Neil Island, Andaman
Showing posts with label Fort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort. Show all posts

Thursday 26 October 2023

Jodhpur

We were in Jodhpur for a day to attend a wedding. Jodhpur has become famous for lavish destination weddings. However ours was a modest one. Our direct flight from Delhi landed on time and we were settled for a brunch at our hotel by 11. At 12 the Haldi ceremony was scheduled which we did not want to miss.

Main exhibition building @ Mehrangarh Fort

Sunday 6 August 2023

Phuket

Krabi - Koh Samui - Phuket

Phuket has the best of both the worlds. Families can plan vacation in and around Phuket while loners can stay for days around Bangla Street and not get bored. We were on a boys trip but we did both. It was a seven day planned itinerary that we were following that included Krabi, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Phi Phi & Phuket.

Sunset @ Patong Beach

Monday 10 April 2023

Leh

Leh - Nubra - Pangong

  • Only postpaid works in Leh. The internet and connectivity is good even in Nubra and Pangong.
  • Take it easy on the first day. At 12000ft, the quick altitude change is challenging even to the healthy.
  • Better to book a cab for the entire time of stay. Khardungla, Nubra and Pangong all need vehicle.
  • May & June are the busiest seasons. We enjoyed the tranquillity of April. Frozen Pangong was a bonus.
We literally reached Leh in no time. I remember taking a call from my wife at Leh airport when she was thinking I am still at Delhi airport. Something so exotic is so accessible was a surprise. I generally prefer window seat and was thoroughly rewarded on our one hour flight to Leh with ice capped mountain view and amazing Himalayan landscape.

View of Leh from Shanti Stupa

Thursday 8 December 2022

Orchha Fort

Jhansi - Orchha

Orchha Fort was in my checklist since I missed it on my trip to Khajuraho. I had heard so much abut this bastion of Bundelkhand rulers that it would have been a tragedy to miss it twice. We left Jhansi Fort around 1 and reached Orchha by 2. Mauranipur, our destination for wedding we were here to attend, was still couple hours away.

Orchha Fort

Jhansi Fort

Jhansi - Orchha

We took at 8.10AM Gatimaan Express from Nizamuddin and we were at Jhansi before lunch. We were still about two hundred kilometers away from our destination Mauranipur. We were here for a wedding so we had ample time. We booked a cab that will be at our disposal till midnight when we had to take the returning train back to Delhi.

Jhansi Fort Entrance

Wednesday 8 September 2021

Cabo de Rama Fort, Goa

  • Take our couple of hours for this place, you will love exploring different corners of the fort.
  • Nearby Cabo de Rama beach is good but the view from the cliff that drops to this beach is amazing. There is a sea facing restaurant also but its a bit costly.


One of the hidden gems of Goa, Cabo de Rama fort is spectacular. A proper fort with layers, viewpoints, a turquoise lake and beach, we instantly fell for this place. The fort is in south Goa and we found it by accident on our way to Agonda Beach. The approach road to Cabo de Rama has sea on the right side and hills on the left.

Sea view from Cabo de Rama

Saturday 4 September 2021

Chapora Fort, Goa

  • Chapora Fort became famous after a scene from Dil Chahta Hai was shot here. As is true for anywhere in Goa, this place is best accessible by a two-wheeler.
  • The place has everything to offer but in limited amount. The small trek up to the top, street vendors on the way, the view from the top and of course the DCH spot make it a place worth the visit.
We were in Goa for a week without an itinerary. It was a leisure trip. We had been to Goa twice before and had covered most of the prominent attractions like Aguada Fort, Basilica Church and Spice gardens. We wanted to take it easy and go for one not-too-famous point every morning and then relax the rest of the day. We decided to cover Chapora fort and Anjuna for the day.

View from the top @ Chapora Fort

Friday 14 December 2018

Aguada Fort, Goa

Lighthouses fascinate me. They have too much to offer. As if the sea on one side and land on another was not enough, these guardians in the darkness offer unmatched view of the landscape from a high point that by design has to be visible from afar. The spiraling staircases take you to an alien looking gigantic torch that rotates. Very few lighthouses are open for tourists - the three most facinating ones I have climbed are the one in Mahabalipuram, Kovalam and Diu Fort. Unfortunately the one in Aguada Fort is not open and many a photogenic views have been bereaved from innocent tourists.

