pachmadi-bedaghat-kanha-pench

This is the travelogue of our trip to pachmadi-bedaghat-kanha-pench.

 We left Mumbai on the 12th at 7.00 p.m. by Vidarbha Express train.The journey was very relaxing and luxurious.We had 1st class tickets!We reached Ajni station in the morning at 10.00a.m.and immediately left for Pachmarhi in a Tata Winger.
The Paranjpe's had given us a packed lunch .Around 1.30 p.m. we had lunch on the wayside underneath some trees .Oh it was awesome!.We were all tremendously hungry and the food was excellent .Sushama had given us everything including some fruit.

We reached Pachmarhi at about 3.30 in the evening. We had tea and left to see a lake nearby.When we came back we actually saw the hotel'GLEN VIEW' which had old British colonial kind of bungalows.The rooms were clean,hot and cold water was aplenty,good sheets and covers. The weather was excellent on the colder side but good.I managed with sweater ,socks and shoes.

On the 14th that is next morning we visited the Pandav goomphas.Of the 5 goomphas only 3 could be seen of which only the 4th was better maintained with carvings on it.One room had superb acoustics and if one sang there ,others standing outside could get excellent sound quality.There were 2 bricks of the olden days measuring 1' by 1 1/2'[huge].From the top we got a superb view of the circular garden below.We bought some seeds at the nursery and returned to Glen View.On the way to the goomphas we saw a baby 'giant squirrel'got some very good photos.Next we went to see a silk manufacturing unit. Silk worms are bred on huge plantations of mulberry trees.The worms are fed and they make the silk which is woven into sarees and other materials.

From there we went to see Bee Falls. The road was winding through forest which had saag trees and the route was difficult-up-down twisting mud roads. We had to walk from a certain point all the way down to the Bee Falls. They are thus known because the water stings like the sting of a bee.We did not go all the way as we could see the waterfalls and there was also the sound of the water falling from a height.While going back up we saw a snake under a boulder. got a good photo.We had nimbu pani and left in the vehicle for the market.just window shopping!. Later got back to the hotel for dinner.

reechgad

15th Got up a bit late and left for reechgad after a hearty breakfast ---omlette,cornflakes, milk, upma, toast jam-wonderful.Again the jeeps could go only upto a point . From there we had to walk.Guide kept encouraging by saying it isnt far ,just round the next corner and we kept climbing and finally reached a place
where two huge rocks met leaving a gap in between.The sight was wonderful.We were all happy we could do that kind of climbing and getting down.There were goomphas where you had to crawl in to get inside. There were relics inside.We then returned to where the jeeps were parked. On the way back to the hotel Neena bought a pant and two t shirts from the market.

marble rocks

marble rocks

16th We got up early and left the hotel with a packed breakfast,went to Bedaghat.Everyone enjoyed the breakfast and the journey but I was carsick.We reached Bedaghat at 2p.m. After lunch at 3p.m. we left the hotel at 4.45 p.m. to see the Marble rocks. The Rocks are a sight worth seeing-with the narmada flowing quietly. The boat ride was good as our guide was a talkative boy -very entertaining with rhyming poetry in his narration.We took photos of 'the little cormorant ,blue kingfisher.The ride was for an hour. We then went to see the Dhurandhar falls with strong gushing Narmada-frightening, inviting and spellbinding!water sprays were felt by all of us.We could not photograph as light was insufficient and water droplets were getting onto the lens.
17th We left for Kanha.. We got a little lost at Narsingpur after Jabalpur and lost one hour in the process.Reached Kanha at 1.30p.m.We stayed at Bagheera huts. Food was good-roti,chawal,two sabjis-bhara hua tamatar,patta gobi, sprouts,salad and a lovely pudding with custard and fruits.Left for nature trail near Kanha Nature Park.Got a guide[300rs]and went walking along a path in the jungle. Saw a variety of  trees-crocodile bark,palas,charoli,ashta,beheda,harda and bandar phool.Saw birds,animals.insects--a tree pie,racket tail          drongo ,some bison a lovely spider's web called "funnel"because of its shape,termite hillsThe walk was 8 kms. It took us two hours.It was very refreshing.

