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Travel Tales from India and Abroad

Realization through a Name like Karkarduma

Posted on June 25, 2011

I was traveling to Noida (yes I am at my sister’s place) on the Delhi Metro. I boarded from Rajouri Garden and didn’t bother to inquire where was the train headed that was pulling in as I entered the platform. I got inside the women’s only coach and at first did not find a place to sit but that was expected and quite OK.

Women's Only Coach, Delhi Metro
Women's Only Coach, Delhi Metro

A little later I got a seat, took out the headphones and started listening to old Hindi Movie songs on my cell phone. I crossed Yamuna Bank and I was happy that I was not too far away now. I merrily told my husband when he called that I have reached Lakshmi Nagar. Then I crossed Nirman Vihar and Preet Vihar and still it did not ring a bell. Then through the songs I thought I heard a very funny name being announced as the next stop. I took out the headphones and heard the name Karkarduma for the first time in my life. I knew then that I was on the wrong route. but mere stations with names that end in Nagars and Vihars don’t make any difference to me, it took a name like Karkarduma to wake me up from my slumber and realize that I was on the wrong route.

Karkarduma on the Delhi Metro Map
Karkarduma on the Delhi Metro Map

When I stared telling this story to others (my brother in law and a student as well) they told me the Delhi District court is in Karkarduma. What did I do after realizing that I was on the wrong route? I got down at Karkarduma, crossed over to the other side and took a train to Yamuna Bank. That is where the lines diverge, one to Karkarduma that ends at Vaishali and another to Nodia where I wanted to go.

Then I got into a train going to Yamuna Bank. I got down at Yamuna Bank and crossed over to the other platform to take a train to Nodia. All the while I was laughing at myself and the goof ups I make while traveling!

Hey but it was fun, otherwise I would not even know that a place like Karkarduma existed and had the Delhi District court as well. Why did the goof up happened in the first place? Because I entered the train in a hurry and the trains to Karkarduma and beyond and Noida come on the same platform at Rajouri Garden. I just assumed that the train was going to Noida when it was not. Usually when I come to the platform I read the display and leave the Karkarduma trains well alone. But this time I saw a train and just hopped in. Moral of the story? Laugh when you end up at Karkarduma and don’t enter the trains in a hurry in the first place so you don’t end up at Karkarduma.

4 thoughts on “Realization through a Name like Karkarduma”

  1. Anuradha Shankar says:
    June 25, 2011 at 8:32 am

    I wondered about all the different routes when I travelled by the metro and if I would lose my way.. thankfully, I didnt have to change and reached my destination and got back without any adventure…… guess it can be a little confusing on any new route…. btw, yes, the name is new to me too….. wonder where the name comes from!

    Reply
  2. Mridula says:
    June 26, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    Anu good to hear that you managed without reaching any other destination. 😀 No idea where the name came from but almost everyone told me that there is the district court there and dad even mentioned that Jessica Lal case used to run from the Karkarduma court premises.

    Reply
  3. sandeep says:
    June 27, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    wondering, if the 1st part of the ‘moral’ works for people staying arond ‘karkarduma’ 😉

    getting lost is interesting sometimes … isnt it? 🙂

    Reply
  4. Prashanth M says:
    June 27, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    I did this once in London – though purposely. I had nothing to do & a half day to kill. With a day pass in my pocket and a book, I travelled in the London underground aimlessly, hopping on and off at random stations and trains for almost 4-5 hours… 🙂

    Reply

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About Me

I am Mridula Dwivedi and I started this blog in 2005. It has been an amazing ride. I have visited 33 countries till date! I have worked with many tourism boards and prominent travel companies. My blog was featured on the BBC and the Guardian.

I did my Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. I worked full time in academics till 2015! I quit my job as a professor, thinking I will take a break for one year, which turned into five.

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