The cruise to the Andamans
Dec 18, 1994-Jan 7, 1995
Itinerary
Day 1: Dec 18:
Early evening: Boarded train (Himalayan Queen) to Delhi. Not very sure of where I want to go. At 10:25, reached NDLS (New Delhi Railway Station). On the way, I had decided to go to Calcutta. Went to the enquiry booth. Found that the next train (to Kharagpur... 3 hours from Calcutta) leaves in five minutes (10:35). Bought ticket on the fly (otherwise, would have had to wait till next morning) and puffed and panted to the train (on a far-off platform). Caught it just as it was about to leave the station. Phew!
Day 2: Dec 19:
On the train... vivid memory: the rolling plains around Ranchi. In late evening, passed Jamshedpur. Remember being told that this was a "dangerous circuit". The train was mostly empty. Got off at Kharagpur around midnight.
Day 3: Dec 20
The next train to Calcutta was at 6 in the morning. Remember spending the night over steaming cups of chai (Indian tea with sugar and milk). Brrr... very cold! Vividly remember the ethnic high-pitched music playing all night. Kharagpur is the longest railway platform in the world.
Day 4: Dec 21
Boarded the Harshavardhana bound for Port Blair
Day 5: Dec 22.
On the ship...
Day 6: Dec 23.
Still on the ship...
Day 7: Dec 24.
Above: With the smallest Andaman island behind me. On the back end of the ship.... Harshavardhana
On the ship till 7:30 PM, when we finally disembarked at Port Blair. The unloading took place much later, almost at 10 PM.
Day 8: Dec 25.
Around Port Blair... Cellular Jail was closed on this day for Christmas, or because it was Sunday (I forget which). As I got to know later, Giani Zail Singh, a former Indian President died on this day. Perhaps it was closed because of this. Don't remember so well.
Day 9: Dec 26.
Around Port Blair.
Above: Inside the Cellular Jail Complex...
Day 10: Dec 27.
Hopped on the Harshavardhana again, this time en route to Vishakhapatnam (Vizag).
Day 11: Dec 28.
On the high seas...
Day 12: Dec 29.
Still sailing... got off at Vishakhapatnam late at night. Bought my ticket back up to Ambala starting Jan 4.
Day 13: Dec 30.
Around Vishakhapatnam.
Day 14: Dec 31.
Boarded train for Shimliguda, the highest broad gauge railway station in India. In Aracu Valley, a tribal area. My New Year's Eve was spent here. Saw a Tamil film which I couldn't understand, but enjoyed nevertheless, as there was nothing better to do anyways.
Day 15: Jan 1.
Started for Vishakhapatnam. On the way, saw some impressive caves (forget the name)
Day 16: Jan 2.
Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh - Bhubhaneshwar, Orissa.
Day 17: Jan 3.
Bhubhaneshwar - Konarak, Orissa - Puri, Orissa
Day 18: Jan 4.
Visited the Jagannath Puri Temple. Boarded train (Purushottam Express, which follws a meandering path, and takes 50% more time than it should) for Ambala at night.
Day 19: Jan 5.
On the train...
Days 20, 21: Jan 6, 7.
On the train... reached Ambala late at night. Caught bus to Chandigarh. Reached in the wee hours of Jan 7