Visit to Kashmir from 07th to 10th Jun 2025

Amitabh arrived in Delhi on 3^rd June 2025. He wished to visit Kashmir for 3-4 days. Accordingly, we planned it from 7th to 10th June. We also accompanied him. Security arrangements for our stay were made. Amitabh arranged Air tickets thorough his Travel agent. He wished to stay at Taj Srinagar. We did not stay in government accommodation this time.

7^th June 

We boarded to Air India and at about 11:00 hrs and landed at Srinagar at about 13.00 hrs. We were received at the Airport. We checked in Taj hotel. The Coffee shop of the hotel was closed as there were few guests. The corner of the then Vivanta, now Taj, where we used to visit earlier and had coffee during last year was not available now. We had lime cordial in Vista restaurant. Booking of the accommodation in hotel was done by travel agent. In about 100 rooms in the hotel, 83 were occupied on any date earlier. Only 20 were occupied on the day. It has lovely surroundings with flowers in numerous beds. We had dinner in the restaurant. There were colourful lights and not many people.

8^th June

Amitabh was of great help to us. There was lovely weather cool and comfortable. We had breakfast, filling and delicious. While we were having breakfast in Vista, an unusually  huge Eagle flew over, probably in search of food. Someone said citing of the Eagle was auspicious. It is also known to be ride of lord Vishnu. 

                                               Peep into Houseboat

                                                        Relaxing in Boat

Amitabh in Boat

Then we went to the Dal-lake and moved about in a boat for about one and half hour. Amitabh wanted to peep a houseboat to see its paraphernalia. The movement in the lake was cool and pleasant despite bright and hot and sun in the sky. We went to Chasme-sahi and Pari Mahal also. Amitabh did not wish to go Nishat Garden and Shalimar Bagh as they were more a less like Chasme-sahi Garden. He wanted to visit Pahalgam but could not as it was closed for public after the attack by terrorists at that time. For lunch we came to hotel Lalit. It had huge green campus. Its occupancy was only 2-3 against capacity of 150 rooms.

                                                     In Chasme Sahi Garden

                                                            In Chasme Sahi

                                                         Lunch in Lalit hotel

After return from Lalit, we cut big size Kashmiri apple provided to us in the our rooms. We were impressed by its fragrance and sweetness. It was about 7 pm then. The sun was bright on the horizon and gradually going down about to set, the beautiful sight. Our accommodation was of duplex type. We were the first floor and Amitabh the ground floor. There was balcony in each floor, comfortable for two to sit. A number of local people apart some guests of the hotel had joined in the outdoor sitting of Vista for EID. We had continental food in the hotel after having ice tea as appetizer.

9^th June

The sun had risen. We could see sun light in human habitation far away. We could not see sun directly from the balcony as it was in our back behind the hills. It was chilly. We put on a sweater.

                                                 In the campus Hazrat Bal

We visited Hazrat Bal mosque. Amitabh was keen to visit Hazrat Bal. We spent about half an hour there. Earlier we used to have a passing view of it. After visit of Dargah we went for darshan of Panchmukhi Hanuman at Lal Chowk. Amitabh was thrilled to walk along the Lal Chowk for quite sometime. We had lunch at a 100 year old Adoo restaurant there.

                                                In Panchmukhi Hanuman temple

                                                           In Lal Chowk

10^th June

We checked out from the Hotel after breakfast in the open sitting of hotel. We also had full view of Dal Lake, cool weather and massive green hills all around. On way to Airport Venita some bought excellent dry fruit at half Delhi rates.

Arrived Delhi at about 3 PM.

Amitabh insisted that we should have full rest that day as well as well next day as we had hectic schedule of movement during the week.

Kumbh 2025

8^th February, 2025

We had planned to visit Kumbh and have dip at Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati during the auspicious month of Magha.

We left Delhi for Prayagraj on 08^th February, 2025 by Indigo flight No. 6E 6386 at 18:55 hrs and arrived Prayagraj at 20:20 hrs. We checked in at Aurum Heritage (Super Deluxe) Airbnb. The booking of the accommodation had been done by our daughter-in-law Neha. She had also booked a taxi for us. We were received at the Airport by Brijesh Kumar and Anurag Singh. At the time of arrival there was no difficulty in travelling on the road to our Guest House. We reached it at about 10:00 PM. After check-in we went out for dinner. Not many restaurants were open at that time. We had a thali each. It was the only restaurant of Haldiram open in the market at that time. After dinner we returned at abouth 11:00 PM and retired for sleep.

