Weekend visit to Aligarh & way back to Delhi & immediate plan to go back home for some days :)

Our friend Anuj from Aligarh became father in February and from then we guys were planning to visit him and pay our respect to his family and love to daughter - Gauri.. :) Sooo - we started from Delhi late  morning by Devashish's car and it was near around 3 hours journey..

 

It took us 30km to reach Yamuna expressway.. :)

Time for Tea break.. :)

And then rains started and it was awesome to have it in summers.. but the roads were not prepared for the season.. welll will show you more such things when actual rainy season would start.. :)

Finally, we reached at Aligarh's place and had this complete family picture.. :) :)

After that we had our night spend there and then we were back to New Delhi and I found my time to see some beautiful places in Delhi..

India Gate :)

I have been at Jantar Mantar aswell and there was the strike by Auto Rickshaw drivers.. and there I saw this interesting cap by one of the driver which in english means *I AM A COMMON MAN* and they were fighting against the inflation, to hike the rickshaw fares and other things..

Finally, I thought of going through metro rails to meet my friend Ankit.,

 I reached at the destination and was waiting for him ..

And then he took me to the world of MUKHERJEE NAGAR .. :) .. It is a colony which is famous in India for the preparation of Public Services examination for jobs in Indian Government.. ;)

Ankit sits at the reception of one of the coaching and side by side preparing for examination by himself..

Then he gave me the walk tour of the colony.. CAN YOU SEE THAT ALL THE BUILDINGS ARE COVERED WITH HOARDINGS & BANNERS OF COACHING CLASSES????? It was absolutely interesting and different experience.. ;)

It was really great learning .. thousands of students who are aspirants of so many central and state government examinations with the hope of getting through in either of 3 attempts were roaming all where.. its a different world.. absolutely different ambience.. :)

Finally, I said him good-bye and it was really nice meeting him after 6 years.. :) the same evening I decided to go to Nagda to meet my father. He was not keeping well from couple of days - experiencing chest pain and problems with blood pressure.. And then I chose the rails.. :)

Among all Nagadians (people from Nagda) these chimneys give a significant adrenaline rush since seeing them makes you that - Yes you are at home now.. :) Nagda has Grasim Industries - I believe it is the largest producer of Viscose in Asia and my father is working in it from past 35 years and more.. Nagda is my birth-place aswell and I just love coming home.. although we made our new home in Indore which is 120 km away from here but still my heart stays in Nagda.. :)

Finally, I can see the station ... :)

And my dad came to receive me at station.. its like many years never-broken tradition.. Not a single I remember if he has not come to receive me.. ;) I am still his prince.. :) My Mom was also coming here from Indore..

And finally, I spent my few days relaxing at home with him, bothering about nothing.. resting on sofa,, watching TV.. :) then I have been to Indore to meet my brother and Sister-in-law and my lovely niece.. and will update about it in my next blog.. :) 

Keep Reading! :)

A Short Trip to Rajasthan & Holi in New Delhi :)

After reaching New Delhi, I completed my resolution of completing Golden Rectangle Road which I started from Bangalore 12 days before reaching here.. :) Met many people on my way - few known and many unknown :) It was around 3500km in 12 days & I touched 8 states and 1 union territory :)

So I started my journey from New Dehi to Jaipur, Rajasthan next day and the route is via Gurgaon, then Manesar.. there on Jaipur will be there on almost all coming milestones..

Finally I entered Rajasthan..

And just few kilometers before Jaipur, I saw this interesting lorry carrying Elephant.. I guess that Elephant was not enjoying it,,

Welcomed to Pink City - Jaipur..

Pink City is like enclosed locality or area having couple of gates of the kind I captured below and entire city in this part is painted in Pink.. :)

I was staying at Mr. & Mrs. Jain's place - locals out there and they took great care of me.. I had had good memories, delicious food and get-together with many of their friends and family and that gave me the gist of Rajasthani hospitality.. :) They guide me across the entire Pink City and other parts of Jaipur and told me interesting stories and legends about the places - must recommend place.. :)

Famous Hawa Mahal :)

Albert Hall..

Aunty & Uncle! :)

famous Birla-mandir..

Also, I met our old family friend, Joshi family who moved to Jaipur couple of years back and it was really nice to recall those old days :)

Next day, I have planned to leave Jaipur and reach New Delhi because a day after that I had planned to celebrate HOLI - the festival of colors with my friend Devashish and his family.. :)

So, with heavy heart, I said good-bye to my adorable hosts of Jaipur and started my journey..

Famous Jal-Mahal was on my way..

Interesting Careers of Elephants and Camels is a common scene through out the city..

View of Amer Fort from the highway - pretty grand ..

And last but not the least, this is the paper cutting of the article that covered my interview in Chirkunda :P .. Its in Hindi & its actually the summary of my trip..

And finally, after driving 250km I reached New Delhi at my friend Devashish's place and was excited for Holi to come next day..

It was around 11 in morning, all his cousins and other family members shown up and then till evening we were playing holi ... firstly it was all with dry colors,, pink, yellow, blue, red, green, black, violet colors all over us and in the air.. varieties of sweets were prepared and finally, we went on for city sightseeing,, almost dead tired till then.. took bath but still some color was tough to take off but who cares that much.. both of us slept and it was really nice day I had.. :)

Me & Deva :)

With Deva's cousin Sunny..

