Araku valley

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Araku is a picturesque tribal settlement in the Eastern Ghats, about 120 km to the north of the port city of Visakhapatnam a.k.a. Vizag, which also happens to be my hometown. For me, the drive is an end in itself, a mind-blowing experience as one navigates through umpteen hair-pin bends on a steep mountain road which snakes its way up the Eastern Ghats to an altitude of some 1200 metres above sea level. This is one of those road trips on which one does not feel like driving fast but prefer to gently cruise along the serpentine path, inhaling the pristine air and feasting on the visual candy being proffered so generously by Mother Nature.

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рдмрджреНрд░реАрдирд╛рде -Mana, the last village!

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Badrinath is at a height of 11,204 feet above msl. It is around 530 Kms from Delhi and the route is Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh -Devprayag-Rudraprayag – Karanprayag-Chamoli -Joshimath – Badrinath. Badrinath route opens in first week of May and is closed for winters after Deepawali.
If going by own vehicle, one has to reach upto Karanprayag or Nandprayag and take a night’s halt. If there are two drivers, one can easily reach upto Joshimathh and stay there, saving one day.
For train journey, the last station is Rishikesh, from where hired taxis, chartered buses, route buses and jeeps are easily available for Badri Nath.

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Leaving Munsyari – The long drawn route

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So with full gusto, I rev-ed the engine and started back amid beautiful landscapes, away from the thoughtful and calm gaze of Panchachuli, the peak which was in the back yard of our stay. The journey from Munsyari to Birthi was spent gazing at mountains, standing tall and quite, looking at the occasional habitat along side the road with Pahadi folk wearing black topis, half jacket over long shirts and pajamas and throwing infectious smiles as they go through with their daily chores. Because of rains, the road was not in its prime so we were a tad cautious; but there was an natural desire to drive a little faster and be able to reach Sattal, which as per our friends from Pahad was not a realistic goal.

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рд╕реБрд╣рд╛рдирд╛ рд╕рдлрд╝рд░ рдФрд░ рдЖрдк

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рдореИрдВрдиреЗ рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдкрд░ рд░реВрдЪрд┐ рд▓реЗрдирд╛ рдЕрднреА рдХреБрдЫ рд╕рдордп рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд╣реА рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рд╣реИ рдЕрддрдГ рдЖрдк рд▓реЛрдЧ рдореБрдЭреЗ рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреА рдирдпреА рд╕рджрд╕реНрдп рдХрд╣ рд╕рдХрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ. рдореЗрд░реЗ рд╣рд╕рдмреЗрдВрдб рд╢реНрд░реА рдореБрдХреЗрд╢ рднрд╛рд▓рд╕реЗ рдЗрд╕ рдЕрдВрддрд░рдЬрд╛рд▓ (рд╡реЗрдмрд╕рд╛рдЗрдЯ ) рд╕реЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рд╕реЗ рд╣реА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рд╡реГрддреНрддрд╛рдиреНрдд рд▓реЗрдЦрдХ рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдЬреБреЬреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдПрд╡рдВ рдЙрдирдХреА рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдбреЛрдЯ рдХреЙрдо рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐ рдкреНрд░реЗрдо рддрдерд╛ рдирд┐рд╖реНрдард╛ рджреЗрдЦрдХрд░ рдореИрдВ рднреА рдзреАрд░реЗ рдзреАрд░реЗ рдЗрд╕ рд╕рдореНрдорд╛рдирдЬрдирдХ рдордВрдЪ рд╕реЗ рдЬреБрдбрд╝ рдЧрдИ рддрдерд╛ рдЕрдм рддреЛ рдпрд╣ рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд┐ рд╣реИ рдХреА рдкреВрдЬрд╛ рдкрд╛рда рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рджреИрдирд┐рдХ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рд╢реБрд░реБрдЖрдд рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╣реА рд╣реЛрддреА рд╣реИ. рдЕрдЧрд░ рдореИрдВ рдпрд╣ рдХрд╣реВрдБ рдХреА рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдХрд╛ рдПрдХ рдЪрд╣реЗрддрд╛ рд╕рджрд╕реНрдп рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдХреЛрдИ рдЕрддрд┐рд╢реНрдпреЛрдХреНрддрд┐ рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реЛрдЧреА.

