tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67836725366548825252024-03-13T19:47:37.201-07:00Travel SwetaAn unconventional traveller | Helping responsible tourism and homestays Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-39778999329638742002015-07-17T09:28:00.000-07:002015-07-18T02:36:47.518-07:00In Photos : Ramadan market of Chitpur <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dome of Nakhoda Masjid at Chitpur .</span></i></div>
Ramadan is the ninth and holy month of the Islamic calender. The followers of Islam (Muslims) abstain from drinking water and eating food from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan or Ramzan. It marks the anniversary of the revelation of their holy book by Prophet Muhammad; Quran.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A young boy selling skull caps .</span></i></div>
Muslims break their fast after offering Maghrib prayer; the prayer offered just after the sunset. Following to which they eat their evening meal; Iftar. Traditionally, an Iftar must contain three dates which are to be eaten to break the fast. In India many Muslims break their fast by also drinking water.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fresh fried Jalebi (Jilipi in Bangla ) .</span></i></div>
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An Iftar platter varies from places to places. In Kolkata , people mostly eat dates, fresh fruits, haleem, samosa (singara), onion pakora (pyaji ),beguni (chickpea flour coated fried finely sliced eggplant), spiced chickpea , kebabs, sweets like jilipi, halwa and firni.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Exterior of Nakhoda Masjid .</span></i></div>
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Nakhoda Masjid is the key mosque of Kolkata. It was built by a small community of Sunni Muslims from Kutch in the year 1926. The mosque looks similar to the tomb of Sikandra; mausoleum of Akbar the Great. The mosque displays filigree work on red sandstone; one of the popular form of Akbari architecture .</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A seller packing rumani vermicelli for his customer. </span></i></div>
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The threads of rumani are finer than the regular vermicelli and only available during ramadan. It is used to prepare 'Sheer Khurma ' a traditional dessert (vermicelli pudding) on Eid- ul-Fitr . </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Imported embroidered skull caps.</i></span></div>
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Taqiyah or topi ,the rounded skull cap which was introduced by Aurangzeb in India , who used to stitch them during his free time . He even traded these caps during his reign.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The seller displaying the best topi from his stock.</span></i></div>
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Nakhoda Masjid and lanes (Zakaria street and Rabindra Sarani) connecting to it are one of the major Muslim pockets of Kolkata. During the month of Ramadan, these lanes are crowded with makeshift shops selling dress materials, attar (perfume), skull caps, vermicelli, breads and varieties of food items. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Faiz Ahmed's attar (natural perfume oil) shop at Zakaria street. </span></i></div>
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Observing sawm or roza (in Central and Soth-East Asia) in the month of Ramadan is one of the basic acts out of five pillars of Islam. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The main gate of Nakhoda Masjid influenced by Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur Sikri .</span></i></div>
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Haleem, a protein rich savoury is famous in and around Kolkata during Ramadan. Haleem is made from legumes with minced meat (beef or mutton) and consumed after breaking fast. At Aminia , Haleem is particular to Ramadan and it sells like hotcakes in this area. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Haleem at Aminia. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Faces of Zakaria Street .</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Shoppers chock-a-block the lanes.</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A happy face selling Dahi Vadas. </span></i><br />
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Eid Mubarak !
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-70150817656870240532015-05-21T02:10:00.001-07:002015-05-21T12:11:32.381-07:00Bengal Bioscope : Dhunachi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Dhunachi, an incense burner ; an integral part of a Bengali </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">puja. The smoke is produced by burning choir and frankincense (dhuno/resin) . Earthen dhunachi (pot) is more popular in the households than pots made of brass. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">During </span><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="background-color: white; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/durgapuja?source=feed_text&story_id=10152840146758240" style="background-color: white; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;"></a>Durga Puja</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">, 'dhunachi-naach' ( free-style dance with dhunachi) is a common event conducted by puja pandals in the evening.</span></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0West Bengal, India22.9867569 87.85497550000002315.597874399999998 77.52782700000003 30.3756394 98.182124000000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-74491086064906419662015-05-19T13:37:00.000-07:002015-05-20T01:47:14.201-07:00In Photos : Handicrafts of West Bengal. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1. Terracotta.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A Bengali couple in terracotta.</i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Terracotta figurines from 'Poush Mela' of Bolpur. These artifacts are made from baked clay.Districts of Bishnupur, Birbhum and Bankura are famous for their terracotta works. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Price: INR 50.</span></div>
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2. Talpatar Sepai (puppet made from Palm leaves).</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The dancing talpatar sepai on a table mat made from Paitara .</span></i></span></div>
One of the oldest form of rod puppets in the history of Indian puppetrymade out of dried palm leaves. These leaves are also used to make hand fans in Bengal. Pattachitra on palm leaves is an acclaimed art in Odisha. Price: INR 10 .<br />
3. Dokra /Dhokra.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The lady with lamp.</i></span></div>
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A primitive form of art that had traveled from Eastern India to rest of the nation. The craft has derived its name from the caste of artisans who make dokra products from lost-wax. Price: INR 300 (figurine ) & INR 200 (neck piece) .</div>
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4. Kantha Embroidery .</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Kantha embellishment on a hand clutch .</i></span></div>
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Kantha stitch is an embroidery that finds a place in every Bengali household. Be it on a saree or on a bedspread this running stitch is loved by all. Traditionally Kantha is similar to a quilt; made by stitching layers of discarded sarees. Price: INR 250 .</div>
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5. Madur (Mat).</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Table mats from Digha .</i></span></div>
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Madur or mats are traditionally made of grasses and paitara in West Bengal. Paitara (murta plant) is also used for making 'shital pati'; natural cool mat. Price: INR 200 ( for a set of six table mats and coasters).</div>
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6. Jute Handicrafts.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Jute coaster.</span></i></div>
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From jute ropes to shoes, Bengal knows to extract every possible utility out of this vegetable fiber. Price: INR 10 .</div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0West Bengal, India22.9867569 87.85497550000002315.597874399999998 77.52782700000003 30.3756394 98.182124000000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-63538681950347316852015-05-08T11:55:00.000-07:002015-05-08T11:55:08.663-07:00Udichi - Tagore's last house <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 20px;">Udichi is the last house built in Uttarayana complex of Santiniketan. Rabi Thakur had spent his last few years on the two storied building of Udichi ;constructed on four pillars. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #292f33; line-height: 20px;">Rabindranath Tagore used to take poetry classes on its ground floor. His easy chair along with other belongings are kept in his bedroom on the top floor of the building. </span></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-53353761230037964482015-05-04T05:35:00.003-07:002015-05-19T10:35:30.414-07:00In Photos : Monasteries of Darjeeling <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"> 1. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Yiga Choeling Monastery</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Prayer bells outside the monastery.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #252525; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yiga Choeling Monastery </span>is situated
at Ghoom, which is 8 kilometers away from <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/romantically-darjeeling.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling</a> town. It is popularly known as Ghoom
(Ghum) Monastery, established in 1850 by Sherab Gyatso. The old Ghoom Monastery is laid on ideas of the newest school of Tibetan Buddhism; Gelug-pa.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Maitreya Buddha of Ghoom Monastery .</i></span></div>
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The statue of Maitreya Buddha (15 feet) is draped in royal clothes.The library of this 160 years old monastery boasts
of sacred Kangyur texts, which are <span style="background: white;">supposed
to be the work of Buddha himself</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A believer in search of enlightenment .</i></span> </div>
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2. <span style="background-color: white;">Druk Sangag Choling Monastery</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ramp to the monastery .</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Druk Sangag Choling Monastery</span>
is located on the Hill-Cart road and is about 5 kilometers from the district
head-quarter. It is popularly known as Dali monastery standing adjacent to the
fire station of <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/romantically-darjeeling.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling</a>. The monastery is newly founded in the year 1971 on
