12 Dec

Summer Road Trip – Kakdagaad Haridwar

By Naturebuff

Dinner is at a small Rajasthani Dhaba with really yummy food. One thing we have experienced throughout the trip is that the food has been consistently good in the small places and not once have we had any tummy upsets. It just reinforces my belief that one must have what the locals have in the places that they patronise… one really can’t go wrong then.

Universal Studios – Los Angles and Orlando

By Upanshu Singhal

The first memorable ride I remember in LA was the studio tour by bus, they take you in a multiple bogie bus for a tour, it gives you an experience of flood, train accident, Kingkong. In the middle of tour, driver and conductor starts arguing whether to cross a bridge or not which looks very fragile and can break any time. Conductor says that bridge will go down if we drive down the bus but driver wants to take a chance and he finally drove down the bus over the bridge. And, all of sudden you experience that bridge has broken, everybody starts screaming, after few minutes, bridge comes back to it’s original position and everybody start laughing. Your bus enters in to a railway station and suddenly everything started
shaking, one train tried to hit our bus, fire on the platform and then you say “Wah Kya Scene hein”. Then you pass through a Mexican city, bus suddenly stopped due to flood, it felt that we all are going to drown in the flood. I must say that this was one of the most memorable 90 minute ride I can have any time. But, this bus ride is not available in Orlando, all the above scenes has been converted in to a separate exhibit or ride. One of the exciting ride in Orlando was when they take you in the boat and sharks start following your boat and all of a sudden one of the shark appears from the water – name the movie now.

भगवान एकलिंग जी दर्शन

By Mukesh Bhalse

लालबाग, श्रीनाथ जी मंदिर ट्रस्ट के द्वारा बनवाया एक सुन्दर उद्यान है जहां कई तरह के फ़ुलों के पौधे, बच्चों के लिये झुले तथा मनोरंजन के अन्य साधन हैं, यानी सुकुन के कुछ पल बिताने के लिये इस उद्यान में सब कुछ है और छायाचित्रकारी के लिये तो यह उद्यान अति उत्तम है। जब हम यहां पहुंचे तो उस समय यहां हमारे अलावा और कोइ नहीं था, क्योंकि यह बाग दोपहर के बाद ही खुलता है। इस उद्यान में जी भर कर फोटोग्राफी करने के बाद हम अपने ऑटो में सवार होकर अपने अगले पड़ाव यानी गौशाला की ओर बढे।

The Spell of Bundi – Exploring Heritage

By Nandan Jha

It has a big entrance and you land up into a courtyard flanked on all sides by large, tall halls with stairs going up to the next level. You catch a breath to take a good view of overall topology and head towards the stairs. The initial bat-poo-smell is familiar but gradually the stench begins to get the better of you. The palace has seen good times and that is apparent from those murals (and more when we would visit Chitrashala), persian glass-ware and all things which are signature of forts. The jharokhas (Bay windows?) give an impressive view of the town and the Baoli. In December, the haze was thic but I would guess that in a better weather the view would take you few ages behind. The old, stunted-appearing, town almost feels like a scene from the film ‘Rudaali’. We walked around, with the help of a local guide/care-taker who patiently opened the locked doors so that we could appreciate the once-royal palace. The overgrowing stench, bad upkeep was now winning so I got into a conversation with the caretaker. He told me that the place is undergoing a litigation. There is a very thin layer of support staff to take care of the place but all they try to do is to keep the hooligans off and wait for well-meaning travellers. I didn’t want to make it more difficult for the caretaker and wished him luck and we proceed to 2nd floor/3rd level. Large rooms, supported with crafted pillars and brackets. The usual Torans (welcoming motif at the entrance) with elephants proudly protruding their long trunks.

श्रीनाथ जी की हवेली ………….नाथद्वारा.