9th

We left Guest House at about 05:00 AM for Kumbh. On way we came across big crowds of people heading towards Sangam for a dip like us. But we could steer our way to the Boat Club where we were supposed to hire a boat for Sangam. But we noticed there were about 50 boats and 10,000 people struggling to hire them. We decided not to wait there anymore and proceeded to the VIP Ghat on the river Yamuna to board a boat to Sangam. It was then about 07:30 AM. We reached Sangam before 08:00 AM and had dip at the auspicious day. The Sangam was quite crowded. All three of us me, wife Venita and her younger sister Sunita had a dip. I had two dips so also Venita. Sunita had dip on the right side of the podium and we had dip on the left side. The bathing was over by 08:00 AM. The ladies changed their clothes in the enclosures provided for them. Some photographs of the Kumbh taken by us are given below.

“Pracheen Nagavasuki Mandir”

At Chaudhary Guest House with the owner

With Brijesh Kumar and Anurag Singh

After the ritual of dip at Sangam we left for the Tent City. We had our tent there arranged by our relations. It was a big tent for comfortable stay. We were given some breakfast of curd and jalebis after we arrived there at about 12:00 noon. The drive from Sangam to the Tent City took about an hour and a half. The location of our tent was at “Pontoon Bridge No. 26, Chakra Madho Marg, Sector-24 in front of NTPC camp and Foreign Flag Point”.

 

As I had not taken enough water as I am used to everyday in the morning I felt dehydrated and tired, I lied down about 2 hrs and sipped a couple of bottles of water (about 2 ltrs) to enliven me. Venita also took rest while Sunita continued talking to the Balaji and his family, owner of the tent. We had lunch about 02:30 PM followed by tea and left for “Chaudhary Garden, Gate No. 3, Near Kalyani Devi Temple Attasruiya” at about 04:30 PM for night stay. On way to Chaudhary Garden we visited “Pracheen Nagavasuki Mandir”. Chaudhary Garden accommodation was quite comfortable and after dinner we retired to sleep.

10th

We left Chaudhary Garden on way to Airport at about 11:00 AM through a safe route so that we can avoid traffic jams due to restrictions on movement of traffic on arrival of President of India to Prayagraj for a dip in Sangam. On way to Airport we had lunch in a restaurant. As our flight was at 07:45 PM, we had enough time. We boarded the flight No. 6E 233 for Delhi and left about 07:45 hrs. We arrived Delhi 21:20 hrs.

 

04.01.2025

 04.01.2025

Some more details of the Ram temple at Ayodhya are quoted as given in a recent issue of India Today:

"A towering  edifice in the old northern Nagara style of temple architecture, with eclectic 'pan-India' touches. 

Intricately carved pink Rajasthani sandstone leads up to a black granite Ram idol, done southern style.

The temple's foundation stone contains soil and water contains soil and water collected from numerous pilgrimage sites strewn across India." 

I could not get details of the Ayodhya Kashi Corridor. The construction of Lord Ram Temple is nearing completion. The Central and state governments are making efforts to develop Ayodhya on the pattern of Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

The renovation work and widening of the roads leading to the Ram Mandir are going on at a brisk pace.

The completion of the Ram temple and its premises with network of roads is likely to take few years. 

Met the daughter of Late Hazarika who was civil surgeon at Goalpara, when I was SP there. It was pleasure to meet her. We spent about a couple an hours with her and her husband.

Visited the location of SP's house at Guwahati. It is now a world class park. We could recognize its location thorough some old trees. The DC's house is also not there. It has been converted into park / museum. As we had limited time we could not visit it. A couple of photographs taken at the old site of SP's Bunglow are given bellows: 

Met Mrs. Chakraborty wife of the DFO, Dhubri who was posted there during our period. We shared with her memories of her late husband. 

A photograph taken with her and the family is given below.

We met Mrs. Buzerbariarh also at her house, a photograph taken with her is given below. We shared memories with her of her late husband.   

Our batchmate NK Singh invited us for lunch at his new house in Vasant Kunj. A photograph taken on the occasion is given below. 

  

Journey to Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi and Vindhyachal

Left for Lucknow on November 17, 2024, arrived there alongwith 1964 Batch Group of All India Service Officers. We were accommodated in VVIP Guest House, quite comfortable accommodation.

 

The three local batch Officers, all of IAS organized welcome dinner at 08:00 PM, 12 of us joined it. We shared memories of togetherness of Batch at Mussorie in 1964.

