Took family to a off-beat hill station of Uttarakhand, Hathipaon (translated in English as Elephant foot). Not sure why this name is given to that place, but the hill station is beautiful and very peaceful. Few pics which I have captured of this trip.
Dusk over Doon Valley (Dehradun)
Family grouping
Family grouping
Family grouping
Aashi
Ishu
Anshu
Anshu
Anshu
Anshu
Anshu
Went to cover a cycling event organised by Saksham Pedal Delhi (http://www.sakshampedaldelhi.com/) with Delhi Cyclists group … captured few photos of morning mood
Girls cycling towards India Gate
Joggers at Rajpath
Cyclists returning towards JLN Stadium from India Gate
Though they disrupt traffic a bit, but I have found them photogenic.
Noticed few herds of cattle came all the way from Rajasthan for grazing abundantly available grass in Delhi NCR region.
I was out to eat Daal Fry and Butter Roti in a Dhaba, thought that we both were more or less searching for same opportunity… better food 🙂
An owner with his cattle herd
An owner with his cattle herd
An owner with his cattle herd
An owner with his cattle herd
Garhwa fort is located in town Shankargarh, approximately 50 KM south to Allahabad. It was built in year 1750, but it has few remains of structures of Gupta dynasty (240-605 CE).
“I think stones have a lot more experience than any living being, you just need to sit with them and have your ears open to listen the tales.”
A ruin of temple in Garhwa fort
A ruin of temple in Garhwa fort
A ruin of temple in Garhwa fort
I am in my hometown to attend a ceremony organised post death of a relative. He was old and on bed for sometime, died peacefully.
Dr. Sharad drove me to Sangam… there are a lot of stories happening at that place even after Maagh Mela is over. Tried capturing those stories –
A Cucumber seller
A barber shop under a tree
Papaya vendor and makeshift shops in backdrop
Off season struggle and stress, little or no tourists. Difficult months till January 2019
A pilgrim, all the way from Karnataka
A boy with baby Python
Two girls posing as goddess
Managing, organizing and planning, this is what I do the entire year whatever I do, but for our yearly ritual I do not do this at all. Unplanned travel creates a lot of breathing space and gives me time to enjoy the trip rather than worrying about hotel booking or fooding.
We stayed in a good hotel at Shahdol on first night of this trip and after dinning Dr Sharad came up with idea of Visiting holy city of Amarkantak (Amakantak is know for origin of river Narmada) before reaching Kanha our final destination. As nothing was planned and there was no intention to create any plan, we all agreed . Dr Sharad got body massage done and brother BK got my car washed, we took all luxuries before hitting the road at 11:00 AM next morning. Trust me I was not worried about reaching Kanha before evening.
BK on a bike hijacked from kids of some village on the way to Amarkantak 😀
Dr Sharad in light mood
Old temple complex, Amarkantak
A priest heading for evening prayers, Old temple complex, Amarkantak
BK and Dr Sharad, Old temple complex, Amarkantak
Old temple complex, Amarkantak
After Amarkantak, BK took the driving seat and I was given responsibility of checking accommodation in Kanha tiger reserve.
I have a confession to make, ruins give me a delight which a luxury hotel can not give. I love sitting at a corner of such building, imagine and dream its magnificent and glorious past. They have a tale, a riddle, a story hidden inside them. I found myself a explorer and an inspirer to solve that riddle 😛
When I suggest visiting Govindgarh palace and staying in a resort nearby, both brother BK and Sharad resisted. They won when I failed to book a room in the resort nearby, but we took a brief stop on the way to wonder in that ruin. Govindgarh was not in the middle of destination (Kanha tiger reserve), so we decided to move on stayed in Shahdol in the night of 25th December. Posting few photos of our brief stop at that palace.
Front of Govindgarh palace
A chariot use to pulled by elephants
A compound for royal family entertainment
Ruins of Govindgarh palace
Ruins of Govindgarh palace
Ruins of Govindgarh palace
Ruins of Govindgarh palace
