Travel Zeal

The original inhabitants of the Himalayan Kingdom

2010-06-05T03:44:00.000+05:30

The tribes in Manali are said to be the original inhabitants of the Himalayan kingdom. One can come face to face with their real traditions by closely observing their customs and rituals. The tribes of the region are the true representatives of Manali people, culture and festivals.There are various tribes in manali, which depict the socio- cultural variation and liveliness of the place
The main city of Manali comprises of a mixed population, they are mostly well educated. However, the local customs and rituals of the indigenous tribes can be experienced around the city of Manali. Most of the local inhabitants are the original tribal community of Kinnaur. About 90% of the locals communicate in manali language however due to continue contact with outsiders, rest of the group also speaks Hindi and other Pahari languages. Gujjars are a prominent tribal group that dwells in the environs of Manali. Most of them are hunters and gatherers who keep on moving from one place to another in search of food and fodder. The diverse ceremonies and customs of the racial tribes of Manali make the place more colorful and attractive to tourists.

Folk Dances of Manali
The various tribal communities that dwell in and around Manali follow different customs and traditions. The various native folk dances of Manali reflect the rich traditions of the tribes. The dance forms when performed with the proper musical instruments and folk songs, reflect the creative imagination and artistic talent of the dancers. The Naati, Karthi, Kayang and Bakayang are the commendable performing arts of the areas in and around Manali. Each of the dance forms is related with a particular event and is performed on special festive occasion. For instance Naati dance form is performed in all festive occasion, whereas Karthi dance depicts the importance of the harvest festival. Apart from the performers, the viewers also enjoy every step of the folk dances. The dance is performed with dedication and enthusiasm. The tribal society encourages the participation of all the members in the folk dance. However most of the participants who faultlessly perform the traditional art are the young Manali people.

Yercaud - the poor man’s Ooty

2009-06-02T03:47:00.001+05:30

If Ooty is the `Queen of the Hills`, then Yercaud is a princess. The other districts of the region are hot and humid with the only silver lining, Yercaud.

Yercaud is how the Brits got around the tongue – twister `Yericaud`. Yercaud got its name from the combination of two Tamil words `yer` and kaddu which correspondingly mean lake and forest.

Yercaud is one of the India’s cheapest hill station destinations. Yercaud is so rich in its natural charm and its potential for bountiful discovery that to label it `cheap` would be truly insulting. It’s sometimes referred to as the ``Poor man’s Ooty``, but ``smart man’s Ooty would be nearer the mark. .

In southern India when ever some one talks about a hill station then the two names that come into mind are Ooty and Kodaikanal. No mention is ever made, even in passing, of Yercaud. A majority of people don’t even consider Yercaud as a hill station. Yercaud is as beautiful as Ooty and Kodaikanal but is remarkably cheaper than both of them. May be this is the logic behind calling it as the `Poor Man’s Ooty`.

All along the route to Yercaud one will find monkeys playing high jinks and trees with violet flowers make one wonder where one is heading towards. There is greenery every where which is a new experience, for the city bred. Yercaud is famous for coffee and pepper in much or less the same way, Ooty and Kodaikanal are famous for tea.

The Britishers used Yercaud as summer retreat and their inheritance is all over the place. Rows of houses, much like ants moving in files, speckle the entire hills. The number of places to be seen in Yercaud may not be many, but each one of them is really worth the visit. "October and November are the best months to visit Yercaud. Yercaud is a less expensive place than other tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu and is preferred by the middle class. The entire family can tour Yercaud on a budget of about Rs.1000 by a car. An annual flower show is organized in the month of May. Another major difference between Yercaud and any where else in Tamil Nadu is the difference between the prices.

Located: 35 kms from Salem
How to Reach: One hour by bus from Salem
Altitude: 1500 metres

Kasauli - A Breather

2009-04-16T10:42:00.002+05:30

I had been planning to visit Kasauli for long. Though I have been to Kasauli earlier also but at that time I just passed from Kasauli on my way to Shillon Bagh. I did not stay there and explored Kasauli. Finally last month while talking with Pooji and Meenu we decided to go there. We decided to leave on Thrusday night as we had a 4 day off in our office ( fri and mon due to some festival and sat and sun is our weekly off.). On thursday as per schedule we hired a CRV and moved out to check out this quiet hill station in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district.

After crossing Nahan (went out of route to pick a friend) the ride was part bumpy, part smooth and part scary when on sharp hair-bend turns the driver continued at the same speed.I knew Kasauli was nearing when the CRV began groaning while negotiating steep winding roads. We got down and began our search for a reasonably priced-yet-good hotel. It was unlike other hill stations where one could spot hotels everywhere. This military town has escaped the ‘touristification’, thanks to the army.

Traffic is regularised, no vehicles allowed into the small market, which still has cobbled path. The two main roads the little hill station has are called the Lower Mall and the Upper Mall. It’s just the name, no rows of shops here. Just half a dozen or so makeshift shops run by Tibetans selling jackets, woollens, T-shirts and other usual stuff one finds at such markets everywhere.

There were few picnickers sipping tea and coffee, as monkeys walked by or jumped from branch to branch on trees around, at a biggish grocery store-cum-restaurant, which had lot of space in front of it for the visitors to sit.

After trying couple of hotels we knew names of we finally settled for a guesthouse situated at the end of the road near old Kasauli overlooking the valley below. The owner proudly told us that when sky is clear I could see Chandigarh from the terrace!

Around 5 PM Kasauli was enveloped by the monsoon mist. It was pretty beautiful sight watching mist trapped in pine trees. I rested for sometime before I got out again and just walked on the roads checking them out where did they lead. I resisted going full hog because it was getting dark and I was not sure where I would end up. While I was exploring and admiring the nature my gang was enjoying in the guesthouse.At night we watched some reality show on MTV and finally fell asleep around midnight.

Meenu got up around 5 in the morning and woke me up. We both went out to see how Kasauli looks in morning leaving all others sleeping as we didn't wanted to waste our time in waking others and waiting for them. The sky was clear so I got some views, which I could not in the evening. There was a chill in the air but it was soft and sweet.

After taking a hot bath, we decided to check out the Upper Mall, which, as my hotel manager claimed, provides best views. It is on this road that all the important buildings are situated. This road has the highest elevation in Kasauli, gives you best views on both sides. Sudhi’s ultimate destination was ‘Monkey Point’. May be he wanted to meet his friends there…monkeys. We were advised to take this road as far as Gilbert’s Trail and then take left turn from near a Litter Box. When the hotel manager told me about this box, I thought he was talking about some Letter Box because he said it was of old style and one certainly did not think of Litter Box being there. When I saw many of them I realised he meant Litter Box. And, what Litter Boxes! A beautiful small hut type box, which did not at all, looked like it contained garbage.

After we reached the signboard of Gilbert’s Trail, we took left turn and the short path connected us to the Lower Mall road. From here turning right takes one to the gate of Air Force Station. One has to collect pass to go up to the Monkey Point as it is under the Air Force control. If you have camera and mobile phones, you will have to leave them behind before you enter the Air Force Station. A 20-minute walk will take you to the Monkey Point. A small temple dedicated to Hanumanji (Monkey God) is situated there. Also, you can view snow-capped mountains from here if the sky is clear.

Sudhi was bit disappointed after reaching there because there were very few monkeys oat the monkey point. He could not meet all of his friends for whom he traveled so much. Bechara Sudhi.

Gang – Me (Prats), Meenu, Sudhi, Pooji,

The chestnut trails

2009-03-10T09:56:00.000+05:30

Perhaps the best way to start a journey is without any expectations. That way, even if you find nothing at the end, you can say, “It was just what I expected.” There are no monuments, ancient temples or great waterways that can be explored. Kasauli is no doubt a walker’s town given its peaceful vistas and amazing shortcuts. Do carry along with water and some high energy snacks like chocolates on your rigorous walks.

