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Nashik Times

Nashik in Maharashtra is home to one of the 12 important Jyotirlingas which is Trimbakeshwar. It is an important city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. It has temples of great significance, lakes, vineyards, adventure laden forts, treks and many important rivers of India. Even a human being’s new journey to the other world begins from here once the ashes are poured in the Triveni Sangam(the confluence of Rivers Godavari, Varuni and Tharuni). It’s a complete city… Nashik.

Rain soaked Nashik

Godavari river which is the 2nd longest river in India after the Ganges flows through the heart of this city. It is also called Dakshin Ganga _ Ganga of the South. You must be wondering “Nashik is in the west of India and the river located there is called Dakshin Ganga.?” So, well, the length of Godavari river is 1500 kms and it has a large drainage basin which covers parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Nashik is a 5 hour drive from Mumbai and approximatley 166 kms. There is an inexhaustive list of place to be visited when one is in Nashik. The beauty of this place lies in the place itself and not the eyes of the beholder. Because everything that you see is Gold.

The road towards Nashik is a lovely drive with scenic views, ghats and climbs that take you to the cloud covered mountains.

We undertook this trip to visit Trimbakeshwar – a swayambhu. Towering high in the skies behind the temple is the Brahmagiri hills from where the Godavari river rises and creates it’s large basin. One can undertake a trek to the Brahmagiri hill too to witness the springing of Godavari and get an eagle’s eye view from there. Trimbakeshwar is the only Jyotirlinga which is housed in a depression/located below the ground. For devotees a large mirror is hung on the wall above the jyotirlinga which reflects the image and they receive the blessings. After this, we sat in the temple area with a view of the jyotirlinga in front of us and the shanti took over us. Nothing could, now, disturb this peace in our minds ever.

The Anjaneri hill trek is another exciting journey upwards. The trek is easy but the monsoons can create slippery zones which need to be taken good care of. Atop the hill is the temple of Hanumanji who lends his name to the hill.

The vineyards are the landmark of Nashik. Most of the vineyards in India are in Nashik. The climate of Nashik is perfect for grapes cultivation and Nashik is called as the “Wine capital of India”. The Sula Vineyards are the primary source of wine here but there are many other wineries such as Soma, York, Vallonne, Renaissance and many others. The wine tasting ceremony is something that youngsters relish at these wineries. The wine tasting and tour of the vineyard is a paid tour where children are not allowed. We visited the York winery as the resort where we stayed had tied up with this one for providing their patrons with free tours to the Vineyard.

Nashik has abundant places of interest for new visitors and the old ones keep coming back for more!!

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KONKAN KATTA

The west coast of India covers the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The entire stretch is divided into three sections – the northern part of the coast which is the Konkan coast, the central stretch is the Kanara coast and the southern stretch which is called the Malabar coast. These plains are made coastal by the Arabian sea and are blessed with a tourism industry justifying their proximity to the sea. For these places, the sea provides food, shelter, job opportunities and revenue. A complete ecosystem flourishing due to the coastline.

The Konkan coast is the favorite coastal zone of the people of Maharashtra. From Daman to Vengurla, tourists from all over the world can be seen enjoying the beach lines of this coast. The historic forts, temples, waterfalls, lakes and landscapes are a major attraction generating revenue for the state and employment opportunities to the locals. Of course, double whammy for the tourists as they get to unwind at exotic locations and relish food that is trademark class; the immensely serene resorts facing the sea bringing the excitement back to your mundane lives.

The Konkan stretch in Maharashtra includes Ganpatipule, Alibaug, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dapoli, Murud, Mahad, Roha, Chiplun, Shrivardhan, Thane, Harnai, Amboli, Malvan and of course Mumbai city.

The coast at Alibaug connects you to a huge list of unique beaches. You will want to chart a differentiate between decide which one is good and which to skip. The entire coastal stretch is dotted with Kihim beach, Alibaugh beach, Nagaon beach, Revdanda beach, Korlai, Kashid, Nandgaon, Janjira – Murud beach.

Our stay at the resort made the Kashid beach near to us. It was a hop and a skip thing to the beach. The huge resort itself had manned golf course styled carts to take the patrons to and fro their rooms and the dining area towards the entry/exit gates. One could hire a lavish apartment or a villa to stay. The highlight of our stay was the food, an amazing spread helmed by excellent chefs. The resort had a huge conference room which could be hired for of course conference purposes. During our stay HDFC bank had hired this facility for the weekend. There was a DJ night and good food and drinks just flowed. It was a gala night and a refreshing change for us.

Our trip to the beach next day showed us that the 3 km shoreline was clean, safe and a perfect unwind zone. Mumbai madness was nowhere in sight at the beach and we enjoyed ourselves in oblivion. Kashid beach has some water sports which are handled by supervisors. We had a WOW time at the beach soaking in the sun, lounging on the cool sands and gazing at the pristine waters.

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Stepping upto Kalsubai

Kalsubai is the highest peak in Maharashtra. It is a trekker’s haven. A monsoon trek is not advisable yet to just get a view of the majestic Kalsubai peak, I set on a journey of my own. It was the end of two extensive, detailed and determined semesters and it definitely called for a getaway to unwind. So I packed my bags, got a bus ticket to Nashik and hopped on board to the unknown roads. The road towards Nashik is always heavenly. The weather was pleasant and I picked up Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to be the journey companion for the intermittent view breaks.

2 hours later, I reached the foot of Bhandardara. It was a long way up the station so I got in a Tempu along with a few people and we started moving upward. I have always been a hitch hiker kind of person… Beethoven’s symphony in my ears and the lush luxurious scenery to the left side of me, I was having a glorious time.

When we reached the top I took in a deep breath of the crisp air, it truly was exhilarating. The hill station-ey nippy air sent chills down my body. I was staying in the most comfortable cottage, setting my bags down and I stepped out in the backyard. It was the most exquisite view of all time, the setting sun and the steady moving water of the magnificent Pravara River.

I stood there trying to take the beautiful scenery in as much as I could but then I heard a loud rumble coming from my stomach. I made my way to the restaurant and had the staple dal, roti and pickle. While returning, the promenade was dimly lit by incandescent light bulbs- fireflies. It was breathtaking, I felt like Rupunzel when she saw the floating lights. The next morning, I woke up fresh as a daisy and early as a bird. Later, I headed out to the backyard. The sun was beaming strongly down on me but with the cool breeze blowing they balanced themselves out. I walked bare-feet on the dewy grass and meditated by the broad blue watercourse.

After breakfast, I started for what had drawn me here in the first place. The bewitching sight of Maharashtra’s famous Kalsubai peak. It was almost like I was living my dream. Later the tour took me to see Wilson Dam and after returning back to the cottages I went to the lakeside to enjoy the red-pink sunset and my last night of staying there. It was indeed an experience to reminisce on...

