This is in response to Sadje’s Weekly Photo Prompts on #Whatdoyousee.
Life is a strange thing. At times all your well thought out proposals and plans come to naught and on others you are showered with what you had never thought of or imagined.
Living in Kolkata, a yearly outing with uncles and aunts was a ritual. I loved travelling then. Every year before the festive vacations me and my uncle (father’s youngest brother and my local guardian) would meticulously make plans which places to visit. That is how I came to tour the outskirts of the City of Joy – Digha – the seaside resort, Church at Bandel and Hangsheshwari Temple at Banshbedia, Tata Steel Plant at Jamshedpur.
But there were many more which were dreamt of but did not fructify. The hill station of Darjeeling, of course via the nestling-amidst-clouds-Kalimpong. The toy train rides in Darjeeling and the mesmeric sunrise at Tiger Hills in Ghoom.
My paternal aunt who had been lucky to visit these places gushed,”Oh! It’s absolutely enthralling! As the peaks get imbued with the rays of the rising sun, one by one, the different shades splashed over the hills will leave you speechless. Only jeeps can go up the steep path. You’ll have to hire one…. There’s a particular time to experience the colours…Our jeep came very early. 04.00 am sharp is the time to reach to see Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga lit up from Tiger Hills, of course, in good weather…. You know, I can’t bear the trip uphill. But the driver was very good. He said, Mayi don’t be afraid. I will take you safely there.” Travel tales which ignited my imagination to no end.
“This time Puri’s a must,” said uncle. But you get a darshan of Lord Jagannath only when He calls you!! So Puri, with its rough sea and a Holiday Home located right next to the beach remained a dream only.
Darjeeling to Kolkata is merely 644 Km. by road around fourteen and a half hour journey. One can go by train as well. Kalimpong is on the way. Kolkata to Puri is just 449 Km. by road and a six hour journey by Vande Bharat (train). Shantiniketan, famous for Tagore’s Vishwa Bharati (University), is 164 Km. by road. We could have caught the train from the station right at the back of our house. Father used to attend the Vasant Utsav regularly at Kavi Guru’s. Yet…
Back in Delhi in the office we colleagues made plans so many times of visiting the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya during lunch break. It was that close. But never could. Even recently, the plans are still being made … One of my co-passengers in Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express had once told me it is a must to visit Nizamuddin first if you are going to Ajmer Sharif. From my office to the Dargah is a seven to ten minute ride by auto. Delhi to Ajmer Sharif max 400 Km. – at most a six and a half hour journey by Vande Bharat.
If you still consider that long enough what about Chandni Chowk in the walled city? Not even an hour’s ride by the Metro. And the Metro Station is a five minute walk from my home. Yet again…By the way Chandni Chowk is a shopper’s paradise and a foodie’s haven with its paranthewali gully, authentic Haldiram, its chaats, chhole puris, kebabs and naans… An array of street food. I can go on…
But having ranted to my heart’s content I staunchly believe I have reached where exactly I was intended to be. With my current health condition, weak knees and calf muscles perhaps travel is one thing which should be counted out. Here, my Didi (elder sister) puts a finger on the lip and says,”Shh! Think positive and talk positive. You never know when the angels overhear you and say tathaastu.”
So I am keeping my fingers crossed 🤞.
Footnote: Tathaastu is a Sanskrit word meaning so be it.
It must be a long, long journey, gc. I can’t imagine if I endure that kind of long travel. But, I’m into beautiful sunrise. 🤩
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Not very long Hazel, if you choose the right means of transport. But the sunrise at Tiger Hills is supposed to be breathtaking,!
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I loved your story about making plans to visit different places. It has happened to us too. My grandfather used to visit Ajmer sharif from Pakistan to visit the dargah there.
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Sadje, thank you very much 🙏
It’s all about the misunderstanding of not reaching where aspired. But as Derrrick puts it in his comment it’s a good place to reach wherever we are now.
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Very true my friend.
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Thanks for joining in Geeta
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A good stage to reach
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Thanks a ton Derrick 😊
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Geeta Ji,you should visit the remaining places.Your sister is right,we should think positive and talk positive lest angels say Tathastu or Aameen.
Ajmer and dargah of Nizamuddin Awliya are worth visiting.
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True…very true Nusrat. Waiting for the angels to say tathaastu! 😊
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Well, that was really interesting, Geeta. All those different places… I think I need a map!
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Hmm…Chris. If you ever come to this part do visit these places.
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I agree with your sister. My grandma always said to be positive and say good things because the angels would say tathaastu 🙂!
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I know. You are very right. Angels are everywhere listening in. Thanks Ganga. 😊
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So beautifully written Geeta ji.
Felt very real and close to heart.
Life truly has its own timing.
Maybe those places are still waiting for you.
Tathaastu 🤍
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Thank you very much Maha. I will hold on to that tathaastu. 😘
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I love how you capture both the excitement of travel and the reality of plans that do not always materialize as planned.
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting
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Felt good to read about your trip to Jamshedpur to see Tata Steel’s plant. I have had a long association with Tatas, having worked there and your piece brought back a few memories. 😊 Just like you cannot visit Puri unless Lord Jagannath calls, to see Kanchenjunga bathed in morning light from the Tiger Hill, requires a bit of luck, in my opinion. I have made 3 attempts and everytime I have failed to witness this marvel. Wonderful write-up. 👏👏👏
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Thank you very much, Gautam. The trip to Jamshedpur was a very long time ago. We did not see the interior of the plant but did see the workers coming out of the plant like a stream of men in uniform after the closing hours on their bikes and two wheelers. It was like a huge procession. Quite a sight. I liked the greenery around and the overpowering smell of trees, bushes, shrubs, foliage everywhere – the jungle smell. I hope it’s the same now also.
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There used to be lot of pollution and heat actually, mostly associated with the steel making process earlier. It is a much cleaner and greener place now; Tatas having made a lot of effort in improving the quality of life in the town and around it.
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Yes, I have heard about failed attempts at Tiger Hills. And yes, Jagannath Darshan can only happen when He calls.
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[…] Geeta; Whispers to the angels […]
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