Family Getaway to Shimla | Annadale, Ridge, Jakhu Temple, Naldehra, Advanced Studies

Day 1 

at the Annandale Army Heritage Museum

Back in June 2026, my small family—my wife, our 4.5-year-old child, and I—headed off on a quick 2-day trip to Shimla. We stayed for one night and returned the next day, but managed to hit some of the most famous spots in the area.

If you’re curious about our itinerary, here is how our journey unfolded!

Getting There: Panchkula to Annandale

We set off early in the morning from Panchkula and reached the Annandale Military Museum around 11: 45 AM.

Navigating Shimla with your own vehicle can be an adventure in itself. We took the Circular Road—which is essentially the main loop around the city center. Keep in mind that vehicles aren't allowed near the Mall Road or the Ridge, so you either have to park in designated lots or walk.

While the main Circular Road is well-maintained and wide enough for two-way traffic, the narrow bypasses and steep downhill roads leading off it are a different story. If you aren't comfortable driving on tight, steep mountain lanes, I’d strongly recommend parking your car and relying on local cabs. Being a confident driver, I decided to drive my own car down toward the Annandale valley.

Arriving at Annandale

The drive down to Annandale leads toward a famous historical ground. It’s not just any cricket ground—it serves as an army training site and is home to one of the regional Army Commands. The public isn't allowed on the main ground, but you can visit the incredible Army Heritage Museum located right next to it.

Parking Tip: There is no dedicated parking lot right outside the museum because space is tight on the hillside. When I tried to pull slightly inside the main entry gate, an Army sentry kindly informed me that parking inside wasn't allowed. I had to park along the roadside instead.

Despite the minor parking hassle, the location is breathtaking. Surrounded by lush, towering deodar trees and crisp mountain air, the peaceful ambiance instantly refreshes you.

Inside the Museum: History & Virtual Reality

We spent about an hour exploring the museum. The main building showcases rich military history, including historical uniforms and memorabilia from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

In a second building nearby, they offer an immersive VR Battle Simulator game. You put on a VR headset and get thrown into a simulated battleground scenario complete with realistic surround sound. It’s a paid activity, but definitely worth trying! Though we missed it because there was a bit of a tourist crowd at the place, and I sensed that we would be late. 

Artillery Legends & Quick Bites

Outside, near a cozy cafe serving local staples like hot Maggi and snacks, you get a beautiful elevated view of the ground. Surrounding the museum area are several historic artillery guns on display:

• 100mm Artillery Gun

  
  
  

• 106mm Recoilless Anti-Tank Gun: The display pedestal notes that this formidable US-origin weapon was used in the 1971 Indo-Pak War in the Western Sector. Mounted on 4x4 Jeeps for quick "shoot-and-scoot" mobility, this legendary weapon was famously used by CQMH Abdul Hamid to destroy Pakistani Patton tanks during the Battle of Asal Uttar in September 1965, earning him the Param Vir Chakra.

  
  
  

Before moving on to our next destination, we took plenty of photos near the heavy artillery displays and a model of the HAL Rudra helicopter.

A few other clicks at the Army Museum:

A Heart-Pounding Drive & Checking In

After spending about an hour at the museum, we packed up and hit the road again around 1:30 PM.

Instead of turning back, we decided to drive forward along the same route toward the Kaithu area. Looking back, this led to the most nerve-wracking part of the entire drive!

I took a sharp right onto an uphill road that proved insanely steep. As we neared the top—right where this road merges back onto the main Circular Road near the historic Victoria Tunnel—the gradient became so extreme that our car started struggling to pull forward. It was a genuine heart-thumping moment! My heart was racing as I scrambled to find a safe spot to pull over.

Crucial Driving Tip: Unless you're driving a high-torque vehicle or are extremely confident in extreme hill starts, do not take the steep shortcut uphill from Kaithu. Continue straight through the gentler route toward Kaithu to rejoin the Circular Road smoothly.

To lighten the load, I had my wife and child step out of the car for a moment. With just me inside, I managed to pull the car up the final stretch safely—much to everyone's relief!

Reaching the Hotel: Treebo The Alpine Heritage

Once back on the main Circular Road, we drove through the bustling Sanjouli area toward our hotel, which I had pre-booked via MakeMyTrip: Treebo The Alpine Heritage Residence.

The location was ideal—situated right below the main Circular Road, right next to the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. It offered easy accessibility while keeping us close to the main route for the rest of our sightseeing.

