Nature

Mystical monsoon visit to Nahan, Paonta Sahib, and Dakpatthar – Part I

By Bidisha

Intermittently, when the Rain God seemed to have become a bit weary and softened the intensity of the downpour to smaller and scantier drops, we took a round of the rain-washed outskirts of the resort. But a look up above in the sky at the over-burdened cloud mounds, we knew it might start raining heavily any minute and so did not venture far and also had thoughtfully equipped ourselves with umbrellas. Everything looked so fresh and green early in the morning. The leaves were dripping wet and glistening with droplets of rain water hanging from their edges. The rains seemed to have breathed a fresh lease of life to the flora and fauna.

My trip to Odisha- Barkul and Mangalajodi

By Rachit

I wrote in the previous article, we hired a private boat to go to Barkul. As we settled in the boat, the boat started…

Trees Trounce Temple

By Jayanthi Sankaran

What distinguishes this temple from other Angkor temples is the saddening spectacle of gigantic silk-cotton, banyan and strangler fig trees, some of them more than 40 metres high, swallowing up large sections of the temple. This is the only structure that has been left as it is by the French, – the École française d’Extrême-Orient – who were doing renovation work, to bear testimony to the wrath of nature against man-made objects.

Whirlwind Trip to Vancouver – Part 2

By Devasmita

Stanley Park is an urban park surrounding the city, a two minute walk from my hotel in Canada Place. I spent an early morning taking a stroll, watching the runners practice for the upcoming half marathon, mommies walking around with their babies in strollers, and tourists walking excitedly with their cameras, posing and taking pictures of everything. In fact, two of my lab mates signed up to run the half-marathon the day after their conference presentations, and it was inspiring to see people travel across the coast to talk at conferences, and then change into their gym clothes from the formal suits and go about running miles all around the city. Hats off to their energy, although this gave me some more time to sleep late.

Stanley Park is huge, and when I say it is huge, I mean it. If you have been to Central Park in New York City, this is even bigger than that, a paved path running around its circumference. Lined with tall trees, lush greenery, and full of enthusiastic people jogging around, Stanley Park is ranked the 16th best park in the world and the 6th best in North America.

FLOATING VILLAGES OF CAMBODIA

By Jayanthi Sankaran

The eco-system and habitat surrounding the Tonlé Sap Lake also pulsates with its seasonal flooding and draining. A great majority of the trees, plants and shrubs are deciduous. Instead of shedding their leaves during the dry season, they loose them when the lake deepens, when they are inundated. However, there are also several plant species that remain evergreen, despite being waterlogged for six to eight months, each year. They are laden with fruits and seeds, at the time of flooding.

जिम कॉर्बेट पार्क – गर्जिया देवी का मंदिर और कॉर्बेट जल प्रपात

By Anand Bharti

गर्जिया देवी का मंदिर रामनगर से रानीखेत जाने वाली सड़क पर रामनगर से 15 किलोमीटर दूर है.यह मंदिर कोसी नदी के किनारे एक पहाड़ी के शीर्ष पर बना हुआ है. यह नैनीताल जिले का एक मुख्य मंदिर है जहाँ हर वर्ष कार्तिक पूर्णिमा पर हजारो श्रदालु माता के दर्शनों के लिए आते है. वसंत पंचमी पर भी यहाँ भक्तों की भीड़ जुटती है. यह मंदिर माता पार्वती को समर्पित है.

मंदिर की दूरी सिर्फ 15 किमी ही थी परन्तु पहाड़ी रास्तों पर इन 15 किमी की दूरी तय करने में अच्छा खासा समय लग जाता है. हमे भी पहुँचते पहुँचते अँधेरा हो गया था. मंदिर के रास्ते में पड़ने वाली दुकाने भी बंद होने लगी थी. हमने एक दुकानदार से पूछा कि क्या मंदिर खुला होगा उसने सकारात्मक उत्तर दिया. मंदिर तक पहुँचने के लिए कोसी नदी पर बने एक पुल पर से गुजरना होता है. शाम हो चुकी थी इसलिए मंदिर का रास्ता भी सुनसान सा ही था. मंदिर एक पहाड़ के शिखर पर स्थित है. जहाँ सीढ़ियों पर चढ़कर जाना होता है. मंदिर काफी उंचाई पर है. मंदिर पहुँच कर प्रसाद चढ़ाया और माता का आशीर्वाद लिया. मंदिर से वापस होटल पहुंचे. जहाँ रात्रि भोजन कर कल की सफारी की कल्पनायों में खो गए.

A Trip to Bolivia – Part 2

By Pavithra

We drove across the mountains, visited many Lagos, saw an active volcano, saw flamingos and other animals such as ostriches, lizards, emu’s etc. If you are not a big fan of dry lands, then maybe you could skip this tour because it’s a lot of travel by road. Especially on the mountains, you can hardly call them roads!! We had a roller coaster ride!

केदारनाथ से बद्रीनाथ

By Kamlansh Rastogi

मस्तक पर लगे हीरे को देख कर ऐसा लग रहा था की हरे रंग का ज़ीरो वाट का वल्व जल रहा हो हम लोग थोड़ी देर वहाँ एक टक निहारते रहे तभी एक दंपति वहाँ विशेष पूजा के लिए आए. रावल जी मंत्रोचार करने लगे.

