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Sachkhand express initiates in Nanded every morning and finishes its journey in Amritsar the next day after running for 34 hours.
We boarded the train at Aurangabad. We were provided free langar at the station. A bowl full of vegetable rice. At Manmad station, vendors sell pomegranate in little packets. At nine in the evening we reached Khandwa where devotees served rotis called ‘parshada’ with kaali daal to the travelers onboard train.
The train itself is considered holy since it connects two major centers of Sikh pilgrimage, Golden Temple and Hazoor Sahib. This was my first overnight journey on a train and we were pampered all the way by the kindness of the believers. 24 hours passed by quicker than usual.
Here is my video log of the journey:
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I just tumbled across your website/blog and have been on a binge-reading-spree for the last 3 hours on your travels. Commendable job you two; it gives us many insights into places we would like to travel in the near future.
I write specifically on this post. The sachkand express that you mention goes to a settlement in Beas by the name Dera Baba Jaimal Singh – which is a spiritual place. From what I gather of your travels, you would love to visit this small city nearby Amrtisar for what it has to offer.
No private vehicles are allowed inside, thus the place is entirely devoid of pollution. Accommodation is dirt cheap or can be free (if you wouldn’t mind dharamshala style houses, and trust me they are leaps and bounds better than others in India). Greenery all round; weather even in the summer seems pleasant for this reason. Food is very nominal and/or free if you try the langar meals. The whole vibe of the place is very mellow and positive.
I know by posting about a spiritual destination I risk sounding proselytistic, I assure you I’m not. But keep in mind, the community (for lack of a better word) practices lacto vegetarianism and abstains from alcohol and intoxicants (including smoking).
I’m not a religious person by any means, but this is one place I love to visit any time my parents wish to do so. You could also attend the sermons/satsang that happens at 8 am – for which you would have to get up at 5 am to take your bath with ice cold water, have you breakfast and then walk down 3-4 kms to the arena where the satsang is held. The teachings aren’t religious and doesn’t hold any rituals/practices or anything of the sort. It is very open and I must say despite being a very pessimist agnostic, it is the only place whose teachings makes the most sense amongst all that are their in this weird world.
If you do plan to visit, the best place to stay would be the hostels (from your blog I gather this would be your preferred choice). You can get in touch with the authorities and they arrange everything. However, keep in mind this accommodation should be arranged atleast a month in advance.
I leave you with a sentence I have already used –
The entire vibe of the place is very mellow and positive, just the kind a traveller escaping from commercialism would want!
Beas station is the second to last station; just before Amritsar.