My first Travel Story

  Jalandhar, India
Saturday, July 7, 2007

Dated: 18 Feb 2007
As we discussed in night we

met at 7.30am @ Defence Colony, near balli's home, we met and without
wasting any time we hit the road, then we filled our bike's tank from a
petrol pump near P.A.P byepass, it was a very beautiful morning, the
traffic was very minimal on the roads, though we were riding on
National Highway 1 (GT Road) but still because of Feb morning only
commercial vehicles were present there, and even it was a cloudy sky,
and due to that the morning was even colder, so only crazy guys can
think riding a bike in that condition. We were going on normal speed @
50-60kmph, actually enjoying the ride, after 1 hour we reached at
Banga, and our eyes met and we stoped exactly at tea shop, we had tea
and were chating and planning about our next stop. After 10 minuts of
tea n rest, we moved towards Garshankar, from banga there is road which
turns left towards Garhshankar.

The road was small but well
maintained, after 5-6 km we have seen a sikh guy who got accident on
his cycle, actually he was slipped on the road, had injuries on his
face, but he was able to stand and some local villagers were helping
him, we stopped but saw that guy got help we started moving. Then after
few Kms my perception towards small but good
road was changed as we hit the road with full of path holes, there we were driving at around the speed of 10-20kms.


We reached Garhshankar as per the schedule,from there we started our
journey towards AnandPur Sahib, the road was new and well built,
allthough i was worried about that road cause few years back i went to
Anandpur Sahib by car and at that time the Road was in very Bad
condition, but this time we were lucky. Road was good but still i was
feeling some vibration and that was my bike's Chain, it was creating
problems, but i was assured cause "billa (local Mechanic)" told it will
do 400-500kms.






















Finaly we arrived at the Birth Place of "Khalsa" Anandpur Sahib.











History of Anandpur Sahib : Anandpur Sahib is a holy city in punjab.
Its historical significance to the Sikhs is second after Amritsar.
Hundreds of Sikhs once embraced martyrdom here. Sikh history is deeply
marked by their struggle for survival in a volatile land, especially
during the peak of Mughal persecution under Aurangzeb, which
radicalized the Sikhs. The mystical faith of Guru Nanak transformed
into the fiercely spartan and nationalistic faith of Guru Gobind Singh.
Takhat Kesgarh Sahib-one of five Takhats, or seats of authority, in
Sikhism-is the centerpiece of Anandpur Sahib. It stands upon a hill and
is visible for miles. The Khalsa was revealed here by their tenth and
last guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who selected the five beloved ones and
administered baptism of Khanda (Khande di Pahul),instituting the Khalsa
panth on Baisakhi, 30 Mar 1699. A special congregation was held that
was attended by thousands. Kesgarh Sahib Fort was built here in 1699,
replaced long since by the Gurdwara (a room in its inner sanctum holds
twelve important military relics of Guru Gobind Singh).











We had BreakFast at the Gurdwara langar: a simple, tasty, nutritious, and free meal
of thick daal, roti, and pickle. Open to all humans twice a day,
believer and non-believer alike (no questions asked), these meals are
sustained by donations and volunteers who cook, serve, and clean each
day. Amazing...........










Real Journey : now our real journey started from here, the road which
we were about to hit was called Guru Gobind Singh Marg, this road
starts from Anandpur Sahib and goes to Talwandi Sabo, near bathinda.
But in our plan we were about to cover till Gurudwara Alamgir, near
Ludhiana. So after taking some pictures and langar we moved for
Kiratpur Sahib, 10 KM from Anandpur sahib, then again i heard some
noises from my bike chain which were going loud n loud on every KM. The
road was one way type, but the other part of the road was under
construction thats why all the traffic was moving one side of the road,
after 3 km we saw one accident of a santro who was crushed by a truck
(we came to know later that whole family belongs to jalandhar was died
in that accident, very sorry), when i was looking at that accident,
suddenly i saw a maruti coming towards me, and at last second i turned
my bike from road. THANK GOD, while looking at accident i was about to
be hit by a maruti (Car). Thank god........................................
Any way that was not the last day of my life, so we reached at Kiratpur Sahib after 10 minuts.

