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Blog Entry# 6138227
Posted: Jul 28 (01:13)
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Last Response: Sep 11 (18:38)
14 Responses
Last Response: Sep 11 (18:38)
Jul 28 (01:13) 05355/Nanpara - Mailani MG Passenger Special (UnReserved) | MLN/Mailani Junction (3 PFs)
thedemigod
thedemigod 332 blog postsEntry# 6138227 Tags Past Edits
Jul 28 2024 (19:17)
We curved out of the Katarniaghat gradually and entered the grassland, crossing the mightyGhaghra Sharda Barrage over an angrily churning Ghaghra Sharda river
Jul 28 2024 (01:45)
So So, I utilized my time researching the route and booked a ticket in current availability
I headed out for the expressway in night, somehow boarded a UPSRTC, which seemed like punch it and itwill would fall apart
Butsomehow somehow, it made it till Lucknow, from where I had to board my train
I woke up somewhere aroundColonelganj Colonelganj, and the surroundings were something out of a movie
I deboarded atGonda Gonda, and while I couldn't get the snaps I had planned, I was amazed by the rustic beauty of the erstwhile MG station
I went out to buy a ticket for the Gonda-Bahraich DEMUand and, while at it, captured the beautiful IZN YDM-4 stabled outside, looking for the first time at a an MG loco in the real world
I boarded the last vendor coach of thetrain train, and it turned out to be a good decision, decision because it was basically empty, while the rest of the train was jam-packed
The whole route converted from MGare is a site to behold, huge trees, seemingly older than time looming all over the platforms, train chugging between water filled nurseries of paddy on an overcast morning
No trace of humanity invicinity, vicinity and the chatter of vendors inside the coach
There was a person sitting beside me with a lot of cameras whom I thought to be another railfan, so I found a companion, fine
I deboarded atBahraich, Bahraich and went out to buy tickets again for Mailani
Again Again, I boarded the SLR
Coaches were clean, toiletsscrubbed scrubbed, with running water
The train lurched intomotion motion, and the coach came to life
The coach was occupied mainly by people going to their dailyworks jobs to in Risiya
Somehow, these people included me in their conversations as if Iwas were their daily co-passanger
Almkst Almost everyone deboarded at Risiya, and the passenger from Nepalgunj Nepalgunj, which usually xinged at Nanpara, crossed us at Risiya itself
Few spare coaches standing on the loop, colonial stylebuilding building, and huge Maulsree and Sal trees looming over the whole station
After an hour, the Guard waved his flag, the locowhistled whistled, and we moved further
Beforethat that, the route is like the typical northern Indian plains
The train gota decent patronage patronage, and I was surprised that everyone boarded with a valid ticket
The jungle starts gradually and takes over thesurrounding surroundings
A layer of mist surrounded thetracks tracks, and I could spot occasional Langurs, few birds birds, and a lot of brooks
The jungle itself seemed to be lost init's its own thoughts
We crossed our pairing train somewhere inside the sanctuary, coming out of the forest, crossing thesemaphores semaphores, and disappearing back into the jungle
The river had flooed thearea area, showing that ultimately ultimately, mother nature reclaims back what belongs to her
I made a few local friends on thetrain, train a person traveling solo needs someone to capture him, too
We A crossed person another traveling service solo going needs someone to Bahraich capture at him, another too, beautiful right station
If We you're crossed traveling another on service that going route, to you'll Bahraich realize at that a time yet has another stopped beautiful on station these stations somewhere in past
If you're traveling on that route, you'll realize that time has stopped on these stations somewhere in the past
Dudhwa is a combination of grasslands, tall Saltrees trees, and a lot of water bodies
Now, do you remember the first line I mentioned? I was sitting on thedoor door, and one of my slippers fell down on the ground
And there I am, watching at it left behind onthr the forest floor
Mostprobably probably, to let a bunch of animals cross the track
Retrieved my slipper, clicked a photo of thetrain train, and ran back
Now Now, looking back at that day, I realize it was pure madness
Running back in a tiger paradise, leaving my DSLR bag, food, water,charger charger, and my wallet on the train without thinking what would've happened if I missed the train
Afterthat that, the route was pretty much the same, and I dozed off
Finally Finally, I woke up near Palia and saw a bunch of keymen sitting around me
Finally Finally, an exciting journey came to an end when we reached Mailani
Exhausted by the day journey, I booked a 2AC back to Etawah in Marudhar Express and called it a day
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Etawah Junction/ETW added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Bahraich/BRK added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Lucknow Charbagh NR/LKO added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Lucknow Junction NER/LJN added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Gonda Junction/GD added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Nanpara Junction/NNP added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Mailani Junction/MLN added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Gonda - Bahraich DEMU/01767 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Marudhar Express (via Ayodhya Cantt)/14853 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Gorakhpur - Anand Vihar Terminal Weekly Express/15057 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Mailani - Gorakhpur Express/15010 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Nanpara - Mailani MG Express Special/05355 added by thedemigod/2264429
We curved out of the Katarniaghat gradually and entered the grassland, crossing the mighty
Jul 28 2024 (01:45)
I headed out for the expressway in night, somehow boarded a UPSRTC, which seemed like punch it and it
But
I woke up somewhere around
I deboarded at
I went out to buy a ticket for the Gonda-Bahraich DEMU
I boarded the last vendor coach of the
The whole route converted from MG
No trace of humanity in
