- Shivpuri is home to rafting. White sand river-side used to be perfect for camping as well although recently that has been prohibited by Green Tribunal.
- Stay at a nearby resort or makeshift camps close to Ganges. It is better than Rishikesh for those who come to avoid the hustle of city.
- Rishikesh is 20 minutes drive from here. You can plan for evening aarti and dinner at chotiwala and comfortably come back by 9.
the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page - saint augustine
Showing posts with label Landscape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Landscape. Show all posts
Monday 10 April 2017
Shivpuri
Google Maps:
Shivpuri, Uttarakhand, India
Monday 6 March 2017
Chail
- Visit during March-April for 3 days. Nights are cold but it is less crowded and more pleasant weather wise.
- Stay at Chail Palace for a royal experience. Plan a visit to nearby market for lunch as the lazy morning and cold evening are mostly to be spent inside the resort.
- Drive / trek to Kali Tibba, Cricket Ground and Wildlife Sanctuary. Chail is small town for a relaxing weekend.
Taking a detour from Kandaghat, it takes one hour to reach Chail - a small hill town near Shimla. Being small works in favour for those seeking seclusion amid a decent infrastructure. We had booked two rooms in the Himneel Block of Chail Palace which is an actual palace converted into a hill resort by the Himachal Tourism. We were the only ones staying in this block and the sense of freedom this gave us was a very happy one.
Sunset from Chail Palace |
Google Maps:
Chail, Himachal Pradesh, India
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 |
Friday 17 June 2016
Darjeeling
- You need to walk a lot given the traffic situation in Darjeeling. Tea estate will take a good half day. Toy train will take another half. Carry an umbrella for sure.
- Glenary's is a complete food destination. A restaurant at the top and a bar at the bottom complement the bakery at the ground floor. Sit at the balcony and enjoy a pastry.
- Avoid Tiger Hill. The itinerary is too tiresome - waking up at 3 and counting on a clear sky is too much for a cloudy Darjeeling.
Happy Valley Tea Estate |
Tuesday 14 June 2016
Namchi
- Take a cab to cover Samdruptse and Char Dham. They are in opposite directions so it will take couple hours each to cover them. We paid 10$ for this.
- Stay in Namchi although its a small city. A better plan is to move to Darjeeling or Gangtok and spend the evening there. Both are three hours away from Namchi.
- Start early if you are not staying at Namchi. Late in the evening the availability of transport options to move out of the city simply dry up.
Google Maps:
Namchi, Sikkim, India
Sunday 12 June 2016
Tsomgo
- Nathula is closed on Monday and documents are to be submitted (including passport size photographs) one day in advance so plan accordingly.
- Better come with warm clothes else you will have to take reused ones on rent. The trip goes to a height of 14k feet. At this altitude even oxygen is thin.
- Go for the bunker of Baba Harbhajan Singh beyond Kupup. There is shrine much before the bunker where most people go but thats not real.
Tsomgo Lake |
Saturday 11 June 2016
Gangtok
- Book an early flight to Bagdogra and take a cab from there for Gangtok. Else you will reach late and tired and the day will be lost. Cover Banjhakri Waterfalls on first evening. Its refreshing.
- Cover the three viewpoints and MG Road on second day. You may want to cover one of the monasteries (Rumtek, Ranka) the same day.
- Sikkim Rum is a local brand which has become quite famous. Numerous shops sell it on MG Road. Try it with pastries from Baker's Cafe.
As we settled on our table in the restaurant located on the top floor of a hotel, hunger became secondary. Across the window the clouds were playing with mountains and our entire span of view was filled with this landscape. It was our introduction with Gangtok and I immediately fell to it.
View of Gangtok from Ganesh Tok |
Saturday 2 January 2016
Tehri
- Tehri is only fifty miles from Rishikesh through a spectacularly tortuous road. We happened to be in Mussoorie which is equidistant but uphill.
- The relocated town of New Tehri is unique and on the way. It is reminiscent of the historic town that had to be flooded to provide for the reservoir dam.
- Tehri is growing into a water-sport hub at Koti. Don't miss the speed boating at Tehri reservoir among the high hills.
Expanse of Tehri Reservoir |
Labels:
Landscape,
Road trip,
Work of Art
Google Maps:
Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
Friday 1 January 2016
Kanatal
- Kanatal is less than 30 miles from Mussoorie via Dhanaulti. Start from Mussoorie after lunch so you don't miss the sunset.
- Its good for an overnight stay with and a short trek in the morning, covering both sunrise and sunset.
- Tehri dam is another 30 miles and is a must visit. Stay at Rishikesh on the way or take a holy dip in Haridwar if you are returning to Delhi.
It was dusk when we reached Kanatal. The setting sun was throwing vibrant colors across the horizon and to add to that beautiful hue were snow capped mountains on one side and deep valley on the other side. One can come to Kanatal just to spend the evening.
Google Maps:
Kanatal, Uttarakhand, India
Everest House
- Road to Everest House is little tattered. Take left from Library End of Mussoorie as the road is better from this side compared to Company Bagh side.
- Trek to the peak near Everest House is recommended although it takes upto couple hours uphill and down.
- Snacks and beverages are available. Best time of day to visit is between breakfast and lunch in the morning half.
Everest House |
Sunday 23 August 2015
Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur)
- The best time to visit is from October to March. However from August migratory birds keep flocking the sanctuary.
- Stay overnight in one of the nearby hotels. In summers start as early as 5.30AM for best experience. By 7 it gets hot and little less pleasent.
- Bicycles are available on first come first serve from the reception. It the best medium of transport. Battery driven vans are also available but they are so boring.