the principles of Kagyu-pa. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Kagyu sect is one among the three “Red-hat
sects” of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is derived from the colour of hats that
the monks wear during any occasion. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The famous 300 years old Rumtek monastery in Sikkim is also from the same sect which is presently headed by Ogyen Trinley Dorje .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Hostel inside the monastery .</span></i></span></div>
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<em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The monastery is home to more
than 200 monks and a couple of nuns. The
campus has a nunnery and an elementary school for young monks. It also has a
cafeteria “Kunga Palijor Coffe Shop” that serves delicious dumplings and coffee. </span></span></em></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Chitre <span style="background-color: white;">Monastery</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM9y057rrNEOJvOv54A4-ZScZolYdX36EaCZQ6e2UTF1dfewmwH-Kp8t7cPdhfxzekqOR5dCMvMG1dtnHBxd64Y5qHdMsQPqcW-CSXkePTcouDFuT0SSCYBeP9gTb2DWhfpXb9D85KLbV/s1600/DSC_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM9y057rrNEOJvOv54A4-ZScZolYdX36EaCZQ6e2UTF1dfewmwH-Kp8t7cPdhfxzekqOR5dCMvMG1dtnHBxd64Y5qHdMsQPqcW-CSXkePTcouDFuT0SSCYBeP9gTb2DWhfpXb9D85KLbV/s640/DSC_0612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">View of the monastery during sunset.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></em></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The monastery of Chitre
village is at an elevation of more than 8300ft. The village serves as the first
resting p</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">oint for the trekkers of Singilila National Park. It is about 3 </span>kilometers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> uphill from Manebhanjang . Like Dali, this</span></span><em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> monastery also belongs to Kagyu
sect and even attracts visitors from Ladakh. The famous monastery of Alchi in Ladakh follow the same line of teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.</span></span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13G_1vmmxHU_apa6JF5DeFP1JI_GRlxA7tRsA3KERwzEwkeYrIDn2KNHDY_LxuI2BPZwcwXI2e2SKhKQ1KAqp5ffCdH27ZLUYfGafEjv9tI2p18lzsqiRiI9Zh13d_H6SYYywVY56tkTn/s1600/DSC_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13G_1vmmxHU_apa6JF5DeFP1JI_GRlxA7tRsA3KERwzEwkeYrIDn2KNHDY_LxuI2BPZwcwXI2e2SKhKQ1KAqp5ffCdH27ZLUYfGafEjv9tI2p18lzsqiRiI9Zh13d_H6SYYywVY56tkTn/s640/DSC_0091.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Vertical Darchor prayer flags in Chitre. </span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The monastery
has a small research </span><span style="line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">center</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> for students studying Buddhism. </span></span><em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;">It has antique statues of Buddha
made of precious and semi-precious metal from South East Asian countries like Thailand
and Cambodia.</span></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2Z34TbnSrI7UNYBKEXDlaQM-P0ConJ-w9FGyWCV-WGsO4jLtQYLwVSWZccJzEvi6kuHnYfBvAF0X2rJPOZkFuo82Sj6bPKO7SpKKFUhm4M6UaJx-_W5Ui4CtxGis-zjVwZIQWiAUvIU5/s1600/DSC_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2Z34TbnSrI7UNYBKEXDlaQM-P0ConJ-w9FGyWCV-WGsO4jLtQYLwVSWZccJzEvi6kuHnYfBvAF0X2rJPOZkFuo82Sj6bPKO7SpKKFUhm4M6UaJx-_W5Ui4CtxGis-zjVwZIQWiAUvIU5/s640/DSC_0607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="background: white;">Chortens of Chitre. </span></em></span></div>
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<em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">4. </span></span></span></em><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Samten Choling Monastery</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbHy9g32W6JJr07bPRN1C56N79iC7IqLvIMq9U3A_FT812-BF6Z-uqYmueFe69OfMvoriPopYE2Ejail4VOHmtmY8VX7wEFOd_0pcAN02YX7nrfamm5FeBLAj_F7t78AfgbgyUQw1WNTZ/s1600/DSC_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbHy9g32W6JJr07bPRN1C56N79iC7IqLvIMq9U3A_FT812-BF6Z-uqYmueFe69OfMvoriPopYE2Ejail4VOHmtmY8VX7wEFOd_0pcAN02YX7nrfamm5FeBLAj_F7t78AfgbgyUQw1WNTZ/s640/DSC_0366.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">View of the monastery from its terrace.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Samten Choling Monastery is popularly
known as New Ghoom Monastery to the tourists. The Monastery is in Ghoom and is a
new establishment if compared to </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yiga Choeling ( Old Ghoom)
Monastery which is located within a </span>kilometer<span style="font-family: inherit;"> from </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Samten Choling</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsGvTz5_ZADk4Nj5uf9HL9nSNIELjoDQdO9jSH35kaToz0STw9Vj2NFE6IIl6fM9siLbDJUD7wdRO2ZKGCTTMsgiDdHtGrvSgMMG4GuAU2det1bU-JGZ7bfAvgvsM_rt1bOeUnxBL8Yq2/s1600/DSC_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsGvTz5_ZADk4Nj5uf9HL9nSNIELjoDQdO9jSH35kaToz0STw9Vj2NFE6IIl6fM9siLbDJUD7wdRO2ZKGCTTMsgiDdHtGrvSgMMG4GuAU2det1bU-JGZ7bfAvgvsM_rt1bOeUnxBL8Yq2/s640/DSC_0356.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i> Inside the monastery.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">The 26 feet statue of Maitreya Buddha, here is in Bhiksu (monk) avatar. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Like Old Ghoom
Monastery it follows principles of “Gelug-pa”. This sect is also known as “Yellow-hat "sect. The </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">terrace of the monastery gives an enchanting view of <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/romantically-darjeeling.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling</a> town. The railway track of <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/darjeeling-himalayan-railway.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling Himalayan Railway </a> runs adjacent to its entrance. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRtqZbSCdarwZptJh_6cSNZ1L7tsHCcnCTw0oquzomZAAdwIwcHmM_FBhavriOYxKvCis1GV1rxeGfQPyNZEi4gTCsDht0XeH6CZ49DrokBl-NcutCkDyHdoRMJ4PS727BzYxBfXTjti1/s1600/DSC_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRtqZbSCdarwZptJh_6cSNZ1L7tsHCcnCTw0oquzomZAAdwIwcHmM_FBhavriOYxKvCis1GV1rxeGfQPyNZEi4gTCsDht0XeH6CZ49DrokBl-NcutCkDyHdoRMJ4PS727BzYxBfXTjti1/s640/DSC_0354.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Je </span></i><em><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tsongkhapa , founder of Gelug-pa sect in Yellow-hat.</span></span></em></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0Darjeeling, West Bengal, India27.0360066 88.26267510000002426.9228561 88.101313600000026 27.1491571 88.424036600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-63631853890669789722015-04-19T12:38:00.003-07:002015-04-22T01:21:09.587-07:00Top 20 photos taken by Moto G (2nd Gen)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am using MotoG 2nd generation since October 2014. While buying the mobile, I was comparing a couple of hardware features, those were rear/primary camera and battery life . My budget was fixed at INR 20000, which left me to choose either Moto G (2nd Gen ) or iphone 4S (as per my favorable criteria). However in between the range of fifteen to twenty thousands , there were options from Samsung but didn't consider as I felt those lacked in sense of sharpening of an image.<br />
Since I was looking for a budget phone, never expected a great detailing on a low-light shot. With Moto G2 , I am using the google camera and I feel it is great value for money after using its 8 MP primary lens. <br />
<br />
Here are my top 20 Photos that I have taken over the last six months with Moto G (2nd Gen) sans filter :<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR4IWJXxBxUHATA-SUAHDWwlfxJz_rDp2bH5zcjJUxdv5cTqZeY_b_xCv7GDvasyKJJAkPSqwcnX0pmREVrjTIpOzQZUg0QwwOQn0eurgFb_YIRzRUavyQmNgCP8EoPvfpqm7Vw3L-c63/s1600/IMG_20141024_103038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR4IWJXxBxUHATA-SUAHDWwlfxJz_rDp2bH5zcjJUxdv5cTqZeY_b_xCv7GDvasyKJJAkPSqwcnX0pmREVrjTIpOzQZUg0QwwOQn0eurgFb_YIRzRUavyQmNgCP8EoPvfpqm7Vw3L-c63/s1600/IMG_20141024_103038.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The morning after Diwali .</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeEbFFGaef4lQVD4eQSgaoJFH_cSKDDRVtJFdCvHPv9vw-6tn_yMUyDzm-3C_nGbhE5NZLWdzrDZhbJp_oUmHC0KV0ezLb5FIS4lECsCT-rD77PlTEcwj0cFjDPusKyhhKAd_VSaEzSqb/s1600/IMG_20141030_112711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeEbFFGaef4lQVD4eQSgaoJFH_cSKDDRVtJFdCvHPv9vw-6tn_yMUyDzm-3C_nGbhE5NZLWdzrDZhbJp_oUmHC0KV0ezLb5FIS4lECsCT-rD77PlTEcwj0cFjDPusKyhhKAd_VSaEzSqb/s1600/IMG_20141030_112711.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In search of vitamin D.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7SmptJWPWa4BFi6cbO4kU4HgbWrZ8bddBeu5rTXjDyf4Hm-zg-bh-RnI56LJdljXdqr-lO2171RchQu8C2pRJt7MyKTnh6mskK8qwplwi4fpG3Zz_v09E1ZkT4aQoEiztrQWlYO70UhR/s1600/IMG_20141204_100853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7SmptJWPWa4BFi6cbO4kU4HgbWrZ8bddBeu5rTXjDyf4Hm-zg-bh-RnI56LJdljXdqr-lO2171RchQu8C2pRJt7MyKTnh6mskK8qwplwi4fpG3Zz_v09E1ZkT4aQoEiztrQWlYO70UhR/s1600/IMG_20141204_100853.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morning rush at Howrah. </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtV2kQR6KwDRsnl5Xq_DVMslyvERpVLrQ7et_tJwncIJ3FkCkhjeduv_F1YgHpMuPeoAZEGalqUT7EQraR4nZg6FVKoN5ihBtW2Mx8zDgh6gl8K1fQE5iqgA6ba1Ob2YAgmtvK74hW7g9/s1600/IMG_20141220_174519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtV2kQR6KwDRsnl5Xq_DVMslyvERpVLrQ7et_tJwncIJ3FkCkhjeduv_F1YgHpMuPeoAZEGalqUT7EQraR4nZg6FVKoN5ihBtW2Mx8zDgh6gl8K1fQE5iqgA6ba1Ob2YAgmtvK74hW7g9/s1600/IMG_20141220_174519.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Evening charm of Princep Ghat . ( Low light performance is not at par)</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHg6NH_z7CabnTYwjDt4YHEDPA_J-p4bxddJRfpnK4oGPhPEquQqhq2QW3t0d63oBp8zw0hv8DGwdWlW7DOwYof_4EvXQPOwdkQC1z5xrKNzbAFLCEmOkTZu5a7AKbMA-64zN5Sr0iDO-/s1600/IMG_20141226_115357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHg6NH_z7CabnTYwjDt4YHEDPA_J-p4bxddJRfpnK4oGPhPEquQqhq2QW3t0d63oBp8zw0hv8DGwdWlW7DOwYof_4EvXQPOwdkQC1z5xrKNzbAFLCEmOkTZu5a7AKbMA-64zN5Sr0iDO-/s1600/IMG_20141226_115357.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hung Gama .</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCCWSBfcIBGWdg-KODnOJnnkbqVC8zf47FbfxP7lDmgyAg5fmPSYaaotFDI4Jr1H51g_wJCKDBbww_GMEoDnNkDh4SWNoSNB-zkY9d5CFJzltD39M69dfd8dS6rVS7Hl1Ajk4oD3vpb8x/s1600/IMG_20141228_131851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCCWSBfcIBGWdg-KODnOJnnkbqVC8zf47FbfxP7lDmgyAg5fmPSYaaotFDI4Jr1H51g_wJCKDBbww_GMEoDnNkDh4SWNoSNB-zkY9d5CFJzltD39M69dfd8dS6rVS7Hl1Ajk4oD3vpb8x/s1600/IMG_20141228_131851.jpg" height="640" width="636" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Red soil of Birbhum . At Tagore's garden area.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hello Kitty.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sunrise at Tinchuley.