I may not have updated my blog space since a long time, but here is something I just cannot leave without mentioning. A weekend getaway from the moribund city life of Bangalore, so perfect with wonderful people for company (the people who keep appearing in my blog from time to time and about whom I will explain sometime later).
The initial plan was to go to Shirdi, which I had been thinking of visiting since a long time but never had the chance. Then I found some like minded people equally interested in going there. I might have subsided the plan, had the situation been different. But because of the recent incidents that happened, I thought going there would be a good escape. And who knows, may be I would be blessed by Sai Baba to get some inner strength and face everything! Somehow I kept believing that it's the time for me to go and so I did (rather We did :-)).
We did all our bookings and reservations prior to the decided date. The plan sounded a bit deviated but we were determined to make it. On Friday, we bunked the office and worked only for half a day (purely officially) and then set out for the airport. Our flight was scheduled for that evening for Pune. I never had such an enjoyable flight, all thanks to the company I was traveling with. The photo sessions started off there itself. We reached Pune where our chauffeur was waiting with a nameplate for us. That was quite a welcome in that state !! We immediately started for Shirdi as we planned to see the early morning darshan. As it always happens, the road trip was awesome - good food, good music, good talks, good roadside views and everything! We were dead tired by the time we reached but we still ditched sleep and got ready for the temple (good that we did, else we would have missed the puja).
Inside the temple, after lots of resting, talking and waiting, finally it was our turn to go inside the main hall where the darshan was to be done. Our group was divided as we made our way into the hall (which was a matter of worry for us). The ambiance inside the hall was soothing. The marble white deity of Baba was glowing. The radiant face will make one forget everything. The entire hall was echoed with devotional songs as the arti was performed. The arti was significant in a way since it was the beginning of the day. After around an hour or so, it got over and was the time when the devotees get to go near the deity. In some time, we were out and were done with visiting other smaller temples inside it. I was visiting for the first time so I really did not set any expectations out of that darshan. All I can summarize is, it was wonderful and I will surely come once again, may be with my parents.
After the main programme on our agenda was ticked off, we were a little relaxed. People with me were a little more relaxed than I was, so they just slept off! We got ready for Shani Shignapur, the village famous for having houses with no doors. The village is said to be protected by Lord Shani, the raging and powerful of the planetary gods! The entire trip to the village was tiring due to the uneven roads. The experience became dreadful as we were nearing the village. The place so famous for its security left us frozen when our cab was followed by a group of bikers, who intended to take out money from us in the name of darshan n all. Such horrible experience it was! And scary too! All thanks to our cab driver, who served as a perfect guide to us - we could save ourselves from such people. We just hoped the visit to that place be over as soon as possible.
The moment we were done, it was time for the longest journey of the weekend - Shani Shignapur to Mahabaleswar via Pune. And probably it was the best part of the entire plan too! We just talked, on and on about various things, various topics. We halted at different places for food and refreshment. To add to it, the mountains and hilly roadways - they were a delight in themselves. Every odd seems beautiful when there are good people to share it - people who can make you laugh till you drop, by showing you white fox on the ghats or elephants from nowhere! :D
By the time we reached Mahabaleswar, it was late and dark. The plan of having dinner at Mapro Gardens was already shifted to the next day and after having a simple dinner, we hurried to the bungalow we had booked. The place was calm, cozy and beautiful. After deciding on our schedule for the next day, we soon got ready for a photo session. The place was just apt for photography experiments! Our photographer did an incredible job (yes, the subjects were amazing too :P)! We then retired to our room for some rest. The plan was to talk the whole night but some people just loved the cozy bed and were soon in the dreamworld!! Next day, we were almost 2 hours late as per the plan yet we decided to still go with it. After a brief photo shoot, we checked out of the bungalow and started for the beautiful Sahyadri mountain ranges of Mahabaleswar. There is one thing about mountains - they are always beautiful! They will never ditch the viewers. Mahabaleswar was just heaven for such nature gazers and photographers! We covered almost all the view points and could not get over the beauty of the place. We did our best in capturing the mesmerizing beauty. Even though the photos came out nicely, yet they would never match the beauty that is engraved in our hearts! We met a few people- mostly the snacks and juice sellers and we totally lost ourselves to their simplicity! Some people are just so wonderful - they just create an everlasting impression in our minds! We were almost done with the visit when we decided to go for a boat ride in the famous Venna lake there. The experience was awesome! Our last shot was to be at Mapro Garden for lunch but we could just manage to have juice and ice-cream (yes, they are the tastiest I ever had)!
Without wasting anymore time, we just set out to Pune for our departure was scheduled from there. We hardly talked while coming back. The two days of unlimited fun took a toll on us and we were dead tired. After a proper Maharashtrian lunch, we made our way to the airport and just made in time. Thus ended the saga of our ultimate trip!
Our entire visit was memorable - all thanks to a few people and places that I would like to mention - our cab driver (such a wonderful fellow he was), the snacks selling lady, the service guy at the airport, the air hostess on our return flight, the shop where we looked for banana, the bungalow where we stayed, the boatman at the lake, the Pune city, beautiful Mahabaleswar, serene Shirdi and Shani Shignapur. On top of everything, good company! However odd it would be, we can still enjoy if we have wonderful people to share with. I was lucky in that way - I had a wonderful group, both visible and invisible :P :D
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why!
