My First India Trip-II
Bridjesh Gautam / Sanischare
Finally, we ware ready for very unorganized travel. We packed cloths, some fast food packages, some water bottles and flower, file and Kush, of course which were on the top of mums priority list. Father had his own list of stuffs. They were excited; I was confused. After all it was my responsibility to arrange travel and I had to do it because it was first test of mine: with this travel I had to prove that I am no more a child but a man responsible enough.
It was 13th July 2009. We left home for Badrinaath. We departed late to adjust bus timing from Jogbani to Patna. At 2 pm. we reached Jogbani. It is a small town in Bihar that shares boarder Biratnagar, the second largest city of Nepal. When you are in Jogbani, you will not be able to feel that you are in India because you can use Nepali currency normally and all most all the shopkeepers or businessmen speak Nepali. This small town has been a good destination for the people of Biratnagar and nearby regions to get the commodities cheaper. This is also a transit point for import of petroleum products and other things from India which are supplied in the eastern region of Nepal. Annual financial reports show that significant amount of tax has been levied by the nation from this transit point.
I had to get bus ticket to Patna and possibly arrange train reservation leaving my parents back at the bus-stop. I went to Jogbani train station. I was lucky enough have a train of Dun Express reserved from Mugulsaria to Dehradun on 18th of July. I consulted my father and arranged 5 day tour before getting train from Mugalsaria. We reached Patna the next morning but not as early as assumed.
I was surprised to find the Bus system entirely different from Nepal. One can imagine the condition in Nepal! The bus we took was full of the Nepali speaking people going to south and central India for job and higher studies. I remember one tall, dark and lanky handsome boy sitting next to me. He was almost of my age. He was speaking Hindi easily and was familiar with bus staffs. He looked typical Indian. I was amazed to learn that he speaks Nepali brilliantly and asked, in Hindi, where he learnt Nepal from. In a while, I discovered that he was a Nepali student studying engineering in Madras.
To be continued…………..
Click here to read part I