Category: Trips and Travel

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Shimla

The Queen of Hills

Shimla is one of the most popular Hill stations in northern India. Situated at an altitude of 2,276 meters,Fondly known as the ‘Queen of Hills’, Shimla is surrounded by the majestic snow-capped Himalayan mountains, picturesque green valleys and spectacular structures from the colonial era. It used to be the summer capital of British India with a well-planned architecture.This capital city of Himachal Pradesh is famous for The Mall, ridge, and toy train.The History of Shimla dates back to the year 1819. Before that Shimla was under the rule of the Gurkhas. It was after the Gurkha War that the British soldiers founded a dense forest near the temple of Goddess Shyamala and gave it the name Shimla.

Jakhoo Temple
Town Hall

Important Facts:

  1. Unknown to many, Shimla is settled on the top of seven hills. These beautiful hills include Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Observatory Hill, Bantony Hill, Jakhu Hill, Inverarm Hill and Elysium Hill. The highest peak in Shimla is the towering Jakhu Hill, which is also the location of the famous Jakhu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
  2. World’s tallest statue at 8,500 ft above sea level Situated on the Jakhu Hill, a 108 feet high Lord Hanuman statue is World’s tallest statue.
  3. Shimla Has The Only Natural Ice Skating Rink In South Asia.
  4. Shimla Hosts The MTB Himalaya, The Biggest Mountain Biking Race In South East Asia.
  5. Established in 1859 by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, Bishop Cotton School is one of the oldest boarding schools in Asia. The school has excellent education system and as a result it has produced many famous army officers, ambassadors, judges, ministers, politicians and actors.
  6. Kalka–Shimla railway – A World Heritage Site.The Kalka-Shimla Railway line was constructed between Kalka and Shimla in 1903. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, this line has 919 bends, over 850 bridges and 102 tunnels. The best way to visit Shimla is via the “Toy Train” which runs on this track and adds more glory to this beautiful journey.
  7. Shimla is birth place of many famous actor and actress like Anupam kher , Kangna Ranaut, Preity Zinta
  8. Shimla is home to the oldest post office in Northern India. The General Post Office in Shimla was constructed in 1882.
  9. Horticulture is one of the most flourishing industries in Himachal Pradesh
  10. Take an excursion from Shimla to enjoy the apple and apricot orchards that are becoming one of the most famous attractions of Himachal Pradesh. So, take orchards tours of Himachal Pradesh to enjoy the most surprising package of Shimla tourism.
  11. Shimla also stocks up wooden Handicrafts.you can find all kind of wooden crafts in Lakkar Bazar .The wooden toys, walking sticks and Tibetan carpet are very famous. Located near the Ridge, this market place is daily visited by thousands of people, either locals or the travelers.

Few unexplored gems in Shimla:

  1. Sandhu: Sandhu is a Village in Theog Tehsil in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh State, India .It is located 21 KM towards East from District head quarters Shimla.Beauty of the place is indescribable and rich in tranquility ,a must visit place for Trekkers.
Sandhu Theog

2. Mashada Theog:Mashada, is an unexplored jungle spot in Theog Himachal Pradesh, 40 km from the capital Shimla.

3.Mashobra::Mashobra is a little over 12 km away from Shimla, that is, almost half an hour’s drive on a good day in the hill town. With an average elevation of 7,041 feet, Mashobra has a decent mountainous terrain which is ideal for an offbeat family getaway.

Mashobra

As you take a walk amidst nature in Shimla town, you will feel a freshness in the air around. You will be enchanted by the chirping birds and the natural melody around. You will feel inspired by the native hill culture and the love with which the residents of this town will greet you.

Shimla being my Birthplace and after spending decades in the place I can not describe it’s Charismatic beauty in few sentences ,one must visit this place to witness it’s splendid charm.

Loveena Icecream
View from my Balcony

Thankyou

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Hill Stations of India

Let’s Gather some facts about the places located at the higher elevation.

