Last week I visited Kanpur, a city in Uttar Pradesh. I got to see very less of the city itself though. I mostly resided in IIT campus.
I was traveling along my toddler aged two and a half. We rarely get to spend so much time together. We enjoyed our peace on the move. I was excited and tensed to begin with then I slowly relaxed and started enjoying my journey. My most occupying task on the tour was to keep my son entertained. We managed fairly well with the help of a puzzle, three story books, a pack of animal shaped biscuits, few crayons and a blank notebook.
A long journey 24 hours took me to Kanpur. I must admit, I was not impressed by the first pictures of the city. It looked clumsy, dirty and crowded. Any railway station in India, for that matter, can be labeled with these three adjectives- clumsy, dirty and crowded. Kanpur was no exception.
In another half an hour, I was inside the campus. It was opposite of the city. It was free from pollution, noise and grime.
Here are some of the photos I took on the Campus. Bicycle is the main mode of transport here.
I was traveling along my toddler aged two and a half. We rarely get to spend so much time together. We enjoyed our peace on the move. I was excited and tensed to begin with then I slowly relaxed and started enjoying my journey. My most occupying task on the tour was to keep my son entertained. We managed fairly well with the help of a puzzle, three story books, a pack of animal shaped biscuits, few crayons and a blank notebook.
A long journey 24 hours took me to Kanpur. I must admit, I was not impressed by the first pictures of the city. It looked clumsy, dirty and crowded. Any railway station in India, for that matter, can be labeled with these three adjectives- clumsy, dirty and crowded. Kanpur was no exception.
In another half an hour, I was inside the campus. It was opposite of the city. It was free from pollution, noise and grime.
Here are some of the photos I took on the Campus. Bicycle is the main mode of transport here.
Or you can hire a cycle-rickshaw.
Or simply walk.
This is the Visitor’s Hostel, where I stayed.
And one more of VH
And this was the view from my room 
Like every Indian I was thrilled at the thought of visiting Ganga, the most sacred river of India. My visit to Kanpur gave me this opportunity. We visited Ganga near Bithoor. To the much of my disappointment Ganga was not the Ganga of my dreams. It was imprisoned by the so-called devotees of Ganga. For me, Ganga symbolized Enormity, Purity and Abundance. But it lacked all. A very filthy narrow road took us to one of the Ghats. Road was lined up with small shops selling plastic cans for devotees to take back Ganga-Jal (water from the holy river Ganga). Ghat was beset with Sadhus and Pujaris, who offered us to do Ganga Mayya ki Puja. Ignoring them we moved forward. And finally saw the Ganga.
I was disenchanted by the first Darshan of Gnaga. Photographs are so deceptive!Then our guide took us to Valmiki Ashram, birthplace of Luv and Kush.
This place was relatively clean. But it lacked the authenticity and old charm. It represented a sort of fabricated history for pilgrims. I disliked it entirely.We also visited Seeta ki Rasoi (Seeta’s kitchen). This place looked ancient. Pujari was cleaning the temple. He guided us by pointing the broom in his hand towards the temple. Hypocrisy in all its forms was manifested there.
My journey ended well though. I got these beautiful flowers from a roadside vendor. 
These flowers were meant for Puja. I just took them away. That was my way of protest.
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