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During the summer holidays, tourists in India love to travel to North India's many hill stations to escape the summer heat. Mussoorie is one such hill station in North India, located in the state of Uttarakhand. The quaint little town of Mussoorie, nestled in the Great Himalayas, was built by the British Raj and is famously known as the 'Queen of the Hills'. But Mussoorie has lost its charm over the years due to traffic snarls and over-commercialization. Because of its easy access, many people flock to this small town resulting in heavy tourist traffic, increased garbage production, noisy roads, hordes of shops, deforestation, illegal construction and skyrocketed tariffs of accommodations. Having read all about Mussoorie, we started to look for some offbeat and peaceful destinations near Mussoorie. This was when we heard of the 'Greater Mussoorie' - the towns of Landour, Barlowganj and Jharipani. We zeroed in upon Landour due to its close proximity to Mussoorie. Where is Landour, Mussoorie: Landour is a cantonment town located just 7 kilometers north of the famous hill station - Mussoorie in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is situated at an altitude of 7500 feet, about 1000 feet above Mussoorie. Landour is considered a part of Mussoorie and is regarded as the 'Tiara' of the Queen of Hills. But, though being situated so close to the busy town of Mussoorie, Landour surprisingly remains offbeat, peaceful, unexplored and untouched. How to reach Landour, Mussoorie: To reach Landour, You first need to reach Mussoorie. Here is how you can do that - By Air: The nearest airport to Landour is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. Several direct or one-stop flights ply to Dehradun from all the major cities in India (Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai). Mussoorie is 60 kilometers from the Jolly Grant Airport, and Landour is another 7 kilometers from Mussoorie. By Train: Dehradun station (DDN) is the nearest railway station to Mussoorie and is connected by rail to all the major cities (Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Indore, Varanasi, Allahabad, Amritsar). You can check the train and their timings at www.irctc.co.in. By Road: Several private and government bus tour operators depart from all the nearby cities to Mussoorie. A bus journey from Delhi takes about 7-8 hours to reach Mussoorie. Various car rental companies also operate to Mussoorie from Delhi airport/ railway station. You might also want to stay in Dehradun and check out places to visit there for a day or two if you land or take a train to Dehradun. How to reach Landour from Mussoorie: Landour is barely 3.5 kilometers from Picture Palace on Mall road, Mussoorie. The road from Mussoorie to Landour is very steep and narrow and often jams up during peak season. Not every car driver can maneuver these roads. It is advisable to hire a private cab from Mall Road, Mussoorie, to reach Landour. Depending on the season, a small car will charge INR 300-400 to drop you at Landour from Mussoorie. Other articles you might be interested in - Places to visit in Dehradun Walterre - Recommended stay near Dehradun La Villa Bethany - Recommended stay in Landour Offbeat Mussoorie Brigadiers Cottage - Recommended stay near Kempty Falls Best time to visit Landour or Weather in Landour, Mussoorie: Owing to the pleasant climate throughout the year, Landour can be visited at any time of the year. Most people visit Landour in summer (April to Jun) to escape the scorching heat prevalent in other parts of India. While there are others, who prefer visiting Landour in winters to enjoy the snow. However, note that depending on the amount of snow, the road to Landour could be blocked as cars would slip on snow-filled slopes leading to Landour. If you wish to enjoy the peace and quietness of the town, visit Landour on any weekday, especially in winter (Oct - Feb). You may even be lucky to spot the winter line towards the horizon. Not that weekends are too crowded or noisy; Landour is always quiet. But on weekends you might find just a few more vehicles and people. Except for a few months in summer, it would be advisable to carry a shrug or a winter jacket based on which month you choose to travel. History of Landour, Mussoorie: Landour derives its name from Llanddowror - a tiny Welsh village in Great Britain. When the English soldiers became homesick during the British Raj, they named the towns in India after the ones in their motherland. The British Indian army built and developed a sanatorium in Landour in 1827 to attend to the wounded soldiers. Since then, Landour has always remained a station for the military and hence a Cantonment area. The first-ever building in Mussoorie was built in 1925 in Landour by Captain Young - the discoverer of Mussoorie. Captain Young was the Commandant of the first Gurkha battalion raised by the British. The Clock tower in Landour marked the beginning of Landour town, beyond which Indians were not allowed. Only the British and Irish soldiers whose duty in the British regiment lasted for 6-48 months were allowed to build their holiday homes in Landour. Why is Landour offbeat: You may wonder why Landour is so offbeat though situated so close to Mussoorie. Landour was always a part of the cantonment area, and the Cantonment Act of 1924 stated that all the trees/ plants in the area stayed with the military. As a result, there has been no woodcutting or deforestation in Landour for the past 100 years. Also, new construction of any type is 'unlawful' in Landour according to the Act. Hence, no new permanent structure has been built in Landour since 1924. Only the construction of temporary installations and repairs of old structures are allowed. That's the reason residential houses in Landour are limited. Because of these rules, modernization and tourism have not touched Landour. Tourists often visit Landour just as a day trip from nearby towns of Dehradun or Mussoorie because of very limited stay options in the Landour cantonment area. Landour had 24 houses at the time of Independence, and it still has that many. Someone put it quite aptly - 'Choubis Makaan aur Char Dukaan - Itna hi hai Landour' (which translates to 24 houses and 4 shops is all that Landour has). And that's how Landour has retained its beauty and the forest cover for so many decades! Things to do in Landour, Mussoorie: The shape of the road in Landour creates the number '8' with all the things to do and places to visit scattered on the sides of the road. This road is called as the 'Upper Chakkar' or 'Gol Chakkar'. If you wish to soak in the true essence of all the places, then the road is best walked than driven. The road is well-built, and the surroundings are covered with tall Deodar trees. Because of the ban on tree-cutting and new construction in Landour, wildlife (especially rare birds) is abundant. The whole stretch of 'Upper Chakkar' is just 3.5 kilometers, and the roads are filled with many interesting signboards with quotes and poems. The walk is easy, with hardly any ascends or descends. The tranquility of the winding lanes and the scent of flowers draw plenty of tourists to Landour. The whole concept of treading on 'Upper Chakkar' is unique and involves - walk, eat, see, and repeat. So here is a list of 10 things to do in Landour, Mussoorie - 1. Kellogg's Memorial Church and Landour Language School Right at the node of the road shaped '8' is Kellogg's Memorial Church. We did not get to see the interiors as it was closed during our visit, but it looked quite old, ethnic, and rustic. The Church has elegant glass stained windows and is built in Gothic architectural style. Kellogg's Church was built in 1903 as a Presbyterian church and is named after Dr. Samuel Kellogg, an American missionary who was very active in the development of Landour. Landour Language School is situated right behind Kellogg's Memorial Church. The Britishers used to study Hindi in this school when they ruled India. Dr. Samuel Kellogg wrote a book on Hindi Grammar in the English language for the Britishers to better understand the Hindi language. The Landour Language School is still running and teaches Indian languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Urdu, and local Garhwali to students worldwide, which is quite unique. Learning a language is the best thing to do in L:andour, don't you think? 2. Sisters Bazaar Sisters Bazaar is located at one end of the road shaped '8'. The bazaar has a couple of shops/ cafes as described below: 2.a. Landour Bakehouse In the 1830s, every Parish used to have a communal oven to bake their own bread. From the 1900s, residents of Landour used to form a community and published 'Landour Cookbook' every year, documenting all the old recipes. Today, Landour Bakehouse serves bakery, desserts, croissants, scones, buns, cookies, crepes and puddings, deriving the tried and tested recipes from the old Landour Cookbooks. The bakery cum cafe has an old-world charm with wooden decor, rustic ambiance, and 19th-century kitchen construction. The best table at Landour Bakehouse is beside the window from which one can view the deep valley dotted with tall Himalayan Oak trees. 'We do not have wifi; pretend it's the 1980s and talk to each other' written on a black chalkboard at Landour Bakehouse cracked us up. Another funny line is written right outside Landour Bakehouse on an abandoned van saying - 'We'll start deliveries as soon as our vehicle is fixed'. Do not miss out on trying the mouth-watering 'Strawberry crepe' and 'Peanut butter crepe' at Landour Bakehouse. If you have time to do just one thing in Landour, visit the Landour Bakehouse for sure! 2.b. Anil Prakash store Right next to Landour Bakehouse is a shop named A. Prakash and Co., whose peanut butter, chutneys and jams are known far and wide. American missionaries living in Landour used to make their own peanut butter on a commercial scale in the 1830s. After Independence, they sold off all their processing machines and equipment and left India. These pieces of machinery came into the hands of Anil Prakash's family, and they started making peanut butter and jam using the same methods. Today Anil Prakash's store is famous for its homemade jams and preserves, peanut butter and homemade cheese. Tourists from all over the world crave Prakash's homemade items. You gotta try it to know how delicious it is. They also let you taste the various jams and cheese making it easier to decide which one to buy. Purchasing these edibles as a souvenir is amongst the best thing to take from Landour for loved ones. 2.c. Prakash Handicraft shop Prakash Handicrafts is the best place to visit in Landour to buy colorful Garhwali handicrafts and other antique knick-knacks hand-made by local artists. 3. Emily's by Rokeby Manor Emily's is a gourmet restaurant in Rokeby Manor - an upscale hotel in Landour. The restaurant serves finger-licking Indian and Continental cuisine. We went there to especially try out Emily's famous Sticky Toffee Pudding, which we had heard about from many people, and we absolutely loved it. The restaurant's interiors are made with brown brick, giving a countryside feel, and were brimming with Christmas decor and little hanging lamps, books, cosy corners and fireplaces. Emily's uses bread brought in from the Landour Bakehouse. 4. Char Dukaan As the name suggests, Char Dukaan is a row of four shops (Char = Four in the Hindi language) in Landour. The Char Dukaan caters to the household needs of foreigners enrolled in Landour Language School. All the shops serve food and hill friendly snacks and beverages like a hot cup of tea/ coffee, Maggi, pakoras, parathas, pasta and bun omelettes. The famous Anil's cafe and Tip Top tea shop have been here at Char Dukaan for more than 50 years, and they boast of all the celebrities who have visited their shops. 5. St. Paul's Church St. Paul's church is an old cantonment church constructed in 1840. It is located right beside the Char Dukaan. This is the first church where rifles were allowed to be brought inside. The British soldiers often complained about the theft of their rifles from outside the church during prayers. Hence, in 1857 rows of notches were carved into the wooden pews at St. Paul's, where soldiers rested their rifles during worship. The notched pews are still in place at the church. The church premises are very calm and peaceful, and the fresh scent of the tall deodar trees surrounds the church. The yellow-painted church looks spectacular with blue sky and green trees in the backdrop. St. Paul's Church is the best place to visit in Landour for some peace and quietude. 6. Lal Tibba View Point Lal Tibba (Lal = Red and Tibba = Hill in the Hindi language) is named so due to the reddish-brown soil on the hill where it is located. It is the highest point of Landour town from where you could spot several popular Himalayan peaks. Two cafes at Lal Tibba have placed binoculars on their terrace and charge INR 50 per person to use them to view the snow-capped Himalayan mountains and the villages far-off. The view from Lal Tibba is magnificent, and one can worship all the Char Dhams from here. Visiting the Lal Tibba is the best thing to do in Landour during sunrise or sunset. Klick Cafe is one of the cafes at Lal Tibba. We stopped here for Maggi and tea. The interiors of the cafe are photography themed. Camera lenses are used as lamps, the walls are painted with cameras, and even a few cups are shaped like lenses. The menu is vast, and a variety of eating options are available. They have a great view of the Himalayan mountains from their terrace. 7. Christian Cemetery The Christian cemetery in Landour is the oldest cemetery in Mussoorie town. The British soldiers who needed medical help were brought to Landour's sanatorium. The ones who could not survive were buried at the Christian cemetery. The earliest grave in the Christian cemetery is that of Captain George Bolton, who was buried in 1828. Visitors are not allowed inside the cemetery, and we peeked inside just from the connecting road. 8. Ruskin Bond's House Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent who resides in Landour. He is a very renowned author recognized for his role in growing children's literature in India. His house is located at a steep descent from the Upper Chukkar. We had heard of him being spotted near his house, and hence we thought of giving it a try. His house is just beside the beautiful and colourful BnB - Doma's Inn. Unfortunately, we did not get to meet him, but we met many people nearby his house with the hope to spot him. Check out these must read Ruskin bond books 9. Winter line of Landour The Winter line is a rare atmospheric phenomenon that develops under special conditions when warm air is trapped beneath cold air. It can be spotted just at 2 places in the world - Switzerland and Mussoorie. Isn't that amazing!? We were lucky to spot the winter line during one such sunset time in Landour when the western horizon turned into a myriad of yellow, red and purple color during sunset. 10. Jabarkhet Nature Reserve Jabarkhet Nature Reserve is the first private reserve in India located in a village named Jabarkhet and is the best place to visit in Landour for nature lovers. It is located 5 kilometers away from Landour. It is home to a variety of wildlife - birds, mammals and insects. The management organises guided walks in Jabarkhet Nature Reserve. The guided walk is a 2-3 hour trek through the nature reserve where one can spot leopards, bears, porcupines, langurs and deer. Unfortunately, we did not spot any wildlife but saw a few captured in their motion-sensor cameras. Where to stay in Landour, Mussoorie: Any new permanent construction or felling of trees for temporary/ permanent construction is banned in Landour. Hence, there are very very few places where one can stay. Several residents have converted their old houses into a homestay. We stayed in one such homestay named - La Villa Bethany. Our room was called and looked just like Hobbit House. We highly recommend La Villa Bethany to anyone wishing to stay in Landour. Read our blog for our review on La Villa Bethany. Checkout rates of La Villa Bethany by clicking below links - PIN THESE IMAGES How did you find our blog on Landour and things to do in Landour? Would you like to visit this town? Let us know your opinions in the comment section below. Suggested Reads - Places to visit in Dehradun Walterre - Recommended stay near Dehradun La Villa Bethany - Recommended stay in Landour Offbeat Mussoorie Brigadiers Cottage - Recommended stay near Kempty Falls #India #NorthIndia #Uttarakhand #DelhiWeekendOutings