There was a person sitting beside me with a lot of cameras whom I thought to be another railfan, so I found a companion, fine
I deboarded at
Coaches were clean, toilets
The train lurched into
The coach was occupied mainly by people going to their daily
Somehow, these people included me in their conversations as if I
Few spare coaches standing on the loop, colonial style
After an hour, the Guard waved his flag, the loco
Before
The train got
The jungle starts gradually and takes over the
A layer of mist surrounded the
The jungle itself seemed to be lost in
We crossed our pairing train somewhere inside the sanctuary, coming out of the forest, crossing the
The river had flooed the
I made a few local friends on the
If you're traveling on that route, you'll realize that time has stopped on these stations somewhere in the past
Dudhwa is a combination of grasslands, tall Sal
Now, do you remember the first line I mentioned? I was sitting on the
And there I am, watching at it left behind on
Most
Retrieved my slipper, clicked a photo of the
Running back in a tiger paradise, leaving my DSLR bag, food, water,
After
Exhausted by the day journey, I booked a 2AC back to Etawah in Marudhar Express and called it a day
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Etawah Junction/ETW added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Bahraich/BRK added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Lucknow Charbagh NR/LKO added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Lucknow Junction NER/LJN added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Gonda Junction/GD added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Nanpara Junction/NNP added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Station Tag: Mailani Junction/MLN added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Gonda - Bahraich DEMU/01767 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Marudhar Express (via Ayodhya Cantt)/14853 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Gorakhpur - Anand Vihar Terminal Weekly Express/15057 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Mailani - Gorakhpur Express/15010 added by thedemigod/2264429
Jul 28 2024 (01:16)
Train Tag: Nanpara - Mailani MG Express Special/05355 added by thedemigod/2264429
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Great Great Great Great Great:Great lucid writeup, keep it going. Great Great Great Great Great:Great Great Great _/\_ Great Great Great:What a write-up! truly lively _/\_:Wow! Spectacular. đđ Great
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What if I ask you, what is the most stupid thing you've done to retrieve your slippers? I made a sprint through a tiger reserve. This is the story of my journey through one of the last mainline MG routes of India.
On one fine July morning, I was feeling too overwhelmed by the things going on in my life and work. So, I did what any sane person would do, I headed out for the first location I saw on Instagram. I wanted to mysteriously disappear for a few days,...
more...
On one fine July morning, I was feeling too overwhelmed by the things going on in my life and work. So, I did what any sane person would do, I headed out for the first location I saw on Instagram. I wanted to mysteriously disappear for a few days,...
more...
but I needed someone to drop me off to the bus stop. So much for disappearing mysteriously.
It was a good day, people didn't seem to be unhealthy. So, I utilized my time researching the route and booked a ticket in current availability. The only reservation I did, or so I thought. I headed out for the expressway in night, somehow boarded a UPSRTC, which seemed like punch it and it would fall apart. But somehow, it made it till Lucknow, from where I had to board my train.
My train was the ANVT-GKP weekly, in which I was going to travel till Gonda. With side lower allotted to me in the empty coach, it was going to be a beautiful nonstop run. I woke up somewhere around Colonelganj, and the surroundings were something out of a movie. It was a misty morning, wrapped in a blue hue, with our train racing through the magestic plains of Uttar Pradesh in a fine drizzle.
I deboarded at Gonda, and while I couldn't get the snaps I had planned, I was amazed by the rustic beauty of the erstwhile MG station. I went out to buy a ticket for the Gonda-Bahraich DEMU and, while at it, captured the beautiful IZN YDM-4 stabled outside, looking for the first time at an MG loco in the real world. I boarded the last vendor coach of the train, and it turned out to be a good decision because it was basically empty, while the rest of the train was jam-packed.
The whole route converted from MG is a site to behold, huge trees, seemingly older than time looming all over the platforms, train chugging between water filled nurseries of paddy on an overcast morning. No trace of humanity in vicinity and the chatter of vendors inside the coach. We had a crossing, too, with the delayed BRK-BSB Intercity hauled by a GZB WAP-5.
There was a person sitting beside me with a lot of cameras whom I thought to be another railfan, so I found a companion, fine. I was greatly disappointed when I found out he was just a wedding photographer going to Bahraich. I deboarded at Bahraich and went out to buy tickets again for Mailani. And I was surprised to see the crowd of daily travelers. Again, I boarded the SLR. Except for the electrical components, the train was maintained well. Coaches were clean, toilets scrubbed, with running water.
The train lurched into motion, and the coach came to life. The coach was occupied mainly by people going to their daily jobs in Risiya. From nurses to policemen, shopkeepers to peons, hawkers to teachers, everyone seemed to know each other. That's the beauty of small towns. Somehow, these people included me in their conversations as if I were their daily co-passanger. And for once, I forgot about capturing the route.
Almost everyone deboarded at Risiya, and the passenger from Nepalgunj, which usually xinged at Nanpara, crossed us at Risiya itself. The jungle hadn't started yet, and we were passing through the lazy farmlands and occasional villages. Once the train halted at Nanpara, it started to drizzle. The train was completely empty now. Since the halt at Nanpara was almost an hour long, I got down to capture the train below the huge Maulsree tree and the daily life at the station.
