Away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle and city life, Agadi Thota serves as the perfect one-day destination for you and your family. Located in the lush greenery of Kunnur village in the outskirts of Hubli and located in Mundgod taluka of Uttara Kannada, at a distance of about 38km from Hubli. This huge and extensive farmland welcomes everyone to the rural life and gets on people’s mind to gain insight into the traditional way and different customs of the region itself.
Ticket Counter
Agadi Thota is spread over an area of 50 acres with over 30 acres of plantation over years of dedication and effort conceptualized in the year 2000 by Shri. Jayadev Agadi with a mission to popularize organic farming and generate awareness amongst people living in the city and develop a market for organic materials and food. The major cultivation being cashew nut and areca nut.
Welcome Drink
Fresh Watermelon Fruit Center
More about Shri. Jayadev Agadi
Shri. Jayadev Agadi is a progressive farmer who is more inclined towards organic farming. The main mantra of Agadi Thota moves around to be Go Organic, Go Healthy. Shri. Jayadev Agadi has been congratulated with 'Krishi Pandit' grant in the year 2014 by privileged CM of Karnataka. He has likewise been granted 'Shreshtha Krishika' by the University of Agriculture Science, Dharwad, 'Best rancher' grant by Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar Grameena Abhivruddhi Yojana and the 'Rajyotsava' grant.
The farm is lined with coconut and mango trees. More than 1000 medical plants and vegetables are grown all around the property. Some of the main vegetables like tomato, beans, coriander and brinjal are grown apart from soya bean, maize and paddy cultivation. The entire stretch of cultivation is fed with organic fertilizers which help crops, vegetables and fruits to grow.
Fresh Dosa in Making
Dosa with in-house chutney and jaggery
Lemon Tea
Soda centre at Agadi Thota
We reached Agadi Thota at about 10:00 am, the place already had a bunch of visitors. We were welcomed with a welcome drink and freshly cut watermelon on arrival. There was a manual sugarcane juice extractor which was to be operated by visitors. We personally rolled down few sugarcanes to extract juice for about 16 members. Later on the way down, we were served with freshly prepared Dosa and chutney with liquid jaggery and lemon tea served until 12:30 pm.
Manual Sugar Cane Juice extractor
Sugar Cane Juice after a good 15mins of struggle
There were many enjoyable rides including boating, camel ride, horse riding, tonga ride, cycling, pottery, there is ample space for enjoying a good walk through nature. Visitors were enjoying multiple rides. We also took every other ride, bullock-cart ride across the trails through the narrow paths lined by coconut trees.
Lunch starts at 1:30 pm up to 3:00 pm which included traditional North Karnataka meal with Jowar rotti, chapati, mung sprouts, green vegetables, chana veggie, salad, curds, 2 types of rice, papad, pickle, chatnis, bhajjis and sweet. Most of the food is cultivated and harvested by locally farmed vegetables, pulses and grains.
Delicious Typical U.K Lunch
After the rich and delicious food, it was time for some more fun. Group activities were organised and a friendly atmosphere was created. Musical Chair, Pot dance for women, Tug of war, dandiya and Garba dances added a fun ending touch to the overall experience. The day ends with you overtly enjoying the nature and a very pure family time.
Evening Snacks
We were served with evening snacks at 5:30 pm includes fried Mirchi, girmit, tea and coffee. There are many other places which are worth spending around Agadi farm. Utsav rock garden and Gayathri Tapovan is about 5km away, Navagraha teertha and famous bird sanctuary are located around 22kms.
Timings of Agadi Thota is from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. The place can be considered for a day outing with family and friends with a typical village atmosphere. Plan a weekend gateway with your friends to enjoy and experience which is worth treasuring. One should go ahead and enjoy the unique adventure at Agadi Thota and experience the real village like experience with typical Karnataka cuisine.
My personal experience about this place is almost positive with a good outing experience for a day at a very affordable pricing. We were a group of family with age group ranging anywhere between 12 years to 80 years and everyone had a really good and positive experience. A recommended place to visit if you are around Hubli.
INR 500 per person on Weekdays and INR 550 per person on Weekends. Visit the official website of AgadiThota to know more about the place, offerings, activities, special offers and booking facilities.
So this was my first time in Jaipur & not only Jaipur but staying in a hostel was also something really different to me, from being a 5star lover to now experiencing a hostel life with strangers was freaking a different experience in itself.
Not only this but exploring the entire Jaipur in just 7hrs was something unbelievable......
in this video from running on the busy streets of Jaipur to having the best lassi & kanda kachori, not to forget the mouth-watering kulfi & watching the sunset from the highest fort in Jaipur.
