When I went to New Delhi New Delhi and one of the interesting places to visit near Delhi.
We reached there and there was a huge Bastar Cat entrance that was locked. My mom said that it was where the annual Surajkund mela happens, that opens only once a year. We walked on in a random direction. Well, actually Suraj Kund means Sun Lake
We were strolling nearby. It was lush green with several cottages. It has the tourist complex and famous Rajhans Hotel. It’s maintained as a perfect tourist spot for the annual Surajkund Festival, but otherwise has very less visitors. And not many were aware of this Sun Temple
Pic Courtesy: By Varun Shiv Kapur - originally posted to Flickr as Surajkund 03 via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
One white cow kept seeing us. And suddenly it happened - it just charged on us. All 4 of us just screamed and scattered in 4 different directions and now the cow got confused as to continue its fight with whom. It took a momentary glance of us all and then it must have made up its mind. It decided on the boy who accepted to lead us. It charged on him! He dropped down the cans of water and ran for his life! He was a smart fellow (and so are many from villages. They have this survival instinct more than anyone else). He ran towards a bush far away, and started running around it. The cow (or should I say ‘the wild cow’) followed him to the bush and made 2 circles around the bush and became tired. He ran back to safety towards us. By this time, the cow got tired and relaxed and went back to its herd and sat down. God knows what happened to that particular cow at that time. It belonged to a huge herd of atleast 15-20 cattle, and among them only she got wild while the rest of ‘em all were happily sitting and munching off. Ha! Experiences!
HISTORY OF ANCIENT SURAJKUND RESERVOIR
Then the boy took charge again and we started off again! Courage, you know, courage… Inspite of a heck of a start, we re-started again. This time things went smooth. We took a slight deviation to avoid that white cow. When we reached there I was spellbound. That was the first time in my life I saw such a beautiful step-well. This was built during the Tomar dynasty in 10th C CE by King Suraj Pal. It was again renovated by Firuz Shah Tughlaq. (You may remember him as the builder of Hauz Khas Complex about which I has told in one of my previous posts).
Pic Courtesy: By Varun Shiv Kapur - originally posted to Flickr as Surajkund panoramic via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
We sat there for some time and enjoyed the tranquility and returned back hoping I wouldn’t meet that white cow again!!! When the Surajkund Craft Mela isn't happening, there are hardly any people here, and it is a perfect, tranquil one day trip from Delhi for a nice picnic.
P.S. I couldn’t be a part of the Surajkund Craft Mela when I went. It happens from 1st to 15th Feb of every year. Traditional artists and craftsmen from all over India
P.S. After Surajkund, we also went to Badkal Lake nearby (10 km southwards towards Faridabad) which was completely dried up due to the scorching summer.. :(
HOW TO REACH SURAJKUND:
On Google Maps: Surajkund Reservoir
Nearest railway station: Surajkund
From New Delhi
From Noida: 18 km Southwards via Tughlaqabad Railway Stn
From Gurgaon: 37 km Eastwards via Sultanpur. Lado Sarai
From Faridabad
HOTELS IN SURAJKUND:
There are hotels here at all price points from budget hotels to luxury hotels like Hotel Vivanta by Taj, Surajkund and Atrium Hotel Surajkund. Just beside the reservoir is the Rajhans Hotel, Surajkund.
Dedicated to Mom & Pop
Nice authentic place to visit, and Mysore is still in the list to visit, famous with Ashtangga yoga. I love lotuses, have one at home surrounded with guppies.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting trip. Thanks for taking us along with you :))
ReplyDeleteHi Friend! Profiting from today’s holiday – the 99th anniversary of the Republic in Portugal - I’m happy to have some more time to surf the net and enjoy your blog!
ReplyDeleteCan vote only once, I believe...
I've not been to this place; another reason to get back!! ;)
Blogtrotter is showing you Antalya. Enjoy and have a great week!