Nanpara is the junction of Bahraich-Mailani and Nepalgunj lines. Few spare coaches standing on the loop, colonial style building, and huge Maulsree and Sal trees looming over the whole station. Vendors frying samosas and bread pakoras, while people moving on the platform bustling with activity, the station is a page taken out of Malgudi Days.
With nothing to eat, I bought those freshly made snacks. While they were delicious, they were a bit oily for my liking. After an hour, the Guard waved his flag, the loco whistled, and we moved further. The jungle starts somewhere around Mihinpurwa. Before that, the route is like the typical northern Indian plains. Farmlands stretching to the horizon and occasional plantations around the tracks. Stations are beautiful and will take you back in time. The train got decent patronage, and I was surprised that everyone boarded with a valid ticket.
After Mihinpurwa, the track runs parallel to the road for a while under the thick canopies of Sal trees in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The jungle starts gradually and takes over the surroundings. A layer of mist surrounded the tracks, and I could spot occasional Langurs, few birds, and a lot of brooks. The jungle itself seemed to be lost in its own thoughts. We crossed our pairing train somewhere inside the sanctuary, coming out of the forest, crossing the semaphores, and disappearing back into the jungle.
We curved out of the Katarniaghat gradually and entered the grassland, crossing the mighty Sharda Barrage over an angrily churning Sharda river. The river had flooed the area, showing that ultimately, mother nature reclaims back what belongs to her. I made a few local friends on the train. A person traveling solo needs someone to capture him, too, right. We crossed another service going to Bahraich at a yet another beautiful station. If you're traveling on that route, you'll realize that time has stopped on these stations somewhere in the past. It's surreal.
Unlike Katarniaghat, Dudhwa starts abruptly. You can literally see the forest approaching, with a clear demarcation between plain grasslands and high Sal trees. Dudhwa is a combination of grasslands, tall Sal trees, and a lot of water bodies. And yes, endless rows of termite mounds, some of them higher than our train, and probably older than me. Now, do you remember the first line I mentioned? I was sitting on the door, and one of my slippers fell down on the ground. And there I am, watching at it left behind on the forest floor.
But somehow, the train screeched to a halt a few meters ahead. Most probably, to let a bunch of animals cross the track. And simultaneously, I jumped out and ran, barefoot back in the jungle. Retrieved my slipper, clicked a photo of the train, and ran back. As soon as I grabbed the door handle, the train lurched into motion. Now, looking back at that day, I realize it was pure madness. Running back in a tiger paradise, leaving my DSLR bag, food, water, charger, and my wallet on the train without thinking what would've happened if I missed the train. What is a journey without such stories.
After that, the route was pretty much the same, and I dozed off. Woke up at Dudhwa and again went back to sleep. Finally, I woke up near Palia and saw a bunch of keymen sitting around me. They were talking about a tiger sighting near Dudhwa railway station. Finally, an exciting journey came to an end when we reached Mailani. There was enough time for me to capture the MG heaven of Mailani. I bought tickets for Lucknow and boarded the Mailani-Gorakhpur Express. The transition from slow, beautiful MG to EMD hauled LHB train made me realize how rapidly time has changed during these two and a half decades of my life.
Slept pretty much all the way to LJN. The 15010 needs more General coaches as there was a huge rush, whereas the AC and SL were empty. Forgot my way out of LJN to Charbagh, I still can't figure out why. I had to be rescued by my friend who coincidentally was present on the station. Exhausted by the day journey, I booked a 2AC back to Etawah in Marudhar Express and called it a day.
Experiencing the slow life away from the rush of the cities, in the heart of rural Uttar Pradesh. Exploring the jungles but in a train rather than the open jeeps. This will take you back to how life used to be just a few years back. Laid-back and simple. Thank you for reading. A few snaps from the same journey, /blog/post/6105961
Kumud.
It was a good day, people didn't seem to be unhealthy. So, I utilized my time researching the route and booked a ticket in current availability. The only reservation I did, or so I thought. I headed out for the expressway in night, somehow boarded a UPSRTC, which seemed like punch it and it would fall apart. But somehow, it made it till Lucknow, from where I had to board my train.
My train was the ANVT-GKP weekly, in which I was going to travel till Gonda. With side lower allotted to me in the empty coach, it was going to be a beautiful nonstop run. I woke up somewhere around Colonelganj, and the surroundings were something out of a movie. It was a misty morning, wrapped in a blue hue, with our train racing through the magestic plains of Uttar Pradesh in a fine drizzle.
I deboarded at Gonda, and while I couldn't get the snaps I had planned, I was amazed by the rustic beauty of the erstwhile MG station. I went out to buy a ticket for the Gonda-Bahraich DEMU and, while at it, captured the beautiful IZN YDM-4 stabled outside, looking for the first time at an MG loco in the real world. I boarded the last vendor coach of the train, and it turned out to be a good decision because it was basically empty, while the rest of the train was jam-packed.
The whole route converted from MG is a site to behold, huge trees, seemingly older than time looming all over the platforms, train chugging between water filled nurseries of paddy on an overcast morning. No trace of humanity in vicinity and the chatter of vendors inside the coach. We had a crossing, too, with the delayed BRK-BSB Intercity hauled by a GZB WAP-5.
