Valkimachan: An offbeat destination

 

The ongoing pandemic has taken its toll on everyone's life. Its never ending effect on human life has made it an intolerable proposition to deal with. Waves after waves of the pandemic are toiling with our lives like a ship in a stormy water. While many have succumbed under the pressure, others with their strong determination have given us a ray of hope. A brighter tomorrow awaits, only if one can survive this claustrophobic situation.

In this prevailing scenario travelling is indeed a luxury but as I have mentioned in my earlier blogs that travelling acts like a panacea to me and that I cannot live without. So, taking all necessary precautions we set forth to a lesser known destination in East Bardhaman this time, Valki Machan. 

Valki Machan

Initially, we planned to reach Valki Machan via car but when our mother expressed her desire to travel with us we quickly changed our plan and booked railway tickets instead. As per plan our trip commenced on 17th September, 2021. We boarded the Black Diamond Express from Howrah at around 6:15 AM and reached Mankar Station in East Bardhaman at 8:30 AM.

 

Our team to Valki Machan comprised of nine members.

 

Team Valki Machan at Mankar Station...

After reaching Mankar we headed towards Aranya Sundari the only accommodation in the area via car which cost us Rs 500/-(Rupees Five hundred) only for a Bolero(Kesto: 8926623492). Here I would like to mention that if one wishes to stay near Valki Machan, Aranya Sundari(Bankim Ghosh: 9153420133) is the only destination. There is another place where people can stay but it is nearly ten kilometres away from Valki Machan i.e., Jamuna Dighi maintained by West Bengal Government State Fisheries Department. 

Aranya Sundari, Valki Machan....

On reaching, we were served with a sumptuous breakfast comprising of Luchi, Potato Curry and Omlette. After breakfast we quickly freshened up and headed for site seen in our previously booked Bolero.

Places one can visit while staying at Valki Machan are Icchai Ghosher Deul, Shyamarupa Kali Temple, Medhas Ashram, Rahreswar Shiv Temple, Garh Jungle (Durgapur) and Kalikapur Rajbari. All these places can be completed within four hours depending upon the time one spends in each place. The car fare for visiting all these places is Rs. 2200(Rupees Two thousand two hundred) only which may vary depending upon the season and time of the visit.

Kalikapur Rajbari...

Ichhai Ghosher Deul...

While travelling to these places one thing that touched our heart is the mesmerising scenic beauty and pristine jungle surrounding the area. It's my earnest request to the State Government to properly promote these offbeat tourist destinations in West Bengal so that more and more nature lovers can explore these virgin destinations.

The district of East Bardhaman is not a popular tourist destination but a single visit to Valki Machan can have a remarkable impact on this thought process. 

Travelling in the company of those we love is home in motion....

Among the aforesaid places, one which we liked the most was our drive through the dense forest of Garh Jungle amidst heavy rainfall on our way to Shyamarupa Kali Temple and Medhas Asharam. The path is so dense that in some places even sunlight fails to penetrate. The heavy rainfall added to the thrill of the journey.

There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes....

We had our lunch in a road side Dhaba. By the time we returned our lodge in Valki Machan we were so tired from the day long exhaustion that we could barely stay awake. After freshening up we were served with evening snacks along with tea which relaxed our quenching souls. That night we went for an evening stroll through the jungle to see the famous Machan of Valki in its element.

Travel creates memories that last a lifetime....

The goal is to die with memories, not dreams....

Next day i.e on 18th September, 2021 we explored the adjacent area thoroughly and went deep inside the surrounding jungle where we discovered a beautiful rain water lake which as per the locals get surrounded by migratory birds during the winter season. For a nature lover that is nothing less than a heaven.

My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature....

We spent the day in a lackadaisical manner exploring the beauty of the nature. We clicked numerous picture and laden our souls with numerous memories.

 

The love in our family flows strong and deep, leaving us memories to treasure and keep....

That afternoon after completing our lunch we checked out from Aranya Sundari and went to visit Dogra Artisans village and Jamuna Dighi. To our disappointment Dogra village market was closed due to a local festival but the scenic beauty of Jamuna Dighi left us spell bound.

The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories....

At Dogra Village entrance....

Soon our time in Valki Machan came to an end and before we could realise our Bolero headed for the Mankar railway station. Every time a trip comes to an end my heart fills up with sadness realising that I might not return to this place ever again in my lifetime as life is too short to revisit a place again and again.

Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see....

I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you....

