HARE KRISHNA HARE RAMA

Nand Ke Anand Bharo Jai Kanhayia Lal ki

Staying in Faridabad and being an extreme devotee of Lord Krishna makes Mathura my preferable choice of frequent travel because of its proximity. But as the lust among people is growing up from years, so the commercialization of feelings, emotions, devotion is increasing in terms of construction of temples, donations  resulting into my loss of  interest in the place. As the devotion to lord krishna starts being estimated in terms of money or the magnificent structure of the various ashrams or temples. Consequently, spirituality changes to rather fun, enjoyment and for some of the tourists, it might turn as an worst experience too.

But the question is inspite of so much development and commercialization of faith, what holds such a positive environment still there. Is it the pious presence of lord krishna or the sacred faith of the people coming there? So searching for this answer let me travel Mathura again after so many years. After being entered into mathura city, mixed feelings surrounded me, it was not at all positive aura that I am seeking for, but still having extreme faith in my mind for "natkhat kanha" I headed my journey to Bakebhari temple.

Shree Bakebihariji Temple

Soon I reached Bakebihari ji temple via auto rickshaw, it was a magical feeling there, shops are beautifully decorated with all the accessories of krishna, the people greet you with "Radhe Radhe", the aroma of sweets filling up my nasal passage. One can see a huge crowd gushing out there with extreme faith and devotion to krishna. The idol of krishna is so beautifully adorned that one could fall for his first look, he's really manmohak and to prevent this, the doors of krishna murari are closed minute after minute so that none could make eye contact with him and take him along. How exciting and superstitious it is, but this is faith, this is love, this is possessiveness, this is care n this is the reason of millions of hearts ending up in the city daily.

Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple

Hare Krishna Hare Rama

The enchanting music of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" tempted me to visit "Iskcon Temple", one of the oldest temples in Mathura. It is the most tempting place for foreign devotees, the enchantment of krishna bhajans, the thralling music of dholkis, harmoniums, manjiras  creates an extreme positive environment there. Nothing except the Krishna Bhakti fills in your mind making you feel tranquil from your inner heart. Also, the idols are adorably dressed with fresh flowers makes one fall into love with them.

One thing I realised after visiting temples, though the commercialization has taken its mark there, but it is the auspicious faith and love of millions of people worldwide that grabs the positivism and spiritualism out there. If you are true lover of Krishna, forget about everything, just pack your bags and head there but beware of not falling into traps of ashrams and gurus.

ISKCON TEMPLE, VRINDAVAN, MATHURA

know more about the similar place in ujjain at Land of Faith & Myths Ujjain

TEACH INDIA BRIGHT INDIA

This is not one of the regular travel experience that I am always supposed to write, but this is something that I have experienced while travelling which I can't resist myself to pen down to bring the light of the instance to everyone.

I am on my usual ride on Delhi metro where the monotonous sound of metro operator lamenting my ears minute after minute urging my mind strongly to get my destination soon and I was stepped out of this boring scenario. Suddenly, my eyes caught an attention to the group of cheerful teenager girls who belong to suburban areas  but the confidence and charm they were holding on their faces almost  hypnotized me. Even for a second, I would not be able to get my eyes off from them, they were in their teens but the way they were conversing was mind blowing, the etiquette they were having can even left behind the most urban teens. The command that they hold on the language showed that they are quite literate and are going to be the bright future of our country. With few more lapse of time, I can't hold myself inquiring about them because I never expected such a nice behavioral manner especially excellent communication skills from the children belonging to lower suburban areas.

So, I asked the girl almost of my age group, referred as "Ragini didi" by the girls, might be their teacher, curiously I inquired from her what they were up to. The answer she gave me  just taken me a back. Their work is so applauding, they are trying to blossom lotuses in a marshy land (that almost each of us refer to suburban as). They are craving diamonds so beautifully out of the mines in the form of providing education to the children from the lower suburban of the societies. The ability to stand on their own feet, communicate confidently with the crowd they are living into,  generates the extreme glow on the children' faces which is their own light, their own power of chasing to their brilliant and bright future.

With little more conversation with her, I got to know that She's an engineer by profession but rather choosing to work in MNCs earning high paid salaries, she chose to work for a non profitable organisation "Teach for India" from last two years. The organisation run by a Shaheen Mistri initially, but now growing as a community  with the like minded people towards providing excellence to society. Their purpose is upbringing and nurturing talent in the lower suburban areas to their best and they are doing it at par their excellence very well. It can be judged by the intimacy they are holding with the kids, the satisfaction of the greatest accomplishment can be seen in them, which I think no other work can deliver to them.

