Dev Sanskriti University. Haridwar - day two.

Bandwidth very tight not spotting via phone so only one photo attached....will repost with photos once we have wi if again.....

Surya's dad. Ajay, is a civil engineer, and has in this trade provided many years of voluntary service to the University and the foundation which supports it.  One of his projects at the moment, is building a Temple at a place called Monsiere(sp?), the best we can work out is that it is three villages shy of the Chinese border, and near the border of Nepal, well and truely within the Himalayas. It is at best 14 hours travel by road from here.  Being aware of our want of different travel processes, asked if we would want to visit...he was very clear that it was not fancy, it was a long way, and no five star journey.  

Thought about if for about no seconds, and accepted.

What this means is that we will have to 'sacrifice' all up, about eight days of other travels in India, but that's no issue.

After Yagev, which is the morning Hindu prayer ceremony, which we attended we were taken to visit a number of people, the most impressive was Dr Pranav Pandya who is not only the Honourary Chancellor of the university, but the head of All World Gayatri Pariwar....which has more than (only) ninety million followers world wide..he is revered here as a wise and spiritual man.   There was a line of about 100 people waiting to see him.      Initially we had to write our names and place or origin which was given to a secretary.  Security was pretty tight, relatively speaking, I would not have argued with the gent with the ancient .410 single barrelled shotgun. We wre all lined up, and then our hosts, Ajay, his wife Kithkinda, and Suyra's cousin Xxxxxx were pulled out of the line and ushered into an audience room.  This was becoming the norm, and to object would have been more discourteous.

It is clear that Dr Pandya Is revered, and there were people bowing at his feet, and he had an amazing presence.   We were introduced to the Doctor and his wife, sitting on two chairs, somewhat sitting in state and were asked about how long we had been in India, what our work was, and what we intended to do. He asked if our families were well, and were blessed.  It was quite awkward as we weren't sure what we were expected to do, so we just sat on the ground.  At the conclusion, were given some small sweets, and a packet of blessed head dot powder.  Apparently part of the visit was also to seek the Doctor's permission for us to travel with Ajay to Monsiere, which was granted.

Imagine a very long line of people

A line passing us by

We were then introduced to a number of other important people on the Campus the international director, the Estate manager (Ajays boss) then back to the canteen for some breakfast.  Once we got back to our guesthouse, we were again expected to eat breakfast.

With Ajay, his wife and cousin, we went a-touring.  The mountains about 70 ks from the university rises to about 6000 ft, and it was appreciably cooler, to a place called Monsoorie, perched on the side of what  is a very unstable mountain, so much so, that a landslide last year, caused tens of thousands of deaths.  Travelling with an engineer makes for different perspectives.  

Imagine a windy road

Highway. 58, near Monsoorie

Then to Kemptie, a big waterfall system, initially famously in the Colonial times for the place where the British camped for tea.  It is like one continuous waterpark, swimming, arcades, many, many, many shops offering for people to dress up as Cossacks, kings queens, milk maids, with either a real or painted waterfall backdrop....quite busy.   The roads up there were quite good, the driver we had was excellent,  and the traffic.....welll, nowhere near as frantic as Amritsar, but it is India.

Suyra's Dad and Mum at Kemptie Falls. Top pools

Just imagine

At least he's wearing bathers.

Suyra's cousin...not ABC

Kemptie Falls...bottom pools.

At the lunch stop

On the way back we made a stop at Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganges, but were too late for the last ferry, so just wandered, and at dusk put a toe in the Ganges, which, here runs very fast, cold and realively clean..althought don't think I'd drink it.  

Ganges at dusk Rishikesh. And Andrew got himself one of those boy tops 'kuta' still aiming for a dojti.  NJC wearing ABCs elephant (print) pants.

Then it was dark, pretty scary on the roads, back to the main campus, staff dining room for more food, then to bed by ten...huge day...up at five tomorrow.

Now, if we get lost.....we will not be far from Ajay, who is Suyra dad.....May be off line for as long as a week as of Sunday....so do not worry