Perfection: October 2011

We were planning for a pilgrimage to places like Kedarnath, and Badrinath for the past few months. We had been to places like Haridwar and Rishikesh few times while living in Ghaziabad in the 1970’s.
Since we are now settled in Coimbatore, we explored the best option to visit these two places without much strain and within a span of one week to ten days as the weather conditions are increasingly getting colder in September / October approaching winter season in these places.
More over we were to call on my brother Ramakrishnan whose beloved wife Smt.Latha passed away a year ago, but couldn’t make it as I was away working in Africa.
As such chose Southern Travels P Ltd for arranging our tour and related air-travel bookings. I booked on the 5th of September 2011 for the tour commencing on 19-9 and concluding on 26-9.Our booking included a night’s stay in their hotel before and after the tour. The idea was to relax before setting out for the trip and also to allow any unforeseen situations towards the final day of the tour upsetting the return air travel on 27-9-11.
18-09-2011 – Sunday
We woke up by 4 AM and completed our morning routines. I prepared chapattis for lunch as we were flying by NO FRILL air-line who does not provide anything other than 300 ml of bottled water per passenger. Our milk vendor delivers milk only after 7 hrs every day, since we had to leave by then; I procured milk from the vendor’s house at 6.30 hrs. After having light food and beverage we were ready to leave our house by pre-arranged call taxi at 7.30 hrs.
At the air-port, we noticed tighter security – due to recent bombings in Delhi High Court area (and no clue was found yet) - but had no problem in entering the premises after furnishing I.D and address verification by the concerned authorities. We carried with us documents like PAN cards in original, copies of our ration cards, passports, receipts of house tax, water tax and telephone bills besides 6 photos of each of us.
None of these (Except original passport and visa copy) were ever demanded in my first few air-travels years ago but has become mandatory due to uncertainties and anti- social activities by terrorists or the like. It showed how insecure is our precious life.
I was looking for daily news papers at the shop situated in the waiting lounge. Though I was delivered news papers every day, I could not read them on this day due to lack of time. The bookshop keeper told me that news papers are kept in the boarding lounge and is available from four different publishers.
We checked in after waiting for 45 minutes. Checking in- was smooth as our luggage combined weighed only 21 Kg including a hand bag and air bag. We soon passed the security check and were in the boarding lounge. We could get 4 different newspapers and enjoyed reading till boarding the air-craft at 10.15 hrs. I carried the newspapers to while away flying time as it took us four hours to reach Delhi via Hyderabad.
We consumed our food for lunch as we were at Hyderabad. The flight was very comfortable and smooth. We were worried about rains at both Hyderabad and Delhi. In Delhi, there were two incidents of aircrafts over shooting the run way in the previous week due to torrential rain.
It appeared that we were flying faster than scheduled and as such I informed our family friend due to picking us from air-port - to come to Delhi air-port 30 minutes earlier. Yes, we landed at Delhi air-port half an hour earlier at 14 hrs.
Hari is the one who picked us from the air-port. Hari is married to Kala – daughter of my wife’s elder sister who lives in Tanjore.
We reached his house located close to the air-port – In sector 8 of Ramakrishna Puram.
Hari and Kala have a lovely daughter by name Swetha whom we last saw as tiny tot during our daughter’s marriage in 2004. Swetha has grown since and sings Carnatic music and has won many prizes in competetions.
I noticed that this part of Delhi has become cleaner and better looking than I last saw in the 90’s.
We spend the time till evening talking about our in-laws and out-laws; and familiar matters of the day including tense condition in the Capital after the recent bombing at the High court.
In the evening, we were dropped at my brother’s house - place which is at sector 5 in R.K.Puram itself – a drive of 10 minutes. We bade farewell to Hari till we meet again possibly on 26-9-11- after our pilgrimage trip.
We met my brother Ramakrishnan alias Kalyanam and his daughters – Subha and Smitha. We were at loss for words to express our sincere condolence as the loss of Mrs.Latha Ramakrishnan was unbearable and could not be compensated in any manner whatsoever.
