DESTINATION : NUH

Shaking Minarets, each part of our body and car was shaken but we couldn't shake the minarets !
 

That was one historic day,

when i read some blogs on a place called NUH and decided to convince my gang to visit the “Shaking Minarets” – they say “whose shaking is distinctly apparent”.

So we left early in the morning, loved the drive with long clean roads, hair pin bents and not to forget the infinite number of bumps.

Drove for about 45-kilometre from Gurgaon to see the mosque of Sheikh Moosa and found a lot of cows farmed, heaps of cow dunks  parked in the SHAKING minarets and a school inside the complex.


This unprotected monument is more than 700 years old and an enginerring marvel but in dilapidated shape today.

Just before, we could leave the place, our car got stuck in the sand and to add our misery there were not enough stones or people around to help take that out on the pakka road.

We four, of which 2 english graduates, 1 statistics master and the last – An engineer used all our academic concepts to take the car out of sand but alas it doesnt work.

And then comes the eureka moment, all glasses down full throttle we try to ignite the car..... and there was mud all over- inside the car and in our mouth  but that doesn't end the disaster... 

we try try and try......

And there comes 2 truck drivers, it took them exactly 7 mins to get the car out on the pakka road for which we almost spend 1 hour.

Our journey ended with samosas and mango shake at a road side thela... 

The end of not so great but adventurous trip :)

DESTINATION : Rishikesh

ऋषिकेश

Two days,12 People, 3 Cars, 6 Camps & 2 Raft!

For the 1st time in my life, I am actually following my new year resolution- a resolution to travel, go to new places, meet new people, & see the world through my camera lens!



And this time, it was Rishikesh - as they say "Rafting Capital of India"

After days of searching information on rafting information and several places to stay, we finally zeroed in for one...The plan was simple; we start from MDI at midnight and drive till Rishikesh.

Although the drive till our destination was quite tiring added with the sleepless night still with the first sight of the Ganga and our river side camp, everything else settled

Played in water, did some trekking, explored a virgin point and loads of masti... 

Night was awesome - soothing wind, sound of water, songs, madira and friends; what else one can wish for !!! 

The next day was the D day, after small session of instructions on how to sail, swim and survive in rapids we started the water rafting.

I think startling is the only word to describe it - cold water splashing on your face, rapids flashing ahead of your boat & your boat inclines for more than 80 degrees. All you can shout is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

not with fear but for fun!

After 3 hours of rafting, fun, shouting, water and lots of memories; we headed back home.................

                                                               

A satisfying holiday is nothing but a perfect way to say

"I Love you life"

DESTINATION : Jama Masjid

Masjid-i Jahān-Numā مسجد جھان نما

'World-reflecting mosque'

Another Saturday, new place - some pictures and loads of memories!!!

We left Gurgaon early in the morning & reached old Delhi at 6 with silence on both our sides– the luckiest part : this time in chadni chowk there was no blaring horns or rickshaw pullers and absolutely no people running here and there.

Inside the Jama Masjid, 

the sense of stillness followed us...............

Once inside, it is another world, people finding themselves quiet corners to pray and meditate and even sleep, all outside noises filtered by the thick red walls along with their worries and anxieties.

       

People are quietly doing their own thing -  at the pool in the preliminary cleansing ritual, under the arch staring out blankly into space, on the corridor offering prayer, near the pillars fast asleep…

For another day, another time, some more people and lot more … 

life at the mosque goes on as usual !!!!!

                                                                

DESTINATION : Nizzamudin Dargah

                                                                            حضرت شیخ خواجہ سیّد محمد نظام الدّین اولیا

After sada hak and rangrej mere, Maddy was totally inspired to visit Nizzamudin Dargah...                  

(andar chupa hua star jag rha tha uske...               

 Guitar aur star ..maddy humara yaar lolzz)

  Heavily crowded with visitors, beggars, small   restaurants, cows, dogs & infinite hawkers selling beaded chains & hats – nearly everything that you can expect in a bustling Delhi market.

It was a narrow way surrounded by shops on both the sides. 

As we entered the dargah, there are people from different religions, colours & masses; all hands folded, praying for their better future...

N

Suddenly there is huge cry from one corner “nahi bacha nahi mujhe mat maro”, apparently some sort of bhoot-bhagao-ing going on there.

uff that was really scary!!!

 After the namaaz, it was time for some Qawali--- everyone sat down on both sides of the ground keeping some space in the middle. And it started, it was so heavenly!!!

One can sense the passion coming across -  from the pit of their stomach to their vocal cords, along with their instruments; the music is not just heard but felt!!

The experience was awesome and is a must do for anyone who loves music!!!

DESTINATION : Purana Qila

Timeless feel of the old while it blends with the new.....

That’s Delhi my friend ! 

I think this thing of travelling and clicking pictures is getting on me....

Every Saturday I have my camega bags packed, engine ignited, friends along and a new place in mind...

Its not that, i have not seen these places before : earlier as a kid it used to be just a Picnic spot
and
now its more about "fixing a Frame"!!!

