tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45401304299295523262024-03-06T13:40:40.824+05:30JUST ANOTHER BLOGLive as if you are going to die tomorrow and learn as if you are going to live foreversushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-14591303503563009322013-08-15T12:14:00.000+05:302013-08-15T12:14:13.893+05:30CHRONICLES OF MEGHALAYA- (Day0 and Day1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Chasing
the monsoons” is a theme that has taken shape ever since Alexander Frater
traversed the length of India from Kerala to a remote town in Bangladesh in the
year 1987. The verdant and lush green hills come alive and kicking with magical
pools of water flowing raucously in multi hues all around the valley. Monsoons play a swansong even in the most
obscure places and this time its rhythmic beats created a stir in me that was
becoming hard to avoid. The revelry accentuates with the magical formation of
the black clouds interspersed with the white ones and creating an aura of
rainbows. I was besieged with thoughts
like these and suddenly got the opportunity to travel the rainiest place on
planet Earth with Neelima and Girish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meghalaya,
the abode of clouds is a place that can certainly bring the poet in one’s
heart. We landed in the ubiquitous
Paltan Bazaar in Guwahati and hired a shared shuttle at around 1 in the afternoon
to reach Shillong, capital of Meghalaya. At 150, the price was nominal. As the
now four lane roads began to take shape in our eyes, the initial discomfiture
of the hot and humid weather of Guwahati gave away to the cool and pleasant breeze
of the hill state. We reached Police
Bazaar, Shillong at around 5 in the evening after close to 4 hours of journey. We went to a hotel “Traveller’s Nest” near
Bishnipur in Shillong and retired for the day after a small stroll in Police
Bazaar. Police Bazaar is the main market of Shillong and sizzles during the
night with brilliantly lit cafes and variety of foods lines up on the streets.
From the regular momos to aaloo ka parantha, from bhel puri to pani puri, From
bhutta to chowmein! We got the first
feel of the monsoons when a torrential downpour almost left us drenched during
our walk in the police bazaar.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
planned to hire a taxi for a visit to Mawlynnong, Asia’s cleanest village and
finally dropping us at Cherrapunjee. The lush green grasslands on both side of the
roads interspersed with small wooden fairy tale houses turned out to be a joy
forever. Meghalaya termed as the “Scotland of the East” by the Britishers
rightly justifies the colonial settings and the verdant grasslands that turn
all the more green with the advent of the monsoons.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6ODzXc0HMBxna6SqAg-dylF7zQesfWQk_c6n9GemGX52R5efP1R73lTKyhmu66dXc7hdsjy62PKwB08edMqjRuPYI7qTJkLfv4Cozmy5Jiv8F_8QQlOW1KZHZJCp-bhRHxsNfINjYdZ0/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6ODzXc0HMBxna6SqAg-dylF7zQesfWQk_c6n9GemGX52R5efP1R73lTKyhmu66dXc7hdsjy62PKwB08edMqjRuPYI7qTJkLfv4Cozmy5Jiv8F_8QQlOW1KZHZJCp-bhRHxsNfINjYdZ0/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We came
across a stunning waterfall on the side of the road close to Laitkynsew village.
The mystic clouds rising slowly from the green canyon almost unsighted us in
the beginning but the sound of the roaring fall through the air provided us the
gateway to this waterfall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNtq-IF06QgEbks3kvvE5dVfvTKx1ZI9xvu26zkK4W8f-n2bUMR6NlSkYzeDNATs-_Oa5C8DHLlEb3MvFn0GUdYSElgwgjYIUUmqGYzHTn7uHF3NoxQe_QTM-aL4mw0nhEbDGDtBLoOSB/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNtq-IF06QgEbks3kvvE5dVfvTKx1ZI9xvu26zkK4W8f-n2bUMR6NlSkYzeDNATs-_Oa5C8DHLlEb3MvFn0GUdYSElgwgjYIUUmqGYzHTn7uHF3NoxQe_QTM-aL4mw0nhEbDGDtBLoOSB/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We stopped
for some tea and biscuits at a small hut near Pyrnsula, on the way to
Mawlynnong village. The woman and her daughter treated us with black tea which
is the staple tea in those parts of the region. The normal tea is the black tea
while the special tea is the milk tea. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7zGiT-HxeoZ_ceLHiYQvwqgHlXpKsppXOsY6Wy2g-rbgp-M8AnvA0P3WFRs075tI5F1Tn1Id0QoU-11gR80sjJomN-qPu9oOvsiNBI3oH3ru_d0jZDgfQ-20-PysNZPX-gsvewcD6SfG/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7zGiT-HxeoZ_ceLHiYQvwqgHlXpKsppXOsY6Wy2g-rbgp-M8AnvA0P3WFRs075tI5F1Tn1Id0QoU-11gR80sjJomN-qPu9oOvsiNBI3oH3ru_d0jZDgfQ-20-PysNZPX-gsvewcD6SfG/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="552" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We reached
Mawlynnong a bit late in the afternoon at around 3 PM and immediately dashed
off to Riwai Village for the root bridge expanse. The bridge was one of its
kind and innumerable branches cris-crossing the entire length of around 100
metres almost took our breath way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt5NUdgCvYXmgfm57gEj3wbkCNPWU8AXk8c1OMs6FMJza1IkqqDb2lvfo6QS4NVVSfiSuOg7szal99rTHupzi1cVDlgjIJGBccfNHLnXKVpIyHJEblIx-7A0FWd-80moI1qzlU34ru373/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt5NUdgCvYXmgfm57gEj3wbkCNPWU8AXk8c1OMs6FMJza1IkqqDb2lvfo6QS4NVVSfiSuOg7szal99rTHupzi1cVDlgjIJGBccfNHLnXKVpIyHJEblIx-7A0FWd-80moI1qzlU34ru373/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
was a monk like serenity around the whole place and the shimmering waters of
the river in the sunlight felt like pearls on the surface of an ocean. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOPbiwA1HSrmh9xmu5mhpC2G6UvcDN8ayvjVOaFxbVVuvIY1wCE05dEtLhNEbRAMSLKhgCL1KQG4uqbU5pEPAZMomnOqiWFtArgQGyEl3jY243WmN5_EsebHifEEt2JdAvfbdIzUyApFY/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOPbiwA1HSrmh9xmu5mhpC2G6UvcDN8ayvjVOaFxbVVuvIY1wCE05dEtLhNEbRAMSLKhgCL1KQG4uqbU5pEPAZMomnOqiWFtArgQGyEl3jY243WmN5_EsebHifEEt2JdAvfbdIzUyApFY/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
sat there for some time and tried our best to imbibe the harmony of the river
along with the swansong of the nearby bushes.
We tasted the sweetest of all
pineapples in that village. The
people were extremely friendly and the children happily posed for the
shutterbugs like us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GEFd_WmETJ3zcnFUUXP6ItALbGd-g1HgsFCJaOaUc1T6BFXCexN0obcjAx3seGqeIGO3kZzvsvCWuYOjE3DJRgAWX9wPh2Hg43fxtYnUgAXZ8RY0VvNg4Lwk8agtGJrOQSh81Os2hwoF/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GEFd_WmETJ3zcnFUUXP6ItALbGd-g1HgsFCJaOaUc1T6BFXCexN0obcjAx3seGqeIGO3kZzvsvCWuYOjE3DJRgAWX9wPh2Hg43fxtYnUgAXZ8RY0VvNg4Lwk8agtGJrOQSh81Os2hwoF/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
journey back was long and it was pretty dark by the time we reached Sohra. A heavy mist had descended out of no-where
and the nip in the air suddenly caught us unaware. We saw a beautiful lake and decided to spend a
few minutes around its vicinity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi-LMSvuiN45VUV1nbcuLp0pSKB0-Ni869XAZpW_OIDXB9eu1_6l0PnYV_IwcxFLVW5WqveSYdzNVJRGbQUYoK4D1k-iuh3YRhLbeX3nt1Xukqqid4O5lVu8RfdWsbZOUAxiDNIAcUukz/s1600/DSC01868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi-LMSvuiN45VUV1nbcuLp0pSKB0-Ni869XAZpW_OIDXB9eu1_6l0PnYV_IwcxFLVW5WqveSYdzNVJRGbQUYoK4D1k-iuh3YRhLbeX3nt1Xukqqid4O5lVu8RfdWsbZOUAxiDNIAcUukz/s640/DSC01868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
was a heavy rush of people in Sohra and we could get a room after a lot of
search in and around that place. We stayed in a hotel named “HALARI” and decided
to retire for the day after a sumptuous dinner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com1Meghalaya, India25.4670308 91.36621600000000923.6339698 88.784429 27.3000918 93.948003000000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-22092760051828643302013-03-24T11:36:00.001+05:302013-03-24T11:36:26.681+05:30CHATTISGARH- FULL OF SURPRISES-1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Day0:-</u> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Chattisgarh is as enigmatic
a place as it can be in the minds of majority of the people. The tribal culture
of central India thrives in these hinterlands and the variety of flora and
fauna has always attracted me to visit this place ever since. I decided to
visit Jagdalpur which falls in the Bastar district of Chattisgarh. Jagdalpur is
famous for Chitrakoot and Tirathgarh Waterfalls
and the fabled Kanger Valley National Park lies in this region. I
boarded the Howrah-Koraput Express from Howrah at around 9:30 PM in the night. Christmas
was two days away and the chill in the winters was very prominent at that time
and I tucked my shirts more tightly as the siren of the engine started to
gather pace and wheels began to roll on. The journey was a bit long and I
reached Jagdalpur beyond midnigt the next day. As soon as I landed at the dim
lit station, it gave me a eerie kind of feeling and reminded of the good old
English winters in my favourite Sherlock Holmes novels. I hired an auti
rickshaw though I was very surprised to find him at such an unearthly hour. He
took me to Hotel Atithi, the nearest one to Jagdalpur station. I had already
talked with them about my stay and soon I was dozing off in my room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Day1:-</u> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I joined a family who
were visiting the waterfalls and caves in and around that Jagdalpur area. We
hired a cab from the hotel at a nominal price of 1500 for the entire day. We
had our breakfast in the hotel and soon we were on our way to view some majestic
waterfalls in that area. The first of them is the Tirathgarh Waterfalls about 28 kms from the main city of Jagdalpur. Tirathgarh Waterfall lies in Kanger
Valley National Park which actually envelops the city of Jagdalpur on three
sides. Tirathgarh Waterfall is a step based waterfall.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Water cascading from the beautiful
hills surrounding the falls provides splendid views. Splashing streams of water
comes down at an incredible speed from a height of more than 100 feet on the
river Mugabahar which originates in a lake not very far away from this point.
The area surrounding the fall features lush green forests of Kanger Valley that
enhance the beauty of the falls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The water flowing through the various
streams and crossing numerous paths along the way in a zigzag manner and
finally ending up in the falls is a treat to watch. Besides the natural beauty
associated with this place, Tirathgarh Falls is also an important religious
place featuring a temple which is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. We spent close to an hour near the falls and the fascinating beauty of the place was mind blowing indeed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_nPIfI2Nxdxp9n6-SBkdZVZUNsbuZUUmvBl_3KB0cjsUaDrujyXIgeONGQ0jCQ2viL_tMN5dikJWPxUN4bpic9tC68JFshrPlEot0DoMMkMeHHgKnM5lxDARtmTi9r49I-8CKofRmzQ0/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_nPIfI2Nxdxp9n6-SBkdZVZUNsbuZUUmvBl_3KB0cjsUaDrujyXIgeONGQ0jCQ2viL_tMN5dikJWPxUN4bpic9tC68JFshrPlEot0DoMMkMeHHgKnM5lxDARtmTi9r49I-8CKofRmzQ0/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TIRATHGRAH WATERFALL</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYg9P60DOrOx2Yv5uEjsGwCWHaMm5al1KkBSU9Bpzl9GjIgAt5rd32jrPii64c0z7-HExt2OSCuscPl6S84yCkEm-B8KLTDpYvZok0x16QW2GykBEF8Bghikey-TONPDFmC9Q0E7moD3T/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYg9P60DOrOx2Yv5uEjsGwCWHaMm5al1KkBSU9Bpzl9GjIgAt5rd32jrPii64c0z7-HExt2OSCuscPl6S84yCkEm-B8KLTDpYvZok0x16QW2GykBEF8Bghikey-TONPDFmC9Q0E7moD3T/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FRONT VIEW OF TIRATHGARH WATERFALL</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-9UCLcRH9xyImdVRJClWxVKnK_KsB10ImSQqf8qrpE4YA0oqiOTEJPJL7zBHERKY8Xw7BesWVieNerrh0H2DCmlIQUeGrCd399VDKny0oeP9On-ytAdXsblw2j4Pn3_4XrozYRsdFgD3/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-9UCLcRH9xyImdVRJClWxVKnK_KsB10ImSQqf8qrpE4YA0oqiOTEJPJL7zBHERKY8Xw7BesWVieNerrh0H2DCmlIQUeGrCd399VDKny0oeP9On-ytAdXsblw2j4Pn3_4XrozYRsdFgD3/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
SURROUNDING VIEW OF TIRATHGARH WATERFALL</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/SbF5byFwxlk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next is the Kotumsar Cave on our
list. Kotumsar Caves are situated at a distance of about 40 kms from the main
city of Jagdalpur. These caves also lie in Kanger Valley National park
and in conjunction with Tirathgarh falls add to the exquisiteness of this not
so popular place. Actually, there is a bend in the road as one goes about 10
kms in the heart of Kanger Valley National Park. To the left is Kotumsar Cave while to
the right is Tirathgarh Waterfall. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kotumsar Caves are about 35 meters below
ground level and around 1371 meters long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These caves have got the distinction
of being India's first and world's second longest natural caves. As they are
underground, there is pitch-darkness inside. It features Stalactites and
Stalagmites formations. The entry to the caves is through the narrow stairs and one
have to pass through tall, narrow chambers for gaining access to the main hall
that features superb acoustics. There was a long queue of visitors when we
reached there at around 11 AM in the morning. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The caves feature five chambers
having several blind wells. Lots of tribal tales are also associated with it
and are also known as Gupanpal or Kutamsar Caves. The stalactites found inside
the cave are very enigmatic and mysterious to watch and at the same time arouse
the curiosity of their formations and subsequent growth in one’s minds. There
is lack of oxygen while going deep into the caves. In view of which, for safety
reasons, entry beyond certain points has been restricted. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is an idol of
Shiva placed strategically at the end of the tunnel in the cave. The idol is not
natural but it still carries a belief and instils a faith among the people and
as a result the visitors coming to this place are more inclined religiously
rather than exploring the cave in general.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d-ghq9-Nn7e3Yan0gUwRaXz8DcCoKScdXlux7bIjDMDSSD_NDNvEVejXzsK43dAT_PGAlddu0zv-gEyWFoG5tawGh_XAUxmc27Fml66YcMRJOFpW2i77UdMIj-B4hzq7YeKOcnmHORsB/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d-ghq9-Nn7e3Yan0gUwRaXz8DcCoKScdXlux7bIjDMDSSD_NDNvEVejXzsK43dAT_PGAlddu0zv-gEyWFoG5tawGh_XAUxmc27Fml66YcMRJOFpW2i77UdMIj-B4hzq7YeKOcnmHORsB/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ENTRY TO KOTUMSAR CAVE</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlKTNJriJmsctpJBZpxMF-yqESOkxqaWzKP-IFbzLY7LzHDIjVndlstf_xtCFL1vnLnKtcSI_mkUgq3xsFuA-VKr6crI29TrkhA9EskZmOuB5DkbjgQtnZVuCgauxwZgWogYFtWP4QxcJ/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlKTNJriJmsctpJBZpxMF-yqESOkxqaWzKP-IFbzLY7LzHDIjVndlstf_xtCFL1vnLnKtcSI_mkUgq3xsFuA-VKr6crI29TrkhA9EskZmOuB5DkbjgQtnZVuCgauxwZgWogYFtWP4QxcJ/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">KOTUMSAR CAVE</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYzeMd9ymamv6Dx_KitaE7iZeeHmjNJFvL99pwZwer6xUSj4soR2Sromy9EcFtjxVIgkz3UItA-hmBGjK-VBs-dE_69swQPvJCl1CjzIJar2HNZtT61jkQud439f3_S-jAkEn4mexitxa/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYzeMd9ymamv6Dx_KitaE7iZeeHmjNJFvL99pwZwer6xUSj4soR2Sromy9EcFtjxVIgkz3UItA-hmBGjK-VBs-dE_69swQPvJCl1CjzIJar2HNZtT61jkQud439f3_S-jAkEn4mexitxa/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STALACTICTES AND STALAGMITES FORMATIONS</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6dOJqceMQqcSZVEobMkwNJJ5mX8TC0BDr1LNz5UVQByorNqo__NbTUceAfhDDHIyRNoK0K6kUtSUeI8kQU0NVZ2E9eudWq5ndXpoqmJK3dEQJizRORgYvw1xNkrNq1zIBogYXCTrZgz1/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6dOJqceMQqcSZVEobMkwNJJ5mX8TC0BDr1LNz5UVQByorNqo__NbTUceAfhDDHIyRNoK0K6kUtSUeI8kQU0NVZ2E9eudWq5ndXpoqmJK3dEQJizRORgYvw1xNkrNq1zIBogYXCTrZgz1/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlFfKfjf18jIfhBzhyphenhyphenPyy5ERGN6ELzzubRy4qSHyRvZ8ycmp1FmBZO_os37NTGm2s4UiHV16n8RBlXGHEZfoEJujIp7S_d9pJMFs5xcLDhCU8XkhwpHsonIExaqxyG42NzKyXhUUgVXyE/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlFfKfjf18jIfhBzhyphenhyphenPyy5ERGN6ELzzubRy4qSHyRvZ8ycmp1FmBZO_os37NTGm2s4UiHV16n8RBlXGHEZfoEJujIp7S_d9pJMFs5xcLDhCU8XkhwpHsonIExaqxyG42NzKyXhUUgVXyE/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
final serving on this amazing platter of assorted waterfalls and caves is the
majestic Chtrakote Falls</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. Chitrakote Falls is also referred as the
Niagara Falls of India and has got the distinction of being the broadest
waterfall in India. It is located 38 km (24 mi) from Jagdalpur. <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">The strikingly beautiful falls showcases
immense natural beauty amidst the densely forested surroundings. The waterfall
is located near Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of </span><span style="background-color: white;">Chhattisgarh<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Indravati River. The waters of the river flowing through dense vegetation
and cascades from a height of about 95 feet is a treat to watch and attracts
thousands of tourists. The breadth of the waterfall varies according to the
season and goes down drastically in the summers. The most spectacular views of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Chitrakote Falls<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are during the monsoon season when the river flows in its
full fury and touches both the banks and is filled with silt. The area around
the falls is largely forested. We reached the spot at around 4 PM in the
evening. There were lot of local people enjoying this ethereal beauty of
nature. The level of water in Indravati River at that time of the year was
pretty low and it was possible to cross the river at some points along the way.