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Nainital noons

I visited Uttarakhand with my immediate family sometime back(minus the sitting in COVID year = sometime back). We planned the Nainital- Jim Corbett- Delhi circuit. This circuit is on the Kumaon side of Uttarakhand. A more flamboyant area with much lesser natural disasters than the Garhwal region. But Uttarakhand without the natural is unnatural. An “on the edge of life experience awaited us on this tour. One that makes my quote “If some thing adventurous doesn’t happen in Uttarakhand, it’s not worth it” That is the kind of fascination this place demands and naturally evokes. 

We packed one suitcase each(mine were two); we were going to fly to Delhi – our regular gateway to Uttarakhand. In our excitement, the 2 hour flight journey was covered without looking at our watches even once. Delhi airport exit area is a much loved area something that Mumbai has to still emulate by way of infrastructure. As soon as we were out of the IGI airport at Delhi, we had a vehicle waiting to take us through this intra – city journey. 

The distance from Delhi to Nainital is 316 kms which is about 6 hours of road. But wheeling upto Nainital from Delhi is the best thing to do especially when it’s not you driving!!! Dead tired, we slept half way through to wake up to what looked like a prelude to a stay in heaven. The road journey is refreshing and full of amazing views. The air freshens up to give you an exotic experience. Et voila you are in Nainital also called as the Lake District. The most popular hill station of North, Nainital is located at an altitude of 2000m above sea level. It is surrounded by seven hills, popularly known as ‘Sapta-Shring’ – Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi-Bandi, Naina, Alma, Lariya-Kanta and Sher-Ka-Danda. Nestled in the Himalayan mountains, it offers a great stay and memories that you might want to visit over and over

So we travelled further up to the Bhimtaal lake exactly in front of which we were going to unwind for the next day.Our resort was a 3 star treat with pretty much everything that a traveller could ask for. The allotted room had a beautiful view of the lake and we were going to have a good stay here if at all we had time to sit by that window with the view. Well That’s because we were going to be in the backdrop of that view. 

Work began the next day morning after a decent breakfast in the common eating hall of the resort. Our vehicle was waiting down the alley ready to take us through the roads of this petite town Nainital which actually revolves around the Naini lake. The town is built about the lake, all the hustle bustle there along with brisk commercial activities giving the tourism of this place a good boost. The Naini lake and the Mall Road are the two main commercial points here. But our first trip out was to Tiffin top.  There is no entry fee here but the horse ride that takes you up the Ayarpatta hills is a paid ride. Located 2290 m above sea level, the top offers a breathtaking glimpse of entire Nainital. Panoramic shots captured by your mind that won’t fit in your cameras. The tour is marked by several viewable points one of which is dorothy’s seat.

The climb takes about 1hour with intermittent tea or camera click breaks. There are many people who trek this distance. The person manning our horses showed us the spot where several Bollywood movies were shot. One such place in the forest hills was where the famous “Jadu” was found by Hrithik Roshan !!!

By the time, we climbed down, it was late noon and time to relax by the Naini lake which was at its foothills. The sun had lost its blaze and within few hours it would be set. Perfect setting for a boat ride over the cool waters of the Naini lake. We felt refreshed as we paddled along other boaters. After the boat ride, we purchased some memoirs from the souvenir shops in the lane adjoining the lake. 

A day spent well. By the time we retired to our room, we were dead tired and called for an in-room dining. With a good movie on our room tv screen, we ended day 1 in Nainital. Tomorrow was going to be another day full of sight seeing and of course shopping at the Mall Road. 

With our location at Bhimtaal, we were very near to Naukuchiatal. It’s the largest lake in Nainital and the lake has 9 corners. It has a lot of water sports and other activities. Though we did not opt for boating or Kayaking, the youngest member of our troupe did the bubble over water. Rolling in a bubble over the water in a limited distance roll. Happiness and Nainital is a lethal mix – one that is difficult to get over in a long time to come. The well maintained clean waters and well handled water activities are a major tourist attraction to Naukuchiatal. We had an impending trip to the Mall Road, so I got a hurried exit done here to head to the shoppers haven in Uttarakhand. The Mall Road is the busiest street of Nainital. From bags to jewellery to clothes, it has the most unique items that can be offered to the rest of India to carry back as “neighbours envy owners pride”

I shopped to my heart’s content and marked the Mall Road as the best place ever visited in my diary. 

The petite Nainital took over our hearts and left us with cosy memories to ruminate till another trip. We would be checking out from the resort the next day and heading to the Jim Corbett National park with a stay at Ramgarh.

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The essence of motherhood is the birthing process. The experience of childbirth is unique to every woman. During the work-in-progress stage, many women zip past the nine months with great ease where as others struggle in the initial months of pregnancy itself with some issues. Whatever be the feeling, as women, we love to talk about the time during our pregnancy and the difficulties or none of it that we faced. We talk about the labour pain that we went through and the triumph at the end of it. Hours of pain bore with great valour to bring a new life into this world.

Pregnancy is not always easy as a breeze for many and labour pain is not the only aspect of childbirth. The other aspect is no labour pain. The no labour pain pregnancy or complication marked pregnancy or prolonged labour pain leading to still nothing is culminated with Caesarean sections. C – sections are done when there is a medical indication to do so. These could be breech child position i.e the heads up position(oh the woman has lost the toss here), placenta problems, complications occurring during the normal birthing process due to which the other method of delivery has to be adopted or any other complication affecting normal vaginal delivery. Grandmas/Sasumas tend to pass on a lot of gyan to their pregnant daughters/ daughter in laws saying they must work a lot during the nine months to ensure normal delivery. They even change facial expressions when normal delivery doesn’t occur. “She’s not too strong”, “I told you to keep working but u needed to rest more”, “She doesn’t want labour pain”. All this even though normal delivery wouldn’t have been possible due to complications. They love to keep harping about it and bringing home the point of how important it was to have normal delivery. Well they are not harping for no reason, caesarean does carry negatives for the woman in question but if there are no two ways about getting the child out, then feeling guilty shouldn’t be top priority, taking good care of yourself and the new one should be.

These days even though it’s not medically indicated, women and their families still opt for c -sections to avoid labour pain purely. Many families give their gynaecs a proper muhurat time at which the child should be born and for that purpose they need caesarean. Vaginal deliveries will prolong the auspicious time. Poor normal delivery born children. Wrong timing is it??? They want to be oblivious to the negative impact of caesarean to the child and to themselves too.

When I was expecting my child, the doctor had two deliveries to handle. One me who was undergoing labour pain since night and the other was a muhurat based caesarean delivery. The doctor kept shuttling between the two of us. For me it was a whole new experience. My husband waiting at the door of the labour room seeing me undergo the pain. The other woman wanted the easy way out. Both ways, healthy babies were born under the care of Dr. Sandhya. My son all of 13 now is a handsome and intelligent boy and the other child too must be growing up gracefully. It’s purely a personal choice to C Sec or not.

