Chardham Yatra 2016 - In a nutshell

I must have been 12 or 13 when my parents went on a pilgrimage to Badrinath. My mother was very good at describing places and events. One thing that stood out in my memory, from her raving, all these years is the magnificence and grandeur of Himalayas. She said one must experience them first hand to know it, atleast once in a life time.

I do not know why I never seriously planned to go there all this while. Finally when I wanted to make this trip with my nephew, he was too caught up with his admissions etc. And next year the disaster of landslides at Kedarnath happened. I was not sure if the place was ready for pilgrims in 2014 and 2015. 

Along with a friend of mine from Hyderabad and my cousin’s husband from Singrowli, I had been on a pilgrimage to the famous Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, in the month of May’16, finally. Wished I had dared earlier. I guess everything happens in its time and place!

 The tour started from Rishikesh and ended in Rishikesh. If you are a group of four or more, you can hire a vehicle and plan your trip accordingly. Since my friend and I were the only ones mad enough or passionate enough to undertake this journey this year and in the month of may (initially), we decided to book ourselves into a package tour. After extensive research on the net for tour packages to Himalayas including Badrinath (that was important to me), I had decided on Chardham Yatra package from Utharakhand Tourism Dept. Though it did not include some of the places I wanted to see, it seemed like a good package.

It was a 10 day road trip, starting every wednesday, with night halts at Phoolchatti, Harsil, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Gaurikund, Gauchar, Badrinath, and Kaleswar. Transport, 2x2 non-AC bus, double sharing accommodation in Tourist Rest houses of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, Uttarakhand, a guide who travelled with us in the bus, were a great incentive. The package cost only Rs.15380 per head (food not included), I felt was a very good deal. 

I must say after the trip, that GMVN truly delivered on all their promises and some more. We had a fabulous time, saw all those great places, had good company in the bus, no mishaps or accidents, we did not get caught in forest fires and landslides, a truly memorable time we all had. Night halt by 5.30 pm, very responsible driving, and able guidance made the journey very safe for young and elderly too.

We had very good experience traveling with GMVN, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam limited, as they their Tourist Rest houses have the best locations and views, the rooms are big and airy, the food (on order) is good, friendly and very helpful guide on the bus, very safe driving, all arrangements done well in advance, very reasonable package cost, Himalayas thrown in for good measure, heaven on earth kind of views ... what more can I ask? Nothing at all!

Journey on Rajdhani Express from Secunderabad to New Delhi

It was my journey on Rajdhani Express. Though the train / route has been around for several years, I always wen on the old faithful AP express, whenever I went to New Delhi.

Actually it my friend who suggested it. She thought instead of traveling by the boring AP Express, why not take the grand Rajdhani. The added attraction was the food on the train. 2nd AC ticket cost about Rs.100 more than economy airfare,that time. We felt it was a alright as we wanted to EXPERIENCE this particular train journey!

And how our hopes and expectations came crashing down (!!!!); we came to know only 24 hrs. later!!! It is a lesson learnt and will be implemented every time in the future.

  

 

I appreciate all things clean and beautiful. At 6.30 in the morning, Secunderabad Railway Station is clean and sparkling. I have seen a few railway stations in this country. Secunderabad station is still in the top 3.  

Rajdhani which is always on time, came half hour late to the platform. Never mind that, we were in a jubilant mood and got inside and settled down for  luxurious journey. For once I didn't have to cook several meals / pack snacks for a train journey! What a treat!

You can imagine, if we were in the station by 6.30 am, we must have left the house at 6 am; must have been ready by 5.30 am; must have got up by 4.30 am latest, if we didn't want to miss the train?

Yes, I got up around 4 am. and was at the station and waited a half hour extra. You know what I am driving at? No? Hunger!!!

No coffee or tea until breakfast time which was 1 hour later. Ok, we told ourselves, we will wait and not start eating our dry snacks and spoil our appetite for the delicious morning meal!

Finally it arrives at 9.30 am. And  all the food items were packed in aluminum foil separately. Gave2 slices of toast. Can you believe it? The quantities were so less, it was enough for a child!

The mid morning drink was a packaged Nimbooz masala soda. Come on, Indian railways can do better than that .... 

There was no sense of cleanliness or hygiene. Didn't expect the cartons of food to be kept on the floor of the passage. The lunch started off with Soup with a couple of bread sticks and a pack of butter. Lunch and dinner were identical. In fact veg and non-veg meals were identical except chicken in the place of kofta in the same gravy. Everything tasteless, lacking in imagination or care, meager quantities!

Coming to the journey itself, the rest of the occupants in our compartment were a small family of husband and wife and two young kids. The elder one was a girl of 6, who was very quiet and well behaved. the younger one was a boy of about 3 years. He was hyper, whiny and crying all the time. Nothing would pleas him for more than 2 min. The mother was fed up doing nothing, and father had to bear the brunt of her complaining and criticism. They didnot know I understood their language, or they would not have been so vocal about their displeasure with each other; or, may not! Couples!!!!

A ray of hope for the railways is always some of their staff, who tirelessly serve the most difficult passengers too with a smile. We were lucky to have the privilege of meeting one such wonderful person.  

 

The toilets were same as on any other train. Only difference here is the two Indian WCs on one side of the bogey! The faucets in one toilet was at the back of the wc. How anyone can reach and use it is anybody's guess. Is it so difficult to get the basics right, I sometimes wonder!
The last straw was the destination station, ie. Nizamuddin railway station, jam packed, filthy, over crowded, hot .......



All in all, it was not such an enjoyable journey, with sub standard food and service, and the ticket fare being so expensive. My first and last journey in this train. 
But you can make up your mind.