Traditionally owning a car is an obvious choice everyone makes the moment they feel they can afford it. Everyone has been programmed to buy cars. It is a no-brainer for most and they do not really weigh the pros and cons of owning a car. However buying a car can be an unnecessary and expensive option. Owning a car can be a big financial headache. The perks of car ownership come with many financial responsibilities and this can make people reconsider and stick to two-wheelers and public transport. However, in recent times, informed customers who do not want to compromise on convenience and independence are steadily adopting car subscription. Car subscription plans like ZAP offer an upgrade on the typical car lease by adding many benefits. For travelers like us keeping a brand new car idle at home while constantly being on the road in some part of the world does not make much sense. Also while being home, we do not prefer using a car on weekdays. Places are either close enough just to walk or they are far enough making driving a wasteful effort amidst city traffic. It is easier to use a two wheeler which drastically reduces commute time or book a cab which gives you convenience of relaxing or finishing some tasks. But then we also do not want to lose out on impromptu weekend trips or comfort of having a car for nearby weekend drives. A car subscription forms an ideal solution and also saves us from many other hassles that come with owning a car. Car subscription simplifies having a car, keeping aside the inconveniences of purchasing an insurance, paying regular taxes and EMIs and scheduling services of the car. With a car subscription, one can get to use a car for a monthly fee that includes and covers insurance, maintenance and taxes. There are other perks like flexibility of driving a hatchback in the weekdays and switching to sedan on a weekend! The following are the advantages of a opting for a car subscription than actually owning a car: 1. Avoid Down Payments and EMIs With a car subscription service, one does not have to go through the down payment process. Many a time, car owners have to cut corners and spend their hard-earned savings to pay the down payment of a new car. The EMIs then begin to make their presence felt every month. As your car depreciates in value, you still pay these hefty monthly payments on the premium price. With a car subscription, these expenses are no longer yours to worry about. You can hold on to your precious savings and spend them on something more constructive like a good investment. In fact, with ZAP car subscription, you can list your vehicle on the Zoomcar platform when you are not using it and earn extra money. Because a car subscription fee includes interest payments and maintenance, it allows you to streamline your budgeting properly. 2. Drive the Latest Models If you are a car aficionado but your favourite models are a little out of reach financially, the subscription program is a lifeline. Get behind the wheel of the best cars in town – and the best part is that there are no long-term commitments. You can enjoy this upgraded version of a car lease for as little as six months. If you are thinking of holding on to the car for longer, a one-year or two-year agreement will be a good option. 3. Subscribe the car that suits your need Not just the latest models, but if you have varying needs at different time periods, subscribing a car is a great option. For example if you are a family of 4, you can subscribe to a small hatchback. But let's say your parents plan to visit you for a month or 2. Now the car is too small for 6 people! A simple solution is to subscribe to a SUV which can accommodate 6 people. Isn't that easy? 4. Great for Newcomers Professionals live a dynamic life. One day you are in one city and suddenly opportunities may arise in another. In the meantime, you need a convenient mode of transport. Buying a car might get you stuck with too many liabilities. Also shifting from one state to another and tedious processes around RTO of getting a NOC in one state and registering the car in another state is just too complex and many a times costly. Instead, you can just subscribe to a car, enjoy all the privileges of an owner and when the time comes, you move on. 4. No Maintenance Hassles It is mentioned above that maintenance costs are no longer a constant headache as they get incorporated in your very manageable subscription fees. When the time comes for the car servicing, all you need to do is send a request. A team of certified and well-trained experts will pick up your car and provide top-quality servicing. This efficient maintenance framework also ensures that you get your car back in very less time. You can visit https://www.insurancenavy.com/sr22-insurance/state/texas/ for the best car insurance that saves considerable costs. 5. Commitment free The car subscription services can be opted for as low a time as a month. You need not be committed to the subscription plan and the choice of your car for more than a month if you are not comfortable with the options. You also need not face any negotiation hassles as the monthly fees are set. There is nothing comparable to the freedom of having a car at your disposal. It makes office commute easier and you can unleash your adventurous self with impromptu road trips. A car is crucial when there is an emergency. All these benefits need not cost an arm and a leg if you consider the simple, yet innovative subscription system. Learn more about this alternative to car buying. Here is your chance to make a very good financial decision.

We all have watched movies where the main lead/s got stuck on a deserted island that is way too stunning and picturesque. And we all have dreamt of living on one such secluded island in the lap of nature. Well, what if we tell you we have found one such small island that could tick all your boxes in the scenic backwaters of Kerala in India? Exciting, huh? If you have read our blog on Munroe Island, you might be well aware that it is a cluster of small islets located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River in Kollam District, South Kerala. One of these islets is a tiny little island that houses a beautiful homestay named Vini’s Farm. With a luxurious wooden cottage on stilts, Vini’s Farm is like an escape of your dreams. Apart from seclusion, the homestay is a perfect romantic escapade for couples who can have the entire island to themselves. The cherry on the cake is that it comes with a cook/ butler (who is not at all nosy)! How to reach Vini’s Farm, South Kerala: Once you book your stay with Vini’s Farm, the manager will give you a call and help you with directions. You will have to park your vehicle at a private and safe designated spot as instructed by the manager, from where you will be escorted to the island in a speed boat. The parking is in a village named Sinkarapally, which is on the mainland, but anyhow the manager at Vini’s Farm will send you the GPS location as to where to park your vehicle. The speed boat ride to the homestay lasts for some 10-12 minutes. Dotted with swaying palm trees, the island housing Vini’s Farm is surrounded by serene backwaters that open up to the pretty Ashtamudi Lake right in the front. We were served a flavoursome welcome drink on arrival and were shown around the island by the manager. It isn’t too big, and you can walk around its periphery in less than 10 minutes. The island housing Vini’s Farm homestay has a wooden plush cottage built on a high stilt having 2 rooms. A charming canopied walkway led us to the cottage. Note - While they have 2 rooms, if one is booked, they do not take bookings for the other one to ensure the guests have complete privacy. If you are a bigger family, you can ofcourse book both rooms. Our room came with an attached bathroom and a balcony. The spacious room was adorned with a king-sized bed, side tables, a sofa, a centre table, a bean bag, a wardrobe, and a luggage rack. The room was equipped with modern amenities like an air-conditioner, refrigerator, tea/ coffee maker, and running hot/ cold water. No television is a huge plus! A floor-to-ceiling glass door on one side of the cottage at Vini’s Farm opened up to a big balcony facing Ashtamudi Lake. The balcony had a comfortable sit-out where we spent most of our time reading, relaxing, watching the fishermen sailing the local boat, and the eagles looking for a catch. We got an uninterrupted view of the lake right from the comfort of the bed. Even the shower area in the bathroom overlooked the serene lake and surroundings. Every nook and corner of the wooden cottage at Vini’s Farm is minimalistically done in tandem with nature yet spells luxury. Apart from the wooden cottage and the dining space, the island housing Vini’s Farm is dotted with beautiful gardens and flowering plants, with comfortable hammocks and cosy sit-outs inviting you every now and then. Organic farming is carried in and around the island, and fresh produce is used in preparing meals. Having a personal chef to ourselves was a big plus. He curated personalised meals for us depending on our choice and tastes. The manager at Vini’s Farm went beyond the lengths to set up a candlelight dinner for us on the small terrace above the kitchen. He thoughtfully placed a music system to play music of our choice. The food was incredibly delicious ans Dining under the sparkling fairy lights and the brightly shining stars with slow romantic music playing in the backdrop was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay at Vini’s Farm, Kerala. There are many things to do and activities to participate in while staying at Vini’s Farm in Munroe Island. In the evening, we chose to explore the backwaters in a country boat sailed with a log by a boatsman. We navigated through the stunning countryside into the thick mangroves and witnessed the daily activities of the people of Munroe Island. After passing through several inter-connected narrow canals, we sailed out in the vast Ashtamudi Lake, where we saw the sun setting in the backwaters through a natural mangrove arch bridge. Even if you don't opt for a sunset cruise while staying at Vini's Farm, you can view the sunset from the property itself. The constant change of colours in the sky during the blue hour is phenomenal. Our mornings at Vini’s Farm were spent kayaking through the canals and the Ashtamudi Lake, followed by swimming in the backwaters. Mind you, the lake’s quite deep, and you have to be an experienced swimmer to wade through the water. Wearing the life jacket was compulsory while performing any activity, be it canal cruising or kayaking. We even wore it during swimming. There are also a few indoor and outdoor games that you can enjoy playing. Vini’s Farm is a heaven for bird watchers / photographers as it offers ample opportunities for spotting kingfishers, egrets, cormorants, herons, crows, eagles, and many more bird species. You can even learn to catch a fish with the experienced manager’s help using the hook provided by the property. And if you are lucky to get your hands on a good catch, they will even cook it for you. Vini’s Farm operates with the professionalism of a hotel and with the warmth and personalised hospitality of a homestay. All in all, it has all the right elements of a perfect romantic getaway. We had all the freedom to move around the island by ourselves. However, the staff was always just a call away. The property is ideal for writers, artists, honeymooners, couples, or anyone looking for privacy, peace, seclusion, and a quiet time. Vini's Farm also has a few tents that can be laid out in their huge grounds for an economic stay for budgeted travellers and groups. The part of the ground for tents comes with a common washroom and is adequately separated through a narrow canal from the wooden cottage area to offer privacy to everyone. So whether you are a solo traveller or honeymooner, family or group of friends looking to chill, Vini’s Farm has all the options to suit your needs. Own an entire island for a day and live your fantasy. You can visit their website to know their latest tariffs and booking details. You can also book them by clicking on one of the travel portals mentioned below. As you would expect, the upkeep of the island is little difficult. The water levels sometimes rise encroaching the island boundaries and maintenance can be challenging. Yet Vini's farm does a good enough job to bring the place to life and provide you as much comfort as possible. It is hence a unique experience to cherish if it fits your budget. If you have any questions or doubts regarding your stay/ booking at Vini's Farm, Kerala, then do let us know in the comments section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

Kodaikanal, the princess of hills is one of the most sought after south Indian hill stations. It competes with the likes of Munnar - also called the Kashmir of Kerala and Ooty - also called the Queen of hills and yet its beauty and charm makes it a darling of traveller’s heart, just like a princess. But many travellers are not really able to make the most of this gem. So here is a complete travel guide to help you plan the perfect itinerary for Kodaikanal, India with details of how to reach, what to see, where to stay and what to eat. Location of Kodaikanal Located on Palani hills in Tamil Nadu state, Kodaikanal is actually quite close to Kerala. Some of the farthest tourist spots in Kodaikanal and Munnar in Kerala are quite close. In fact you can reach from Berijam Lake in Kodaikanal to Top Station in Munnar in 7-8 hours only. You can either trek a distance of 30 kms to cross the hills or ride a car for 220 kms driving around the hills. The Kodai town as such is located on a plateau at a height of 2100 metres which is slightly less than Ooty but around 600 metres more than Munnar. However it is relatively less frequented by tourists mainly because of accessibility and isolation. People visiting Munnar usually plan Thekkady with it while those visiting Ooty have added attractions like heritage toy train, Coonoor, Lovedale etc. While those who visit Kodaikanal, only specifically visit Kodaikanal with no other attractions on the way or nearby. Understanding Kodaikanal Kodaikanal is relatively smaller town compared to Ooty. The town is centered around the star shaped man-made lake – Kodai lake which is the center of attraction as well as geographical center of the town. There are few more attractions such as parks and activities around the lake. Rest of the attractions can be majorly found located on 2 circuits little far from the lake. We will talk about this later in this travel guide to help you with the itinerary. While it is true that one can cover most of the tourist places in and around Kodaikanal within 2 days, 1 circuit per day, we would definitely recommend having few more days in your hands and planning a trip for at least 4-5 days. Instead of just striking off the places to see in a tourist brochure, we would recommend absorbing the beauty of Kodaikanal in different ways detailed in later part of the blog. How to reach Kodaikanal The fastest way to reach Kodaikanal would be to take a flight to Coimbatore or Madurai and then hire a cab to reach Kodaikanal. Madurai is closer and would take around 2.5-3 hours while Coimbatore would take around 4 hours by road to reach Kodaikanal. Tourists from Bangalore and Chennai can easily drive to Kodaikanal and some from Hyderabad even tend to do that. The road from Coimbatore to Kodaikanal also has number of windmills on its way in case you love clicking them. As of Sep 2017, the rate of private cabs from Coimbatore to Kodaikanal would be around Rs.3000-3300. We would recommend Kodai Travellers Inn as reliable, polite and fare taxi service. You can check their website here. A cheaper option would be to take a train to Kodai road which is the foot of the hills