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The Land of Gods – Dev bhoomi

Uttarakhand is the 27th state of the Republic of India. It was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9th November 2000. Uttarakhand is also called Dev Bhoomi as it has many important shrines. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, this State in India has international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the east. The state is divided into 2 administrative zones: Kumaon and Garhwal which share a total of 13 districts under them. 6 districts in Kumaon and 7 districts in Garhwal. The districts of Kumaon region are Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar. The districts of Garhwal region are Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Uttarkashi.

I hv been visiting Uttarakhand since childhood. It was Uttar Pradesh then and have visited it even when it became Uttarakhand. Every summer, my banker father would book us a vacation and we girls would bundle up and head towards the North of India. It would be either Delhi, Madhya Pradesh or any city in Uttarakhand.. Delhi is directly connected to many  places in Uttarakhand. After a short visit to Delhi, we would head towards Dehra Dun and other connected places.  I have visited Dehra Dun, Mussoorie, Rishikesh an infinite number of times and have very beautiful Memories of these places etched in the sands of time.  Even after so many trips to Uttarakhand, we never visited any place in the Kumaon region. That’s because of our fascination to Garhwal. 

The beautiful Badrinath temple, Joshimath - the winter abode of Lord Badrinarayan, Kedarnath temple,Nanda Devi peak,Rudraprayag, Devprayag, Vishnu Prayag, Neelkanth peak are all located in the Chamoli district of The Garhwal region. Badrinath temple is a major pilgrimage site. It’s one of the Char dham yatra sites -  the four abodes as defined by Adi Shankaracharya. It is believed that every Hindu must do this four abodes trip to attain Moksh(salvation). The other three are Dwaraka, Puri and Rameshwaram. The smaller circuit of the char dham is here in Uttarakhand  -  Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri temples. Badrinath is located on the banks of Alaknanda river and at a height of 3133 m above sea level. Joshimath is the gateway to this pilgrim centre and also to several Himalayan climbing expeditions.

Garhwal Himalayan terrain is a very hilly one. Landslides, cloud bursts, heavy rains, flash floods are a part of the package that you could book. These natural phenomenon often disrupt one’s journey. We should, therefore, be prepared with emergencies while travelling to Garhwal. While for the traveller it’s just a disrupted journey,  life comes to a standstill for the natives with communications and transport stopped until it all recedes. Our visit to the Badrinath temple was one such a trip where we experienced the wrath of the Weather. The bus journey that we had undertaken from Rishikesh to Badrinath had to be halted as the road ahead had been damaged  due to landslide. We were at Joshimath then and took shelter at a Dharamshala. journey would resume once the rains stopped and the road restored. Fortunately we were able to move on with the journey the next day and take the Badrinath Darshan. The majestic Neelkanth peak was another mesmerising massif which we were able to experience and we felt very fortunate to be In its presence

Every city or district name in Uttarakhand Is a sort of hyperlink to  Inexhaustible geographical detail and natural beauty. Landslides are surely a part of this place but an Uttarakhand tour is nothing if something exciting doesn’t happen. Every nook, every corner, every turn, every stretch, every valley, the huge mountains, the ashrams and the shrines will make moments of your life an everlasting one. 

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The Panic trap

Anxiety is a natural human instinct to difficult situations that they often face. The pressures of the modern day can be tremendous and one has to be strong enough to be able to handle these. Sometimes the functionality of an individual is affected by minors issues, but majorly keeps going. The stressors are way too many and reactions to situations can often cause constant anxiety. When your in-built mechanism cannot handle anxiety, you suffer a panic attack. We all have PANICKED at some moment in the past.  

A panic attack has more physical and cognitive symptoms, a feeling of dread and paranoia which elevates the anxiety, the heart beating like never before, shortness of breath, hands sweating profusely as nausea takes over; its time to get some help. We all have been through this situation at some point of time. Some of us panic more than the others and that depends on one’s personality. Such people are predisposed to anxiety traits due to the personality factor. For such people, the intensity of the panic attack is more than others. The attitude of a person and their response to the stressful situation often decides the reaction to the stressors.

Sometimes people panic without realizing that the sky is not really gonna fall, it’s only the acorns on their heads. I am surely one of them!!

A panic attack can strike one anywhere and anytime. Sometimes without any reason (remember the acorns), Sometimes hectic schedules, decreasing timeline of a deadline, tough bosses, hostile colleagues or  just a past experience that can bring about the panic. It can build up within few minutes but it takes its own time to subside – it can be few minutes or even hours. After striking regularly, unless action taken, a person becomes increasingly nervous & apprehensive. The anticipation of the next attack itself, many a times, stresses out the victim more.                   

Panic creates more perceived damage than an actual one. You won’t die but it certainly restricts your lifestyle. It creates mental blocks that heighten your paranoia and decreases the confidence levels.

Panic can be fought calmly. We can train our minds to betray the situation before it happens. Monotonous acts like humming or saying words that increase your self – confidence can layer the stressor and ease out the fear. Remember Aamir Khan’s famous words “ALL IS WELL”  Such words are readily accepted by the subconscious mind when tactfully applied to alter the panicky situation. Anybody can do it and it betters with practice.

Identifying the sources of our fears is very important in trying to tackle them and preventing the step down  to the panic lane.

Affirmative statements take off the anxiety and the situation can be handled easily then. So always run affirmative thoughts.

Immediate family plays a very important role in helping the affected person by bringing back their self-confidence which can help them to adjust with the rest of the people in the family.

Changing “What If” to “So what” can help take off a lot of burden while trying to stay on the circuit.

Going slow deliberately can help relax a person. Rushing makes the body pump up more blood and ups the anxiety. So go slow always. The tortoise always won not just in the tortoise race but also in “The hare and the Tortoise race”

They say misery loves company!! Well, then find some good company and stay away from misery to prevent anxious moments. Lighthearted people will surely light up your life. Find them…

Once panic starts affecting your interpersonal relations, its time to understand that all these soft methods are not working and one must head to a specialist.

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The miracle called MOM

The other day I was watching the movie English Vinglish. A very good movie about a beautiful mother portrayed by the lovely Sridevi. The protagonist( Sridevi ) not only struggled with her English but also lost her status as a mother in the offing. There were many situations from the movie that I could actually relate to and the main situation was being taken for granted. As mothers, a woman's mere existence is often taken for granted. A mother in her various avatars, as a mom in law, sister, girlfriend, wife, has always been at the giving end. Sacrificing her own joys for the joys of her loved ones. Giving up her own identity to work towards creating her children's identity. Languishing her role at work in order to see her husband succeed. Even when a mother at work succeeds, she has another mother keeping watch over her and her family...That's the power of a woman, the power of a mother. The power that makes our little lives wonderful. A mother only expects love and respect in return... Children must be taught to first respect their mothers and then anything else. To be thankful to their mothers for everything that she's doing for them. Cos since God couldn't be everywhere he made mothers. Sounds clichéd but so very true. Just a single day to celebrate and to make your mother feel special isn't enough. A family should celebrate Mother's Day everyday and give their mothers their proper place and respect each day. Power to you beautiful mom.

