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My Relationship With Travelling & Sleep

August 24, 2022 No Comments

Sleep is a very little but wonderful word. Without good sleep, we cannot think well. I have heard from many people that they have insomnia and use sleeping pills to sleep. I don’t have insomnia, but sometimes I don’t sleep at night for various reasons or excitement. When I can’t sleep at night, my hand goes to the book still on the bed first. I haven’t found such a good sleeping pill to date. Honesty, I have a long habit of sleeping with a book. I love traveling. And my relationship with travel starts with my sleep.

Also Read: Ancient Ganesh Temple In Chhattisgarh

Connection With My Traveling & Sleep

It is a funny incident in my life. I was 14. A travel journal from the newspaper brought sleep to my eyes that night. Once I went to a marriage house, and after talking for a long time, everyone fell asleep slowly. But I couldn’t sleep at all. I was in great trouble as there was no book. I did not understand what to do! Suddenly, the food covers started flying around. ( In India, there is a trend of covering food containers with newspapers during wedding ceremonies or events). I collected and cleaned several paper pieces from there and kept them beside the bed with great joy. I started reading those writings with great happiness, and after a short while, I fell asleep. And that was the first travel journal I ever read.

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Collecting Newspaper Cutting

It is still my favorite thing to save the newspaper’s cutting special travel-related journals. We still have many old papers cut in our house. My mother often has to scold me for the paper load of the house. I didn’t know then what to do with those papers, but I liked to keep them. But one important thing, those papercutting journals are helpful in my travel life now. And they are still my companion for many nights. These are my sleeping pills. They paint new exciting places for me. They make me calm and happy as a bedtime story does. It gives me a dream about new places. You can try them. It has no side effects.

Also Read: 10 Amazing Things To Do In-Home When You Can’t Travel

My Good Sleep Always Helps My Traveling

Good sleep is essential for a kick-start day. When you dream about the places you read about, you keep thinking about those. Your desire becomes strong to visit those places. The desire lead you to plan. Planning keeps your brain occupied. The occupied brain becomes tired and goes off to bed. One day the plan reaches execution. And there you go to your dream place. So see, that’s what I was telling you. Sleep has an intense relation with travel.

Also Read: I Met Little Goddess During My Travel

Reading Is My Sleeping Pills

Many people take sleeping pills, but once they get the taste of a reading habit, it is difficult to leave it. Sleep is a sweet thing. If you hug her with love, she will love you back. It gives you many dreams which you would love to fulfill. Like I got mine, traveling.

Also Read: 5 India’s Most Ancient City

Travel

Rishikesh- My Travel Experience

June 20, 2022 No Comments

Traveling to Rishikesh is a great experience. Rishikesh is an ancient city that has been an important tourist destination for the people of India for many centuries. People from all over the world do not pick Rishikesh just for religious reasons. Rishikesh used to be an important honeymoon destination for many people. But at this moment people from all over the world come to Rishikesh for yoga and spiritual education. Also, different types of adventure activities have started around Rishikesh which attracts many people to come to visit the place. In my experience of traveling to Rishikesh, it seems that Rishikesh has become a very commercial place.

Also, Read Yoga Indias Most Successful Export To The World

About Rishikesh

Located on the banks of the holy river Ganges in the foothills of the Himalayas. Rishikesh is a part of the legend “Kedarkhand”. History says that Lord Rama performed austerities here to kill the demon king Ravana of Lanka. And also Lakshman, his younger brother, crossed the Ganges using two jute ropes where the present ‘Lakshman Jhula’ stands. The bridge connects the two districts of Tapoban, Tehri, and Jonk, Pauri Garhwal. Another similar suspension bridge, Ram Jhula, was built-in 1986 at nearby Shivananda Nagar. Now Rishikesh is most famous for being the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’. People from all over the world visit Rishikesh throughout the year. It may seem as if someone has left you in an ancient city through a time travel machine-like science fiction. If you can get a bird’s eye view You will see ancient cities with modern civilization.

