Avani Hills/betta

Avani betta

At a distance of 30 km from Kolar and 90 km from Bangalore City ,Avani is a small village in Kolar district of Karnataka. It is one of top historical places to visit as part of your Bangalore trip and among the popular sightseeing spots around Bangalore. It is also a popular location for Trekking.

  • Place: Avani betta, Avani Hills, Kolar, Karnataka
  • Distance: 90km from Bangalore
  • Type: Trekking, historical temple
  • Trek Difficulty: Easy to moderate
  • Trek Lenght: 2 kilometre
  • Trek Duration: 1 hour one way

The village of Avani received a prominent place mainly due to the legends associated with it. As per the local belief, sage Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana was residing here during the period of Ramayana.According to legends, the famous sage Valmiki resided in the village of Avani and gave shelter to Lady Sita during her exile from Ayodhya. Lady Sita, who was pregnant at that time, resided in the ashram of sage Valmiki. In due course of time her twin sons Luv and Kush were born there. It is in Avani where the famous battle took place between Lord Rama and his sons Luv and Kush.

One of the main attractions of Avani is the Sita-Parvati temple that is situated on top of the hill. It’s about an hour trek from the base to the top of the hill and the views from the top are breathtaking.

We visited this place in the month of September ,and decided to leave from Bangalore in the afternoon to avoid the harsh rays of sun and also to witness the sunset from the top of the hill.We were accompanied by kids hence carried ample of eatables and plenty of water,which is highly recommended as the place does not have any eatery/shops in the vicinity.One must carry enough water .Trail is easy to moderate so kids can visit the place .It is a must visit for all Bangloreans , Trekk lovers and who wants to explore the culture of India.

Thankyou

The City of Destiny

Vizag

Vishakhapatnam, also called Vizag is a city and port, of northeastern Andhra Pradesh state. Vishakhapatnam is  also referred to as, ‘Goa of the East Coast’, ‘The City of Destiny’, and ‘Jewel of the East Coast’. Vishakhapatnam has a rich history and was part of the Kalinga Empire.It was an ancient Port city which had trade relations with the Middle East and Rome.

It is the headquarter of the Eastern command of the Indian Navy, the largest city in Andhra Pradesh and has Indian’s most modern shipyard.

Submarine measuem
Rushikonda Beach

Interesting facts:

  1. Asia’s first submarine museum opened here, One of it’s kind. A real Submarine which is retired from services, INS Kursura, stands high right beside the Beach road, acting as a link between the curiosity of general public and depths of Indian Navy.
  2. It is a major bases in Vishakhapatnam which is also its headquarters and is responsible for states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  3. The land of Lord Narsimha.
  4. Third largest city in Eastern Coastal India.
  5. India’s first Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant was constructed here.
  6. Manganese ,iron ore and oilseeds are exported at Visakhapatnam, and the city has an oil refinery, a steel plant, and industrial complexes for the production of petrochemicals, fertilizer, sugar, and jute.
  7. Visakhapatnam Port is the fifth-busiest cargo port in India. The city is a major tourist destination and is particularly known for its beaches, ancient Buddhist sites, and the natural beauty of the surrounding Eastern Ghats.
  8. It is Famous for Fishing industry, road–rail connectivity, many heavy industries like Hindustan Petroleum, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Hindustan Shipyard, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, National Thermal Power, Bharat Heavy Electricals Naval Science and Technological Laboratory and Naval Dockyard .
  9. The deepest seaport of India lies in Vizag. The Gangavaram Port .
  10. The first ship to be constructed fully in India after independence was built at the Scindia Shipyard and named Jal Usha. It was launched in 1948 by Jawahar lal Nehru.

Places to visit:

  1. Yarada Beach.
  2. Katiki Waterfalls.
  3. Kailasagiri.
  4. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park.
  5. Araku Valley.
  6. VUDA Park.
  7. Borra Caves.
  8. INS Kurusura Submarine Museum.
  9. Rushikonda Beach.
  10. Rama Krishna Beach.
  11. Dolphin’s Nose.
Bora caves
Bora Caves
Ramakrishna Beach
Araku valley
Fun at the beach

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Venice of the East

Allepy(Alappuzha)

Alleppey is the heaven for the nature lovers who want to soak in the greenery and amazing beauty of backwaters.Alappuzha, famous for its boat races, beaches, marine products and coir industry, is a world renowned backwater tourist destination of India.  Alappuzha backwaters and Alappuzha beach are the must-see tourist attractions in the district. Also well-known as the ‘Venice of the East‘.The never-ending panorama of lush green paddy fields, towering coconut trees, shimmering water, and long canals around Alappuzha make it a delightful destination.

Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea . It is the administrative headquarters of the Alappuzha district and the 6th largest city in Kerala. Along with Kumarakom, Alappuzha is among the most famous destination of Kerala Backwaters. A houseboat cruise in these backwaters is a delightful experience.It is a magnificent destination in Kerala with a mix of Backwaters and Beach.The backwaters in the past were used for business as a mode of transportation, fishing, and agriculture and with the passage of time emerged as a tourism hotspot.

The backwaters are so popular that they are listed among ’10 paradises on the world’ by National Geographic Traveler magazine.Among all the places which have backwaters, Alleppey and Kumarakom are the most preferred choice for backwaters experience. The beaches look their best early November through to March as well, so look out for some spectacular sunsets.
Sultry summers set in by April to the end of May with fairly high outdoor temperatures.
Monsoons arrive by the first week of June right through to the end of August. Cool temperatures with overcast skies and green all around make this a visit like none other.

Allepy Backwaters

Few Interesting facts:

Kathakali folk dance
Boat racing
  • Cruising the Alleppey backwaters is one of the most popular ways to explore Kerala, a southern state in India.
  • Another definitive feature of Alappuzha tourism is the classic dance form of Kathakali, a collaboration of dance, drama, story-telling and painting all with the make-up and animated movements.
  • Alappuzha is also the hub of Coir manufacturing which is made of the coconut husk.
  • Fish and rice are the staple food of the whole state. Alleppey fish curry, Crispy Banana Chips are few more.
  • Boat races held in these backwaters are world renowned . Tourists from around the world come to Alleppey to view this majestic view.
Allepy Backwaters
Coir Handicrafts

Visiting Allepy was one of the most astonishing experience I have ever had ,witnessing the splendid natural beauty of the Backwaters, surrounded by coconut trees and never-ending panorama of lush green paddy fields, shimmering water, and long canals around Alappuzha make it a delightful destination. It is a must visit place for all the travellers.It also offers you the most authentic mouth watering Malyali cuisine and you can bring along beautifully crafted Coir handicrafts.

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        God’s own Country

Wayanad

Wayanad is unique as it is situated in an elevated picturesque mountainous plateau in the Western Ghats, known as ‘The Land of Paddy Fields‘ by the native tribes of this region, Wayanad lies in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 2100m. This is the only district of Kerala that borders both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The most attractive feature of Wayanad is the forests, which are as old as 3,000 years.Wayanad is the perfect definition of an adventurer’s paradise.

Wayanad district is bordered by Karnataka (Kodagu and Mysore districts) to the north and north-east, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris district) to the south-east, Malappuram to the south, Kozhikode to the south-west and Kannur to the north-west.

Kerala’s least populous district, Wayanad offers the most spectacular view  with misty mountains, splendid forests, pristine rivers, and cascading waterfalls, Wayanad is ‘the’ hill station  in South India.Wayanad, the green paradise is nestled among the mountains , forming the greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing, this land is filled with history and culture. Located at a distance of 76 kmfrom  the sea shores of Kozhikode, this hill station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife. Wayanad wildlife sanctuary is contiguous to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandhipur in Karnataka, thus forming a vast land mass for the wild life to move about in their most natural abode.Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Which has been established with the specific objective of conservating the biological heritage of the region , the sanctuary is very rich in fauna and flora.

Interesting Facts :

  • Lakkidi, Vythiri and Meppadi are the high rainfall areas in Wayanad. High altitude regions experience severe cold .The misty environment of Wayanad offer a wide range of trekking opportunities, plantation visits and wildlife tours.
  • Wayanad district has the largest population of Adivasi in Kerala.
  •  Due to its pleasant climate and picturesque views, Wayanad is often referred to as the Ooty of Kerala
  • Wayanad has no Railway line.

Tourist Destination :

  • Edakkal Caves
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Sri Mahaganapathy Temple at Thiruvangoo
  • Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Jain Temple at Sultan Bathery
  • Karappuzha Dam
  • Kuruva Islands
  • Soochippara Waterfalls

Shopping in Wayanad:

Shop for Spices, coffee, pepper, honey, tea, bamboo products, ivory craft and coconut shell craft.