The thick growth of lush green trees all around this fall presented a magical
aura to this place</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4Ppz3K9WPbRxl29bznPTaQHZ8-I9DaKy_G7ID7-FVPeR_UQ-KD4AZI7hVAZ412m5DZauep48Wp8ofCivXjHS6wNdbXWKWjiZO0GC5vb9gUUOAUsOCmkA1tnSsh_LSxdfuu97WsCXf3Qy/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4Ppz3K9WPbRxl29bznPTaQHZ8-I9DaKy_G7ID7-FVPeR_UQ-KD4AZI7hVAZ412m5DZauep48Wp8ofCivXjHS6wNdbXWKWjiZO0GC5vb9gUUOAUsOCmkA1tnSsh_LSxdfuu97WsCXf3Qy/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHITRAKOTE FALLS</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABe0m6XVmjPQvWLKJ9iSb7dRM22-mZGp7Xsoa5wDDwZ31H4H3LhN_sg5NJbE9BW3MfJC0Pvi0X5bLObSKhhl42mTQ0GrJgEdXSK8iUwo4cZMyYrp59YN0vIL-OOwhlL2B_3ctj2oMLsqN/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABe0m6XVmjPQvWLKJ9iSb7dRM22-mZGp7Xsoa5wDDwZ31H4H3LhN_sg5NJbE9BW3MfJC0Pvi0X5bLObSKhhl42mTQ0GrJgEdXSK8iUwo4cZMyYrp59YN0vIL-OOwhlL2B_3ctj2oMLsqN/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pMUxZRt4kHsRr3QFEyXSl225IDgw4ag-o2k3NK1aXWyXje1NrBNrkfAG8n6nDLgE_IZir3y5g4_gB2npMK8onx5l58D1Znmox6MBLI5Fd_0lSLaJ0rvo7voGtYrPuZXOcGc9wC2YnBPf/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pMUxZRt4kHsRr3QFEyXSl225IDgw4ag-o2k3NK1aXWyXje1NrBNrkfAG8n6nDLgE_IZir3y5g4_gB2npMK8onx5l58D1Znmox6MBLI5Fd_0lSLaJ0rvo7voGtYrPuZXOcGc9wC2YnBPf/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">INDRAVATI RIVER</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgaXRUqWZvrXOE5PiR_ol_aUipTnluwzQde55b0MYtLjfgJQgrEWJEtI-kFSIX4CLip9FM_W-q5e9EWX0w8cp0cDU-zn4XY0VqwYicvsXtuK0Sk7UYJvVHDo-LCqH6YdObi-iCoCsoGBT/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgaXRUqWZvrXOE5PiR_ol_aUipTnluwzQde55b0MYtLjfgJQgrEWJEtI-kFSIX4CLip9FM_W-q5e9EWX0w8cp0cDU-zn4XY0VqwYicvsXtuK0Sk7UYJvVHDo-LCqH6YdObi-iCoCsoGBT/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Gz-lsXYtlg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I returned to my hotel at around 8 PM in the
evening. After taking a shower and reliving the moments through my camera, I
thought to ram around a bit in search of some nice dinner. I was fortunate to
come across a small restaurant named “Mahadev Restaurant”. A pure vegetarian
restaurant near bus stand and it was one of the most delicious vegetarian food
that I have tasted for a while. A fitting end to a wonderful spent day!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-48234237749684528022013-03-17T20:33:00.002+05:302013-03-18T08:30:30.670+05:30PHULBANI-JALPRAPATON KHOJ MEIN (IN SEARCH OF WATERFALLS)-2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day 3- </u></b> The next day began on a much
sedate note since I was feeling a bit worked out walking close to some 20-25
Kms at a stretch. I woke up at around 6 and did a bit of my own juggle with
different sort of exercises and was feeling better than the previous night.
Today I had planned to visit the Katramal and Urmagarh Waterfalls. I ate some
biscuits and a can juice that I brought yesterday for breakfast. The weather
was sunny and the golden rays of the sun infused some positive energy in me to
carry on this expedition for a while. I went to the Medical Chowk and took a
cab for Katringia. Katringia is a small village en route to Katramal Waterfall.
Katringia is about 17 kms from Phulbani. A lot of road construction was
currently going on and the cab took close to 30 mins for covering that
distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reaching
Katringia, I bargained hard for a ride to Katramal and Urmagarh Waterfalls.
Katramal Waterfalls lies to the right about 17 kms from Katringia while
Urmagarh Waterfalls lies to the left about 10-12 Kms from Katringia. Finally,
the autoriskshaw agreed to take me to both the falls at a bargained price of
500 rupees. The first visit was to Katramal Waterfalls. The road on my right
was extremely treacherous with lots of pebbles, uncovered stones and gravel, in
short , kutcha road. The road takes one to the heart of Phulbani forests and
the ethereal yet magnificent trees of all kind stood tall in this amazing
hinterland. After close to 40 minutes, I reached Katramal Waterfalls. I was
spellbound by the fantastic beauty of the place. A series of steps descended to
this waterfall and the first thing that catches one's eyes were the fishes that
almost fly in the air as soon as they get some food in their vicinity. I threw some biscuits and to my amusement I
was thrilled to see their activity. There was very less water in the fall since
the rains had been pretty less in this part of the area but nonetheless the
view was breathtaking indeed. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXgkpAo0oL2QWJ2oHsVRh2DgLy5_51c9wxGl2bGCpqzR_JSF-SNy8I_0WWoY9lKSOTaREAGmkxz0ihV5A9iAK2zDbB9pzrhUJPkQzcRMPXTwQifW9nT4jPv09QZaI64WdbkAUp4ehPiFj/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXgkpAo0oL2QWJ2oHsVRh2DgLy5_51c9wxGl2bGCpqzR_JSF-SNy8I_0WWoY9lKSOTaREAGmkxz0ihV5A9iAK2zDbB9pzrhUJPkQzcRMPXTwQifW9nT4jPv09QZaI64WdbkAUp4ehPiFj/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> KATRAMAL WATERFALL</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR6HAv-RsEjPpJxcRFGSyQcptksdcbIgdK1BaqaqdCyfDR9FcMK_AVhlQKP8z5wAwsZtVQXn7YQ-qDqoM7i_eZ5PJroRhJHUQTRylIhPgwNau0KV_jCfHOubgYFRZTWdagNhIitoCpRM5/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR6HAv-RsEjPpJxcRFGSyQcptksdcbIgdK1BaqaqdCyfDR9FcMK_AVhlQKP8z5wAwsZtVQXn7YQ-qDqoM7i_eZ5PJroRhJHUQTRylIhPgwNau0KV_jCfHOubgYFRZTWdagNhIitoCpRM5/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> FISHES IN KATRAMAL WATERFALL</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmbKLcdS9MdE_kJxquyR6YjT4zFBDJhL16e1MJRiQ61dYjdxdA-03OMD6qi6iE5w6v7FIHFWUTae0SEHGEAZkxXWyvM97bzzDccTd3CyaYWDsXevZvbrS0nfDT_ku_9Y_9SqhongTmo3U/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmbKLcdS9MdE_kJxquyR6YjT4zFBDJhL16e1MJRiQ61dYjdxdA-03OMD6qi6iE5w6v7FIHFWUTae0SEHGEAZkxXWyvM97bzzDccTd3CyaYWDsXevZvbrS0nfDT_ku_9Y_9SqhongTmo3U/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IN FRONT OF KATRAMAL WATERFALL</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pMyjMgGT7Eo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
spending some few but priceless moments in the lap of nature, we decided to
head off to Urmagarh Waterfalls. Urmagarh Waterfall lies to the left of
Katringia and the terrain to this waterfall was also pretty much similar to
Katramal Waterfalls. There were a lot of villagers who hopped on to the auto rickshaw
for a ride into the interiors. Regular autos don’t ply on these roads and hence
the rides are very scarce indeed for them. The one striking feature of all
these waterfalls is the complete mismanagement and callous attitude of the
government in managing the complexes and tourist rest houses around these
waterfalls. Every structure is in shambles and evokes utter disdain on the part
of people who visit these places.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A4Oi_fMDlAsJzFXkuq20CRn1mvLQx4D98EKw50z_K707P1pzbbeRBo5JpqAIo3Hnq2NElxvTeYMW0cOJYzbw3qN6FHUDoCTOFDLtm4aEB4hTL7arLTeJ7myyJSW2TrLkV4a7MweV8hKI/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A4Oi_fMDlAsJzFXkuq20CRn1mvLQx4D98EKw50z_K707P1pzbbeRBo5JpqAIo3Hnq2NElxvTeYMW0cOJYzbw3qN6FHUDoCTOFDLtm4aEB4hTL7arLTeJ7myyJSW2TrLkV4a7MweV8hKI/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> URMAGARH WATERFALL</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqkK7pOK-DdelDVjwNV3yCa4HQTIXYPiA7tjDhZu6iwsgaaK171Ub00Gi0uUQ6mPa_S4UkC97ZJsZgpZmHY6wAr2Ra4Vtr2heWUtoeauhxuulo-CpsW2FiNLSAp-G7TnNN8wgErOFdelv/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqkK7pOK-DdelDVjwNV3yCa4HQTIXYPiA7tjDhZu6iwsgaaK171Ub00Gi0uUQ6mPa_S4UkC97ZJsZgpZmHY6wAr2Ra4Vtr2heWUtoeauhxuulo-CpsW2FiNLSAp-G7TnNN8wgErOFdelv/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
IN FRONT OF URMAGARH WATERFALL</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFHQ2hvTROuBWK6Nk50UQ_j5QKP7TGx6hyphenhyphen49wbbBq01lkrzsVVhJdlxSv7yYtdv6Da3qYRh42To0rN_29_Roe84HeknmqVYv72zkNOVc7J80zJeAd1gfmg6c2a6hVstHRbDSDJf3UcFsM/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFHQ2hvTROuBWK6Nk50UQ_j5QKP7TGx6hyphenhyphen49wbbBq01lkrzsVVhJdlxSv7yYtdv6Da3qYRh42To0rN_29_Roe84HeknmqVYv72zkNOVc7J80zJeAd1gfmg6c2a6hVstHRbDSDJf3UcFsM/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MpuzSH6sn2s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
immense natural and scenic beauty was a joy to behold and I was mesmerized by
this whole experience. I stood in front of the Urmagarh waterfall transfixed at
such wonderful wilderness and silence. Finally, it was time for me to do the
parting and saying goodbye to these amazing falls. I reached Phulbani at around
3 in the afternoon and decided to spend the rest of the day hopping around this
small quaint town. I boarded the overnight bus to Bhubaneshwar from Phulbani
art around 9:30 in the evening. I reached Bhubaneshwar at around 6 in the
morning the next day. <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day4-</u></b> In Bhubaneshwar, I met a
person from Delhi<b> </b>while I was
booking a dormitory bed for myself in the railway station in Bhubaneshwar since
my return train to Kolkata was at around 11 in the night from Bhubaneshwar on
the same day. He was going back to Delhi and his return train was at 10 in the
night the same day. We decided to spend the rest of the day visiting the magnificent
Sun temple in Konark. Konark is about 60 kms from Bhubaneshwar and regular bus
services are available from Lakshmi Square in Bhubaneshwar.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
reached Konark at around 12:30 in the afternoon and spent around 1 and a half
hour in the ancient and one of its kind temple dedicated to Sun God in India.
It’s a UNESCO world heritage site and a lot of locals as well as foreigners
throng to visit this place. Chandrabhaga beach is in close proximity of Sun
Temple in Konark, exactly 3 kms from the temple. We visited the beach and had
our lunch in one of the resorts situated at the edge of the beach.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5PQQtQfeslhVCqQ1bGZpz9Z2XTXRBFteu_VbukOVs28DaDa1nSWDOBcuQsUCI-kUrfeEQ4OF5QPkMxGxM_L2tzvbV_uIzMFj9uQUgb1smDUexpquoU1b6TVSCmRk1mluCEnufuTeck2t/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5PQQtQfeslhVCqQ1bGZpz9Z2XTXRBFteu_VbukOVs28DaDa1nSWDOBcuQsUCI-kUrfeEQ4OF5QPkMxGxM_L2tzvbV_uIzMFj9uQUgb1smDUexpquoU1b6TVSCmRk1mluCEnufuTeck2t/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
SUN TEMPLE IN KONARK</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Eb2HpmD1gfe67S6IgTLDLw-07kVax9d5Q5PJqwcl8q-lYHhRdy8k8J8V51Mq2FMp8rNGDELMwCeb16LNUy-kHIYyoKoLrnGEHZL6iLPH_Aw9addKEuv7x0jGh1tCamKzi__xWt4QrXl2/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Eb2HpmD1gfe67S6IgTLDLw-07kVax9d5Q5PJqwcl8q-lYHhRdy8k8J8V51Mq2FMp8rNGDELMwCeb16LNUy-kHIYyoKoLrnGEHZL6iLPH_Aw9addKEuv7x0jGh1tCamKzi__xWt4QrXl2/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="638" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVLGYBctL7dUD2mUcZpBYOhsC6SWiOLLcU2RqQInX51dnw0sKJhRKO6EFM94Y_zZTs4ghH8j2AyP7_R7cDt-Ot1nFykNjGiGagajYZBo6AmyqPtAD-pgyN6ifwfSRyOk5yahYDfW7Fg3M/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVLGYBctL7dUD2mUcZpBYOhsC6SWiOLLcU2RqQInX51dnw0sKJhRKO6EFM94Y_zZTs4ghH8j2AyP7_R7cDt-Ot1nFykNjGiGagajYZBo6AmyqPtAD-pgyN6ifwfSRyOk5yahYDfW7Fg3M/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
THE MODEL OF THREE TEMPLES THAT WAS INITIALLY BUILT FOR SUN GOD</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF812F0_J40vD81VP6bJ30x6oYnpMvZHD5OYMdbFI2RTNn2bLRU10sdzNGgWGBw5raeMuPtuXpf_oGdFV-L1q3f2v9qlSED7sHylJdLDTm58VePQC5e_cSJsKWMiPnyEb9rQWlTZ5EaaA/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF812F0_J40vD81VP6bJ30x6oYnpMvZHD5OYMdbFI2RTNn2bLRU10sdzNGgWGBw5raeMuPtuXpf_oGdFV-L1q3f2v9qlSED7sHylJdLDTm58VePQC5e_cSJsKWMiPnyEb9rQWlTZ5EaaA/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
CHANDRABHAGA BEACH</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We returned
at around 5 in the evening from Konark and spent the rest of the evening roaming
around the various food stalls in the station. Finally, we took our much
awaited dinner at around 9 in the evening from the popular “Jan Aahar” of
IRCTC. I boarded the train at around 11:30 and immediately fell asleep. PHULBANI was truly spectacular and I thoroughly enjoyed my search for those awesome waterfalls.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUQFEkEAJr8HbVlh5XxAhA_xhFwIkq3RrO2b7MUwJ4-4-UlNgevTd4qY9XdJLfDWYFALkx5feHof7lhXfnK5OFZeA4TOfBuAmrSsE1V9YWI4nY1idduEHg-qDSDTdYrqFkj9LIZf_47H1/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUQFEkEAJr8HbVlh5XxAhA_xhFwIkq3RrO2b7MUwJ4-4-UlNgevTd4qY9XdJLfDWYFALkx5feHof7lhXfnK5OFZeA4TOfBuAmrSsE1V9YWI4nY1idduEHg-qDSDTdYrqFkj9LIZf_47H1/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the earlier part of the series, click</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2013/03/phulbani-jalprapaton-khoj-mein-in.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></h2>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com1Phulbani, Odisha, India20.476971 84.23187289999998520.417468 84.151191899999986 20.536474 84.312553899999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-79481939274767726552013-03-16T19:23:00.000+05:302013-03-18T08:29:05.919+05:30 PHULBANI-JALPRAPATON KHOJ MEIN (IN SEARCH OF WATERFALLS)-1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><u>DAY0 </u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">- Phulbani is a city that
lies in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. It is surrounded on all sides by
hills and dense evergreen trees. The lure of virgin waterfalls made me to hatch
a plan to visit this place. I boarded the Chennai Mail from Howrah on February
27, 2013 @11:45 PM and reached Behrampore on next day @ 10:00 AM. The new bus
stand in Behrampore caters to buses going towards Phulbani. The distance from
Behrampore to Phulbani is around 160 kms but the journey takes close to 5 hours
due to the bad road conditions on a stretch that extends from Ganjam to
Kalinga.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day1- </u></b> I reached Phulbani @5:00 PM on February
28,2013. The soft orange hue of the setting sun was visible on the horizon far
and above and the evening aroma of the early spring season just added to the
magic of the place. The first thing I did was to find a decent enough lodge to
stay. I prefer lodges close to the market place since they give good opportunities
to interact with the locals and also provide a good platform to know and
observe the culture and traditions of the place. “Venkateshwar Lodge” provided
me a nice room with an attached bathroom for a partly amount of 250 rupees per
day. I unpacked my belongings and
decided to spend the later part of the evening hanging out in a restaurant
where I had some chicken and chapatti for dinner. I was feeling extremely
hungry and the sumptuous dinner did provide some relief for the night.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day2- </u></b> I started
the morning on a bright note with some biscuits and a cup of tea. I strolled my
way to the bus stand where I enquired about visiting Pakdajhar Waterfalls.
Pakdajhar Waterfalls is located at a distance of around 3-5 Kms from
Sudrukumpa, a small village on NH-217 (National Highway-217) which is further 19 kms away from the main
city of Phulbani. Regular auto services ply from Phulbani to Sudrukumpa in
front of the <i>chowk</i> to the bus stand.
I hired an auto from Phulabani to Sudrukumpa along with four other villagers.