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My First Impression

While traveling by train from Delhi to Haridwar, I thought that I might have made this trip to Rishikesh too late in my life. It would have been nice to be able to travel to Rishikesh several years ago. Because in the last few years Rishikesh has become a crowded and busy city. Earlier people used to travel to Rishikesh only in search of yoga experience and spiritual peace. People from all over the world still come to Rishikesh in search of that reason. With this large gathering of people, Rishikesh has now become a big commercial place. All the local conveyances inside Rishikesh are very expensive. Food is not up to the mark, except for some special food joints or cafes. There are only temples and lots of hotels and hostels around the city. If you want to shop in Rishikesh, and if you do not have very good bargaining skills, your expenses will increase a lot.

My Happy Experience

In spite of the huge crowd in Rishikesh, if you go to any Ghat in Rishikesh, you can find peace. As long as I was in Rishikesh, I used to get up in the morning and go to one of the ghats and sit quietly. No one is going to disturb you. The calm Ganges flows in front of you. Sitting on the banks of the Ganges every morning would bring a strange peace of mind. It was amazing to hear the sound of kirtan coming from any temple in the morning. Sitting on the banks of the Ganges at Rishikesh, Laxman Jhula on one side and a large crowd on the other side you would never understand how the time would fly. I don’t know whether it is peace or happiness. But that time in Rishikesh is and will remain very precious to me.

Also, Read Experience A Train Journey

Travel

Experience A Train Journey

January 7, 2022 No Comments

The long-distance train journey is like a movie to me. Lots of people, lots of characters, lots of places, lots of small incidents & crazy sounds in a journey make a train journey very memorable. Once upon a time, people used to travel the country on foot or in bullock carts. At that time travel meant a pilgrimage or to a relative’s house. With the invention of the train, travel gets its speed and people get their frequency. The train is an affordable medium for people to travel all around. The biggest advantage of a train journey is the space which gives added comfort to the journey. As the train crosses different stations, and different places travelers get to experience different cultures.

Also, Read Bir Paragliding Capital In India

Window Seat

Train windows are pieces of the open world. If you want to go far away by train, the train window is the only big thing to pass the time. Through that window, every moment the scene in front of your eyes is changing. The best thing is that you get to see different people and their mundane life. To me, this window of the train is an open book. Every moment we have to learn something new as the train leaves the city, village, river, and moves towards its destination.

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People Of The Train

This is the most interesting part of a train journey to see different kinds of people. The different attitudes and actions of different people are very much seen in the train journey. Sometimes when family members travel together, they make the train cube their own home. Then you find one person for sure who roam around and see others for their entertainment. It’s their favorite time pass. Different vendors from different stations get on the train from time to time and each has a different style of selling their items. The interesting thing for me is the tea sellers of different stations. Their call, pronunciation change at different stations.

Also, Read Bir Is Hidden Ecotourism Village Of Himachal Pradesh

Without Ticket

Gone – without a ticket. You can’t dare to go without a ticket. However, one of my friend’s fathers used to work for railways. He used to get passes for his two sons. I used to use one of those passes while traveling. There was always a throbbing feeling in my chest. And I used to fear if get to inquire about my father’s name. Their surname is Goswami, mine Ghosh. People may lie about their own name, but there is a dilemma in their mind to lie about their father’s name. Of course, I never caught traveling like that. But once or twice my friends were caught by the ticket checker. They used to make them wait on the platform for long hours. Lastly, make them pay a sum of 100\200 Rs. I don’t know what is the punishment now, or how much the bribe rate has gone up.

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My Story

There was an intense desire to travel at an early age. I wish I could get out of the house and go somewhere but I didn’t have money then. Going abroad was unimaginable. I used to go around with twenty rupees and twenty-five rupees. Because of my friend and the train pass I got an added wing to my desire.

The advantage of that pass was that the cost of the ticket got saved, and as far as the pass was concerned, one can get off at any station beforehand. I used to drop off my luggage at a station and deposit it in the locker. Then I used to wander around freely, and come to the station at night and sleep in waiting rooms. The hotel cost used to be saved. That’s how I used to roam when I was in college.

But now when I think about it, it seems much better than today’s planned and luxurious travel. Then maybe there was trouble and a friend who would get on the train and say, I forgot to bring my wallet. Everything was done on purpose to save the little pocket money. As a result, two people had to travel on one person’s money. And in the end, it was cool.

