Travel seems to be an integral part of our lives, so yet again the gang (me and family) embarks on our next trip.
My in-laws were visiting us in the second fortnight of February and a visit to Shirdi is must for them on every visit. We planned to visit Shirdi on 28th Feb. For comfortable journey we decided to use the best mode of travel. Rail was everyone's choice. So we booked tickets on 51033 Shirdi Fast passenger which has a 3 AC coach for the 27th. The train arrived on time (around 23.55) at Kalyan and we settled down in our seats.This train takes around 11 hours to reach Shirdi since it takes the Mum-Pune-Daund-Shirdi route. Being a passenger has many halts and reaches Shirdi around 11 am. We had booked our darshan around 2.45 in the afternoon so this train was perfect for us.
Finally we all were sound asleep in the almost full coach. Reached Daund around 6 am. The platform had half sleepy people checking the train to ensure it was not theirs. The tea vendors were busy with chores. I was tempted to get down and go for a cup but my lethargy got better of me. My in laws are the perfect company for tea but unfortunately they were sleeping. The train moved around 6.20 and we were on the Daund - Manmad route. The major stations for this train were Belapur and Ahmednagar where many alighted.
It was around 7 am when everyone was awake. Everyone was hungry since we had an early dinner the other day. We were carrying bisucits, theplas and chips to counter hunger till we reach Shirdi. Then I heard the magical words. "Pohe garam Pohe" The vendor was a regular on this train and served us hot poha topping them with onion and farsan. It was heavenly not only for the taste but also the price (Rs.10 complete value for money). He seemed to satisfied in selling his ware at a reasonable price and addressed his customers as "Mauli" (a term used to refer devotees on their pilgrimage to Pandharpur). Truly content being. We also had excellent masala tea from another vendor. There was idli vada also on offer. So absence of a panty car was not felt.
We finally reached Sainagar Shirdi around 11.15 am. The platform was crowded with everyone alighting here. Immediately on alighting were approached by a rickshaw driver enquiring whether we would like to hire him. He had a seven seater and the deal was done for Rs.150. We had already booked our accomodation online (at online.sai.org.in) at the Saibaba Sansthan guest house.The guest house was called Dwaravati and is behind the khandoba temple. We booked two ac rooms at Rs.900 each. The rooms were clean, spacious and could accommodate 4 people and had provision to add extra bed. There was a television with a Tata Sky connection which excited the kids. The check in time is 11 am. The sansthan has built three to four of such guesthouses which offer rooms at different price points (100 - 900).
After freshening we all marched to the Udupi restaurant (opp the temple) to have a heavy brunch. After petpuja we went to do the real puja (Baba's darshan) scheduled at 2.45pm. We had to enter the temple from the Shani Gate as this was the entrance for darshan booked online. Around 4 pm we completed visiting all the places (Dwarkamai, Chavadi and Hanuman Temple). We were on the way to our rooms when it started raining. There was strong wind blowing which cooled the place and also made us shiver. Rains in February strange. We had to cancel our plans for the evening due to the rains.
Next day we had to leave for Nashik to catch the Tapovan Express to return to Mumbai. We hired a vehicle to reach Nashik by 4.30 p.m. Everyone settled down in the waiting room. Got a Tinkle each for the kids and I with my cousin decided to venture to buy grapes which Nashik is famous for. We buy from regular outlet which is near the old CBS bus stand half an hour from the station but today we were too tired to do the journey. So we decided to buy at the joints here the station. We got good deal with a vendor. Rs 50/kg for the green grapes (the long ones) and Rs.60/kg for the black ones. Buying 5 kg of each we returned to the waiting room mighty pleased at our catch. The same would have cost us around 70 to 80 / kg in Mumbai.
The train was around 15 mins late. We got two plate of chowmein at the restaurant in the station in case the pantry food was not upto the mark. Our bookings were in the AC Chair car where we comfortably settled down. Now coming to the food, the pantry had a wide variety to offer. Sabudana vada, batata vada, veg cutlet, omelette and samosa. Also on offer was chicken biryani (which they are famous for) and vegetable pulao. We had a heavy snack cum dinner. Everyone was busy either reading or fiddling with their mobiles.
We reached Kalyan on time and our home by 10.30.
Thanks to Baba for a wonderful trip and taking care of us throughout.