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUD-ZbDfnC6vCs1-U5n2MdPri-w1htXzfAMgziD_h9zL6ZYUHyDVWQ8UPR6-yeygSvAdM4Zgca070NA6LyXc35jqtgeA3657cDn2Qo2cE-yf23Gd0Lh7YowLa6qSOqI9zbUNtDnDxinDp/s1600/IMG_20150123_132442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUD-ZbDfnC6vCs1-U5n2MdPri-w1htXzfAMgziD_h9zL6ZYUHyDVWQ8UPR6-yeygSvAdM4Zgca070NA6LyXc35jqtgeA3657cDn2Qo2cE-yf23Gd0Lh7YowLa6qSOqI9zbUNtDnDxinDp/s1600/IMG_20150123_132442.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>St. Joseph School , Lebong , Darjeeling.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsbzS6liDhho-QLRQMVCsO4a-IdqEM8VxHTFpSDGCPpqZ-ilvBuB09H1S24Vy5fScjvj5OFMVFvR1WCVmFDAwZP9L1QwaH0Opbm4oEfE0_vB9_hHZ6fvD0fVaqV9zOoUu_-3KObqVTPQs/s1600/IMG_20150124_133019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsbzS6liDhho-QLRQMVCsO4a-IdqEM8VxHTFpSDGCPpqZ-ilvBuB09H1S24Vy5fScjvj5OFMVFvR1WCVmFDAwZP9L1QwaH0Opbm4oEfE0_vB9_hHZ6fvD0fVaqV9zOoUu_-3KObqVTPQs/s1600/IMG_20150124_133019.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Little lamas during recess time at Chitrey.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YHRiOjxvVWh5knQpoiiTTPuRC6Dvb6_xGrCnJO07RFq57hAXUvHgfOfF3sFvAfPY38W_HnewNfrhP4aVbum5pvpFOnJMdoPOyh2kiR3L2dgcfsuMLodRkv4iBBILuGQPnjXxn_e0_lXi/s1600/IMG_20150125_130125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YHRiOjxvVWh5knQpoiiTTPuRC6Dvb6_xGrCnJO07RFq57hAXUvHgfOfF3sFvAfPY38W_HnewNfrhP4aVbum5pvpFOnJMdoPOyh2kiR3L2dgcfsuMLodRkv4iBBILuGQPnjXxn_e0_lXi/s1600/IMG_20150125_130125.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The blue sky of Sandakfu.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3Zk2FAuhowtW3lLx_lIG-r9GzoGBnKyBDfQsSDz1GtrXLJ1FOa71n_iCi8s7_W64pQG2SL27b51NC73KRvoIrsOQI29tU3myYrZqkX-NU3N8rKRQ1sB17PoQ24hFekYJtq5iaT-YVr55/s1600/IMG_20150125_140814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3Zk2FAuhowtW3lLx_lIG-r9GzoGBnKyBDfQsSDz1GtrXLJ1FOa71n_iCi8s7_W64pQG2SL27b51NC73KRvoIrsOQI29tU3myYrZqkX-NU3N8rKRQ1sB17PoQ24hFekYJtq5iaT-YVr55/s1600/IMG_20150125_140814.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sacred lake of Kala Pokhri uniting the borders of Nepal and India. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FIbmCQv176f7TvIxdChfENBmmjr8NiNzsRkmWYvLxsIXfP0RpE6UqG9TRBbS-riW9wBYOf5PZkK_Ao2DCj3FzXfQHxLY5amReGsNAlThUdTEWzoYoEtmpx-R9t-f5FZwRCaEno50jArT/s1600/IMG_20150203_165740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FIbmCQv176f7TvIxdChfENBmmjr8NiNzsRkmWYvLxsIXfP0RpE6UqG9TRBbS-riW9wBYOf5PZkK_Ao2DCj3FzXfQHxLY5amReGsNAlThUdTEWzoYoEtmpx-R9t-f5FZwRCaEno50jArT/s1600/IMG_20150203_165740.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Setting of the sun on a wintry evening. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Small things that knits vintage of Calcutta. ( taken in low light )</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4wW1eiBIAJQyIojZvVY1dBbLamULrsCaHkKuU4naiuJ5NtVB_K9T9uGh386nmTFq6jRpJcgS66lcOyuwMNMJXzQ64MgTkhhWvaUmvSvCpeHqmNPPEi787c89AXWfB_SgsZtD-z2UXj4O/s1600/IMG_20150228_161716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4wW1eiBIAJQyIojZvVY1dBbLamULrsCaHkKuU4naiuJ5NtVB_K9T9uGh386nmTFq6jRpJcgS66lcOyuwMNMJXzQ64MgTkhhWvaUmvSvCpeHqmNPPEi787c89AXWfB_SgsZtD-z2UXj4O/s1600/IMG_20150228_161716.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jama Masjid. Delhi -06.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod1CuA42vLRoDFTEO6m7n5k0ojWczcdqet1d_ICWbA1Y6MZag_uYH18WbXaWGV-dAlAqquDoHsbUoBjaux-wyKYD05-k8-3YnZ2jMVkPQJSl9ZIuEjk_zhyQgYk7Kwl6emda552RuDecS/s1600/IMG_20150302_164906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod1CuA42vLRoDFTEO6m7n5k0ojWczcdqet1d_ICWbA1Y6MZag_uYH18WbXaWGV-dAlAqquDoHsbUoBjaux-wyKYD05-k8-3YnZ2jMVkPQJSl9ZIuEjk_zhyQgYk7Kwl6emda552RuDecS/s1600/IMG_20150302_164906.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sheesh Mahal . Lodhi Garden. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hmmm.. something Fishy about it !</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwSjHn1OaB2Ciu_AJhB9lGrjsox0TUFkJPV6bwWQ39ajQxEe4b5j1psWU3jbQPgFLkNP2nTXnT9MlIi8-E0lrYB5jMxRFTaQJAh8RwbH7AaTi_yOn_09unzQjLlbceM-NsawKqxhMVUSI/s1600/IMG_20150313_073520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwSjHn1OaB2Ciu_AJhB9lGrjsox0TUFkJPV6bwWQ39ajQxEe4b5j1psWU3jbQPgFLkNP2nTXnT9MlIi8-E0lrYB5jMxRFTaQJAh8RwbH7AaTi_yOn_09unzQjLlbceM-NsawKqxhMVUSI/s1600/IMG_20150313_073520.jpg" height="640" width="636" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sparkling jelly fish . </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>At work. Puri Beach. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCllzRnY-WSQUUH8L0G62Ttmc-fHXW4shjpHAZP6FVF3iPg1SlGh8kMvLU6gXH3p13P6h96bTv31cbmPbzcdBtIgnDOrPNGTHYb9XfiZXGEp4IqzfT7GGqfYCnItQMRWpU1jix9esdwx2/s1600/IMG_20150314_075609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCllzRnY-WSQUUH8L0G62Ttmc-fHXW4shjpHAZP6FVF3iPg1SlGh8kMvLU6gXH3p13P6h96bTv31cbmPbzcdBtIgnDOrPNGTHYb9XfiZXGEp4IqzfT7GGqfYCnItQMRWpU1jix9esdwx2/s1600/IMG_20150314_075609.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Market Place . Puri. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Follow me at <a href="https://instagram.com/chaabiskoot/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for daily shots . </div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-51655766167011609832015-03-31T20:00:00.000-07:002015-03-31T07:46:54.850-07:00 Taj Mahal in Quotes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818;">“The Taj Mahal rises above the
banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.”-<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Rabindranath Tagore .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhJwAxA3NWsCePn0G8Txh-r_bu_k22LU1D_KDpUCVcsQgddFycdR79NTBkRcD5jKH5E_phgrppVHk6yEt4lAUJQ5CAYZA9HNwsOnAhzXC0uVD3cLuNGCC97TZVKW5RAHjwYIiomUPg2Z0/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhJwAxA3NWsCePn0G8Txh-r_bu_k22LU1D_KDpUCVcsQgddFycdR79NTBkRcD5jKH5E_phgrppVHk6yEt4lAUJQ5CAYZA9HNwsOnAhzXC0uVD3cLuNGCC97TZVKW5RAHjwYIiomUPg2Z0/s1600/IMG_3033.JPG" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Taj M</span>ahal as seen from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musamman_Burj_%28Agra_Fort%29" target="_blank">Musamman Burj </a>tower in Agra Fort.</i><br />
<o:p style="text-align: left;"> </o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">"The sight of this mansion
creates sorrowing sighs and makes sun and moon shed tears from their eyes. In this world this edifice has been made to display, thereby, the Creator's glory." - Shah Jahan.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-DLwzh_xanYLbGuGp_IoYCSlC6qYDon0G-V3wU74Gsik2eq4hvMuunTTCg6HYpy7mO4O86kEWtkFgOXMoj5usq5dsZr5UrMMQ3xhNn_jJH_nKhrZY1obtIsZ14Jx4yLhuYXUBYUQ8SeL/s1600/IMG_3080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-DLwzh_xanYLbGuGp_IoYCSlC6qYDon0G-V3wU74Gsik2eq4hvMuunTTCg6HYpy7mO4O86kEWtkFgOXMoj5usq5dsZr5UrMMQ3xhNn_jJH_nKhrZY1obtIsZ14Jx4yLhuYXUBYUQ8SeL/s1600/IMG_3080.JPG" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Labour of Love. <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“The
site selected for the mausoleum was to the south of the City. It was originally
a palace of Raja Man Singh, but it was the property of his grandson, Raja Jey
Singh.” - </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2b2b2b;">Syed Muhammad Latif</span> referring to BadshahNama <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2b2b2b;">in his book “Agra – Historical and Descriptive”.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUuKCGuDvzkqCPq1y_HT4fvIUTUsK3cGJjF-CIiWm6K8L7zknFKL2wUu10K5wHNGCNrsaZyaC-_TH2XRHKGb1tBS8BTirLzFpTwX4-baRPciu4GeAL2m71NU9N9fVvwMtIrjXqQ3z2a7y/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUuKCGuDvzkqCPq1y_HT4fvIUTUsK3cGJjF-CIiWm6K8L7zknFKL2wUu10K5wHNGCNrsaZyaC-_TH2XRHKGb1tBS8BTirLzFpTwX4-baRPciu4GeAL2m71NU9N9fVvwMtIrjXqQ3z2a7y/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amanat Khan main calligrapher
of Taj Mahal used optical trick <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe-l%27%C5%93il" target="_blank">Trompe l’oeil</a> to inlay verses from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran" target="_blank">Quran</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"If
I had never done anything else in India, I have written my name here, and the
letters are a living joy."-Lord Curzon. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2dKc6Sa_Fpxq3wp-Pe0mDafUd81sEpSLvEgFa4-WuqItk8TY_ThnSN0erI-AcWCLguQAe-TUNWcziBwRPa7royE8dx-KJuEPVXQ56OXrM19sJN4tqDWeeUiKKY8cvstLOD5JehpuUMyw/s1600/IMG_3145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2dKc6Sa_Fpxq3wp-Pe0mDafUd81sEpSLvEgFa4-WuqItk8TY_ThnSN0erI-AcWCLguQAe-TUNWcziBwRPa7royE8dx-KJuEPVXQ56OXrM19sJN4tqDWeeUiKKY8cvstLOD5JehpuUMyw/s1600/IMG_3145.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamga" target="_blank">Tamga </a>(official stamp) of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_Empire" target="_blank">Mughal Empire</a> on top of the main dome. Hooks attached with the dome is </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is used for cleaning it. </span></i><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">To
create Parchin Kari (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietra_dura" target="_blank">Pietra Dura</a>) inlays, artists dew patterns on the marble
with Henna. Then they chiselled out the design. Next they cut the stones to fit
the design and inserted them. – The Taj Mahal by Lesley A. DuTemple .</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K93T5Iq3JhO1nsAgOKaDmTbUeA9v7TRwWzvYfF77a5AHb1TSrhU0S8fYy6zzB4JG7uLvxL_4QsfqjnXY3Yy-PYDNaKp_ZmHnKFXwADLYWR5rZKWAcmb1UfWNkqZY9V_Q-bm_yWzJ9DUA/s1600/IMG_3084.JPG" height="446" width="640" /></div>
<i style="font-family: inherit;">The jade stones of vine were imported from China.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">“I
witnessed the commencement and completion of this monument on which 20000 men
worked incessantly for 22 years “ –</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #252525;">Jean-Baptiste
Tavernier , a French gem merchant and traveler.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOgIrFfRyXC6LQySmaAOM5n7Q5XlC-5_AOZGQNYVWqe29HDFjjsm-bRYXhsPrrEQVMNcgQGiVT4xMfPXhVtdt3OGH8sBNZte5IwsduCTj7_JQSs0ifgrfeb6z7XqD0Mdrxsa9r7Fsf4tU/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOgIrFfRyXC6LQySmaAOM5n7Q5XlC-5_AOZGQNYVWqe29HDFjjsm-bRYXhsPrrEQVMNcgQGiVT4xMfPXhVtdt3OGH8sBNZte5IwsduCTj7_JQSs0ifgrfeb6z7XqD0Mdrxsa9r7Fsf4tU/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" height="640" width="626" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Taj Mahal tomb of empress <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Arjumand
Banu (Mumtaz Mahal after her marriage) and her doting husband Shah Jahan.</span></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0Taj Mahal, Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India27.1750151 78.04215520000002527.1679521 78.032070200000021 27.1820781 78.052240200000028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-52732316469216114092015-03-26T07:50:00.000-07:002015-04-02T01:58:07.387-07:00Rakchham - A small hamlet of Kinnaur District <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I unzipped the canvas, soft morning rays approached my window.
