Travel column by Murli Menon

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The Natural Wonders of India, From Haridwar to Pune, Part 1 In the weeks leading up to World Vegan Day, travel writer, author, and consultant chronicles his journey across different cities of India in part 1 of a travelogue ridden with herbivorious cuisine and picturesque scenery.

Guest Contributor

| Updated: 11th October 2021 6:49 pm IST

By Murli Menon ADVERTISEMENT CONTINUE READING BELOW

After having travelled down the Mekong from its source in Tibet through China, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to the South China Sea in 2006, it had been one of my goals since 1995 to travel down the Holy Ganges. I finally achieved my goal in 2010 through a combination of creative visualisation, ZeNLP meditation and auto‐suggestion combined with a strict vegan diet.

Regular exercise, fasting and a spiritual connection to nature helped me to create meaningful coincidences, which guided me every minute during my long and arduous journey through North India in the most severe of winters!

Having my brick Nikon and netbook with a two‐hour battery life enabled me to document my journey as it happened, thereby giving me the luxury of clicking more than 5000 high resolution pictures along the way!

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My travel plan was extensive to say the least. I planned to travel 5,000 KM across India, spanning ten states and cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad and Pune. My exact route is elucidated below: From

To

Distance

Mode

Ahmedabad

Haridwar

1208 km.

Train

Haridwar

Rishikesh

0025 km.

Taxi

Rishikesh

Kaudiyala

0042 km.

Taxi

Kaudiyala

Rishikesh

0042 km.

Raft

Rishikesh

Haridwar

0025 km.

Taxi

Haridwar

Allahabad

0725km.

Train

Allahabad

Varanasi

0130 km.

Bus

Varanasi

Allahabad

0130 km.

Bus

Allahabad

Jasidih

0586 km.

Train

Jasidih

Kolkata

0311 km.

Train

Kolkata

Canning

0050 km.

Train

Canning

Kolkata

0050 km.

Train

Kolkata

Bhubaneshwar

0439 km.

Train

Bhubaneshwar

Chilka

0094 km.

Bus

Chilka

Bhubaneshwar

0094 km.

Bus

Bhubaneshwar

Hyderabad

1150 km.

Train

Hyderabad

Srisailam

0220 km.

Bus

Srisailam

Hyderabad

0220 km.

Bus

Hyderabad

Manmad

0690 km.

Train

Manmad

Nasik

0125 km.

Taxi

Nasik

Tryambakeshwar

0025 km.

Taxi

Tryambakeshwar

Nasik

0025 km.

Taxi

Nasik

Pune

0211 km.

Taxi

Pune

Bhimashankar

0160 km.

Taxi

Bhimashankar

Pune

0160 km.

Taxi

Pune

Ahmedabad

0660 km.

Flight

Total

Distance

5664 km.

I planned to raft down the Ganges from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh while also going to the Kumbh mela in Haridwar, and travel to Kolkata through Allahabad, Varanasi, and Jasidih. From Kolkata I planned to go to the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve where the Holy Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. I would travel by boat on each destination on the banks of the river. Being a vegan, who lives on fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and vegetables, I photographed all 100 per cent vegan street food and put it on my blog for fellow vegans who want to follow in my footsteps. Being a vegan also meant surviving the harsh North Indian winter dressed in sambhalpuri kurtas, a khadi shawl, and a light synthetic jacket. I wished to explore the natural wonders at each of the destinations I stayed at and document them in my blog. I have just returned after completing my journey from Kaudiyala to Jharkhali.

Boating on the Yamuna River Some of the most relaxing moments of my journey were experienced while river rafting down the Ganges, boating at Allahabad, climbing the Chitrakoot mountain in Jasidih ﴾Jharkhand﴿, or during the sunset cruise at Jharkhali in Sunderbans, while on a speedboat on the Chilka lake in Orissa. Trekking inside the Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh was also a pleasure. I could make time to take a leisurely dip in the Ganges, Krishna and Godavari during this trip. The luxury of being able to take unlimited high resolution digital photographs, meant every sunrise and sunset was captured. Every bird during my trip was clicked and more than 4,000 high resolution pictures are safely backed up in my pen drive, two laptops and netbook.

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The journey from Ahmedabad to Haridwar was uneventful except for the beautiful sunset clicked over the hills of Mount Abu. The train was crowded with devotees proceeding to Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela so as to reach before 14th January, which was the most auspicious day to take a dip in the Holy Ganges since 1998. By a meaningful coincidence, at Haridwar station I met three young ladies, each from England, Netherlands and USA, who were seeking directions to go to Rishikesh! Soon, all four of us were in a taxi to Rishikesh. The journey took us through the outer fringes of the Rajaji National

Park, where we could sight some stump‐tailed macaques! After checking‐in at the Garhwal Mandal guest house at Rishikesh, we proceeded to Kaudiyala to complete the thrill of river rafting while returning to Rishikesh. Body surfing while hanging on to the raft in the ice‐cold waters of the river in mid‐January was a bone‐chilling experience.

Kathy, Kristen and Naomi, who were teaching English in China, were travelling to Rishikesh for a break. After returning to Rishikesh, I headed to Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela. Lakhs of pilgrims from all over India had gathered for a once in a lifetime experience. Taking a dip in the freezing waters of the Holy Ganges at 4 AM in mid‐January, reminded me of my dip at Lake Mansarovar in Tibet! However, it was a boon to my immune system as all my cells got rejuvenated after swimming in the placid waters of this mighty river. It surely is one of the most powerful experiences to discover the power of mother nature. Exploring the impromptu food stalls at the Kumbh as a food detective, searching for 100 percent vegan delicacies ﴾food which does not contain any product of animal origin or even traces of any animal product﴿ was another objective of my travels for my forthcoming book “ZeNLP‐The Power of Veganism.”

The food‐stalls at the Kumbh had idlis and dosas jostling for space with samosas, dhoklas, and theplas.

