Visit to Kitam Lake, near Agra on Dec 17, 2005

A trip to Kitam lake is a must for all Air Force people

as it offers a free picnic place away from all the known places

of tourist interest in Agra.

 

So such an occasion was already availed by me when i was posted here

in 1993 to 1999.

 

this is second time we went there as Airforce picnic

 

this time the participants are from C Eng O complex and IL76 people

 

last time it was totally IL only - that time i was without family

 

the lake is a good bird sanctuary, near to the world famed

bharatput sanctuary

 

the baratpur sanc. is on the jaipur road

 

this kitam lake is on the mathura-delhi road

 

the old rusty air force bus (coach!) took 20 kmph speed to slowly

reach the 4 laned broad roads to delhi

 

from 4 area gate, to the shah ganj then take a left turn

to join the sikandra road

 

we already seen the Akbar's tomb sikandra 3 times, so we just went on.

 

the sikandra road is fully developed, both sides of the roads are

full of new shops, new businesses, car marts...

 

Agra is developing fast, though not as fast as it should be

 

Times of India includes an Agra supplement now a days, like they do a Chandigarh-Times

 

with in 30 mins of drive you reach the wooded area of the kitam, a board says

welcome.

 

at the end of the road, right hand side, we see a park, the Sur Das park

 

famous Dalit Kavi Sur Das who sang glorious versus on Krishna, born here in

Kitham District, UP

 

We see his statue made of red sand stone, his temple with krishna, and the statue of

his guru Ballabhacharjee - a Brahmin

 

a Brahmin guru for a Dalit in those times....

 

The head dress of Sur Das, a blind singer, is like an Egyptian King, a high rise

rectangular cap...

 

the temple is a simple construction, like all northern temples.

 

the park is also very basic.

 

behind the park is the Sur Das Blind School

 

we visit the school, as an unusual sithar sound invites us by ear.

 

the sithar player is a blind person, our video found a light and sound event now

 

i just tell the sithar man to play it so that i can record his abilities

 

he was flush with joy, now more concerted effort of music flows from him

 

when we come back and play the video, we see this blind school-boys-the sithar

all added a value to our film... which is nothing but a part of our recorded life..

 

we also saw the famous Brijka nadhi, the YAMUNA - JAMUNA flowing (!) stand still

with its always muddy, deep waters begin the park...

 

our bengali friend buys 3 kilo long fish for rs.100 only from a boatman

 

in market it will be at least 300 rs.

 

so, anyhow, i told the happiness of hearing the sithar and seeing the river.

 

now we had the lunch: puri, mattar paneer, chai and pulav.

 

now the bus again burrs to the actual lake part of the place

 

the lake is really big and lengthy

 

the waters of it are dammed and sluiced to suppy the nearby fields...

 

the lake has many avian visitors [birds] from many parts of the world..

we spotted two white birds..

 

boating service is stopped - the rusted old boats simply lay there for a better

silhouette shot

 

from there we went to a small temple nearby amidst the fields...

 

the "Nilaththan Kovil" you can call it...

 

the Temple has a story..

 

when King Dasarath could not get children, he came here to pray..

 

a sanyasi sadhu who was meditating here gave him a var dhan

 

due to which the King Dasarath was bestowed with a beautiful child, the Rama

 

so many childless couples come here to pray..

 

we also prayed...

 

return time it is sun setting on the left side of Akbar's wife's Tomb

called the Mariam's Tomb.

 

it is just opposite to Akbar's Tomb, the Sikandra.

 

in mariam's tomb we realise that the Lady Mariam is not christian

 

she was a Rajput girl married to Akbar as next to Jodha Bai

 

so Akbar conquered india like this only!

 

so the Mariams tomb was also beautiful mughal architecture..

 

i am seeing it as 3rd 4th time.

 

we captured the sun set at the eastern side of the Tomb..

 

a beautiful photo

 

the bus at the same 20kmph returned to Kheria Mode via the Bhagwan Theatre,

the Bridge, the Sanjay Place...

 

Life is again back to routine

 

One day picnic added a good fantastic memory to our life.

 

next?