As for me, I make sure that everyday is a mother’s day. I maybe a married woman, but I make sure to call my mother each day to check on her, what’s good at her place, what’s bad there or If she needs anything to be done by us sisters. I got it from my mother to continue moving ahead in every circumstance of life and so I give it back to her by caring for her at every step in her old age.. even when she couldn’t do much for me, just her presence was the moving factor in my life. Even when she won't be able to do much, i ll be there for her . Life has not been easy for my mother but she made sure, we gals did what we liked and because of her blessings and prayers, we are happy.

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All things Mysore

Mysore (now officially: Mysuru) finds a mention on every page of the history of India. It’s located in the southern state of Karnataka. It is called as The Heritage City, the City of Palaces, the Cultural capital of Karnataka or even the sandalwood city of India. Mysore’s past is so profound; it actually defines its present. One cannot just casually talk about the history because the referencing overlaps ONE ERA TO ANOTHER. Inexhaustible material is available to understand the essence of Mysore city.

The Mysore pak, Mysore masala dosa and many more things with the word Mysore as a mnemonic should remind us non- Mysoreans of the royal connection that we are dealing with. These south Indian delicacies found their way out of their hometown due to the efforts of chain hotel owners who introduced them in their menu and then right into the heart of every other state. The Mysore silk production flourished during the reign of Tipu Sultan and it has come a long way since then. In fact, Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation has received the GI certificate for Mysore silk. Only sarees woven in Karnataka will be Mysore Silk sarees, thus patenting it. GI tag has also been received for Mysore Paintings, Mysore beetel leaf, Mysore Sandalwood oil, Mysore Sandal soap, Mysore Agarbatti , Mysore Mallige,Mysore Rosewood Inlays and Ganjifa cards.

Mysore is the seat of Maharajas, having been ruled by the Wadiyar(Wodeyar) dynasty since 1399. It is believed that a curse was cast on the Wodeyar family by Alamelamma  – the widow of King Tirumalaraja ”May Talakad turn into (a barren expanse of) sand, may Malangi turn into a whirlpool, may the Rajas of Mysore not have children (for all time to come)” The Wodeyars never had a natural legal heir. It emerged that no natural heir to the throne born to a king (adopted or otherwise) could beget children, whereas one who became king by virtue of adoption or other indirect inheritance was blessed with a legal heir. That brings us to the 27th and current custodian of the royal house of mysore – Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar. Yaduveer was 22 years old, when he was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, following the death of her husband Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.

The tales of the royal family are plenty. A visit to Mysore palace is a must for every Indian. The pride felt when standing in front of the Palace validates the pages of history and makes you a part of it.

I have travelled the Ooty- Bangalore – Mysore- Coorg circuit with my family. Yes, I know, but I still cannot bring myself to call Coorg as Madikeri. Our stay in Mysore city was a very memorable one. The Mysore palace was the highlight of the trip. The palace is managed by the Government of Karnataka. The Royal Family currently resides here in a part of it. The entire palace is not open to tourists. One can visit the Museum that is within the Palace. The encapsulating Light and sound show towards the evening (except Sunday) portrays the history and tradition of the Wodeyars in a visual manner. There are in all 7 palaces in Mysore. The main being the Ambavilas palace or the Mysore Palace. This was day 1 @Mysore and we unwound at our hotel after our visit to Mysore Palace. We had just landed here from Bangalore in the morning and we needed to start early the next day.

Our itinerary read Chamundeshwari Temple. It is at a distance of 10 kms from Mysuru. Chamundi or Durga is the slayer of demon. Goddess Chamundeshwari is the deity of the royal kings of Mysore from time immemorable. The temple is located atop the Chamundi hills. The view of Mysore city from here is breathtaking. The temple architecture is a sight to behold. Usually, Friday is the most visited day to take the blessings of the deity. One can wait in the queue for the darshan or there is a paid darshan too. We took the paid one as the queue would run into an hour and we, as tourists, were eager to move on to the next highlight of our star city. 

After taking the blessing of the powerful Goddess, we left for Chamarajendran zoo also called as Mysuru zoo. It is spread over several acres of land. It’s very well maintained with all kinds of animals – hyenas, leopards, black bucks, magpies, several kinds of parrots. Basically, many species of birds, monkeys, wild animals and all species of deer. It has excellent litter control methods which are taken care of at the very entrance of zoo. The entry fees are quite reasonable too. The zoo is highly maintained. The zoo management is also in process of building a huge library/database area. There is also a small/ immaterial canteen. There are cream stalls located at several corners to help you take a break. Minimum 3 hours are required to cover the entire zoo. Rest depends on your ability to move up faster. I loved every bit of this zoo which was at par with international zoo standards. 

For the lunch breaks, we loved eating at a small joint run by the Mylari family. Its location is in a small lane, but the food is 5 star quality. The food business is probably passed over from generations to generations. This is quite inevitable in the taste of the dosas they serve. The lip smacking, finger licking dosas last on your taste buds long after you have eaten it. We MYLARIED every day we were at Mysore.

Last on the itinerary was the Brindavan Gardens. It is built on several acres of land.  And has a unique blend of many types of flower plants, ferns, shrubs and show plants…It’s a huge garden interspersed with different types of fountains. People of all age groups visit here and enjoy a beautiful evening with their loved ones. As we sat on the grass in the garden, we felt happy breathing the Mysore air without a hair of worry. At 7 pm, tourists eagerly await the dancing fountain show. To reach this part of Brindavan gardens, one can either walk up the huge stretch or take a ferry at Rs. 50 per person. We walked it up to see the show but took the ferry while returning.

We ended our Mysore trip with this, though there is much more which needs a tourist’s attention. We would be heading towards Coorg. Another super exciting journey…

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Kerala – God’s own country

Kerala was always on my wish list of places to be visited. I was in awe of Kerala, this place also called God’s own country. In the summer of 2015, finally the trip materialised. We had the flight and the package arranged almost 4 months before. So when the date to fly to Cochin was here, we were all very excited. Soon we touched the south Indian land of kerala.

 Kerala is a very beautiful country in itself…. It has the best of India in terms of weather and ecology… It’s like this very beautiful and intelligent girl with all her moods…

As we came out of the domestic terminal at Cochin International Airport, there was a hint of light rain. It was April 25th then and I knew this would be a very good summer. Our driver Ashokan was waiting for us and soon we were on our way to Alleppey. The distance of 84 kms was easily covered as we were quiet tired after having started at 4am to catch the flight and hence slept through most of the journey…the final halt came at Cosy Regency which had rooms and houseboats under the name. We were going to spend a day on the houseboat… After being allotted the houseboat, we were transported to it. A new journey was about to begin… Exploring new waters!!!!

