coorg

Bhagamandala

One of the seven major rivers of India, Cauvery,the 'Dakshina Ganga' or ' Ganga of the south' is situated here. Bhagamandala and Talacauvery are the two pilgrimage centers of Coorg. Bhagamandala is a place, where Kannika and Sujyothi, the two tributaries to Cauvery join to form the "Triveni Sangam". Near to this sangam, there are four temples, for Eshwara, Subramanya, Vishnu and Ganapathi which is also known as "Bhagundeshwara Kshetra".

Talacauvery

Talakaveri / Talacauvery- River Cauvery which is one of the 7 sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus of the Hindu scriptures, originates at this place and is called Talakaveri (head of Cauvery) . It is situated in the Brahmagiri hills, at about 4,500 ft above sea level. This place is marked by a tirtha kundike or Brahma kundike (small spring/pond) from where the river emerges as a small perennial spring, but this spring flows underground again and emerges a short distance away. This place is situated about 48 kms from Madikeri.
There is a shrine near the kundike and a big tank in front of it where devotees baths before offering prayers. There are 2 temples, a Shiva temple with a rare and ancient Shiva Linga, and another temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This temple has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the Trimurtis - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh gave darshan to sage Agastya.

Legends also say that every year on Tulasankramana day (approximately on 17 October) Goddess Parvati appears in the Kundike as the sacred teerthodbhava. This occasion is marked by the sudden unsurge of water in the kundike and is considered very auspicious

The steps to Brahmagiri Peak

From Talakaveri, steps lead up to the nearby Brahmagri peak, where the 7 great sages called the Sapta Maharishis had performed a special yagna. From the peak, as well as on the drive to Talakaveri, tourists can enjoy a picturesque view of the misty blue Brahmagiri hills.

Abbey Falls is also called Abbi Falls lies in Kodagu. It is located 10 km from the Madikeri town . The streams formed during the monsoons plunges down the mountain slopes at great speed and forms a water fall at this place. A misty cloud always hangs over this falls and the water from here flows into the River Kaveri. This falls is located between private coffee plantations and spice estates where trees entwine themselves with pepper vines all around this place. A narrow path leads us to this scenic falls which appear suddenly with the water cascading over rocks and into a calm pool.

Abbey Falls

Raja's Seat- According to legend, the kings of Kodagu spent their evenings here. But what's unforgettable about Raja's seat is the spectacular sunset that one can enjoy from here.

Nisargadhama

Nisargadhama

Cauvery Nisargadhama is situated about 36 kms from Madikeri. This is an ideal picnic spot. It is an island in the middle of the river connected by a rope bridge. One can go boating or go for an elephant ride here. The elephant training camp run by the Forest Department at Dubare is 8 kms further from here.

Nisargadhamam

Dubare - This is mainly an elephant capturing and training camp of the Forest Department, at the edge of Dubare forest, on the bank of river Kaveri, on the Kushalnagar - Siddapur road.
The tamed elephants attend to various jobs during the day and in the evenings they come down to the river to bathe and be scrubbed clean by their mahouts.

Nagarhole National Park also known as 'Rajiv Gandhi National Park,' is located 94 km from Mysore. It is spread between Kodagu and Mysore districts. Located to the northwest of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. They were the exclusive hunting reserve for the former rulers of Mysore. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls and is  stretched over an area of 575 km².

A Rainbow (Poem)

Once I saw A Rainbow

Across the sky so blue

Where clouds floated slow

And birds flew in few.

The different hues of nature

Most beautiful sight to see

A painter's perfect picture

And a poet's scene to dream.

As I stood, gazing yonder

Breathing the air, so clean,

It made me but to wonder

And note, what it could mean.

A message for us to unwind

Long lost .. And to renew

That it takes both Rain and Sunshine

To make a lovely view".

As we travel on life's highway

A lot of rain sure will fall,

But we'll find our pretty rainbow

When Sun shines over it all.

So when you feel a bit low

And wonder what to do,

Just trust and let sunshine

Bring A Rainbow Over You...

Skandasramam, (Temples Of Tamil Nadu)

The view from the temple

Skandasramam, lies on Salem-Attur route of Tamil Nadu. Located in serene surroundings amidst hillocks, two kilometres away from Udayapatti of Salem Town, is this temple complex with shrines to Skanda (Lord Muruga) and other deities.