Hotel Review: Treebo The Alpine Heritage

We arrived a bit earlier than standard check-in time, but the hotel staff was accommodating and allowed us to check in early without any hassle.

Because the hotel is built into the hillside, the reception area is on the top level. Our room was two floors below reception, so we had to carry our luggage down two flights of stairs. The helper offered to help, but we carried only one light bag, so I did it myself.

To be completely honest, the room left a lot to be desired—especially given the ₹3,500 per night tariff:

• The Room & Amenities: The room was very basic. The walls had peeling paint in a few spots, the door looked worn out, and the door lock mechanism was partially broken. The TV wasn't functional either. The worst - there was not a single window to peek outside.

• The Positives: On the bright side, the bathroom had hot running water and a working shower, which is an absolute essential in the mountains! As for air conditioning, there wasn't one, but given Shimla’s cool weather, it wasn't needed anyway.

Our Take: Finding good, budget-friendly accommodation near the Circular Road on short notice via MakeMyTrip was tough, so we decided not to make a fuss. Since we only needed a place to sleep for one night, we settled in and made the best of it.

Heading to the Ridge & Mall Road

After resting for a couple of hours, we refreshed ourselves and got ready to explore the heart of Shimla.

The hotel staff gave us a handy local tip: instead of driving and struggling with parking again, we could catch a local public bus right from the main road to the Shimla Lift (located about 2 to 3 km from the hotel).

The bus ride was quick and convenient. Once at the Lift complex, we bought tickets for the two-stage elevator that takes you straight up the hillside, dropping you right onto the iconic Mall Road and The Ridge.

Exploring The Ridge: Siddu, Sun, and Iconic Views

By around 3:30 PM, we had made our way from the Lift to The Ridge. It was a pleasant 15 to 20-minute walk—bustling with tourists, but because vehicle traffic is completely banned in the area, walking with a young child was easy and relaxed.

The sun was out, but the mountain air kept it comfortably cool. Naturally, we kicked things off with some ice cream before trying a local Himachali delicacy: Siddu (a traditional steamed, stuffed bread popular in Kullu and Shimla). At ₹100 a piece, it was surprisingly filling and kept our energy up for the rest of the afternoon!

After eating, we strolled around taking photos. We made sure to snap the classic tourist shot in front of the historic Christ Church—a must-visit photo spot for anyone visiting Shimla.

Travel Note: The Ridge ground was busy with crews setting up a stage and grandstands for the upcoming Shimla Summer Festival, scheduled to start in a day or two. Even with the setup underway, the atmosphere was lively and enjoyable.

Visiting Christ Church & Planning the Jakhu Hike

We popped inside the quiet interior of Christ Church. If you want to light a devotional candle inside, keep in mind that the counter only accepts cash (no UPI or Paytm options were available). Since we weren't carrying physical cash, we spent a few peaceful moments inside before heading back out.

With the sun still shining brightly, we decided to make our way toward the famous Jakhu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

The route from The Ridge to Jakhu Temple is a steep, continuous uphill hike. If you enjoy trekking and are in good physical shape, walking up on foot is a great experience—though if you're traveling with elderly family members or aren't up for an intense climb, you might want to consider alternative options.

The Hike to Jakhu Temple: Nostalgia vs. Modern Convenience

Having hiked up to Jakhu Temple over a decade ago—around 2011 or 2012—I couldn't help but notice how dramatically the trail has transformed.

Back then, the path was in its raw, pristine state: an unpaved, natural trail of stone, red earth, and pine needles. Today, that old-world mountain charm has given way to modern infrastructure. The entire route is now fully paved with concrete, complete with built-in steps and continuous handrails guiding you all the way to the base of the temple complex.

While purists and nature lovers might miss the untouched trail of the past, the new pathway is undoubtedly much safer and far easier to navigate for families, children, and elderly devotees.

Modern Amenities at the Summit

Upon reaching the top, I was surprised to find another major upgrade: a two-stage outdoor escalator! Similar to what you see in airports or shopping malls, these covered electric escalators effortlessly carry visitors up the final steep incline toward the main temple shrine.

Reaching the summit is certainly much more convenient now than it was a decade ago. Standing tall at the peak is the iconic, vibrant saffron-colored statue of Lord Hanuman. Soaring over 108 feet high, this massive monument can be spotted from miles away across various peaks and viewpoints throughout Shimla!

