Travelling from Delhi to Jaipur ( via Punahana and Alwar )*

1. Oh!  Where is Punahana ?

Delhi to Punahana, what a ride
In a yellow bus, with two superb guides**
High speed vehicles, with strange gadgets and tools
And village driver grappled hard with traffic rules

Stopped at dhaba, what was it called***
Please do tell me, and then Rocket Sir called
Enough of eating, sun setting fast
For cloudy sky, pleasant weather will not last

Only 120 kms, yet all sourly done
 At last in Punahana, a race with the sun
With 26 kids, for ten whole days
What a racket they will make, my mind does say

Survey begun with Chandanki
Sorry state of village, all did see
Third of Jan to Choka bus rushed
Then climb to Mazar,  for our souls be touched

Fourth of Jan, onwards to Rawalki
Where Yasin Sir's family, served us tea
Evening trek, back with pack
Through village lanes, where I wished ducks quaked

Punahana to Alwar on 5th the bus took
Singing and eating halwa, as bus badly shook
Watching Aravallis, in dusty environs
But yellow flowers and buffaloes a dozen

2. Mustard fields near Aravallis

Then spent the night, at Oswal School
For tired we were, like a pack of mules
Sixth all excited, for train to catch
From Alwar city, at dawn break

Train was late due to rain and fog
And waiting room, shared with poor stray dogs
An angel descended, to help us out
Took us all, to his cozy hideout

With cups of tea, and snacks within
The cold crept out, and all did grin
Back to station, for its almost time
But where is the train, all did mime

By evening we were, in Jaipur Town
What a city, decked, from top to down
Buildings lighted and rangolis drawn
To welcome NRI's, the locals too adorned

In ethnic colours with sparkles and drums
All who saw, were truly struck dumb!
Seventh alas, I was badly sick
Cold and travel, had made me sink

To Kundu we went on eight morn
Where bangles aplenty, then wrists adorned
Next to Ameer and again to Ameer
First to village, and then to Fort Near

The pride of Jaipur, atop a hill
How they made it, with strain and will
Queens quarters, beckoned us
So we rushed, from the city bus

The intricate workmanship, please do come and see
I would like to tell, who all I see
Coffee within, and trinkets bought
To Hawa Mahal, our hearts now sought

The market place, what a heavenly gaze!
Riot of colors, on that Sunday we gazed
Shopping we did, as fast as we could
No time for a drink, howsoever good

3. Shopping in Jaipur

So happy we were, with plenty of gifts
Ten days gone by, all in a swift
Ninth morning, packing and rushing
Not to miss train, all were wishing

From the train, a glorious sight!
All in bliss, with luggage beside
With suits and chunnis, rajas and ranis
With sweets and cholis, radiant sarees**** 


Befriended we, Stacy and Kirsten
And Rachel from, Down Melbourne
What fun we had, with sips and gossips
With train vendors and giving tips

Delhi now beckons, to teach and learn
For life is always, back U-Turn

An Afterthought Please..........


The potter's wheel, touched me so

Bangle maker, filled me with woe

What hardly they had, yet they knew

Soon, we all have to pack, to go.........

Many a times the words just flow

There's nothing I can do, I hope you know

                                               __________________________________

Notes:-
*       Educational trip of Ma/MSc students from the Department of Geography,
         Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
**     Jungsher from Bisru village and Shamim from Punhana.
***   I was  reminded that it was called Milan by one of my dear student while I was
         writing this poem in the train from Jaipur back to Delhi.                    
 **** Suits, chunnis, cholis and sarees are traditional Indian wear for
         females and rajas and ranis here stand for puppet kings and queens.


Pictorial sources:-
1. news4u.co.in


2. ecotippingpoints.org


3. jaydevvy.livejournal.com