Everyday at 8.00 a.m.and 11.00 a.m. Abishekam and special puja are performed. The uniqueness of this temple is that neither camphor is used nor archanai is  done by the devotees.
The importance of the temple is that both the presiding deities Lord Muruga (Skanda) and Skanda Mata stand face to face. As a result of this, Lord Muruga possesses immense powers as He faces His Mother.
Lord Muruga is worshipped first followed by a darshan to Devi. Devi possesses eighteen hands and is also known as ‘Ashtadasa’. She has various weapons in each of Her hands.
The navagrahas along with their wife are seen around the sanctum sanctorum. All around the temple are sayings of Sathguru Santhananda painted on wall in Tamil. These are with regard to how humans should behave and live peacefully in the world.
 

There is also a yagasala where Ganapati homam is performed daily and yagam on auspicious days. 

The Hanuman shrine in the outer sanctotum

Skandasramam holds shrines of deities : Panchamukha Anjaneya, Panchamukha Ganapati, Swarnakarshanabhairavar (Bhairavar with His Consort), on the outer side of the sanctum sanctorum.

This place is complete in serenity embedded on the hills and is at the same time holding a stature of religious importance. Skandashraman is one of the few places unexplored by many yet holding a place of importance in its own way.

The shrine of Lord Ganapathi

Pykara, Tamil Nadu (Travelogue)

Pykara is a small remote village located 19 km from Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. It is named after the sacred River Pykara which rises from the Murkurti peak and flows through Pykara and Glen Morgan Dams, the two  important  hydro-electric power project in these hills.

The catchment at the Pykara dam forms a beautiful lake and offers a scenic spot for the tourists. The mist lifting like a curtain over the lake during the wee hours of the morning leaves one dumbstruck at the marvels caused by nature. This blue lake shimmering under the rays of the mountain sun lies 21 km from Ooty on the Ooty Mysore highway.

Kayaking at Pykara

The main attraction at Pykara lake is undoubtedly boating. One can enjoy the beauty of this lake by strolling through the dense trees around the lake and  trekking through the muddy tracks to the falls.

Pykara Falls is the last leg of the river. The falls is approximately 6 km from the bridge on the main road. The more adventurous nature lovers can spend a night at the Forest rest house or the Defence Guest house at Pykara Lake on prior requests.

Ride By The Motor Boat - The View Of The Defence Guest House At The Back 

The boat house on the Pykara reservoir is another added attraction for tourists.

Enroute to Pykara lake lies a vast expanse of grassy meadows, the Wenlock Downs. It is an ideal place to  walk and relax a mist the soothing greenery and is a  favorite spot for picnickers and movie makers.
This remote area of Pykara set in the Nilgiri hills, boasts of  everything a tourist would look for - a well protected fenced Sholas, Toda settlements, large grassy meadows and a touch of wildlife everywhere and is  an ideal get away from the crowded town of Ooty during the vacation  and seasonal months.

A Prayer (Just For Laughs)

This was sent to me by a friend, just sharing it through my blog .... to see you smile :)

TO: God.Com
Dear Lord,

Every single evening
When I lie here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:

God, bless all my family
For they're so close to me
Keep them safe and warm
And from all evil and no harm.

And, there is one more thing
Hope you don't mind me asking,
That I  know you will graciously do:
God! Please bless, my gadget, too...

I know that it sounds pretty odd,
So let me explain it Lord,
For inside this tiny compartments,
Rests so.. many long lost friends.

Please take an extra minute
From your duties beyond limit,
To bless those in my friends list
And those to whom request sent.

Bless all those in my message inbox,
And the clever ones who helped me unlock
The games I could never clear...
Especially the ones, who hit- 'like' n 'share'.

Bless the ones who never missed 
My Birthday which was lovingly wished
And all those who sent me a smiley
Or a joke, a link, a thought, almost daily.

