Day 8 – The Final Day
Date: 26-Apr-14
Today marked the final day of our honeymoon, and naturally, it was the saddest day of the trip. After spending eight wonderful days exploring new places and creating unforgettable memories, neither of us was ready to return home.
Our flight to Bangalore was scheduled for 1:00 PM. Since the airport was some distance from our hotel, we planned to leave by 11:00 AM. While packing our luggage, we realized that buying an additional travel bag would make carrying our belongings much easier. Thilak found a popular market located about 2 km from our hotel. He also discovered a small restaurant called Madras Café, which had received excellent reviews online. Since we had enough time before checkout, we decided to start the day with breakfast and a short shopping trip. We left the hotel around 8:30 AM and headed to Madras Café. The restaurant was tiny, yet surprisingly crowded. We soon understood why it was so popular. We ordered plain dosa, upma, and vada. Everything was delicious, but the vada was particularly memorable.
A walk through Paharganj
After breakfast, we walked towards the main bazaar of Paharganj. The roads were narrow and crowded, but it was easy to see why Paharganj was considered a shopper’s paradise. The area was bustling with travellers from around the world. Since it was still early in the morning, many shops had not yet opened. We spent some time wandering through the market before finding a shop that sold travel bags. After a bit of bargaining, we purchased a bag for ₹450.
By the time we finished shopping, it was already 10:00 AM. We still had to return to the hotel, pack our belongings, and check out. We hired an auto-rickshaw and headed back.
Once we reached the hotel, we quickly packed our bags and checked out around 10:45 AM. The first auto-rickshaw driver we approached quoted ₹250 for the airport drop. We had decided not to pay more than ₹150, but despite our efforts, he refused to negotiate. After some searching, we found another driver who agreed to take us for ₹180.
However, once we got into the auto, he asked which terminal we needed to go to. We were not sure and simply told him that our flight was with Air India. He explained that Air India operated from Terminal 2 and that reaching that terminal required a different route. According to him, most drivers charged around ₹250 for the trip. Since we were running short on time, we agreed to the revised fare and continued our journey.
We reached the airport around 12:30 PM, completed the check-in formalities without any issues, and waited for our flight. The flight departed on time. As with my first flight, I found the journey itself rather uneventful. Before long, we landed in Bangalore at around 4:30 PM. After collecting our luggage, we boarded a BMTC Volvo bus to HSR Layout and reached home by 5:30 PM, bringing our honeymoon journey to a close.
- Route Travelled: Maanvi Hotel > Main Bazar > Maanvi Hotel > Delhi Airport > Bangalore Airport > HSR Layout
Reflections on our unforgettable trip
As our trip came to an end, we looked back on the incredible experiences we had shared over the past eight days. From the snow-covered landscapes of Manali and the scenic beauty of Kullu to the historic grandeur of Agra and the bustling streets of Delhi, every destination had offered something unique.
We experienced freezing mountain weather, winding Himalayan roads, river rafting, snow adventures, ancient monuments, vibrant markets, and warm hospitality. More importantly, we created memories that we would cherish for a lifetime. The people, culture, landscapes, and experiences made this journey truly special. What began as our first trip as a married couple turned into one of the most memorable chapters of our lives.
Though we were sad to return home, we carried back countless stories, photographs, and unforgettable moments from a honeymoon that exceeded all our expectations
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