and then hire a cab or take public transport to reach Kodaikanal. Buses are available from Coimbatore, Kodai road and Madurai; but will certainly take little more time than a privately hired cab. Alternatively, you can also rent out a self-drive car from Coimbatore from Myles. Sightseeing in Kodaikanal Most of the tourists who have not driven to Kodaikanal in their own cars tend to rent out taxis or cabs for sightseeing. You can get full day cabs ranging from Rs.1200 upwards depending on places you want to cover. You can also just rent out a car for couple of days and ask the driver to take you around and he will cover all the standard sightseeing places. There are no auto rickshaws in Kodaikanal mainly because the hilly terrain does not suit them. However if you are of the adventurous kind, we would suggest why not rent out a 2 wheeler? While there are limited options to rent out 2 wheelers in Kodaikanal probably because taxi unions would not like it, we were able to find one and had a great time driving around Kodaikanal. Depending on the type of two-wheeler and the season, the rent could vary from Rs.400 to 700 per day. You can contact Mr. Ramji at 09884166632 or 09884800243 to hire 2 wheelers such as activa or bikes. In terms of sightseeing places, as we mentioned before apart from the Kodai Lake and couple of waterfalls located separately, rest of the places can be classified and covered in 2 circuits. These circuits are designed so that one can cover the best places at the right time of the day. This itinerary could prove hectic for some who might carry small children or older people as some of the sites involve some walking. We request you to customize the itinerary to suit your taste and needs. Note these circuits are routes that we recommend to cover various sightseeing places properly: Circuit itinerary – 1: Dolphin’s Nose, Vattakanal falls, Mannavanur lake Start early in the morning at something like 8 AM and reach Dolphin’s Nose. While it is still relatively cold and foggy, start descending. Dolphin's Nose is a small trek downwards towards a rock that looks like Dolphin’s Nose. The place can be quickly covered by clouds making it lovely in a mystical way. Since this requires quite some amount of walk, it is good to cover it while it is colder and tourists are few. It may take you around 3 hours to go, spend some time at Dolphin’s nose and come back depending on your speed and stamina. If you are older or have children who need to be carried, doing this trek might not be a good idea. Wearing comfortable sports shoes is highly recommended. Also there is no need to carry food or refreshments as there are number of small shops selling these things on the way. On returning, reward yourself with some juices and food at the most popular café around – Altaf’s café. It is very famous for its open views and italian, middle eastern cuisines. We would also recommend a young and upcoming café with great views – Above & Beyond Clouds. On your way back, quickly visit Vattanakal falls. You can also enter the water if it is not too cold. You should ideally be done with all these by 1 PM. Post this, head straight to Mannavanur lake which will take around 1.5 hours. Mannavanur lake and, as such, the whole way towards the lake is a quiet area. Very few tourists head towards this direction as it is little further away and isolated. However if you love nature and peace, this is highly recommended. There are many other viewpoints such as Mannavanur view, Lake view, Poombarai viewpoint and Palani view point on the way to Mannavanur lake. There are also some below average waterfalls such Polangara Odai and Kundaaru waterfalls and some temples on the way. However we would recommend reaching directly to Mannavanur lake and stopping for all these places while returning based on how much time you have. Note that it will take around 1.5 hours to reach back to Kodaikanal town area from the lake. Circuit itinerary – 2: Kodaikanal Lake, Berijam Lake, Moir point, Pine tree forest, Guna Caves, Pillars rock view point, Coakers walk On day 2, we would first recommend experiencing Kodaikanal Lake at its best. We are not talking about boating in it. We are suggesting wake up early and reach the lake around 6 AM. The still water surrounded by lush green trees (colored trees if you go in autumn) provide the perfect mirror like reflections teleporting you to a fairyland. For once you might be confused if you are in Kodaikanal or an exotic European country. The white foggy layer over the pristine lake gives surreal painting like pictures. Cycling around the lake at this time is sheer joy which unfortunately only few avail. Staying at The Carlton (read details below) enables you to do this easily. Post this have your breakfast and head towards Berijam lake which is more than 1 hour from Kodai Lake. This lake is again situated in the middle of forest and thus the last 2 kms drive is a unique experience. 2 kms before the lake (near Moir point), a queue starts forming as one needs to take permission from forest officer before proceeding. Forest department staff opens the first check post at 9 AM but the queue starts forming from as early as 7 AM as only 50-60 vehicles are allowed to enter at a time. So it is advisable to reach this queue as early as possible. On reaching closer to the lake, there is a second check post where one has to pay Rs.200 and fill a form. Post this one can enter the lake area and also do boating here. If the pre-decided number of cars are already inside, one cannot get their vehicle inside the first check post. Instead, there is a facility of Forest department vans which charge Rs.300/head to drop and pick up again from Berijam lake. You can also spend some time at some viewpoints such as Silent valley view, Berijam lake view and Caps fly view all of which are on the way to Berijam lake. The entry to lake closes at 3:30 PM but it is advisable to visit in the morning as birds are chirpier, crowd is relatively less and the place much more fresh. You can stay for around 2 hours here depending on your taste. After this while returning towards Kodaikanal lake, one can cover various attractions starting from Moir Point, Pine tree forest, Guna caves, Pillars rock view point and Green valley view point. These are the most crowded attractions apart from Kodai lake and according to us quiet mediocre. Moir point, Pillars rock view point and Green valley view point provide standard views which you see all around Kodaikanal with some variations. Pillars rock view point might attract some but we were not fascinated by 2 pillar like mountain structures in a distance. What we liked and would recommend is Pine tree forest and Guna caves. These 2 tourist attractions are quiet unique and found only in Kodaikanal. Pine tree forest is a huge area full of straight pine trees. The earthy colors and vertical trees give a unique feel to this place. It would remind you of some 80-90s bollywood movies using these tourist locations quite effectively. Guna caves is often disliked by travellers as some cave seen from a distance and nothing more. However we really loved the unique root structures of some of the trees here which was the biggest myriad web of roots we had ever seen. Very unique, very fascinating and definitely recommended to all visiting Kodaikanal. You should be able to cover all these places by 3 to 4 PM post which you can head to Kodai lake for boating or just stroll at Coakers walk overlooking lovely landscapes. Note the boating closes around 5:30 PM and Coakers walk at 6:30 PM. The places not covered in the itineraries above include Fairy falls, Bear shola falls, silver cascade falls, bryant park and Upper lake view point. We do not recommend them as we feel these are mediocre and while a short visit would not be bad, we suggest doing them only if you have additional time. There are couple of museums, couple of churches and few temples too which you can visit if these suit your taste and you have more time on your hand. If some of these interest you more, you can replace say Mannavanur lake and have 2nd half of 1st day free to do what you are interested in. Kodaikanal also has a beautiful golf club and a not so sought after Solar observatory, just in case you are into these things. Stay in Kodaikanal While Kodaikanal has plenty of options to stay, how do you finalize just the right option for you? As you would spend at least 2 days sightseeing, we feel it doesn’t really matter which hotel you stay at. You just need one with basic amenities and comforts as you would spend most of the day outside hotel. Apart from these 2 days, we would recommend some unique experiences in terms of stay at Kodaikanal: Pear County – Have you ever lived in a Pear orchard where there are hundreds of Pear trees around and you can simply pluck pears from the trees and eat as many as you like? What if you could camp here? Pear county located opposite to the Kodai town hill is an offbeat option to stay in decent cabins or camping tents right in the middle of a pear orchard. You also get comforts of having an attached washroom with this. And don’t even get us started on the views you get from here. Read our detailed review of Pear County here. The Fern Creek – We would recommend Fern Creek to anyone who loves nature, luxury and wants to relax in peace. An artist's paradise, living in fern creek would feel like getting luxury in an enchanted forest. Just 2 kms from the Kodai Lake, Fern creek provides swiss tents equipped with all amenities one would require in a silent, lush green floral property. With excellent service and food, it is must visit for anyone needing a break and wants to rejuvenate. You can read more about us experience of staying in Fern Creek here. The Carlton – We would recommend everyone visiting Kodaikanal to stay at least 1 day up-close to Kodai Lake. And one property which offers the best possible experience of staying in Kodaikanal is The Carlton, the only 5 star property here. Not only is it situated right across the lake providing great views, it also has its own private boating club offering you boats to take around the lake. They also provide cycles complementary to ride and has loads of other activities in their club house. Read our detailed review of The Carlton here. There are some other amazing properties in Kodaikanal including long term holiday homes which we would have loved to explore but couldn’t. Accommodations we would have loved to stay at includes Villa Retreat, Atman Homestay, Wunderhaus artists getaway and homestay, Holiday Home resort, Great Trails Kodaikanal etc. Food & Shopping Apart from stay and sightseeing, we would also suggest the following for food & shopping in this travel guide - Food - While restaurants around Dolphin's nose specialize in Israeli food, while in Kodai town, we would recommend heading to Poet Tyagaraja road which is quite close to Kodai lake. This street houses many options right from pure veg to tibetan to continental and mexican. Aby's cafe, Muncheez and Cloud street are pretty famous here. Chocolates - Kodaikanal, just like Ooty and Munnar is known for home-made chocolates. We would recommend Manna Chocolate factory which is on Bazaar road for variety of good chocolates from white to dark, crunchy to dry fruit. Their hot chocolate shot is also something one should try. Natural Cosmetics & essential oils - While we would recommend Munnar for these, you would find herbal cosmetics and essential oils being sold all around Kodaikanal. We would recommend Kaleeswari super market which is right next to Manna chocolate factory for these. They have variety of products from oils and cosmetics to dry fruits, chocolates, tea, coffee etc. We really loved their oils though were not satisfied with select cosmetic products. You can also find them online here. You would also find tea, coffee, spices, dry fruits etc. in many a shops all around the town but we learnt that these come from Munnar or Thekkady and thus are little bit expensive or might not be original. PIN THIS IMAGE Hope you were able to design a perfect itinerary for Kodaikanal based on all the details provided in this travel guide. Let us know if this was helpful or did we miss something in the comment section below. We would also love to hear how your trip panned out and if you have any suggestion that we could include in this itinerary. Note: The information provided in this travel guide is to the best of our knowledge as of publishing the blog. It is suggested you do your own research and update yourself before finalizing your itinerary. #India #SouthIndia #TamilNadu #Bengaluruweekendoutings #Chennaiweekendoutings #TravelPlanning

We love travel magazines. Some might feel travel magazines or magazines in general are a thing of the past, but we strongly disagree. In today's world where we keep getting bombarded with information from all directions or simply do a google search to get the information we need, magazines may seem a little less relevant to few. But there are so many like us who continue to see the benefits in subscribing to magazines and find it extremely useful. You may choose a digital version of the magazine if that is more convenient, but there is no denying the fact that magazines still have their place in today's world. In this article, let's dive into why you should still read travel magazines and see some of the best travel magazines in India. Why you should read travel magazines? or any magazine? How we consume content media today has evolved rapidly over the last couple of decades. But what has also evolved is what kind of attention we pay to each form of media. If you monitor your screen time on digital devices, you might find that a lot of time you spend goes into skimming and scanning through your feeds, be it social media, news, YouTube or Netflix. The nature of these forms of content is bound to be less targeted and less immersive for most of the audience. We tend to use these media forms less intently while dividing our attention through other means. Given that most of these forms are free and designed for general audience's consumption, we tend to browse them more and soak in less. Note that these observations may not apply to all and may not apply to an individual all the time, but apply to most people most of the time. Let us contrast this with the experience of subscribing and reading magazines. Firstly it starts with choosing the right magazine. It is then followed by payment. And this leads to consumption. The entire journey is far more intentional, based on trust on the quality of content you would receive and is topped with a feeling of guilt if you do not really consume it. The magazine too is designed for a specific target audience and is hence far more relevant than any form of broadcast media. The focused and leisure driven nature of consuming a magazine is far more enriching than skimming through any sort of feed. Lastly, magazines are self-orienting. The time you spend reading a magazine is 'your time' and the more time you spend reading, the more satisfied you would feel. Consuming magazines is associated with well-being compared to broadcast media forms which would make you feel exhausted after extended consumption. Suggested Reads - How can you buy/Subscribe to Travel magazines in India? So if you feel the urge to give it a shot, let's dive into some travel magazines in India. These travel magazines have both print and digital versions. We recommend getting digital versions as it is the more responsible way to consume it. Digital magazines save paper and do not require any fuel to reach you. However, if you are one of those who love the smell of paper and stores all magazines, go ahead and subscribe the print versions. You can buy one issue of a magazine or become a gold member in Magzter and subscribe to 5000+ newspapers/magazines for a month/year/longer. Magzter is the world's largest digital newsstand and has the biggest collection of current and past issues of newspapers & magazines of all types. Becoming a gold member of Magzter is definitely worth it as it gives you unlimited access to every category of magazines. Your interest and hobby of reading is not going anywhere so we recommend going for the 3 year plan which reduces your per month cost. Check it out now - Best