There was a person sitting beside me with a lot of cameras whom I thought to be another railfan, so I found a companion, fine. I was greatly disappointed when I found out he was just a wedding photographer going to Bahraich. I deboarded at Bahraich and went out to buy tickets again for Mailani. And I was surprised to see the crowd of daily travelers. Again, I boarded the SLR. Except for the electrical components, the train was maintained well. Coaches were clean, toilets scrubbed, with running water.
The train lurched into motion, and the coach came to life. The coach was occupied mainly by people going to their daily jobs in Risiya. From nurses to policemen, shopkeepers to peons, hawkers to teachers, everyone seemed to know each other. That's the beauty of small towns. Somehow, these people included me in their conversations as if I were their daily co-passanger. And for once, I forgot about capturing the route.
Almost everyone deboarded at Risiya, and the passenger from Nepalgunj, which usually xinged at Nanpara, crossed us at Risiya itself. The jungle hadn't started yet, and we were passing through the lazy farmlands and occasional villages. Once the train halted at Nanpara, it started to drizzle. The train was completely empty now. Since the halt at Nanpara was almost an hour long, I got down to capture the train below the huge Maulsree tree and the daily life at the station.
Nanpara is the junction of Bahraich-Mailani and Nepalgunj lines. Few spare coaches standing on the loop, colonial style building, and huge Maulsree and Sal trees looming over the whole station. Vendors frying samosas and bread pakoras, while people moving on the platform bustling with activity, the station is a page taken out of Malgudi Days.
With nothing to eat, I bought those freshly made snacks. While they were delicious, they were a bit oily for my liking. After an hour, the Guard waved his flag, the loco whistled, and we moved further. The jungle starts somewhere around Mihinpurwa. Before that, the route is like the typical northern Indian plains. Farmlands stretching to the horizon and occasional plantations around the tracks. Stations are beautiful and will take you back in time. The train got decent patronage, and I was surprised that everyone boarded with a valid ticket.
After Mihinpurwa, the track runs parallel to the road for a while under the thick canopies of Sal trees in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The jungle starts gradually and takes over the surroundings. A layer of mist surrounded the tracks, and I could spot occasional Langurs, few birds, and a lot of brooks. The jungle itself seemed to be lost in its own thoughts. We crossed our pairing train somewhere inside the sanctuary, coming out of the forest, crossing the semaphores, and disappearing back into the jungle.
We curved out of the Katarniaghat gradually and entered the grassland, crossing the mighty Sharda Barrage over an angrily churning Sharda river. The river had flooed the area, showing that ultimately, mother nature reclaims back what belongs to her. I made a few local friends on the train. A person traveling solo needs someone to capture him, too, right. We crossed another service going to Bahraich at a yet another beautiful station. If you're traveling on that route, you'll realize that time has stopped on these stations somewhere in the past. It's surreal.
Unlike Katarniaghat, Dudhwa starts abruptly. You can literally see the forest approaching, with a clear demarcation between plain grasslands and high Sal trees. Dudhwa is a combination of grasslands, tall Sal trees, and a lot of water bodies. And yes, endless rows of termite mounds, some of them higher than our train, and probably older than me. Now, do you remember the first line I mentioned? I was sitting on the door, and one of my slippers fell down on the ground. And there I am, watching at it left behind on the forest floor.
But somehow, the train screeched to a halt a few meters ahead. Most probably, to let a bunch of animals cross the track. And simultaneously, I jumped out and ran, barefoot back in the jungle. Retrieved my slipper, clicked a photo of the train, and ran back. As soon as I grabbed the door handle, the train lurched into motion. Now, looking back at that day, I realize it was pure madness. Running back in a tiger paradise, leaving my DSLR bag, food, water, charger, and my wallet on the train without thinking what would've happened if I missed the train. What is a journey without such stories.
After that, the route was pretty much the same, and I dozed off. Woke up at Dudhwa and again went back to sleep. Finally, I woke up near Palia and saw a bunch of keymen sitting around me. They were talking about a tiger sighting near Dudhwa railway station. Finally, an exciting journey came to an end when we reached Mailani. There was enough time for me to capture the MG heaven of Mailani. I bought tickets for Lucknow and boarded the Mailani-Gorakhpur Express. The transition from slow, beautiful MG to EMD hauled LHB train made me realize how rapidly time has changed during these two and a half decades of my life.
Slept pretty much all the way to LJN. The 15010 needs more General coaches as there was a huge rush, whereas the AC and SL were empty. Forgot my way out of LJN to Charbagh, I still can't figure out why. I had to be rescued by my friend who coincidentally was present on the station. Exhausted by the day journey, I booked a 2AC back to Etawah in Marudhar Express and called it a day.
Experiencing the slow life away from the rush of the cities, in the heart of rural Uttar Pradesh. Exploring the jungles but in a train rather than the open jeeps. This will take you back to how life used to be just a few years back. Laid-back and simple. Thank you for reading. A few snaps from the same journey, /blog/post/6105961
Kumud.
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Whatâs the dumbest thing youâve done to get your slippers? I ran through a tiger reserve. This is how I rolled on one of the last main MG train routes in India.
So, one fine July morning, I was feeling all stressed about life and work. So, like any normal person, I just took off to the first place I saw on Instagram. I wanted to dip out for a few days, but I needed someone to drop me off at the bus stop. Not so mysterious after all.
