South Goa : the Off beat place for the real travellers

Goa is one of the most popular tourist destination in India. Throughout the year people from all over the world keep visiting Goa. 

But Goa is like a coin with two facades. North and South. While the North Goa gets all the attention with its parties, Bistros, music festivals- it becomes easier to ignore South Goa altogether.

To feel the beating pulses of Goa, 
you have to dig a little deeper and look for the places that are beyond a tourist’s perspective. And that is exactly what separates a traveller from a tourist. 

The real soul of Goa lies in South Goa.

Palolem and Colva Beach

What Baga, Calangute and Candolim are to North Goa, Palolem and Colva are to the South. Except for the fact that they’re much calmer abodes and the clientele here is usually much quieter for whom Goa is not just about drunk carousing but also about worthwhile musings against the backdrop of a setting sun in a place where nobody disturbs the flow of your thoughts and nobody judges you if you stay still staring into nothingness for hours at a time. Though Colva is comparatively crowded than Palolem but still it has its own charm. 

Palolem is located in Canacona in South Goa and is about 40 minutes from Margao whereas the 2.4 kilometers long Colva beach is just about 6-7 kilometers from Margao.

Places to Eat

One of the most beautiful beaches in the state of Goa, with a coastline melting into the Arabian Sea, Palolem offers an extensive variety of culinary treats to sample, from freshly caught seafood to delicious South Indian curries.

Some of them are German Bakery, Magic Italy, Ourem 88, Cafe Inn, Little World etc. 

Night Life at Palolem

In the evening Palolem Beach turns into a real spectacle of lights and colors. 

Palolem Beach is well known with its famous "silent" discos, which are held directly on the beach or in some bars. 

Silent Noise is a world recognized headphone party being held at Neptune Point next to Palolem Beach, South Goa and the place has undoubtedly left its mark on the parties. It can be called as an idyllic beach town home as the organizer has found out a rare location for all tourists and other local visitors. The diversity seen among all tourists makes them fall in love with this place. 

Silent Noise Party is fixed on every Saturday’s and Retronica on every Wednesday’s at Neptune Point. A person if wants to get down on the floor then needs to pay for the wireless headphone which costs rs500 and plus rs500 as deposit which is returned when the headphone is returned to the concerned member of Silent Noise. 

Image source : Google

Best time to visit

Goa is that kind of a place which can be visited during any time of the year. Though November to February are the best months to visit the party capital since the weather is pleasantly cool and comfortable. It’s the perfect time to relax on the beaches amidst other tourists who make the most of these three months in Goa. December is the time when Goa witnesses one of its most popular festivals, Sunburn, besides extensive Christmas and New Year celebrations and is home to lakhs of visitors from across the world. 

Goa Carnival

Goa Carnival takes place around February, marking the end of festivities before the season of Lent (the 40 day period of abstinence before Easter). The carnival was introduced by the Portuguese and initially celebrated by Christians, but eventually it was assimilated into the very cultural fabric of Goa, breaking all religious constraints. The three days of dance, music, merry making, mirth and food attracts the tourists all over India. 

Hence Goa is not just about Baga, Calangute. There is another side to the party capital of our country that you must explore and it’s down south.

And there are numerous places to visit in South Goa that are not just restricted to beaches but there are other areas full of vim and vigor that a true traveller must explore.

So Happy Exploring :) 

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'Ayodhya' the ancient city from Ramayan

By Shubhashish Chaudhri

AYODHYA- the land of temples and peace
Well being in the final year of college has brought about a lot many changes and various plans have been made but to execute those plans is another thing. A sudden plan made alongwith friends meant that finally i am going to get a chance to go out to places which are there on my so-called BUCKET LIST. On a chilling cold morning of January to get up at 5:30 am in the morning is in itself a big mission impossible but we are all like that only. For classes which happen at 10am we cant get up but just tell us that we are travelling somewhere i will get up in the middle of the night.