In the old days when Kasauli was still the Kusowlie, the Britishers used to ride the high ridges of the region by tonga or by pony. Even before the mountains were carved up for constructing the roads, the officers used to trek the woody hills to get to the hub of the cantonment. It might take you a couple of days to get your hills feet, but once you get to reach the peak then there’s nothing better than to follow the footsteps of those who have the courage to stride, where no roads existed…the craggy, pugdundees lined with Kasauli’s glorious chestnut trees.

These walks are even more enthralling when the ancient chestnut trees are in full bloom during the months of April to June. The fragrance of pine flora pervades the air. Occasionally, wild animals like jackals, Hare and Red Hen can be seen across the trail. Also on a clear day one can enjoy the vistas of the snow-clad Dhauladhar Ranges and the Churi Chandni Peak. Kasauli is one such destination that offers solitude, picturesque environs and the opportunities for treks. It may well be described as an absolute paradise where the soul has limitless opportunities to gain that beyond description; something it keeps on longing after.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple – Ujjain

2009-02-17T13:25:00.000+05:30

Dedicated to: Lord Shiva

Significance: One of the twelve Jyotilingas of Lord Shiva

Saivism is one of the dominant faiths in the Indian system of beliefs. Saivite temples constitute a sizable majority of temples in India.

Modern Ujjain lies along the banks of the holy Shipra River. It is built upon the ancient city of the Ujjayini. Ujjayini is one of the four cities of legend sanctified by the drop of Amrit which fell on the spot after the Amrit Manthan, when ambrosia was churned from the ocean depths.

The Soaring Mahakaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The mention of the temple has been done in Several Puranas of the Hindu Mythology. The names of Kalidasa and Ujjain are for always linked together. Kalidasa, have sung the praises of the temple. Lord Shiva is also known as the 'Mahakal' and suggesting the eternal existence of the Almighty. The Jyotirlinga is said to be 'Swayambhu' (self-manifested) as it obtained its power from within itself, not like the other 11 lingams that were established ritually by chanting 'mantra'. There is another reason which makes it different from the other temples any where on the Earth is that the prasada offered here to the deity can be re-offered.

The temple is also known as the 'Dakshinamurti', as the image of the lord kept in the temple faces the southern direction. This is the only Jyotirlinga where the idol of the lord faces south. Another form of Lord Shiva, Omkareshwar is places above the shrine at the sanctum. The site is festooned by the images of Lord Ganesh, Parvati and Kartikay, which are placed in the west, north and east direction respectively. In the south, there is an image of Nandi, Lord Shiva’s Cow. The third storey at the sanctum consists of an idol of Nagchandreshwar (another form of Lord Shiva). The “darshan” of Nagchandreshwar are available only on the day of Nagpanchami.

Ujjain along with the Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Benares, Kanchipuram, and Dwarka is considered to be the 7 Mukti Stalas in India. A Kumbha Mela is organized in Ujjain when Jupiter resides in the zodiac sign of Scorpio.

Distance:

54 kms from Indore, 183 kms from Bhopal

Getting There:

There are several trains which connect Ujjain with rest of the nation. Ujjain Junction Railway Station lies on the Western railway zone. The nearest airport serving to the Holy town is Indore. Regular bus services are available from Indore, Gwalior, Ahmedabad and Bhopal to Ujjain.

Best time:

According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is considered as the destroyer of the Universe. 'Mahashivratri' is a major festival that is celebrated here in the temple with full enthusiasm and dedication. On the eve of Mahashivratri, a grand fair is held in the environs of the temple. Through out the night, prayers and worship are offered to the Lord Shiva. To celebrate the festival and pay homage to the lord people flock here from all over the World.

Accommodation in Ujjain:

There are a plenty of accommodation options available at Ujjain. One can chose from the kind of accommodation according to his requirements and budget. During Kumbha Mela, Mahashivratri and Nagpanchami it is advisable to book your rooms in advance. One can also opt to stay at Indore which is about an hour drive from Ujjain.

"Om Namah Shivaya"

Hindus Holiest City - VARANASI

2009-02-15T11:53:00.000+05:30

The HINDUS HOLIEST CITY, VARANASI IS PERPETUALLY overflowing with pilgrims. To visit it once in a lifetime is every Hindu’s goal; to die here is to have the greatest chance of moksha (salvation). It is, therefore, not an easy city for a person to visit.

Walk down to the river for a boat ride, either early in the morning or in the late afternoon when the sun’s rays are enjoyable rather than punishing. Give this city some time: zipping in for a dawn boat ride and then out again is rarely satisfying. Varanasi is about watching a nonstop pilgrimage city going about business. A city as old as Babylon, Varanasi is, for Hindus, quite simply Kashi (city of Divine Light). Of the Hindu’s seven Sacred Cities, it is the most sacred. The others are the Haridwar, Ujjain, Mathura, Ayodhya, Dwarka, and Kanchipuram. Each is dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu, except Kanchipuram which is dedicated to both.

Thus, although it is a center for Hindu culture and has fine music and art. From the most humble upward, pilgrims often make their yatras by bus on excursion, singing bhajans along the way.

Varanasi was already thriving 2,500 years ago when Buddha came to Sarnath to deliver his first oration making it sacred to Buddhists, too. Later, Muslims periodically plundered the city: the widowed Shah Jahan Forbade temple- rebuilding, and pious Aurangzeb converted one temple into a mosque. Early British arrivals wrote of being intoxicated by Varanasi’s exoticism and mystery. Winding your way through the maze of narrow, filthy alleys swarming with cows and pilgrims, you feel something of this as you peek into temples of all sizes, some simple, some flashy, like Tulsi Manasmunda, funded by the Birla family. Pilgrims flood in and out of then ceaselessly.

Despite the city’s squalor- for no other word will fit – the holiness of Varanasi has been the inspiration for some of the most sublime creations in Hindu culture. Classical music was nurtured in the temples and today the city produces many of the India’s top musicians and stages important music festivals.

Getting there:

Varanasi is well connected and accessible to major Indian cities and tourist spots. There are daily domestic flights and trains to and fro from Varanasi. Varanasi also has a good network of roads connecting it with the nearby places.

Accommodation:

There are several options ranging from hotels, resorts, lodges, guest houses, dharamshala’s etc.

Best time to Visit:

Any time is the best time to take a holy dip in the sacred water of Ganga River.

Har Har Gange...!!

2009-02-02T10:42:00.000+05:30

"Sail from antiquity to eternity on the Ganga and let spirituality immerse you."

The dominant force of eastern India is the Ganga. Its hundreds of Tributaries trickle down the Himalayan slopes, link up into rivers, and create the life- giving Gangetic Plain Delta. The Ganga flows past Knur, near Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, and then continues to Allahabad, where it takes in the Yamuna River, which has already watered Delhi and Agra. Then further it flows through Varanasi and into Bihar state. Here, at the city of Patna, major tributaries swell its waters: the Ghaghara, the Son, and the Gandak. Soon the Great River begins to split into hundreds of threads to become the vast delta whose blessings of nourishment and punishments of flooding are shared by West Bengal and Bangladesh.