It was a chill day, people seemed alright. I did some homework on the route and snagged a ticket. Thought I was all set. So, I hit the expressway at night, somehow got on a UPSRTC bus which was like on the verge of falling apart but somehow made it to Lucknow for my train.
I was on the ANVT-GKP weekly heading to Gonda. Got a side lower seat in an empty coach, so it was gonna be a nice smooth ride. Woke up around Colonelganj, and it looked straight outta a movie. Misty morning with a blue vibe, and we were cruising through the beautiful plains of Uttar Pradesh in a light drizzle.
I got off at Gonda, and even though I couldnât snap the pics I wanted, the old MG station looked cool. Went to grab a ticket for the Gonda-Bahraich DEMU and saw this sweet IZN YDM-4 chillin' outside, my first MG loco in real life. Got on the last vendor coach, and it was a smart move 'cause it was pretty empty while the rest of the train was packed.
The route was stunning, with giant trees that seemed ancient everywhere. The train chugging through paddy fields on an overcast morning, no people around, just vendors chatting inside the coach. We even crossed a delayed BRK-BSB Intercity pulled by a GZB WAP-5.
There was this dude next to me with tons of cameras, thought he was another train buff, but nah, just a wedding photographer heading to Bahraich. Got off at Bahraich, bought more tickets for Mailani and was shocked by the crowd of daily commuters. Boarded the SLR again. The train was kept nice, clean coaches with running water.
Once the train started moving, the coach lit up with people heading to jobs in Risiya. Everyone knew each otherânurses, cops, shop owners, peons, hawkers, teachersâsmall-town vibe. They pulled me into their chats like I was one of them. For a moment, I forgot about taking pics.
Most folks got off at Risiya. The train from Nepalgunj crossed us right there. The jungle hadnât started yet; we were passing through lazy farms and small villages. When we stopped at Nanpara, it began to drizzle. Now, the train was totally empty. Since the stop was long, I hopped off to snap the train under a huge Maulsree tree and check out the station life.
Nanpara's a junction for Bahraich-Mailani and Nepalgunj lines. Few spare coaches hanging out, old-style building, and giant trees around. Vendors frying up samosas and bread pakoras, busy people moving aroundâtotally felt like something out of Malgudi Days.
With no food, I bought some snacks. They were good but a bit greasy for me. After an hour, the Guard waved his flag, the engine whistled, and off we went. The jungle starts near Mihinpurwa. Before that, itâs just regular northern Indian plains, farmlands and trees lining the tracks. The train had good passengers, and crazy enough, everyone had a valid ticket.
After Mihinpurwa, the track runs alongside the road under thick Sal trees in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The jungle gradually takes over with mist on the tracks and langurs and birds popping up here and there. The forest seemed lost in its own world. We crossed another train somewhere in the sanctuary, came out of the forest, crossed signals, and went back into the trees.
We curved out of Katarniaghat and into grasslands, crossing the big Sharda Barrage over a raging river. The river had flooded, showing that nature always takes back whatâs hers. Made some local friends on the train, 'cause a solo traveler needs someone to capture the moment, right? Crossed another train heading to Bahraich at another beautiful station. If youâre on this route, youâll see time feels frozen at these spots. Itâs wild.
Unlike Katarniaghat, Dudhwa just jumps at you. You can literally see the forest coming, clear line between grasslands and tall trees. Dudhwa's all about grasslands, tall trees, and loads of water. And tons of termite mounds, some taller than our train and probably older than me. Remember how I started? I was chilling by the door when one of my slippers fell to the ground. There I was, watching it sit on the forest floor.
But the train suddenly stopped a few meters ahead, probably to let some animals cross the tracks. So, I jumped out and ran barefoot back into the jungle. Got my slipper, snapped a pic of the train, and dashed back. Just as I grabbed the door handle, the train lurched forward. Looking back, it was total madness. Running back in a tiger zone, leaving my DSLR, food, water, charger, and wallet on the train without even thinking about what would happen if I missed it. Whatâs a journey without these crazy stories?
After that, the ride was pretty standard, and I dozed off. Woke up at Dudhwa, then dozed again. Finally, woke up near Palia and was surrounded by keymen talking about a tiger sighting near Dudhwa station. The adventure wrapped up nice when we hit Mailani. Plenty of time to grab some pics of the MG paradise there. Bought tickets for Lucknow and hopped on the Mailani-Gorakhpur Express. The shift from the slow, lovely MG to the fast LHB train hit me hardâtime really flies in the last 25 years.
Slept most of the way to LJN. The 15010 needs more General coaches cause it was super packed, while the AC and SL were empty. Got lost getting outta LJN to Charbagh, no clue why. My buddy had to rescue me since he was at the station. Totally wiped out from the day, I booked a 2AC back to Etawah on the Marudhar Express and called it a wrap.
Had the slow life vibe away from city rush, chilling in rural Uttar Pradesh, checking out the jungles but from a train instead of those open jeeps. Takes you back to how life was just a few years ago. Relaxed and simple. Thanks for reading. A few pics from the same journey...