The ride took me from the plains of Phulbani to the hills of Sudrukumpa covered
all around with dense evergreen trees. Pakdajhar is around 7 kms from the main
village of Sudrukumpa. The early morning weather was sunny and I decided to
cover the distance to Pakdajhar on foot. I started walking on the beautiful
NH-217 highway with small red mud hills accompanying me on both sides of the
road. After walking for around 5 kms, I came across a bend towards my right
which further took me into the interiors of the forest towards Pakdajhar
Waterfalls. The road got narrow and langurs of various sizes started to
dominate the red gravel filled path which takes one right to the steps of
Pakdajhar waterfalls. A series of some 150 steps plunges one right to the
bottom where one can have the magnificent view of this splendid waterfall.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4-SG4YPfkqfXJwynrPd2h2XCyW5NUbbUnnDzilBq4xzhU13JMF36Mcwadktj-KuByCU6iWvjtygjwL5c0bF8X-A2Kk7rko9i2FuYD9kMCZ3tkQPbLwbeEEbIYnJGf1lq6oQ-6nAKEwq9/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4-SG4YPfkqfXJwynrPd2h2XCyW5NUbbUnnDzilBq4xzhU13JMF36Mcwadktj-KuByCU6iWvjtygjwL5c0bF8X-A2Kk7rko9i2FuYD9kMCZ3tkQPbLwbeEEbIYnJGf1lq6oQ-6nAKEwq9/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ON WAY TO PAKDAJHAR WATERFALLS</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV46w_5XGvUEh5bAAmPncpRJhIVXo5DkbM7y3FkLRYW0XTCLv8Fv3IIqhVQC43eIj5ytlBzu5kWPFX6KM7NshE3xTCDFIJmURl4eIrbkX50KC-Akq7NvkNacVfame2sc61Hha0fLT-lKd/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV46w_5XGvUEh5bAAmPncpRJhIVXo5DkbM7y3FkLRYW0XTCLv8Fv3IIqhVQC43eIj5ytlBzu5kWPFX6KM7NshE3xTCDFIJmURl4eIrbkX50KC-Akq7NvkNacVfame2sc61Hha0fLT-lKd/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ON WAY TO PAKDAJHAR WATERFALLS</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4XaDjUVZgq_Vzg9yBrGxKqWzviMrScoFfbu6uINITr1wd7hQqC4NGp143YIcZ4Y9ccT1RTrjdiL7I6LES5xAcV7rNN4J4hV6YWNleAnsM7QVlHTqBxzWVeVVzi_qcPcNVhg5rFrB9nzS/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4XaDjUVZgq_Vzg9yBrGxKqWzviMrScoFfbu6uINITr1wd7hQqC4NGp143YIcZ4Y9ccT1RTrjdiL7I6LES5xAcV7rNN4J4hV6YWNleAnsM7QVlHTqBxzWVeVVzi_qcPcNVhg5rFrB9nzS/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMALlssFVZYOYz8po-vSyIJmlM9RMyLUpSKTVv6AwBZrm3KJNoUL4Iesd0yxmz0EG1IDTshAV2GFtYckS9UFV3JWgyQCS_e81ex5Jrxzy6NWcEgt6Hp-OJ4Kqk2ktQABybvKIjEkBiSM4t/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMALlssFVZYOYz8po-vSyIJmlM9RMyLUpSKTVv6AwBZrm3KJNoUL4Iesd0yxmz0EG1IDTshAV2GFtYckS9UFV3JWgyQCS_e81ex5Jrxzy6NWcEgt6Hp-OJ4Kqk2ktQABybvKIjEkBiSM4t/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwKoYkVsnubhpN_idIv_VcrWqG3mfPqqpva4nLUHbSRaCenYcIai8EUPXcp27UskJua9Ze20z4S2h4znZiPBXOaKr_iLTcy5rawO20altuf95_oXbxkJfu_LcSvu2dUFTNEaCjdsCL1zy/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwKoYkVsnubhpN_idIv_VcrWqG3mfPqqpva4nLUHbSRaCenYcIai8EUPXcp27UskJua9Ze20z4S2h4znZiPBXOaKr_iLTcy5rawO20altuf95_oXbxkJfu_LcSvu2dUFTNEaCjdsCL1zy/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSiaJ3K0mCa-qItq1rYg28-voiolLJrcxbmYUYlDDBORfaF2QDnNdejTrTdEfQKTTG1uNX9MV3uQeH9GSfyIMPX-aQl38HO2zZQaWv53Gah-rfXgYNZqAGkFiaDTUd3IJUZn5Md-nb08-/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSiaJ3K0mCa-qItq1rYg28-voiolLJrcxbmYUYlDDBORfaF2QDnNdejTrTdEfQKTTG1uNX9MV3uQeH9GSfyIMPX-aQl38HO2zZQaWv53Gah-rfXgYNZqAGkFiaDTUd3IJUZn5Md-nb08-/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
PAKDAJHAR WATERFALL</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mhD9ruOf55m4DeRQv7Dwd4k2ekqe7ip_M-DLqIBt4W5k2WTcU3AfK_3FJmLOQyx-7P8PCWgENgLcdd47PbpQ0MA_m7KJlilL-y-dYqAEYfWhZbQq7DXWFdG_U63OPkrkgxEIevVbNbvy/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mhD9ruOf55m4DeRQv7Dwd4k2ekqe7ip_M-DLqIBt4W5k2WTcU3AfK_3FJmLOQyx-7P8PCWgENgLcdd47PbpQ0MA_m7KJlilL-y-dYqAEYfWhZbQq7DXWFdG_U63OPkrkgxEIevVbNbvy/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
LANGURS IN AND AROUND PAKDAJHAR WATRFALLS</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/n4bAfw9RfwQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day2(Continued)-</u></b> I came back to
Sudrukumpa by the same way and as soon as I reached Phulbani, the mercury was
soaring and my mobile phone showed me the time as 1:30 PM. I took directions
for a nearby restaurant from a local and gulped down the offer on my plate in
no time.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
next destination for me was Putudi Waterfalls. Putudi is around 18-20 Kms from
Phulbani. I hired an auto from Phulbani since the road was extremely
treacherous and I didn’t have a good map to rely on. The journey was nearly 1
hour through farmlands and forests and the beauty of river Salunki mesmerized
me to the hilt. There was a road block due to construction work at some point
of my journey and the auto was unable to move further. I carried my backpack on
my shoulder and started hiking for the Putudi Waterfalls. With the sun beating
down on my back and the wind blowing on my face, I was more than happy to walk
another 5-6 kms in search of the falls. After walking for another 45 minutes
with around 8 kms covered on foot, I was beginning to feel a bit pessimistic. I
was not able to locate the fall and as per the deal with the autorickshaw, I
was supposed to reach back in an hour since I had plans to visit the Katramal
falls nearby.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally,
I decided to make my way back. I was using the red gravel stones on my way to
mark the important twists and turns on my way. The sun was dipping a bit low on the horizon
and I was walking a bit briskly with carefully locating those marks on my way
back. Finally, I reached the point where the auto rickshaw was waiting for me.
The driver was sleeping in the auto rickshaw. I woke him up and told him in
detail about my ordeal. I was a bit disappointed to not to locate the waterfall
but thrill of looking in search for another one served as a temporary uplift to
my sagging spirits. Since the Katramal falls was further 17-18 kms more and it
was already getting dark, the auto rickshaw driver was in no mood to heed my
unrelenting requests to visit that fall that day. Alas! I decided to go for
Katramal waterfalls along with Urmagarh falls the next day.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMgsN8b3E9WRuWj68M9iwBz2Xi9KJ2I0AAyGir0VunCD8tG1DDmcfYF5gzIK6GzyWwLOebka0oKlmBdx7KNYUPi3XMbaNM1Qd8bbhCdKuK6R-o7lfuX9oYCkYIL7LAkcH6KXcvqd3mnmM/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMgsN8b3E9WRuWj68M9iwBz2Xi9KJ2I0AAyGir0VunCD8tG1DDmcfYF5gzIK6GzyWwLOebka0oKlmBdx7KNYUPi3XMbaNM1Qd8bbhCdKuK6R-o7lfuX9oYCkYIL7LAkcH6KXcvqd3mnmM/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ON WAY TO PUTUDI WATERFALLS</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK_bAHDwEQVhrjhxtSuUqOtvdA3ReszOpfrfzG_5pxIIskgnBV92JG0cekj7ttgKZ7goq0Jw6ULtx6AcOZzXJQKs5-xWWpg-5iumtcIa0hDjc4X0lwNz6bmxiqed7hpZNa_aaTcIFDJB7/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK_bAHDwEQVhrjhxtSuUqOtvdA3ReszOpfrfzG_5pxIIskgnBV92JG0cekj7ttgKZ7goq0Jw6ULtx6AcOZzXJQKs5-xWWpg-5iumtcIa0hDjc4X0lwNz6bmxiqed7hpZNa_aaTcIFDJB7/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ON WAY BACK FROM PUTUDI WATERFALLS</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVABW0kVVQGa0L_d384DUyq8tySoAAQzDTQqulk7tY4B0xcVWk9ZObEFd8SEKZBFdL_OzUsaNUqAL8GHc4yUXkzjInYFWAuLR5IObOWarkQxVvDEvl7UjjLNskQkqvsk7D2zEzm7gD5rR/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVABW0kVVQGa0L_d384DUyq8tySoAAQzDTQqulk7tY4B0xcVWk9ZObEFd8SEKZBFdL_OzUsaNUqAL8GHc4yUXkzjInYFWAuLR5IObOWarkQxVvDEvl7UjjLNskQkqvsk7D2zEzm7gD5rR/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
RIVER SALUKI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the next part of the series, click</span> <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2013/03/phulbani-jalprapaton-khoj-mein-in_17.html" target="_blank">here</a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com0Phulbani, Odisha, India20.476971 84.23187289999998520.417468 84.151191899999986 20.536474 84.312553899999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-79962421614977174132013-02-11T13:55:00.003+05:302013-03-18T10:28:41.375+05:30TRIP TO NAGALAND- DAY8, DAY9 AND DAY10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day8-</u></b> What an awesome trip this
was turning out to be. I planned to visit Dzukou Valley on Saturday after
spending the whole of Friday in Kohima. But unfortunately, the shared Sumo
service which operates from BOC counter in Kohima would be closed on Saturday
due to unavoidable circumstances (All the sumo operators are going on a picnic
on that day). The shared sumo service operates between Kohima and Zakhma and
also between Kohima and Viswema Village. Dzukou Valley can be reached from
wither Zakhma or Viswema Village. From Viswema Village, it is around 17 kms to
Dzukou Valley, of which 8 kms was a motor able road whereas from Zakhma, it was
around 2 kms of which 2 kms is a motorable road. I decided to start the trek
from Viswema Village since the base for Japfu peak is pretty near to that
village. The hotel rent for Kohima was around 500 but since I was leaving in
afternoon on Friday i.e without spending a night at the hotel, I asked for a
concession. The hotel owner was generous enough to grant me a concession and charged
me only Rs 400. I hired the shared sumo service to Viswema village which cost
me Rs 40. I reached Viswema Village at around 2:30 in the afternoon and started
the trek to Dzukou Valley at around 3 PM. I reached the last point the motorable
road at around 5:30 in the evening. There were two covered make shift tin houses
located there but I couldn’t find any human existence. There were two dogs guarding
those two covered sheds. As soon as I came in the near vicinity of those sheds,
the dogs started barking ferociously. I moved my torch in their direction and
for a moment or two, the barking stopped. I went past those houses and found a
small clearing in front of me. A huge bark of a tree was right in front of me
and a small stream of water was flowing across it. There was a dense forest cover
ahead of me and it was difficult to locate a trail in those pitch dark
surroundings. I decided to make a move
since I was pretty much sure that I will reach the rest house in Dzukou Valley
if I walk for another hour or so. As I walked for another 600 metres from those
covered tin sheds in that dense forest cover, I reached a dead end. On one
side, there was an abyss running parallel to the length of my new found trail and
on another side, there were huge boulders and pebbles strewn across. It was difficult
for me to even trace my path back to those covered tin sheds. I decided to
pitch my tent by making a small clearing at that place and spend the night
before deciding on the future course of my journey in the morning. It was 7 PM
in my watch and I started putting up the tent. I had a warm and cosy sleeping
bag with me. On the technical front, it can withstand a temperature of around
-5 degrees Celsius. I had some biscuits and a bottle half full of water which
was enough for me to survive the night. I was ruing the fact that I didn’t have
any match stick with me which could have allowed me to lit a small fire in
front of my tent. Nonetheless, I marked a Lakshman Rekha with my stinking pee
encircling around my tent. The whole night went pretty comfortably surrounded
by delusions of people residing in a nearby village helping me to come out from
the jungle. The first rays of the sun
hit the ground at around 4:30 in the morning and I woke up and started packing
my tent. In the early morning light, when I saw the place where I stayed, it
brought shivers down my spine. I was in the middle of a deep jungle and there
was no visible sign of living creature in and around me. I traced the path back
to the point where I came across that huge bark of the tree and the stream last
evening. On reaching that point, I met
Captain Om who was commanding a group of soldiers to Dzukou valley. I realized
the mistake that I did the last evening. The sign board for the route to Dzukou
Valley was perched on a hillock on my right side and in the fading light of last evening, I
failed to notice that sign board. As a result, instead of taking a detour to
the right, I went straight ahead. There is a flight of stone carved stairs that
takes one to the top from that point. It was a very uphill task since I was
carrying a load close to 15 Kg on my back and I had very little food available for
breakfast. Moreover , I was running
short of water also. I popped some chewing gums and started the climb up. After
an hour, I reached the top of Dzukou Valley. From there, it’s a straight walk to
the rest house which is about 5 ½ kilometres from that point. I reached the
rest house at around 8:30 in the morning. In all, it took me around 2 hours to
reach the rest house from the last point of the motorable road. Entering the
Dzukou Valley was like entering the doors of heaven. I have never come across
such lush and verdant valley in my life. There was countless number of wild
rhodendrons on these valleys and along with the trees; the view is breathtaking
and spectacular. Dzukou Valley is situated at an altitude of close to 8000
feet. All along the way to the rest house, Captain Om provided a terrific
company with his wonderful banter. After reaching the rest house, I met the
caretaker and the army doctor. The army was celebrating a small get together
and hence preparation was in full swing to welcome the officials of higher
rank. Listening to my tale, Captain Om told me that the kind of courage and
stamina that I have, I can be easily drafted in the army. Another potential
career option opens up for me!!!!!!!.. Moreover, they were pretty surprised to
hear that I had come all the way form Kolkata to visit this valley. There was a
small helipad also and I ambled around the rest house and the nearby valley the
whole day. I decided to spent another day in the valley since it would be
unfair on my part if i didn’t get the opportunity t explore this valley. There
were a lot of caves in the valley and can accommodate close to 200 people at a
time. The rest house has two dormitories. One costs Rs 30 per person while the
other costs Rs 50 per person. There were six private rooms in two small huts
around the rest house where the cost per person is Rs 300. The caretaker Mr Peter
told me that only recently he had taken up the job of caretaker and was
planning to renovate the rest house along with the private rooms. Food was not available
for a group but for an individual, they can arrange some meal. There was a
small shop also where one can buy instant noodles. The cost of every product
was double the MRP of the product. The caretaker was extremely friendly and he
told me that he appreciates my visit to this place. He wants to promote it as a
hot spot tourist destination but due to lack of funds and apathy of Nagaland
government, road to his endeavour is not very smooth. The entire valley will be
covered with rhodendrons during the June-July season and hence it is aptly
called as “Valley of Flowers” of the North-East. Later on in the evening, a small
party was organized by the army people and I was also invited for the dinner.
It was the first time for me watching an entire army camp celebrating a party. They
played some games like Antakshari and Musical Chairs while the drinks and
barbecued chicken was served red hot. A special biriyani was prepared as a part
of the dinner and I would say it was one of the most delicious biriyani that I
had tasted so far. There was a drastic drop in temperature in the night. I was
wearing 3 layers of clothing and still I was shivering a lot. The temperature
plummeted to somewhere around 3-4 degrees Celsius but my warm sleeping bag kept
me warm throughout the night. A huge bonfire was also made and everyone gathered
around it at the end of the party. It was a wonderful and special experience meeting
the army personnel and watching their jest and enthusiasm for life in such
close proximity</span>.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv8tpnqZld5sYOsN7brv2sB-n4ODcolDbZEm7ttIFRzkc2lFH-saCV3X_09DPBi2DqfmIw-30O3jDt4XmHDdIgsJQUOk-nUl7W_vQhgaldukazcoEYVXeLS5gfh49qf6xNMRLboQvVncA/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv8tpnqZld5sYOsN7brv2sB-n4ODcolDbZEm7ttIFRzkc2lFH-saCV3X_09DPBi2DqfmIw-30O3jDt4XmHDdIgsJQUOk-nUl7W_vQhgaldukazcoEYVXeLS5gfh49qf6xNMRLboQvVncA/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
DZUKOU VALLEY</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs98Sb79lzFFHsu84PG_5tAgm1ayQY8QGp3r2zX-kAg1wp-5KlrzKS2b2YOAB9zGMahmZ2LtqPOmjZP6coLcszCx8kMKqS13A_IbU4A03ZVkyTtPVyuBZBRQqyHwg3vLEj5CDM3HZvG40/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs98Sb79lzFFHsu84PG_5tAgm1ayQY8QGp3r2zX-kAg1wp-5KlrzKS2b2YOAB9zGMahmZ2LtqPOmjZP6coLcszCx8kMKqS13A_IbU4A03ZVkyTtPVyuBZBRQqyHwg3vLEj5CDM3HZvG40/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFwgnLLBz1z190ElX9gRPtv0RKrpZT7Cey_6lxcygXkk5u8A1NfTeIEMjXoTtAjBGhqht8ijsu2HhJTPvxgsIvUQ1l1qqj_yhfe3y3HynoHgcdkrNOi88vpR80Ye9rarK_8K6J0RIiozp/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFwgnLLBz1z190ElX9gRPtv0RKrpZT7Cey_6lxcygXkk5u8A1NfTeIEMjXoTtAjBGhqht8ijsu2HhJTPvxgsIvUQ1l1qqj_yhfe3y3HynoHgcdkrNOi88vpR80Ye9rarK_8K6J0RIiozp/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcc5exNy_PqeBNHxlt8WvSLoPuaChyphenhyphenTOenvIaz89fB-4HDTxb3ZCpbREI2BInc7RB_o7ASeMicoIU_0SIT6GH086kEoOmSv6MfpnQOVnnVtk6LfpF5zSH_tm8m2CbYBJ3rG1bt_9WDU0I/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcc5exNy_PqeBNHxlt8WvSLoPuaChyphenhyphenTOenvIaz89fB-4HDTxb3ZCpbREI2BInc7RB_o7ASeMicoIU_0SIT6GH086kEoOmSv6MfpnQOVnnVtk6LfpF5zSH_tm8m2CbYBJ3rG1bt_9WDU0I/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
DZUKOU RIVER</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnGE2jj95Mjf_N64SBwdcfGoFuorivqsi2y29FtFr2NSXaP2QhHOHk1lZ5kxH4YCKhUjm6oW024BWgdXUxvXQuf7DCw0XGvP0Uyt_7omIIADEwX9W8Rat1aElhXgVLlKN-_MZqrzEWDLR/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnGE2jj95Mjf_N64SBwdcfGoFuorivqsi2y29FtFr2NSXaP2QhHOHk1lZ5kxH4YCKhUjm6oW024BWgdXUxvXQuf7DCw0XGvP0Uyt_7omIIADEwX9W8Rat1aElhXgVLlKN-_MZqrzEWDLR/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
STUDENTS IN THE DZUKOU VALLEY</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBkEsQtnOhU6oJbOJw9XaW09SZ_GR9q1w0DOgZKrU4Y456h-L3qOM84CfXjxSVvwH_2F8sHEnQTwgle4W_GnkY-tmvv_6BsfIBW2gUwyM7AtfVdk0wAO1ViCjoJ6G2j4Y3Tgqyz3YB7b_/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBkEsQtnOhU6oJbOJw9XaW09SZ_GR9q1w0DOgZKrU4Y456h-L3qOM84CfXjxSVvwH_2F8sHEnQTwgle4W_GnkY-tmvv_6BsfIBW2gUwyM7AtfVdk0wAO1ViCjoJ6G2j4Y3Tgqyz3YB7b_/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
JAPFU RIVER</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqJVBhFzd0sw6D53umSbl6U806LiptDnQ6bSA04DPtkIiaZ36pSeLP2SZLcsNhZnTZ7d_0CgSbo0z9-RGk6PpxJ7Avz_b2ZEN_iMfDEBLdqHOJwgaTl5iEEaoL3jfrUfgM4IdpXEWMzkG/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqJVBhFzd0sw6D53umSbl6U806LiptDnQ6bSA04DPtkIiaZ36pSeLP2SZLcsNhZnTZ7d_0CgSbo0z9-RGk6PpxJ7Avz_b2ZEN_iMfDEBLdqHOJwgaTl5iEEaoL3jfrUfgM4IdpXEWMzkG/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxKcdEm6arOsllQKvX6OQ_MmxpdnHUNiARHxuQsL4YQ3JQKTRRSyfd6Qic92GFDuVuGKsa5iVm8ZHujxB9ln_yppVWy8WxdXXFgER4CXzNgHhJ4OVzypUdKB5DR5yuHKQGuojj3O2Xnlv/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxKcdEm6arOsllQKvX6OQ_MmxpdnHUNiARHxuQsL4YQ3JQKTRRSyfd6Qic92GFDuVuGKsa5iVm8ZHujxB9ln_yppVWy8WxdXXFgER4CXzNgHhJ4OVzypUdKB5DR5yuHKQGuojj3O2Xnlv/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAs0PDKhFoeLLfKtQKzToVK2JjAtwOc3gwKPK64_PghnjmEr1aroBcfSoGNzxIF1R0_y_VVX4-3Xj0c7MndaQt-p3xTzKZ1ND1rU_Qeci40VARTPpkVihSr233Oms92ytxEhbTCln6C7Z/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAs0PDKhFoeLLfKtQKzToVK2JjAtwOc3gwKPK64_PghnjmEr1aroBcfSoGNzxIF1R0_y_VVX4-3Xj0c7MndaQt-p3xTzKZ1ND1rU_Qeci40VARTPpkVihSr233Oms92ytxEhbTCln6C7Z/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