Please do save this little prayer
In your grand heavenly computer
For it to be stored in the CD ROM 
As an earnest message to God.com
Amen

The Khecheopalri Lake...Wishing Lake, Sikkim (Unexplored Lands)

Perched at an altitude of 6100 ft is Peling, a small town in the district of West Sikkim. It offers the most spectacular and a closest view one can get of Mt.Kanchenjunga, right from the comfort of our Hotels.  Its a laid back town which is set on a back drop of  the snow clad mighty Himalayas with a few monasteries and falls around it and is an ideal place to relax during a short vacation. While at Peling one must visit The Wishing Lake which is a sacred lake known for its tranquility and scenic beauty. 

                                                                  (Image from Google search)

The Khecheopalri Lake  or the Wishing Lake lies 34km from Peling and  is also known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Padmasambhava). It is a sacred Lake for both Buddhists and Hindus and is believed to be a wish fulfilling lake. This sacred lake is located near Khecheopalri village.

The local name for the lake is Sho Dzo Sho, which means "Oh Lady, Sit Here".This sacred lake is embedded in the midst of the Khechoedpaldri hill. These hills are also considered  sacred and  is one of the pilgrim places of  Buddhists. We can find a few of them seated near the banks chanting their prayers in whispers so not to disturb the stillness of this beautiful lake.

                                                                                          (Image From Google Search)

A very interesting feature of this lake is that not a single leaf  floats on its surface. It is believed the birds pick  them up immediately, leaving the waters clear and clean, that makes this lake resemble a sheet of sparkling glass from the banks.

How To Reach And Where To Stay

The nearest railway station to Peling is the New Jalpaiguri Station, W Bengal. Taxis ply regularly from the railway station to Peling and to other places of Sikkim. There are plenty of hotels at Peling ranging from budget stays to expensive ones according to the view of Kanchenjunga from its hotel complex.

Dhyanalinga Temple, (Temples Of Tamil Nadu)

The Dhyanalinga,  a Yogic temple is located at the foothills of Vellangiri mountains, 30 km from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu .The temple was consecrated by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a yogi and mystic. This  Temple offers a meditative space that does not ascribe to any particular faith or belief. Absolute silence that prevails adds serenity and beauty to this place which is embedded in lush greenery and natural scenic beauty.

Dhyana in the Sanskrit language, means meditation and linga means form. Dhyanalinga is claimed to be a powerful and unique energy created from the distilled essence of yogic sciences and the first of its kind to be completed in over 2,000 years.

What amazes everyone who visit this temple is its architectural skills and the energy re vibrating in the premise. In ancient temples, the structure that houses the Deity is as important as the Deity itself. The parikrama or the walkway of the temple, the garbhagriha or the innermost shrine of the temple, the shape and the size of the idol, the mudra held by the idol and the mantra (sound) used for the consecration of the temple are the fundamental parameters of a temple. These elements are matched and built according to a certain science and based upon the understanding of the energies, thereby creating a powerful energy situation and facilitating inner transformation. The energies of the Dhyanalinga have been consecrated to last for more than 5000 years without any dissipation.

The elliptical dome that houses the Dhyanalinga is 76 feet in diameter and 33 feet high. It was built without the use of steel, cement, or concrete but with only brick and mud mortar stabilized with lime, sand, alum and herbal additives. This is the only structure of its kind.

As we enter this temple, on the side of the walkway we come across the monolithic Trimurthy Panel depicting the three fundamental states of human growth known as tamas, rajas, and satva, symbolized by three glorious aspects of Shiva: Hara, Rudra, and Sadashiva. These beautifully carved faces bring a sense of peace within us by just looking at it.

In India it is a tradition to wet ones body before entering the sanctorium as it is more receptive to the energies of the temple, so is at Dhyanlingam. A dip in the Theertha Kundam itself is an unique experience.

A subterranean tank located 35 ft  below holds a lingam immersed in water. The lingam is made of solidified and purified mercury. The mercury is said to have been solidified at room temperature and is kept floating with the pranic powers of Sadh Guru. People can take a dip in this water before they enter the Dhyanalinga temple. A semi-circular brick vault covers this tank, the inner sides of which have murals is of pure natural dyes with its theme depicting a scene of The Maha Kumbha Mela.