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Feasting on samosas, Photo Credit: Murli Menon The effects of the severe winter were compounded by the chilly winds and slight drizzle that seemed to pervade Rishikesh and Haridwar in January.

Warming up near community bonfires and sipping hot ginger juice ﴾as a strict vegan I do not drink tea, coffee or consume sugar due to chances of adulteration of these commodities by products of animal origin﴿. Also, I do not consume any factory manufactured food‐stuffs, sold across supermarket shelves. As a strict vegan, I avoid all foodstuffs containing caffeine, chlorine, fluorine, nicotine and iodine. I prefer to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains! I never consume solids after sunset but instead stick to water fasting! Community bonfires, are an ideal socialising venue to find out about the latest events and to know the directions to reach the hawkers who sell the most delicious street food in town.

Rafting down the rapidly flowing river from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh in the wee hours of the morning — shrouded in mist and fog and caressed by a light drizzle — was a memorable experience. The highlight of the trip was jumping

into the ice‐cold waters after reaching Rishikesh. The rush of adrenaline as one scurried to the safety of the shore seeking the warmth of the embers, while the body overcame its numbness after a thrill a minute rafting experience, is difficult to describe in words. A good night’s sleep under a thick cotton quilt, was enough to rejuvenate one’s aching muscles and numb fingers for the next adventure.

Sunrise from Manmand to Nashik, Photo Credit: Murli Menon The trip from Rishikesh to Haridwar was like moving with a caravan.

Thousands of pilgrims walking barefoot to reach Haridwar on January 14.

Along the way, I met peasants from Bhagalpur, Rabaris from Gujarat, Bauls from West Bengal, villagers from Andhra Pradesh, sadhus from Uttar Pradesh, and gypsies selling everything from sandalwood‐paste to vermillion. It was a “mela” in the real sense of the word! Most of the pilgrims braved the effects of the cold by sleeping outdoors. Many ingenuous devotees slept on the shores of the river to avoid the early morning rush!

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After reaching Haridwar, one wakes up at midnight to prepare for the trek to the ghats for a dip before the crowd starts to pour in. It is extremely cold and visibility is limited to the first three steps one takes. However, one trudges along the narrow path to reach the holy river before dawn and take a rejuvenating bath in the rapids as the first rays of the sun strike the earth. The most exciting part of the experience is the feeling of numbness in the fingers which makes buttoning one’s kurta an achievement in itself! At the ghats, pink‐coloured ghagras of the rabari women vied for attention with saffron Rajasthani turbans which were a striking contrast to the sadhus smeared in grey ash. It was a free for all with everyone for himself. Hawkers selling towels had a field day. I planned to travel from Haridwar to Allahabad to complete the next phase of my research on vegan Indian street food.

Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and author‐ based at Ahmedabad, India. He is the author of “ZeNLP‐Learning through stories” published by The Written Word Publications, “ZeNLP‐the power to succeed” published by Sage publications and “ZeNLP‐the power to relax” by New Dawn Press. He can be reached at zenlp@rediffmail.com ADVERTISEMENT CONTINUE READING BELOW

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travelogue October 18, 2021

The Natural Wonders of India, Being a Food Detective, Part 2

Featured News

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The Natural Wonders of India, Journey to Jasidhi, Part 3 In the weeks leading up to World Vegan Day, travel writer, author, and consultant chronicles his journey across different cities of India in part 2 of a travelogue ridden with herbivorous cuisine and picturesque scenery.

Guest Contributor

| Updated: 29th October 2021 5:09 pm IST

By Murli Menon ADVERTISEMENT CONTINUE READING BELOW

During the long bus journeys, fresh fruit was always at hand. Be it apples, bananas, chickoos, guavas or grapes. Peanuts, both roasted and boiled, was also available. A variety of local food including liti ﴾roasted sattu balls﴿, aloo dum ﴾spiced, boiled baby potatoes﴿ could also be found at the bus stations.

As I avoid eating citrus fruits as they are acidic, I gave the pineapples and oranges a miss.

The most interesting part of travelling in a train from Benares to Jasidih is the ability to get down from the train at the numerous unofficial halts, where one can go to the village well and fill your bottle with fresh water and return to the safety of the train. As the halt is unscheduled, the train waits for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Though the weather was cold and foggy and the train was running late by 24 hours, I enjoyed this part of the journey through Eastern UP and Bihar.

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One reached Jasidih station in the wee hours of the morning. The station was shrouded in mist but one managed to reach Deoghar which is the nearest town and serves as the base camp for the trek to Chitrakoot Hills. Deoghar is a quaint little town serving the most delicious puris ﴾fried in locally made groundnut oil﴿ and sabji ﴾potatoes flavoured with cumin and ginger﴿. An ideal piping hot breakfast to keep the effects of the chilly winds at bay.

The road journey from Deoghar to Chitrakoot takes 180 minutes. It takes nearly four hours to trek to the top of the hill. The tribals of Jharkhand consider the Chitrakoot Hills as sacred and venerate it as a deity. Lots of long‐ tailed macaques can be found hidden behind rocks and swinging from the tree‐tops during the slow and painful ascent to the top. However, one is in for a pleasant surprise after reaching the peak! Lots of makeshift stalls selling roasted peanuts, lightly spiced sprouts and green gram. The view from the peak of the hill is picturesque! One can get a birds’ eye view of Deogarh and the thick sal forests that surround it — interspaced with the yellow carpet of mustard flowers swaying in the breeze, on the numerous fields found at the foot of the hills.

Delectable puris in Deogarh Meditating in the small caves along the way to the peak and at the summit was a powerfully relaxing experience. Enjoying the panaromic views from the summit, reminded me of my trek to Om Parvat in Kumaon.

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The descent from the hill is through various shades of green. The sound of birds chirping and the shrill cries of the macaques break the stillness in the air.

There are a few tribal huts along the way where one can catch his/her breath, quench thirst by drinking the crystal‐clear mineral water of the several tiny streams that crises‐cross the bridle path.

