Exploring Punjab with Karun Chandhok: Ford India - National Geographic Episode Round-Up
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Transcript of Exploring Punjab with Karun Chandhok: Ford India - National Geographic Episode Round-Up
Exploring Punjab in India with Karun Chandhok
THE EPISODE ROUND-UPThe show was telecast on June 16, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.,
India Standard Time
All photographs and text by Ajay [email protected] / http://kunzum.com
Monday 17 June 13
Karun started the journey in Sirhind near Ludhiana - this town is known for giving trucks in the state a colourful and artistic look. Karun the racing driver turned into Karun the artist for a while.
Monday 17 June 13
Punjab is the agricultural capital of the country - and it’s rich farmers sure can afford big, mean machines
Monday 17 June 13
Punjab is known for a variety of crops - including these beautiful sunflowers that Karun stopped to have a closer look at.
Monday 17 June 13
Karun’s inherent sense of adventure saw him drive through fields when he could
Monday 17 June 13
When in Punjab, we stopped to eat at dhabas (roadside eateries) whenever we got a chance - they serve the best meals in the state
Monday 17 June 13
One of the highlights of the journey was witnessing the Gatka, the traditional weapons-based martial art of the Punjab region. We
managed to witness the show while in Jalandhar.
Monday 17 June 13
During the Gatka performance, this snake like metallic weapon sure sent us all on a backfoot - if it struck any of us, its ‘sting’
would surely have hurt.
Monday 17 June 13
The men of the Sikh community of Punjab wear turbans as their traditional headgear - and the likes of Bhupinder Thind even run academies in
Jalandhar to teach the art of tying turbans in many different ways. He is seeing here tying one on Karun - with a self-imposed challenge of doing so
blindfolded. And he managed to do a perfect job.Monday 17 June 13
A visit to Punjab cannot be complete without a visit to a Akhara, or a traditional mud-wrestling arena - like this one in Jalandhar that we visited.
Monday 17 June 13
It was fun and games too at times - like when Karun hopped onto a tractor for a joyride in Hoshiarpur.
Monday 17 June 13
While in Hoshiarpur, Karun also got a primer on how to make gur or jaggery from sugarcane - at a small set-up along the highway.
Monday 17 June 13
Karun could not resist taking home a box full of freshly made jaggery.
Monday 17 June 13
Often, the best of travelling is when you can just sit around without an agenda or plan - in other words, you can chill
Monday 17 June 13
We were fortunate to have got an opportunity to spend time at the BSF camp in Hoshiarpur - and witness how our soldiers stay fit and combat ready to keep us safe
Monday 17 June 13
Karun and BSF officials exchanging notes on their respective occupations and lives before Karun got a tour of the camp
Monday 17 June 13
And then we reached Amritsar - where a visit to the Golden Temple is a must
Monday 17 June 13
One of the fascinating experiences of the Golden Temple is dropping by at the langar or community kitchen - thousands are served meals here daily, with much of the work
being carried out efficiently by volunteers. Karun sure enjoyed his lunch here.Monday 17 June 13
You sure need oversized woks and strong arms when you have to cook for thousands daily
Monday 17 June 13
Volunteers cleaning dishes to have them ready for the next set of people coming in for a meal at the Golden Temple
Monday 17 June 13
A sense of nationalism was seen in full when Karun visited the India - Pakistan border at Wagah; thousands visit the site daily in the evening to
witness the lowering of the flag ceremony for the day.Monday 17 June 13
The alterrain finally brought the journey to an end at Wagah
Monday 17 June 13