We had a cosy houseboat with three staff to assist n cook for us during the stay. At night, all houseboats are stationary… As the sun rose over the horizon next day, we had a breathtaking view of all houseboats bathing in the sun rays….. We soon got over the freshness of the morning and were served idlis with sambhar n chutney and thereafter started for our last hour over the magnificent backwaters. Ashokan was waiting outside with the car to take us to Thekkady- another long journey by road

At Thekkady we stayed at Holiday Vista… Thekkady was home to Periyar Wildlife sanctuary, Deepa spice world, Elephant junction, Kadathanandan Kalari Center…I enjoyed best my trip to Aishwarya spice world as I relived my gardening experiences in the spice garden. We purchased a lot of spices to carry home. 

Soon we were on the road again and headed to Munnar… Munnar is a hill station. We stayed at Hotel T & U. Once settled in, my kid was surprised to find no fans nor A/C in the hotel. Soon he felt the chilling cold as the clock struck 4 and realised the reason for their absence. For food, we went to Hotel Saravanna Bhavan for some lip smacking south Indian delicacies. Highlights of our Munnar stay was Mattupetty dam, Attukal waterfalls and dreamland fun park. We skipped the rest as we had the option to stay back in Munnar or travel to Cochin as there was going to be a transport strike the next day and we would have to stay put where ever we are… Our tour manager suggested that we move out to Cochin… And so we hit the roads again leaving behind the Munnar legacy… Carrying with us memories of a summer like never before.

On touching Cochin we were reminded of the development taking place around. So far, we were in the midst of nature which provided us with everything we needed and much more. We checked in at PGS Vedanta. The next day was going to be a break as there would be no transport except KSRTC buses and private vehicles. We learn that this kind of strike keeps happening at least once a few months…but this was an All India transport strike. Our driver returned to Munnar to his family after dropping us to Vedanta as tourist cabs were not going to ply. 

We woke up next to the Kochi metro-in-progress. That’s the location of the hotel ; After an awesome breakfast we left for a walk to check out the area. It had everything one would need. Also the Ernakulum station was round the corner. The station lane was a flourishing area with shops and banks and other good stay options. We returned to the hotel feeling good about our DISCOVERIES in KOCHI. We relaxed till 4 after which we again started on foot towards M G ROAD for further discveries and soon we chanced upon a rickshaw fellow who said it was OK to ply now and he would take us to THE LULU INTERNATIONAL MALL. And yo, we were there in 20 flat minutes. 

LULU is the biggest mall in India. A visit to LULU showed us that people were not ready to give in to the bandh. After a proper survey of the biggest mall, we waited to be picked up by the same rick guy who drove us here… End of day one at Cochin. 

Day 2 @Cochin, Ashokan was back from Munnar and drove us to the folklore museum which carried the history of Kerala dance forms and all the ware used in the dances and much more. We moved on to Dutch Palace and the Jewish synagogue – both a great experience for Reyansh.

Day 3 @ Cochin, we visited Wonderla. An amazing entertainment zone with a mix of deadly adult rides, kids rides and family ones too. We finally got our place on the flying boat after a wait of 25 mins… We were offered another ride by the kind boat attendant without waiting in another queue but we refused as one was enough to last us couple of years till we got back !!! The highlight was the musical wave pool where the waves were accompanied by  traditional south Indian music dished out by a group of 8 to 10 men. Wonderla was truly wonderful. 

So, it was time to pack our bags and fly back to Mumbai the next day. We bid our Adieu to Cochin and Kerala and huddled home with all kinds of chips from Allepy, souvenirs from Periyar, spices, tea from Munnar and lot of other stuff but mainly with memories spent at a place which was a mini India in itself. Amazingly untouched, technologically advanced yet retaining its heritage and culture….

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Being Children

Children are our future and on a macro level the future of our nation…. These little lives, until a few years ago were like free birds. No stress, no worries, no troubles, no hurries. Then came the technological advancement, national level development, further westernization and finally personal enhancement!!! Soon kids were happy faces holding gadgets. Gadget happy downloading apps, they became knowledge hubs with WiFi Internet.. And parents were the happiest. They told stories to their kids as to how everything had advanced and how lucky they felt to get be a part of the progressive generation and much more. The influences soon reached the school classrooms. The syllabus changed, innovative patterns were added, boards got added, and studies were revolutionized. This is where we are today….The pressure at school is going to, surely, build up as the kids progress their standards. Right now, they are tied up with way too much to study and perform. Our little birds are no longer free. However, all the advancement is still in the right place because we live in an age where change is the only constant factor. And we surely want it that way too.

Today, right from childhood the competition begins and ends only as one cannot compete anymore in life. Parents are facing a huge dilemma of whether to go with the flow and let the child compete with others or let them chill and relax and carry on in mediocre competition mode. Whether u choose to be an over bearing parent with great expectations or a normal parent with average expectation, the capacity of our children cannot come in varied forms. Further, any method to bludgeon this capacity has always had its repurcussions.

Our only concern should be to let children retain their innocence. Growing beyond their age is certainly appreciated by families and peers but it snatches the little ones of their present time to be themselves. They become what their parents want them to be. Someone that the world demands them to be. Taking two steps at one go to be in the teachers good books can cost them their mental health.

A healthy environment where competition aids the proper growth of a child should be created. This will not only allow the spirit of competition to be easily soaked in but also allow children to happily involve in them.

Finding out a child’s field of interest will steer them towards a proper direction.

Stepping in their shoes will help parents understand what ails them at any particular stage of life

Parents should only realise that academics in a child’s life will go on forever but childhood comes only once.

There are young autistic children or children suffering from Global development delays who need special attention. Parents and other people around such children have to understand the efforts of such children to fit their world into a normal child’s world. Patience and some TLC will surely get them in track with the others. We cannot hurry them to be there but we can slow down to be with them.

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Jim Corbett journeys

Even though I have been travelling to Uttarakhand since my teenage years, I had never visited the Jim Corbett National Park located in Nainital(Garhwal). JCNP was named after Sir Jim Corbett who helped in the establishment of this reserve. My tour with my family to Uttarakhand this time round, finally, took me to this place. Jim Corbett NP is also the first national park of India.

We fixed a Delhi- Nainital- Jim Corbett circuit but the online booking to Jim Corbett did not go through as we met with the Sold Out notice. The 5 safari zones(BIjrani gate, Jhirna gate, Dhela gate, Durgadevi gate and Dhikala gate) had stopped any further bookings. In case a tourist fails to book online, one can still visit the Sitabani wildlife reserve and get a Corbett like experience over the rich expanse. Though it is not a part of the Corbett Reserve, Sitabani has fauna and flora to make you feel at home. It is also called the Corbett Landscape.

