Popularly known as God’s own country because of the beautiful landscape this state offers.This state lies on the tropical malabar coast of India.It’s known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters, a network of canals and a land which is fertile to support tea, coffeee and spices.
Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives and beautiful backwaters.Kerala banks at the vast Arabian sea and enjoys the bounty of the western ghats.
The capital of Kerala is Tiruvananthapuram ( Trivandrum) and its bordered by states of Karnataka and Tamil nadu. the language widely spoken here is Malayalam.
Kerala is also both of our native, so we have lots of stories to narrate ,Click on the below links to read more
Well, the epitome of innocence are children. It’s said that children are angels on earth they see everything but respond only to the good ones. So today my day started with my usual workout routine and today I was blessed to see some of the cutest kids of my society. It happened to be the…
For adventure lovers it’s cherry on the pie and for first timers it can be little scary. So, what happens in Solang valley paragliding?? You take the cable car in a group of 4 and it takes you to the place where you will meet your guides. Your guides will take you the starting point…
The roads from Delhi to Manali is pretty good and the highway is well maintained. There are few check posts in between which can consume your time in long queues otherwise there is no issue. There are plenty of Dhabas and restaurants on the way, you can munch something whenever you feel hungry. The food…
This has been interesting topic to talk about and different people have different views. I don’t believe in superstitious beliefs, what I always chase is the scientific reason and here’s what I have found out.
Earlier temples were built on places with high positive energy source of a certain locality. The main deity is placed at the arear of most amount of energy.
The unstitched cloth
When you enter the temple by draping a single piece of cloth it is easy for the energy to flow throughout the body. Since every thread in an uncut cloth remains intact, it is able to spread waves of Energy all over the cloth. Therefore, when an individual wears an uncut cloth, the Energy spreads in its body and it undergoes spiritual healing.
When you cut the fabric into several pieces it threads are not intact anymore. When a cloth is cut, the continuity of the threads is destroyed. This creates obstacles in the flow of Energy through them which is not allowing the body to absorb the utmost energy available in the temple. Hence, wearing a stitched garment imparts less Energy and the extent of spiritual healing is also considered to be less.
Entering temple bare chested for men
Another point is the hair on our body act like natural receptors of energy in our body.
Men usually have hair on their chest area and armpits too. These hairs act as a receiver of charges present around them when they enter the Temple bare chested removing their upper garment. It is helping them to receive the energy easily.
This also [proves the point of taking pradakshnam (Parikrama or Pradakshina refers to circumambulation of sacred places to imbibe their energy in Sikh, Hindu, Jain or Buddhist context, and the path along which this is performed) to get the maximum positive energy from the temple premises.
And people also have the habit of raising their hands above their head and performing namaste which is allowing the hair on the armpits can absorb the positive energy from temple’s surroundings.
This is a fair enough theory which I thought of sharing after reading and knowing about scientific reasons of Hinduism in bits from many sources.
As kids me and my brother loved adventure parks. So, our parents were bound to find a park or a playground for us to play around. We were super energetic kids and our parents won’t deny this fact as we could play 24×7 on a serious note.
Kollam beach and Kollam Ashramam Adventure park was a must visit place from our summer vacation destination. We loved this park as it offers so many activities to both kids and adults.
The park is surrounded with sky high trees, which gives a very refreshing ambience. The park lies besides the vast Ashtamudi backwaters of Kollam. This park is best place for recreational activities and best place to enjoy.
As kids we loved the adventure activities like zip lining, rock climbing. The park is filled with variety of swings to play with. Regular backwater cruises in houseboats, luxury boats and speedboats also operate from the Boat Club attached with the park. The park is also famous for its peculiar sculptures.
Address: Behind Guest House, Asramam, Kollam, Kerala 691001, India
Timing: 10:00 am – 06:00 pm
Ticket Price: 30 INR per person
What is Manjadikuru??
The botanical name of the tree is is Adenanthera Pavonina. In Kannada this tree is called Gulgangi mara, Malayalam it is Manjadikuru, Malaysia it is Saga and other common names are Coral Tree, Red Sandalwood, Bead tree, and Necklace tree.
The small, yellowish flower grows in dense drooping rat-tail flower heads, almost like catkins. The curved hanging pods, with a bulge opposite each seed, split open into two twisted halves to reveal the hard, scarlet seeds It’s also known as Red Lucky seed as 1/12 people would find a small carved elephant inside the seed. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Manjadikuru and Lord Krishna
In kerala these trees are abundant hence I have seen Manjadikuru in almost all Krishna temples but I had never seen it on trees.it was really surprising to find them on trees for me as a kid.earier only Guruvayoor temple in Thrissur had a tradition to keep a Uruli ( a vessel ) full of manjadi kuru in front of the main sanctum. There is story behind this which you can red here.
