Road trip to Uttarakhand from Kolkata and back by Debasish Dey in Renault Captur in October 2019

Kolkata -  Kumayun on a self drive tour in 2019 Renault Captur.

Kolkata - Varanasi - Lucknow - Bhimtal -  Mukteswar - Nainital - Binsar - Kusani - Chaukori - Munsiyari - Patal Bhubaneswar -
Mayawati Ashram - Tanakpur - Lucknow - Varanasi - Kolkata .

Trip log for your reference.

6th Oct 2019 .

Kolkata Patuli home -  ODO 0000 -  1406 Hrs .
Burdwan Renaissance home - 125 Kms - 1730 Hrs.

7th Oct.

Burdwan - Varanasi .

Burdwan Home - 0530 hrs .
Panagarh bypass - 189 kms - 0600 hrs
Asansol - 225 Kms - 0630 hrs.
Shan-e-Punjab Top chanchi , breakfast - 315 Kms - 0814 hrs
Barhi - 403 kms - 0926 Hrs .
Dehri on Sone - 550 Kms - 1137 hrs .
Varanasi hotel Kriti green - 690 Kms - 1500 hrs.

Trip includes a breakfast and lunch break plus two tea breaks . Road condition - After Dhanbad there are few diversions but manageable , once you enter U.P , diversions are irritating  ,  dusty with bad patch due road constructions / expansion work .

8th Oct.

Varanasi - Lucknow.

Left Varanasi Hotel - 0655 hrs .
Handia - 0900
NH2 exit / NH30 ent  - 1000 hrs - 846 Kms.
Rae Bareily - 1130 Hrs - 927 Kms.
Lucknow Hotel shivam inn - 1300 Hrs. - 1014 Kms.

Trip includes breakfast break and one tea break . There are plenty diversion due to NHAI road expansion work , major one is near Handia, but due to dussera holiday road was less crowded . Shivam Inn is in Gomti Nagar , next to Singapore mall , an upmarket area of Lucknow .

9th Oct .

Lucknow local sightseeing by hired vehicle , car on rest .

10th Oct.

Lucknow - Bhimtal.

Left Lucknow hotel - 0630 hrs .
Sitapur -0835 Hrs. Breakfast
Shahjahanpur Bypass - 1000 Hrs - 1185 Kms.
Bareily Bypass - 1145 Hrs - 1260 Kms.
Uttarkhand border toll plaza - 1330 hrs - 1332 Kms .
Bhimtal TRH - 1600 Hrs - 1403 Kms.

Road was good all throughout , except one railway level crossing near Bareily , usual chaos . Stopped for breakfast and tea breaks and refuel break . Bhimtal KMVN TRH is in  awesome  location with a superb view of the lake , we got instant booking there , and have good secured parking area , if you prefer solitude then this is the place for you , and make a day trip to Nainital rather than staying there .

11th Oct.

Bhimtal - Mukteswar .

Bhimtal KMVN TRH left - 0940 hrs .
Bhowali - 1150 Hrs.
Mukteswar Himalayan breeze Flair resort -
1530 hrs - 1477 Kms .

From Bhimtal , went to Naukuchiatal , did boat ride on lake , on reaching mukteswar , went to KMVN , but did not like , then went to  Trishul  orchard resort , did not like either , finally settled in this new property , trip includes a
Lunch and tea break .

12th Oct .

Mukteswar - Nainital .

Himalayan breeze flair left - 0803 hrs.
Mukteswar temple .
Chaul ki Jali - 0940 Hrs - 1481 Kms.
Nainital KMVN TRH - 1140 Hrs - 1530 Kms.

Breakfast and refuelling break .

Nainital KMVN located near Tallital , which is in strategic location with Superb view of naini lake , only problem is parking is bit tight .

13th Oct.

Nainital local sight seeing ,
Car on rest .

14th Oct.

Nainital to Binsar .

Left Nainital TRH - 0803 hrs.
Bhowali - 0836 Hrs.
Tanked up 20 ltrs diesel.
Kainchi 0940 Hrs. Breakfast stop.
Almora bypass 1107 Hrs - 1589 Kms.
Forest check post Binsar - 1227 Hrs.
Binsar TRH - 1320 hrs - 1627 Kms.