At the heart of the temple, in the sannidhi or sanctum sanctorium we stand before the immense and awe-inspiring Dhyanalinga. Vibrating with the power of the primordial, casting its spell on all those who enter its enigmatic presence, the Dhyanalinga towers up to a height of 13 feet, 9 inches. It rises out of the seven-coiled receptacle, the avudaiyar, which has been designed in such a way that every part of the avudaiyar is 3 feet 3 inches in length and the total length of the avudaiyar is 13 feet 9 inches, the same as the height of the Linga.

Surrounding the Linga is the jalaseema, a water body that has a cooling effect on the Linga and gives the impression that the Dhyanalinga is floating on water.

The Dhyanalinga is made up of a single high-density black granite stone and the Avudaiyar is made of white granite. Both the Linga and the avudaiyar are energized with the qualities of the seven chakras; hence the Linga has seven copper rings and the Avudaiyar is in the form of a seven-coiled snake.

The Dhyanalinga is kept constantly wet to enable the meditator to easily receive the energies emanating from it. Water drips onto it from a hemispheric copper dome coated with gold, which is suspended above the Linga. The resonating sound of water dropping over the Linga, the shimmering reflections of the oil lamps on the golden dome, the subdued interiors, and the all-pervasive silence makes the entire structure ethereal. The natural draught of air and the choice of natural materials make the dome a cool and soothing space.

When at Dhyanlingam Temple one must experience the Nadha Aradhana-an offering of sound to the Dhyanalinga, an etheric blend of vocals, singing bowls, drums and various other instruments amplified within the reverberating dome, transports one into the timeless space. A few minutes meditating during this period  enhances one’s receptivity to the energies of Dhyanalinga and we can experience time losing itself here......

To All My Facebook Friends (Just For Laughs)

 I am sure you will find this hilarious... 

A 66-year-old woman walked down the hallway of an Addictions Clinic, searching for the right department. She passed the "Heroin Addiction Department (HAD)," the "Smoking Addiction Department (SAD)" and the "Bingo Addiction Department (BAD)." Then she spotted the department she was looking for: "Facebook Addiction Department (FAD)."

It was the busiest department in the clinic, with more than three dozen people filling the waiting room, most of them staring blankly into their Blackberries and iPhones. A middle-aged man with unkempt hair was pacing the room, muttering, "I need to milk my cows. I need to milk my cows."

A twenty-something man was prone on the floor, his face buried in his hands, while a curly-haired woman comforted him.

"Don't worry. It'll be all right."

"I just don't understand it. I thought my update was LOL-worthy, but none of my friends even clicked the 'like'button."

"How long has it been?"

"Almost five minutes. That's like five months in the real world."

The 66-year-old woman waited until her name was called, then followed the receptionist into the office of Alfred Zulu, Facebook Addiction Counselor.

"Please have a seat, Lydna," he said with a warm smile. "And tell me how it all started."

"Well, it's all my grandson's fault. He sent me an invitation to join Facebook. I had never heard of Facebook before, but I thought it was something for me, because I usually have my face in a book."

"How soon were you hooked?"

"Faster than you can say 'create a profile.' I found myself on Facebook at least eight times each day -- and more times at night. Sometimes I'd wake up in the middle of the night to check it, just in case there was an update from one of my new friends in India . My husband didn't like that. He said that friendship is a precious thing and should never be outsourced."

"What do you like most about Facebook?"

"It makes me feel like I have a life. In the real world, I have only five or six friends, but on Facebook, I have 674.I'm even friends with Juan Carlos Montoya."

"Who's he?"

"I don't know, but he's got 4,000 friends, so he must be famous."

"Facebook has helped you make some connections, I see."

"Oh yes. I've even connected with some of the gals from high school -- I still call them 'gals.' I hadn't heard from some of them in ages, so it was exciting to look at their profiles and figure out who's retired, who's still working, and who's had some work done. I love browsing their photos and reading their updates. I know where they've been on vacation, which movies they've watched, and whether they hang their toilet paper over or under. I've also been playing a game with some of them."

"Let me guess. Farmville?"

"No, Mafia Wars. I'm a Hitman. No one messes with Lydna."

"Wouldn't you rather meet some of your friends in person?"

