Train as seen from pulbangash metro station, New Delhi.
There is a certain nostalgia attached to train journeys. This blog is all about my childhood and trains but i am quite sure every 90s kid can relate to it.
I still remember as a kid when we had to go to a destination faraway, the preparation for the journey was more than the preparation for the destination. Packing started atleast two days back, neighbours came and made munchies so that we kids don’t go hungry on train. Cool cases were cleaned as they were the only source of clean water. Utensils were packed to eat ‘puri-aloo’. Oh god! These little things. Never understood the value at that time but at this moment, I realize how valuable those moments were.
Jumping from berth to berth along with other kids in the bogie, and ours mothers running behind us to feed us and secretly taking care that we don’t fall off as we do our stunts. Those little joys. The millenial kids are missing a lot. Ludos, champak, nandan all were packed so that we restrict our monkey instincts. The cards were packed for the adults. I was a little different. I kept an atlas with me and marked all the stations I crossed( trust me, it made my political geography really strong. Would really thank my parents for encouraging this idea).
Another special feature of these trains were they got late during the journey. They stopped anywhere anytime. A twenty four hour journey never took the time
These long journeys have also given birth to long time friendships. The people in bogie were not individuals but a big family keeping aside the distinctions caste, class, religion embarked on the same journey towards the same destination.
They would not realize the beauty of the blue snails running through lush green fields and people from the village running to have a view of it after all train journey was a luxury which not many could afford. They waving us and we waving them back. The yellow board which were in perfect contrast with the background, no matter what the vegetation of the place is.
Nagercoil junction, Tamil Nadu- the cleanest station i have been to.
One of the nearest destinations from Delhi. Visit here for Sariska wildlife sanctuary and bala kila.
Not many people know that delhi has a local train and it has these small pretty stations which are a beauty in itself.
Dholpur is a hidden treasure in rajasthan. Go here for chambal gharial sanctuary. I will blog about it soon.
Bharatpur, rajasthan famous majorly for Keoladeo national park. Have a look at this link to know more about it –Bharatpur : A bird’s place .
Delhi – My second home. 🏡
Home 🏡
I will still prefer train over a plane anyday but time, this fast moving life has snatched the pleasure of travelling in a train 😦 !
TheSvelteBird 