Unlimited Gujarati Veg Thali for Dinner at Gujarati Lodge

• • Amritsar, Punjab •
Unlimited Gujarati Veg Thali for Dinner in Amritsar, Punjab, India

It was 8:30 pm we were passing nearby Jallianwala Bagh towards the Golden Temple with a thought to have dinner at a restaurant. On the left-hand side of the first floor, I saw a display board stating Gujarati Lodge. I was sure the room rates must be good for budget travel. Gujarati lodges and Marwari Dharamshalas are some of the best for budget/local travelers. I prefer such stays a few times if lodges and Dharamshalas are neat and clean, especially the bathroom/toilet.

I walked inside and via stairs reached the lodge. Upon query, I was told Rs. 435 per night is a non-AC room with a Double Bed and Rs. 975 per night with AC Double Bed. 435 is a budget stay in Amritsar. And then I saw a dining space. I inquired – food?

Yes, said the person sitting at the reception. Unlimited thali for Rs. 90/-. I requested two thalis. The image shown above is a live example of how good it was. Ghee on top of Roti, Bhindi ki Sabzi, Dal, Dahi, and one more vegetable along with Rice and papad, pyaaz (onion), and achar of course. What else one can dream of? It was a nice unlimited thali and the best – it was straight coming from the kitchen. Hot in-short. Fantastic dinner – I whisper.

Timings: 9 am – 9 pm. Open for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Amount paid.

A Brief History of Amritsar The Holy Walled City

• • Amritsar, Punjab •
A Brief History of Amritsar The Holy Walled City

Guru Ramdas Ji, fourth guru of Sikh faith, in the year 1577 AD, founded the city of Amritsar. He encouraged people of all professions to take up residence here. The town expanded further under his son and successor, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who completed the construction of the holy shrine with Harimandar in the middle surrounded by a lined tank now famous as the Golden Temple.
With the installation of the Granth Sahib, on 16 August 1604, in the Harimandar, the shrine surrounded by the sacred pool (known as sarovar), together became the central attraction of the town and a site of pilgrimage for Sikhs from far and near. With the development of Guru Bazaar, the city expanded further. Guru Hargobind Ji, (1595-1644), the Sixth guru of Sikh faith constructed the Akal Takht (Throne Eternal) near the pool and opposite to the Harimandar, where he sat in state, dispensing the secular business of the community.
In the third decade of the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh started the construction of a wall around the city to improve its fortifications as well as to mark his unshared sway over the city, which had come to serve as his second capital. It was completed finally at the cost of over 12 lacs of Rupees and had 12 Gates and bridges leading to the City. The twelve gates (darwazas) are named as follows: Lahori, Khazana, Hakiman, Gilwali, Ramgarhia (now known as Chatiwind), Ahluwalia (now known as Sultanwind), Doburji (now known as Ghee Mandi), Deorhi-i-Kalan (now known as Mahan Singh Gate), Ram Bagh, Shahzada, Darwaza-i-Rangar Nanglian (now known as Bhagtanwala Gate), Darwaza-i-Shahzada (now known as Hathi Gate) and Lohgarh.

अमृतसर – पवित्र दीवारों वाला शहर

सिख धर्म के चौथे गुरु, गुरु रामदास जी ने वर्ष 1577 ई. में अमृतसर शहर की स्थापना की थी। उन्होंने सभी व्यवसायों के लोगों को यहां निवास करने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया। उनके पुत्र और उत्तराधिकारी, गुरु अर्जन देव जी के अधीन इस शहर का और विस्तार हुआ, जिन्होंने बीच में एक पंक्तिबद्ध टैंक से घिरे हरिमंदर के साथ पवित्र मंदिर का निर्माण पूरा किया जो अब स्वर्ण मंदिर के रूप में प्रसिद्ध है।

16 अगस्त 1604 को ग्रंथ साहिब की स्थापना के साथ, हरिमंदर में, पवित्र कुंड (जिसे सरोवर के नाम से जाना जाता है) से घिरा हुआ मंदिर, शहर का केंद्रीय आकर्षण और दूर-दूर से सिखों के लिए तीर्थ स्थल बन गया। गुरु बाज़ार के विकास से शहर का और विस्तार हुआ। गुरु हरगोबिंद जी, (1595-1644), सिख धर्म के छठे गुरु ने पूल के पास और हरिमंदर के सामने अकाल तख्त (शाश्वत सिंहासन) का निर्माण किया, जहां वे राज्य में बैठे और समुदाय के धर्मनिरपेक्ष व्यवसाय को आगे बढ़ाया।

19वीं शताब्दी के तीसरे दशक में, महाराजा रणजीत सिंह ने शहर की किलेबंदी में सुधार करने के साथ-साथ शहर पर अपने असंबद्ध प्रभुत्व को चिह्नित करने के लिए, जो उनकी दूसरी राजधानी के रूप में काम करने लगा था, शहर के चारों ओर एक दीवार का निर्माण शुरू किया। अंततः यह 12 लाख रुपये से अधिक की लागत पर पूरा हुआ और इसमें शहर की ओर जाने वाले 12 द्वार और पुल थे। बारह द्वारों (दरवाज़ों) के नाम इस प्रकार हैं: लाहौरी, खजाना, हकीमान, गिलवाली, रामगढ़िया (अब चाटीविंड के नाम से जाना जाता है), अहलूवालिया (अब सुल्तानविंड के नाम से जाना जाता है), दोबुर्जी (अब घी मंडी के नाम से जाना जाता है), देओरी-ए-कलां ( अब महान सिंह गेट के नाम से जाना जाता है), राम बाग, शहजादा, दरवाजा-ए-रंगार नांगलियान (अब भगतांवाला गेट के नाम से जाना जाता है), दरवाजा-ए-शहजादा (अब हाथी गेट के नाम से जाना जाता है) और लोहगढ़।

