It is day 6 and after checking into Bharat Seva Ashram we proceeded towards "Har-ki-pauri". It is that area of Haridwar where there the "ghats" or the "river access platforms". We had some snacks and just saw the locales which was tremendous and then before sunset grabbed seats for ourselves so that we could see the "Ganga aarti". This is basically a ritual where the river Ganga is paid obeisance with systematic movement of fire lanterns. This ritual has been done for hundreds of year if not thousands without fail. Like Ganga maa (or mother) is being paid homage when it emerges from the deep underbelly of the earth and proceeds towards the people. After wonderful evening there we returned back to Ashram where we had the dinner.
DAY 7- August 18, 2016
After breakfast at Ashram we proceeded to visit the famous temples of Haridwar namely Manasa Devi temple and Chandi devi temple. Both the temples are accessible through the use of ropeways. The view of the surrounding areas from the ropeways is great and not to be missed. There is also a shuttle service from Manasa devi temple to Chandi devi temple. Then we returned to Ashram and then evening was kept for shopping. After that we had dinner and then left the Ashram as our train to Amritsar was there.
DAY 8- August 19, 2016
We reached Amritsar and then we checked into nearby one hotel. At that hotel itself we booked a cab to take us around town and Wagah border. First he took us to a temple and then to the Golden temple. The Golden temple is a center not to be missed. I will appeal to all the people around the world regardless of your religion please at least once in your life you should go and visit the Golden temple. There we had free food what they call as "langar" where you have wonderful tasty food. After Golden temple we went to Jalianwala bagh which is not that big to be frank and is just beside the Golden temple. Then we did some shopping and then proceeded to Wagah border.
At Wagah border before 1 km they do not allow anyone and you have go by foot. I had been to Jaisalmer and could not go near the border where I wanted to seen the Pakistan flag fluttering but I could not because the tour operator said that "Military pass is required". But here I went close to the border and saw the Pakistan flag fluttering and what a sight it was. I will say every Indian should visit the Wagah border at least once in their lives. I will not say that to foreigners because they can visit Pakistan directly. I am sure many things in Pakistan would be better than India. Also foreigners should have pass yes here also if you have pass issued by military you can go real close to the border and see the parade like beating retreat parade real close. At general stands there is just too much crowd and foreigners will not like it.
Also too much of sound is being made by playing patriotic sound which makes it impossible to hear the sounds playing on the other side as well as the actual parade sounds. We Indians have grown up listening to Indian patriotic songs. Does it harm anyone if we get to listen songs from the Pakistani side? They should make people listen from the other side as well, that is what I feel.
But it is amazing that since 1965 when BSF was formed this parade is being done everyday without fail and people from both sides are there face to face and there has been no incident. It is all friendly and peaceful and that is how it should be. Neighbors should be like that. And I feel we are like that perhaps excluding Kashmir where there is high handedness by India.
After the parade we returned back to the hotel where we checked out and packed the dinner near the station to have it in the train to Delhi.
DAY 9- August 20, 2016
This day we reached Nizamuddin station where we had booked Railway retiring room. After relaxing for a bit we left for Akshardham Mandir (temple) and there we saw the sound and light show which is definitely worth watching. There is also a movie shown there. Basically what they show is the life and the times of Bhagwaan Swaminarayan who was the founder of the organisation which made the Akshardham mandir. It is not like any other temple and I believe people of all faiths and nationalities can visit. All should visit. Their main teaching is to respect all living things and be vegeterian and lead simple lives and help others and so on. After Akshardham temple we returned back to Nizamuddin station and left the room and went with our luggage to New Delhi station where at 10:15 PM our train to Bhubaneswar was there which was Purushottam express.
DAY 10- August 21, 2016
Journey from Delhi to Bhubaneswar is 1900 kms approximately and it takes 2 nights in a train like Purushottam express and one full day. This day was spent in train.
DAY 11- August 22, 2016
Early morning at 4:30 am we were back in Bhubaneswar.