"No, not really. It's so much easier on Facebook. We don't need to gussy ourselves up. We don't need to take baths or wear perfume or use mouthwash. That's the best thing about Facebook -- you can't smell anyone. Everyone is attractive, because everyone has picked a good profile pic. One of the gals is using a profile pic that was taken, I'm pretty certain, during the Graduation. "

"What pic are you using?"

"Well, I spent five hours searching for a profile pic, but couldn't find one I really liked. So I decided to visit the local beauty salon."

"To make yourself look prettier?"

"No, to take a pic of one of the young ladies there. That's what I'm using."

"Didn't your friends notice that you look different?"

"Some of them did, but I just told them I've been doing lots of yoga."

"When did you realize that your Facebooking might be a problem?"

"I realized it last Sunday night, when I was on Facebook and saw a message on my wall from my husband: 'I moved out of the house five days ago. Just thought you should know.'"

"What did you do?"

"What else? I unfriended him of course!"

PS:sharing a forwarded mail

Baba Harbhajan Singh, The story of a Ghost Soldier (Untold Tales)

About 60 km from Nathula, Sikkim lies a shrine for a deceased soldier of The Indian Army. 
Late Sepoy Harbhajan Singh hailed from a village in Punjab. He was recruited into the Indian Army as a sepoy in 1956. In 1965 he was enrolled into 23 Punjab Regiment and was posted to Nathula the borders of India and China.

 The story goes to the days of post Indo-China war, when this soldier while escorting a crowd of mules to a remote outpost was fatally drowned in a glacier. A manhunt was sent to find him. His body was recovered after three days and was cremated with full military honours. 

The strangeness of this story is that, it was the ghost of this soldier which led the search party to the place where his body was found. It is said that he had appeared in his friend's dream  and asked him to build and maintain a shrine for him at the place where he was cremated.

Hence this shrine at the valley of Kupkup was built. This shrine holds the belongings of Baba Harbhajan Singh. A camp bed is laid out every night for him.  His boots are kept polished with a set of neatly pressed uniform for him everyday. But it is found that the sheets are crumpled by the next morning and the shoes lay dirty by evening.  

This deceased soldier draws a month salary which is sent to his mother in  the village and also avails his annual leave till date. His name is still listed on the payroll of the Indian Army and he has been promoted to Honorary Major over the years. 

Every year on 14th September, a jeep departs with his personal belongings to the nearest railway station, New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, where it is then sent by train to his village in Punjab escorted by a soldier. As per train rule the reserved seat is never left vacant, but for Baba reservation is done to travel to his home town every year with soldiers to drop and bring him back from his home town during his annual leave. The soldiers in this region believe that he warns them of any mishaps three days in advance.

If one wonders that if it is only the Indian Army who believes in this Strange and Legendary Ghost Sepoy.…?
Its ...a ...NO..!
Even the Chinese Army claim to have seen him patrolling at the borders during the nights and set a chair for him during the Flag Meet between the two Nations.

The Army Believes in Him… Do You..?

Believe It Or Not…!!

The Barren Lands Of Lakpath, Gujarat (Unexplored Lands)

A long drive on the lonely deserted road of Kutch for about 100km from Naliya, Gujarat, would lead us to the entrance of a forte wall, which holds a small town, Lakpath with a population not more than 1000 people. ‘Lakpath’ literally means the city of millionaires and had a glorious past of being a fertile rice cultivating region.The Sindhu River flowed through this town in the early 19th Century but turned its course, after the 1819 earth quake (now flows into the sea) leaving the soils of Lakpath dry and unusable.

The Exterior Fort Wall Of Lakpath

Lakpath is the western most land at the end of India bordering Pakistan on the Kori Creek and the seaward side is guarded by the Border Security Force. This extremely hot and dry place is unique, and is a perfect example of 'a no mans land'. It is deserted with few clusters of brick houses with nil activity of either people or animal around. The land is hard and barren devoid of any kind of vegetation. The huge fort surrounds  this empty town. This place felt so lonely and ghostly that we set a record of Lakpath being a place which we visited in a shortest duration so far. We drove around and took some pictures for our  album without meeting a single soul during the trip.

The town of Lakpath

Lakpath is a place which holds no tourist attractions except for a Gurdhwara which is said to be of historical importance as Guru Nanak had visited this shrine on his way to Mecca. 

