Tomb of Mirza Ghalib (Nizamuddin Basti)

• • Delhi •
Tomb of Mirza Ghalib, Nizamuddin Basti, Delhi, India

A few weeks back I was at Nizamuddin Railway Station and the arrival of the train was about one hour. What is the best use of waiting time? We decided to visit Nizamuddin Dargah. A cycle rickshaw was standing near an auto stand outside the station. Upon query to visit the dargah, he said Rs. 30 and as per him, the distance is far. We believed and we reached Nizamuddin Dargah and also visited the Tomb of Mirza Ghalib.

I guess Nizamuddin Dargan is approx. one and a half km from Nizamuddin Railway Station. While returning we asked a flower vendor near Nizamuddin Dargah about the cycle rickshaw fare from Nizamuddin Basti to Nizamuddin Railway Station or Nizamuddin Railway Station to Nizamuddin Basti. He said – Rs. 20. And yes, this time upon query another cycle rickshaw wala said – Rs. 20 only/-.

Pawki Devi Temple (Nai Village) – Also Known as Vageshwari Devi Temple

• • Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand •
Pawki Devi Temple, Nai Village, Uttarakhand, India

Chandan – The guide wanted to go to Pawki Devi temple because it would be his first visit. He said the temple is a siddh peeth. I said OK. Scooty was not recommended because we have to drive uphill. I opted for the Hero Honda Splendor motorcycle. Cost Rs. 350 per day (Scooty is 100 rupees cheaper) starting from 9 mornings till 9 night hours. I filled the motorcycle petrol tank with Rs. 200 petrol.

At 11:15 we started our journey from Tapovan, Rishikesh and by 2:45 pm we reached Pawki Devi temple. In between, we stop at Vashisht Gufa, Gular at 11:50 am, and Kailash Gufa at 1:30 pm.

Pawki Devi temple is situated nearby Nai village in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and is approx. 39 km from Tapovan, Rishikesh, and 22 km from Vashisht Gufa, Gular. It is a Shakti Peeth visited by a number of devotees each year, especially during Pausha month i.e., December / January to perform ‘Hariyari Puja’. The temple is also known as Vageshwari Devi temple. It is said and believed Goddess Sati‘s right foot fell at this location.

Lord Brahma had two sons ‘Narad’ and ‘Daksha’. Lord Brahma requested Narad to create the Universe but as Narad was a divine sage and not interested the request was forwarded to Daksha. The universe was created. Daksha was unanimously selected as the leader and was named Daksha Prajapati.

Once at Allahabad ‘Yagya’ was organized by Daksha Prajapati. Each and every person present at the Yagya site paid standing respect to Daksha except Lord Shiva who was not liked by Daksha Prajapati. He once again organized Yagya at Kankhal, Haridwar, and invited all Devtaas except Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma his daughter (Goddess Parvati in her previous birth was known as Uma and later Sati) but Uma attended the Yagya without invitation. Upon query why Lord Shiva was not invited Daksha Prajapati gave his reasons which was an insult to Lord Shiva. Angered by this Uma jumped into the Yagya and killed herself. The news spread like fire and reached Lord Shiva. He became furious pulled out his Jata (hair-lock) and smashed it into the earth. Virbhadra was born. Virbhadra by the order of Lord Shiva went to Kankhal destroyed Yagya and killed Daksha. And then Lord Shiva carried the remains of Sati’s body and walked aimlessly on earth in grief.

Lord Vishnu was concerned that Lord Shiva’s grief would cause the destruction of the Universe. Finally, he took out his Sudarshan Chakra and cut Sati’s body into pieces. Sati’s body parts fell at various places known as Shakti Peeth. Pawki Devi is one of them.

Kunjapuri Devi, Surkanda Devi, Rajrajeshwari Devi, Jwalpa Devi Siddh Peeths are within Uttarakhand.

Note: Virbhadra Mahadev temple is nearby IDPL colony approx. 5 km from Rishikesh.

Rama Palace – Cheap and Best Cinema Hall in Rishikesh

• • Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:
Rama Palace, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

During travel I few times think of watching a movie, especially a Bollywood movie. Yesterday at Rishikesh I had talks with Chandan – The guide whether he is interested or not to watch a movie. He agreed.

‘Talaash‘ I was thinking of watching but Chandan confirmed that *Rama Palace (cinema hall) is now playing ‘Dabangg 2.’ I immediately requested him to buy two tickets one for him and one for myself. And we saw the movie ‘Dabangg 2’ starring Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Arbaaz Khan, and Vinod Khanna. House-full – 3:30 pm show. The best about the movie was the entry of Salman Khan at the start of the movie. Recently two movies by Salman Khan 1) Ek Tha Tiger and 2) Dabangg 2 entry of Salman Khan is Excellent Excellent Excellent. In short, I like the movie. Good editing, Good star-cast, and Good action. Songs of Dabangg were much better than Dabangg 2.

And how much did I pay for the movie ticket?

Rs. 75 per ticket for the balcony.

Update

After 6 months I was again in Rishikesh. I requested one of my friends from Rishikesh to join to watch ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani‘ starring Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. He agreed, and we both saw the movie.

I have to say Ranbir Kapoor is a born actor. In a very short span of time, he proved to be one of the best actors in Bollywood in recent times. I have met Ranbir Kapoor personally but at that time he was not a screen hero but his movie ‘Saawariya‘ was about to release.

Anyway, after 6 months the cost of a Balcony ticket morning show is still Rs. 75/- only.

*Rama Palace is on Dehradun Road nearby Natraj Chowk and is the only cinema hall in Rishikesh.

Update II

Currently, the renovation of Rama Palace is going on.

Distance of Various Towns from Gular (Uttarakhand)

• • Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags: , , , , , ,
Distance of Various Towns from Gular, Uttarakhand, India

Gular – 0, Srinagar – 83, Rudraprayag – 117, Gauchar – 139, Chamoli – 180, Pipalkoti – 197, Joshimath – 228, Govindghat – 240, Badrinath – 276

(Gular is situated in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and is approx. 18 km from Rishikesh (towards Badrinath) famous among tourists for Vashisht Gufa and Arundhati Guha)

Message of Shri Swami Purushottamanand ji Maharaj at Vashisht Gufa, Gular

• • Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand • Tags:
Message of Shri Swami Purushottamanand ji Maharaj at Vashisht Gufa, Gular (Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India)

What are we looking for? Happiness.

What we are in search of is within us. There is an ocean wave of divine and inexhaustible joy in us that there is only one boon for us which has the power to ennoble the soul and can complete all our troubles. But foolishly we search for it outside. The imagination of getting happiness through a woman, son, wealth, name, and yagya is false and illusory. Our condition is like that of an antelope that wears musk in its navel but does not know its secret and searches for its divine fragrance in all the surrounding objects, vines, trees, grass, etc. Therefore, the advice given by Maharishis is pure, sattvic, and gives eternal happiness. – Shri Swami Purushottamananda Ji Maharaj

Vashisht Gufa is situated at Gular in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.

(History of Vashisht Gufa narrated by Swami Chaitanyanand)

Lord Rama‘s Guru – Vashisht Muni meditated within the cave now named Vashisht Gufa (cave). The cave is mentioned within Kedarkhand and is a Siddha Sthan. Shri Swami Purushottamananda Ji visited Vashisht Gufa in the year 1928 and 1961 had samadhi (leaving the body). Nowadays Shri Swami Purushottamananda Ashram exists close to the cave. Devotees including saints visit the cave to meditate. The holy river Ganga flows nearby.