We boarded Black Diamond Express from Mankar at around 6:43 P.M. and reached Howrah by 9: 20 P.M. My advice to all who love to travel not just wait for the right time to travel but make travelling right for every time.

I love places that make you realise how tiny you and your problems are....

Until next time.....

(Picture Courtesy: Promita Mukherjee, Atreyee Chakraborty & Piangshuk Mukherjee)
 

New Jumping Spider named after 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble

Icius Tukarami

 A group of scientists who discovered two new species of jumping spiders from the Thane-Kalyan region named one of them after the brave police constable Tukaram Omble who lost his life in the 26/11 terror attacks. The species is called 'Icius Tukarami.'

The paper citing the discovery of the new species was published in the Russian science journal Anthropoda Selects by scientists Dhruv A. Prajapati, John Caleb, Somnath B. Kumbhar and Rajesh Sanap.

(Source: Google)

Pakhiralay: The Heart of Sunderban

The land where tiger roars......

The world is gradually trying to restore normalcy after being hit by the pandemic. No matter how difficult the situation is, life still finds its way. The new year brought new hope to our lives in terms of COVID-19 vaccination but still there is a long way to go and there is no room for complacency. So, maintaining all the necessary precautions we set forth for our short trip to Pakhiralay in the Sundarbans. I have been there twice before but never got the time to explore the place the way I wanted to, so we decided to visit there on 13th March, 2021. Through my experience I have figured out that sudden plans are far more easier to execute than long planned figured out ones. We sat for a discussion on 11th of March and set forth on 13th March.

Unexpected adventure makes for a better story...

As per plan we gathered at Garia Railway Station on 13th March, 2021 at around 5.45 AM. Our train to Canning was scheduled on 6.03 AM and without further hassle we reached Canning at 7.40 AM. This time our group comprised of myself, Piangshuk (my younger brother), Gopal and Netin. 

Team Pakhiralay...

The last time I visited Canning was in 2014 and the area has changed almost completely since then. Well built roads have replaced the murky patches and the area has also become very much congested. With the recent action plans put forward by the Govt. of West Bengal for the development of tourism in Sundarbans, the footfall has increased remarkably. People from different parts of the country have developed interest not only in tiger sighting but also on the lives of the tribal people living there. Hence, the overall development of the place as a major tourist destination is highly noticeable. Even in 2014, it used to be a very remote place with little or no resources to sustain upon. Very few people visited this part of West Bengal due to the lack of basic amenities and proper fooding and lodging facilities. The situation is completely different now. However, one has to practise his bargaining skills a lot here without which they have to pay through the nose for everything in Sundarbans.

Embrace the detours...

From Canning we boarded a magic car for Rs 40 each person which took us to Godkhali on the banks of the Matla river. In Godkhali we had our breakfast with Kochuri & Alur Torkari alongwith an omlette each and then crossed the mighty Matla river to reach Gosaba on the other side. One might be surprised to know that to cross Matla river we have to board a motor boat driven by two to three people and boarded by numerous. Even a few bikes and cycles are taken on these boats. The best part of riding these boats are that they cost per person Rs 2 even today and offer a pleasant journey across the river. On reaching the ghat of Gosaba we took a tempo traveller for Rs 25 per head. We were four people and the tempos need five people to start their journey. Needless to say after waiting for a long time we did not find any other single person going Pakhiralay. When we asked the driver the reason we didn't find any other person, he informed that the localites out there don't use any transport apart from their own bicycles. Hence, only tourists use these travellers to reach their destination. Very rarely tourists come on solo trip and that too in Sundarbans. Hence we had no option but to reserve the entire tempo by giving one fare extra to reach our destination, Pakhiralay village.

There are far better things ahead than the ones we leave behind...

After reaching Pakhiralay we started searching for a suitable abode. The driver of the Tempo helped us find one with reasonable rates matching our requirements. Hotel Apanjan. We did the necessary formalities before checking in. Here I would like to mention that being a proper tourist place and to some extent the monopoly nature of their business, majority of the staffs of the hotel are very much business minded and a little rude to say the least and one has to be a good negotiator to deal with them.

As the temperature outside was soaring high, we decided to postpone our plans until evening and enjoyed an afternoon siesta after finishing a sumptuous lunch. For lunch we had Bhetki thalis. They have meal system there & the extra dish has to be taken solo. For example, if we take a Bhetki Thali we will get Rice, Dal, Aloo Bhaji and a Veg curry as required basis and a single piece of Bhetki fish alongwith its curry for once. The prices are, not to mention, a little too high as compared to other places. In late afternoon that day, strong winds started blowing and the locals predicted an approaching storm. Pakhiralay is situated just beside the Matla river very near to the confluence of Bay of Bengal & Matla ( erstwhile the Ganga) so the intensity of the heavy winds can be easily felt. However, it didn't last long and in the evening the weather turned placid and we resumed exploring the place.