And entire family, dancing and coloring each other.. :) :)

Small kids hiding in their homes and few behind the cars with filled balloons of water and color throwing at people passing by and I saved myself from couple of hits.. :P About Holi, as per the legends, people forgive bitterness and spread love - you should not get angry if some stranger come in and start coloring you in descent way.. ;) Welll - I tried to behave atleast.. :)

Nice memories... Next I am going Aligarh - a city in state of Uttar Pradesh to meet my friend Anuj (one more Anuj) and his family,, he become father of little angel in february and being very close friend of mine and Deva .. we thought of paying our visit to him .. and then some more surfing in New Delhi.. :)

 Keep reading further.. :)

All About Uttar Pradesh - Part 1

After Bihar, I entered State of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). I chose 3 stops in this State for my this visit starting from Varanasi (also Called Banaras) to Kanpur to Agra (Taj Mahal city) and then leave to Delhi..

As said, I was excited to meet Valentyna., She already has done hotel reservation for me,, She was touring this city with her acquaintance from Norway whose name I couldnt recall but was an interesting guy,.. :)

So, the plan for the next day was to wake up early morning at 05.00 and go for Boat trip in Ganges across the Ghats of Varanasi (also called Kashi) .. Here we go! :)

I have pretty less words to explain the divine beauty.,. :)

Below are the Ghats - the place near to river meant for worshipping (at this place)

Calm Ganges River.. it is actually very dirty at this point since all the devotees drop the flowers and other crappy things in water and the Municipality doesnt clean it so well.. hence its really think-twice thing to take bath here..

Sun is not up yet.. and we are waiting.. :)

And here is Valentyna.. :) Russian from Norway ;)

Can see a hazy view of Sun rise but still not clear.. we are waiting.. :)

Here is the Sun.. ;)

Hindu Priests (called Yogis) are doing Yoga and at this moment the most famous Yoga Aasana is "Surya Namaskar"

Beautiful Ghats - only beautiful when you see it from distance.. but as you go close or take a walk on them -- I really really feel sorry to say that - it is really MESS.. it can be damn beautiful if kept clean but NO .. it is not.. its unhygienic aswell..

Well whatever - that moment was beautiful.. :)

And our man wished to drive the boat... ;)

Colorful temples on the Ghat all over.. :)

Devotees worshiping Sun in holy Ganges.. :)

And this boat is full of Singers singing religious songs.. :) it was harmonious.. :)

Then we stepped out of boat and I chose to go through steep pathways ..

Bull staring my Bull :)

And time to pose myself ;)

Then after breakfast, we all thought of taking walk on the Ghats aswell as on streets..

Most of the clothes are dried on the Ghats..

And finally I found fish flowing in .. ;)

Some snaps of Saints.. Well of not that holy kind.. I took his picture and he asked me money for Tea .. woof!

These special tents also contains different Sadhu (Saints) who asked me to give 100 Indian Rupees to take 1 picture of them.. Sorry - not interested! :)

Washer-man on his way back ;)

Now you may understand how much hot it was outside.. ;)

Finally it was done with all tour we planned and then I have to go to Kanpur and Agra and Valentyna had planned for New Delhi.. We said Good-bye and it was really really nice to meet her here in India which we have never thought before.. ;)

And I reached Kanpur in the evening.. :)

There is nothing I found interesting to watch in Kanpur and so I decided to leave for Agra next day.. In Uttar Pradesh, politics in very much deep till roots of the society.. I really want to know how far I was from my destination but found this political banner of some party is over the Information Board,, :P

My bike's behind wheel's sprocket broke down at Etawah so I got it repaired from local mechanic and it was quick to do ;) .. this place is famous for preparing building bricks and fire bricks., and among the State people it is home-town of State's powerful minister Mulayam Singh Yadav..

Finally, I reached Agra and found a good place to stay and was very excited to see Taj Mahal next day but my plan got scrapped since the next day was Friday and it is closed due to that.. DAMN! and I can not stay one more day here since I promised my norwegian buddy Torbjorn to meet him next day evening.. but at that moment I wasnt upset at all.. I just asked the locals that I am not interested in seeing Taj Mahal from inside but just want to have its view and they shown me MEHTAB BAGH route.. :)

This is Agra Fort on my way - Incredible :)

 And this was my first view of Taj Mahal .. I just stopped and got it on the background of my machine.. :P

The Taj Mahal :) Its the back-side.. but I wasn't complaining and was satisfied.. ;)

And then I started driving towards New Delhi and I chose Yamuna Expressway.. Locals recommended me about this strongly and I must say that this highway stands on its expectations.. :)

Welcome to Yamuna Expressway :)

And no speed for motorbikes :P (Atleast not mentioned on the sign-boards :D )

And it was smooooooth road all way but I have a complain.. this journey of 2 hours I didnt enjoy much since I missed the CHARACTER on this highway which I am striving to observe in all my trip.. :)

This highway is systematic and well made but for the bikers like me - it was BORING journey.. and I paid total Toll cost of 150 INR

And Finally I entered Noida which is on the border to Delhi and thats how my journey across UP ends here on this route.. ;)

I kept my bag at my friend Devashish's home, rushed to Metro station and somehow managed to reach Dwarka where Torbjorn was staying at.. We both were very happy and amazed to see each other again.. He has been part of my Coffee Group for sometime and then I left Norway but it was enough to gell up.. :) Devashish came to his hotel and after dinner we all left to hang around across the streets of Delhi.. ;)

And next morning I decided to go to Jaipur - capital city of Rajasthan.. also called Pink City and had thought of staying there over weekend with Mr. & Mrs. Jain :)