MY ROOM IN DZUKOU VALLEY</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Day9-</u></b> I planned to explore the
entire Dzukou Valley that day. There were two rivers that flow along the Dzukou
valley. One is Dzukou River and the other is Jafpu River. The water of these two
rivers enriches the Dzukou valley and makes the valley extremely fertile for
the rhodendrons and other flowering plants like lilies etc. There is a
wonderful place to sit alongside the stream at the far end of the valley. The
mesmerising and soothing sound of flowing water is a pleasure to the soul that
enriches every heart. Dzukou Valley is one of the two valleys in India where
one can find majestic combination of hills, flowers, valleys, forests and
streams. What more one can wish for beside these!!!! There is a peculiar characteristic about this
valley. Only wild rhodendrons grow in this valley. The caretaker told me that
they have tried to plant other flowering plants but was unsuccessful in doing
so till date. A large number of dead trees adorned this valley and firewood was
extensively used as the source of fuel in this area. During my exploration of
the valley, I came across a group of students and their teacher. The teacher
was pleasantly surprised to find me there, all the way from Kolkata. Infact,
everyone is Nagaland was very surprised. The teacher and the students stayed in
caves in the valley last night since all the dormitories were full. The army
people left the place at around 2 in the afternoon. In the evening, I met a
group who were busy making dinner. Nungo, Nenem and Tinu were the people making
that delicious dinner consisting of tuna fish and sardines with rice. They
invited me for the dinner and I was more than happy to join them. Numgo and
Nenem were studying arts in a college in Dimapur while Tinu was a NCA cadet
with Assam rifles. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
told me a lot about the popular beliefs, rituals and festivals of the various
tribes in and around Nagaland. Along with English, Nagamese is the mother
tongue of majority of the people residing in Nagaland. We drank some wine and
talked a lot about their lives and in general about the unrest among the people
of Nagaland.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">DAY10- </u> Next morning, we decided to go back to Kohima but the route would be through Zakhma rather than Viswema Village. The route through Zakhma is very steep and takes much less time as compared to the route from Viswema Village. We started the way down from Dzukou Valley at around 9:30-10:00 in the morning. The sun was in full splendor and the entire valley was draped in a blanket of sunshine with not a single cloud visible in the sky. A perfect morning is what I would say!!!! The way down was a bit treacherous in some parts and required some good maneuvering and ingenuity to make one's way. There were two rest points on the way down. Some amount of burnt ash was strewn on the ground. We had packed our lunch in the morning and decided to do an early lunch on one of the rest points on the way down. Finally we reached the motorable road of Zakhma at around 1 :30 in the afternoon and proceeded to Kohima in a cab. The cab was arranged by Nungo, Nenem and Tinu and they were kind enough to give me a lift to Kohima. Tinu also told me about a special type of hand made beer known as "Totse" available in Kohima and I should not miss that. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40z29PsP5W561O8EU2YC3elH-hLTtSaV7LRrnyTUP39t3MhkIYpsscOLxmMV964Y4zCky2y824HOcyFF8v8gnVbstuX3wXPYZ5XatLOvvx-sRlMzexv5cTd2je0BKx7lV2r5DchbVSjbK/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40z29PsP5W561O8EU2YC3elH-hLTtSaV7LRrnyTUP39t3MhkIYpsscOLxmMV964Y4zCky2y824HOcyFF8v8gnVbstuX3wXPYZ5XatLOvvx-sRlMzexv5cTd2je0BKx7lV2r5DchbVSjbK/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ON THE WAY TO ZAKHMA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DjZdNpdoJ9-tfznjXmVl4XppkHCszC8tKKe8nQLNTPhop79_dRwr-i6ZYTUStA7ATr7ZvcATrf2aSQfEMFMVAAnbm67Hx7ESHVW5wOdC0m_7H3t-1FwLoc1OD6k1R9bLSTP5paZXQBXl/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DjZdNpdoJ9-tfznjXmVl4XppkHCszC8tKKe8nQLNTPhop79_dRwr-i6ZYTUStA7ATr7ZvcATrf2aSQfEMFMVAAnbm67Hx7ESHVW5wOdC0m_7H3t-1FwLoc1OD6k1R9bLSTP5paZXQBXl/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2lGAG7cyvoxIYWxQGcwZpioWDJG7xpMYhSavbFODKuqXaGa2_TY1wosnMfye89Jdtw1GHkl_Jy7qYvQCLx0IpdY7u24ZwekfI0fMy2WrMheh4ctoCVf_qU6XXX4-Pgy1F6kQTujmqtro/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2lGAG7cyvoxIYWxQGcwZpioWDJG7xpMYhSavbFODKuqXaGa2_TY1wosnMfye89Jdtw1GHkl_Jy7qYvQCLx0IpdY7u24ZwekfI0fMy2WrMheh4ctoCVf_qU6XXX4-Pgy1F6kQTujmqtro/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFnVgJ27I7o2Hf7QPeiU1glwp43yaa19kjpF5q8loaqyGwQzhaWTSo2g28CSxd_kWBVYztzywAbGreWlg47h_5M4crUjgWeVpuy8s2xf26SrrDM8g_hC8eIqv7WOlzg2lFkUZfzue-gKq/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFnVgJ27I7o2Hf7QPeiU1glwp43yaa19kjpF5q8loaqyGwQzhaWTSo2g28CSxd_kWBVYztzywAbGreWlg47h_5M4crUjgWeVpuy8s2xf26SrrDM8g_hC8eIqv7WOlzg2lFkUZfzue-gKq/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLNGVbJaantjN7Wu3aenDjZEUt2J484mafM9t_TH-c1a23iJs2MC0lS9e_ST6hE1dblcrVazjudbkWsKhqM9w3HkyYlrFgFFS2ZiVE9LTyICTXaDPzEIjgh2JrcOzQIUoAWeTJfXljxGG/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLNGVbJaantjN7Wu3aenDjZEUt2J484mafM9t_TH-c1a23iJs2MC0lS9e_ST6hE1dblcrVazjudbkWsKhqM9w3HkyYlrFgFFS2ZiVE9LTyICTXaDPzEIjgh2JrcOzQIUoAWeTJfXljxGG/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
MOTORABLE ROAD IN ZAKHMA</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the earlier part of the series click <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2012/11/trip-to-nagaland-day4-day5-and-day6.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2012/11/trip-to-nagaland-day0-day1-and-day-2.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></h2>
</div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com0Nagaland, India26.1584354 94.5624425999999424.333867899999998 91.980655599999935 27.9830029 97.144229599999946tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-57736065539995996952012-11-10T08:23:00.001+05:302013-03-18T10:25:49.050+05:30TRIP TO NAGALAND- DAY4 ,DAY5 AND DAY6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 4-<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I woke up at around 6 in the morning. A nippy
kind of cold weather greeted me but the good part is that the sun is shining
bright. I had already planned to go on foot from here i.e. Pungro to Thanamir.
I was hoping that I would reach Thanamir by the end of the day. The journey
will start from Pungro and then I will take a detour to Salumi and from there I
will be able to reach Thanamir. Yesterday was a very tiring day for me. The bus
that I took from Dimapur on Monday afternoon at around 4 PM reached Kiphire at
around 9 in the morning. Kiphire is a very small, quaint and dusty hill village
located somewhere close to 337 Kms from Dimapur. I , immediately headed down to
Police Station, Kiphire to report about my entry. The major hurdle was
explaining my motive behind my visit to this remote area. Merely, talking about
scaling Saramati doesn’t convince them enough to believe me. Moreover, since I
had come so far from Kolkata also makes them wary about me. I found the people
of this region extremely cooperative and friendly and eager to help any
stranger. Probably, before this trip since I had never travelled alone, I guess
that I was indebted to them for their extent of hospitality towards me. A very
novel experience for me indeed! I booked a Tata Sumo shared cab ticket to
Pungro. Pungro is around 50 kms from Kiphire and the sumo would start at around
2 in the afternoon. I met Loukarma , one of the residents of Pungro village and
a very friendly guy. He invited me for dinner at his residence last night. We
had a good chat about the various tribes like Aao, Lokhtak, Kuki, Angami etc
residing in Nagaland and their way of living. Majority of the people here are
Christians and practice Christianity but i was pleasantly surprised to hear
wonderful bhajans early in the morning. Loukarma resides with his wife, one son
and his younger sister. The dinner was delicious, one of the very good and
tasty food I had tasted after arriving in Nagaland. I stayed at a rest house in
Pungro. The rest house was extremely well-maintained and had all the amenities for
a comfortable stay in the hills. Saramati was pretty much visible from there
and watching it, the eagerness is slowly bubbling inside to go for the trek as
soon as possible.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gxsFU_JktJ-s5sVjxbFQNH1lidKhCFvbyngstouPzdoqbG4VnGZ6Pkl4EXrK0fthf-yeCTZo2xHpwekBxzNBgo1Fku56pUTMPS50nZE90LYYJgjRBhUq5fWmxbSX_NO3IBLxJxv1YUYd/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gxsFU_JktJ-s5sVjxbFQNH1lidKhCFvbyngstouPzdoqbG4VnGZ6Pkl4EXrK0fthf-yeCTZo2xHpwekBxzNBgo1Fku56pUTMPS50nZE90LYYJgjRBhUq5fWmxbSX_NO3IBLxJxv1YUYd/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> KIPHIRE VILLAGE</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq85zmomOIl50OIa6waBGTOjPRp-Mr2t5XosKuEBFipQrKr24wO4HwkKRNQtGpYrsk7zw6PqOsA1sOjjvn9oSgSkfZyyQ88ZGZDkLEucFesmUOCgkvn8J-ZTZGB8QWWWMfZ_gS5P0N3sG/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq85zmomOIl50OIa6waBGTOjPRp-Mr2t5XosKuEBFipQrKr24wO4HwkKRNQtGpYrsk7zw6PqOsA1sOjjvn9oSgSkfZyyQ88ZGZDkLEucFesmUOCgkvn8J-ZTZGB8QWWWMfZ_gS5P0N3sG/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SARAMATI FROM KIPHIRE</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsns8d1jJlvYLCppf8AOKAJAeVdiWjw9XJE-G2LuYj3TPDQxV9k_uIu0M5KhNzu5LxrScGiDbUiPUr-gu4PNNNwwpQ8mCg4DPlTKAPJHVVPOJBit0OxvBOb7sboskkSZm0jAyX4q9Ditk_/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsns8d1jJlvYLCppf8AOKAJAeVdiWjw9XJE-G2LuYj3TPDQxV9k_uIu0M5KhNzu5LxrScGiDbUiPUr-gu4PNNNwwpQ8mCg4DPlTKAPJHVVPOJBit0OxvBOb7sboskkSZm0jAyX4q9Ditk_/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbimywjhMyZON1ZVtxX9zUXd6ZS4rVAbLIhltQEpv17XKnBz2UB1_75UvDBvWwMYEu2Mo5XrRQ-roH7G2lhbSXgrZdGk9Z_pPuAIw-t8Ca2l36LLVGR7foSRDb5NhhDvZiOp8IfIsD5pQS/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbimywjhMyZON1ZVtxX9zUXd6ZS4rVAbLIhltQEpv17XKnBz2UB1_75UvDBvWwMYEu2Mo5XrRQ-roH7G2lhbSXgrZdGk9Z_pPuAIw-t8Ca2l36LLVGR7foSRDb5NhhDvZiOp8IfIsD5pQS/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VIEW FROM KIPHIRE</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">DAY5 and DAY6</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">- From Pungro, I
was unable to proceed to Thanamir since no passenger vehicle was available to
Thanamir. One can hire a sumo for going to Thanamir which will cost around
4500. Too heavy on my wallet!!!!!!! Thanamir is nearly 40-50 Kms from Pungro
through Salumi. One has to register at Thanamir for trekking to Saramati. The
registration cost is around Rs 100. Then a guide and a porter will be provided
to the trekker. The cost of the guide is Rs 500 per day and the cost of the
porter is Rs 200 per day. Since the whole trekking would take around 3 days, so
the total fixed cost would be close to 2100. Other than that, the food expense
will be self managed by the trekker and also of his fellow guide and porter.
The total food cost would be Rs 50 per meal and since there will be total 9
meals, so for one person the cost would be around Rs 450 and for 3 persons it
would be 450*3= 1350. I didn’t factor in all these expenses and hence I brought
an early end to my trek to Saramati. I decided to return back to Kohima through
Kiphire on the following day i.e Thursday, Oct 18, 2012. I spent the whole day
i.e Wednesday in Pungro and enjoyed the various banters I shared with the
villagers. In the evening I ate a sumptuous dinner, once again prepared by my
good friend Loukarmo. I spent some time with the kids and slept in nearby house.
I took a sumo back from Pungro to Kiphire on Thursday morning and reached
Kiphire in the next 3 hours. On reaching Kiphire, I met Mr. Dubey, the sumo
transport owner of that region. He invited me to lunch at his place. I met his
youngest child Ritik at his home. It was an eye-opening and somewhat out of the
blue experience for me to meet this exceptionally brilliant and intelligent
kid. He was in the same mould as “Aamir Khan” of 3 Idiots. The insatiable
thirst for knowledge was palpable and the confidence and conviction just defies
his so called 9 year old age. I told him that I would help him with books and
whatever little guidance I could give him in due course of time. From Kiphire,
I was lucky enough to get a seat in one of the NST (Nagaland State Transport)
buses. The bus started at around 1:30 PM from Kiphire and reached Kohima at
around 2:00 in the morning. Since all the hotels were closed at that time, I
decided to spend the next 3 hours (The first rays of the sun hits at 4:30 in
the morning here) in the NST bus stand. I slept a little on one of the long
wooden benches in the bus stand and had a good little chat with a <i>chowkidar</i> sitting there. He told me the
tales of his visits to many places in North-East especially in and around Assam
in search of work. I was feeling asleep every now and then and suddenly after a
few minutes, I woke up with a jolt. The <i>chowkidar</i>
was a bit taken back by this. He told me that since he is a <i>chowkidar</i> , I should be rest assured to
keep my luggage safe in his company. In the moning, I booked a room in Hotel Pine
at a reasonable price of Rs 500 and went to visit the War Cathedral Cemetry
situated at the heart of Kohima. The War Cahedral Cemetry houses the martyrs of
Battle of Khnoma in which the Indian along with the British soldiers halted the
invasion of Japanese forces in India. I planned to enquire about the possible
modes of transport to go to Dzukou Valley. There was more surprise in store for
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr3sPidS-pNdl0Z1d93lEGM6HksxQy3Sq0OYtt4mcgsxFcU42R8E1lesZcEXxSer_A0EZvQoXysF4VKZDfK9sWMOedIiD8mN0Qcx6bnfXccKpUMIfgv5ftlxHXcnT4pAe1TT5Yta4dQrd/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr3sPidS-pNdl0Z1d93lEGM6HksxQy3Sq0OYtt4mcgsxFcU42R8E1lesZcEXxSer_A0EZvQoXysF4VKZDfK9sWMOedIiD8mN0Qcx6bnfXccKpUMIfgv5ftlxHXcnT4pAe1TT5Yta4dQrd/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PUNGRO VILLAGE</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2ouODRjh1W45Yd_aam8fNRj2kL71Vp1qfdcCIpjj7S7MR3nLf-NTqAX3dPIQ42fqp6NxuXK2TNFYUJCdtbtIkgihuxYf_w7vSB_R0XZ4qHF6rRybOK6mZ4akS4xwfpt_Qen5Sh-PQJh6/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2ouODRjh1W45Yd_aam8fNRj2kL71Vp1qfdcCIpjj7S7MR3nLf-NTqAX3dPIQ42fqp6NxuXK2TNFYUJCdtbtIkgihuxYf_w7vSB_R0XZ4qHF6rRybOK6mZ4akS4xwfpt_Qen5Sh-PQJh6/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SARAMATI FROM PUNGRO</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhoJnZJfRUiW90z_DbduqTIeILYRq04tqp0UC8IgPeYnoO9lUS-SPxFgDYQBjrSa7CtlaQ0AXzpTPJLUfuTrxhqIiV0db4zR7U4c3OvMrukjqIFkFQj9l4XdzhTdAKqPgTu2fg3og9gMp/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhoJnZJfRUiW90z_DbduqTIeILYRq04tqp0UC8IgPeYnoO9lUS-SPxFgDYQBjrSa7CtlaQ0AXzpTPJLUfuTrxhqIiV0db4zR7U4c3OvMrukjqIFkFQj9l4XdzhTdAKqPgTu2fg3og9gMp/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MY HAMLET IN PUNGRO</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuCNq2EBXKv2rPoSLnZBb9OnZyUuTCkJ3hhqVGVwrGZstqgALP80J3eLZTnj4FARSmOe9aymr3vO3t5qtLqQOCchjI2welznvXZRNRYUFQ83Ma3cprOaY8z3De-OJnXSYIOvBuSeC9AzR/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuCNq2EBXKv2rPoSLnZBb9OnZyUuTCkJ3hhqVGVwrGZstqgALP80J3eLZTnj4FARSmOe9aymr3vO3t5qtLqQOCchjI2welznvXZRNRYUFQ83Ma3cprOaY8z3De-OJnXSYIOvBuSeC9AzR/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE ROCKSTAR OF PUNGRO</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVNEmKmIpTFg2uZoKsCEmiJSwLM6AyaFn81T3lO7M1SVFVe_xEMMjF_tqHd17LeFydmbNQ7ABmti3e1qkO2_lt3rmvViKYJz88UecK2hEXOnQXL_BAYPRH4pOdmCPvJBpEGppxJ9_T-1z/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVNEmKmIpTFg2uZoKsCEmiJSwLM6AyaFn81T3lO7M1SVFVe_xEMMjF_tqHd17LeFydmbNQ7ABmti3e1qkO2_lt3rmvViKYJz88UecK2hEXOnQXL_BAYPRH4pOdmCPvJBpEGppxJ9_T-1z/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EARLY MORNING VIEW FROM PUNGRO</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-tQ4heZvl5YLkcEVdWqn8BIZP6V7eIAgXT_jPnCNPNy_qYq1mU_62J972WSTvqGYzzdXKJ6YHNVuhKksEriejTiYRmwgPU7WEea9OcWlPua_BLsUyoKdL87LWdcKgq6Cm0Zn6vlmv8p2/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-tQ4heZvl5YLkcEVdWqn8BIZP6V7eIAgXT_jPnCNPNy_qYq1mU_62J972WSTvqGYzzdXKJ6YHNVuhKksEriejTiYRmwgPU7WEea9OcWlPua_BLsUyoKdL87LWdcKgq6Cm0Zn6vlmv8p2/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> KOHIMA WAR CATHEDRAL CEMETRY</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNi35ThPwrOcEqebsU6LLFuB6gJWHEForA0-IRGsJzwib-_igwqPv-R1xq09C3eCai4951QYR6w7LEEXMpE83lkS1S8Q2PF6EOiZ2XKV4zIcv1s0EZFfD7YOZWqa65SCoQuwhHy0vp9xa/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNi35ThPwrOcEqebsU6LLFuB6gJWHEForA0-IRGsJzwib-_igwqPv-R1xq09C3eCai4951QYR6w7LEEXMpE83lkS1S8Q2PF6EOiZ2XKV4zIcv1s0EZFfD7YOZWqa65SCoQuwhHy0vp9xa/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">KOHIMA CITY AT THE BACK</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For earlier part of the series, click <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2012/11/trip-to-nagaland-day0-day1-and-day-2.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the next and final part of the series, click</span> <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2013/02/trip-to-nagaland-day8-day9-and-day10.html" target="_blank">here</a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-10897532985244997572012-11-05T11:29:00.002+05:302013-03-18T10:30:48.129+05:30TRIP TO NAGALAND - DAY0, DAY1 and DAY 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Day 0</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I went to my parent’s place at Burdwan to
board the Saraighat Express. The train was a tad late arriving at the station
at around 5:30 PM. The scheduled arrival was at 5:02 PM. I was pleasantly
surprised to find my berth among the army personnel. The evening was eventful
as the stories of patriotism and glory dominated the proceedings. It’s a matter
of different fact that when one sits among the security forces, a sense of
chauvinistic pride about one’s own country grips oneself and the spirit within
soars like a violent flame. A small boy who was playing with a toy pistol aimed
it at one of the army man in an extremely ferocious manner. The army man shot
up his hands in the air and pleadingly begged for mercy. As with the army, a
drinking session is a must. Soon, a bottle of Royal Stag was out in the open
and everyone joined in the celebration. I took a sip of the drink along with
learning the nuances of holding a STEN gun in my hand. Quite an unexpected way to start the journey!!!