My brother narrated the final moments of Mrs.Latha before leaving for eternal peace on 3-9-2009. Later, we spoke of the past years where Mrs.Latha had taken care of both responsibilities at home and in the office.
Subha arranged a taxi for us to go to our Hotel in Karol Bagh – a distance of over an hour from his residence due to night travel. We reached Southern Hotel and checked in by 21.00 hrs. There was delay in allocating us a room despite confirmation twice by e-mail both by me and their representative in Coimbatore.
I went out to buy small tube of tooth paste and shaving cream to be used for the week. I intentionally did NOT carry them for two reasons: 1.It will be confiscated if kept in the hand baggage, 2.Cannot keep inside the check-in baggage as it might come out due to pressure.
We went to bed by 22.30 hrs. We had the whole of the next day to relax and get ready for a fully exciting and vibrant tour.
19-09-2011- Monday
We got up by 6 hrs, and completed all routines. Hot water was provided separately for my wife, as I was comfortable in using cold water. We ordered and received two coffees; the waiter poured coffee in the cups and took back the jug as there was shortage of jugs in the hotel.
Later we went to their restaurant named Amaravathi for breakfast. The arrangement was just good enough with minimum attention for hygienic condition. We had south Indian dishes for our consumption besides cornflakes for my wife. I noticed the waiter collecting the spilled over flakes and putting it back in to the dispenser. I couldn’t bear the sight of this and informed his supervisor, and the cornflakes were replaced.
Then we called our daughter Sheeba and informed her about the situation around us. Sheeba called back using her landline and hotel switchboard, and we spoke to Ayush as well.
Later, I went out to see the changes around this area since my last visit in 1984. The Arya Samaj Road, and Ajmal Khan Road area were literally the same but with new buildings. Many out-fits seems to have disappeared. New buildings nearly covered the remaining old ones. I could locate the Raymond shop from where I purchased cloth for my wedding suit in 1977 and the tailor who stitched the same - Narang Tailors - located in the same area.
I located a new vegetarian hotel – Rama Hotel – and enquired about dishes for lunch (without garlic) but I was given to understand that every item except coffee, tea and sweets were laced with flavor of garlic. As such I abandoned my enquiry further regarding garlic free lunch.
I made few rounds in the market and the area was dirty and penchant in odor – nothing has changed in this regard since ages. Karol Bagh has NOT changed at all.
I came back to my room at Hotel Southern and decided to have our lunch at the Kamath Restaurant which is a vegetarian one. I found out that they prepared food / dishes without garlic on specific orders. So self and my wife (Mrs.Sarojam) enjoyed a good lunch.
After lunch, we visited the attached Super Market and explored the contents figuring out any snacks for our tour. We managed to procure some eatables, water and biscuits.
Once again back in room, we took rest for couple of hours and re-packed everything for the tour commencing at 21.00 hrs.
In the evening, I reconfirmed my room bookings for 26-9-2011 to check in at 04.00 hrs at the end of our tour. This was done to prevent waiting outside at the wee hours. The payment was already made at Coimbatore where we made our travel arrangement with Southern Travels’ branch office at Coimbatore.
We checked out at 20.30 hrs and collected our boarding passes and boarded the bus at 21.00 hrs. The bus left after ten minutes. We were 20 PAX in all, besides our tour guide – Mr.Prasanna kumar from Andhra, driver –Mr.Kailash Rawath, two cooks and a conductor.
Prasanna kumar briefed us about the places of visit in the next few minutes to the last day of our trip. He was very knowledgeable in what was he doing since conducting 532 trips over the past years. Self and Saro occupied the first two seats (1 and 2).
Our first stop was at Hanuman Temple where a small ritual was performed by the temple priest – breaking a coconut, placing lemons under the bus tires for crushing and lighting camphor – on the onset of the tour.
My wife and few of our fellow travelers visited the Hanuman temple across the road, while the above ceremony was taking place. I took a photo with the priest.
Later we continued on the tour. The next stop would be our first stop-over; RISHIKESH by 3.00 hrs next day. So, we went to sleep extending the seat to serve as a mini bed. At a distance 80 KM away from Haridwar, the bus was stopped for tea / coffee and for using toilet for intended / needy guests.