Binsar forest check post to Binsar TRH is about 11 kms steep hilly ride upto a height of 8000 feet, some of the portion of this road is narrow and surface made out of gravel , while climbing these portion use only first gear with full throttle on accelerator . Binsar TRH is awesome, you can a view a large range of Himalayan peaks likes Trishul , Chaukhamba , Poncho chulli , Nanda ghunti etc..

15th Oct.

Binsar to Kausani .

Left Binsar TRH - 0830 hrs.
Crossed Bageswar - 1100 Hrs.
Baijnath - 1230 Hrs.
Kausani TRH - 1430 Hrs - 1729 Kms.

Road from Binsar forest entry to Bageswar is very good and scenic.  Bageswar town is congested , after Bageswar drive almost flat Surface till Baijnath along Gori Ganga river is pleasant , then we stopped at Baijnath for temple visit , Baijnath to Kausani again uphill and winding road , surface not so good .Kausani KMVN is very good with large car park .

16th Oct.

Kausani to Chaukori.

Left Kausani KMVN TRH  0940 Hrs.
Visit Anashakti Asram
Crossed Bageswar 1140 Hrs
Stopped at zaika Dhana for Kumayuni lunch.
Chaukori Ojwasi resort - 1400 Hrs - 1816 Kms.

Zaika dhaba is about 10 kms from Bageswar .
Ojwasi resort is a fantastic place to stay with large car parking and viewing terrace .

17th Oct.

Chaukori - Munsiyari

Left Ojwasi Chaukori  - 0810 Hrs.
Thal - 0941 Hrs.
Tejam - 1053 Hrs - 1862 Kms.
Birthi - 1235 Hrs.
Kalamuni top - 1326 Hrs.
Khalia top gate - 1340 Hrs.
Munsiyari KMVN TRH - 1400 Hrs. - 1911 Kms.

Chaukori - Udiyari bend - Thal road is good , Thal - Tejam  overall good , few places broken , car with low GC must cross with extreme caution , Tejam - Birthi very scenic drive with broken road one or two places , we stopped at Birthi falls for Tea and Maggie break and to enjoy the beauty of the falls , there is a KMVN TRH at Birthi , you can opt for a night stay here , then continued till Kalamuni top , which is the highest point on this road at about 9500 Ft , then downrride to Munsiyari KMVN TRH,
KMVN TRH is good with large car parking .

18th Oct 2019.

Munsiyari local sight seeing , Nanda Devi temple , Barkot village etc. Car on rest , hired local taxi .

19th Oct.

Munsiyari - Patal Bhubaneswar .

Left Munsiyari KMVN - 0703 Hrs - 1911 Kms .
Birthi 0853 - 0915 Hrs.
Nachni - 1020 Hrs.
Thal 1050 Hrs - 1980 Kms.
Udiyari bend - 1148 Hrs - 2000 Kms .
Berinag crossing - 1156 Hrs - 2003 Kms .
Patal Bhubaneswar - 1400 Hrs.
Shailsa resort - Patal Bhubaneswar - 1545 hrs - 2038 Kms .

Our Initial plan was to return from Munsiyari via Madkot - Jauljibi - Ogla - Pithoragarh route , but with local input and drive till Barkot with local car changed our mind , due to construction work this road is in very bad shape and closing /  opening time imposed , so we decided to come back via Thal and go to Patal Bhubaneswar , Patal Bhubaneswar was a terrific experience with a hole  90 ft long cave entrance and the cave itself , KMVN TRH we did not like also they did not have dedicated parking space , we stayed in a private resort ' Shailsa Resort ' , which was good with large parking , about 3 Kms from the cave .
Trip includes breakfast , tea and refuelling breaks .

20th Oct.

Patal Bhubaneswar - Mayawati Ashram - Tanakpur .

Patal Bhubaneswar - 0715 Hrs - 2038 Kms.
Panar x-ing  -0933 Hrs. Breakfast break .
Lohaghat - 1140 Hrs.
Mayawati Ashram - 1220 Hrs - 2136 Kms .
Lohaghat - 1330 Hrs .
Tanakpur KMVN TRH -1640 hrs - 2228 Kms.

