Juwal Bose Says

Here are the Amritsar trip photos

This train was Jammu Tawi and it was a rail network other than Southern Railways(well obvious, yet) We can feel the culture changes as people where filling up compartments with groundnut covers. ehh.. well they were very cordial and offered us all kinds of food items. Anish was mingling with them when i got onto the upper berth and started writing down the diary which is reflected now in this manner. So we had one more day to spent before going to Dalhousie and this was not at all thought of. New idea was born, Amritsar.

So we will take next train to Amritsar. n reaching platform we took the ticket but the train was at platform 2. But we could not find platform 1 and 2 which was way ahead of the rest of the platforms where we were. Now we missed the train which we could have caught as we had 15 mins to catch the train when we arrived. Now the next train was at 12 and it was only 8.We decided to use the refreshment room and started searching for that. One taxi guy was after us and we had to deny his offer 6 times as we walked across him in our search. Cloak room needed locked bags, which we could not do and the guy at counter was not at all giving us any interest.

So we decided to carry our luggage with us. We took a cycle rickshaw to the bus stand at pathankot and got in a bus to Amritsar. The trip was long but it was straight drive and the scenery was good. We slept most of the time. When we exited at Amritsar there was another mob of travel people and taxi wallas. We got into an auto which took us to Paris hotel near railway station. This was good and affordable accomodation.We had a little rest and had food and then went out at 3 in the same Auto for a Rate of Rs150 to take us to Golden temple and Jallian Walla bagh. But the plans were made on the way to we decided to go to Wagah border after jallain walla bagh and return to see Golden temple at night. Wise decision.

Jallian Wallah bagh has only 2 monumental spots to see. The martyrs well and the structure erected in the middle in memory of all those who were killed. It looks like a garden now, but with all those information written on the boards we will be filled with patriotism when we look inside the well where 120 dead bodies were recovered. There are bullet marks from the rifles of that era which bore huge holes into the concrete.

The Auto guy arranged Mr Malwinder singhs taxi to take us to Wagah Border. The rate was Rs 500. Mr Singh Cut all traffic signals and rules to rush us to the place. We were sitting dumbstruck at his ease of driving and ferocity typical to a sardar. We reached just after the performance had started. Another cycle rickshaw guy took us from the point where vehicles are stopped to the border where big crowd had assembled. This was an awesome sight. Indian crowd cheering Bharat Matah Ki jai when on the other side Pakistanis were cheering something else. The gate was open and the BSF jawans were doing their ‘thing’, well parade. Flags were exchanged and gate was closed. We tried to sneak into thwe gate to have a better look at the Pakistani brothers but were not permitted. Some VVips were there also. it was interesting to see some of the muslims in the crowd standing mum when the crowd was cheering India. For some time i felt a chill.

On our return we found out that Benazir bhuto was killed when we were at the border. Well nothing was to be afraid of, but nothing could have been unexpected. Mr Singh became company on return and explained why he had sped up. We bought medicines, shoes for the trek coming up and had food on the way back. On reaching golden temple we were given orange bandanas which was to be used while entering the temple. Although we couldnot understand the writings and the ways of the religion, one thing was sure. Sikh religion was really powerful and the faith was really strong among the people. We saw huge sardars down in prayer highly devoted and everything showing in their face. Some were offering dishes to the temple. We were given a kind of delicious pudding after the temple seeing. As Malwinder had said this is supposed to the the place where the light of the Guru had fallen. The Gold filled temple was a sight which cant be explained in words. The decision to visit at night was excellent as it glittered and glistened and the reflection felt like a twin in the water.

We returned to hotel and had a nice sleep Early morning we woke up and walked to the railway station over the flyover.We took train to Pathankot where we found the same rickshaw and took it to bus station. There we got a bus to pathankot. We had to take ticket at the station as the bus was prepaid this time. The rickshaw walla told us this info.

Now the next part is the Dalhousie Winter Trek arranged by Youth Hostels Association which was an experience of a life time.