A Hill station is a village or a town high up in the hills,mostly located at the higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley.Mostly Hill stations are at an altitude of approximately 1000 metre to 3000 metres.The climate is usually cold and the hill stations have a low temperature.Visiting a hill station in the summers is the best getaway to beat the scorching heat of the city you live in. In addition to that, the pleasant weather and temperature are suitable for meditation and health curing activities. India is a hot country with very high temperatures during April, May, and June. A short trip to a hill station every summer is exciting and quite alluring. Everybody wants to escape the blistering heat to refresh and rejuvenate. It is a great escape for people from the blazing heat of Summers. Majority of the highest hill stations are located in India, Asia. They are the most popular ones in the world with thousands of foreign tourists flocking to witness the beauty of Hills .

Let’s explore few of the India’s most beautiful and highest hill stations.

Leh
  • Situated at an altitude of 3,505 metres, amidst the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, Leh, the headquarters of the Ladakh region in Kashmir is the highest hill station in India.
  • Doodhpathri lies in a bowl shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2,730 m above sea level. The natural meadows, which are covered with snow in winter, allow the growth of wild flowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and butter cups during spring and summer.
  • Gulmarg is very famous for its skiing scenes in India. This town is located on the Pir Panjal Range, which is a part of the western Himalayas at an altitude of 2,650 metres.
  • Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a popular hill-station among Indian tourists. Situated at the height of 2276m, Shimla was the summer capital of British India. Shimla still retains its old-world charm with beautiful colonial architecture, pedestrian-friendly Mall Road and the ridge queued up with multiple shops, cafes and restaurants.
  • Udhagamandalam ( Ooty) -located an an altitude of 2240m , is situated in Tamil Nadu’s famous Nilgiri Hills. Originally known as Ootacamund, Ooty literally means, ‘a house in the mountains’One of the most visited hill stations in South India, It has been a popular tourist  destination. The Ooty Lake, Nilgiri Mountain Railways, Fern Hill Garden, Pine forests, and the Pykara falls make up the most loved sights in this town.
  • Nainital is a hill town located in Uttrakhand with an elevation of 2084 m . One of the most famous hill stations in India, Nainital is known widely for its stunning lakes and hill tops which provide a view of the valleys. The three summer months of May to July are the peak season at Nainital because while the rest of the country burns with the summer heat, this town gets almost perfectly favorable temperatures and weather conditions.
  • Located in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh, and an altitude of 2050 m Manali offers adventure lovers with River rafting, skiing, trekking, paragliding, rock-climbing.
  • Small city in West Bengal, Darjeeling located at an elevation of 2042 m has emerged as one of the most visited hill stations in the country. The population of Tibetan monks in Darjeeling somehow makes it a very peaceful place to be in.The beautiful views of Mount Kanchenjunga are truly breath-taking. Also, known as ‘the Queen of the Hills’, Darjeeling provides visitors with a number of places to visit and events to experience. The Buddhist Monasteries, Tiger Hill, Observatory Hill, and famous Darjeeling Toy Train are among the must-see sights in this city.
  • Mussoorie spreads across at a height of 2,000 m above sea level.Home to numerous trekking trails, Mussoorie would be a perfect destination if you are planning for an ideal summer or winter trip in Uttarakhand.
  • Known for its evergreen tea plantation, the hills of Munnar stands at an elevation of 1532 m with their rolling beauty and charm can cast a magical spell on the visitors! While most of the hills are adorned with tea plantations, some are enchanted by mesmerising waterfalls, lush vegetation and lot more.

Few Shots from my Camera:

The Ridge Shimla
Shimla
Mussoorie
Pykara falls Ooty
A view from Sinclair Retreat Ooty

Travelling to a Hill station that offers serene and lush green surroundings ,a calm and peaceful environment ,misty landscapes usually takes away all our stress and rejuvenates us while landing us to a fairyworld .

Thankyou

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The Land of Coffee

Chikamanglur

Mullayanagiri peak

Chikmagalur or Chikkamagaluru is a district in the state of Karnataka,located on the foothills of the Mullayanagiri peak . The mountains in Chikmagalur which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Mullayanagiri, which is the highest peak in Karnataka is located in this district. It attracts tourists from around the state due to its pleasent weather. Wildlife enthusiasts would be interested in the Kudremukh National Park and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary present in this district. 

  • Country.         : India
  • State                : Karnataka
  • Population.     : 1,18,401
  • Literacy rate.  : 79.25%
  • Highest elevation:. 1926 metres above sea level
  • Shopping Items : Coffee,Spices,Natural juices.