I hope you guys enjoy my travel vlogs as much as you love my shopping hauls.
before you guys start commenting about the hostel, the one that's on this video is - THEHOSTELLER
also, this is just the Part 1, so stay tuned for part 2 ...
Want to take some rest and enjoy the beaches choose Langkawi in Malaysia. It is known as "Jewel of Kedah". Take 3-4 days from your busy schedule and make a memorable trip to beaches and a lot more. We planned it for 2 days but wanted to stay more. Popular activities in Langkawi include sailing, mangrove kayaking, bird watching, and jungle trekking.
How to reach :
There are mainly two ways to reach langkawi.
By Air : Take a flight to the langkawi may be you need to take a connecting flight from kuala lumpur. If you are travelling from Kuala Lumpur then this will take hardly 1 hours, you can take a cab from langkawi airport in order to reach the hotel.
By Sea : If you are travelling from kuala lumpur then you have option to choose ferry services in order to reach Langkawi.
How to get Visa :
You can apply online and get visa easily.
About currency :
There are two option either you take Malaysian Ringgit from your country or you can change in Langkawi as well. There are many shops for currency exchange also in airport you can change it easily. If you are from singapore then no need to change currency, S$ are accepted everywhere.
Currency Exchange
1 Ringgit = 20 INR
If you want to exchange currency from India itself then you can go with bookmyforex and thomoscook.com before exchanging, check the best rate.
After the trip if you have left with some money then you can easily return, but they be cost for it.
You have another option to use your credit card it will charge 1% extra amount or you can take money from your international debit card for which you have to pay 150 INR for each transaction. If you have clarity about how much money you want then you can take at a time and just 150 INR will be charged which is quite good option.
In airport and in Langkawi you will get less money, so be careful about it.
Time Difference :
If you are from India then you will be ahead 2:30 hrs. Before going to any place check time difference from your country.
Langkawi Fashion :
People of Langkawi wear normal dresses. Women usually wears jeans, top and cover their head with scarf and men wear jean, shirt or shorts.
How to get sim :
You can get sim easily on airport or in other markets but this is easy to get from airport. They have different plans for 1 week, 1 month and other. Take one as per your requirement. These will cost around 500 INR for a week which will have talktime and data.
Know before travelling :
Before travelling to Malaysia, you need to know about the weather, currency, visa and other things. So that you can decide what to wear, what to carry and how to travel in a cheaper way. So before travelling do some research, read blog, watch youtube videos, read online so that you can have a peaceful trip.
About weather :
You must have to know about weather before travelling. From December to February, you will experience quite dry and hot temperature and from March to November weather of Langkawi is rainy. So decide carefully in which weather you want to travel. Temperature is hot in Langkawi so keep umbrella, cap and wear sunscreen all the time.
Best time to visit :
Most of the people travel in December to February.
How to visit :
You can rent car, scooter or bike as per your choice or can book the cab as well. Best option is to choose the rental vehicle for 1 or 2 days and travel to the places.
Scooter On Rent : We rented a scooter for 2 days which costs about 1000 INR and they will keep some security amount which will be return at the time of return. About fuel if they are providing you the full tank of fuel then you have to return full and if tank is half when you are taking the scooter then return the half. That means fuel must be filled by you but don't worry petrol is cheaper than indian price. At the time we visited langkawi it was 40 INR per liter.
Scooter on rent
You can also choose this bike
Hotel :
We booked hotel before some days and got amazing discount. While booking hotel select the good location near market or near beaches. We were lucky because we got the hotel in main market along with direct access to the beaches also got the infinity swimming pool which just makes the location perfect to stay. We booked hotel at Pantai Cenang beach which is one of the most famous beaches. Hotel was very comfy and staff was very cooperative. I will highly recommend this hotel when you are in langkawi. Hotel will provide you beach dinner with beautiful decoration and create a good environment for you. If you want to surprise your loved one or want to celebrate some special occasion they have option to arrange some romantic candle light dinner on the beach along with beautiful decor.
Beaches :
There are some famous beaches in langkawi, one of them is Pantai Cenang and other is Payaar island. Pantai Cenang beach is beautiful. Water was clear and trees. You will find a lot of people taking rest and having fun on the beaches.
Beach view from the hotel
Beach view
Sunrise and sunset :
Beach looks amazing at the time of sunrise and sunset. So plan to be on sunset and enjoy the beach life. I know waking up early morning is quite difficult but wake up to see sunrise, you will thanks me for this.
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Water Activities :
When you are on beaches rather than relaxing another part is having fun with different water activity. In langkawi you will find a lot of water activity options like scuba diving, parasailing, jet ski and other.
