TRIP TO SHIRDI

It was 18th of Jan……..after the having torturous day (courtesy lecture of HOD on DCN).
Came back home……had some munchies and tea….and then came online as usual…..that’s a accustomed routine for us. So as I was chatting with Anand all of a sudden got news that results will be out in next week. Hearing this I, immediately buzzed Anand on yahoo that lets go shirdi tomorrow, to which Anand said lets go driving there, it will be exciting. So he immediately got acquiescence from his dad. Finally we decided to meet at andheri station around 1:00 pm so that we can leave by 1:30 as we wanted to avoid night driving. All of a sudden it clicked us that we don’t have camera so we decided to go to Rahul’s place and he stays about some 20 min away from Andheri station. But to travel to his place it takes more than 45 min….as traffic is a part and parcel of life in that place.

Finally after besieged in traffic we reached Rahul’s place. We got the camera. We clicked the first snap at his home to mark the commencement. As we were about to leave, Rahul got his dog SCOTT…..the moment he saw me he pounced on me, for a moment I was taken aback….to which Rahul said……”Scholars ko dekh ke aisa hei karta hai yeh” ( mind u though, I m not a scholar)….hearing which all of us bursted into laughter…..A perfect start for the trip……

So at last we departed frm Andheri at 3: 15 pm…..Anand started to drive….but we had hardly gone few meters we were caught in traffic again this time on Andheri Powai road. We reached Thane around 4:00 pm and we were at this place as per schedule…..thanx to some fast but safe driving of Anand. Our next destination was Nashik….about 160 kms frm thane…..we decided to reach there by 7:00 pm….As the on the way we have to pass…GHATs……and its better to drive slowly in ghats …most of the time its the big monsterous trucks that creates problem on National Highway 3 connecting Thane and Nashik….be aware of them…..they carry real heavy loads…..and it takes no time for them to go off there way creating traffic problems…..

So our journey headed towards Nashik a religious pilgrimage type of place in Maharashtra…..with some real good songs driving was very smooth and comfortable…….Anand was driving car at brisk speed on the highway…..overtaking those trucks…and nudging his way between two vehicles…..we had crossed the ghats and the drive waz very comfortable……until a big speed breaker came on the way…as there was no signboard indicating speed breaker ahead…..Anand was driving at a speed of 80 kmph, when he suddenly bumpped on some thing it was the speed breaker……he was hardly able to control the car…the car jumped on another speed breaker…this time it cramped my tummy muscles…..
Further journey towards nashik continued….we had traveled about 4 or 5 km….when we saw a truck joining our lane from a adjoining DHABA…..(dhaba is a small hotel kind of thing along the highways).We gave him signal that we r on straight lane we are moving ahead…..by using dipper light as well as horn,…..but that fellow seemed to be drunkard……so he kept moving his truck……all of a sudden Anand realized its not possible to go ahead…so applied break and the car stopped just abt 2 mts from the truck…..collision was avoided…..hats off to anand’s driving……
We continued our journey and we reached Nashik at 7:15 pm….

We thought we will be caught in traffic and will be late....but luckily there was a flyover which took us directly out of Nashik city.......after crossing the bridge...a left turn and we were out of Nashik......by this time we had started feeling hungry......so we decided to stop at some dhaba and have dinner.....
finally after driving 5 or 6 km we reached a dhaba named....vanshree dhaba.....we reached this place at 7:45....pm......just as we entered the dhaba we made call to our classmate and very good infact best frnd of ours.....shikha and divya....they were also on the way to Shirdi and there bus was suppose to depart frm nerul at 8:00 pm......wishing them happy journey...

We started to explore the menu card.......and we decided to have Panner Tikka Masala and Butter Nan......as it was getting late....and we were really very very very hungry.....we ordered for papad....for time pass.....by time we muched up the papad.....out dinner was ready....look wise it was ok.....but it seemed that vegetble was floating on the oil......with gr8 difficulty had our dinner.....then ordered for lassi......it was a really good and tasty with dry fruits.......so our tummy was full.....and we had to head our journey to Shirdi about 90 km of Nashik......

Now I decided to take the command over steering and drive the rest 90 km........We left this place by 8:10 pm.....started to drive towards our destination....home of Sai baba...Shirdi.....

