Travelogue: Lonavala Khandala

- Rahul Tiwary 

Travelogue: Buses in Mumbai

The double decker buses in Mumbai are classic. In below pictures you can see these buses parked / plying in Mumbai:

In recent visit I found new addition to the fleet. The new buses are Electric Buses supplied by Tata Motors and are marked with "Made In India" logo:

These new buses are Air Conditioned and much more luxurious.

- Rahul Tiwary

Travelogue: Hyderabad Airport

I have been to this airport a few times and every time it makes a mark in my memory. It is one beautiful airport. 

- Rahul Tiwary

Travelogue: Under Construction Towers in Noida

There are under construction housing projects in Noida all around. As the saying goes, a lot of these projects got stuck during previous government rule and as the builders went bankrupt. After recent government change, we can see some progress and some projects are getting completed. But looking at these giant buildings which are standing like this for more than 5 years, gives a "ghost town" feeling. Here are some of these buildings:

A Jaypee Group project (above)

A giant tower project in Noida from Supertech which got stuck as builder got bankrupt.

- Rahul Tiwary

Travelogue: Candor TechSpace, Sector 135, Noida

A view from inside the office complex; showing Savour food court, ICICI Bank branch, and a few towers.

An ice-cream vendor inside Savour food court.

- Rahul Tiwary

रावण और हनुमान जी के बीच मुक्केबाजी

Some Nature Pictures (Part-3) - (पेड़ और कविता)

कहानियों में राक्षस की जान तोते में होती थी। पर असल में इंसान की जान पेड़ों के पत्तों पर होती है… 

फोटो: पुणे में कुछ पेड़

हरिवंशराय बच्चन की एक बाल-कविता:

चिड़िया और चुरूंगुन
------------------------------

छोड़ घोंसला बाहर आया,
देखी डालें, देखे पात,
और सुनी जो पत्‍ते हिलमिल,
करते हैं आपस में बात;-
माँ, क्‍या मुझको उड़ना आया?
'नहीं, चुरूगुन, तू भरमाया'

डाली से डाली पर पहुँचा,
देखी कलियाँ, देखे फूल,
ऊपर उठकर फुनगी जानी,
नीचे झूककर जाना मूल;-
माँ, क्‍या मुझको उड़ना आया?
'नहीं, चुरूगुन, तू भरमाया'

कच्‍चे-पक्‍के फल पहचाने,
खए और गिराए काट,
खाने-गाने के सब साथी,
देख रहे हैं मेरी बाट;-
माँ, क्‍या मुझको उड़ना आया?
'नहीं, चुरूगुन, तू भरमाया'

उस तरू से इस तरू पर आता,
जाता हूँ धरती की ओर,
दाना कोई कहीं पड़ा हो
चुन लाता हूँ ठोक-ठठोर;
माँ, क्‍या मुझको उड़ना आया?
'नहीं, चुरूगुन, तू भरमाया'

मैं नीले अज्ञात गगन की
सुनता हूँ अनिवार पुकार
कोइ अंदर से कहता है
उड़ जा, उड़ता जा पर मार;-
माँ, क्‍या मुझको उड़ना आया?

'आज सुफल हैं तेरे डैने,
आज सुफल है तेरी काया'

Did Gandhi really say, "Be the change you want to see in the world"?

Question: Did Gandhi ji really say, "Be the change you want to see in the world"?

Answer: Yes; this single line or quote summarizes what Gandhi ji had said. In 1913 Gandhi ji had published a piece that included a thematically matching passage:

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”

Source: 1964, The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume XII, April 1913 to December 1914, Chapter: General Knowledge About Health XXXII: Accidents Snake-Bite, (From Gujarati, Indian Opinion, 9-8-1913), Start Page 156, Quote Page 158, The Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. (Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi at Repository of Authentic Information on the life and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi) link

As we know, the "famous quotes" can't keep a whole paragraph as a quote. The quote publishers try to summarize a famous personality's statements into as concise a manner as possible. This is what happened with this Gandhi ji's quote too. In one sentence we can say that Gandhi ji had said, "Be the change you want to see in the world". At the same time I would say that while reading Gandhi ji, I have found a lot of his statements actually coming from scriptures including the Vedas. 

- Rahul Tiwary

Travelogue: Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Pune

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is situated on Bajirao Road, Shukrawar Peth, Pune. It was my long time dream to visit this museum about which I had read some article and I could only visit now. 

They story behind making of Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is very touching. Raja was the only son of Dr. Dinkar G. Kelkar (1896–1990) and he died at an early age of 7. After the death of his only son, Dr. Kelkar decided to establish a museum in his memory. That is how the museum is named as "Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum", named after Raja. 

The museum was established by Dr. Kelkar in 1962; and in 1975 he donated the museum to the government of Maharashtra. Ever since the state government has been maintaining it. 

Dr. Dinkar Kelkar dedicated major part of his life into collecting the previous objects and artefacts for the museum from all over India. The museum is dedicated to the "everyday life" from history and hence collections are of items like pots, lamps, containers, vessels, home temples, palkis, clothes, musical instruments along with weapons of war. 

A section inside the museum depicts 'Mastani Mahal' - Mastani, known as second wife of Peshwa Bajirao I. 