So though we were put up at a resort near the Dhela gate, we did not have the permit and Sitabani was almost at a one hour distance from here via Dhikuli bridge. So Sitabani, it be!! To enter Sitabani, one must hire a jeep of the National Park and leave all private vehicles behind. We were transferred to a jeep and sat all prepped up for this journey inside the reserve. As our vehicle entered the gates, we were greeted by a huge chirp of birds seemingly welcoming us! The entry made, we understood the rich flora of the place.

The Sal forest hosts tigers, wild elephants, leopards, Asian Black bear, Spotted deer, Barking deer, the yellow throated pine Marten etc. The amazing species of birds existing here are a photographer’s dream – The collared falconet, the Long legged buzzard, Hawk eagle, booted eagle are only some of the names. The pleasant weather combined with the thrill to discover these hidden lives made the Sitabani Wildlife reserve a tour to remember. We encountered some of the above on our trail but the big wild cat clearly evaded us. The rustling yellow shrubs against the tall jungle trees formed an image of the Royal bengal cat for us but that was a betrayal!!

The track and trail was sheer exciting and after two hours of animal/bird watch, it was going to come to an end. As we were heading for the exit, a small bird sitting on a tree high above, chirped over our moving jeep. The chirping was shrill and louder than the bird could manage with its little body. It was as if it was telling us something or warning about something. Without pondering too much over it, our uneventful tour came to a point where our jeep driver who was also our tour guide had to choose one of the two routes on the diversion. The longer exit route had more forest area while the shorter route would lead us to the road where our vehicle was waiting to reach us back to the resort. Without stopping for a hot cup of tea, we decided to exit via the shorter road route. As we headed further on the route, the prophecy of the little chirper came true. The skies suddenly became dark and as we sped to our resort, the meaning of the chirper’s prophecy translated itself into strong winds almost 50 kmph. The rains started lashing and we felt hail hitting our bodies. The entire route was lined with light trees some of which had started falling on to the road. One such tree fell in front of our moving jeep way before we were about to pass. The adventurous and brave jeep driver Ashraf quickly halted, moved the tree away with brisk hands and sat back in to jeep to drive us to the Dhikuli bridge where our car was waiting.

Without any harm, we got transferred to our car and we thanked him profusely for being God sent and so brave. Adventurous was surely his second name and numb our condition after this rescue in Dev bhoomi. As our vehicle proceeded towards our resort, it was going to be another 30 mins towards the Dhela gate. Soon we were stopped by traffic ahead and after a light wait we were told that none of the vehicles would be moving ahead as a huge tree trunk had blocked the road ahead. The storm had certainly performed its duty well! But this time, the width of the tree was so huge that no adventurous guy could move it away from the path. District officials were being called as this needed huge professional cutters to get it out of the way. As we sat there still trying to digest what had just happened, came a knock on the car window informing us that our resort vehicle was waiting on the other side of the tree to take us back.

THE CORBETT VIEW RESORT

With a huge sigh of relief, we made our way beyond the tree and exited the mayhem. Hoping all others would reach their resorts too.

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Manga – the Japanese way

“Manga” is a term used to refer to comics and graphic strips originating in Japan. It includes wide genre – action, adventure, business, commerce, fantasy etc. Manga is the graphic presentation of the characters and story while an anime plays out the manga in form of Tv shows or Movie.

The person who introduced me to the Anime world has a small connection with Masashi Kishimoto – The current star of the manga/anime world.  He shares his birth date with him – Nov 8. Silly na? but a great deal for a Naruto lover.

The manga market in Japan is a billion dollar industry. It has an audience that cuts across borders and is quiet famously read by all. The “international manga” includes foreign comics inspired by the Japanese manga form.

“DID YOU KNOW THE JAPANESE MANGA ARE ALWAYS PUBLISHED IN BLACK AND WHITE”

The very first manga magazine was Eshinbun Nipponchi published in 1874 by Kanagaki Robun and Kawanabe Kyosai. The first Japanese anime was Astro boy created by Osamu Tezuka.

Though Naruto ended by 2014, the fans still over burden the search engines as its constantly lays out results to the keywords to an audience spread out in all corners of the world.

The Naruto/Boruto affair continues in the games too and the fans surely won’t let the memory of the father go away so soon. Naruto is an anthem for them and Boruto a revolution.

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under the southern skies

The last time I did the COVID test, I had tested positive and that was in OCT 2020. Cut to September 2021 – it was time for a test again. The only difference was that it was for transit to another city as a mandatory requirement at the airport. Covid strikes had reduced now and travel was slowly resuming. As I write this, people are travelling at a vigorously frequent rate with an aim to cover up the “not travelled” days!! After all, one is not entitled to feel guilty for the entire world and can surely self indulge.

So, with a negative in hand, we were all set to travel to Coimbatore. The purpose was an initiation ceremony at the ashram of our spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev. My partner had visited this place several times before, but it was my first time. It was time to get acquainted/re acquainted to this place.

Airport check-in had to be done hours early. We had heard of airport tales where people had missed their flights due to long check-in queues once Friday struck the week. So we reached our check-in counter quiet early. As predicted, the airport was abuzz with insane activity on the ground, the tarmac filled with flights waiting to take off and people with flutter in their hearts as they looked forward to their “travel is back” days ahead.

The timely flights were well managed. As we approached descent at Coimbatore, the skies were filled with dense clouds. Some of them calling out to us right outside the plane window with the air of ” Welcome to my city”. An easy flight doesn’t mean an easy exit from the airport. The cloudy welcome soon turned into denser despair as cabs kept cancelling our booking for race course road where we had booked our 5 star halt in the city. After more than 20 mins of a frustrating wait, we were greeted by a person who would make this entire tour a pleasant one. An old cab driver came rushing towards us from the car parking across the airport exit. He asked us where we wanted to go and within the next 5 minute we had entered the city and were en route race course road. We asked Ravindran Uncle to pick us up the next day for a tour into the city and he readily agreed.

ABOUT COIMBATORE

Coimbatore is a metro city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The Ease of Living Index 2020 puts this city at number 7 position. Thus making it a city that can give you a good quality of life and an economic ability to help you sustain future days. It is also the second largest city in Tamil Nadu after Chennai.

At 10 am sharp, Ravindran uncle was in the parking lot of the hotel to pick us up.

MARUDHAMALAI MURUGANSWAMY TEMPLE:

Our first halt was going to be the famous Marudhamalai Murugan Swamy Temple. Located amidst the lush green hills of western ghats, this temple is said to belong to 12th century. The temple complex is a reflection of the tamilian culture and heritage. A very well maintained complex with ease of access. Once inside, the devotees can sit in the area allocated for them after taking the blessings of Lord Murugan.

WHERE THE STREET ARE PERFECTLY NAMED:

After this peaceful visit to Marudhamalai temple, we made our way to the Town Hall area which is the city’s main area. With a town hall visit, you can call yourself “Kovai Literate”. The Victoria Town hall built in 1892 lends its name to the area. It has further land mark streets like Oppanakara street, Raja street, Ukkadam. The neighbours to town hall are famous place like Gandhipuram and R S Puram. Chennai Silks, Pothys, Mahaveer textiles, Ganapathy silks are some of the famous commercial shops here.