The Ganga is sacred to Hindus. A Hindu’s Ganga Yatra (journey, pilgrimage) begins at the river’s source, Gangotri, near Rishikesh then descends to Haridwar, Allahabad, and Varanasi. At each stop the river’s water is revered: just a few droplets, not a hard scrub, can purify. The Ganga’s water is especially purifying since Hindus believe it to be the goddess Ganga flowing eternally from the summit of Mount Meru, the abode of the gods, down through Shiva’s matted locks. To bathe in the waters is to cleanse oneself of the Karma of previous and current lives and so be prepared for death and rebirth into a better life. Hindus from all over India attend the mass ritual bathing that take place during the Kumbh Mela festival held every three years at one of Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik and Ujjain in turn. Of these, Allahabad, also known as Prayag (confluence) because the Yamuna and Ganga meet there, is especially sacred so the Kumbh Mela held here is known as Maha Kumbh Mela: the city also has an annual Magh Mela.

At Chunar, Upstream from Varanasi, the Ganga turns sharply north and then makes a great arc through the holy city. This combined with the high west banks and the flat land on the east banks, creates an extra ordinary, almost tangible bowl of light, especially at sunrise. Hindus have for centuries thought of Varanasi as Kashi (City of Divine Light), or as Kashika (The Shining One), referring to the light of Shiva.

Historically, the Gangetic Plain was the hearth of Indian Culture, and settlements spread east ward from this core region more than three millennia ago. The Ganga was a highway for east – west trade across the subcontinent, and it irrigated and fed the soil to produce rich farmland. Thus, early cities such as Patliputra (Patna) grew to be capitals of great empires. Later, the Mughals made Allahabad one of their capitals. The British pushed their influence up the Ganga from Calcutta to protect their vital trading route.

Today the rich alluvial plains formed by deposits from the Himalayan Mountains form one of the world’s most densely populated regions. Deforestation of the Himalayan Mountains means additional silt is carried down river and helps cause flooding: more than a third of Bangladesh is flooded annually. Ironically, this rich silt is essential to the nourishment of the rice crops being intensively farmed throughout the Ganga Basin.

Traditional Kerala Art Forms

2009-02-02T03:51:00.000+05:30

Kerala is bestowed with some ancient traditional art forms that is still today performed wiith the same zeal and enthusiasm. We discuss here two art forms.

Kathakali
The art form of Kathakali is the oldest forms in the world, which crystallized at around the same time as Shakespeare was scribbling the plays, though elements of it stem from 2nd century temple rituals.The Kathakali performance is the dramatized presentation of a play, usually based on the Hindu epics the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the puranas. All the great themes are covered – righteousness and evil, frailty and courage, poverty and prosperity, war and peace. Drummers and singers accompany the actors, who narrate the story through their precise movements, particularly mudras (hand gestures) and facial expressions. Traditionally, performances took place in temple grounds and went from 8pm until dawn, now shorter performances in other open-air locales, as well as indoor halls are also popular.

Preparation for the performance is lengthy and disciplined. Paint, fantastic costumes, highly decorated headpieces and meditation transform the actors both physically and mentally into the gods, heroes and demons they are about to play.You can see cut down performances in tourist hot spots all over the state and there are kathakali schools that encourage the visitors. Many temples festivals across the state feature all night Kathakali Shows.

The performances in Kochi are accompanied by instrumental as well as vocal aids. The expressions are suggested by the delicate hand movements and are complimented by the movements of the face, particularly, the eyes. The dance form is belived to have originated from the dance drama called Ramanattam. At Kochi the Kathakali dance has a significant part of the socio-cultural sector of the entire state of Kerala.

Kalariyappayat
Kalariyappayat is an ancient tradition of martial training and discipline. Still taught throughout Kerala, Some believe it is the forerunner of all martial arts. Its roots can be tracked back to the 12th century, when skirmishes among the many feudal principalities in the region were common.
Masters of Kalariyappayat, called Gurukkal, teach their craft inside a special arena called a Kalari. The Kalari is a part gymnasium, part school and part temple. Its construction follows traditional principles: its rectangular design is always aligned east – west and Hindu deities are represented in each corner.

Kalariyappayat movements - the foundation of choreography that uses the actor’s bodies and gestures as the primary tools of expression – can be traced in Kerala’s performing arts, such as Kathakali and Kootiattam (traditional Sanskrit drama), and in ritual arts such as Theyyam.

Shravanabelagola–Saint of the Silver Lake

2009-01-30T13:06:00.001+05:30

“Bahubali lords over the town near Hassan in Karnataka”

Shravanabelagola is a small township tucked away between the Indragiri and Chandragiri hills. A visit to Shravanabelagola, an important Jain pilgrimage centre, about one hour from Hassan(Karnataka) is easily done if you are in the vicinity. Lord Gomateshwara’s statue in the city occupies a significant place in the Jain legacy of Karnataka. It is here that Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, became an ascetic after relinquishing his throne. It is believed the Sravanabelagola reached its peak under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad as far as the architectural and scriptural legacy of the city is concerned. The gigantic monolith of Lord Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali as he is also called, in Shravanabelagola is an ideal example of that brilliance.The statue is set atop the Vindhyagiri hills, also called Indragiri. Lord Gomateshwara is depicted completely nude in accordance with certain beliefs. The 55- ft- high monolith can be seen towering over the city from several Kilometers away. There are some inscriptions written on the slabs near the right and left foot of the image of Lord Gomateshwara at Shravanabelagola. The inscription on the right hand slab is as follows:

“Sri-Chamundarajam madisidam;
Sri-Chamundarajan "se" Yv 'v' ittan;
Sri-Gamgaraja suttalayavam madisida;”

The first two lines of the inscription state that “Chamunda Raja caused to be made the image, at the foot of which the inscription is engraved, and the third line states Gamgaraja caused to be made the buildings which surround the image.
Every 12th year, during the Mahamastaka Abhishekam ceremony, the monolith of Gomateshwara is anointed with thousands of tons of coconut milk, Jaggery, curd, bananas and flowers by Jain Pilgrims. It is belived that only the blessed get to perform the rituals. Thousands arrive at Sravanabelagola to witness the event of a lifetime. The last Mahamastaka Abhishekam which was conducted round February 8 to19, 2005, had drawn the attention of not just India but the entire world.

Distances:
157 km of Bangalore, 211 km of Mangalore, 103 km of Mysore, 50 km of Hassan

Getting There:
The nearest airport is in Bangalore (157 kms). Hassan, the nearest railhead is connected with Mangalore, Mysore and Bangalore. The Bangalore Mangalore Highway (NH48) passes from Hassan and Sravanabelagola, which is only 10 km from Channarayapatna, also on highway. KSRTC buses ply regularly from Bangalore and Mangalore.

Accommodation:
Most of the accommodation is run by a local Jain organization, where as there are several private hotels. One can also opt for a stay at Hassan.

Best time:
Any time of the year, avoid during summer as it is really hot summer. October to march is the best time to visit.

Tips For a Fulfilling Pilgrimage

2009-01-09T14:17:00.004+05:30

It was the first time when my entire family planned to go out for an outing. Generally one or the other member is to be absent. May be it was the call of lord Krishna or his blessings that we all went together to Mathura – Brindavan. My father and my brother two males in the house are totally opposite and so are my sis and my mom. My parents got up early and got ready and we three naahhh…wat u think we wld be doin…??Gud guess!! We were in our beds. We had a plan to move early so that we could reach there in morning hours but we got late and were left with very little time with us to visit all the temples. We couldn’t stretch our stay as my dad had an appointment with his doctor and all of us had to attend our office the next day. All the temples in Mathura and Brindavan get close at around 1 pm, so we had to hurry up. Though we were able to pay homage at all the temples but all in a hurry. Apart from the time we faced many other problems and I noted some points to have a fulfilling pilgrimage in future and which I intent to share with all so that reading this blog can have a fulfilling and a relaxed pilgrimage.