Coming back to the adventure park; take your kids to this amazing park where they can have a fun time, meanwhile you can relax near the backwaters.
A relaxing place for you and your family when you are in Kollam
Uttar pradesh ( Uttar means north and Pradesh means state in Hindi )h is an indain state which is situted in the northeren India.
Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. With roughly 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world.Uttar pradesh is culturally diverse.
Uttar pradesh is home to confluence of major rivers namely Ganga nad Yamuna in India.Exploring Uttar pradesh you can expect to witness cultural heritage, historical opulence and nature’s bounty.
Click on below pictures to know more about the state:
My father belongs to south part of Kerala: Kollam. Every year during our summer vacations, we used to visit Kollam to meet my Paternal grandparents. The whole year me and my brother would be waiting for our summer holidays to visit our grandparents.
Every year during our visit to Kollam there would be some or the other relative who would have visited the Kottarakkara Mahaganapathi Kshetram and we would relish the yummy prasadam (the Unniappams) from the temple. The first memory which flashes in one’s mind is the Kottarakkara Unniappams and later the temple. Since those time we always wanted to visit the temple.
P.c. Wikipedia
How to reach
In 2012 finally we got to visit this amazing temple. Kottarakkara is a small town in Kollam district and is 25 kms away from Kollam town and 80 kms from Thiruvananthapuram. The buses are well connecting and autorickshaws can also take you to your destination.
The deities of the temple are Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, Lord Ayyappan, and Nagaraja. Even though the main deity is Lord Shiva, the main priority is given to his son Lord Ganesha. Kottarakkara Mahaganapathi Temple is one of the famous temples in Kollam district, Kerala. Actually, the main Idol is Lord Siva, but Ganapathy is famous here. The exact name of the temple was Kizhakkekara Siva Kshetram.
The Story
The Unniappams made here is very famous and it has a very different flavour to it.Unniappams , a sweet ghee-fried snack made with rice and bananas.
The story being: The first offering of the famous sculptor Perumthachan, who carved the idol of Mahaganapathi at Kottarakkara. was Koottappam.( six to seven Unniappams stringed together).
The Unniappams are made just in front of the Lord Ganapathy’s shrine, the holy fire is lit for making Unniappams. Moreover, it is only after the sanctum sanctorum is open that the uniappam’s are made. Raw rice, jaggery, ‘kadali’- a variety of banana and Ganapathy’s favourite, ghee and sugar are the ingredients used for making unniappam.
P.c : Mathrubhumi
Right from dawn to dusk, Unniappams are made and all of these together are made as an offering to the Lord at dusk. Later on, it is distributed freely to the devotees. This offering is known as Udayasthamana Pooja. The heavy rush of devotees to Kottarakkara Ganapathy Temple speaks volumes of Lord Ganapathy’s love, care and concern towards them.
As soon as you enter the temple a sweet smell of Unniappams is sure to tempt you. The Unniappams are kept in huge cane baskets and offered to Ganapathy is Urli (bronze vessel).
Its so mesmerising to watch the Unniappams being made in front of the shrine that you will surely forget to offer your prayers to Lord Ganapathy.
Nandi hill is known for its misty morning sunsets , mesmerising sunsets and delightful nature’s beauty.
Nandi hill also known as Anandagiri (hill of happiness) is an ancient fortress which is known to be ruled by Tipu sultan. Later in the colonial rule the British had taken over this place so you can see a mix of colonial and Chola architecture in the buildings.
The entrance itself is super majestic and can define its heritage.
There are 40 hairpin curves before you reach the entrance. During your climb uphill you will find many photogenic spots with deep gorges and steep rocky hills.Drive slowly and safely there is absolurely no rush.
Nandi Hills is the nearest hill station near our residence as its just 20 kms away. It was our first trip together and we went there for our post wedding photoshoot. It was my first time visit to Nandi hills. Akhil has visited multiple times.It was Mid- September when we visited Nandi hills and the climate was rainy and misty .
Best time to visit is : Throughout the year , isnt it wonderful. During rainy season the roads can be slippery so be careful.
Entry fees :Normal entry fee per person is 5 INR.Car – 60 INR, Two wheeler – 21 INR
Timing : 6 am to 6 pm . You can stay in the guest houses at night if you are planning to stay overnight but the entry is closed by 6 pm in order to avoid mishaps.
Nandi hills is covered with exotic plants and trees, As the horticulture department of Karnataka has full control over the hills now you can see beautiful flowers and unique trees which are not easily found in the city. The climate on top is very pleasant and usually rains every day.