Prayers, Bubbles, and the Walk Back Down

Inside the main temple, we paid our respects and offered our prayers to Lord Hanuman, completing a traditional parikrama (circumambulation) around the sanctum sanctorum. After soaking in the peaceful atmosphere and taking a few photos around the iconic 108-foot statue, we began our descent.

We took the escalators down first and then followed the paved concrete pathway back toward the Ridge.

Traveler’s Note: Walking downhill on steep, paved slopes can actually be tougher on your joints than climbing up! My right knee started acting up with a bit of a strain during the descent—nothing too severe, but a good reminder to take short, easy steps on steep declines.

For our 4.5-year-old, Piyush, the highlight of the descent was a bubble-blower toy we had picked up from a roadside vendor on our way up. He spent the entire walk down happily chasing soap bubbles, which kept his energy high and made the trek fun for him!

A Quick Change of Snack Plans

By the time we made it back near the base of the trail—just above the Ridge—we were ready for a quick break. We spotted a cozy cafe with great outdoor seating and decided to order some hot tea and steamed momos.

However, the cafe was packed. After waiting about 15 minutes with no food in sight, we realized it might take another 30 to 40 minutes just to get our order. Not wanting to waste precious evening time sitting around, I cancelled the order, and we decided to grab chaat papdi from a nearby roadside vendor instead.

Evening at The Ridge and a Long walk back to Hotel

By around 6 PM, we were back at The Ridge. The sun was low on the horizon, casting long, dramatic shadows across the open ground. There was something magical about watching all those silhouettes gliding along the Ridge alongside the crowd.

We lingered for another half hour before deciding to walk back to our hotel—yes, walk! A cab or bus would have been the easy choice, but why miss out on Shimla's crisp summer evening air? The weather was far from warm; instead, a cool, pleasant breeze accompanied us. I estimated we’d reach Treebo The Alpine Heritage Resort in under an hour, and thanks to the long June daylight, we knew we wouldn't be walking in total darkness.

The walk along The Ridge was delightful. From there, we took a downhill trail connecting to Circular Road near the lift area. The rest of our 2 km journey followed a railed pedestrian path along the roadside. At a few points, the walkway suspended out over the hillside drop below, giving us a mild thrill.

My right leg held up surprisingly well, but Peeyush soon tired out and asked to be carried. We encouraged him to keep going for a while, but he had clearly hit his limit. My wife stepped in to carry him, and I was genuinely amazed by her stamina—she walked with him in her arms for nearly a kilometer without a single complaint of back or leg pain. We reached the hotel just as night finally fell.

We ordered dinner right from the hotel, which turned out to be delicious and great value for money. Thoroughly exhausted, we turned in early to rest up for another day of exploring. 

Day 2 - Naldehra | Advanced Studies (the Viceroy Lodge)

We didn't have a rigid plan for the next day, but visiting the Indian Institute of Advanced Study—also known as the Viceregal Lodge (formerly Rashtrapati Niwas)—was high on my priority list. We were also planning to visit the Tara Devi Temple on our way back to Panchkula, so I thought it best to reach Advanced Study early in the morning. However, when I searched online early that morning, I discovered it doesn't open until 10:30 AM.

That was too late for our timeline, so I searched for nearby places we could explore instead—backtracking from Tara Devi to Shimla and then heading back along the same road to Panchkula made no sense. On top of that, reading Google reviews about the steep access road to Tara Devi changed my mind. Given our exhausting experience on the steep stretch from Annandale up to Circular Road the previous day, I thought it best to skip Tara Devi this time.

Since we had already covered Kufri during our last visit, that was off the table as well. Then, pictures of Naldehra caught my eye—a stunning golf course set amidst tall Deodar trees in the mountains.

That settled it. We made a new plan: head to Naldehra first, and on the return trip, take the northern stretch of Circular Road through Sanjauli toward the Viceregal Lodge. From there, we could rejoin NH-5 near Boileauganj to begin our journey back to Panchkula. It served as a great shortcut compared to taking the longer southern stretch of Circular Road.

The Zipline at Naldehra

As I drove through the southern side of the circular road from the Treebo Alpine Heritage hotel to Sanjauli, in the morning, the traffic was minimal, and the weather was beautiful. 

Vrindavan, Mathura and New Delhi - a Family Car Trip | in Three Days

Prem Mandir Vridavan, 17th September, 2025.