It is by this instance, I realize that there are still some of the population left in India who either lamenting about the adversities in India or wasting their energies in pointing out negatives, engaged in turning out the society to its best by nurturing the buds to blossom like flowers soon. Cheers and salute to their work, their dedication and their determination....!!! They are the people who are making and contributing to real India....!! They are the ones who are making this slogan actually true "Padega India tabhi to Badega India"...!!

If you want to contribute your services, you can do so by logging on their site: www.teachforindia.org

OLD IS GOLD IN GAYLORD EXPRESS

When I reached Clock Tower, an enticing crowd accumulating in front of a shop caught my eyes, then here came the voice from besides, recognising me as a tourist saying "been in Dehradun and not been to Gaylord, then it is something that you should regret for". Peeking inside the bakery, I found a huge crowd sitting there to taste all the delicacies, enjoying and having fun with their friends or family. The gushing sounds of college students, the merrily singing of "Happy birthday", people with happy and satisfactory faces can all be seen there.  

Gaylord is one of the oldest bakery in Dehradun promising to deliver the best and delicious tastes, one had never tasted in his life. Owned by a Sikh family,  It is continuously delivering best delicacies to its customers since 1950s. Their motto is simple to deliver its customers the best of its taste in an inexpensive price and it is quite promisingly doing this as well.

Ranging from all the baked breads, toasts, it offers the best 'soft n spongy' cakes and pastries that too at a cheap price. The cakes are beautifully decorated promising to deliver the best tastes and enticing its customers. The taste is well enough to delight your taste buds and tempting too.

The quality it is maintaining from the centuries makes the popular dogma "Old is gold" true. Its grandeur add a new space to its area with a sitting space nearby its old marvellous structure. I also had a nice and pleasant conversation with its owner whom I referred as Gaylord's Uncle, talking to him make me feel like I am talking to my grandfather whom I had never seen, but he's concern for me is in the same way like my grandfather would do. Its his grace that made me to give Gaylord's a separate space for my writing.

It gives you a wide menu range ranging from the extreme flavours of pastas, pizzas, toasts and the most importantly, my extremely favorite icecreams and sundaes and that too at a price which will not put a hole in your pocket, if you are a foodie searching for a new and best tastes, then Gaylord is a place you should never miss out in Dehradun. 

Lastly, I must say feeling the genuinity of place, If you are in Dehradun, then you must try for its toasts, pastries and yup, the most important ice creams, shakes and sundaes...I've tried my hand at each of them and its just so yummy.....yipeee...!!!

For other places of interest in Dehradun, check out my blog about "Speculating Dehradun" and "Mini Tibet at Buddha Temple".

You can also check pics and videos of the various places of Dehradun on my facebook page "Apex Shine Travels" and also follow me on instagram at @apexshiningneha

Know more about the people who are bringing good to the society by their services in my next post Teach India Bright India 

MINI TIBET AT BUDDHA TEMPLE

In the beautiful city of Dehradun in Uttarakhand, I was surprisingly found mini Tibet on its roads near Buddha temple. There were Lamas roaming all around giving a wonderful peaceful ambience. The smiling pacified faces of them, relaxed me internally. The houses are beautifully architectured with the parchas in their verandas giving them a beautiful Tibetian culture appearance. The fantastic aroma of Tibetian food gusty in air, It was a normal food which I used to eat frequently but may be I was so hungry, that the delicious aroma is filling up my soul and urging my stomach to eat. But I was resolute enough to explore the great Mindrolling monastry first.  

It was an euphorically fabulous feeling on standing in front of the entrance door, the beautiful Tibet architectured door made me feel like I am somewhere in Tibet. The entrance was framed with eight lucky symbols, four being on left and four on right, these symbols are lotus, wheel, bell, shell and many more.

The entrance of Mindrolling Monastry

Inside view of Monastry where Lamas used to stay

Inside the monastry, the walls are craved with the different forms of their preachers(Guru) depicting their various intellects in the form of different gestures and forms. The bottom of the walls are engrossed with the mantras written in the mixture of language Tibeti and Sanskrit.

Lord Buddha

wall cravings

It was told to me by Lama that it is believed in Tibetian culture that the fruits and flowers offered to god may fall on ground or get rotten or dried once, so they have a unique way of offering their prayers to their God in form of 7 water filled bowls indicating the seven steps of Lord Buddha's teaching. There is no prasad given as we used to get in temples and gurudwaras, instead the water that is offered is used for irrigation purposes so that the flora grows well.

All the lamas are used to take religious training by reading naah (a series of mantras written by their preachers), same like as in Bhagvad Gita of Hindus, Quran of Muslims, Bible of Christians and Guru Granth Sahib of Sikhs. Also, Its an interesting fact to know in their culture that they used to burn their dead with sattu powder so that the aroma of it fills the stomach of dead and he do not feel hungry after dying so that his soul be fulfilled. How great is that...!!!