The initial plan was to go to Shirdi, which I had been thinking of visiting since a long time but never had the chance. Then I found some like minded people equally interested in going there. I might have subsided the plan, had the situation been different. But because of the recent incidents that happened, I thought going there would be a good escape. And who knows, may be I would be blessed by Sai Baba to get some inner strength and face everything! Somehow I kept believing that it's the time for me to go and so I did (rather We did :-)).
We did all our bookings and reservations prior to the decided date. The plan sounded a bit deviated but we were determined to make it. On Friday, we bunked the office and worked only for half a day (purely officially) and then set out for the airport. Our flight was scheduled for that evening for Pune. I never had such an enjoyable flight, all thanks to the company I was traveling with. The photo sessions started off there itself. We reached Pune where our chauffeur was waiting with a nameplate for us. That was quite a welcome in that state !! We immediately started for Shirdi as we planned to see the early morning darshan. As it always happens, the road trip was awesome - good food, good music, good talks, good roadside views and everything! We were dead tired by the time we reached but we still ditched sleep and got ready for the temple (good that we did, else we would have missed the puja).
Inside the temple, after lots of resting, talking and waiting, finally it was our turn to go inside the main hall where the darshan was to be done. Our group was divided as we made our way into the hall (which was a matter of worry for us). The ambiance inside the hall was soothing. The marble white deity of Baba was glowing. The radiant face will make one forget everything. The entire hall was echoed with devotional songs as the arti was performed. The arti was significant in a way since it was the beginning of the day. After around an hour or so, it got over and was the time when the devotees get to go near the deity. In some time, we were out and were done with visiting other smaller temples inside it. I was visiting for the first time so I really did not set any expectations out of that darshan. All I can summarize is, it was wonderful and I will surely come once again, may be with my parents.
After the main programme on our agenda was ticked off, we were a little relaxed. People with me were a little more relaxed than I was, so they just slept off! We got ready for Shani Shignapur, the village famous for having houses with no doors. The village is said to be protected by Lord Shani, the raging and powerful of the planetary gods! The entire trip to the village was tiring due to the uneven roads. The experience became dreadful as we were nearing the village. The place so famous for its security left us frozen when our cab was followed by a group of bikers, who intended to take out money from us in the name of darshan n all. Such horrible experience it was! And scary too! All thanks to our cab driver, who served as a perfect guide to us - we could save ourselves from such people. We just hoped the visit to that place be over as soon as possible.
The moment we were done, it was time for the longest journey of the weekend - Shani Shignapur to Mahabaleswar via Pune. And probably it was the best part of the entire plan too! We just talked, on and on about various things, various topics. We halted at different places for food and refreshment. To add to it, the mountains and hilly roadways - they were a delight in themselves. Every odd seems beautiful when there are good people to share it - people who can make you laugh till you drop, by showing you white fox on the ghats or elephants from nowhere! :D
By the time we reached Mahabaleswar, it was late and dark. The plan of having dinner at Mapro Gardens was already shifted to the next day and after having a simple dinner, we hurried to the bungalow we had booked. The place was calm, cozy and beautiful. After deciding on our schedule for the next day, we soon got ready for a photo session. The place was just apt for photography experiments! Our photographer did an incredible job (yes, the subjects were amazing too :P)! We then retired to our room for some rest. The plan was to talk the whole night but some people just loved the cozy bed and were soon in the dreamworld!! Next day, we were almost 2 hours late as per the plan yet we decided to still go with it. After a brief photo shoot, we checked out of the bungalow and started for the beautiful Sahyadri mountain ranges of Mahabaleswar. There is one thing about mountains - they are always beautiful! They will never ditch the viewers. Mahabaleswar was just heaven for such nature gazers and photographers! We covered almost all the view points and could not get over the beauty of the place. We did our best in capturing the mesmerizing beauty. Even though the photos came out nicely, yet they would never match the beauty that is engraved in our hearts! We met a few people- mostly the snacks and juice sellers and we totally lost ourselves to their simplicity! Some people are just so wonderful - they just create an everlasting impression in our minds! We were almost done with the visit when we decided to go for a boat ride in the famous Venna lake there. The experience was awesome! Our last shot was to be at Mapro Garden for lunch but we could just manage to have juice and ice-cream (yes, they are the tastiest I ever had)!
Without wasting anymore time, we just set out to Pune for our departure was scheduled from there. We hardly talked while coming back. The two days of unlimited fun took a toll on us and we were dead tired. After a proper Maharashtrian lunch, we made our way to the airport and just made in time. Thus ended the saga of our ultimate trip!
Our entire visit was memorable - all thanks to a few people and places that I would like to mention - our cab driver (such a wonderful fellow he was), the snacks selling lady, the service guy at the airport, the air hostess on our return flight, the shop where we looked for banana, the bungalow where we stayed, the boatman at the lake, the Pune city, beautiful Mahabaleswar, serene Shirdi and Shani Shignapur. On top of everything, good company! However odd it would be, we can still enjoy if we have wonderful people to share with. I was lucky in that way - I had a wonderful group, both visible and invisible :P :D
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why!
2 reactions:
Sounds an exciting trip... I would love to see the chronicle of your blog talking about"cab driver, the lady, the service guy, the air hostess, the shop, the bungalow, the boatman... "
Nice to find that you are back blogging. I went through your 2 posts of November and liked it. Continue with your posts.
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