One Large Tank in Bangalore

I wanted to visit this place for quite some time now.

Yesterday we finally made it. Each time I went to Kolkata, I used to board my train from Yeshwanthpur and I saw this man-made water body on the way. I am not sure if I assumed or I was told that one can do boat rides there. I was curious enough to try.

Our guide for yesterday – Google and Bangalore Tourism!

How to reach

We live in South Bangalore - that is like the semi-urban part of the city. We purchased standard daily passes for INR 70/-. Anyone with a valid ID can get one and use it any number of times each day. This bit of information is for those who do not reside in Bangalore.

We had two options - either we go to K. R. Market or Majestic first and then board a bus to Yeshwanthpur. We chose the former route and we are still unsure if that was a mistake, as ideally we should be near the water spot in two hours.

We were told by the local hawker in K. R. Market bus depot, the entire bus series from 250 to 263 goes to Yeshwanthpur. We then got other leading/ misleading information from the ticket counters and bus conductors that 280 and 143 can take us to the proposed spot.

We wasted roughly 40 minutes waiting for our next connect. It was Bus No 253 that was destined for Hesaraghatta (That is another place I am keen to visit soon), which we finally boarded.

We were asked to alight in 18^th Cross Malleshwaram as the tank was just a minute’s walk from there

12th Feb 2016 - Sankey Tank's peaceful atmosphere

Timings

We trusted Bangalore tourism website with this. I should have read a few more Trip Adviser reviews to confirm timings.

We left home at 11 am and reached our destination at 2 Pm, only to find the timings are:

5 AM TO 10 AM

4 PM TO 8 PM

They were not written as boldly as I have shown it here. It was hand scribbled on the wall with white paint and was hardly visible.

Shopping

We were a brave lot and nothing can keep us down. We quickly bounced back from our disappointment and switched to plan B. We had been doing dual window shopping from the bus and wanted to shop on our way back. We will do the shopping first instead.

(Bus Window and the shop window makes it dual window shopping, doesn’t it?).

The youngest in the team, still in her teens had spot a blue dress while in the bus. She had to walk back to that dress, just to have a good look at it. It happens, at her age, it seriously happens, while other things got picked and purchased on the way.

The ATM effect

The blue dress became our next destination. A long queue in Axis Bank stirred one of us to try a quick cash withdrawal only to find out, the line lead to Bank counter and not the ATM. The next try was in Oriental Bank of Commerce ATM which went through successfully after half an hour wait with popcorn. It will take a while for the ATM effect to subside.

What to expect

Fees and Charges

There is no entry fee now though we had this snapshot in our minds.

Source: Bangalore Tourism. Seriously, someone update please

Anything free attracts crowd did not seem true here. It was pretty tranquil, not crowded at all and lots of space around. The weather, though threatening to rain, was amazing.

Walker's Track

A distant fountain

Floating Home - The owner is right there

The Park

There are no boat rides and I am yet to know why.

As there are no eatery around, we munched some home-made fries, clicked two dozen photographs. A few couples who probably, tired of Cubbon Parks and Lal Bagh took solace in the stone benches.

As we sat quietly on a bench there for some time, we saw a few regular walkers, sort of vertical gardening on the walls, a well maintained park for the kids, a beautiful fountain, and an island, which probably had been the must go place when the boat rides were operational are basic highlights of the place.

What will remain special about this trip?

The surprise elements

Being close to nature

The company.

This is part of budget travel. Feel free to use a car however I did not explore the options for parking there.

Author Profile

A Touch of Village

I boarded Howrah Yeshwanthpur Express on 18th this month and reached Bangalore on 20th Morning. 

19th November 2016 - Howrah to Yeshwanthapur by train
From the land of Satyajit Ray, Vivekananda and Tagore to the land of Technology and Temples

Just one day before boarding my train, I went a see a neighbor's independent house, away from our residential complex.

17th November 2016 - View from terrace
Patches of green

Over ten years back I had bought a piece of farmland in Anekal wanting to build a farm house and later turn it to an old age home. A similar need to feel closer to nature and adopt a much simpler lifestyle lead to search plots even in Kolkata where I am planning to move back, in January 2017.

16th November 2016
My eternal search continues: A Land Project in Panpur, 

During a recent visit to our farmland in Anekal, as we walked to our plot, our driver discovered this close to where we had parked the car, which we had missed.

27th November 2016 - Marigold
A few metres away from my farmland

While we shot this part of the farm layout

The Happy Home Resort in its new avatar, just a couple of kilometers away from Pearl Valley, Anekal with its full operational multi cuisine, tent option, interesting activities can also give some quite moments.