A visit to Lakpath can be logged as a place of having traveled to the west most inhabited land of India for the adventurous travel bugs.

Nathula Pass, Sikkim (Unexplored Lands)

A trip to Gangtok is not complete without a visit to Nathula Pass.

The best part of the visit to this pass is the journey itself. The drive on the NH31A, an all-weather metalled road of 114km from Siliguri to Gangtok is filled with never ending scenic views. The green waters of Teesta River on the white sand shores travels with us for more than 33km on this highway. The road leads through conifers and bamboo forests  right up to Gangtok.

                                                                      (Picture from Google Search)

Nathula lies 56km east of Gangtok,at the height of 14,140 ft above sea level.

The Nathula highway is one of the highest road constructed on Indian soil by the BRO, (Border Road Organisation). Their motto “we don’t build roads in sky,” is proved on these lofty and frozen terrains of the Himalayas. The journey from Gangtok on these roads is like a ride into fantasy lands. The mist and the white snow all around, the zigzagging roads, gurgling falls are what we encounter all through our drive. As we near Nathula we enter the army area and can see the army deployed everywhere. This region falls under the restricted zone and prior permission is needed to visit here. The vehicles are to be parked at a short distance from the pass and we have to climb up quite a few steps to reach this pass. Nathula pass lies on the Indo China border and is guarded by the soldiers of both the countries on either sides of the barbed wire boundary. The view of the land of both the countries just separated by barbed wires, holds many untold stories of war.

The Tri coloured flag unfurled fluttering in the wind makes our heart swell with pride and our hands reach up to salute the soldiers guarding our country selflessly at freezing temperatures.

En route To Nathula Pass

The other places to visit around Nathula-

Changu Lake or Tsogmo Lake is a frozen lake at an altitude of 12,130 ft  meaning ‘source of the lake' in Bhutia language and is situated about 35 km from Gangtok. It is a 1 km oval shaped lake with a depth of 15 meters.

Yak Ride At Changu Lake

Baba Harbhajan Mandir is located at the Kupkup valley 60km from Nathula. It is the shrine of a deceased soldier, Harbhajan Singh who is believed to be still alive protecting the soldiers in these terrain till today.

The Waterfall (Poem)

I know not where you come from…

I know not where you go…

Do you come from frozen hill tops,

Or from hot springs down below?

Are you from the raindrops,

Or the brooks that flow?

Is there a path that leads you,

Or do you pave your own?

I wonder how you cut through,

The hard and mighty stone.

Do the birds and trees Thank Thee?

When you feed and make them grow.
Who trained and helped you dive here?

As a Cascade, in a place unknown.

The Submerged Lands Of Dhanushkodi ,Tamil Nadu (Unexplored Lands)

Dhanushkodi lies on the southernmost tip of Rameshwaram Island in the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. It was originally a pilgrim place where travelers visited. According to Hindu mythology, Ramayana, Lord Rama built a bridge from Dhanushkodi to Talaimanar in SriLanka with the help of squirrels and monkeys to bring back Sita who was abducted by Ravan, the King of Lanka. This bridge is known as the Rama Bridge or the Adam's Bridge which is said to be made of boulders  and rocks. It is believed that a cyclone during the15th century washed away the Adam's Bridge which people say could be accessed by foot.

Ruins At Dhanushkodi

The distance between Talaimanar and Dhanushkodi is about 31km, and is the closest land border between India and Sri Lanka. Trade and exchange of goods flourished between these places through ferry service. In 1964 a super cyclone hit this region. Tides  more than 10ft submerged this active fishing town and killed 1000s of people. The Boat Mail, a passenger train which originated from Chennai Egmore was swept away with its 115 passengers and staff on the stormy night of December ’64 off the tracks at Dhanushkodi. The locals say that the waves reached till Rameshwaram Temple where people took refuge.