Beauty and the Priest.
20-09-2011 – Tuesday
We reached Rishikesh around 03.50 hrs and taken to the guest house. The guest was a 3 storey building with a kitchen at the open balcony. The rooms were on second floors as first floor was used as a hall, while ground floors had shops.
We were given time to take bath and changeover to new attire for the visits of various places by 7.00 A.M.

The guest house, where we stayed in Rishikesh.
Our bathroom had no geyser and so was the case with few others, but it was pleasant to have cold water bath after a very tiresome travel with outside condition as hot as summer.
Our coffee was ready by 5.30 AM followed by breakfast at 6.45 AM. We then left, for the tour of local places of interest at 7.00A.M.
Our first visit was to Swamy Dayanand Asharam.
Rishikesh (Rishi means SAINT and KESH means dwelling place) is a religious town with many ASHRAMS and Sanskrit colleges, besides medical institutions of various natures. The famous temple of Sh.Sathyanarana is situated here. RISHIKESH is resident for many SADHUS. (those who have abandoned all pleasures of life and living with devotion to GOD till attaining eternal peace.)
Rishikesh is a mountainous city and is gateway to other places like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangothri and Yamunothri. A temple for LORD ShriRam’s brother Bharath is in this town and the town has grown up around this temple. The beauty of nature is handy work of GOD and the presence of the ALMIGHTY can be felt everywhere.
There are two bridges that help to cross over to the other side of River Ganga. By crossing the bridges, one can reach places like Gita Bhavan, Swarg Ashram, Shivananda Ashram, Paramarth Ashram etc;
One was an ancient rope bridge which was later re-constructed with steel ropes- Lakshman Jula, and another one by name Ram Jula. Jula means swing as the bridges were swung due to its construction by means of ropes.
There is a vegetarian Restaurant by name CHOTIVALA restaurant located near Gita Bhavan.
I’m requesting the reader to explore the relevant website to find more information about places and locations mentioned in this brief note. My purpose of writing these lines are for the sake of intended visitors who are new to everything besides to serve as a guide to our posterity.
We visited places of religious interest – Geetha Ashram, Geetha Bhawan, temples on the bank of Ganga. We also floated oil lamp in the river Ganga – Aarthi for Sacred Ganga. Meditation and Yoga is practiced in Rishikesh being an ideal place with favorable climate all around the year.
We returned to our guest house by 11.30 AM and took rest before lunch at 12.30. After a sumptuous lunch, we left for SRINAGAR where we are to spend our night before leaving for KEDARNATH in the early hours of next day. Please note that this SRINAGAR is NOT the same named SRINAGAR and in JAMMU AND KASHMIR.
We covered the distance of 105 kilometers to reach Srinagar via Devaprayag – a town situated en-route and situated at an altitude of 475 meters above sea level – in four and quarter hours and reached our Guest House at 17.30 hrs.
The city DEVAPRAYAG is on the confluence of the rivers ALAKNANDA and BAGIRATHI and located 70 Km away from Rishikesh and 35 Km from Srinagar.
Here we were advised to get OXYGEN canister on hire to be taken /used if needed at Kedarnath to where we were leaving in the early hours of next day. So, I took one canister after paying a deposit of Rs.350.00 If the canister were not used an amount of Rs.50 will be deducted as rental towards the can and balance refunded.

The guest House at Srinagar.
21-09-2011 Wednesday
We got up very early, completed all our morning routines and packed separately the items required for a night’s stay at Kedarnath. The reason was that we had to depend on mule / pony for climbing 14 Km upward and another 14 Km back to the base. We took all our woolen clothing / items, water bottle, Oxygen canister, use and throw type rain coat, umbrella, and a loose bag besides cash. The rest of our luggage was kept within the bus. After usual morning coffee / tea we left for GOWRIKUND the city at the base from where we have to take pony ride or walk 14 Km to reach Kedarnath.
We had breakfast on the way. Normally, food was prepared in advance to save time and then provided at the appropriate time – breakfast or lunch – by breaking our journey close to a guest house with tea / coffee and toilet facilities.
We reached GOWRIKUND at 11.00 AM.
GOWRIKUND is located at a distance of 209 Km. The temple for Devi Gowri( Wife of Lord Shiva, also known as Parvathi devi) is located here. This place has many hot water springs around the city.
At Gowri kund, we purchased tickets for hiring mules for both of us. Many of our fellow tourists either availed pony ride or engaged porters to carry them to Kedarnath and back. The hire cost including insurance was Rs.1600 per person- up / down).

