Mystery of Lakhamandal Temple
G for Gokarna
List of Best Treks in Uttarakhand that you must try
Mohan Shakti Heritage Park, Solan
Coming from Jatoli Shiv Temple in Solan and after travelling 8 kms towards Shimla, turn right on a narrow downhill road. You have to be a very confident driver for this 7 km. of road, if driving yourself, in order to find this Khul Ja Sim Sim like Treasure of our Heritage.
Trek to Laxman Temple/ Hemkund Sahib
This is the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikh community, did intense meditation to please Lord Brahma. Please by the austerity Lord Brahma commanded Guru Gobind Singh Ji to take birth in Kal-Yuga in order to kill demons and protect holy people. Undoubtedly, the Hemkund Trek is a steep challenging trek and you will often hear from the locals there that – “Mountains are for FIT not FAT”. You trek from 9,600 ft to 15,000 ft in just 6 Kms and that’s what makes it a tough trek.
Place remains open to the world from June to October and for rest of the year it remains snow clad. Journey to the Hemkund starts from Haridwar, where you can easily hire a cab for your entire trip.
On Nainital and Mukteshwar: A Lake, Deodars and Maple Leaves - part 2 of 2
Athirapilly: Waterfall of Magnificence
As in current trend there is a shift from seeing to experiencing and those who look for experiential travel, Kerala is a hot destination. Here words won’t be enough and mere picture can’t convey what it feels being there and experiencing every bit of it. From top to bottom, Kerala has a lot to offer to its travellers.
As soon as you reach the location, the noise of splashing water will give you goose bumps. The waterfall is all hidden amongst the green and you can barely spot it from the road. A ticket of Rs. 15 per head is charged at the entry and then a walk of 10 minutes from the gate of the premises, which is maintained by department of Kerala tourism, takes you to the scene- where a calmly flowing river, drops down abruptly making one gigantic waterfall.
Here you can experience the river, the waterfall, the dense green forest, the arc of Western Ghats, all at once without any hindrance, the clear picturesque beauty of nature.
After the top view, it’s time to move down to the plunge pool. It’s a trek
of 1km approx. through the dense green and a wet forest. Its bit slippery, so
proper footwear and caution is recommended. The noise of waterfall will automatically
attract you and without any feeling of hardships you will reach to the worthiest
and a never seen before kind of place. The splashes of crashing water will
leave you wet and the scene is more magnificent. It seems as if nature is
joyously welcoming you, with a touch.
OH MY GOD and WAAOW, that’s the only thing I could scream out of excitement, because I have never felt this close to nature. It was worth the effort.
If you have
time, you can go for Vazhachal waterfall, which is just 5Km from here. It is
again a scenic spot and is famous for endemic species found in surrounding
forest. One must start returning to Cochin by evening as there are no proper
facilities of accommodation in the vicinity.
How to reach?
Cochin has been often referred as Queen of Arabin Sea and has been one of the most important centre of Spice trade since 14th Century. Cochin was well known to Greeks, Romans, Jews, Arabs and Chinese since ancient times. Cochin has found references in documentation by travellers like Ma Huan (from China, 15th Century) and Niccolo' Da Conti (from Italy, 15th Century). Spices like Ginger, Cloves, Cardamom, turmeric and black pepper grown in this region are renowned worldwide.
Also, would like to mention that Cochin International
Airport is the world’s first fully solar energy powered airport and it is a
perfect blend of nature and technology with heritage and modern
architecture. Well connected to other major cities of India, Cochin is now
a financial, economic and industrial powerhouse of Kerala. Landing here
will give a kick start to your journey of exploring Southern India.
Keep travelling Guys...
Trek to the Enchanted - Valley of Flowers
Valley of flowers, at
a height of 3046 meters above sea level, lies in the Chamoli district of
Uttarakhand state. Challenging trekking route and spectacular beauty of the
mystical valley has always tempted botanists, nature lovers, foreign tourists
and adventure lovers. Valley boast off over 500 species of wild flowers of
unparalleled appearance and fragrances.