The giant cliff face of the hill can be clearly seen during the long and winding trek through the thick groves. The return trip to Deogarh is a pleasant drive

through lakes, mustard fields, forest, and countryside.

The vegan food at Deogarh and Jasidih was extremely economical. The vegetables were fresh and extremely tasty. The accommodation was clean and offered value for money.

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From Jasidih, I planned to travel to Kolkata for spending a week inside the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, where the Holy Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal.

The journey from Jasidih to Howrah took nearly six hours. At Kolkata, I had the pleasure of boating on the Holy Ganges at Kalighat. I had followed the route of the Holy Ganges from its source in Gaumukh to the Sunderbans, where it merged into the ocean!

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The Natural Wonders of India, Tigers/Temples/Trains, Part 4 In the weeks leading up to World Vegan Day, travel writer, author, and consultant chronicles his journey across different cities of India in part 4 of a travelogue ridden with herbivorous cuisine and picturesque scenery.

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| Published: 1st November 2021 1:15 pm IST

Photo Credit: Murli Menon

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At Kolkata, I planned to visit Old Kolkata to try to locate vegan recipes and street food for my vegan food blog and forthcoming book. Later, I planned to reach Jharkhali village in the Sunderbans, via Canning. From Jharkhali, I planned to visit the interiors of the Sunderbans while camping overnight on a boat. It is indeed unbelievable that a pocket of tranquility exists just a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of Kolkata. The long cruise through the backwaters of Sunderbans is an ideal tonic to destress one’s body, mind and soul. As a bonus, I could also click some postcard picture like photos of the sunset at Jharkhali and Sonagali.

Photo Credit: Murli Menon Trying to spot the elusive Royal Bengal tiger at Sunderbans requires a tremendous amount of faith and patience. The wait could be a few hours, days or weeks. But stump tailed macaques and a variety of large water‐birds can be easily sighted. The mangrove forest cover is rapidly receding due to the pressures of industrialisation and unless replantation drives are carried out on a priority, one of nature’s most serene spots may become a long lost memory.

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Meditating on the roof of the rocking boat as it gently swayed in the rolling waves, on a full moon’s night when surrounded by dense forests, with the sounds of bats, crickets and owls was an endearing experience. Just the stillness of the night, the slapping sound of the waves, the soothing moonlight and the jungle sounds put me to a deep and dreamful sleep throughout our boat safari through the Sunderbans.

From the Sunderbans, I intended to travel back to Kolkata and head for Bhubaneshwar en route to the Chilka Lake, to spend a week, bird‐watching at Chilka Bird Sanctuary. From Chilka, I would be proceeding to Hyderabad en route to the Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. But, my body, mind and soul were rejuvenated with fresh energy after being bathed in the elements all through my journey from Kaudiyala to Jharkhali. I could finally get some Kerala bananas ﴾those small bananas with seeds﴿ at the villages near

Jharkhali. At one rupee per banana, it was a steal compared to the 10 Baht I paid in Thailand and 1 Ringgit, I paid in Malaysia!

The journey from Kolkata to Bhubaneshwar gives one enough time to have a good night’s sleep. I hit the pillow as soon as I boarded the train and awoke to alight at Bhubaneshwar Station in the morning. From Bhubaneshwar, I proceeded to Balugaon which is the base camp for all trips to Chilka Lake. I met the forest officials at Chilka, who arranged my visit to the core areas of the Chilka Bird Sanctuary by a speed boat. The incredible pictures clicked during this speed boat trip tells its own story.

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A speed‐boat ride on the blue mirror like surface of Chilka Lake is a hypnotising experience. One can see water as far as his/her eye can see. The

four‐hour boat ride through the sanctuary gave me an opportunity to sight the bald‐headed Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Coppersmith Barbet and several other colourful birds.

Some of the other species of birds that can be sighted during the boat cruise along Chilka include Bronze Winged Jacana, Purple Heron, Grand Coucal, Green Billed Malpuha, Great Egret, Oriental Magpie Robin, Chinese Pond Heron, Roufus Woodpecker, Whiskered Tern and Great Egret amongst numerous others.

The boat trip across Chilka Lake takes you to an ancient Kali Temple at the centre of the Lake. This temple is known as the Kalijai Temple and is a must stop for all boats crises‐crossing this giant lake. The view from the temple is spectacular.

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From Chilka, I returned to Bhubaneshwar to catch the Konark Express to Hyderabad en route to Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

The vegan delights of Bhubaneshwar were scattered around the old city and I had to painstakingly explain my objective to all the street‐side vendors.

Outside the station, a stall selling hot idlis with coconut chutney and medu‐ vadas did brisk business. I could sample some excellent vegan dishes at Jharkhali, Balugaon, and Bhubaneshwar.

The journey from Bhubaneshwar to Hyderabad was relaxing, as I started documenting my travel experience into my Netbook and also took some much‐needed rest in the train. We arrived at Secunderabad Station in the morning and almost immediately I took the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation ﴾KSRTC﴿ bus to Srisailam. The six‐hour journey from Hyderabad to Srisailam is through a long and winding road which makes its way up the Srisailam hills. The last two hours of the bus ride is through the Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Srisailam is a canopy of green overlooking the cobalt blue waters of the Krishna River. Early in the morning one can see vendors steaming idlis on the road‐side and serving it hot with coconut chutney, both wrapped in freshly cut plantain leaves. At Srisailam Town, one can see large rectangular tawa’s used to make four dosas at a time, outside the famous eating joints.

From the samosas of Rishkesh to the aloo dum of Benares through the litis of Jasidih to the Baingun bhaja of Jharkhali via the dum alu of Balugaon, I had reached the humble idlis of Srisailam town.

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Srisailam offers a plethora of activity for tourists. One can take the ropeway to the Srisailam dam and can take a leisurely cruise on the Krishna RIver. The beauty of the rapidly flowing Krishna River through the verdant Srisailam valley is balm for sore eyes.