Peeping outside the vent I saw a family of four marching to their hut along
with fodder that should be enough for a week carried by women on their back. The
burbling streams of Baspa which was visible from the window kept my
mind occupied and wondered at night that how far it would be from my tent? <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_Gos6EaAEpDcOb5B5fw3yn0IvWW9O011riqZ-VxTyj8csVBLB7DqKjkjZEPjd3vIwazBqFA130YOaM5CLi2JBu67sMyrv3IICydfBx52YBuWTq-Y05x8aZ2MZqm615ZsCGjTBhqPqlL1/s1600/DSC_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_Gos6EaAEpDcOb5B5fw3yn0IvWW9O011riqZ-VxTyj8csVBLB7DqKjkjZEPjd3vIwazBqFA130YOaM5CLi2JBu67sMyrv3IICydfBx52YBuWTq-Y05x8aZ2MZqm615ZsCGjTBhqPqlL1/s1600/DSC_0604.JPG" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glimpse of Baspa from my canvas window. </span></i></div>
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The gushing sky blue water on a shallow river bed surrounded by
fruit orchards (dominantly apple), </div>
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meadows and evergreen coniferous of oak and
pine trees on both sides of the stream outline the village of Rakchham. Rak-sh-yam as natives from the village
pronounce, is a place with around 800 people on the valley formed by Baspa
River which is sandwiched in between touristy destinations of Sangla and
Chitkul. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A villager walking towards the government school of Rakchham.</i></span></div>
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River Baspa originates from <span style="background: #F9F9F9;">Chung Sakhago Pass (Indo-Tibetan Border) which meets</span>
Satluj on its left bank at Karcham after flowing for a cultivable stretch of 95
kilometers. There are a handful of private accommodations and a PWD Rest House
in the village. Rakchham is situated at an altitude of 3050 metres and remains
snow cladded during months of winter (December – March /April). Like other
places in Himachal Pradesh, Baspa valley (also known as Sangla valley) can also
be visited throughout the year. It has
four distinct seasons according to which shades of the landscape change. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">First snow of autumn as seen from Rakchaam.</span></i></span></div>
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<u>Note: This winter the valley has received heavy snowfall. Due to
which flowering season of apple will arrive late. It is expected anytime
between 10- 15 May 2015.</u><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Flock of sheep on their way to home near Sangla. </i></span></div>
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<b><i>The Journey:</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Around 7:00 in the evening we reached Sangla Market. Due to a sudden change in our itinerary we
had to detour to Sangla – Chitkul highway (SH) and had an opportunity to visit Baspa
valley once again. Since the plan was impromptu, we had no prior bookings in
the valley. Also it was difficult for any hotel to accommodate a group of 13
people instantly during a peak season like October’s autumn break.As we crossed Karcham and
turned left to the state highway in the direction of Baspa River, I tried my
luck and called Mr. Ashok of a homestay near Kupa. His first advice to me was
to stick to Hindustan-Tibet Road and find a place for that night on NH itself.
Because hotels in both Sangla and Chitkul were packed with tourists from
Bengal. Secondly, the day was “Asthami” and being celebrated by the local
households. With that my preferred option of staying in a homestay was also
closed.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Natives of Rakchham village. </span></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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At Sangla, finding a hotel for thirteen heads was a challenging
task. Thankfully my internet had full strength till then with which I managed
to find a camp for all at Rakchham which was another 14 kilometres ahead of
Sangla. As the night dropped like heavy theatre drapes hiding everything on the
stage, it became risky to move ahead on the meandering road. On our way we also
found a couple of campsites, Banjara Camps and Kinner camps at Sangla and
Seringche respectively. It took an hour and twenty minutes to reach our
campsite at Rakchham. To reach Kailash View
camp we had to divert left from the SH and had crossed a rickety suspension bridge
over Baspa river. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Naresh Nege offered us three tents on our arrival. The tents
were compact and clean and soon the gurgling sound of the river absorbed my
tiredness and anxiety as I released my body on bed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tents of Kailash View Camp. </span></i></div>
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<b><i>The Information:</i></b></div>
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<u>Getting There:</u> </div>
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Rakchham
falls on the Sangla –Chitkul State Highway. It is 14 Kilometres from Sangla towards
Chitkul and 10 Kilometres away from Chitkul. Chitkul bound HRTC buses ply on
regular interval from Sangla during daylight. To reach Sangla one has to take
direct buses from Shimla or can take Reckon Peo/Kalpa bound buses and can get
down at Karcham. From there can board Sangla/Chitkul bound buses. Karcham is 18
Kilometres ahead of Sangla towards Hindustan – Tibet road. One can also hire direct private taxies from Shimla (240 Kilometres). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burbling streams of Baspa.</span></i></div>
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<u>What to do:</u></div>
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Rakchham has a post office, a health centre and a
co-ed secondary school. The valley at Rakchham is silent and picturesque. One can sit beside the
river and can listen to the sound of water rolling through the stones. Or can
hike towards Chitkul following the river path. Trout fishing is a popular
activity during May. In the months of
autumn (Mid-September to October) the valley produces the famous crisp and
juicy Kinnauri apples.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">River Baspa at Chitkul.</span></i></div>
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<b><i>Where to Stay:</i> </b> 1. Rupin
River View Hotel. Website: <a href="http://www.hotelinsangla.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.hotelinsangla.com/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: #F8F8F8;">91-9816686789,
91-9418092894</span> – Mr. Naresh Jisthu.<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Tariff: INR 1500-2000 per room.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Apple Pie Hotel. Website: <a href="http://www.hotelapplepie.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.hotelapplepie.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;">91-8860688496, 91-8894579727 – Mr. Mukesh
Sharma .<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Tariff: INR 2500 – 4000 per room.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 3. Kailash View
Camp. (This is where we stayed)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 91-
98305380746, 91-9816342746 – Mr. Naresh Nege .<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">Tariff: INR 1500 per tent.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 4. Aditya Niwas
Homestay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>098160-99668
– Mrs. Ganga Charni. <o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">Tariff: INR 800-1000 per room.</span></div>
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5. Rakchham Homestay. <o:p></o:p></div>
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094185-27669 - Mr. Tikkam Singh
Negi.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">Tariff: INR 800-1000 per room.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> 6. PWD Guest
house. </span><a href="http://hpkinnaur.nic.in/contactus.htm"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">http://hpkinnaur.nic.in/contactus.htm</span></a><span style="background: white;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Prior
confirmation from District Magistrate’s office is required for booking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A boy in traditional Kinnauri cap "Thepang".</span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0Rakchham, Himachal Pradesh, India31.378968 78.36431189999996131.3247425 78.283630899999963 31.4331935 78.44499289999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-84356144813865125422015-02-15T08:34:00.003-08:002015-03-31T01:19:56.637-07:00Romantically Darjeeling <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
"The one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once by even a glimpse would not give that glimpse for the shows of rest of the world combined."<br />
<br />
Mark Twain said this for Darjeeling as there is no other foothill from where one can see series of summit (including the highest one in the world) from such a close proximity .<br />
<br />
Here are three of my most favorite places (in random order) in <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/darjeeling-himalayan-railway.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling </a>(district) where I can relax and enjoy peacefully .<br />
<br />
<u>Gumbadara View Point :</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">" Sitting here once is in my daily routine" chirps this young lady.</span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Gumbadara view point falls in Tinchuley and is surrounded by vast stretches of tea gardens on both sides of a narrow metaled road. The view point gives a clear view of Kanchenjunga range. On a bright cloudless day one can even see river Teesta flowing into Sikkim . From under this concrete shade, one can admire Kanchenjunga on the right and green valley covering the rest against a background of cobalt blue sky. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Adda point.</span></i></div>
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<i>Here is a list of things that I would do to spend my day in Gumbadara:</i></div>
- Read a few travelogues and plan for my next visit back here.<br />
- Take a small walk in the tea garden and soak myself in pin drop silence.<br />
- Watch vehicles from the view point taking hair-pin turns.<br />
- Listen to music while gazing the magical white of Kachenjunga.<br />
<br />
<u>Lamahatta :</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">S<i>un rays passing through the Dhupi forest. </i></span></div>
A small hamlet, recently introduced to tourists by West Bengal government . It has a park well maintained and decorated by locals. But that is not the end, a steep trek from the park for a kilometer and half leads to Jorephokri (In Nepali "Jore" means two and "Phokri" means lake) . The trail is covered with high pine trees (locally Dhupi) and one can trek upto Takdah .The way to lake is so densely populated with dhupi trees that only lucky few beams can touch the ground. A serpentine gravel road will take you to the pokhri after climbing around 700 ft. Locals take the shortcut instead. They climb vertically gripping roots of the trees. I tried their method, it is easy (not that easy) while you climb up but difficult (very difficult) while coming down.The lakes are natural and considered to be sacred by locals. Out of the two, one has dried up recently , taking away the prefix 'jore' from its name.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sacred lake of Jorephokri reflecting shadows. </span></i></div>
<i>Here is a list of things that I would do to spend my day in Lamahatta:</i><br />
- Trek upto Takdah from here .<br />
- Carry a hot-case of Maggi and bottle of guava juice to have in between the walk.<br />
- Sit on a bench for sometime to watch changing shades of the pokhri as the Sun changes its position.<br />
- Would also spend time on the watch tower (Machan), looking west towards Kanchenjunga and letting cool breeze brush my skin.<br />
<br />
<u>Tonglu :</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kanchenjunga after sunrise from my hut.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That's true, if you are in Tonglu, you are that close to Kanchenjunga. From here the valley unbolts itself. The sea of cloud flakes fill the hollow. The cloud here are lighter than cotton and whiter than milk. The Kanchenjunga range is visible along with Kumbhakarna (Jano), Simvo and Pandim giving it a shape of "Sleeping Buddha". As the Sun rises it nibbles on Buddha's belly ( Kanchenjunga peak) with his first ray. And then it swaddles his entire body (Kumbhakarna (Jano), Simvo and Pandim ) with golden beams. Other than a few trekkers the place is home to only two families. One can also trek to an adjacent slope that falls in Nepal for a bird's eye view of this place. Neither pollution nor electricity have reached here.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">District Magistrate Bungalow in Tonglu.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Here is a list of things that I would do to spend my day in Tonglu :</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Small walk to Tumling.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Watch Kanchenjunga till zero visibility. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Have ginger tea while keeping my favorite songs in loop.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0Darjeeling, West Bengal, India27.0360066 88.26267510000002426.9228561 88.101313600000026 27.1491571 88.424036600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-78500272405657201262015-02-12T00:35:00.001-08:002015-04-22T01:24:36.115-07:00Oh Kolkata !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ever wondered why of
all places a City of sluggish trams and lazy hand pulled rickshaws and
occasional “Cholchhe Na Cholbey Na”s, was blessed with the sweet-tag of “City
of Joy”? For that matter is Delhi or any other city in India any less fun? I
have spent an endearing childhood and a lovely adolescence in Delhi and it was
all so much fun, but even then, I could never tag Delhi as the “City of
joy”. I couldn't do so primarily because:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1. In Delhi fish
markets would be like specialty appendixes to the elaborate Subzi Markets. In
Kolkata, Subzi Markets are ornamental appendixes to the elaborate Fish Markets.