If my friends live up-to hundred years I hope to live hundred years minus one day so that I never have to leave without friends...

That night our hotel arranged for a tribal dance program for the guests who arrived on boats and we enjoyed it thoroughly. After completing our dinner we chatted for long hours reflecting on our day long activities and discussing about the following day plans. Next day, Netin and I woke up early. We went for a morning stroll when Gopal and my brother were still on the bed. The fresh morning breeze and the ambience of the place made us awestruck.

Panoramic view from our hotel...

First rays of the morning sun fills one soul with joy...

We went to a nearby market place and chatted with the locals about their daily lifestyle, experience and hardship. The humbleness of the local residents touched our heart. Soon we were joined by my brother and Gopal. There we could see many boats who had halted the night before at Pakhiralay, leaving the ghat loaded with rations and their respective tourists one by one and sailing on the river. We kept on staring at the vast expanse of the river and the small boats sailing for a distant destination for as long as we could see them. Gradually, it felt like we were the only ones left in the village. We sat on the banks of the river for a long time relishing the tranquility of the mother nature. 

Don't quit. Sometimes the things you are hoping for come at unexpected times...

Be like a river. Be open. Flow...

Here, one thing I would like to mention is that we initially planned to hire a boat and go for local tourist spots in the river but the locals informed that most of the places including the forest department's museum was closed due to the ongoing pandemic situation and moreover the small boats were charging absurd high for sailing on the river. So, we had to drop the plan altogether.

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day...

We had our breakfast at Pakhiralay and checked out from our hotel at around 12 noon. There is not much one can do in Pakhiralay but each place comes with its own beauty and it entirely depends on the observer how he relishes it. We reached Canning railway station and had our lunch before heading home.

Roads less travelled...

(Picture Courtesy: Netin Baidya & Piangshuk Mukherjee)

Quotations: Collected

Gangani: The Grand Canyon of West Bengal

 

Somewhere in Gangani...

Every new year comes with a new hope and prosperity in all our lives. It is the time when people take resolutions for a new beginning and try to discard old baggages of life. But, Alas!  Two Thousand Twenty is an exception. Like every other year this year too began with a lot of promises and hard thought resolutions but within a span of few months everything turned out to be a nightmare. The entire world came to a halt. Streets that used to be bottleneck congested with traffic & people, were left deserted. People were forced to remain locked inside the four walls and struggle for their existence. The whole world came under the detrimental effects of COVID-19 pandemic. It is true that good times give us happiness and memories but it is that one 'hard' time which teaches us a bunch of new lessons. The lesson to remain satisfied with mere subsistence. People from all spheres of life have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit us hard. To be alive and going, is the biggest gift that we have during this pandemic. When stepping out of the house was a big 'NO', travelling for sure, seemed to be a distant dream. When most of the people turned to their gadgets seeking to forget what was going on outside I was wondering when I would be able to travel again. To be out and out honest, neither am I an indoor type of person nor am I a gadget freak, instead talking to my brother, family & friends, spending quality time with them and once and for all travelling at every given opportunity are the things that bring out the best in me. Hence, lockdown hit me hard for sure!

On our way to Bankura...

Don't think too much. Just do what makes you happy.

Travelling acts like a panacea to me. To me the definition of travelling is really simple, anything that breaks my normal routine life and brings me closer to mother nature is travelling for me. I can take all the hardship for the sake of travelling. In this regard I am blessed to have a supportive family especially my brother who encourages me in every possible way. However, before words and emotions drift me to some place else I would like to share with you all the experiences of my latest trip to Gangani: The Grand Canyon of West Bengal.

Different views of Gangani captured in our cameras...

When the lock down was in full swing, one day, Gopal came to our place and expressed his frustration about the present scenario. He told me that we should go for a trip to anywhere in Bengal come what may. It needs no mention that I was also fed up with my captive life. Gopal, my brother and I after hours of brainstorming finally reached to a conclusion that we should go for a trip to Gangani in West Midnapore. To add a little spice to the journey we decided to go for a road trip. Planning a trip is something but in order to execute the same one has to go though a lot of hardship. The first obstacle we faced was convincing our respective families to allow us for the trip as they were dead against bike trips. But our earnest requests and sheer determination riped us fruits and we finally succeeded in pursuing them. The next obstacle was to schedule the trip as every other Sunday I remain engaged with my never ending competitive exams. Last but not the least was to mentally prepare ourselves for the long journey which we believed would take a lot of effort and courage to overcome such distance in our bikes. However, our inner selves urged us to overcome all the difficulties and finally our journey was fixed on 30th December, 2020. This time our team comprised of myself, Gopal, Priya (Gopal's  younger sister) and Piangshuk (my younger brother).