Lighthouse, Aguada Fort 

Wednesday 6 June 2018

Tallinn

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow
  • Have a good breakfast and carry a bottle of water all the time. Tallinn demands a lots of walk up and down the old town which at times can be tiring.
  • Buy a sim when you reach Estonia. Most of the international networks either don't work here or are super costly. Carry an umbrella if you are going in rainy season.
  • Take St. Olaf's entry ticket to the top. It costed us €3. There are few views in Tallinn that can beat what you can see from up there. Most of the other entries in Tallinn are free.
The Old Town of Tallinn is a magical place or so it seems. In a space of few square miles, you will come across a hill, a sky high cathedral, few viewpoints and an old way of life. Within the walls of the old town, life takes a backseat. You wish to fill your eyes with the beautiful structures that makes you hungry. There are rows of restaurants within the gullies of Tallinn in case you do not prefer the Town Hall Square that hosts the open restaurants.

Inside the Old Town

Saturday 2 June 2018

Soumenlinna, Finland

Soumenlinna - Helsinki - Tallinn - St Petersburg - Moscow
  • Soumenlinna from one end to another would be at least a mile long and given detours, one need to travel at least 3-4 miles to cover the basics. Be ready for these long walks.
  • There are beautifully placed restaurants and cafes within the fort walls that tempt you to just settle after a long walk. Do that.
  • The periphery throws great views of the sea and parts of fort island. Make sure you walk along the edges to cover that.

Soumenlinaa & Vallisaari are two islands south of Helsinki in the Baltic Sea. It takes €4 and half hour to reach the islands - cheap for the rustic life one witnesses here. It was the same day we reached Helsinki that we ventured for these islands and loved what we saw. Clearly the brightest gem of tourist spots in Helsinki, that were a perfect start to our visit to Scandinavia.

Fortress of Soumenlinna

Monday 30 April 2018

Lucknow

  • Bada Imambara, Chota Imambada, Roomi Gate and Clock Tower are all located at walking distance from each other. Bada Imambara holds Bhool Bhulaiya which is not to be missed even with the crowd thronging.
  • Aminabad is the area to be for food related interests. Tunday Kababi, Prakash Kulfi and Netram Kachori are all close by.
  • La Martiniere and Ambedkar Park are good for a stroll. Both offer different legacies - the college is old and the park is latest addition to Lucknow.
Lucknow was shining bright as we alighted from Shatabdi. Our hotel was little far in Gomti Nagar but thanks to readily available taxi for hire, we checked in within next half hour. Plan was to rest for an hour and chalk out the route we need to take to maximize our stay. The Imambadas (Bada & Chota) were definitely in the list and so was the delicacies of Aminabad - Tundey Kababi, Prakash Kulfi and Netram Kachoris to name a few.

Chota Imambara

Friday 22 December 2017

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

  • Start early with balanced breakfast. The uphill climb takes 2 hours including breaks so by the time it is noon you would be climbing down in heat with the most clear view when you were up there.
  • Don't miss the frescoes painted on the cavern of western wall of Sigiriya. They are some of the most exquisitely painted frescoes that are still preserved probably due to the cave.
  • Enjoy the different views that elevation throws at different levels. Explore the top of Sigirya a little. People tend to just hit the top and come back.  
Sigiriya Lion Rock is not just a tourist attraction. History says it was seat of the most powerful king who ever ruled the island nation. Add to that the buddhist monastery in the caves of the gigantic monolith and a view to behold from the top. The result is an unmatchable structure that may very well have cake-walked into the Unesco World Heritage Site list. While the front view of Sigiriya is intimidating, the trek and the experience is equally exhilarating.

View from middle, Sigiriya Lion Rock

Saturday 16 December 2017

Galle, Sri Lanka

  • Galle is essentially a beach fort town. Do not expect more. There are well located restaurants within the fort with a beautiful sea view and authentic Sri Lankan cuisine that you should try.
  • Fort is the place to explore within Galle. The lighthouse and area around it is spectacular shares during sunset with fort on one side and the infinite sea on another.
  • Galle beach is another attraction although nothing compared to so many beaches in Sri Lanka. Beachside restaurants are a good option for breakfast.
Galle (pronounced Gaulle) is a seaport in southern Sri Lanka. We chose it as our base because of its equal distance from Weligama and Hikkaduwa. The fact that Unawatuna beach was a mile away was a bonus. The plan was more or less a success as we were able to easily nevigate through major beaches in southern province. However a better approach would have been to stay at Unawatuna itself, watching the sunrise and enjoying the buzz of the commercial beach.