Essence of Kolkata’s philosophical existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">2. Peace is Daal
Bhaat. Happiness is Mangsho Bhaat. Thumb Rule. No City thrives on a thumb rule
that is simpler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">3. It is almost
unconstitutional in Kolkata to indulge in less than four winter picnics. Unlike
in any other place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">4. As a Bengali
settled in Delhi, I thought Durga Pujo flavor is something that would linger on
your mind for 7 days. But my current stay in Kolkata has convinced me that a
Year has two halves: One half when you wait anxiously for Pujo. Second half
when you Plan and execute your Pujo. Simple.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">5. You get to speak in
a Language that has “Bhalobasha” in it: 24 X 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Victoria Memorial Hall from Maidan.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Now that I live in the city, I know its attitude , flavour and joy. Following is a list of places where I would visit on a day's city tour of Kolkata: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Inside a taxi .</i></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Maidan:</span></u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I am not an early
riser but to enjoy a walk from Maidan (Brigade parade ground) to Victoria
Memorial it is worth waking up at six and feel the mist on these lush green
grounds.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">They serve joggers,
aspiring cricketers and footballers and many strollers like me with greenery
all around and fresh air, may be that is why it is also called “Lungs of
Kolkata”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Its vast stretch of
area covers Race course to Eden Gardens. One can also enjoy a tram or a horse
cartridge ride surrounding these grounds during the day. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">After walking for
couple of kilometers I would need to fuel my stomach and for that
will park myself at Flury's for breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Children playing Rugby at Maidan grounds on Sunday.</i></span>
</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">College Street:</span></u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My next destination
would be College Street. From Park Street one can take a bus or taxi to reach
there or can walk upto chowringhee and take a metro from Esplanade station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Chowringhee, the place
crafted by Englishmen in mid eighteenth century with magnificent buildings and
streets connecting it (then gobindapur) with other two villages Sutanuti and
Kolikata. These 150+ years old buildings are still in existence and are
occupied with both private and government offices and banks. To name a few
prominent buildings like Writers Building, Royal Exchange (once home of Sir
Robert Clive), and GPO etc are standing tall in between Chowringhee to
Dalhousie Square (now BBD Bag).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">College Street is 5
mins walk away from Central Metro station via Colootola .If Dalhousie is heart
of the city then College Street is its beats. Coolotolla is the place
where you get various editions of decade old magazines to tattered switched novels
at a price of 15 to 20 rupees after hard bargain. These stalls on the pavement
have never disappointed me on my search. After all College street is the
largest second hand book market in the world.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Three things that I
will never miss having if I am in College Street are Sherbat from
Paramount, a coconut sweetmeat of Putiram and </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">আমেজ</span><span lang="BN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">charming Bengali word for flavour of the mind) [read espresso ] of
Coffee House.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Vendors of Coolotolla selling old books and magazines.</i></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dakhineswar:</span></u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">From College Street my
journey would move further to north of Kolkata, crossing Shaymbazar, Cossipore
to reach Dakhineswar. These colonies are one of the oldest in the city. The
residential plots are still the old houses from British era. They run parallel
to river Hoogly (distributary of Ganga). So the commuters have an advantage of
using water transports in addition to road. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dakhineswar Kali
temple was built by Rani Rashmoni who appointed Ramakrishna Parmahansa as its
chief priest. Every year on 1st of January it holds Kalpataru Festival.
The day when Ramakrishna revealed about his incarnation and turned into a wish
fulfilling tree.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dakhineswar is a
religious place but I will be visiting it for a different purpose i.e. to
have a mesmerizing steamer ride; crossin gwide Ganga to reach other side
of it. Usually I prefer evening time, when the sun is about to set, and
its vermilion shades are floating over the river along with strands of
hyacinth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">On the other side of
the river lies famous Belur Math founded by Swami Vivekanda. This Piece of
architecture resembles of a temple, a church, a mosque if seen from different
position. It lies on the west bank of river Hoogly. One should not miss
its evening arti in the hall. The aura of those thirty minutes is
inexplicable in words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dakhineswar temple from moving </span>streamer<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">New Market:</span></u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My last destination of
day’s travel would be New Market from Belur Math. There are local trains
in morning and evening those ply in between Howrah and Belur Math. After
reaching Howrah usual options are to take direct bus or taxi to New Market.
However, I would prefer taking launch (vessels) from ferry ghat to cross the
river. It is a beautiful experience to stand on its deck and watch the Howrah
Bridge while the cool breeze ruffles your hair. After crossing the river, one
can take any Esplanade bound bus to reach the market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">New market also known as
Hogg Saheber Bajar, named after Sir Stuart Hogg in 1903. Here also one
can find buildings built by Britishers.The market area was developed by them
and it is kept intact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">From Georgettes to
imported Georgia coffee, everything is there to shop for. I generally buy
fruits (those are not available in my colony market), fabrics, silver earrings
and perfumes from here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I would pick up a
fruit cake from Nahoum's for my family and would conclude the tiring yet
beautiful day on a plate of Aminia's Biriyani. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Calcutta's special Biriyani with Potato , a tradition in practice since the days of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah .</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>***</i></span></div>
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The hills of Darjeeling were once part of kingdom of Sikkim. It was after 1850 the British Indian Empire took Darjeeling under its constituency , declaring Sikkim as a protected state/kingdom. <br />
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With civilization, the British government built an excellent cart road for travelers and traders in 1861 connecting Siliguri with the hill portions. Reducing their journey time from a fortnight to 20 hours. This had also helped the government in trading and establishment of tea industry. At present , Hill Cart road connects Siliguri to Darjeeling via Rohini and covers a distance of approx. 67 kms.<br />
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During 1878 ,the British Indian empire proposed to lay steam tramways from Siliguri to Darjeeling . Which completed and developed into Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in the year 1881 and was opened for public.<br />
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After 130 years from its commencement, here I get a chance to ride on the train which was propelled by the same steam engine back then .<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Batasia.</span></i><br />
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At present, the railway track from Siliguri to Tindharia is inaccessible. It was suspended after a major landslide in 2010. The train now runs from Kurseong to <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/romantically-darjeeling.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling</a> twice in a day . Mostly availed by the locals and has a diesel engine for faster communication.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9TuOarvhvRcxyInjEp6rvs0JoPe37-JRnH03F4pzbhrgUA2vT1cpJ_qCAQ40rdw8mhi_UjajlWBAGvOVxibssB9sFMKGiTHZ9FAD-gtanfDvTnmIeYZ0Lc1OuaOSL3FigR1lAqK1ZCuC/s1600/DSC_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9TuOarvhvRcxyInjEp6rvs0JoPe37-JRnH03F4pzbhrgUA2vT1cpJ_qCAQ40rdw8mhi_UjajlWBAGvOVxibssB9sFMKGiTHZ9FAD-gtanfDvTnmIeYZ0Lc1OuaOSL3FigR1lAqK1ZCuC/s1600/DSC_0387.JPG" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A bogie of "Joy ride ".</span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">However for tourists , DHR organizes "joy ride " four times in a day; to and from Darjeeling station. The first halt is at Batasia loop, followed by half an hour stoppage at Ghoom station from where it takes an U- turn.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carriage leaving for Ghoom .</span></i></div>
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Batasia loop which is also loop no. 5 is the only curve that the train takes till Kurseong. The train for joy ride has two first class compartments with attached toilet. During lean season one can book the tickets from the station itself. However, <u>advance booking is advisable for peak tourist season.</u> ( April to July | October to December ) [ Online booking: https://www.irctc.co.in/eticketing/loginHome.jsf ]<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>War Memorial at Batasia Loop was constructed in 1995 , dedicated to brave soldiers. </i></span></div>
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On a sunny day, Kunchenjunga range is clearly visible from Batasia. This loop no. 5 is five kilometers away from Darjeeling station. From here another two kilometers uphill will take you to Ghoom heritage station , which the highest railway station in India at an altitude of 7407 ft. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ghum or Ghoom Station .</span></i></div>
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Ghoom is a junction point . Nepal bound cars from Siliguri take left from the spot and the other road meets at Darjeeling. While the cars coming from <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/romantically-darjeeling.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling</a> have to take an "U - turn" (ghum in Nepali) for Nepal from here. This is how the name 'Ghum' has derived .</div>
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At Ghoom, the engine of ' joy ride' changes its direction for the return. While passenger trains to Kurseong move ahead. The total time taken in joy ride is two hours, which includes halts at Batasia and Ghoom and a few unprecedented halts too when the (steam)engine becomes too hot .</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A halt before Dali Monastery. </span></i></div>
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There is also a carriage with diesel engine that plies on this two metre track for joy ride. Most of the time it is scheduled for the first ride at 8 'o' clock in the morning. It might not have vintage engine but it is smoke free and takes half an hour less to complete the ride than the steam one.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Smoke coming out from one of twelve remaining steam engine - DHR 778 .</i></span></div>
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The railway track throughout the journey runs parallel with roadways with a speed of 10 km/hr approximately (steam engine). It takes you through local shops, houses, buildings and monasteries.</div>
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Preferably, the train that leaves <a href="http://swetamukherjee.blogspot.in/2015/02/romantically-darjeeling.html" target="_blank">Darjeeling</a> at 10:40 should be taken for joy ride, as it bets better chances to view clear Kanchenjunga range. The clouds scatter mostly after noon. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Refueling the engine .</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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Following is the train timetable for the routes of DHR as on February 2015. </div>
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1. Kurseong (KGN) to Darjeeling (DJ) - 31 km</div>
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Passenger train - twice daily (Diesel engine)</div>
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Dep : 07:00 am | 3:00 pm</div>
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Arv : 09:45 am | 5:50 pm</div>
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2. Darjeeling (DJ) to Kurseong (KGN) - 31 km</div>
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Passenger train - twice daily (Diesel engine)</div>
Dep : 10:15 am | 4:00 pm<br />
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Arv : 01:10 am | 6:40 pm </div>
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Fare : FC INR 210 | 2S INR 30</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tourists at Batasia Loop.</span></i></div>
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3. Darjeeling (DJ) to Darjeeling (DJRZ) via Ghoom - 14 km</div>
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Joy ride - four times a day ( both steam and diesel engine plies )</div>
Dep : 08:00 am | 10:40 am | 01:20 pm | 04:05 pm<br />
Arv : 10:00 am | 12:40 pm | 03:20 pm | 06 : 05 pm<br />
(<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Diesel engine would take 30 minutes less than the steam one </span></i>)<br />
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Fare : FC INR 400<br />
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4. Darjeeling to Ghoom - 7 km<br />
Joy ride - four times a day | Passenger train - twice daily<br />
Dep : 08:00 am | 10:40 am | 01:20 pm | 04:05 pm | 10:15 am | 4:00 pm<br />
Arv :08:45 am | 11:30 am | 02:10 pm | 04 : 55 pm| 10:45 am | 4:30 pm<br />
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Fare : FC INR 400 (joy ride) | FC INR 140 (passenger train) | 2S INR 20<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A diesel carriage in Darjeeling station.</span></i></div>
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Tip : If it is a steam engine try to book second bogie from the engine as smoke is less but beware of tiny coal particles that might hit your face if the window is kept open. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03wo2NlRB87XOOxzByzCyXHISpf52iM98qKJwmoyMyjrtcIWCz2LLkjZ7OUlbmvwhD5xnPZ0Lk6q2R6vPNDea0hLFgtXlOyqdxGC7JNc-CrI199IMIpraRutrCwSn_xQ5SMtV5nPHU7r0/s1600/DSC_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03wo2NlRB87XOOxzByzCyXHISpf52iM98qKJwmoyMyjrtcIWCz2LLkjZ7OUlbmvwhD5xnPZ0Lk6q2R6vPNDea0hLFgtXlOyqdxGC7JNc-CrI199IMIpraRutrCwSn_xQ5SMtV5nPHU7r0/s1600/DSC_0835.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">DHR778 <span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> by </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp_Stewart_and_Company" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" title="Sharp Stewart and Company">Sharp Stewart & Co. of Glasgow</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: left;"> , designed in between 1889 - 1927. </span></span></i></div>