My stay in Wayanad was like visiting a fairy world amidst verdant and Misty Surroundings .We went from Bangalore ,it takes around  6-7 hours to cover the distance,  most of the path passes through hilly terrain.The journey from Bangalore to Wayanad is easy and as you enter kerela you can witness  the lush green blessing of nature. It is one of the most memorable  road trips I had .We booked two properties  , Chateau woods resort   and Vythri village resort ,Both were located at  harmonious and lush  green surroundings ,offering   the splendid views of forest and the tea plantations,which can refresh your soul from deep within.

Chateau woods

Cliff Cottage Chateau woods
Chateau woods
View from Chateau woods
Vythri village resort Wayanad
Vythri village resort

There is something to satisfy the wanderlust of every adventurer. It is a place you need to add to your travel bucket list today.

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Hidden gem near Bengaluru

Mandargiri hills

Located at the foothills of Mandaragiri betta(hills) .It is nearly 65kms from Bengaluru and is ideal for a day trip,a family picnic or an excursion.Mandaragiri hills also famously known as Basadi Betta, which falls under Tumkur district of Karnataka in India. Its short distance makes Mandargiri hills one of the most convenient weekend destination for a quick one-day road trip from Bangalore as it takes less than two hours to reach this Jain heritage center.

Jain Temple

Attractions:

  1. The extensively beautiful Pinchi-shaped Guru Mandir (Jain temple) at the foothills of Mandargiri Hills, designed with bright green & blue peacock feather like resemblance.This temple shaped in the shape of pinchi using the texture of peacock feather is one of its kind and is certified  as the “Unique Jain temple structure”.The height of this temple is 81 feet and covers the area of 2400square ft.
  2. The Chandranatha Thirthankara statue next to the Guru Mandir.
  3. The ancient Digamber Jain Temple at the top of Mandargiri Hills.
  4. A picturesque view of the lake behind the hills,surrounded by lush green landscape.
  5. Lake Mydala.
Lake Mydala

So we planned our trip in the month of October ,which was an ideal time to explore outdoor hidden gems in and around Bangalore ,as the weather is pleasent and the sun is not too Harsh during that phase of the year .

We started from Bangalore at 12 pm ,as we were accompanied by kids,i preffered to pack Home cooked food and Grabbed a good amount of drinking water .we took a halt in between had our lunch in the car ,and got refueled for the journey .We reached our destination at around 2 pm. We visited the beautiful Temple first .

Reaching the top of Mandargiri hills would require you to climb roughly 450 steps which took us approx. 20 minutes. Not recommended for old age people or people suffering from knee problems. Sunset from Mandaragiri hills is a spectacular sight and should be seen and the last.

Best time to vist this place is in the early morning or evening time to see the beautiful view of Sunset & Sunrise .

The carved out stairs at Mandargiri Hills

Though the Climb was not so easy but worth the splendid view it offers .kids were super excited and were enjoying the mini trek .Once we were on topof the Hill we could feel the pure and quaint atmosphere surrounded by lake and the green landscape ,One can easily spend a day here relaxing in the lap of nature .You can enjoy the cool breeze at the top of the hill,a must visit place for every benglurian.

Serene landscape

Note: No restaurants nearby , only a tea shop at the vicinity ,So plan accordingly.No ticket charges for the place.Carry plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Thankyou

Ooty

Ooty is a town and hill station in the Indian state of Tamilnadu The name “Ooty” is short for Ootacamund (officially Udhagamandalam). Ooty is located in the Nilgiris, or Blue Mountains, a mountain district. Ooty stands at about 7,500 feet above sea level.

The town of Ooty is tucked in the heart of the Nilgiris, making it a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Owing to its perfect geographical location on the hills, it has remained an all-time favorite retreat for travelers.The lush green landscape covered with tea estates, valleys, and forested lands on one hand and the classic vibes of the good old days make this hill station the perfect place to escape. The expansive greenery, the pleasant weather, and the endless adventure options are what Ooty is famous for.The quaint and quiet hill station is one of the most popular mountain destinations in South India. Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district, with Doddabetta as the highest point. It is located 86 km from Coimbatore and 128 km from Mysore.Ooty enjoys a pleasant weather all through the year and is also the most popular destination in South India.