(English to Hindi Translation by Google Translate)

Punbus Fare and Travel Time from Chandigarh to Amritsar

• • Amritsar, Chandigarh, Punjab •

ISBT, Sector 43, Chandigarh to Amritsar bus location, but this is not enough. One has to search the counter from where the bus will leave for Amritsar. If you look up at the walls you will find a counter number and destinations clearly written in English, Punjabi, and Hindi. We reached 11 no. counter and found written: Jadiala, Beas, Amritsar

Yes, this is the correct counter. The bus was parked and tickets were available at the counter. We requested two tickets.

The bus fare from Chandigarh to Amritsar is Rs 275/ each. The bus is Punbus, or one can say Punjab Roadways bus. Yes, it is an Air-conditioned bus. The bus started its journey at 2:30 pm. 4:30 pm reached Nawanshahr, 5:30 Jalandhar, and at 7:30 pm we reached in front of Sangam Cinema, Amritsar. Golden Temple is approx. 1 km. 15 minutes walking distance.

Chandigarh to Amritsar distance by road is 234 km.

Travel time from Chandigarh to Amritsar by bus is 5 hours. There was no stoppage for snacks or tea. Only at the towns/cities bus depot, there was a shortstop. The road condition is very good. I said to my friend – we can have tea during the journey.

Waiting Room (Upper Class) at New Delhi Railway Station

• • Delhi •
Waiting Room (Upper Class) at New Delhi Railway Station

Waiting room (mostly at platform no. 1) is one of the finest facilities provided by Indian Railways at most of the railway stations in India. I many times tried to avail this wonderful facility. All one has to do is to share details (from which train one is coming and by which train to leave in the next few hours) with the person at the entrance of the upper-class waiting room at New Delhi Railway Station to register without paying any amount. It is a good facility to freshen oneself. The Upper-Class Waiting Room at New Delhi Railway Station is having toilet as well as a bath facility. Yes, a few times cleanliness is an issue in a few waiting rooms.

Waiting rooms are classified as per train tickets such as Upper Class, Sleeper Class, etc. Check your train ticket to avail the facility.

A dream: To have a bathroom inside the train especially if the journey is more than 24/48 hours.

A Quick Visit Around Patna Railway Station

• • Bihar, Patna •
A Quick Visit Around Patna Railway Station in Bihar, India

Mahavir Mandir visit was the very first thought during our short arrival at Patna Railway Junction. The famous temple is outside the railway station approx. 100 meters from platform no. 1. Not that long queue which is especially on Tuesday and Saturday. Prayers, offerings, and a spectacular view of the city and the Patna Railway station from the temple’s upper floors to have an idea about the developing city by watching the number of cars parked outside Patna Railway Station and rush hours on the road and concrete structures visible as far as one can see.

The next visit was at a lane nearby full of sweets and namkeen shops – visible from the temple’s upper floors. Yes, I have a sweet tooth.

Shahi Lassi Wala and its hot Kala Jamun. I requested one Rasgulla and a Kala Jamun – Rs. 7 each. Extraordinary. Too good. Upon query, I was told the shop is more than 50 years old and a favorite among locals. And then I saw Milkshake on the display board. A bottle of milkshake, please. Locally prepared, I guess. Good in taste, but above all, it is Kala Jamun. The shop also sells Khasta Namkeen, Chandrakala, Tea, Milk, and Cream. Almost 24-hour shop because only for a few hours during the late-night it is closed.

Walking further, we saw many shops on the left-hand side selling Fenia – a personal favorite. 120 rupees per kg. We requested a kg. Fenia mixed with milk is one of my favorite recipes since childhood.

Next was Jalebi on the mind because shops one after another were preparing hot Jalebis. Rs. 80 per kg. We had 250 gm of Jalebis packed. Yes, I am a foodie but mostly I like traditional food. It is said Jelebis mixed with hot milk is good healthy food.

I guess the lane is good for those having a liking for sweets as well as namkeen products and I am one of them.

Sattu (roasted gram flour) drink – Rs. 10 per glass. I was told Sattu drink is good to keep one’s stomach cool. Tomato, Black Pepper, Onions, Black Salt, Roasted Cumin Seed Powder, and Sattu mixed with water – fantastic drink. One more, please. We enquire about a shop to purchase Sattu. Nearby the general ticket booking center is a shop selling fresh Sattu. Rs. 90/-per kg. We requested a kg. My mother is good at making Sattu ki Roti and having it with curd – mouth-watering thought.

In short, a quick visit around Patna Railway Junction is a fruitful one. God and food for its devotees are both nearby. Please visit.