We headed straight to Pothys and an hour later came out with bags full of Pothys’ trademark cotton towels, silk sarees and material, Dhotis, Shirts and Trousers. Not to forget the Pothys memebership card.

GRAB YOUR GRUB HERE IN KOVAI:

It was time for lunch and Ravindran uncle suggested Annapoorna. A very valuable suggestion which we wouldn’t have got had we not met him. Sumptuous South Indian delicacies later, we understood the reason for the huge crowd-in-wait. We had got IN at good time else the wait seemed a minimum 30 mins for a table.

Apart from these shopping hubs, we also shopped at Cross-cut road, Trichy road and R S Puram. Shree Krishna Sweets was a sweet little halt from where we got packed a lot of snacks and sweets.

Gandhipuram is an affluent area which has several jewellery shops like Joy Allukkas, Malabar gold, Kalyan Jewellers, Shri Arthi Jewellery, Josco jewellers etc. The gold rate in Coimbatore is more than the gold rate in Mumbai!!

Next, we took off to Brookefields mall. It was around 3 pm and a heavy downpour had begun. Luckily all our OUTSIDE WORK had got over and in this downpour, a closed mall would be the best place to be in. An hour later, we emerged with some brands in hand making ourselves “covai rich”

Dead tired, we finally called it a day. Another busy day was up next. We would have to start quiet early for the ashram.

ISHA:

Isha ashram is an amazing place. Tourists from all over the world come here for the resident programs. It has given Coimbatore a lot of tourism too and is a blessing for this place. Those who have not enrolled for any program can also visit the ashram. The Dhyanlinga and the Devi Linga is open for general public. There are a lot of visitors on a general day here. After our program with Sadhguru, we visited the Dhyan linga. In its powerful presence, one could feel a cleansing of their aura. Isha ashram has become a synonym for Coimbatore in fact.

After the ashram visit, we decided to return to the hotel and take some rest. Lunch later was at A2B where we also bought some spice powders of their brand for carrying back home. Shopping was a no-no as we had shopped to our hearts content day before. There was nothing that we had not bought!!!

We ended our tour at the Ukkaddam lake with some lovely pics around the I Love Kovai landmark. The gentle breeze gave us a lovely send off and reminded us that we need to visit again. The star of this trip was Mr Ravindran without whom it wouldn’t have been few heavenly days. A thorough native and a genuine cab driver. He would be back the next day at 5 am to drop us to the airport. We felt truly lucky to have met this genuine person.

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THE BEACH TRIANGLE

Everyone loves beaches and heading towards the water bodies. Be it summer, winter or rainy, the beaches everywhere in the world are always crowded and well equipped to handle large numbers.  

As for me, the endless horizon widens my perspective making me aware of the infinite solutions to a situation at hand. The vast seashore makes my heart dance in glee.

Having travelled to many cities gave me access to visit varied coasts and lakes. The Daman and Diu beaches in Gujarat, Fort Kochi beach at Vasco da Gama square in Kerala’s Kochi, Ukkadam lake in Coimbatore, Ooty lake, Fateh sagar lake in Rajasthan’s Udaipur and the Panchmarhi lake, The lakes in Bhopal, Bee falls in Madhya Pradesh are great places to visit. Fortunate to have this experience in my kitty and eager for more.

THE KONKAN COAST

The coast of Maharashtra also known as the konkan coast includes Maharashtra, Goa and some parts of Karnataka. This coast is a gem in the vast treasure chest of India.  Several years ago, we had visited the Kashid beach but we couldn’t explore the beach triangle of Shrivardhan, Diveagar and Harihareshwar in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.

STAY IN SHRIVARDHAN

So… it was time to pack the bags and hit the coast in Raigad. A weekend trip means everything has to be hurried up. From a 3:30 am wake up to a 4:45 am exit from home, the rush to reach Shrivardhan was there so that we could have an entire day to explore the places nearby. Soon, my driver Nilesh had the car heading towards the city exit to reach Shrivardhan well in time.

With a pretty stay in a 3-star resort, we checked in early. The entire day was planned such that the beach triangle in this area could be covered well. However, the time slot of 1 pm to 4 pm wouldn’t be utilised due to the high temperatures outside. But we decided to go for lunch at that hour.

LUNCH TIMES IN SHRIVARDHAN

Shrivardhan is home to many homestays. With a pre booking, one can avail lunch at these homestays and relish the coastal treats that it offers. We decided to head to Tavsalkar’s for lunch. Tavsalkar’s is one of the renowned home stays with great options for meal. A veg and non-veg meal later, we realised the simple meal that we had just had was tastier than any in a 5 star in Mumbai. The farm fresh ingredients added taste and health and the simple taste was a memory to be cherished. A tour of their small homestay left us happy and we decide to return to the resort.

HEADING TO DIVEAGAR

As the sun began to shed its heat and warmth, we headed out to Diveagar. The sea route from Shrivardhan to Diveagar is the most scenic route we have ever driven on. A stretch of 20 kms running parallel to divine waters and plantations is a sight to behold. Just looking at the shining waters was akin to finding Gods. The sight was mesmerizing and we couldn’t take off our eyes from the coastline.

DIVEAGAR

Diveagar is a small village nestled between Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar. Its famous for the beach and coconut and betel nut plantations. There are “wadis”(plantations) owned by locals where one can catch up with some rest before exploring the place.

ON reaching Diveagar, we visited the Suvarna Ganesh Mandir where one can find a golden idol of Lord Ganesha. From here we went to the Diveagar beach.

Now the beach here was full of people and water sports activity could be undertaken. We took a stroll along the shores and captured great moments to relish later. The liveliness on the beach was rubbed onto each other and  everyone on the beach was having great fun.

With our feets full of Diveagar sands, we were heading back to Shrivardhan. The Shrivardhan beach was just 1 km of our stay and we decided to go there in the morning.

HARIHARESHWAR

DAY 2 and we were required to check out today and the Harihareshwar trip needed to be done today itself. So the clock hit 6 and we were already out for Harihareshwar. We visited the kaalbhairav temple and the Harihareshwar Beach. Though one could do with a full day at Harihareshwar, we did not have a day to spare since we were required to check out on time due to a felicitation ceremony at Kharghar and roadblocks were expected to be in place.

So we stepped back to Shrivardhan and headed to the last place on our itinerary Shrivardhan beach. We had been told that Dolphins are sighted at the Shrivardhan beach and we could spot them if lucky. Unfortunately we couldn’t as the sun was up by now and the warm waters at the top wouldn’t be suitable to their sighting. It was disappointing, nevertheless this pending circuit was completed and the memory reel is still fresh with beautiful moments from here.

