Instantly, al those memories came flashing and made me feel nostalgic. It reminded as to how roads used to be deserted when the greatest ever epic “Mahabharata” was telecast on Sunday mornings. It seemed that city came to standstill for that one hour every Sunday! Everyone in the family used to be glued to the television. Mom used to prepare breakfast well before time so she would not have to miss a single scene.

On Sundays, even I used to wake up early, only to catch the latest songs on Rangoli (who on earth would now wake up to listen to blaring songs from thousands of music channels). My personal favorite was Surabhi, the best show that projected India’s cultural diversity. So used to look forward to the questions asked in the end, only then we did not have access to Google Difficult to resist the urge to list a few more – Potli baba ki, Vyomkesh Bakshi, Vikram Betaal, Malgudi days, Hum Log – the list can go on..

It was not just about the quality of serials that used to be aired but also the fact that they were telecasted only once a week (most of them, if not all) unlike the K-soaps these days that are on no matter what time and day of the week it is! These days, we have news channels that cover everything from ‘who-slapped-who’ videos to ‘a cat stuck on the top floor of a building’ but NEWS. We even have reality shows that has made a mockery of the concept of arranged marriages. Also now, all the shows are available at the click of a button, courtesy YouTube, Google and many more…

Ohh… How I miss the good old Days, wish I could go back in time and re-live some of those, with no access to mobile phones, internet or the cable network. In a world, where everything was not so readily available and where we can live each moment and relish them later, as I just did …

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The story is about a young guy, aged only 24, Christopher McCandless who is fed up of the social facade and complicated relationship with his parents. He leaves for Alaska, in search of happiness and peace within himself. He abandons all his belongings, donates his money and changes his name, so as to disappear from public scrutiny. He embarks his journey, steps away from civilization and its necessary (un)pleasantries, and walks alone , into the wild……

On his journey to Alaska via Mexico, he meets a lot of influential people from whom he learns the lessons of life and ways to happiness. On reaching Alaska, he stumbles upon, what he calls – the Magic bus. For over 40 days, he braves all the hardships, hunts animals for food, maintains his journal and reads his favorites.

However, after thus struggling through a solitary existence, McCandless begins to soften and acknowledges the possibility that human relationships were more of a necessity than he had originally thought. He, then  decides to return to the civilization he had come from, only to find his route blocked by a melted river.

Although McCandless’s behaviour, may seem reckless and drastic and even evoke anger and irritation in some, it teaches a lot to us. We, as humans, need to realize that we need to strike a balance between peace-searching isolation and being a part of society. To quote McCandless “Happiness is real only when shared’”. You can be living in society and still be yourself, not succumbing to the social pressures or obligations.

Forced to live longer in isolation, what does the young spirited guy go through? Does he retreat back into his peaceful solitude? Does he face natural calamities? Is he rescued? Does he seek help? Meet help? Watch / read “Into The Wild” to find out for yourself…

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But as they say, “where there is a will…”. Some Googling for opportunities to be with nature within the city gave me the idea of  “Heritage walks” conducted by a group, “Delhi Heritage Walks(DHW)” every weekend.

That is how the Saturday morning found me thrilled, half smiling to myself,  leaving early to see Delhi in full swing. Even at the early hour, the driving was crazy and honking incessant. Me and my friends, somehow managed to reach on time.

Guided by archaeologists from the DHW, we entered the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Sprawling over 100 acres of land  this is where buildings from all periods of India’s conquer-and-build history stand. Mosques, tombs, guard towers, living quarters, and minarets – stone witnesses to the romance and hatred, bloody wars and progressive, peaceful times, poor servants and beautiful princes. Each seems to whisper to you in their own silence, tell you tales of their proud yesterday and neglected today; beckon you to understand and empathize for their uncertain future.

As we began our walk and the walk leader from DHW explained the monuments and the history behind them, I was ashamed I shunned away from history as a subject in school! Never did I know before that the rich heritage of India can be so alluring. As per one of the archaeologists, it is only here that you have remains from almost every era of Delhi’s history from the early Hindu settlements to the more recent British times.

Among the attractions were the beautiful Jamali Kamali mosque, an adjoining tomb that has beautifully preserved interior with lovely red and blue plaster work on the ceiling, the Balban’s tomb although somewhat dilapidated and a stepwell – “Gandhak-ki-Baoli” – considered to be the oldest in Delhi. As the walk came to conclude, I was left feeling hungry to know more…

So, if you too want a sneak peek into the past, take one of these heritage walks and rest assured it would be a walk to remember. Here’s where you can visit to know how to…

http://www.delhiheritagewalks.com/
OR
http://www.intach.org/pdf/DelhiHeritageWalk.pdf

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We went in a group. So it was not really an intentional soul searching pilgrimage. But that’s what I found myself doing when surrounded by the ultimate grandeur of nature. It has also built an inner irresistible urge to share my experiences with you.

I know there are other sites that give tourism related info on this and nearby places, so I’ll let them do that job. I want to share with you my journey into this land and also into my own inner being, into myself.

Every moment of my time in Ladakh is memorable. From surviving the long night @Pang at –7°C to taking the roads less traveled in Leh on our bikes, and exploring Tantric monastery by chance where we met students being taught the lessons of life. From sitting in the hotel room’s balcony at Sonamarg staring at breathtakingly beautiful mountains sipping in a hot cup of chai in the morning (Heaven-is-here experience!) to driving on risky routes always living on the edge.

The whole trip, each moment is something I won’t ever trade for other. Nine days, approx. 1600 kms. seemed to pass in a single moment. Yet the joy and the longing ache lives on…

The time we landed back at the Delhi airport,  an air of unease surrounded me, as if I had left something precious behind. As I reached home, I called up friends, family and everyone I could to share the feeling , the mesmerizing experience. I had not had enough of the trip. Not yet.

And ever since, life has not been quite the same. Next day, I kept wondering how everyone around seemed to be in a rush, running after not so important things in life and missing out on so much. The traffic jams on Noida roads after the picturesque valleys of Ladakh was definitely not a pleasing sight. The pictures of  peaceful mountains with their majestic solitude kept revolving in my mind as I made my way to office.

The workplace now seemed to be so different from what it was before. It was a mixed feeling of being back and being torn away from nature. When I told my friends how I longed to go back, how I missed the place, some called it the hangover and some said that the Ladakh air has got me. Earlier,I always preferred to follow the sleep late, wake up late regime but never knew how refreshing could it be to watch the sunrise, to listen to the birds chirping in the morning. Never did I realize how beautiful an early morning could be.

The trip has changed me and showed what I have been missing out on. People out there were so simple, so real, braving all the hardships yet being happy and contented. A stark contrast to people in the cities – always trying to be somebody else, chasing what they don’t have and not cherishing what they have.

Yes, I seem to have fallen in love… With Nature.. Maybe, my friends were right, when they said that the Ladakh air has got me. It has me bewitched. Its’ pure magic!

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