Pattuppadava? (Can I sing?) A ride, on the back of mule?
We were given a cap each for wearing – with logo of Southern Travels – for easy identification of our group of 20 and we started climbing precisely at 13.00 hrs. The ride was not smooth for the following reasons:
The mule was tied with rough belts; the saddle was also rough with worn-out buckles, which tied the seat. The seat was NOT as we see in cinemas where a rich person / a king rides – smooth and nice. A piece of luggage was also tied to each animal. The mule suffered more than us as it had to carry us! – Humans!
I found out that cost of a pair of mules is Rs.150,000!
Our set of mules – carrying me and Saro appeared to be fiancé to each other, as they were colliding very often licking each other while our legs were hit hard over their bodies between the two animals. I had the sharp buckle nearly piercing my pants and hurting both my legs. I had to call our mule owner for help and I discovered that he was DEAF by birth!
So, I had to use sign language whenever I was hurt. His assistant- by name Munna was an angry young boy who kept losing his cool / patience whenever I called for help. Soon we realized that our bottom and back besides the already hurt legs were in pain. We stopped at 7 Km to Kedarnath – at Rampara -for food.
Each rider has to (feed the mule and its keeper as necessary and as part of the requirement) spend for food of the animal and keeper. Once down from the back of the mule, we felt that our body was very stiff and motionless for few minutes. It was like waking up after an anesthesia.
It started raining as we were about to resume our climbing of another 7 Km. Fortunately, it was mild drizzles and Saro covered herself with the use and throw rain coat. (We actually did not throw it as it was still in good condition).
As we continued climbing UP, the temperature was coming DOWN for every hundred feet of climbing and we sensed cold condition around us. We were praying for NO RAIN as it would create untold misery at that level with biting cold setting in.
Fortunately, the rain stopped and we were progressing as required and reached the top of the hills and were on the plane of KEDARNATH around 17.20 hrs.
There were places for the pony to urinate and drink water where these animals went on their own and used the facility. There are 30 water taps along the 14 Km climb for the benefit of passengers / devotees / travellers.
There were hundreds of streams / water falls from where the water was gushing out and joining the river MANDAKINI below. The other source of water was the polluted / urinated / washed out liquid from shops, roads, toilets and any possible washed out water all was added into the holy water stream.
The path way was a very rough and dangerous strip of terrain that was full of pebbles with un-even depth between them. Just to explain the condition here it is: The path was about SIX feet wide. The pebbles were with a gap of a good 3 or inches between them. There was always flow of water from the mountain besides waste water from human use. In some places the width was hardly enough for the mule to walk thru’ with the deep valley on one side. No wonder people kept loudly mentioning the name of GOD – Kedarnath all the time.
We reached our place of stay – Himalaya Guest House (from the pony station where we had to leave our carriers for rest till next day-) by 17.30 hrs. We had coffee at Rs.40 per cup – was at much higher price than petrol or diesel for that quantity!
Soon we were in our respective rooms; local priest came to each one of us and took details for a ceremony (Pooja) at 5.30 to 6.30 AM next day). We booked for a full fledged ceremony in the sanctum covering all our family and paid Rs.501.00 being the minimum fees. We then changed over to heavy woolen clothing and went to the temple of Lord Kedarnath. Besides having full view of the Lord Shiva, we also visited the final resting place of Shri.Sankaracharya.
We had to book for Hot water to be provided at 5 AM next day at Rs.40 per bucket of 10 liters. The Himalaya guest house is owned by Mr.Rao proprietor of the travel company – Southern Travels.
We had our dinner consisting of Chapattis and potato curry. Here the arrangement was for us to pay for all facilities – hot water, food, tea or coffee. We went to bed early.
22-09-2011 Thursday
We got up by 4.30 AM. I went out for getting hot water for completing our morning routines. Hot water was only warm water and we managed to make use of it wisely and were ready to go to the temple at 5.30 AM. Our fellow tourists were also ready and we went to the temple at 5.45 AM. The priest accompanied us in to the temple.
Our turn for performing the ceremony was at 6.15 AM and we were helped by our priest. During the time we performed the pooja we felt very warm inside the temple and experienced a sort of sumptuousness in all respects and aspects. I mean we had no other feeling than devoting ourselves to Lord Shiva.