By Mukesh Bhalse

दोस्तों, एक लम्बे अंतराल के बाद आज फिर उपस्थित हुं आप लोगों के सामने। आप सभी जानते ही हैं की मेरी घुमक्कड़ी का केन्द्र…

लैंसडाउन : मिट्टी की सौंधी खुशबू समेटे गाँव का तीर्थाटन

By Avtar Singh

मेरे पिताजी ने अपनी CPWD की नौकरी के दौरान कुछ समय जोशीमठ से आगे ओली में गुजारा था और वो वहाँ ITBP के कैम्प में रुकते थे, दरअसल उन्हें वहाँ कुछ सरकारी भवनों के निर्माण से सम्बन्धित कार्य करवाने होते थे और उनकी मदद के लिये स्थानीय मजदूर, खलासी और बेलदार का काम करते थे जो उनका सामान इत्यादि लेकर चलते थे तथा अन्य कार्यों में भी मदद करते थे, उनसे अपनी बातचीत को वो अक्सर हमसे साझा करते थे, कुछेक जुमले जो स्थानीय लोग सुनाते थे, और आज भी मुझे याद हैं, वो कुछ इस प्रकार से थे कि “पहाड़ का वासा, कुल का नासा”, और, “जो नदी के किनारे बसते हैं, नदी उन्हें बसने नही देती” और यदि उन बातों को फिलहाल में केदारनाथ में हुई भयंकर आपदा के परिपेक्ष्य में देखें तो ये मानना ही पड़ेगा कि अपने क्षेत्रों की जटिल परिस्थतियों को वो ही बेहतर ढंग से जानते-समझते है |

मैं अपने इस आलेख में ऐसा कोई दावा नही करने जा रहा कि मुझे इन गाँवों के बारे में कोई जानकारी है या मै उनकी रोजमर्रा की दुश्वारियों को दूसरों की अपेक्षा अच्छी तरह समझता हूँ | अपितु मेरा तो ये आलेख ही स्वयम अपने आप पर ही तंज़ (व्यंग्य,कटाक्ष) है कि एक बार की चढ़ाई-उतराई ने ही हमारी ये हालत कर दी कि उसके बाद काफ़ी समय तक रुक कर आराम करना पड़ा | वस्तुतः मै इस आलेख के माध्यम से उन क्षेत्रों के वासियों और खास तौर पर महिलायों के जज्बे और उनकी हिम्मत को अपना नमन करता हूँ जो कि अपनी घर-ग्रहस्थी के अलावा बाज़ार के कामों और अपने जानवरों को भी सम्भालती हैं, जिन रास्तों पर चलते ही हमारी सांस फूल जाती है, वहाँ वो अपने सर पर घास के गटठर या जलावन के लिए लकड़ियाँ उठाये, बिना किसी शिकायत के चलती रहती हैं, वो बच्चे भी दाद के हकदार हैं जो अपने स्कूल तक पहुंचने के लिए कई-कई किलोमीटर इन कच्चे-पक्के रास्तों से गुजरते है, जिनमे कई पहाड़ी नदियाँ भी आती है और जंगली जानवरों का खतरा भी हरदम बना रहता है, पर वो अपने अदम्य साहस और मजबूत जिजीविषा के बलबूते सारी विपरीत परिस्थतियों के बावजूद अपने हौसले को बनाये रखते हैं |

Single Day Trip Near Bangalore: Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve and Madhugiri Fort

By Ashu Saxena

Well, hope is a wonderful thing and is a must grab tool too, be it come from any source, come on any moment, come from anywhere. There He walked down where we sat down with a fickle mind whether to proceed or not. He looked like an ordinary man, carrying a backpack with a 1 litre bottle, head shining like a aura in sun, spects crowning like a jewel on Him, and a determination to climb any fort in vision. And as expected He rides on a THUNDERBIRD. We asked Him how far is it going up from here, and He replied in simple words, “2 hours of continuous walk up and 1 hour of a smiling walk down”. We just kept listening to His stories, He kept on sharing his experiences, and within few minutes of interaction He was a hero. Trekking alone just to make sure He climbs every fort He knows exist. He motivated us to the brim of our taking and we were all set to see what’s there on the top. We were short on water and with every level up we tasted water pretty slowly. There we saw the mighty walls of the fort, standing tall through times and weather, without APEX ULTIMA :p.

Lansdowne : Way to Achieve Salvation (Nothing Religious About it!)