History of Kiratpur Sahib:

Kiratpur Sahib was founded by the sixth Guru Sri Hargobind Sahib. Here
the seventh and eighth Gurus were born and brought up. It was here that
Guru Gobind Singh along with his followers received the sacred head of
the ninth Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur, brought from Delhi with great devotion
and respect by Bhai Jaita in 1675. The particular spot associated with
and sanctified by it, is known as Gurudwara Babangarh Sahib. The tenth

Guru took the sacred head of his father in a procession to Anandpur
Sahib for cremation. The Punjab Government has constructed a pillar
here, on which is inscribed the following quotation from Guru Gobind
Singh describing the unique martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadurji, "The
Lord (Guru Tegh Bahadur) protected their paste mark (Tilak) - and the
sacred thread. A great deed he enacted in the age of kala (darkness)".












When we were copying our pictures f rom cam to laptop, one innocent
family of nihangs came to us started looking at us and our laptop like
we were some aliens from Mars. Then later we came to know that they
thought we were TV reporters. Anyway it was very different experience.
After having some pictures then we again started our journey, this time
our destination was Gurudwara 'Parivar Vichhora'. Gurudwara Parivar
Vichhora is located on the bank of river Sarsa. It is a beautiful and
peacful place.

History:
This Gurudwara is situated on
the bank of the river Sarsa. Here Guru Gobind Singh decided to make a
brief halt for the morning religious congregation. Earlier he had
vacated fortress of Anandpur Sahib after Mughal army commander had
promised to allow them to leave the fort unmolested. But he broke the
oath taken on holy Quran and attacked the Guru on the bank of this
river. Many devoted Sikhs laid down their lives while fighting the
enemy. The Guru himself followed by devoted Sikhs, after invoking the
blessings of the Almighty, fearlessly rode the horses into the swollen
stream with sparkling swords in their hands. In the chaos two younger
sons of the Guru along with their grandmother, got separated. At this
holy spot magnificent Gurudwara Parivar Vichhora, was built by grateful
devotees of the great Guru.










we stayed here for 15-20 minuts and then we started again our journey
for Gurudwara Bhatha Sahib, Ropar, out side the Gurudwara one sikh,
asked me for a lift for Thermal Colony, he was employe of Thermal, so
in order to give that guy lift we changed our road plane we and did
some off roading near Tharmal Plant. By this time the noice of my
Bike's chain was too loud, and i knew i was in trouble, but me and
Balli then decided that we would find any machenicin Ropar, which was
15km from there. After droping that Sikh guy at outside of Tharmal
Colony's gate we moved towards Ropar, and reached Ropar awithin15
minuts. Gurudwara Bhatha Sahib is situated on Ropar-Chandigarh Road. By
that time we were feeling hungery, but we decided not to take lunch
till we reach Ludhiana. ( that was faaaaar MAN!). Well even we tried at
our level best to find any mechanic in ropar, but there was no mechenic
availble due to sunday.

History :
This Gurudwara
commemorates the visit of tenth Guru Sri Gobind Singh. There is a
fascinating story about this place. Here by the touch of the hoof of
Guru's horse the red hot brick kiln (Bhatha) instantaneously cooled
down. The then local Pathan Chief, Nihang Khan a sincere devotee of the
Guru at a great personal risk, looked after the Guru and his followers.
Gurdwara Bhatta Sahib is a historical Gurdwara where Guru Gobind Singh
came four times.











One more time we were on road, riding for Chamkaur Sahib with problem
in my bike's chain, while Balli's Star City was running smooth. It's
always good to have a new bike. The road from Ropar to Chamkaur Sahib
was new built and tarman was smooth, and what more one can ask the road
was 34km long with canal. We were really enjoying the Ride. We also saw
so many Nihang's 'TOLAS' moving towards Anadpur Sahib, on their Horses.
We also saw one truck who was fell into the Canal. 'Drink n Driving is
not a problem, actually Erath SUCKS!'.
 











Then we reached at Garhi of Chamkaur Sahib, at that time the sun was like too near the
earth.

History :


This gurdwara commemorates the spot of the bloody battle of Chamkaur.
After the attack at the river Sarsa, Guru Gobind Singh, his two eldest
sons and 40 Sikhs made it to the town of Chamkaur while being pursued
by an army of 1,000. Guru Gobind Singh and the 40 Sikhs sought shelter
in a mud-built double story house. They were attacked by the enemy on
December 22, 1705. Against these overwhelming odds, the Sikhs ventured
over in small groups to fight the enemy and bravely lay down their
lives. Thirty Seven Sikhs were martyred that day including Guru Gobind
Singhs two eldest sons as well as three of the Five Beloved Ones (the
first baptized Khalsa). Guru Gobind Singh himself was preparing for
battle and martyrdom, but the five remaining Sikhs in the fort enacted

the scene at Anandpur, where they were had the authority of Guruship
and Gobind Singh their Khalsa disciple. Quoting the Gurus words giving
them authority to issue resolutions, they ordered Guru Gobind Singh to
escape the fort at night followed by three of the five remaining Sikhs.










