Well, i am back, after my short but tiring trip. Well, got lots of photos, and had to filter a lot to come out with a few. I am giving a day to day account of what when on during our journey...
Day 1 - 21/05/07: Well, this was a day of travel. We left for Vishakapatman in a morning train (East Coast). It was a morning to night journey and i got so bored that i read a complete novel called The Pelican Brief. We reached VSKP at 0:00 hrs exactly and went straight to my cousin's place. Our timing was such that we were to sleep for a few hours and board the 7:00 am train to Chattisgarh.
Day 2 - 22/05/07 Vishakapatnam was very hot and humid even at 1:00am when we could see almost all the stars in the sky and it was supposed to be the coolest time of the day. We took a quick nap and got ready for Kirandul Passenger which was to leave to Jagdalpur (my Granny's place) at 6:50am. The train started nearly 1/2 hr late and we were sweating in the heat. Managed to get First Class compartments and had a pretty much Comfy journey. Took some great photos. Including the bridge at Maligura (this one comes in Orrisa). It always is a tiring journey and we slept like logs soon after we reached Jadgalpur (arrival - 6:30pm). The train was supposed to go to Kirandul but was stopped at Jagdalpur coz of Maoist Attacks.
My dad at Araku Station
Freight - Passenger next to each other
That's the bridge between Jarati and Maligura in Orrisa
Day 3 - 23/05/07 This was a lazy day for me. I got up very late and was at home for the whole day. I just drove my Uncle's bike for sometime and tried teaching my mom how to drive an old Bajaj Sunny. Roads at Jagdalpur are very narrow and spoilt. Heavy trucks travel and it's more difficult to drive there than in Hyd.
The family at Jagdalpur
Day 4 - 24/05/07 We went to my cousin, Naga Danteshwar's house. He is married and has a daughter. Had lunch in his house. We incidentally went a Danteshwari Mandir as well, and a small fair called Meena Bazar.
My Cousin's house, and me playing guitar as my sis sings
On the terrace of his house - the Linkin Park style. (he is standing on the extreme right)
Day 5 - 25/05/07 This was a field day for me. We went the famous Chitrakut Waterfalls at around 3:00pm and enjoyed a lot. A boat took us very very close to the falls and we could see rainbows all around in the water spray. The spray was all over us as well. We took great photos there. Only sad part was, it was summer time and the falls were weak. They looked powerful enough for me, but i was told that during the monsoon and winter time, the falls are so powerful that we can't ride the boat upstream. The spray comes out very very far and it comes in resemblance to the Niagara Falls in USA. Photos will show more details.
We also went to a Balaji Temple and came back dog tired.
Me at Chitrakut waterfalls
This one is a bit special. I managed to get to the top of the fall and within touching distance of the edge of the fall. Took this from there just as the water falls over the edge.
Day 6 - 26/05/07 This was our last day in Jagdalpur and we hardly did anything today. Just went in the evening to a park called Shahid Park but had to rush back within 10 min coz, my cousin Deepa accidentally fell into a small ditch full of murky water. Mind you, Jagdalpur is not a neat place.
Day 7 - 27/05/07 We boarded the Kirandul Passenger once again and headed back to Vishakapatnam. The train shockingly arrived 1/2hr before time. It is standard for this one to arrive a minimum 1 hour late. The single track and freight traffic and heavy terrain (derailments are too common and they are horrible) and bad weather all contribute to the late home-coming. Vishakapatnam was surprisingly cooler than before.
Pic taken at Koraput, Orrisa. There's a HAL hidden in this place away from prying eyes.
This one is just after crossing Koraput. Had to stretch my hand out of the window for this view.
This one is near a place called Machkunda Road. I liked the red soil and the green hills.
This is at Simliguda. Had the highest Broad Guage Railway Line. Slight motion blur in the pic coz, the train was moving fast before even leaving the station.
After reaching Vishakapatnam. The one on left is my cousin Amar and the one on right is his friend.
Day 8 - 28/05/07 We hardly had anytime today and early in the morning, we rushed to the beach. The roads are pretty much ok and wide. The traffic is very less compared to ours. It was kinda cool over there and we took photos. We went back quickly because the sun started rising and heating at alarming rates. We stayed at home the rest of the day and started our journey back home, boarding the Godavari Express at 5:25pm.
In the morning at the beach
Day 9 - 29/05/07 Stepped into Hyd and had a good look around. The roads thru Mettuguda have gone out of shape and at Tarnaka and Habsiguda are ready for assault by those pipeline guys. Will have to bear hell, dust and jams for aleast the coming weeks.