Ooty pine forest

Few interesting facts:

  1. When the East India Company formed the Madras Presidency, Ooty served as its summer capital. The officers of the company would retire to this hill-station to evade the blazing summer of south India.
  2. Ooty has a small-scale industry based on oil extracted from eucalyptus trees. These huge timbers grow in abundance across the Nilgiri Mountains.
  3. The Dodabetta Peak, about 10 kilometres from Ooty, is the highest peak of south India at 2,623 metres from the sea level.
  4. The famous Botanical Garden of Ooty has a preserved fossil of a tree-trunk which is approximately 20 million years old.
  5. The Ooty Lake is actually an artificial lake. It is one of the very few artificial lakes of India situated at an altitude of 2,000 metres or above.
  6. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is UNESCO world heritage site and has one of the last few working steam engines in the world: 
  7. Nilgiri Mountain Railway mountain route has  16 tunnels,  250 bridges, 205 sharp curves and extraordinary natural scenery of the Nilgiri Hills visible all along the way.
  8. Due to this amazing experience with nature UNESCO announced this in World Heritage List as Mountain Railways in India in 2008.
  9. Home of the largest squirrel (The Malabar squirrel), the tallest wild cattle (The Indian Bison), Nilgiri thar and a huge host of other Flora and fauna Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
  10. No plastic Zone ,Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in the field of banning single-use plastic altogether.This preserves the beauty and the biosphere of the place.

Most popular tourist places:

Pykara falls
  1. Ooty Lake
  2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
  3. Pykara Lake.
  4. Pykara Falls.
  5. Doddabetta Peak.
  6. Avalanche Lake.
  7. Mudumalai National Park.
  8. Government Rose Garden.
  9. Tea plantation,tea factory , Chocolate factory.
Tea estate
Nilgiri tea

I recently visited the place and to my surprise found it to be the cleanest and greenest Hill station I have ever seen ,it lured me by its calm and quaint atmosphere.

We started early morning from Bangalore around 6 am and reached Ooty by 3 pm noon.The road was good and Quiet scenic.The route which we took was: Bangalore – Mandya – Mysore – Gundlupet – Bandipur – Mudhumalai – Masinagudi – Ooty.

Crossing The National park was a cherry on my Cake.We had a chance to discover the nature in depth.Though we could not spot a Tiger but were lucky enough to see the group of deer and fawns,Elephants and Peacocks.Once we crossed the National park then was the turn to climb 36 Hairpin Bends,the curvy road to Ooty.As we were crossing the Bends the ambience was getting more cleaner and brighter .Once you are on the Hills you can feel the magical spell it offers.

Things to Shop:

  1. Ooty’s famous Tea .
  2. Do not forget to buy the home made Ooty Chocolates with ample choices.
  3. Mouth melting Ooty cookies known as Varkey.
  4. Spices
  5. Eucalyptus Oil
Ooty Chocolates
View from Sinclair Retreat Ooty
Pine Forest

Thankyou

A perfect weekend Gateway From Delhi.

Nanital

Nainital, the well known Hill station of Uttarakhand known for its panoramic view, beautiful lake and wonderful atmosphere. Nainital is located in the Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand. It shines like glazing beauty in the Himalayan mountains because of the many lakes reflecting the sunlight. Nainital is a paradise for nature lovers.Set amidst the towering peaks of the Kumaon Hills, the lake resort of Nainital has a lot to offer. From boating to  picnicks on the hills to exploring Jim Corbett, Nainital has all that you could hope for in a hill station.

Nani Lake

Located at an altitude of 1,938mts above sea level, Nainital derives its name from Naini Lake. Nainital is located in the Kumaon region and is popularly known as the Lake District of India. is set in two parts, Tallital and Mallital, with the lake separating them. Tallital is the southern side of the lake, while Mallital consists of the northern upper reaches.

Nainital is a famous tourist destination of India, attracting hundreds of both domestic and foreign tourists every year.  Some of the important places in the district of Nainital are Haldwani, , Ramnagar, Bhowali , Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal.

Few Interesting facts:

  1. It is believed that the Naini Lake is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths or The most popular is based on the story of the death of the goddess Sati. The goddess Shakti is worshiped at the Naina Devi Temple, known by locals as Naini Mata Temple on the north shore of the present-day lake.
  2. The golf course in Nainital dates back to the year 1926. The 18-hole golf course happens to be among the oldest ones in the country. However, the golf course was made available for public use from the year 1994.
  3. It was a British sugar merchant by the name of P. Barron who discovered Nainital Lake in 1839.
  4. The  Naukuchia Tal has nine corners. It is believed that anyone who can see all the corners at once will disappear.
  5. Due to the lake on its northern end, it rains almost every afternoon in Nainital. It sounds funny but it’s true.

