Bhubaneswar- Puri

On 4th Oct 2009, I, daksh.dad and mom set for Puri by Bhubneshwar express from Kurla Terminus at 8.35 P.M. Next day morning at 5.00 A.M. we arrived at Bhuneshwar railway station. On arriving at the station we came to know that there was a bus strike across the state and hence we were left with only option i.e., puri via train. We took the 6.35 Howrah puri express and by 9.15 A.M. arrived at Puri. The station was quite crowded and we were surrounded by auto-drivers offering to take to good cheap hotel. We decided to give a short and asked the driver to take to a place which should be close to the temple. After searching for almost 35 minutes and various hotels we finally selected hotel VISHAL. Total Damage: INR 2000 for 2 days /2 rooms. Driver Damage: INR 40.00. The hotel was almost 10 minutes walking away from the beach and roughly 1.5 kms from the temple. Check out of the hotels in Orissa is at 7.00 A.M. Our hotel check out was at 8.00 A.M. The rooms were non A/c with TV and attached toilet. After resting for roughly an hour we visited the Jagganth temple. Auto charges INR 40.00 and hand cart driven was for INR 30.00. The temple is in the middle of the city and there is a congested road in front of the temple. Outside the temple on the right side was the shoes counter where we deposited our shoes and mobile phones /cameras since it’s not allowed. At the entrance on the left side is a place to wash ones feet/face. There was this main entrance and on entering the gate there were smaller temples within the boundary. The entrance to the temple was from the left side and there is a prasadam counter with offerings from INR 51.00- 5000.00. There were pujaris surrounding us for offering prayers/-abhisekh, however we didn’t paid any heed. Now we got the glimpse of the temple and were simply amazing. I have visited lot of historical temples, but this was looking so ancient and there was so much of positive vibes. Inside the temple there were already devotees in large numbers and wishing to touch the Lord. There were basically 3 statues of Lord Jagannath, Balram and Rukmani. One needs to just keep on moving since the prayer hall in vertically quite long and there are 2 entrances to be cleared to get close to the Lord. There was separate arrangement for getting close and was basically taking a ticket of INR 40.00/person. However if one doesn’t wants to stand in a queue for the tickets, the pujaris will manage the tickets and will charge INR 50.00/person. We took the darshan and touched the feet of the Jagannatha. Kids below 5 years were not allowed near the Lord since it was too crowded and was basically for protection. Inside the temple wall were various other temples of gods and worth a visit. One can find monkeys who have adopted the temples as their homes and freely roam around and feed on the prasadams offered by the visitors. There was a place inside the temple compound with shops selling prasadams post offering to the Lord. We finished our darshan and nearby took lunch at JOSHI BHOJNALAY. Total Damage: INR 30.00/Person. Thali containing Dal, Rice, Vegetables (2 types) unlimited.
In the evening we went to the beach which was as usual surrounded by many visitors, and there was camel, horse rides for kids. One can find locals selling pearl, necklaces made of pearls. We asked our hotel manager to arrange for visit to CHILKA and SUN TEMPLE. Total Damage: INR 1100.00. In the evening we took lunch at RADHEGOVIND which was roughly 10 minutes walking from our hotel. It was a thali system- DAL, RICE, CHAPPATI, VEGETABLES-2, and KADHI- UNLIMITED. TOTAL DAMAGE: INR 40/- PLATE.
Next day morning at 7.15 a.m. we left for CHILKA LAKE-65 K.M. from Puri. The journey on the way was pleasant with lot of greenery, trees, and small ponds. Finally around 9.15 a.m. we arrived at CHILKA LAKE. There were small shops selling refreshments, coconut vendors etc. There were various packages available i.e., dolphin viewing, crazy crabs and lake water joining the sea –INR 800.00. Keeping the all constant however bird viewing – INR 1200.00. We took the first one and opted for the mechanical boat, however one can also take speed boat by paying INR 100.00 more. The boat was exclusively for our family was had roof cover to protect from sun. The experience was simply marvelous with water all over and green patched of mass in between. This reminded me backwater at Kerala and this was equally beautiful. Finally after boating for an hour we arrived at the spot where after few minutes and patience we saw INDIA DOLPHINS jumping in a group. The trip was worth post watching dolphins and we all were thrilled and excited. Meanwhile there were other boats also which joined the show. Next he took us to a beach in the middle where the lake was meeting the sea and there were few small shanties selling coconut water- INR 10.00, crabs, fishes etc. There were locals selling pearls straight out from the sea and breaking the shell in front of us for INR 20.00 per pearl. There was calm and serenity on the beach with very few peoples visible. Next we proceeded towards SUN temple which was 36.00 k.m. from Puri, and by 3.00 P.M. we arrived at SUN TEMPLE. The car dropped us almost a kilometer away since tourist cars are not allowed. We took an auto and within 10.00 minutes arrived at the entrance of the temple. Total Damage: INR 30.00. There was an entrance fee of INR 5.00/ person and guides were available for INR 110.00. The sun temple is a marvel and perhaps only a few can match its fine art work and the beauty. There were 2 elephants – stones welcoming at the entrance and the temple was behind this structure. There were in total 24 wheels and 7 horses and the statue of Lord Sun on 3 sides. The government has build up beautiful garden around the temple and the carvings on the walls were fantastic. Overall it was magnificent and worth a visit. Just outside the temple are small shops selling articles made of stones, pictures of sun temple etc. we took lunch at a MADWADI BHOJNALAY and proceeded towards PURI. We took the darshan once more and also visited the GUNDICHA TEMPLE which was roughly 10 minutes from the Main temple. At Gundicha, deities are brought for a week during the RATH YATRA.
Next day morning at 7.30 A.M. we set for Bhubaneswar via car TOTAL DAMAGE: INR 900.00. We arrived at DHAULGIRI- 8 K.M. from Bhubaneswar. It was basically a stupa and is a magnificent structure. We then finally arrived at LINGRAJ TEMPLE- in the city. The temple was quite old and within the walls there was more then 100 small temples dedicated to LORD SHIVA. The temple is a must visit and should not be avoided at any cost. Post darshan we visited the MUKTESHWAR and SIDDHESHWAR temples which were roughly 10 minutes away from LINGRAJ TEMPLE.
Finally our driver dropped us at the station and thus our journey came to an end but will remain permanently in our memory. On 8th Oct 2009 we caught the Konark express and reached Dadar on 10th Oct 2009.

