Oracle's specialist team crash lands a himachali wedding

Jaddojehad.....this is probably the right word that the poor himachali villagers are searching for to explain what we did to them this weekend.

For Kamal, the bridegroom and the villagers, this was supposed to be normal wedding and a normal affair. Little did they have in mind that about 60 Kms away in Mohali, a team of gaddamn programmers, testers and bullshitters were planning to crash land their innocent affair.

So there we were,- Premanshu (fat man), Anubhav(AJ), Saurabh(challu), Gaurav(chikni) and I on our way to the mountains Saturday morning. Usual stop at train view dhaba and after a round of chai and parathas, Saurabh asked the waiter what else was on the menu. Maggi - came the answer and an instant smile lit up Saurabh's face. With an apologetic expression on his face, he ordered for a maggi as if he was committing a major crime..... this got anubhav cracking....FYI...we had already lit the peace pipe.

The next stop was Chikni's house in Solan. Its a nice house with a fantastic view of valley and the Shimla highway. The view was fantastic and weather good, so obvious conditions to bring out the peace pipe once again :)

Challu collapsed on the floor after the hike upto chikni's house. The hike was all of 50 feet and took about 3 mins :).  We spent some time around trying to get AJ high but it simply wasn't happening. The goddamn shit wasnt working on AJ. We started discussing what we might want to do next. We could go to Dakshai on bikes or to a tunnel that required some hiking. Challu's condition was that we go anywhere where the bike could go. So sure enough we started on our way and stopped at a british cemetery dating back to the 1850's. After that, chikni stopped us at a point which would take us to the tunnel and sure enough it was a hike :). Challu resisted but couldnt do more. But what follows next, he will be glad he did. a short hike took us to the head of the longest tunnel on the Kalka - shimla rail line. below will be several pictures of these wannabees in various poses. A few of them you may find on Shaadi.com or other matrimonial websites.

Chikni and I entered the tunnel first and about 100 mts in the tunnel, we saw teh lights of a train approaching. We got into one of the emergency offsets and it was a beautiful experience to see the train go by at such a close distance. It was like a series of frames from a nostalgic movie, the people in each of the cabins characters from a distant past.

The tunnel ended up at the beautiful station of Badog. There was nobody around, so we went looking for some chai. I was damn hungry by then as the peacepipe was taking effect :). I just finished surveying the area when i heard someone shouting. What i saw next was a classic scene nobody should miss. There stood AJ, Challu and Fatman with their heads bent and the station master shouting at them at full volume. I retreated in the background, not able to control my laughter. This went on for about 10 mins. In the pic below, you will see the station master calling Challu and AJ for a strip down and full cavity search while anubhav is trying to escape the impending disaster.

The only saving grace for challu was that whatever the station master said made sense. The station master deserves a special mention here. He is one of the characters that should figure on the "satyameva jayate" list. An honest man trying to make the best out of his job. Our time done, we returned to chikni's place to get ready for the wedding. The peacepipe came out again and a cold shower and we were on our way to the village.

A 45 minute ride took us to this small village and the wedding house was all well lit and decorated. There was music emanating from the pendall, and as I was just telling Gaurav that I liked himachali music, the gaddamn DJ started blaring a bhangra number. You will now see some pics of us getting shitfaced and dancing.

 As usual, chikni got wasted and tried to call some his girlfriends but fortunately for him, nobody answered. There was a sardar in the crowd who got frustrated every time the DJ shifted to a local number. AJ and I got a kick out of seeing him. The night went on like this and it came time for us to sleep. While fat man and AJ got beds to sleep on, challu was left to roll on the floor. He removed his t-shirt and was just about to sleep under the fan when the uncle guided me holding my hand to the place challu was hoping for. So he just accepted his fate and limited himself to the floor.

Loud banging and pomp woke me up at about 4:30 in the morning. The baraat was getting ready and we were to leave at 5 AM. But our baraati's dint seem to bother the loud music and continued to snore away to glory. Eventually, there was one last Sumo left and fearing that we might be left out, the boys got up and right into the sumo. No brushing, cleaning up or anything required :).

Challu got into the back of the sumo and sat alongsides me. He started to complain that he does not do well on windy roads and so on. About a few turns and he said to me that the bad time has started. I nodded off and a few minutes later, the sumo skidded to a halt and the door opened. Next thing we see is nothing short of the "world's best home videos". You may never have seen anybody puking like he did that day. This was like a rolling puke job. I shouldnt make fun of it but i cant help it. First he was standing and after the first bout, he was on all his fours. Next bout and he hopped a couple of metres on all his fours to the next available spot on the road. This went on for a few metres before he decided to give it a break. He was as lost as a deer in headlights.