18th Left at 6.45 a.m. for safari with packed breakfast.Saw spotted deer, wild boar, sloth bear,sambar, jungle fowl.The ride was till 11am. We went on elephants to see tigers .We saw a tigress relaxing in the bush.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

fox walking with us

spotted deer

At 3 pm we left for another safari.This time the light was different and we saw a fox which kept walking in front of us, bisons at close range eagle posing for us, indian rollers,barasingha, tree pie, racket tail drongo,spotted-deer.

19th morning left for Pench.

Route through Seoni by-pass. Reached Pench at 1.30 p.m. Went for a walk in the evening in and around the hotel. It was peaceful.Next morning we left for jungle safari .This time we saw some birds and a tiger in the bushes. We could not get photos as they were sleeping inside bushes.

All in all a very good trip.

termite hill

hotel at pench. 

Music Programme at Karnatak Sangh Hall

Sunday the 23rd September
I went to this hall at 11a.m. The occasion was a musical rendering by Dr.Jyoti Kale, Mr. Aditya Khandwe and finally Dr. Ashwini Bhide in memory of their guru Late Shri Ratnakar Pai.

I reached late as the programme started at 10 a.m. I heard Dr.Jyoti Kale sing  Pancham Lalit [all the ragas were rare ragas not heard often]She has a strong voice, sang in the upper octave and was very" surili."

Next was Mr. Aditya Khandwe. He began with raga"Bhankar"He has a very strong voice which could have been heard even without a microphone. Again ,he too sang the higher notes with perfect ease ,was good with tal .After this rendition he sang raag "Suha Kanada".By then his voice had really gotten into a smooth-flow and he sang with gusto and ease ,taking long ,complicated taans and enjoying his music and taking the audience along!

The last session was Dr. Ashwini Bhide. She is a well known singer and a fine artiste.She began with raag"Husaini Todi".She did alapi and then began the bandish slowly and steadily increased the tempo . She was accompanied by two of her shishyas who were both well trained and "surili" The next composition was raag-Anand- Bhairav.the raag is sweet to hear and has komal notes . .Dr.. Ashwini Bhide started having  some trouble as her throat was causing irritation. The programme ended with a drut bandish .

I was very happy that i had decided to go for the programme. Avery well spent Sunday! 

An incident from the past

An incident from the past

I had morning practicals ,so I left home at 8.30 a.m. I reached Andheri station and stood in the queue for the bus.The bus was late,people were agitated.At last the bus came. As we started getting into the bus one woman just rushed and as I was about to step in, she bit me on my arm just above the elbow at the back .She was angry and desperate.

I was shocked and shouted "Why are you biting me?".Seconds later , I was in the bus ,people were staring and me feeling quite stupid and still shocked that some grown woman had actually bitten me! I started thinking of what to do next.

 The entire journey was spent in deciding this. I came to the conclusion that medical aid must be taken. There was no cut or bleeding . I approached our college Ayurvedic medical center.Someone there cleaned my arm with Savlon and applied Soframycin ointment. She told me that if the arm swells up in the evening I would need to take a Tetanus injection.


What a day!         IN THE 21ST CENTURY A WOMAN BITES ANOTHER.......

ME , MY MAID AND VIVIDH BHARATI

Yesterday evening I was sitting at this very same spot looking out of the window and generally not thinking of anything. I happened to glance up and saw the fan in the room. It had blackened at the edges due to dust and moisture.I decided that the next day that is today I would be cleaning it before my help-the zadu-katkawali came for cleaning.

 Today I got up early ,finished most of my work-breakfast and cooking and then began cleaning my room.I finished the roof and fan and the shelves.The floor now had a lot of dirt on it which my maid would clean.

Suddenly I realised it was already five days in a row that my maid had come and done the work-she would probably not come today.I called her up.The phone was busy.I turned and walked towards my bedroom when the phone rang.I rushed towards it with hope in my heart and also a little doubt-it was the maid-her son was sick, she was taking him to the doctor and could not come. 

All thoughts crossed my mind.The doctor -delayed [ his maid had'nt come?] and hence a long queue at the doctors and therefore my maid could not come.She had already told me so! 

