THE JOURNEY SO FAR ....1/3 IS OVER

A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT, as I complete 1/3rd of this journey today, another 23 more days and 8000 kms away ....

10 days

4200 kms done

18 Taj hotels covered

13 destinations

touched a few hundred hearts on road

Gathered support and wishes from few hundreds fellow associates from Taj Hotels..

They say, "Don't forget your journey once you reach a milestone" some thoughts..

-Proud to be working with Taj

- The spirit of Taj is in its People

- a strong and genuine Support, Enthusiasm, gratitude, Wishes, Emotions from all our fellow associates

- A strong feeling of Togetherness

- Incredible Journey through Incredible Taj Hotels to discove Incredible India

-You don't need a GPRS in India to find way, just ask someone on road with a smile and they will give information more than wjhat you get in GPRS.I have experienced it...

- The roads are amazing in India too...

- Some drives become very lonely and u want to quit. But remember the good, bad, interesting memories, moments with your family, friends, colleagues , guests and ponder over them. It will keep you going...

- keep camera battery charged, India gives you enough to shoot..

- the journey so far has been like a dream ..looking forwrad to explore the rest of India.

BANDHAVGARH TO LUCKNOW-29TH JUNE

Early morning start from mahua Kothi at 6 30 am and i was excited todrive e through the jungle since the wetaher was beautiful with slight drizzle.

we wanted to be adventurous, so we took a route throug the interiors of Madhya Pradesh for this long 500 km drive.The first 2 hour drive was breathtaking, cutting across small villages, thick forests, and since Pradeep the naturalist was travelling with me we stopped to look over every bird on our way. Heard stories about his experiences with tigers in the jungle and this was turning out to be a dream drive...

Untill we crossed M P and enetred the Maya land called Uttar pardesh. A place called Reva and the drive from Reva to Allahabad was the worst drive so far. a 90 km streatch and it took us close to 3 hours with worst road ever...Its been such a smooth ride till now so God thought of giving us some challenges..very tiring one..

If Rajasthan roads were Bread and butter, Madhya pradesh was Bread and Jam so U P roads are akuri on toast.!!!!!!!!

We reached Lucknow at 5 pm after a a long tiring 10 hours drive to be welcomed by statues of Mayawati and Kanshiram all over the place..I wonder now why the roads are bad in UP since all the "maya" has been used here...

MAHUA KOTHI, BANDHAVGARH 28TH JUNE 2 PM

Amazing Sunday...

Part B
Welcome to heaven in jungle ....Welcome to the world of getting pampered....Welcome to luxury in wilderness..welcome to smiling, friendly, knowledgable staff...Welcome to Mahua Kothi Bandhavgarh

To all my friends, guests out there..if you haven't seen this part of the world you are missing something...so next holiday you know where to go....

We reached Mahua Kothi at 1 pm after exploring Madhya Pradesh. An evening chit chat with staff at the cafeteria was very warm and the purpose behind the drive was discussed. They were visibly very enthused about it

We got a chance to go the park for safari and it was an amazing experience.The expert naturlists would tell you each and everyting about every bird, animal they spot and all you can say " Oh really"

it started raining in the evening and the whole lodge is looking gorgeous with a wave of cool breeze hitting where we are sitting right now. Don''t have words to describe this place so have loaded lot of pictures...enjoy...

Tomorrow morning would be long drive to Lucknow about 10 hours. but I am lucky that Pradeep one of the Naturlist would be accompanying me for my next leg of journey I have all my questions ready for him and i am gonna learn all about tigers, wild life , jungle etc. Poor him !!!!

gud nite..!

HINDUSTAN KA DIL DEKHO..M P AT ITS BEST..

Its time to see..the heart of India ..Madhya Pradesh..truly Incredible..

the drive from Panna to Bandhavgarh is amazing with endless road cutting through thick green forests, variety of wild life, National parks, water streams, ponds, ghats on the way. The pictures says it all..

I have to admit the best way to see India is by travelling on roads.

You will see the real India and its just beautiful..

PASHANGARH PANNA 28th JUNE 8 AM

What a Sunday it was .. an experience to remember ...

Part A

Early,morning departure from Khajurao was planned and we managed to leave at 7 sharp. To my surprise Biresh got me home cooked aloo paranthas for the journey and i was looking forward to a great day. Panna and Bandavgarh, 2 of Taj safari hotels was on the cards and I was looking forward to see these luxurious Taj lodges. 1 hour drive took us to Pashangarh, Panna. Arvind the resort manager showed us the place around and we had a quick round of introduction of staff . We interacted and they were excited about the drive and the journey I was taking.

