We started walking around 8:00 am. Maharaj in the ashram showed a short cut for walking. The car has to come on the road which is 3 kms longer. We started on the dirt path that went through farm fields. Every so often there were 2-3 paths merging at one point. We always found someone to guide us in the right direction. We passed a lovely lake. On the shore there was a cot where one person was sleeping. The scene was so peaceful In the early morning light. We walked past some farm fields. One young father with a two year old girl asked her to do Namaskar and she did. Baiju gave her a candy. He took out two pieces but the father told her to take one so she took only one. As we walked off she waved bye to us. We continued through winding path and walked d though a small village always being guided at every cross road. We walked up to a levy on a large lake next to the village. This lake was just as serene as the first one. We walked through the countryside and came to the main road. We stopped at Hanuman Ashram. Sunilji was already there with with his family. The children were enjoying spending time with their father. We stayed for few minutes and started walking. Today we have to climb to 2079 feet elevation to Mandav. The city is located in the Vindhya Mountain Range. The road climbed up winding around the hill. Our climb was at a slow pace. As we got higher we turned around to see a spectacular view of the valley. We saw three-four lakes below. We took pictures but not sure if the natural beauty can be captured so easily. We continued climbing. There were buses, cars and motorcycles going by. Suddenly we noticed water flowing down the road. We walked trying to avoid the flowing water and wondering where is it coming from. Short distance up we found the source. There was a stream coming down the side of the hill. We went further up and saw the water coming out of stones on the side. Every turn in the road we would look to the left and see the valley below further away and wider view. Each view was fabulous. We took water breaks often mainly to catch our breath and admire the scenery. Near the top we found a little girl
Selling Sitafal, we bought some and ate it right there on the side of the road. Little further up we reached Nilkanteshwar Mandir. We climber many stairs down to the temple. The temple is very old. There is a natural spring coming to the Shiv Lingam. We spent half an hour looking around and then climbed up the steps. Got into the car and went into Mandav city. We had lunch in Shivani restaurant and then went to stay at the Sai Baba Ashram. Rooms were adequate. We washed all the dirty clothes and hung them to dry outside hoping they will dry by morning. I was having a slight headache so I slept off. Baiju rest d for sometime and then went out to the Chaturbhuj Ramji Mandir which was half a kilometer into the town. I woke up by 6:00 and went out. Thd maharaj in the Sai Bavaria Ashram asked me for the room payment and said no need to register. I did not like that but did not say anything. Baiju was still at the Ram Mandir. I walked there with Sunilji and his family. We had darshan in the temple. Just outside the gate of the temple there is a curio shop. We looked at a few things and walked over to the restaurant where we had lunch and had dinner in the same place. We got back to the room snd slept. Today we walked 13.5 kms