महेश्वर – एक दिन देवी अहिल्या की नगरी में : भाग 1

By Kavita Bhalse

ये तो था एक संक्षिप्त परिचय महेश्वर से और अब हम चलते हैं अपने यात्रा वर्णन की ओर. बारिश का मौसम, सुबह सुबह का समय, अपना वाहन और इस सबसे बढ़कर सुहावना मौसम सब कुछ बड़ा ही अच्छा लग रहा था. रास्ते में बाहर जहाँ जहाँ तक निगाह जा रही थी सब दूर हरियाली ही हरियाली दिखाई दे रही थी. हम सभी को बारिश का मौसम बहुत ज्यादा पसंद है, खासकर मुकेश को. जैसे ही मानसून आता है, एक दो बार बारिश होती है बस इनका मन घुमने जाने के लिए मचल उठता है, और हमारे ज्यादातर टूर बारिश के मौसम में ही प्लान किये जाते हैं.

मन में बहुत सारा उत्साह बहुत सारी उमंगें लिए हम बढे जा रहे थे अपनी मंजिल की ओर की तभी ऊपर आसमान में बादलों का मिजाज़ बिगड़ने लगा काले काले बादल घिर आये थे और बिजली की कडकडाहट के साथ तेज बारिश शुरू हो गई. मौसम की सुन्दरता एवं बारिश का आनंद हम कर में बैठ कर तो भरपूर उठा रहे थे लेकिन अब हमें चिंता होने लगी थी की यदि बारिश बंद नहीं हुई तो हम महेश्वर में घुमक्कड़ी तथा फोटोग्राफी का आनंद नहीं उठा पायेंगे और मन ही मन भगवान् से प्रार्थना करने लगे की हमें महेश्वर में बारिश न मिले. ईश्वर ने हमारी प्रार्थना स्वीकार कर ली थी और कुछ ही देर में मौसम खुल गया और पहले से और ज्यादा खुशगवार हो गया. सड़क के दोनों ओर कुछ देर के अंतराल पर भुट्टे सेंकनेवालों की छोटी छोटी दुकाने मिल रही थी, एक जगह से हमने भी भुट्टे ख़रीदे जो की बड़े ही स्वादिष्ट थे.

A trip to Bolivia – Part 1

By Pavithra

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. We left our hotel early morning around 7.30am since it as a long way to Lake Titicaca. We went by road for about an hour and then by boat for half an hour. We traveled again by road to the small island of Copacabana.

A weekend pilgrimage to Rayagada

By D.L.Narayan

While transiting through southern Odisha on our way to Chhattisgarh last year, my wife expressed a desire to visit the famous Maa Majhighariani Mandir in Rayagada. I told her that it meant a detour of over 200 kms over bad roads and promised to take her there some other time. She wasn’t happy but had no choice in the matter. A few days later, there was a minor collision with a truck which my wife viewed as a divine warning. Recently, I changed my car and my wife was insistent that we go and seek the forgiveness and blessings of the Goddess.

Our Leh Trip in August 2012

By ajay15111968

We all are ready and fit to explore “The Leh” our first destination to Nubra valley. We get up by 7.00 am and start to Nubra Valley by 8.30 am. We drive just 4-5 km. From leh and one of our friend feeling hungry and said please stop the car in front of any hotel to take some food. Any way after 30 minute drive we found one small road side cafe, and their she take some bread and butter etc. Then we start to Nubra, On the way of nubra valley we cross the worlds highest motorable road “Khardungla pass” we stop at khardungla cafe which is “world’s highest cafe” run by indian army. We all take black tea hear. Khardungla is situated 18350 feet from the sea lavel and oxygen is very low their, we all feel the same little bit altitude problem. We stay their 30 minutes, Aditi one of our friend is busy in photography, and roaming around rest of us are just sit beside the car, we met some bikers their, now-a-days many Indians are coming by bike too.

1 himalayanwheels Along the old silk route – East Sikkim

Really enjoyed reading this detailed travelogue of the Old Silk Route. You’ve captured the raw beauty and challenges of the route so well, especially Zuluk and Lungthung snowfall moments. It…
2 Thinairexpedition The adventure of driving to Leh and Pangong from Kargil

Really nice Asif. I am going to Leh–Ladakh this June, feeling excited already
3 B Chandramouli Experiencing the temple town of Puri, Oddisha

Hi. Thanks for sharing your experience. Kindly share the Panda's contact details on my email id and also the dakshina that can be paid to him.
4 Shivani शिव खोडी – SHIV KHODI

What a wonderful blog, written very precisely and informative. This blog will definitely help me to plan my trip to shivkodhi.
5 sunil kumar गौरी से वो मुलाकात व इकाकुला का हसीन समुद्र तट !

Very well written about Bhitarkanika .
6 rjnivah Andaman and Nicobar – Around Port Blair

Really enjoyed reading this detailed Port Blair itinerary—it nicely captures both the sightseeing and relaxed moments like Wandoor beach and Chidiya Tapu. The mix of history, nature, and local experiences…
7 armaan Andaman and Nicobar – Around Port Blair

Really enjoyed reading this, it feels like a well-paced and genuine travel experience rather than just a checklist. The mix of relaxed beach time, museums, and a bit of trekking…
8 Abhinandan Sharma Delhi to Nepal in my Honda City!!

Great post. Planning to take my Honda city there soon. Was not sure if i can take a sedan there.