How to reach-
Ayodhya is not a very big place so it can be done only within 12 hours max including travelling(and yes i am not lying). You can either go by bus which takes some 2 and half hours. Ayodhya is just a 130 odd kms from lucknow. Oops i forgot this is not just meant for people from lucknow. Anyways since we were some 6 friends we booked a cab and off we went.
Ayodhya is on the right bank of the river Sarayu, 8;km from Faizabad. This town is closely associated with Rama, seventh incarnation of Vishnu. According to the Ramayana, the city is 9,000 years old and was founded by Manu, the first man in the Vedas, and law-giver of the Hindus.
Since it is mainly the place where you have temples(12) in number to be precise, there is only so much that you can do but still. It would be better if you have someone with you who has either been to ayodhya or knows about the place and temples. A guide wont b of much help. We had one such person with us.

Kanak mandir
Kanak Bhawanin Ayodhya is the palace of Sri Sita and Rama. It was a welcome gift to Sita from her mother-in-law Kaikeyi. Kanak Bhawan still exists in Ayodhya.

Hanuman Garhi, a massive four-sided fort with circular bastions at each corner and a temple of Hanuman inside, is the most popular shrine in Ayodhya. Situated in the center of town, it is approachable by a flight of 76 steps. Its legend is that Hanuman lived here in a cave and guarded the Janambhoomi, or Ramkot. The main temple contains the statue of Maa Anjani with Bal Hanuman seated on her lap. The faithful believe wishes are granted with a visit to the shrine

Ram Janmabhoomi (literally, "Rama's birthplace") is the name given to the site that many Hindus believe to be the birthplace of Rama, the 7th avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu.
The Ramayana states that the location of Rama's birthplace is on the banks of the Sarayu river in the city of Ayodhya. A section of Hindus claim that the exact site of Rama's birthplace is where the Babri Masjid once stood in the present-day Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Janaki Mahal established by Late Sri Mohan Lalji, run by Trust, beautiful Mandir of Janki Mata & Lord Ram. Many social activities, food for poor people, charitable medical facility for poor people managed by Sri Vishwanath Murarka.

Sarayu
Ayodhya, capital of King Rama is mentioned on the banks of Sarayu river. Sarayu river is mentioned in great details in Ramayana. Ayodhya still exists on the banks of river Sarayu in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a tributary of the Ganges which meets two other rivers at the confluence (sangam) in Uttar Pradesh.

All in all, it will still be a nice experience one which everyone should have once in their life and lastly not to forget the place is famous for its besan laddoos and pedas.


About Shubhashish Chaudhri

An avid food lover, loves reading like anything and a big MOVIE and English tv shows FREAK and going to new places even though i haven’t been to a lot of places but I intend on travelling through the entire country during my life. 

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The 'Golden City' of Rajasthan Jaisalmer (Part 1)

By Parth Yadav

YAAR BAHUT PAHAD HO GAYE, ISS BAR REGISTAAN CHALTE HAIN!!


“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ~John Muir.

“Of all the trips you take in life, make sure one of them is in a dessert.” ~Author.

“Mad! You are!” said my Mom, uncles, aunties, cousins, friends and basically anybody and everybody who came to know about my plan of travelling to Jaisalmer in the month of ‘June’. Yes! You heard it right, ‘June’ it was! But then as they say, there is a difference in being a tourist and being a traveler. I, fortunately or unfortunately fall in the latter category. Hence, the less-mainstream the trip, the better it is. And keeping this motto in mind I alongwith a friend booked our tickets for DLI-JSM Express. A week later we were at Old Delhi Railway Station boarding the train. There are a couple of trains directly from Delhi to Jaisalmer, tickets of which are generally available. For those travelling by Air, there are no direct flights from Delhi to Jaisalmer. Nearest airport is that of Jodhpur, from where one can take a train/bus/cab to Jaisalmer. There aren’t even any direct bus services from Delhi to Jaisalmer. One has to change the bus either from Jaipur or from Bikaner, whichever seems feasible. Author’s Advice: Travelling by train is a really good option. Though, the train takes almost 17 hours to reach Jaisalmer, yet, one gets to travel across most of the Rajasthan and the train (no matter how late it gets in between!), generally reaches the concluding station on time or as in our case, before time!  