Automatic Fuel Station :
I am from india and this is very exciting option for me. You will not find any person on the fuel station what all you have to do is take the token for the desired amount and pour the fuel to your vehicle. At the time i visited langkawi in india petrol rate was 78 rs/liter but in langkawi it was only 40 rs/liter.
Automatic Laundry System :
There is automatic laundry option. Process is same for this, take a token and wash your clothes.
Local Market :
As i mentioned earlier our hotel was on the main market. There are shops which offers great dress, accessories, mobile accessories, food item, restaurants, bike rental etc. You will find indian, chinese, thai, malaysian and some other type of restaurants along with some famous brands like KFC, Pizza hut, Sub way and others. You will be able to see some mall here from where you can shop everything of your requirement. One of the famous thing is here live sea foods. Yes they will let you select the live seafood and then will cook that for you.
Mall
Love lock
What to Eat :
I loved fried ice cream, sea foods and some visited some indian restaurant as i was totally missing my indian food. There are alot of option for non-veg lovers but if you are vegetarian, you need to search your food. But don't worry you will get it easily just ratio is more for non-veg lovers.
Jetty point :
One of the most famous spot of the Langkawi.
Eagle Square :
If you search for Langkawi, you will find a huge eagle. This is the symbol of Langkawi.
Masque :
You will find masque everywhere in Langkawi. Country is rich in muslim culture so you will be finding a lot of mosque here.
Women power in Langkawi :
You will find more women working than men. Here women are involved more in shops, tourist places management, hotel and car driver.
Cable Car :
One of the highest point ever i have visited by cable car is Langkawi cable car.
Sky Bridge :
A great symbol of architecture. Curve shaped bridge, 410 fit span looks like a greate symbol of Langkawi. From the top of bridge view is amazing, you can see complete city at one view. Mountains, beaches, trees, house all are visible at a time which looks great. It is hang about 328 ft above the ground level. In order to see the bridge you need to take a cable car, which will take you to the top and from there either you have to walk down the stairs or you need to take a car which cost around 3-5 RM. You need to walk down the stairs near about 10-15 minutes then you will be able to see the bridge as per my opinion don't walk take a car and go there. Because stairs are quite weird and way is not plain.
View from the cable car top point
3D Eye Museum :
Wanna click some amazing photos visit this place. Not only for photos, you will have some amazing experience. From child to old everyone like this place. Here you will see some amazing painting which will look like live.
I am adding some pictures for your reference :
Light 3D show :
When you are in 3d museum ask for light show timing and watch the show. You are going to love this show.
Waterfalls:
Telaga Tujuh, Temurun Waterfall and Durian Perangin are the waterfalls in Langkawi. If you are travelling to sky bridge plan for it also. Waterfall is nearby the cable car. Telaga Tujuh is known as seven waterfall as there are 7 natural pool which are connected to each other.
Nature Cycling:
Rent a cycle and enjoy a nature cycling on the beach places.
Iterenry :
DAY 1 : Langkawi ---> Pantai Cenang Beach ---> Water activities ----> Local Market -----> see sun set ----> Dinner on the beach
Day 2 : Eagle Square ---> Jetty point
Day 3 : Cable car ----> Sky bridge ----> 3D museum ----> Waterfall
"I woke up to the chirping of birds. A gentle sunray had sneaked in through my tent, don't know from where. The golden light fell on my eye, and in the process of adjusting my position to avoid it, I sat all awake. I could hear my friends talking softly outside. I unzipped my tent and there was a sight to behold- A gentle river with a perfect turquoise tint flowing against the background of verdant meadows, some sheep grazing the dew-washed blades of the grass, and the golden dust of the sunrays making its way through the alpine woods. Yes, this was it. This was all that I deserved because I had earned it after a good toil, trekking up till this place away from mobile network and so close to the nature."
Where was I?
Let that be a mystery but I will tell you where you can be to have a similar experience.
The Himalayas are a great place to camp, especially with the bounty of the untouched rivulets that gush through the hills to become larger sources of life and livelihood in the plains. And these are some scintillating Himalayan rivers you should camp beside.
1. Tons
River Tons originates at Bandarpoonch, Garhwal in Uttarakhand and joins Yamuna as her largest tributary after flowing for about 150kms alongside the border of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand .
Rupin river originates close to Rupin pass in Himachal Pradesh and flows south-east into Tons near Netwar in Uttarakhand.
Where to Camp at?