We completed all poojas by 7 AM (Please see the picture above with time mentioned).
We returned to our room for a quick breakfast and coffee, and started our climbing down wards by 7.30 AM. Some of our guests opted to take helicopter ride to the base and left. We returned by the same way and had food half way thru’ at Rampara and reached Gaurikund precisely at 12.00 hrs – midday.
Saro felt dizzy almost at a Km away from the base and had to take few minutes of break before resuming the ride.
Once back in Gaurikund, we went for a dip in the Hot water spring. We hired a room for an hour to use a locker facility and took bath in the spring. Few minutes of this immersion of our body in the Hot Water massaged us very strongly and we got relieved of all our pain experienced while riding on the mules. I took a wow that I WILL NEVER ADDRESS ANY ONE BY NAME DONKEY ever; for these four legged men suffer more than two legged donkeys.
We then started to reach Srinagar (for the night’s stay before leaving for Badrinath next day) and were in our guest house at 14.00 hrs.
A short trip was arranged for us to visit temple of TRIMURTHY NARAYAN located 20 KM from our guest house at 16.30 hrs. After brief rest and having coffee we left for temple and it rained on the way to temple
We had Darshan of Narayanji and also performed some ceremony for the sake of all the family members, later we returned by 18.45 hrs. We called Sheeba and spoke briefly and conveyed the day’s events on the tour. All of us had early dinner and went to bed by 21 hrs.
23-09-2011 Friday
We woke by 4 AM and completed all our morning routines. Had breakfast on the way – prepared earlier and served on the way to save time. We reached a town named Pipalkotti at 11.45 AM and had our lunch there.
The main road for reaching Bdadrinath from Srinagar starts at a place called JOSHIMATT. The roads are opened from 13.30 hrs and used as one way and closed after 16.30 hrs. Vehicles are not allowed after this time as the roads very narrow with hair pin bends.
We reached Badrinath at 17.30 hrs-covered the distance of 195 Km in 10 hrs. The environment was natural and very green. We noticed landslides in many places on our way up the hills. Badrinath is located at 3110 meters above sea level. The weather was cold but less torturous than at Kedarnath.
Here too, a priest approached us for performing ceremony in the early hours of next day. The minimum cost for the ceremony is Rs.750.00. Most of us agreed for the same and the priest had to arrange accordingly everything as per our individual belief.
After relaxing a while, we went to the temple of Sh.Kedarnath. We went round the area which is covered by usual shops where they sold mementos, religious books, CDs, DVDs, photos coins etc; We also were briefed about the next day’s activities to be performed by each of us before actually doing the ceremony – for the elevation of departed souls of each ones ancestors.
We returned to our guest house located very close to the temple and had our dinner at 21 hrs and went to bed early.
The neighborhood was dirty and covered by breed of mosquitoes despite the cold weather. There was penchant odor everywhere with urine smell all over. We were surprised that a holy place of this caliber is surrounded by unhygienic conditions. We carried de-odorants, but it did not work in this place for the aforesaid reasons.

24-09-2011 Saturday
We woke up as usual by 5 AM, and completed all basic routines. It is a belief that we one had to perform ceremonies for departed souls; shaving should be postponed for the next day. So, I did not shave my face. Also one should NOT consume liquid or food till the ceremony is over.
We all went to the temple area, took bath in the hot water spring named THAPTHA KUND and went to worship Lord Badrinath.
There after we went the location RED PLATFORM at 7.30 AM. Our priest / Pandit Mr.Desik came in Dolly and started explaining to each of us in our languages the necessity for doing the ceremony on the banks of river ALAKNANDA.

