Ayodhya adventure

Got into Bangalore Indigo flight yesterday from Lucknow. Had a sandwich from Subway. Thought of having a coffee in the flight. As flight took off, an airhostess came. I asked for coffee. She said along with some tit bits it will come to ₹200. Just wanted coffee so politely refused though I did need a coffee badly. Just had a glass of water and started dozing off. Heard someone behind . It was an air hostess standing with a coffee glass. Asked her was it ₹200 she smiled and said It is from me. Pleasantly surprised to see it was a big glass full of coffee. Thanked her for her kindness. Posting about my adventure in Ayodhya. Had told Reena of my desire to visit Aayodhya. She said she will speak to Piyush and inform. Said distance is 2 kms. She informed that I can start early morning at 6.30 on 4th as going on 5th may not be safe as I had to catch my flight at 4.50 pm that day. Since it was a night wedding on 4th it would be the best time. Since it was a night wedding on 4th it would be the best time. Got a good friend, my room mate a close friend of Reena, Chennai based but settled in Chicago. She had just completed 50. She was having an upset stomach so quietly left her sleeping and went down at 6.30 am as Piyush had said he made all arrangements and informed the cab driver. Got a good friend, my room mate a close friend of Reena, Chennai based but settled in Chicago. She had just completed 50. She was having an upset stomach so quietly let he sleeping and went down at 6.30 am as Piyush had said he made all arrangements and informed the cab driver. Getting no call from cab driver I went down to reception and found a cab waiting outside. Went towards it and asked the driver. He just nodded his head. Had read that no big bags or mobile were allowed inside temple. So had taken a small purse and left all cards including my aadhar card. I kept on asking the driver if Piyush had given all information regarding temple visit. He kept silent. I was doubtful and asked his name. He said Arif. I panicked as the driver was supposed to be Raju. So I called Piyush and asked. He said no issue Arif will take you safely. So crossed my fingers and went along. He kept talking to a person. We reached Ayodhya in exactly 2 hrs. The person he was talking to was given direction to the place where we were standing. It was basement car park. The person came and was waiting across the road. Arif helped me cross the busy road. The person called Vijay turned out to be the guide. Arif helped me cross the busy road. The person called Vijay turned out to be the guide. He asked me whether I preferred an auto or his motor bike for the journey. He said if motor bike it is easy to navigate on narrow winding roads. So I opted for the bike. Not having sat on nike for a long time, I felt a bit dizzy. Noticing it Vinay asked me to hold the back handle with one hand and to place the other hand on his shoulder. So after getting the grip, it was easy to move on the bike. The narrow paths were full of stones with ups and downs. Luckily I was able to hold on to dear life thanks to Vijay's efficient manoeuvring. He took me to all the nooks and corners of the popular temples and mahals of Ayodhya. A huge hall connected to Chaitanya had beautiful idols of Shree Ram, Seetha. Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman. He said those who wrote Jai Shree Ram on books came and deposited the copies here. Went to a river called Ramji ka padi Or something. Then went towards River Sarayu. A beautiful river where people were bathing. Vijay told me to go and immerse my feet. I felt quite afraid going down on the muddy mounds. But Vijay helped me to immerse my feet and pay obeisance. I was quite uneasy not having carried my aadhar. With hope in my heart and prayers, I went through my saved photos on mobile. After a long search I found my aadhar photo. When we drove in near temple premises, Vijay said be tter take a wheel chair for quick and easy darshan. I said I can walk. He mentioned if you walk you have to stand in queue and it may take time. You may be late in returning. When we drove in near temple premises, Vijay said be tter take a wheel chair for quick and easy darshan. I said I can walk. He mentioned if you walk you have to stand in queue and it may take time. You may be late in returning. I went to the wheel chair counter and was asked for aadhar. So showed the aadhar I had on mobile. Payment for wheel chair was to be paid to the helper. I went to the wheel chair counter and was asked for aadhar. So showed the aadhar I had on mobile. Payment for wheel chair was to be paid to the helper. I was asked to deposit my mobile at counter. The mobile was kept under livk and key and the key given to me. Vijay told me to proceed and he will be waiting near counter. There were lots of seats. I sat on the wheel chair and the helper wheeled it in full force. He was speeding leaving behind the queue on the other side. Wheel chairs had a different path. He then stopped at a place took my slippers and put both his and mine in a bag and kept in place provided. He wheeled back and again in full force went thtough temple premises with winding paths where the inside were all marble with beautiful artwork on pillars all depicting scenes from The Ramayana. He said they were all hand sculpted. Truly masterpieces. He waited for other wheel chairs to move ahead. As usual I went to my world. Good thing I came back to my senses with a jerk and right in front some feet away stood the beautiful idol of Ram Lalla. With his mesmerizing smile and kind look I was captivated. Good thing I was able to get a good darshan. The helper too had not noticed I was in my world oblivious of everything. I did get to have a darshan in time before the wheel chair was wheeled way. What surprised me no security to chase you away. One can. stay and have a good darshan. I do feel fortunate and blessed. The young helper on the long way, the route to the temple was pretty long, went on narrating incidences from The Ramayana making the journey interesting. The paths were full of monkeys. There were monkeys on trees and buildings. So it was the journey back. The fare was 150 but paid him ₹300 for keeping me entertained. Again got back on bike to get to the car park. Vijay was a really good guide narrating all instances of Ramayana whichever place we went. So thanked him and got into the cab. It was around 2pm. As I was going with Vijay in the morning, I was happy when he said he had left home without nasta. I was also hungry and also wanted to use the washroom. We came to a really decent Udipi hotel. The washroom was very neat and clean. I ordered upma and Vijay wanted poha. So after breakfast and washing it down with a cup of masala chai the journey resumed. Was back in hotel by around 4. Enough time to dress and go for the wedding rituals. Forgot to mention journey to Hanuman gali. It was crowded. So Vijay asked me to just pray from outside. As I stood praying touts came saying pay 1100 and you can get darshan in 10 mins. As I stood wondering Vijay told all cheats and not to encourage. So I got on bike and we left the place. The whole of Ayodhya roads were full of monkeys. One literally came under the wheels of a car. Baby monkeys too were all over.