Last year, we went to Mathura-Vrindavan by car from Panchkula. It was a three-day family trip, where I acted as a car driver too.

​My son was only 3 years and 5 months old, so it was my wife who had to act as the conductor while my son was the true passenger, allowed to sleep, play, and pass smiles to the onlookers in passing vehicles.

From Panchkula to Vrindavan

​We left early morning at around 7:40 AM from Pachkula. The NH-44 (NH-1, Grand Trunk Road, the Kashmir-Kanyakumari highway are other names) was quite comfortable to drive on. We took a half-hour halt at Golden Hut Restaurant (Umri Chowk, NH1, Kurukshetra, Haryana 136131), from 9:17 AM to 9:40 AM for breakfast. I think it was quite a good experience. There were a few other shops to the right of the restaurant. Few toys caught Peeyush's eye, and I even thought of buying one for him, but then found the main glass door to be closed. The shop was closed for the day. Thankfully, he didn't throw a temper tantrum, and I negotiated with him, saying that I would buy him later in some other shop - partially a white lie because I just wanted to distract him from his current target.

To avoid Delhi's traffic, I bypassed Delhi and Noida entirely by taking the Eastern Peripheral Expressway at Rai, just past Murthal. The 135 km loop took me roughly 1.5 hours to traverse; I joined the expressway at Rai at 12:25 PM and reached the cloverleaf exit on the outskirts of Palwal by 1:55 PM.

Expressway travel requires a sufficient FASTag balance.

FASTag Top-up: Preload ₹1,500 to ensure a sufficient balance for expressway tolls.

Fuel Refill: Purchased ₹1,850 worth of petrol at the Indian Oil station (Kargil Shaheed Lakshman Balyan Filling Station) in Sonipat.

Fuel Rate: Approximately ₹95 per liter (exact price unverified).

 

As we left the expressway, Peeyush spotted a roadside diesel-powered sugarcane crusher stall. So we took another short halt.

The 6-lane expressways and then a quite good NH-44 made it easy for us to reach Vrindavan at around 4PM.

Vrindavan Stay (17th – 18th September 2025)

• Hotel: The Grand ND Resort - Kanha Tulsi Heights

• Cost: ₹2,318 per night (I actually paid that day)

• Layout & Experience: The property seems to have been originally designed as a residential apartment complex. Consequently, the units are standard 2BHK or 3BHK flats. Since I only required a single bedroom and bathroom, the staff locked the second bedroom while keeping the kitchen and hall accessible.

• Location & Proximity: Situated north of Kripalu Ji Maharaj Road and slightly northwest of Prem Mandir.

• Pro Tip: The immediate vicinity lacks adequate shops and eateries. If you stay here, it is highly recommended to stock up on water and basic food items beforehand.

Hall with the sofas - inside the flat at The Grand ND Resort - Kanha Tulsi Heights, Vridavan. (17th Sept, 2025)

The kitchen's arrangement is next to the hall.

The bedroom - clicked next morning, 18th Sept 2025.

 

Corridor just outside the flat

The hotel, the Grand nd resort- Kanha Tulsi Heights, balcony view towards the south

A camera zooms in towards the Prem Mandir from the Hotel Grand ND Resort - Kanha Tulsi Heights.

Tried to locate the river Yamuna Ji from the balcony of Hotel Grand ND Resort - Kanha Tulsi Heights

On September 17th, 2025, to escape the lingering late-summer sun, we checked straight into the hotel room I had booked online during the journey. The property was a converted multi-story residential society—a clever move by owners looking to capitalize on Vrindavan's decade-long tourism boom. At ₹2,500 to ₹3,000 per night, a flat can easily generate ₹80,000 a month. Over an 8-month peak season, that yields upwards of ₹6 lakhs annually—an incredible return for properties that likely cost around ₹30 lakhs in the early 2010s.

The apartment layout proved to be highly comfortable and offered a view of Prem Mandir from the balcony. For the evening, I put together a quick itinerary: Banke Bihari Temple first, the Krishna Balaram (ISKCON) Temple next, and Prem Mandir as our final stop to experience it lit up at night.

Banke Bihari Temple - evening visit

There is a govt multi-level car parking on the Kripalu Maharaj Road, 500 m before the Prem Mandir. Personal vehicles are not allowed beyond. We parked the car in there, and then near the exit of the parking, the electric carts of white color were available, I guess a government-run service it was. The charges were fixed and a minor rate - I think not more than 30 rupees per person. In fifteen minutes, we reached the entry point of the Banke Bihari Temple walkway, and the time was 5:15 PM.

