APCON 2011 and co.

Erstwhile, I have been silent for a long time. Had a busy tour of Punjab and Delhi, and an insightful one also.
To begin with we took Rajdhani Express, got down at New Delhi, rushed to Old Delhi for the train to Punjab, and en route caught a glimpse of the Red Fort

This train from Old Delhi took up the beaten path to Bhatinda, and it ran through places you'll never expect to see except in schoolbooks and myths.

The actual conference, of course, was like every other. Except that I had a plethora of Punjabi saag (vegetable leaves) to gulp about.

We got to see the roots of the 'Patiala Gharana' of Indian Classical Music, at the remnants of Sheesh Mahal (literally, palace of glasses).

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, the entrepreneur of the Patiala gharana

The Deer Park with a few longhorns

And a few smiles

The restored princely palace of Patiala, now a sports complex

The Patiala fort entrance

Prof Vinay Kumar (if you remember Kumar, Cotran and Robbins) sharing a Sardarji joke

A funjabi wedding

Icons

The Patiala Gurdwara

The first college of Punjab, estd in Patiala

Patiala rail station

We left Patiala for Amritsar in the Mumbai Amritsar express, and had ourselves almost an empty coup. We came across the Shatadru (Sutlej) and Bipasha (Beas) rivers. This is a view of the Shatadru, and an ananthashyashayee nearby Bipasha (pun, eh!)

Approaching the Harmandir Sahib (Golden temple) in Amritsar gives you a queasy feeling. But nothing prepares you for the amazement inside.

 

It is the most well kept place of worship I have ever seen (a joint first with Ramakrishna Mission, Belurmath, Howrah). It is not the gold that is the surprise, however. The real taste of Amritsar lies in the langar (community breakfast/ lunch/ dinner) which is an industry in itself. No religious institutions even come close in the hygiene, quality and clockwork efficiency of the prasad vitaran.

Letters made of molten blood

 

From Amritsar to Delhi we got hold of the Morning Shatabdi express, which reached in 5 and a half hours straight. We had booked the IRCTC rail yatri niwas just outside New Delhi station.

The quintessential Delhi tour, Qutub Minar and the Iron column

The India gate ... zzz (my fifth visit to this place)

Next morning, our day of departure, we scrambled through Rajghat (Gandhi's burial)

... and Humayun's tomb

... and the lotus temple

... before rushing to Delhi airport, terminal ID

The google earth view, from just above the wings

Soaring above the clouds, and the moon from up close

No photoshop used on this one