Dhaula- The Rupin Trek is a high altitude trek from Dhaula to Sangla to reach the Rupin Pass. You can camp beside the Rupin river anywhere on the trail, all the views are breathtaking. Read more on the Rupin Trek here: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/rupin-pass-trek-484930
3. Uhl
Uhl river originates through the Thamsar Glacier in the Dhauladhar range of himalayas in Himachal Pradesh and is a tributary of Beas. The river rich in trout fish is popular for angling.
Credits: malheig
Where to Camp at?
Barot Valley- You can reach Barot valley from Jogindernagar, close to the paragliding hub of Bir Billing. Find out more about Barot valley and how to reach there here: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/barot-unexplored-himachal
4. Lidder
Lidder river originates from Kolhoi glacier close to Sonmarg in Kashmir and eventually joins Jhelum at Anantnag after granting splending aesthetics to Pahalgam.
Budhil is one of the tributaries of Raavi and originates near Kugti Pass in Himachal Pradesh. It also receives water from a stream flowing from Manimahesh lake.
Teesta river originates at the Teesta kangse glacier in Sikkim and flows 300kms through Sikkim and West Bengal before it merges into Brahmaputra.
Credits: nihal_bora
Where to Camp at?
Namprik- A quaint village in North Sikkim, Namprik provides for a great location to camp at. There are multiple monasteries nearby where you can soak into a religious bliss as well. Read more about North Sikkim here: https://www.tripoto.com/trip/amazing-trip-5be0448dd05fa
7. Brahmaputra
The river needs no introduction because it is not a tiny rivulet making its way vivaciously to the plains but is an enormous giant and the largest river that flows through India. But did you think of Brahmaputra as a river you could camp beside?
Credits: anandjain_daydreamer
Where to Camp at?
Goalpara- The only location in the plains on this list, Goalpara is a picturesque town on the bank of Brahmaputra, and provides you with all the calmness and serenity that mountains offer you. 150 kms from Guwahati, it is easily accessible by road.
8. Siyom
Siyom originates in South Tibetan Himalayas and flows through Arunachal Pradesh to finally unite with Brahmaputra.
Credits: atulgoyal_ag
Where to Camp at?
Along- Untouched beautiful landscapes of Along/Aalo make for a perfect camping site. Aalo is 330 kms from Guwahati and 150kms from Jorhat. Read more about Along here: https://www.tripoto.com/travel-guide/along
Have you camped beside a majestic river? Share your experience with the Tripoto community.
I visited Mussoorie in July, everyone knows that this is a rainy season for the hill station and lots of people avoid to go in this season. But believe me if you want to see the nature at its best, visit mussoorie in monsoon. Beauty of mussoorie is at its best during monsoon. Even though you can visit Mussoorie in winters and summers but I will recommend visiting at this time of the year. This is totally up to you. If you like to see the snow you should choose winter and if want to get a relief from heat in summer then this place is for you. Also, you will be getting less crowd and so you can enjoy in peace.
Kempty fall : This place is on the top but don’t set high expectations from the Kempty fall. You can enjoy the journey to the Kempty Fall. Fall is beautiful, but there are lots of shops on the top of water which just block the beautiful view. This is 12-15 km far from the Mall Road, you can get the taxi to reach here. There are shops to eat and do shopping.
There are many places in Sri Lanka where you can see beautiful, clean and relaxing beaches.
BEACHES IN COLOMBO :
Our first destination was Galle Face Beach. This beach is really good to enjoy for the family and couples. You will find lots of street foods here, which are mostly sea foods. You can sit here for long time and enjoy the wind and see the waves going up and down.
Best Time To Visit : This place is too hot, so prefer to go in the evening and enjoy the sunset.
Entry Fee : No
A Beautiful beach with less crowd. This is situated in a bit outside but as this is very clean and beautiful so it is worth going here.
Best Time To Visit : Sunrise and Sunset
Entry Fee : No
BEACHES IN NEGOMBO :
Negombo Beach :
Nice beaches and good street food. Lots of sea foods and good accommodation near the area. But there are other beaches which will be recommend by me. This is quite crowded beach but on the other hand place is beautiful. This is totally up to you. If you have some extra time then visit the place otherwise visit the other beaches of Sri Lanka I have mentioned earlier.
Mount Abu is an ideal place for trekking, to study the flora and fauna, animal and bird life. Some of the important nature trails are Tiger Path, Watch Tower, Adventure Activities , Campfire.
