The new year began with many hopes and I planned to make this year special by making this year a year full of travels across the country. Seemed like a wonderful plan but this had to be done keeping my school vacations and my budget in mind.So it was decided- 2017 was to be the year of my Safarnama!A year full of travel and exploration to as many new places as possible.
Travel Trikon put up an update about a tour to Gandikota and Belum caves and I jumped at the plan as there was extended weekend coming up. More importantly ,the budget suited me just fine.Travel plan was scheduled from 26th January through 29th January and I was really excited! Yayi,yayi,yayi.....Chennai Express!!!!My hubby and daughter came to see me off ( this was a first) at Thane station while most of the 30 in the group boarded at CST and Dadar stations. Abhineet, Apeksha and Debosmita led the group. We had amazing games of dumb charades, cards and chit-chatted through the journey.I carried my novel which I completed before our return. Our train was behind schedule by an hour so we had breakfast of yummy idli-wadas and sambar. The train was filthy and had no dust-bins. Red ants and a cockroach had a gala time roaming around the compartment. People were throwing things outside the window, left, right and center! Whatever happened to Modiji's Swatcch Bharat Abhiyaan!!!What a shame! Seriously, no initiative can be successful if the common man does not take a part in it as a responsible citizen. After all how much can the government do?
Once at Muddanur station we took a tempo ride 28 kms away towards Gandikota, which as the Grand Canyon of India. The highlight of the ride was when three of us decided to climb atop the tempo for a part of the ride. What an amazing experience it was! it was an adrenalin high to have the wind blowing through our hair while we saw the paddy fields, houses and roads go rushing by. We halted at the Government resort adjacent to the fort. After lunch of yummy rice, daal, rasam, potato bhaji and chicken curry we walked towards the fort which was really picturesque. At the nearby temple there were superb and intricate carvings that left us all mesmerized, The walk to the canyon was not very easy but it was worth it as the view from the top was like nothing I had seen before! We could see the river far below and it was surrounded by an amazing formation of rocks. Breath-taking indeed! It was really nice to sit there peacefully and soak in the view. We could also see the fortification of a fort below. We descended and walked to the temple for a capture of the sun set and also visited the mosque adjacent to the temple. The mosque was beautiful with minarets and arches. The sunset was mesmerizing and truly speaking I can never have enough of sun sets to watch. Everyone has its own charm. A wonderful walk in the dark starry night after which we had dinner of fried rice, salad and chicken ghee roast followed by cassatta ice-cream which I had after a long time. Another walk on the dark streets with ghost stories to accompany us. After that we had a singing session full of dhamaal on the terrace and called it a night as we planned to go back to the canyon early in the morning for the view of the sun rise.
Travel Trikon put up an update about a tour to Gandikota and Belum caves and I jumped at the plan as there was extended weekend coming up. More importantly ,the budget suited me just fine.Travel plan was scheduled from 26th January through 29th January and I was really excited! Yayi,yayi,yayi.....Chennai Express!!!!My hubby and daughter came to see me off ( this was a first) at Thane station while most of the 30 in the group boarded at CST and Dadar stations. Abhineet, Apeksha and Debosmita led the group. We had amazing games of dumb charades, cards and chit-chatted through the journey.I carried my novel which I completed before our return. Our train was behind schedule by an hour so we had breakfast of yummy idli-wadas and sambar. The train was filthy and had no dust-bins. Red ants and a cockroach had a gala time roaming around the compartment. People were throwing things outside the window, left, right and center! Whatever happened to Modiji's Swatcch Bharat Abhiyaan!!!What a shame! Seriously, no initiative can be successful if the common man does not take a part in it as a responsible citizen. After all how much can the government do?
Once at Muddanur station we took a tempo ride 28 kms away towards Gandikota, which as the Grand Canyon of India. The highlight of the ride was when three of us decided to climb atop the tempo for a part of the ride. What an amazing experience it was! it was an adrenalin high to have the wind blowing through our hair while we saw the paddy fields, houses and roads go rushing by. We halted at the Government resort adjacent to the fort. After lunch of yummy rice, daal, rasam, potato bhaji and chicken curry we walked towards the fort which was really picturesque. At the nearby temple there were superb and intricate carvings that left us all mesmerized, The walk to the canyon was not very easy but it was worth it as the view from the top was like nothing I had seen before! We could see the river far below and it was surrounded by an amazing formation of rocks. Breath-taking indeed! It was really nice to sit there peacefully and soak in the view. We could also see the fortification of a fort below. We descended and walked to the temple for a capture of the sun set and also visited the mosque adjacent to the temple. The mosque was beautiful with minarets and arches. The sunset was mesmerizing and truly speaking I can never have enough of sun sets to watch. Everyone has its own charm. A wonderful walk in the dark starry night after which we had dinner of fried rice, salad and chicken ghee roast followed by cassatta ice-cream which I had after a long time. Another walk on the dark streets with ghost stories to accompany us. After that we had a singing session full of dhamaal on the terrace and called it a night as we planned to go back to the canyon early in the morning for the view of the sun rise.