Never try to do more than two or three major temples in a day. There is too mush to see and experience in each of them.
Look out for a booklet on the history of the temple from the office or shop. It will tell you what to see in the temple, the significance of the deities and what offerings may. Hire a guide if available
Start early. Most temples open by 6 am and the early morning worship is always a wonderful experience. Also, it is wiser to avoid the bigger temples after 10.30 am, especially if it is summer. The granite paving stones of the praharams get unbearably hot and covering the vast spaces between one shrine and another within the complex will be difficult.
Most temples close by noon and reopen only around 4 pm. Use this time for eating lunch, resting and traveling to your next destination so as to manage your time best.
Upon entering a temple, look for the temple tank. It is customary to wash your feet in it and sprinkle a little water on your head before entering the temple proper. Traditionally, the subsidiary deities at the entrance are worshiped before going onto the main sanctum. This could be Vinayaka in a Shiva temple and Garuda in a Vishnu Temple. Its also customary to pay respects to the mounts of the deities, the Nandi or lion outside the sanctum you should visit first, the god’s or the goddess – this varies from temple to temple.
Try not to spill the vibhuti or kumkum given to you as prasadam on the ground. Some temples have convenient little bowls attached to the pillars into which you can deposit the powders. Many do not. Carry two plastic bags with you so that you can deposit vibhuti in one and kumkum in the other.
Traditionally, the sanctum is not circumambulated just once. Devotees go around it at least two time s or, better still, three times. In the case of the Navagraha sanctums, nine times is prescribed and at least three are advised.
It is customary to prostrate only at the flagstaff outside the main sanctum, with your head facing the east or the north.
Sit for a few minutes in the temple before leaving: think over your experience, soak in the atmosphere – it leaves you feeling refreshed.
If you would like to give alms outside a temple, keep a separate bag of coins ready. It’s tough to rummage in your bag for change amidst the clamor.

Have a fulfilling Pilgrimage.Radhe Radhe...

Adventure Activities in Manali

2009-01-02T14:37:00.003+05:30

Recently I was in Manali and I found that through out the year there are several adventure activities that are carried out in Manali and adjoining areas. But it was very difficult for a tourist to find what to do n whom to contact for these activities. This blog of mine focuses on some of such activities, details of the persons to be contacted, cost for the same, etc….

Camping

Season- April to middle of June & middle of September to the first half of October

Camping Grounds- Beas Kund Camp near Rohtang pass, Raison, and Shoja, Solang valley.

Contact – Your hotel, Tour Operators, Mountaineering Institute.

The variation in the physiographic features of Himachal Pradesh attracts hundreds of people every year to Manali camping. Far away from the hustle bustle of the city life, Manali is located amidst the Himalayas. The dense woodlands, cedar forests, the sparkling streams and the crisp mountain air give peace of mind and relaxation to the nature lovers.

Camping in Manali at once means resting in the lap of Mother Nature. The composed beauty with the pleasing breeze takes away the exertion that one feels.

The experienced and high altitude campers can’t resist the region of ladakhi Manali. At Solang valley the camping is combined with luxury amidst the lush green meadows. This apart there are various other camping grounds accessible from Manali including the Malana, Pulga, Kheer Ganga, Triund, and McLeod Ganj region.

The equipments, training, safety precautions as well as experienced educators and guides are also available in Manali for reference.

Mountaineering

Season- April to middle of June & middle of September to the first half of October

Region - Beas Kund region, lower ridges of Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba, Chandertal and Malana glaciers

Contact – Your hotel, Tour Operators, Mountaineering Institute.

Mountaineering training can be arranged through the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Mountaineers need permission to climb most of the peaks. Peaks in Kullu valley offer challenging recreational area for Indian and International expeditions as well. With an average altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 meters, experienced mountaineers from all over the world have tried these peaks.

The Beas Kund region, the lower ridges of Hanuman Tibba (5930m) and Deo Tibba (6001m) are the suggested areas for mountaineering for beginners. Beas Kund, Chandertal and Malana glaciers are the most popular among ice climbers.

However you should be alert and aware of the symptoms of the acute mountain sickness.

Trekking

Season- April to middle of June & middle of September to the first half of October

Trekking area - Beas Kund

Pin Parvati to Spiti,

Hamta Pass to Lahul.

Contact – Your hotel, Tour Operators, Mountaineering Institute.

Manali offers some amazing trekking, particularly in the foothills of the Himalayas, with temples, Buddhist monasteries, remote lakes and mountain passes as popular destinations.

Manali is a popular starting point for organized mountain treks. Most agencies offer multiday treks. Popular options include Beas Kund, the Pin Parvati trek and the Hamta Pass to Lahul.

River rafting

Season - From Apr 15th till Jun end.

Contact –Tour Operators, Your Hotel

Costs around Rs 450 to 650, depending on the number of persons.

White water rafting in Kullu valley is done on river Beas. One can start from a small village Pirdi, which is 4 kms ahead of Kullu town till Jhiri. It’s a stretch of approximately 14 kms. The rafting can be dune from Apr 15th till Jun end. The journey takes nearly about one. Rafting begins at around 10 o' clock in the morning at Pirdi. It takes about one and half hour to reach Pirdi from Manali. The activity requires one full day

Skiing Glide

Season- Through out the year

Contact –Tour Operators, Mountaineering Institute

The skiers are taken to a hilltop by a helicopter den they glide down the Himalayas on Skies or do the new trendy sport - Snowboarding. Only experienced Skiers and Snowboarders can perform it. Manali is known for having one of the deepest snow packs in the entire Himalayas.

Hang-Gliding

Costs around Rs 1200 for 15 mins

Hang-Gliding is a newly introduced activity practised at Billing. Billing is 14-km from Bir and is considered to be the best sites for hang-gliding in the world. An annual hang-gliding tournament is also held over here.

A Glider using air current without an engine power usually performs hand gliding. One can fly as long as one wishes once he has acquired good experience.

Para Gliding

Season- Through out the year

Contact –Tour Operators, Mountaineering Institute

The paragliding is done at primarily Solang Valley, located 14 kms from Manali and other locations like Marhi, Fatru, and Bijli Mahadev etc. Usually two kinds of paragliding are done here:

Short flights: The tourist is taken 100 - 150 mts up the slope and takes a flight along with the pilot in a two-seater paraglider. The flight lasts for approximately 60 - 90 seconds.

High flying: Approximately 20-30 minutes of time is taken. It is conducted at Fatru, Kothi and Bijli Mahadev. Experienced pilots who have done short flights can only do the high flying.

Zorbing

Season- Summers

Costs around Rs 200 for 20 min

Contact –Tour Operators, Mountaineering Institute

Zorbing is a leisure activity. It involves rolling down a slope in a helium balloon. The balloon is usually transparent, double-hulled sphere made from PVC. The pleasure of hanging from the walls of the big ball while it rolls is a definitive thrill for both adult and young. The zorbing can be experienced at the grass meadows around Manali.

Jeep safari

Costs around Rs 2000 per day

Contact –Tour Operators, your hotel

Exploring the untouched, some of the most wild, unpolluted, uncommercialised environments and primitive environment of manali in an open zeep is fascinating. It can also be arranged to Ladakh Lahaul and Spiti visiting monasteries, passes, and glacial lakes with accommodation in tents or village guest houses.

CONTACT INFO

Directorate of mountaineering & allied Sports

Contact – 91 1902 250337

www.dmas.gov.in

*Adventure Tour Operators

An trek tours and travels

1 Rambagh, The mall

Contact –91 1902 252292

www.antrektours.com

Himalayan Adventurers

The mall

Contact –91 1902 253050

www.himalayanadventurersindia.com

Himalayan Extreme Center

Contact –91 9816174164

www.himalayan-extreme-center.com

Himalayan journeys

Opposite Nehru park, the mall

Contact –91 1902 252365

www.himalayanajourneysindia.com

Eating And The Right – Hand Rule

2008-12-28T00:06:00.000+05:30

The biggest minefield of potential faux pas has to do with eating. This is usually done with the fingers, and requires practice to get absolutely right. Rule one is: eat with your right hand only. In India, as right across Asia, the left hand is for wiping your bottom, cleaning your feet and other unsavory functions (you also put on and take off your shoes with your left hand), while right hand is for eating, shaking hands, and so on.