A brilliant start to this year with an amazing trip to Mount Abu. A very well arranged trip of 3 days & 2 nights which included New Year celebrations in it. We visited Mount Abu, A beautiful hill station located at Gujarat -Rajasthan border. Though our trip was advance planned with Navigatio
The ancient name of Mount Abu is Arbudaanchal. In the Puranas, the region has been referred to as Arbudaranya ("forest of Arbhuda") and 'Abu' is a diminutive of this ancient name. It is believed that sage Vashistha retired to the southern spur at Mount Abu following his differences with sage Vishvamitra. There is another mythology according to which a serpent named "Arbuda" saved the life of Nandi - Lord Shiva's bull. The incident happened on the mountain which is currently known as Mount Abu and so the mountain is named "Arbudaranya" after that incident which gradually became Abu.
The trip was organised seeing the convenience of all kids and adults with lots of fun activities, exploring the place, and unlimited party with full on music and dance.
Travel options (How to reach) & Distance :
Delhi to Mount abu distance ( around 770 km)
By Train
Mount Abu railway station is well-connected to different cities in India like New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The Abu Road Railway station lies on the long Delhi-Ahmedabad railway line. ( Overnight journey)
By Air:
Dabok Airport is the nearest domestic airport from Mount Abu which is located in Udaipur is approximately 185 kilometres away from the city.
By Bus:
Many government (Rajasthan State Transport Corporation) buses operate from nearby cites to Mount Abu.
Day 1:
Next day morning we arrived at Abu Road Station and booked the taxi to reach our destination (Camp site) , after 1-2 hour driving from Abu road Station to Arna camp site, we reached our venue located on hills of Mount Abu, A beautiful place to stay . On the very first day of reaching we received a well-organised welcome breakfast Rajasthani & Gujrati . Post breakfast adventure sports such as climbing, river crossing, zip lining and few other sports were arranged. Adventure sports were followed by the lunch which had the mix of both Rajasthani and Gujrati flavors. Appropriate rest time was also allocated before dinner so that the entire group could be comfortable for the night trek post dinner. Night trek was a beautiful experience and had a clear visibility to sky with unlimited stars to watch.
Day 2:
On the second day the trip was planned towards the sightseeing combining of Dilwara Temple, Nakki Lake, Toad Rock, Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple, Toad Rock, Brahmakumaris Shantivan, Arbuda Devi Temple, Luna Vasahi Temple and many more. The day was so well planned that we were able to see the sunset just the perfect time. The last sunset of the going year and tell that its OK to go down with the time but the courage lies in rising again. The ending of the day was just perfect with the night trek done once again till Watch Tower and star gazing and to add on it there was just a well-planned New Year celebration.
Day 3:
On the third day of the trip and the first day of the year it was a great luck to see the first sun rise of the year. A New Year, with new day and with new dreams and new motivations. After seeing the sunrise and having breakfast sadly we had to check out of the camp and announce the ending of our trip.
But one thing surely needs to be appreciated that in the trip the needs, demands and wishes of the people traveling were tried to be fulfilled to its maximum extent possible. Indeed a very well organized trip.
Camping
we booked a camping site "Aarna Wild" The Campsite. Situated at a prime location of the hill station threshold and offering a breathtaking panoramic view of hills, valleys and thick foliage all around. The Campsite is cool, comfortable and peaceful place which offers all the modern amenities and ideal for those who come to relax & rest. Surrounded with lush green Forest and beautiful landscaping, it presents the quiet and tranquil ambience of sublime significance.
The Campsite organizes night safaris, trekking, Night Trekking , rock climbing and mountaineering activities for nature lovers and is a perfect place to enjoy the thrill and adventure in the forest.
Adventure seekers can find their adventure through camping in the forest of mount Abu. Travellers can go two-way camping options which are pure wild camping in tents in the middle of the forest (No Electricity and Toilet) and Camping in tents with proper bathroom facilities and Electricity.Camping organiser provides Meals which includes High tea, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Where you find mix range of menu of Gujarati and Rajasthani food... Beside that the real fun can bring through the adventure activities like Trekking, Rappelling, Tarzan swing, ladder climbing, riding ETV bike and team building activity. The best part is Night Trekking where you can walk in the forest holding torches in your hand observing each sound carefully and enjoying skies full of stars. Maybe you get the chance to see a bear and other wild animals. Before you end your day at camping you can have pleasant time seating near the bonfire with other travellers by having a chit chat and sharing your travelling experience with them.
Places to Visit in Mountt Abu - Mt Abu Sightseeing
1. Nakki Lake
One of the most romantic spots in this place is the lake Nakki. This lake has links to the mythologies of Hindu religion. The lake is surrounded by hills and is said to have derived its name from various gods digging the earth with their nails Apart from religious elements, this lake is the best place to have an early morning or evening picnic.There are a lot of trekking spots near this lake as well as water related activities near this lake where visitors have the options take a ride in small rowing boats or swan-shaped pedal boats. Apart from these, there are a few monuments, restaurants and hotels nearby.
