Trip to Vaishno Devi and Delhi

On 4th April we started for a trip to Vaishno Devi and Delhi. We had a tight schedule and the return date was 9th April. I have been to Vaishno Devi when I was in Engg 1st year, this was my second time and for some reason not to be disclosed publicly 🙂 .

The start: “New Shamshabad airport of Hyderabad”

As the journey plan was decided long ago, I had booked tickets from Hyderabad to Delhi in Jetlite long back when Begumpet airport was in full flow. I was quite excited when I got to know that we need to board flight from the new Shamshabad Airport. On 4th April afternoon at around 1:30 PM I started for “Paryatak Bhawan” which is one of the location from where GMR operates the shuttle bus service, it is in greenlands and I reached there by walk. The buses are okay and fare is Rs 95, runs every half an hour from 3:30 am. The bus started at 1:30 PM and it reached the airport at 2:45 pm I guess. The airport is tooo good, and looks wonderful, and really looks like an international airport. Begumpet airport is nothing compared to it. However its tooooooooooo far.

The Jetlite experince

Our flight was booked in Jetlite, which was previously Sahara. As per our planning we had to catch the train (Uttar sampart Kranti) to Jammu at 8 45 pm on 4th April itself. We were hoping that flight will reach at time. This Jetlite was supposed to come from Coimbatore and departure time was 4 50 pm and was scheduled to reach Delhi at 7 pm. I didn’t know that it comes from Coimbatore because of which it is bound to be late. It came about half an hour late. The strange thing was there was no announcement, while every other airline was making announcements, we had to enquire ourself. Anyways the flight departed at around 5 30 pm, and we were hoping that it will reach by at least 7 15 pm. But….it reached at 8 30 pm!!!!! the reason was because of bad weather. So we had only 15 mins to reach New Delhi station, which is impossible. We ran like anything and booked a taxi, and reached station at 9 15 pm, we had already made all the plans and had decided to book flight to Jammu. The biggest surprise was the train was still there as if it was waiting for us and it left at 9 30 pm. It was a big big relief to us and saved us nearly 6k.

Vaishno Devi

It was raining all the way from delhi to Jammu, as soon we reached Jammu we boarded a bus to Katra, which is the starting point for the Maa Vaishno Devi. Katra is around 46 km from Jammu and frequent buses are there from the jammu station.  We reached Katra at around 11 am, and all people were seen wearing those weired Rs 10 raincoat, even we took 2 of these, everybody were seen in white one, we thoght to be different and took pink one (note: we are not gay 🙂 ). We booked a hotel which cost us Rs 550, it was a good one.

After having aloo paratha to recharge ourself we started for the trip wearing those odd looking pink raincoats. We took the pass given at Katra itself for the trip and took an auto to reach the starting point. As my father is serving Air force I took a special pass available for defence personnel and there dependents. The plus point of this pass is that you a special line for darshan of Maa Vaishno Devi.

It was raining and raining….and we started, rhyming Jai Mata Dii…..the total distance is 12.5 kms. Different stalls are there and after some distance there are “Vishram Sthall” where you may relax a bit if tired. Our starting time was 2 pm and we had the target of 5 pm. There were lot of security check on the way. Just before ArdhKuwari which is somewhat half way, there is a new way made which reduces the distance as compared to the original way. There are battery operated vehicles which can be boarded by PH or people with medical problems. However we walked all the way, enjoying the scenery. It was quite cold and the rain was making it worse. I remember the kid whos father first said it storm out there and his son said….”Ek banda uddan lagan siii” (One guy was about to fly because of the storm) :).

Anyways we reached “Bhawan” at around 6 pm, took the prasad, put all leather, shoes and metal items in locker. Bare foot was too difficult there and it felt as if our ankles has been cut. The Darshan is closed from 6 30 to 8 30 pm because of aarti. So we had to wait. By the time we got darshan it was around 9 15 pm. As it was quite a lot cold out there we decided to take blankets, which is available for Rs 100 as a security deposit. Wrapped ourself in the blankets and without waiting we started the return journey down the hill. Our feet were already paining, in between we had rajmah chawal and at a steady pace we kept on moving. I was counting each km and waiting when that time will come when we will be in our hotel.

Could not have the darshan of “Ardhkuwanri” as it was quite late and very less energy was left in us. There are some stairs also which we took to reduce the distance. And finally we reached the starting point at around 1 30 am. We again had the dinner of aloo paratha and retired to bed.

Next day was very difficult as walking only was very painfull. We had to leave the hotel by 12 noon and we need to catch train at Jammu so some how I managed and reached Jammu station, after waiting for some hours the train came I slept like a buffalo.

Abbb Dillli duur nahin

We were somewhat better after reaching New Delhi and as per plan we were going to stay with my mama (he is smaller than me) who stays near Akshardham Temple. I have been to Delhi several times but didnt get the chance to visit its great places and monuments. It was our bad luck that we reached on Monday as most of the watchable places are closed like the Lal Qila. We did see the India Gate on Monday.Went to Palika Bazaar, which is quite famous there in Delhi and India. You may get things at very cheap rate, but you should know the art of bargaining. We also traveled in the Metro. It was really a great experience. Now just waiting for the day when Metro starts here in Hyderabad.

Next day early morning at around 5 30 am we went out for a super fast bike ride on the Delhi Gurgaon highway. The Highway  is like you see in films, and all the vehicles run at very very high speed. I went upto DLF mall, which I heard is India largest. There is also a Toll bridge which has lots and lots of gates. After coming back we conqured lal qila which we could not the day before. It was a nice experience. Here ends our tour and we were ready for another experience, we had booked tickets in Delhi Bangalore Rajdhani Express, It was named Airtel Rajdhani express, airtel might have sponsored it, the funda of Rajdhani is eat then sleep and again eat and sleep and nothing else.