рдореИрдВ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рде рд╡рд░реНрд╖ рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рдпрд╛ рдПрдХ рд╕реЗ рдЕрдзрд┐рдХ рдмрд╛рд░ (рдореБрдЦреНрдпрддрдГ рдзрд╛рд░реНрдорд┐рдХ рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рдкрд░) рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝реА рдХрд░ рд╣реА рд▓реЗрддреА рд╣реВрдБ, рдЗрди рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛рдУрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╕реЗ рдЦрдЯреНрдЯреЗ рдореАрдареЗ рдЕрдиреБрднрд╡ рд╣реЛрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рддрдерд╛ рд╣рд░ рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдХреБрдЫ рдирдпрд╛ рд╕рд┐рдЦрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддреА рд╣реИ, рдЕрдкрдиреА рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛рдУрдВ рдХреЗ рдЗрдиреНрд╣реА рдЦрдЯреНрдЯреЗ рдореАрдареЗ рдЕрдиреБрднрд╡реЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдкреНрдд рдХреБрдЫ рдорд╣рддреНрд╡рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдмрд┐рдиреНрджреБрдУрдВ рдХреЛ рдХрд▓рдордмрджреНрдз рдХрд░рдХреЗ рдЖрдЬ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдкрд▓реЛрдЧреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░рд╕реНрддреБрдд рдХрд░ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реВрдБ, рдЖрд╢рд╛ рд╣реИ рдХреА рдпрд╣ рдЬрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд░реА рд╕рд╛рдереА рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд▓рд╛рднрджрд╛рдпрдХ рд╕рд┐рджреНрдз рд╣реЛрдЧреА, рдЕрдЧрд░ рдРрд╕рд╛ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ рддреЛ рдореИрдВ рд╕рдордЭреВрдВрдЧреА рдХреА рдореЗрд░рд╛ рдкреНрд░рдпрд╛рд╕ рдЕрд░реНрдердкреВрд░реНрдг рд░рд╣рд╛.
рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рд╢реБрд░реВ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╣рд▓реЗ рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛ рд╕рдореНрдмрдВрдзрд┐рдд рдирд┐рдореНрдирд▓рд┐рдЦрд┐рдд рд╕рднреА рдорд╣рддреНрд╡рдкреВрд░реНрдг рдкрд╣рд▓реБрдУрдВ рдкрд░ рдЧреМрд░ рдХрд░ рд▓реЗрдВ рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рдЖрдкрдХрд╛ рд╕рдлрд╝рд░ рдЙрд░реНрджреВ рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рд╕рдлрд╝рд░ рд╣реА рд░рд╣реЗ, рдЕрдВрдЧреНрд░реЗрдЬреА рд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рд╕рдлрд╝рд░ (suffer) рди рдмрди рдЬрд╛рдП.

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Pachmarhi – In HeavenтАЩs Abode (Trek 2)

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he points in this trek mostly included temple caves and shrines. I was greatly exhilarated because i will be surrounded by mysticism and divinity of Mahadev Shiva for the whole day. Mahadev is a great source of inspiration ,he is a yogi and a warrior bestowed with great powers.
Jatashankar is a cave temple.One has to go deep into the ravine about 200-400 meters with the help of narrow stairways laid down supported by enormous rocks on both sides.These are sedimentary rocks mainly sandstone thus having loose gravel.In simpler words if one throws a sandstone it breaks.

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Our Trip to Kanatal, Uttrakhand

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We were on a 8-10 feet mud track with the rock face on one side and a steep fall on the other side of the track. One of the kids in our group was playing. While running around the child fell and tumbled down the fall. The child’s landed onto bushes growing at the side of the mountain and the child was lying on the bushes. One of the instructors immediately went down with the help of a rope and carried the child back up. The child was in a state of shock and all of us were shaken up too. However the child was perfectly fine physically. We went over to a local doctor who examined the child and reconfirmed that the child was fine. All of us thanked almighty for the grace and agreed to be more cautious. Although shaken we wanted to move forward.
We were back in the camp by 5:30 and were raring to take up many other activities. There were a range of activities including Burma Bridge rope crossing, a ropes course, and a range of sports including football, cricket, volleyball, etc.