global Travel Magazines in India Some of the best global travel magazines available across the world and in India are : National Geographic Traveller In the world of magazines, National Geographic is definitely a legend. And in the world of travel magazines, National Geographic Traveller is slowly becoming that legend. While the original National Geographic magazine started since 1888 focusing on Science, History, Geography, Culture etc., they started a travel-specific version in 1984 known as National Geographic Traveller. Owned by Disney now, National Geographic Traveller has become a source of immersive travel experiences and authentic storytelling. It covers destinations in interesting ways and focuses a lot on culture, sustainable travel and stories. It is published across the globe, but UK and Indian edition are the most popular. Frequency - Monthly Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - National Geographic Traveller India National Geographic Traveller UK National Geographic Traveler en Español National Geographic Traveler Romania Lonely Planet magazine The story of Lonely Planet's origin is very inspiring and relatable. A couple - Maureen and Tony Wheeler travelled across Europe and Asia by land and arrived in Melbourne in 1972. This paved the way for their first book - 'Across Asia on the Cheap' and establishing what would become the empire of Lonely Planet. Over the years Lonely kept publishing travel guides for destinations across the world focusing on helping travellers plan their trips. In 2009, they started the Lonely Planet magazine which has earned an equal reputation as their guide books. Lonely Planet magazine covers inspirational articles as well as informative ones answering basic questions such as how to reach, where to stay, what to eat, things to do etc. It currently has 8 International editions to suit needs of different locations across Asia, Europe & US. Frequency - Monthly Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Lonely Planet Asia Lonely Planet Espana Lonely Planet UK Condé Nast Traveller Condé Nast is a 100+ year-old global mass media company named after its founder Condé Montrose Nast. It houses several famous magazines such as Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired etc. Condé Nast Traveller came into the picture in 1987 with a focus on luxury and lifestyle travel. As one would expect, most people read it for its aspirational value and create a wishlist. The pictures here would be vividly instagrammish with a flair of its own and the content is primarily targeted towards premium customers. It has 9 different international editions spread across Asia, Europe and the US. Frequency - Bimonthly Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Condé Nast Traveller India Condé Nast Traveller Russia Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure magazine came into the picture around 1971 in its current form. It was transformed from a 34-year-old travel photography magazine to a general travel magazine. Currently, Travel + Leisure is owned by Meredith Corporation which also houses a couple of other dozen magazines such as People, Better homes & gardens, Health, Fitness etc.. Travel + Leisure also targets higher class and features high-profile luxury, lifestyle and niches such as wellness travel. You would often find articles written by non-travel journalists cutting across various poets, novelists, artists etc. It is known for using celebrities and models to make the destinations much more desirable. Their yearly issue on Weddings & Honeymoons is also worth checking out. Frequency - Monthly Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Travel + Leisure India Travel + Leisure India - Weddings & Honeymoons Business Traveller Business Traveller as the name suggests focuses on today's frequent fliers and corporate travellers. Started in 1976 in the UK, it quickly gained popularity due to lack of competition in this niche and currently has 14 editions worldwide. Intending to cater to its niche, Business Traveller covers information on airlines, airports, hotels, car rental etc. along with industry trends, weekend guides, climate etc. There is also a heavy focus on reviewing travel products, accessories, gadgets, loyalty programs, offers etc. Frequency - ~10 issues/year Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Business Traveller India Business Traveller Middle East Business Traveller UK Business Traveller China Business Traveller Africa Best Indian Travel Magazines All the above magazines have various country-specific editions which include an edition for India. Let us now look at some homegrown brands and see travel magazines in India which were found and are distributed only in India: Outlook Traveller & Outlook Traveller Getaways Outlook traveller is travel magazine from Outlook publishing house famous in India for some other magazines such as Outlook, Outlook business, Outlook Money etc. Part of Rajan Raheja group of companies, Outlook traveller started around 2005 and has since become one of India's most popular travel magazine. The focus varies from industry trends to practical advice and is usually simple and crisp in its writing. They also branched into creating travel guide books known as Outlook Traveller Getaways which focuses on a single topic, could be - a destination, a festival, or other allied travel themes. Outlook Traveller Frequency - Monthly Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Outlook Traveller Outlook Traveller Getaway Discover India Magazine Discover India magazine prides itself in being India's oldest magazine launched in 1988. Since then it has made a reputation for itself in terms of exploring and showcasing India. The magazine is currently owned by the Indian arm of The Hubert Burda media group, Germany, which also publishes Travel+Leisure India, AsiaSpa, Architecture + Design to name a few. Irrespective of the nature and background of the traveller, if someone is looking to explore India, Discover India would be the best option. Frequency - Monthly Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Discover India Few other relatively lesser known travel magazines in India focusing on different niches and worth checking out are : Discover India's North East Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Discover India's North East The Luxury Collection Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - The Luxury Collection India outbound Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - India Outbound Hotel Business Review Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Hotel Business Review The Traveller Trails Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - The Traveller Trails Adventure & Wildlife Buy latest digital issue or subscribe - Adventure & Wildlife Airport/Airlines magazines in India A compilation of best travel magazines is incomplete without including Airport/ Airlines magazines that you would come across every time you are out flying. They do largely focus on promoting themselves which is kind of a turn-off, but they do have some interesting stories as well. Did you know that these magazines are also available online if you want to check them out? Check out some travel magazines in India published by Airport/ Airlines: Airports India by Authority of India Checkout the free digital issues - Airports India Go-Getter by Go Air Checkout the free digital issues - Go-Getter Hello 6E by Indigo Checkout the free digital issues - Hello 6E Shubh Yatra by Air India Checkout the free digital issues - Shubh Yatra Spice Route by Spicejet Checkout the free digital issues - Spice Route Trujetter by Tru Jet Checkout the free digital issues - Trujetter Vistara by Vistara Checkout the free digital issues - Vistara PIN THIS IMAGE How was this compilation of best travel magazines in India? Have you read some of these travel magazines? Is there any magazine we missed out? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section. #TravelInspiration All magazine pics credit: Magzter and respective airlines/airports authority of India.

It was around Christmas in 2004 when the seashore receded about 500 metres in a small town on eastern coast of South India. Tourists and locals who witnessed this swear that the sea revealed a long row of granite boulders which was submerged in the sea. Soon after on the fateful night of 26th December 2004, the world witnessed 3rd largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph and longest duration of 8 to 10 minutes of faulting. This also triggered one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history, a tsunami with waves up to 30 metres (100 feet) high hit coastal areas of Southeast Asia. Once things normalized, under water explorations over a decade confirmed that an entire port city could be submerged under the sea validating the legend surrounding Mahabalipuram. In this travelogue, we take you through the small town that remains of this historical city and guide you with best places to visit in Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram is a small beach town around 60 kilometres south of Indian metro city - Chennai along the Bay of Bengal. This town is a popular weekend getaway for the people in Chennai and a great stopover for people travelling to or coming from Pondicherry. There are two interesting legends about the name Mahabalipuram - the first being that of King Mahabali who used to rule here and hence the name. The second being that the Pallava King Narsimha was quite renowned as a wrestler and hence the name Mamalla (which means wrestling) was given to the town to honour him. It is often called a “Lost City” as it is believed that there were seven pagodas or temples on the shores of Mahabalipuram in its heyday around 1300 years ago. All but one (Shore Temple) is what is remains now and rest are submerged in the sea. The town is known for its monuments with intricate stone carvings that date as far back as the 7th century AD. Many of the monuments have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, this town offers its visitors not just a peek into the history but a fabulous beach experience too. Mahabalipuram from Chennai We got a chance to visit this town of temples on our trip to Pondicherry (Read about our place of stay, the lovely luxurious beachside resort - LePondy). We started early in morning from Chennai on our rented motorbike. Driving south along the East Coast Road (ECR) was butter smooth owing to the four lane highway. The ride was quite picturesque as we drove parallel to the Bay of Bengal in our left flashing alluring views from time to time. Though the roads are awesome, the sea is not as close to what we saw in Velas, India (Read about the amazing seaside road in Velas, India) We halted at Kovalam Beach (Yes, there is a less famous Kovalam beach in Tamil Nadu too apart from the more famous Kovalam beach in Kerala) on the way for some rest. Kovalam beach is decently clean and beautiful. We sat on a big log on the beach savouring our packed breakfast. The beach was deserted except a few fishermen getting ready to go fish hunting. Sitting on the beach we charted out our plans to visit a few places in Mahabalipuram before heading to Pondicherry. The smooth sand slipping by our toes, the breeze caressing our hair, the gentle rhythms of the waves, the endless water and sky all becoming one at the far horizon – what could be a more romantic setting for a couple to spend some quiet blissful time together! Beaches provide a deep sense of calm and inspiration. Back on the road we soon reached Mahabalipuram by about 10 AM. Here are the places we visited in the limited time we had. Places to visit in Mahabalipuram Here are key places to visit in Mahabalipuram which can be easily covered in half a day - Panch Rathas at Mahabalipuram Panch rathas; meaning ‘Five chariots’ are monolithic structures which resemble the processional chariots of a temple. All these Rathas are believed to be carved out of a single stone. They are named after the five Pandavas and their wife, characters from the Indian mythology. Draupadi Ratha is the smallest of all and looks like a simple hut. Arjuna Ratha is two storeyed and shares a sub-structure with Draupadi Ratha. Bhima Ratha is the biggest of all and is believed to be incomplete. It is oblong in structure and is intended to be dedicated to the reclining form of Vishnu. Yudhisthir Ratha is three storeyed and the most impressive, tallest and sculpturally rich. Finally Nakul-Sahdev Ratha has the least embellishments with an elephant sculpture placed outside the Ratha. It is believed that the Rathas design was never completed because of the death of King Narsimha. The beauty of the rock-cut temples in form of chariots can really mesmerize anyone. One can hire a local guide here to understand the significance of the carvings and the history behind each construction. Truly a masterpiece, this UNESCO heritage site never fails to impress people. Lighthouse of Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram lighthouse was commissioned in 1887, became functional in 1904 but was open to the public only in 2011. It is supposed to be India’s oldest lighthouse. Reaching the top of the lighthouse is an adventure in itself. There’s a lot of spiral stairs to climb and at some places the steps are so steep and narrow that only one person can climb at a time. But on reaching the top one gets a full panoramic view of the surroundings. The top of lighthouse offers a bird’s eye view of almost entire Mahabalipuram. The Seashore temple is also visible from the top with blue waters of Bay of Bengal in the background. Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram The Shore Temple, a Hindu temple was built by King Narasimha in early 8th century and is believed to be the last substantial work of the Pallavas and one of the oldest structural stone temples of South India. Unlike the rest of the temples, this particular site is next to the shores of Bay of Bengal and hence called the Shore Temple. The inside view of the temple is not open to public. The temple is built such that the first rays of the rising Sun falls on the Shiva lingam located on the eastern side of the temple. Around a hundred grand Nandis (sacred bull of Shiva’s realm) surround the sanctum of the temple from all sides. It is said that the Shore temple is the only surviving temple of a set of seven such temples; the rest being submerged in the ocean. The temple has a walkway through vast expanse of green lawns. It is also a venue for the Annual cultural dance festival of India. Sea Shell Museum of Mahabalipuram This is our favourite amongst all the highlights of Mahabalipuram. Everyone loves the beautiful shells on the beaches and many people carry them along to their homes, often as a souvenir. Mr. K Raja Mohamed is one such person who has been passionately collecting shells over a period of 33 years from different seabeds of the world. A fish merchant by profession, Mr. Raja's childhood hobby became a passion and later a full fledged hunt to gather the unique treasures hidden in the sea. Without any formal education in Conchology (Study of Shells), Mr. Raja had to make numerous sacrifices to set up Asia's largest and India's first Sea Shell museum, a collection of 40,000 specimens of rare and unique shells from around the world. The Museum not only houses different kinds of shells, but also educates visitors about this field. We learnt a lot about how shells are made, different kinds of shells, difference between shells, clams, oysters etc. and were left flabbergasted by this vast field full of scientific miracles. All the specimens are well preserved behind a glass frame and showcased with various details for visitors to see. The collections are amazing with beautiful rich colors and varying shapes of all possible varieties. The shells made us wonder if someone went down there into the sea to paint them; it’s hard to believe that they are naturally so beautiful. Shells as big as elephant’s ear and as small as a grain of sand were on display. The photographs of the museum are not great as we could take only our mobiles with us and also the glass gave reflections and glare. But you can click on photographs below to enlarge them and see the varied shapes, designs and read about the shells. One of the sections that impressed us the most was the story of pearl formation. Different sized, shaped and colored pearls were on display. A few pearls were right inside the oyster shell and were never even extracted. Sea Shell Museum sprawls over an area of one and a half acre that includes an aquarium of ocean fishes and a restaurant that serves sumptuous sea-food though the aquarium and restaurant were undergoing some renovation work when we visited. But the main museum itself was enough to blow our minds as we spent around 2 hours looking at various molluscs we never knew existed. They also have a boutique shop where the most beautiful handicrafts and showpieces were made from shells. We fell in love with the giant mirror below whose frame was made from colorful shells. We left the museum extremely enriched and fascinated by the natural wonders created under the sea. The museum inspired us and is a testimony to what passion of a single person can create. (Click on the photographs below to enlarge them). We left Mahabalipuram post lunch in awe and splendor. The history, the legend, the museum and shells, it was all too much to take within half a day. We wish we could have planned a night halt in Mahabalipuram as number of seaside resorts have sprouted here in last few years and we felt we could spend more time in this town where time seems frozen. Some other places which are less visited and we too couldn't visit includes some caves, museums, a 7D movie about the history of the region and temples. But it is probably good to skip seeing few things in places you wish to visit again. PIN THESE IMAGES Do let us know your thoughts about this blog in the comment section below. Feel free to reach out to us for any details you might want to plan out your trip. #India #SouthIndia #TamilNadu #BengaluruWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings #ChennaiWeekendOutings