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Festival

Hornbill Festival-The Biggest Colorful Tribal Festival Is Back

December 1, 2021 No Comments

Nagaland is all set to host the 22nd annual Hornbill Festival 2021. Hornbill Festival held in Nagaland Kisama heritage village from December 1 to 10. The festival was virtually organized last year because of the pandemic. Hornbill is one of the most colorful tribal entertaining events in the country.

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Hornbill Festival 2021

The festival has been showcasing the tribal culture and traditions of Nagaland for over two decades. The 22nd edition of the cultural extravaganza this year will include 17 different tribes from Nagaland and will feature music, dance, sports, food, martial arts, folk art, walkathon, mountain biking, CrossFit challenge, car rally, wrestling, and local handicrafts. Nagaland is the destination of colors, rituals, and equally festivals. The most prominent iconic festival is the Hornbill festival. The festival is named after the forest bird hornbill; which are a cultural icon of the Naga people and part of the folklore of the various tribes of the state. During the Hornbill Festival, various tribal in Nagaland held their own festivals which extremely portray their rich culture. Naga People’s lifestyle can be seen through this festival. The festival’s 2021 edition comprises around 700 separate events.

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The Way

Dimapur is the only airport in Nagaland, with a direct flight to Kolkata. For those coming by air, this is the entry point. There are government buses and private taxis from Dimapur to Kohima. You can also get a shared taxi from Dimapur station to Kohima for around 400 INR. There are also several night buses from Guwahati and Shillong which reach Dimapur and Kohima in the morning.

Kisama Heritage village is 12 km from Kohima. Taxi fare will be 200 approx.

Please Note share taxi and Bus from Dimapur to Kohima last time is 3 pm

Also, Read 5 Reason To Visit Nagaland

Covid-19 Guidline

Carry a full-vaccination certificate. otherwise, you will have to undertake an RT-PCR test at the point of entry.
No testing for children below 12 years of age, if accompanied by a parent, guardian.
Carry a COVID negative test report (RT-PCR/TRUENAAT/CBNAAT), undertaken not more than 72 hours before the journey, in case not fully vaccinated. This applies to those aged between 12 to 18 years.

Also, read My Extended Naga Family In Nagaland

Permits For Nagaland

Apart from the COVID regulations, Indians need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Nagaland. Indian can get it simply Online.

Foreigners will need to register with the Foreigner’s Registration Office (FRO) of the district they visit or the nearest police station, within 24 hours of their arrival.

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Travel

Bir- Famous Hidden Village In India

October 26, 2021 No Comments

Bir Is the Hidden Ecotourism Village Of Himachal Pradesh. Tucked between Kashmir and Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh has as much to offer as its famous neighbors. One such small and hidden place in Himachal as well as India is Bir. The remote town of Bir is known today for its tea gardens, Tibetan culture, monastery, ecotourism, and Para-gliding. Bir is the place of the history of the ancient Bara-Banghal Kingdom. Bir was the southern outpost of the kingdom, which was centered between the Dhauladhars and the Pir Panjal Range. Stretched from Bir in the southeast to Chamba in the west and Lahaul to the north. With a mixed population of a few thousand Indians and Tibetans. It is such a quiet place in Himachal that it will have an impactful effect on your mind for a long time.

Also, Read My Next Trip To Himachal Pradesh

Why Bir Is Famous In India?

To the point, Bir is famous for best Paragliding site in India. Known as the paragliding capital of India. As well as Bir attracts adventure seekers from all over the world. Bir is also known to be a center for ecotourism as well as spiritual studies. Bir is also famous for authentic Tibetan food. Several restaurants run by the Tibetan family offer authentic Tibetan tasting and flavored food. One of the best places to visit in Himachal Pradesh for a long weekend gateway.

Bir Temperature

Within 7 months out of 12 months, Bir’s weather is very pleasant. At this time most of the tourists come to visit. Due to the monsoon (June July & August), the number of tourists is a bit low, and paragliding is completely closed to the weather at this time. Bir has wonderful pleasant summer and a bit of snowfall at peak in winters.

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How To Go

There are many ways to go to the ecotourism town, Bir. I go from Kolkata to Delhi and plan the rest to go from Delhi to Himachal mainly Bir. You can reach Bir by Volvo bus or by car from Delhi and Chandigarh.

