Dec 23, 2015
Train from Mumbai at 2245.
Dec 24, 2015
Reached Bhopal station at 1400. Didn't find any good hotels near the station. Plain rice and egg curry was a safe bet at a small roadside hotel. Left for Habibganj bus terminal immediately and boarded one at 1500. A better option would have been to get down at Habibganj from train and take the bus from Inter state Bus terminal from there.
It took another 50 minutes to Obaidullahganj and further 20 minutes later, the driver stopped for Bhimbetkal. A small road towards the the right off the highway leads towards Bhimbetkal. A small rail crossing and another 1 km further, you reach the ticket counter (Rs. 50/-),nothing extra for camera. From there its an uphill walk of 3 km to reach the main point. Its serene and peaceful as it falls in the Ratapani Sanctuary. Had some Langurs for company on the way.
On the way you get to see many smaller shelters and rocky terrains. Reached the main site at 1500. Paid a guide 250 bucks for a quick tour of the place.
Have to be back some other time to visit all the caves spread around the area. Seems there are over 700 sites spread across this area which is a part of the Satpura ranges.
Last to leave the park, decided to walk down the hill rather than taking a lift. That's the best way to enjoy the silence and nature. Back on the main road, it was dark at 1830 to add to it no lights on the road. Got a bus plying towards Bhopal. It was cold (Around 11 deg). Decided on not buying a jacket or sweater. Reached the SBI guesthouse at 2000. Took a while to convince the caretaker about my booking for the night!
Dec 25 , 2015
Left at 0930 hrs to Bhopal bus stand near the railway station. Enquired at railway station but the next train would be at 15 00 only. Got onto a bus going to Vidisha at 1200. Sanchi would be after Salamatpur. One can see numerous orange, guava farms and the Tropic of Cancer mark on the way.
Reached around 1330. Sanchi Stupa site was ridiculously overcrowded. One can make out the families having no sense of history moving around making their own references of history! Whatever was left off from history has been well preserved, may be because of the interest shown by the Buddhist nations to a large extent!
The main gateways of Stupa 1 are rich in carvings and brahmi script. Buddha relics can be seen all around. Few including the one at temple 45 near the remains of the monastery was well preserved. Left at 1700 from there. Bus ride back to Bhopal station and took Bhopal-Panvel train at 1945.
Dec 26, 2015
Got down at Igatpuri and took the Manmad Mumbai train. Back to Mumbai at 1200.
