A trip to the North
On my first journey by air to Lucknow, I found an in-flight magazine of Jet Airways, which told me that my week would be an exciting one. A week which would create a better bonding with family and one filled with adventure. I would get to know if it was true as things panned out in the coming days.
Probably my brother's greatest personal achievement was graduating from IIM Lucknow. It was a very eventful day for all of us in the family, which is why we decided to be a part of it. I guess it was November last year that we made all the travel arrangements and since it was our first visit to the northern part of our great country, we were a bit anxious. Couple this to the fact that we'd never been on an flight and you can see the problem.
The plan was to finish the convocation in Lucknow and visit as many places in and around as possible. First off, let me tell you; being in an IIM is a very unique and special experience. Prior to the convocation, a dinner party was arranged for the families of the privileged few graduating. The atmosphere was very exciting and everyone clicked pics with their loved ones to the brim. Later, I was introduced to some of my brother's mates and was I in for a shock! I never thought they would be so humble and NORMAL. I was expecting more of the I'M AN IIMER look but never got it! The next day was even better. An elite panel presided the function and boy did it feel special! Students in robes, parents smiling till their faces split, cheers all round. God it was good! At around 8 in the night, we got to see my bro's certificate and it was followed by another round of pics. Wonder what I've to do to hold something like that in the future...anyway back to our trip.
After the convocation, we headed to Kasi. The first of the many pilgrimages planned in the coming days. Although it's supposed to be THE place of worship, I honestly felt there's nothing except loads and loads of money and then some, running the show. Honestly, there is so much chaos and cheating going on that no one, I mean even the most efficient and honest officers will be helpless. (However, this was only the tip of the iceberg, as I was about to find out in the next couple of days.) A trip to the city meant eating junk and that meant trouble. I suffered from stomach infections for two whole days and then a visit to a desi doctor ended up with two injections, one to each hand.
Allahabad was next on our list and we got there by bus. It is by far one of the dirtiest places I've seen to date. Plastic waste dumped as landfill everywhere, poverty, touts, etc., are some of the most common sights here. If you are alone with no local help, it's next to impossible to survive there. I am not going to elaborate on the temple visits as I've expressed my opinion on it in one of my previous posts.
Next stop, Gaya. The best part about Gaya is the monasteries built by various followers of Buddha from different parts of the world. If you think that's amazing, you must visit Bodhgaya. The place where Siddhartha was enlightened and became the learned one. You can still feel the energy and find tranquility there. It's an amazing experience, one better felt than expressed.
There were 3 primary reasons for me to go on this trip. First was the convocation, second, the Taj and third, the Red Fort. With one box ticked, we headed to Delhi, the capital and a befitting one at that. The roads are impossibly wide and the people an impossibly rich! An unplanned visit to Akshardam Ashram turned out to be one the surprises of the tour. It is a totally different world inside the compound surrounding 200 acres of land. A world which is clean, peaceful and where religion plays no part. It was completed in 2005 and was done by some of the most skilled artists of the modern era. The word Ashram might ward off visitors, thinking that it might be a place of preaching or reserved for the elderly. However, it's not. The best thing about the place is that it only reminds us how lucky we are to be in India and strengthens the patriotism in us. Brilliant. And ya, if you do go there, spend the extra little and watch the shows and the museums. It's definitely worth every penny.
The next day was our visit to the Taj. If I am to be honest, no matter which pics you've seen, what videos you've watched regarding it's heritage, nothing, absolutely nothing comes close to the spectacle that awaits you. Wonder how much Shah Jahan must have loved his wife to build it! Superlatives simply cannot describe the Taj. You need to dig deep to find words that befit it. Since my vocab is poor, I'd say it is breathtaking! Too good to be real and straight out of a dream. Thankfully, we got a guide who knew the exact angles at which we could take photos and cover the spectacle in front of us. Oh and ya, in the excitement, I forgot to mention about Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. It was nice to see the place kept pretty much intact and also, the food was nice!
With two boxes ticked and a few unexpected entries, my list boiled down to the Red Fort. Something about the place intrigued me. It's a massive engineering feat. It stands tall and is quite imposing, overlooking Delhi-6. (Remember the movie?) The walls have stories to tell, one of battles and heroes in them. Overall though I've to say, Delhi is a must see place. Right from the India Gate, which reminds us of our past to the Delhi Metro, which has revolutionized the transport system, Delhi has the mix of both heritage and modernism. And ya, we went on the metro trains too!
I've mentioned probably 1/4th of the places we visited in those 10 days in the north. However, few things struck my mind. There is really a lack of education and sheer poverty as compared to us Southees! The helplessness of the government to reform the place is also saddening. Some of the realities seen there were food for my thought. They are lessons I'll never forget.