The Lonely Chair. - Can you feel the tranquility?
Happy Home Resort, Anekal

Travel is not always about destination visit and just exploring places. 

These random pictures shot over a few days across two cities kind of hints at how the atmosphere around you regardless of where you belong - a rural or semi urban zone with space and greenery, a touch of village and simple life style can be a humbling experience and at the same time re charge your batteries.

As you hear about your maid visiting her native village or your security guard meeting his parents after a few years in his hometown, the gap seems broader. Nothing seems to have changed in 70 years.

It is not a question about seeking employment or a better life or opportunities away from home, it is about either being part of creation instead being part of saturation.

For those of you who are like me - can our quest for that simple village life, equipped with modern gadgets, if not the amenities be actually be fulfilled by a real village visit? Rope me in, if you are planning one or share your experiences.

It is our regular visits that have the potential to trigger something meaningful in villages - Someday!

Author Profile

Write to chaltechalteindia@gmail.com if you have a story to share about Village tours or if you are planning a visit, our team will be glad to assist you with a no-obligation itinerary at no cost. 

Series Three: Kamarpukur in Black and White

We always go to Bankura and stay in Jairambaati. We never explored Kamarpukur much. So it was in the agenda to spend more time in Kamarpukur than Jairambaati this time.

What I had not told my sister was I wanted to do - click everything here in Black and White. So as she walked ahead of me with our guide, I weaved this shot by shot learning more about the lanes and by lanes of Kamarpukur.

The idea to capture Kamarpukur in Black and White got triggered when I saw a photograph of Dakhineshwar in Belur Museum - the way it was when Sri Ramakrishna lived there. 

I immensely enjoyed creating this. Felt closer to them and the times they lived. 

We were back home by 8 PM and we immediately had relatives throw questions that very night, how we managed without the car, without a room to stay, so on and so forth. Universe conspires. 

Though this is not advisable for seniors - for anyone else with a little bit of heart, this one day trip can be truly satisfying, and will not be very exhausting, if time is planned well. 

We both knew by the end of it, we will do it again, many times more. 

Updated on 5th March 2017

I am just back from Bankura now. With the new station Goghat, the one day trip is even easier. Kamarpukur is 30 minutes away from Goghat and will cost only Rs 20 in a Toto.

The fair in Kamarpukur on the occasion of Sri Ramakrishna's 182nd birth anniversary was quite big with products ranging from Rs 3 (in this era) to Rs 200.

Author Profile

Series Two : Saraswati Pujo in Jairambaati

It was special day. People were celebrating Saraswati Puja in Jairambaati on 12th Feb. Therefore, the space right in front of Ma Sarada was absolutely empty - the place where usually Swamiji and disciples sit for singing Bhajan and reciting Vedanta or other spiritual verses. 

People were busy with Saraswati Puja at the far end of the hall, where we normally get to sit during our other visits. We both quickly sat there, completed our Japa, felt extremely blessed due to this proximity - as we could watch her so close while we prayed.

To have a closer view, we always go outside the hall and watch her from the side window - I kind of have the same thought cross my mind every time I see her from there - so much within our reach and yet so far away. 

Image Credit: Belur Math Documentary

Photography is not allowed in the premises and yet I had to tell the world, how it feels to watch her face from that side window. Fortunately I found this image in the documentary here.

That day, the experience was different. We sat right in front of her while the crowd was behind us chanting Saraswati Puja mantras.

The Universe conspires

When you wish with all  your heart, the universe conspires to make it true. When I woke up at 3 AM in the morning, it was just that wish we had to see her. Six hours later, dealing with six modes of communication -  leaving home at 4.15 AM, walk, bus, auto, ferry, rickshaw, train - We both were home. Only we knew how it felt.

Ma Sarada's home

We went there a dozen times before and yet it is never enough. We sit quietly on that very same veranda of her little home where she lived with her mother Shyamsundari Devi and Raduma, where Jagadhatri Puja was held, where her disciples frequented. 

As we sat there, doing our Japa, we restored our energies to live these moments when we are far away from this home. 

Knowing Mother once lived there, may be over a century ago - we were sitting on that very ground, watching her kitchen where she cooked - can actually bring goosebumps. Even today it is same mud stove that is used to prepare puffed rice.  How did we know? That requires mention of our January visit.