2. Guru Shikar
Guru Shikar is the highest peak in Mount Abu. Located at a height of 1722 metres, Guru Shikhar is the highest peak of Aravali mountains.It is also an important tourist destination as it gives a panoramic view of the whole place and has nature filled the serene atmosphere.
3. Dilwara Temple
The famous Jain Temple is another attraction of Mount Abu. Located in the village Dilwara which is much nearby to Mount Abu is an excellent example of the skill of the craftsmen and unbelievable architecture. The carvings on the marbles, pillars are to be seen in the temple constructed during the 11th and 12th century.
4. Sunset Point
The Sunset Point is a great place to spend a quiet evening and see the sun disappear into the oblivion. Although the crowd can get irritating on weekends here and especially if its new year's eve, but the sunset makes up for it.
5. Adhar Devi Temple
Thanks to all travellers for making the New Year so special.
It takes 365 stairs to reach this cave temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. At the very top, the air is placid and the view delightful. The temple, in itself, is a smallish cave in the mountain but is extremely popular with devotees and tourists alike. It is located about 3 km from Mount Abu leaving aside the rigour of the climb.
The whole journey was beautiful and we had awesome memories of this place and 2-3 days are enough to explore complete Mount Abu.
This is about sunset at one of my favorite place for solo travelers and it's Matanga hill Hampi. I have been there twice but I have seen the sunset only once. I met few solo travelers there and it's the awesome part of my trip to Hampi. Matanga hill is one of the places from where one can see the sunset as well sunrise and I saw both. Matanga hill is near to Hampi bazaar only. It'll take around 30 min to one hour to reach on the top. There are many tracks for Matanga hill. Generally there are two most famous track from that one is from Krishna temple and one is little tough which should be taken with known or local as you have to take care about proper path. Though there is nothing like danger there but it would take more time if you would not take proper track. I felt that when I was going for sunrise as it was totally dark in the morning.
Now If I would talk about my visit to Matanga hill then I planned sunset and sunrise there. After visiting few historical structures, I started towards Matanga hill. As I was new there, one local group helped me to reach on the top. When I reached on the top I got amazed as the view is extremely beautiful there. It was the panoramic view of whole Hampi with million boulders and Tungabhadra river and also sunset. Though the sky was bit cloudy but sunset happened and below are the sunset pics. After that I along with the person who worship the god there and few solo travelers started going down as it was dark the local person helped us by showing the direction.
In my next visit I was there with my few friends and as it was monsoon I couldn't see the sunset but as I mentioned view was extremely beautiful and specially it was greenery everywhere because of monsoon.
One special point about Hampi is people are very polite and supportive there and You'll find many home stays on both the side of river. The other side of river is specially for bag packers and solo travelers.
Below are the clicks from Matanga hill, which has been clicked by different devices and in different seasons.
I had not seen such a dense vegetation in a long time. Coming from urban Bangalore, it was a sight for sore eyes. My husband and I were visiting a friend who was working for an NGO in a remote village in the Gajapati district of Odisha. We were advised to climb the 8.5 km long route to the top of Mahendragiri mountain. It is a biodiversity hot-spot but is also a religious hot-spot especially during the Shivratri festival as there are three ancient temples on top. Now, of course, there is some or the other legend associating the temples to Ramayana and Mahabharata. But we had gone there to see the nature. So let's talk about the weather and the view because those are the safest subjects.
This was the way to the top. We didn't meet a single soul on the way up except for a flock of hummingbirds who just had to stop to say an awkward 'hi'. Most parts of the climb was very steep. This was one of the few gentle parts of it.
At one point my head was, literally, in the clouds.
This was the view when we were at the top. The view of the mountain range was blocked by the clouds but the view was still awesome. Not a single soul here either.
The vegetation was breathtaking. The curry leaf plant, for which we pay good money in the city, grows wild here. I never could resist the smell of curry leaves. I plucked a leaf, crushed it slightly and inhaled deeply. It smelt fruity and delicious. Its flowers smelt good too, almost like jasmine but subtle.
The temples. They look very ancient. But there were no informative signboards by Archaeological Survey of India. Probably the remoteness and the 8.5 km trek has something to do with it.
I love to add more to my travels than just exploring a new place. This time, I decided to volunteer with an organization in Bali while I experienced the beautiful island.
Some time back, I proposed the idea to visit Bali to my friends and they rejected it telling that it's a honeymoon island, and is just for couples and not so much for group or solo travelers. I wanted to prove them wrong and had this island in my mind since then.
