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The so called 'Haunted' mountains of the Satpura Ranges: Pachmarhi
achmarhi the only hill station of Madhya Pradesh surrounded by waterfalls, cave temples and the forested ranges of the Satpura National Park and offers a refreshing escape from steamy central India.
Weekend respite – LANSDOWNE (from Delhi)
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Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Post 50! 50 pictures from around India
Today we are celebrating our 2 year anniversary with our 50th post! To make it special, we look back to all the different places we have explored and raved about. Here is a photo-journey of all our past posts from the very beginning. Cheers!
1. Ranthambhore: Weekend Respite
2. Khajuraho: Destination Guide
3. Lansdowne: Weekend Respite
4. Varanasi: The city of Ghats
5. Bhangarh: Daytrip to"India's most haunted place"
6. Havelock Islands, Andamans
7. Ladakh: Part 1
8. Gurudongmar: Sikkim's Secret
10. Banaras and Sarnath: In a day
11. Panchmarhi: The Haunted Mountains of the Satpura range
12. Mussoorie: A travelogue
13. Neil Island, Andamans
14. Purani Dilli: Food Walk
15. McLeodGanj: The Land of Lamas
16. Jaisalmer: Desert Diaries
17. Kausani
18. Sunderbans
19. Arunachal Pradesh: 5 Reasons to visit
20. Kolkata Rath Yatra: A photo walk
21. Jodhpur: The Amazing Blues
22. Lucknow!
23. Manali Trance
24. Sikkim: A tale of snow trails
25. Manipur: 11 picture perfect places
26. Purani Quila and Agra
27. Kolkata's Kumartuli
28. Dharamshala Circuit: 10 Off-beat reasons
29. Amritsar, in a day
30. Calcutta Chromosomes
31. Ladakh, Part 2
32. Kerala, God's own country
33. Travel safe
34. 5 Roadtrips from Delhi!
35. Darjeeling!
36. Forts of Rajasthan
37. Lahaul and Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
38. Mumbai!
39. Delhi Dairies
40. Ross and Smith Island, Andamans
41. Rann of Kutch, the White Desert
42. Inspiring Bollywood movies
43. Kuldhara, the Deserted Desert Village
44. Lucknow's Chowk Food Walk
45. Meghalaya, the Abode of Clouds
46. Nagarhole National Park
47. Hyderabad Blues
48. Pondicherry!
49. Bhopal!
That's all for now folks! Stay with us and we will bring more stories from around India!
We thank you all for following this blog.
And a special thank you to our guest contributors!
A Many-splendoured City Bhopal - also called "the city of lakes"
Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh, popularly known as the city of lakes, is situated between the seven hills along the banks of two picturesque lakes. This city is not only famous for lakes but also abode to fine architectural monuments. Founded by Raja Bhoja in 11th century Bhopal combines scenic beauty, historical and modern urban planning.
Bhopal offers two simply contrasting cityscapes. North Bhopal is the Muslim-dominated old city, a fascinating area of mosques, architectural monuments and crowded bazaars.
While South Bhopal is more modern, with wide roads, shopping complexes and upmarket hotels and restaurants nestled contentedly in the Arera and Shamla Hills, which overlook the lakes and the old city beyond.
Main Attraction of Bhopal:
Taj-ul-Masjid
Said to be one of the biggest mosques in the country, Taj-ul-masjid is known for its spectacular architecture. Taj-ul-masjid literally means ‘The Crown of Mosques’. Its construction was started by Sultan Shah Jehan Begum of Bhopal (1868-1901) and it was completely built only after 1971 by the great efforts of Allama Mohammad Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari of Bhopal.
Van Vihar National Park
Located at the heart of Bhopal Van Vihar National Park is managed as a modern zoological park where animals are kept in the natural habitat. It is spread across an area of 445 hectares. More of a zoo than a sanctuary, this place houses a variety of animals, orphaned or brought from other parts of the state or exchanges from other zoos. This one of a kind national park which allows herbivores to roam freely while the carnivores are kept inside enclosed areas, bounded by trenches and walls so as to prevent poaching.
Gohar Mahal
Gohar Mahal is a fine example of the combination of splendid Hindu and exquisite Mughal architecture. Located along the banks of the Upper Lake, Gohar Mahal, even though not entirely well maintained, still manages to maintain its majestic look and the past glory. It was built by the first woman ruler of Bhopal, Gohar Begum. This palace was constructed in the year 1820, and is truly an architectural marvel, presenting a perfect blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture.
Birla Museum
The Birla Museum in Bhopal is home to some very old and interesting sculptures. Located atop the hilly terrains of Bhopal, Birla Museum is an archaeological museum set up in 1971. This one of its kind museum in Bhopal preserves the evidences and artifacts, dating right back to prehistoric and Paleolithic periods.