Quite how rigid individuals are about this tends to vary, with Brahmins (who at the top of the hierarchical ladder are one of the two “right handed castes”) and southerners likely to be the strictest. While you can hold a cup or utensil in your left hand, and you can usually get away with using it to help tear your chapati, you should not eat, pass food or wipe your mouth with your left hand. Beat is to keep it out of sight below the table.

This rule extends beyond food. In general, do not pass anything with your left hand, or point at anyone with it either: and Indians won’t be impressed if you put it in your mouth. In general, you should accept things given to you with your right hand – though using both hands is a sign of respect.

The other rule to beware of when eating or drinking is that your lips should not touch other people’s food – Jutha is a strictly a taboo. Don’t, for example, take a bite out of a chapati and pass it on. When drinking out of a cup or bottle to be shared with others, don’t let it touch your lips, but rather pour it directly into your mouth. This custom also protects you from things like hepatitis. It is customary to wash your hands before and after eating.

Fit for a king – Salar Jung Museum

2008-12-08T18:28:00.000+05:30

Day 1 in Hyderabad

My conference was scheduled to begin at 3 in the afternoon so I had enough time to explore the historical town. I inquired about the town from a room boy in my hotel. He advised me to visit the museum, as it is one of the best of its kind in the world.

Fit for a king – Salar Jung Museum

The museum houses the rarest art collections in the world. From sculptures, paintings and toys to weapons, jewellery, clothes, textiles and manuscripts, the exhibits have been hand picked from across continents. Traveling over sea and land, through agents and antique agencies, one man collected these objects of beauty and enshrined them in his house. Many a state guest or VIP was invited to view this rare collection of Salar Jung third, an erstwhile Prime Minister to the last Nizam of Hyderabad.

Salar Jung Third’s love for art impelled him to give up his high post and travel widely in search of treasures to bring back home.

Having inherited a couple of antiques from his father and grand father who also served the same post, his passion for antiques developed early. After his death the collection was shifted out of his residence and was kept into the present 10-acre premises where it was then opened to the public for viewing. Currently under the ministry of culture, a board of directors manages the museum.

The museum has three wings and 36 galleries, which consists of artifacts from about 34 countries. The not to be missed zones are the founders gallery, Ivory collection, Rebecca gallery (which contains the statue of the veiled woman),

Modern India Paintings, jade room, the western Block (where there are five galleries that contain paintings, the famous double statue, glass work, clocks, European porcelain, marbles and bronzes) and the Japanese and Chinese Galleries.

Complete with food courts, curio shops, drinking water facilities and benches to rest your tired legs, the museum is a well maintained and orderly.

I was busy seeing the nuances of the collection when my phone rang…it was a call from a friend reminding me the time and also that I have to attend the conference…

On Eco Trail...

2008-11-28T14:26:00.000+05:30

On Dusshera a friend of mine visited my place. While talking to her she advised me that why don’t I travel to such places which are ecologically rich. Instead for traveling like this here and there why not opt for ecological destinations in India. A better word would be Eco-Tourism.

The idea somewhere left a mark in my mind. Well next 2 weeks went into meeting the targets in office, but the idea stayed there. After 14 days of hard work I did a lot of net surfing and a thorough research on Eco tourism in India. Somewhere a lost geographer woke up in me…Well but I needed a reason or a chance to go there, as have no holidays left.

It was late in the evening of 16 October when I received a letter regarding a conference on 24 October in Hyderabad. This was a good reason for me to visit the region and I don’t need many offs from office to visit the place especially when the Diwali holidays are standing on my doorstep. I mean it was Thursday and my Diwali holidays were starting from Saturday.

I did a lot of net surfing on finding the places in Andhra Pradesh, how to reach there, where to stay and all other basic queries. The biggest problem, which I was facing, was as of where to stay and how to travel within. Was just wondering when Pooji reminded me of Indiahotelreview.com. (I have got my hotels booked by them earlier also).

I left a query on their site in the Q n A section regarding my stay in Hyderabad, as it is the capital of the state and is easily accessible by air. Apart from Hyderabad I asked for the hotels in Vishakhapatnam, Kurnool, Tirupati, Vijaywada and Pulicat. The Q n A expert replied to my query within half an hour asking for my budget and dates for stay. And then the travel in A.P. and accommodation part of my trip was taken care by the IHR people. Within next two hours my hotel reservations were done and a cab was booked.
IHR team really works hard and fast. In the afternoon of 17 October I got a call from IHR confirming if I have received the travel voucher.

Finally I reached Hyderabad at 10.40 pm by kingfisher airlines. There was a cab waiting for me at the airport. The driver took me to the hotel Siddharta where a prior booking was done. I asked the driver to come next day in the morning at 7 so that I can see the beautiful capital city before I start on my eco-trail.

I went into my room had my dinner and went to sleep as I wanted to be fresh in the morning…

n ya a lot of thanks to all those who helped me in making this trip com true..., Pooji, Indiahotelreview, and Swapan (she booked my air tickets)

Gud Nite..!!
:)

3 Days With Nature in Peace - Shilon Bagh, Shimla

2008-11-25T01:10:00.000+05:30

What was just an idea a week before became a well-planned weekend outing with my cousins . We were just thinking about meeting over a weekend to relive those golden childhood memories. And it culminated in a trip to Shilon Bagh, Shimla

This place is few kms ahead of Kasauli, about 390 kms from Delhi on Shimla - Kufri road. So we started on Thursday night as to reach there well in time. It’s almost a drive of 10 hrs from Delhi. Since we had two- three stop over in between, we reached there by around 12 on Fri Morning.
We had our rooms booked at Toshali Royal View Resorts. It is located away from the habitation in the valley all surrounded by undisturbed mountains.

We all were so tired by then that we just had our lunch got fresh & headed straight towards our beds. We didn’t want to waste our time so after one hour relaxation we went for a trek down the hill. Trust me that was the call of the time. The place was so very close to nature with nascent hills around. It is a good exploring walk with pure air to breath. What we experienced was just amazing pine forests and then wood logs lying on the roadside.

This place is basically known for its serene surroundings & tranquil environment. Not a place for sight seeing and all that. One shall go there to just relax and rejuvenate. In the evening there was a DJ party for a group from MNC. We were keen to tap our feet too so we took special permission from the host to allow us in. The night was spent amongst some drinks for the boy’s n dance for the girls.

Early next morning me n pooji went for the sunrise point around 3km trek from the hotel on the other side of the hill. After reaching there what we saw was just out of this world. We were at a place where clouds were just below us, rather you can say that we were walking in the clouds n sun was rising on the other side. And within some moments we were like walking on a orange carpet specially laid for us by the mother nature welcoming us in that astonishing world. That feeling was worth more than anything and that made our trip worth memories which non of us can never forget.

On the way back we witnessed pine forests, chirping of sparrows & sun rays getting on the mighty earth. We came back to the hotel, woke up the other people and decided to leave by 10 anyhow to Hattu Peak, it was around 52 kms & 3 hrs drive from the hotel, known for Goddess Durga temple. We reached the base by around 1 p.m.. Four of us decided to trek through the jungle and rest went along the road. Again a decision to optimise the thrill & fun that we were having enough till now. We came across fallen trees that became prop for my sister’s modelling instincts………steep heights to test our fitness, wet grounds testing our persistence and narrow walk ways putting our lives to threat. At one point we felt like giving up but going down the hill seemed more difficult then trekking up.