Roads are very very bad rather horrible condition between Ghat and Lohaghat section, and again between champabat and Tanakpur due to road expansion work , few stretches are good where construction is completed , suggest avoid this route till complete expansion work is completed   . Was there in Mayawati Ashram at right time and in absolutely right  moment for lunch / Prasad break . Tanakpur KMVN TRH is ideally located , right on highway . Got a good scrubbing of the car after a long and muddy / dusty ride .

Trip includes a breakfast break and lunch/Prasad break at Mayawati asram.

21st Oct.

Tanakpur - Lucknow .

Tanakpur KMVN TRH - 0652 Hrs - 2228 Kms.
Khatima - 0719 Hrs.
Pilvit - 0800 Hrs.
Puranpur - 0840 Hrs.
Khutar - 1010 Hrs.
Gola bypass - 1044 Hrs.
Sitapur -1250 Hrs - 2456 Kms.
Lucknow Ginger Gomtinagar - 1430 hrs - 2555 Kms.

This road was through MDR ( Major district road ) , was smooth ride , only hitch was Sitapur Railway crossing and road through Sitapur bazar , other wise no hassle , had a breakfast stopover at a Bengali owned dhaba near Puranpur , had a tea break . Lucknow Ginger was good with secured parking and sumptuous breakfast .

22 nd Oct .

Lucknow - Varanasi .

Left Lucknow Ginger - 0741 Hrs.
Rae Bareilly - 0900 Hrs.
Unchahar - 1004 Hrs.
Kunda - 1100 Hrs.
Entrance at NH2 Allahabad bypass tollgate - 1139 Hrs - 2738 Kms .
Handia toll gate - 1221 Hrs.
Varanasi Satkar hotel on NH2 - 1520 Hrs - 2880 Kms .

Trip includes Lunch break , road good otherwise traffic jam near unchahar railway crossing and diversion area for ongoing over bridge work , huge traffic jam after handia and Varanasi  and 3 other places where NH2 widening work in progress .

23rd Oct 2019.

Varanasi - Burdwan Renaissance .

Hotel Satkar - 0555 Hrs - 2880 Kms.
Sasaram toll - 0800 Hrs.
Dehri on Sone - 0905 Hrs.
Aurangabad bypass - 0935 Hrs.
Shan e Punjab topchachi - 1300 Hrs - 3257 Kms . Lunch break.
Dhanbad more - 1416 Hrs.
Damodar Bridge - Bengal border - 1451 hrs - 3325 Kms .
Junction mall DGP - 1540 Hrs .
Renaissance home - 1637 hrs - 3446 Kms .

There are few diversion till UP / Bihar border  which are troublesome , once you enter Bihar then Jharkhand there are diversion due road widening work, but they  are not so much problematic like in U.P.  there are traffic jam on the Bridge over sone river , it's slow traffic but was moving . Rest of the trip was good , stopped for lunch at your usual Shan - e - Punjab dhaba at Topchachi .

24 Oct 2019.

Burdwan Renaissance - Kolkata .

Left Renaissance - 0737 Hrs.
Reached Patuli Home - 1020 Hrs - 3575.7 Kms .

Summary -

Total Kms home to home  3575.7 Kms .

Night stays .
Burdwan - 1
Varanasi - 1
Lucknow - 2
Bhimtal - 1
Mukteswar - 1
Nainital - 2
Binsar - 1
Kausani - 1
Chaukori - 1
Munsiyari - 2
Patal Bhubaneswar - 1
Tanakpur - 1
Lucknow - 1
Varanasi - 1
Burdwan - 1

Total 17 nights - 18 days .

Drive details, text and photo courtesy: Debasish Dey, Bipasha Dey in October 2019.

* Indian Roadie Preferred Route
* Indian Roadie Preferred Itinerary

Purvanchal Expressway - Lucknow to Ghazipur (still under construction as in October 2019)

The Purvanchal Expressway project is expected to cost Rs 23,000 crore and is likely to be completed in record three years' time.

Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh is being touted as India's longest expressway that will connect Lucknow to Ghazipur. Its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Azamgarh on 14th July 2018. The six-lane Purvanchal Expressway can be expanded to eight lanes. The Purvanchal Expressway project is expected to cost Rs 23,000 crore and is likely to be completed in record three years' time. An air-strip will be constructed in Sultanpur district to facilitate landing of Indian Air Force aircraft in emergency situation.