Chickmagalur district was called Kadur district till 1947.It is situated roughly in the south-western part of Karnataka state. A large area of this district is ‘malnad’, i.e., a largely forested hilly region of heavy rainfall. The district takes its name from the headquarters town of Chikkamagaluru which literally means younger daughter’s town – Chikka+Magala+Ooru-(in Kannada). It is said to have been given as a dowry to the younger daughter of Rukmangada, the legendary chief of Sakrepatna. .

Some interesting Facts:

Coffee museum
  1. Coffee was first introduced in India through the Chikamanglur District in  1670 ,when the first Coffee crop was grown by Baba Budan in MullyanGiri Hills.
  2. He is said to have introduced the coffee plant to India by bringing seven raw beans from the port of Mocha, Yemen while coming back from Hajj. In those days coffee was exported to other parts of the world in roasted or baked form so that no one could grow their own and were forced to buy from the Yemenis. He brought seven beans because the number 7 is considered sacred in Islam. The coffee plants were then raised at the place that bears his name.
  3. The place is famous for two varieties of Coffee  Arabica and Robusta.
  4. Chikmagalur has an exotic local cuisine called “Malanadu” which is rich and spicy flavoured with coconut milk. A commonly known dish from this cuisine is Akki Roti, and Kaikadbu.

Best places to visit in Chikmagalur :

1 Mullyangiri Hills
2  Jhaari Falls/Buttermilk falls

Jhaari falls

3  Baba budangiri Hills
4  Toy train at Mahatma Gandhi park
5  Coffee museum(closed on weekends)
6  Sunset at Hirekolale lake
7  Basavanna Lake
8 Coffee and tea plantations of Chikmagalur.
9  Bhadra wildlife sanctuary
10 Temples of Belur and Halebeed

Marigold  fields nearby

Thankyou

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Let’s Gather some Facts about ‘The Silicon valley of India ‘

Bengaluru

History

Bangalore as a City was founded by kempe Gowda 1,who built a mud fort at the site in the year 1537. The fort was reconstructed of stone in 1761. Bangalore was the headquarter  of the British administration from 1831 to 1881, when the raja was restored. However, Britain retained an administrative and military presence in the city until Indian independence in 1947. Bangalore subsequently became the capital of the new state of Mysore and remained the capital during the reorganization of states in 1956; The Mysore  State was renamed Karnataka in the year 1973.

Bangalore in 1980 was a medium sized city with cool weather and an affordable standard of living. It was a completely different city from what is seen by us now. Back then, traffic was non-existent and there were far fewer localities.The introduction of  information technology in Bangalore came around the year 2000 ,and gave it a name of the IT hub of India.City was renamed as Bengaluru in the year 2006 .Today it is one of the biggest IT hub in India and is also known as ‘The Silicon Valley of India‘

About:

  • Population of Bangalore in  2022 :          1.29 Crore
  • Official Language                            :  kannada
  • Other languages.                             : Tamil,Hindi ,English,Telugu
  • Climate                                             :
  • pleasent  throughout the year  .

Some interesting facts:

  1. Average literacy rate of Bangalore (Bengaluru) district is 87.67 percent.
  2. The high altitude explains Bengaluru’s lovely weather that her residents experience (and boast about) all year round.It is located 3,020 feet above  sea level.
  3. Bangalore is at a higher altitude than Dehradun.
  4. The population of the native people of Karnataka or the Kannadigas is less than 41% of the whole population in the city.
  5. It is called The ‘City Of Gardens’ .
  6. The numerous gardens and parks that dot the city landscape have earned it the name. The famous Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, and Bannerghatta National Park, etc. are a few among such green spaces.
  7. The tech vibe of the city has resulted in many Indian-born MNCs being headquartered in the place. These include – Infosys, Wipro, Biocon, Myntra,  Flipkart, etc. Also, it is home to branch operations of many international companies in India.
  8. Other than that the city has the headquarters of many public sector organisations like the (ISRO)Indian Space Research Organization, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bharat Electronics Ltd, HMT Machine Tool Ltd, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), etc.
  9. Free WiFi Throughout the City , Called Namma WiFi , Which is maintained by Government and it is first City in India to do it.
  10. Most of the lakes (tanks) in Bangalore are artificial or man-made. They were built mostly between 10th and 17th century by the likes of Hoysalas, Kempegowda, and Tipu Sultan.
  11. There were around 900+ such tanks and now the count is around 200.
  12. With over 1000+ pubs Bangalore is also the pub capital of India and offers unlimited partying and enjoyment to youngsters.
  13. The famous beloved stories from the fictional town of Malgudi were given the name of Malgudi from the two old localities of the city, MALleshwaram, and basavanaGUDI by RK Narayan.
  14. City has the Highest number of engeeneers  in the World.