Hey this is cool. Really looks like a nice place to sit and relax. The only problem with these kind of places is that if you got no watch, you won't realize how much time you already spent there :-)
ReplyDelete- Pixellicious Photos
Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures have come out particularly nice. Even if the mela was not here it is a great place to be. In my opinion it gets too crowded during the mela.
I also liked the road leading to the Suraj kund right after MadanGhir.
We used to drive up to the border at times to get some Beer in odd hours of the day. There used to be two pubs near the border and tables were laid among the rocks! I wonder if those are still there.
Glad to know that you reside in Delhi. I used to be there till the mid nineties.
@Babypose,
ReplyDeleteDo visit India dear.. Its an incredible nation.. :) You'll love it..
@Aysegul,
I am glad on that.. :)
@GMG,
Happy Republic Day dear.. :) So glad that you took a bit of your time for my blog as well.. :)
And ya, you can vote only once from one mail id..
@Kcalpesh,
ReplyDeleteThanks dear... That's absolutely true.. :)
@Sumandeb,
Thanks for your compliments dear. Ya, the place does get crowded during the mela. That would have been so cool to go biking in that region...
One more place I have not visited in Delhi and it looks just great!
ReplyDeleteWow what an experience with the cows. They don't normally attack, except if you were wearing red. Well at least that is what I have heard.
ReplyDeleteIndia is such a wondrous country with deep history. The architecture you posted is so mystical with the ducks and lotuses in the ponds.
Thank you for sharing Mitr-Friend.
@Jose,
ReplyDeleteOne more place added to your 'must visit next time' list.. :)
@Ocean Girl,
Ha ha.. Know what, I was not very comfortable with white cows for a month or so after that incident. And, cows dont see colors, so I guess color of the dress wasn't an issue (Incidently I was wearing Red on that day!!!).
Thank you so much dear.. :)
Funny experience with the cow, and a lovely lake.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read blv me :) and whoa wat-ay experience with that "Wild cow".. I would've screamed and would've brought the hell down :P Loved it Bhusha :) sorry got tied up with work, preps for ejjams and sleep :P
ReplyDeleteHi Mitr Friend Bhushavali,
ReplyDeleteNice trip.
It's only India where you'll see cows everywhere.
Another Travel Blog
Wow!!
ReplyDeleteits a relaxing place there :)
It looks all fantastic !!
Once I will visit your country :))))
Gorgeous pictures a wonderful post!
ReplyDelete@Janie,
ReplyDeleteI know. That's really so funny... :D
Thanks dear..:)
@Sow,
Hee hee hee... 'Wild Cow' - Ha ha ha.. :D ROTFL...
All the best di. Do ur exams well.. :)
@Arvind,
That's true. Its a holy animal dear, so its ought to be seen everywhere.
@Anya,
Welcome to India. Do visit atleast once.. :)
@Phivos,
Thanks a lot dear.. :)
very cool. looks like a place i would like to visit. thanks for taking us along with you.
ReplyDeleteGood information, liked the descriptions too. The step well indeed is a feat of engineering. LOL about the cow "attacking" you guys. Now, why would a poor cow do that? heheheh...nice to read such anecdotes.
ReplyDeletean experience to share and an experience that one [cownot]/cannot forget.... :D
ReplyDelete@Brian,
ReplyDeleteIts my pleasure dear... :)
@Anup,
That'z true.. These step wells are seen all over Gujarat & Rajasthan. Its all a architechtural marvel...
And abt the cow, wish I knew why it reacted.. :P
@Krish,
//Cownot forget// - Lolz!!!
@Workhard,
Yup. I was wearing a red salwar. But the fact is that the cows dont see colors.. Dunno, what happened!!! Ha!!
தோழி
ReplyDeleteமிக அருமையான படைப்பு . நன்றிகள் பல
Hi Thala,
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for dropping by. Its been a very very long time since you visited.. Do visit often. :)