Delhi To Bir

Delhi to Bir 489 kilometers. Time Take 11 to 12 hrs. There are various overnight buses ( Private and Government) operating from Delhi to Bir. Manju ka Tilla and Kashmeri gate from these two bus stand you will get a bus to Bir. Bus ranges from 1200 to 1400 depending upon the luxury and season.

Chandigarh To Bir

Chandigarh to Bir is 289 kilometers. You can get a direct bus from Chandigarh ISBT to Bir. Time takes 7hrs by Car or bus. Bus cost around 1000 Rs.

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Nearest Airport

The nearest airport is Kangra Airport, which is 68 kilometers away from Bir town.

From Dharamsala and Mecloadganj you can easily reach Bir colony by hiring a car or taking a local bus. It will take 6 to 7 hrs.

Please Note- Because of the pandemic, you have to wear a mask all the time on the streets of Bir, according to the rules of the government. The police can take a fine of up to 1000 rupees for not wearing musk.

Also, Read Travel Precautions During Covid-19

Travel

My Next Trip To Himachal Pradesh

September 26, 2021 No Comments

My Next Trip To Himachal Pradesh Cover picture source by Google Image

My next travel trip after the final vaccination is to Himachal Pradesh. What is happiness If no problem rises planning the travel? I have been studying where to travel next for a long time. Even a few years ago, planning this trip was easy. But in this time of the pandemic, when it comes to traveling somewhere, safety issues become very important. After my final vaccination, I wanted a place where people travel less. And that place will be quite far from Kolkata. Because it’s always fascinating to me to struggle for reaching my travel destination. After doing a lot of research, I decided to go to Himachal Pradesh. But I am not going to Shimla, Manali, or Spiti valley the famous tourist spots. I am planning to go to two small villages called Bir & Billing in west Joginder Nagar Valley. Surrounded by Tibetan culture, these two Himachal villages are now becoming popular among travelers.

Also, Read 5 India’s Most Ancient City

Planning

I always plan to visit all the places in India in one trip. Many places in India have come to my mind while thinking about where to go next. Kedarnath & Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, Sandakphu, Tribeni & Kalimpong in North Bengal, Le Ladakh trip, Varanasi & Agra in Uttar Pradesh. After recharging all the places I finally decided I would go to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Then I will reach Agra by road from Varanasi. But you know what happened next? While looking for hotels and hostels to stay in Varanasi and Agra on various websites, I came across a small Himachal village hostel. And once I see it, I like the atmosphere and vibe of that hostel. So now the journey in front of me is not Varanasi Agra, it is Himachal Pradesh Bir, and Billing Village.

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Unplaning

I want to know, whose travel planning is perfect. My travel plan is never perfect. A new place, new people, a new environment, and new life every morning, that’s what makes me feel good on my travel days. I booked my hostel in Himachal first and booked my flight back flight from Delhi to Kolkata ten days later (Because on that day that flight was available at the lowest price). The remaining 10 days of travel are still unknown to me.

Also, Read Travel Precautions During Covid-19

Also Read Mask Works, So Make Your Masks Work

Safety First

Hey, have you completed your final vaccinations? It is very important to complete the vaccination if you want to travel anywhere in India and outside India. But once the vaccination is done, it’s not all over. Some simple safety rules should be followed all the time.

Use your Mask. (Your masks help protect those around you)
Maintain Social Distancing..(The most important travel precaution is to maintain at least a 3-meter distance from any others)
A little difficult but we have to be careful not to touch the eyes, face, and nose as much as possible.
Cigarette smoking is bad for your health, but if someone still smokes, it’s important to keep it in mind. Smoking as far away from others as possible and taking care not to pass the same cigarette to others.
We have to take care to keep ourselves as clean as possible.

Travel

Yoga Indias Most Successful Export To The World

July 1, 2021 No Comments

Yoga is the union of body, mind and spirit. And thus, it connects the individual to the universal. It’s about realizing the connection between the finite and the infinite, manifest and the unmanifest. This practice is bringing harmony in Thought, Word and Deed. Rigveda is one among the foremost sacred, and therefore, the oldest books of human history. It’s about eight to ten thousand years old, and it may be a part of this sacred writing. Maharishi Patanjali considered being the authority on yoga propounded, nearly 5000 years ago in ancient India. Lord Krishna and plenty of saints of India have also spoken about yoga. In the middle ages, the practice was confined only to the Royal family. And therefore, the scholarly class taught to students in gurukuls after passing a rigorous test. Bhagavad-Gita says ” Yogaha Karmasukaushalam” meaning yoga is skill in action and expression.