On the way, one can actually feel Jaisalmer coming closer as the trees start turning into shrubs and bushes and the soil into sand. Finally, the next morning at around 11:30, we reached Jaisalmer. And you realize you’re gonna have an epic trip, the moment you touch the Jaisalmer Railway Station. Believe me! I haven’t seen a railway station more beautiful and cleaner than this one. Kuddos to the Station Incharge and the railway authorities, even other Indian cities should take a cue from this Railway Station!

We were already in talks with the Manager of one, Hotel Payal, for our stay and hence he had already sent a cab to pick us up from the station. Being a travelers’ delight, Jaisalmer has plenty of hotels and resorts suiting all pocket sizes. 

Author’s Advice:  Do pre-book a hotel in case you’re planning to travel during the peak tourist season of September-February, because during this time Jaisalmer takes the shape of a Mini-Europe, with almost every third person you get to meet, being a European! And hence hotel prices shoot upto triple the actual cost of the room. 

After almost 17 hours of non-stop train journey, one does feel tired and exhausted, hence the moment we checked in our hotel, we took a shower, had lunch and dozed off! Jaisalmer is a small town which can mostly be covered on foot, hence a proper rest to your feet is kind-of required. By the time we got up, it was already late and hence most of the markets were about to close. We hurriedly went to the nearest restaurant, had food and started our next big search… A THEKA! :P Getting the shock of our lives, we got to know that the liquor shops in Jaisalmer closes at sharp 8 PM! Now what? Authors Advice:  You can still get it but in an illegal manner till 10 p.m :P  

Next morning, as per the itinerary we made in consultation with the Hotel Manager and affcourse, Google, we started off on foot for our first destination… the huge and magnificent JAISALMER FORT! Built in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, from whom it derives its name, Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest fortifications in the world. It is a World Heritage Site. The Fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion colour during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the Fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the Sonar Quila or Golden Fort. The Fort is located in the very heart of the city, and is one of the most notable monuments in the locality. The most interesting fact about the Fort is that initially the entire city of Jaisalmer was located inside the Fort only. Or in other words, the Fort was the Jaisalmer City! It is with time and growing population, that people started making houses and markets outside the Fort. On visiting the Fort, you will actually feel that the Fort is a city/town in itself. 

The Fort is all about the beautiful and massive Rajput architecture. Inside the Fort Muesum, you get to see massive weaponry, from swords, which in themselves weigh 30-40 kilograms each, to all sorts of guns and air pistols used in those days. There were guns, so huge, that 2 men were required to operate a single gun! 

To be continued........

About Parth:

Currently pursuing his bachelors from National Law University, Lucknow is a bibliophile and an avid fiction lover. Travelling is not just his hobby but his passion. He likes to explore the unexplored and does things which aren't mainstream. Mountains, "supposedly" haunted destinations and bike trips are what attracts him the most. A certified trekker by the Youth Hostel Association of India, he dreams to cover the Himalayas on his bike someday!

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An Amazing Trek to Dayara Bugyal Uttarakhand

By Agam Kaushik

Dayara Bugyal is truly bliss for the trekkers. It is one of the most scenic, appealing and high altitude alpine meadows in Uttarakhand. Situated at an elevation of about 3048 m, this vast meadow is second to none in natural beauty. 

In winters the meadows are covered with snow & are extremely beautiful. Decked by the enchanting beauty of the Himalayan Range, Bhagirathi River, snow clad peaks and some of the evergreen patches of oak, pine and rhododendron forests, this quaint meadow offers one of the most enthralling trekking routes in the world. 

Let me share my experience with this travelogue. I went to this amazing trip along with my two other friends. 

We have started on 24th of December and boarded the bus at around 3p.m from ISBT Kashmiri Gate New Delhi.

After reaching Dehradun at around 11pm we couldn’t get taxi’s or buses for going to Uttarkashi. But luckily we found a Dainik jagran delivery car which we boarded from Patel Nagar Dehradun at near about 12’o’ clock at night. It was a beautiful moonlight night however the bundle of newspaper were real pain and uncomfortable we were 11 people traveling  in that jeep along with half of the Uttarkashi's newspaper but still we didn’t felt the uneasiness because of the excitement. It was a wonderful journey. 

Early morning we reached Uttarkashi and stayed there on that very day. 
A delightful journey through the scenic terrains and narrow passes will take you further to Barsu. We took a jeep to Barsu and it was around 2 hours drive from Uttarkashi to Barsu. 