So this time we got our cameras on to Purana Qila .... massive walls and impressive gateways built by Afghan ruler Sher Shah during his reign (1538–45), before the emperor Humayun (whom he had previously defeated) regained control of India.

 Before we could actually enter the Qila, we thought of hitting the food first..... ordered like hungry dogs - we ordered sandwiches, dosa, noodles, bhelpuri, pav bhaji & not to forget chola bhatura
for just 4 people!

A piece of caution : Food that you get in the Qila Complex is extremely bad!!

On a marble slab within mosque an inscription thus read, 

"As long as there are people on the earth, may this edifice be frequented and people be happy and cheerful in it"

 Today it is the best preserved building the Purana Qila.

Ishq-E-Dilli' sound & light show.

The whole show is a history of Delhi projected onto the fort itself with accompanying music and narrations blasting for an hour

Living in this town from last so many years, zipping in and around the dusty streets & haggling with everyone we can, actually we kind of forget how much history our city has.

” The city of Indraprastha”

DESTINATION: Tughlaqabad Fort

a picture says a thousand words.............

My friends and I arrived at the fort by 

7:00 in the morning and we were the first ones to buy the tickets. 
The view of the magnificent façade of the fort from the road got me excited even before I could get inside.

Arriving at the fort, one cannot help but 
 feel impressed by the imposing walls of
the fort. Which was built to withstand attacks by Mongols, unlike the Red Fort or Purana Quila, which seem to be built for the comfortable and luxurious housing of Mughal Emperors.




There’s an interesting legend associated 
with the Tughlaqabad Fort. Some believe that Tughlakabad Fort was cursed by Delhi’s Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Having a strained relationship with Ghiasuddin, he had said, “Ya rahey ujjar, ya basey gujjar” (“May [the fort] remain unoccupied, or else be occupied by herdsmen).”

The crumbling remains of the Tughlaqabad Fort are reminiscent of its lost grandeur...

Somebody said it right “No matter how mighty they are, they all end up the same way - Tughlaq was allegedly helped to his destiny by his son who orchestrated an assassination against him”

In the end.....
life moves on & the passion for more!!!!

DESTINATION: AGRA

A New Day, A New Beginning 

Just after 2 days we got our swift home, we planned to drive it to Agra (actually the plan was only Taj Mahal ended up in lot more :)....

 After lot of discussions & discussions, we (Sakshi, Maddy & Shyam) planned to leave early in the morning.

At 6:30 in the morning, roads in Gurgaon were bustling with people & cars. Struggling with morning rush of traffic, losing our way a couple of times we managed to find the straight way to Agra......

I think the best part of travelling is the journey between places, from one point to another, you get to see the glimpse of the untouched side... vibrant colored sarees, aged buildings but the colors still shine out and vary one to another, bright coloured rickshaws & cars fills the streets. The stretch from New Delhi to Agra is very dry & dusty with villages that are filled with people, cows, & trash.

Turn & Twist : Before we could actually touch Agra, there comes a turn “Take left for Fatehpur Sikri” & then comes the twist.....with plans for only Taj Mahal, almost 2/3rd to our planned destination.....

Plan change... we took that turn J!:)!

Relying on my Phone GPS, we again lost our way...finally after losing ways, fighting through the bad traffic in UP (for all those people who say Gurgaon people are bad drivers, should try UP) & not to forget the truck drivers (one of them almost killed us, thanks Shyam for saving our life)

From enter to the exit, i think the entire Agra is commercialized...from shayari to instant pictures to Government Guides everything is available from Rs 10 to 100... little kids will recite shayari comparing the group to film stars to oldies trying to enlighten you about your future for a cheap price !!!

Between all this, we enjoyed a couple of nice moments hearing the shayari (the person has to be blind  ...he compared me to Katrina kaif), visiting the dargah and yes constantly Saying “ Nahi bhaiya nahi chahiye”..
& while clicking all these moments, we made a new friend Shahrukh.. a small boy between those bustling kids who helped us not for money but because we got his picture clicked.

So we move on..
Next stop Taj Mahal..oh no stop what about lunch!!! By mistake, we asked a rickshaw puller for a “GOOD” restaurant to eat and then he took us to a place around 7-8 kms away from start, leaving behind a couple of good places to a shady dhaba which only delivers fresh food (thank god, there are still restaurants which doesn’t make this kind of FRESH FOOD)

Lunch, Rickshaw ride, running behind a horse, fighting through the long que outside the taj gate (there were 3 lines outside the gate – Male, Female & the line that moving the fastest.. take a guide pay him 500 and you are in without any hustle bustle )

We finally managed to have "The Taj" in front of us. The white marble of the structure was in stark contrast to the bright blue sky that served as a backdrop. The structure was built on a platform so that the sky would be the only thing behind it, adding to the spectacular image by not allowing anything behind it to detract from it.

Now, finally it’s the when i was supposed to be behind the wheel driving us all back to home.. a couple to sad faces & tired looks and Shyam ready to take the responsibility :):)

Back home with

Moments, Pictures 
&

A hunger for more such trips !!!