One of the Favourite Trips

Its tough to chose one, as my every holiday trip is memorable without any efforts.However,I found my trip to Kokilavan Dham at Kosi Kalan in Uttar Pradesh,Near Mathura to the most memorable one. Kokilavan Dham is a famous Shani Mandir ,i.e a temple of Shani Dev (a Lord in Hindu mythology) nearby the Mathura, known as the city of lord krishna(Another Hindi Mythology God).The journey is a recent one,taken one week back and very important and memorable for me.It was a small family trip of few hours in our dark red Waganor.Me,my Father,my Mother,along with a family friend(almost like a mother) and the driver, were the travellers,who somehow managed to fit in the small car.The reason for this journey was not fun or adventure,but a holy visit(as I belong to a Hindu Family).My father vowed to go there on my brother's marriage and thankfully he suddenely recalled this, after 7 years.So,this is how the idea of the great holy trip emerged.The journey from Delhi to Kokilavan Dham was not as appeasing as I was almost gasping to breathe fresh air, inside the suffocated car with very small space to fit myself.But,the sight of the Mandir, Indeed changed my mood.It might not be a love at first sight,but eventually anyone would love this place.The place is peaceful and it name states Kokilavan (Van is a Hindi word meaning forest), there is ample free space and greenery around the main temple.There are two small pools at the entrance and then a number of small temples of Lord Bihariji, Lord Giriraj and so on.Moving towards them,there is a wide open space with small shopping outlets at the edges.By Shopping outlets I don't mean, High Street Fashion Market where use can your Bank Cards.This not a popular shopping street,But small shops for prasads(The Holy Food offered to God), colorful religious bands and beads,paintings of the Lords etc.Just Beside the shops, there is a Big gate, which is the entrance to the Shani Temple.After walking a few steps,I saw large and long staircase which were going to the main temple.Climbing the stairs,I noticed Lots of oil on the floor and diyas illuminated on the edges of the wall alongside the staircase.In Hindu Mythology, It is said that Oil makes ShaniDev happy,So Oil is offered to the God and Diyas are enlightened to make him happy.It is also a way to say goodbye to sorrow and welcome happiness, as the God will take away the pain.The staircase ends at the gate of the Temple.The inside view of the Temple is almost an rectangular figure, with the statue of Lord ShaniDev at the Centre, and Statues of Lord Shiva, and Lord Hanuman at the extreme right corners.Alike other Worshippers,I along with my family, first encircled around the statue at the centre and then offered our worship to the small statues at the corners.As per my prior knowledge this was the end of the temple,but to my surprise, my father just asked us to follow him inside a dark passage,which we did.This small passage ended at the gate of a small Lord krishna Temple.As it is nearby the city of Mathura, it is usual to have so many Lord Krishna statues at many places in the temple.Also, in Hindu Mythology it is said in this temple Lord Krishna Gave Darshan(appeared Before) To Lord Shani Dev, which is also the reason why Lord Krishna is Worshipped here.Well, after a small session of Aarti(Hindu Prayer) we stepped out of the lord Krishna temple and entered into a small dark area, slightly illuminated by Diyas lying around a Tree.It was a Peepal Tree , and people were encircling around it ,as it is considered holy.Oil was also being offered to the tree,as the Peepal Tree is a holy tree in Hindu Mythology.After offering our services to the holy tree, we moved out the small area,first by entering a dark passage which was leading towards a staircase which ended at the exit gate of the Temple. So,after all the holy duties done, it was time for a snack as we all were starving.We found some delicious Kachoris at every eating outlet, and decided to chose this as our dinner.But unfortunately,They were as cold as ice which was not acceptable by my father.I gave a mouth watering goodbye to them, and soon we land up to the chai wale ki dukkan(Tea - Stall).The Elaichi wali tea(Cardamom Tea) was a relief to all, and we started the journey back to home.Somehow,I managed to get some comfortable space this time in the car and was able to enjoy fresh air, as I opened the window panes of the car.I found Fresh Air always better than the Chilled AC air.As always, I became lost in my thoughts as the car took speed, and this where the journey became memorable for the lifetime.My love towards travel got a meaning.I was wondering why I love to travel and so many answers came into
mind.Adventure,fun,Freedom,yes,Certainly,and most important happiness.When people ask me what do I want in life,I always answer 'Happiness.I also Recalled a lot of journeys which were a experience of the lifetime.People often says that Visits to temple enlighten your mind,and it surely did in my case.In few hours, I was back home.Tired,Hungry but Happy and enlightened.

SrishtiGaur's Travellogies: A Part of My Happiness

Travelling in Car from Mathura to Delhi,I just wondered,Why I love Travelling so much.I always found fresh air coming from the window panes of a car far better than the chilled AC air.When the air touches my face,it touches me.I was happy and what better you want in life.I have always came across a lot of people struggling to find what they want in life, and my answer has always been in a single word 'happy'.
I again wondered why I love travelling.May be, because the people around me love to travel or may be not.Well,is it just because it makes me happy or there is more behind it.May be because it Sets me free,from people,from pain,from everything which I don't like or May be because It's adventure.You must be wondering with my so many 'May Be's'',that I am so much uncertain about things,infact my own feelings.But that's me.
Sometimes it's good, not to define things.It's good to enjoy rather than just looking for its meaning.And its good to discover what that something is.And that's how Travellogies came into being.My experiences,My travel,My observations,My fun..all together. I tried to put them into words,photographs..Its a part of my happiness,hope it becomes yours too...