We had lost clue on what way to choose…but fortunately we came across a newly wed local couple who were coming back from the temple & assured us that we were on the right track. We kept going and lastly passed a big rock and suddenly realised we were there. It was a sense of achievement and victory.

There was a small temple and some local kids were chanting “Jai Mata di”. It was a hill top from where we could look all around and what heavenly it was. We could see the sun rays above filtering through the clouds below and lighting the valley. It was a trekking experience of life time.

This was a splendid day way from the start in the morning till night when we celebrated my niece’s birthday around a bon fire back at the hotel.

We woke up next morning to start our journey back to Delhi. On our way back we took another route via Chail & thus visited the highest cricket ground in the country. And also a mid river restaurant, a perfect spot to gulp some beers & have a walk on the river bank.

So this three day weekend getaway ended on Sunday Night around 11 in night. These three days were just heaven because of the peace and beauty that is quite synonymous with Shillon Bagh. It totally refreshened and rejuvenated the natural me with in.

A day in Bhopal

2008-11-17T00:12:00.000+05:30

Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh known as the City of Lakes as its landscape is dotted with a number of natural as well as manmade lakes. We boarded Bhopal express from Nizamuddin station at 9 PM and reached Bhopal in morning at around 7. We had our accommodations booked by IndiaHotelReview.com at Hotel Lake View Ashok, situated on Shyamla Hills. The hotel over looked the Upper Lake, a man made lake that was built by Raja Bhoj, once ruler of Bhopal.

We had to attend a conference in the morning at Bharat Bhawan. Bharat Bhawan is one of the most unique national institutes in India known for the performing and visual arts. The Bhawan has a museum of the arts, an art gallery, a workshop for fine arts, a reparatory theatre, indoor and outdoor auditorium, rehearsal room, and libraries of Indian poetry, classical and folk music. And the best part is its location. After the conference we just thought of relaxing at the banks of Upper Lake. You can clearly hear the sound of each & every wave crashing at our feet. It was so relaxing after almost half a day of presentations & some regular lectures.

It is believed that the Bhopal Lake was built by late Parmar King Bhoj approximately a thousand years ago and now is known as Upper Lake. The Upper lake is divided from the Lower by an over bridge and is six sq. km. in area. There are facilities for exciting trips by sail, paddle, and motor-boats.

After lunch at the Hotel, we called our cab driver who was also booked through www.indiahotelreview.com so that we can go for sight seeing around the city. Bhopal is a small city and can be easily covered in a day but we wanted to explore the 11th century city Bhojpal which was founded by Raja Bhoj. But the present Bhopal city was established by an Afghan soldier, Dost Mohammed whose descendants build Bhopal into a beautiful city.

We started with Taj ul Masjid. This is the largest mosque in the country. The most imposing features of the mosque are its main hall with inter-arched roof, broad facade, spacious courtyard, and smooth marble flooring. It is also said to have the tallest minarets in Asia. Then we went to see the Birla Mandir. It is so beautiful. After the Mandir our driver took us to Jama Masjid situated at the centre of Chowk Bazar, a busy business centre of Bhopal. This Masjid was completed in 24 years. It is said that to built this Masjid, an amount of Rs. 60.5 lakhs was spent way back in 1837.

It was dusk when we decided to return back. On our way back to hotel we decided to visit Nariman point of Bhopal. It is a huge bridge built on the upper lake connecting old city to Bairagarh, where airport is located.
Instead of having dinner at the hotel, we decided to try some local delicacies and the person to guide us was our cab driver. Finally we reached old Bhopal a heaven for non vegetarians. The driver told us that the bye lanes at the inner city Chowk offers some of the best curries and kebabs in Bhopal.

I had read some where that “The Muslim cuisine of Bhopal is distinctive from its fellow cuisines in other parts of India and its master chefs are much in demand.” The driver took us to Karims corner. We were a bit confused as what to order but our driver asked the waiter to serve us with the best of his restaurant. Our driver asked us to give him a call when we’ll be through with our dinner and left. While going out he went to the person sitting on the billing desk, pointed towards us and told him “ki memsaam loog dilli se aaye hai ache se khilana.” The waiter came to us to ask weather we are veg or non veg. As we told him non vegetarians he said loudly char-grilled kebabs on table no. 7. Before we could finish with the kebabs the steaming plates of biryani with rich curries were served. After that we don’t know what all we ate. We tasted so many things.

We had our plans chalked out for the morning starting from the sunrise. So we headed straight to our rooms to do what we are best at…sleeping.

We had our morning tea with breath-taking sunrise at the upper lake as the backdrop. We wanted to stay there more but had to catch our bus at 11 for Bhojpur – Bhimbetka. The journey was worth as we travelled from pre historic age to medieval lakes to present day Bhopal. Bhopal is a fast catching city on the urban culture. One think that I noticed in Bhopal was that number of women driving two wheelers was more than the men and on the same hand there were Burka Clad girls studying in madarsaa.

In total it was an over whelming response that we got. This city knows how to welcome the guest and literally justifies this saying “Atithi devo Bhava”

Travelling Tips

2008-10-18T13:17:00.000+05:30

Ah … at last I m back home and now its time to write down my experiences and share it with all … Well, this time I went on a trip to Kerala. During my all past trips I have faced many problems and learnt many things. There are various safety measures that one should take care of while traveling. Specially, when you are a girl, but I must mention, these days it’s not safe for guys even. A traveler should be prepared for every thing. Below I am mentioning some of the precautions that one should take care of….

* You should always plan your trip in advance and if possible then by
a registered, qualified and recognized tourist guides.
*Leave your itinerary, expected date of return, hotel’s name, address
and number with your friend and family members.
* Don’t carry too much of hard cash with you.. Instead prefer for cards or
traveling Cheque.
* Keep a record of your cards with you.
* Keep all the important numbers handy.
* Do not count cash in open.
* Avoid wearing expensive jewellery, provoking clothes.
* Always carry your purse close to your body, or your wallet in an inside
front pocket or wear a money pouch.
* Keep a record of the content of checked luggage.
* Keep your room locked at all times
* Hand the key in at the desk when you leave the hotel.
* Try not to look like a tourist by making obvious that it is your first time
in the area.
* It is better to explore in groups and stick to well-lit busy streets.
* Be attentive and always keep an eye on what's going on around you.
* If you think someone is following you, take out your cell phone and pretend
to make a call. Say the word police with enough volume for the person
following you to hear.
* Avoid going out unnecessarily in odd hours.
* Ask your hotel staff to arrange a cab for you
* Know about the place where you are heading towards before you start
the trip. Get a map of the route and study it.
* Make sure that the car is in a good condition; learn how all the windows,
door locks and other equipment work before you leave.
* Keep the doors of your car locked at all times and wind the windows up.
* If your car is bumped by another car, think before you get out. If you are
in doubt or feel uncomfortable, signal to the other driver to follow you to
a nearby police station or a busy, well-lighted area where it is safe to
get out.
* Do not ask strangers to take you a group picture no matter how friendly
they seem.
* Look around you and be aware of your surroundings. Remember, an area is not
safe just because you are familiar with it.
* Walk actively and confidently. You must always try to make eye contact with
the people around you.
* Carry your bag around your neck and diagonally across your body. Do not
carry it hanging over one shoulder. You may as well clutch your bag and
hold it to the front.
* Put your wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket not a back pocket.
* If a vehicle follows you, never try to outrun it. Turn and walk in the
opposite direction. React by yelling or shouting if possible.
* Hide your cell phone and do not walk around talking on a cell phone, as it
will distract you.
* Avoid taking short cuts through deserted areas such as parks, empty areas
and passages.
* Do not feel embarrassed to leave an uncomfortable situation.
* Select sightseeing companies and guides carefully. Make sure they are
legitimate. Check with your hotel staff for recommendations.
* When asking for directions, first look for a police officer or another
public employee (i.e., bus driver)
* Pickpockets are often attracted to crowded places. Be aware of someone who
bumps, shoves or gets too close.
* Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries, flares, a fire extinguisher, and
first aid kit
* If you stop overnight, remove bags and other valuables from the car and
take them inside.
* Purses, wallets, checkbooks and other credential items should never be left
in an unattended under any circumstances.
* If the room key is lost, ask for a different room, or ask for the locks to
be changed.
* Don’t open the door with out checking. Use peephole, if available, or talk
through the locked door. If someone claims they are from maintenance,
security or a hotel employee, phone the front desk to make sure the visitor
is legitimate.
* Label all pieces of luggage with your name, address, and phone number, both
inside and outside. For the outside label be sure to use a tag that closes,
so the information can't be read by a passerby.
* Always lock your hotel room door, even if just going for ice. Check
sliding glass doors, windows and connecting room doors.
* If your credit cards have been lost or stolen, always notify the police and
your credit card company immediately. If credit cards are not reported
missing, they can be used.
* Remember that alcohol consumption diminishes awareness.
* Avoid discussing your travel plans with strangers.
* Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
* When taking a taxi, shuttle van, or bus, remember to note the company’s
name and the vehicle number and Color.

