The plan unfolded something like : Dep on 29th morning and arrival on oct 2nd night.
On 29th morning everything went on as planned, and we reached SHIRDI on 30th morning @9 AM (an hour late). The newly built SHIRDI station is bit far from the heart of the city (where the mandir hotels and all necessary shops are present). The weather was OK - neither pleasant nor sunny. It was noon time by the time we started the darshan after getting ready and having B/F.
Since it was holiday season, there was lot of crowd and it took us little more than 3 hours for the darshan.
After some shopping for prasad and souvenir , we hired a vehiche (a nice 13 seater TT) to visit SHANI SHIGNAPUR ( 76 KM from SHIRDI - about 1 hr 30 min travel time ). Because we visited the place late evening there was no crowd and it was really nice to have a quick darshan and head back.
For next day we decided to visit NASIK and other surrounding places.
On 1st, we started @ 6AM in the same vehicle. Around 8 30 we reached MUKTI DHAM temple in NASIK. I must say its 1 of its kind as it has idols of almost all important HINDU gods including LORD BRAHMA and MAHAVEERA. Once you visit, you realize why the name "MUKTI DHAM".
After B/F we started to TRIAMBAKESHWAR (about 30 to 40 min away from NASIK). There was lot of crowd and since we had very less time, we had to listen to the agents and bribe them ( agents are none other than the security personnel). The place reminds you "ALWAYS LOOK DOWN WHILE WALKING" since the JYOTIRLING is on the land itself.
Next up was PANCHAVATI in NASIK again. This place has lot of LORD RAMA and SITA DEVI temples. The most important being "KALA RAM TEMPLE" - ppl say the IDOL is formed of BLACK SAND found on the banks of Godavari and SITA DEVI temple - here to see the idol we need to go undergroung in a cave - nice experience.
Back to SHIRDI by 4:30, we started packing since we had a bus to catch @ 6:30 to PUNE.
The bus arrived @ 7:20 and took us to PUNE by 1 AM which was good as our train was @ 2 AM from there.
The next 8 hours was normal - get into train, explain to ppl that the seat they are using is yours - prove that fact as well and then a nice sleep. The next 36 hours had so much in store that i couldn't imagine.
Around 8:30 in the morning, we started hearing the news about the floods in N.K'TAKA and that the train is going to take a detour via SECUNDRABAD. We were told there will be a 4 to5 hrs delay. Since many stations would be skipped due to the detour, passengers started to alight 1 after another and another. We still continued and the train reached SECUNDRABAD @ 4 PM.
All was well until we again heard that the HYD <-> BANG route is also blocked and so our train will go via VIJAYAWADA. Next was the biggest news we heard for the day: TRAIN WON"T EVEN GO TO BANGALORE. There was lot of panic and so a drama unfolded @ VIJAYWADA @ 11 PM.
About 50 to 60 passengers started a fight with the TTR and later with station master to confirm if the train will reach BANGALORE. As the fight was on the train started moving and few other passengers stood in front of the train to stop it.
When the station master confirmed the TRAIN will go to BANGALORE, all of us returned and had a nice sleep - not knowing whats going to happen next.
A new day but the old rumor - TRAIN WILL GO TO COIMBATORE AND THEN REACH BANGALORE - very much strengthened by all the PANTRY ppl serving B/F.
That time there were 2 options - wait inside / get out . Since this was all happening @ TIRUPATI STATION , the decision was quite comfortable - get out and take bus.
So all of us got down, had B/F @ TIRUPATI , took a BUS and reached home @ 6PM - a full 22 hours late than the scheduled arrival.
Though all these incidents are a rarity, its better to be prepared for such circumstances. So i decided that from next time,
- Always keep an extra day or 2 @ disposal
- Keep mobile fully charged even if the journey is short
- Always have a alternate plan @ the back of your mind