Here are some of the pictures from my visit: 

Replica of Mastani Mahal (above)

The museum has an entry fee of Rs 50 and you can buy a photography license for Rs 100 for taking photographs inside the museum.

I would remember a lot of items from the museum for a long time. There was a huge "nagada" (musical instrument) belonging to Mahadji Shinde. There were huge metal boxes and almirahs. There were wooden "Temple Doors". There is a huge collection of "Home Temples" belonging to 17th/18th century, mostly donated by Maharashtrian families. 

In fact a large part of collection consists of objects donated by Maharashtrian families which I found very touching. If they kept those items in their homes, those items could get lost or destroyed over the years. Also, not many would get to know about those items. Hence they allowed the museum to house those items, thereby benefitting future generations. The museum keeps name plate mentioning the name of the donating person/family along with the items, as a gesture.

One more thing surprised me - there were "combs" made of "iron"! Never thought there could be metallic combs for hair! And then there were "ivory combs" of 18th century! Certainly our ancestors were creative. 

The collection is from all over India. I could see a lot of collections from South India as well. But I could feel majority of collections were from Maharashtra which is natural. The musical instrument collection is huge - with lots of precious big veenas. War items collection consists of huge collection of guns from 18th/19th centuries. Some guns were really heavy and had very long barrels. Along with swords, there were some shields "dhaals" which were made of iron - and it must have taken huge strength to carry those shields. 

Visiting the museum, one would certainly feel proud of our past and our ancestors. 

I could see that there were several foreigners visiting the museum too. 

One more thing worth noticing was that Ratan D. Tata has donated lots of stuff in the museum, including articles on display and some modern gadgets like touch-screen panels. 

The museum is situated on Bajirao Road in Shukrawar Peth which is the old and original part of Pune. You may find the lanes narrow; since those were created long time ago. But once you go inside the museum you would realize that the efforts to reach there was worth it. 

This is a must visit place in Pune. 

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019

Travelogue: Pataleshwar Cave Temple in Pune

Pataleshwar Cave and Temple is situated in the Jangali Maharaj Road (JM Road) area of Pune. This ancient temple is carved out of single big rock and has unique architecture which appears similar to the Elephanta Caves near Mumbai. 

The temple was built in 8th century and is devoted to Lord Pataleshwar, the god of the Underworld. Temple deity is Lord Shiva and his vehicle Nandi ji can be seen carved in stone in front of the temple.  

Here are some of the pictures taken during my visit: 

There is no entry fee inside the area. Local students can also be seen studying inside the park, perhaps since the area is silent, peaceful and also shady because of the huge trees inside the campus. 

Pataleshwar Caves/Temple is situated so near to the hub of Pune city that often you could have passed right besides it and never noticed it. If you are staying in Pune, this 8th century old architectural marvel should be a must watch. 

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019

Travelogue: Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Udyan (Garden), Jagtap Dairy, Pune

Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Udyan (Garden) at Jagtap Dairy, near Pimple Saudagar, Pune is a wonderful new park developed by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. It was inaugurated by MLA Mr. Laxman Jagtap. A few years ago, this area was not developed and it is wonderful to see this splendid park come up.

The park is named after Savitribai Phule (3 January 1831 – 10 March 1897) who was a social reformer, educationalist and poet from Maharashtra. Along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, she played an important role in improving women's rights in India during British rule.

The park is very popular and is flocked by visitors (above)

Park has this hill like areas where children can climb as if climbing a small mountain. They can also be seen tumbling down or running down the slope and certainly small kids enjoy this slope too much (above)

Kids and elders alike can be seen playing all over the park (above)

There is a separate playing area with lots of wonderful rides for kids (above)

Planted saplings can be seen (above)

Nearby buildings make an impressive scene from the park (above)

Flowers! (above)

There is an open amphitheater, perhaps still under development (above)

Amazing hilltop (above)

Beautiful flowers in the park (above)

Outside the park gate "horse rides" and "camel rides" are available for kids (above)

In the evenings, the park opens at 4 pm till 8pm. There is nominal entry fee of Rs 10 for visitors above 12 years of age. 

The park is very well maintained and is used for morning/evening walkers as well as those visiting for fun or having relaxing time. 

If you are around, this is certainly a much recommended place to visit!

- Rahul Tiwary | March 2019

Bing Wallpaper: 108 Shiva Temple at Kalna, Bardhaman dist, West Bengal

Know more about this place:

https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/travel/108-shiva-temple-at-ambika-kalna-west-bengal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalna,_India

https://isharethese.com/shiva-temples-in-ambika-kalna-west-bengal/

- Rahul

Rediff Blog Post by Ajit Balakrishnan

We all know that Ajit Balakrishnan is the founder of Rediff.com . Rediff, at one time was called “Yahoo of India”. The Rediff portal is still surviving and so many of its features like Rediff Money and Rediff Cricket are doing well. Rediff Blogs are mostly out of flavor. In this time, I just found that Ajit has written a new book review blog post. And guess where? On Rediff Blogs!

Here it is:

https://blogs.rediff.com/ajitb/2019/03/06/goa-beyond-the-sun-beaches-food-and-feni/