These are just some of them, which I noticed and felt like sharing….

"HAVE A HAPPY AND A SAFE TRAVEL!!"

Surat to Shirdi via shortcut: 4 tyre punctures, warm engine, a buffalo attack & Sai Kripa.

2008-09-26T00:05:00.000+05:30

It was a usual visit to one of our conferences yet unusual as this time we were going to present papers in the conference. All others attended so far were more of paid holidays to go around the place. The moment we decided we were to go to Surat all three of us knew we were definitely going to Shirdi too. Our conference was for three days and so was our stay there. We had booked our tickets to and fro and stay in Surat before hand but journey to Shirdi could not be planned as we were not sure of our presentation days and timings but we were determined to make it happen by any means. On our day 1, as we reached Surat we dumped our bags in our hotel and rushed to the conference venue to find our presentations schedule. To our disappointment three of us had our presentations on three separate days; Esha’s was to follow in next 2 hours at 2 in the afternoon, mine was at 11am the next day and Pooji’s at 12 noon the 3rd day and we had our train back to Delhi same night. We did not seem to find any time spare for our Sai darshan at Shirdi. We did not think of that much then as Esha’s presentation was up in some time.

Shirdi is about 300 kms from Surat. We decided to hire a private taxi, as we wanted to save our time. In Shirdi the Darshan time is 6am to 9.30pm so the journey should be scheduled accordingly.

After my presentation was over at 11.30am on the 2nd day I was sadder for not being able to go to Shirdi rather than being happy for my wonderful presentation (as told by the attendees). For us unfortunately nothing seemed to work as earliest we could leave by 12 noon that day and latest we had to come back by 12 noon the next day for Pooji’s presentation. To reach back Surat in time we had to start latest by 5am, before the mandir was open so the morning darshan was out. It seemed that there was no way we could make it.

If we started immediately then we could have reached by 6.30 pm which seemed a decent time and margin left for the Sai darshan. We contacted a Taxi stand near by our hotel. We were immediately given the available esteem and the driver told that he would take us via a shortcut so that we could attend the evening arti at 5.30. We all were thrilled and after checking for car papers and driver’s license we started on our journey; Surat to Shirdi via shortcut.

Once out of the Surat city the scenic beauty is amazing on the way. We have to drive uphill to cross through and reach the other side. The shortcut was a new road built through the forest with long in between distances without any habitation. For long we did not see any vehicle going in either direction on the road. This thrilled us more for being fortunate to explore the new not so ventured area and we would be able to attend the evening arti too. It was not long for our fun when the driver stopped the car saying the tyre has got punctured. Thankfully he had the extra tyre but not so thankfully as it turned out to be a tyre of a Santro which would have not very much supported the car for long. We needed to mend the original tyre as early as possible. After about half an hour of changing the tyre we reached some habitation with restaurants and all. We planned to take a hault for late lunch but our tyre had already planned a hault before us, the extra tyre also got punctured. But this time fortunately in front of a mechanic shop. In the time we had our lunch the driver got the punctures repaired for both the tyres. We started of again hoping that nothing would go wrong after this and despite of two punctures so far we were not worried. The journey went smooth thereafter for some 2-2 1/2 hours when the engine heated up and some steam started coming out. The technical people may understand what went wrong but for us we were told that the car would not speed up above 40 km/hr otherwise the engine would heat up and would not work. This irritated us to our core. Dammed, by 40 km/ hr. Only Baba knew what time we would reach. And we were at a point where returning back was equally distant from moving ahead. The way things were going wrong my friends questioned if at all Baba wants us to visit Shirdi. But we were determined what so ever may happen we were going to Shirdi and left it on Baba to give or not give us the pleasure of his darshan.

Anyways, as we were washing hands and drinking water at the hand pump on our way a buffalo appeared at the site. For fun I tried to capture Pooji, Esha and Buffalo all in one frame without telling them. I waited for the buffalo to come nearer for the picture perfect but as I clicked the buffalo went mad and ran after Esha. I shouted, Esha turned around and ran towards the car. God, why the hell I was waiting for the buffalo to come near and what the hell happened to it. Well the good part was the buffalo did not follow Esha. Had it been a bull and Esha was wearing Red?

‘Mam just 2 hours more’, a man helping us with the directions on the way said. It was already 7.30 then. And now we were worried. We were hoping to reach atleast by 9.30 and just have a glimpse of the Sai baba. Few minutes ahead… third puncture the same tyre. I felt that this cannot be a co-incidence to have faced all these adversities. There has to be a role of Baba in all this, what so ever he may want, our reaching to him or not. And if this is so then Baba was definitely around us. And if he is around then nothing is more than that. I felt that we were unnecessarily struggling to reach him without realizing that he was already around us. I was now very sure that how much ever late we may get Baba would let us have his Darshan as we were his chosen ones.
We were again lucky to have a puncture shop just in front who mended the tyre in 10 mins. Although we had the extra tyre but we chose to mend the puncture as we did not know what may come next. With our slow spead we reached the mandir at 10.10 pm. As we reached we were told to hurry up as the gates and entry was to be closed for the night time arti and it was already unusually late for the arti in the mandir that day. It was a bonus. We missed the evening arti but we were able to attend the night arti that to when we were about to even miss on the glimpse of Sai Pratima. We quickly bought the prashad and entered. We were the last ones to enter. There was not much of crowd inside.

The managers there asked the people to move in I don’t know what manner that we reached very ahead in the crowd right in front of the Sai pratima. The curtains were raised and the Arti started. I had not attended any arti with so much peace and pleasure in my lifetime. I knew I had Sai around me and we finally could make it for his Darshan. More than for just eyes we had Sai darshan for our souls. Why would have the trip went so and the arti got unusually delayed? Thank you Sai baba. With out all this mishap we would have had darshan of only the Sai pratima not Sai in our souls.

