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 and prepare you with all safety equipment and guidelines. Then you have to wait for your guide to do all the other preparations to fly, and all this take only 5 minutes. You will be so amazed by the preparations that the time will fly. Next the guide will attach all the equipment with your seat and he will be just behind you. Then he will tell you to run and jump off a steep cliff.
And you will be wondering in your mind whaaattt!!!! And by this fraction of second you will already be flying, it’s that fast guys!!! The ride is for 15 mins and that’s going to one of the most memorable 15 minutes in your life.
Imagine one your right side you have snow clad mountains, on your left side you have blue cloudy sky and beneath you are the coniferous forest, a beautiful river flowing and in front of you is the breathtakingly expansive Solang valley.
I wish I could fly forever !! that’s what I thought. It was so calming experience, there was a sense of peace and satisfaction in my mind. A sense of numbness in my ears because of the cold air, the cold air caressing my face and my soul.
Every one of you who wishes to fly should try this once at least. It’s a marvelous experience and a must do activity.
Was I Scared? NO, I was super excited and only for a second when my guide told me to jump, I felt scared.
The kids also loved the experience that they did it thrice, also the kids tried archery as well.
Don’t be scared just go for it, trust me you won’t regret it. It’s an amazing feeling which cannot be expressed but only felt.
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 we recommend are: Aloo paratha, Rajma chawal, Dal chawal, Chole puri & kucha chole. We recommend not to have Maggi on you first few days because later on that is the only food available throughout your trip.
The first pitstop was at Hanogi bridge at Mandi. This place is famous for its hanging bridge over river Beas which leads to a Devi temple perched on top of the hill. The temple is also famous for the breathtaking view of the valley and the river flowing underneath add to it. We visited this place because of the fascinating bridge we came across while passing the place.
We reached Manali around 5 pm and it was so pleasant to be surrounded by coniferous trees and mountains. Never I my life had I imagined to see the Himalayas so closely. It was almost dark by the time we reached our homestay.
We stayed in Hampton Homestay at village shuru, Manali.
The next day began with treat to our eyes, at 6 am I wake up to see the mighty Himalayas behind our homestay. Also, the homestay was surrounded with Apple trees. My mind said wow!! And my heart was pounding with excitement to touch these apples.
Being born and raised in plateaus and coastal areas this was my first time in mountains. It was no less than a dream come true. This was just the beginning as I had no idea there were more wishes to be fulfilled during the trip.
We decided to explore Manali for the whole day and as the first place everyone visits in Manali is Mall road . Also, our major reason was to get permit for our rented car.
*Harrytinkers Tip: the queue for ladies is minimal so it’s better that a female member in the group goes to get the permit
We had amazing parathas from Aashiana pure veg restaurant in mall road and headed towards Himalayan Nyinmapa Monastery.
This was my first visit to a monastery and I found it very peaceful and beautiful. The colors they use is very bright because of that the monastery looks vibrant.
Next we headed for some adventure activities in Solang valley, famous for adventure activities like zorbing, paragliding , archery, ropeway, skiing, river rafting and horse riding.
Paragliding is the most adventurous activity during summers and skiing during winters. The rate for paragliding for adults is Rs 2000 /- (1500 for paragliding + 500 for ropeway) and for kids its Rs 600/-
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.
On the auspicious day of Makar Sankaranti we decided to go to the Kashi Vishwanath temple and get the blessings of Lord Shiva. It is a very beautiful temple and you would feel very peaceful after you go inside. There is a continuous chanting of Om Namah Shivaya when you enter inside the temple to enter the temple and sometimes you need to stand for a queue and queue goes through the small gullies of Varanasi and all these gulllies have these small shops which sell some of the other religious related souvenir.this temple has gone through numerous destruction and re-construction over a period of time still it stands as one of the most famous temples in India,
Another interesting fact is about the gold dome on the top which is said to have fulfilled loads of wishes of the devotees . It is believed that if you make a wish after seeing the dome, Lord Shiva fulfills your wish.it is located in Vishwanath Gali Godowlia and opens from02.30 am to 11.00 pm every day.