After having some rest outside of Gurudwara we moved towards
MaachiWara, again we were enjoying the roads, so i have learnt a great
lesson, if you really wanna enjoy the roads of punjab then plan your
trip in Govt. Election days. ( i know its a Bad Joke, but even a
reality). After some good riding, some more noise from bike chain and
with more sounds of empty stomach we reached at Maachiwara. It was more
like a small town rather than a city. We went into 2 Gururdwaras in
Maachiwara.

History :
This holy place is sanctified
by the visit of Guru Gobind Singh. After the battle of Chamkaur Sahib,
enduring hardships, he pushed his way through the thick jungles
infested with thorny bushes. After an arduous journey, he lay down on
the bare stony ground for rest in the garden of Masand Gulab Rai. Here
his pathan devotees Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan recognised him and
provided all facilities to the great Guru. From here Guru was taken in
a Palki (Palanquin) disguised as 'Uch Ka Pir'. For this purpose the
Guru put on a blue dress and so did his disciples accompanying him. The
plan they adopted, proved a total success. Only once the procession of
the Guru was intercepted by Mughal army but answer of Nabi Khan and
Ghani Khan was so convincing that no suspicion was raised by the Mughal
soldiers Thus Gurdwara Machhiwara has became a
place of pilgrimage.
upto this day people remember the two Pathan brothers Nabi Khan and
Ghani Khan with great respect as they risked their lives in serving the
Tenth Master. 























It was late afternoon when we decided to move for Ludhiana, this time
we took one shorcut for Ludhiana, we were driving fast than normal,
even though my bike's chain was crying, but we were actually dying for
food. At last we reached at ludhiana in evening, and straightway we
went to a Dhaba, and had our Lunch in full. It was evening and we had
to cover one more Gurudwara which was 20 Km away from Ludhiana, and we
were not able to drive fast due to chain prob, which was about to break
any moment, as the ''Gra-ree'' of chain hub became totaly bald, and
again no mechanic was available in a big city like Ludhiana. (people
really enjoy thier sundays without work). Anyway we moved for Gurudwara
Alamgir. By the time we reached at Alamgir the sun was saying good bye
to us. Due to sunday there was a fair in Gurudwara Alamgir.


History : After traveling through the enemy lines dressed as a Muslim
saint with Muslim brothers Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan as his guides Guru
Gobind Singh reached Alamgir village. Here Guru Gobind Singh was
presented with a horse by a devoted Sikh he met. Guru Gobind Singh
discarded his disguise and blessed Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan for their
help before bidding them a fond farewell.

    










After taking some pictures we moved back for Ludhiana, but after 2-3
km, my bike refused to move as so called chain stopped working, and we
were shocked as we were in a village 18 km from ludhiana with a broken
chain bike, and even we were faild to find any mechanic in Ludhiana,
then how can we find a mechanic in a village, we were at GOD's grace,
and i started walking with my bike. But i think some one in heaven
likes me, and suddenly i saw a local village mechinic's shop, thank
god! I immediatly went to his shop and told about my bike problem,
firstly he refused by saying the he dosn't have any chain set and
ludhiana is closed today, so he can't do anything, but later he tried
and he adjusted my chain for the LAST time and told me that it might go
for 1 km or so and might be you would be able to reach Ludhiana, and
then you can find any open shop of bike parts, if you have Luck with
you. It was very dificult decission to make but again we decided to
move ahead. And again we started our journey this time i was riding at
front and balli was riding behind me and having eye on my bike's chain.
Atlast Km on Km we reached at Ludhiana, and the chain was silent, and
again there was no mechanic or bike parts shop open in Ludhiana, but
the silence of chain was encouraging us to move ahead for Jalandhar,
around 75km. I was driving very very slow, and giving thanks to GOD on

every passing km, after 2 hours we reached at Jalandhar, and finally
saying Bye to balli outside his Home i reached at my Home.........Sweet
Home.

It was a most memorable day in my life, even my friend
balli also agrees on that, we really seen all aspect of life in a
Single day, from cold mornings to hot sunny days, from good riding to
escape from a deadly accident, from watching small accident to watching

big accident, from good smooth riding to bike chain problem, and above
all Blessing of so many Gurudwara's in a Single Day. Is this the end of
my journey? No its just a begning........watch this space for MORE.