Yerragunta Adventure

* Due to the alleged train hijack near Vyasarpadi the security was tightenned. To avoid problems and to stay safe, I avoid clicking photos even after entering into Andhra Pradesh. I have used photos taken during my previous trips to Vijayawada to add color to the travelogue. Enjoy reading!


Gist:-

* Boarding Navjeevan Express till Vijayawada.
* Taking a bus from Vijayawada to Yerragunta with the help of my friend Jayakar Sunkara who resides at Vijayawada. A three hour bus ride!
* Taking an auto from Yerragunta to Rajapuram to attend the marriage.
* The return trip is by lorry till Vijayawada and taking Navjeevan again to Chennai.

The report starts with an Indian flavour describing India, its villages and resources. The mood turns slightly adventurous, thrilling during the midnight hours in a lonely village and becomes romantic towards the end of the journey with me appreciating a girl's beauty.



May 3rd, 2009.

The much awaited day has come! I was to travel in my favorite route again. I love Chennai-Vijayawada route! Tickets were booked on March 22nd, 2009. Quite early! It was 0550hrs when I got up. I had a shave and I started for one of my greatest trips of my life. This trip would certainly go down in my memories as one of the finest ever like Rameshwaram, Madurai and Kumbakonam. There are many reasons for it. This was one of the trips which were characterized by different emotions. Fear, love, romance, friendship, admiration etc. Vijayawada also known as Bezawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North(as per wikipedia). Vijayawada means "The Place of Victory". Vijayawada is regarded as the “Business Capital of Andhra Pradesh”. Situated along the Madras-Howrah and Madras-Delhi Railway route, this is the largest railway junction of the South Central Railway region.

I boarded MRTS EMU at Kasturibai Nagar and arrived at Chennai Park at 0835hrs. I was at Chennai Central at 0840hrs, almost one hour early. Earlier, my Team Leaders and Assistant Managers had left in Rajdhani. I had chosen Navjeevan Express for many reasons. Since it crossed many states I believed that there would be many people belonging to different regions and ethnicity boarding it. I wanted to analyse/study their dressing style, lifestyle. Moreover, Coromandel and Navjeevan are regular trains (exclude Rajdhani and Jan Shatabdi) are the trains which cover Chennai-Vijayawada in day time. I wanted to enjoy the village scenery in the 431km(or 427km?) run up to Vijayawada. It is possible only in Navjivan or Coromandel as only they have Second Class Sleeper and proper windows unlike Jan Shatabdi. To see India traveling by second class sleeper is the best. There are also trains like Sampark Kranti and Tirukkural, but their timings don't match with our purpose always.

As expected, I got a window seat facing the locomotive. I can see the engine when it goes in a curve! One of my childhood fantasies! I always love watching the locomotive as the train negotiates the curve. Coromandel started a few minutes late. I believed that my departure would be delayed too, but my train started on time. The train started fast but later dropped its speed and walked through Tondairpet, Tiruvottiyur, Wimco Nagar. After Kathivakkam, the speed went down and for a long time the train kept below 60-70 kmph.

I was eagerly waiting for my train to cross the TN-AP border. I have a mysterious love and affection towards Andhra Pradesh, though I live in Tamilnadu. After Arambakkam, my train entered into Andhra Pradesh. I noticed a Bird Sanctuary on my right. Forgot the name but the board had a name called Pelican Paradise. I believe that the Pulicat Lake has got a bird sanctuary. I started feeling the summer heat. I could see buffaloes comfortably resting in ponds, refusing to come out. I too started perspiring. Since I was alone I wasn’t interested in eating at all for a long time. Somewhere after Sulurpeta, I had cutlets, bread with cheese and tomato sauce. My train reached Gudur on time. Just two hours for 138km? That was good speed. But my train was made to wait for half an hour to allow Sampark Kranti Express from Madurai to Nizammuddin to overtake my train. A girl dressed in rags came and asked for alms. Generally, I don't encourage such practices as I personally don't like opening wallets in public places. I quickly pulled a crumpled note and gave it to her. Rs.10/-. She accepted it without any second thoughts. Human life is similar to that of the crumpled note. How much ever crumpled and crushed the originality isn't lost! We never lose our value. I thank that girl for teaching me a lesson in life.


MAS-BZA section is quite scenic!

It is to be noted that barely four days earlier, a local EMU was allegedly hijacked and it resulted in an accident near Vyasarpadi. As a result of which I was in complete caution and I didn't want to let out the fact that I am a railfan. I didn’t want to invite trouble and unwanted attention. Not even a single photo was taken during the entire trip near Railway property. I resisted my temptation. My train was hauled by WAP-4#22543 of Erode Shed. I was in S6, 10th from the locomotive I think. Even as the train negotiated the curve beautifully, I had a bite of cutlet with tomato sauce listening to Back Street Boys- I want it that way-one of my all-time favorite songs. As my train moved towards Vijayawada, I saw many goods train heading towards Chennai. I could observe many WAG-9’s, WAG-7’s in WAP-4 shell hauling freighters.

