Empty rucksack? Is that even a proper name for someone or a couple? Well in their own words “Empty
Rucksack Travelers are two young Indians who have ditched their nine to five to
travel the world. They have been to 22 countries so far and want to see as many
before time and money run out. To know more about them and their travel adventure
read this.”
Rucksack Travelers are two young Indians who have ditched their nine to five to
travel the world. They have been to 22 countries so far and want to see as many
before time and money run out. To know more about them and their travel adventure
read this.”
That was all that I had planned to write for them. And then today morning I happen to have a rather interesting conversation with them (or rather Ishwinder ๐ ) And then over some quick twitter DMs shared we agreed we are now officially best friends lost in space and found by internet. Too many common points and some funny exchanges resulted in this rather quick conclusion! And yes one of them was me carrying O negative blood group (the whole story for another post another time!)
Now handing over the baton to them, as they review one of their most favoutire guest houses in Auroville.
* * *
Gaiaโs
garden โ our favourite guest house – a perfect place to grab some
rest and harmony in Aurovillle, a township 6 kms from Pondicherry.
garden โ our favourite guest house – a perfect place to grab some
rest and harmony in Aurovillle, a township 6 kms from Pondicherry.
I donโt know
who Gaia is and I donโt care if it really was a garden. You see, I am from
Delhi and I know gardens are no fun. We have Rajouri Garden, Raja garden,
Tagore garden, Dilshad garden (and also our favourite Mayawati ji ka garden in
the NCR). There is hardly a moment of respite from pollution or a visible touch
of greenery in these gardens. Maybe the idea of gardens, vihars and baghs have
fascinated, obsessed and deluded the Delhi planners and residents so much that we
append โgardenโ, โviharโ or โbaghโ to the name of each new colony right from
the time of Karol Bagh. Therefore, my hopes from gardens, to say the least, are
at the level of Delhiโs water table โ abysmally low. So I wasnโt expecting
much.
who Gaia is and I donโt care if it really was a garden. You see, I am from
Delhi and I know gardens are no fun. We have Rajouri Garden, Raja garden,
Tagore garden, Dilshad garden (and also our favourite Mayawati ji ka garden in
the NCR). There is hardly a moment of respite from pollution or a visible touch
of greenery in these gardens. Maybe the idea of gardens, vihars and baghs have
fascinated, obsessed and deluded the Delhi planners and residents so much that we
append โgardenโ, โviharโ or โbaghโ to the name of each new colony right from
the time of Karol Bagh. Therefore, my hopes from gardens, to say the least, are
at the level of Delhiโs water table โ abysmally low. So I wasnโt expecting
much.
Having arrived on Chennai airport after a three hour long flight, hour
long traffic jam to get to Delhi airport and a long week in office, I was
tired. What followed further were three hours on the East Coast road on my
husbandโs bike to get to Auroville, a township 6 kms from Pondicherry. The ride
would have been spectacular because Vikram had already told me a million things
about the coastline, coconut trees and beautiful vistas of Tamil Naduโs
countryside but I was more disappointed than pleased because no points for
guessing that at two in the morning after night falls everything is the same as
the colour of black.
long traffic jam to get to Delhi airport and a long week in office, I was
tired. What followed further were three hours on the East Coast road on my
husbandโs bike to get to Auroville, a township 6 kms from Pondicherry. The ride
would have been spectacular because Vikram had already told me a million things
about the coastline, coconut trees and beautiful vistas of Tamil Naduโs
countryside but I was more disappointed than pleased because no points for
guessing that at two in the morning after night falls everything is the same as
the colour of black.
I could have
slept anywhere. Why stay here when we are unable to find this place was beyond
me. Vikram already had a booking and it is this place he wanted to stay. What
could a meek Indian woman do at this point rather than growl and shout. During
the day it would have been fine but looking for Gaiaโs garden but for someone
who had never been to Auroville before was like looking for pin in a haystack
in the middle of the night.
slept anywhere. Why stay here when we are unable to find this place was beyond
me. Vikram already had a booking and it is this place he wanted to stay. What
could a meek Indian woman do at this point rather than growl and shout. During
the day it would have been fine but looking for Gaiaโs garden but for someone
who had never been to Auroville before was like looking for pin in a haystack
in the middle of the night.
Finally, we found it. It was rather quiet. Coming
from Delhi my first tendency is to flee from quiet places, to look for noise
and find the company of crowds. When I hear dogs barking in the dark it freaks
me out further. Vikram held me by hand, as we waited on the gate for Murugan,
the helper at the guest house, to open the gates and let us in.
from Delhi my first tendency is to flee from quiet places, to look for noise
and find the company of crowds. When I hear dogs barking in the dark it freaks
me out further. Vikram held me by hand, as we waited on the gate for Murugan,
the helper at the guest house, to open the gates and let us in.
We made our way
in through the gates over a gravelled path. I saw greenery around me, a lot of
space and some sculptors in the garden. We approached a white building with bougainvillea
frills lining its walls like tresses falling on a damselโs face. There was certain
freshness in the air. The room where we were led to was beautiful, smelling of
fresh flowers, open space and greenery. It was simple and special. But I knew
the best was waiting for the sun to show up before it unfolds itself. I knew I
was in someplace spectacular and I had to wait for the morning to discover it.
in through the gates over a gravelled path. I saw greenery around me, a lot of
space and some sculptors in the garden. We approached a white building with bougainvillea
frills lining its walls like tresses falling on a damselโs face. There was certain
freshness in the air. The room where we were led to was beautiful, smelling of
fresh flowers, open space and greenery. It was simple and special. But I knew
the best was waiting for the sun to show up before it unfolds itself. I knew I
was in someplace spectacular and I had to wait for the morning to discover it.
Like a little child I fell asleep while trying hard to not sleep.