January Visit

When we visited Jairambaati in January, we woke up at 3.30 AM to be part of Mangal Arati - waking up Mother from her sleep. The stillness of the wee hours of the morning, the quiet breathing in the hall where the lights are switched off immediately after Arati for aspirants to meditate, pray and do Japa.

After Japa, we then went to her kitchen, as we saw a small light there and were curious to know what or who is there at 4 AM in the morning. As we approached, we almost held our breath when we found someone inside the kitchen in front of that mud stove - a senior lady in a white Sari preparing puffed rice - The only thought that crossed our mind was the most obvious thought in that state of mind - Mother!

Some one like her, prepared puffed rice there for two full hours. starting that early in the morning. We observed her through the kitchen window - She took a handful of rice, dropped them in the large container placed on the mud stove, the rhythmic cracks and a swift jerk to pull the puffed rice to a side and let it heap there. She continued with her work, fully engrossed, unaware of people who peeped - people like us, who come all the way here to build just that - a little bit of focus on our spiritual health.

Returning to Kamarpukur

We took a bus back to Kamarpukur. Usually when we come with our families, we prefer to use the paddled motor vans INR 50 per person for a to and fro visit including waiting time. 

The journey continues here...Kamarpukur in Black and White

Series One: Kamarpukur and Jairambaati in one day

After a long seven months stay in Kolkata - travelling to different parts of West Bengal, attending fairs, celebrating anniversaries, niece's wedding, house warming, nephew’s food ceremony, finally it was time to return to Bangalore, my second home.

After almost 12 years I stayed in Kolkata for such a long time during winter. With cousins visiting, meeting old school friends, planning one day trips, being part of all the Pujas, time really flew fast.

During my stay in Kolkata, visiting Bankura is just a thought or decision away. That was the only sinking feeling I had. Another visit to Jairambaati and Kamarpukur had to wait till I am back from Bangalore.

My whole family visited Jairambaati - Kamarpukur in January so I could not muster the courage to ask them to visit again in February, before my trip to Bangalore. I was all set to do the trip alone and cover both Jairambaati and Kamarpukur in one day. Fortunately, my sister was up for the challenge too. Neither knew how we will manage the three hundred odd kilometers in a day. We were firm, we will do it. 

This is how the one day trip went.

Early Morning Departure

I was up by 3 am the day we planned to go - 12th February. I left home by 4.15 am and it was still dark winter morning, with no bus or auto plying that early. I started walking towards my sister's house hoping to get something midway. I saw a rickshaw and seriously could not figure out if he just started his day or retiring for the day before. I did not bother to ask.

Just as I reached the Bus Stop close to my sister's residence around 4.30 am, I saw her crossing the road a few meters away from the bus stop, and waving her hand frantically for a speeding bus to stop and also at me to run and board it. The driver could figure out the two women here were desperate. 

Multiple modes of communication

We really had no clue if we can make it, because the first ferry service was at 5 AM from Dhobi Ghat and the train from Serampore Station was at 5.35 AM - There were so many ifs and buts in between, ticket queues for Ferry Service, Train and also wondered if we will get rickshaw to cover the distance between Serampore Ghat to Serampore station.

Remember, we were doing this for the first time - so the ifs and buts were getting magnified in the mind.

We got dropped in Barrackpore railway station. We took a reserved auto though we could wait for a few minutes for other train passengers to join us. We had no idea when a train would arrive. The auto driver wanted just INR 60 - so we did not waste time there.

The 5 minutes ferry service early in the morning, so close to nature calmed us. Last time, in January I walked from Serampore Ghat to Serampore Station. My elder sister is not comfortable walking even half a kilometer so we hired a rickshaw for INR 20. One way Ferry ticket cost per person is INR 4.50. Unless you come here, you will not know there are still transactions that involves half a rupee.

We bought two return tickets to Arambagh Station for INR 60 each, sipped two cups of steaming tea in the station, waiting for the train. Finally when we comfortably sat in the almost empty train, we unpacked our breakfast and chatted the entire way which roughly took around two and a half hours.

From Arambagh station, last time we had used a matador to go to Jairambaati for INR 400. This time we used the auto shuttle service for INR 6 per person to reach Arambagh bus stop.

Kamarpukur 

We got down in Kamarpukur first, visited the temple, chanted our initiated mantras, bought our lunch coupons and waited for a bus to Jairambaati. We bought puffed rice with the usual fries available there to munch while waiting for the bus. The idea was to be back before 11.30 AM for lunch and then see all of this in Kamarpukur in Black and White.

You will know what I am saying as you continue to read.

Kamarpukur Highlights

The journey continues.. here 

Not Just A Forest....