As my train crossed Tanguturu, I saw a military rake with tanks and military coaches. I could see T-72 tanks on flatbed cars along with soldiers. The rake was slightly long and it also had green military A/C coaches too. At first, I thought all these forces were being sent as a protection force for elections. But what are tanks needed for? Something to think about. I think all these tanks were heading towards Avadi for repair works. I was amazed at my country's diversity. The Manipuri soldier in the train and I look different. Yet, we both come under the same banner of the Ashoka Emblem. We both use similar currency bearing the lions. We both are different, yet one and the same!


As I proceeded with my journey, I saw Pinakini, Navjivan Express (up train) and Coromandel Express rushing towards Chennai. I reached Vijayawada at 1635hrs bang on time! I felt the train could have gone a little faster. I never felt great speed at all, but I wonder how the train managed to go on time.


Typical Indian Railway atmosphere. I love IR !!!

My friend Jayakar Sankara was waiting for me at the entrance. He presented me a chocolate. He does it every time I visit Vijayawada. We both went to Mamata Restaurant in Governerpet, Vijayawada to have tiffin. We ordered for Masala Dosai but it wasn’t available. We settled for Idli’s. Idli was awesome. It was hot! Sambar, Kara chutney and Molaga pudi. Cheese was applied on Idli and it gave that extra taste. I went for another round as I was hungry and I haven’t had anything since morning except Cutlets and Bread in train and two dosas at home.

Then together we went to Vijayawada bus stand and I boarded a bus bound towards Bhadrachalam. I started at 1735hrs. It was to be a long ride. I wondered how I would be able to tackle the adventure ahead. Language was a barrier! I knew only English and Tamil whereas people over here knew Telugu and Hindi very well. Out of nowhere, I started speaking Hindi with little mistakes. The conductor was able to understand. Seriously, even now I don’t know what I spoke but things were working out. The road was neat and clean for sometime as we headed towards Bhadrachalam. The bus was an Express type bus and it didn’t stop at many stoppings. If my memory is right the first stopping came after one hour. It was pitch dark at that time. The bus was mildly crowded.

The journey got tougher as more people got in and there wasn’t much of air. I was advised by my boss to get down after two and a half hours of journey. To my horror the journey was even longer than expected. I thought I would reach the place at 1945hrs, but by that time I haven’t even reached Tiruvuru. The sun set was awesome! I could see distant mountains which added beauty to the sight.

I was slightly worried whether I would reach the place on time (I did reach before time). With broken pieces of Telugu and English, I asked the person next to me to remind me when Yerragunta stopping comes. He wasn’t able to understand me, but he understood by my actions. The state highway was lonely and not much of buses were seen. Later on I found out that Yerragunta was 110km (approx) from BZA. Roughly around 2045hrs I got down at Yerragunta. There were two small hotels and one small grocery shop. There were some small buildings and houses here and there. I thought that Yerragunta would be big but it was small.

Now comes the adventure. I need to go to a village called Rajapuram from here. It is at least 8km away from my present point. I wondered how to reach there. I called up my boss and he asked me to come in auto. Sadly, there wasn’t any auto around. There was a guy near the grocery shop who promised to bring an auto for me. With broken pieces of Hindi, English I convinced him. The guy asked me to come to a corner and said that auto was waiting there. I had other thoughts in my mind. Am I going to be kidnapped for kidneys, watch, 300 rupee cash, and cell phones? I told him, “Bring the auto here”. After sometime, he came and said that the auto has gone to Rajapuram and there is only auto for the entire village. He said it would take half an hour. I went to the nearby shop and bought a fanta bottle. The highway was deserted slightly except for that shop and a hotel nearby.

After half an hour, I got an auto. That auto already had some passengers. Ducklings, hen and two sleepy villagers. The driver demanded Rs.40 for 8km. I thought compared to Chennai it was a good deal. I boarded the auto and soon the auto was going through lonely muddy roads. I thought that I would be in trouble soon! I had played Computer games fighting in World War. I had slammed the Nazi's with my M1-Garand, bayonetted the Fascists. Is today going to be one real day of action? I wasn’t afraid but I was perspiring. Generally, I don’t wear watches. But today I had watches, mobile and some cash. I kept my knife ready just incase….. Remember the mysterious green bag which I always carry to office/trips/college?

I was keenly listening to their conversation in Hindi. I could understand that they were talking about IPL. Funny! Sometime later the auto stopped and a lady got in. Should be the auto driver's wife. The conversation was in Telugu now and I couldn’t understand a word. I arrived at Rajapuram. The town center was deserted with street dogs lying here and there. The village had a few huts, small houses and was very small. The other day earlier I had a look of everything through Google Earth. It helped me a lot. I was clear in my directions.