Although
the picturesque valley remains open to the world from June to October, but it’s
great to visit the valley around June, July and August, when the flowers are in
abundance. For rest of the year valley remains snow clad.
Journey
to the valley starts from Haridwar, where you can easily hire a cab for
your entire trip. Below is the entire itinerary in brief.
1.
Haridwar to Govindghat - Around 300 Kms
2.
Start from Haridwar - Cab is recommended. Very less frequency of buses.
3.
Route: Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – Jayalgarh – Srinagar – Rudaprayag –
Karnaprayag – Nandaprayag – Chamoli – Pipalkoti – Joshimath – Vishnuprayag -
Govindghat
4.
Govindghat – (Motorable-4Km) – Poolna (Trek 10 km) – Ghangaria – Total 14 Kms
5.
Split routes from Ghangaria for Valley of Flowers Trek and Hemkund Sahib Trek
Drive to Govindghat around 300 Kms, which would take 10 – 12 hours of time to reach depending on the road conditions, please expect land sliding at various points throughout the drive.
Ahobilam - The Spiritual Safari
Ahobilam, a noted pilgrimage centre for Hindus, is situated at distance of around 130 km. from Kurnool Railway Station, 68 Kms from the Nandyal Railway Station and 24 km. from Allagadda.
Ahobilam, consists of lower Ahobilam and Upper Ahobilam, is the place where Lord Narasimha had manifested himself in a natural cavern of rock to rip apart the most ferocious demon Hiranyakashipu.
Jageshwar Dham - Abode of Lord Shiva...
While the Sun had already started the return journey behind the hills,
however our wandering souls with high spirits were craving to reach the divine
land of Jageshwar. With every passing second, our mind was painting a different
caricature for Jageshwar Dham. The fresh air was getting fresher and crispier
with every turn.
After 40 minutes of drive from the Lakhudiyar Cave paintings shelter, the joyous moment arrived when we entered in to the Jageshwar valley around 5:30 PM in the evening. Staff at KMVN guest house advised us to first attend the evening prayer; check-in formalities can be carried our afterwards.
Wonderlands around Shimla...
The mountains, when covered with dense forests may look similar, but
something is surely in the air. When it comes to driving nothing beats the
romance of snaking in the hills around Shimla. Is something actually in the air
of Shimla and surrounding places or it is just
the unparalleled beauty of this heavenly region...?
Outskirts of Shimla are the places which separates
visitors from explorers. If you ask people if they have visited Chail, Kufri,
Mashobra and Naldehra; there is good chance to hear that most of the people
would have ended on Kufri only. These four locations can be covered in a day if
you start from Shimla before the first ray of the sunlight. Though you may also
enjoy a night stay of perfect solitude at Chail or at Naldehra.
To explore these out of the world spots where blanket of Pine and Deodar trees grace the landscapes, this eternal vagabond started his early morning drive to Chail (51 km. from Shimla) to get an authentic morning mystic feel of the valleys. Till Kufri (20 Km. from Shimla) you will find many visitors. Once you will move ahead from Kufri, its only nature and yourself, enjoy the symphony of birds chirping, whistling of tree leaves and your camera clicks.
Mesmerized in Shimla
Exploring Kumaun... Almora & Pithoragarh (Day 1&2)
Almora is a hill station in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. Unlike many other hill stations in India, Almora remained unknown to British. It has been preserved and developed solely by natives of Kumaun region and as a result, it is totally devoid of usual crowds at other hill stations. Almora district offers an ideal option to those looking for solitude in the arms of mighty Himalayas. Almora is also called as land of temples and the temples are located in some of the most stunning landscapes.
To enjoy the spiritual vibes along with unspoiled beauty of the undiscovered Kumaun region, we took early morning train from Delhi and landed at Kathgodam railway station at 11:40 AM. The objective was to explore the road to Almora to Jageshwar and Patal Bhubaneshwar.