I have been planning to visit Sundarbans for more than a year however for some reason or the other, it did not materialize yet. Either it was for not having consensus from co travelers regarding costs, or dispute over number of days or it was not the right time to visit or the right group was not ready. I am very particular about who I travel with and wavelength.

Why Sundarbans?

I had too many reasons actually - one of them was purely for a rush of adrenaline at the thought of adventure -  a World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve, Forest, Boats, Local life, proximity to Bangladesh and much more.

So, when a friend asked me to join her for my much awaited trip to Sundarbans in January this year, the size of the group kind of caught me off guard - Over twenty people. Though I badly wanted to do the trip, I was sure I will feel out of place in such a large group, driven by agenda of majority. I had to politely decline however I waited eagerly for her return to know more about their trip. 

How to Reach Sundarbans?

Seriously, it is no fun if one hires a cab from Kolkata and does this trip like any other package tour which range anywhere from INR 6000 to INR 18000 per person or even more depending on group size, where you stay, duration and spots you visit.

Try this route:

The forewarning is you can try this route only if you are backpack person and not that need_my_spa_now_or_I_will_collapse kind of a traveler. In short this is not meant for luxury travelers at all.

A train from Sealdah to Canning, the early morning one starts around eight. The frequency is good with a train every hour and you will reach Canning with an hour. Board a bus or an auto (INR 250) from Canning to Dhamakhali. 

My friend and her twelve year old son will never forget that chilly winter January night, as they were on a boat for three hours which they boarded in Dhamakhali to reach Hemnagar Guest House only at 10.30 in the night, completely drenched. The son almost fell asleep in the boat and she had the filmiest ideas when the boatman had to halt at some points for fuel.

Here is a glimpse of all that I missed. 

My pathos is not over yet. 

In February, a school friend who is a social worker for decades, suggested we do Sundarbans - at least the boat tour in a day, a quick visit to a nearby NGO and some photography. That excited me all the more however just two days after that hectic one day Sundarbans tour I had my Bangalore trip scheduled. I was not sure if I could survive all this, without abusing my time clock and body system. 

What actually happened is this, sitting in Acropolis early Feb, when my school friend spoke about Sundarbans, she painted a very different picture - how people do not have access to medical care, and when someone sponsored a boat, it made life easy for some.

Now I want to visit Sundarbans for a different reason, not just to tick my must visit checklist, not just for the Burirdabri or Jhingakhali or any watch tower. I want to stay there for at least a week, mix with local people there, visit a couple of islands and bring Sundarbans mainstream and do a full fledged article on it. When I told what my thoughts were, my school friend understood as I dropped out in the last minute. Did I not tell about wavelength before? They are the ones who understand.

And that boat purchase is very much in my radar - regardless whether it is for medical or tourism purpose, if a boat means better livelihood to few more, I will definitely pitch to potential sponsors. Drop a comment here, if anyone is interested to take this initiative forward.

This piece on Sundarbans is just the beginning. Many more to follow!

Picture Courtesy: Sangita Majumdar

To know more about this traveler click here

For blogger Profile click here

Write to chaltechalteindia@gmail.com if you have a story to share about Sundarbans or if you are planning a visit, our team will be glad to assist you with a no-obligation itinerary at no cost. This is our bit for the welfare of Sundarbans

Mother's Abode

When a friend of mine was excited about a train trip to Dhanbad district in Jharkhand, I seriously was not sure why. I mean one can always google to find important tourist spots to visit there, significance of each place, how and when to visit and other inputs like that, however, I just did not understand why the super excitement.

I immediately thought, it was just one of those travel bugs, it was more a cry to escape the mundane corporate life to chill with friends than discovering the destination - So I ignored hula boo anyways.

Once I received these shots, I knew why Maithon was gaining popularity.

Maithon Dam, Lake, 500 years old Kalyaneswari Temple are the main places to visit and with easy access to Maithon from Kolkata either via Asansol or Dhanbad, it can indeed be an immediate escape for any weekend. 

However a 250 kms drive by car may be an expensive choice of route considering the fact there is nothing much to do there except use the row boats to visit the islands, but then priorities and preferences do vary and for many, the journey matters more than destination. 

My friend sent me a dozen pictures including the sign board of Majumdar Niwas of DVC which hints that her stay there was comfortable enough to let me know about it, otherwise she would never have sent me that, would she?

As the trivia goes the name Maithon means Ma - er - Than that is Ma er Sthaan - Mother's place.

Picture Courtesy: Anindita Basu.

To know more about this traveler click here