A WALK TO REMEMBER

What is it with the day today? Suddenly it seems to me that nothing in life is "Nothing Much" at the moment. 

Nothing much to do in office (not that I don't have work, I do, but it seems as if the amount doesn't count), Nothing much to do at home (all being taken care of), nothing much to talk to anybody (be it my friends or my husband, all of whom are far away).

Life has become so monotonous these days. The more connected we are through the various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google Hangouts, BBMs and Whatsapps, the more distant we are from each other. Gone are the days when we would just sit at the college lawn and relax with a cup of tea staring into the sky or the trees beyond. Time flew by then... It was then that there was nothing much to do with only occasional assignments from professors.

Days like these just take me back to the days I felt free and enjoyed my life in Ahmedabad. Oh yes, its the same city you've probably heard me rattling about since I left it 2 years ago. Its been more than 2 years now. Many say its boring. Many say what's so new and exciting about it! But I enjoyed staying there. Every moment of it be it the clean roads, the parrots and pigeons flocking around, (and  occasionally peacocks too), to all the variety of snacks like dabeli and vada pav and fafda and jalebis and theplas. Low calorie good food! Also, the beautiful places I have been to in and around the city. 

Just the other day a colleague asked me, Hey could you help me plan a trip to Gujarat? I was planning to go for one with my family! His humble request made my day ! I couldn't stop myself from planning it for him the same day and finalising it with him in 2 days time. I was the happiest. Just to revive my memories!

THE HERITAGE WALK, OLD CITY, AHMEDABAD.

Its as early as 8.30 am in the morning of a Sunday (yes you heard it right! A Sunday), that a soul stirring walk is organized from the Swaminarayan Temple of Ahmedabad. People participating in the walk are made to register with a nominal amount and sit for a half an hour special slide show running through the pages of the city's history, unfolding beautifully its birth from an ancient 10th century AD site known as Ashaval to the present walled city re-founded during the period of the mighty Ahmedshah. From the balcony one can see the pigeons flying about the temples facade, the beautiful art work at the temple's roof leaves one mesmerised

Its a two and a half hour long walk, arranged by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). We then moved on from finishing our darshan at the Swaminarayan temple to the Kavi Dalpatram Chowk where lived the legendary poet.

From here we eased through ways reminiscent of the city's textile era through the various 'Pols' (guarded communities or self contained neighbourhoods) of the old city. The winding lanes and people going on with their day to day activities add to the charm. Pigeons play an important role in shaping the liveliness of the city and a Gujarati life. The old Compass pole showing your direction and also the 'chabutaras' (or pigeon feeding posts in each lane) added to the glamour.

 

What was fun seeing was a wall full of small holes and numerous squirrels on it eating small fragments of bread or biscuits that is given by the people. They seem oblivious to the numerous pair of eyes looking at them and quite confidently keep nibbling at their food rather than be afraid to go in their holes. After all who is in majority here! 

We walk along taking in every detail explained beautifully by our guide, capturing them in our cameras 

and filling our pockets with small goodies from the shops and pan masala stalls on the road filled with lovely colours!!

And we finally end up at the mighty Jumma Masjid with its huge breathtaking structures and intricate works of art.

As we finish our lovely tour with amazing companions in the heart of the old city, surrounded by hordes of people starting their day, laying out small things to sell of beautiful colours and small children not asking for alms but rather a" pen" to write with made my day that day.

I went back to the walk many a times and each time I have had the same satisfaction as I had the very first time of when I explored "THE CITY".

What is it of exploration of a city when you don't walk down its lanes and just let everything normal go around you. 

Its pure Bliss!