Phoenix city, because in history of India it is the only city to be rebuilt at least 7 times from nothing more than ashes. Each time to regain its dignity and status as before or even rise better than before.
The city which boasts itself to have remained capital of several ages and of largest democracy in the world today. Geographically if you see the map, it represent itself almost as heart of India. You can read all that elsewhere, now let me start my travel experience to Delhi from my perspective.
Briefing.
So after lot of planing and post planning finally I was really going to Delhi along with Navneet.
I now a days keep going places as and when feasible. But for Delhi there were other reasons as well. I had this feeling of meeting Harpreet and Girish.
Harpreet (Sardar) is a schoolmate with lot of memories. We had been knowing each other for last 17 years minimum. It will take another life time remembering all that we have done together. So in short, kind of chaddi dost.
Girish is a college-mate. The Genius behind our little computer skills. He is the one who injected the KIDA(insect) of computers in me. In short the semi rich, uncorrupted, down to earth and within limits guy (Only few understand the last).
Harpreet (Sardar) is a schoolmate with lot of memories. We had been knowing each other for last 17 years minimum. It will take another life time remembering all that we have done together. So in short, kind of chaddi dost.
Girish is a college-mate. The Genius behind our little computer skills. He is the one who injected the KIDA(insect) of computers in me. In short the semi rich, uncorrupted, down to earth and within limits guy (Only few understand the last).
So the itinerary was very straight forward. Reach Delhi, stay at Harpreet's place, do sight seeing in Delhi, meet Girish and may be take him along and then back to Pune.
Day 1: Journey till Delhi
We started on 5th evening. Neither me nor Navneet had ever travelled by Rajdhani Express(Said to be prestigious Rail service in India). As the name suggest (Rajdhani meaning Capital) all the Rajdhani services start from Delhi to many parts of India and back. So we decided to take Rajdhani this time. We took the Rajdhani which was coming from Trivanantpuram via Panvel to Delhi as it suited our time. Now we had to reach Panvel (outer Mumbai) as trains coming from South usually don't go to main Mumbai but skip it from outskirts. From Pune there is very few trains and buses connecting Panvel directly, so we had to take bus service for Mumbai. There is a place called 'Kadamboli' on route to Mumbai. You can get down there and if you have luggage take an auto. It should cost somewhere 60-80 bucks depending upon time. Else you can come some 500 mts backwards till you find the highway(ask the Paan tapari wala) and take shared
auto for just 5 bucks per head. Auto will drop you to Panvel bus stop. From there you can walk to station which is again 500 mtrs. So if you have luggage try to get direct bus to Panvel or Auto from Kadamboli.
Travel by Rajdhani was smooth and fast. From Panvel till Delhi it had only 5 stops. We traveled by the cheapest class i.e. 3 tier. For better there as very less crowd, almost 60% empty. Food is free or should I say is included in the fare. You can get beer and may be other drinks as well (we had no idea and so we had our dinner before). You should use the facility to fullest, because at the end the catering staff may ask for tip for the service. So better ask them whatever you need and then in the end give good tip to the guy. All happy.
Day 2: Delhi - First impression
We got down at Nizamudin station.
First thing that came to my mind was its not different. Then I realised that its capital of India and hence must not feel different to anyone. It represents India.
Day 2: Journey to friends place.
Next thing we faced was pathetic public transport. Transportation system in Delhi is much poorer than that of Pune or Maharashtra, at least that was my experience. I feel public transport is poorer in Northern India and better as we go towards south. It took us nearly 30 mins to find the bus stand for Gurgaon. It was not that difficult but due to misleading by Harpreet we were trying to find the bus which goes to a specific location in Gurgaon so it took time and finally we took the bus which goes to more common stop in Gurgaon. Then the bus did not start for next 1 hr. We kept sitting and getting used to the heat of Delhi. It was a private bus and as always it will start only after its full to last seat. If you happen to get stuck in same situation, try finding the government buses, they at least don't keep you waiting. But its hard for first timers.
This is real incident. We were waiting in the bus and suddenly a government bus for Gurgaon came. Immediately the driver of our bus came and started the bus. Then he moved slowly and just circled the bus stop (which is big) and came back and stopped again. By this time the government bus had gone. He had fooled everyone seated. But nobody seemed to complaint. I guess most of us were new or had understood its no use to fight. After another 15 mins the bus actually started.
Roads that connect Delhi to outskirts like Noida or Gurgaon are biggest I have ever seen.Some 8 lanes. Still it seemed not enough to support the traffic of Delhi. It took us around 45 mins to reach Gurgaon which was quite good seeing the traffic. We took the link road and hence were able to skip most of the traffic. We got down at IFCKO chowk just before Gurgaon. Harpreet came there and then we went to his place in the Air force station in outskirts of Gurgaon. We did triple seat and at Rajiv chowk some half km before Air force station, we got flat tyre. Really eventful journey from Nizamudin to his place.
Day 3: Lal Killa
Lal Killa. A monument with only a great front elevation. Nothing inside is great other than its history. Its managed well but not greatly. We happened to visit it very near the Independence day and hence it was cleaner. Today was the last day before it closed completely for independence day celebrations.