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Trip down the Mount Abu town

When on a vacation, one really expects a relaxed time. You are away from home and don’t want the same hectic days at least for some days then. But when you take a trip to Rajasthan in the north west of India, there is a lot of work to be done before you unwind in your room at the end of a particular day. Rajasthan is also called as “the abode of rajas”. It’s rich heritage, historical forts, traditional cuisine and wear, folk dances and music are a huge attraction for international tourists. Rajasthani hand printed textiles, jewellery, paintings, leather articles, stone crafts, marbles are also very famous and a part of every Indian household.

Every Indian state has a hill station, the hill station of Rajasthan is Mount Abu. Touring entire Rajasthan needs minimum of 10 days. Places like Udaipur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ajmer are a treasure and light up your experience with their amazing history. Mount Abu is the only green zone in this otherwise desert state. It is at an altitude of 1220m above the sea level. The climate is cool and the rich flora covers the hill station with coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. This is also what attracts tourists who are amazed to see a cool zone located amidst a hot desert.

Mount Abu doesn’t need a season for a visit. It can be visited any time of the year but if ur planning to visit the other cities of Rajasthan too, you must schedule this trip during the winter season. The best time starts November to March. The very first place synonymous with Mount Abu is the Brahmakumaris headquarters. It’s a spiritual retreat where one is taught to meditate and identify the body as a soul. It aspires to teach soul consciousness. It prepares an individual to look beyond caste and creed and find goodness in others. A major tourist attraction at the Brahmakumari centre is the “peace park”. Photography is not allowed here. Once inside, you can take a self tour or an assisted one. park is a symbol of peace and spirituality. A minimum duration of an hour is required to tour this place.

Dilwara temples or Delvada temples are located at a distance of 2 kms from the city centre in Mount Abu. They are known for their fine architecture and exquisite marble stone carvings. This complex of Svetambara Jain temples is a major tourist and pilgrim attraction. Built between 11th and 13th century AD, the lush green Aravalli hills surrounding it give the aura of peace and tranquility. The Dilwara temple premises consists of Jain temples devoted to 5 saints or Tirthankaras. The Dilwara Temple includes five temples namely- Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pittalhar, Parshavanatha and Mahavir Swami Temple

Entry to this complex is free however photography is prohibited.

One can opt for temple provided guides to understand the entire structure and the history affiliated to it or take a self guided tour

Mindful dressing is a must here.

A visit to the Dilwara jain temples is a must for the uninformed. Enlightenment is guaranteed.

Footwear is not allowed inside and has to be kept at the place allotted by the temple authorities.

Nakki lake is the only man made lake situated at a height of 1200 m above sea level. It’s nearness to the main market attracts a lot of crowd. Situated amidst the Aravalli range, this lake is surrounded by greenery and mountains. An evening visit to Nakki lake is a must when you are in Mount Abu.

Guru Shikhar – It is the highest peak of the Aravalli mountain ranges. The summit of 5653ft above sea level. To climb up to the Swami Dattatreya temple, there is a pakka road. Once you reach the summit, a breathtaking view of the entire town of Mount Abu awaits you. The climb is surely worth it and the descent will surely not be on your mind for a very long time.

Apart from these major attractions, there is the historic Achalgarh fort and the Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary. The big cats are not found in this sanctuary since a long time now.

Even after this mind blowing tour, the Rajasthan tour has only just begun. It’s high on history, it’s every fort has a story, every city has its own colour; Rajasthan is truly colourful.

[thegreenersideofit]

The Daman and Diu files

Daman and Diu may sound like names of two brothers of the same mother. They appear to be two neighboring cities. The sort where, if, we enter one city at one end; we come to the other city at the other end. But they are certainly not. Daman and Diu are very distant places geographically. Their history is the only connecting factor.

I have this thing of getting into details, to have the know how of any matter before proceeding with talking about it… So Daman and Diu’s beautiful history and geography is next before I hit off about tourism at these places.

Daman and Diu was a Union Territory in western India till Jan 26, 2020 after which it was merged with Dadra and Nagar Haveli to make a new UT – Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Due to their small landmass, they were merged as one. Daman and Diu was once a Portuguese colony along with Goa. With its capital in Panjim – Goa, Daman and Diu was a Union Territory of India from 19 Dec 1961 to 30 May 1987. In 1987, Goa was given statehood and Daman & Diu was made a separate UT. There is still a lot of Portguese influence in these places in form of architectural structures.

That’s essentially the history of these places and how they have evolved after being freed as Portuguese colonies. Now, Daman is one place that we Mumbaikars love driving upto since it is 193 kms by road. It is a lovely weekend getaway where you can spend quality time away from the city mayhem. There are many beautiful resorts along the Devka beach road. These are the ones we always choose because of a great view from the room and a lovely morning breakfast by the Arabian sea.

One can spend quality time at Jampore beach and Devka beach in the evening. Parking at Jampore beach can be an issue sometimes. They do have an alloted parking lot but taking your vehicle out of it is problematic due to the influx of incoming vehicles and the ensuing mayhem. At other times, it’s a simple affair.

Moti Daman fort is another historical feature since it has a portuguese influence. The lighthouse attracts a lot of tourists at dusk.

The Mirasol Lake garden is an amazing man made attraction here. It takes 2 hours to tour the entire place. There is a toy train ride which will take you around the entire lake. They also have assisted motor boats rides or self peddled boats to enjoy some good time over the lake. Entry charges to this Lake garden is very nominal. Boat rides are paid for separately once you decide to use the facility.

Diu is not that near to Mumbai nor Daman. The distance between Diu and Mumbai is 817 kms by road, a journey of 17 hours via NH 48. Air travel from Mumbai airport to Diu airport is approximately 1.10mins, aerial distance is 269 kms. Train journey doesn’t take you directly to Diu. Nearest train station is Veraval which is at a distance of 63 kms from Diu itself.

The Church of Bom Jesus in Daman is a Portuguese church. There are many other attractions in Daman. We love this small coastal city, its cuisine and the people and our hassle-free stay.

Daman to Diu by road is 657 kms, a journey of approximately 13 hrs. Remember the two brothers theory at the start!! Diu is at a 100 kms distance to Somnath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlings. A journey that we have been meaning to undertake but it still evades us. Somnath would be our 3rd jyotirling darshan.

Diu has a number of beautiful beaches namely the Jalandhar beach, Nagoa beach and the Chakratirth beach. The vast shoreline ensures a good time with your loved ones. Jalandhar and Chakratirth are mainly rocky beaches so one must be careful while treading the sharp rocks. Apart from the beaches, there is Diu fort. It’s a very old historical fort built by the Portuguese. A visit here will surely enhance your experience to Diu.

St. Paul’s Church is a beautifully maintained structure with an amazing interior. It’s a very old yet living Church built during the Portuguese rule. There are many other attractions in Diu, a start towards it will help u find them.

Daman and Diu with it’s amazing location and well maintained architecture is totally worth visiting. These are GEMS in India’s vast treasure chest.