 

On November 18, we left for visit to Lucknow monuments at 09:00 AM. Visited Imam Bara and Regency monuments. At 01:30 PM we had lunch at Moti Mahal Restaurant, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Opp. Raj Bhavan. At 03:00 PM we were taken to Asma Hussain Institute for Chikngari shopping at Hazrat Ganj. At 08:00 pm Dr. Shukla, Director Aastha Geriatric Hospital, give a talk on ‘Geriatric Issues’, followed by dinner.

 

On November 19, we left for Ayodhya at 09:00 AM and returned at 06:00 PM. A photograph taken of us at Ram Temple on the day.

 

 

At an IB stop over on way to Ram Temple

 

 

 

 

Another temple near Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

 

 

 

Just below the Ram Temple, under construction.

 

 

 

On November 20, the group visited the Kukrail Forest and Crocodile Farm. We could not accompany the Batch as we had to call on our old friend Shri VK Sircar at Lucknow. He is being looked after by his three daughters quite well. I spent about an hour with him. As there were restrictions in meeting him due to fear of infection, we returned after lunch at a restaurant of Taj Hotel nearby. All of us visited famous LA Martiniere College at Lucknow.

 

We had dinner at Golf Club, hosted by the three local batchmates on the last day of our stay at Lucknow.

 

On November 21, we left for Shri Das’s House our batchmate from IAS for breakfast. After breakfast we started our journey to Varanasi. We reached Varanasi in the evening. As I could not get accommodation in Radisson Blu Hotel where the other batchmates were accommodated, our son Amitabh arranged accommodation in Hilton Hotel Varanasi.

 

On November 22, we visited Vishanath,Sankat Mochan and Durga Devi temples and have good darshan and did pooja. Thereafter we joined in Ganga Aarti and boat ride.

 

On November 23, visited Bhairav Temple. There was some problem there. However, we managed to have darshan somehow. Venita had dip in Ganga at Dashaswasamegh Ghat. She also visited Basanta College of yore and met Principal, Staff and Students. She had studied here in early school days. We were requested to distribute prizes of their ongoing Sports Meet. We also went to Verma family’s ancestral house. There is nothing left of it now.

 

On November 24, we left for Vindhyanivasani Temple at Vindhyachal, had darshan and did pooja there. We returned Varanasi. All others left for Delhi. We also visited 9, Cantonment Road where Venita had lived earlier. Now there is an Ashram at the place.

 

On November 25, we left Hilton for the Varanasi Airport. Arrived Delhi at 07:00 PM

 

 

Reunion Seminar of Assam Police Chiefs’ at Guwahati on 7th & 8th December, 2024

I alongwith Venita, my wife, left Delhi by Air India flight No. 2751 at 09:10AM and arrived Guwahati at 11:40AM on 6^th December, 2024. We were received at the airport with lot of fanfare. The ceremonial gamcha alongwith bouquet of flowers were given to us with photographers taking photographs. In the meantime, more Assam Police Chiefs’ had arrived. After our luggage was collected we left for our accommodation for International Guest House at Khanapara, Guwahati.

 

The only engagement on the date was a dinner hosted by the DG of Police, Assam on the occasion of ‘Assam Police Chiefs’ Reunion Seminar’. I could not join the dinner as we had got up early morning at 03:00AM and arrived at the Guest House at about 07:00PM. I apologized for our absence at the dinner.

 

On 7^th December we joined in the Wreath Laying Ceremony at 4^th APBN HQ. After Salami, all of (25 us) laid the Wreath one by one on the occasion. The ceremony took nearly one hour.

 

After the Wreath Laying Ceremony we had brunch at ‘Suhasini’ (4^th APBN). Later at 03:00PM we assembled at the venue of Seminar at APHQ Conference Hall. There was a welcome address by DGP, Assam followed by presentation by the Special DGP. There was a discussion on the ‘Future Road Map for Assam Police’. The CM, Assam, Shri Sarma arrived at about 04:00PM. There was State Anthem followed by National Anthem and felicitation. The DGP, Assam welcomed him followed by address by the Hon’ble CM, Assam and interaction with the ‘Assam Police Chiefs’.

 

 

The ceremony ended with the National Anthem and a group photograph. In the interaction during the Seminar, I alongwith 4-5 other Ex-DGPs delivered small speeches emphasising the role of Police in the changing circumstances.

