Konakan division. Tunnel No: 24
Length 5644 m.
Netravati express muscled its way, about half the distance of this tunnel. There are numerous such tunnels in her path, cutting right through the mountains of Western ghat. Many of the tunnels are lighted up inside, while a few are not, like this number 24.
A man was making up his way right across the huge mountain through this tunnel. He held a lantern in his hand. The train, along with all its passengers would give him a company for the short duration of time as it passes him, whether he likes it or not.. But then for most part of his journey, he is left alone...
Today, I wandered across this city along its streets. I started my journey from Trinity church road-MG road junction and ended it at the Magestic railway station. It all started with the idea of just spending a bit of time, wandering here and there all alone with absolutely no real intentions, except that a precious Sunday would not be completely wasted- doing nothing. I am jotting down down a few of the places, buildings, streets, people, I passed through, so that, later I can recollect the details of this little Sunday outing. I have seen most of these places before, from the windows of buses and autos, but never really knew, their relative locations.
I started clocking from 1.30 in the noon.
1. Mayo hall
2. Residency road- Brigade road junction
3. Mahatma Gandhi statue at the far end of MG road.
4. Cubbon park
5. Post office
6. Raj bhavan
7. The High court
8. Bangalore university.
9. XYZ street from which I purchased a few things :)
10. The over-bridges in the bus-stand
11. The city railway station
It was 3.00 by the time I crossed under the road in front of the railway station through the subway.
I knew Rajbhavan, is the key to find the way to the Magestic, as I have seen it many times on my way to the city stand. So I was following the signboards showing "Rajbhavan road" at the beginning. At last I reached a big junction, where I could not find out any signboards showing "Rajbhavan road". I was standing beside the city post-office not knowing which way to go. Then a man came to me asking " majestic elli ?? "... "maloom nahi muje". [Hey man please tell me also, if you find it out.]
I thought of crossing the long wide road which I came along. But as I started crossing, the traffic signals changed and I retreated. Just then, I realized that I was facing right towards the Rajbhavan, just a few hundread meters from it.
Magestic was quite far even from that place. I know, like the man who asked me the way to Magestic, there are many people who are forced to cover really long distances, each and every day of their life.
To me its a way to spend an afternoon. I just took a volvo back home, after having some refreshments at a costly restaurant. Walking along the over-bridge that lead to the crowded bus stand, I see a lot of people with different expressions on their faces. I should be thankful to able to smile with those people, in a world where in some people exists, who have long forgotten to smile and any expressions of joy on their face looks ridiculous to the beholder.
I know I started this somewhere, in the western ghats and ended it no where. But then it is the
way it is. See I spend another few hours writing this blog :)