Day 1 - 21/05/07: Well, this was a day of travel. We left for Vishakapatman in a morning train (East Coast). It was a morning to night journey and i got so bored that i read a complete novel called The Pelican Brief. We reached VSKP at 0:00 hrs exactly and went straight to my cousin's place. Our timing was such that we were to sleep for a few hours and board the 7:00 am train to Chattisgarh.
Day 2 - 22/05/07 Vishakapatnam was very hot and humid even at 1:00am when we could see almost all the stars in the sky and it was supposed to be the coolest time of the day. We took a quick nap and got ready for Kirandul Passenger which was to leave to Jagdalpur (my Granny's place) at 6:50am. The train started nearly 1/2 hr late and we were sweating in the heat. Managed to get First Class compartments and had a pretty much Comfy journey. Took some great photos. Including the bridge at Maligura (this one comes in Orrisa). It always is a tiring journey and we slept like logs soon after we reached Jadgalpur (arrival - 6:30pm). The train was supposed to go to Kirandul but was stopped at Jagdalpur coz of Maoist Attacks.
My dad at Araku Station
Freight - Passenger next to each other
That's the bridge between Jarati and Maligura in Orrisa
Day 3 - 23/05/07 This was a lazy day for me. I got up very late and was at home for the whole day. I just drove my Uncle's bike for sometime and tried teaching my mom how to drive an old Bajaj Sunny. Roads at Jagdalpur are very narrow and spoilt. Heavy trucks travel and it's more difficult to drive there than in Hyd.
The family at Jagdalpur
Day 4 - 24/05/07 We went to my cousin, Naga Danteshwar's house. He is married and has a daughter. Had lunch in his house. We incidentally went a Danteshwari Mandir as well, and a small fair called Meena Bazar.
My Cousin's house, and me playing guitar as my sis sings
On the terrace of his house - the Linkin Park style. (he is standing on the extreme right)
Day 5 - 25/05/07 This was a field day for me. We went the famous Chitrakut Waterfalls at around 3:00pm and enjoyed a lot. A boat took us very very close to the falls and we could see rainbows all around in the water spray. The spray was all over us as well. We took great photos there. Only sad part was, it was summer time and the falls were weak. They looked powerful enough for me, but i was told that during the monsoon and winter time, the falls are so powerful that we can't ride the boat upstream. The spray comes out very very far and it comes in resemblance to the Niagara Falls in USA. Photos will show more details.
We also went to a Balaji Temple and came back dog tired.
Me at Chitrakut waterfalls
This one is a bit special. I managed to get to the top of the fall and within touching distance of the edge of the fall. Took this from there just as the water falls over the edge.
Day 6 - 26/05/07 This was our last day in Jagdalpur and we hardly did anything today. Just went in the evening to a park called Shahid Park but had to rush back within 10 min coz, my cousin Deepa accidentally fell into a small ditch full of murky water. Mind you, Jagdalpur is not a neat place.
Day 7 - 27/05/07 We boarded the Kirandul Passenger once again and headed back to Vishakapatnam. The train shockingly arrived 1/2hr before time. It is standard for this one to arrive a minimum 1 hour late. The single track and freight traffic and heavy terrain (derailments are too common and they are horrible) and bad weather all contribute to the late home-coming. Vishakapatnam was surprisingly cooler than before.
Pic taken at Koraput, Orrisa. There's a HAL hidden in this place away from prying eyes.
This one is just after crossing Koraput. Had to stretch my hand out of the window for this view.
This one is near a place called Machkunda Road. I liked the red soil and the green hills.
This is at Simliguda. Had the highest Broad Guage Railway Line. Slight motion blur in the pic coz, the train was moving fast before even leaving the station.
After reaching Vishakapatnam. The one on left is my cousin Amar and the one on right is his friend.
Day 8 - 28/05/07 We hardly had anytime today and early in the morning, we rushed to the beach. The roads are pretty much ok and wide. The traffic is very less compared to ours. It was kinda cool over there and we took photos. We went back quickly because the sun started rising and heating at alarming rates. We stayed at home the rest of the day and started our journey back home, boarding the Godavari Express at 5:25pm.
In the morning at the beach
Day 9 - 29/05/07 Stepped into Hyd and had a good look around. The roads thru Mettuguda have gone out of shape and at Tarnaka and Habsiguda are ready for assault by those pipeline guys. Will have to bear hell, dust and jams for aleast the coming weeks.
Nice posting,it was good trip and nice pictures. thanks for sharing. keep it up.
ReplyDeleteWe have something in common. Vizag is my native. But I live in Chennai. I had travelled to Chitrakut in 2007. Check my blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://Cape2jat.blogspot.com