Visiting card of our priest, & our team about to perform ceremony.
The priest spoke in all south Indian languages and the verses are in Sanskrit. He has been helping many Hindus doing this for several years. He cannot walk long distances and hence being brought to the location by dolly everyday – carried by human beings in a basket.
The ceremony is to feed the departed souls with BALLS cooked rice mixed with sesame seeds. Then, after the ceremony, the entire lot is immersed in the river in a place called BRAHMA KAPAL.
I was in my normal Dothi and chest cover and used a cap to ward of cold air entering my ears. Later, the sun rays were strong enough to sweat us as early as 9 AM.
We (All of us in the team) skipped our usual morning coffee and breakfast and left for the next place of stay – Pipalkotti at 10.30 hrs.
On the way, we had lunch and reached Pipalkotti at 17.30 hrs. The place of stay was better than all the previous guest houses and we were comfortable after the long travel in the past few days. It rained in the evening and the weather was pleasant.
We were advised to sleep well and rest well as the last leg of our tour starts at 04.00 hrs the next day (Sunday) and ends in Delhi at the same time on Monday Morning with very brief breaks in Haridwar.
25-09-2011 Sunday
We were woken up by 03.00 hrs and hot water was made available in the taps by 03.30 hrs. After completing all our morning routines, and sipping a cup of coffee, we left for Haridwar at 04.25 AM.
We had breakfast and lunch at designated times and reached Haridwar at 14.00 hrs. Our first place of visit was to the show room maintained by Uttranchal Government. This was earlier part of Uttar Pradesh and with change of name became so. There were plenty of handicraft material, saris, and many type of dress material – all from the region.
Immediately, we hired auto rickshaws for visiting by various places of worship / interest in Haridwar.
Hridwar is an ancient pilgrim city on the right banks of river Ganga. The main attraction in haridwar is temple of DAKSHINESWAR situated near the main bathing centre HARI KI POURI. (Feet of Lord Hari).
We visited the temple of MANASA DEVI located on the BILWA MOUNTAIN at a height of 178 meters. We used the rope way to reach there and back. The main attraction in the evening was AARTHI IN THE GANGA after the traditional pooja at 18.30 hrs. This ceremony is performed every day at the same time and thousands of devotees gather to see the lamps being set in motion in the river Ganga.

Ganga pooja / Aarthi at HARI KI POURI
After witnessing the fantastic scenes comprising of hundreds of floating lamps, we returned to our place of rest few Km away from the river Ganga.
Our pilgrimage has literally come to close as we were about to commence our return journey back to where we started – Delhi. All we team members spoke to each other of our individual experience and discussed the overall state of participation.
We took rest, some of us slept briefly before having dinner at 20.55 hrs. After loudly pronouncing the name of Lord Shiva we boarded the bus back to Delhi at 22.45 hrs and reached Hotel Southern in Delhi by 03.45 hrs on 26-09-2011 Monday

26-09-2011 Monday
We wanted to check-in as per our booking at Hotel Southern but were shocked to learn that there were no rooms for us at all due to some problems with their soft ware. We were told to wait till 8 AM and possibly someone will solve the problem. This was the same for few others from our group as well. They left for some other place after an argument with the desk staff. We then called Hari / Kala and went to their house by 5AM. They were kind enough to accommodate us under the prevailing conditions especially at the very early hours of the day.
We took rest and later completed all our morning routines and had breakfast. Hari took leave of absence from his work to be with us as we were only flying out the next day.
We visited the nearby Sarojini Market later and purchased a pair of T shirts for me and a sweater for Ayush (As wanted by him), besides two dolls like chicken which can be activated by the attached keys.
Self and Saro visited the temple known as MALAI MANDIR where Lord Muruga is blessing devotees.
We took rest in the evening and visited my brother Kalyanam and bade farewell to him and children.
We packed all our belongings after adding the shopped items and went to bed after dinner.
27-09-2011 Tuesday
We woke up by 5 AM and completed all our routines and had breakfast. Hari and Kala gave us chapattis for us to have during the air-travel. We travelled with Swetha who was dropped in her school, (As we could not get a cab or auto rickshaw to air-port) and Hari dropped us at the air-port and bade farewell.
Check-in was smooth, but for they discovered my pocket knife in the air-bag. Iwas advised to put it back in my checked in baggage. I could do so with the help of the air-line staff who realized that my knife set was very expensive. Later I checked in again thanking the concerned security officer. The flight took off at 10.15 hrs.
We flew after a stopover at Mumbai and reached Coimbatore at 14.45 hrs. Our regular cab driver took us to our hose and we were in the house at 15.45 hrs.
We called all concerned and informed them of our safe return after the trip.

