Rajasthan is a state I have visited several times, but every time it manages to surprise me with something more beautiful and unique. That is exactly what happened in my last trip to this very state of "Kings, Princes, Forts and Palaces". But this time something beyond any of this.
Yes, no kidding!
I wanted to visit Jaisalmer, it is part of the Desert-circuit of Rajasthan (Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Bikaner. An article coming up on this very soon!), but I never really knew anything beyond what the tourist guide talked about Jaisalmer, the usual full day City-Tour guide. But since we had time in our hands we asked our very kind manager of Hotel Moomal who was so hospitable he suggested us to visit "Tanot Devi Temple" and "Longewala Border".
Truly it lives to its tagline ,"Padharo Mhare Des!"
On hearing these names, I immediately thought of the Sunny Deol starrer "Border" movie. I really had no idea that we were this close to this border town and the site for a victorious war for India. Next day, we left for our trip.
Tanot Devi Temple:
The route from Jaisalmer to Tanot Devi Temple was something that will be entrenched in my mind forever. It was a cold foggy January morning. En-route Tanot Devi temple you see hundreds of wind mills and trucks carrying every blade of windmills separately. Yes windmill blades are that huge!
Asia's Tallest TV Tower is also located enroute.
Also you come across various military posts. The last dhaba before you reach Tanot devi temple was in the village of Ramgarh. You see army and airforce personnels having their Chai there. They live away from their families for months at the border but nothing stops them from having fun among each other and a constant smile on their face. The Jalebis and Gajar ka halwa are a must have in this Dhaba.This picture is right outside this Dhaba of Mom & Dad :)
Before you reach Tanot Devi, there is a Ghantayani Mata devi Temple. She is considered to be her younger sister. Legend has it ,even here the Shells and Bombings during war couldn't destroy the temple. Me & Dad outside GhantayaniTemple :D
And from there on we left for Tanot Devi Temple. "Maa" is considered to be sacred and pious in our country. She has all the powers in her to destroy an evil and nothing can tamper her form. During the 1965 and 1971 wars for East Pakistan partition, all the bombings and shelling from Pakistan couldn't touch the temple and infact they remained unexploded!!! You can actually see them on the display in the temple premises. I actually felt it quite unbelievable and almost had tears in my eyes :')
But yes, it is true. This temple is revered by army jawans so much that it is guarded by them as their love and respect for Tanot Devi Temple. She gives them power to survive in desert and fight against enemies. All of us outside the temple
After spending sufficient time there although how much ever time you spend there it doesn't contend you enough, radiating with "Maa's" blessings and a cheery parting with the Jawans and an intense question-answer session with them(I can get on the nerves sometimes when I get too excited :P), we left for yet another unforgettable trip, our next destination "Longewala border".
Longewala Border:
The distance between Tanot Devi Temple and Longewala Border is 30-40 minutes. You actually pass through a desert to reach border. But on reaching there you find it to be worth your time.Here we were city born Mumbaikar, 9-5 corporate slaves finally arrived at the post of Longewala where hundreds of Jawans lost their lives fighting for the country. They stand guard 24*7, 365 days of the year, sweltering heat or freezing cold. No complaints, no demands!
They have created a war memorial which has many of the Pakistani tanker ships which were left behind by them after the war. Dad was all patriotic :)
There were bunkers made for visitors to click photos and get the feel of how it feels like to be in there and fighting. Inside the cramped bunker all you can see is endless desert till you can squint your eyes . We wonder how did they know which direction are they supposed to move in this infinite land.
Me and Mom having some fun time inside bunkers :)
They show you a short 20 minute movie clip,obviously some parts of it were picked from the movie "Border", describing how the fight went about and what part each of the actors played in the movie based on real life Army men. Please do watch the movie :) The price is very less and they really feel happy because it is managed by Jawans and they like describing it. In the desert where electricity availability is limited they manage to run the show on inverters :)
We also met a jawan there who was leaving for his home for his vacation, he was so delighted to go home. My father asked him how much time will he be able to stay home.
He said, "Sir, I am going for 2 weeks. My company needs me for a training session back."
We were shocked to hear this. But he was not at all sad. Whatever little time he can spend home he was happy with that. His first home is his duty and India's protection he said.
I was out of words and spellbound by these sacrificial jawans all around me.
I have travelled several cities in India, but this visit was a life changing experience for me. I have become less complaining about my life and learned to respect what our Army does for us and why we are safe in our cities, happily living our lives :)
Yes, no kidding!
I wanted to visit Jaisalmer, it is part of the Desert-circuit of Rajasthan (Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Bikaner. An article coming up on this very soon!), but I never really knew anything beyond what the tourist guide talked about Jaisalmer, the usual full day City-Tour guide. But since we had time in our hands we asked our very kind manager of Hotel Moomal who was so hospitable he suggested us to visit "Tanot Devi Temple" and "Longewala Border".
Truly it lives to its tagline ,"Padharo Mhare Des!"
On hearing these names, I immediately thought of the Sunny Deol starrer "Border" movie. I really had no idea that we were this close to this border town and the site for a victorious war for India. Next day, we left for our trip.
Tanot Devi Temple:
The route from Jaisalmer to Tanot Devi Temple was something that will be entrenched in my mind forever. It was a cold foggy January morning. En-route Tanot Devi temple you see hundreds of wind mills and trucks carrying every blade of windmills separately. Yes windmill blades are that huge!
Asia's Tallest TV Tower is also located enroute.
Also you come across various military posts. The last dhaba before you reach Tanot devi temple was in the village of Ramgarh. You see army and airforce personnels having their Chai there. They live away from their families for months at the border but nothing stops them from having fun among each other and a constant smile on their face. The Jalebis and Gajar ka halwa are a must have in this Dhaba.This picture is right outside this Dhaba of Mom & Dad :)
Longewala Border:
The distance between Tanot Devi Temple and Longewala Border is 30-40 minutes. You actually pass through a desert to reach border. But on reaching there you find it to be worth your time.Here we were city born Mumbaikar, 9-5 corporate slaves finally arrived at the post of Longewala where hundreds of Jawans lost their lives fighting for the country. They stand guard 24*7, 365 days of the year, sweltering heat or freezing cold. No complaints, no demands!
They have created a war memorial which has many of the Pakistani tanker ships which were left behind by them after the war. Dad was all patriotic :)
A memorial is built in the memory of the Jawans who lost their lives. :'(
There were bunkers made for visitors to click photos and get the feel of how it feels like to be in there and fighting. Inside the cramped bunker all you can see is endless desert till you can squint your eyes . We wonder how did they know which direction are they supposed to move in this infinite land.
Me and Mom having some fun time inside bunkers :)
They show you a short 20 minute movie clip,obviously some parts of it were picked from the movie "Border", describing how the fight went about and what part each of the actors played in the movie based on real life Army men. Please do watch the movie :) The price is very less and they really feel happy because it is managed by Jawans and they like describing it. In the desert where electricity availability is limited they manage to run the show on inverters :)
We also met a jawan there who was leaving for his home for his vacation, he was so delighted to go home. My father asked him how much time will he be able to stay home.
He said, "Sir, I am going for 2 weeks. My company needs me for a training session back."
We were shocked to hear this. But he was not at all sad. Whatever little time he can spend home he was happy with that. His first home is his duty and India's protection he said.
I was out of words and spellbound by these sacrificial jawans all around me.
I have travelled several cities in India, but this visit was a life changing experience for me. I have become less complaining about my life and learned to respect what our Army does for us and why we are safe in our cities, happily living our lives :)
Jai Hind! Jai Jawan!