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, also referred to as The National Museum of Mankind. his place happens to be the only tribal habitat in the world, exhibiting contemporary tribal cultures and actual-size dwellings of typical tribal villages of Indian states.
Upper lake
The oldest manmade lake in India, Upper lake is also known as Bhojtal or Bada Talab. This beautiful and vast water body was built during the 11th century. The lake is a massive earthen bound construction, built across the Kolans River.
Lower Lake
Situated in the peaceful and serene environment of majestic hills and the massive Upper Lake, the Lower Lake is a beautiful relic of the great Mugal Empire. Also known as Chota Talaab, it is separated from the Upper Lake by an over-bridge.
Other attractions:
Bharat Bhawan, Shaukat Mahal, Regional Science Centre, Moti Masjid, Jama Masjid, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Jain Temple, VIP road.
How to reach
By Air :
Raja Bhoj Airport is the major airport of Bhopal, located around 15 km from the city center in Bairagarh suburban area on National Highway 12. Bhopal which is about 741 km from Delhi, 789 km from Mumbai, and about 200 kms from Indore, is well connected to the metros other cities by many airlines.
By Rail:
Bhopal is on one of the two major Delhi to Mumbai railway lines. Major trains going from Mumbai to Delhi via Itarsi and Jhansi also go through Bhopal.
By Road:
Bhopal State Transport Corporation operates deluxe, super fast and passenger buses to Indore(186 km), Mandu(285 km), Ujjain(188 km), Khajuraho, Pachmarhi, Gwalior, Sanchi(46 km), Jabalpur(295 km) and Shivpuri. There are no direct services to Mandu; you have to connect through Indore. There are extensive bus services (private and state) to cities within the region and interstate.
Best Season to Visit: July to March
A Perfect Day in Pondicherry
It was time for our grand graduation trip and we
decided upon the perfectly lazy and idyllic Pondicherry with its cheap alcohol
and oodles of freedom without the done to death wildness of Goa. And the trip
had quite a few surprises for us.
The first was the 150 Kms road trip from Chennai to
Pondicherry – out of sheer laziness we had chosen to splurge on a cab instead
of taking the bus to Pondicherry from the Chennai railway station and it was
worth every extra paisa. The road was amazing with terrific views on the way.
We had started late in the afternoon and it was pitch dark half way through the
drive but even the continuous hypnotic glare of the road strips, the steady hum
of the engine at a constant high speed, and the rush of the wind, made it one
of my personal favourites.
The next day started on a wonderful high note. Armed
with very detailed road maps provided by the hotel, we hired scooties (Rs.
200/- for the entire day) early in the morning and made our way to the quaint
Le Café – a must visit café and the only cafe on the Promenade Beach of
Pondicherry, framing the sight of the waves crashing on the embankment through
its old wood worked balcony. The view and a sumptuous English breakfast was a
perfect beginning to a perfect day.
After breakfast, a lazy walk along the Promenade
studying the various historical landmarks and statues along it, was followed by
a very pleasant 13 Km scooty ride to Autryville through mainly shaded by quiet
roads.
Auroville is a wonder in itself. Known as an experimental township established on the ideals of Shri Aurobindo Ghose, it was established by Mirra Alfassa, popularly called the Mother. Now, it has a population of about 2500 people from over 50 countries, seeking spiritual transformation. The main attraction here is the Matri Mandir at the very centre of the Auroville at an area called ‘Peace’, and it is called the ‘Soul of the City’. Visitor’s cannot enter the Matri Mandir as it is a place for meditation in isolation and can only be entered by Aurovillians. However, visitors trek the trail from the entrance to Peace to view this large golden sphere gleaming in the sun. It is supposed to create the illusion of emerging out of the earth to symbolise the birth of a new consciousness.
We were welcomed to the Auroville by the sound of gigantic wind chimes tied high up in the air and a pervading calmness. The environment was infectious and we just sat under the shade of the trees just soaking it all in, hardly talking to each other. The walk to the MatriMandir was beautiful, through shades artificially made by creepers and on the way is a Banyan tree, a little over a hundred years old, covering a huge expanse of land. The Matri Mandir was indeed a sight to behold, gleaming bright and golden amongst the beautiful gardens.
Giving Auroville Beach a miss due to the increasing
mid day heat, we came back to Pondicherry after a lazy lunch at a café enroute
to the city. Later in the day, we rode through the French Quarter to marvel at
the quaintness of this part of the city. Every building in this quarter
deserves a series of pictures of their own. Reluctantly we finally left to
visit the Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam temple, which Temple built before the French came and settled in Pondicherry i.e. before 1666. Here we encountered, besides the colourful and unusual architecture, an elephant who was blessing people by bumping its truck to people bowed head.
Finally, thoroughly tired, we came back to our now
favourite spot, the Promenade Beach, for a terrific sunset on the beach. This
1.2 Km stretch along the sea is closed to traffic during time and loads of
people come down here for a peaceful stroll in the evening. We followed suit
and saw the War Memorial, the Gandhi Statue and the Light House along the
Beach.