Lighthouse, Galle Fort

Monday 21 August 2017

Hill Fort, Kesroli

  • Great food, picturesque swimming pool and solitude, these are what Hill Fort Kesroli offers to you. If you are looking for adventure, go somewhere else.
  • Morning walks around the village and fields is possible. Hotel also offers bicycles to help you take a round. 
  • Bhangarh and Abhineri are each an hour away although in different directions. You can go for them if you are staying for couple days.
Hill Fort Kesroli is a Neemrana property and inaccessible to outsiders. You need to book a room to even enter the premises which is on high grounds and not at all easy to reach. It was my birthday and so we decided to spend a night at the resort. The August sun was bright as we drove from Gurgaon to Kesroli near Alwar in two and half hours. We checked in and roamed around the property. While the entrance is a climb, the fort is an easy navigation with rooms on two levels.

Swimming pool at lower levels, Hill Fort Kesroli


Sunday 25 September 2016

Golkonda Fort

  • Golconda Fort is a major attraction of Hyderabad. Trek to the top on an October morning is heavenly. The whole city is visible.
  • Take as little baggage as possible. Take water and some food. The top of fort is a huge terrace where one can sit and relax for hours.
  • A digression from main path will take you to one of the edges from where view of the city is uninterrupted. Steep fall below and chill air with the landscape in front is a view to behold.

We visited Golkonda Fort first thing in the morning. Still it was 11. Thanks to the incessant rainfall for last four days, the air will chilly and there was ample greenry around. In front of us was the grand Golkonda, famous for its sound system.

Golkonda Fort

Saturday 22 August 2015

Agra Fort

  • Visit before Taj Mahal as its bigger and takes time to complete a round. It is closer to the Express Highway as you enter Agra.
  • A weekday trip is recommended given the crowd on weekends. On Monday both Agra Fort and Taj are closed.
  • Guides are good to have given the expanse of Agra Fort although it sometimes get intrusive to have them.
Agra Fort is the automatic next destination to Taj Mahal, both being UNESCO World Heritage Sites and as rare as it is with heritage sites, they are only couple of miles from each other. Spread wide across the banks of Yamuna, the fort boasts of being home to five generation of Mughal Emperors.

Huge motes, Agra Fort

Thursday 19 June 2014

Udaipur

Jaipur - Ajmer - Chittorgarh - Udaipur
  • Book a hotel on the lake side preferably facing the palace. This would also mean you are in the old part of Udaipur which has a different air about it.
  • The City Palace is among the most preserved ones I have seen. The paintings and even utensils are kept for view. Area around palace is also full of artistic work.
  • Go for Monsoon Palace for the sunset. There is a restaurant at the top that serves good snacks which along with the location makes it very special.
We reached Udaipur by noon and started searching for a suitable hotel. It was serendipitous for us to find Hotel Lake Pichola at such short notice. It is one of the hundreds of hotel adjacent to Pichola Lake but also has a view of palatial complex across the lake. Our room was modest in a royal fashion.

City Palace across Hotel Lake Pichola @ Udaipur

Friday 18 April 2014

Gwalior Fort

Trip: Delhi > Gwalior > Khajuraho > Raneh Falls & Delhi

Gwalior was a quicky. We were on our train to Delhi from Khajuraho when we saw the fort palace and decided to pay it a tribute. We had to look for a hotel or take Shatabdi @ 7.

View from right flank @ Gwalior Fort

Monday 14 October 2013

Srirangapatna

Trip: BangaloreRamnagaram > Srirangapatna >  Mysore >  Bandipur >  Mudumalai >  Ooty >  Coonoor >  Bangalore

Srirangapatna is a small diversion on Bangalore-Mysore highway and so we took it on our way out from Mysore. The geography of this fort city hints why Tipu Sultan moved his capital here. It is a natural island created by forking of river Kauveri.

3 Points @ Srirangapatna Tourist Map

Thursday 27 December 2012

Daulatabad Fort

Trip: Aurangabad > Ajanta > Lonar > Daulatabad > Ellora > Aurangabad

  • A full fledged 7 tiered fort, Daulatabad is worth studying on the defense systems of forts used by early rulers of India. At worse its a healthy trek to the top.
  • Dont miss the bat cave, a set of staircases to the top only few hundred metres long but full of squeaking bats. You need to cross it to reach the top.
  • Within few miles of Daulatabad are the grand Ellora Caves and Grishneshwar - one of the twelve jyotirlingas, both dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Daulatabad Fort is impregnable by the look of it - a layer of seven increasingly difficult barriers from bottom to top. We arrived at the foot of this hill fort through a shared auto that runs frequently from Bawa Petrol Pump in Aurangabad City. The entrance is a massive wooden gate that opens to view of a high watch tower and the fort itself. The gate is not counted among the seven layers of defence.

View from Bharat Mata Mandir