Deepak,

The best way is very much a combination of all of the above points you have posted.

Networking is a very vast field with many areas and different technologies, effectivately learning it and/or mastering it varies from person to person and what types of goal settings they have.

Take a look at some of Cisco training resources and information.. to sort of get you a foot print view from various levels begining to expert networker.

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/index.html

Use the cisco NETPRO to learning real networking problem solving scenarios and learning concepts where you can participate in reading and/or asking questions.

Also take a look at Career Certifications forum here where you will find valuable information from netpros participants on all of your points mention in your post to help you gather solid information in effective learning and exposures in the networking field.

http://forum.cisco.com/eforum/servlet/NetProf;jsessionid=BE6DDD33919DDBFFBEDE064E49322A1E.SJ3A?page=Career_Certifications_discussion

Rgds

Jorge