Spontaneous travel plans always act like a cherry on a cake. They work like a charm than the trips that are planned long time ahead. It had been raining for few weeks in Hyderabad, India. A spell of good weather over the week prompted us go outdoors. We were craving for the road, desperate to go for a long drive on motorbike during the weekend. We searched for nearby options from Hyderabad for a two day trip and found Warangal to be a suitable option. It is not only the second biggest city in Telangana state of India, Warangal also has some historical significance as well as some hills and lakes making it a suitable destination for a weekend trip. Warangal was also relatively close to us – only about 180 kilometres from our place. Quickly the hotel bookings were done and the bags packed for yet another roadtrip. We started our trip early on a pleasant Saturday morning on our motorbike and soon reached the outskirts of the Hyderabad to hit the highway. It was a smooth drive from there on. The rocks and mountains offered us a very scenic view now and then and the dark clouds were drifting constantly in front of us. To be frank, the views and the weather were just added bonuses. We were just ecstatic to feel the winds rush through our hair. The true joy came from feeling the raw horsepower of engines beneath us than the usual comfort of lying on bed. We soon passed one of the biggest monolithic rocks you would ever come across. Bhongir fort built on this rock is a magnificent site from distance. You can read more about Bhongir fort (a good outing destination from Hyderabad) in our previous blog here. It took us around 4 hours to reach Warangal with a few breaks in between for breakfast and rest. Once in Warangal, we right away checked into our hotel to have some rest. Late afternoon, we quickly made plans and came up with a list of places to visit. Warangal is a small city which once served as the historical capital of ‘Kakatiya dynasty’. during 12th & 13th century AD. The monuments left by the Kakatiyas include fortresses, temples, and stone gateways helping the city to become a significant tourist attraction. Our first destination was Thousand Pillars temple - a name that fascinated us since the moment we heard it. The construction of this temple displays the grandeur of Kakatiyan dynasty architecture. This Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is supported by 1,000 pillars and no walls – hence the name. A unique feature of the temple is that none of the pillars obstructs a person to see the idol. While all of this sounded amusing, it could not live upto the expectations we had as it was destroyed during Tughlaq dynasty - the sultans of Delhi's invasion around 14th century. Due to continuous restoration work by the government, we can see a small temple displaying intricate stonework and heavy granite work that adds to its immense beauty. Majority of the thousand pillars are barricaded by a wall and still undergoing restoration. Warangal Fort at Warangal Next, we visited the Warangal fort. We expected a fort like any other forts we have been to, but it was a disappointment. The fort was completely destroyed during the Tughlaq invasion and what now remains are only the assembled pieces of the lost glory laid out in a huge garden. It is like an outdoor museum. In its heyday, the fort consisted of 45 towers along with ornamental gates, arches made of single rocks and housed shrines in a temple. The fort was built in traditional South Indian architectural style. While the remains offer an insight into the fort structure of the Kakatiya era, the highlight of this place is the ornamental entrance gate which we had seen on streets of warangal as well as hyderabad. This entrance gate has been adopted as emblem of Telangana state and is thus quite iconic. Every evening there is a laser show which lights up all the relics and rocks in different colors. We did not attend this laser show though. Ekashila Lake at Warangal Once we left Warangal fort, we decided to explore the areas around it. To our surprise, we found Ekashila lake and children's park right next to the fort. We had some time and so we decided to enter and see if there was anything good here. The park might enthrall kids with some swings and slides, but we headed straight to a hill we saw inside the park. The hill gave a magnificent view of Ekashila lake and far off lands. We spent an hour on the hill gazing at distant lands as well as a captivating statue in the middle of the lake. Bhadrakali Temple at Warangal We quickly drove to Bhadrakali temple as the sun started setting. It is a beautiful temple with idol of Goddess Kali with 8 hands and each hand having a weapon. What attracted us more was the Bhadrakali Lake behind the temple. The sun had slowly started setting and had decorated the sky with yellowish orange colored hues. A few fishermen were returning in their small country boat after a hard day’s work. Kids were splashing water at each other on the banks of the lake. We did not expect the tiny looking water body in the map to be this massive. We sat here behind the temple till the sun set behind the mountain as we photographed to our heart’s content. Soon we headed for dinner and called it a day. Pakhal Lake near Warangal There was just one more destination we were contemplating to cover around Warangal - Pakhal Lake. We were quite unsure about visiting this lake as it would add around 50 kms one way to our journey, ~100 kms in total. It just did not seem worth the pain. But then, if one is not ready to risk some pain, one should as well not travel and sit in comfort of their homes. Next day, we woke up really early in the morning to drive to Pakhal lake. It is a man-made lake in the Pakhal wildlife sanctuary, situated about 50 kilometres from Warangal. The ride to Pakhal Lake was an experience in itself. Weirdly it was full of fog; such that we weren’t even able to identify things a few meters away from us. Hence we drove real slow and cautiously all the time wondering if we should have risked getting here. Oh boy, are we glad to have taken the risk. We cannot offer justice to the description of its beauty. Surrounded by hilly terrain and nested deep inside a dense forest, this lake is spread over 30 kilometres. The terrain is undulated, diverse with rocks, forests, and misty air and holds a scenic beauty that people who haven't seen in the picture beforehand, can hardly believe in. This lake calms you down with its serene atmosphere, a huge hill in the centre, chirps of birds, and few squeaks of monkeys. The lake was so isolated that in a way it almost scared us. Warning signs saying ‘Beware of crocodiles’ made us fear more. There was a kind of silence and seclusion that was peaceful yet frightening. We weren’t able to spend much time at Pakhal lake as we had to return to Warangal and then to Hyderabad; but I am sure we will visit this lake again without a doubt. Some of the pictures we took here are the best pictures from this trip and Pakhal lake was definitely the highlight of our Warangal trip. We hit the road again to reach Warangal, check out from our hotel and then start our journey back to Hyderabad. The weather remained loyal to us and with some few breaks, by evening we were back in our homes. Warangal is definitely not ideal holiday destination, but with limited options around Hyderabad, it surely is a good weekend spot to explore. It gives you a variety of experiences covering history, temples, hills and lakes. Some of the places we did not cover but can be added to itinerary include a musical garden, Ramappa temple and Laknavaram. Laknavaram is yet another promising destination around 100 kms from Warangal which may require a day and we hope to cover it soon through another trip. PIN THIS IMAGE How did you find our travelogue to Warangal? Do let us know in the comment section below. Looking for hotels here or trying to finalize your itinerary? Feel free to contact us to know the best hotels in the area and great deals for them. Find our other weekend destinations from Hyderabad in our travel blogs. #India #SouthIndia #Telangana #HyderabadWeekendOutings #BengaluruWeekendOutings

Tourism in South Kerala has been limited to coastal areas like Varkala, Kovalam and Poovar. However, this trend is changing slowly. The Government of Kerala, in collaboration with a popular sculptor named Rajiv Anchal, has built the world's largest bird sculpture in Chadayamangalam (Kollam district) in Kerala. This giant sculpture of the mythological bird named Jatayu, has been built on a hill named Jadayupara and has been opened to visitors from the year 2018. The tourist centre where the Jatayu statue has been built is called the Jatayu Earth's Centre or the Jatayu Nature Park. This article will act as a detailed guide for you to plan a trip and visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre. Location of Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam Jatayu Earth’s Centre is located in the Chadayamangalam area in the Kollam district in South Kerala. It is located quite close from Kollam, Varkala and Munroe Island; hence you can make any of these places as the base to travel to the bird sculpture. The nearest airport to Jatayu Nature Park is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) airport, and the nearest railway station is the Kollam station. Distance of Jatayu Earth’s Centre: From Varkala town - 28 kilometres From Kollam railway station - 37 kilometres From Munroe Island - 46 kilometres From Trivandrum airport - 52 kilometres How to reach Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam You can hire a taxi from any of the places mentioned above and travel to Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The bird statue makes for a fantastic day-visit from these areas. You can also club visiting the Jatayu Nature Park along with Kilimanoor Palace (birth place of the renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma). The Palace is located very close to the Jatayu statue and houses some magnificent original paintings. We rented a two-wheeler scooter from a rental agent near the Trivandrum airport and rode to Jatayu Nature Park on our own. The roads are end-to-end highway and are pretty smooth, making an excellent ride. There’s a vast paid parking area below the hill housing the sculpture. Mythological story behind the Jatayu statue at Jatayu Earth's Centre, Kollam The Indian mythological scripture Ramayana, narrates the story of abduction of Sita (wife of Lord Rama of Ayodhya) by Ravana (Demon King of Lanka). As Ravana hastened to Lanka on his flying chariot with Sita, she cried out to Rama to save her. Hearing Sita’s helpless screams, the mighty old bird Jatayu (King of vultures) winged up towards the sky to Ravana’s chariot. It resolved to save Sita from the clutches of the demon God. Attacking Ravana with its sharp claws, it tore flesh from his body by using its beak. Vexed, Ravana took out his arrow and fired at Jatayu’s wings. One of its wings tore off and fell. Jatayu knew that it could not win over Ravana, but the brave old bird continued fighting, only to be hit again by Ravana’s arrow. Soon, Jatayu was bruised, battered and bleeding from the wounds all over its body. It fell on the ground and slowly started dying. Sita granted it a boon to be alive till it meets Lord Rama to convey the entire story. While searching for his wife, eventually Lord Rama chanced upon dying Jatayu, who informed him of its battle with Ravana and how he had abducted Sita and journeyed down south. From Jatayu, Lord Rama learnt all the details of Sita's abduction and granted it salvation. Best time to go to Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam The winter months (November to February) are the best time to visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre. Summers (March to May) are scorching and humid. Light monsoon (August and September) can also be an excellent time to visit the sculpture. Just make sure the forecast doesn’t show heavy rains and thunderstorms. As for the time of the day, early mornings and evenings are the best time to visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre. However, evenings are preferred as the tourism centre opens only at 9:30 AM in the morning, which is quite bright and hot owing to South Kerala’s weather. If you plan to spend the entire day at Jatayu Nature Park, plan a visit in the morning and stay till the evening. There are several activities that you can indulge in to spend the day. Read on to know more about it. Is online booking required to visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre in Kollam? We visited Jatayu Earth’s Centre during COVID times. We did visit their website, which is very well-designed, but weren’t able to clearly understand the time-slot system. We were sure that our mobile networks will be working fine at the tourist centre. Hence, we reached the Jatayu Nature Park a bit early, keeping some buffer time if we have to immediately book the slot online. On inquiry at the ticket counter, we found out that the online booking is not working at all and all payments had to be made there and then (in cash; cards weren’t accepted). We are not sure if this was because of COVID restrictions or if there is a permanent closure of online booking. You can try out our idea of reaching the Jatayu Earth’s Centre a bit early if you have time in hand or just call them and inquire on the contact number stated on Google (which did not work in our case, to be honest). Reading recent reviews from the people who have visited might also help. Another way to source out the latest information would be through your hotel/ resort’s helpdesk or enquiring with the car driver who is supposed to drive you there. How to reach the top of the hill at Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam As mentioned earlier, all the vehicles have to be parked at the vast parking lot at Jatayu Earth’s Centre, below the hill where Jatayu’s sculpture is built. There are two ways to reach the top of the hill. You could climb the odd 800 stairs to reach the top of the hill. The steps are cemented, but there are very few to no shades (for those planning to climb in the afternoon, please don’t). Carry plenty of water and some snacks for this climb. The other way is through the world-class glass-covered cable car. Though costing more, a ride in this cable car to the top of the hill is an experience in itself. The stairway to the top of the hill at Jatayu Earth’s Centre was closed due to COVID restrictions on our visit. Of course, because the authorities cannot ensure social distancing on the stairs. So, we had to ride the cable car (not that we were planning to take the stairs!). Social distancing and COVID protocols were followed at all times at the tourist centre. One family or one group were allowed in a single cabin of the cable car, ensuring safety. Jadayupara entry fee/ ticket rate: Whether you decide to take the stairs or the cable car, you will have to pay an entrance fee of INR 240 per person at the entrance point to the Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The cable car ride costs INR 300 per person for both ways. We are not sure if you can ride the cable car one way and come down via stairs or vice-versa, but you could definitely ask! You can even opt for a helicopter ride to the hill of the Jatayu Earth’s Centre for INR 2400 per person. This ride will offer you an aerial view of the bird sculpture. There are no separate camera or DSLR charges. However, we were asked if we were carrying a drone, which weren't allowed). It is also advisable to know the opening and closing timings of the Jatayu statue at Jatayu Nature Park. The official website mentions 10 AM as the opening time and 6 PM as closing time. However, the last cable car leaves back from the top of the hill at 5:30 PM and you would not want to miss it. As we were clicking photographs and since there were very few visitors when we travelled, they gave us a few more minutes at the top of the hill. What to see at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam Jatayu Earth’s Centre is basically a collaboration between the Tourism department of Kerala and Mr. Rajiv Anchal, a film director. It focuses on environmental sustainability in its design and includes rainwater irrigation systems, solar-powered electricity, and planned organic farms. 