5 Facts about Purvanchal Expressway:

 The Purvanchal Expressway, which is 340-km-long, will not just increase connectivity but also give a boost to agriculture, commerce, tourism and industries besides social and economic development in the areas through which it will pass.

The Purvanchal Expressway will connect Lucknow with Barabanki, Amethi, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur.

The Purvanchal Expressway will be linked with the Lucknow-Agra Expressway and Yamuna Expressway which connects Agra to Delhi and will considerably bring down the travel time between Delhi and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Purvanchal Expressway will be linked with Varanasi through a separate link.

Uttar Prades Minister Yogi Adityanath has called Purvanchal Expressway to be "the lifeline of development in east Uttar Pradesh"
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# Indian Roadie Infrastructure
# infrastructure

Leopard that killed 450+ people was shot down by Jim Corbett

The world famous Mango tree where Sir Jim Corbett used to sit on his Machan. Infact it's rare to find a Mango Tree in the lap of Himalayas.This is the village where the pandit lived who was even attacked by the Leopard. The leopard made numerous attempt to kill the pandit. He also talked about a lot about the terrace farming and the Manadakini & Alaknanda river. He also described very well about the mountains accross the river. The Leopard has almost killed 450+ people in this area and he used to roam around in 300 sq km. Yes finally the Leopard was shot here by world famous shooter, Jim Corbett Sir.

Museum is being built here.

And my favorite book. Carried the book just for this click.

I am in the lap of Himalayas. I feel blessed.

Photos and content: Mukul Mukherjee (Indian Roadie follower and avid wildlife photographer) in October 2019.

Must see, must visit, when in and around Pune

Places of interest in and around Pune.

Mahablaswer,
Panchgani,
Tapola,
Rajmanchi Fort,
Shirdi,
Bhimashankar,
Junnar,
Lonavla/ Khandala,
Pawna camping,
Pabe Ghat,
Torna Fort,
Rajgad

Beautiful Munnar, Kerala

A lady Indian Roadie follower drove to beautiful Munnar, Kerala from Bangalore in early October 2019.
Has sent two short videos to showcase the beauty of the hillstation.

Jim Corbett and the bridge North of Rudraprayag in October 2019 (Courtesy: Mukul Mukherjee)

This used to be a tower bridge earlier where Jim Corbett has spend sleepless nights to hunt down the Man-eater Leopard of Rudraprayag.
And the Leopard used to take this bridge mostly during night to enter the town and search for a kill and move out before the dawn.

The bridge is well described in the book and has been said about it numerous time. This bridge is located at North of Rudraprayag.
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Photo and content:  Mukul Mukherjee (avid wildlife photographer) was there in October 2019.

Life after sunset in Kohima, Nagaland (by Pooja Akula in October 2019)

I (Pooja Akula) am a person who spends a lot of time in finding cozy cafes. After all, they're my work place on the go. But backpacking in the interiors of Assam and Meghalaya had kept me far away from the mere concept of a cafe; for almost two months now!

However, to my surprise, when I got to Kohima in Nagaland, I learnt that the state capital houses a cafe culture. On my random stroll around the market area, I remember spotting 4. This cafe you see in the pictures - Dream Cafe is apparently the oldest one in the city. While others are equally vibrant and nice.

For a change, I was happy to be in a city. I thought I finally didn't have to worry about getting indoors by sunset and could watch this city lit with mountains in its background. But little did I know that even the busiest city of  Nagaland, the capital goes dead by 7 PM.

With disappearing sun, disappear the people. Shops shut down, the streets go silent and I wonder if the locals quietly go back home?  There are a few hawkers selling street food but by 8 PM latest, all their food is over and they're ready to pull bags to get back home too!

I've been travelling across India, been to so many cities. But never have I experienced a city feel so dead post sunset. Anybody else who's been to Kohima and thinks the same?