 Yesterday Aai had come back from her sisters' place .Her unwashed clothes,our clothes and a few extra pieces were already washed and sitting in the basket waiting to be put for drying.The scene at the kitchen sink was no different.All the food had been transferred to small vessels and the big ones were waiting to be cleaned.

 I calmed myself and decided to think of all this differently-no anger -I could afford to be calm -I was a retired person sitting at home-nowhere to rush off.

I remembered that some of my colleagues (I was a teacher in a college) would take leave without any hesitation.The reason being that one had to be at a temple on an auspiciuos day [Thursday] to receive the Almighty's blessings! Another was just tired and felt like not going to work[tired doing housework or teaching?]

My maid had a sick child -she definitely needed to take leave.Thinking of the conditions in which they live, the different responsibilities they handle and the superstitions that surround them they are still doing a good job! 

 Looking at all the work piled up I smiled and turned to the transistor radio.I am fond of listening to the radio[inherited from my parents]I switched it on and kept it next to me. To the lilting voice of Lata Mangeshkar-"Woh bhuli dastaan phir yaad aa gayi"and "Bairan neend na aaye" each cloth was put up on the line for drying.I was singing along with Latadidi-would she have ever dreamed that her singing would ease a very tedious job considerably? The clothes hanging was over in a jiffy -I thought.

 Then I turned to the vessels .Vividh bharati had Mohd. Rafi singing "jaroorat hai jaroorat hai ek shrimati ki kalavati ki-jo seva kare pati ki"-wah! how appropriate-they had to play something so apt.The songs were accompanied by some talk-this time it was about eating Karela and its numerous benefits.It was about how joint pains were relieved by eating karela. I realised I didn't need to eat karela -my mouth had already had the kadva taste,and the joints all creaking.Then a song- "dil hai ke manata nahin"-I wash ,clean,sing ,wash clean sing. Then I turned to my room where it all began . I took the broom and cleaned up the mess I had created.

 I also remembered "Hallo Farmaish" on Vividh bharati where people call in and ask them to play their favourite songs.The compere then talks to these people who say that "mein din bhar Vividh bharati soonta/soonti hoon kaam karte karte-tailoring,working in a garage, or a sipahi at the border-now I was one of them .I quite liked it all.

 The clothes were hung to dry,vessels were now washed and the room was cleaned up

   My thoughts could now be put into words

Thanks Vividh Bharati!

aaghat

This film directed by Mr. Vikram Gokhale[his first directorial venture]is a must see!

The film is sleek -that is ,there are no extra frills ,not a tear jerker or a comic riot but absolutely brilliant!

The actors have given a marvelous performance-each one of them and the credit goes to the director for keeping a tight leash on the acting -just as much as required by the script.The script is very good and it shows how a common person can be duped easily.The Hippocratic oath at the begining and the comment at the end were masterstrokes.

Thank you all for this great film and we would love to see more of Mr. Vikram Gokhale-both as an actor and a director.His faith in Ms. Mukta Barve is justified completely.All the actors have done a great job even in the smallest roles.Congratulations!

There is though one drawback- not many theaters are running the film and then those that are running it do so at odd times like 11.30 am or 12 noon.Still I could catch it and be happy that I have seen a great film!

The Play-Katkon -Trikon

We saw a wonderfully written play Katkon Trikon. The writer is Dr. Vivek Bele ,the Director Mr. Girish Joshi and the Producer Mr. Ajit Bhure.
The play is about a young couple and an old man who is the man's father.The play is written in a very light banter kind of style.The actors are the very versatile Dr. Mohan Agashe, Mr. Sandesh Kulkarni and Ms. Ketki Thatte.The play makes one think about our own behaviour towards the old as also the thoughts and difficulties of the young.The play uses the same dialogues in different contexts and conveys an altogether different meaning. A wonderful use of language! The play also has humour though there are serious issues discussed and this takes the audience very delicately to the climax of the play,without it turning into a comedy or an over the top shouting ,screaming end.
All in all a superb coming together of an excellent writer ,a good director and a committed producer,par excellence actor Dr. Mohan Agashe,good acting by Mr. Sandesh Kulkarni and Ms. Ketki Thatte.
Thank you all for this wonderful gift.May we keep getting many such productions.