Some moments really give a boost to your journey and I got that much needed
boost through this wonderful banter that I shared with some of the army people.
I was eagerly waiting to reach Guwahati and from Guwahati I had to catch the BG
Express to Dimpaur. I was scheduled to reach Guwahati at 9:30 in the morning
which I reached without fail. I was feeling very hungry. So I went to a “Jan-Aahar”
restaurant but the restaurant was closed at that time. So I bought some
biscuits and snacks for the time being. The “Jan Aahar” restaurant opened at
around 12 in the noon and everyone rushed to the place for some quick lunch. I
went there at around 12:30 PM and ordered a veg lunch. My connecting train to
Dimapur was at around 2:15 PM. So I had plenty of time in hand. The BG Express
to Dimapur got 1 hour late and I boarded the train at around 3:15 PM. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day 1- </span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I reached Dimapur at around 7:50 in the evening.
The train was scheduled to arrive at around 7:40. So, the initial 1 hour late
start finally came down to 10 minutes late. Its the first time I have set foot
in a place so far in the North East region and was felling very excited about
it. Dimapur is the first and last city of Nagaland where the Indian Railways
have their presence. The capital Kohima is around 74 Kms from Dimapur. I got a room
in a hotel named “HOTEL NST” in front of Dimapur, Railway Station. The room is
very dimly and a bit dingy but quite in good shape for 300 bucks. Anyways, it
reminded me of the 'Hotel DECENT' in the movie “Jab We Met”!!!! I had a quite
dinner and after buying a bottle of water, I slipped into my pyjamas and put an
end to that day. By the way, I am using a mosquito coil after a very long time!
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wYyOqGk4eV7YvmJrs7S9T70IUlfW-36aZSnyPmCsSnH3rmnDem9eaYfZq1bjusx7JrIE4Mr5ayoqziFEBCytf2DfcAyrFTOK_44bOLMqCQ3n4b6LG1Zi7AAkC71e1TdpK_gaXL1n8kHh/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wYyOqGk4eV7YvmJrs7S9T70IUlfW-36aZSnyPmCsSnH3rmnDem9eaYfZq1bjusx7JrIE4Mr5ayoqziFEBCytf2DfcAyrFTOK_44bOLMqCQ3n4b6LG1Zi7AAkC71e1TdpK_gaXL1n8kHh/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DIMAPUR RAILWAY STATION</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lgcrecmDZt6YmyDcEL1QKXfhNEducdpzPnI3qUJTppKAidY0AwJniITPD8EgWRioGSCd_ZxKlfXrlvy8LkUT7B1NCvq9m0UkjoJ6oorkpUwfVPNPx_RTJvAXXmZLk3D5yVlDNaHw_PtU/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lgcrecmDZt6YmyDcEL1QKXfhNEducdpzPnI3qUJTppKAidY0AwJniITPD8EgWRioGSCd_ZxKlfXrlvy8LkUT7B1NCvq9m0UkjoJ6oorkpUwfVPNPx_RTJvAXXmZLk3D5yVlDNaHw_PtU/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DIMAPUR CITY</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGB2S9WgVKUp4Y3aMkEpbQRlCAc9WS6oEEPt4sfgn1yMZIP5jrD1jtR9YG3TScuLM5FFu3MYO2RLEA-hvFoHvgnYaQ7HUKxBPOgrBWaI4orNnNjG2BTSo5Rc6K_-25RXpH4XDft2MxJw8/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGB2S9WgVKUp4Y3aMkEpbQRlCAc9WS6oEEPt4sfgn1yMZIP5jrD1jtR9YG3TScuLM5FFu3MYO2RLEA-hvFoHvgnYaQ7HUKxBPOgrBWaI4orNnNjG2BTSo5Rc6K_-25RXpH4XDft2MxJw8/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"> DIMAPUR CITY</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the last station of the North East
region and hence carries a lot of footfalls among the local populace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 2</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- I woke up at around 5 in the morning since I
had to buy a ticket to Kiphire. The NST counter opens at around 5:30 in the
morning and since there is only one bus that plies from Dimapur in a day, the
early morning rise was justified to a large extent. The town is a straight cut,
copy and paste town from the many towns of the 90’s in India. The pavements are
under-constructed with lots of potholes, dirt and dust occupying the majority
of the roads. There are many markets in this town. One of them is Purana
Bazaar, which is about 3 Kms from the railway station of Dimapur. A new bus
terminal i.e. ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) is the latest Nagaland State Transport
bus stand coming up in Dimapur. I met a person named Tamchan during my early
morning visit around the town. He was looking for a ticket to Tuensang (a
district in Nagaland) but couldn’t get it since all the buses are full. He told
me that I was lucky enough to get that ticket to Kiphire. He stays in
Mokukchung and is a school teacher by profession. He taught in Pokhra, Nepal
also for around 6 months. He gave me his number and we decided to be in contact
with each other. The bus from Dimapur to Kiphire was at 3 PM. The fare from
Dimapur to Kiphire is 380. Well! I guess I saved my rent today by travelling
overnight in the bus. I had a good lunch
at one of the restaurants and I reached the ISBT at around 2:30 in the
afternoon. The bus was a bit late started at around 4 in the afternoon from
that place.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias09pY96bnIdfUsTfystev9q-Li1oEYXAZxKe7703TtUh3oTHL4i2k7pJvxJ6stO1qwTiJwzmw50LlVj9Acib14Q1_xUaNaB2yMs-kCNLrpgeHQcGxGd4u8WS59QXYNyZ-aR5rwpZOPHk/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias09pY96bnIdfUsTfystev9q-Li1oEYXAZxKe7703TtUh3oTHL4i2k7pJvxJ6stO1qwTiJwzmw50LlVj9Acib14Q1_xUaNaB2yMs-kCNLrpgeHQcGxGd4u8WS59QXYNyZ-aR5rwpZOPHk/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ROUTE MAP OF NST (NAGALAND STATE TRANSPORT)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA-8R9ft06qRM12bb2f-ZQyWwualxZjgmGjlHpbJcF_ctioODf6cBK20S3Zv_flBTHs5dVP65STaIfY9a5LGJZ7M2H3SjH3xJKwvgsg2uFblEUCEYqUscTTMkXqHLJlpCiml4Yvh-TDvy/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA-8R9ft06qRM12bb2f-ZQyWwualxZjgmGjlHpbJcF_ctioODf6cBK20S3Zv_flBTHs5dVP65STaIfY9a5LGJZ7M2H3SjH3xJKwvgsg2uFblEUCEYqUscTTMkXqHLJlpCiml4Yvh-TDvy/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NST(NAGALAND STATE TRANSPORT) BUS SCHEDULE FROM
DIMAPUR</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">For the next part of the series, click <a href="http://sushobhan-readtoenjoy.blogspot.in/2012/11/trip-to-nagaland-day4-day5-and-day6.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></h2>
</div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-47622404506957737742011-04-10T20:56:00.000+05:302013-03-16T22:56:21.300+05:30BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!!! PART-3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">The night was pretty long as they went inside the tents by 8 in the evening. It was pitch dark outside and not a single soul lurking nearby. Prashant was finding it hard to fall asleep and was contemplating a night walk in the jungles behind them. However, Sushobhan dismissed the idea at the very onset. Nonetheless, Prashant kept his vigil alive with his ears wide open throughout the night. A whole lot of cacophonies ranging from the hoots of owls, the screech of parrots, the simper of foxes and last but not the least the laughs of Hyenas. Ya! I mean Hyena. A dead carcass of a cow on the beach provided a perfect “food for thought” for the scavenger species of hyena. One of them was actually sighted by Prashant as he flashed a ray of torch light in that direction.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XceteUki0xygAq2Wp3MGQJWUkbjkVcrVSgTeuw4vnJQDe6V2fBs4Wv35C2wsLX2WL7Wws2jmYMvkOJ0kDIWUGekM35VE9EW7L1XqaaeF4slNpgVO3jcmFxFeVGyiJrHOLI1hLsccnVvv/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XceteUki0xygAq2Wp3MGQJWUkbjkVcrVSgTeuw4vnJQDe6V2fBs4Wv35C2wsLX2WL7Wws2jmYMvkOJ0kDIWUGekM35VE9EW7L1XqaaeF4slNpgVO3jcmFxFeVGyiJrHOLI1hLsccnVvv/s640/b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">In the morning, both of them set out to explore the long stretch of the beach, around 10 kilometers in all. The weather was extremely pleasant and the dense undergrowth of thick mangrove swamps was a delight to the two adventure freaks. A whole gamut of ecosystem was visible in that area as they went hammer and tongs within the impenetrable forests.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislnm27nm-TtDEMYoEBmXjb0TkDLbV2Ms9BTIBDRJZiFD17rfH49Bb7dM6hFgbySxopGton3x2NUO2UhVsYlV1pmN1H8lhjCNL6MFCsGRXjYd6bwzUdVHsosBkd7Q-UTUXVA0Dj8v751rX/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislnm27nm-TtDEMYoEBmXjb0TkDLbV2Ms9BTIBDRJZiFD17rfH49Bb7dM6hFgbySxopGton3x2NUO2UhVsYlV1pmN1H8lhjCNL6MFCsGRXjYd6bwzUdVHsosBkd7Q-UTUXVA0Dj8v751rX/s640/b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">The approaching feet of Prashant and Sushobhan began to create a flutter among the shy red crabs on the beach and they began to hide themselves. One of the very brave ones did a peek-a-boo and was brilliantly captured by Sushobhan. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn3S1UB3H-qePBT9DZWxDAbT8ypYc5Xt54bovtXGv0mIx0fHfIL4MN399HkWto5GrCUaAtbhH9obGN58x-E3ci18pIZxuW-ze-0JY2dEZizsZq6mT7o9hxi2CGez5aFUIjP7pULGV2uNZ/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCn3S1UB3H-qePBT9DZWxDAbT8ypYc5Xt54bovtXGv0mIx0fHfIL4MN399HkWto5GrCUaAtbhH9obGN58x-E3ci18pIZxuW-ze-0JY2dEZizsZq6mT7o9hxi2CGez5aFUIjP7pULGV2uNZ/s640/b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">The evening was knocking at their doors and orange hues on the horizon presented a captivating silhouette of the place. A queue of windmills on the outskirts of the beach reminded them of “The Don Quixote Adventures”. Finally, it was becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the growling noises coming from the stomach. A mouth-watering dinner of prawn curry and chapatti closed the shutters of a day filled with rejoice, laughter and guffaws.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqw2UmeevoSIXTXWruJ_Nd5cs8s2SQ2ddMlgyeWpXyoADFz-00q9qugqAc_obmfj6YXdETPudnS6vTHzD0vOvNC2yvEJKkeIa0Cr1voDXWD2UVDd88qevmCkBkznSRpeBI2MEVRB_pJIX/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqw2UmeevoSIXTXWruJ_Nd5cs8s2SQ2ddMlgyeWpXyoADFz-00q9qugqAc_obmfj6YXdETPudnS6vTHzD0vOvNC2yvEJKkeIa0Cr1voDXWD2UVDd88qevmCkBkznSRpeBI2MEVRB_pJIX/s640/b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">The next day was spent in probing parts of Henry Island. The Island was situated at a distance of nearly 3 kilometers from their place of stay. The ride on the bike through the village roads and the fresh air dispelled all their morning sickness. A lot of curious onlookers were amazed at their feat to travel all the way to Bakkhali from Kolkata on a bike.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfDQHDGRBZJ2_w2ODZeM3lbbTGRWYa4-UZOjES4Ga4oLKwbHXWry0XIMZW4ofrQV3UHX_cEPjX8ZhAg9sm7ZWEr5TH-hvlJ8-Lr-SyMdRO5T8UNypbw_oob_SEJR7NslOWzeu1Rug4KEj/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfDQHDGRBZJ2_w2ODZeM3lbbTGRWYa4-UZOjES4Ga4oLKwbHXWry0XIMZW4ofrQV3UHX_cEPjX8ZhAg9sm7ZWEr5TH-hvlJ8-Lr-SyMdRO5T8UNypbw_oob_SEJR7NslOWzeu1Rug4KEj/s640/b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">Been There! Done That! is just a precursor of the things that are in store for their future adventures. As the saying goes “Every end has a new beginning”, this too holds the promise for more such beginnings in the near future.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CfH24aUUfhx-J17dpyEp6lm2A4Mm91txShZn7zXmmJRxOf7eJPlekRRyLIG8iYR4jnDDcHe_sVfU4WVUIad38Qj8_6dYLOJNE0mqzv6A1aQBEqkLEaWu47Vraqa864ohJfyka-4dTpVN/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CfH24aUUfhx-J17dpyEp6lm2A4Mm91txShZn7zXmmJRxOf7eJPlekRRyLIG8iYR4jnDDcHe_sVfU4WVUIad38Qj8_6dYLOJNE0mqzv6A1aQBEqkLEaWu47Vraqa864ohJfyka-4dTpVN/s640/b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</div>
sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-79896713053492904642011-04-10T09:07:00.001+05:302011-04-10T09:07:45.374+05:30BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!!! PART-2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dense fog in the early morning at <i>Kakdwip</i> made a not so rousing welcome to their plans to reach <i>Bakkhali</i> that day. A walk around the place for a sip of tea sent shivers down their spine. They decided to start a bit late less they forget the way and end up in no man’s land. A quick stretching of the body made them realize the extent of the toll that it has taken the previous day. Nonetheless, their spirits were as high as the peak of Mount Everest and everything paled in comparison in front of it. The fog cleared in a little while and gentle yellow rays of the sun began to shine through the fog. They packed their belongings, checked the condition of the bikes and then started at around 8 in the morning.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbMR437L-In376chlvLT5efTMceUTy97OQ68tOQOedqamDmI5lmpONjDMqGmN3KpPizcuhxcQTxh1oNZWaqgMprJwK0ovUoIH_B-CcuDJ_hkQN3r6ru1E6aZP4LZgpFhw0cpYBginrt__/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbMR437L-In376chlvLT5efTMceUTy97OQ68tOQOedqamDmI5lmpONjDMqGmN3KpPizcuhxcQTxh1oNZWaqgMprJwK0ovUoIH_B-CcuDJ_hkQN3r6ru1E6aZP4LZgpFhw0cpYBginrt__/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">Namkhana</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> was 14 kilometers from </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">Kakdwip</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> and a glass of </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">sattu</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> agitated their energy to pedal all the way to this magnificent place. There was a waterway crossing for the people as well as for the vehicles in </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">Namkhana</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">. The heavy vehicles are transported in the moving ships from one bank to another. Fishing Trawlers also ply on this route and gives it a harbor like status. </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">Bakkhali</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> was 25 kilometers from </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">Namkhana</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> and a long stretch of perfectly maintained roads awaited for them with open arms.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCXvvlWTx1F8jaWf7TaIUNkXb_GkaoF0YPmwI6TFegzbTmCjxtmNyKfaGoSCAXk-C-ywbnau3yas_bjCXtGktLOW18Qx6A5fmGRLUbAlA0aNq64isRhCLnfTkHuBZs3_gC521XCsyZal_/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCXvvlWTx1F8jaWf7TaIUNkXb_GkaoF0YPmwI6TFegzbTmCjxtmNyKfaGoSCAXk-C-ywbnau3yas_bjCXtGktLOW18Qx6A5fmGRLUbAlA0aNq64isRhCLnfTkHuBZs3_gC521XCsyZal_/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">The concluding stretch of the road was a bit tiresome and the destination began to paint an ever elusive picture in front of them. Yet the charm of the sea breeze always persuaded them to strive for a bit more. Ultimately they reached <i>Bakkhali</i> at 11 in the morning and the beach sand turned out to be the pot of the gold below the rainbow. “Been There! Done That!”, both of them screamed in unison.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;"> </span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDJy2xnlsTYVTWU787YzoBu7EOhtAXOKaQ2cCwY1OjIrbaad-LePd_eR3UFIE9-BGh25pY8Qd30JEW7f08PYlkpKBe0uzgNZ1cW-wtwQ0lrNY_cmswxU1fNObbfiWBb5vAFTT4C7OYQFy/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDJy2xnlsTYVTWU787YzoBu7EOhtAXOKaQ2cCwY1OjIrbaad-LePd_eR3UFIE9-BGh25pY8Qd30JEW7f08PYlkpKBe0uzgNZ1cW-wtwQ0lrNY_cmswxU1fNObbfiWBb5vAFTT4C7OYQFy/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;">The entire afternoon was spent in basking in the glory of their endeavour along with some snazzy snaps here and there. The marvellous sunset on the beach alarmed then about collecting woods and setting up the tent for the night. The search for a perfect place began in earnest and it was not long before that they settled on a elevated level of plateau right in front of the beach with a breathtaking backdrop of the jungle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuchFnSE4H-u6bSBguecj88jx6FIgrcAWPMkudrwJ-2py21U-nHsnVleOrM2IQOUvPXx-pxZSJxEfr2w8IOh_skes69PPvGKScSOP-MdHcmnt7O1z6RasfP-5c5s3WhA4oWGtop8L-RZC/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuchFnSE4H-u6bSBguecj88jx6FIgrcAWPMkudrwJ-2py21U-nHsnVleOrM2IQOUvPXx-pxZSJxEfr2w8IOh_skes69PPvGKScSOP-MdHcmnt7O1z6RasfP-5c5s3WhA4oWGtop8L-RZC/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, serif;">The woods were collected and a bonfire was made with the help of a lighter. The tent was set up and all the belongings found their way in it. A good night’s sleep was insufficient without a sumptuous dinner. The menu for the dinner was none other than Maggi and soon they realized how delicious and different the taste could be. Probably, the most cherished Maggi of their lives till date.</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHecGQ-8Q1R6KfD4-iimWRLZ8wj8We8YcvNa6teNR7yeINbb_cHKf00icuuk3GsW5NrNUyxCXJyqSlcZhFYy-8ssU5PNqxYhdAji-G4EBTTZaIwaO5AOpWki3x34flrDsQbW0rDQQ8b83/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHecGQ-8Q1R6KfD4-iimWRLZ8wj8We8YcvNa6teNR7yeINbb_cHKf00icuuk3GsW5NrNUyxCXJyqSlcZhFYy-8ssU5PNqxYhdAji-G4EBTTZaIwaO5AOpWki3x34flrDsQbW0rDQQ8b83/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">P.S. :- The rest of the adventure will continue in the next part of the series. </span></div></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-89892889311265000622011-04-10T08:03:00.000+05:302011-04-10T08:03:28.860+05:30BEEN THERE, DONE THAT!!!!! PART-1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></div><div align="justify" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s always a pleasure to do something which is termed as improbable in normal parlance. After 3 years in the IT industry, the improbable gets wrapped in a cocoon of layer known as “IMPOSSIBLE”. The barriers created by our own minds become so humongous over the period of time that even trespassing a barbed wire takes the shape of crossing an India-Pakistan border. The mind concocts a mixture of problems for every situation rather than looking a bit aside for the solutions. What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are. With the advent of state of the art technology, the vicarious pleasure reigns supreme and people rarely stretch their physical domains.</span></div><div align="justify" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Been there, Done that! is a story of two friends Sushobhan and Prashant , who took a leaf out of the word “I’M POSSIBLE” and rode their mountain bikes for a tour that carries all the elements of an escapade in the wilderness. One fine day, Sushobhan and Prashant looked at the map of Kolkata and their roving eyes got transfixed on a place known as Bakkhali, at the southernmost tip of the state of West Bengal. The distance shown on the google maps was nearly 150 kms from their place of stay. A tall order by any standards and more so, when the forces of nature began to throw occasional dense fogs every now and then. As someone rightly said “Men cannot discover new oceans unless they have the courage to lose sight of the shore”. The terrain was duly worked upon and a course map was envisaged to carry out the journey.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGoMiixuIVh4rdFfDyXaJsmoOByaqaVllqiugb-qdVEmrklXY3Cro_cKZhfGLO_ovvGGrlOV-AfbRlzKK1H8ytUrZmZ9i2_AtXiIgxY7L_siNVamU8UN4aSZ1I4GSaxPTjziRpS0MKO-6/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGoMiixuIVh4rdFfDyXaJsmoOByaqaVllqiugb-qdVEmrklXY3Cro_cKZhfGLO_ovvGGrlOV-AfbRlzKK1H8ytUrZmZ9i2_AtXiIgxY7L_siNVamU8UN4aSZ1I4GSaxPTjziRpS0MKO-6/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGoMiixuIVh4rdFfDyXaJsmoOByaqaVllqiugb-qdVEmrklXY3Cro_cKZhfGLO_ovvGGrlOV-AfbRlzKK1H8ytUrZmZ9i2_AtXiIgxY7L_siNVamU8UN4aSZ1I4GSaxPTjziRpS0MKO-6/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The day began on a not so ominous note as the first few kilometers on the road began to take a severe toll on their body. The rucksack was nearly 15 Kilograms and the inertia at the dead of the night (They started from their homes at around 4:30 in the morning) was extremely stifling. The mind began to lose pace with the limitations pose by the body but then Prashant gathered strength from his unflinching reserves of confidence and motivated Sushobhan to pull out of this initial fatigue. Soon the body warmed up and conditioned the mind to carry on for a much longer time.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Both of them reached <i>Pailan</i> (about 1 km from <i>Joka</i>), about 32 kilometres from the starting point at around 7 in the morning. A breakfast of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><em>dim toast</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> (bread wrapped in an </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">omelette</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">) and tea was enough to carry out till 9 in the morning. People around the tea stall looked in stark disbelief at the knowledge of their destination. Some began to wonder the feasibility of such a thing. However, this didn't deter them a bit. The determination was supreme and there was little room for those raised eye brows in their schema of things.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.6em;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.6em;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOugW1gU08MEurUG6sbTG79dHbbWODrSbhwoV4ZEPujZRT4mv3q2wDCaAHy17FVY5cnL9PfLjviMMQPquP2qpCwQ09QQAWbH5DtsWqSXg1zwZdf2cLprN83NSq9E0qnmzaC4GyT9AIwECr/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOugW1gU08MEurUG6sbTG79dHbbWODrSbhwoV4ZEPujZRT4mv3q2wDCaAHy17FVY5cnL9PfLjviMMQPquP2qpCwQ09QQAWbH5DtsWqSXg1zwZdf2cLprN83NSq9E0qnmzaC4GyT9AIwECr/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They reached a place known as Sirakol, about 12 kms from Pailan by 8:30. As per the map, the road to Bakkhali lies on the right but the locals told them to follow a stretch through Usthi for a quick shortcut that can save probably 3-4 kiolmetres. Usthi was 8 kms from Srikaol and the road was a bit on the rough side in that stretch. “Parle-G break to banta hai boss”, said Sushobhan. To his utter disbelief, Prashant readily agreed and both of them decided to rest a while. It was already 9 in the morning and the sun was beating down in its full glory.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio07Xb8ysE2qweBS4LYFc-abfPtRmVmHUhIPFsouosPHi2etOA2IbKbazeWC1FVRnQyF8RqgNE79Iqgac8EnGTCbFTy3TieuCo1Ii2ngxhUN7IJhOWWEZV_CyFK4rmBrsz0kQCr00VAnOy/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio07Xb8ysE2qweBS4LYFc-abfPtRmVmHUhIPFsouosPHi2etOA2IbKbazeWC1FVRnQyF8RqgNE79Iqgac8EnGTCbFTy3TieuCo1Ii2ngxhUN7IJhOWWEZV_CyFK4rmBrsz0kQCr00VAnOy/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road through Usthi took them to a picturesque canal and as soon as they stepped on the bridge a group of 6-7 people along with some children thronged them. They were taken aback by the curiosity of the village dwellers. Everyone was trying their level best to have a look at them and their bikes. A smile greeted the face of Prashant as he was finding it hard to converse in the native dialect of the villagers. An air of reverence was in the surroundings and soon both of them bid a warm goodbye to them after gulping down a bottle of water.