Text (narrated in the 1st person) and photos courtesy: Pooja Akula (Travel content curator) in October 2019.
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* Kohima
* Nagaland
* Shetravels India
* Indian Roadie
* Backpacking India On Road

Steer clear of Tempo Traveller WB-19H-2353 - Indian Roadie Citizen Journalist

Roadies in Kolkata should stay clear from a white six-wheel Tempo Traveller, WB-19H-2353. Vehicle is supposedly hypothecated to Indian Bank, New Alipore, Kolkata.
The driver who was driving on Wednesday, 2019-10-23 around 9.30 am onwards in Salt Lake Sec-V, New Town was a menace on the road.
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* Indian Roadie Citizen Journalist

Pune to Kolkata - Indian Roadie Preferred Route (in September 2019)

Best Route For Road Trip, Indian Roadie Preferred Route, Motoring Route, Driving Route (in September 2019, pre Samruddhi Expressway era) from 

Pune to Kolkata (via. Aurangabad, Khamgaon, Raipur, Sambalpur, Angul, Manguli) 

(Pune_Kolkata): 

Day 1: Pune - Ranjangaon - Ahmednagar - Aurangabad (Lemon Tree Hotel) - Jalna (Hotel Flora Inn, MIDC) - Deulgaon Raja - Deulgaon Mahi - Chikhli (IOC Animesh Filling Station) - Yelgaon Dam reservoir on left - Buldana (Khamgaon Road crossing, near Milind Nagar) - Khamgaon (NH6/ Akola Road crossing) - Akola (Shioni Airport) - Murtizapur - Loni - Amravati  (Gouri Inn, Rahatgaon) - Bazargaon - Nagpur (NH6/ Wardha Road crossing).
(Total duration including short breaks = 14 hrs).

Day 2: Nagpur - Bhandara (New Wainganga River Bridge) - Durg bypass - Bhilai - Raipur - Areng - Saraipalli - Bargarh - Sambalpur (10 hrs).

Day 3: Sambalpur - Rerakhole - Angul - Dhenkanal bypass - Chowduar - Manguli (crossing of NH16) - Chandikhole - Bhadrak - Soro - Balasore - Jaleshwar - Belda - Kharagpur roundabout - Debra - Kolaghat - Uluberia - Dhulagarh - Kona Expressway - Kolkata (14 - 15 hrs).

Day  1:
Aurangabad (Lemon Tree Hotel) - Jalna (Flora Inn, MIDC, Jalna) = 53 kms.
Jana - Deulgaon Raja = 30 kms.
Deulgaon Raja - Chikhli (IOC Animesh Filling Station) = 57 kms.
Chikhli - Buldana (Milind Nagar) = 23 kms (45 mins).
Buldana - Khamgaon (NH6/ Akola Road crossing) = 51 kms (70 mins).
Khamgaon - Akola (Shioni Airport) = 32 kms (40 mins).
Akola - Amravati (Gouri Inn, Rahatgaon) = 94 kms (2 hrs).
Amravati - Nagpur (NH6/ Wardha Road crossing) = 148 kms (2 hrs 45 mins).

Day 2:
Nagpur - Bhandara (New Wainganga River Bridge) = 65 kms (75 mins). 

Roadrage killed Ramesh Behl (65) in Bhowanipore, Kolkata on 2019-10-17

Ramesh Behl, the 64-year-old co-director of private security firm Dark's Security Consultant lost his life for raising his voice against honking outside his residence at Bakulbagan Road, Bhowanipore in the heart of south Kolkata on Thursday, 20019-10-17 afternoon. Angered by the protest, the accused who was possibly the owner-cum-driver of another car shoved and slapped the elderly man who lost his balance and fell. His head struck the kerb stone on the edge of the pavement and he lost his consciousness, never to regain it.

Behl had stepped out of his Bhowanipore residence at Bakulbagan and was about to board his grey coloured Toyota Innova SUV when the incident took place around 1.10pm.

The accused slapped and pushed him. Behl then fell down and became unconscious. He was rushed to a nursing home where he was declared brought dead.
Behl was on his way to his office at Park Towers on Ballygunge Circular Road and his driver took his Innova to the Bakulbagan Road-Ramesh Mitra Road crossing close to the Kalighat Telephone Exchange. He was about to board it when a red hatchback came up from behind and started honking. Within a second, the driver hit the mud-guard of the Innova. Behl protested.
“Gari khada hain. Dhakka kyun mara? (The car is stationary. Why did you hit it?)” he asked. “The driver of the car initially said sorry but as soon as Behl moved away, he started honking again,” Bahl’s driver told police.
Bahl protested again. “This time, the driver of the car came out and after a heated exchange, the accused slapped Behl. The 64-year-old fell on the edge of the footpath and his head hit the kerb stone at the edge of the pavement. Seeing this, the accused jumped into his car and fled. Behl’s driver rushed to inform his family, who shifted him to Heath Point Nursing Home barely less than 10 minutes away. At the hospital, he was declared dead,” said an investigating officer.

