FoG

First Story on this destination on Ghumakkar

Journey to Riyadh – An overview

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It was a delight to pass sand-eroded hills, empty roads, beautiful desert landscapes and so on. At the same time, it got lonely at times, and one actually yearned for good music or company while doing such a long journey.
It was about half past one when I saw the emerging suburbs of Riyadh (Fig 9), and then, I was past them and into the heart of the city. Asking around, I managed to locate the way to the venue of the university. It seemed like a prudent thing to do, so that I would be able to decide where to take a room in a hotel. The condition would be that it should be near enough to the University.

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Disappointing ‘Wular’ – The largest fresh water lake in Asia

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Each year during Amarnath Yatra we try to cover one new place of Kashmir excluding Srinagar. By this method we have covered Aru Valley, Betab Valley, Lidder valley, Pahalgam, Anant Nag, Avantipura, Verinag spring ( the chief source of the river Jhelum) Sonamarg, Gulmarg, ┬аMansabal lake etc. During 2009 Amarnath Yatra, we had planned to visit Wular Lake. After Darshan we started returned journey from Baltal towards Srinagar early in the morning.

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Chennai Temples

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It is a very beautiful temple with numerous fixed glass windows permitting maximum sunlight thus saving lot of energy. All windows are nicely painted with mythological pictures. Beautiful wall painting, pillars and a huge darshan hall makes this temple very attractive. I really like the wooden doors of the enclosures where deities reside. It is a huge wooden door with beautiful carvings. Every Sunday , a special programme is held in this temple which includes bhajan, Bhagwat Gita course, Aarti and at 1315 hrs lunch Prasadam for everyone.

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Valparai Series – Part 4

Valparai Series – Part 4

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To reach the Nalla Mudi view point, one has to walk through where else but the Nalla Mudi tea estate. A rather stern looking Forest guard stopped us with a Sorry, No Entry, Elephant problem. He was not however as fierce as he looked and easily succumbed to our pleading that we had come so far from the distant planet of Bombay, so how could we go home without seeing this place?

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Lammasingi, Andhra’s Kashmir

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Lammasingi (рд▓рдореНрдорд╕рд┐рдВрдЧреА) or Lambasingi (рд▓рдореНрдмрд╕рд┐рдВрдЧреА) as the tribals call it, is a tiny hamlet nestling on a ridge at an altitude of 2600 above sea level in the Eastern Ghats, a little over a 100 kilometres to the west of Vizag. It was an unknown, remote tribal settlement till a discovery was made which stripped the place of its anonymity and earned it the sobriquet of тАЬAndhra KashmirтАЭ. A few years ago, weathermen found that it was the coldest place in Andhra, with night temperatures occasionally dipping to sub-zero levels. This news was broadcast by TV channels and overnight, it became a popular tourist.

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Valparai Series – Part 3

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Though elephantine in appearance, the Valparai bisons (Indian Gaur) are usually mild creatures who mind their own business. But which fool would proceed further ‘where angels fear to tread’? After taking our fair share of pics, we did an about turn.

Sometimes the wildlife comes out on the main road, much to their detriment. Wildlife killings by overspeeding F1 drivers is unfortunately all too common despite the many caution signs. This huge deer was standing barely 1 foot away at twilight. I realised he was next to me only when some bikers stopped to stare.

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A nature walk

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A nature walk through the lush woods will throw up many surprises, especially if you have an interest in nature. That’s what had exactly happened to a team of 34 grown-ups during a training camp on a windy winter morning and returned with loads of memory to cherish throughout their life.

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DakshinaChitra тАУ A cross cultural living museum in Chennai, Tamilnadu

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We went to DakshinaChitra in the month of December 2010 by our car. The entry fee for DakshinaChitra is Rs 75/- (adult) and Rs 20/- (Children between 5 to 12 years) and Rs 30/- (student between 12-18 years). Although this place is located at the outskirts of Chennai (or to be precise 45 kms from the city) it is very well connected from city. Regular buses and taxis are available for going to this place. This place can be very well visited if you are visiting Mahabalipuram or Pondicherry and can spare 1-2 hours in between.

So after purchasing we entered inside the DakshinaChitra.On our left there were shops selling crafts item .Also at the entrance we found Jagannath PuriтАЩs idols was kept in the courtyard area. We were then informed by the staff there that they were celebrating Orissa craft festival so craftsmanтАЩs from Orissa has come here to exhibit their art and culture.