Key Take away: Take A/C room since the place is close to sea it’s quite humid, bargain hard for hotel tariffs, don’t pay heed to pujaris.

For Pictures please visit the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30002962@N05/

Ahmadabad—Modhera

On 22nd May I and Ashish Negi set for Modhera and caught the Lok Shakti express at 8.25 p.m. Andheri. The train was packed with locals who usually travel till Palghar. Next day morning at 4.59 a.m. we arrived at Ahmadabad. Immediately we rushed to the platform No.1 to enquire for a train to Mehsana and go 2 general tickets for INR 28.00 /head. We rushed to platform no.3 and found Bandra-Jaipur express and were about to leave at 5.30 A.M. the next train was a local passenger at 6.30 A.M. we reached Mehsana at 7.59 a.m. and paid 100.00 to the TC for travelling in Sleeper class which was the difference amount and took the voucher. There is an ATM of SBI at the station and one can find lodge for INR 100.00 immediately near the station. We took breakfast at the nearby shop i.e., Dhokla, bhajia and tea. We took the straight main road i.e., Raj Mahal road and reached the bus stand in 10.00 minutes. The bus was at 9.00 a.m. from bus stand number 1 and the total damage was INR 30.00. The distance between Modhera and Mehsana is 25 K.M.and we arrived at Modhera around 10.00 A.M. we didn’t get down at the bus stand instead got off near SHAKTI FURNITURE from where the temple is much closer. One need to walk for roughly 10-15 minutes to reach the sun temple distance would be 800.00 metres. The temple is really a fine art and has much more intricate designs then the one at Humpi. There is water reservoir outside the main temple which has 108 small temples of SHIVA, Sheetlamata, and Ganesha etc. There is an assembly hall in front of the main temple and the visit was worth. The entire place is surrounded by a big garden where there a langoors. Local cultural festivals are held over here. There is just one refreshment counter outside the main entrance. The entrance fee is INR 5.00/ person. Outside the temple towards the bus stand when one walks down there is a step well—one step which can be visited .the step wells were built to help quench the thirst of the locals in those days. After spending almost 1-1.30 hours we left for the bus stand at 12.20 p.m. and had to walk down to the stand roughly 15 -20 minutes walk. The temperature would be 40-42. The bus was at 1.00 p.m.; however one can also take local auto which packs up passengers like anything. We arrived at Mehsana and took the Jammu Tavi express at 2.10 p.m. and arrived Ahmedabad at 4.48 p.m. our train to Bombay was at 8.10 p.m. Mumbai special and hence we decided to visit Adalaj vav –step well. There was a local bus which goes but since we were short of time, we negotiated an auto for INR 200.00 and reached the place at 6.15 p.m. the step well really marvelous with 3 steps down and are sure not to be missed and have an entrance from the top towards the garden side. It’s in the middle of this place adalaj. We rushed back and just before the station out rickshaw person took us to an old Jain temple which was built almost 175 years back and is great. We arrived on time and reached Mumbai next day at 5.00 a.m.

Key Take-away: carry water, caps.

For more pictures follow the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30002962@N05/