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Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO IN 1999 after 118 years of existence and help . </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v-QTXW2_-YYxmEniiA1Y5__kOA9Dn3n4fx3Qh6FNXMz4sblbTqNAoRX8S5W0PiFsoFv2IK11UymlnYxKVC_HmV9u6AhDg9fouLjd4NHUHq8OiASToJtt-6yLUlPC8NDgbhXcLwTi-avh/s1600/DSC_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v-QTXW2_-YYxmEniiA1Y5__kOA9Dn3n4fx3Qh6FNXMz4sblbTqNAoRX8S5W0PiFsoFv2IK11UymlnYxKVC_HmV9u6AhDg9fouLjd4NHUHq8OiASToJtt-6yLUlPC8NDgbhXcLwTi-avh/s1600/DSC_0891.JPG" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Guard honks to clear traffic . </span></i></div>
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</div>Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-1985786902857181932014-11-07T03:38:00.003-08:002015-02-17T11:15:29.418-08:00 হিমাচল series - পার্ট ১ <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b>আমি বাঙালি। দিল্লিতে বড় হয়ে ওঠায় স্কুলে বাংলা পড়া হয়নি। যেটুকু শেখা বাবা মায়ের কাছ থেকে, মুখে মুখে। আগে কখনও বাংলায় লিখিনি। বাংলা পড়তে হয় হোঁচট খেয়ে। তবু কী শখ - বাংলা মে লিখেগা। আমি ঘুরতে ভালোবাসি। তাই ঘোরাঘুরি নিয়ে বাংলায় লেখার চেষ্টা করছি। লোক-হাসানোর ব্যপার। তবু নিজের শখের কথা নিজের ভাষায় লিখছি। নিজের ব্লগে নিজেকে বাংলা শেখানো। বেশ মজা !</b></span><br />
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">মানালি শহরটা আমার খুব প্রিয়। গত তিন</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">বছরে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">দুটি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">শরতের ছুটি এইখানে এবং এর </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">আশেপাশে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">কাটিয়েছি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">। এই নিয়ে তৃতীয় বার এলাম। </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">মানালি বলতে আমি ওল্ড মানালির চার্ম</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">বুঝি। নিরিবিলি কিছু গ্রাম নিয়ে এই জায়গা</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">পাহাড়ের গায়ে স্থানীয় বাসিন্দাদের বাড়ি আর নিচে মানাল্সু নদী।অবশ্য</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ইদানীং এখানে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">দেখা দিচ্ছে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Israeli </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">টুরিস্টদের উৎপাত। কসলের পর ওদের কাছে মানলি </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">preferred </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: Mangal, serif;">। </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">এখানে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">মিনি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: #500050; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ইসরায়েল</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গড়ে উঠতে আর</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">বেশি সময়ে লাগবে না ।</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ইসরায়েলি ছাড়া আসে কিছু </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Korean </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">এবং </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">European </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">টুরিস্ট। প্রথম বার মানালি এসে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">আমি ছিলাম রহেবেত</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">রামজির বাড়িতে। তার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">খোঁজ</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">internet</span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">য়ে পাই। এক সাহেব তার কদর নিজের ব্লগে করেছে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">তার </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">experience </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">পড়ে আমি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">রহেবেতজির সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করি ওনার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গেস্ট হাউস </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Apple Orchard</span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">এ থাকার জন্য</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">। </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;"><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">রহেবেতজির গেস্ট হাউসে </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Indian </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">টুরিস্ট খুব কম দেখা যায়। তবে ইউরোপিয়ানদের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">কাছে এই সম্পত্তির হাই ডিমান্ড।ওরা মাস তিন চারেক উপভোগ করেই</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">দেশে ফেরে। কেউ কেউ আবার বছর খানেকও</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">থাকে। একবার এক ফরেনার ক্লায়েন্ট বিলিং থেকে </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">parasailing </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">করে গুলাবা পৌঁছেছিলেন</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">তারপর মাস খানেক ওনার বাড়িতে আস্তানা নেন</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">। ভদ্রলোকের বয়েস নাকি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">প্রায় পঞ্চাশের ওপর। </span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">শহরের বাইরে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">বিয়াসের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">তীরে আরও কিছু গ্রাম রযেছে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">তবে তারাও এখন মানালির নামেই পরিচিত। যেমন জাগাত্সুখ</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,</span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">প্রিনি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">বশিষ্ঠ। এই সব অঞ্চলে ইদানীং কালে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ছোট ছোট অনেক</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> homestays </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গড়ে উঠছে।তাদের তথ্য সরকার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ইন্টারনেটে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">হিমাচল হোমস্টে নামের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ওয়েবসাইটে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">প্রচার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">করে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: Mangal, serif;">। </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ওল্ড মানালিতে দুটো প্রাচীন মন্দির আছে;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">হিড়িম্বার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">আর মনু ঋষির। হিড়িম্বা</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">দেবী হলেন মানলির ঈশ্বর </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গোটা কুল্লু জেলা জুড়ে দেবী আর তার পুত্র</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ঘটোৎকচের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ভক্ত আছে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">। কুল্লুর এক গুরুত্বপূর্ণ উৎসব দশেরাতে দেবীর মূর্তি মানালির পাঁচশো বছরের পুরাতন</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">মন্দির</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">থেকে রথে করে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">আনা হয়ে ধালপুরে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">।ঢাক ঢোল সানাই কাঁসরের শব্দে দেবীর আগমন হয় ধালপুর মাঠে। ওই রথকে অনুসরণ করে ঢোকে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">রঘু বংশের রাজা রামের রথ। সাত দিনের এই পার্বণে জেলার ছোট বড় প্রতিটি</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">মন্দির</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">থেকে রথে করে মানুষের কাঁধে চেপে আসে দেবী দেবতারা।দূরের গ্রাম গুলোর থেকে যাত্রা শুরু হয় প্রায়</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">সপ্তাহ খানেক আগে। </span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;"><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">এই জেলয়ে দেবদারু গাছেরা সম্মানে ঈশ্বরের থেকে কম নায় ।এখানে</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গাছ কাটা আর মানুষ খুন করার দন্ড এক। দুঙরি ফরেস্টের অনেক গাছ ৩০০ বা ৪০০ বছরের পুরনো হবে।এই গাছের বয়েস তার উচ্চতা দেখে বলা যায় । বলা যেতে পারে</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">শহরের অস্তিত্ব অসংখ্য দেবদারুরা মিলে</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ধরে রেখেছে</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">নইলে এত দিনে পাহাড়ের মাটি</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ক্ষয়ে যেত। </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গোটা মানালি জুড়ে বহু বেকারি। </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Club house</span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">এর পাশে একটি রেঁস্তোরা</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">চালায় এক </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tibetan </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ভদ্রলোক এবং তার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">স্ত্রী। তাদের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">দোকানের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">নাম জার্মান বেকারি। কে জানে নামটা টিবেটান দিল না কেন </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">?</span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ওখানে গেলে আমি পিজা অর্ডার দিই।যেমন</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> thin crust </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">তেমন তার</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">স্বাদ আর সঙ্গে নদীর মিষ্টি বয়ে চলার আওয়াজ</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">।</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">কুল্লুতে অগাস্ট থেকে অক্টোবরের প্রথম সপ্তাহ হল</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">আপেল আর</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">জাপানি ফলের (</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">persimmon) </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">সময়। মানালি যাবার পথে এদের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">প্রচুর বাগান দেখা যায়। লাল</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,</span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">হলুদ</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">কমলা</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,</span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">সোনালী কত রঙের ফল গাছে ঝোলে। আবার কিছু গাছের ফল বড়</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">নেট দিয়ে বেঁধে রাখে</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">পাখি ও কাঠবেড়ালির উপদ্রবের</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">ভয়ে ।</span></div>
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<span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">নেগীজির বাড়ি পৌঁছাতে আমাদের দুপুর হয়ে যায়। ওনার বাগানে বসে</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">গরম চা </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,</span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">পরোটা </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,</span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">মাখন আর ডিমের ভূর্জি খেয়ে আগে</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="BN" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Vrinda, sans-serif;">আমরা পেটের ইঁদুরগুলো হাপিশ করি। এরপর এক এক করে স্নান করার পালা।</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<i>To be continued ....</i></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0India31.877557643340015 77.08007812528.424836643340015 71.916504125 35.330278643340016 82.243652125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-68854699571381201512014-02-27T23:14:00.000-08:002015-02-27T10:03:11.833-08:00Dzongu – a Lepcha Ecotourism Village in Sikkim <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>I </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">read about a
village dominated by Lepcha community an year and half back in a travel
forum. An offbeaten himalayan track in northern parts of Sikkim, left untouched by sticky travel agents by grace of
its unmetalled roads and no hotels en</span>route<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Lush green valleys populated with water streams gushing down the mountains abruptly .These cues
were enough to visit Dzongu and meet Dupden.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hanging bridge over river Teesta .</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dupden lives in
Tingvong village in Upper Dzongu. He is
an active member of local eco-tourism team, an initiative taken by the Sikkim government and runs a homestay along with his wife Chuday on those guidelines. At present there are about a dozen of homestays
that are in operation, combining both Upper and Lower areas of Dzongu .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was nine at night when
we reached Tingvong. From Dikchu Bazar(13 kms before Mangan) it took one and half hours to cover about ten kilometers of kutcha road. This
stretch of road reminded me of the bumpy caterpillar ride that I used to enjoy as
a toddler. As we parked our car we found Dupden, eagerly waiting for us with couple of torches and a big smile. He greeted us folding his hands, wrapping
warmth around in that cold.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since Amavasya (no moon night) was nearby it made the night
rich, complementing zillion of stars to sparkle in the sky. It looked like the sky draped her in a black muslin
shawl with the brightest of white polka dots on it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Due to powercut, Dupden had </span>arranged<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a candlelit dinner for us. He first offered us 'Chee' in a bamboo mug with a straw (also made out of bamboo) followed by local foods in his kitchen cum dining area .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chee is an alcoholic beverage, made from fermenting millet locally at home. Usually, accompanied with snacks or meals, and part of local food
habit.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Chee and local sweet biscuits Khabze.</span></i></div>
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We were not the only guest at Tingvong , we met
another young couple from Kolkata who had arrived a couple of days back and
were planning to leave next morning. They
told us that the homestay has got a spectacular view of Mount Pandim from its
backyard. And it is worth waking up early to see the sunrise. As always, a
disclaimer was attached ‘If the weather is clear’!</div>
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I was motivated enough to put on the alarm, but, the day’s
tiredness had put fetters on my eyes and I missed the rise.<br />
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">View of Mount Pandim from the backyard of homestay.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We saw the Bengali family whom we met previous night was leaving for Mangan. They were waiting for the jeep that regularly leaves the village at 7:30 in the morning. We bid them good-bye and hiked uphill. Our destination was Kusong village and our guide was Passang , Dupden's nephew. Passang is a
high school student, studying at a local school near Mangan. He is friendly and an inquisitive teenager.
