Another day another outing.
This time we (me, wife & two kids) decided to complete a
long outstanding trip. The location was Shegaon which is famous for the samadhi of Shri
Gajanan Maharaj.
The trip was planned for the last week of the year. i.e. from 28 to 30th Dec. We had
booked tickets on the Mumbai Amravati Exp for the 27th night and the waiting list was
85. This was on 25th Nov 2013. For the return journey we got confirmed tickets on the
Bhusaval Pune Express which leaves Bhusaval at 00.25 hrs.
Our daily task from the date of booking was to check the status.Erail.in was the regularly
visited site both on the pc and the phone. The waitlist was reducing at a very slow pace,
but we believed it would either end at RAC or confirm since we had booked Sleeper
tickets.
On D-day we checked the status almost every hour. Alas at 7 pm the status was
waitlisted. Our e-ticket would be automatically cancelled. We were browsing erail.in for
various other combinations and were prepared to do the journey by bus even if meant
changing buses.
Eureka! We managed to get tatkal tickets (the last 4 left) in 3AC on LTT-
Bhubhaneshwar exp till Bhusaval. That meant 80% of the journey comfortably. As for
the leg between Bhusaval and Shegaon we managed to get tickets in the Maharastra Exp.
Gan Gan Ganaat Bothe. It was definitely divine intervention/assistance whatever one
may say.
We left Kalyan at 1 am and reached Bhusaval by 8 am.Our connecting train was at 9.45
am. So with more than an hour to go we moved on the platform 4 for our next train.
One thing would like to share here, Bhusaval station does not have any variety in terms
of food. The dosa we ate was bland no salt and the chutney had a strange taste.
The wait for the Maharashtra Express was long than expected. The train arrived about an
hour late and we had to fight with the regulars to sit on our confirmed seats.
Reached Shegaon in about 2 hours. From there took a autorickshaw to the Shri Gajanan
Maharaj Sansthan office. Since we landed on Saturday there was a large number of people
and the prospect of getting a room was very difficult. The staff at the Sansthan Bldg No.
5 (that's the place to enquire about rooms) were very cooperative and directed us to go to
the Anand Vihar complex (2 km from Station) where the possibility of getting a room was
better.
So we waited for the sansthan bus which would take us to the complex. This is a free bus
so there was a long queue and people were hoarded in each bus to accomodate as much
as possible.
Here would like to mention, contrary to the fear we had about the climate in these parts
it was warm at Bhusaval as well as Shegaon.
So at 1 pm when we reached the Anand Vihar Complex we were welcomed by a queue of
around 50 people all waiting for the accomodation. I got into the queue and asked the
wife kids to have lunch at the Sansthan Canteen where lunch was served till 2.30.
They finished their lunch, followed by me doing the same but the queue had just moved
by some inches. The afternoon sun coupled with lack of space to sit was tough. But there
was a belief that HE would take care. That's what happened after 5 hours in the queue
we finally got a four bed room. The rate was Rs.800/ day. The good thing here is the
checkout time is 24 hrs.
Anand vihar is a huge complex with over 20 buildings. The room alloted was spacious
and most important very clean. Wife and one kid were down with severe headache which
left me and the elder one to do some exploring in and around the complex.
The food at the Sansthan canteen was wholesome but very spicy or maybe I found it very
spicy. Hence for dinner we went to restaurant outside the complex. There is another
sansthan complex by the name Anandvihar Visava which also has many rooms.
On Sunday early we went to Anand Sagar which has lot of green lawns, amusement park,
train rides etc. Also there canteens at many places in the park for the hungry. We were
there till 4 p.m and then went for the darshan of SHREE assuming that on Sunday
evening the crowd would be less.
It took us about an hour and half to finish the darshan and God's grace the queue was
continouslly moving which was helpful.
All are fatigue faded after the darshan of Shree Gajanan Maharaj. Blessed we were
indeed.
Back at our rooms, had quick dinner and off to sleep to end a hectic day.
Monday morning had breakfast at the Sansthan canteen. The menu is fixed, Upma, Poha,
Sabudhana Khichdi (Which they call sabudhana usal), idli and vada sambar. Roamed
around the complex. The saying "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" is strictly followed
here. The number of volunteers or sevaks as they are called cleaning the complex was
large and they were doing a very good job.
Checked out of rooms at around 4.30 p.m. What stunned me was the sight at the office
where two days ago I had a long wait. Today, one could walk-in directly to the counter to
get a room. This was the scenario on all week days, as confirmed by one of the staff
members. Saturdays and Sundays were the busiest days for the staff.
We put our luggage in the cloak room and headed off to Anand Sagar which just a km
from this place for the musical fountain show.
They have three shows daily which start at around 6.30. This was a well sychronised
show. It looked as if the water fountains were dancing to the music. They have an amphi
theatre where the show is held. Returned to the complex to collect our luggage after
thoroughly enjoying the show.
Time to leave. We had confirmed tickets upto Bhusaval on the Amravati Mumbai
Express. It took us to Bhusaval at round 10.30 from then it was a wait of an hour and
half for the Bhusaval Pune Express. Our AC chair coach was an old one but we were too
tired to complain. Reached Kalyan half sleepy half awake at 8 am.
A pleasant and spiritual experience to end the year. Thank God again for the fantastic
experience.
Would sum up saying "If you take a step towards HIM he takes four towards us"
Keep believing and be blessed.
GAN GAN GANAAT BOTHE
