Kasauli is an old 17 century town which was not very famous till the tourist hawks discovered it. But the town still offers it original charm with those British buildings & roads. There are very few things to visit at Kasauli. The main attraction here being Anglican Christ Church that is located bang on the mall. A beautiful British building built in a shape of cross amidst chestnut and fir tress. There is also upper and lower mall.
This is very small market with not too many shops where the locals still shop unlike all other mall roads where the locals have stopped visiting. You could still taste those original Mommo’s at one of the Tibetan shop. You could find some souvenir made out of this place. Just a walk around this mall is so enjoyable with no vehicles around. There is also a Monkey Point form where you could view river Sutlej and plains of Chandigarh. But it was very cloudy hence we did not visit this place. This happens to be the highest point of Kasauli.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Travelogue on - Mount Abu
When to go: I would say anytime. With all the global warming, you never know what weather to expect. It is a treat when the winter is just turning into spring and vice versa. The weather is not too punishing and the tourists are just trickling in.
How to get there: The easiest way from anywhere to Mount Abu is taking a train. There are direct overnight trains to Abu Road from both Mumbai and Delhi. We traveled by Aravalli Express from Mumbai. From the Abu Road station take a cab who may charge you Rs200 to drive you up to the top. He may also offer you a one day trip to all major sight seeing points at an extra Rs.600. These are all off season rates though. And remember to bargain hard.
Where to stay: Options are plentiful, but we stayed at the awesome RTDC Hotel Shikhar – it was massive, spacious with a distinctive Haveli flavour. The food was remarkable and hosts polite. Making hot water in those huge geysers was bit of a torture though as was the loads shedding at night. We made most of it though with a candle lit evening out in the pretty backyard.
There are also some good resorts. On other options, it would help to go through the very comprehensive RTDC website http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/new/site/Destinations/mount-abu/introducation.htm
What to eat: Delicious Rajasthani food. Spiced bhutta by Lake Mandakini, Dal Bati Churma, Tikkads and Dal by the roadside Dhaba, garam chai by Nakki Lake, Kulfi from the thelas. Vegetarian foodies have plenty to choose from.
What to absolutely not miss: Dilwara temple. All the other beautiful temples. On mountain tops, by the valley. Go random trekking. Discover hidden lakes by the valleys, some more hidden temples (!), talk to tribals in imaginative clothing, turbans, sand leathered faces chattering rapidly. Offering homemade kulfi.
Shopping for colorful quilts, kurtis, mojris, silver. Photo with ethnic outfit in Studios by Nakki Lake – they’ll bring a riot of colours to your life. Again, remember to bargain aggressively. Read more on Mount Abu
How to get there: The easiest way from anywhere to Mount Abu is taking a train. There are direct overnight trains to Abu Road from both Mumbai and Delhi. We traveled by Aravalli Express from Mumbai. From the Abu Road station take a cab who may charge you Rs200 to drive you up to the top. He may also offer you a one day trip to all major sight seeing points at an extra Rs.600. These are all off season rates though. And remember to bargain hard.
Where to stay: Options are plentiful, but we stayed at the awesome RTDC Hotel Shikhar – it was massive, spacious with a distinctive Haveli flavour. The food was remarkable and hosts polite. Making hot water in those huge geysers was bit of a torture though as was the loads shedding at night. We made most of it though with a candle lit evening out in the pretty backyard.
There are also some good resorts. On other options, it would help to go through the very comprehensive RTDC website http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/new/site/Destinations/mount-abu/introducation.htm
What to eat: Delicious Rajasthani food. Spiced bhutta by Lake Mandakini, Dal Bati Churma, Tikkads and Dal by the roadside Dhaba, garam chai by Nakki Lake, Kulfi from the thelas. Vegetarian foodies have plenty to choose from.
What to absolutely not miss: Dilwara temple. All the other beautiful temples. On mountain tops, by the valley. Go random trekking. Discover hidden lakes by the valleys, some more hidden temples (!), talk to tribals in imaginative clothing, turbans, sand leathered faces chattering rapidly. Offering homemade kulfi.