Om Sai Ram.
My in-laws were visiting us in the second fortnight of February and a visit to Shirdi is must for them on every visit. We planned to visit Shirdi on 28th Feb. For comfortable journey we decided to use the best mode of travel. Rail was everyone's choice. So we booked tickets on 51033 Shirdi Fast passenger which has a 3 AC coach for the 27th. The train arrived on time (around 23.55) at Kalyan and we settled down in our seats.This train takes around 11 hours to reach Shirdi since it takes the Mum-Pune-Daund-Shirdi route. Being a passenger has many halts and reaches Shirdi around 11 am. We had booked our darshan around 2.45 in the afternoon so this train was perfect for us.
Finally we all were sound asleep in the almost full coach. Reached Daund around 6 am. The platform had half sleepy people checking the train to ensure it was not theirs. The tea vendors were busy with chores. I was tempted to get down and go for a cup but my lethargy got better of me. My in laws are the perfect company for tea but unfortunately they were sleeping. The train moved around 6.20 and we were on the Daund - Manmad route. The major stations for this train were Belapur and Ahmednagar where many alighted.
It was around 7 am when everyone was awake. Everyone was hungry since we had an early dinner the other day. We were carrying bisucits, theplas and chips to counter hunger till we reach Shirdi. Then I heard the magical words. "Pohe garam Pohe" The vendor was a regular on this train and served us hot poha topping them with onion and farsan. It was heavenly not only for the taste but also the price (Rs.10 complete value for money). He seemed to satisfied in selling his ware at a reasonable price and addressed his customers as "Mauli" (a term used to refer devotees on their pilgrimage to Pandharpur). Truly content being. We also had excellent masala tea from another vendor. There was idli vada also on offer. So absence of a panty car was not felt.
We finally reached Sainagar Shirdi around 11.15 am. The platform was crowded with everyone alighting here. Immediately on alighting were approached by a rickshaw driver enquiring whether we would like to hire him. He had a seven seater and the deal was done for Rs.150. We had already booked our accomodation online (at online.sai.org.in) at the Saibaba Sansthan guest house.The guest house was called Dwaravati and is behind the khandoba temple. We booked two ac rooms at Rs.900 each. The rooms were clean, spacious and could accommodate 4 people and had provision to add extra bed. There was a television with a Tata Sky connection which excited the kids. The check in time is 11 am. The sansthan has built three to four of such guesthouses which offer rooms at different price points (100 - 900).
After freshening we all marched to the Udupi restaurant (opp the temple) to have a heavy brunch. After petpuja we went to do the real puja (Baba's darshan) scheduled at 2.45pm. We had to enter the temple from the Shani Gate as this was the entrance for darshan booked online. Around 4 pm we completed visiting all the places (Dwarkamai, Chavadi and Hanuman Temple). We were on the way to our rooms when it started raining. There was strong wind blowing which cooled the place and also made us shiver. Rains in February strange. We had to cancel our plans for the evening due to the rains.
Next day we had to leave for Nashik to catch the Tapovan Express to return to Mumbai. We hired a vehicle to reach Nashik by 4.30 p.m. Everyone settled down in the waiting room. Got a Tinkle each for the kids and I with my cousin decided to venture to buy grapes which Nashik is famous for. We buy from regular outlet which is near the old CBS bus stand half an hour from the station but today we were too tired to do the journey. So we decided to buy at the joints here the station. We got good deal with a vendor. Rs 50/kg for the green grapes (the long ones) and Rs.60/kg for the black ones. Buying 5 kg of each we returned to the waiting room mighty pleased at our catch. The same would have cost us around 70 to 80 / kg in Mumbai.
The train was around 15 mins late. We got two plate of chowmein at the restaurant in the station in case the pantry food was not upto the mark. Our bookings were in the AC Chair car where we comfortably settled down. Now coming to the food, the pantry had a wide variety to offer. Sabudana vada, batata vada, veg cutlet, omelette and samosa. Also on offer was chicken biryani (which they are famous for) and vegetable pulao. We had a heavy snack cum dinner. Everyone was busy either reading or fiddling with their mobiles.
We reached Kalyan on time and our home by 10.30.
Thanks to Baba for a wonderful trip and taking care of us throughout.
Om Sai Ram.
