My Travel Experiences

Well, it started with disaster. I had a 4 day holiday, 25^th Dec (Christmas), 26^th, 27^th (weekend), 28^th (optional holiday). So I was thinking of going to some place for 3-4 days. I thought of going to “BhimaShankar” near Pune, one of the “Jyotirlingas” place. One of my friends, Prashant Joshi told me that it is very in the interior in the city and also bus service is not good. Buses are not available frequently and you will need a vehicle to visit the place. So I dropped the idea. I had a wish of going to Girnar someday, so I explored the same. I started searching on net. All railways reservations were full, so I searched online for bus booking. I zeroed in http://redbus.in/ and tried to do online booking for 24 Dec night. After payment deduction there was an error on the site. I tried to contact customer care. After trying for 4-5 times and after long waiting, the executive in Mumbai asked me to dial Bangalore number. I did that, after several attempts was able to talk to executive. Meanwhile they arrange me Rs. 1000/- cash voucher, which I need to use it rather than a cash refund. So I did book a ticket on 25^th Dec, as for 24^th Dec all seats were full. Frankly though they have a diagram of the layout of the bus. I did not able to fully understand the same, but as I want to visit Girnar, I booked a seat thinking it’s a sleeper coach.        

25th Dec 2009        

When the bus came @ Borivali, near national park I realized that it is a sitting seat and not a sleeper, but the bus was really good. The side sleepers are same as railways side berths. I guess, it’s first time that I was travelling with a travel bus. Eagle coach, was the travel’s name.        

26^th Dec 2009        

After reaching to Rajkot, my friend’s brother’s friend (Mr. H.S. Tambe), a Maharashatrian guy picked me from the Rajkot highway. I asked him to drop me at the bus stand so that I can catch bus to Junagadh, but he insisted to come to his home and took me to his room. He also gave me hot water to bath. His wife prepared breakfast (poha) and tea. Frankly I was amazed by their worm welcome to a complete stranger, I was meeting to my friend’sà brother’sà friend. He dropped me @ Rajkot bus stand @ 11.00 am. I reached Junagadh @ 1.30pm. Rather than searching for a “good” hotels, I just went and took a room opposite bus stand  @“Shri Ram Guest House”. Room was Ok type…but for a single it was ok…rent was Rs. 250/- per day. Had lunch @ Patel lunch home just near the bus stand. Did some sleep. I went to roam Junagadh in evening, saw Railway station. I went for dinner to a nearby restaurant Hotel Vishala, the restaurant is @ roof top. Just had dal rice, as I had late lunch. From the trace, I can see mount Girnar’s path because of lights on the way to Girnar. I tried to sleep @ 9.000pm as I want to wake up early.        

27^th Dec 2009        

I never had a sound sleep. I wake up @ 1.00am, 3.00am, 3.30am, 4am. So after 4 am I was practically awake. I got up @ 4.35am, had hot water batch and ready @ 5.30am. I took an auto (Rs. 50/-) to reach the Girnar base. It is 5-7 km from the bus stand. I never negotiated the fare as, time was money for me on that day. To my surprise, there were people in huge numbers to climb Girnar. I was thinking there will not be much people but to my amazement hell lot of people were there. There are lots of Dharamsalas in the near vicinity of Girnar base. I bought a walking stick (Rs 15/-). If you return the stick back, you will get Rs. 10/- back. Started to climb Girnar @ 6.00am. People were in large numbers, families, colleges goers and old people as well. All were climbing just like when a train comes to say thane station and how everybody gets on a dadar and there are 3-4 lanes going upwards and only 1 lane for people coming downwards. Same as thus I was trying to climb the steps of Girnar. @ 8am I reached @ Shri Neminath Temple. As I was wearing a shorts so was not allowed to enter in the temple. (I was aware that in some temples .e.g Gajanan Maharaj Temple Shegoan, shorts are not allowed but somehow I missed that point and took a shorts rather than a slack)  I continued to climb, on the way I visited the place called “Gomukh Ganga”. ( I never tried to know its significance…as in my mind I wanted to reach at the top of Girnar and also in the temple the sadhus were asking me Rs 10/- for a donation, which I particular never liked…I mean I can give my own ,they should not ask people for the same). @ 8.30am I reached “Ambaji Mata” temple. The situation here was, as if there might be a Stampede. I entered the temple and left immediately, after taking a short darshan of Ambaji Mata. The Idol is very good particularly, the eyes of Ambaji Mata. Just after Ambaji mata temple, on the way I saw Shri GorakhNath Temple . On the way at top of the temple @ 9.15 I reached there was horrific blockage of people and no movement for at least 45 minutes. After that one of the guards from the temple came down and arrange the traffic in Single lane and able to reach the temple @ 10.00am. At last I reached @ Shri Dattatraya Temple. I had good darshan of shri Dattaraya Maharaj. While coming back I visited the Akhand Dhuni of Shri Dattatraya. Firstly I thought to take Prasad at the place, but after waiting for ½ hrs my number was in the 2^nd batch of people, so I dropped the plan and started descending the hill. After Ambaji mata temple at one place the situation was worse than morning , again same thing was happening 3 lanes for people descending and only one lane for people ascending. There was huge block and the deadlock was for about ½ hrs. Somehow people again started in proper disciplined manner. I reached the base @ 2.00pm. Took a shared auto (a Tumtum, a 6-8 seater Auto) and reached hotel. So it took almost 8 hrs to visit mouth Girnar.        

                At last my wish to visit Girnar one day was fulfilled by Shir GuruDev Datta Maharaj. I have a spare say tomorrow. Thinking of visiting Somnath, as I was not in that much pain except for both knees were in pain when using stairs to go to guest house. I was able to roam around the city for 20-25 minutes in the evening…lets see. Had Dinner @ Geeta Lodge, which Is near the railway station. Again Gujrathi thali…but unlimited buttermilk and papad and had Khichadi as well.        

Jain Temples

Ambaji Mata Temple

Way to Shri Dattatraya Maharaj Temple

Shri Dattatraya Maharaj Temple