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рдпрд╛рддреНрд░рд╛: рдХрднреА рдЦрд╝реБрд╢реА рдХрднреА рдЧрд╝рдо

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рдФрдВрдврд╛ рдореЗрдВ рд╣рдорд╕реЗ рдЕрдкреЗрдХреНрд╖рд╛рдХреГрдд рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рдкреИрд╕реЗ рдЦрд░реНрдЪ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдП, рдФрд░ рдЕрдВрддрддрдГ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реА рдЬреЗрдм рдкреВрд░реА рддрд░рд╣ рд╕реЗ рдЦрд╛рд▓реА рд╣реЛ рдЧрдИ, рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдкреВрд░рд╛ рд╡рд┐рд╢реНрд╡рд╛рд╕ рдерд╛ рдХреА рддрд╣рд╕реАрд▓ рдкреНрд▓реЗрд╕ рд╣реИ, рдЗрддрдирд╛ рдмрдбрд╝рд╛ рддреАрд░реНрде рд╕реНрдерд╛рди рд╣реИ, рд░реЛрдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рджреЗрд╢ рдХреЗ рдХреЛрдиреЗ рдХреЛрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдкрд░реНрдпрдЯрдХ рдЖрддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ рдПрдХрд╛рдз рдП.рдЯреА.рдПрдо. рддреЛ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛ рд╣реА….рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рдЬрдм рд╣рдо рдмрд╕ рд╕реНрдЯреЙрдк рдкрд░ рдЖрдпреЗ рдФрд░ рд╣рдордиреЗ рдП.рдЯреА.рдПрдо. рдХрд╛ рдкрддрд╛ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рддреЛ рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рд╣реЛрд╢ рдлрд╛рдЦреНрддрд╛ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдП рдкрддрд╛ рдЪрд▓рд╛ рдХреА рдФрдВрдврд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рднреА рдП.рдЯреА.рдПрдо. рдирд╣реАрдВ рд╣реИ, рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдФрдВрдврд╛ рд╕реЗ рдкрд░рд▓реА рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рдерд╛ рдЬреЛ рдХреА рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рд╕рд╛рдврд╝реЗ рддреАрди рдШрдВрдЯреЗ рдХрд╛ рд░рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╛ рдерд╛, рд╣рдорд╛рд░реЗ рдкрд╛рд╕ рд╕рд┐рд░реНрдл рджреЛ рд╕реМ рд░реБрдкрдпреЗ рдереЗ рдФрд░ рдмрд╕ рдХрд╛ рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпрд╛ рдерд╛ 300 рд░реБрдкрдпреЗ рд▓реЗрдХрд┐рди рд╣рдо рд╣рд┐рдореНрдордд рдХрд░рдХреЗ рдмрд╕ рдореЗрдВ рдмреИрда рдЧрдП рдХреНрдпреЛрдВрдХрд┐ рдлрд┐рд░ рдкрд░рд▓реА рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдмрд╕ рдХреБрдЫ рдШрдВрдЯреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╣реА рдереА.

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Badri Nath – Himalayan Beauty !

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Temples and historical places for the religious & spirituals…. and Auli skiing, valley of flowers trek, Geo-thermal springs of Tapovan and satopanth treks and Nanda Devi bio-sphere park, for the nature lovers but non-religious people.
Yes it is Badrinath. I have already seen so many posts on Badrinath, giving ample description and beautiful photos, but each posts carries a new fragrance of Badri Nath, so I thought I should give my part of the story on Badri Nath, and give another fragrance of this wonderful place.

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Pachmarhi тАУ In HeavenтАЩs Abode (Trek 1)

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We started walking carrying our backpacks to our first destination .. towards Pandav Caves .
While walking through the city , which is mainly an Army Cantonment area housing many servicemen, we happened to see a church named “Protestant Church” it was bolted and locked with some buffaloes grazing in the area enclosed within the walls of the church. Probably the church only opened on Sundays for public prayers,sermons and religious meetings.
This magnificent structure reminds one of the British annexation of this region and making it a summer hill resort.By looking at the church its medieval architecture and grandeur can easily be apprehended.
A few minutes walk ahead lead us towards the Pachmarhi lake towards the south surrounded by the Golf Course with local habitation around its pockets.

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Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves: Treasure trove of Indian Mythology

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While we were planning the Kumaon itinerary, research on the net did not convince us to include the cave complex in the trip. Few bloggers felt it was unsafe, slippery, and muddy and for those who liked it, I was not sure if it was due to their religious inclination or were the caves really worth a visit for a secular tourist.

I discussed these apprehensions with my friend Mona, who belongs to that region. She insisted that we must include them in the itinerary and added that some of her old relatives visited the caves and found them scintillating. So even with all the reservations, Patal Bhuvaneshwar was not completely striked out from the plan.

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