This day I will remember always, as never before we felt so tired by the summer heat in just few hours of travel. We started our day with almost 1km walk in hottest sun we had faced in many years. Reason was bike had got punctured last night. Then again we waited for rickshaw in sun for 15 mins. Finally for the bus for another 10 mins at Rajiv Chowk. Then after lot of sweating and almost 1 hr we finally reached Canaught Place with help of a bus and then auto rickshaw.
Lal Killa is situated exactly in the middle of city. There so much traffic and rush all around it that it feels very sad that government did not do anything for such a great symbol of city to keep the place congestion free and peaceful similar to India gate, Qutub Minar and others. If anyone knows Shaniwar Wada in Pune, its exactly similarly located. There is nothing to cool yourself down in Lal Killa. It was so hot that once inside Lal Killa we just sat under a tree and no one said a single word for long. I don't know words to explain our condition. Some how lazily we roamed around Canaught place, drank good lassi, then Palika bazzar but none of us was thinking anything. So I don't remember anything of all that I saw or felt. We finally took the Metro till some place I forgot and then bus to Gurgoan, that's it.
Metro I will say I was impressed. Its beautifully managed and works like charm. Seriously above par International standards. Even Mumbai Airport(Only the one I have seen) does not seem to work that efficiently but still such comparison are subjective to time.
Day 4: Girish. India-Gate, 10 Janpath, Rastrapati Bhavan, Qutub Minar.
The best day of the tour. Best part was that Girish was with us and he had car with AC. Now this part of Delhi you will not want to miss. Its the real capital inside such big city. India's future, development everything is controlled from this place. It is the greenest part of Delhi I visited. Trees on both side of roads. Less traffic. Very clean.
Rashtrpati bhavan was not open when we visited. It opens in winter for the public when Mugal garden there blossoms. Still the view from Rashtrapati bhavan to India gate and vice versa are awesome. They are in straight line some 1-2 Km apart. We were not allowed to stay for long. Girish had to keep moving his car as stopping a car is not allowed. We saw lots of media car-vans there, just to make these places as backdrop for any news telecast.
Qutub Minar is the best historical place of the one I visited. Its closed for going inside. You can just roam around it and immerse in its elevational and historical beauty. You can spend good time there. Lot of things to read and think.
On way back home we visited Pind Balluci restaurant in Gurgaon. Spent some 3 hrs there drinking and chatting about old days. That day we knew few more secrets about each other. It was fun and great time. We were so relaxed. Now when we reached Harpreet's place, because he was not feeling hungry he said that we had eaten without understanding our condition. It took us by shock. But now what, we had to sleep half empty stomach.
Day 5: Akshardham (means a holy place which is invincible or indestructible)
Again we had Girish and his car with us to make it possible to visit this place. Located some where towards Noida from Delhi, it can be seen from the new Metro line coming up. At time we visited its the only thing in some 2 km square area.
Architecturally its a magnificent structure. Its very huge, has lots of hand crafted sculpture. Must visit just to see it from outside. Sad thing is they don't allow you to take anything with you inside. You can't take camera is the worst part. Lots of security check. Good thing at least it has a canteen inside. Lots of inspirational thoughts and structures. Great garden. Good time will be evening. Its open till 8 pm or even late I don't remember.
Idea of it I did not like. They say its an open temple idea but at each step they are trying to promote their own idea. They promote their guru as the one. They promote their way of living. Its funded by some community, did not try to find out who. But similar to Art of Living etc. Do not take the cultural tour they offer inside. It just tells you life of their GURU and tries to convince you to donate. One part of it was boat ride that's only best part, but still not worth unless you have kids with you who have no idea of India's history.
While back home we again went to same restaurant but this time only for cheaper beer during happy hours. Sat for some 2-3 hrs and then went for dinner. On way we wanted to buy some masks for scare of swine flu back in Pune. Now Girish was in full mood. He was shouting on everything. When we went to medical store he started shouting don't be shy, ask for what you want. Be a man. I guess you got what he was meaning at that time, but it surely scared the assistant there. Again don't remember the name of restaurant for dinner but food was really good and I had it twice the size of my stomach. Beer seemed to have increased the appetite. Finally good night of sleep.
Day 6: Train back to Pune:
Nothing done on this day. Just left Harpreet's place at around 12 and had our train Goa Express at 3 pm again from Nizammudin. Journey till railway station was smooth this time. Train was full but not crowded.
Day 7: Pune again
So we were back in Pune. There was this Swine flu(H1N1) scare at its peak in Pune. We had to wear masks all the way till home. It was so suffocating I decided not to wear it more.
Conclusion:
Three days are very few to see any place. You may be able to just go places, have your snap taken with the great and not so great monuments in backdrop. But the real value in seeing a place is when you learn and understand the culture and its history, try local food and feel environment. Take local transport, see not only great places to visit, but even the small unknown places and markets. Just wander for couple of days. Then only you feel you have seen a place and are confident to go again even alone. First thing is that you must choose the best time to visit a place. For Delhi you must go in early November or early march. In summer Delhi is too hot to be visited.
Thing to note is that in DTDC buses you have to go to conductor to buy ticket. He will not move from his seat.
Must see places:
Best place: 10 JanPath, India gate and Rastrapati Bhavan
Best place as per historical value: Qutib Minar
Keep travelling.... :)
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