After arriving at Barsu we had to pay some fee to the forest department for our belongings like camera, tent, etc. The trek starts from Barsu.

It is advisable to take a horse from Barsu to Barnala if you are a beginner since the trek is very steep. It will not take more than 3 hours to reach Barnala from Barsu. There is an excellent campsite at Barnala Meadows as small stream, woods everything is available at that site.

If you are planning to go there during winters then take some burning fuel for camp fire as woods become a little bit wet because of the snow. In winters the meadows are covered with snow and are extremely beautiful. 

Next morning we started for Dayara Bugyal. A steady and gradual trek, and this part of the trek will take you through scenic meadows, lush forests of silver oaks, deodar and rhododendrons.

Climbing through Barnala and the alpine meadows for around 3 hours, make it to a flat piece of land, the campsite, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the Himalayan Range i.e John Lee and the Draupadi peak. The widespread Dayara Bugyal looks different from every angle. Bakaria is the highest point from where you can get a mesmerizing view of the sunset.  

We stayed there for some time and then came back to Barnala at our campsite. Then next morning we trekked down to Barsu. Within the 2 hours of this trek, we enjoyed the scenic views all around and make it to Barsu, from where a drive through the narrow and whirly passes finally took us to Dehradun. Barsu to Dehradun is around 200 km drive. 

Note: Travelers are expected to carry their own backpacks, tents and all other personal belongings because the last shop is there in Barsu after that you won’t be getting any shops. 

About the author

Agam Kaushik
Passionate about traveling and loves adventures. Travel takes me to some of the most rural parts of the country, and the time spent there is often the most memorable. 

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Nagarhole National Park

Nagarahole National Park also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park is situated around Kodagu district and Mysore district in Karnataka state of South India. It is surrounded by shallow valleys and gentle slopes on all sides.

Nagarhole National Park is said to be the best habitat for Asian elephants and is also a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.


River Kabini flows along the southern boundary of the park, and forms a reservoir on the south-eastern edge. The reservoir separates Nagargole sanctuary from Bandipur sanctuary, which is also part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.   In addition to the vivid and vibrant wildlife range, the Western Ghats and Brahmagiri Hills add to the scenic beauty of the Nagarhole National Park.


Nagarhole is extraordinarily blessed with stunning and rare flora and fauna. One can find a diverse variety of trees and shrubs. Over 250 species of birds have been found in this place. There are observation towers in the park that offer a panoramic view of the undulating expanse, riotously coloured birds, wildlife, and the virgin greenery.

Attractions: 

Fauna: Asiatic elephants, jackal, tiger, panther, gaur, muntjac, sambar, spotted deer, mongoose, civet cat, hyena. Reptiles: king cobra, krait, python, viper, tortoise, monitor lizard, toads etc.

Avian-Fauna: Malabar trogon, malabar pied-hornbill, crested hawk-eagle and crested serpent-eagle, and more.

Wildlife: The Nagarhole National Park shelters a large number of rare and endangered animals. It has a higher population of tigers and one can spot huge elephant herds wandering here.

Safari: The jeep safari takes you around in a predefined forest route. You can spot, observe and discover wildlife in their best natural habitat.
Also you can take the river safari with the jetty. There are high chances of sighting Elephants and different species of birds as well as if you are lucky enough you can even sight tigers.


How to Reach: 

This place can be an ideal weekend getaway from Bangalore or Mysore.

Nagarhole is well connected by road with Bangalore and Mysore. The nearest airport is in Bangalore, and the closet railway station is in Mysore. There are also some trains from Nanjangud to Nagarhole.
Buses ply regularly between Bangalore and Nagarhole, and also between Mysore and Nagarhole. Taxi services are also available from Bangalore to Nagarhole.
Nagarhole National Park is situated around 100 km away from Mysore in Karnataka.
And distance from Bangalore is around 220Km.


Accommodation: 

There are many private as well as government forest resorts. My personal favorite is Kabini River Lodge because of their wonderful services towards guests.


Best Time to Visit: 

November to February

Now let me take you on a journey of this National Park through some amazing photographs. 

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