Boating on the Krishna River is far different compared to the steady cruise at the Sunderbans. The rapidly flowing waters and large rocks strewn across the river make navigating and boating an adventurous experience.

The trip through the Srisailam Tiger Reserve offers a bird’s eye view of the flowing rapids of the Krishna River. The gleaming sunlight reflected in the crystal‐clear waters makes the river appear like a silvery rivulet snaking its way through the green valley.

From Hyderabad, I planned to travel to Tryambakeshwar via Manmad and further to Bhimashankar Hills near Pune, before flying back to Ahmedabad, directly from Pune, to complete the 5,000 KM circular journey that took me to all four corners of India.

The more one sees of the Krishna River, the more one is tempted to see it. I returned to Hyderabad in the late hours of the night and after a well‐deserved night’s rest set out to board the Kakinada‐Manmad Express to Manmad.

Taking a dip in the cold waters of the Krishna at dawn and dusk had rejuvenated me with a new energy to reach the Godavari and Narmada. In six weeks, I would be completing a round trip around India. As I have already taken a dip in the Kaliganga at Malpa, in the Indus at Leh and in the Kaveri at

Srirangapatanam, I consider myself lucky to have visited all the major rivers of India in my thirties! Of course, I have had the good fortune of river rafting the Kinabatangang and Longongong rivers in Malaysia, boating on the Mekong in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma.

In addition, I have visited Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet twice.

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The Natural Wonders of India, From Haridwar to Pune, Part 1

Monday, 11 Oct, 6.02 pm

By Murli Menon .After having travelled down the Mekong from its source in Tibet through China, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to the South China Sea in 2006, it had been one of my goals since 1995 to travel down the Holy Ganges

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https://www.siasat.com/the-natural-wonders-of-india-from-haridwar-to-pune-part-12206216/

Par Murli Menon Après avoir descendu le Mékong depuis sa source au Tibet en passant par la Chine, le Laos, le Cambodge et le Vietnam jusqu’à la mer de Chine méridionale en 2006, c’était un de mes objectifs depuis 1995 de descendre le Saint Gange. J’ai 몭nalement atteint mon objectif en 2010 grâce à une combinaison de visualisation créative, de méditation ZeNLP et d’auto-suggestion combinée à un régime végétalien strict. L’exercice régulier, le jeûne et un lien spirituel avec la nature m’ont aidé à créer des coïncidences signi몭catives, qui m’ont guidé chaque minute au cours de mon long et ardu voyage à travers l’Inde du Nord dans les hivers les plus rigoureux !

Avoir mon Nikon en brique et mon netbook avec une autonomie de deux heures m’a permis de documenter mon voyage tel qu’il s’est passé, m’o몭rant ainsi le luxe de cliquer sur plus de 5000 photos haute résolution en cours de route !

Mon plan de voyage était pour le moins vaste. J’avais prévu de parcourir 5 000 km à travers l’Inde, dans dix États et villes comme New Delhi, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad et Pune. Mon itinéraire exact est expliqué ci-dessous: De

À

Distance

Mode

Ahmedabad

Haridwar

1208 km.

Former

Haridwar

Rishikesh

0025 km.

Taxi

Rishikesh

Kaudiyala

0042 km.

Taxi

Kaudiyala

Rishikesh

0042 km.

Radeau

Rishikesh

Haridwar

0025 km.

Taxi

Haridwar

Allahabad

0725km.

Former

Allahabad

Varanasi

0130 km.

Autobus

Varanasi

Allahabad

0130 km.

Autobus

Allahabad

Jasidih

0586 km.

Former

Jasidih

Calcutta

0311 km.

Former

Calcutta

Mise en conserve

0050 km.

Former

Mise en conserve

Calcutta

0050 km.

Former

Calcutta

Bhubaneshwar

0439 km.

Former

Bhubaneshwar

Chilika

0094 km.

Autobus

Chilika

Bhubaneshwar

0094 km.

Autobus

Bhubaneshwar

Hyderabad

1150 km.

Former

Hyderabad

Srisailam

0220 km.

Autobus

Srisailam

Hyderabad

0220 km.

Autobus

Hyderabad

Fou d’homme

0690 km.

Former

Fou d’homme

Nasik

0125 km.

Taxi

Nasik

Tryambakeshwar

0025 km.

Taxi

Tryambakeshwar

Nasik

0025 km.

Taxi

Nasik

Pune

0211 km.

Taxi

Pune

Bhimashankar

0160 km.

Taxi

Bhimashankar

Pune

0160 km.

Taxi

Pune

Ahmedabad

0660 km.

Voyage en avion

Le total

Distance

5664 km.

J’avais prévu de descendre le Gange en radeau de Kaudiyala à Rishikesh tout en allant également à la Kumbh mela à Haridwar, et de me rendre à Calcutta en passant par Allahabad, Varanasi et Jasidih. De Kolkata, j’avais prévu d’aller à la réserve de tigres des Sunderbans, là où le Gange sacré rencontre le golfe du Bengale. Je voyagerais en bateau sur chaque destination sur les rives du 몭euve. Étant végétalien, qui vit de fruits, de noix, de graines, de céréales et de légumes, j’ai photographié tous les aliments de rue 100 % végétaliens et les ai mis sur mon blog pour les autres végétaliens qui veulent suivre mes traces. Être végétalien signi몭ait également survivre au rude hiver du nord de l’Inde vêtu de sambhalpuri kurtas, d’un châle khadi et d’une veste synthétique légère. Je souhaitais

explorer les merveilles naturelles de chacune des destinations où j’ai séjourné et les documenter dans mon blog. Je viens de rentrer après avoir terminé mon voyage de Kaudiyala à Jharkhali.