After Arti and long comfortable mighty darshan we came out to the driver. It was 12 midnight and we wanted to start back after having some snacks for the dinner. To our no more surprise the tyre was again punctured, the fourth time and the same tyre. The driver told the tyre got punctured as we reached the mandir premises. He had not told us earlier as we were rushing to the mandir and in the mean while he could not find any of the puncture shops near by. We decided that we shall not start then with the extra tyre as it may not run for long and in the night on the way we may have to see some more troubles. But we had to reach Surat by 12noon the following day. So we decided to leave at 4am and by the time we would be on the highway the puncture repair shops would open. We took a room and rested for a while in Hotel Shraddha Park.
We started at the scheduled time with the Santro tyre running in maruti esteem and surprising to our unexpectation the tyre ran well for 1 hour and before it got puncture we found a puncture repair shop. We got our original esteem tyre repaired and replaced the Santro tyre. We took the more conventional longer route to Surat this time and left our reaching to the conference in time on Sai baba. The scenic beauty of this longer route was much more fascinating then the short cut. There was lot of greenery and a spring and water filled natural reservoirs at places. It was an exhilarating experience while our drive down the hill. We drove slow with no more punctures on our way back and reached well in time at 11.30am at our hotel. Pooji freshened up and reached her session just on time. And she presented well.

Since then I have been once more to Shirdi with family from Delhi via Nasik; to Nasik through train and bus from there to Shirdi. It was comfortable, as Sai knew that we now know that he is always there with us.

I am going for the darshans again next week….

"JAI SAI RAM”

"Sports Tourism"

2008-09-16T13:47:00.000+05:30

“The spirit of adventure, the challenge of elements and the thrill in conquering.”

This is what fires the young blood into adventure sports. The new corporate culture expects you to have the spirit of adventure, the love of a challenge and wind in your skills.

The new breed of young professionals, especially with the I.T. industry and BPO’s ensuring the young generation have lots of money to spend, have brought new hope to sports tourism. Many call centers are using adventure sports as team – building exercise.

Adventure is there in air, water, snow and land. One can select the ideal one: less dangerous means less adventuring, but one can start with. Sports tourism is fast catching on in India as it is somehow attached with adventure sports.

The directorate of mountaineering and allied sports, Manali, has been imparting training in various disciplines of adventure sports since 1961. Every year the institute trains over 500 persons in Mountaineering, skiing and water sports.

Mussoorie, Nainital, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Almora, Ranikhet etc are famous for adventure or sports tourism.

A less expensive but slightly more painful way of getting your nerves in action is rock climbing. Sport climbing is less dangerous. Trekking and even camping form part of sports tourism.

Delhi has some of the most developed rock climbing areas. The road from Delhi to Chandigarh is adjoined by places suitable for mountaineering. In Ladu Sarai, Wellington Crescent, Qutub etc, we can find rock climbing facilities.

With so many hills and mountains, India can go high as far as mountain biking is concerned. Flying is an addiction. Once tried, it never leaves the blood stream. Flying boosts confidence and relieves stress as well. Many corporates are approaching flying clubs as it is an excellent distress.

Paragliding is the aero sport freak’s dream come true. Security clearance for air space is the only problem. One needs to be at least 50 – 100 km away from major cities with airports. Para- gliding is a mix of parachuting and hang gliding and is considered to be one of the easier aero sports to learn.

Skiing started as a sport in India as early as in 1927. Holidaying in zero temperature itself is a thrill. Skiing adds adventure to the holiday. The winter delights of the icy surfaces are little exploited.

Over 6000 tourists, rather adventure sports lovers, come to Rishikesh every year. Rafting season starts in the second week of September. The white water Challenge in Rishikesh is popular in and outside India. Canoeing and Kayaking are also introduced in white water.

There is a lot more scope for sports tourism. Different states and even local bodies can come out with plans as per the facilities available in their villages. The hilly areas, the forest areas, the streams, the rocks, and canals and plateaus can be used to its advantage.

“YELAGIRI” – THE POOR MAN’S OOTY

2008-09-13T03:25:00.000+05:30

The recently developed paragliding destination in the Yelagiri hills, which lies midway between Chennai and Bangalore, conducted an international paragliding festival from 5 to 7 September. Fortunately I was in the region on a vacation with my friends. So I got a chance to witness the festival. It was a beautiful and a wonderful experience to see so many colors in the sky.

Yelagiri is a hill station where an adventure sports club was formed three years ago. Earlier the region was only famous for the hills, the scenes, boating in the stream and the lake etc. But today it is famous as the paragliding center. It’s the third paragliding center in India after Panchgani and Bir Billing (Himachal Pradesh).

We a gang of 5 friends, (Hum Panch) after finishing our work in Bangalore decided to visit Yelagiri for some adventures. We had a workshop in Bangalore for 3 weeks and we wanted to see all the near by places. A colleague told us about paragliding in Yelagiri. But as the place is still in the developing phase and we were new in the region, we were a bit worried about how to reach there and where to stay. The language was also a barrier as we speak only Hindi, English and Punjabi.

While searching the Internet for the information on Yelagiri, I came across the website of Indiahotelreview.com Esha a member of hum panch contacted IHR. The counselor at IHR just asked our dates for the visit, number of people and our budget and I must say she made every thing so easy. They arranged for a cab and told us that it would come to pick up at 5.30 in the morning of 6.

Can you believe the cab was exactly on our hotel gate at 5.30 am. “How he was so punctual??” Gajju asked the driver. As Gajju was the one who got up late at 5.25. and we all had to wait for him. We moved at 5.45 from our hotel…

We reached Yelagiri at 10.30… we wasted a lot of time as another member of the gang Pooji is a big foodie and we had to halt in between to satisfy her hunger…Yelagiri is a beautiful place. We stayed at the Sterling Resort and I think it was the best hotel of the region. The staff was very hospitable. They gave as a warm welcome... Must say thanks to India hotel review…

We stayed there for two days had a fun out there. The boating in the stream and the lake was so fun; the Mughal garden was so nice. In the evening we went to get our selves registered so that we can do paragliding. But we couldn’t do that as there was an international paragliding festival going on. But we were allowed to witness the festival. It was so thrilling yet scary to see people flying in the sky. But the management has taken care of all the safety measures. It was such a wonderful and a mind-blowing experience all together. Next time whenever we’ll be visiting Yelagiri Hills once again we will definitely try Para-gliding.

The sky was so colourful with so many Paragliders in the sky from so many countries…
Finally the festival was over and our weekend too. We had to leave for Bangalore. None of us wanted to return but we had to...
Yelagiri is a must to visit place for those, who want to try some real adventures. Thanks a lot to my colleague who told me about the place and thanks a lot to India hotel review for making our trip so memorable and comfortable.

"Darshan of Maa Vaishno Devi"

2008-08-05T16:14:00.000+05:30

"Bhagwaan ki nazron me sab ek saman. Na koi bada na koi chota, na koi jaat paat aur na hi koi amiri gareebi ka fasala.”

I remember these lines from the stories that my granny used to tell me. And I have grown up with this belief only. But this belief got ..… when I visited with my friends to Vaishnodevi mandir in month of may 2008.
On the contrary to what granny said, I found that the VIP or the rich people were given special treatment by the authority of the temple. The VIP’s were allowed to skip the queues to reach the holy caves. This decision made by the shrine board led to resentment amongst the common man. The slips were sold in black. While every one else waited in long queues , the VIPs, film stars and other important people got past without the long wait by paying a hefty sum of Rs 1000 to 1500.
Pilgrims were supposed to pay Rs 1,000 for morning darshan. For a darshan from the Bathing Gate (gate No 2), the charge was fixed at Rs 500 per person, while Rs 200 to be charged for darshan through Gate-5. Children wouldn't have been charged.
But a few days ago when I visited Vaishno Devi again, I found that, the earlier system of dividing the devotees in two classes - VIP and general has been withdrawn by the shrine board and from now there will be no more jumping the queues for a darshan.
People especially the middle class group who can’t afford such a costly treatment are very happy. Devotees are satisfied with the feeling that everyone is same for “DARSHAN OF MAA VAISHNO”.