He had also helped us reaching Tingvong from Pheedang check post , while we were on our way to Dzongu . </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A girl from the village carrying her brother on her back.</i></span></div>
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As we were heading towards the village monastery, the walk was
getting tougher due to steep road. The
technique was to breathe deep and look up. My partner being an acrophobic was getting nervous with every step he was
climbing up. Finally we reached Tarling Monastery, from here Kusong village starts. We were already exhausted and hungry by then and therefore decided to head Dupden's house for a sumptuous breakfast.</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">A chorten in Tarling Monastery.</span></i></div>
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Other than dark green landscapes and mighty streams of Rongyoung Chu, Dzongu
is famous for its Cardamom plantation. Almost every
house has a farm for its cultivation . Avocado and Lapsi (a hill fruit) trees are also grown in this part of
the state. Our next destination for the day was Lingthem Monastery.</div>
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The road to Lingthem was worse than that of Tingvong. Our car Tavera got stuck twice in
mid of the road due to viscous mud . As Dupden claims the stretch to be an
adventurous ride, indeed it was. The slope of the valley had been converted to terrace farms for growing rice and other paddy crops. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the way to Lingthem Monastery.</span></i></div>
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We reached Lingthem by 12:30 in the afternoon and the monastery was closed by then, so we spent some time sitting on
its courtyard. Passang took us to a
house next to it where locals were celebrating monkhood of a nun. She meditated for three months inside a cave in lower Dzongu. We were welcomed with chee , Hit beer and khabze. Hit beer is owned by Indian actor Danny Denzongpa and is manufactured in
Sikkim. The beer is very popular throughout the state and is cheap too. Khabze is a fried honeycomb
shaped snack item which is sweet to taste. We resisted sipping the beer, but had crunchy khabze along with luke warm chee. Another highlight of
the tour was cherry blossoms. As
expected the trees were in full bloom during first week of November and was treat for which my eyes were starving. </div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Cherry blossom near the monastery.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> We then went to a hot spring nearby , since it was a Sunday the spring was preoccupied by women and kids from the village. The tempting hot water made me sit there soaking my feet.The water had some magical minerals which instantly relaxed every muscle of my tired feet. It
was already half past four in the evening and we were yet to see Lingzya waterfall. The surrounding was getting
quieter and cold, so we stopped at Rukshyout (Tingvong) waterfall instead and called it a day. The water was freezing , I felt icicles were piercing my left foot as it touched the boulder beneath. We couldn't stand there for more than five minutes. Meanwhile, Passang gathered some dry leaves and
wrappers to lit fire that saved us from hypothermia. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Tingvong waterfall.</span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">With the fading light of dusk we decided to return at Dupden’s nest.
The evening then was spent in <i>adda </i>and<i> </i>followed by dinner. Next morning I woke up early to see the
sunrise and its rays touching Mount Pandim. By nine we were ready to move to our next destination Dzuluk in East Sikkim. Finally, Dupden and Chuday bid us adieu by wrapping a Khada (white scarf ) around our neck . </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hanging bridge over Rongyoung Kyoung river</span></i> .</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Notes:</span></div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">We booked the car that picked us from NJP
Railway station for 3000 per day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tingvong Homestay had charged INR 1200 per person
per day for an API plan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Entry to Dzongu requires a permit which homestay
owners can take care if required.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">There is no ATM in the area. Nearest one is at
Mangan . So carry enough cash.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mr.
Dupden Lapcha – +91 9593783043 (Tingvong Homestay)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mr. Banabash - +91 9832368745 (Driver) </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">There are a few homestays in other eco-villages too. A detailed information is <a href="http://indianhomestaytourism.blogspot.in/2013/04/homestay-in-dzongu.html" target="_blank">here</a> . </span></li>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-53366952587960196062013-09-29T09:35:00.001-07:002015-02-23T07:46:08.740-08:00 Devi Pakkho <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> || Ya devi sarvabhooteshu vishnumayati shabdita,<br />Namastasyei namastasyei namastasyei namo namah ||</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;">|| Ya devi sarvabhooteshu chetanetyabhidheeyate,<br />Namastasyei namastasyei namastasyei namo namah ||</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">|| Ya devi sarvabhooteshu buddhiroopen sansthita<br />Namastasyei namastasyei namastasyei namo namah ||</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">|| Ya devi sarvabhooteshu nidraroopen sansthita<br />Namastasyei namastasyei namastasyei namo namah ||</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>||</i> Ya devi sarvabhooteshu kshudharoopen sansthita<br />Namastasyei namastasyei namastasyei namo namah ||</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">C<i>handi path shlokas,</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20.796875px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Kumartuli.</i></span></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-84670779691731200582013-09-24T14:15:00.001-07:002015-03-25T11:19:41.673-07:00River Hoogly - West Bengal <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Whether you take a lazy boat ride or a romantic walk , the banks of Hoogly will never disappoint you.<br />
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As a kid , I used to visit Princep Ghat with my cousins and grandparents. Moreover, it was like a ritual for us during summer vacations.</div>
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The charm of Hoogly still fascinates me . Even during my daily travel, if an opportunity is there to cross the river I always prefer a ferry ride.</div>
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During last Mahalaya, we came to Princep to see the mass 'tarpan' . We also took a boat ride that day. </div>
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Howrah bridge,Vidyasagar bridge and Nivedita bridge connect the districts with Kolkata. Last month when I went to Bally ghat, I took a ferry boat instead to reach Dunlop, via Dakhineswar. </div>
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It was drizzling while I was on an open boat. The sky was getting darker along with the winds spreading staunch of Diesel . </div>
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During winters, the banks of Hoogly turn into picnic spots and weekend gateways . The below picture was shot during our last winter picnic near Belur Math. </div>
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As the city is proud of the river and its piety. It is also responsible for littering its banks and water obnoxiously.</div>
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Hoogly - one of the reason to keep the City in Joy.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">2012-13, Kolkata.</span></i></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-66789068981161433122013-07-29T22:49:00.003-07:002015-03-25T11:23:26.244-07:00Kolkata <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every city has its own flavor. So do this city of joy. Being
brought up in Delhi I know what does a plate of rajma chawal means to me or those matching
dupatta centers of Lajpat. From Matka peer to Dariba’s rabri kheer umpteen of
such reminiscence still lingers. </div>
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Unlike Delhi, Kolkata’s <span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">autochthonic
variety dominates the city. Therefore, where ever you roam in the city you
would find that argumentive kosha mangsho (spicy meat curry) lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kolkata was never new to me but its
systems are. Be it post lunch ‘adda ‘session in office or ‘no chap’ attitude of the
people, this lazy city is never lazy about celebrations. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Of all the seasons, I admire Kolkata most during its monsoon. For me it is as relaxing as any rejuvenation therapy promises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Many might disagree but I love traveling in the city during monsoon , particularly when it is raining.When the roads are water logged ,when the traffic crawls round the clock. When we shelter ourselves inside an egg roll shop on a street and wish to get rid of those spores that sporadically breeds.</span></div>
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<i style="font-size: small;"><b>PS: Photos that are captured here are from my 5MP mobile camera.</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>July,2013</i></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-73089576906921377912013-03-26T07:52:00.002-07:002015-03-06T04:43:18.065-08:00Colors of Bolpur-Shantiniketan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Holi the festival of color is celebrated as Dol Jatra in West Bengal. Most of the time Dol Purnima (full moon day)falls a day before Holi. The festival is dedicated to lord Krishna and Radha. At Shantiniketan in Bolpur, Dol is celebrated as Basanta Utsav. It heralds the approach of spring season.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Students from Visva Bharti performing dance.</span></i><br />
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Basanta Utsav means celebration of spring which was started by Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. At its ground (Amra Kunja), students from Patha Bhavana, Visva Bharati and other schools participate in various cultural programs in the morning. Every year it attracts a large number of visitors from Bengal and other parts of the country. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A student with Khol (a terracotta two sided drum ).</i></span></div>
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The girls attire in yellow (basanti) sari and wear ornaments made of palash flowers and buds. Whereas, boys keep it simple in white or yellow kurta teamed up with jeans or pajama . </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A visitor wearing palash ornaments.</i></span></div>
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Once the cultural event of Visva Bharati is over , 'abir khela' takes place for the rest of the day. </div>
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Abir (also abeer) is natural colour made out of dry flowers and leaves. One can also find bauls (folk singers) singing and playing their instruments like ektara, dotara, duggi, khamak, kartal etc under mango trees. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A baul singer with his dotara (String instrument with usually four metal strings)</span></i></div>
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This annual event of spring has a unique spirit like 'Lath mar Holi' in Barsana . Both of them bear traditions and can be celebrated by everyone.<br />
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<u>Reaching Bolpur :</u></div>
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Bolpur is situated at Birbhum district of West Bengal. By road it is 212 kms away from Kolkata (capital city of West Bengal) and takes about four hours to reach. By train it can be reached within three hours from Kolkata. About five to six trains ply in this route regularly from Kolkata. Buses also ply regularly but one has to change from Panagarh 45 kms from Bolpur (Asansol bound) or from Ilam Bazar 20 kms from Bolpur (Suri bound) to reach Santiniketan. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy : Google maps. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Palash flower complementing spring festival .</span></i></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0Santiniketan, West Bengal 731204, India23.68 87.68000000000006423.650916 87.639659500000064 23.709084 87.720340500000063tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-13087397131061825042013-02-25T23:37:00.001-08:002015-04-22T01:28:51.937-07:00 A Sunday afternoon walk <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After a sumptuous lunch at Chimpu da's place this weekend , we planned to walk down the Sarovar road to reach a theater near by. Rabindra Sarovar (Lake) which is adjacent to his apartment is a bliss to morning walkers and joggers in South Kolkata. Even we went there once , however, wasn't able take to the pain of rising so early. Whenever I have been there always found it to be crowded but this Sunday it was left alone. Thanks to the culture of 'bhaat ghoom ' (siesta) in Bengal . Another reason ,could be cleaning treatment, undergoing in this piece of wetland these days.</div>
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City of Joy . </div>
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On our way, we decided to visit their hall where they have conserved a few popular Durga idols of this year's puja. There I felt for the first time in this year that we are left with only few months to hit the huge fest again . </div>
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A structure made of brass pots .</div>
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Wish if I could have spent that entire afternoon lingering around park ,watching those migratory storks and bald trees .</div>
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In the midst of such sedate surrounding , a fiery Simal (Bombax) tried to make a stretch, red carpet for us and as the shutter of my mobile zoomed , the group cried "we are late , move on ! "</div>
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And moved on ......</div>
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<i style="font-size: small;">PS: Photos that are captured here are from my 5MP mobile camera.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>24, February, 2013 </i></span></div>
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</div>Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-19739834462599005982013-02-16T01:59:00.001-08:002015-03-27T09:39:14.637-07:00 Morningwalk on a beach of Old Digha <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last year we went to Digha thrice during different seasons. We found that during winter, beaches of Digha could play bore as waves are less (or none) and water remains cold.<br />
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An attempt to conquer the rising Sun.</div>
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The ebb left this Star babe. </div>
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At 5:30 in the morning as the alarm buzzed my sister sprung up. As it was her first attempt to watch sunrise on a sea shore. During winter mornings, the Sun appears late on the sky. Hence, the ambiance was bursted with pink and red hues due to a prolonged dawn .</div>
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Calm and poised .</div>
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Fresh date-palm juice on the shore.</div>