I reached the place at 2130hrs. Greeted my boss and went straight to dinner to meet my Team Leaders Srinivas, Matthews and Ramesh and my Asst.Managers Sajid and Ramkrishnan. I sat along with Nick and had my dinner. The dinner was nice and good. But I drank a lot of water initially so I wasn’t able to eat much. Ice creams were served twice. Molaga Bajji was too spicy in my opinion. We stayed there for some time and after wishing Udai the very best in life we departed.

Now comes the real adventure. The auto-driver was half drunk. 8 people in one auto! We were to travel back from this village to the Yerragunta Road Jn. 4 people in front and 4 people in back. Nick, Ramesh, Auto Driver and Srinivas in front. Ramkrishnan, Sajid, Matthews with myself on Matthews lap! The auto suffered to touch 20-30kmph. As the journey started we started pulling each others leg. It was loads of fun! More fun was yet to come! Ramesh and I had the same thoughts. All these adventures don’t come across our lives always. It’s rare! We arrived at the bus stop at midnight. I called up my friend Jayakar and he said that the bus frequency in night would be less and there may not be a direct bus to Vijayawada.

Matthews, Ramkrishnan and Nick settled in a tea-shop bench and went to sleep. It was upto Sajid, Srinivas and myself to stop buses and lorries and inquire about the destination. If the lorry was going towards Vijaywada we would be boarding it. We took turns stopping lorries. I guessed that the lorry drivers were afraid to give us a lift because they feared that we were naxals. Atlast a lorry driver agreed to give us a lift. We all got into the cab! Now it’s not the railway engine which I used to board in yesteryears! It’s a lorry. Nick, Ramesh, Sajidh, Srinivas in back seat. Ramkrishnan near the door, Matthews and myself on top of engine box. Readers recollect that I had a similar trip near Poompukar, Southern India on July 14th, 2008during my road trip to Keezha Perumpallam from Sirkazhi! I had another chance now.

The lorry driver said that he would reach Vijaywada in 90 minutes. It was a nice joke! We arrived at Vijayawada only after 180 minutes of travel. I preferred to stay awake for some time to watch the scenery. The lorry was going through a picturesque scenario. The road wasn’t great. I observed that only in the return journey. I was sitting near the front glass now, so I had a better view now. The lorry was crossing through Chodavaram, Laxmipuram. I believe that Yerragunta belonged to the Chandrugonda Mandal of Andhra Pradesh. Mandal is something to similar to what we call “districts” or “taluk” in Tamil and “Tehsils” in Northern India???? Can anyone throw light on this?


Entrance to Vijayawada Railway Station.

It was a different experience. The trip still promised to offer more. Many thanks to Matthews/Ramesh for suggesting the lorry idea. It proved to be extremely adventurous and humorous too. If Ramkrishnan, Ramesh and Matthews weren’t been around there wouldn’t have been enough fun. Ramkrishnan and I fell asleep after 45 minute of ride. The rest were awake for a long time.

We arrived at Vijayawada at around 0430hrs. We boarded a local city bus and got down at railway station. Matthews was tired and he decided to return in bus after taking a nice nap.

The decisive moment was yet to come! I had booked tickets in A/C Three tier for the first time in life. There are many reasons for it. Generally, I avoid luxurious in travel as it inquires cost. The present situation might be good but I always remember my country’s past. I don’t want to be a prey for IT/BPO culture and get carried away by it. I like being simple. Even in my house, I haven’t got luxurious things. My body is ready to accept wear and tear for the righteous cause. In my life I have observed luxurious people suppressing normal people, I also consider too much of luxury as a pre-cursor to evil. Maybe that’s why I like the Soviet Union (former USSR/CCCP), even after its collapse/failure in 1991. And also the best way to enjoy the Indian atmosphere is to travel along with the people in normal second class.

If so why did I book tickets in 3AC? Many reasons! I need to report to duty the same day evening and I had been sleepless for consecutive days. This would add pain for the coming weeks. I had heard of extreme heat conditions of A.P. I felt the heat during my DOWN journey towards Vijayawada the day earlier. So I decided not to take risk. Judging all these tickets were booked in A/C even months earlier.

Since I had an A/C ticket I was allotted Air Conditioned Waiting Room. I could see the difference between the unfortunate and the fortunate. I hate to see humans/animals suffering. I believe in oneness of human race. I knew my voice is unheard. Maybe some good soul reading this blog would know it. Enough of Socialist literature!!

