10/03/2019
The Ultimate Northern Trip - 1
========================
This was much awaited trip for me....Firstly to overcome the mundane life and secondly to keep my dream of travelling the country and world alive....
Being in job it was important for us to the save time....So my friend Deepali had planned our flights to Delhi on the same night after which our offices ended on a friday.....I reached airport just 1.5hours before the scheduled departure however I had already done my web check-in to save some time....At the airport I met Deepali and Dinesh and then I met Mansi and Tejas (news friends on the journey).....After going through routine airport checkup we boarded the flight.....Mansi was travelling for the first time on a flight and seemed to be pretty excited.....I had obtained the window seat while doing my web check-in.....After spending sometime at the airport, we finally entered the flight and now we were all set to our exciting journey.....In next two hours we were in Dil waalon ki 'Delhi'.....As soon as we reached the airport and checked out, our driver for the journey Mr Pravin was ready to pick us up.....Bags loaded, Seats selected (I got my favourite front seat) and we started the journey by remembering the almighty and collectively chanted 'Ganpati Bappa Morya'......
Stop 1, Day 1:
----------------------
4am in the morning, chilled weather, and the beautiful road ahead......Since we were hungry, we had asked our driver Pravin Ji to stop at the first Dhaba/Hotel that he sees......I saw he skipping few dhabas on the way, which made me wonder what was he upto, just to realise that he was taking us to one of the best dhabas in the outskirts of the Delhi......We stopped at 'Pahlwan Dhaba'. The unique thing about this Dhaba was that, they used either jaggery or honey as a sweetner in lieu of sugar.......We ordered for parathas and tea.....The parathas were awesome and jaggery tea has a super taste.....Then my eyes set on the Ghee Jalebi which ordered for myself (since no one was interested).......After 10 odd minutes the waiter brought hot Jalebis on the table.....I ate one and it was the most delicious Jalebis I ever had....Soon everyone had a piece each and the plate was empty in a within a blink of an eye.....So we ordered one more plates of Jalebis......With stomachs and hearts filled with happiness we headed towards Amritsar (our first site)....We reached our hotel in Amritsar around 3.15pm....So we planned to head straight to Atari Border rather than visiting the Golden Temple.....After getting freshened up, we left our hotel around 4pm and reached Atari Border around 4.35pm....This was 3rd time to me however rest of my friends were visiting the Atari Border for the first time.....Everytime I visit this place, I get goosebumps......We soon found place for ourselves to sit so that we could watch the Parade....I personally felt that we were late by half an hour and hence couldn't get the best seat in the house.....Before the parade starts, there are some guidelines provided by the host which he requested the audience to follow including shouting of slogans related to India like Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram and Jai Hind......The Host kept on retierating that no slogans should be shouted which would hurt the sentiments of neighbouring nation.....We were also lucky that we got a chance to see women leading one of the March that day.....The parade ended after 30mina and all I could say that it was a an awesome spectacal for us....Tye waving National Flag, The Crowd Cheers, The Soldier Parade and their Energy was incredible.....What amuses me is that, this parade takes on daily basis and the soldiers perform it was great pride, energy and enthusiasm.....After clicking few selfies amongst ourselves , with few soldiers and habing the local food, we headed towards Golden Temple.....We reached there by 7pm and the chants of 'Wahe Guru' started soothing my ears and all of my tiredness started vanishing including the slight head pain I had through out the day.....I feel so much connected to this place and the only holy place I love to go again and again (my 3rd time in this temple). The view of the temple and fresh water pond inside the temple makes it delightful to watch and makes your mind so peaceful....The most astonishing thing is that, you will not find any security guard at the entrance of the temple nor any security check is done...such is the belief of the people....The service provided by volunteers is imaculate and you feel a sense of belonging at this place.....We decided to take darshan next day and just wandered around the temple for sometime, had some lovely Potato Pattice with mouth watering tamarind chutney, While girls did some shopping, and then left back to our hotel rooms....After reaching hotel, we left our stuff and headed to dinner table to have our food....The good food was something to relish and after having our food, we left towards our respective rooms.....
Day 1, though tiring but was worth all the pain !!!
