Rajarani temple and Lingaraj Temple on two wheels

This place is neither fancy (by that I mean it may not show up in most of the tourists ‘must visit’ places list) nor far, so, why did I choose this place? Well, I did not, it just happened and I'm glad it did!

I had rented bicycle from my college till 11 a.m. and had ventured out just to test my endurance level. This made an ideal destination as I had the directions to this place from a previous trip plan which had not materialized because my greed for sleep on a Saturday afternoon had overpowered my enthusiasm to visit a temple. Another reason I took up this route- it was at an appropriate distance i.e. 12 km.

Google Map of Lingaraj Temple ( Rajarani temple en-route)

I had started a little too late for a bicycle trip (at 7:45 a.m.). Wait, I'm sorry, did I mention it was a bicycle trip? Well that’s the reason I was looking for a place around 15 km from my college. I had missed the sunrise, early morning pleasant weather and sweet breeze and I was wishing not to fall asleep as I had only managed two hours of sleep the night before. The idea was to stay up all night as waking up early morning never seems to happen, But at 4 a.m. I had magically run out of everything to do. No more videos to watch, no more cleaning I could do, so eventually, I HAD to sleep. It did take me quite a lot of strength to get up from the bed but once I was up I was adamant on going out and exploring a new path if not a place. The wanderlust had to be quenched!

 A friend who gave his word to accompany me ditched me in the last minute and I had to once again go on my own.  This worked in my favour as a good motivation to visit a better place to be able to come back and make him jealous. Although, I do like travelling alone but this time I was advised by a senior not to venture out early in the morning alone. So, all I wanted was a reliable male company but alas I really suck at asking people to accompany me especially because a lot of them not only accept it solely out of sympathy (I can almost hear them say ‘Oh poor little girl, travelling alone’) but they also try to deter my spirits to go ahead with my plans. Okay now I feel like a liar so let me take the blame too, my trips are always last minute plans and subject to my mood on the scheduled time and this is why I have a hard time asking people to accompany coz there is really NO time to do so*.

Anyway, coming back to my trip, so, I had started to check my stamina while being on the route to Rajarani temple. Starting my bicycle experiments with a 25 km trip did not seem like a great idea but then I had started the journey to push my limits so had to ride through all the pain at the wrong places. I'm not sure if it was the extremely tough seat or the stretched journey but my backside first started hurting then it started hurting real bad and then it went numb only to get back at me with full vigour when I got off the bicycle and sat to cycle again.

I reached Rajmahal junction with little difficulty. I knew the temple wasn't too far from there unlike what others suggested. I carried on and reached Rajarani temple in 45 minute from starting point. I was the first visitor of the day at 8:30 a.m. actually I was the only visitor there till 9 a.m.

First View of the temple

The Sole Visitor

I was wondering if they get enough funds to maintain the temple. It had a vast garden and was extremely well maintained. All that aside, I hate using the word but the temple was a little ‘Spooky’ inside. There were no idols, it was awfully dark and of course I being the only visitor was not helping. The first time I went in I came out running. After a few minutes I tried again and with success.

Images from my first attempt, second and side view inside the temple in the second attempt

 I sat outside for some time appreciating the cleanliness and architecture.  Just a few minutes from all the hustle bustle of the work, there was this place that was amazingly quiet and beautiful. I could spend hours there sitting in silence just celebrating the simple pleasures of life.

The beautiful architecture

There were two men working on the garden bushes, I called the one I could see to click a picture of mine. I turned back to face the temple while fidgeting with my phone. A few minutes later I turned back to see him gone. Was cursing my luck and calculating the probability of him being a ghost when I turned back only to find him right behind me. Probability of he being a ghost shot up to 95%. He seemed high by the way he was wobbling on his feet. I did not have my shoes on else would have done my morning sprint to exit.

Happens very occasionally - Me, not smiling in a pic

I gave him the phone, quickly explained what to do and walked a little for him to click. I was not sure if he understood or took a snap I just wanted to get my phone back and leave, which I did. Human beings are so much scarier than ghosts.

While leaving I collected my change and had a small talk with the person issuing tickets. I told him about my plan of heading for Lingaraj temple. He advised me to be wary of the priests there. I took the advice and left with my bestie of the day- “Cycle No. 1”

Lingaraj temple was a different visit all together. It was very commercial like. Two wheeler parking tickets, puja material sellers, people sitting in a row asking for alms and all the typical city noise. I parked my bicycle, kept my shoes and cell with a watch-keeper and went in. 

From there to here

Lingaraj Temple has a total of 108 temples inside it. By the end of my temple tour I was saying only ‘Hello’ to the Gods. Took a quick round then sat behind a small temple that had red bangles tied all over the tree there. It was beautiful in its own way. The visitors had started pouring in but it was still very peaceful. Spent another 30 minutes in the serenity. I was surprisingly calm. Usually I’ve a lot of confessions and conversations to do with ‘Bhagwan ji’ but at that moment I could only appreciate everything around.  I headed back to avoid the peak hour traffic and terribly scorching weather. The return journey was tiring. Sun was right over my head; traffic was at its peak, Being Sunday the market area was all the more crowded.

I took a quick halt at an army cantonment area to check regarding a few things and more importantly just to have a view of the colony. No matter where I go, defence colony never seems cold or unfamiliar, it always gives me the feeling of home. When I enter through the gates I can almost feel a mother embracing her child and a father asking to be ‘right’.

I had overshot the rent time by half an hour. I met a few friends in college and couldn't help talking about the trip and then it was time for me to part from my “Cycle No. 1”, I'm sure it wouldn't be long before we head out to an equally charming place if not better.

Never miss an opportunity to get your picture clicked

And then, I headed back to my room to start the day - The day of Diwali.