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Low tide in the morning had made easy for walking on the beach for miles. The walk on the beach was pleasurable as we were hit by soothing breeze and walked on a soft and partially wet sand.</div>
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Old Digha Beach.</div>
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During low tide in the morning . </div>
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For couple of hours we behaved like wanderer, everything that we saw seemed beautiful. On our way back, we had glasses of fresh date-palm juice, followed by coffee and Maggi . </div>
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Colour of Love .</div>
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Nature best enjoyed by a lonely heart. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Old Digha, East Midnapor.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>December,2012</i></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0Old Digha Sea Beach, West Bengal21.6227024 87.52590729999997221.6153219 87.515822299999968 21.6300829 87.535992299999975tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-6986655668987074922013-01-21T12:29:00.001-08:002015-03-25T12:31:19.317-07:00 Chandipur -On- Sea <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This was our third Durga Puja after marriage. Last time went to Spiti and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.. So, the puja days got exhausted in traveling, hardly getting any flavor of it. Therefore, this year we decided that weekend which was 'shosti' and 'saptami' to be used for a jaunt nearby and rest should be celebrated with friends and family.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Knowing the crowd propensity during Durga Puja in any of the beaches near to Kolkata scared us. So, the task was to find a beach that would be clean ,wide and serene . With rigorous online searches, I zeroed it down to two destinations Talsari and Chandipur. Both of them are in Odisha and can be a covered withing 4 hours by car (former is lesser by miles).</span></div>
After a long negotiation with Tanmay , we fixed Chandipur , although in between traces of Jhunput had also floated in my mind.<br />
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We started around 8 in the morning on a sunny 'sarodiya' saturday. On the day of 'Maha shosti'. crossing Vidyasagar Setu and expected traffic jams till Kona expressway. Followed by notorious Kolaghat bridge and so on...<br />
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Our drive took a peak once we crossed Kharagpur and turned left . The roads were tranquil with 3-4 private cars and all of them were heading towards Balasore. Tanmay begin a driver from orthodox school , even vroomed the car.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">At first sight , honestly we were unable to decide that whether it was a sea or some river without its bed , then our hotel manager told us that the sea recedes after every four hours and during the evening it ebbs upto 10 kms.</span></div>
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So , one has to strategize his bath in the morning according to the sea timing. </div>
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To conclude , the sea is quite , beaches are super clean , good crowd and remains serene. What more do we require for a mushy weekend and a long drive ? </div>
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Sun sets at Chandipur-on-sea. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>20-21 October,2011</i></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-54629625429818356782013-01-04T12:15:00.001-08:002015-04-22T01:26:33.222-07:00Chronicle of 2012 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>In this post I tried to recapitulate the year that had rushed like a girl, waiting for the school bell to go ring in a summer afternoon.</i></div>
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<b>January</b><br />
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| Har ki pauri |<br />
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Last year in January, spent a week at my place in furious cold aka Dilli ki sardi. During the weekend, we went to Haridwar. The picture was taken during the evening prayer 'aarti ', on the banks of river Ganga.<br />
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<b>February</b><br />
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| Digha |<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo courtesy - <a href="http://www.bongpen.net/" target="_blank">Bongpen</a>)</span><br />
The year had started on a melee note as we were expecting a transfer but the destination had many options.<br />
This impromptu escape to Digha was a little hectic yet thrilling trip. We found the beaches of Old Digha to be clean and pristine contradicting our premonitions.<br />
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<b>March</b><br />
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| Durgapur |<br />
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Looking at this picture, nothing else than the phrase 'Ganche kaathal gope tyel' comes in my mind .<br />
The wait to ripe is long but yummy. (Ya I am a jackfruit lover!)<br />
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<b>April</b><br />
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| Barauni |<br />
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Finally during mid of April, we got sanguine that we will be moving to sohor kolkata.<br />
The city of Joy. The city we desire.<br />
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<b>May</b><br />
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| Kolkata |<br />
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Dadubhai, running at 82 , in Lake Club celebrating Jamai shosthi with Naat-jamai (grand son-in-law).<br />
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<b>June</b><br />
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<b>| </b>Hoogly River |<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">courtesy</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Poulami Mitra)</span><br />
Our first outing to the Pricep Ghat. A sweet and memorable river ride.<br />
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<b>July</b><br />
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<b>| </b>Kolkata |<br />
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Post to our first visit to Princep Ghat, I believe we had romanticized the place strongly, that was the reason to go there again. In this picture, the cult trio in a pose. Tanmay, Animikh, Aritra (L-R).<br />
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<b>August</b><br />
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| Kolkata |<br />
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Had heard of rains in the city , witnessed it , enjoyed it.<br />
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<b>September</b><br />
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| Kumortoli |<br />
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A fortnight before the puja, had been to Kumortoli , to see her . Ma Durga.<br />
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<b>October</b><br />
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<b>| </b>Chandannagar<b> | </b><br />
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Farewell Ma.<br />
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<b>November</b><br />
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| Dzongu |<br />
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A morning in a Lepcha village in the Northern part of Sikkim . Dzongu is a secluded and restricted area where Lepcha families reside. They are originally from Nepal but follow Buddhism. Met these two beautiful kids on our way to Tingvong monastery.<br />
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<b>December</b><br />
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| Digha |<br />
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30 Dec, morning.<br />
Like always, a ray of hope backs our life, till it goes on .<br />
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| <i>2013 you are welcome</i> |<br />
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-78162726206597895142012-12-05T11:35:00.001-08:002015-04-22T01:26:57.802-07:00EM Bypass , Kolkata <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Traveling has been an integral part of any field sales profile, and being in the same profession has given me an opportunity to travel through my city and knowing its vivid nooks. Mostly my allotted areas fall inside the peripheries of Northern Kolkata . Sometime this stretches upto to North 24 Paraganas too.<br />
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I find this part of my job exciting as well as interesting. More so due to my knack of capturing vivid moments into frames.</div>
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I find travelling through EM Bypass road in Kolkata is an experience in it self. Be it clogged traffic jams, lakes (bheri), water logged roads, Dhaba, Maize seller,China Town gate etc. </div>
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Captured this while crossing the Dhapa.<br />
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Water washed roads connecting Science city or may be to the future skyscrapers<br />
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A Bheri (Wetland ) towards Ruby Connector.<br />
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Rain drops . Traffic Blocked.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="text-align: center;">The </span><span style="text-align: center;">Eastern</span><span style="text-align: center;"> Metropolitan Bypass, Kolkata.</span></i></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-23800538675525066832012-10-15T02:36:00.000-07:002012-12-06T23:47:41.633-08:00~~ A Mahalaya Morning | 2012 ~~<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We started at 5:30 in the morning from Ballygaunge and reached Maidan by another 20 minutes. Like the usual route we planned to cross the Netaji statue follwed by Strand road to reach Prinsep Ghat. Since all the left turns were closed we had to reach there from Kidderpore side.<br />
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Mahalaya dawns at Maidan.</div>
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Namche akash saroter ronge. Vidyasagar Setu.</div>
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Thanks to our miss-assessment, we took the road to the bridge rather taking left towards strand. The morning breeze was chirping aloud "Ma ashchche" .</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Finally, we reached</span> James Prinsep Ghat and luckily with a hassle free parking.</div>
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As expected the ghat was crowded in saffron .</div>
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Asusual, the Pujaries were in demand and were demanding too !</div>
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A ritual Tarpan is performed usually by male members of the family devoting prayers to their ancestors. </div>
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Like every year this year too, I started my day listening to <span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahishashura_Mardini" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Mahishashura Mardini">Mahishashura Mardini</a> . </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this time it was on wheels.</span></span></div>
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Mass Tarpan , on the banks of Hoogly river.</div>
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Clay with which the idols of Goddess Durga are made is collected from such </div>
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river banks and a part is also collected from sex-worker's localities.</div>
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River Hoogly. Autumn.</div>
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Those two little palms joined together to offer prayers. A child on the bank of Hoogly river in Kolkata on the day of amavasya.</div>
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As directed!</div>
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As a Hindu would believe them to be his ancestors' presence.</div>
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Prinsep Ghat on the day of Mahalaya.</div>
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Under the aligned concrete. Second Hoogly Bridge.</div>
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After his duty hours, a fisherman back at his </div>
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Time to retreat. Office calling!</div>
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Saradiya Subhechcha !</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Kolkata,15th October, 2012</i></span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-30729457294277007562012-10-08T11:44:00.000-07:002015-02-10T06:04:26.006-08:00~~ Draperied dusk amidst the Ganga ~~<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been a month that we have settled in Kolkata , hunting tasks like job, apartment, budget food joints kept my mind choc o bloc. But soon things layered beautifully. Notched a job, my husband's office nominated residential apartment, now is our home, and importantly credible domestic help.</div>
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After shifting to Kolkata, this was my first visit to the Princep Ghat. I feel escalated, everytime, sitting on those parapets on the bank of Ganges.</div>
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I was five then, when the bridge (popularly known as second Hoogly bridge) was inaugurated.<br />
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My Baba had hired a cab for a day and took us on a ride to show us the newly constructed mammoth bridge. Now, a signature of 'the City of Joy'.<br />
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A boat ride on the river is a 'must to-do' whenever you visit the place.<br />
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Illumination shone the dusk that draperied amidst the Ganga.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">August,2012</span></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6783672536654882525.post-45266790954560599332012-10-08T11:15:00.005-07:002015-02-10T06:03:20.573-08:00~~ Kumortuli 2012 | Part 1 ~~<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A theme based idol of Ma Durga by Kartik Pal and his son, here in a pearl oyster.</div>
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The most critical part of an artist's work -'Chokkhu daan' .</div>
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Yet to deck up ! Ma and her family for a Barir pujo.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ambika,Dakshayani.Ishani,Pingla, Sharda to name a few from her 108 avatars.</span></span><br />
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The jamming session of Mahisasur and Ganesha. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X2beaESUdIHV0Cwe6IPeZCAAr-jO2D1POz8GYKmuI0GPrFAItJp4TIgSftqA6eMYNpMghWwZoXsKOs8E5W3W3-YXhv9kaqlxvDfTqnU71Igd_-nD-q0wXOpX63pWIVwQX7q-wKrnQJzL/s1600/IMG_7207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9X2beaESUdIHV0Cwe6IPeZCAAr-jO2D1POz8GYKmuI0GPrFAItJp4TIgSftqA6eMYNpMghWwZoXsKOs8E5W3W3-YXhv9kaqlxvDfTqnU71Igd_-nD-q0wXOpX63pWIVwQX7q-wKrnQJzL/s320/IMG_7207.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Devi dashobhuja.</div>
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<i style="font-size: small;">October 6th , 2012</i></div>
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Travel Swetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781380807243851421noreply@blogger.com0