Navigation sur la rivière Yamuna Certains des moments les plus relaxants de mon voyage ont été vécus en rafting sur le Gange, en bateau à Allahabad, en escaladant la montagne Chitrakoot à Jasidih (Jharkhand) ou lors de la croisière au coucher du soleil à Jharkhali dans les Sunderbans, tandis que sur un hors-bord sur le lac Chilka en Orissa. Trekking à l’intérieur de la réserve de tigres de Srisailam dans l’Andhra Pradesh était également un plaisir. Je pourrais prendre le temps de me baigner tranquillement dans le Gange, Krishna et Godavari pendant ce voyage. Le luxe de pouvoir prendre des photographies numériques haute résolution illimitées, signi몭ait que chaque lever et coucher de soleil était capturé.

Chaque oiseau au cours de mon voyage a été cliqué et plus de 4 000 images haute résolution sont sauvegardées en toute sécurité dans ma clé USB, deux ordinateurs portables et un netbook.

Le voyage d’Ahmedabad à Haridwar s’est déroulé sans incident, à l’exception du magni몭que coucher de soleil sur les collines du mont Abu. Le train était bondé de 몭dèles se rendant à Haridwar pour le Kumbh Mela a몭n d’arriver avant le 14 janvier, qui était le jour le plus propice pour se baigner dans le Gange sacré depuis 1998. Par une coïncidence signi몭cative, à la gare de Haridwar, j’ai rencontré trois jeunes des dames, chacune d’Angleterre, des Pays-Bas et des États-Unis, qui cherchaient des directions pour se rendre à Rishikesh ! Bientôt, nous étions tous les quatre dans un taxi pour

Rishikesh. Le voyage nous a emmenés à travers les franges extérieures du parc national de Rajaji, où nous avons pu apercevoir des macaques à queue souche ! Après l’enregistrement à la maison d’hôtes Garhwal Mandal à Rishikesh, nous nous sommes rendus à Kaudiyala pour compléter le frisson du rafting en revenant à Rishikesh. Faire du body surf tout en s’accrochant au radeau dans les eaux glacées de la rivière à la mijanvier a été une expérience e몭rayante.

Kathy, Kristen et Naomi, qui enseignaient l’anglais en Chine, se rendaient à Rishikesh pour une pause. Après être retourné à Rishikesh, je me suis dirigé vers Haridwar pour le Kumbh Mela. Des lakhs de pèlerins de toute l’Inde s’étaient réunis pour une expérience unique. Faire un plongeon dans les eaux glaciales du Saint Gange à 4 heures du matin à la mi-janvier, m’a rappelé mon plongeon au lac Mansarovar au Tibet ! Cependant, ce fut une aubaine pour mon système immunitaire car toutes mes cellules se sont rajeunies après avoir nagé dans les eaux calmes de cette puissante rivière. C’est sûrement l’une des expériences les plus puissantes pour découvrir le pouvoir de mère nature. Explorer les stands de nourriture improvisés du Kumbh en tant que détective alimentaire, à la recherche de délices 100 % végétaliens (aliments qui ne contiennent aucun produit d’origine animale ou même des traces de produit animal) était un autre objectif de mes voyages pour mon prochain livre « ZeNLP -Le pouvoir du véganisme.

Les étals de nourriture du Kumbh avaient des idlis et des dosas se bousculant pour l’espace avec des samosas, des dhoklas et des theplas.

Festin de samoussas, Crédit photo : Murli Menon

Les e몭ets de l’hiver rigoureux ont été aggravés par les vents froids et la légère bruine qui semblaient envahir Rishikesh et Haridwar en janvier. Se réchau몭er près des feux de joie communautaires et siroter du jus de gingembre chaud (en tant que végétalien strict, je ne bois pas de thé, de café et ne consomme pas de sucre en raison des risques de falsi몭cation de ces produits par des produits d’origine animale). De plus, je ne consomme pas de produits alimentaires fabriqués en usine, vendus dans les rayons des supermarchés. En tant que végétalien strict, j’évite tous les aliments contenant de la caféine, du chlore, du 몭uor, de la nicotine et de l’iode. Je préfère manger des fruits frais, des légumes, des graines, des noix et des céréales ! Je ne consomme jamais de solides après le coucher du soleil, mais je m’en tiens plutôt au jeûne hydrique ! Les feux de joie communautaires sont un lieu de socialisation idéal pour connaître les derniers événements et connaître les directions pour rejoindre les colporteurs qui vendent la nourriture de rue la plus délicieuse de la ville.

Descendre la rivière qui coule rapidement de Kaudiyala à Rishikesh aux petites heures du matin – enveloppée de brume et de brouillard et caressée par une légère bruine – a été une expérience mémorable. Le point culminant du voyage a été de sauter dans les eaux glacées après avoir atteint Rishikesh. La montée d’adrénaline alors que l’on se précipitait vers la sécurité du rivage à la recherche de la chaleur des braises, tandis que le corps surmontait son engourdissement après un frisson d’une minute de rafting, est di몭cile à décrire avec des mots. Une bonne nuit de sommeil sous une épaisse couette en coton su몭sait à rajeunir ses muscles endoloris et ses doigts engourdis pour la prochaine aventure.

Lever du soleil de Manmand à Nashik, Crédit photo : Murli Menon Le voyage de Rishikesh à Haridwar était comme se déplacer avec une caravane. Des

milliers de pèlerins marchant pieds nus pour atteindre Haridwar le 14 janvier. En chemin, j’ai rencontré des paysans de Bhagalpur, des Rabaris du Gujarat, des Bauls du Bengale occidental, des villageois d’Andhra Pradesh, des sadhus de l’Uttar Pradesh et des gitans vendant de tout, de la pâte de santal à la vermillon. C’était une « mela » au vrai sens du terme ! La plupart des pèlerins ont bravé les e몭ets du froid en dormant dehors. De nombreux dévots naïfs dormaient sur les rives de la rivière pour éviter la cohue matinale !

Après avoir atteint Haridwar, on se réveille à minuit pour se préparer à la randonnée vers les ghats pour un plongeon avant que la foule ne commence à a몭uer. Il fait extrêmement froid et la visibilité est limitée aux trois premiers pas que l’on fait.