Since I had a A/C travel ticket, I was eligible to use the AC waiting room. As I charged up my mobile, I saw a girl in green shirt and jean. She was pretty in my opinion and must be 20 or 21. I liked her eyes very much. I liked the softness and calmness in her face. It’s not often that I appreciate and write about women’s beauty. Since I haven’t got a sister majority of the time I wrote the same Ramayanam saying that I have no sister. Rarely, I sight girls. Believe it or not! That’s the truth!

Okay let’s come back to her…..

She was awesome in my opinion. Generally, I have observed that girls in the age of 19,20 show too much of "bandha"(scene) even if a couple of boys look at them. But she was so different and I appreciate that. In a railway station, I was looking at a girl than looking at an engine. I want to check my mother’s reaction after reading this. My mom believes that it’s been 22 years and I can’t be changed anymore and I would continue to be a rail fan.

She defeated me with her looks. I felt different within my heart. Felt so good after a long time. It was hard, yet it feels so good. I feel heaven when I looked in her eyes. After reading this, few people might think that I am a "pachai porikki" or tapori. Few might think that I am poetic. Everyone is entitled for their own opinions.

Even when I got my first salary long time back, I bought a blue-shirt and black pant and wore it! It’s not for fashion! That’s the uniform for Indian Railway Loco-Pilot. A job which I aspired for in the past! An occupation I respect at heart. Wherever I go, whatever work I do I would always respect my job, I would wear blue-shirt and black pant as a sign of respect to the Indian Railways.

Navjivan Express arrived at 0945hrs. 45 minutes late I believe. I boarded B2. This time I got a window seat facing guard so I was traveling backwards. There was also a family comprising of 4 traveling along with me. One man, his wife and their two small girls. One of the girls went to Upper Berth. The other one sat on my lap for sometime to look out of the window. She was excited to see WAG-9’s hauling goods at high speed. She got elated every time, a WAP-4 blasted towards Vijayawada with an express/mail/passenger. I asked her name and she said it as Stephanie. Both the girls looked fair and cute. They should be less than 8. Generally, I note train names, numbers, engine numbers, kilometer post, but nowadays I simply focus on speed, scenery and travel.

During the return I was in A/C, while my Asst. Managers and TL’s were in Sleeper. I can’t ask for leave, as the first thing they would ask me to do is to take rest as I was in A/C. I believed that they should have returned in A/C than booking the down journey in A/C(Rajdhani). My train arrived at Tenali late. I thought that I would reach MAS only at 1800hrs. I had Aloo Vada and sauce. I didn’t feel like eating. Was it because of that girl? Since I was alone I wasn’t interested. I climbed up and got into Middle Berth. For the first time in life I was going to sleep in a day journey and also for the first time in a berth other than lower berth. Generally, I prefer lower berths as it is easier to run to the door to capture photos of incoming train, especially during night journeys.

As I got into Middle Berth, I just thought of that girl for sometime. It brought a smile on my face. The A/C was good. I closed my eyes and when I opened I saw Stephanie’s sister looking at me curiously from the upper berth with her head pointing down. She couldn’t understand the reason for my smile. I couldn’t explain her. She was too young to understand. She said,” Good Night” innocently. I closed my eyes again.

I got up only at Nellore. I had slept for 160km!!!My train has crossed Chirala, Kavali! My train was on top of Pennar River. I guessed it by the sounds of the tracks. Generally, if a train goes over a bridge sounds are different. I got down and started observing the coach. The outside scenery was clearly visible. The sound was slightly muffled. Dhadhak! Dhadhak! was missing slightly. Comfort level was good.

As my train came nearer to Chennai the speed dropped. Since local trains were running, I believe my train was made to trail it as in sub-urban section local trains are given preference. My train slowly crossed Ennore, Kathivakkam, Wimco Nagar and Tondairpet and reached Chennai Central at 1650hrs. Exactly 45 minutes late! I bid good bye to Stephanie and her family. I joined my colleagues who looked quite tired after being fried in Sleeper for the past the 7 hours. Srinivas dropped me at Purasaiwakkam as he had come in bike. I boarded M 248 to Ambattur Industrial Estate and carried on with my work. I logged in at 1900hrs and soon I was talking to Mr.Paul Turner of Scotland. Mr. Turner was paying his bills by cash and I convinced him to accept a better supplier! He was refusing to give his banking details i.e the Account Number and Sort Code. I really needed to fan his ego and I indeed got the job done! He agreed and accepted the product. I transferred the call to the Third Party in Phillipines(TPV) and they spoke with him and checked whether I had given all details in a proper manner. Telemarketting isn't a easy job! I need to be in this job for the next few months! The SALE was completed with QUALITY marked as GOOD!

I returned home at 0300hrs the next day. It’s been a real adventure! An awesome trip. Thriller, travel, adventure, love, romance, high speed train action! What more can I ask for?

-Krishna Kumar.S