I was bowled over by the warmth of the staff and the wilderness of the jungle, with oasis of luxurious living in the middle of no where. Its truly out of the world experience.... I interacted with some guests too and it was just amazing to talk to the lady who was from Mumbai and she spoke so passionately, how she loves Sea Lounge in Taj Mahal Hotel.

A very fond farewell by staff and we were off to our next destination.

KHAJURAO 27TH JUNE 1 PM

After a good nights sleep at Gwalior it was time to head for Khajurao. we knew that 275 km drive would not be like those in Rajasthan. On top of that the temperature was close to 46 degrees. 6 hours drive through Jhansi was tiring. On the way we looked at Ochha temples an important tourist destination. Mr Biresh Sharma general manager was in touch with me giving me directions and keeping a atrack on what time i would be enetering.

and then what ....an experience of a life time..I don't know whether this whole drive deserves it or not but i knew the staff and everyone in the hotel was doing everthing very passionately.

10 kms before we got a police escort, and other cars with banners on it took us thriough the city. It was a different feeling...to my surprise before the hotel I was made to sit in a bullock cart with dhol walas beating their drums. it was one hell of a welcome. It was celebration of Spirit of Taj. When I asked why all this and I get a reply this is for Taj. Let the city know what we are doing to foster harmony and peace through Taj.

A very warm interaction in the evening with staff. you could see the genuiness of staff who were happy that this whole journey is about joining Taj and in support of Taj. There was a sense of belongingness to this Taj family. People spoke their heart out and each word wwas from the heart that how they felt during 26/11.

A vist to beautiful Khajurao temples in the evening just made the day perfect. who says i was tired.

Next day would be in Jungles..would be covering Panna and Bandhavgarh around 300 kms. Looking forward to see these beautiful Taj jewels in the heartof Madhya Pradesh.

Hindustan ka dil dekho.....

USHA KIRAN PALACE - 26TH JUNE 6 PM

120 Kms from Agra and we were off to Gwalior. The sun was strong but the staff at Agra gave me lot of energy in terms of support to drive in 45 degrees. We crossed Chanbal valley on the way and some breathtaking scenic views from the car enthrawled us. The drive is good and roads not that bad. Keep looking at left or right and u might just get a picture perfect shot for your camera...

Another Palace hotel of Taj which defines luxury and warmth. Mr Vikas Yadav, General manager of the hotel addressed staff and certain media people present their. Series of messages in the message book by staff shows how they actually feel about their company and how they want to support the cause. its nice to see everyone enthused..

THE GATEWAY HOTEL AGRA 26TH JUNE 12 30 PM.

It was time to say goodbye to Rajasthan and enter the next leg of my journey. So far so good infact more than what I expected.. A fond farewel at Swai Madhopur with staff gethering again early morning to wish me good luck. Its so touching...

As we enetered Uttar Pardesh we were greeted by Fatehpur Sikri , the magnificient Fort on the outskirts of Agra. We were entering the land of Taj Mahal, a symbol of love and peace...

But the love and support we got at The Gateway Hotel Agra could match the mere existence of Taj Mahal . A warm musical welcome followed by some media interaction in the hotel. The staff was in full strength to interact and share their feelings. Mr Satish Sharma, H R manager spoke with lot of passion and the whole purpose of the rally was discussed in detail. The Staff Union representative gave me a goiod luck certificate and a message of support from all the staff. The message WE STAND TOGETHER is a hit. Associates come up with lot of encouraging words of supoport for Taj Group. The heat is on.......

SAWAI MADHOPUR LODGE-25TH JUNE 2 PM

We reached this beautiful Lodge at Sawai Madhopur after a 6 hours drive from Udaipur.But not a bit of tiredness as we saw Incredible Rajasthan on the way. Mr Hada and his ever smiling, full of warmth, staff greeted us with a hug ( the actual one). As we moved in, the guests and the staff had lots to say about this peace drive. A very emotional get together with staff in the evening where in Mr Hada touched upon what happenned during 26/11 and how it is important to spread this message of peace and togetherness. By now the message is very clear from all of us, YES WE CAN WE WILL...

Another warm gesture by staff when they wished me good luck for the journey by giving me a statue of Lord Ganesha ..with so many wishes I will....