The Ride By The Tempo

After the recent tsunami in 2004 Dhanushkodi

bares an even devastated look. The only modes of approach to this place is via tempos and jeeps taken for hire from the naval post at Moonram Chatiram. This 7km ride is an exhilarating trip through the sand dunes and waters of this shores, and is a ride to be  experienced by all adventure lovers. At Dhanushkodi one can walk on the sands of this once inhabited place which is now found in ruins. There is a small thatched shop which provides tea and hot fritters, and the few locals around take the role of a guide and show us the view around this place. The view of the merging seas of Indian Ocean and Bay Of Bengal and the Trail of Adam's Bridge sighted at a distance is worth the bumpy journey.

A trip to this place reminds us of the quote, "Nothing Is Permanent" - A place which stood bustling  with people a few decades ago,  now lies as a mass of  rumbles and ruins, sunk deep in the sands and corroded by the saline seas.

In The Fond Memory Of Naliya Queen (Travelogue)

A journey of 134km for 6 hrs.…

The Naliya Queen, a passenger train which originated from Gandhidam, every morning on weekdays ran on a single narrow gauged track connecting about a dozen remote villages of Kutch District till Naliya Cantt. This unassuming commute was treated as a royalty by the villagers as it carried water tankers and other commodities for their homes.

It boasted of 2 classes-the first class bogie which had the cushioned seats and the second class with wooden ones. There was an absolute nil nuisance of eats and mineral water vendors. 

The Lonely Platform At Naliya Cantt

But what made the journey unique and so… long? 

Naliya Queen had to travel through 2-3 unmanned railway crossing in the course of its journey. Its engine driver was deputed the additional job of shutting the gates… hence the train would stop just before the crossing, for him to get down and close the gates, he would then board the train and take the wheels. Likewise the train stopped after crossing the gate, for the guard to open them up and with the green flag waving off the train would move on…

This exercise was done meticulously both ways, to and fro. This train also had the responsibility of reaching Gandhidam back before late evening for its passengers to take their connecting  trains to other destinations. As an appreciation for its law abiding merits, the connecting trains would wait patiently for an extra few minutes, for its arrival on their alloted platforms.

Though this train was initially scheduled for military purposes, it later took the role of a passenger train, then was continued for heritage status. With the broad gauge conversion till Bhuj in the year 2000 and more luxurious modes of road transport, along with the havoc played by cyclones and earthquake in this region, Naliya Queen met its natural death.

Naliya Cantt Railway Station (1999)

The GraveStone at Madh, Mumbai (Untold Tales)

Madh Island Air Force station is perched on a high risen rocky terrain with one side of the compound sharing the sea. The lower part of the wall  facing the sea is made of concrete and stones and the upper part of the wall is grilled with wires. Since the mess is situated at a height of about 12ft above the seashore, the view of the sea through the grill is breathtaking. During the high tides the waves reaches up to the wall and the waters splashes onto the lawns of this beautiful station.

In the lawns of this officers Mess lies a gravestone… and the story behind this gravestone is the history of how this station was constructed.

It is believed that when the station was constructed on this shores, the contractor removed a gravestone and put it away on to the shore as it was within the the compound wall. But every time he built this wall, it would collapse by the next morning. He used all his skills and material, but this wall would never stay till the next day. He was puzzled by the whole incident and decided to withdraw from completing this project. That night he heard a voice in his dreams asking him to put  the gravestone back at its place. He got up very early the next day and moved the stone back to where it had laid and built the wall. The wall has remained strong guarding the waves till date.

No one knows the authenticity of this story but this gravestone lies near the wall of the mess and no one has dared to disturb it.

To add on to this strange story…

During our tenure ('93-'95) we decided to host a theme party “The Pirates Nite”…

The seashore adjacent to the wall

The mess was decorated with full zest for a whole week. The entrance took the shape of a cave and the whole decor had a haunted look with lanterns, lights and even spooky sounds were played. The party was scheduled to begin at 19.30 hrs. It was a beautiful October evening with cool breeze and an excellent weather for a party. But around twilight strong ghostly winds started blowing the shores. All the decorations were blown down, the banners and posters were ripped off from the walls and the whole place looked as if a tornado had struck the place. And the party was announced cancelled at 1900 hrs. Not a single decoration could be retrieved and the winds did not last even an hour.

The grill wall over looking the sea

I’m not sure till date if it was the weather or the spirit living there which had something to do with this episode, but none of us ever thought of another Haunted Theme party again.

Reliving that evening…

Believe It Or Not…!!