The mornings are the best where you can enjoy the misty sunrise with hot tea and steaming hot pakodas .
Unexplored areas
There is also a 1300 old Nandi temple which is restricted for tourist now and truly this place is mystical. There is a small pond and a garden which is now restricted for tourists and both the places look enchanting.
Nehru nilaya
Nehru Nilaya is bungalow named after the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru as he had stayed at this place for some time. Nehru Nilaya is now converted into a guest house. No one can enter inside the building but you can click pics as we did.
Ever thought of spending a day at Nandi hills, what we would suggest is to stay overnight and enjoy the sunrise next morning.
However today we would not be telling about Nandi Hills but a heritage place near Nandi Hills which is Nandi Station
We were extremely lucky to have witnessed a different side of Nandi hill. People generally go there to visit the gardens, enjoy the nature, sunrise and sunset.
There is a less explored place near Nandi hill which is the Nandi Station and is equally beautiful and unique as the hills. Before you start climbing the hills there is deviation towards the station and its at the foot of Nandi hills. Its pristine, secluded and beautiful
Nandi old railway station is almost 18 kms away from the Hills and it’s an isolated place. There are only very few trains which stops at this station. Recently this station has turned 105-year-old and it was built during British era in 1915.
This station was a part of Bengaluru and Chikballapur,light railway line which include four stations namely- Doddajala, Avathihalli, Nandi Halt and Devanahalli,
We also got to board the train which stops just for a minute in this station.
This station is recognised among the “Heritage stations of India”. The station has still preserved its colonial architecture and has been converted from light railways to broad gauge railway line now.
We happen to visit this beautiful place for our post wedding photo shoot. Lucky us. We would have never explored this place otherwise.
This place is completely uninhibited and is situated near the vineyards. Its surrounded with Eucalyptus trees and has a prominent banyan tree at the side entrance.
We also roamed about in the nearby village and it was super serene and beautiful.
We saw Bangalore Palace for the first time in Instagram and I instantly saved it for my places to visit in Bangalore. Also, Akhil and his parents has been staying in Bangalore for a long time but they have never got the opportunity to visit this palace. Finally, during the pandemic era, we took our parents out for the first time to visit this palace, because we hoped that there would be less crowd.
As an escape to the history of India and to experience the classic royal charm of Bangalore we headed over to the beautiful Bangalore Palace.
The palace is renowned for its wooden interiors and beautiful gardens.
The palace is situated in the heart of the city in Vasant nagar Bangaluru.The entrance fees is 230 Rs for Indian citizen and 460 Rs for foreigners + 300 for phone cameras for a group. Each ticket has a different colour wristband which would be provided to you on the ticket counter.
The palace and palace garden are under surveillance 24×7.The timings of the palace is 10 am -5:30 pm and its closed on Mondays.
Who built this?
The vast palace spread across 45,000 sq. ft., was built by Rev. Garett, the first principal of Central High School in Bengaluru. In 1873, Chamaraja Wadiyar the 23rd Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore purchased it and refurbished it.
10 reasons to visit Bangalore Palace
1.Colourful Interiors
The first attraction inside the palace would be the colourful interiors which is predominantly in yellow which we generally do not see in Indian Palaces. The ceilings and the pillars are ornately carved with intricate sculpting of motifs, which is definitely eye catching. The palace is colourful with hand painted wallpapers to the indicate mosaic tiles.
2.Paintings and photographs
The rooms are decorated with old paintings belonging to the mid-19th century, including some Greek and Dutch paintings from the time of the Maharajas. You will also get to see old photographs from the Maharaja’s time, framed and hung on the wall. Seems like the family loved capturing and preserving their memories.
3.Artistic furnishings
The Gorgeous chandeliers adorning the ceiling are ornate and old are adding a grace and charm to the interior. The ground floor consists of an open courtyard containing granite seats covered with fluorescent blue ceramic tiles. It also has a ball room for holding parties and a Durbar hall on first floor where the king used to address the assembly .The central courtyard, is huge and decorated with vibrant colours, arches, artworks and mosaics.
4.Architecture
The palace architecture is an amalgamation of Tudor and Scottish, Gothic architecture with tall archways, oriel windows, fortified towers, battlements, and turrets. The interior of the palace is full of decorations, moulded and fluted pillars and large arches, walls decorated with floral patterns, intricately carved capitals, patterned cornices. The upper-level corridors and passage overlooking the inner courtyard are lined with beautifully detailed metal railings. There is a massive open courtyard with granite seats, a ballroom, darbar hall, residences, and a pretty water fountain which is now defunct.