By Avtar Singh

After breakfast, now it is the time for some real fun as now this resort is equipped with some really adventurous sports, as promised by Mr. Dinesh of the resort on our last visit. Thrilling and adventures Zip line was amazing, so were the Brahma Bridge, Monkey Crawl, Spider Web, Walk balance and many other activities. The most commendable fact attracts your attention that the management put all the activities keeping the important aspect of harmony with nature. Not a single activity looks an encroachment on the environment or damaging it. For the not so physically fit people like me there are soft sports materials like badminton, chess, playing cards or ludo etc. are available. It looks good when the management of a resort taking care of people for different tastes and providing them enough choices. Nevertheless my wife and son take full enjoy of all such wonderful activities, you can see the joy on their faces while trying various activities. Rain stops their expedition after some time and they are forced to halt these activities but instead of entering the comfort of four walls we prefer to sit and enjoy in a tent, meant for the staff and keeping resort’s additional goods.

Some Days in Gujarat – Sabarmati Ashram (The modern pilgrimage)

By Rakesh

Gujarat prem of Gandhi Ji is in full flow and is displayed through various facets clearly. We might have heard about the love and attachment of Gandhi ji to Gujarati language but the real extent of it one understands when one sees almost all the documents pertaining to Ashram and his personal correspondence to the men of Gujarat written in Gujarati.

Kutchh – of Great Rann White Desert, Kalo Dungar Black Hills and Pingleshwar White Surf Beach

By Nirdesh Singh

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kutch is the Rann. In visuals you have seen it as white, featureless and stark landscape where not a blade of grass grows. Quick research of net has shown that you can enjoy two views of the Rann. First the aerial view from top of Kalo Dungar and the second is to actually walk on the white terrain at the same site where the annual Rann Mahotsav is held during full moon nights in winters.

It is May and hot. You have few hours only and have started early and are now racing north. The driver wants to take the car aerial but you have to keep reminding him that you want to see Rann only from a few hundred metres up and not all the way from the top!

Unexplored Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh

By Snig Bhaumik

For Kasauli, you first have to reach Dharampur, and then turn left leaving NH22. The straight NH22 leads to Shimla, which is almost 60 kilometers further away. From Dharampur it is a mere 10 kms drive to Kasauli.

Kasauli is a relatively small town, a british cantonment establishment. Our resort was at Chabbal on Garkhal to Jagjit Nagar Road. The road is rather narrow, be cautious with your car while crossing the market place. In my case, there was a truck carrying pile of garbage appeared from the opposite side. And with cars in both sides, took quite some time to make the way. However, by around 2 PM we were at our destination.

We enjoyed the rest of the day just by relaxing in the resort, in the small play area. Witnessing the sunset from the balcony was quite tranquil for all us after some 7 hours of voyage.

Some days in Gujarat – Finally We Reached (Part 2)

By Rakesh

Anyway we crawled through this part dreaming about the great highway ahead as I had heard of. And our dream came true sooner and an awesome highway welcomed us and our Maruti was behaving like a luxury car on this highway, so good is the highway, a zigzag movement notwithstanding. Now all of us were feeling hungary and in search of a good Dhaba was our priority.

1 Vayable Trip Dalhousie – how we made the most before the onward journey

Really enjoyed reading this Dalhousie journey. The way you described the last moments there and the return journey made it feel like I was travelling along with you. Beautiful memories.
2 Rajeev saini A Day trip to Fatehpur Sikri from Delhi

Hi Nitesh I m planning to trip to Agra ,fathe pur ,Sikri AND I WILL BE GUIDED BY UR ABOVE INPUT.
3 ucmini My trip to H.A.L Museum in Bangalore

I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made.
4 hire himachal cab गढ़वाल घुमक्कडी: कर्णप्रयाग – विष्णुप्रयाग – बद्रीनाथ

great article keep it guys
5 Ahmed Top 10 fun things to do in Dubai

Fun things about explained nicely, must read it article.
6 Rambahadur Pranami Orchha, A precious ‘Gem’ of Bundelkhand.

Bundelkhand avashya hi bharatvarsh ka hriday
7 Bharathi Solo Visit to Stoners’ Paradise- Kasol

I enjoyed reading about your solo trip to Kasol. The way you shared your experiences, travel tips, and beautiful moments makes this article both interesting and inspiring for anyone planning…
8 sdivyashree Khajuraho – Beyond Temples

Thank you for sharing such an insightful perspective on exploring Khajuraho beyond its famous temples. I particularly appreciated how the article highlights the region's broader cultural, historical, and natural attractions,…