Eventually we reached the groom's village. Since we had just gotten into the vehicle right from the bed, we had to get fresh. AJ and I saw a trail heading into the woods and we took it. After that, we headed straight to  the shaadi. It was a simple but beautiful affair. We headed straight for the backyard where the food was being served.

We had our breakfast to our fill. Now what? time to sleep :)

We found a mat laid under a tree with nice breeze. First I started and then AJ and Fat man joined in.

So, the whole shaadi we spent sleeping, waking up for lunch going back to sleep again until finally,

somebody woke us up saying that the bidaayi is over and that we better hurry up before the Sumo leaves us back.

In the evening we got back to Chikni's place and brought out the peace pipe. This time, AJ felt something. He explained to me that the top half of his brain was like a stone but it was light. Also, it was tied to the rest of the body with the help of a rope. :).. this is when you are officially stoned :)

So, that was the end of our memorable trip to a himachali wedding. Not sure if chikni will be allowed back to the village. We may be remembered as a the baraatis who slept through a wedding.

Jwala mata - A tranquil abode

Last sunday, I left for Sadhupul along with Rashmi on my bike. We headed out from Chandigarh at around 7 AM and after a quick praanthe/wraanthe, we reached Kandaghat at about 9:30 in the AM. Kandaghat lies approximately 90 kms from Chandigarh. The road forks from here with one taking you to Shimla about 40 kms away and the other one taking you a Chail.

Get on the road that takes you to Chail. Make sure that you are not in a hurry. Neither the road nor the scenery will let you speed up your journey.  You are first headed down to the valley where you cross Sadhu Pul and then start snaking your way up to Chail.A Kilometer before Sadhupul,  you will see a small muddy road heading up into the mountains. Take that road. About a km into the road, you will reach Auri. A small village nestled into the lower shivaliks.

We were accosted by Pratap, a local lad and quicky build a camraderie. He showed us around and then were invited for some pahadi chai. We were offered roti and subji made of wild mushrooms. We declined in hopes of a sumptuous meal at Jwala mata. Today was the mahayagna and there was bound to be some bhandara awaiting us.

The road up to jwala mata from Auri is a little more rugged and steep, so be careful with your non 4 wheel drives. We got lost but I took up that opportunity to answer natures call right in the midst of nature.

Another 2 kms up the rugged road and we were at the parking lot. This does not in anyway look like a parking lot but more like a beautiful campground. And Of course it is. On almost any other day, this is a desolate place with only the local baba calling it home. Anyways, a small hike up, maybe 500 mts and you are at Jwala Mata. If you had built up expectations of a grand temple with lots of amenities, then you will be sorely disappointed. Neither is it a large temple complex and neither is there a commercial establishment, a sorry sight at most other pilgrim places in India. Jwala mata is a small little temple at the peak of a small hill. A very tranquil place with only the sounds of nature to accompany you. This is perfect camping spot with water supply and a makeshift toilet. A perfect weekend getaway for soul searchers.

Today was the mahayagna, so there were pilgrims coming over from the surrounding villages. We got to learn a thing or 2 from these pahadi people. The place was absolutely clean and everybody including kids threw the trash in the bins. A group of people were getting ready to welcome their local raja, Raja Kaul Singh. The welcome party consisted of drums and a bag piper. We were astonished to see a bag piper being a common sight in himachali band baaja. After asking around, the locals told Rashmi that they get the bag pipes from the Army at a discounted price and everybody in the mountains learn to play them.

We met some interesting people, let alone a minister who thought we were journalists and gave us an half hour interview. We were enquired about having langar, and the head priest made sure we were fed adequately.

Another must stop was the baba's kutir. He had just lit up the chillum and was passing on the prasad to his chelas. After some smoky drags, the baba settlled down to give a sermon.

A quick dialogue with the local baba in his Kutir and it was time to head down to the chaos of Chandigarh. And chaos it was.

We are heading back to Jwala mata this weekend, carrying our tents of course and planning to spend the weekend doing some soul searching.

A north eastern odyssey

Hey folks,

I am back after a long slumber! The summer of "The Punjab" had me steaming and fuming and I am ready to welcome the winter with open arms.

A lot happened in the last six months since my last blog. But this is not where I share it.

