For a vagabond like me every trip that we take are special and memorable, some more than the others. We needed to get away from
Delhi, a syndrome which afflicts us every odd month or so and nothing gives us more pleasure than discovering areas of interest in and around Delhi. 25 plus
years of living in the capital, We realized that We had not been to a much
internationally acclaimed and not very nationally frequented place- Bharatpur. Researching
around for information on the place made us kick ourselves for not having made
this trip earlier. Leaving home in the wee hours of the morning, we hit for our
destination, some 190 kms from Delhi. We were informed by people who visited the
place that the journey would take us almost 5 hours and we didn’t want to waste
the day. The day started on a love filled note and we were like butterflies flitting around in a happy mood. Ripping on the Taj Expressway the speedometer
touching 170kmph every now and then, we managed to reach our destination in 2
and half hours. We were reprimanded a tad sternly by the toll plaza people,
where we stopped to pay a toll of 225 rupees for one way, that we were over
speeding and that the cameras on the highway were keeping tabs on us and we
could be prosecuted. But did we care? The monsoon clouds had burst forth and we
were driving in layers of heavy rainfall. Retro music from the system in the
car- like minded company and we gave a damn to what anyone else said or
thought. The magic of the trip had cast a firm spell on all of us. We had
forgotten our responsibilities and cares for the time being. For us this trip
was on an emotional overdrive as we were just travelling like we used to in college days-no baggage in either form of actual baggage or responsibility . At the destination, the RTDC run Saras Hotel,(where
we had booked super deluxe rooms at INR 1000 per night-we realised that equally
good cheaper options are available with the private operators in the vicinity
of the sanctuary) we had to literally
shake awake the staff and announce to them that we were there and needed
breakfast. Rajasthanis are predominantly
vegetarians, however non vegetarian fare is available on advance request(we had to order for a full
chicken for our dinner curry and had to eat the left overs with paranthas the
next day). After a breakfast of parathas
and curd, we hit for the Kaleodeo Ghana National Park, India’s largest bird
sanctuary. The uniqueness of this place is that one can hire bicycles and roam
around in the park. Alternately for people who have difficulty in doing that,
one can hire cycle rickshaws at INR 70 an hour and see the place. These
rickshaw pullers also double up as guides as they have to undergo professional
training by the forest department before they get their licences. These
rickshaw pullers are full of stories, are sharp eyed and can spot fauna and
flora, tell interesting stories and are multilingual. We hired two cycles at INR
40 each and a rickshaw guide and after obtaining the permits and getting
ourselves signed in we were off into the jungles.Quoting Tuks," I was feeling apprehensive
about riding a bicycle after nearly 2 decades, wondering if I would be able to
balance and if I had the stamina to do the 14 odd kilometres or so. But all my
doubts were dispelled as I merrily cycled away into the jungles pausing here
and there to spot birds and enjoy the view". There were smiles galore. There are
2 ancient temples within the jungle premises- one of the moustachioed Hanuman
and the other of Shiva. There are tales galore surrounding these two temples
which are regaled with a great amount of glee and enthusiasm by the locals. The
entire tour took us almost 4 hours and then we pushed off to see the Lohagarh Fort.
A very grand fort but the workmanship is not as skilled as the Mughal period.
The city of Bharatpur is a typical Rajasthan town- wind swept roads but
greenery is on the higher level. Or maybe we have come during the monsoon which
is why it seems greener. Decaying buildings, screaming loudly of grander days,
that they might have seen. People don’t have the happy countenance that one is
used to encountering in the northern towns, but that could be the result of
years of hardship and struggle to eke a living. Govt. offices seem to be the
major contributor to the economy of the city and not tourism. Which is a pity
as the place, if handled carefully, has a lot to offer to a tourist seeking
serenity, tranquillity and royalty .
The trip back to Delhi had us taking a short detour
to Deeg palace which had over 2000 hand crafted fully functional fountains. Due
to paucity of water in the state they still run all the fountains but only
twice a year. The ducting done in an era gone by, is still a scientific marvel
as one can actually sit inside the water parched area and feel that one is
doing the rain dance.
Do take a professional guide if you want to let
your imagination run riot and treat your senses to royal pampering.
The mood in any case was suitably mellowed by all the
flavoured beer chilled in the ac
Our SUV car maker should actually start sponsoring our
travails as we manage to take the vehicle through the roughest of terrains
without causing damage to either us or the mean machine.
Getting back to home base didn’t feel good after
such a refreshing trip
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