Personal Notes / Observations
I and Saro enjoyed the trip thoroughly and are very happy for undertaking this pilgrimage despite our age and related slowness in general.
We checked with our family doctor before undertaking the trip as it is tedious and tiring to visit places on high altitudes. We were given adequate medical support and were declared fit for this venture.
Our team members were equally aged and had been to many places in their life span of 60+ years. Some had been to Kedarnath and Badrinath in the 1970s.
I would like to suggest the intended traveler to carry Oxygen canister from always. It is better to have it procured from proper dealers. These should last a good six months and not heavy but portable.
Luggage should be light and containing only very essential items, as it is very difficult to carry them while walking or riding on a mule.
The roads in the hilly areas are riskier and pose danger to all sorts of movements. Though the concerned authorities are doing their best, it is never complete as some of the places are closed during winter.
It is better to travel in a company of identical natured people no matter what the age of the group is. We saw about 50 boys travelling over the motor cycle to Kedarnath from Ambala. They were fully dressed for the trekking and were in uniform – yellow and red color dress.
Group travel is more beneficial to all involved especially when it comes to managing expenses of the trip without pinching the pocket more than necessary. It is far safer in all respects to travel in groups.
There are hundreds of waterfalls / streams – contributories, tributaries which add up to the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna. We noticed more than a hundred landslides during our travel. At few places we briefly stopped while our driver and conductor removed large stones blocking the roads.
Despite the human trafficking in these areas, the nature is still bearing with the pollution caused by the people and their activities. We noticed that literally every area all along the rivers, where shops are located is full of plastic waste and left over food contaminating the beautiful area.
Most holy places are money spinners for the so called guides, helpers, priests, holy men and so on. There is NO accountability on these peoples’ earnings which is nothing but by force. Our faith in God forces us to shed money to ward of the so called evil around us especially when threatened by a vested interested holy man.
We felt attracted by nature as we believed GOD is nature and NATURE is GOD. Our spending money was minimum towards ceremonies and we prayed to pardon these men who fleece us / others in the name of religion and related activities.
We also procured some pots of Ganges water (to be given to those who may not get an opportunity to visit these places) coins, figures of Gods / Goddess and a DVD on these places.
We felt a trip like this is most needed for people like us for a change / diversion from routines of different form. As always done, all activities are based on some kind of faith, belief and individual custom especially carried out in the name GOD one believes / has faith in.
For some reason unknown to us, we never felt that we were travelling on our own, nor we have children, relatives or friends. Dreamless sleep and motionless feelings were part of our travel for seven days.
Once back in Coimbatore only; we realized that were like steel rod and falling into sleep and felt the tiredness at one go.
The purpose of making the above narrations is for the sake of my children or for the posterity or the intended traveler who may need some sort of real time facts on such trips.
I feel grateful to all involved in making our trip memorable and for making it a pleasant travel despite the strict schedules followed.
I’m NOT adding any material which are available in the website especially the names of many townships and rivers we came across. Modern technology is so efficient, one can obtain even the minutest of facts when it comes to places and travel.
The photos from top to bottom are:Aarthi in Haridwar,Ourselves at Badrinath,on the banks of river Ganges, and taking Mules to reach Kedarnath.

The above narration is completed as per my diary maintained during the travel and completed as of 14-10-2011.

V.Sivasubramaniam
Coimbatore
E-mail: vsiva2001in@rediffmail.com / vsiva2001in@gmail.com

Perfection

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Mixed Thoughts

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Pilgrimage

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