Oh the beautiful beaches of Bali!
So on a random day, I did a google search for "volunteer programs in Bali" and luckily found a program that suited me. I immediately applied for the volunteer position and soon got a positive reply. I was really excited for two reasons, one I was finally going to Bali. I had been itching for beaches for quite some time now. Second, this was going to be my first ever volunteering experience and I was extremely curious about how it was going to be.
I planned a 2-week trip to Bali out of which I'd volunteer for 8 days.
About the program
I volunteered with Volunteering Programs Bali or VP Bali. As a volunteer, I'd teach English to the kids of Ubud, beginner and intermediate level.
My first class had almost 50 students. I was a little scared and nervous. Questions like, What if these kids get bored? What if they don’t understand me? How do I start? Would they outsmart me? Will they play tricks? It was a whole lot of emotions and expectations. But as days passed, I got comfortable with teaching the kids. I understood their learning style and altered my teaching methods accordingly.
My students from school - beginner level
Staying with a Balinese Family
Bali is very culture-centric and I was lucky to experience it first hand. I stayed with a local Balinese family in Ubud, embraced their lifestyle, relished their food, and loved talking about their religion and beliefs. It is very similar to Indian culture, where families prefer to stay together.
My homestay
Amidst the nature!
I loved their food!
A wholesome experience
My volunteering experience did not just include teaching kids. It was a lot more than that. As part of the program, we had the opportunities to attend and be part of religious ceremonies, learn a new Balinese activity every Wednesday, like Balinese dance, learning the language, soap carving, and so on.
Performing prayers in the school
After the ceremony
Attempt at learning Balinese dance
While I went to school on weekdays, I spent time touring the island on the weekends.
Touring the island during the weekend - Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Touring the island during the weekend - Tanah Lot Temple
Touring the island during the weekend - Nusa Lembongan Snorkeling Tour
My time in Bali was the best amalgamation of travel, teaching, and learning experience. It was not only about teaching the kids but also about cultural learning and working with other volunteers in an international environment.
In school
In school
In school
With other volunteers
I fell in love with the kids with every passing day. It is a pity I stayed only for two weeks. As I left the school, I had tears in my eyes and smile on my face for a beautiful experience and an endless love that I got.
Oh by the way, I had the best earnings of my life here - look at the pictures below!
ताज़ा सूचनाओं में वैज्ञानिकों ने चेतावनी जारी की है कि हिमालय क्षेत्र में एक तीव्र भूकंप के होने की सम्भावना है जिसका रिक्टर स्केल पर 8.5 या इससे ज़्यादा माप हो सकता है। हाल ही में किए गए एक स्टडी के अनुसार इस जानलेवा भूकंप का केंद्र मध्य हिमालय होगा और यह निकट भविष्य में कभी भी हो सकता है और भारी तबाही ला सकता है। अपनी तीव्रता के कारण यह भूकंप लाखों लोगों के जान-माल को नुकसान पहुँचाने कि क्षमता रखता है।
रिक्टर स्केल पर 8.1 की तीव्रता वाले ऐसे ही एक भूकंप ने नेपाल में वर्ष 2015 में 9000 लोगों की जान ले ली थी। वर्ष 2001 में 7.7 की तीव्रता वाले भूकंप ने गुजरात में 13000 से ज़्यादा लोगों को अपनी चपेट में ले लिया था।
यह स्टडी क्या कहती है?
