#HondaWeekends:Hello Amritsar!

2.18.2015 Amritsar, Punjab, India

Every time we travel in India,it takes us through dimensions we have had missed before,a new surprise element that makes every place our home for the duration of our trip,which we choose to subconsciously compare if the past “Kulchas” were better or these are.


#Selfies on the go : Honda Mobilio #HondaWeekends Honda Hangout with Bharat,Anmol,Lakshmi and Akshay

#Punjab has been on my bucket list for long,not that this was my first time because it wasn't,I have had touch and go experience at various places in Punjab covering major sites in the past but it had always been that I wished I had somebody local who would take me around to places he/she goes than to places listed in the map.

Every trip in India begins with a choice between “The New” and “The Old World Charm” and that’s what makes travel in India exciting.Amritsar falls in the later,it never changed but every time it feels new.

Honda Weekends is an initiative by Honda Car India under a new enthusiasts program in
development known as ‘Hangout With Honda’. Honda has always been keen to know the user’s side
of the story and hence, this initiative was conceived to give enthusiasts all over India an experience
like no other.

Bearing the same thought, they organized a weekend trip to Amritsar with 4 of our best people across the blogosphere. The idea was to explore & discover what’s authentic & truly amazing about the glorious city of Punjab & areas around it - in a Honda Mobilio.

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Bangalore-Delhi-Amritsar:The Journey And Chit Chat

 Venturing on a group of 5 including the fun-hair-smiley-face Diwakar and crew on a Honda Mobilio,we felt that we have known each other for the longest time ever.Actually road trips are the best ways to break the ice,I wonder if anyone can keep mum on a road trip.Me and Lakshmi Sharath boarded the flight from Bangalore(and yes,I did sneak in the shoppers stop at Airport and bought the chilli earrings) and reached Delhi.

There are three ways to reach Amritsar - Flight(which had long transit hours in Delhi),Train(Which we found suitable for us) and Road(Which of course is a long drive).Since there was a time gap in between the plane and the train,we stopped for our first date with Punjab right in the middle of CP,Delhi at Punjabi By Nature.

 As the destination grows closer,most of us have the tendency to feel the place in our own place.Though they both are different ideologies but still... 

 So that’s exactly what was happening to us.The Galoti kebabs,the Butter chicken,The Thalis and the Lassis,we got the first mojo of travelling to Punjab.Hopping onto AC Chair Car and sharing Ghost stories built the excitement further.Well,if you haven’t tried,Ghost stories from anywhere in the world,are the deal breaker,for some reason it makes everyone closer..and closer over time.

It could be the scare factor or the rare display of story telling factor that binds us in.

 Passing through Ambala,Ludhiana and Finally Amritsar,our conversation had never stopped except the Chais and the Meals served on our Chair Car. Anmol supposedly the'preachy professor' shared his 'spy' stories and how and why he used to blog years back.We,imbibed in him the spirit to reboot and we said we would be the first followers...

Someones taking Swacch Bharat Campaign to the Chai cuppa

But finally at around quarter to 11pm we were where we were supposed to be.After having witnessed warm weather in Delhi,we expected Amritsar to be equal or a little less but it was cold.A jacket to all of us seemed the preferred choice.Somehow to me,Amritsar had very much of a Bangalore weather this time,warmer in the afternoons,mild cold by night.

How weather travels - I proudly can say I transported the weather to one of the northern parts of India. 

Amritsar : The First Glimpse


Amritsar Railway Station:Why is it,the way it is?But its nice..

 Coming back to Amritsar,Amritsar railway station is quite a different piece.It’s rather small but the structures feel like an extension of Golden Temple.In fact,at many places in Amritsar I felt the same including the Hathi Gate.It is these domes,the random gates,the golden touch,that make me wonder if it has any history attached.Not that I found any.If you know why,give me a buzz.

Painted Tricolor

Hathi Gate:I wonder how the gate got its name!

 The vehicles came as a pick up to the hotel ‘Golden Tulip’ which was located just a stones throw away from Railway station.


Amritsar:The Food,The Unusual,The Colors That Kept Us Busy

In the morning,we decided to have a quick breakfast in the city.Getting into our Brand New Sparkling White Honda Mobilio,we started for our morning food adventure and little bit this and that in between.


 So the city begins with its fascination for ‘Coke’.Well ‘Coke’ is everywhere!On the boards,on the hoardings,in fact I have had never seen or heard of Coke Chowk before Amritsar Happened and until Bharat pointed it out.

Coke Chowk

The funniest and the unusual part that I like and that makes me giggle about these small cities in India is ‘How important the trivialities of life are’.

What we consider regular in our world,is never a regular but always termed as ‘One of the best’ and sometimes the word stands true to what it claims. 

Oldest,World Famous 'Bharwan Da Dhaba'

 One such was our foodie delights in one of the oldest and famous restaurants in Amritsar called ‘Bharawan Da Dhaba’ .Aloo Kulchas with Lassi and Chole made our mouth melt in silence.Yes,when we eat yummy food,speaking and eating becomes two different entities.

Silence on the bite @ Lakshmi

Pleasure as it is called,is what it is felt.And no disturbance,I pardon,no nothing,can break our chain of solitude in silence on that bite.Teamed with oodles of butter is what makes #Amritsar such a food hub.

Pickles

And Aloo Kulcha..Need I Say more?


Actually the last time I felt in love with Amritsar was also ‘Aloo Kulchas’ near the Gurudwara,looks like my infatuation for them was never forgotten.I wish I could pack some,only if it wasn't fresh but somethings are best eaten fresh

How funny can that be 'Bade Bhai Ka Brothers Dhaba'

.I wish I could learn some recipes,how is it that every place has different Kulchas some mouth watering some not as great.How is it that Amritsar makes one of the best .‘Does it never happen that they share the recipes,has it never happened that somebody stole them”.

 Grabbing our ‘Bites’ and eating them ‘Well’ as our stomach said ‘Thank You In Loud Voice’ we headed towards Pathankot.

I said TOWARDS is because I am going to share a secret you will be amused at later.Just as we were in the city of Amritsar,it exploded with such colors of ‘small town wonder’ that it wasn't a moment our camera was in.

Sugar candy


As a pit stop on random anywhere,we watched a lady with an attitude on her husband’s bike sipping onto tea in colorful Kurti and Patiala and Dupatta,oblivious of the fact that we were quite stunned to see her from a distance.Lakshmi requested her if we can take her picture and so we did.

Tashan In Amritsar

Blushes when close

Now that the attitude was gone and changed into much subtle ‘I know you caught me unaware’ blushing face.We missed her attitude for the moment but her smile filled us with joy.Her husband smiled back at us on ‘what did we find so fascinating’ yet we thanked her and said she looked beautiful.She blushed again.

Red balloons.I just said sparkling colors,didn't I?

 Just then,a bunch of red balloons caught our view.We then got into our Mobilio and passing through alleys and paths of Amritsar ,we got into a chaos of the town just as we were getting into the state highway.Not that it mattered.

And Blue Turbans

#HondaWeekends Where we go,there we take you :)

After such bright and peppy colors,we needed a slow state of mind.A state of mind which takes us to freedom in the next post.So what are you waiting for,share your stories on how your trip to Amritsar and beyond had been fun. Would love to have all ears.

 /*This trip of mine was with Honda Car India and Thanks To Anmol and Ayesha for accompanying us and thanks to Bharat,Lakshmi and Akshay for the trip as friends.Thanks to rest of the team including Diwakar,Harmeet.Ankit,Garvit and Dablu for the 'bites' */

3 comments

  1. @Soul Indian Journeys:Thank you so much :)

    ReplyDelete
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