5.Wooden work
The interiors were decorated with elegant wood carvings. The furniture, which was neo-classical, Victorian and Edwardian in style, was bought from John Roberts and Lazarus. A grand staircase embellished with complex rococo style woodwork. edging those steps is a vibrant yellow wall, I mean what a contrast.
6.Taxidermy lover
Wadiyar was definitely an admirer of taxidermy (the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals with lifelike effect.), as we saw bar stools made with elephant legs and paw of a giant cat. Huge elephant head near the durbar hall entrance and an elephant trunk near the pathway.
7.Exquisite exteriors
The well-arranged foliage spread all over the lower half of the castle makes it more photographic and adds up to the greenery which makes it distinctive from other palaces.
8.Manicured garden
The gardens of the palace are more refined as designed by John Cameron, the English botanist responsible for redesigning Bengaluru’s serene Lalbagh Botanical Garden in the 1880s.
9.Cursed
The Wadiyar royal bloodline has reportedly been cursed for 400 years. The legend of the Curse of Alamelamma dates back to the 1600s, when Raja Wadiyar dethroned Tirumalaraja, an ailing ruler of another Indian kingdom. Rather than surrender to the Wadiyars, Tirumalaraja’s wife fled with her family’s royal treasure.
Clutching these jewels, she leapt off a cliff. Her final words were a curse on the Wadiyar dynasty, asking the gods to make their land barren and deny them heirs. This curse has remained famous due to the family repeatedly failing to produce a new male heir to their throne.
10.Windsor castle in india??
The story falls as Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar, during his trip to London,was fascinated by the Windsor Castle of London and decided to have made one for himself in Bangalore in the same style.Anything fancy can be wished with plenty of riches isn’t it. It,s said to be a look alike of the Windsor Castle. The resemblance is so marked that many scholars feel that this is an imitated version of the Tudor’s building, as if it was transported to Bangalore.
The Bangalore Palace is intertwined with the history of the city and its European architecture is a reminder of the colonial legacy of the town while its opulence also showcases the riches of the local kings. The expansive Palace Grounds around it were once a famed venue for international musical act, so this location has an important place in Bangalore’s contemporary culture too.
A visit to this Palace is a must, that will take you back in time and away from the modern landscape.
When we were searching about offbeat places near Bangalore, quiet offbeat place is what we found.
Google said it’s a bird sanctuary and we were super excited after reading about the sightings of migratory birds starting from November. We decided to visit this place in December end.
If you are travelling from Bangalore its 110 kms away from the city and you have to take the Bangalore -Mysore highway. We started early morning in order to reach the sanctuary by 9 am. The roads are pretty wide and well maintained. Only while leaving the city we experienced heavy traffic , otherwise it’s a very comfortable drive.
Kokkare belur bird sanctuary is situated in the town of Chennapatna ( city of Indian toys). It’s a densely populated village and as soon as we reached this place we found out that there is no specific area as bird sanctuary, its the whole village which is considered as a bird watching area.Basically you can roam around and if you are lucky you can spot pelicans and cranes in large numbers.
A villager told us that this year the birds haven’t visited yet and we were disappointed. So we decided to have a village tour and visit a nearby lake . there we spotted some birds.
Also during thie trip we found out a very beautiful place which exactly looks like the dear zindagi palm tree place in goa. We were really happy to have explored a village like this. Chennapatna is beautiful and unexplored.
Peaople like us who stay in crowded and polluted cities definitely find it peaceful in a lush green , densely populated village.
What we loved about this place are the roads , its very smooth to have long drive and super clean.
A village tour with fresh air , lush greenery all around, birds singing and beautiful roads to drive is what this bird sanctuary will offer.
Devanahalli fort is 35 kms away from the main city of Bangalore. The was initially built with mud and later made with stone by Hyder Ali to its current preserved structure now. As its very close to the place where Tipu sultan was born, this site is considered to be heritage by Archeological survey of India.
Devanahalli earlier known as Devanadodda, was found by relative of Kempe Gowda (founder of Bangaluru). The fort is spread across 20 acres, well now it beholds smaill town.
Its sounds like a movie scene: when we look at the fort wall from outside, we would imagine how grand it would have been once upon a time. As soon as you cross the small fort opening, feels like a tunnel, you will witness a magnificent temple.
This city is full of temples one after another, now this should be renamed as city of temples. This town looks very ancient because of these temples like Venugopalaswamy temple , Siddalingeshwara temple and Sarovaranjaneya temple.
The fort built in 15th century still stands stongs as if protecting the citizens of the ancient town of Devanahalli.
It’s a perfect place for a one day trip from bangalore and experience the heritage of Tipu sultans birth place.
Harrytinkers travelog 