Pic from wikipedia
Maa Annaporna temple
Annaporna means goddess of food and nourishment. If you have visited Kahi vishwanath temple your next pitstop would be Maa Annapoorna temple.The main deity here is Maa annaporna ( incarnation of goddess Parvati).Its said to have two idols in the shrine, one Gold Idol and One brass idol. The brass idol is open for darshan everday whereas the gold idol is kept for darshan only a day before Diwali.The temple is pretty spacious to accommodate arounf 100 devotees at a time. It is located in Vishwanath Gali Godowlia and opens from04.00 am to 10.30 pm every day.
pic: india easy trip
Note: Beware of the pandits who will do some random rituals and ask for money for the same.
Kaal bhairav temple
Kaal bhairav is the aggressive form of Lord shiva and is considered to be Main deity of he city .Its a very ancient temple and has beautiful architecture. So we were advised by the locals to visit this temple as soon as we reached Varanasi because it is believed that anyone who visits Varanasi has to visit the temple first and get permission from Kaal Bhairav to stay safely in the city .He is considered the Saviour God of the city and will save you from any difficulties.It is located in Bharonath, Vishweshwarganj and opens from 05.00 am to 9.00 pm every day.
PIC: facebook
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir
One of the most visited temples in Varanasi after Kasi Vishwanath temple is This temple. The temple has more rush on Tuesdays nad Saturday being considered the day dedicated to Lord Hanuman.The temple premises has monkeys whivh will be roaming around and happily feeding on the offering by the devotees. It is located in Sankatmochan Saket Nagar Road, Saket Nagar Colony and opens from 05.00 am to 10.00 pm every day.
PIC: WIKIPEDIA
Note: In all these temple photography is strictly prohibited and in Kashi Vishwanath temples mobile phone are not allowed at all so you may have to keep it in the lockers provided there. Also Leather items like wallets and belts are also not allowed
After visiting dashashwamedh Ghat we were really very hungry so we went to a really amazing Cafe named Niyati cafe and its a very small restaurant which serves varieties of cusines including continental, American and Indians and we definitely preffered the authentic Indian food also be ordered a rice, dal and aloo gobi ki sabzi . The food served here is very simple and very yummy,And the best part about the restaurant is there everything is cooked fresh.The owner of the restaurant is a very very sweet guy and he and his wife manages the restaurant while she prepares the food and he manages the restaurant . Maximum of 15 people could be accommodated in the restaurant and we would definitely recommend this place and everyone must go there .
In Varanasi there is a place called Lanka which is which is far away from the place where we were staying and after reading some blog recommendations in search of some amazing chat to our disappointment we did not find anything over there. But we found there was an amazing street food called the Chura matar which we saw just exploring the streets.There’s nothing so great about the place.And accidently the best part about going to Lanka was the Pahalwan dudh centre where you get a yummiest Gajar ka halva and we had the Balushahi Steaming hot flavoured milk is very famous during winters in Varanasi and we were wondering why everyone drinking the milk but to be very frank after tasting the milk we found our why!!! The milk tastes amazing with the essence of cardamom and because its being boiled for a longer time it gets that creamy texture. The boiling milk is served in kulhad which also enhances is the milk’s tastes and The longer it is boiled the better it tastes and its a must try beverages in Banaras.
Kashi chaat centre located near the godowlia chawk in Varanasi serves one of the best chaats in Varaonasi and it opens only in the evening by 6 pm and is always crowded. So we had this amazing tamatar Chaat, dahi vada , tikki chaat , paani puri and Chura matar (of course because I loved it the last time we had it) and I will recommend Kashi chat Centre to everyone who visits Varanasi just because of the amazing tamatar Chaat and also I never ever had such amazing chat ever.Also the service is very fast and every item is served steaming hot n fresh.