Another over-indulgent meal in later, we called it a
day and moved on to our next stop, Kodai Kanal – an overnight trip by bus.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Hyderabad Blues
Hyderabad can be termed as the 'Delhi Of The South'. Well, that's entirely my interpretation, or you may say that's what made me love the city more.
The capital of Telangana, once the capital of the Nizams, still holds the royal charm.
Here's a list of things that you must see and do if you are in Hyderabad:
1. Charminar: Of course, Charminar is the most famous place in the city, and you just can't miss this. Located amidst the most crowded part of the city, the neighbourhood would give you an essence of Delhi's Chandni Chowk. Surrounded by Mecca Masjid, built using bricks from Mecca and Laad Bazaar - a boisterous shopping street, this landmark is laced in history.Built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, it was constructed to commemorate the founding of Hyderabad and also to ward of a deadly epidemic that was rampant then in the Golconda region. Graced by 4 minarets soaring almost 50ft in height, it has a mosque and 45 prayer spaces.
2. Golconda Fort: Located in the outskirts of the city, this is one of the best works of architecture from the medieval period.
The remains of multiple fortification layers, armouries, magazines, mosques, granaries, reservoirs, audience chambers and royal dwellings complement the striking appearance of the fort.
Famous for its acoustics, a unique signalling device that was incorporated in its construction, the structure is known for its palaces, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb. The Sound & Light show brings alive the grandeur of one of India’s famous forts.
PS- Bargain with the guides, who would finally settle for Rs 200, but make sure you take a guide because the way they'll explain the history to you, is absolute 'Paisa-Wasool' entertainment.
3. Qutub Shahi Tomb: One of the historical places to visit in Hyderabad is the set of absolutely beautiful Qutub Shahi Tombs ensconced against the lovely backdrop of the picturesque Ibrahim Bagh. These represent the final resting ground of rulers of the founding dynasty of Hyderabad.
The most authentic and majestic display of Persian, Hindu, and Pathan architectural designs dedicated to the seven kings who ruled Golconda for nearly 170years, the rulers themselves built these tombs.
4. Ramoji Film City: You need to keep an entire day for this, and this is nothing less than Disneyland!
Ramoji Film City makes its way to every traveller’s list because of its magical theme around cinema, which is the most common love of every Indian.
The world’s largest integrated film city, spread across 2,000acres ensures that every visitor makes most from the day spent here. Features include well-defined categories of entertainment suited for different ages from Eureka, the performance arena modelled on the lines of royal forts hosting live shows, to getting a tour of a typical film studio, multi-cuisine restaurants, shopping venues, kids’ park, and even a bird park.
5. Hussain Sagar Lake: One of the largest man-made lakes in India, Hussain Sagar Lake has been adorning the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad since 1562.
Adding to its charm is the monolithic statue of the Buddha installed in the heart of the lake. Several facilities around the lake periphery such as boating and water sports, and the neighbourhood Lumbini Park, an amusement park are add-on attractions.
There's a food street next to the Lake, where you can spend a lovely evening, munching some delicious chaats!
6. Paradise Biriyani: When in Hyderabad, you just can't afford to miss Paradise biriyani - well, to be more specific, World's Best Biriyani. The restaurant is 4-storeyed and the locals said that as you climb up, the richness of the biriyani increases! Of course, the ground floor sells biriyani for Rs 80, while the top floor sells for Rs 600, per plate. This biriyani is definitely going to make you drool, and long for more. Don't miss out their kabab platter.
7. Shilparammam: It's the shopper's paradise in Hyderabad. Selling all sorts of antique goods, old wall clocks, and handicrafts, Shilparammam is the place from where you can pick up souvenirs.
After all these, if you have time left, then you can catch a movie at Imax theatre, and enjoy the big screen experience. Just make sure it's a good movie because the tickets will cost much!
Another thing that I personally liked in Hyderabad is this restaurant called 'Dialogue In The Dark', in Inorbit Mall. This restaurant might not serve the best food but will surely give you an experience of a lifetime. Managed and run by blind people, this restaurant serves food in the darkness... yes! You read it right. You have to pay your bill first, and then enter the restaurant, which is pitch-dark and the food is served which you have to guess and eat. We often tend to ignore little things that people born with disabilities has to pass through, and this restaurant just lets you feel that, for an hour. You'll definitely leave the place with a smile.
Hyderabad can be easily covered in 4 days, and if you have more time, then the best option would be to take a bus and make a move towards Bangalore!
Happy Travelling!
Photo Gallery:
SHILPARAMMAM
CHARMINAR
QUTUB SHAHI TOMB
GOLCONDA FORT










