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Kya hoga agar main tumse poochun kis sabse bewakoof wali cheez ki tumne apni chappal wapis lene ke liye ki? Main ek tiger reserve ke andar sprint maara tha. Ye hai meri ek do number ki kahani, jab maine India ke ek last mainline MG route ke raaste par safar kiya.
Ek achhe July ke subah, mera zindagi aur kaam mein chakkar dekhkar mujhe bohot overwhelmed feel ho raha tha. To maine woh kiya jo kisi normal insaan ko karna chahiye, main Instagram par pehli jagah dikhai gayi uss taraf chala gaya. Maine kuch dino ke liye mysterious tareeke se ghayab hona tha, lekin mujhe kisi ko bus stop tak chhodne wala bhi chahiye tha. To gayi woh mysterious ghayab ho gaya.
Accha din tha, log unhealthy nahin dikhai de rahe the. Isliye maine apna time nikala route ko research karke aur ek ticket book kiya. Bas ek hi reservation tha mera, ya aisa lag raha tha. Raat ko main expressway ke liye nikla, kisi tarah se ek UPSRTC bus mein chad gaya, jo lag raha tha jaise bus itni weak hai ki punch karoge toot jayegi. Par kisi tarah se, voh Lucknow tak pahunch gaya, jahan se mujhe apna train pakadna tha.
Mera train tha ANVT-GKP weekly, jisme main Gonda tak safar kar raha tha. Ek khali coach mein side lower seat mil gayi thi, beautiful nonstop run hone wala tha. Main kuch dur Colonelganj ke aas paas uthta hoon, aur mahaul kuch film jaisa lag raha tha. Ek dhundhli subah thi, blue rang mein lipti hui, hamari train Uttar Pradesh ke magestic plains mein ek fine drizzle ke beech daud rahi thi.
Main Gonda par utra, aur jab main jo snaps plan kiye the, voh nahi kar paya, main voh purani MG station ki rustic beauty mein hairan ho gaya. Main bahar gaya Gonda-Bahraich DEMU ka ticket kharidne ke liye, aur vahin par, beautiful IZN YDM-4 ko capture karne ka mauka mila, asli duniya mein pehli baar ek MG loco ko dekhne ka. Maine train ka last vendor wala coach mein chadha, aur yeh nikla ek achha faisla kyunki voh practically khali tha, jabki baaki train bhari hui thi.
Pura route MG se badal gaya hai, aankhon ko behad sunder lag raha hai, bade-bade ped, jo samay se bhi purane lag rahe hai, platforms ke aas paas stand karte hue, train paddy ke bhare nurseries ke beech chalti hai ek cloudy subah. Kisi insaniyat ka pata nahi, bas vendors ke charche coach ke andar. Hamne ek crossing bhi ki, der se chal rahi BRK-BSB Intercity ko dekha jo ek GZB WAP-5 ke dwara kheecha ja raha tha.
Mere bagal mein ek shakhs baitha tha jiske paas kayi cameras the, maine socha kuch aur railfan hoga, kuch to sahi hai. Main hairan hua jab pata chala ki bas ek wedding photographer tha jo Bahraich jaa raha tha. Main Bahraich par utra aur phir maine Mailani ke liye phir se ticket kharida. Aur mujhe surprise hua dekhkar ki daily travelers kaafi zyada the. Fir se maine SLR mein chadha. Bina electrical components ke, train achhe tareeke se maintain ki gayi thi. Coaches saaf the, toilets scrubbed the, running water ke saath.
Train motion mein aayi aur coach mein jaan aa gayi. Coach mainly logon se bhara hua tha jo apne daily jobs ke liye Risiya jaa rahe the. Nurses se leke policeman, shopkeepers se leke peons, hawkers se leke teachers, sabko lag raha tha jaise sab ek doosre ko jaante hai. Yahi small towns ki khoobsurati hai. Kisi tarah se, yeh log mujhe apne conversations mein shamil kar rahe the jaise main unka daily saathi tha. Aur ek baar ke liye, main route ko capture karne ke baare mein bhool gaya.
Lagbhag sab log Risiya par utre, aur Nepalgunj se aane wale passenger, jo aksar Nanpara par rok kar hota hai, humein Risiya mein hi cross kar gaya. Jungle abhi shuru nahi hua tha, aur hum lazy farmlands aur kabhi kabhi gaonon ke beech se guzar rahe the. Jab train Nanpara par ruki, shuru ho gaya baarish. Train bilkul khali tha ab. Kyunki Nanpara ke rukne ka lagbhag ek ghanta tak samay tha, main utra train se neeche taki huge Maulsree tree ke neeche aur station par roz ki zindagi ko dhyan se dekhne ke liye.
Nanpara Bahraich-Mailani aur Nepalgunj lines ka junction hai. Kuch spare coaches jo loop par khadi thi, colonial style building, aur bade-bade Maulsree aur Sal ped station ke upar khade the. Vendors samosas aur bread pakoras talte hue, log platform par ghum rahe the, station ek purani kahani Malgudi Days ki tarah lag raha tha.