Sweet shops in Gowdowlia chawk
Sweets in Varanasi especially the one which made is made with milk is the totally recommendable because the the milk is very fresh and they make all the sweets with that fresh milk and the freshness of the sweets can be experienced. We had Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, rasmalai,Cham cham and everything is very tasty and fresh. During Winters almost everyone in the town relishes the hot flavoured milk in the chilly nights of Varanasi and if you are craving for something warm and tasty definitely its the steaming hot creamy milk of Varanasi.
While walking towards the Dashashwamedh ghat the street has loads of shops which sell samosa chai and boondi, and I must say it’s really worth giving a try and I assure you the taste won’t disappoint you instead you will feel like having them more.
Litti Chokah: Rajendra Prasad Ghat
While we were strolling along the ghats we found this street vendor selling litti chokha and it was really amazing to have the authentic taste even at a local place.
Paan
Paan is soul of Varanasi and paan shop is found in every nook and corner of the city . Well to be very frank every shop serves really good paan as we had from multiple shops and cant decide which on e was best. The vendors would make it according to the taste which you like>also the size of the paan here is slightly bigger than the usual ones.
Steaming hot idlies : Godowlia Chawk
with For the morning breakfast we had steaming hot Idlies and coconut chutney with loads of mustard seeds on top from a small street vendor outside our hotel .We were a little sceptical about having idly from north India as being a South Indian we love Idli and don’t like to experiment when it comes to south Indian cuisine but this was really good and we were extremely satisfied.
Aloo parathas foms street vendors
As far as aloo paratha is considered you can happily have it from the street vendors ,its amazingly fresh and tasty
AS far as what we experienced have the local food and have it from the crowded street vendors because the crowd indicate the taste of a particular locality of city and crowd also ensure that theres something yummy food.
Poori sabzi Or kachoris
The streets shops and vendors of Varanasi serves these pooris or kachoris with aloo ( potato ) curry which is a must have and they have different variants in the recipes.
Kachori and sabzi
Malaiyo
Malaiyo is a frothy pleasant and firm dessert found only during the winters of Banaras. This is the elegant composition of milk, Saffron and several dry fruits, along with the most important ingredient, Dew. Yes this is the core reason why Malaiyo in winter is the availability of Dew.And trust me this would be a surprise for your taste buds.
The best part about Banaras is its gullies and these are very narrow lanes which I have never seen in an Indian city .Gali is mean Street. The roads are so narrow that only one auto is the maximum which can fit into the road but still the drivers there very understand that they help each other while riding through these lanes. As a passenger it was so difficult for us to even think about riding in such narrow lanes.
Pic from pinterest
Temples everywhere
There is temple in every nook and corner of the city and you will find lots of devotees gathered and performing pooja .Another interesting thing which we saw was the Khichdi baba where the temple would give free khichdi to everyone and the vessel in which this khichdi is made keeps on rotating while it is made. As it’s named as Lord Shiva’s place you can find a Shiva linga in every street.
p.c. :Times of India
Travel Ecofriendly: Electric Rickshaws
The whole town is filled with these cute electric rickshaws which takes the passengers to nearby places. Well the pace of this vehicle is slow and if you are on a vacation and want to relax and enjoy your ride in and around the city then this is the best means of travelling. It’s definitely a fun ride and prices are much more affordable than the regular autos.
Paintings
The city is made beautiful with paintings everywhere. On the way from the airport to our hotel the city is beautifully decorated with paintings all over pavement walls, on the bridge, on the and wherever your eyes could go.
Milk and milk products
You get fresh milk and milk products in almost available every dairy product store of Varanasi. The milk is fresh and is available so much in surplus in the city. The curd is tasty and perfect which results to amazing lassi and buttermilk. The paneer is soft and creamy. And of course the sweets made with the milk and khoya is absolutely tempting.
Flavoured milk
Chaat Varieties
As we all know that north India is famous for chaat and Chatpata snacks. And Varanasi has some more delicious varieties of chaat to offer and it’s very tasty and anyone would feel like having more. Starting from Pani Puri, aloo chaat, tamatar chat, dahiwada, ragda chaat, sev puri etc each and every item has its own charm and is a must have.