In the
morning, I woke up and stepped out and found myself in a space sprawling with
trees, happy dogs, slugs, peace and beauty. I understood what both Gaia and
garden meant. Vikram told me over a cup of tea we made at the shared kitchen
that Gaiaโs garden was the dream abode of an architect from Netherlands who
built it for himself and his guests after he decided to move to Auroville with
his wife and daughter.
morning, I woke up and stepped out and found myself in a space sprawling with
trees, happy dogs, slugs, peace and beauty. I understood what both Gaia and
garden meant. Vikram told me over a cup of tea we made at the shared kitchen
that Gaiaโs garden was the dream abode of an architect from Netherlands who
built it for himself and his guests after he decided to move to Auroville with
his wife and daughter.
That was the morning my love affair with Auroville began.
As I walked along the aqueducts that circled all the rooms in the guest house,
I explored the acre wide garden discovering a large fish pond outside the house
of Kireet, the Dutch owner of Gaiaโs garden. Yes, he had a special place and in
here he had kept the quietest part to himself. It was enough to just sit and
chase fish swimming in the pools and the ducts, hearing the birds sing and the
leaves dancing to the nudges of wind.
As I walked along the aqueducts that circled all the rooms in the guest house,
I explored the acre wide garden discovering a large fish pond outside the house
of Kireet, the Dutch owner of Gaiaโs garden. Yes, he had a special place and in
here he had kept the quietest part to himself. It was enough to just sit and
chase fish swimming in the pools and the ducts, hearing the birds sing and the
leaves dancing to the nudges of wind.
It was surreal, like being in a dream.
I have
visited Auroville several times since then but as a budget traveller I find
myself unable to afford that studio apartment we had once rented. But I still
go to Gaiaโs garden once in a while to check the place and revel in its beauty.
Itโs heaven that you must visit.
visited Auroville several times since then but as a budget traveller I find
myself unable to afford that studio apartment we had once rented. But I still
go to Gaiaโs garden once in a while to check the place and revel in its beauty.
Itโs heaven that you must visit.
* * *
Have you found ‘The Philospher’s stone’ on facebook? If not then click here
Making a mental note to visit when I am in that part of the country.
ANy contact details/ mail/ site would be welcome ๐
I believe Vikram and Ishwinder will give you some soon. Drop by here if you have still not received them ๐
Sigh! To be in their shoes….
Meena I know!!! That’s why I featured them to sort of relive the fantasy through my own blog ๐ ๐
You described it so well … gotta visit for sure ๐
I hope you do!
Thank you Richa for your encouragement;
will try to improve more!
Kireet
Kireet your place is now on my must visit! Could you please also share some contact details with us so that others may get to know you better. Thanks! ๐
Hrishi: searching for pics , and then you will have a much nicer, will post contact details soon.
Amrit: places like.these can only exist in India when you plan to.go., get in touch will tell you all the info you need.
Mina: it took us 6 years but its totally worth
Kireet: You are as humble as ever,and meeting you is the bigger highlight while staying at Gaia’s garden
I am amazed not just by the beauty of this place but also the writing style. I could so relate to the being scared of dark and barking dogs and holding hand out of fright. The traveler in you I knew but today I also found the writer.
Lots of hugs to you both!
And yes this is the first time I am commenting on my own blog as an outsider ๐ felt good ๐
Well the place is really amazing and thank you for your kind words on my writing ๐ All in all it makes my day and I have come back to your blog several times today just to see this warm message.
This is our first guest post as well and so happy we wrote it for you!
Amazing writing….Looks like I must try it when I am around.
Yes Sugandha must try!! And could be gud for your writer’s block as well ๐
What a description!! Would love to see some pics!!
Vikram and Ishwinder will be sending soon ๐
Sounds like a little slice of heaven. I recently was on the road for 28 days straight. It had me going to all kinds of places. Some were definitely nicer than others. There is something to be said for the environment, but some environments are made in ways that aren’t superficial. Awesome to be able to travel, for sure ๐
Hi New you, where did you travel?
Aww, sounds so nice! Would love to travel there one day ๐
Yes of course please do, believe me it will be worth it ๐
I would love to travel. I despertly need a vacation.
Desperation leads to awesome travel experiences…there was a point when we were desperate
Great! I have visited Pondy and Auroville but would like to visit again – this time with my husband, some day soon. Where can one get more info about Gaia’s Garden?
Corinne I have asked Vikram and Ishwinder to furnish some details, they would do it very soon!
Hi, all the auroville guest houses are listed here,
https://www.aurovilleguesthouses.org/
Thank you so much! I hope everyone benefits out this link ๐
22 countries!!! wow that’s incredible..Nice post…Loved it!!!
Yes 22 countries!! It is something. And I am glad you enjoyed it ๐
This Gaia garden is news to me in spite of being in Pondicherry for so many years. I got to check this out and thank you for this information .
Please do Uma and let us know how you find it too! I am definitely going to check it when I am that side ๐
Auroville us beautiful and so is Pondicherry, having lived in Chennai I used to visit there quite often.. Btw when you described these travelers it reminded me of a couple who have taken 6 months off from work and are currently traveling around.. I have their blog link somewhere, will dig it out if you are interested ๐
Please please do share! This would be absolutely amazing to read ๐
never been to this place. going to try out this place when i am in pondi next time.
Hahahahahaaaa! I love these people, The Empty Rucksack guys. Tell them A Borrowed Backpack says Hi!
I loved the bit about Delhi being full of gardens, and then naming Rajouri garden in the same breath ๐ ๐ ๐
This was an awesome read. ๐
amarnaik: You will simply fall in love with Auroville. Do visit it at the next possible opportunity
aborrowedbackpack: thanQ, thanQ. Hi to you too!!