1. Jatayu Statue Jatayu Earth’s Centre or Jatayu Nature Park houses the largest bird sculpture in the world. The sculpture is 200 feet long, 150 feet wide and 70 feet high. It is built on a 1000 feet tall rock named Jadayupara and occupies a floor area of 15000 square feet. As Jatayu, the noble bird, died protecting a woman’s honour (Sita), the centre is dedicated to ‘Women’s honour and safety’. Riding the cable car was a unique experience. As the cable car slowly climbed towards the top, we were able to get a glimpse of the magnificent statue of Jatayu. In a matter of a few minutes, we were at the top of the hill, and it took us a while to take in the beauty of the place. There’s a paved walkway surrounding the bird sculpture, and you can take an entire 360-degree tour admiring the sculpture from different angles. Mr. Anchal, the brainchild of this project, has used concrete to construct Jatayu’s sculpture. The bird is lying flat on its back with its wings spread across and its curled claws facing the sky. If you focus properly, you will be able to appreciate the intricate carvings on the stylized feathers of the sculpture. Its nails, beak, claws, and eyes will make you reminisce the old folklore. 2. Lord Rama Temple or Jatayu Temple When Lord Rama reached the Jadayupara rock searching for his wife, Sita, he found wounded Jatayu. He liberated the soul of dying Jatayu. Lord Rama left his footprint mark on the rock where a temple was built in those times. Today, the temple dedicated to Lord Rama has been renovated and reconsecrated. Lord Rama temple stands right beside Jatayu’s sculpture. The temple belongs to a private trust, and it is built to preserve India’s glorious past. 3. Museum The sculpture of Jatayu at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre is hollow from within. There's about 15000 square feet of utilizable area inside the Jatayu statue. An entrance opens beneath one of its wings that will take you to an audio-visual museum as well as a 6D theatre. The museum exhibits animated visuals, and with light and sound, it showcases the story of the mythological bird. 4. 6D Theatre A multi-dimensional theatre is being built under the wings of Jatayu at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The theatre screens an animated movie featuring the epic battle between Jatayu and Ravana. Note: Both the museum and the 6D theatre were closed due to COVID on our visit. 5. Holy Pond There is a pond near the Jadayupara rock, which is believed to be formed by the stroke of Jatayu’s beak when it fell flat on the ground after fighting Ravana. It is said that the pond never dries and has water throughout the year. Another folklore states that the bird Jatayu drank water from a pond to keep itself alive, and it is this pond that never goes dry. You can see the pond from afar while going around the Jatayu statue. 6. Adventure Zone The rock surrounding the Jadayupara rock has been developed into an adventure zone. Adventure activities like rock climbing, rappelling, jummering, bouldering, valley crossing, chimney climbing, archery, zip-lining, rifle shooting and paintball can be enjoyed by the tourists visiting the Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The charges for the adventure activities are levied separately, and if you are interested in more than one activity, you could even buy a package. Trekking and camping can also be arranged on prior booking. The state-of-art adventure zone can be accessed from the base of Jadayupara hill. An indoor entertainment zone is also present which could be enjoyed by both kids and adults. Note: The adventure zone was closed due to COVID on our visit. 7. Cave It is said that after falling on the ground, wounded Jatayu took shelter in a cave near the Jadayupara rock. This natural cave is where the current helipad is. This cave is being developed in a vast Ayurvedic retreat with accommodation facilities. Once open, it will offer long term extended Ayurvedic treatments to its guests. 8. Others At the top of the hill at Jatayu Earth’s Centre, a small canteen serves beverages and light snacks. There were other eateries too, which were closed (probably due to pandemic). An amphitheatre has also been built surrounding the bird sculpture, from where you can get perfect sunset views. Various traditional shows are scheduled from time to time at this amphitheatre. Jatayu Earth’s Centre represents a bygone era where humans, birds, and animals lived in harmony and cared for each other. This new tourist attraction (opened in 2018) should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list. It is a unique destination with an amalgamation of myth and modernity. If you do not have time to visit Jatayu Nature Park dedicatedly from the nearby towns, stop by for a couple of hours at the nature park while travelling from Alleppey to Trivandrum/ Varkala/ Kovalam. We hope this guide on Jatayu Earth’s Centre helps you plan your trip to the giant bird sculpture. Let us know if you have any questions in the comment section below. Follow us on Instagram to look at some fantastic shots of the Jatayu bird sculpture and the other places that we visited in South Kerala. PIN THESE IMAGES

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory in India has one of the most pristine beaches, amazing coral reefs and exotic sea life that you would ever find. Their remote location, rich biodiversity and lower tourist population makes these one of the best holiday destinations one could visit. Andamans have gained popularity after Time magazine rated one of its beach - Radhanagar beach in Havelock island (Swaraj Dweep) as the best beach of Asia in 2004. Be it a relaxed vacation or Scuba certification, one of the safest and cleanest places in India, Andamans is a unique destination that you cannot afford to miss. The series of travel blogs - The Andaman Odyssey will serve as a one stop travel guide to you and give you all details along with recommendations to ensure you can plan your own trip. This is the first blog in the series where we give you the perfect introduction to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and give you an overview about them. Here we touch upon everything there is to know about these group of tropical islands so that you can make the most out of your trip to Andamans. Once you understand these islands, you can proceed to making a travel plan to Andamans. Our other blogs of the series - The Andaman Odyssey will help you understand and plan your trip to Andaman Islands and give you a good idea of Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) with recommendation on places to stay and activities to do. 1. Introduction to Emerald islands of India - Current blog 2. Plan your own trip to Andamans 3. A complete travel guide to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 4. Review: Summer Sands Beach Resort at Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 5. A complete travel guide to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 6. Review: Symphony Palms Beach Resort at Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 7. Review: Havelock Island Beach Resort at Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 8. Review: Dive with Scuba Lov 9. Review: Makruzz - Cruising across Andamans Location - Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Most people outside India may not have realized that between India and South east Asian strip of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia lie a group of around 572 tropical islands called Andaman and Nicobar islands. Geographically, the northern most point of these islands is just 190 kms (120 miles) from Myanmar and the southern most tip - Indira point in Nicobar which also happens to be the southern most point of India, is just 150 kms (93 miles) from Sumatra in Indonesia. Only around 38 of these islands are permanently inhabited. Out of 572, around 325 of these islands are part of Andaman islands and cover 75% of total land mass in this area. Andamans are also the more inhabited and developed areas inhabiting 90% of total population across these islands. Nicobar islands on the other hand are way more isolated, smaller and untouched by modern world. They are smaller islands to the south of Andamans and does not have any commercial airport. Hence tourists rarely visit Nicobar islands and they also require a special permission to visit them as they are part of tribal reserve area. In this introduction and the series - The Andaman Odyssey, we will mainly be focusing on Andaman islands and not Nicobar islands. Geography - Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Capital town of Andaman and Nicobar islands is Port Blair. These islands are divided into 3 administrative districts: 1. North & Middle Andaman (part of Great Andaman, Capital - Mayabunder) 2. South Andaman (part of Great Andaman, Capital - Port blair) 3. Nicobar islands (Capital - Car Nicobar) North, Middle and South Andaman are closely located islands separated by narrow creeks. They are connected via Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). However one needs to board a ferry boat along with their vehicles to cross the creeks between these islands before resuming their journey on ATR. While North, Middle and South Andaman are mainly inhabited islands, together with few other smaller & barely inhabited islands (Interview, Long, Baratang and Rutland island) they form a group of 7 islands often called - Great Andaman. Great Andaman is the main land mass that you would see in a map. Most places of interest for a tourist are in South Andaman while North & Middle Andaman attracts attention of few travelers who have more time in their hands and love to explore offbeat places. The most popular tourist destinations - Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) islands are administratively part of South Andaman district but located little away in the sea towards east. Havelock (swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) islands along with 15 other islands/islets form what is known as Ritchie's archipelago. Another set of smaller islands are administratively part of South Andaman but located much further away in sea down south of Great Andaman called Little Andaman. Little Andaman is slowly gathering tourists interest and becoming popular. Interesting fact - To the far east of Great Andaman is an island called Barren island. Administratively part of North and Middle Andaman district, this island happens to be the only confirmed active volcano of South Asia (till Bali's Mt. Agung happened). It is a part of chain of volcanoes that run from Sumatra to Myanmar and it erupted as recently as early 2017. No one inhabits or is allowed on this island but many Scuba diving companies fancy going around it due to its unique and rich underwater life. Little bit of history - Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Andaman and Nicobar islands seem to have formed due to collision of Indian tectonic plate with that of Eurasian plate just like Himalayas were formed. They seem to have been inhabited for few thousand years but their isolation from other populations may have given them a distinct tribal culture. Over the years these islands have seen many foreign settlements from South Indian Chola kings using it as a naval base, colonization by Denmark, Austria and then Britain using it as a penal colony for punishing convicts and Japanese occupation during World War-II. After this, India has been developing these islands as strategic defense facilities. Tsunami of 2004 destroyed many coastal areas and coral reefs in these islands and restoration work has been going on since then. Off late it is slowly developing as a tourist destination. Interesting fact - The Himalayan ranges in India extend as Purvanchal range in North-East India and continues to Myanmar as Arakan mountains submerging inside Bay of Bengal before emerging back as Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Best time to travel Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The best time to travel to Andamans is from November to March. Though the temperature varies between 22-31 deg Celsius through the year making it pretty warm, April usually sees the onset of rain and it is not advisable to travel once monsoon starts. Some properties, most inter island connectivity and water activities such as Scuba diving close around June to September owing to bad weather. Note that weather plays a big role in these islands. Due to their location in the middle of ocean, weather could change very rapidly and affect you. Hence it is advised to check latest weather forecast before you travel. December and January are usually the costliest months as most tourists arrive during this time. Interesting fact - Though Andamans is geographically closer to South East Asian countries than India, it does follow Indian Standard Time (IST). Due to this, the sun usually rises around 5 AM and sets by 5 PM here. If you plan to see sunrise daily for a week, you might end up waking up around 4 AM everyday and this might affect your body schedule and you would take couple of days to get back to your normal schedule. Reaching Andaman and Nicobar Islands; There are 2 ways to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Ship & Air, both of which would land you in Port Blair. Government run passenger ships run from Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam but take 50 to 60 hours to reach Port Blair. Note that these are not luxury cruises and accommodation is very basic with not much to do onboard. The quicker and definitely better option is to fly to Port Blair. Veer Savarkar International airport in Port Blair is a naval cum civil airport. There are direct flights to Port Blair from mainland Indian cities of Chennai and Kolkata operated by all major Indian airlines. Recently few airlines have also started occasional direct flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneshwar. A direct flight from Kolkata or Chennai would take around 2 hours to reach Port Blair. A charter flight for foreign tourists is also allowed to land after taking pre-requisite permissions making it an International airport. Inter Island connectivity in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The main