Probably my brother's greatest personal achievement was graduating from IIM Lucknow. It was a very eventful day for all of us in the family, which is why we decided to be a part of it. I guess it was November last year that we made all the travel arrangements and since it was our first visit to the northern part of our great country, we were a bit anxious. Couple this to the fact that we'd never been on an flight and you can see the problem.
The plan was to finish the convocation in Lucknow and visit as many places in and around as possible. First off, let me tell you; being in an IIM is a very unique and special experience. Prior to the convocation, a dinner party was arranged for the families of the privileged few graduating. The atmosphere was very exciting and everyone clicked pics with their loved ones to the brim. Later, I was introduced to some of my brother's mates and was I in for a shock! I never thought they would be so humble and NORMAL. I was expecting more of the I'M AN IIMER look but never got it! The next day was even better. An elite panel presided the function and boy did it feel special! Students in robes, parents smiling till their faces split, cheers all round. God it was good! At around 8 in the night, we got to see my bro's certificate and it was followed by another round of pics. Wonder what I've to do to hold something like that in the future...anyway back to our trip.
After the convocation, we headed to Kasi. The first of the many pilgrimages planned in the coming days. Although it's supposed to be THE place of worship, I honestly felt there's nothing except loads and loads of money and then some, running the show. Honestly, there is so much chaos and cheating going on that no one, I mean even the most efficient and honest officers will be helpless. (However, this was only the tip of the iceberg, as I was about to find out in the next couple of days.) A trip to the city meant eating junk and that meant trouble. I suffered from stomach infections for two whole days and then a visit to a desi doctor ended up with two injections, one to each hand.
Allahabad was next on our list and we got there by bus. It is by far one of the dirtiest places I've seen to date. Plastic waste dumped as landfill everywhere, poverty, touts, etc., are some of the most common sights here. If you are alone with no local help, it's next to impossible to survive there. I am not going to elaborate on the temple visits as I've expressed my opinion on it in one of my previous posts.
Next stop, Gaya. The best part about Gaya is the monasteries built by various followers of Buddha from different parts of the world. If you think that's amazing, you must visit Bodhgaya. The place where Siddhartha was enlightened and became the learned one. You can still feel the energy and find tranquility there. It's an amazing experience, one better felt than expressed.
There were 3 primary reasons for me to go on this trip. First was the convocation, second, the Taj and third, the Red Fort. With one box ticked, we headed to Delhi, the capital and a befitting one at that. The roads are impossibly wide and the people an impossibly rich! An unplanned visit to Akshardam Ashram turned out to be one the surprises of the tour. It is a totally different world inside the compound surrounding 200 acres of land. A world which is clean, peaceful and where religion plays no part. It was completed in 2005 and was done by some of the most skilled artists of the modern era. The word Ashram might ward off visitors, thinking that it might be a place of preaching or reserved for the elderly. However, it's not. The best thing about the place is that it only reminds us how lucky we are to be in India and strengthens the patriotism in us. Brilliant. And ya, if you do go there, spend the extra little and watch the shows and the museums. It's definitely worth every penny.
The next day was our visit to the Taj. If I am to be honest, no matter which pics you've seen, what videos you've watched regarding it's heritage, nothing, absolutely nothing comes close to the spectacle that awaits you. Wonder how much Shah Jahan must have loved his wife to build it! Superlatives simply cannot describe the Taj. You need to dig deep to find words that befit it. Since my vocab is poor, I'd say it is breathtaking! Too good to be real and straight out of a dream. Thankfully, we got a guide who knew the exact angles at which we could take photos and cover the spectacle in front of us. Oh and ya, in the excitement, I forgot to mention about Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. It was nice to see the place kept pretty much intact and also, the food was nice!
With two boxes ticked and a few unexpected entries, my list boiled down to the Red Fort. Something about the place intrigued me. It's a massive engineering feat. It stands tall and is quite imposing, overlooking Delhi-6. (Remember the movie?) The walls have stories to tell, one of battles and heroes in them. Overall though I've to say, Delhi is a must see place. Right from the India Gate, which reminds us of our past to the Delhi Metro, which has revolutionized the transport system, Delhi has the mix of both heritage and modernism. And ya, we went on the metro trains too!
I've mentioned probably 1/4th of the places we visited in those 10 days in the north. However, few things struck my mind. There is really a lack of education and sheer poverty as compared to us Southees! The helplessness of the government to reform the place is also saddening. Some of the realities seen there were food for my thought. They are lessons I'll never forget.
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