The Bhowanipore police have registered a case under IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). “Our investigation so far has revealed that the accused was practising law in a court in the city. Behl’s driver and CCTV footages have helped in identifying the accused driver. The accused is presently absconding. We are raiding several places to nab him,” said joint CP M Sharma. The last four digits of the hatchback has been identified as 5443.
Investigators said they are using the driver’s statement as the primary witness. “Based on his complaint, we have registered an FIR. We have asked our forensic team to collect blood samples from the spot,” said an officer. 

Content source: The Times Of India, Kolkata edition dated 2019-10-18.
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* roadrage
* Indian Roadie News

Jalajog, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi - Indian Roadie Preferred Cafe

Jalajog, a restaurant very close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is said to serve excellent and authentic Bengali food.
IndianRoadie followers/ members should positively visit the eatery during their drive/ ride to and/ or via Varanasi.

Jalajog is famous for their:
Fish curry prepared with mustard paste, Egg curry,
Poppy seed paste or curry and some more veg items,
Luchi or Puri for breakfast.
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* Indian Roadie Preferred Cafe

Referred by and photo courtesy: Debasish Dey in October 2019.

Scooterist Gitanjali Naidu's tiff with Bengaluru Police on 2019-10-15

I am Gitanjali, a citizen of Bangalore, born and raised here. Today I had got my periods and being new to the area, I left without my helmet. I agree I was at fault for not wearing a helmet. But these two so-called public servants behaved nothing less than men who have no respect for the public nor to the law.  All they did in the 45 minutes they made me wait without giving me a ticket or letting me pay the fine was threaten citizens and create a huge nuisance on the road.
For 45 minutes I have been telling the person called Basavaraju H J I need to go home. Give me the receipt for the offense and I will come and pay it as I did not carry my card nor cash other than what I needed to buy my PADS. They were expecting a bribe and nothing else. I had to show them the pads I bought and only then they decided to send me a notice. Who gave them the authority to decide how I pay the fine. Doesn't the law give citizens time to pay the fine? Not everyone is rich enough to carry money with them. Why does a woman or man have to beg them to let them go or to give them notice? Why should we? They took videos of people? Who are they to invade my privacy? How can they shoot videos of citizens? Who gave them the right to do so? I don't have to pay my fine immediately, this is not an instant cash facility? SHAME ON YOU MALLESHWARAM TRAFFIC POLICE!!! Being born and raised here this how you treat me, I can't even imagine how you would treat people who don't even know the language. I ask the department to take action on these so-called policemen who are nothing less than the rowdy's in the city.

#whogaveyoutheright #heartlesscreatures #harassment #biggestcriminals #devilsindisguise #shameonyou #nohumanity

Copied verbatim from the post by #GitanjaliNaidu to #BengaluruTrafficPolice on Tuesday, 2019-10-15 at 6.54pm.
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# SensitizeThePolice (sensitize the police)
# IndianRoadie
# ShetravelsIndia
# BackpackingIndiaOnRoad

Verdict: The cops deserve the #stick in the proverbial Carrot N Stick.

