4
riders – 4800kms – The journey to heaven on earth.
Plan is, myself(Chetan), Puneeth and Shushruth, travel from Bangalore to pune, where Avinash will join and we board the train to Jammu from Pune.
On 22nd june Friday night at 9 we boarded bus from Bangalore to pune.
Pune : 24th June 2012
Today was one of the beautiful days....
It’s drizzling outside, weather is cool, humid.... Thanks to Rakshith for
dropping us to railway station in his car. He left dropping us there back home.
Shivaprasad and Ashwath Prabhu, Avi friends were with us to wish us happy
journey. Standing outside the station with all luggage pile up, Puneeth and Avi
went inside the station to verify about the train and tickets which were still
in waiting list(1,2,3,4 position in WL). We went to platform and saw our train
already standing in platform 1. We ran towards 2AC bogey and searched for our
names, we were mentioned as ABSENT!!!. Enquired with the station master if we
have any chance of getting tickets confirmed and he told not possible as the
chart is already prepared and confirmed. That moment we realized that the
Jhelum Express is one of the busiest trains in the country. The time was
nearing us when the hope-full turned hope-less!. Thinking to go in general
compartment, oops to cover 40hours journey in general compartment would be
really a bad idea ! We were suggested with an idea of starting travel in
general compartment and later check with the TC if any seats are available in
sleeper or higher categories. Later, once saw the amount of luggage we had.
Decision was not to accept this suggestion but to think of something else.
After getting dejected not getting seats confirmed :-( thought of plan B to Z
which included traveling in buses, flight(fare was 3 times more than 2AC train
fares :-o), taxi and etc... Confused and finally booked one more ticket on the
same keeping faith in God.... And lastly very happy to see the
seats are confirmed with help of some friends in railways ;) Its 2 AC
37,38,39,40.
Day 1 Jammu,
26th June
Reached Jammu safely, comfortably Enjoyed very much. Saw
so many stations like chambal, Agra, Mathura and Delhi
which we were crossing for first time. Food was pretty good, met the almost
expectations of a metropolitan corporate!!! Kudos to Indian Railway for giving
so many people jobs... People clean both inside and outside train when
stopped... Amazing to see so many people work with dedication.
Somehow managed to convince where we
need to go with the taxi driver and landed in GATI Jammu. Pretty co-operative
like before. One of the bikes had some minor damages on its cosmetic part and I
had my front tyre flattened, fixed up quickly and we are ready to roll.
Not able to withstand the heat at
Jammu added to that the thick riding gear what we were wearing , made
people to stare at us thinking "kyon ye pagal log , ithini garmi par
ithana jackets pehana hai" The heat which we are facing after 40
hours of journey in controlled envt was horrible to withstand .!!!
both us and bikes were very hungry!!! :-P filled bikes with full tank petrol
and entered a Punjabi dhaba.... Authentic taste of punjabi thali ,
enjoyed to the heart....
Started the journey and after 20 kms
when Shushruth was down coz of the temperature!!! Later even puneeth was
feeling a little out of energy ,gave a pretty big stop in the next petrol bunk
and after recovering started once again with a vision to reach
atleast anathnag... I told it was our vision.....!!! ;-) roads were good but
the scenery was the best if my life (still more, better to come....I know!!!)
Enjoyed the curves road of the valley.
Some agitation were present on the
way coz of Amarnath yatra which happens every year at this time. We were
checked by the police twice or thrice but when we told our plans, they were
convinced that we are not going to create any problems and were allowed to ride
further....!!! Got an opportunity to talk to real heroes who fights for
country....!!!
So many military barracks, hoardings which
shows the patriotism that should be present in an army personnel (ofcourse
every Indian should have possess these qualities) saw those old phirangis,
tanks, missile launchers(WOW)....
Came across the Jawahar tunnel, which is 2
and half kms and I saw tunnel for the first time, was fun riding inside the
Tunnel.
Reached panitop
it was getting dusk, we were having talks on where to stay tonight, favorites
were Ananthnag or any place before it...!!! It would be very late if we have to
reach srinagar and therefore planned to have
dinner in Ramban...A small town on the way to Srinagar,
Later decided to stay here itself which is 130 kms away from srinagar to avoid night ride and take rest.
:-)
Could not cover much just 173kms at
the end of the day. In hotel met 4 bulleters from Rajasthan surprisingly one
guy by name santosh was from Karnataka, he explained few road conditions in leh
region. ended the day at 11 30pm, hitting bed dreaming about next day :)
Day 2: Ramban to Srinagar June 27th
Started early in the morning as decided, Dawn looks so beautiful
in these part of India, I was awestruck looking at the rivers which flow in the
Valleys surrounding with lush green, lots of coniferous trees, Chenab river
which flows in the valley had little water,it is the starting of monsoon..!!
Loved the
corners from Ramban to ananthnag, roads are pretty good some potholes and bad
patches here and there, We already had got news of the curfew that was declared
in Srinagar due to some agitation happened the last day,it was said that a mosque
was on fire so some agitation. Took many photography stops and came across few
security check-posts providing security for the very famous yearly Amarnatha
yathra tourists,
Welcome to paradise on earth : Kashmir valley
Another photo break
Came across breath taking views of the beautiful
valley lush green and at a distant we can see the snowcapped mountains.
The bridge on the way to srinagar
Titanic view point
First view of Snow capped mountains
Reached Srinagar by 12 pm and did some inquiry
about Gulmarg and Sonamarg, everyone there said Gulmarg was not a worth
visiting, so we decided to drop Gulmarg, Now the confusion in where to stay as
it was all band in srinagar, thanks to that man who met us near the entrance of
Srinagar....!!! He told us about the boat house which made Me and Shishu curious
about and decided to stay in boat house. He quoted 1500 per room which is the
cheapest of all kind of room, and pretty good, Never mind we have come to enjoy
holidays
Our boat house.
Discussed about what we can do in Srinagar with the boat house owner
and he offered a package which included all the local sightseeing incising Dal
lake and other floating garden, market etc. it was 3 30 by the time we had lunch
and decided to dump lugages at boat house and went to look around.
We visited
Shankar mutt which is one of 3 famous Shiva temple which were erected by
shankaracharya himself who went walking from his birth place kaladi to
Amarnath....!!!
From the
top Srinagar looks so picturesque, the city is so well designed that the river
flows everywhere inside the city.
The Floating market view from temple.
Then we went to mughal gardens(i can say it is a
no compare to our Bengaluru's Lalbagh), clicked photos of flowers, birds,
candid photography of people around ,believe me girls of that locality look very
pretty ;)
saw sunset at Dal lake, many shikara’s were floating on the lake an
amazing view of floating market and the plain water of Dal lake and colored
fountains.
Shikara at Dal lake
Shikara at Dal lake
Sunset at Dal Lake
Did some shopping of
famous kashmiri silk sarees, sweaters at Silk emporium,
and day 2 concludes with dinner at boat house.
Just amazed!!!
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