Kuch khaane layak nahi tha mere paas, to maine woh taza snacks kharide. Jitne bhi delicious the, mere swaad ke liye thode zyada oily the. Ek ghante ke baad, Guard ne apna jhanda hilaya, loco guardi ki awaaz di, aur hum aage badhne lage. Jungle kahin Mihinpurwa ke aas paas shuru hua. Usse pehle, route typical northern Indian plains ki tarah tha. Fasal ke khet lambi lambi dikhai deti thi aur occasional plantations tracks ke aas paas the. Stations sundar the aur tumhe vapis purane samay mein le jaate the. Train ko achhi public thi, aur mujhe surprise hua ki har koi valid ticket lekar utra.
Mihinpurwa ke baad, track kuch samay ke liye sadak ke saath saath daudta hai, Sal pedon ke ghane jhundon ke neeche Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary mein. Jungle dhire dhire shuru hota hai aur chaaron aur tabaadla le leta hai. Ek dhundhli parat tracks ko ghira, aur main occasional Langurs, kuch birds aur bohot saari nadiyon ko dekh sakta tha. Jungle khud aise lag raha tha jaise apne apne vichaar mein khoya hua hai. Humne hamara saathi train kahin sanctuary ke andar cross kiya, jo jungle se bahar aaya, semaphores ko cross karke jungle mein waapis gaya.
Hum Katarniaghat se dhire dhire nikal gaye aur ghass ki bhoomi mein pravesh kiya, ek gussa bhari Sharda river ke upar chal rahi Sharda Barrage ko cross kiya. Nadi ne jagah falan di thi, dikhate hue ki maa prakriti ant mein apna haq maang leti hai jo uska tha. Main ne train par kuch local dosto se dosti ki. Akela safar karne wale ko bhi capture kiya jaana chahiye na. Ek aur service ko Bahraich jaate hue dekha ek aur sundar station par. Agar tum us route par safar kar rahe ho, to pata chalega ki samay in stations par kisi purane jamane mein ruka hua hai. Yeh purani duniya wala ehsaas hai.
Katarniaghat se alag Dudhwa ekdam achanak shuru hota hai. Aap literally jungle ko aate dekh sakte ho, seedha antar hai plain grasslands aur uchch Sal pedon ke beech mein. Dudhwa ek combination hai grasslands, lambi Sal pedon, aur bohot saari jal bharan. Aur haan, beend se bharpoor termite mounds ki lagaatar panktiyan, kuch unmein train se bhi uncha aur shayad mere se bhi bade. Ab kya yaad hai pehli line jo maine zikr ki thi? Main darwaze par baitha tha aur meri ek chappal neeche gir gayi. Aur vahan main, use ek jungle ki zameen par chhodkar dekh raha tha.
Lekin kisi tarah se train kuch meter aage roki. Zyadatar to yehi vajah thi, ki track cross karne ke liye kuch janwaron ko jaane diya jaaye. Aur muc...
Ek achhe July ke subah, mera zindagi aur kaam mein chakkar dekhkar mujhe bohot overwhelmed feel ho raha tha. To maine woh kiya jo kisi normal insaan ko karna chahiye, main Instagram par pehli jagah dikhai gayi uss taraf chala gaya. Maine kuch dino ke liye mysterious tareeke se ghayab hona tha, lekin mujhe kisi ko bus stop tak chhodne wala bhi chahiye tha. To gayi woh mysterious ghayab ho gaya.
Accha din tha, log unhealthy nahin dikhai de rahe the. Isliye maine apna time nikala route ko research karke aur ek ticket book kiya. Bas ek hi reservation tha mera, ya aisa lag raha tha. Raat ko main expressway ke liye nikla, kisi tarah se ek UPSRTC bus mein chad gaya, jo lag raha tha jaise bus itni weak hai ki punch karoge toot jayegi. Par kisi tarah se, voh Lucknow tak pahunch gaya, jahan se mujhe apna train pakadna tha.
Mera train tha ANVT-GKP weekly, jisme main Gonda tak safar kar raha tha. Ek khali coach mein side lower seat mil gayi thi, beautiful nonstop run hone wala tha. Main kuch dur Colonelganj ke aas paas uthta hoon, aur mahaul kuch film jaisa lag raha tha. Ek dhundhli subah thi, blue rang mein lipti hui, hamari train Uttar Pradesh ke magestic plains mein ek fine drizzle ke beech daud rahi thi.
Main Gonda par utra, aur jab main jo snaps plan kiye the, voh nahi kar paya, main voh purani MG station ki rustic beauty mein hairan ho gaya. Main bahar gaya Gonda-Bahraich DEMU ka ticket kharidne ke liye, aur vahin par, beautiful IZN YDM-4 ko capture karne ka mauka mila, asli duniya mein pehli baar ek MG loco ko dekhne ka. Maine train ka last vendor wala coach mein chadha, aur yeh nikla ek achha faisla kyunki voh practically khali tha, jabki baaki train bhari hui thi.
Pura route MG se badal gaya hai, aankhon ko behad sunder lag raha hai, bade-bade ped, jo samay se bhi purane lag rahe hai, platforms ke aas paas stand karte hue, train paddy ke bhare nurseries ke beech chalti hai ek cloudy subah. Kisi insaniyat ka pata nahi, bas vendors ke charche coach ke andar. Hamne ek crossing bhi ki, der se chal rahi BRK-BSB Intercity ko dekha jo ek GZB WAP-5 ke dwara kheecha ja raha tha.