 

At the end there was a dinner at Assam Police Institute at 07:00PM.

 

On 8^th December, at the valediction of the Assam Police Chiefs’ Reunion Seminar at Police Institute Ulubari the Governor of Assam, Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya graced the occasion. He commended the efforts of Assam Police to organize the Reunion of the Police Chiefs’ and deliberations therein.

 

23rd Feb

Akshat our grandson has invented an App named NOWA or No Waste. Its application detects any object to be either Bio-degradable or Recycling.

Users can be aware of what they are using and how they are impacting the environment.

We had a meeting in the department of Environment Government of India with Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. In this connection I along with Akshat and his mother my daughter-in-law attended a meeting in December on being referred in the Ministry of Urban Development. 

We had a meeting with the Director of the Urban Development Ministry, Shri Jha. He acknowledged the utility of the App. The utility of the App was also acknowledged by the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram. 

DATE : 17.06.2023 

We landed at Srinagar Airport at 1 PM on 17th June, 2023. After reaching Police Guest House, found it's not the one where we had stayed earlier. We went check if we could shift in the old one. It was crowd with two DGP's families. In the evening spent couple of hours in a restaurant near Dal Lake. Took some good recipes in the company a Bhojpuri film actress in the adjoining table. Crowd was mostly lower middle class.

DATE : 18.06.2023

We are settled down in the Police Guest House which is quite comfortable. It has a spacious bedroom and a separate lounge / sitting room. Pilku insisted that we should shift to either Lalit or Vivant. We explained to him that we were well settled in Police Guest House and need not shift to either Lalit or Vivant. He ultimately agreed with us. The photo of the Police Guest House is given below:

Police Guest House at Srinagar, place of our state for 10 days that is from 17th to 27th June 2023 , total expenses for boarding and lodging were within 20,000/-. The cost of air ticket was Rs. 26,000/- and paid by Pilku. The Holidays where thus managed within our resources. 

                                                  

On the Bank of Dal Lake 

We had a long boat ride in Dal Lake for over 1 hour. We traversed from one end and to other shopping in the boat in the while rowing. 

We spent lot of time in Shalimar Garden, a view of it. 

In Nishad Garden

In Nishad Garden

In Shalimar Garden

In Chashme Shahi

In Chashme Shahi

In Nishad Garden

In Nishad Garden

In Shalimar Bagh

In Pari Mahal

In Nishad Garden

In Pari Mahal

In Chashme Shahi. Venita could not climb upto Chashme Shahi. So we took a photo just below it:

At Doodhpathri: One and half hour drive from Srinagar.  The local folk lore says that on the prayer of a Sufi saint for water in the area there came out a fountain of milk.

At Doodhpathri

On way to Doodhpathri Venita fondled a Lamb in the flock of sheep. 

A number of tourists were riding ponies in the beautiful surroundings.   

In Nishad Garden

In Danchi Gam Wildlife Sanctuary Forest. Danchi means 10 villages housed a beautiful resort. Occasionally it was used by Indira Gandhi during a visit to Kashmir. We met wildlife photographer who guided us to the Sanctuary. 

Sitting in lawns of the Guest house of the Sanctuary, we were served hot Khawa and snacks. 

In Pari Mahal

On the Bank of Sindhu river 

Some pictures of Shalimar Garden which we had visited are given below. It looks like Switzerland.

During Puja at Kheer Bhawani Temple

At Ganderbal 50 miles from Srinagar. As we were not satisfied with the visit to Kheer Bhawani Temple, we visited there again next day and did puja. Later went to take Sindhu Water. We were taken to the confluence of Sindhu and Jhelum Rivers at Pushkar. Venita travelled to Pushkar by boat to a Shiva temple inside a trunk of a grove Chinar trees. Silku commented that Amma's boat ride to the lord Shiva temple was as if she was one of Swiss people who like boat rides of such kind. 

There Venita went inside a very old chinar tree. There was old Shivling inside the waters of Sindhu and Jhelum Rivers. She worshiped Shivling there.  It was Navami an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. 

Visited Zyestha and Sarika temples in the premises of Governor House    

                

                                                                        In Vivant hotel at Srinagar

                            

In Radisson Blu Hoel at Srinagar

DATE : 27.06.2023

Venita went to Lord Hanuman temple again at Lal Chowk, a second visit. 

                                                              In Vistara. Back to Delhi 

We had a marvelous visit to Kashmir Valley for 10 days. We would like to visit again there as soon as possible.