The white electric cart in front of the entry gate of the walkway to the Banke Bihari temple

A young girl offered us a tikka (tilak) on the street, hoping for a bit of money in return

After walking for about ten minutes, we neared the temple. 

 Within seconds of walking through the gate, Peeyush was tracking every single bright object in sight. When the entire walkway is a sea of colorful toys, trinkets, and flowers, keeping a toddler moving is a real extreme sport. 😂

Another sight of the walkway.

The local shopkeepers there are incredibly persuasive, aggressively pushing you to buy prasad and floral offerings. Personally, I don't feel these items serve a meaningful purpose inside the temple, though if someone has the deep astha and vishwas (faith and belief) that it truly reaches the Almighty, they should certainly buy them. To sweeten the deal, shopkeepers offer to look after your shoes. They sometimes falsely claim there is no government shoe-stand nearby to force a sale—a minor malpractice that has unfortunately become commonplace at major Indian pilgrimage sites, though we didn't let it spoil our mood.

Ultimately, I gave in to the persistent sales pitch and spent ₹250 on a prasad basket, which I later regretted. While I believe deeply in God, my faith is internal; I revere the Divine in my own heart and don't believe God requires material offerings. I suppose I just give in to social pressure too easily. 

Navigating the Surge at Banke Bihari

From that point, the main temple entrance was still a two-to-three-minute walk away, a distance we navigated at a snail's pace due to the massive, surging crowd. When we finally managed to reach the core temple area, we saw the police managing the crowd and separating the visitors into distinct queues for men and women. Because Nisha was holding Peeyush in her arms, a police officer kindly pulled her out of the main queue and guided her toward an expedited path to the darshan area.

On the other hand, I would have had to stay in the standard men's line. Realizing it would take me a considerable amount of time to reach the front—forcing Nisha and the baby to wait for me indefinitely on the other side—I decided it wasn't worth the logistical hassle. I stepped out of the queue entirely and found a corner to observe the crowd while waiting for Nisha to emerge. The main deity of Banke Bihari Ji (Lord Krishna) is only visible from directly inside the darshan area, but I made peace with missing it this time. Before long, Nisha returned, and we made our way through the exit walkway back toward the shop where we had left our shoes. In total, the entire process from entry to exit took us about 20 minutes.

Photography was prohibited in the Banke Bihari Temple area, so I have no photos to share of the same. 

As we exited the temple, we collected our shoes and walked towards the main road. By then, I guess my tilak couldn't withstand the steady downflow of sweat, as it had completely washed away.

We only had to wait about two to three minutes at the gate before catching an electric cart heading back in the direction of Prem Mandir.

Next Stop: The Balaram (ISKCON) Temple. 

Right next door to Prem Mandir is another gorgeous property—the ISKCON Temple (often called the Balaram Temple). Since it was right there, we got off the e-cart right at the gates and headed inside to explore

Balram Temple (ISKCON) Vrindavan, 17th September 2025

As I have noticed at their other locations, ISKCON temples are well-managed. The complete absence of chaos and aggressive prasad sellers provided a welcome breather after our earlier experience. We leisurely explored the various chambers of the temple, spending about 30 minutes inside. In one particular section, visitors were encouraged to chant the Mahamantra—"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare"—108 times. The ritual involves walking along a circular balcony, chanting the mantra once on each of the 108 steps. While it was a unique and engaging experience, it turned out to be quite hectic with Peeyush in my arms; he was growing impatient with our slow pace in the oppressive heat.

view from the road- Balram Temple (ISKCON) Vrindavan, 17th September 2025

At around 6:55 PM, we were outside the temple. It was easy to collect our shoes back with a well-managed tokenized system. Then we thought of walking towards the Prem Mandir.

An Evening at the Prem Mandir, Vrindavan

The temple is known for its beauty in its craft, its size, the intricate designs on the walls, the grand view from all sides, and the nighttime color play engineered beautifully. I read online that it was Jagadguru Kripali Ji Maharaj who laid the foundation stone of the temple in 2001 and subsequently got it finished within a decade. The temple cost around 150 crores rupees, $23 million USD, at that time.

Let me share with you the photos I clicked while experiencing the changing colors of the temple.

