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**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by satyenpoojary View Post

(
\*need to know updated PMS status before giving another nickname*\

)
[/code]lol Am poor in coding, its been 8 years since i wrote a peice of code!

Are you asking about pms status of some rider?

**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 06:07 PM

I got up early in the morning and got ready. Other two were sleeping soundly till I got ready. Woke up Rudra and tried to wake up paaji. Rudra got up in a flash but no sign of paaji waking up. In the mean time, I settled the hotel bill. Rudra also got ready and we left the room leaving paaji to get ready, keep our luggage in cloak room and join us in the queue for darshan entry pass.

After nearly 45 minutes, both the guys came out holding a entry pass. This pass is issued free of cost and mandatory for entry to the mandir. (thought we did not need to show it anywhere). My advice to guys who want to go there is reach before 10 pm and collect the entry pass right then. In the morning, you waste 2-3 hours just for getting the pass.

Got in an autorickshaw to reach the entry gate. Our spirits were quite high and we all wanted to climb all the way up. The road is 13 km till Vaishnodevi temple and further some 1.5 km to Bhaironath temple. There was not much rush and we could easily reach the first check point where we faced our first hurdle.

While returning back to the hotel, we could not find even a single rickshaw to take us back to the hotel so had to walk 2-3 km to the hotel. We both changed our clothes and again started back. We had wasted nearly one hour and doing all this. By the time we reached the first check point, to catch up with Rudra, we both had decided to hire a horse for first half of journey and come back walking. I suddenly remembered that Rudra was carrying our entry pass and feared that we now have to return to collect another entry pass. (ps. For guys visiting vaishnodevi, try to get separate pass for each person) By this time, I was ready to give up and return to hotel / jammu / wherever. However, the horse owner assured us that entry pass will not be required till the end.

By the time we reached first check point, it was fairly crowded and it took us nearly 20 minutes to get through. No problems this time. Cigarettes, Gutkha, Video cameras are not permitted. Please note that you should not carry even an empty video camera pouch for keeping other items. You are denied entry till you deposit the video camera at check post.

as most of us do or would like to do).

The complete road till Vaishnodevi temple is paved and most of the road is covered. All the road is illuminated at night so you can also climb in the night (which many prefer to avoid day time heat) You will find shops on both sides selling everything from cold drinks to cloakrooms. You need not carry anything with you. The climb up was fairly steep and I was amazed at fitness of horse owners. They were running with horses while most of us will be grasping for breath in the first kilometer itself. The road was choked with devotees and horses were running without paying heed to them. I must have bumped my legs on at least 20 devotees. Guys, please be careful of horses if you are walking up or down.

By the time we reached, Adhkuwari (approx.6 km from check post), I was willing to give up the horse. Sitting on a horse for long period is a big NO-NO. It is not at all comfortable and also not faster than walking. Only if you have doubts about your ability to climb, take a horse.

Once me and paaji were stopped and told by a policeman to pass through a room as security check. We entered to find no one inside and metal detector not working. We both came out laughing at the absurdity.

On reaching Bhuwan, thankfully got down from the horses, gave extra tip to the horse owners and met Rudra. I desperately wanted to drink coffee since no one had even a single drop since morning. So we all had coffee and pushed off to the queue. You have to remove your shoes, wallets, in fact anything containing leather before joining the queue and there are ample free lockers available. We got our entry pass stamped at a check post here but it did not seem mandatory. The stamp contained a lot number and I naturally thought, the arrangement must be like in Tirupati. Later on found out that this number has absolutely no relevance anywhere.

After joining in, nothing to do but wait and shuffle forward. We had reached fairly early as compared to other devotees so no heavy rush. The line was moving briskly and we were not too far off the temple.

In between, there was a passage with at least 100 bells of different sizes and all the devotees relieved their boredom by banging these bells. The cacophony was mind and ear blowing and we were happy to get away from the passage.

Soon we reached the original cave entrance. Now a days due to heavy rush of devotees, the original entrance where you had to be a contortionist to enter. The shrine board has now made two tunnels where you can walk in, take darshan and get out fast. The tunnels were cool and dripping with water. The shrine board had taken care to put in plastic carpets throughout the tunnel. Did darshan and came out.

All in all, it took us around 2.5 hours for darshan.

Came out, bought some additional prasad and started for Bhaironath Temple. It was written there that devotees should complete the yatra by having darshan at Bhaironath temple. Even though, it was only 1.5 km from Vaishnodevi temple, it is 1400 ft higher.

We all stupidly took stairs. After climbing every 75 steps, we were forced to stop for 60-90 seconds just to regain our breath. After regaining our breath, we started again. After climbing more than 1000 steps, we finally reached Bhaironath Temple.

Looking at another queue, I volunteered to stay outside. Rudra and hero of our story went in for the darshan. Came out after 15 minutes and told me that there was not much queue there. On their urging, I also went in for darshan and came back in same 15 minutes.

When you start going down from Bhaironath temple, you actually climb up for next 1 km or so and then start going down.

For most parts, our travel was quite fast aided by gravity, our weights and weak legs. We climbed down all the 14.5 km. Stopping after every 3-4 km distance. Nothing much to write about it except couple of stops for cold drinks and somewhere midway I lost track of Rudra. Inder was tailing me. We both were losing control of our leg muscles and in fact he fell down twice in just one set of steps. Our legs were screaming for mercy but mercy was nowhere in sight. Just walk down each set of steps and start on another.

I suggested to both that since we had checked out from the hotel and it was around 5 pm so why not ride down to Jammu and stay there. Frankly, I was extremely unhappy with Vaishno food and also wanted some buffer time in Jammu before our train next day. Both agreed. We hired a rickshaw and started back to our hotel. Now we found out that for returning, there is another road leading from the temple entrance. That was the reason why me and inder could not get an auto in the morning for going to the hotel.