If you are planning to visit  Nainital, the best time to visit there is   between May to July.

Naukuchiyatal

Eco Cave Garden

Eco Cave Gardens is a network of inter-connected natural underground caves and hanging gardens. Located  near Sukhtal, the gardens offer an enthralling journey of narrow winding roads and weathered caves. The site has an enchanting garden with musical fountains. A stroll across the Garden stretch and passing through the underground cave definitely makes for an exciting family or friends hangout. It is a great place for Children with lots of fun activities to be enjoyed.

I went to this place a long back but can still feel the enchanting beauty of this Lake District and would definitely like to witness it again. Nanital is a best place to get rejuvenated and a destination away from the hustle bustle . From Delhi it is a 7 to 8 hours road trip , and perfect weekend Gateway for a family .

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Uttrakhand

Dehradun

IMA Dehradun

Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand and is the most preferred destination of the Indians. It is a beautiful valley that is popular for its adventure, spiritualism and the beautiful nature that the place is blessed with.

Beautiful view of the valley from the Hills of Mussoorie.

It was Founded by Sikh Guru Ram Rai ji, who came to Dehradun in 1676 and stayed in the  the religious camp established by him: a “dera”, or camp, in the”Doon ” valley  and the place got its name ‘ Dehradun ‘in which Dehra means Dera and Doon means Valley.

Doon School

Dehradun is the educational hub of India and is home to some of the very popular schools and colleges. Doon School, Welham Girls School, Rashtriya Indian Military College and the Forest Research Institute are some of the famous educational institutes prevalent in the region.

Talking about the weather, that Doon people  boast about, it can literally rain any moment. And you can see one side of the road wet with the shower and
the other one dry, You would never find it too hot here. Winters would be amazing, chilly winds, long drives, and all that calmness. The nights maybe chilly, but then winter mornings here are awesome, the sun would shine bright. One can easily layback in their verandah enjoy the food or the evening tea . In summers, well the temperature would never go above 30-35 deg.

Paonta Sahib ,situated in Himachal Pradesh is an hour drive from the City.

Mussorie and Dhanaulti Sahastradhara, buddha temple or rishikesh and haridwar, there are a lot of places to  explore which are just an hour’s drive from the city, like Paonta sahib (The birthplace of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, the eldest son of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.)

It is all really close to the nature and very less commercialized.You can visit Shhastradhara, which is a great scenic spot, Tapkeshwar temple of Lord Shiva, Santaula devi temple

Forest Research Institute

Some interesting facts:

  • Dehradun is the capital city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The city is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and known for its beautiful landscape.
  • The Guru of Kauravas and Pandavas and Dronacharya, has meditated and lived here for a long period, well it’s a belief.
  • Is the Litchi capital of India.The city and its surrounding areas offer just about the right climate for bumper Litchi crops. You may also find some pristine tea gardens across the Doon valley.
  • DOON SCHOOL which is rated among the best school in India, and is almost 75+years old.
  • Forest Research Institute,the premier institute in the field of forestry is located there and is also a place where you can spend a day with friends or family clicking beautiful memories.
  • IMA (Indian Military Academy) is the place where every year many Indian Army cadets come for their initial training of developing a career as Indian Army soldiers. They groom men really well.
  • Dehradun is known for special variety of Basmati rice and Lychees.Dehradun is covered with Lychee trees. 

Best place for primary & higher education in india…

1-Indian Military academy.

2-ONGC headquarter.

3-Survey Of india head quarter.

4-Indias famous Forest research Institute.

5-Wadia Himalayan bhuvigyan kendra.

6- University of Petrolium & Energy studies.

7-DRDO,Ordinance factory..

8-Beautiful Hill mussourie & ITBP training centre mussourie.

Writing all this makes me nostalgic! A lot to say about this city…. which cannot be explained in words…..As it is my Maternal home ,we used to visit Dehradun every year in our winter vacations and stayed for a whole lot of days ,use to enjoy the calmness of the City , the Bun samosa ,spicy Tibetan noodles,the lucious litchies and the delicacies prepared by my Grandma and how can I forget the special Rusks of Dehradun the Sunrise Rusks i can still feel the aroma of those freshly baked Rusks .Those were the good old days …

Thankyou

      The City of Ruins..