We saw a mega food court inside the Prem Mandir complex, but we only bought water bottles as we were not very hungry yet. The location was somewhat away from the crowd, so we sat there for a while before leaving. 

Dinner and Back to the Hotel

By the time we headed out of the temple around 8:00 PM, we were in great spirits and really happy with everything we’d seen. We started walking back toward the multi-level parking and ended up stopping halfway to grab dinner at a roadside eatery. From there, we headed straight back to the room and went to sleep—nothing fancy, just a quiet end to the night. The next morning woke up to a beautifully cloudy sky. I was so relieved, knowing those clouds meant we’d get a break from the intense heat for the day ahead.

Peeyush is always the last person to wake up.

Mathura Temple - Krishna Janamsthan

The next morning, on 18th Sep 2025, at around 7 AM, we exited the hotel. The next target was Shri Krishna Janam Bhumi.

As we waited at the reception for the hotel manager to mark our exit. 

As it stands today, Mathura and Vrindavan have only about two or three kilometers of open farmland left between them. I wonder how long it will stay this way. If buildings and houses completely take over that remaining empty stretch, it’s going to be impossible to tell where Mathura ends and Vrindavan begins. They might have a clear border line on a map, but on the ground, they will completely merge into one big city.

We reached the Shri Krishna Janamsthan in no time. It was early morning, and there was ample parking space available. Only 2-3 other cars were there, while I guess the space was available for 20-30 cars. 

It is advised to keep your mobile phones and other things in your car. Check the map image below, follow the yellow arrows I have drawn for the parking. Then you can walk from here, along the green arrows which follow the road to the main gate. The Potra Kund is visible from the road itself. The police security is available at the main gate and also at the other places of the mega complex. 

Visiting this place was truly a profound experience. As a child, I was an ardent viewer of Ramanand Sagar’s Shri Krishna on DD National, and standing here brought those vivid childhood memories flooding back. The iconic scene of Vasudeva Ji carrying baby Krishna out of the prison cell and across the surging Yamuna River felt completely alive in my mind. The complex itself is remarkably clean and well-organized, offering a peaceful atmosphere free from chaotic crowds or any sense of unease.

Behind the high walls of the main prison structure—marking the actual birthplace—lies the disputed mosque area, the red boundary. Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura was built in 1670 AD under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Historical records suggest the mosque was built upon the area that originally carried a huge temple of red sandstone. I wish the temple were still alive in its original form. 

In its current form, it is still quite beautiful, and because it is completely shielded from view from inside the temple complex, it doesn't detract from the spiritual serenity of the visit. I carried no phone because it wasn't allowed, hence I left it in the car, so no photos were taken. I wish I could spend some more time there, but I had plans to visit Raman Reti and then reach Delhi by evening. 

Raman Reti:

Following Google Maps' suggestion, we took a shortcut from the Krishna Janmabhoomi complex to reach the Gokul Barrage bridge. Crossing over the Yamuna River, this bridge serves as the boundary between Aurangabad and Gokul, guiding us toward our next destination: Shri Raman Bihariji Mandir. This sacred site is widely revered as the place where infant Krishna used to play in the sand along the riverbanks, which is why the reti (sand) here is considered holy. We arrived at Raman Reti around 9:00 AM, finding a large parking lot situated right near the entrance. The approach to the main temple area is lined with beautifully maintained, lush green trees, making our walk into the complex incredibly relaxing and peaceful.

What made the temple so nice to visit was its sheer simplicity—there was none of that typical, loud drama from pushy prasad sellers. We took our time wandering around, walking right on the holy sand.

 Before arriving, I'd been advised to ignore anyone acting like a priest and asking for donations, since a lot of them aren't real pandits and are just looking for a handout. Sure enough, someone came up to us and tried the same routine, talking aggressively and deceptively, but I was able to send him packing. Other than that one annoying moment, the trip there was fantastic.

We skipped going deeper into the main Gokul village to see the Shri Nanda Yashoda Bhavan this time around. Instead, on our way back to the car, we stopped by the deer park situated right across the road from the Raman Reti entrance, where the deer roam in a massive open space. 

After watching them for a bit, we jumped back in the car and let Google Maps navigate us through a shortcut to NH-530B, which got us straight onto the Yamuna Expressway.