Cependant, on se traîne le long du chemin étroit pour atteindre la rivière sacrée avant l’aube et prendre un bain rajeunissant dans les rapides alors que les premiers rayons du soleil frappent la terre. La partie la plus excitante de l’expérience est la sensation d’engourdissement dans les doigts qui fait de boutonner sa kurta un exploit en soi ! Aux ghats, les ghagras roses des femmes rabari rivalisaient pour attirer l’attention avec des turbans safran du Rajasthan qui contrastaient de manière frappante avec les sadhus enduits de cendre grise. C’était un libre pour tous avec chacun pour soi. Les colporteurs vendant des serviettes ont eu une journée sur le terrain. J’avais prévu de voyager de Haridwar à Allahabad pour terminer la prochaine phase de mes recherches sur la cuisine de rue indienne végétalienne.

Murli Menon, est un écrivain de voyage, consultant en gestion du stress et auteur basé à Ahmedabad, en Inde. Il est l’auteur de « ZeNLP-Learning through stories » publié par The Written Word Publications, « ZeNLP-the power to success » publié par Sage publications et « ZeNLP-the power to relax » par New Dawn Press. Il est joignable au zenlp@redi몭mail.com

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Being a food detective, the natural wonders of India, Part 2 yamotoyuki

• October 18, 2021

By Murli Menon Being a food detective, it was interesting to know the ingredients in the food of Indian food stalls, which

are Rs. 10,000 chlore industry. I talked to the merchants, cooks and waiters separately on different days to reaffirm the ingredients in the food stalls. Most merchants were honest and didn’t know my purpose of asking questions, so they answered honestly. As a trained ZeNLP master, I was able to analyze their body language, eye movements, and breathing patterns and reject some ridiculous liars. Evidence of bananas is in that diet, and I’m allergic to micrograms, picograms, and even nanograms of animal foods in any food, so I was able to find the culprit from the scent of the food.

One of the biggest advantages of being a pure vegan is that it has a very sensitive sense of smell. Every apartment in a high‐rise building smells a slight gas leak with amazing accuracy. It also activates latent DNA in all cells of the body, improves digestion, increases blood flow to the palate, activates taste buds, and allows you to experience a sacred diet. Whole wheat pris ﴾fried in oil﴿ and Alsabji ﴾cooked in oil﴿ eaten in Benaras, hot steamed idli and coconut chutney eaten in Sri Sailam, steamed vegetable peach, eaten in Rishikesh, etc. Every piece of food tastes heaven or the mint coriander chutney I had in Jashidi.

Since I became a vegan in 1995, my taste buds have taken their own lives.

The various street foods sold in Khumbu were daunting. However, because I was looking for 100% pure vegan foods, I was able to ignore most of the foods, including animal foods. However, there were some small pockets that made vegan food that squeaks the lips, cooked in the traditional way. Examples of these hidden wonders can be seen in the side photo. It was rich in fruits and vegetables. There are many stalls selling fresh sweet lime juice, nimbupani ﴾lime juice﴿ sellers, almonds, walnuts, raisins and much more. I ate vegan street food only as part of my vegan food research. For most of my trips, I chose fresh fruits, walnuts and raisins. This diet is known in ZeNLP as a raw vegan diet. Staying in a tent on the banks of the sacred Ganges was an experience in itself. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I wake up to the soothing rumbling of the flowing water, and when I see the moonlit starry sky soaked in the terrible cold, my spirit is forever engraved! By meditating on the small pebbles on the carpet of the river, we were able to connect to the primitive elements.

A swim in the sacred Ganges on a solar eclipse day was a calming experience. As I walked along the riverbank to see the bright red sunset, I could feel the energy of the universe permeating into the air.

We could also see the play of the elements, as fire, water and soil played their part perfectly. Morning fog, fog and frost represented the elements of the earth, the flowing water at noon represented the elements of water without the sun, and the bright red sunset was the finale suitable for the elements of fire. The tranquility, tranquility, peace and tranquility you experience while meditating on a stone bed while watching the rapids of the river lead to the cosmos is unparalleled. I remembered trekking to Kailas Mansarobar along the banks of the Kali River, meditating on the huge stone tablets scattered along the banks of the Kali River.

During the trek from Rishikesh to Haridwar, an instant shower was my usual companion. After spending a week exploring vegan food here, I boarded the Haridwar‐Arahabad Express and embarked on a foggy journey through the Ganges Plains. Along the way, the only vegan choice was fresh or dried fruit. As a rule of thumb, you won’t eat the food offered by the Indian Railways unless you can see it being cooked in front of you. I like the fresh fruits sold by trainers who often go to trains at small stations along the way. This means going without food for hours, sometimes days. However, I’m used to fasting for three days at a stretch, so I’m not overly upset on a long train trip.

The trip from Haridwar to Prayagraj was made comfortable by the warmth of my passengers and I felt comfortable. I also learned a lot about the places I might visit to complete my book study on genuine Indian vegan food stalls! I was planning to visit Benares from Allahabad for a week. After a dip in the Ganges, including three days in Makar Sankranti, Surya Grahan and Mounia Mavasha, we arrived in Prayagraj early in the morning of Saraswati Puja’s day. A swim in the “Tribenisangum” ﴾the confluence of the Ganges, Saraswati and Yamuna rivers﴿ when the water was surrounded by thick fog was a close encounter with Mother Nature. Also, on a boat trip across the river, hundreds of wild geese were moving around a small paddle boat. The banks of Trivenisangham were not as crowded as the Haridwar and Rishikesh ghats. However, the food at the vegan food stalls in Prayagraj was as delicious as the many vegan dishes I ate at Kumbh Mela. After spending a few days in Allahabad, I went to Benaras by UPS RTC bus. I kept my eyes open and the vegan food stalls were ready for food throughout the trip!

Gently rowing through the calm waters of this translucent sea, the soothing sounds of oars moving through the water broke the silence of dawn and the chirping of wild geese. The power to deeply relax is within you, and in minutes you can enter into a deeply relaxed state by mentally visualizing this calm experience. A boat trip to Trivenisangham on a cold, foggy January morning has become one of those quiet experiences and is hidden deep inside!

