Travel to Chandigarh
This time around holi, our friends suggested that we go to Hola Mohalla, which is the largest annual Sikh gathering in Anandpur Sahib. We’ve heard a lot about the festivities and display of fighting prowess. Though it is a three-day event due to lack of holidays, we decided to go on the last day and enjoy the best of the activities which take place on the final day.
As we planned to make the to and fro trip on the same day, we planned to travel at night to reach Anandpur Sahib early morning and return from there at night to enjoy the full day of festivities. But driving at night and then full day activities looked daunting. We wanted to see all the activities and rest on our way back. So we finally decided to take a reliable and economical Delhi to Chandigarh taxi service.
In order to find a good cab service, we decided to surf the internet to see if there were any reliable ones. So we did the same and found a taxi service that offered the best of services at affordable prices. We contacted them and their executive explained the package according to our requirements in detail. Once we were satisfied with the package and their assurances, we booked the trip.
Overview and daily activities:
The cab was at our doorstep on the night of the journey. We didn’t need to remind them to send the cab on time. The chauffeur was courteous and well dressed and the taxi was well maintained, giving us the impression that we were able to book a top-rated taxi in Delhi.
The driver helped with out belongings and we settled in the cab and started off for our anticipated trip. The driver gave the brief of the way he would be taking and the places we might want to stop to get refreshments. We had no plan to stop midway as we wanted to reach early, so we told him, that we would be sleeping on the way and would directly go to Anandpur Sahib via Chandigarh. He understood and we started off.
The road from Delhi to Chandigarh was in excellent condition and we mostly stuck to the highways, with very little passage through the towns. The driver maintained a good speed while we comfortably rested in the cab. We had taken NH44 as it is the fastest route and bypasses most towns.
We woke up when sun rays hit our eyes. We had spent the entire journey sleeping and reached Chandigarh at dawn. Being a group of girls, we felt safe with the driver to be able to rest through the night.
The city with all its greenery looked beautiful in the early morning hours. The fresh air was soothing and relaxing. We had planned to stop at Sukhna lake and enjoy the morning in its serene environment. So as planned our driver took us to Sukhna Lake. We sat at the lake periphery and watched the mesmerising water and the swans swimming in the lake.
The lakeside café served breakfast while we stared out at the lake.
After breakfast, we proceeded towards Anandpur Sahib. It was a short distance and we soon reached the holy city. The city is located near the Sutluj river and is one of the most sacred places of Sikhism with the last two gurus living in this place. The sacred city is a pilgrimage to the Sikhs being the home to Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara, which is one of the five Takhts in Sikhism.
On reaching the city, we went straight to Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara to offer prayers. We went to the Virasat-e-Khalsa Anandpur Sahib, which is a museum resembling a fortress of Sikh history. From there to Sarovar Patalpuri Sahib and few more prominent gurudwaras in the city like Gurudwara Sisganj, Gurudwara Bhora Sahib, etc. After this, we went to see some forts like Qila Anandgarh Sahib, Qila Holgarh Sahib and Qila Lohgarh Sahib.
Soon after, we gathered on the street to see the grand procession of Nihangs. The Nihangs clad in their traditional dress and weapons passed through the bazaar. The procession ended on the bed of Charan Ganga, where they demonstrated their martial art capabilities along with riding, sword-wielding, tent pegging, etc. It was the experience of a lifetime to witness all of this. The environment was vibrant with energy and festivities. Soon it was night and time for us to depart from the Holy City.
How to reach Chandigarh from Delhi
Chandigarh is easily accessible from Delhi in many ways. A lot of people take the roads as they are in excellent conditions. Saavari was one of the best options for renting a taxi with their excellent service, expert drivers, affordable packages and quality cars. And you can also avail their doorstep pick up and drop facility.
Distance and time taken:
The distance from Delhi to Chandigarh is 243 km and the journey takes approximately 4 hours. The Hola Mohalla trip is something one should definitely experience in their life. The Holy place with all the festivities and the show of valour by the Nihangs is not to be missed.