A visit to Leh June 19th to 26th

A wonderful trip to the beautiful land of Leh! Leh needs a lot of preparation. The climate was not what one would expect -cold and colder. During the flight we could see the mountain ranges -snow covered and some grey. We landed in Leh at 7 am. It was cold -8 degrees celcius.It was also icy windy!. I had to keep myself completely covered in a shawl apart from the sweater, inners and cap.. The oxygen content being low also caused discomfort.The first day was spent in getting acclimatized. Any exertion caused tiredness.The hotel Leh Chan was a nice place away from the noise of vehicles and close to a tiny river..The next day we woke up early as the sunrise is early.What a wonderful sight we saw!

From our room we could see the sunrise ,the snow clad mountains, the palace at a distance and the magpie robin.It was a sight that I had never seen before and do not think will see again.21 st we went to Samkar gompha, Shanti Stupa the Hemis festival and the Leh palace.These are the photos of the Samkar gompha, the Shanti Stupa the Leh palace and the Hemis festival.
The next day 22nd we went to the Pangyong lake .It is a long drive through winding roads and snow covered mountains.The topmost point is Chang-La which is 17586 FEET .


The entire journey showed us a part of India we had never imagined.From there we proceeded to Pangyong lake. This photo does not do justice to the beauty of the vast lake which also spreads into China.We found some gulls in there brown headed and looking wonderful on the blue green waters of the lake.We passed through villages Shey and Thiksey.The route back was tiring as the low oxygen content causes some discomfort as also the winding roads.We reached Hotel Leh Chen around evening and then just flopped out. The 23 rd was a day of sight seeing at lower levels-the sangam of the zanskar and indus rivers, the magnetic hill, the patthar sahib-a gurudwara, the fabulous museum -a tribute to our brave soldiers of the army ,navy and air force.









The eveving was spent in shopping at Leh market.The market is full of woolens,silver jewellery ,bags of different leathers and stones of all kinds.
We had a good time there and also got to walk a little as we were all the time getting into the Qualis and driving off.We also visited the market and got a papaya and a mashmelon and were happy that we could eat some fruit after 4-5 days.
The next day was a trip to Nubra valley ,the highest motorable road in the world.We got off to an early start and the drive was amazing .The mountains were of all colours and the weather was bitterly cold.We reached the highest point Khardung-La.The oxygen content was low and quite a tiring time.The man in the picture is a tourist who is trying to show that the low temperature has no effect on him!Later on these people had to be hospitalised and given oxygen.One must pay attention to the instructions of the guides or the people living there.
The road went further towards the sand dunes -a cold desert . I had never imagined that it would be a desert with freezing temperatures and sand all around. There are many two-humped camels here. The sand is extremely fine and looks like miles and miles of it.The further journey brought us to Tirith camp -a wonderful place in the midst of nowhere.
The approach to the camp provided us with a view of a waterfall from the snow capped mountains.What can I say? all the adjectives fall short of the sight that we saw!.The camping was a superb experience .The food was good and we all could sit together and chat ,relax ,have a hot water bath .The tea place was a round area where we all sat together ,had tea, biscuits and snacks.We ladies played cards -a game called 7 of hearts.It was a lot of fun.We stayed overnight and left early as there was a chance of bad weather. Sure enough we experienced a blizzard on the way back.The trip gave us the complete package of what it can be in a place like Leh.Luckily we did not see the ugly side of the terrain or the weather.The mountains we saw were a varied colour-red- as you can see in this picture ,green yellow and of various textures-rocky but smooth like chocolate,sandy, gravelly ,stony sometimes forming shapes sometimes looking dangerous. The drive back was a bit frightening because there was mist and sometimes one could not see anything and suddenly the mist would go away and we could again see the beautiful snow laden mountains.The journey ended with us back at the Leh chen hotel in the evening. The next day was a rest day when we decided to go river rafting in the Zanskar river. River rafting is for the strong ones -who can use oars fast and for the brave hearts who will not lose their cool in case of a mishap.The entire stretch was a raw beauty that one never sees elsewhere. It is unspoilt by humans requiring all amenities and mollycoddling. The next day -26th we began the return journey with memories of an unforgettable trip to one of the most wonderful places in INDIA that one could see.