Our climb begins

We left the market and reached the entry. This entry is called as "Darshan Darwaja" or "Darshan Devdi". From this entry point the entire Trikuta Hill is visible. Here first security checking is done. Lot of sitting arrangements is made here. It wasn't possible to seat in rains. As there was no rush there was no need to sit also. We cleared the security check. To make climbing for pilgrims easier there are various options made available past security post. One can hire Horse or palanquin. If one decades to climb but doesn't want to carry bags then there are backpacks carriers called as "Pittuwala". One interesting arrangement is a person who pushes you on the climb. I found it funny and difficult to imagine. How one can be pushed on the climbing roads when the person has lost energy? It was difficult to imagine. I asked Neha whether she want to hire Horse or Palanquin. She was very clear. She wanted to trek it on foot.

After some distance there was "Gulshan Kumar's Langer". Langer is a place where free food is distributed to pilgrims.  Gulshan Kumar was ardent devotee of Mata (Mother)  Vaishnodevi.  He was primarily instrumental in improving facilities here. Later on the shrine administration was taken over by government.  We passed this place and reached a control check post. Here one has to get pilgrim registration receipt, "Yatra parchi" stamped. Post stamping we crossed a small rivulet. This is called as Banganga.  In spite of heavy rains this rivulet was very dirty. It was more like a sewage carrier. Even in and around Mumbai there are rivers like Mithi, Dahisar and Wladhuni, where I get the same feeling. Can we humans be more civilized?  Ahead of this bridge there is a temple called "Charan Paduka Mandir".  Historically, this is where  pilgrimage starts. Like most often we do in Mumbai, I bowed down from a distance and continued walking. Little ahead opposite of this Temple there was a hotel. Name of this hotel is "Tulsi Bhojanalaya". We decided to take lunch here. This hotel has sitting arrangements for more than 100 persons. When we entered, there were not more than 15 people, having food. Due to inclement weather very few devotees very few decided to undertake this journey. We had "Puri Bhaji".  While ordering tea, my order was very clear now, ' without sugar without salt'. Even though cold wind was blowing and it was raining cats and dogs, I and Neha were full of enthusiasm. I secured backpack by wearing raincoat over it. Both of us took the sticks we were carrying and here we go. 

From this place two ways are available.  One is a plane road and other is by using stairs. As per the board, there were over one and half thousand stairs. Height of those stairs also was unusually more. At each stage stairs we found board indicating no of steps in that stage. There were boards advising against using steps, for those suffering from blood pressure, heart disease and other ailments. In cities we are used to elevators, hence not even a flash of thought came in mind of climbing stairs. Our trek for Vaishnodevi Darshan has started.

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