To Bhopal and Back Via Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Ellora, Ajantha, Saanchi and Bhimbetika

If ever you could call a perfect trip this was it, from the planning to the very end it went as smooth as one could ever imagine. It all started with a colleague of ours, Preeti effectionately called kutty boss, inviting us to her wedding in Bhopal (MP). Normally, we would have avoided such a long travel, but she was special and we were younger with lesser burdens, probably more contented with the smaller income and having enough time for a logn and exceptional vacation.

There were 3 of us Deepsy (Deepak V), Marky (Mark Doray) and I who were finally ready to make the long journey. Deepsy and I after a religious research planned to make this travel by train, economy being one factor, probably the biggest one too, among others. We also decided to make sure we take this opportunity to see a few places which we believed were on the way, much like saying world is round and hence most of the places can be interconnected by a desired path.

Day 1: 25th January 2005 – Train to Hyderabad
To say we are occasional drinkers will not be an exaggeration, hence although uncharacteristic of us to have drink at odd hours, we met up for couple of drinks in Chunglung (I hope the name is correct) near brigade road at about 4PM, our own way of charging the batteries for the uncertainties ahead, before going to the railway station together. All the 3 of us were excited, as it was a long journey with some promising destinations and hopes of putting some great planning to a reality.


We got into the train at about 6 PM and immediately started talking to our co passengers who were from Hyderabad, about the city and tourist attractions there. Believe me when I say that no amount of surfing the net and reading the blogs will be as informative as talking to the people from the locality, their passion can not be expressed in words, we were flooded with information, what to see where and where to do what and why.


Day 2: 26th January 2005 - Hyderabad (Charminar, Golconda fort, Birla mandir)
Day 3: 27th January 2005 - Aurangabad (Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, Biwi ka Maqbara)
Day 4: 28th January 2005 - Ajanta Caves
Day 5: 29th January 2005 - Bhopal and Sanchi
Day 6: 30th January 2005 - Bhopal, Bhimbetka and Bhojpur