Lesser known  facts:

  • It was the place where the famous South Indian delicacy, Rava Idli was invented.
  • It’s a vegan friendly place,all animal lovers rejoice, as PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) India called Bangalore India’s most vegan-friendly city. It is home to many vegan restaurants
  • The first electric street light lit in Asia, was in fact in Bangalore! That’s something to be proud.
  • Highest traffic density.
  • A fact about Bangalore not known to many – It has the most number of Nobel Prize nominees. CV Raman was one of the most popular nominees of them all.
  • Lal Bagh, a favourite tourist spot in  Bangalore, has one of the oldest rock formations in the country called ‘Peninsular Gneiss’. It is made up of rocks that are 3000 million years old and is a Geological monument.
(more…)
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              Let’s Travel

Karnataka

The beautiful state of Karnataka was created in 1956 and was known as ‘The state of Mysore'(untill 1973) bounded by the states of Goa and Maharashtra to the north ,Telangana to the east,Tamil Nadu to the south west and kerela to the south and Arabian sea to the west.The Capital Bengaluru is a high-tech hub known for its shopping and nightlife .

The Bangalore palace

Karnataka is no less than a wonder, considering the fact that it is one of the oldest regions in India and is popular for its age-old culture, traditions and heritage. It is also rightly said that Karnataka is one of the few states in India without which the country is certainly incomplete.

Home to IT hub, sandalwood forests, age-old monuments, highly revered pilgrimage sites and innumerable natural marvels, Karnataka is a complete package for every kind of traveller.

  1. State tree. :              Sandalwood
  2. State Bird. :               Indian Roller
  3. State Flower:            Lotus
  4. State Animal:          Asian Elephant
Bandipur Tiger reserve

Important Facts:

  1. Kannada which is a Dravadian language is spoken by a large majority of Population and is the official language of the state.
  2. The men can be found in shirts or kurtas along with a lungi on the upper and lower body respectively. The women are seen in Sarees, the traditional dress of women. Saree is worn in the characteristic nivi style of southern India with pleats in the front and sometime passed on to the rear . However, this can differentiate as per the norms of a particular region.
  3. Bangalore (The state Capital) is famous for its Tech world and multi cultural migrant population .Bangalore is known by many names ,IT Capital of India,The City of Gardens,the tech city being few of them.
  4. Karnataka is the largest Coffee exporter in the country .Kodagu(Coorg), Chikamanglur and Hassan are the main producing regions ,Coorg alone Shares 50% production in karnatka.
  5. There are 14 National parks in Karnatka out of which Bandipur National park is the largest and the Nagarhole national park being the smallest.
  6. The Mysore palace  is the second most popular royal tourist spot in India after The Tajmahal.The 10 day Dasara Festival is an extravagant event that attracts major tourists from all over the World.
  7. The first private Radio station in the Country was setup by Professor MV Gopala swamy in karnatka in the year 1935.
  8. A 50 km drive from Bangaluru lies the legendary village of’ Gabbar’,Where the Bollywood film Sholay was shot 46 years ago against the stunning sheer granite Cliffs of Ramanagar.
  9. Ramanagar is well known for its Sericulture and is nick named as Silk town .The Silk produced in this region forms the input for the famous Mysore Silk .It is the largest market for Silk Cocoons in Asia.
  10. Located about 100 km from Bangalore the Kolar Gold fields uses to be one of the largest gold mine in the Country before it’s Shutting down in 2011 with a depth of 3000 m,the field was the world,s second deepest gold mine.
  11. Karnataka has the highest population of tigers in India today. As per a recent survey, there are more than 524 big cats flourishing in the national parks and sanctuaries of Karnataka. Well, that is one really commendable fact.
  12. Bisi bele bhath is a classic dish from Karnataka that is most popular. Bisi bele bhat is basically a blend of rice, lentils, assorted vegetables and spices.
  13. The prominent folk dances of Karnataka are the Yakshagana and Dollu Kunitha
Dollu kunitha