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How Yoga Gains Empires Around The World

The beginnings of yoga date back to the Indus Saraswati Valley civilization 5000 years ago. And it was first discovered

mentioned in the Vedas. More coded and organized. When Patanjali established his knowledge of this technic when he composed the Yoga Sutras around 400 AD, it was forgotten until the recovery of Swami Vivekananda in the late 1860s. Although Patanjali’s practice was aimed at attaining samadhi or knowledge, the rituals that came many centuries after his writings were meant to engage physically and mentally and enhance the living experience.

In 1893, when Swami Vivekananda travelled to Chicago to address the Parliament of the World Religions, he became interested in yoga by drawing attention to the practice. After that, this practice has gained a different dimension around the world. While the practice was accepted with arms wide open throughout the world.

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The Rise Of Ancient Yoga

The rise started with the two Indian celebrated yogis, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and Sivananda. They established Hatha Yoga, the modern form of the practice that we know today. Krishnamacharya’s Mysore School of Hatha Yoga gave the world three leading yogis-B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar and K. Pattabhi Jois, men who have been responsible for the global ubiquity of yoga.

The virtues of yoga practice are slowly spreading all over the world. The fascination began in the 1940s, thanks to the efforts of Indra Devi or Eugenie Peterson. Peterson was an actor before she came in contact with Krishnamacharya and became one of his disciples-the first woman and foreigner to get the opportunity. After training for several years as his disciple, Devi travelled with the gospel of yoga to China and then to Hollywood. Indra Devi Often called the ‘First Lady of Yoga. Devi went where many others didn’t and attracted the West to this ancient practice by restructuring it to appeal to Western sensibilities.

The Significance Of June 21-International Yoga Day

June 21st, the day of uninterrupted summer, transforms the passage of the sun into the sky from north to south. The yogi and mystic, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, explains: “In yogic lore, the first transmission of yoga by Shiva. And the Adiyogi, to his seven disciples, the Saptarishis, said to initiated on the first full moon after the summer solstice, which celebrated as Guru Purnima. This period, known as Dakshinayana, hailed as the phase when there is natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices.

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Travel

New Travel – Make A Year Happy

January 1, 2021 No Comments

We wish everyone happiness at the start of everything. Be it a new year or festival, it should be happy always. But do we know what is happiness in actuality? And what can decide our happiness? I think when our senses feel something pleasant, unexpectedly good, and excitement then we feel the emotion named Happiness. And when we name all these together it combines to one simple thing – Travelling. Seeing something new, knowing something new, the thrill of being in a new place brings a surge of joy in our minds. I Know, in this pandemic situation, it has become difficult like earlier. But today I would list a few things for us which can make things look a little easy.

Also Read Travel Precautions During Covid-19

Tame Your Mind To Be Happy

The first and foremost thing is to make a decision. In this pandemic, roaming around may cause trouble. But locking yourself to a safe zone forever also is not possible either. We all understand that this pandemic is not going anywhere soon. It will stay, and we need to make a few lifestyle changes to fight this. We all need to practice and adopt frequent hand wash, wearing masks, sanitization. Please be cautious and take the necessary precautions before and after touching everything. Be aware of the symptoms and act responsibly. Things can be heard and repeated in the past few months thousands of times. But adopting these things will help our movement a little less restricted. Most importantly, learn to tame your mind that these things are not difficult rather easy to follow. A happy mind can do anything.

Also Read Travelling-Explore the World From Your Home

Add Quality Then Quantity

Earlier in the year, I used to travel 4/5 times. But now I plan for 2 destinations. Due to the pandemic, the travel cost has increased. We need to choose a hotel, travel mode places carefully. Also, we need to add good travel insurance. These are not luxury but a necessity. Also ignoring a few things may cause a big problem. So better be sure than sorry.

Travel Means Happiness

A travel memory stays with us forever. We can cherish those specials moments any time. It brings instant smile on our face. So don’t put a pause, rather gear up with new rules, and adopt the new normal. May this bring good travel in all our life.

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