When we were in Rajasthan Atomic Power project , we decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Himalayan Shrines of Gangothry, Yamunothry, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
We were in the township and our relatives all came there two days in advance, so that they can see the Project . It was summer and we all slept in the terrace. It was anew experience for people living in Keralam,,as there all sleep inside the house. The Pole Star is well above the Northern horizon and can be easily spotted. My sister and brother-in-law, Sarojam and her husband, Subramanian, Ranjith and Sankaranarayanan of my wife house were there, in all thirteen men and women. It was a jolly crowd, Babu of Prakunnath Mana, working in the Bank being the accountant.
We went to Delhi by Dehradoon Express, with tickets with tickets up to Haridwar. At Delhi, my daughter Sudha came with idlis and fruits to eat. We had Kerala bananas, brought by friends and we happily reached Haridwar, where we stayed in a free Dharmashala on the bank of Ganga. The room was spacious and we all had a dip in the holy river. The water was very cool and people thought that their journey has already been fruitful. From there we went by taxi to Rishkesh where we stayed at Geetha Bhavan, on the opposite bank of the river.People from Keralam were not happy with food. So we made a contingency plan. Ranjith and I purchased a kerosene stove and a few aluminium utensils and enough kerosene, which is freely available. Rice, dhal, rava for upma and vegetables were also purchased.
The next problem was a suitable van to accommodate thirteen people. Gadwal Motor Owners’s Union (GMOU) provided all sorts of vehicles and we chose a two by two seater, in which two can sit on either side. We were detained for some time, at a point from where the hills began, for getting permission of the authorities. Then the journey began, always zigzag, as the van would move up and then down, to climb each mountain. The view became breath taking, as we climbed up and up, slowly reaching higher altitude, after each climb.
The next problem was a suitable van to accommodate thirteen people. Gadwal Motor Owners’s Union (GMOU) provided all sorts of vehicles and we chose a two by two seater, in which two can sit on either side. We were detained for some time, at a point from where the hills began, for getting permission of the authorities. Then the journey began, always zigzag, as the van would move up and then down, to climb each mountain. The view became breath taking, as we climbed up and up, slowly reaching higher altitude, after each climb.
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