islands in Great Andaman (South to North Andaman) can be covered via road by hiring cabs. You would mainly require sea transport to travel to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Neil (Shaheed Dweep) or Little Andamans. While Government ferries do connect these islands through the year, we recommend private ships which are much faster, cleaner and comfortable. Makruzz and Green Ocean are 2 operators who ply between Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) island daily for most of the year. We definitely recommend Makruzz which is an experience in itself. There is also a helicopter facility to travel between islands but it is primarily for government and emergency situations for islanders. One can make prior reservations and hope no emergency situation affects their plans. Important tip - As of end 2017, you get only 2G data connectivity on Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The internet is close to non-existent in Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) islands and achingly slow even in Port Blair. In many parts of the island, you would get only BSNL and sometimes Vodafone signal. Permits - Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Indian Nationals - Indian citizens obviously do not require any visa to travel to Andaman and Nicobar islands. But in case one wishes to travel to tribal reserves, one needs a permit from Deputy commissioner providing reasons. This also applies if one wishes to visit Nicobar islands. Foreign Nationals - If you are not an Indian citizen, apart from valid visa you also require a 'Reserved Area Permit' (RAP). These are issued only for 30 days and can be extended with valid reasons for 15 days but no foreign national can stay in Andaman and Nicobar islands beyond 45 days. Reserve Area Permit is available free of cost on arrival at Port Blair airport or Port Blair harbour. The permit can also be obtained from Foreign registration offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata. The primary reasons for these permits are 3 fold - Presence of aboriginal tribes in these islands who need special protection to ensure they flourish in their natural ecosystems Presence of sensitive and precious flora and fauna in and around these islands which need to be preserved from rapid population growth and human interventions Location of these islands make them a strategic military base for India We hope by now you must have a good idea of what Andaman and Nicobar islands has in store for you and how to get here. The Andaman Odyssey would continue in part 2 of the introduction where we will take you through various attractions across these islands and help you create your itinerary. Part 2 of this introduction you should ideally enable you to plan your trip so continue reading about the emerald islands of India - Andaman and Nicobar Islands. PIN THIS IMAGE Do let us know how your thoughts about this introduction. Did we miss out on something? Would you want to know something more as part of introduction? Let us know in the comment section below. Keep reading our series of travel blogs - The Andaman Odyssey. #India #Andamans #UnionTerritories

"Destiny decides who you meet in Life, But only your heart decides who gets to stay in it" Finding 'The One' and getting married is amongst the most difficult and the most satisfying experiences of life. Your eyes scours the earth and heart prays, sometimes pleads the skies. In India thankfully parents take up one of the last major endeavors of their lives as their children hit mid 20s - finding a suitable prospect and getting their children married. Arranged marriage, as they are called, is what around 74% of young Indians (18 to 35 yrs) prefer according to a survey. It was 2016 when Akshata, a instrumentation engineer, was working in a Pharmaceutical giant in Hyderabad, India. Sandeep, an industrial engineer, was working in an automotive components multinational in Charlotte, US. Their parents based in Vizag and Narsapur respectively, both in Andhra Pradesh state of India were looking for suitable prospects. Sandeep had already seen and rejected many girls over past couple of years whereas Akshata was just beginning the process. Destiny brought them together. A simple Skype chat was enough to convince their hearts. After few calls and parent's approval, they decided to get engaged on 26th December 2016. "Fall in love with someone who doesn't make you think love is hard" It was 18th December when Sandeep arrived at Hyderabad airport and Akshata met him face to face. It took few moments for all the nervousness to fade away as they both felt convinced they had made the right choice. It was easy to love each other, they felt. Few days of togetherness and they got engaged in Filmcity, Hyderabad amongst close friends and family. The ceremony saw them exchanging rings and garland along with families giving gifts. A Puja was performed where the soon to be bride and groom paid reverence to God. The highlight of the day was right before they exchanged the rings when Sandeep suddenly got on his knees to propose Akshata and offer her the ring. The reactions of family and Akshata herself are memories worth cherishing. The day ended with some performances. Akshata's friends gave a speech and also sung her all time favourite song - Pehla Nasha (The first intoxication). They also danced with Akshata and Sandeep. The wedding date was soon decided by the priest and the Big day was 30th April 2017. The couple had to wait for another 4 months to be together forever. Again falling into a long distance relationship, they used the courtship period to know more about each other as Sandeep headed back to US. Then followed number of sleepless nights, long chats over the phone, video calls just to see each other, flirting, smiling, chatting continuously on Whatsapp, sharing photos and getting to know each other more with each passing day. It wasn't long and the D day soon arrived. The groom-to-be was back in India to celebrate the biggest day of his life. 'From this day onwards, You shall not walk alone My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home' It was a typical Telugu wedding, setup in a Jubilee Hills International Center in Hyderabad. Like most Hindu Indian weddings, the event was full of rituals and ceremonies that have deeper meaning rooted in Hindu religion and mythology. The day began with Ganesh Puja as Ganesha is considered the remover of obstacles and God of success. This Puja took place on the main mandap (wedding stage) with priest, both sets of parents and groom participating actively. At the same time, the bride sat alone in a corner of the hall doing Gowri Puja on her own. Gowri Puja is something most Hindu girls perform annually since school days praying for the right groom. Goddess Gowri (also known as Parvati), mother of Ganesha, is considered to be the most powerful mother of the universe and Lord Shiva & Gowri are considered to be the ideal couple. By invoking the Goddess blessings, the bride seeks strength and divine love for a happy and long married life. The groom is considered to be a personification of Vishnu (the protector of the universe) while the bride is considered to be Lakshmi. Before the bride's arrival in the mandap, a holy cloth was drawn like a curtain in the front of the groom to prevent him from seeing the bride. The bride arrived in the mandap carried in a lotus shaped bamboo basket (symbolizing lotus on which goddess Lakshmi sits) by her maternal uncles and brothers. She then sat in the mandap in the same basket separated from the groom by the yellow curtain, till her parents finished the Kanyadaan – the process where the bride’s parent offer their daughter to the groom (Kanya meaning bride & daan meaning to give away). Post this, as the most important part of the wedding drew closer, both the bride & groom were given a small paste made of sweet jaggery & bitter cumin seeds (Jeera). The jaggery & cumin seeds when ground together form an inseparable paste thus denoting that the bride & groom should become inseparable through life’s sweet & bitter times. At the mahurat, the auspicious time decided by the priests, the bride & the groom applied paste of jaggery and cumin on each other’s head. This act also marked the dropping of the yellow curtain allowing bride and groom to see each other for the first time since the beginning of the event. Post this the elderly of the family then blessed the couple by sprinkling turmeric coated rice on their head. Rice grains hold great significance in Hindu weddings and events in general because of its life sustaining qualities. It is considered to be a symbol of prosperity and fertility and is thus used in number of rituals. The couple parted for a brief break and changed. After arriving back to the mandapa or the wedding stage, the groom tied the mangalsutra around bride’s neck offering commitment and safety to her. Mangalsutra or the sacred thread is a symbol of marriage just like the wedding ring and is worn by the bride till the uneventful death of her husband. The groom then tied a belt made of reed grass around bride’s waist signifying bonding her with his family and praying to God to give her all the strength necessary to shoulder the responsibilities for his family. It was now time for some fun. The bride and the groom showered each other with rice mixed with saffron and turmeric symbolizing couple’s desire for happiness. Post this they also showered each other with different colored pearls symbolizing their desire for prosperity and finally they showered each other with thermocol balls symbolizing their desire for enjoyment. These 10-15 minutes when the bride and groom shower each other with various artifacts is not only fun for them, but also a sheer joy to watch and click. This is unique to Telugu weddings (Weddings in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of India) but different cultures within India have different rituals which are lighter on note and fun to participate. With Sanskrit verses recited by the pandit (priest), the couple then exchanged garlands. Garlands are beautiful flowers tied with thread; the flowers might fade with time and lose their charm but they never leave the thread. Similarly exchanging garlands symbolizes that though there might be ups and downs through life, they will never break their wedding vows. This was followed by guests and the couple showering rose petals allowing them to have more fun. Most of the guests by now made way to have lunch and then departed. 'Let the marriage be even more beautiful than the wedding' Akshata and Sandeep were tired by the end of it all, but also excited to begin their journey together as man and wife. According to Indian traditions the bride is supposed to leave her family after the wedding as she becomes part of the groom's family. A few days later, Akshata flew with Sandeep to Charlotte, USA to settle down. We hope their 'Pehla Nasha' lasts forever and they have a wonderful married life together. You can see their complete online engagement and wedding album here. Do let us know your thoughts about this wedding blog and pictures in comment section below. Feel free to contact us if you would like us to cover your wedding or arrange a photoshoot. #India #Photoblog #Wedding

Pondicherry or Puducherry to us is not just a beach destination in Southern India. It is an all in one package. It is a foodie’s paradise, a French boulevard, an International city of Auroville, a land of backwaters, fishing villages, clean and wide roads, well laid gardens, orange and yellow coloured churches, huge mansions and a romantic escapade. True to its tourism tagline - ‘giving time a break', Pondicherry provides its visitors calm, quiet and peaceful atmosphere. This is a place to spend time with yourselves and in many ways to find yourself again. The time just slows down at this seaside sleepy town and gives one a lot of opportunity to unwind. Pondicherry is not just a place, it is a state of mind. Puducherry, previously known as Pondicherry is one of the Union territories of India. Literally meaning - New Town in Tamil language, Pondicherry was a colony of the French colonial empire for about 300 years before it was transferred to Republic of India around 60 years ago. Still French remains one of the official languages of Pondicherry. A part of the city is based on French grid patterns, perpendicular streets and its villas and buildings have french architecture. Many French people are settled here, streets have french names and various french cultural organizations as well school thrive in the city. Having been to Pondicherry a few times before we had already experienced all of this before and our recent visit was just a relaxed trip in search of some peace. We decided to skip the traditional sight-seeing spots, settle at one place and spend some time together. In our hunt to zero down on the perfect peaceful place, we found many potential options but none lured us more than Le Pondy. We selected Le Pondy for our stay mainly because of its location – it is located on one of the best beaches in Pondicherry - The Paradise beach which makes it a bit far from the commercial town of Pondicherry. We rented a motorbike from Chennai and started early in the morning driving around 150 kms to reach Pondicherry. We also spent some time in the heritage town of Mahabalipuram on the way. Le Pondy resort is 12 kms from the White Town of Pondicherry. The last 2.5 km stretch of the approach road to the resort was very narrow and bumpy. We had to use Google navigation till the end to ensure we don’t lose our way through the meandering streets of villages. We were just wondering if we had made the right choice when we reached the Le Pondy and were left in awe. The first thing we saw was a circular area with a dome shaped structure in the centre. We thought we were at reception but it was just a receiving area. The hugeness of Le Pondy dawned on us when we were escorted in a golf cart to the reception. They greeted us with welcome drinks while the check-in formalities were done. We were then escorted to our rooms. The rooms in Le Pondy are huge. They have generously designed all rooms giving a sitout area, king size beds and ample space to move around. The bathrooms too are big enough with a dressing area. Le Pondy has 70 rooms which includes presidential pool villas, luxury pool villas, sea view rooms and lake view rooms. Each has its own charm and attraction with contemporary design, elegant wooden crafted furniture, ample space, adequate privacy and supreme comfort. They obviously provide needful items including toiletries, coffee maker and small refrigerator stuffed with snacks and drinks which are payable. Nestled in greenery all around and earthen colors of interiors give it a unique charm of living in nature with high end luxury. The design of the resort itself is uniquely crafted. The green expanses and landscaping of the gardens are perfectly in sync with the pyramid shaped husky rooftops. Just a walk here takes you to another world. Being in pondicherry and having been named Le Pondy, it ought to have a french taste to it. The iconic white pillars and arches do their job well of taking you to the colonial era. Handcrafted wooden furniture give a rich majestic feel to the lobby. Add to this the ever smiling staff and the attention they give you makes you feel so pampered as if you are a heir to a royal family. Food here takes you to another level. The multi cuisine restaurant, the poolside bar, a coffee shop and another bar overlooking the ocean ensures that you have a tough time choosing where to go for food. About the taste, lets just say whatever you order, you are going to love it. The ambience around the dining area is enhanced by a huge pool besides it. The crystal clear water of the pool is difficult to resist and the pyramid shaped rooftops supported by the iconic pillars keep the flavor of Le Pondy intact. The very end of Le Pondy opens up to its very own private beach - The Paradise Beach. The beach gives you all the solitude one can ask for. There was absolutely no one there whenever we visited it. Walking around 100 metres to the left takes you to a place which is often frequented by tourists. Paradise beach is one the most famous beach in Pondicherry and people usually come here through a boat from Chunnambar boat house. The beach is cut in half by the Chunnambar river flowing into the Bay of Bengal and paradise beach is on the edge of an estuary formed by the river. Hence there are only 2 ways of reaching this peaceful beach, by boat and by walking along the premises of Le Pondy. Since the boat service starts only at around 10 AM and stops by 5 PM, this beach is yours to enjoy for the remaining times. While we enjoyed the isolation and peace on Paradise beach, the wooden beach umbrellas, dilapidated shacks, jelly fishes and starfish made it a peculiar experience. The night transformed Le Pondy into a different magical world all together. The yellow lighting in lobby and chandeliers in common areas which we had not even noticed brightened up the place in a surreal way. The colorful fountains around the bridge that takes you to restaurant was simply magnificent. Ambience of Le Pondy radiated warmth and mystery at the same time. We were so mesmerized by the fusion of architectural and natural beauty in Le Pondy that we did not get time to explore its fitness and recreation areas as well as spa. We spent evenings and early mornings enjoying the isolation of Paradise beach and rest of the times in restaurant and pool. We never realized when time flew by and it was time to pack our bags again. But we have to give credit to the owners for creating such luxurious leisurely resort combining multiple elements of nature and history in their design and providing a world class service. We would definitely recommend Le Pondy to everyone visiting Pondicherry and would ourselves love to go back and lose a sense of time in this fairytale wonderland. PIN THIS IMAGE You can book Le Pondy from any of the famous hotel aggregators by clicking on any of the websites listed on this blog. Have you been to Le Pondy? How did you find it? Let us know your thoughts on Le Pondy, Pondicherry and how you found our blog in comments section below. Feel free to share or pin this blog. Note: All opinions expressed in this blog are our own and not influenced by Le Pondy #India #UnionTerritories #Pondicherry #BengaluruWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings #ChennaiWeekendOutings #Accommodation