Some interesting facts:

Khadi Gram udyog Samyukta Sangh
  • The Karnataka Khadi Gram udyog Samyukta Sangh in Hubli is the only unit in the whole Country that is authorised for the manufacture and supply of The National Flag Of the Republic Of India.
  • The oldest Library built in the year 1891,the Oriental Library located in Mysore is the oldest in India.
  • The state is the home to various ancient art forms that originated during ancient dynasties and survived to exist even in the modern era.
Mattur Village

Most of the ancient Indian scriptures and sacred texts are written in Sanskrit,even though the language does not exist as a common means of Communication as earlier,The Mattur Village in the State of Karnataka however still uses Sanskrit as a language of Communication.

UNESCO world heritage sites:

  1. Hampi
  2. Pattadakal
  3. Western Ghats

I am residing in The State of  Karnataka since long ,and really  blown off  by the beauty of This Land. A ‘land of beautiful places‘ from its coffee plantations to its wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, magnificent temples. In addition to this, unique cuisines, exciting wildlife, adventurous trekking trails – and this combination makes it a very attractive tourist destination.

Thankyou

Posted on in Travel, Trips and Travel

        The Scotland of India

Coorg (kodagu)

  • Country. : India
  • State : Karnataka
  • Region : Malnad
  • Headquarters : Madekeri
  • Population : 5,96,718
  • Language : Kannada,kodava, Malayalam,Tulu
  • Literacy rate : 82.52%
  • Weather :Tropical wet
  • Festival : Puthari/Huttari
  • Folk dance : Bolak-aat
  • Ummatt – aat

Kodagu is an administrative district in the Karnataka State of India.The kodavas( native of the place)were the earliest inhabitants and agriculturists in the Kodagu,having lived there for Centuries.During the period of British rule, Coorg entered politics, government service, medicine, education, and law. Under British protection, Kodagu became a State with nominal independence (Coorg State). The British recognised the exceptional martial abilities of the Kodavas and used them in the Indian army. Many Kodavas fought in the two World Wars.
In 1950 Coorg was recognised as one of 27 different states of the Indian Union but in 1956 the state of Coorg was merged into Mysore (now Karnataka). Being a warrior Community Kodavas are the only ones in India permitted to carry firearms without a license.

Kodava Attire
Huttari Festival

Geographically Kodagu is located on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats .It is a hilly District with the lowest elevation being 50 metres (160)ft above sea level near Makutta.The main river in Kodagu is the Kaveri located on the eastern side of the Western Ghats.

Interesting Facts:

Golden Temple /Tibetan Monastry Coorg
  1. The Land of river Kaveri ,this sacred river originates in the Brahmagiri in Kodagu. The place is known as Talakaveri where a temple is built for the Goddess Kaveri.
  2. Coorg was named as the ‘Scotland of India’ during the time of the British.
  3. Coorg is an alluring Hill station of Karnataka ,lying serenely amidst high Mountains, Coorg’s landscape stays misty throughout the year.
  4. Coorg is known for its hospitality of people and beautiful scenery. This is one of the best destinations for nature lover in India. Tourists get fascinated by colourful scenery, wooded slopes, undulating landscape and quaint villages of Coorg. There are endless mountain ranges which attract thousands of tourists every year
  5. Coorg is also a home to the Indian second largest Tibetan settlement Bylakuppe.
  6. Today, an estimated 70,000 Tibetans live in the settlements; these were established on land leased by the state government to accommodate some of the Tibetan expatriates who came to resettle in India after 1959.
  7. It is the least populous of the 30 districts in Karnataka.
  8. Kodagu is the largest coffee producing region in Karnataka with more than 50% share in the total coffee produced in the state,hence also known as the ‘Coffee Bowl ‘of India.
Coffee Cherries

Best Tourist places :

  1. Abbey falls
  2. Tibetan Monastry Golden Temple)
  3. Dubare Elephant Camp
  4. The Barapole river for River Rafting
  5. Raja’s seat
  6. OMkareshwara Temple
  7. Coffee plantation
  8. Nisargadhama Forest.
Abbey falls

Coorg is one of my favourite tourist place.Inspite of the fact I visited the place around 6 years back ,i can still feel it’s Charistmatic beauty, and would love to witness it again.

Thankyou