Day 1: Delhi - Kathgodam - Kainchi Dham - Chitai Golu Devta Temple - Almora-Lakhudiyar-Jageshwar Dham
Day 2: Jageshwar – Pithoragarh (Gangolihat – Patal Bhubaneshwar) – Jageshwar
Day 3: Jageshwar Dham and nearby temples
Day 4: Jageshwar – Almora – Katarmal Sun Temple – Bhimtal–Kathgodam -Delhi
Outside the Kathgodam railway station there were many taxis
available for Nainital, few to Jageshwar (120 km. from Kathgodam) but very less
if Patal Bhubaneshwar is also included in the itinerary as well. Some
negotiation and we were on the way to Jageshwar Dham. Estimated time for the
drive was approx. 5 hours including halt at enroute attractions in order to
attend the 6 PM “AARTI” at Jageshwar Dham. This started our
Day 1.
First spot in the way is Bhimtal (21 km. from
kathgodam), but we skipped to cover during return as we had to reach Jageshwar
by evening.
Next spot in the way is Neem Karoli Kainchi Dham, which is 37 km. from Kathgodam and is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Kainchi Dham was established in 1962 by the sage Shri Poornanand Ji of Kainchi village. Devotees can stay in the ashram and practice meditation.
Kullu, the valley of Gods...
A wandering soul searching for a nest can get numerous excuses to surely
settle in Kullu, Valley of Gods.
Stunning landscapes coupled with hospitality of people,
their distinct lifestyle and rich culture have made Kullu valleys popular as
“Valley of Gods”. Kullu is renowned around the world for the woollen
Shawls and the Dussehra festival. However, to explore it also has some amazing
spots, which despite the popularity of Kullu are
surprisingly not so known. When coming from Shimla, spending one day to
explore Kullu Valleys shall be a great choice before proceeding to
Manali...
Forbidden Republic of Malana
When
it is 21st century, it is very difficult to believe about places which are
still lying disconnected from the mainland. Malana is such a spot which is 45
km. from much popular tourist destination of Kullu and has been lying
isolated from the outside civilization for thousands of years.
That much mention of such a solitary village was enough to stir the
exploring soul of this vagabond. In line to my philosophy that Good travelers never plan in advance, I was on the way to Parvati Valley, situated to the
north east of Kullu valley to see the sights of Malana.
Bishnois of Jodhpur
Living on the edge of desert is not easy, but
Bishnois have created a wonderful self-sustained ecosystem and are not
dependent on external means for their daily requirements. We in cities
might not value water so much, but the importance of water preservation is
exemplified by these simple people. Hats off. Khejri tree is a
prominent plantation in this region. A tree which grows/ survives/ flourishes
by only rainwater. No extra water is required. Sangree is obtained from this
tree, which is one of the most consumed vegetables here.
While moving around on narrow but well built roads, we were often coming across freely roaming chinkaras, black bucks and other animals. Amazed by the culture, we moved ahead to see the craftsmanship of these people, check out:
- Pottery work; beautiful toys, images of Gods/ Goddesses, piggy banks, lanterns and utensils are much sought after. Crocodile visible in the back is also hand made by potters here. Prepare one crocodile is very time consuming and generally takes 2-3 months to make one.
Block Printing: Bed sheets with a rich mix of colors is prepared by traditional methods. these bed sheet go with number of steps and then finely a beautiful bed sheet form. You are free to buy bed sheets, good thing that they will show you bed sheets as many as you want to see, but will not insist slightly even to purchase even one.
Bishnoi family was kind enough to show us the Dari
weaving facility and told us the intricacies involved in the process. This is a
community co-operative where most of the community members take part in Dari
weaving. It ensures livelihoods for all of the families in this village. By
this time, we were very hungry and excited as it was the time to have
our lunch with a bishnoi family. Menu was Bajre ki roti, kair sangree ki
sabzii, Yellow Dal and Besan ki Kadhi. Every dish was yummy and much tastier
than any exotic meal in any restaurant or hotel.
Chalets, Naldehra - Mystic Solace in the Himalayas...
Keep travelling Guys...
Contributed by Kamya Kandhari
Dehradun - Blended in culture of city and hills
Capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is a small,
charming city that is known for its scenic surroundings, acclaimed educational
institutes, cool environment and lots of interesting attractions to explore.
