I love my mom the most, she is like an angle to me.. its been quite long that we have met, last weekend i wished to pay a visit just before new year... But as elders say "Jab maa ka bulawa aata hai, tabhi darshan milte hai" And this time, Bulawa to aaya per 'Vaishno Maa' ka. In no time every thing got finalize, the main problem was that of train tickets, n those were arranged easily by our company's travel agent and that too confirmed. My group that conquered 'The Great Ganga' (last time), was all set to rule "The Himalayas".
Our journey begun on Christmas Eve, we were high on energy, bought the best time pass 'Mungfali'. We sung many songs, clicked different posses, and fight over possession of I-Pods. With dreams of what will happen we slept. Morning brought many promises n train didnt delayed our proceedings. We reached our guest house arranged by our host, Ankush, where we were supposed to bath, i will skip that part, there we found that Gopi didnt forgot to pick the pack of groundnuts, instead forgot his own 'Jacket'. I dont know what to say...
Later, we reached Ankush's house, where we were welcomed by such a lovely hospitality. I cant remember how many different dishes were served, but every bit of it was delicious, moreover homemade, i loved 'KAHVA' the most. Against all odds we were planning also to visit 'Patnitop', so had to leave early for 'Darshans', same we did. The safe and cautious drive, with a 15 min stop for 'Garama Garam Pakoras' took us to KATRA, nearer to our destination. From there we had to travel on foot to main BHAVAN, a 11.5 KM journey. For it we need to take a entry ticket, as girls line was small, Neha joined it . Meanwhile, others were looking for any 'Jugadh' to skip this long waiting of line. The line was so rigid that, it didnt even move a single inch, in an hour.
Then to our relief, came Ankush's phone, he somehow had manage to get passes for 5 (even though we were six in number), paying some hypothetical 2000 bucks (as told by Gopi) to DSP. I didnt bother to know details, but insisted to start the long walk. Ankush, informed us that we have to reach d top before 11 PM, to get priority benefit (meaning escaping another long waiting in queue), it was already 7. With all courage we started, path was full of devotees and horses. The roadside was like market, chit-chats all around, tourism department is getting most out of it. We rushed through crowd, wait for those left behind, grab anything new to eat and sang songs.
Sometimes we even took stairs, n one of them took us to Adhkuwari (which we were looking to skip). None of us had an actual desire to eat, but those shops n there showering banners, create space in our stomach. Food was so-so, but was power full enough to fill our tummies. We were moving up at good speed, but we have to maintain d same. We changed our path and took d one with no horse on it. With every step we took, temperature was decreasing. Pushing eachother here n there, supporting d slow one, singing songs, pulling Gopi's leg, enjoying d spellbinding beauty of path covered, n almost continuous trekking, we made our 11.5 Km finished in 3hrs.
We were so close to temple, devotees were everywhere, some in line, some waiting for their turn to form one, some sleeping , n some leaving. The view was aesthetic in some way. We were to look for our priest, who will help us enter through a shortcut, (u know there is shortcut for everything, its just one have to find it). Cant explain how we found his (Priest) doorsteps, but really entry was some shortcut. Our number for darshan came too early, and again special thanks to Ankush, we could manage more than 30 sec in that 'HOLY GUFA'. Hoping those Darshans will free me of all my sin.
Slowly we moved out, relax a bit, and were planning for some rest instead of 'Patnitop' (Which was earlier on our mind, also there was no snow :( ). Now, I was wiling to visit 'Bharo Baba' but rest wanna skip it, only Mannan accompanied me. We all planned to meet at CCD by 2:30 - 3:00. That small 2.5Km journey was most steep part. Both of us talked 'here n there' n in no time we were on top of hill. We once felt that d 'MOON' was just like a road side light. Our journey was quick and our talks too long, n with no lines Darshans too fast. Soon, we start descending, checking our clocks, setting a continuous pace, we made it by 2:25.
We entered CCD n found they (others) had just settled down. We order many things n finally it was confirmed that this CCD is really 'Jalli'. Everyone was feeling snooze, if someone could arrange a room v would had stayed, there were 6 more Km to go before we reach our base or Taxi. Everyone agreed to move early, slowly slowly we gather our self to traveling mode. First 2 Km or so were slowest n better half was d fastest, as Neha had found that just loosen ur body, use gravity to descend u down n one just need to b good at breaks (to control his/her speed). We were there (stand) by 5 n our Taxi was waiting for us. Good driving, songs under influence of Gopi, most of Travelers sleeping, we were back home by 6:30 AM and its time to Sleep, a sound sleep.
We were like dead man, it was 2 PM, Ankush's house, no one ready to move, then came a blazing sound, it was some song, 'Please slow it down' was d call, no one listening, its not getting stop, its like Alarm, continuously buzzing, we have to wake up. But tune never matched soft one that of 'Wake up Sid'. Ok ok i am awake, 'stop it now', n it did. Now, another big question, who will bath?? we (expect the girls) prefer saving water.. Lunch (or brunch or breakfast) was ready, hot and delicious it was. Filled to d top of ur necks, we struggle to stand up of dinning table. We still had a lot of time left for our return train. Exploring Jammu was on mind.
We were divided into two cars. Following Ankush's car, Mannan, Kammo n I try to check every sign or movement of his hand as he explain what it is to those in his car. We nearly missed every place, that must be 'good or important or antic' according to our guide, sitting in other car. We reached Aquarium, most of us least interested. I dont know, but those fishes were a bit of collection, was fun watching their moves, their colors, their shapes. Moreover, the view from the park was something. We drove around old Jammu, drunk hot Soup, was more than medicine. Time for leaving was coming nearer, we had some attachment with Mountains, and hope we had more time to go more places.
Back home (Ankush's) dinner was ready, none of us having space for it, but v never say no to such a delicious food. Later Ankush and his father dropped us at station, where train has some other plans. We found it was 2 hrs late, but there was no going back, we sat there with I-Pods and 'Mungfali', enjoying d music, feeling cold, n waiting for train. Two n half hour passed but no sign of train, we were restless, so were hundred of others passengers. Finally the last led of our journey begun, train had arrived, we got settled n slept.
Lazy as always, we were not ready to wake up, clock was clicking 9 AM, we were late for office, had to inform 'Vishu' (my boss). So, after mutual understanding, Gopi n I decided to open a PPF account, which is causing us delay for office at-least 2 hrs. And that worked, we made it to office by the time. The tour was a bit of experience.
And as my friend said "Vaishno Devi trip... 10 hrs... 6 people... dead cold night... 25 km on feet... came out alive... :), now i m pure soul "
P.S: Thanks everyone for being a part of it... :)