On 30th December, 2020 we kicked off at around 6.30 AM. I have been to many places but this was something special. I realised what freedom means. Throughout the lock down I often used to compare our situation with that of the great Nelson Mandela who had spent nearly twenty five years in captivity for the sake of his country. That used to give me a lot of strength. Anyways, the road condition was excellent and without any further trouble we reached Madhavpur in Bankura at around 12.30 PM. Madhavpur is a small village near Jaipur forest range about which I had already mentioned in one of my earlier blogs.

The soul of a country lives in its villages...

Gopal's maternal uncle's house is in Madhavpur so it became our base for Gangani. We decided to stay in Madhavpur from 30th December, 2020 to 2nd January, 2021. That day after finishing our lunch we went to the nearby Bakashini forest for an afternoon stroll.

At Bakashini Forest with Gopal's cousins 

In Madhavpur, Soumen and Tantu (Gopal's Cousins) were our constant companions. It was because of them we never felt left out throughout our stay at the village. That day we were so tired with our day long bike journey that we had an early dinner and quickly retired for the day. Next day we were welcomed by a bright sunny day. Our plan was to visit Gangani which was our primary motive to visit Madhavpur. We kicked off our bikes at around 9.30 AM. The road leading to Gangani is a memorable one. Gangani is situated 35 kms from Madhavpur and it took us less than an hour to reach our destination in West Midnapore. 

Gangani: The Grand Canyon of Bengal

Gangani was created by the river Shilabati and reminds one about the Grand Canyon of U.S.A. Gangani is situated in the outskirts of Garbeta town of West Midnapore in West Bengal. It was a memorable experience all together to witness the giant cave like structures created by the river. We spent around two hours in Gangani exploring the place thoroughly.

Ariel view of Gangani.....

I am no bird nor a billionaire...Instead I am a free human being with an independent will...

Our next destination was Resort Banalata in Bankura. Banalata is a little more than 36 Kms from Gangani. The road leading to Banalata cuts through the pristine jungle of Jaipur forest. Being a jungle lover this was the best part of the journey for me. We halted every now and then to take pictures and enjoyed the ambience of the place.

Inside Jaipur Forest...

Take a walk in the forest and smell the wild air...

We reached Banalata at around 2.30 PM and ate a sumptuous lunch. It being the New Year's eve the place was over crowded and every body was in a party mood. We spent nearly two and half hours enjoying the atmosphere of the place. 

At Banalata on the New Year's Eve...

We returned Madhavpur at around 6.30 PM when it was already dark. To ride our bikes in that pitch black darkness counting only on our headlights was an unique experience altogether. That day after having our dinner we chatted for long hours reflecting on our experiences at Gangani. Next day, i.e 1st January, 2021 when we woke up we were surprised to see that the serenity of the adjacent Bakashini Forest was disturbed by numerous loud speakers brought in by the picnic parties from the adjacent areas. As per plan we reached Bakashini to select a spot for our picnic. Beauty lies in simplicity. I have been a part of numerous picnics before but the kind of warmth and love that was provided to us by Gopal's maternal uncle's family made that picnic all the more special to us. However the loud noise created by people there turned out to be a headache. 

Unless you are at a picnic, life is no picnic...

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Bankura and before we could realize time flew by like a aeroplane & it was time to say goodbye. Here I would like to mention that this was my second visit to Gopal's maternal place but the kind of love and warmth that was showered to us by his maternal uncle and aunt was beggar description. The serenity of the place and the simplicity of the people made us feel so more connected to the place & we wish to visit the place again and again.

Our ordinary bike counting extraordinary miles....

We bid adieu to Madhavpur, kicking off our respective bikes at  12.30 PM on 2nd January, 2021 and reached Kolkata at around 7.30 PM that evening. This was one trip that we will cherish for life as it was not only a trip but an escape from the bondage of captivity. We were rejuvenated.

If you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere... 

  

(Picture Courtesy: Piangshuk Mukherjee & Priya Roy)

** Quotations: Collected