Summer Trip T10

Heyaa !!

This year I went for my first summer vacation. Nani had a wish to visit Vaishno Devi with me, daddy and mumma. But daddy wanted to go for an excursion instead of pilgrimage. He wished to visit Konnkan, but its already end of June and in India almost all coastal region receive heavy rainfall during this time. So we all agreed on visiting 'Mata Di' holy shrine for darshan.

Nanu with family, our family and Nannu Tai, in all we were a troop of 10 members. Darshan mamu didn't joined, he was having papers for his 2 year examination. We planned to visit Vaishno Devi, Patnitop, Dalhousie and Amritsar in our 10 days trip.

Every one got engaged in shopping, packing and other preparation for trip. Daddy, Dadu and Nannu tried there best to get the reservations for journey. But, it is very difficult to get train reservations during summers in India.

Trip to Jaipur:

Chachu came to Indore on Saturday and on the same day we had leave for the trip. It was after so long I traveled in train. I felt it as another home and no way I felt that I was travelling. I was visiting Mamu after so long. As soon a we reached Jaipur I saw Nanu, SamMa, DarMa & GyaMa standing and eagerly waiting for me to reach. Everyone received us with a big smile on face and I too waved my hands looking them. At home Granny and Nani welcomed me, but hearing loud voice of Granny and seeing her welcome style I was a bit afraid and started crying. My bed and room was beautifully decorated by Mamus with balloons and all saying 'Welcome Aryaa'.

Visit to Khaaniyaji, Gajjo ki bavadi & Padampura:
We didn't got all our tickets confirmed, only 3 out of 10 and that too in different boggies. We dropped our plan to depart for Jammu on the very day we reached Jaipur. We planned to visit Jain temples in Jaipur and meanwhile Nanu gave it an another try for reservations. We visited Khaaniyaji, a beautiful Jain temple constructed on the top of hill.

Vaishno Devi
We got just 5 tickets confirmed out of 10, luckily all 5 in the same compartment. We all decided to get go, I knew this was going to be tough for SamMa, Cachu and Dad. We boarded in train at 4 in Jammu Tawi train, DarMa came to see off us.

ready to ride...

Journey was not that bad, all juniors manged to adjust two one one seat, Dad, Mamu and Chachu had a sound sleep but on floor ;). We reached Jammu next morning and hired a taxi to Katra. We planned to start  trekking the shrine the same evening. Also, visited the bazar of Katra and lunch there.

Trekking started from 'Banganga', all our baggages were checked here. To carry luggage, kids and disabled elders people use to rent a coolie, 'Pitthu' as called here. We rented Rafique uncle for carrying our luggage. Nannu Bua and Gyan Mamu agreed to trek on there own without a horse. I too wana to trek but Dad carried me. 

Everyone tied 'Jai Mata Di' band on there head started journey. Way to shrine was crowded many people wished to do Mata darshan. Till 'Ardh Kuvaari' whole way was full of mules who were loading children, old and disabled people. There were lots of shop for refreshments, juices and snacks on the way to Ardh Kuvaari.

It was decided that everyone will meet at Ardhkuwari check post from there route seperate for Vaishno  Devi shrine. Nannu Tai and Dadu went to wrong way and got lost, Nanu and SamMa went to Ardhkuwari to find them, everyone waited at check post for them. Now the way was different no commercial shops on sides and we can see beautiful valley from here. It was also getting cold as we have climbed more than half way. After a few km walk we reached HimKothi. Nannu Tai got tired by now, although Dadu was cheering her up to walk. It was very cold at Him Kothi, everyone rested here for some time at a cafe shop. Me and Nannu Tai covered ourself and had a nap. Everyone had a cup of tea and some snacks here. It was around 1:00 at night.

We hired an another Pithu (coolie) for Nannu Tai, she was not ready to walk even a single step. Shrine was around 4-5 km away from here. We reached shrine at around 3:00 in morning, Rafique uncle suggested us to darshan at night itself. In morning the place was going to be crowded and would take another 2-3 hours for darshan then. We did darshan at around 4 in the morning, I was sleeping when daddy woke me up inside a cave. I saw 3 Mataji's idol decorated with red chunari. Everyone bowed head before Mataji, got a prasad and tilak on head.

After darshan Nanu got some blankets and carpets, we slept on the roadside to temple for next 2 hours. We dropped plan to visit Bheruji's temple since everyone got tired and now wanted to get back to hotel. Next early morning we started heading back. Valley looked beautiful in the morning. We could see many helicopters taking passengers to up hill.

shrine in the morning

Everyone headed back to katra, enjoying the beautiful valley.

We reached back to hotel at around 1:00 in after noon. Everyone was very tired and now wanted to rest. Dad and Chachu got up early in the evening and went out to plan itinerary for next few days trip.