New Delhi

On September 18, 2026, after visiting the Raman Bihariji Temple at Raman Reti and Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura during the morning, I set off for New Delhi around noon. Thanks to a smooth drive along the Yamuna Expressway, we reached New Delhi in about three hours, arriving around 3 PM.

As a stranger to the city, navigating these roads would have been challenging without Google Maps, but it led us straight to Hotel Admire Inn on Eastern Avenue Road in New Friends Colony. Having pre-booked our stay, check-in was seamless, and we took some time to rest. The room was average, and the bathroom felt a bit dated, but considering Delhi's high hotel rates, it was reasonable enough.

A Visit to the Lotus Temple — and a Broken Sandal

Wanting to spare myself the hassle of city traffic, I left the car parked at the hotel and opted for an auto-rickshaw ride instead. We reached the Lotus Temple around 4 PM. The afternoon sun was beaming through scattered clouds, making it quite warm, so we carried an umbrella for the walk from the entrance gate to the main shrine. We snapped photos from several angles, though the temple’s striking symmetry looks remarkably beautiful from every side.

However, our visit got cut short when Nisha's sandals broke because someone with a heavy foot accidentally stepped on them from the side. 

I would partly blame the breakage on the poor material of the sandals, but in any case, we had to find new ones. So we hopped onto another three-wheeler and, on Google Maps, the best possible nearby place that the three-wheeler rider suggested to us was Delhi Haat Craft Industries/Manufacturers/Exporters Wholesale Dealer.

To be honest, it was my first time visiting a shop where every item was claimed to be handcrafted. Since it hadn't been part of our original plan—and we only needed a basic, affordable pair of sandals because Nisha was walking barefoot—the high prices caught us off guard. Even the simplest options were priced well over ₹500. After browsing for a bit, we managed to find a pair within a somewhat reasonable range.

Humayun's Tomb and Museum

Once Nisha had her sandals, we hailed another auto-rickshaw to head toward Humayun’s Tomb. It was my first time visiting, so I had no prior idea of the layout, and our auto driver wasn't quite sure where to drop us off either. He accidentally drove past the entrance, missing it by about a hundred meters. Luckily, I checked Google Maps and guided him back to the drop-off point right near the ticket counter for the World Heritage Site.

We purchased tickets for both the museum and the tomb. Visiting Humayun's Tomb Museum hadn't been in our original plan since I was completely unaware of it, but the underground facility and overall layout turned out to be surprisingly impressive. The best part was that the massive underground complex offered a welcome escape from the heat. The immersive, curved video screen was another highlight, giving the sensation of flying right over the tomb complex.

The exit at the far end of the museum led us under the road and straight into the main tomb grounds. With closing time approaching, we headed directly to Humayun's Tomb itself, successfully ticking another iconic spot off our itinerary.

It was almost dusk when the security guards asked everyone to head toward the exit. By the time we walked out of the main entrance and reached the Sabz Burj traffic circle, streetlights and headlights were already glowing. I booked an Uber, which picked us up at 6:50 PM and dropped us off at The Hotel Divine Inn by 7:22 PM—thankfully putting us back at the hotel in just about 30 minutes. Mathura Road must not have been too congested, which was a relief; I once drove from Qutub Minar to Burari starting around 7:00 PM, and that journey took over three hours.

On the Last Day: Visiting Sunder Nursery and the Old Fort of Delhi

The final day of our trip, September 19, 2025, began early around 6:30 AM. The sun had already risen, hovering just above the dome of the Gurudwara Nanak Satsang Sabha, which was visible right from our hotel window. The gurudwara sits a few meters south on the opposite side of Eastern Avenue Road.

We quickly wrapped up our morning routines and checked out of the hotel within half an hour. Our itinerary for the day was simple:

1. Sunder Nursery — for a quiet dose of green and peaceful surroundings.

2. The Old Fort (Purana Qila) — to explore some rich history.

Sunder Nursery was truly sunder (beautiful), and surprisingly, it was almost completely deserted. It felt as though this vast, lush paradise was ours alone. We strolled past the wooden burj, along the water channels and quiet ponds, before following bamboo-shaded paths to a play area. We paused there for Peeyush to play—he headed straight for the slides, then tried out a swing made of a mini rassi palang (roped cot) suspended by heavy ropes. Afterward, we stopped at a small eatery for tea and patties; we noticed two such spots within the gardens.

After spending about 40 minutes in this beautiful space, we moved on to our next destination at around 9:00 AM.

Purana Qila (The Old Fort)