I was quite fortunate that I got a chance to see the beautiful inside views of Great World Peace Stupa, it was embellished with the sculpture of  descendent of Lord Buddha on top and descending some steps, there is the idol of present Buddha.

The Great World Peace Stupa

Present Buddha "Shakyamuni" in front and the future Buddha in back

On the either side of the Stupa, there is an array of eight stupas commemorating the Buddha's life. There are five shrine rooms inside the Stupa, the ground floor is dedicated to the great Indian Guru Padmasambhava who brought Buddhism to Tibet, the walls here are craved with the stories related to their birth. I've clicked a picture describing all the rooms in detail so that one could grab as maximum knowledge one can.

It is a dogma in Tibetian culture that by rolling their spiritual wheel in a clockwise direction which is engraved with mantra Om Namah Padme Hun, one can be freed from all of his sins perfoormed in past lives and present life. How interesting is that, just by rolling a wheel you can free from all your sins as they represent six syllables given by Lord Buddha. I took an advantage of it as well.

The rolling Wheel "Om Namah Padme Hun"

Lord Buddha

The serene appearance of Lord Buddha near the parking, the tallest idol of Buddha which can be seen from few meters away filled my soul with endless peace. When I reached on the top roof of the Stupa, It was an exotic feeling there, one could observe the entire view of Dehradun there and it was really amazing, so peaceful. 

View from the top of Stupa

With the pleasing memories, I returned back with peaceful soul absorbing some of the positive facts of Tibetian culture. Truly, its a mini Tibet over the roads of Clement Town at Buddha Temple in Dehradun. I am really thankful to Lama who agreed to be my guide in my short journey to virtual Tibet and help me in guiding the Tibetian Culture.

Thankyou lama...!!

Know more about the other beautiful places in Dehradun through my post "Speculating Dehradun"

SPECULATING DEHRADUN

This Rakhi had quite been special for me as I've ended into the most speculating city, Dehradun in Uttarakhand, which might be adorned by some or just a mischevious city for some where nothing is to explore. But for me Dehradun is quite an amazing place as it gives you a range of options to try out.

I reached Dehradun in the morning around 7 by bus via ISBT DELHI, its been quite tough to travel during festive days as you see the whole world is travelling with you, so in short you have to see yourself in trap of huge traffic, fewer or almost no seats that I've faced that day. The only way to get out from this is do all your bookings previously, if then it is of mere easily available bus tickets also.

I booked my stay in Raghukul Guest house which is located just few metres from ISBT DEHRADUN, its quite promisingly give you a pleasant and homely stay that too in an inexpensive way. The rooms are neat and clean with all the basic amenities.

In Dehradun as I mentioned earlier that there are plenty of options available to explore, similarly there are myriad of options to reach to those places, but the most safe and cheapest of all is hiring a taxi for local travel, as then you can save your time from hustle bustle of getting an autorickshaws or city buses and the most important the fast running blue coloured autorickshaws called as Vikram which are numbered for designated places, so you must be aware of local routes too for being travelled in them.

Vikram

My first destination is our all time favorite movie's college "Mohabbatein's Gurukul" or "Student of the Year's college"......yes, it is Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, the specialty about here is that it is made by Britishers and Its main building is just a masterpiece of Greek Roman architecture which makes it mindblowing place in between the dense forests and is being used as a research centre for botanical students nowadays .

Main building of Forest Research Institute

Inside View of FRI housing the various museums

Auditorium Of FRI

Way in Way

 It captures a wide variety of flora, the important of them are Rudraksh tree, Kapur tree, Eucalyptus tree or bamboo tree and many more.  Must say, if I had a college like this, I would spent whole of my life studying there. It houses Botanical museum for the attraction of tourists. 

Flower of Rudraksh Tree

The backside view of FRI

After FRI, I reached to Tapkeshwar mandir, here it is believed that Guru Dronacharya did his penance and offered his prayers to naturally originated shivlingam.

Entrance to Tapkeshwar mandir

The naturally originated Shivlingam

Lord Ganesha Guarding the entrance door

 Also, the sikh Guru Ram Rai stayed there in a camp for a while and hence the entire place got its name by his followers as "Dehradun". Inspite of its religious importance, the place has something more to offer, it has small narrow caves to explore with river Tisti flowing by its side makes it an adorable place to visit.