My pardner and I was written a contrack. The contrack reads thus:

The contract between me and you persuing witnesseth in the name of god--------Amen and so forth.


(one)   That me and you will settle this matter together: i.e. to visit north eastern India this december


(two)  That we will embark on a journey to explore new frontiers when the world is ready to welcome a new year


(three)  That you and me will not, while this matter is being settled, look at any liquer, nor any woman black, white or brown, so as to get mixed up with one or the other harmful. Unless of course if the circumstances make it inevitable. 


Signed by you and me this day


Bilkis Banu
Mohd bin tughlaq


Both Gentlelady and gentleman at large


I hope I am not charged with plagiarism ;). Well, I will let the readers figure out where this piece of writing was inspired from.

Getting back to the point, Rashmi and I will be touring the north east indian states in december. Fortune smiled on me when i was introduced to a lady friend of a close friend of mine. She has backpacked these parts by herself and gave a me a detailed account of her wanderings.

I am penning my itinerary thus:

We leave a foggy delhi in december and fly to Guwahati. We will spend a couple of days in Guwahati trying to get out hands on the inner line permit. A requirement to visit these states. Will be put up in the paltan bazaar  area.

From there, we first venture out to Shillong!  A bus from here to Chirapunji. Will explore the caves and waterfalls in this area.

other visits will include the root bridges of Tirna and Malingyong village. From there to Mawsynram, place with the highest rainfall in India.

The next state would be Nagaland. We start again from Guwahati and after a day long trip, hope to arrive at Shingyong village, the home to the Konyak tribe. Plan to spend a couple of days here. Djkou valley trek is a must and will happen.

In dimapur, we will visit the Kachari kingdom ruins and the north eastern museum. Will also be spending some time in Kohima. I have heard the women are beautiful in these parts but the contract restricts me from any untoward behaviour.

From here, options are open to either travel to mizoram or Aurnachal pradesh.

This should probably consume all of 20 days on the run!  

This blog is a reaction that has stemmed from the chemical locha that has kept me awake last night. I am expecting my second love, a royal enfield thunderbird this week.

So folks, adios for now!

Tughlaq!

A trip to lake Parashar

Last weekend was a long weekend, thanks to Easter. My parents are in town(Mohali) and had been wanting to get out to the mountains. My spirit of adventure was borne from them.

I had told my mother about a small setting in lower Himalayas called lake Parashar. This place is in Mandi district, Himachal. I first heard of it from Gaurav, a Himalayan buddy(friends I have made who live in these mountains). He had told me of this place with a small temple dedicated to Parashara muni, father of Veda Vyasa. There was a certain romance that was associated with this place. This romance is with a small pond opposite the temple with a floating island on it. I am not sure what the phenomenon behind this is but the island appears to be in different places of the pond at different times of the year.

Lake Parashar is approachable by road from Manali or Bhunter. Its a 3 hr drive to Parashar from Bhunter(58 kms). The road is navigable by bike or car but a jeep is preferable. We hired a Mahindra Maxx from Manali to Parashar to Bhunter.

My parents were genuinely interested in this place and I could sense the boyish enthusiasm in their description of this place to others.

                                       
We left thursday evening by an AC bus from Chandigarh and reaching Manali in the wee hours of the morning. I booked a couple of rooms at a mountaineering institute which lies in the heart of Manali but still feels like worlds away from the tourist trap that Manali has unfortunately become.

We visited Fateh Thakur Barua at his village, Barua. Barua is an small village in an idyllic location in Solang valley, a little ways from Manali.

 We got a taste of himachali hospitality. Papa and mummy were truly bowled over by the beauty of the land and its people. We got some beautiful views of the landscape from there.

Some images from Barua

The next day, we took a 4 wheel drive jeep upto lake Parashar.The route is Manali to Bhunter to Aut to Parashar. The road is quite treacherous and I would subject the meek hearted away from the window seat.

A total of 5 hour drive from Manali will bring you to parashar. The landscape changes dramatically before your eyes. You start from the valley and soon are zigzagging your way upto 8549 feet. This is where the tree line ends and desolate landscape dominates.

This is where Parashara muni is said to have meditated

The atmosphere is serene and magical. It is as if you are transported to a different planet. The floating island and the lake are added incentives for the soul.


Beautiful wood work is rendered on the walls of the temple.

Papa read a chapter of the Geeta, a composition by Veda Vyasa.

That night's stay was at Bhunter and then a bus back to Chandigarh.





I am excited about doing trips like these with my parents whose excitement and love is contagious.