Boating on the sacred Ganges in Benares is different from river rafting from Rishikesh to Kaudiyala and paddling on Trivenisangham. There are many river islands on the other side of the Benaras river.

Spending a day on one of these uninhabited islands and meditating in a natural tone was one of the highlights of the 5,000km journey across India. Boiled baby potatoes baked with Indian spices were cooked in mustard oil, so Benarasial Dam was completely vegan. With a little lime juice, mild spices, I was able to get a variety of sprouts seasoned with wild mint leaves or chopped coriander. Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad and Benares were full of fresh fruits and vegetables. The walnuts, raisins, rajma and almonds I bought at Rishikesh stood out for their excellent quality and taste! Roasted sweet potato was another streetside snack I enjoyed while traveling! The lime juice seller made my day during a long bus trip. At all destinations, including the Kaudiyala mountain stream, the Rishikesh torrent, the Haridwar, Allahabad, Benares, and Jashidi flowing water, instead of drinking pre‐packaged water, fill the water bottle with fresh water ﴾collected from natural resources﴿. rice field. ..

Benares has its own charm and brings back memories of the past. Enjoy a long walk at dawn and dusk while enjoying the cold. The icy baths of early morning and sunset energize the body with a lot of cosmic energy needed. However, before you take a leisurely cruise on the river in the afternoon, you need to be prepared to wait for the fog and fog to disappear. A day trip to the river islands, full of fresh fruits and vegetables, is an ideal way to relax while staying in Varanasi. Light the dried neem leaves and bake the vegetables on the fire to add the herbal flavor to the sweet potato.

On the other bank of the Ganges in Varanasi is a large uninhabited island. These islands are completely submerged during the monsoon and are not suitable for permanent settlement. However, it is an ideal haven for large waterfowl to find sanctuaries in the wilderness. You can cross the river in about 2 hours by long tail boat. The wide expanse of the river almost resembles a large lake or sea. Meditating on these remote islands was a sacred experience. I was planning to travel from Benares to Jashidi, Jharkhand via Allahabad. Jashidi is famous for the Citracut Mountains. I planned to trek through those hills and discover hidden caves along the way.

It took a lot of footwork to find a small restaurant on the side streets of old Benares that sells colorful and nutritious vegan food. The amazing thing that was noticed at Benares was the seller of Idli in the morning. Idli was softened like cotton and served with fresh coconut chutney seasoned with mustard seed saute. This vegan breakfast charged me with enough energy for the rest of the day.

Murli Menon is a travel writer, stress management consultant and writer based in Ahmedabad, India.

He is the author of “ZeNLP‐Learningthrough stories” published by The Written Word Publications, “ZeNLP‐The Power to Succeed” published by Sage Publishing, and “ZeNLP‐The Power to Relax” published by New Dawn Press.He can reach at zenlp@rediffmail.com https://www.siasat.com/the‐natural‐wonders‐of‐india‐being‐a‐food‐detective‐part‐2‐2210019/ Being a food detective, the natural wonders of India, Part 2

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Home  LifeStyle  The Natural Wonders of India, From Haridwar to Pune, Part 1

LIFESTYLE

The Natural Wonders Of India, From Haridwar To Pune, Part 1

By Dann Neff

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On Nov 3, 2021

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By Murli Menon After having travelled down the Mekong from its source in Tibet through China, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to the South China Sea in 2006, it had been one of my goals since 1995 to travel down the Holy Ganges. I 몭nally achieved my goal in 2010 through a combination of creative visualisation, ZeNLP meditation and auto-suggestion combined with a strict vegan diet. Regular exercise, fasting and a spiritual connection to nature helped me to create meaningful coincidences, which guided me every minute during my long and arduous journey through North India in the most severe of winters!

Having my brick Nikon and netbook with a two-hour battery life enabled me to document my journey as it happened, thereby giving me the luxury of clicking more than 5000 high resolution pictures along the way!

My travel plan was extensive to say the least. I planned to travel 5,000 KM across India, spanning ten states and cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad and Pune. My exact route is elucidated below: From

To

Distance

Mode

Ahmedabad

Haridwar

1208 km.

Train

Haridwar

Rishikesh

0025 km.

Taxi

Rishikesh

Kaudiyala

0042 km.

Taxi

Kaudiyala

Rishikesh

0042 km.

Raft

Rishikesh

Haridwar

0025 km.

Taxi

Haridwar

Allahabad

0725km.

Train

Allahabad

Varanasi

0130 km.

Bus

Varanasi

Allahabad

0130 km.

Bus

Allahabad

Jasidih

0586 km.

Train

Jasidih

Kolkata

0311 km.

Train

Kolkata

Canning

0050 km.

Train

Canning

Kolkata

0050 km.

Train

Kolkata

Bhubaneshwar

0439 km.

Train

Bhubaneshwar

Chilka

0094 km.

Bus

Chilka

Bhubaneshwar

0094 km.

Bus

Bhubaneshwar

Hyderabad

1150 km.

Train

Hyderabad

Srisailam

0220 km.

Bus

Srisailam

Hyderabad

0220 km.

Bus

Hyderabad

Manmad

0690 km.

Train

Manmad

Nasik

0125 km.

Taxi

Nasik

Tryambakeshwar

0025 km.

Taxi

Tryambakeshwar

Nasik

0025 km.

Taxi

Nasik

Pune

0211 km.

Taxi

Pune

Bhimashankar

0160 km.

Taxi

Bhimashankar

Pune

0160 km.

Taxi

Pune

Ahmedabad

0660 km.

Flight

Total

Distance

5664 km.