River Tisti flowing in B/w the temple

Then, I visited my all time favorite place "Gucchu Pani" or "Robber's cave", its the most relaxing place in Dehradun where the two mountains are intersecting giving it a dark narrow 600 metres cave appearance having an end to an about 10 m waterfall. It is called so as the robbers used to hide themselves from the Britishers after looting them by an narrow escape. Since, I had been there in the autumn season, so the flow of the river is quite tremendous, making almost my pants wet but with my legs being indulged in water, it takes away all my tensions and worries with itself. Its also been a picnic spot where one can enjoy Wai-Wai or more with his friends and family.

Entry to the mindblowing Gucchupani

Top view of hills in Gucchu Pani

End point of Gucchupani into a 10 m waterfall

Its a Wai-Wai time

Nearest to Gucchu Pani, there is around 200m trekking route to ancient Gupteshwar mandir covered with dense forests having trees of Chakotra(citrus fruit) all around making it exciting to trek to the heights.

Inside view of ancient Gupteshwar Mahadev Mandir

One thing that I note very interesting at Gucchu Pani is a Banyan tree guarding a Chakotra tree in itself, a tree protecting the entire shoot of a tree was quite a niche for me.

After Guchu Pani, I visited Malsi Deer park, its more of like a zoo with less fauna options and all densely covered with Sal trees which is meant to be of very importance in manufacture of furniture as the wood remains intact even after it is rotten. Surprisingly, it was my first time when I had seen leopard so close to me, my excitement was at sky high that time.

Entrance at Malsi deer park...fabricated with waste wood stock and natural colours

My first look to Leopard

One can also see a range of owls,  eagles, birds and yeah the most important,species of deer there, so at a single place you get many little adorable fauna to see.

The waking up  owl in daytime

I also got a chance to visit the most popular place all around the world and its Sastradhara which is a source of sulphur water able to cure all the skin diseases, I took an advantage of it also....It is called sastradhara as there are many small streams of water and small caves coming from the top of mountains which is just so pleasing to watch, but beware don't try to go inside the cave as there might be chances  of being troubled in earthquakes or flowing water as they might be slippery also.

Picture perfect view of Sastradhara

small streams confluencing to form Sastradhara

Next I visited Kalinga Memorial which is build in order to pay tribute to the Gorkha army general "Balbhadra Thapa" and General Gilaspy in memories of the Battle of Nalapani in the year 1814. This is one of the reason one can observe the lots of Nepalis settlement here and their love for the city, infact our taxi driver Suraj Bhaiya, who is my local guide too hails from Nepal but has a greater love and affection for the city.

Kalinga Memorial

The next day I headed towards my next two destinations Mindrolling Monastry and Clock Tower. First, I visited monastry, the ambience there makes me feel like that I was travelling in a Mini Tibet there as the houses are adorned with the parchas(flags) and the Tibetians Lamas roaming all around. Its quite a tranquil place as the sayings of Lord Buddha are spreading among the air over there. It was a great feeling to be in a Tibetian Monastry, one can observe a great architecture, culture and traditions of Tibet there.

Mindrolling Monastry

Inside View of Mindrolling Monastry

I was quite fortunate as the Great Stupa of Buddha at Clement Town was opened only for first half of Sundays and I got a chance to experience the inside views of the stupa and to be able to stand at the highest point of the stupa and observe the entire view of Dehradun. Inside the stupa, one could observe the different Tibetian preachers statue meditating in different aasans  and the walls beautifully craved with the stories depicting how their guru have taken birth and spread their preachings all over.

The Great World Peace Stupa

Idol of Lord Buddha at the Entrance 

My last destination is the most famous Ghantaghar in the dehradun, this is the beauty of all the cities in Uttarakhand that they are having atleast Clock tower at the middle of their location.

Clock Tower

The place is really special because of the oldest bakery "Gaylord Express" present at its corner which offers almost all the baked delicacies at its best and inexpensive price making your mouth watering and tongue licking. Its just impossible to resist your taste buds if you are there as the sponge is so soft and crunchy. I tried out there Punjabi toast and Paneer spiral roll and it was just delicious..!! I must say, its the must go place when staying in Dehradun.

Most Popular and Oldest Bakery near Clock Tower

This completes my two day tour to Dehradun with the pleasing memories with the people I met there who are as wonderful as their city.It is an educational hub and military commandent area as well, you can find Indian Military Academy and Airforce SSB board there too....so its quite a peaceful city as well. Infact, the Great Woodstock school is also located here, where the international students come to study. So, the people you met here are quite learned, knowledgable and resourceful.

I am really thankful to all the persons I met there especially Suraj Bhaiya, my student cum brother Vaibhav bhatia who guided me throughout my journey and help me taking so many pleasant memories all along with me to share with everyone through my writings and pictures.

To know more about the mini Tibet that I found on the roads of Dehradun, follow me on my next post "Buddha Temple" 

For more pics, follow me on instagram @apexshiningneha or like my page on facebook "Apex Shine Travels"