Meher Baba departed Mahabaleshwar for Hamirpur on Monday, February 1st, 1954, with nine of the men mandali: Aloba, Baidul, Bhau, Eruch, Gustadji, Kaikobad, Kishan Singh, Kumar and Pendu; leaving Donkin, Krishna, Nilu and Vishnu behind with the women mandali. During this period, Mehera was caring for Sheba, whom she would lead to Baba's room in his absence to show the colt that Baba was not there. Sister Mani was doing her correspondence with the West, her typewriter always before her. Goher and Rano managed the household affairs between them, and Naja did the cooking. Meheru would keep busy with various chores.

Baba arrived in Poona from Mahabaleshwar, where he was joined by brother Jal, Chhagan, Dhake, Gadekar, Krishnaji, Ramjoo, Sadashiv, Savak, Sidhu and Yeshwant Rao. Nariman and Meherjee also arrived in Poona from Bombay and joined the group. The entire group, including Baba, traveled third class.

Coming from Nagpur, Nana Kher and Pankhraj joined them at Itarsi. Immediately upon seeing him, Baba asked Nana, "Have you brought food for me?" Caught off guard by this question, Nana replied, "No." Baba became upset and ordered him to get off the train! Nana was about to comply when Baba caught hold of him and criticized him, "You ought to have had some thought for me! You know how much I like your mother's cooking and the chutney prepared by your sister-in-law, but you didn't bring anything. You are truly a simpleton!"

During the journey, Jal and Dhake kept Baba amused by telling jokes and funny stories, and Kumar would also narrate outlandish tales. With humorous talk or jokes, Baba kept everyone's attention centered on him. Although the outside Baba lovers thoroughly enjoyed this time alone in Baba's company, the mandali were never at ease, because in front of all Baba would chide them, make fun of them, tease and taunt them. Ridicule and reproach filled their lives from the beginning of their discipleship.

After a day and a half on the train, the group arrived in Orai at 3 A.M. on February 3rd, where Keshav Nigam, Pukar, Hellan, Brahma Dutt and a few other close ones had come to receive them. Baba stayed in the residence of Maharajah Raghuraj Singh and first discussed matters with the Hamirpur workers. Keshav had been working strenuously to make Baba's name and message known in all villages of the district prior to his arrival, and people were eager to take his darshan.