Shopping for colorful quilts, kurtis, mojris, silver. Photo with ethnic outfit in Studios by Nakki Lake – they’ll bring a riot of colours to your life. Again, remember to bargain aggressively. Read more on Mount Abu
Travelogue on - Poovar
Poovar island is 30km from Trivandrum and 12km south of kovalam. Nearest airport and railway station is in trivandrum…Through road if you travel from Trivandrum in the early morning you can avoid the traffic and reach the boat jetty in 45-mts….A 15-minute scenic boat ride through the backwaters takes you to the resorts around the island.
Places to visit: Poovar is a place to laze around, soak in the unlimited stretch of green and blue hues that weave the landscape and feast on some sumptuous food. Sightseeing is more like a houseboat cruise on the Paruthiyur backwaters and picnicking on the coconut grove trimmed beach. Take a trip to Trivandrum for your shopping…Padmanabaswamy temple, a wonderful place to visit if you are spiritual. Most of the temples in kerala follow strict dress codes and non-Hindus are not permitted into the temple. A night travel can take you to cape comourin. To visit wildlife sanctuary prior permission has to be taken from the concerned authority.
If you want to pick some hot banana chips, famous in kerala. Kerala traditional saris or handicrafts a trip to the city is worth an effort. Visit the Zoo, Napier’s or Kuthiramalika Museum near East fort. Read more on Poovar, Kerala
Places to visit: Poovar is a place to laze around, soak in the unlimited stretch of green and blue hues that weave the landscape and feast on some sumptuous food. Sightseeing is more like a houseboat cruise on the Paruthiyur backwaters and picnicking on the coconut grove trimmed beach. Take a trip to Trivandrum for your shopping…Padmanabaswamy temple, a wonderful place to visit if you are spiritual. Most of the temples in kerala follow strict dress codes and non-Hindus are not permitted into the temple. A night travel can take you to cape comourin. To visit wildlife sanctuary prior permission has to be taken from the concerned authority.
If you want to pick some hot banana chips, famous in kerala. Kerala traditional saris or handicrafts a trip to the city is worth an effort. Visit the Zoo, Napier’s or Kuthiramalika Museum near East fort. Read more on Poovar, Kerala
Travelogue on - Valley of Flowers
Ghangria is a base camp to go to both Valley of Flowers on the left and the Hemkund Sahib on the right.
The next day we had to start very early in the morning for the Valley of Flowers and we all left one by one. There is an entry tax at the entrance on the path to the valley. The path is narrow, winding, steep, and climbing. No mules nor porters are available to go to the valley. The entire stretch is on foot. There is a stream coming down from the left, and one has to cross it over a makeshift bridge. The path goes down, and there is an iron bridge over Pushpawati river which hurtles down with great fury, and meets Lakshman Ganga at Ghangria. It is from this point that one gets to see the flowers in all the majestic colours and glory. We came across the Himalayan Blue Poppy among the rocks, the bell flowers, buttercups, Chinese lanterns, geraniums and lots more. We had a great time clicking away, careful not to tread on any plant. One thing most important to all tourists is that the Valley of Flowers is endangered and protected, so it is very important to respect nature. We could see a large expanse of the valley colorful every possible hue. It is practically impossible to get all of these on film. We had a great time shooting film after film, flower after flower. We lost all track of time, hunger and thirst. The whole valley is not just captivating, it is hypnotic. Read more Travelogue on - Valley of Flowers