Hampi

Stone Charriot Vittala Temple

Boulders, Stones,Temples and the age old Ruins are what describes Hampi the best. But these stones have a meaning, With ruins dating back to the Middle Ages, impressive landscapes, hills of boulders, historical carvings and of course incredible temples. Hampi is not just another historical village, Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site in karnatka and a must visit on your trip to India.
Hampi is split into two sides, one is the ruin/ heritage side and other is the hippie side of Hampi (across the Tungabhadra river).

The temple town of Hampi sits on the site where one of the richest and biggest cities on the planet once stood, with the ruins of the old city protected as a World Heritage Site. During summer months, Hampi can get blazing hot and marks 40 degree C.. On the other hand, during the rainy season, some parts can get flooded. The best time for a visit is from October to February

Hampi’s breathtaking scenery is a magical setting for the temples and palaces of the Vijayanagara empire. The boulders started to form 2.5 billion years ago from a massive piece of earth’s crust.

Elephant Stable

The Elephant Stable in Hampi is an impressive structure that was used to provide shelter to the royal elephants of the Vijayanagara Empire in 14th Century.It was one of the few buildings that were not completely destroyed,And still retains most of its original structure.

Among the most beautiful ruins of Hampi are the pushkarnis, ancient water tanks. Like many Hindu temples in India, Hampi’s majestic temples have accompanying stepped tanks or basins used for religious and ceremonial purposes. 

Badavilinga Temple is a wonderful temple in Hampi dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Facts:

Narasimha Temple Statue
  • The temples of Hampi, sculptures and monuments, attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship.
  •  It is 353 km from Bangalore, and 13 km from Hospet. It is located 467 m above sea level. Tungabhadra River flows through Hampi. It has a tropical climate with hot summers (April-June), and cool winters (October-February).
  • Two brothers, Harihar and Bukka, founded it in 1336.
  • Vijaynagar Empire flourished, as it controlled both cotton and spice trade of southern India. 
  • Narasimha Statue is carved from a single block of stone!
  • Hippie Island is situated across Tungabhadra river in Hampi. The best way to reach Hippie Island is to cross the Tungabhadra river by boat (5 minutes ride) near the Virupaksha temple in Hampi.

We spent Two days strolling around boulders, temples, and markets of Hampi,learning a lot  about the rich Heritage of the Vijayanagar Empire . The age old  Magnificent architecture which still stands tall and the musical pillars that still expels the melodious sound tells us about the extravagant and the farsighted people of that Dynasty.

It is one of the must visit place in India.

Thankyou

Mussoorie

Being at an average altitude of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. Splendid snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south. The highest point is Lal Tibba with a height of over 2,290 metres (7,500 ft).Mussorie also has the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, the premier training institute for officers of the Indian Administrative Service (I.A.S) and other civil services.Mussoorie is situated in the district Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand. Around 35 kilometers away from the district. The proud Himalayas stand on either side of the town, offering spectacular views.

The famed author, resides in Mussoorie. Every Saturday, the man visits the Cambridge Book Depot on the Mall road.

Things to do :

So start your day with a long stroll in the market of mussorrie filled with varied handicrafts and the tibetan retreats,where you can fill your bags with lots and lots of goodies ,and if you are lucky you may also get a chance to meet one of the most renowned Indian authors, Ruskin Bond, wandering in the streets. My kids are a big fan of Ruskin Bond and wanted to meet him personally ,but had to return back, only with few of his marvels that we purchased from the famous Cambridge book depot.

Kalsang Mussoorie

Do not forget to visit The Kalsang restaurant to enjoy authentic Tibetian and chinese Dimsums.

Some interesting facts:

  • The name of Mussoorie derives from the Mansur shrub, common in the Himalayan foothills.
  • When Dalai Lama came to India Mussoorie became his first home after his escape from Tibet.
  • The people who live here are mostly Garhwalis ,language spoken here is Garhwali and Hindi.
  • Mussoorie is the favorite tourist place for Nehru family and they visit Mussoorie quite frequently and used to stay in Savoy hotel.

Famous Tourist spot:

  1. Landour
  2. Lal tibba
  3. Mall road
  4. Kempty falls
  5. Gun Hill
Kempty falls

The best time to visit Mussoorie is during summers as it offers an excellent respite from the scorching summer heat. The months of April, May and June witness the peak season owing to the pleasant climate while those looking forward to see snowfall should visit Mussoorie during winters.Avoid visiting in monsoons as The monsoons may deter your sightseeing plans.

Thankyou