LOITERING AROUND HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN STATION, LUNCH AT DHABA AND RIDE BACK HOME

Photo Travelogue :
Read first part - Here!


Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station is adjacent to Delhi's two important arteries, the Ring Road and Mathura Road, and Sarai Kale Khan Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT). It connects all the major cities and was developed to ease congestion on New Delhi railway station which is located approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the North. It originates and terminates various Rajdhani Expresses going towards Indian cities. ( wiki )

I was to catch my train ( Rajdhani ) back to Bombay, but having some time to spare I kept my luggage in its Cloak Room, and went off exploring. I found some dhabas on its opposite side of the road and did some pet-puja :-) The entire area looks conjested and dirty, but hey, that's India, folks. Can't complain much :-( One should be careful of touts and pick-pocketers there.


Chole and Naan, yummm...
After my Mehrauli tour, I still had about two hours to spare. The AC rest room was crowded, so, I went to the 2nd class rest room, which had plenty of empty seats; and that's when I encountered its fierce Madam! OMG! What a specimen :o


there she is...She was sending everyone packing from that waiting room. No body was allowed for more than an hour. As soon as she saw me, she came charging at me ( like a wild bull :o ), demanding to see my ticket. Seeing my tkt which was of an AC class, she told me to go to the other waiting room. But since, the other waiting room was filled to its brim ( I had already checked it ), with hardly any space to move, I was reluctant to go there. I told her to let me stay there, as there were so many empty seats. She growled, thundered...she was after all, the mistress ( maalkin ) of that waiting room. Everybody had to follow her orders. I decided not to. I flatly refused. Because, I knew, I'd not get any seat in that other waiting room. I challenged her to try and move me from my seat, and declared, I won't go anywhere till my train comes. I also threatened her, that, I'll complain against her to higher authorities. Seeing my defiant state, she mellowed down a bit, and meekly told me that only to me she was allowing. Heehee... I had won :D


eventually, I went to the platform where my train would come...

alas, my train...

inside Rajdhani express...


I got down mid-way in Borivali ( as it was convenient for me ), and took a comfortable AC bus-ride back home. Oh, what an incredibly awesome journey it was! My Uttarakhand trip thus ended.

Address : Rajdhani Express
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DELHI JUNCTION STATION TO NIZAMUDDIN, AND THE MONUMENTS IN BETWEEN, TILL MEHRAULI

Photo Travelogue :
Read first part - Here!


my 1st auto-wala...


passing around the massive Red Fort Complex ( via old grand trunk road/mathura rd )!


the Raj Ghat...and its surroundings.

recognize this, anyone?


passing by many mughal-era monuments...

Onwards to Mehrauli...

my 2nd auto-wala
On reaching Nizamuddin, I checked in my luggage in a Cloak Room, and immediately caught another auto. This driver was a new naive one, and other auto-walas ( while booking at the pre-paid counter ) teased him if he even knew where Mehrauli was. I decided to go with him rather than the over-smart 'scary' ones. And off we went...it was raining that day. Just Perfect!


passing by Lodhi road, Aurobindo Road and on to Qutab complex...


my 2nd auto-ride stopped here ( he did drop me back at Nizamuddin too later ) :-)
I love Delhi. Simply because of the history it contains in every street, every gully and nukkad. Its so fascinating to see historical monuments littered around the city. Yes, it has it many flaws; but as an Indian, one must definitely visit it atleast once to get a slice of India's past.

Address : Mehrauli, Delhi
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BOMBAY TO DELHI - A RAIL JOURNEY

Photo Travelogue :


I was delighted. I was ecstatic. I was just thrilled to embark on this new trip of mine. It was in July first week ( 5th'15 ). While the trip was rather overwhelming, considering I'd be travelling all alone, it was planned on a whim rather; impromptu ~ at the spur of the moment really. I've always dreamt of going up the mountains, in the Himalayas, but some excuses or the other always found its way to postpone things. But suddenly, one day, there I was ~ tickets, itinerary and all packed and ready for the trip. I love these sudden whims of mine, as I get the most out of them and live life practically on the edge. So....here I go on my Himalayan Escapade, join me.


My excitement made me reach the station quite ahead of time ( by 2 hrs ), so waiting room was it. And then of course, I headed straight to my train. My train was Sampark Kranti, that left via Bandra Terminus. The journey was almost 20 hrs or so, that included the night in the train.


My compartment, co-passengers and of course me :-) bit dazed it seems :o The old fellow that you see, claims to be an artist with many awards under his belt. Who is he, any idea?


As we got out of the city, mesmerizing scenery took over ~ we crossed Virar lake and beautiful Vaitarna. So, both that evening and the next morning I enjoyed these splendid views. The green hills were in Rajasthan, can you believe that? Top ones are the mangroves.



If you know me, then you know 'Food' and 'Me' are rather inseparable, whatever be the occasion or location. I forgot to click the dinner and also many of the coffee cups. Enjoy the ones that I managed to click :-) ( While in long distances though, I do try to keep the food intake in check ).


So, we passed by some more scenery. I was rather interested in the parallel track that ran alongside ours.....wondering where it must be headed. In a signal, spotted a bhel-wala doing business right in middle of the tracks. And in another, a lady-in-red walked by nonchalant.


We crossed innumerable stations ~ big and small. Many more passengers came or alighted. And finally....it was my turn. I had reached my destination. Or was my journey only beginning?



Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
( Images - ©Mine. All rights reserved. )
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