The next day we had to start very early in the morning for the Valley of Flowers and we all left one by one. There is an entry tax at the entrance on the path to the valley. The path is narrow, winding, steep, and climbing. No mules nor porters are available to go to the valley. The entire stretch is on foot. There is a stream coming down from the left, and one has to cross it over a makeshift bridge. The path goes down, and there is an iron bridge over Pushpawati river which hurtles down with great fury, and meets Lakshman Ganga at Ghangria. It is from this point that one gets to see the flowers in all the majestic colours and glory. We came across the Himalayan Blue Poppy among the rocks, the bell flowers, buttercups, Chinese lanterns, geraniums and lots more. We had a great time clicking away, careful not to tread on any plant. One thing most important to all tourists is that the Valley of Flowers is endangered and protected, so it is very important to respect nature. We could see a large expanse of the valley colorful every possible hue. It is practically impossible to get all of these on film. We had a great time shooting film after film, flower after flower. We lost all track of time, hunger and thirst. The whole valley is not just captivating, it is hypnotic. Read more Travelogue on - Valley of Flowers
Dibrugarh- Assam
It was 5:30 in the morning. It was shiny morning. One thing I must tell that it is the place of rising Sun in India. Sunlight breaks at 4 am in Pasighat. I woke up and did my checkout formalities in Hotel Anne. Mr. Nong Jerang came to pick me from Hotel at 6:30 am. He was helping me to catch the Ferry as I was new there. We started by his Maruti Alto and reached the river bank at dot 7:35 am. The Ferry is ready to leave on its schedule i.e. at 7:40 am. I shake hand with Nong and said goodbye. I got onto the Ferry. It was open on the middle. There was covered area on the both side of the Ferry. I was surprised to see more than a hundred people sitting inside. It was beyond my imagination that so many people take the pleasure of this journey. May be it is their normal route to Dibrugarh. I took a comfortable place on the dock and started dreaming.
I came to Dibrugarh. It is in upper Assam. This is a small town a district head quarter. This town is surrounded by Tea gardens. Assam tea is very very famous and most of them are cultivated in upper Assam. I have learnt a most important thing about Assam is that every Chief Minister that Assam got were from Upper Assam. The original dwellers are called Ahom. Language is Assamees. Religion in Dibrugarh is mainly dominated by Muslims. There is not less 25 Mosque are there. The adjecent districts are Tinsukia and Sibsagar. I stayed there in Hotel Indsurya. It is just opposite to the Railway Station. Cost is reasonable. The interior reflects the taste of its owner. The lady has carefully decorated this hotel. Read more on Dibrugarh Assam Travelogue
I came to Dibrugarh. It is in upper Assam. This is a small town a district head quarter. This town is surrounded by Tea gardens. Assam tea is very very famous and most of them are cultivated in upper Assam. I have learnt a most important thing about Assam is that every Chief Minister that Assam got were from Upper Assam. The original dwellers are called Ahom. Language is Assamees. Religion in Dibrugarh is mainly dominated by Muslims. There is not less 25 Mosque are there. The adjecent districts are Tinsukia and Sibsagar. I stayed there in Hotel Indsurya. It is just opposite to the Railway Station. Cost is reasonable. The interior reflects the taste of its owner. The lady has carefully decorated this hotel. Read more on Dibrugarh Assam Travelogue
Travelogue on - Tunganath ,Chopta, Chandrashila Top
Chopta can be reached from Rishikesh/Haridwar by road. Tunganth is four km trek from Chopta. The Tunganth temple, one of the Pancha Kedars, is the main attraction. Seated on verandah of Chandrashila hotel you can see one of the best Himalyan panorama. A two km trek to Chandrashila Top can get you one of the best sunrise views of Himalyas.
At Chopta one can stay at Neelkanth Hotel near the bus stand. But, one has to do with most primitive of facilities. No electricity, but the solar power may get you a CFL light going. At Tunganath Hotel Chandrashila is a single story shack with a few double bedded rooms. The Kali Kamliwali Dharmashala is another place which can be tried. There is one Ganesh hotel; but I do not no how good it is. Read more on Chopta Travelogue
At Chopta one can stay at Neelkanth Hotel near the bus stand. But, one has to do with most primitive of facilities. No electricity, but the solar power may get you a CFL light going. At Tunganath Hotel Chandrashila is a single story shack with a few double bedded rooms. The Kali Kamliwali Dharmashala is another place which can be tried. There is one Ganesh hotel; but I do not no how good it is. Read more on Chopta Travelogue
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