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Valparai Series – Part 1: An Introduction

Valparai Series – Part 1: An Introduction

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Green Hills has a restaurant that is dingy and uninviting but their food is delicious. ┬аSome of the home stays provide meals, some do not have this facility. ┬аThere are several restaurants, food stalls and messes along the one and only main road where you can enjoy a cheap and delicious meal. ┬аBesides this there are umpteen bakeries serving hot snacks, cakes and locally grown tea. ┬аThe problem arises for strict vegetarians who will not eat vegetarian food in a non veg establishment, and as we all know there are many such good folk not just in Tamil Nadu but all over India. ┬а I have seen only one place near the Gandhi Bus Stand – the Sabari Mess – which proclaims itself to be “Veg Only“. ┬а No personal experience but you can not go too wrong with the local food. ┬аWe dined at the Plaza on the main road opposite the Police Station. ┬аIt was consistently good with excellent service and spotlessly clean. ┬а ┬а For us, once we are on to a good thing, we are reluctant to experiment with something new so as with the home stay, the staff at Plaza now also treat us as long lost friends. ┬аI did notice a Mary Matha Mess in the adjoining building on the first floor which seemed to be popular. ┬аMess┬аin these parts ┬аmeans restaurant or a place where meals are served.

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Chhatikara Maa Vaishno Devi рдЫрдЯреАрдХрд░рд╛ рдорд╛рдБ рд╡реИрд╖реНрдгреЛрджреЗрд╡реА рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░