Inside KNP, Bharatpur |
Labels:
Landscape,
Nature,
Road trip,
UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Wildlife
Google Maps:
Keoladeo National Park, India
Friday 14 August 2015
Bhimbetka
Nestled in the deep forests, this place is a true jewel. Plan at least a half day excursion through the whole area. It takes time to cover and more time to appreciate.
- The road is not in a good condition and there are not many road-side restaurants. Visit after the monsoons if you like greenary. The month of August is ideal.
- Read about the place before you go. You will appreciate the rich heritage more. It is one of the 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India for a reason.
Domestication of animals, Bhimbetka |
Labels:
Archeology,
Landscape,
Nature,
Pristine,
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Google Maps:
Bhimbetka rock shelters, Madhya Pradesh, India
Sanchi
Bhopal - Sanchi - Bhimbetka
Sanchi was as calm and serene as we had left it in our Class IX history book. While in Sanchi one realizes why a secluded place built on a hillock suits the purpose of meditation and learning. The place is as picturesque as possible with a panoramic view of the Vindhyas.
Sanchi was as calm and serene as we had left it in our Class IX history book. While in Sanchi one realizes why a secluded place built on a hillock suits the purpose of meditation and learning. The place is as picturesque as possible with a panoramic view of the Vindhyas.
Gateway to Stupas, Sanchi |
Labels:
Archeology,
Landscape,
Pristine,
UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Work of Art
Google Maps:
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India
Monday 29 December 2014
Rameswaram
- Train to Rameswaram itself is a unique experience. The holy town can be covered on foot although there is scarcity of good hotels.
- Visit and complete round of the main temple takes couple hours. People even take bath afterwards in the inner sanctum.
- The highlight is Dhanushkoti, a sword shaped island at the tip of which the mythical bridge was built by Lord Ram. Sri Lanka is merely 20 miles from here.
Rameswaram was long awaited and frankly it didn't disappoint us. In fact the trip that started from Kanyakumari to this pilgrimage via Kovalam had an almost perfect ending in Dhanushkoti. We arrived at this island by train early morning. Crossing Pamban bridge created enough excitement in fellow travellers that we woke up with the noise.
Main Entrance @ Rameswaram Pilgrimage |
Google Maps:
Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Saturday 27 December 2014
Kovalam
- Best time to visit Kovalam is Dec-Jan. Christmas and New Yr celebration here is grand and looks exotic given the number of foreigner tourists.
- Beach is shallow and among the most playful in India. Hotels are numerous so a deal is possible on last minute booking.
- Dont miss top view from lighthouse. It closes down early. Dont miss the Poovar Island trip. It adds to the charm of Kovalam.
Google Maps:
Kovalam, Kerala, India
Thursday 25 December 2014
Kanyakumari
- Sunset is among the most beautiful I have seen anywhere. The crowd throngs at the main beach to watch the sea gulp the sun slowly.
- Ferry ride to Vivekanand Rock has pros and cons. While the island and adjacent Thiruvalluvar Statue are worth the visit, the queues are a killer on both sides.
- There are several food joints along the beach facing the sea with authentic south Indian cuisine worth trying.
Kanyakumari is like one of those beautiful Russian spies. Allow them to nudge you and you will bleed dry. Stay game and you will be allowed to play a little. Fate let us arrive at this southern most tip of peninsular India on a Christmas morning.
Sunday 15 June 2014
Lonavala
Trip: Bangalore > Pune > Lonavala > Mumbai > Gandhinagar > Udaipur > Ranakpur > Chittorgarh > Ajmer > Jaipur > Delhi
Last whole day we were driving from Bangalore to Pune and it had taken its toll. We wanted to relax today but fate had other plans. By the time we entered Lonavala, it was 2.
Last whole day we were driving from Bangalore to Pune and it had taken its toll. We wanted to relax today but fate had other plans. By the time we entered Lonavala, it was 2.
Lion Point @ Lonavala |
Saturday 24 May 2014
Kausani
Trip: Delhi > Nainital > Kausani > Baijnath > Delhi
Kausani is a secluded hill station in Uttarakhand famous for comprehensive view of Nanda Devi range on a clear day. Trip to Kausani was eventful. We booked an overnight bus for Nainital from Kaushambi Metro Station. Direct bus to Kausani was not available and Nainital being less than 75 miles, we thought we will find something to hop from there.
Kausani is a secluded hill station in Uttarakhand famous for comprehensive view of Nanda Devi range on a clear day. Trip to Kausani was eventful. We booked an overnight bus for Nainital from Kaushambi Metro Station. Direct bus to Kausani was not available and Nainital being less than 75 miles, we thought we will find something to hop from there.
Nanda Devi range @ Kausani |
Thursday 17 April 2014
Raneh Falls
Trip: Delhi > Gwalior > Khajuraho > Raneh Falls > Delhi
We reached Khajuraho by overnight train and booked a comfortable room in Ramada Hotel. The day had begun well but temperature was soaring. We were told about a majestic waterfall and we quickly went for it. Although the choice was simple, the route was deserted. We were in MP for the first time and it did scare us. The last part of road is dark into a jungle.
We reached Khajuraho by overnight train and booked a comfortable room in Ramada Hotel. The day had begun well but temperature was soaring. We were told about a majestic waterfall and we quickly went for it. Although the choice was simple, the route was deserted. We were in MP for the first time and it did scare us. The last part of road is dark into a jungle.
Raneh Waterfall near Khajuraho |
Google Maps:
Raneh Falls, Madhya Pradesh, India
Sunday 15 December 2013
Murudeshwara
We checked out of our Gokarna Hotel at 10 and started for Murudeshwara. We had to change at Kumta but given the frequency of buses, we were able to get them back to back and were staring at the massive complex before 1.
Murudeshwara temple complex |
Labels:
Beach,
Landscape,
Religious,
Work of Art
Google Maps:
Murudeshwara, Karnataka, India
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