Life in a magic world

28/07/2025 We woke up with a mind to get ready for the dream journey to Amarnath. Packed two backpacks with essentials for the trek to Holy Cave. Considering the excess weight, we left many things at the hotel where we stayed in Srinagar. After taking an early lunch from a Bangla restaurant near our hotel, we left to Panta Chowk at around 10 am. It took hardly 30 minutes to reach Panta Chowk.  With a lot of enthusiasm, we entered the camp area, where the security people greeted us with warmth.   It was around 11 am, we were only two waiting for the bus at the parking slot. Around 1145 more people started arriving. Vandebharat Train from Katra arrives at Srinagar Station at 11 am. From the station to the yatra camp it takes hardly 10 mns by bus and the administration arranges a free shuttle bus service from the station to the camp.  Two JnK Government Roadways bus operated on these days . One to Baltal and another one to Pahalgam. The bus ticket to Pahalgam was approx...

 While passing through the street, I was wondering about the changes happening in Srinagar. Once, it was known for being a peaceful city which was largely inhabited by Hindus and tribes in the mountains, then known for the Buddhist Council and spread of Buddhist ideologies, then control of Mughals and eventually in the hands of the British, who approved the local ruler from Dogra King Gulab Shah, who bought it from the British for 75 lakhs.  The city has undergone changes, and after the removal of Article 370, the city looks for modernity as well as change. There are new flyovers and several new buildings. The Dal Lake area remains unchanged from my previous visit. The houseboats wait for tourists. The lakeshore is occupied by fewer tourists and more shikhara operators untilthe evening.  The bright sunlight reminded us that summer is in its peak in Kashmir. The roads were comparatively less crowded. People realised the change in climate. I walked through the streets to ke...

27/07/2025 We checked out the hotel at 7 am. They had arranged the drop at the railway station. The railway station was near to the hotel, hence it took hardly 6-7 minutes.  Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station at Katra, is a newly developed station. The station is made at two or three levels. The front area of the station looks liek a railway station in a foreign country. Spacious and aesthetically designed.  Passengers boarding Vande Bharat Express to Srinagar had to undergo two levels of checking. First they check the baggage and then the confirmation of the seats in the train. After due process, we moved to platform no. 1 to board the train. All passengers were in great excitement as the Hon'ble Prime Minister inaugurated the first train to Srinagar in Kashmir Valley on 06 June 2025.  There was extra security coverage for this train, and we could find J & K Police as well as RPF personnel who were well prepared for any possible eventualities.  When the trai...

We reached Jammu Tawi station at the right time, i.e., 11 am approx., on 26 July 2025. It was a humid and hot day. Earlier I contacted PRof. Anil Gupta at the University of Jammu, and he told me that he would try to meet us in the station. We waited for Prof. Anil Gupta. As we couldn’t see him, we moved to the waiting room. I wondered how poorly equipped Jammu station in comparison with other railway stations in India. This station is very important for India in many terms. Millions of pilgrims arrive and depart from this station every month. In the mean time, I had to get a new SIM card as prepaid mobile numbers from other states do not work in Jammu & Kashmir.  I got a new SIM card and contacted Anil, sir. He was already there in the station searching for me. He came to the waiting room. He also brought food and some sweets and Namkeen for us.  After briefing him about our plan, we waited for the train which leaves at 2.30 from Jammu to Katra. When we looked at the statu...