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рджрд╛рдБрдИ рдУрд░ рдЫрдЯреАрдХрд░рд╛ рдореБрдбрд╝рддреЗ рд╣реА рдХреБрдЫ рдлрд╛рд╕рд▓реЗ рдкрд░ рд╣реА, рджрд╛рдБрдИ рддрд░рдл рдХреНрд░реБрджреНрдз рд╢реЗрд░ рдкрд░ рд╕реМрдореНрдп рджреЗрд╡реА рдорд╛рдБ рдХреА рд╡рд┐рд╢рд╛рд▓ рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐ рдХрд╛ рджрд░реНрд╢рди рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдкрд╛рд╕ рд╣реА рд╣рд╛рде рдЬреЛрдбрд╝реЗ рдзреНрдпрд╛рдирдордЧреНрди рд╣рдиреБрдорд╛рдирдЬреА рдмреИрдареЗ рд╣реИрдВред рдпрд╣ рдорд╛рдБ рд╡реИрд╖реНрдгреЛрджреЗрд╡реА рдХрд╛ рдирд╡рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд┐рдд рд╡рд┐рд╢рд╛рд▓ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рд╣реИрдВред рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рдХреА рддрд░рдл рдХреБрдЫ рд╣рдЯрдХрд░ рд╣рд▓рдХреА рд╕реА рдЫрд╛рдБрд╣ рдореЗрдВ рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рдкрд╛рд░реНрдХ рдХреАред рдЪрд╛рд░ рдмрдЬреЗ рдЧреЗрдЯ рдЦреБрд▓рдиреЗ рдореЗрдВ рджрд╕реЗрдХ рдорд┐рдирдЯ рдХреА рджреЗрд░ рдереА рдФрд░ рднреАрдбрд╝ рдЦрдбрд╝реА рдереАред рдмреЛрд░реНрдб рдкрд░ рдЬреВрддреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдЬрдорд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд╡рд┐рд╖рдп рдореЗрдВ рдкрдв рд╣рдордиреЗ рдЬреВрддреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдХрд╛рд░ рдореЗрдВ рдЦреЛрд▓ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ред рдЧреЗрдЯ рдЦреБрд▓рдиреЗ рдкрд░ рд╕рдВрдЧреАрддрд╛ рд╡ рдЦреБрд╢реА рдорд╣рд┐рд▓рд╛ рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░ рд╕реЗ рдЕрдиреНрджрд░ рдЪрд▓реЗ рдЧрдпреЗред рдкреБрд░реБрд╖ рд▓рд╛рдИрди рдЪреЗрдХрд┐рдВрдЧ рдореЗрдВ рдмреЗрд▓реНрдЯ рдкрд░ рдРрддрд░рд╛рдЬ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдореИрдиреЗ рдЙрд╕реЗ рдЦреЛрд▓ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдкрд░рдВрддреБ рдкрд░реНрд╕ рдкрд░ рднреА рдРрддрд░рд╛рдЬ рдкрд╛рдиреЗ рдкрд░ рдореИрдВ рдмреЗрд▓реНрдЯ рдмрд╛рдБрдзрддреЗ рд╣реБрдпреЗ рд▓реМрдЯ рдкрдбрд╝рд╛ рдХрд┐ рджрд░реНрд╢рди рддреЛ рд╣реЛ рд╣реА рдЧрдпреЗ рд╣реИрдВ, рд╡реГрдиреНрджрд╛рд╡рди рднреА рдЬрд╛рдирд╛ рд╣реИ, рд╕рдВрдЧреАрддрд╛ рдХреЗ рд▓реМрдЯрддреЗ рд╣реА рд░рд╡рд╛рдирд╛ рд╣реЛ рдЬрд╛рдпреЗрдВрдЧреЗрдВ, рд╡рд┐рдЪрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реБрдпреЗ рдСрдлрд┐рд╕-рдХрд╛рдЙрдгреНрдЯрд░реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд╕рд╛рдордиреЗ рдЦрдбрд╝рд╛ рд╣реЛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рдЬрд╣рд╛рдВ рджрд░реНрд╢рдирд╛рд░реНрдерд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдХрдореНрдкреНрдпреБрдЯрд░рд╛рдЗрдЬреНрдб рд╕реНрд▓рд┐рдкреЗрдВ рдЬрд╛рд░реА рдХреА рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣реА рдереАрдВред рдЗрдирдХреЗ рдЖрдзрд╛рд░ рдкрд░ рд╣реА рд╕рд╛рдордиреЗ рд╕реНрдерд┐рдд рд▓реЙрдХрд░реЛрдВ рдкрд░ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди рдЬрдорд╛ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред рдЦрд╛рд▓реА рдХрд╛рдЙрдВрдгреНрдЯрд░ рджреЗрдЦ рдореИрдиреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдирд╛рдо рд╕реЗ рд╕реНрд▓рд┐рдк рд▓реЗ рд▓реАред рд▓реЙрдХрд░ рдХрд╛рдЙрдгреНрдЯрд░ рдкрд░ рд╕реБрдЭрд╛рд╡ рдорд┐рд▓рд╛ рдХрд┐ рдореИрдВ рдкрд░реНрд╕ рд╕рд╛рдордЧреНрд░реА рдХреЛ рдЬреЗрдм рдореЗрдВ рд░рдЦ рдкрд░реНрд╕ рд╡ рдмреЗрд▓реНрдЯ рдЬрдорд╛ рдХрд░рд╡рд╛ рджреВрдБред рдЕрдирджреЗрдЦреА рдЖрдЬреНрдЮрд╛рд╡рд╢ рдЬрдорд╛ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдп рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ред рдЕрдиреНрджрд░ рд╣рд░рд┐рдпрд╛рд▓реА рдореЗрдВ рдХреБрдЫ рдЙрдкрд░ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдкрд░ рд╕рд╛рдордиреЗ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдЪреМрдХ рдореЗрдВ рдЙрддрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рд╕реАрдврд┐рдпрд╛рдБ рдереАрдВ рдЬрд╣рд╛рдВ рдПрдХ рддрд░рдл рдЧрдВрдЧрд╛рдЬреА рдХреА рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐ рдЬрд┐рд╕рдХреЗ рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рддрд░рдл рдордЧрд░рдордЪреНрдЫреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдореБрдБрд╣ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреА рдзрд╛рд░ рддрдерд╛ рджреВрд╕рд░реА рддрд░рдл рдпрдореБрдирд╛рдЬреА рдЬрд┐рдирдХреЗ рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рддрд░рдл рдХрдЫреБрдУрдВ рдХреЗ рдореБрдБрд╣ рд╕реЗ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреА рдзрд╛рд░ рдмрд╣ рд░рд╣реА рдереА, рд╡рд╣рд╛рдБ рдЦреБрд╢реА рдореЗрд░рд╛ рдЗрдВрддрдЬрд╛рд░ рдХрд░ рд░рд╣реА рдереА рдФрд░ рдореБрдЭреЗ рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рд╣реА рдЦреБрд╢реА рд╕реЗ рдЪрд┐рд▓реНрд▓рд╛рдИ рдХрд┐ рдирд╛рдиреВ рджреЗрдЦреЛ… рдЙрд╕рдХреА рдЦреБрд╢реА рд╡ рдЙрддреНрд╕рд╛рд╣ рдХрд╛ рдХреЛрдИ рдкрд╛рд░рд╛рд╡рд╛рд░ рди рдерд╛ред рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдпрд╣ рдордиреНрджрд┐рд░ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдВрдЧрдг рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╡ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╣реБрдд рд╣реА рдЦреБрд╢реА рджреЗрдиреЗрд╡рд╛рд▓рд╛ рд╡ рдЙрддреНрд╕рд╛рд╣рд╡рд░реНрдзрдХ рд╣реИред

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Himachal Yatra – Palampur Tea Gardens

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Snowline is the mark from where above, snow remains unmelted even during summers. Normally snowline starts from 4000 meters. I had seen Dhauladhar range in peak summer months of June and everytime I was baffled by its unparalleled beauty. But for the first time Dhauladhar disappointed us. There were barren peaks without any trace of snow. It seems the global warming has already killed Dhauladhar’s beauty.

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