Sunday, December 24, 2017

Railway station Barog and whispering in tunnel number 33

Shimla, India:
Shimla Kalka UNESCO World Heritage narrow gauge train of India covers it's 96 kilometers route with 880 bridges, over 919 turns and 102 tunnels all through the scenic Himalayan valley which is covered with beautiful coniferous trees of pines, deodars, oaks, willows and blooming dendron.
Shimla, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla Railway Station, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla Railway Station, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla Railway Station, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Shimla Railway Station, India, a hill city at 2276 m

Kalka Shimal Railway, India, a World Heritage narrow gauge train

Kalka Shimal Railway, India, a World Heritage narrow gauge train


Railway station Barog:
My train 52456 reached on a sunny, cool afternoon of 6th December 2017 to a railway station Barog, operational since it's inception in 1903 at 1560 m elevation in Himalayan valley, borrows it's name from an English gentleman Colonel Barog, a British Engineer then in British India, who was responsible for making of the adjacent 1143.61 m long tunnel, now recorded as straightest in the world.

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation and Barog tunnel number 33

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation and Barog tunnel number 33

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation and Barog tunnel number 33


His master's apparition:
As train stopped at the platform of the Barog railway station, I saw a black dog looking towards the adjacent tunnel number 33 from behind the station building, as if he was waiting for his master to appear from somewhere. That's a sad story to recount.

Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

Barog tunnel number 33 at Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

Barog tunnel number 33 at Barog railway station at 1531 m elevation

The sad story:
It is said that due to his minor miscalculation, both ends of then excavated tunnel could not meet in the center as it was supposed to be. His due frustration and Re 1 humiliating fine from then British authorities aggravated his depression.


He killed himself by his service revolver at that very entrance of the failed tunnel number 33.  It was his dog that came rushing back to the nearby people to take them to the spot where his master Colonel Barog lay in a pool of blood on that fateful day. His grave lies there ever since. Tunnel and railway station is now known as Barog to his honour.

The whispering:
Scary silence echoes the train reverberations of carriage wheels & whistling engine when train enters into this long, dark, wet, eerie, damp tunnel. These reverberating sound in tunnel number 33 seems to be mixed with the whispering of Colonel Barog too.


Locals believe that his apparition is often seen in and around, moving to and fro this tunnel in frustration, riding his horse.

(Note:Pictures and travel account from author's personal journey made on 6th December 2017 afternoon)

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Acre (Akko): historical walled port city of Israel

Acre, also called as Akko or Akka, is an old historical city on the northern extremity of the Haifa bay with thick sandstone walls, fortresses, strongholds - true to the spirit of Israeli tourist site statement, which says: 'Acre is a meeting place for East and West, new and old, beauty and ruins, all adding to its uniqueness.'

Following are the pictures, in and around of old historical walled city Akka, taken by the author in his visit.
Beautiful looking Mediterranean sea and alongside road, on way to Akka

historical walled port city of Akka

'Land Gate' of the Akka city

'Land Gate' of the Akka city

Akka city as it looks after entering through 'Land Gate'

The Great Prison of Akka, then at the rule of Sultan Abdul-Aziz of the Ottoman empire

Al-Jazzar main mosque of the city, as it looks from the fortified barracks of the Akka prison

Al-Jazzar main mosque of the city, as it looks from the fortified barracks of the Akka prison, from the steps of second floor

House of Abbud in Akka

Just outside at the house of the Abdullah Pasha

Garden and Mansion of Mazra'ih in Akka, Israel

Garden and Mansion of Mazra'ih in Akka, Israel

Garden and Mansion of Mazra'ih in Akka, Israel

Garden of Ridvan and the building therein

Garden at Mansion of Mazra'ih in Akka, Israel

way to shrine of Baha'u'llah at Bahji near Akka

Baha'i garden at the shrine of Baha'u'llah, Bahji near Akka

Baha'i garden at the shrine of Baha'u'llah, Bahji near Akka

Baha'i garden at the shrine of Baha'u'llah, Bahji near Akka

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Haifa: Israeli city on the slopes of Mount Carmel

Haifa built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, a major sea port located on Mediterranean coast of Israel in the Bay of Haifa.

Mount Carmel, a most biblical place, sacred to many, the home of Elijah, the Hill of God and his Vineyard, extolled by Isaiah as the Mountain of the Lord to which 'all nations shall flow'.

A bit of history excerpt, interesting from Indian point of view, from Wikipedia reads as; 'Haifa was captured from the Ottomans in September 1918 by Indian horsemen as they attacked the Turkish positions on the flanks and overrun their artillery guns on Mount Carmel'.

Following are pictures of some buildings, shrine and monuments from Haifa down town and Mount Carmel as well, taken by the author in his visit.
Haifa buildings

Haifa buildings

Haifa buildings

Haifa buildings

Sail tower in Haifa

Sail tower and other Haifa buildings

Mount Carmel view from Ben Gurion street

Bab's shrine on Mount Carmel

Night view of Bab's shrine on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Baha'i World Centre buildings on Mount Carmel

Night view of down town Haifa and port from Baha'i shrine

view of down town Haifa and port from Baha'i shrine


Panoramic view of down town Haifa and port from 19th terrace of Baha'i garden on Mount Carmel

Panoramic view of down town Haifa and port from Mount Carmel