A Trip To Shegaon
Friday, 21. December 2007, 17:30:55
Last weekend I made a "spiritual trip" to Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj in the village-town of Shegaon. Shegaon is a small village (which is slowing turning in to a town) in the Buldhana District and approximately nine hours from Mumbai. Accompanying me on this trip were my uncle, my aunts and my wonderful and sweet little cousin Bhushan! We made the trip from Mumbai to Shegaon and back via train. The trip brought me some peace in my inner self and my mind which is usually absent in this hectic and competitive world. Other than visiting the shrine, we also made a visit to "Anand Sagar" which is amusement park. I specially loved the mini toy train ride and in the night water & light show there. I guess I should be making such trips more often. 
Here's my day to day diary of the trip...
Here's my day to day diary of the trip...
December 14,2007 2:00 PM - I have already packed my bags. I take my bags, leave my house, catch a bus and I reach my cousin's house around 3:30 PM. I spend the evening (including dinner) at his house !
December 14,2007 9:15 PM - We board a train for Shegaon from Thane station, a suburb outside Mumbai. Once the train goes beyond Kalyan we decide to hit the sack ! Its around 10 in the night and we have to get up early to make sure we are able to get down at Shegaon !!!
December 15,2007 5:30 AM - Its 5:30 in the morning ... and everyone is up. Its pretty cold outside and I was shivering a bit. Its much cooler here than in Mumbai. We slowly start moving our bags to the door, since the train halts at Shegaon for about two minutes only.
December 15,2007 6:00 AM - The train reaches Shegaon. There's a rush of people trying to get down. We too manage to get down from the train. We move outside the station and catch a auto to reach our hotel. At this "hotel" we were supposed to have our bath and then move to the shrine for darshan. But we had a surprise in store ...
December 15,2007 6:15 AM - The hotel guy tells us there are no rooms !!!
My uncle is irritated. The hotel had promised us rooms only two days before . A compromise is struck, he provides us accommodation in some other small hotel. We agree, but later realize that it was our mistake. We were (over)charged Rs.400 (~ $10) for one of the worst ever rooms I ever stayed in . It was unclean small and the light wasn't working. The hotel dude changed it only after we checked in. We had decided to go ahead and take this room, since we wanted to have a early bath and move towards the shrine, to have a early darshan.
December 15,2007 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM - Everybody has a quick bath and gets dressed up to visit the shrine of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj
December 15,2007 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM - The best time of the day ! We buy some flowers and sweets to offer at the shrine. And then in a peaceful and orderly manner we move along a line towards the main shrine. We finally get the darshan of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj. It was really a peaceful and divine moment then. We spent some more time in the shrine complex. We attend the aarti and then we have a meal in the shrine itself as a part of the Mahaprasad. After lunch, we return to our room.
December 15,2007 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Everybody has a quick nap, except me & my cousin. We kept fooling around and playing with my cell phone camera !
December 15,2007 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM - After having tea, we head towards "Anand Sagar" which is amusement park. I as have already mentioned , I especially enjoyed the toy train ride. Anand Sagar has lush green lawns, and lots of rides for small kids ! Before leaving, we have a wonderful Maharashtrain dinner (delicious food of state of Maharashtra) ! After dinner we leave Anand Sagar for our hotel.
December 15,2007 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM - We reach the hotel, charge our cell phones for 15 minutes ! Damn !! Both mine & my uncle's cell phone were low on battery & we had to charge it ! We take our bags and reach the station around 8:15 PM ... and a second surprise ! The station is completely blacked out! Its pitch dark !!!
The station official tells us the reason - Due to the shortage of electricity, its load shedding time. The lights will be turned on with the help of generator only 10 mins before your train arrives !December 15,2007 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM - The wait for the train is long. Its delayed over 1/2 hour... Its getting very cold and I am feeling very tired & sleepy. The train finally arrives. We board the train. I am the first one to hit sack. It has been a long day ...
December 16,2007 - The train reached Mumbai around 6:45 AM. We get down and head to my cousin's house. There I have a bath, followed by breakfast and then lunch in the afternoon. Before returning home I play a game of cricket with my cousin. Its almost 2:30 PM ... time to go. My cousin insists that I stay on longer...but I have to go. I take my bags, catch a bus and reach home Sunday evening 4:00 PM !
It was a satisfying trip !