I planned to raft down the Ganges from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh while also going to the Kumbh mela in Haridwar, and travel to Kolkata through Allahabad, Varanasi, and Jasidih. From Kolkata I planned to go to the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve where the Holy Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. I would travel by boat on each destination on the banks of the river. Being a vegan, who lives on fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and vegetables, I photographed all 100 per cent vegan street food and put it on my blog for fellow vegans who want to follow in my footsteps. Being a vegan also meant surviving the harsh North Indian winter dressed in sambhalpuri kurtas, a khadi shawl, and a light synthetic jacket. I wished to explore the natural wonders at each of the destinations I stayed at and document them in my blog. I have just returned after completing my journey from Kaudiyala to Jharkhali.

Boating on the Yamuna River

Some of the most relaxing moments of my journey were experienced while river rafting down the Ganges, boating at Allahabad, climbing the Chitrakoot mountain in Jasidih (Jharkhand), or during the sunset cruise at Jharkhali in Sunderbans, while on a speedboat on the Chilka lake in Orissa. Trekking inside the Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh was also a pleasure. I could make time to take a leisurely dip in the Ganges, Krishna and Godavari during this trip. The luxury of being able to take unlimited high resolution digital photographs, meant every sunrise and sunset was captured. Every bird during my trip was clicked and more than 4,000 high resolution pictures are safely backed up in my pen drive, two laptops and netbook.

The journey from Ahmedabad to Haridwar was uneventful except for the beautiful sunset clicked over the hills of Mount Abu. The train was crowded with devotees proceeding to Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela so as to reach before 14th January, which was the most auspicious day to take a dip in the Holy Ganges since 1998. By a meaningful coincidence, at Haridwar station I met three young ladies, each from England, Netherlands and USA, who were seeking directions to go to Rishikesh!

Soon, all four of us were in a taxi to Rishikesh. The journey took us through the outer fringes of the Rajaji National Park, where we could sight some stump-tailed macaques! After checking-in at the

Garhwal Mandal guest house at Rishikesh, we proceeded to Kaudiyala to complete the thrill of river rafting while returning to Rishikesh. Body sur몭ng while hanging on to the raft in the ice-cold waters of the river in mid-January was a bone-chilling experience.

Kathy, Kristen and Naomi, who were teaching English in China, were travelling to Rishikesh for a break. After returning to Rishikesh, I headed to Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela. Lakhs of pilgrims from all over India had gathered for a once in a lifetime experience. Taking a dip in the freezing waters of the Holy Ganges at 4 AM in mid-January, reminded me of my dip at Lake Mansarovar in Tibet!

However, it was a boon to my immune system as all my cells got rejuvenated after swimming in the placid waters of this mighty river. It surely is one of the most powerful experiences to discover the power of mother nature. Exploring the impromptu food stalls at the Kumbh as a food detective, searching for 100 percent vegan delicacies (food which does not contain any product of animal origin or even traces of any animal product) was another objective of my travels for my forthcoming book “ZeNLP-The Power of Veganism.”

The food-stalls at the Kumbh had idlis and dosas jostling for space with samosas, dhoklas, and theplas.

Feasting on samosas, Photo Credit: Murli Menon

The effects of the severe winter were compounded by the chilly winds and slight drizzle that seemed to pervade Rishikesh and Haridwar in January. Warming up near community bon몭res and sipping hot ginger juice (as a strict vegan I do not drink tea, coffee or consume sugar due to chances of adulteration of these commodities by products of animal origin). Also, I do not consume any factory manufactured food-stuffs, sold across supermarket shelves. As a strict vegan, I avoid all foodstuffs containing caffeine, chlorine, 몭uorine, nicotine and iodine. I prefer to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains! I never consume solids after sunset but instead stick to water fasting!

Community bon몭res, are an ideal socialising venue to 몭nd out about the latest events and to know the directions to reach the hawkers who sell the most delicious street food in town.

Rafting down the rapidly 몭owing river from Kaudiyala to Rishikesh in the wee hours of the morning — shrouded in mist and fog and caressed by a light drizzle — was a memorable experience. The highlight of the trip was jumping into the ice-cold waters after reaching Rishikesh. The rush of adrenaline as one scurried to the safety of the shore seeking the warmth of the embers, while the body overcame its numbness after a thrill a minute rafting experience, is di몭cult to describe in words. A good night’s sleep under a thick cotton quilt, was enough to rejuvenate one’s aching muscles and numb 몭ngers for the next adventure.

Sunrise from Manmand to Nashik, Photo Credit: Murli Menon

The trip from Rishikesh to Haridwar was like moving with a caravan. Thousands of pilgrims walking barefoot to reach Haridwar on January 14. Along the way, I met peasants from Bhagalpur, Rabaris from Gujarat, Bauls from West Bengal, villagers from Andhra Pradesh, sadhus from Uttar Pradesh, and gypsies selling everything from sandalwood-paste to vermillion. It was a “mela” in the real sense of the word! Most of the pilgrims braved the effects of the cold by sleeping outdoors. Many ingenuous devotees slept on the shores of the river to avoid the early morning rush!

After reaching Haridwar, one wakes up at midnight to prepare for the trek to the ghats for a dip before the crowd starts to pour in. It is extremely cold and visibility is limited to the 몭rst three steps one takes. However, one trudges along the narrow path to reach the holy river before dawn and take a rejuvenating bath in the rapids as the 몭rst rays of the sun strike the earth. The most exciting part of the experience is the feeling of numbness in the 몭ngers which makes buttoning one’s kurta an achievement in itself! At the ghats, pink-coloured ghagras of the rabari women vied for attention with saffron Rajasthani turbans which were a striking contrast to the sadhus smeared in grey ash. It was a free for all with everyone for himself. Hawkers selling towels had a 몭eld day. I planned to travel from Haridwar to Allahabad to complete the next phase of my research on vegan Indian street food.

Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and author-based at Ahmedabad, India.

He is the author of “ZeNLP-Learning through stories” published by The Written Word Publications, “ZeNLP-the power to succeed” published by Sage publications and “ZeNLP-the power to relax” by New Dawn Press. He can be reached at zenlp@rediffmail.com Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.

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