We reached our hotel, collected our luggage, tied it up fast and started towards Jammu.

Since it was evening time, paaji took the lead and was zooming ahead at 80+ kmph. Me & Rudra both were riding hard just to keep him in sight. Encountered fairly heavy traffic (or may be after 10 days riding in Ladakh, your perception of traffic changes). Reached Jammu in around 90 minutes.

As said earlier, it is a grand property but extremely run down. Only one bell boy cum housekeeping cum room service cum everything else was there. He could not open lock of the allotted room for at least 5 minutes. When I suggested allotting us another room, he was adamant about it. Most probably, no other room was livable. Me & Rudra settled in the room and finally paaji arrived.

Room had central A/c., full marble bathrooms but no hot water through tap, only through bucket.

We all freshened up and went to the restaurant to celebrate completion of our bike ride. Next travel will be by other means and this was the end of ride. Celebrated in a proper English style pub in our hotel (probably the only place working) and went to bed.

**ken cool** · 07-13-2010, 06:52 PM

Brilliantly written as usual! Thoroughly enjoyed reading through it!

I had walked up the whole way and walked back too. Hated it. Just like you. But that was 23 years ago. Would not even want to do it today. Religious places put me off unless they have something really beautiful to offer which this does not!

**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by ken cool View Post

Religious places put me off unless they have something really beautiful to offer which this does not!

Absolutely correct. I tend to avoid such places but we had one spare day in hand which we could not spend in Srinagar. Also there was no chance of me going to Vaishnodevi otherwise so decided to do it. Spending two days in Jammu didn't excite us either.

Inder was reluctant to do it but finally agreed.

**ken cool** · 07-13-2010, 07:02 PM

I reached Srinagar on the 15th. Old town was still tense! But avoided Old Town.

**aman_pulsating** · 07-13-2010, 07:06 PM

nice... finally read something I didnt knew!

**satyenpoojary** · 07-13-2010, 07:13 PM

Nice! Too Bad it will end soon now

PS: Isnt it the same place where you called to confirm if you push paaji off the cliff and try and balance on him like a skateboard would it count as a murder or a human sacrifice?

OT: MY LAST WORKING DAY FINALISED TO 2nd Aug, which leaves me a week to ride!

**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by aman_pulsating View Post

nice... finally read something I didnt knew!

Absolutely not true.

You were not us till Pangong.

**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by satyenpoojary View Post

Nice! Too Bad it will end soon now

PS: Isnt it the same place where you called to confirm if you push paaji off the cliff and try and balance on him like a skateboard would it count as a murder or a human sacrifice?

OT: MY LAST WORKING DAY FINALISED TO 2nd Aug, which leaves me a week to ride!

Not if you wish this to continue.....

Honestly speaking, I want to rewrite all earlier offending posts if there is sufficient response. Let's see.

No that was at Khardungla but hearing that our karizmatic rider declined to ride with us.

**satyenpoojary** · 07-13-2010, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

Not if you wish this to continue.....

Honestly speaking, I want to rewrite all earlier offending posts if there is sufficient response. Let's see.

No that was at Khardungla but hearing that our karizmatic rider declined to ride with us.

I have two weeks to work, (though I am super effecient and wrap my work in first 2 hours of the day

) which leaves me with 6 hours to show off as if I am working.... so go ahead rewrite, write "the making of", write "Uncensored 18+" version and so on

**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 07:29 PM

Originally posted by satyenpoojary View Post

I have two weeks to work, (though I am super effecient and wrap my work in first 2 hours of the day

) which leaves me with 6 hours to show off as if I am working.... so go ahead rewrite, write "the making of", write "Uncensored 18+" version and so on

It was more on the lines of -

Version 1 - Light comedy
Version 1.1 - Light comedy with dual meaning dialogues
Version 1.2 - Extreme comedy

Version 2 - Travels with senior experienced riders
Version 2.1 - Why not to travel with senior experienced riders
Version 2.2 - Horrors of traveling with ...............

Version 3 - Hindi - in association with berousit
Version 3.1 - Marathi - in association with myself
Version 3.2 - Tamil
Version 3.3 - Kannada - in association with prafultripathy
Version 3.4 - Telugu
Version 3.5 - Bhojpuri
Version 3.6 - Punjabi - in association with paaji (provided he agrees to it)
(other posts of co-authors are vacant. Anyone can apply with own detailed bio data with Rs.5000 demand draft - not that the above co-authors have paid it)

Version 4 - Why planning for a ride is useless

Version 5 - Leh for dummies
Version 5.1 - Leh for senior experienced riders

Version 6 - Momo soup for the soul
.
.
.
.
and so on

If you feel like puking after reading this, please go ahead

**satyenpoojary** · 07-13-2010, 07:35 PM

lol! Any plans of a making a movie of it as well

**aman_pulsating** · 07-13-2010, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by trustvishwas View Post

Absolutely not true.

You were not us till Pangong.

Partially true.. at all times (before we met) I knew where you guys were.

**aargee** · 07-13-2010, 07:55 PM

@Vishwas sir - Good; excellent narration & didn't feel boring at even a single semi colen. I hope you'll wrap-up the travelogue with the train journey from Jammu.

**trustvishwas** · 07-13-2010, 08:44 PM

Originally posted by satyenpoojary View Post

lol! Any plans of a making a movie of it as well

I am actually thinking about it but some karizmatic riders will be needed to be trucked in.

Originally posted by aargee View Post

@Vishwas sir - Good; excellent narration & didn't feel boring at even a single semi colen. I hope you'll wrap-up the travelogue with the train journey from Jammu.

Your hope is in vain. I won't be stopping at Jammu. I will be stopping after reaching Pune.

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