यह स्टडी भारतीय भूवैज्ञानिक सर्वेक्षण और गूगल अर्थ द्वारा जारी किए गए भूगर्भीय तथ्यों और मानचित्रों एवं स्पेस एजेंसी इसरो के कार्टोसैट-1 सैटलाइट से प्राप्त तस्वीरों पर आधारित है।
इस स्टडी को कर रहे रिसर्चर्स के अनुसार मध्य हिमालयी क्षेत्र ने 14वीं या 15वीं शताब्दी में इससे भी प्रलयंकारी भूकंप देख रखा है। उनका दावा है कि वर्ष 1315 और 1440 के बीच में यहाँ एक बहुत विनाशकारी भूकंप हुआ था।
इस भूकंप ने धरती पर 600किमी लम्बी एक गहरी दरार बना दी थी जो कि दिल्ली और लखनऊ के बीच की दूरी से भी ज़्यादा है।
हालाँकि मध्य हिमालयी क्षेत्र में बीते वर्षों में कोई बड़ी प्राकृतिक आपदा नहीं आई है पर यह क्षेत्र हमेशा कम तीव्रता वाले भूकंप के झटके अनुभव करता रहता है।
"हिमालय के इस क्षेत्र में एक 8.5 या इससे ज़्यादा की तीव्रता वाला भूकंप अपेक्षित है चूँकि यह लम्बे समय से नहीं हुआ", मुख्य शोधकर्ता, सी पी राजेंद्रन ने आईएएनएस को बताया।
पूर्व चेतावनी
यह पहली बार नहीं है जब वैज्ञानिकों ने भूकंप के बारे में लोगों को चेता है, पिछले वर्ष भी वैज्ञानिकों के एक समूह ने राज्य सरकार को उत्तराखंड की आधारभूत संरचना को भूकंप प्रतिरोधी बनाने की माँग की थी।
उत्तराखंड आपदा शमन एवं प्रबंधन केंद्र के प्रमुख पीयूष रौटेला ने भी संकेत दिया है कि एक बड़ा भूकंप इस क्षेत्र में काफ़ी समय से अपेक्षित है। उनके अनुसार लगातार हो रही छोटी कम्पंने इसी का संकेत देती हैं।
"लगातार हो रहे इन कम तीव्रता वाले झटकों को आम घटना मान कर नज़रअंदाज़ नहीं करना चाहिए बल्कि हमें इन्हें एक बड़े भूकंप का सूचक मानना चाहिए जो लम्बे समय से हिमाचल प्रदेश को घेरे मध्य हिमालयी भूकम्पीय क्षेत्र में बकाया है।"
इस भूकंप के बारे में कई शोधकर्ता और वैज्ञानिक काफ़ी बार आगाह कर चुके हैं। वर्ष 2016 में यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ़ कोलोराडो बोल्डर्स के भूगर्भीय विज्ञान विभाग ने एक स्टडी में मध्य हिमालय में बढ़ते हुए तनाव के बारे में बताया था जो कि नेपाल के 2015 के भूकंप में भी निकल नहीं पाया था।
रॉजर बिल्हम, यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ़ कोलोराडो के एक अमेरिकी भूभौतिक विज्ञानी, जिनके किए गए शोध हिमालयी क्षेत्रों में भूकंप की जानकारी का आधार बने हैं, भारतीय शोधकर्ताओं के इन जाँच-परिणामों का पूरी तरह से समर्थन करते हैं।
"वे निर्विवादित रूप से सही हैं जब वे ये अनुमान कर रहे हैं कि अभी एक बड़ा भूकंप हो सकता है जिसकी तीव्रता 8.5 होगी।" उन्होंने कहा
पर्यटकों को चेतावनी!
जबकि इस नई खोज पर कोई भी आधिकारिक चेतावनी नहीं दी गई है, ये बेहतर होगा कि इस क्षेत्र में कुछ समय के लिए पर्यटन न किया जाए।
हिमालय पर्वत पर्यटन के लिए एक विशेष क्षेत्र है जो अंतहीन रोमांच और अद्वितीय खूबसूरती की पेशकश रखता है। जबकि यहाँ के सुन्दर बर्फ लदे पर्वतों के आकर्षण से बच पाना तक़रीबन नामुमकिन है, यह सुनिश्चित कर लें कि आप भूकंप की इन सूचनाओं को अनदेखा नहीं कर रहे हैं और सोच समझ कर ही यहाँ का पर्यटन करें।
क्या आपने हिमालय की यात्रा की है?अपने सफर के अनोखे अनुभव बाँटें, पता करें कि अन्य यात्री कहाँ जा रहे हैं और क्या कर रहे हैं एवं विश्व भर के यात्रियों से जुड़ें Tripoto हिंदी पर।
Air India has some exciting surprise for passengers ahead of the holiday season. It is that time of the year when almost everyone across the world star planning trips to different destination. A major worry while booking flights during peak season is the skyrocketing prices. To ease the burden on your pockets, Air India has launched night flights starting at ₹1,000.
The night flights that started on 30 November 2018, run on three routes—Bengaluru-Ahmedabad-Bengaluru, Delhi-Coimbatore-Delhi and Delhi-Goa-Delhi.
Flight Schedule
Air India’s AI589 flies from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad at 12:30am and departs for Bengaluru as AI590 at 3:05am.
Flying from New Delhi to Coimbatore AI547 departs at 9:15pm and leave from Coimbatore as AI548 at 1am.
AI883 takes off from New Delhi to Goa at 10pm and departs Goa as AI884 at 1:15am.
Currently the airline only offers one direct flight in the morning from New Delhi to Goa and several flights with multiple connections from New Delhi to Coimbatore.
Which is your most memorable flight experience? Share your stories with Tripoto travelers here.