Rasogollas of Pahal (near Cuttack) by Argha Mukherjee in October 2019

পাহালা/ Pahala - পৃথিবীর সর্ববৃহৎ রসগোল্লা মান্ডি. National Highwayর দুধারে বিস্তৃত এই জগদ্বিখ্যাত রসগোল্লা বাজারে প্রায় 100 দোকান আছে, যার ওপর নির্ভর করে থাকেন প্রায় 400 জন মানুষ.
এবং শুধু রসোগোল্লাই নয় এখানে আরো পাওয়া যায় ছেনাগজা আর ছেনাপোড়া যা প্রতিটিই স্বকীয়তায় অনন্য.
পাহালায় রসগোল্লা দু রকমের হয়ে থাকে, চিনির ও গুড়ের এবং এই দু ধরণের রসগোল্লাও দুই সাইজে পাওয়া যায়. বড়ো সাইজের রসগোল্লাগুলির দাম 12 টাকা আর অপেক্ষাকৃত ছোট সাইজের গুলির দাম 5 টাকা করে.
কলকাতা তথা বঙ্গের রসগোল্লার সঙ্গে কলিঙ্গ (ওড়িয়া) ধারার রসগোল্লাগুলি স্বাদ ও বর্ণে কিছুটা ভিন্ন. কলকাতায় যেমন সাদা স্পঞ্জ রসগোল্লার প্রাধান্য, উড়িয়া মোদকেরা রসোগোল্লায় হালকা ছোট এলাচ ব্যবহার করেন. আর সিরা বা চিনির রসটাও তুলনামূলকভাবে হালকা মনে হলো.
প্রতিটি জায়গায়, বিভিন্ন আঞ্চলিক মিষ্টির ক্ষেত্রে যেমন কোনোও না কোনোও এক "আদি ও অকৃত্রিম" দোকান থাকে, প্রচারের আলো থাক বা না থাক স্বাদে, গুণে যা অন্যদের অনায়াসে টেক্কা দিতে পারে. পাহালায় সেই অর্থে "আদি অকৃত্রিমের" দাবিদার সব দোকানই. ( অন্তত আমার তথ্য অনুযায়ী ...... আমি স্থানীয় একজনের সাথে গিয়েছিলাম, এবং স্বভাবতই তাঁর ওপর নির্ভর করতে হয়. আমি এ দাবী করবোনা আমি যে দোকানে গিয়েছিলাম সেটিই সেরা, বরং আমি নির্ভর করবো ভোজনরসিক পাঠকের অভিজ্ঞতার ওপর. ) আমি গিয়েছিলাম "শুন্য মন্দির সুইট শপে" ( নামটা কেমন haunting না? ) দোকানদারের সঙ্গে যা কথাবার্তা হলো, পাহলার রসগোল্লা মান্ডিতে প্রায় 100টি দোকান আছে. সম্প্রতি ওড়িশা সরকারের তরফ থেকে Higway সম্প্রসারণের কাজ চলতে থাকায় দোকানগুলি বিভিন্ন ক্লাস্টারে ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে. প্যাকেজিং থেকে বিপণন দোকানগুলিতে প্রচুর উন্নতির সুযোগ আছে, মানুষগুলি আশা করেন ভবিষৎতে সরকারের তরফ থেকে হয়তো তাঁদের আরো সুযোগ সুবিধা মিলবে, এমনকি হয়তো দূর ভবিষৎতে পাহালকে কেন্দ্র করে কোনো মিষ্টি হাবও গড়ে উঠতে পারে.
যাইহোক, পাহালায় না থাকলেও ওড়িয়া ধারার রসগোল্লার প্রাণপুরুষ বিকালান্দা করের বিখ্যাত মিষ্টির দোকান আজ সালেপুরের সীমানা ছাড়িয়ে ভুবনেশ্বর সহ ওড়িশার বিভিন্ন জায়গায় ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে.
আমি ভুবনেশ্বরের গৌতম নগর থেকে প্রায় পৌনে বারোটা নাগাদ পাহালের উদ্দেশ্যে রওয়ানা দিয়েছিলাম. কটক রোড হয়ে পাহাল পৌঁছাতে সময়
লাগলো প্রায় 30 মিনিট.
ভুবনেশ্বর ও কটকের প্রায় মাঝামাঝি ( ভুবনেশ্বর থেকে দূরত্ব 11.3 কিলোমিটার ) পাহালা খাদ্যরসিক তথা মিষ্টিপ্রেমীদের কাছে যেন এক কল্পরাজ্যের হাতছানি.
ছোটবেলায় পড়া অমর শিশুসাহিত্যিক গ্রীম ভাইদের লেখা "হানসেল ও গ্রেটেলের" গল্পের মতো আমারও, পাহালা রসগোল্লা মান্ডিতে এসে মনে হচ্ছিলো আমিও যেন হঠাৎ করে সেই ছোট্ট দুই ভাই বোনের মতো হাজির হয়েছি রূপকথার সেই কেক, কুকিজ, ক্যান্ডি ও চকলেট দিয়ে তৈরী বাড়িটির সামনে. কিন্তু, গল্পের সেই দুষ্টু ডাইনি বুড়ির মতো আমার রোগ, Diabetes আমাকে সমানে শাসিয়ে যাচ্ছিলো.