Such is the location of Dehradun that one can enjoy the journey either via Haridwar/Rishikesh or via Nahan. If you are coming via Nahan then enjoy a number of spots in the way too. First one being citrus fruits' orchards at Dhaula Kuan (58 km. from Nahan).
Gurudwara serves 24 hrs. langar (free kitchen) to
everyone. Though it is not necessary, but if possible "Do
contribute something to support this divine initiative" by the
Gurudwara. Pray for a few moments here and continue the journey to
Dehradun.
Another 27 km. straight drive will take you to barrage at Dakpatthar. This is slightly (5-6 km.) off the track from Dehradun. Continue straight from Herbertpur crossing, right turn will take you to Dehradun. Thanks to my special friend, I got to enjoy such a lovely point.
Coming back from Nahan, a brief stopover at Dehradun is both wise and refreshing. Dehradun is a little town that boasts of hustle-bustle of a city with some quiet and calming corners.
First in line was Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple. The legend has it that this place was often used by the gods and saints for offering prayers to Lord Shiva. Guru Dronacharya, after many years of worship, too got the gift of the archery knowledge by Lord Shiva. The knowledge was later transferred on to Arjun, the greatest archer that ever lived and ever would live.The huge temple premises looks like a small tour of Gods’ land. It starts with Lord Shiva’s temple, the cave where gods and saints prayed for years. It daily attracts a large number of devotees who worship numerous forms, statues or shivalings that represent Lord Shiva.
The reach to the small sanctum sanctorum of Vaishno Devi temple, through the small cave route, is both spiritualistic and thrilling.
Next is Japanese Temple or Buddha temple for a similar soul-satisfying experience. This is an important of Dehradun and is widely acclaimed for its impressive architecture, beautiful interiors and pleasing surroundings.
The main stupa of the temple, about 220 feet in height, is built as a replica of Mindrolling monastery, Tibet. It is claimed to be the largest reliquary in Asia.
Stupa with company of adjacent structures, craft its own identity and
presents a magnificent skyline to Dehradun.
From the towering Lord Buddha statue, giant stupa, calm
praying halls to little monks showcasing some brilliant football skills, the
place seems like without any worldly trouble. Watching monks play football is
something which no one should afford to miss. You can also join them and
hone up your football skills. Free accommodation, clothing, food, and
other facilities are provided by the Buddha Temple authorities
to around 500 monks who live here and study.
The colourful gardens, full of various types of roses,
other flowers, plants and lush-green trees add to the place’s decor and
peace. The shops and temple garden are open for the public seven days a
week. However, the interior of the temple remains open only on Sundays.
Too much of spirituality lets now proceed to some cave exploration at the much acclaimed – Sahastradhara, around 11 km from the city of Dehradun. The earlier generation tells you tales of these mountains squirting out water streams in all their resplendence. However, the scene is not as stunning, but still too beautiful. However, the cool water, slowly trickling down the mountains around you makes your journey fulfilling.
Take a dip or just sit on the huge rocks with your feet in water or better
still do some casual climbing to discover a your very own hidden pool or some
historic cave. Once there, do not forget to try something from the small
eateries. Pick your favourite from hot and crispy pakoras, vegetable maggi or
mouth-watering aloo tikki.
And you can end your brief meeting with this small town
amid its main market, bustling with energy. Just a few moments away from its
new-age cafeterias, bakeries, restaurants, and shopping centres, is the old
market near the clock tower. A look at that age-old clock tower and any Ruskin
Bond fan would immediately identify with his many characters’ experiences and
stories. It is perhaps the lanes of this market only that his famous character
– Rusty – ran down with his local friends to savour local sweets and
delicacies.
The market not only is a treasure trove for souvenirs,
junk jewellery and local handicrafts, it also houses decade-old eating joints
serving the flavours from across the country in authentic style.
Even if for a day or two, the time spent here would make for lifetime memories.
Way to Explore: Nahan –
Dhaula Kuan (58 Km.) – Poanta Sahib (17 km.) – Dakpatthar (27 km.) – Dehradun
(40 Km.)
Happy travelling Friends...