Thus that ended the tour of North India.
Places covered Burnpur, Ayodhya, Faizabad, Rishikesh, Mussorie, Dehradun, Haridwar, Amritsar and finally Delhi. Total of 10 nights of which 7 nights was spent in train and 2 nights at Rishikesh and 1 night at Haridwar.
DAY 7- August 18, 2016
After breakfast at Ashram we proceeded to visit the famous temples of Haridwar namely Manasa Devi temple and Chandi devi temple. Both the temples are accessible through the use of ropeways. The view of the surrounding areas from the ropeways is great and not to be missed. There is also a shuttle service from Manasa devi temple to Chandi devi temple. Then we returned to Ashram and then evening was kept for shopping. After that we had dinner and then left the Ashram as our train to Amritsar was there.
DAY 8- August 19, 2016
We reached Amritsar and then we checked into nearby one hotel. At that hotel itself we booked a cab to take us around town and Wagah border. First he took us to a temple and then to the Golden temple. The Golden temple is a center not to be missed. I will appeal to all the people around the world regardless of your religion please at least once in your life you should go and visit the Golden temple. There we had free food what they call as "langar" where you have wonderful tasty food. After Golden temple we went to Jalianwala bagh which is not that big to be frank and is just beside the Golden temple. Then we did some shopping and then proceeded to Wagah border.
At Wagah border before 1 km they do not allow anyone and you have go by foot. I had been to Jaisalmer and could not go near the border where I wanted to seen the Pakistan flag fluttering but I could not because the tour operator said that "Military pass is required". But here I went close to the border and saw the Pakistan flag fluttering and what a sight it was. I will say every Indian should visit the Wagah border at least once in their lives. I will not say that to foreigners because they can visit Pakistan directly. I am sure many things in Pakistan would be better than India. Also foreigners should have pass yes here also if you have pass issued by military you can go real close to the border and see the parade like beating retreat parade real close. At general stands there is just too much crowd and foreigners will not like it.
Also too much of sound is being made by playing patriotic sound which makes it impossible to hear the sounds playing on the other side as well as the actual parade sounds. We Indians have grown up listening to Indian patriotic songs. Does it harm anyone if we get to listen songs from the Pakistani side? They should make people listen from the other side as well, that is what I feel.
But it is amazing that since 1965 when BSF was formed this parade is being done everyday without fail and people from both sides are there face to face and there has been no incident. It is all friendly and peaceful and that is how it should be. Neighbors should be like that. And I feel we are like that perhaps excluding Kashmir where there is high handedness by India.
After the parade we returned back to the hotel where we checked out and packed the dinner near the station to have it in the train to Delhi.
DAY 9- August 20, 2016
This day we reached Nizamuddin station where we had booked Railway retiring room. After relaxing for a bit we left for Akshardham Mandir (temple) and there we saw the sound and light show which is definitely worth watching. There is also a movie shown there. Basically what they show is the life and the times of Bhagwaan Swaminarayan who was the founder of the organisation which made the Akshardham mandir. It is not like any other temple and I believe people of all faiths and nationalities can visit. All should visit. Their main teaching is to respect all living things and be vegeterian and lead simple lives and help others and so on. After Akshardham temple we returned back to Nizamuddin station and left the room and went with our luggage to New Delhi station where at 10:15 PM our train to Bhubaneswar was there which was Purushottam express.
DAY 10- August 21, 2016
Journey from Delhi to Bhubaneswar is 1900 kms approximately and it takes 2 nights in a train like Purushottam express and one full day. This day was spent in train.
DAY 11- August 22, 2016
Early morning at 4:30 am we were back in Bhubaneswar.
Thus that ended the tour of North India.
Places covered Burnpur, Ayodhya, Faizabad, Rishikesh, Mussorie, Dehradun, Haridwar, Amritsar and finally Delhi. Total of 10 nights of which 7 nights was spent in train and 2 nights at Rishikesh and 1 night at Haridwar.
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