Photo and text courtesy: Argha Mukherjee in October 2019

Nagpur to Delhi - Indian Roadie Preferred Route

Nagpur - Chindwara - Narsinghpur - Sagar - Jhansi - Gwalior - Agra - Delhi.

* Indian Roadie Preferred Route

Road trip to Lahaul and Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh in October 2019 in Hyundai Creta by Soumala Ghosh

Road trip to Lahaul and Spiti Valley in  Himachal Pradesh:

I (Soumala Ghosh) with husband (Batsayan Das) and son started on 2/10/2019 from Kolkata in own  Hyundai Creta (Diesel) SUV.
Total distance covered:  5000 km+

2/10/2019: Kolkata - Night halt near Varanasi.
3/10/2019: Varanasi - Night halt at Agra.
4/10/2019: Agra - Delhi - Chandigarh - Chail (575km). Road condition is extremely good upto Himalayan Expressway toll plaza. Thereafter it becomes worse. Put up at Koti Forest Rest House, 10 km from Chail towards Kufri.
5/10/2019: Koti - Kufri - Narkanda (62 km). Road condition is quite good. Put up at Gahan Forest Rest House, 20 km from Narkanda.
6/10/2019: Gahan - Rampur - Nichar (129 km). It took more than 6 hours for us as we stopped on the way several times appreciating the lush greenery and snow capped mountains. Roads have been carved out of rocks and  mountains. Put up at Nichar Forest Rest House.
7/10/2019: Nichar - Sangla - Chitkul village (100 km). Chitkul is in Kinnaur district. Road is extremely rough and narrow particularly after Sangla. Put up at final destination, by the River Baspa.
8/10/2019: Chitkul - Kalpa (61km).  In the morning we found thin sheet of snow on the windscreen of the car. Put up at Kalpa Forest Rest House.
9/10/2019: Entered Lahaul and Spiti Valley. The terrain completely changed. From lush greenery it became desert with River Spiti flowing nourishing the growth of cacti and a few plants and trees. We drove past Nako, Tabo and arrived at Dhankar Monastery Guest House (179 km). Extremely helpful caretaker who served with  refreshing honey ginger lemon tea on our arrival. Next morning we  tried to trek upto Dhankar Lake, but it was too difficult for us because of extreme cold and I was having a bit oxygen problem.
10,11,12/10/2019: Kaza.  Dhankar - Kaza (33 km). Kaza is a small town in Lahaul Spiti district. An elderly lama suggested us to take the route via Lallung village, Lingti valley,  Demul village upto Kaza. We followed his advice and really enjoyed our drive through small villages, gossiping with local people over cups of tea, taking a glimpse of their lifestyle. From Kaza we visited several small villages like Langza with a statue of gautama Buddha, Komic, Hikkim villages. We also visited Kye Monastery which is a must visit. We drove upto Chicham bridge constructed at an altitude of 13000 ft, Kibber village,  Gete but could not reach Tashi Gong as we lost the trace of road. There were no human being to ask for direction. Only yaks and more yaks were there.
13/10/2019 - 15/10/2019: Kaza - Manali via Lossar - Kunzum Pass - Batal - Chhotedhara - Chhatru - Gramphu - Leh Manali Highway - Rohtang Pass (202 km). It took 10 hours. There is no road after Lossar. Kunzam Pass was breathtakingly beautiful. The most difficult portion was crossing Chhotedhara. The road is full of rocks and we had to drive on the riverbed with Chandra River accompanying us. At last after Gramphu we took Leh Manali Highway and arrived at Rohtang Pass. But here also in some stretches road condition is very bad upto Manali.
16/10/2019: Manali - Panipat (453 km).
17/10/2019: Panipat - Lucknow (647 km).
18/10/2019: Lucknow - Mohania (Hotel Kaimur Vihar) (372 km).
19/10/2019: I am expected to reach Kolkata.

Hotel Shivam Inn, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow - Indian Roadie Preferred Hotel

Hotel Shivam Inn, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Location: Near Outer Ring Road, opposite Singapore Mall, convenient for driving in/ out from city to NH30. Open parking under hotel security, complimentary breakfast.
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* Indian Roadie Preferred Hotel

Courtesy: Debasish Dey, Bipasha Dey during their Kolkata to Uttarakhand road trip in mid October 2019 in Renault Captur.