Mere bagal mein ek shakhs baitha tha jiske paas kayi cameras the, maine socha kuch aur railfan hoga, kuch to sahi hai. Main hairan hua jab pata chala ki bas ek wedding photographer tha jo Bahraich jaa raha tha. Main Bahraich par utra aur phir maine Mailani ke liye phir se ticket kharida. Aur mujhe surprise hua dekhkar ki daily travelers kaafi zyada the. Fir se maine SLR mein chadha. Bina electrical components ke, train achhe tareeke se maintain ki gayi thi. Coaches saaf the, toilets scrubbed the, running water ke saath.
Train motion mein aayi aur coach mein jaan aa gayi. Coach mainly logon se bhara hua tha jo apne daily jobs ke liye Risiya jaa rahe the. Nurses se leke policeman, shopkeepers se leke peons, hawkers se leke teachers, sabko lag raha tha jaise sab ek doosre ko jaante hai. Yahi small towns ki khoobsurati hai. Kisi tarah se, yeh log mujhe apne conversations mein shamil kar rahe the jaise main unka daily saathi tha. Aur ek baar ke liye, main route ko capture karne ke baare mein bhool gaya.
Lagbhag sab log Risiya par utre, aur Nepalgunj se aane wale passenger, jo aksar Nanpara par rok kar hota hai, humein Risiya mein hi cross kar gaya. Jungle abhi shuru nahi hua tha, aur hum lazy farmlands aur kabhi kabhi gaonon ke beech se guzar rahe the. Jab train Nanpara par ruki, shuru ho gaya baarish. Train bilkul khali tha ab. Kyunki Nanpara ke rukne ka lagbhag ek ghanta tak samay tha, main utra train se neeche taki huge Maulsree tree ke neeche aur station par roz ki zindagi ko dhyan se dekhne ke liye.
Nanpara Bahraich-Mailani aur Nepalgunj lines ka junction hai. Kuch spare coaches jo loop par khadi thi, colonial style building, aur bade-bade Maulsree aur Sal ped station ke upar khade the. Vendors samosas aur bread pakoras talte hue, log platform par ghum rahe the, station ek purani kahani Malgudi Days ki tarah lag raha tha.
Kuch khaane layak nahi tha mere paas, to maine woh taza snacks kharide. Jitne bhi delicious the, mere swaad ke liye thode zyada oily the. Ek ghante ke baad, Guard ne apna jhanda hilaya, loco guardi ki awaaz di, aur hum aage badhne lage. Jungle kahin Mihinpurwa ke aas paas shuru hua. Usse pehle, route typical northern Indian plains ki tarah tha. Fasal ke khet lambi lambi dikhai deti thi aur occasional plantations tracks ke aas paas the. Stations sundar the aur tumhe vapis purane samay mein le jaate the. Train ko achhi public thi, aur mujhe surprise hua ki har koi valid ticket lekar utra.
Mihinpurwa ke baad, track kuch samay ke liye sadak ke saath saath daudta hai, Sal pedon ke ghane jhundon ke neeche Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary mein. Jungle dhire dhire shuru hota hai aur chaaron aur tabaadla le leta hai. Ek dhundhli parat tracks ko ghira, aur main occasional Langurs, kuch birds aur bohot saari nadiyon ko dekh sakta tha. Jungle khud aise lag raha tha jaise apne apne vichaar mein khoya hua hai. Humne hamara saathi train kahin sanctuary ke andar cross kiya, jo jungle se bahar aaya, semaphores ko cross karke jungle mein waapis gaya.
Hum Katarniaghat se dhire dhire nikal gaye aur ghass ki bhoomi mein pravesh kiya, ek gussa bhari Sharda river ke upar chal rahi Sharda Barrage ko cross kiya. Nadi ne jagah falan di thi, dikhate hue ki maa prakriti ant mein apna haq maang leti hai jo uska tha. Main ne train par kuch local dosto se dosti ki. Akela safar karne wale ko bhi capture kiya jaana chahiye na. Ek aur service ko Bahraich jaate hue dekha ek aur sundar station par. Agar tum us route par safar kar rahe ho, to pata chalega ki samay in stations par kisi purane jamane mein ruka hua hai. Yeh purani duniya wala ehsaas hai.
Katarniaghat se alag Dudhwa ekdam achanak shuru hota hai. Aap literally jungle ko aate dekh sakte ho, seedha antar hai plain grasslands aur uchch Sal pedon ke beech mein. Dudhwa ek combination hai grasslands, lambi Sal pedon, aur bohot saari jal bharan. Aur haan, beend se bharpoor termite mounds ki lagaatar panktiyan, kuch unmein train se bhi uncha aur shayad mere se bhi bade. Ab kya yaad hai pehli line jo maine zikr ki thi? Main darwaze par baitha tha aur meri ek chappal neeche gir gayi. Aur vahan main, use ek jungle ki zameen par chhodkar dekh raha tha.
Lekin kisi tarah se train kuch meter aage roki. Zyadatar to yehi vajah thi, ki track cross karne ke liye kuch janwaron ko jaane diya jaaye. Aur muc...
12 Public Posts - Sun Jul 28, 2024
Haha very horrible decision you took, looking at the place I am thinking if somehow you have missed the train you have to walk so longer.
Follow my post when I travelled last in MG train
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Follow my post when I travelled last in MG train
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1 Public Posts - Wed Sep 11, 2024