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVQ86mdFmtn8r6iaurUWHVlHWTZj2Qt3Cfs4Dqj846EmCpcWQMkY_3kRXGy55Evw_AOtL4cTxmQ2QnjDv-y_LYmaCK8vXWUA1CmbNME07bNsZPgkYjx_57I4L5MEUHjyUmvLgnAzSoOYw/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVQ86mdFmtn8r6iaurUWHVlHWTZj2Qt3Cfs4Dqj846EmCpcWQMkY_3kRXGy55Evw_AOtL4cTxmQ2QnjDv-y_LYmaCK8vXWUA1CmbNME07bNsZPgkYjx_57I4L5MEUHjyUmvLgnAzSoOYw/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The road beyond Usthi took them to the main NH-117 highway through Hatuganj. Bakkhali was nearly 72 kilometers from that place. It was already 11 in the morning and the subsequent journey seemed to be an arduous task. Mother nature came to their rescue. A cool breeze began to blow in the direction of their path and the goal which seemed daunting a while ago turned out be a walk in the park. The wheels made a pleasant sound with the roads and the ease of the traffic with very few buses and trucks plying on the road added to the already delicious cuisine that was waiting for them with bated breath in Kulpi. Kulpi was nearly 20 kilometres away from Hatuganj and they reached the place by 12:30-1:00</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68dsOU3RBRMhfqjZUGGA6skNxhTCf9UGUQ0iuAVeeCy5hyphenhyphenNDwm1zznCAhoW8ItKf47ficY81AUDNBVxTV63Kpzoou5bFrdze_KArWV0RRj8_S-0Xo9mjmRNnP2GV3AxeBM-qhbT5rzUpp/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68dsOU3RBRMhfqjZUGGA6skNxhTCf9UGUQ0iuAVeeCy5hyphenhyphenNDwm1zznCAhoW8ItKf47ficY81AUDNBVxTV63Kpzoou5bFrdze_KArWV0RRj8_S-0Xo9mjmRNnP2GV3AxeBM-qhbT5rzUpp/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div align="justify" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;">A gorgeous river overlooking the marshy swamps presented them with an ideal place for a short nap after the heavy lunch. The phenomena was hard to explain as pockets of islands which were previously submerged deep down began to emerge from nowhere with the receding rays of the sun. Kakdwip, about 38 kilometres from Bakkhali, was nearly 25 kilometres from Kulpi and for a brief moment, the two of them contemplated putting their tents for the rest of the day at Kulpi. However, the day was far from over and a quick dash to test the “body fuel on reserve” was inviting and they packed their belongings to set up for Kakdwip. They reached Kakdwip by 5:30 in the evening and the rays of the setting sun provided a perfect retreat to the travails of a wonderful day. Night was falling fast and a small dwelling place was arranged to celebrate the onerous effort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPncNbahXzA75HV7vqLI3ErJ2G2bfijyxNOu2Wi6PdePqdAc-Qr5vqixqTFMkrWWQZaoBKFoPQogvIcZHoJQjAT_0S5Civ8KSMj3WJxPOBurevLXZrErfn1D1EoPBjELRIMXkuoS7CXFd/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPncNbahXzA75HV7vqLI3ErJ2G2bfijyxNOu2Wi6PdePqdAc-Qr5vqixqTFMkrWWQZaoBKFoPQogvIcZHoJQjAT_0S5Civ8KSMj3WJxPOBurevLXZrErfn1D1EoPBjELRIMXkuoS7CXFd/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"> </div><div align="justify" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">P.S. :- The rest of the journey will continue in the next part of the series.</span></div></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></div></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-45134355183158302792010-10-10T13:13:00.000+05:302010-10-10T13:13:42.362+05:30MEMOIRS<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Holding the hourglass in my hand, I remember someone </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">thoughtfully</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tide fails to wait for me, I still wish to listen to it </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">affectionately</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun in the far west begins to stoop, I skip a beat </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mistakenly</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wanders my insight in the deep abysses of my heart </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">unknowingly</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Canvass above my head painted in fiery red and orange </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">strokes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A jet of white streaks across it, the reverie in my eyes </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">broke</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Words fail to encompass the emptiness, my throat begins to </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">choke</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Familiarity breeds many an untold tales, a distant far cry </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">evokes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thoughts in my conscience gazing at me like pieces in a jigsaw </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">puzzle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing in the open porch, a few drops drench me in a light </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">drizzle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Memories rushing at me like an untamed beast, emotions still tied in a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bundle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lost pages are still in circulation at my doorstep, the downpour </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sizzles</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nostalgic is the mood that impregnates me, slowly the hold </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">loosens</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesteryears crashing on my shores, defeating the last of my </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bastions</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fear grips me from all sides, tearing me apart in </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fractions</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hard to forget and still hurting every moment, the thunderstorms </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bludgeons</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shutting aside from the eyes of the world, the picture looks much </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">brighter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Past is like a shadow clinging on to me, invisible ties continue to </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fester</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wielding a zoster and caressing my gashes, the freedom is a thing of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yonder</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time heals everything my soul ponders, but O’ mighty </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">creator,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the sand in my hourglass is still wet from the heavy </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">showers </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-83710964229167501112010-09-12T20:49:00.000+05:302010-09-12T20:49:21.168+05:30THE GRATITUDE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwDFmmpw_Oy0WE-WnY3vNim1n-LG9IqG-OeogSTQX4UY3_grc-KYWTSEHi0xccb4zg7d0FLjrYzO9oCNgsz3TBefiGK0OPqGDHU95T7btLAdXJF_23s7FfWal0aAIeafKGxnmVF2X91d7/s1600/my-gratitude-rock1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwDFmmpw_Oy0WE-WnY3vNim1n-LG9IqG-OeogSTQX4UY3_grc-KYWTSEHi0xccb4zg7d0FLjrYzO9oCNgsz3TBefiGK0OPqGDHU95T7btLAdXJF_23s7FfWal0aAIeafKGxnmVF2X91d7/s320/my-gratitude-rock1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nobody could recognize him. He left the village a long time ago as a diehard fugitive. There were posters of him on each and every wall but those were very old and time had laid dense marks on his countenance. He wore a bandana on his forehead. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a heavy gust of wind blowing across the lush green valley. The large and tall pine trees were draped in the twilight hue of the sky and the air was ripe with the songs of the impending spring. A characteristic odour, prevalent in the surroundings, hit his senses pretty hard. The odour was pleasant yet the sharpness of its smell caught him unaware. He took his handkerchief, folded it in the form of a large triangle and covered his face and nose. Only his eyes were visible; eyes that were searching for its destiny, eyes that knew where his salvation lies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He went straight to the local bar and ordered two large bottles of his favourite beer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hey Dagny! What’s the matter with you?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Leave me alone.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Don’t worry, man. We will sort out the issue.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Kelvin! Why are you putting your nose in our affairs?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Dagny! I am just trying to help you. I know how difficult it is for you to carry </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the burden.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t want a thing from you. I know I would not be able to repay your </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gratitude.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was looking at this couple for some time. The beer was almost finished. He was still fidgeting with the glass mug. The waiter asked for any further orders for probably the third or fourth time. Suddenly, he rose from his chair and went past the couple sitting a few paces ahead of him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A loud siren jolted the entire atmosphere of the bar. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The police surrounded the entire cafe and he walked straight into the waiting handcuffs of the sergeant. The police let out a sigh of relief.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dagny's eyes shone like the a bonfire in the middle of the night on seeing a bag full of currency notes in close vicinity of her chair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kelvin went mad in jubilation and his face was bursting with glee and cheer. Dagny was full of tears and couldn’t thank Kelvin for his unyielding support.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bandana was taken off from his head and the police continued its unabated torture in the police station but the man remain tight lipped about the lost bag of currency notes.</span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-37870295992523472042010-09-04T10:29:00.001+05:302010-09-04T10:30:08.179+05:30AROMA OF THE EAST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV7QMSkcJ5U8kIDiLz568WShxMK9juLE5T3kfDJgXBBJc9Mm6KdsCNc-5DZYr1wlR_Dd1WBXewthrp1PNRnA8ewXFVUjv3eX5Jh_WCkEUwtKveXJpdzdpJr6uW0bbc3khfHJZl-gaE9kC/s1600/bengali-food.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV7QMSkcJ5U8kIDiLz568WShxMK9juLE5T3kfDJgXBBJc9Mm6KdsCNc-5DZYr1wlR_Dd1WBXewthrp1PNRnA8ewXFVUjv3eX5Jh_WCkEUwtKveXJpdzdpJr6uW0bbc3khfHJZl-gaE9kC/s200/bengali-food.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They say “Bengalis are born with a sweet tooth”. Well I will say “They are born with an empty tooth ready to gobble up anything and everything”. This statement rather justifies the humongous appetite of this hunger-eccentric fraternity. Though a bengali by birth, I have been quite oblivious of this eye-catching trait. I have never looked in a more detailed manner on the food habits as in the past few years of my existence on this planet. Food is an integral part in the life of Bengalis. They can hold long rallies choking the entire traffic but they can’t choke their oesophagus or rather food pipe. Ever heard of a fast from Didi aka Mamta Banerjee? Well may be you have but those occasions are like a drop of water in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sahara</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> desert.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bengalis can come to the rescue of a suffering individual in no time but they find it extremely difficult to share a piece of pie from their plate. Well as some say “Money can’t buy you everything.” But believe me if it could, I guess then the only thing that you could have found in a bengali’s closet would be food. This eastern part of India is quite famous for the mouth-watering delicacies like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">roshogolla, mishti doi, langcha, chamcham, sandesh</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and numerous other sweets. Fish is the staple diet of the people here and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hilsa</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is the most cherished of the lot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the past three years that I have been in Kolkata, I have attended many marriage ceremonies. This was in stark contrast to the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Punjabi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> weddings I had attended before that. The main attraction of these ceremonies is not the bride or the bridegroom but as you now can guess correctly, Yes it’s the food. The eyes of a Bengali will rummage the menu card for the choicest of delicacies before anyone could say “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Action</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chicken Biriyani</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> hogs the limelight undoubtedly. A plate full of masala rice with a huge morsel of chicken covered with green coriander leaves can stir the laziest of the fellows to slurp. Next on that coveted list would be </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mutton Biriyani</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a variant of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chicken biriyani</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. After that there will be a short round of meeting with the bride and bridegrooms along with a small session of photograph clicks and then making a dash to the sweet dish corner or whatever left untouched till now. It’s an absolute shame in a conversation if a person sings praise for a delicacy and the listener has failed to even get a bite of it. Last but not the least the riot would end with a huge </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">paan</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> accompanied by a monstrous belch to satisfy the taste glands or they say it signifies “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything Digested</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">”. I wonder “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">” must be some bengali’s words who was utterly dissatisfied with the culinary skills of his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The biggest panic that can be created in the mind of a bengali is the absence of food. They can survive the alien attacks and terror attacks but they can’t survive the stomach attack. Muri or Indian puffed rice dry food occupies a special place in the gourmand heart of a bengali. The staple breakfast in many parts of this region can be used as a wonderful snack in the evening with a little bit of pepper, red chilli powder, onions, cucumber, chananchur(popularly known is English as the Bombay Mix) all concocted in mustard oil and salt to taste. Most of the people in this region have spent their quiet mornings and noisy evenings doting on this fine delicacy.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bhadralok community of this region can never assuage the influence of the food in their own native culture. The status of a family in the bhadralok society is measured on the parameters of the various types of sweets that it can serve. All other expensive wall hangings, state of the art decorations and luxurious furniture take a backseat in front of this ever pleasing parameter. The culture of this old capital of India bears an uncanny resemblance to the sweetener that is found on the plates of the people here. You will seldom find a bengali pouring out expletives in public. Probably the excess of sweets carry their aroma in their tongue also.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Numerous poets and writers have glorified the tastes of Bengalis in the department of gastronomy for many years and continue to do so. I wonder the efficiency of Didi as Food Minister rather than Railway Minister. Btw the first revolutionary thing that she did as she succeeded Lalu Prasad Yadav was the formation of a committee to check the quality of food served by IRCTC. Well, more a case of choice than a case of chance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the way luchis (puri) are getting fried in the kitchen and the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dum aloo </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is almost ready. As they say “You can take the food out of a bengali but you cannot take the bengali out of the food”. Ready to join me </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">J</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-64636372743763165202010-08-18T23:44:00.000+05:302010-08-18T23:44:46.939+05:30THE DECEIT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj9V084icYJdSjy9hm0E0uJbsbMrKkerBmQgAeCtR8b4r5pY-NP8jK9eYCqjGMgz2YDqYAACA451cija4HsPEBm_g3Gc-_S-_duUHnKzooal0WBXnIi01AL4CIsJ4PWOwEO9fZI6pridt/s1600/Trusting_feelings_by_LonelyPierot_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj9V084icYJdSjy9hm0E0uJbsbMrKkerBmQgAeCtR8b4r5pY-NP8jK9eYCqjGMgz2YDqYAACA451cija4HsPEBm_g3Gc-_S-_duUHnKzooal0WBXnIi01AL4CIsJ4PWOwEO9fZI6pridt/s320/Trusting_feelings_by_LonelyPierot_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lights on the horizon are slowly fading out in a mauve background. An avalanche of memories sweeps her conscience at that very moment. She glances across the sky. A pitch dark colour greets her. She still gets shivers from the nightmares of that tragic night. A rush of blood, a volley of abuses, a knock-out revolver, an echoing shriek...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was aware of the eccentric nature of Daniel. He made a plan for a short trip to the foothills of Shivaliks. He was very excited as the much needed vacation was finally on the cards.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally they hit the roads on a pretty dark overcast morning.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hey ! What were you doing with Shane the other day?”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She was startled.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Who is Shane?”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Shut up! You b!£$%. I saw you getting cosy with him.”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Are you out of your minds, Daniel?”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The car screeched to a halt near the edge of a cliff. Daniel dragged her and placed a revolver on her forehead. She shoved him aside but Daniel slipped. Daniel grabbed hold of her long flowing jet black hair and took her with him. She hit one of the rocks and clutched on to it very hard. Daniel fell in the deep abyss of the valley. She lost her vision.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A loud shriek began to echo in the entire valley.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A hand touched her from the back. She adjusted the bandage on her eyes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hey! What are you doing here?” asked Shane</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Nothing much”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Don’t worry, dear! Daniel is no more. We are the proud owners of his 100 billion dollar empire.”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A sharp piercing pain ran through his heart. He succumbed on the ground in front of her. The juice of the plant did the trick. Winner stands alone as they say, she thought. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.weblognow.co.cc/" linkindex="29"><img src="http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5772/weblog11.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I am participating in the <b>WeBlog's Sleepy Sunday contest!</b> You may read other participating posts <a href="http://www.weblognow.co.cc/2010/08/sleepy-sunday-contest-ii.html"><b>HERE</b></a></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-60432918846166643782010-08-15T00:08:00.002+05:302010-08-15T10:08:32.627+05:30THE REVENGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTRICnDnvLwnoAW-M3HzEpFl2eVOC-iBSY5dW5Ap0F_FoXg5UQ_m1bBuKWwio7P_fDYjMQcBvmEaGhnzK1ds4IkiMTpfSeJYMROdtEOoLdgVjqIzMrdHy01Ohq_hvq1gfuaJqpjNH1qCC/s1600/Revenge-Logo-Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTRICnDnvLwnoAW-M3HzEpFl2eVOC-iBSY5dW5Ap0F_FoXg5UQ_m1bBuKWwio7P_fDYjMQcBvmEaGhnzK1ds4IkiMTpfSeJYMROdtEOoLdgVjqIzMrdHy01Ohq_hvq1gfuaJqpjNH1qCC/s320/Revenge-Logo-Badge.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He was missing out on all the fun he had had. Life was getting monotonous and lifeless till he bumped into her. The pleasure and excitement, of course, come at a price. Life can uplift you and if you fail to take control, it carries the propensity to derail you. The otherwise clueless Aman began to revel in the new found joy of a companion. A habitual chain smoker by nature, he never realised how he was getting increasingly attracted to the sparkling beauty of Shweta. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was raining pretty hard and the blurred view in front of his windshield was making life difficult for him. He was going back home after a long and hard day at work. The way was filled with lot of potholes and the paucity of street lights perpetuated his struggle. Suddenly, she emerged from the darkness. He tried to manoeuvre his car but it brushed against her right side. He stopped his car and rushed back. She was lying unconsciously yet was alive. There was a small bruise on her upper left breast close to her heart. He took a bottle of water from his laptop bag and poured it on her face. Soon she regained consciousness. Aman was taken aback by the irresistible charm of her eyes. It was love at first sight.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life changed drastically for him. Shweta carries an uncanny resemblance to Shaira, mused Aman. The frenetic late night parties became the order of the day. Shweta took him to a world of her own and he never resisted it. The ecstasy was too difficult to avoid. Reliving the not so distant past, Aman found an able companion in Shweta. He forgot the way he lost his beloved Shaira. The doctors told “Passive smoking kills”. Aman dismissed it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The black mascara on your eyes has smudged a little. I guess probably you were crying.” Aman said in a daze. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Oh! I didn’t notice it” retorted Shweta.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Let me do the honours” said Aman and took out his handkerchief.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hey! See yourself in the side mirror. I guess you are looking fine now.” </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s ok. I trust you. There is no need for me to see myself in the mirror.”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aman lit a cigarette and offered one to Shweta. As the puff of smoke began to hover in front of Aman, a shadow emerged from nowhere in the middle of the road. He gave a glance on his left side. Shweta was not there.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He opened the door of his car in a fantod and rushed towards the lifeless body lying on the road.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He turned aside the body and was shocked to see the face of Shweta. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How cum a person sitting beside him could be lying lifeless on the road?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Smoking is injurious to health” the tattoo on her forearm glowing brightly in dim street lights.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The appariton of Shaira i.e Shweta smiled at him. She got her revenge. Next day, Aman was diagnosed with throat cancer. </span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-18457201036270950242010-08-07T08:58:00.000+05:302010-08-07T08:58:47.114+05:30GOODBYE<div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>This post has been published by me as a part of the <b>Blog-a-Ton 13</b>; the thirteenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/"><b>Blog-a-Ton</b></a>.</blockquote><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Mama! Will I be able to feed the fishes, Tell me Mama..” Rama was taken aback by this sudden alarming question from Ashu. “Yes! My beta you will “replied Rama with a lot of strain as the flood of tears was choking her voice. The temperature was still hovering around 104 degrees Fahreinheit and she looked grim on holding the thermometer in front of her moist eyes. “Vikram! It’s still 104 and he is boiling. The medicine is not working. I think we should call the doctor again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vikram was also feeling the nerves and despite showing a stolid appearance, was finding it increasingly difficult to pacify Rama. He shut his laptop. Thoughts clouding like a day in Seattle. Of course technology has not been his best friend always. In this case, mmhmm, no ways. He drew the curtains aside in Ashu’s bedroom and the room was flooded with light. Looking from the balcony of his posh home, situated in one of the opulent upmarket of Seattle, a sense of nostalgia gripped him. Never in his life, had he the time for himself, let alone his family. Suddenly, his thoughts took him to the pleasant memories of the past which was in a way a stark contrast to the present miserable mess.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since childhood, he was a go getter and his friends called him by the nickname “Guru”. He was a die hard optimistic and even in the face of dotcom burst he was sanguine about his future. Within a few years of his corporate life, he was promoted to the post of Vice President of Seattle Corporation Ltd, a leading multinational company in pharmaceuticals. Coming from a middle class family, he soon shifted bases to Seattle. His industrious affinity coupled with his professionalism paid him rich dividends when he was listed among the who’s who of Seattle and people began to admire his dexterity at management. The company profits staged a remarkable turn around as soon as he stepped into the shoes of Vice President. However, the landscape of his professional achievements began to cast a shadow on his personal life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The frenetic pace of his rise had left a gaping hole in his personal life. Rama, his better half had resigned to his will and their child Ashu was a mere adjustment in their life. The regular fights and constant flying accusations have paved the way for subdued emotions and vapid feelings. Rama still remembers the day Vikram shot the marriage proposal to her. A month long of whirlwind courtship culminated in exchanging garlands.She was genuinely attracted to this exuberant Vikram and was exceedingly pleased to find a life partner in Vikram. Vikram was highly ambitious and was eager to make a mark in this corporate world. The relationship which began on a bright note turned sour slowly and steadily within a few years and even the arrival of Ashu could do little to turn the tide. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, Vikram never showed an iota of penance. He was absolved in his own glory and pride and little did he realize that his dear Ashu would become a victim of his dereliction. The idiosyncrasies of Vikram began to take a toll on Ashu’s life. Vikram vividly remembers the gloomy and overcast day in Seattle. He took Ashu to the hospital as he fainted in the play ground of his school. Rama was busy in her daily chores when she got the news. She immediately rushed to the hospital. The doctors took Ashu to the operation theatre for an emergency check up. After three hours, Ashu regained his consciousness and was relieved to find his ever quarrelsome parents by his side, smiling, and their hearts very heavy, heavy with the . Little did Ashu realize that what was in store for him in the next couple of months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ashu was suffering from leukaemia or rather blood cancer and was left with only two months to enjoy his life. Vikram was heartbroken. Rama just felt a sharp edged knife trenching her into two. Life was a rose tinted glass for Vikram till now and suddenly it seems as though pieces of glass lay scattered on the floor with drops of blood glorifying the neglected pieces. Vikram tried his level best to summon the best doctors of the planet but even the best of technology betrayed him this time. The two months passed in a blink of an eye. A strong willed by nature, Vikram surrendered to the macabre fate that was unfolding in front of his eyes at an alarming rate. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Rama! I called the doctor. He is on his way” said Vikram with a sense of trepidation in his voice. Vikram sat beside Rama and both were holding tightly the hand of Ashu as if they couldn’t let him go from their lives. As the doctor arrived, the plaintive visage of Vikram told him the entire story. A relationship lost in translation, a home lost in translation and last but not the least, a silent prayer for his beloved Ashu was lost in translation as the immortal soul bid goodbye and found its freedom forever from the earthly pleasures. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>The <b>fellow Blog-a-Tonics</b> who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective <b>posts</b> can be checked <a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/2010/08/rules-and-reminder-for-blog-ton-13.html#comments"><b>here</b></a>. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <b><a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/">Blog-a-Ton</a></b>.</blockquote></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-48199859962309891802010-08-02T00:34:00.000+05:302010-08-02T00:34:42.639+05:30THE OBSESSION<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> CHAPTER 1</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> VIKRAM AND RAGINI</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “I was looking at the vast expanse of the pitch dark sky. There were not many stars twinkling in the sky. A few of them popped out but they were extremely dim. This is because of the dark clouds gathering at rapid pace. I have faced this kind of weather in the past too. It’s the weather of the monsoon season and soon rains will drench the entire surroundings. There will be dancing peacocks, chirping birds and swaying winds yet I will be unable to feel the same. I will not be able to feel the rain and the breeze but only see them from behind the bars. How I wish Ragini could be mine!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The noise of the conch shells began to reverberate in one corner of the living room. The ubiquitous smell of the incense sticks in all corners of the room carried the festive flavour of the autumn season. The house was decorated like a new bride and the entire atmosphere was buzzing with hushes and talks of nearly a dozen people. Chants and hymns in praise of the Goddess Lakshmi occupied the entire surrounding of the Rathore family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Where have you been?” asked Vikram. He was wearing white kurta pyjama and was in a hurry carrying a huge bowl of sweets to the kitchen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “I went to a friend’s place. She came back after a long vacation. So I went to meet her.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ragini put her handbag on the table in a nonchalant manner and sat on the chair. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But today was puja. You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the house. You must be aware of the kind of responsibilities that you have to carry on your shoulders. You cannot live your life on your own whims and fancies” said Vikram, his tone getting a bit sterner and hard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I have requested her for a few make up things and dresses. I was very eagerly awaiting her return. So when she came back I immediately rushed to her place.” replied Ragini while wiping the sweat her face with her pale blue handkerchief.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything is relative, sometimes the people you love also move far away from you and you fail to realize the gap until one day you land aimlessly on that very gap and discover their non existence. Marriage becomes a contract to oblige and relationship becomes as dead as the person.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Ok fine! Go to your room and change your clothes. There is a lot of work that needs to be done.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Whatever!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vikram, the eldest son of Rathore family was busy giving instructions to the servants. The pandal was resplendent with the bright colours of orange and yellow. The white flowers have arrived and the cooks are busy preparing a delicious meal. Everything looks in order.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> CHAPTER 2</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> RAGINI AND SAMEER</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a loud hiss of the pressure cooker in the kitchen. Ragini was busy rummaging the shelf in search of some carrots. She wore a pheran and a shalwar with the traditional Kasaba, a headgear. The pheran has zari embroidery on the hem line, around pockets and mostly on the collar area.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Sameer! Have u seen some carrots?” asked Ragini.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“No Ragini!” replied Sameer. He was busy cleaning his favourite 300 CC Enfield kept in the old shack outside his house.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ragini collected the stale clothes on the wooden floor and rushed to the wash room. The daily supply of water was fixed for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. The entire washing of the day needs to be completed in the first two hours along with collecting the drinking water. Sometimes heavy blizzards cause havoc in the region and suck out the supply of water in the evening Life, then, becomes a fight for survival. The harsh weather seldom forgives. It just punishes and it punishes pretty hard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sleepy town possesses a distinctive Buddhist culture with tall white flags adorning the sides of the stupas and viharas. The Tibetan Buddhist sacred art constitutes the lifeline of this small town. A large number of monks roam around in the town and the travellers revel in the peace and tranquillity of the region.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The blinding pain was excruciating him yet Sameer wore a jolly look on his face. He has performed innumerable murders as a part of his profession. He has seen the heart beating and the mind bubbling yet he could not devise a remedy for his illness. Every day as he woke up, the pain and the anguish has never subsided, however hard he tried. Ragini , her bubbly face , her bright brown eyes, pink lips, her straight jet black hair , her sweet dimples, he was haunted by those images every minute of his life. The hard and rugged look on his face fails to hide the tears in his eyes that have almost lost their identity in awake of his ruthlessness. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Bhai!”, the name by which everyone referred to him had lost its significance. His pride no longer swells on the profession that he carried out with panache of an expert. Few remember his real name. Everyone looked at him as the messiah of the poor and the downtrodden. Suddenly from the last few months he was feeling something different: A feeling that has not touched him for the past 25 years of his life. The transition was happening yet he could not control it. Some call him a Casanova, some call him an outlaw and for some like Ragini he is just Sameer, a name that touches her face like a cool breeze.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rugged terrain of the mountains had always held a special secret in its abyss. Sameer also bore a deep secret of his shady and murky life from Ragini. He watched the cover of the mist, engulfing the entire valley, slowly lifting as the rays of the sun began to emerge from the top. His eyes shone bright, the mountains, the crests in the valleys, the troughs everything glistening in the shimmering sunlight. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He vamoosed to the shack and began to diligently ensemble his gears and tools of his bike. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He took out a pocket diary from his soiled clothes. The day and date was marked with red ink. His tryst with destiny had been fixed on 21 November @ 10:30, the day of his marriage and he was only 2 hours away from the coveted mark. Everything was ready and taken care of, the protective helmet, the high altitude wind cheater, the rain coats, the sleeping bags , the bottles of water, rope and other paraphernalia. There were butterflies in his stomach and he was as excited as a little child who takes his first baby steps on this planet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A loud piercing horn broke the reverie of Sameer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Ragini! Pack the breakfast. We will do it on our way. It’s already getting late.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sameer rode his Royal Enfield and Ragini sat behind his back. They crossed the town in an hour and the overwhelmingly earthy hues of the majestic mountains are leavened periodically by the patches of brilliant emerald of the villages en route. The mountains sport every hue in an artist’s palette – from all shades of grey and brown to blue, pink and russet. Ragini thoughts, however were hovering around her life, her relationship with Sameer and above all the chaos going in her heart. How could she leave Vikram and start a new life with Sameer? Sameer whom she trusts more than her, Is he after all the right man? Vikram never abused her or beat her. She just couldn’t find a resonance with him. Will she find the resonance with Sameer? She had but is it the resonance that she was missing in her life? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road twists and turns tortuously into loops and whorls, prompting the rather apt appellation “jalebi bends” by which they are known in these parts. The twists and turns in her relationship have left her muddled. She doesn’t know anything about Sameer. Only that he loves her passionately. Is this the soul reason that she is leaving Vikram. Vikram also loves her. It’s only that their relationship has lost the fizz with time. Isn’t Vikram responsible for it? As money and status took precedence Vikram lost her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then the road began its descent, a steady plunge through hairpin bends. The descent in her relationship was over. She was a free bird and no one can touch her. She has a mind of her own and a spirit that wants to soar. Suddenly a gush of cool breeze hit her blowing across her open faced helmet and she knew that their minds were concocting designs for the passionate calling of their hearts. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Night descended in a hurry and they increased their pace to find a suitable accommodation. The lights on their headgears became the sole source of direction but with no visible signs of human habitat in the near vicinity, it caused a bit of anxiety. Soon a flickering light from some far distance caught their eyes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The light on the operation theatre turned off and Vikram hurried his pace along with two fellow doctors. There were anxious faces waiting outside and a cavalcade of men in khakhi dress occupied the premises of the Leelavati Hospital. Vikram assured an old lady of the well being of her ward. There was a personal grief that needs to be addressed before that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He reached his office and sat on the wooden rickety chair which has bore the burden of his work life all these years. He began to rummage through the old heaps of files that lay close to his table. Suddenly his eyes rested on an old torn diary, mutilated at its ends and a bit weary and smudged. He flipped the yellow pages in a careful manner. Finally his eyes rested on this piece of paper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is getting attracted to him. I could see the smile reaching her eyes and the spurt in her spirits. She is no more with me. I am losing her and the most that I could do was watch in silent despair. Her heart is no longer with her. I hope everything is a dream but this is not. Its reality and it’s like eating me from inside. I could no longer stand in her way. I have to find a way out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> CHAPTER 3</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> THE BETRAYAL</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Vikram! I am going for a short tour to Genjula tomorrow. The company is going to organize a big event for the upcoming Tibetan festivals. Being the PR head, I have to take care of the arrangements beforehand” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Ragini! Why do you tell me all your plans in such a short notice? You know there is a puja going on in our house and you want to go.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I told you earlier also but you forgot. It’s not my fault to remind you each and every day.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“By the way, I will send u some papers from Genjula. I want your opinion on them. May be its time, we take a serious look at our relationship.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“What lies in the papers? Why are you sounding so serious?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Nothing much. You will get to know when you will receive them.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vikram didn’t say much but he knows more than the papers, he will be eagerly waiting for 21 November, the D-day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vikram loved Ragini too dearly. He was finding it hard to stand firm in the awake of the storm that was raging his conscience every minute. Like a person whose life resides in a parrot, his life has also become a slave to Ragini. The hurt and the angst were evidently visible on his face yet the person whom he loves the most in this world was oblivious to it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The papers didn’t arrive. Four days later on 21 November, he received a call from Leelavati hospital. It was midnight and he was fast asleep at that time. There was an emergency requirement at the hospital since a near fatal accident took place on the outskirts of Genjula, near Mahanagar. He put his dapper white overcoat, collected the stethoscope and immediately made a dash towards the call of the duty.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> CHAPTER 4</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> THE OBSESSSION</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next morning, the headlines on the newspaper read</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Two persons admitted to Leelavati Hospital under serious condition. They collided with an incoming truck on their way. The driver of the 300 CC Enfield bike was declared brought dead. The pillion rider was still battling life with grave injuries on her forehead.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ragini recuperated but could not come to terms with the accident. Vikram and Ragini got separated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been two years and Vikram still holds the diary close to his chest. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I was looking at the vast expanse of the pitch dark sky. There were not many stars twinkling in the sky. A few of them popped out but they were extremely dim. This is because of the dark clouds gathering at rapid pace. I have faced this kind of weather in the past too. It’s the weather of the monsoon season and soon rains will drench the entire surroundings. There will be dancing peacocks, chirping birds and swaying winds yet I will be unable to feel the same. I will not be able to feel the rain and the breeze but only see them from behind the bars. It’s been two long years and I still couldn’t forget her. How I wish Ragini could be mine after I killed Sameer!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-90329953816992353852010-07-09T08:58:00.000+05:302010-07-09T08:58:00.988+05:30THE SACRILEGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsg_pgaITIy0DLlVJOSTd1TDWxFmk97xZLrFjAMs1vj7io-9yQSsZjEwrTnyY7OMacizchEYGihs9jywZJCRyN21KLO9NIqgHiP9zM8oMVQknQ9yfmVbMhAg-PlaqMFjAPCKzkzxzhC4W/s1600/candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsg_pgaITIy0DLlVJOSTd1TDWxFmk97xZLrFjAMs1vj7io-9yQSsZjEwrTnyY7OMacizchEYGihs9jywZJCRyN21KLO9NIqgHiP9zM8oMVQknQ9yfmVbMhAg-PlaqMFjAPCKzkzxzhC4W/s320/candle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">The woods and leaves are long gone in </div><div align="justify">tapers,<br />
