[laluks]

Day 02
10th March 2013 (Mahashivrathri)
Allahabad - Varanasi

We got lost in the intriguing alleys of varanasi















Narrow bye lanes of varanasi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoa0WqQGHJU

continued...

[laluks]

Day 02
10th March 2013 (Mahashivrathri)
Allahabad - Varanasi

There was a huge que for Kashi Vishwanath temple













The statistics told us at least a waiting of 6 hours ore more for the Darshan.

So like many we have to be contended with a live video Darshan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3IxuEBUFAc

continued...

[laluks]

Day 02
10th March 2013 (Mahashivrathri)
Allahabad - Varanasi

We went towards the Ghats for witnessing Ganga Aarti


There was a huge crowd


We got ourselves into a boat to witness the aarti




Ganga Aarti at Varanasi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAzFCx1krdY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuocqKZzolg

continued...

[laluks]

Day 02
10th March 2013 (Mahashivrathri)
Allahabad - Varanasi

After witnessing Ganga Aarti we started our journey back to Raja Ghats, where our Aveo was parked. We asked for a boat from nearby the aarti location and we got some exorbitant price quotes. We decided to take a walk along the ghats.

Some pictures while we were walking along the ghats




I was intrigued by the sights at this place, but that is the reality, when on one side you bath and drink the waters of Ganga, and on the other side you finally merge with Ganga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtuxKmgWMfY

We walked on


We sat for a while here




Ganga really needs attention here!




We finally got a boat from here by 20:00 hours for Rs 300 back to Raja Ghat.

From our boat ride back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whPJvU3XknQ

We reached Raja Ghat by 21:00 hours, an nice 1 hour boat ride in the night.

Raja ghat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3xPjwTD28I

continued...

[laluks]

Day 02
10th March 2013 (Mahashivrathri)
Allahabad - Varanasi

By 21:30 hours we got back to our Aveo. There was no place to stay in Varanasi, and according to the cops, even the roadsides were full even to park and sleep!! Same was the situation at Allahabad. I wanted to drive back to Delhi, if not at least till Kanpur, much to the shock of the others

By 23:45 hours we reached a dhabha on the outskirts of Allahabad, and stopped for dinner. On seeing some beds there immediately my BIL decided to sleep a while there after dinner.

The dhabha










Smart chap who served us


We slept here


There is no escape from this guy, even in North India


By 00:30 we called it a day, making it an 18 hour hectic day for us!

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

We woke up by 05:00AM and did our morning duties in an open field .

After the early morning adventure




By 05:30 we were ready to roll.

We stopped for breakfast by 08:30AM


Funky Jeep


We had parathas and pudhina chutney







It smelled awful!


By 10:00Am we rolled again

continued...

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

By 11:30AM we stopped for ice creams











It was near a Potato Field











We wanted to buy a sack of potatoes, but they refused to sell us

I had some fun riding a bicycle there too




continued...

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

By 13:00 hours we reached Yamuna Expressway


We stopped by to check out the express way


We are happy to have such good roads


Clicked a few pictures




The expressway has three toll gates/exits. Near all toll gates there are eateries and if you exit, you'll find petrol pumps.




The toll rates


The first toll gate






The second Toll gate/Exit is at Mathura


You're watched


continued...

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

This is how you're being watched. Beware!








Nano blazing the expressway!


We exited to Mathura road for some petrol for Aveo and Chai for us







Aveo relaxing a bit


In search of chai!


Chai break!


I had this!


continued...

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

After the much needed chai break we are back i n the express way.

You can get a guided tour of Buddh Circuit on Saturdays!


Yamuna Expressway - 165KM, 6 lane access controlled expressway


We stopped near Buddh International Circuit to take a look










Emergency communication device


continued...

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

Some more pictures near Buddh International Circuit


















continued...

[laluks]

Day 03
11th March 2013
Allahabad - Delhi

We moved on

What's this?


We exited the expressway by 15:15 hours


We reached our home by 16:00 hours and immediately my BIL was picked up for some live debate on a TV channel.

Meanwhile I spend some time with the kiddies


Well, I was forced to create a work which is indeed an insult to art


By 19:00 I listened to my BIL on TV


By 20:30 he's back


We had an amazing dinner and conversation going well into the night. Who would ever believe we've just been back form a drive of over 1600Km in 48 hours!!

Next day was more of a private affair for me, and took the evening flight to reach Bangalore by night.

Well thus concluded an impromptu trip to the Kumbh!

Thanks for reading.

The End

PS: I am off to my next drive in a couple of hours

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by laluks

PS: I am off to my next drive in a couple of hours

I waited for this travelogue to end to thank you for the pictures. However I am having great difficulties believing that you do your entire year's drive and vacation planning in January itself . To prove me wrong, please please do train me in this art . I want to do this too but I am sure even if I planned well upfront there will be inter galactic wars predicted by my managers which only a Jedi knight like me can prevent whenever I am about to proceed for a vacation.

[mani_jeenu]

Truly an awesome picturesque review. Just couldn't stop reading once I started it.

[akaush]

Great log LaluKS. Amazing photos of Varanasi ! Looks like you covered a lot of banaras in the Kumbh Mela trip.
We went for the main bathing day on 10th Feb. We all started in an Ertiga on 9th feb at 4:00 am from Sonepat. Reached Yamuna Expressway at about 5:00 am, Agra 6:40 am, Kanpur – 10:00 am and finally Allahabad at around 1:10 pm. We decided to take the Sahson exit at Allahabad Bypass to reach Jhusi. A person from our Ashram was waiting for us to guide us to the Ashram. However due to heavy crowds, we were diverted to a parking on Chatnag Road. We had to walk about 4 kms to reach the Ashram near Sector-12. We could only be allotted one room with attached bathroom on the day. We tried searching for more accommodation but could not find anything except for basic tents. This was the first time in my life I was seeing so many people. It was huge and unbelievable.
After having dinner at 8 pm, we decided to get some sleep and we intended to leave early next day. We could not get good sleep due to loudspeakers and noise all night. We all got up at 3:00 am and took a holy dip at around 4:00 am. Performed the pooja on the banks and returned to ashram by 4:30 am. As soon as we reached the ashram, the manager told us that a huge traffic Jam has started from Sahson towards Jhusi! We decided to leave immediately and reached Parking at around 5:30 am. First 5-6 kms we were the only guys driving until we reached an intersection from where huge crowds were walking towards the Sangam and traffic was just not moving. Next 10 kms till Allahabad Bypass took us 6 hours. After a few phone calls a couple of policemen on a bike reached us and got us out of the Jam through an alternate route. Surprisingly the traffic was low after we reached Bypass. We had our Lunch on the road towards Kanpur at around 1:00pm. Traffic was not much until we were close to Agra. We reached Noida at around 8:00 pm and reached Sonepat at 9:03 pm.

It was a good trip, didn’t get to click too many pics of the Maha-Kumbh, here are a few of them. Laluks please forgive the quality of photos on your thread!



The first pic is of the 3 ladies responsible for the trip, L-> R my mom, dad’s sister and mom’s sister!