Started driving at speed of around 50 kmph……as it was night…driving was a bit difficult…with lights of vehicles going in opposite direction….directly beaming on the eye. Slowly started to raise the speed and started driving faster as road was quite free with nor traffic…..so the speed rose to 90 kmph……On the way u can see signboards…..indicating go slow over the bridge as bridge is old and weak….don’t know what are government is doing by collecting those toll taxes…..they r supposed to be collected for maintaining the road…….but it seems government is nicely enjoying with those money or I suppose its just a way of minting money…..and yes how can one forget the signboards indicating……”Go Slow….water may be flowing over the bridge……I suppose bridges are build at sufficient height so that water can below the bridge…..and not over the bridge…….but here reverse happens…….water flows above the bridges……
So reading all these hilarious statements on signboard…..we continued our journey….luckily during this period of time rivers are dry….so didn’t have any problem in crossing the so called bridges over the rivers……..
We reached Shirdi at 9:35 pm……

Our next task was to search for good hotel…..with following specifications…..should have safe parking place…..should have reasonable rates and should be near to the TEMPLE of Sai Baba…..so after some searching work…..we decided to stay at hotel Abhishek….Stay at shirdi is really costly.....we had to pay Rs. 800+4% luxury tax....which comes out to be 832.......so we got a room....as double room was not available we got room with 3 beds.....at the same cost.....seems he was carried by our innocence face......so we parked the car and went to our room.....

We kept our luggage in the room.....got refreshed.....and decided to have a walk to nearby place and to temple campus....... so after having nice walk....in some what cold weather.....we decided to call our frnds to inquire where they have reached......so we made a call......and divya said they have moved outside thane and are at some dhaba having there dinner........

So after having a nice stroll......we came back to hotel saw highlights of Australia Vs England cricket match......then the ending part of movie shabd.....and apna spna money money......and after that we plunged into land of dreams.....

Next day as usual i was sleeping but Anand got up early as divya and company reached shirdi and buzzed anand that they aree all set to go to temple.....after lazying around a bit i got up....luckily there was hot water supply so had a nice shower.......but mind u water in this reason is hard water......so take care of ur hair while having bath.....after getting ready we headed towards temple premises...bare foot......withing 5 min we reached the temple premises.....once u near the premises the people selling flowers and sweets will flock arnd u....and its a just way of minting money......will u beleive just a small garland a packet of 250 gm of sweets and a small cloth....will cost u rupees 250.......so in short can say in shirdi everything is costly...i.e stay as well as offering articles to god.....so after buying all these stuff...the shopkeeper packed it in a polyethene bag.....another illegal act, as polyethenes are supposed to be banned......but no one is bothered.....its used at par.....so after all this we stood in the queue.....after 2 hrs we reached the place....had darshan.....worst thing u will find here is.....u travell lonf distances and come here to pray but the moment u reach the place of BABA....the first thing u will hear is move quickly within a minute.....wait not even a mnute might be just 30 sec.....i don't know....what is the duty of these guards...to syop commotion and kick out the people as soon as they reach the smadhi...to pray.....ufffff.....thats a really pathetic act.....
after that we went to dwarka mai....a place which said to be resting place of BABA and its said the fire lit by baba is still burning there....and its true....
After that we returned back to hotel had our breakfast and went to meet our frnds who were abt 1/2 km away frm the place we had stayed....we met them and decided to follow there bus....i took the command on the steering and followed the bus for almost 90 kms till Nashik....it was a very good chase sequence....but we were caught in Traffic and nashik and then we lost the sight of the bus......so continued our journey back to mumbai.....now there was swap at driver's seat
and Anand enjoyed driving in the ghats.....after completing our journey in the ghats....it was arnd 2:00 pm and so we decided to have our lunch.....and we halted at BABA DA DHABA....we thought good will not be good courtsey the dinner which we had last night on the way to shirdi at vanshree....was really terrible......but to surprise food was very good here we had sahi paneer and tandoori roti......relished the food and as ususal ended the lunch with lassi.....[:)]

Again i took control of steering and drove at brisk speed and reached outskirts of mumbai....after that lst leg of journey was covered by anand....he dropped me at nerul and went back to andheri......An exciting memorable journey came to an end....