stand amidst them the tall high rise</div><div align="justify">skyscrapers<br />
Searching for that innocence of the dew </div><div align="justify">drops,<br />
the eyes gets blinded by glitzy malls and </div><div align="justify">shops</div><div align="justify" mce_keep="true"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Charm of the wealth creates an eternal magical </div><div align="justify">spell,<br />
When will the desire find its path to get </div><div align="justify">quell<br />
Seeking pleasure through the keyholes of </div><div align="justify">vulnerability, </div><div align="justify">When will the character of the cognizant find </div><div align="justify"> susceptibility</div><div align="justify" mce_keep="true"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Time never stops, always finds a way to run and flow, </div><div align="justify">without waiting,<br />
Change is perennial, only the avarice continues to glow, </div><div align="justify">without debating<br />
Waning away the eloquence of the blooming flowers, the coffin stands </div><div align="justify">decorated,<br />
Rejoice the makers, revels the artisans, the mourners stand in silence, a </div><div align="justify">bit satiated</div><div align="justify" mce_keep="true"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Whirlpools swirling in a cone, the sails no longer firm, yet no harbour in sight<br />
Gently the water vomits,the waste clutched in tight fist, the river tries to fight<br />
The devil wears a black soot, rising in billows, the sky looks in despair, choked<br />
Hope survives, the glee on the face widening, celebrations hasten, I stand muted</div><div align="justify" mce_keep="true"><br />
</div><div align="justify">“Mother!”, I cry for her, her face pale and jilted, wrinkles wore a dereliction<br />
Evanescent smell of the rain soaked earth, tears drain away, only remains the friction<br />
Concocting a tale of triumph, the son pleads for the blessings, uncharacteristic<br />
Man with a foot in the temple, garlanding the devil in narrow alleys, jingoistic </div><div align="justify" mce_keep="true"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Veneer of accomplishments peel off from the majestic barks, bit by bit, unabated<br />
Individuals laugh at their miseries, heavy with burden a mother, unaccustomed<br />
“Oh! Lord!” I kneel before you, holding the </div><div align="justify">cross,<br />
Why the door of enlightenment losing its sheen and </div><div align="justify">gloss! </div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-73163604202191935802010-06-17T07:07:00.000+05:302010-06-17T07:07:29.933+05:30THE SURVIVOR<div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The drop of the blood on the betel leaves continues to sparkle with the hope of a survivor. The twilight was slowly fading on the horizons and rays of the sun were falling prey to the gloom of marauding black night. A catastrophe of homicides had demurred the peace and tranquility of a thriving colony. The surroundings reverberated with harsh cacophonies and the zeitgeist was overflowing with hatred and animosity. Ali was still crouching behind the bushes of the mulberry shrubs with his heart beat pounding like hammer on his chest. Suddenly it missed a beat as he heard footsteps encroaching upon his territory. He instantly shifted his gaze to the opposite side and transformed his body into a mannequin. His skin had turned white but the red blood was still oozing out from his wounds with full truculence.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ali was licking his lips every time to keep them moist with his saliva. A drop of water beckoned the thirsty glands of Ali. His bruised palms were all sweaty and his eyes were full of terror that was unfolding before him in break neck speed. The jocundity and naivety of the 8 year old Ali was lost in a single day of insurgence. His eyes bulged out in trepidation as he watched his mother burnt alive and his father decapitated in the carnage. The vociferous chants of “Jai Baba Bholenath” were still ringing in Ali’s head. Ali was the lone survivor of his family. He remembers the perpetrators who wore black armbands and were laced with daggers and swords. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Born in an upward middle class family, Ali was three years old when he first heard the word “MUSLIM”. The connotation came from Mamta aunty when he was busy enjoying his weekly feast of beef. His father obviously recites the namaz five times a day but then he used to think that it is the duty of every human being on this planet to follow the path of GOD and namaz gave the people strength and belief to pursue that revered path. He was oblivious of the communal rage among masses or rather among Hindus and Muslims. He was unaware of the word “Kaafir”. To him GOD is one. Until then the world was bright and sunny.A nauseating feeling began to grip Ali and he puked the contents of his stomach on the dried morass. The timorous Ali was too diffident to ask for help. He wiped his mouth with a torn piece of cloth hanging loosely from the side of his forearm. Soon the dizziness put him into a deep slumber as the night began to grow dark with each passing moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Suddenly, a badly wounded arm from behind rested on his narrow shoulders. He moved his head to have a dekko at the person. He jumped in fright at the sight that unfolded before him. An ill-fated badly mutilated man with no legs lay in front of him. He was gasping for water and his repeated and solemn sighs pleaded for mercy. His clothes bore an uncanny resemblance to the zealots who killed Ali’s parents. Ali, the child, couldn’t fathom the inexorable death of the person. He ran helter-skelter in the hope of getting some water. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finally, he spotted a tube well at the side of an old banyan tree. He pounced on the handle and began to pump vigorously. He collected the water in his small cusped hands and ran to the spot. But soon he realized that the water was disappearing fast from his hands and he would be unable to carry the required amount. After repeated attempts, he thought he could use his oval-shaped white prayer topi for carrying the water. On the other hand, the hapless and impaired man slowly succumbed to his injuries before the arrival of Ali. As Ali was about to decant the water on the face of the man, he felt a sharp and acrimonious pain at his back. A heavily armored man draped in saffron colored veil shrieked from his behind “How dare you accept the water from the hands of a Muslim?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ali fell to the ground as the pernicious dagger pierced his back. Ali, the survivor breathed his last in that black evil night. In the morning, the fire-fighters handed his body over to the police while they pursued to douse the raging inferno that had destroyed the heart of a peaceful city. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <o:p></o:p></span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-33202570187571807422010-06-13T11:09:00.000+05:302010-06-13T11:09:01.593+05:30ELEMENTARY<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Manisha woke up with an alarm. It was already 5:30. She gave a cursory glance at the decrepit corner of the room. The student in her heart skipped a beat. She quickly took a bath, put on her clothes and vamoosed to the shop.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plates were soiled and the owner was fuming at her childhood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_TGB0LAK57kwUhKgbw3az4sNMtcKJXCEJLLdotFKPDy8b-p7u9M6V8mIT61TWDTHqhzre9sNvpMnok2gSeYRuvcuJNsFf6vDm5rN8B9pM-4I2EvpFR2Qrg9x3_SRFCkyddbpDNH7wdjP/s1600/80042_f248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_TGB0LAK57kwUhKgbw3az4sNMtcKJXCEJLLdotFKPDy8b-p7u9M6V8mIT61TWDTHqhzre9sNvpMnok2gSeYRuvcuJNsFf6vDm5rN8B9pM-4I2EvpFR2Qrg9x3_SRFCkyddbpDNH7wdjP/s200/80042_f248.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-620684006632198032010-06-06T12:37:00.001+05:302010-06-06T12:38:28.833+05:30EVOLUTION<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was raining very hard. A huge thunderstorm accompanied the violent rains. There was no way to escape the wrath of the nature. They killed a deer and survival was the only prerogative. They lit a bonfire in the pitch dark night. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6foOLGM6Dq4z7J8-Rf5TRXNDthzFIJvhX8fJMCYNKmc-1G29xMvujp9qz9L5jb3ypxfybYqI-Is6VndvgrdCyD4ATdnAT3tVoBBh8ecpJ57jIWcR7PEKE-UrTcec2pTJXbS6ImdiQC7kH/s1600/bonfire-aug-15-2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6foOLGM6Dq4z7J8-Rf5TRXNDthzFIJvhX8fJMCYNKmc-1G29xMvujp9qz9L5jb3ypxfybYqI-Is6VndvgrdCyD4ATdnAT3tVoBBh8ecpJ57jIWcR7PEKE-UrTcec2pTJXbS6ImdiQC7kH/s320/bonfire-aug-15-2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a few million years, I opened my eyes to see the bonfire.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S.:-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Igniting the bonfire is like the first early man when they learnt to use the fire.They discovered fire.I am watching the bonfire means that fire is still alive in my time also. It was there millions of years ago and it is now also. We evolved but the basic elements like fire, air, earth, water remained the same. They were necessary for survival then also and now also.</span></span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-659204002092867602010-06-05T19:24:00.013+05:302010-06-07T19:55:26.932+05:30HIDDEN<div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>This post has been published by me as a part of the <b>Blog-a-Ton 11</b>; the eleventh edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following <a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/"><b>Blog-a-Ton</b></a>.</blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgDB-lUq2hax5GtlU-33xD4JQBmxzMD1SHDPl-twAVF4QUtZl5kbdJaUbZOipEybO6pIZk1-rXoHT-orBD0hAWotJQsrFctaiqsxsUG8y3kSZH06y0iNni4wA4-6BUXX0Vf6JdoNs6wZ7/s1600/3776578775_1764fa399e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgDB-lUq2hax5GtlU-33xD4JQBmxzMD1SHDPl-twAVF4QUtZl5kbdJaUbZOipEybO6pIZk1-rXoHT-orBD0hAWotJQsrFctaiqsxsUG8y3kSZH06y0iNni4wA4-6BUXX0Vf6JdoNs6wZ7/s320/3776578775_1764fa399e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Winding slopes lead me to the dungeon in a deep abyss</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">I stay hard to keep myself awake lest I get frightened </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Croaking outside getting louder each hour, I’m feeling threatened</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Cross on my neck getting stiffened, my head careens</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Rays of the sun are long forgotten, my body feeling the shivers</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Icy breeze caressing my face, I’m withholding my breath in anticipation</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Offshoots hanging and fidgeting at my forearms, I look at them in awe</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Green they are, colour of envy, tugging at my locks with vibrancy</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Grey silhouette at the far end beckons me, the breeze whirling away vigorously</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">I thought for an askance but lose the strength to stand upright </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Violet tulips come in my way, a fleeting moment of happiness engulfs me</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Darkness is still hovering over my head, the tulips begin to wither away</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Deep orange fire at the corner swells my pride, I swagger a bit in my stance</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Yellow sparks emanates from them, making my face glow in the darkness</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Blue are the rains that drench me completely in my glowing soul</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">The shadows begin to grow larger, I edge myself to make a move </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Looking at the wheels of my sledge I’m taken aback</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">The rotation is faster and the pace is lively, I’m apprehensive</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Suddenly, destiny growls and howls invoking a fear more deadly</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Gruesome thunderstorms begin to occur frequently challenging my esteem</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Held my cross close to my chest, the silent prayers keeping my spirit alive</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Gathers some courage, see a flickering hope as the clouds begin to depart</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">The first rays of the sun shines on me, </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">my eyes dilates at the sudden spurt of light</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Slowly I come to term with the surroundings, lively and full of life</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Red in the distance persuades me, I continue my journey amidst all brouhaha</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Elated at my fortune, looking at the red with desire</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Pain is easing out every passing moment, the lure is still holding fort</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally the destination comes, I stop for a moment and give a glance at the torn map</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;">Treasure is hidden and I am at the crossroads, waiting an eternal for the next direction</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p> </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><o:p>P.S.:- </o:p>The first four lines of the poem tell about the way I fell my life is going. It's kinda filled with a fear of the unknown.The next four lines are filled with some reminisces of the past -rays of the sun refer to that. The last two lines of that stanza tells the reader of all the feelings that crept in me from time to time, green shoots refer to envy.Violet tulips refer to love that came and brought smile and happiness.Deep orange fire and yellow sparks refer to the friendship that came and boosted my pride and self esteem, blue rains refer to the calm feelings that i experienced when friends are around but suddenly fate played a cruel joke and all ties got snapped. I felt a bit alone and frightened at the sudden void but then there was a silver lining somewhwere in my new surroundings, red refers to the desire of mine that is still kinda alive in me.It motivates me to move forward. Finally i reach the destination with a torn map refers to the fact that i have been unsure of what the sight in front of me hold from time to time. I am constantly referring to the map for directions as if listening to people and their opinions rather than taking my own decisions. Finally when I reach the destination where the treasure is hidden, I am finding myself again at the crossroads waiting an eternal for the next direction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><o:p><br />
</o:p><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b>fellow Blog-a-Tonics</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b>posts</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> can be checked </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/2010/06/rules-and-reminder-for-blog-ton-11.html#comments"><b>here</b></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><a href="http://blog-a-ton.blogspot.com/">Blog-a-Ton</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.</span></div></span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-87432606467490327022010-06-04T01:02:00.005+05:302010-06-04T01:04:53.304+05:30EMOTIONAL ATYACHAAR<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I breathe in her fragrance. I find happiness in her smile.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Hey Neha! Why did you do this to me? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am neither a mad nor a maverick. I am just in love with you.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told her broodingly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6THAGvztmJLPBpxeGGChg9_Pi9Uy5B-9JsfLlKSHcfuQmhMse1OFPd-YMDe_PDdzE-Wj7z_ZQB8SiqFu3lRdyMpo9KWM9oPdyOUkWK_ykLPla5261v1HskmtErBMZEiabGYojd4jsusBj/s1600/paint2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6THAGvztmJLPBpxeGGChg9_Pi9Uy5B-9JsfLlKSHcfuQmhMse1OFPd-YMDe_PDdzE-Wj7z_ZQB8SiqFu3lRdyMpo9KWM9oPdyOUkWK_ykLPla5261v1HskmtErBMZEiabGYojd4jsusBj/s200/paint2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a huge roar from the crowd. The shot was perfect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Cut it!”replied the director</span></span>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-29211622667099490742010-06-03T00:48:00.000+05:302010-06-03T00:48:05.169+05:30ECSTASY<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He tossed another paper in the dustbin. The writing was on the wall yet he was hoping against hope.Suddenly, there was a flash of someone’s name on his mobile. Within minutes, peals of laughter began to echo in corridor.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sX8bdwLZLUwvoVQoGekUHyK3nPCTRrSuBTSHsvQaHYnP1doeRJjVRbUtOxSra3lzoS-qPpRsn1CtHZxFsvGqfadtI97F1HJI3VNpMzdEjIPXG5_KPBpMmvRtR3ywYKPA5KA0N4s4wTP9/s1600/reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sX8bdwLZLUwvoVQoGekUHyK3nPCTRrSuBTSHsvQaHYnP1doeRJjVRbUtOxSra3lzoS-qPpRsn1CtHZxFsvGqfadtI97F1HJI3VNpMzdEjIPXG5_KPBpMmvRtR3ywYKPA5KA0N4s4wTP9/s320/reflections.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“REFLECTIONS” a collection of his short stories will finally see the light of the day. </span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4540130429929552326.post-11437895082481042942010-05-30T15:08:00.008+05:302010-05-30T15:13:15.443+05:30TRAVEL PHOTO CONTEST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is the </span><a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2010/05/26/travel-photos-contest-indian-bloggers-photographers" style="color: #a35600; text-decoration: none;"><b style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travel photo contest </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by </span><a href="http://blogadda.com/" style="color: #a3235f; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blogadda</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in association with </span><a href="http://pringoo.com/" style="color: #a3235f; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pringoo.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Click on the links for all details.</span> I have travelled quite a few places in and around West Bengal. Here is my entry for the same. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxKY0B6Fd1Y__IbhJDbCr8HgENMpIKF3qee89DExAVYZ8pMQOkoKnuAZAI8-CqE_wYa3Hn-a2vOtRwl_2nfDGsFATMoIbnkeCkeYBwcw9T3RFBhSvl7ZjPKBnZv2vz-cKbXcaI6XwSEtN/s1600/IMG_0605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxKY0B6Fd1Y__IbhJDbCr8HgENMpIKF3qee89DExAVYZ8pMQOkoKnuAZAI8-CqE_wYa3Hn-a2vOtRwl_2nfDGsFATMoIbnkeCkeYBwcw9T3RFBhSvl7ZjPKBnZv2vz-cKbXcaI6XwSEtN/s320/IMG_0605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pic was taken by me on a very early morning in Darjeeling, West Bengal. The dew drops glisten on the leaf and the first rays of the sun are about to drench this leaf. Lucky! I got the pic in time. I would name this pic as "THE SILVER DROPS"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXvj80dnlqiPdXUW0AqRU9IcnJBbzb1cCwLNCziGNt1sTBYRbUkqp6i9cewZckZMtGkc5Aa4gRfTxGzyz6h2fEPtTKFJ3Vn-vYm3WJEDRatZ_tJw65maqoYUnEyqmFg_9Be5WipgLaUZA/s1600/IMG_1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXvj80dnlqiPdXUW0AqRU9IcnJBbzb1cCwLNCziGNt1sTBYRbUkqp6i9cewZckZMtGkc5Aa4gRfTxGzyz6h2fEPtTKFJ3Vn-vYm3WJEDRatZ_tJw65maqoYUnEyqmFg_9Be5WipgLaUZA/s320/IMG_1110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pic was taken by me in an area near Changu Lake, Gangtok,Sikkim. The beautiful and majestic Kanchenjunga stands tall amidst those floating clouds. The bend in the road made me to name the pic as "ROAD TO HEAVEN".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJQCTwzEll1GYfkp1pte8wwlPyjgwyZx8hGd-xK53aexjcF3T85VVoD-QoGMpEmVTWLZ60MiadJEu0C8c_vnMAfper44DebETXKpnRIxhkiMqFWxzwROzcmrZJxsDDk3tF_7C4mxazGdj/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJQCTwzEll1GYfkp1pte8wwlPyjgwyZx8hGd-xK53aexjcF3T85VVoD-QoGMpEmVTWLZ60MiadJEu0C8c_vnMAfper44DebETXKpnRIxhkiMqFWxzwROzcmrZJxsDDk3tF_7C4mxazGdj/s320/IMG_2704.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pic was taken in Puri, Orissa. The vast expanse of the sky and the gushing sea breeze was a pleasure to feel. The pic was taken in the wee hours of the morning and the slightly dark clouds provided the perfect contrast. I would name this pic as " THE FINAL FRONTIER"</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlz8-hwRgaooFxOhNpEgojZZBnZSxtaCz2je5DDMBIwiLVREfCAFVlzDhyphenhyphenVI78i5s5nMyHHEobNUeLEKhHDFuSeM76wWFxvGz-tv6rrDGmlkyeHxzI_yqKFeRxSZuklWQgvO2moLEetgc/s1600/IMG_0904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlz8-hwRgaooFxOhNpEgojZZBnZSxtaCz2je5DDMBIwiLVREfCAFVlzDhyphenhyphenVI78i5s5nMyHHEobNUeLEKhHDFuSeM76wWFxvGz-tv6rrDGmlkyeHxzI_yqKFeRxSZuklWQgvO2moLEetgc/s320/IMG_0904.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is Rumtek Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery located in Sikkim near the capital Gangtok. It lies at an altitude of 1500 m. The monastery is currently the largest in Sikkim. I would name this pic as "ABODE OF THE MAJESTIC MONKS"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnYNY3ASKwj2g1cxLIpBkAD90_QzenTn-cGFp_Nuu8gpKkkCu7dtr_L0SXU-vpL8urf8rtjLSilpXxE0syvwPrwREDGo0KvRmrvHPmKsv7XwLbmN9rHnai9VEJO9uwelLhab4pNnEfobc/s1600/IMG_2513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnYNY3ASKwj2g1cxLIpBkAD90_QzenTn-cGFp_Nuu8gpKkkCu7dtr_L0SXU-vpL8urf8rtjLSilpXxE0syvwPrwREDGo0KvRmrvHPmKsv7XwLbmN9rHnai9VEJO9uwelLhab4pNnEfobc/s320/IMG_2513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This pic was clicked by me near the Khecheopalri lake in Sikkim. The flower was in the mud and I have to soil my clothes a bit to click this wonderful pic. A la lotus type flower which thrives the muddy water. i would name this pic as "BLISS OF NATURE"</span></div>sushobhan royhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790873580999185031noreply@blogger.com20