Sweets
The variety of sweet which Varanasi has to offer is endless and everything is so fresh. The best which we could choose from was the Rabadi jalebi, gulab jamun, peda ,besan ladoo and Rasgulla.All the sweet items are worth trying and packing them for your loved ones too.
Banarasi silk
One of the favourite categories of silk for most of the north Indians is the banarasi silk.Banarasi silk is one of the finest variants of silk produced in India. Primarily weaved in the holy city of Varanasi or Banaras in Uttar Pradesh, this silk attracts attention due to the zari and brocade work in gold and silver thread on the fine fabric. Banarasi silk saris are known all over the world for their splendour and exquisiteness. With their vibrant colours, intricate designs, and beautiful embroidery with gold and silver threads enhances the value of Banarasi sari and often finds a place of pride in the trousseau of an Indian bride.
benarasi saree
Paan
“Ab banaras aaye aur paan na khaye aise kaise ho sakta h” (coming to Banaras how can you miss the banarasi paan). Banaras is super famous for the paan and my father was very keen in tasting it and guess what it is special and tastes amazing. Also have the paan and sing the son “ Khaike paan banaras walaaaaa”.
Banarasi paan
Aghories
Varanasi is known as the land of aghoris and they are everywhere . You can either find them meditating or roaming in the cities or in the temples praying. For people who have never seen aghoris they may see very scary especially for children , but they are harmless and they are actually in their own world of trance and are not bothered about the surroundings.
You can find a wide varieties of chillum , beautifully wooden carved , in different shapes and sizes .They all are handmade and in each and every street shops you would find something different
This is what we bought from the market
Souvenirs of deities
The streets which leads to ghats and to Kashi Vishwanath temple is filled with small shops and street vendors which sells of all sorts of souvenirs and items required for daily pooja. What I found intresting is the idols made of brass and the quality is very good.Bargaining is the key for shopping here so negotiate as much as possible.
p.c. Shutterstock
Varanasi is a city of religious significance in Hindus, has the best street food and variety of things to shop. So have fun while exploring the spiritual capital of India
On a saturday we decided to visit Sarnath, which one of the four main centres for Buddhism in India. Sarnath is a Buddhist pilgrim spot located near Varanasi. The city is famous for being the first place where Lord Buddha preached for the first time after gaining enlightenment. Later, kings who followed Buddhism like King Ashoka built a lot of stupas and structures here that are focused on Buddhism.After gaining the knowledge of life Buddha gave his first teachings to his student here sitting under a banyan tree and that tree is still preserved there .
How to Reach Sarnath
Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh India is a little town lying close to Varanasi.
The Varanasi airport is 24 km is the nearest airport to Sarnath. One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Sarnath directly. The main railway station is also at Varanasi as only a few trains halt at the Sarnath railway station. One can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Sarnath directly.
Sarnath is well connected to nearby cities in the state via an excellent network of roads. Regular state-run buses move to and from Varanasi. One can also opt for a cab from Varanasi. Hiring an autorickshaw from Varanasi to Sarnath can also be considered.Local buses are the most convenient way of travel within the city. Autorickshaws are not available in Sarnath. It is also preffered by many tourists to explore this small area on foot.
We took a local auto and went sarnath well we did some bargaining for the price which included to n fro trip for a day which was reasonable.
Places to Visit in Sarnath
Thai Buddha Vihara
Dhamek stupa
Chaukhandi
Chaukhandi Stupa
Archaeological museum
The museum has archaeological excavations of buddhist history.the meusem is beautifully maintained and its under continuous surveillance and you are not allowed to take your mobile phones and cameras inside.
Archaeological museum
Deer park or Ishipatana
Jain Temple
Digambar Jain Temple
Another interesting thing which you can do is shop a handloom banarsi and jamdani silk from the nearby local weaving centres in Sarnath.Quality wise and price wise its affordable nad the designs are also authentic.
Harrytinkers travelog 