Vijayawada, meaning ‘place of victory’, previously known as Bezawada, is located on the banks of river Krishna and is enveloped by Indrakiladri Hills to its west. Vijayawada today is one of the most important commercial cities of Andhra Pradesh and the only other major city in the reduced state of Andhra, the main being Visakhapatnam or Vizag. It is also a suburb to the newly developing capital of #AndhraPradesh, Amaravati. A quite modern city still preserving its ancient ruins, the city has great connectivity through rail, road and flights. Vijayawada is a veritable paradise for people to learn more about the region’s history and culture. While some renowned temples are expected in every major south Indian city, Vijayawada is also surrounded by numerous hills and with a grand river by its side, giving tourists many avenues to get good views. The thought of making Vijayawada our next trip had struck us since the time we shifted to Hyderabad. It took an interesting twist this summer when we were consumed by the idea of making it a motorbike trip. Vijayawada is 340 kilometres from our place and while one of us has done 500 kilometres on a bike in a day, the other hasn’t done more than 180 km! While covering this long-distance on a cruiser bike or Enfield is easier, very few attempt such distances on a Honda Dazzler (Read 'us'). The thought scared us but also lured us on taking this challenge. Other places to visit as a weekend outing from Hyderabad Hyderabad to Vijayawada road-trip: We planned our road trip to Vijayawada for the long weekend holiday of Good Friday in March 2016. Everything from hotels and places we would visit to the last bit of detail about where would we be taking breaks on the way was finalised. We had even begun working out, focusing on our backs, which go through most stress during such long bike trips. Our excitement came down crashing 2 days before the trip when the newspapers read - 'AP reels under intense heat'. Vijayawada recorded its highest temperature in 4 decades – 42.4 degree Celsius. Hyderabad itself was difficult to survive without air-conditioners at temperatures inching towards 40 degree Celsius mark. Prolonged exposure to such temperatures with heat waves can not only play havoc with our skins & minds, but it can also do major damage to our bike – a bike which we planned on running continuously for at least 8-9 hours with 5-6 short breaks in atmosphere temperature of 42 degree Celsius. The road is obviously much hotter than that. After lots of thinking, calculations and pondering over our fear, we decided that we needed to do this. There was no second thought now. Hyderabad to Vijayawada route map: Early on Friday morning around 5 AM we tied our bag to the rear side of the bike with a bungee rope and started our road trip to Vijayawada from Hyderabad. We had to start early to avoid the peak noon temperatures. The most optimistic plan was to reach by 1 PM. We had decided the best route to reach Vijayawada the previous night. We took the outer ring road service route from Gachibowli and drove towards the airport approach road. We decided to take frequent short breaks to prevent our back from aching. Our first break was after some 53 odd kilometres at Wonderla Amusement Park which was still under construction at that time. Clicking a few photographs and after quick stretching exercises we set off on the road again. Apart from a few speed breakers placed here and there the road was pretty smooth. We soon took an exit from the Outer ring road and took the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. Driving 30 kilometres more we halted on the highway near Ramoji Film city to savour hot breakfast. Filling our stomach we set out again. At around 8 AM and 128 kilometres, we reached Suryapet. We took half an hour halt here as our next stop was 120 kilometres from Suryapet at Kodad. This was the longest stretch planned in one go and we needed to be mentally and physically perfect before starting this. Another reason for deciding on this long stretch was there is no urban area post Suryapet towards Vijayawada. There are several villages and we were not sure if we would get a decent place post this. As we resumed our further journey, the sun was already up in the sky shining brightly and we started feeling the heat. Vijayawada seemed too far. Reaching Kodad was arduous and we were eager to jump out of our bikes. With no restaurant in sight, we stood under the shade of a large tree and sprinkled some water on our bike and waited for it to cool down a bit. We had no choice but to go on. After another 50-60 kilometres, we reached Nandigama where we had planned our last break and lunch. We were relieved to take another long break and sit on cushioned chairs at a local restaurant in a village. We raced towards Vijayawada from this last stop on the four-lane highway driving smoothly; no traffic no rough patches. We finally reached Berm Park resort (Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation - APTDC) on the bank of river Krishna in Vijayawada. It was a beautiful place with gardens, view of the Prakasham Barrage and Bhavani Island at a distance. We had booked our stay at Bhavani Island resort (also APTDC) which is located on the small island on the Krishna River. Berm park is from where you can onboard boats for Bhavani island. We parked our vehicle near a garden in berm park under tree shed giving our loyal chariot much needed rest. Bhavani Island, Vijayawada: A boat started from Berm Park to Bhavani Island every half an hour. Our boat was launched after waiting for some 10-15 minutes. Clicking kids playing in the water on the way was a joy as our boat ferried towards Bhavani Island. The entrance to Bhavani Island is huge with large wooden docks carved nicely. Bhavani Island has 2 types of rooms – air-conditioned rooms with river view river and treetop rooms without air-conditioning nestled amidst jungles. Though the soaring temperatures enticed us to book air-conditioned rooms, we didn’t want to miss out yet another experience of living in treetop rooms. The room was very basic and was supported on cemented structure giving a treehouse feel. Huge trees surrounded the room. The wooden feeling of the room gave a natural feel. Too much travelling and the heat took a toll on us and we had to take a shower followed by a deep sleep as soon as we lay on the bed. We woke up at 5 PM in the evening and took a walk across the Bhavani Island. The peace and calmness of the environment amazed us. We walked on the sand towards the adventure sports zone and were amazed to see the variety of adventure and water sport activities they had. The officials have also built a cute little lighthouse here. Watching the young college crowd who had come from the city just to enjoy water sports and clicking photographs, we didn’t know when time flew by. The golden sunset was a treat to the eyes as we enjoyed the panoramic view of the resplendent river and the city of Vijayawada. Bhavani Island is open for general public till 6:30 PM and after that, we had the whole place to us. We sat on the terrace restaurant appreciating the cool breeze from Krishna River, helping keep the temperature moderate. Chit-chatting we didn’t realise it was dinner time. We ordered food and continued with the conversation. After dinner, we went near the bank of Krishna river to click night photographs of the Prakasam barrage and the hills. Thankfully we had carried our tripod with us. We woke up early in the morning to catch the sunrise from Bhavani Island. As we walked towards the bank of the Krishna river we spotted a bench placed just adjacent to where the water sports were conducted a day before. This early in the morning, the place was very quiet and peaceful. Sitting on the bench we saw the sunrise from behind the mountains. We hadn’t planned on going for water sports as they were unnecessarily costly compared to what we have seen elsewhere. But the security guard tipped us to go and ask for Rs. 500 complimentary vouchers from the reception for the water sports. We did go to the reception and were excited to get it. Bhavani Island being government resort, we guess the staff doesn’t tell you upfront that you get these vouchers on booking a room and would keep every unused voucher for themselves and their families. It is good to know that there are honest people like the security guard. We went to the water sports area and opted for a paddling boat ride. The sight of the swan-shaped paddle boat was amusing. We paddled the boat deep inside the Krishna river towards Prakasam barrage clicking pictures. Our boat ride in the empty calm river in Vijayawada is something which we will never forget. Post the boat ride, we went back to our room, got fresh and checked out for our next destination. We crossed the Krishna river via transportation boat and soon we were in the parking lot of the Berm Park resort. We drove to our next place of stay in the main city area in Vijayawada. It was surprising to see one of the two metropolis of Andhra Pradesh not being as urban as we expected. A long tunnel through a hill right in the middle of the city was interesting to pass through. We reached our next hotel – Hotel Southern Grand at around 12 noon. It was important for us to relax and be ready for our long trip back planned for next morning i.e. Sunday morning. So we slept and woke up only at 4 PM to visit a couple of places we had shortlisted in Vijayawada. Undavalli Caves, Vijayawada: Our first destination was the Undavalli caves located on the other side of the Krishna river in Vijayawada. Undavalli caves is a multi-storeyed and monolithic structure located in the fresh and verdant surrounding of the hills in Vijayawada. The caves date back to the 4th and 5th century A.D. According to Wikipedia, Undavalli caves are an example of how many Buddhist artifacts and stupas in Andhra Pradesh were converted into Hindu temples and deities. One of the floors in Undavalli caves has a huge statue of Vishnu in a reclining posture, sculpted from a single stone. These caves left us with an imprint of a mixed heritage of Jain-Hindu-Buddhist architecture. Believed to have been carved around the time of 7th century A.D, there are also records of Buddhist monks using the caves as a resting house for themselves during some parts of the year when the weather got unfavourable. Located around 8 kilometres from the main city, Undavalli caves lie on the other side of the Krishna river in Guntur. Despite being the focal point of tourists visiting Vijayawada, we felt the place was pretty average with nothing much to see. Our experience was also spoilt by brash monkeys all around. The only solace was the journey to and from Undavalli Caves which was nice. Crossing Prakasam barrage made us realise how wide the river Krishna was. Prakasam barrage is a remarkably prominent traveller spot as it offers all-encompassing perspectives of the waterway from here. The barrage is a 1223.5 m long structure over the Krishna River, which associates Krishna and Guntur locale. Gandhi Stupa, Vijayawada: After clicking some great pictures on Prakasam barrage, we headed to our last destination of the evening – Gandhi Stupa. The location of this place was intriguing as GPS pointed to the middle of the city near Vijayawada railway station and it was supposed to be on a hill. After asking a few directions we finally found the gate to the hill which had an entry ticket. Thankfully, one can take their vehicle right to the top of the hill as proper roads are constructed. This place also supposedly has a planetarium which was not operational and an operational toy train. We were delighted to board the toy train after reaching Gandhi Stupa as it was a unique experience to go around the hill on a train and get a 360-degree view of the entire Vijayawada city. We spent the entire evening at Gandhi Stupa watching the sun go down and the city light up. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped near Lenin road where we saw a street filled with book shops. Though the shops sold mainly educational books, we managed to find a few shops with novels and got a very good deal with 4 novels for Rs. 200! We started our journey from Vijaywada to Hyderabad at 5 AM the next day. It was still dark and without much traffic, we quickly exited the city. We took timely breaks, sometimes to eat, sometimes to click and sometimes to simply rest under the shade. The sun was equally pitiless and we had to take a number of breaks to give ourselves and our bike some cooling time. It seemed our journey back was quicker as we reached the outer ring road of Hyderabad before 12 noon. We managed to cover around 290 kilometres in 7 hours with multiple breaks. We were just 50 kilometres away from our home and felt at ease. But we were mistaken. Driving for around 15 hours on deserted highways for the past 2 days had made us forget what city traffic could be. Unbelievably, it took us 2 hours which felt like forever to cover the last stretch of 50 kilometres and reach home. Our realisations from our last month’s trip to Goa just got stronger. Nonetheless, we felt satisfied that more or less everything in our Vijayawada road-trip went as per our plans. We had stretched our physical limitations completing a gruelling journey against everyone and everything including the weather department’s advice and family's concern. We felt a sense of pride and relief. Not to forget we felt encouraged to reach shores on a bike from Hyderabad. The beach is just 100 kilometres away from Vijayawada and now seems doable. Hope to write another tale of challenge, struggle and victory soon. Have you been to Vijayawada? How did you find the city? Are there any other interesting places in Vijayawada you feel we might have missed? Do let us know in the comment section below. Read about other destinations which can be good weekend outings from Hyderabad, India. Some of these also lie on the same river Krishna. #India #AndhraPradesh #Hyderabadweekendoutings #Chennaiweekendoutings