Sometimes you are afraid to ask some questions because they sound stupid... like.....Why do you love Goa? Why does anyone love Goa? ....
The answers to these questions are actually quite simple...
What do you do when you wanna party? Goa
What do you do when you wanna take a vacation? Goa
What do you do when you wanna have romantic get-away? Goa
What if you are an adrenaline junkie? Goa
What if you are a history buff? Goa
What if you like travelling alone? Goa
What if you wanna have a reunion? Goa
and What do you do when you have nothing to do? Goa
There are so many things to do in Goa .....a single vacation will NOT BE ENOUGH !! I have been here many many times because I did my undergraduate from Manipal University which is hardly 4 hours from Goa.
Alright...that's awesome...but just beaches..what if i wanna party?
You can party ANYWHERE in Goa but let me help you out a bit....you have Club Cubana, Love Passion Karma, Titos, Cafe Mambos, Sinq beach club, Curlies beach shack, Silver bells, Water beach lounge & grill, Cape town cafe, Marbela beach resort and a lot more!!
Great ....i like a bit of Adventure sports too though ...any help ?
Architecture- basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Aguada fort, Chapora Fort.
Party- Club Cubana, Love Passion Karma
Adventure - Trekking @ Dudhsagar falls, Paragliding at Arambol.
Food- Cafe mambo, Bora Bora.
Whats the best time to visit?
Their is nothing in the entire country that matches Goa during New Years. SUNBURN(27th-31st DECEMBER every year)- its fantabulous.
What if I have extra time on my hand?
You wouldn't. In case you do - the entire Western Ghats is yours - Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Dandeli, Udupi, Agumbe, Koddachadri, Coorg, Kudremukh, Jog falls........
How much do I need?
If you wanna enjoy everything (6-8 days)- have at least 12000-15000 rupees.
The journey started with thirst and hunger for a trip and a much awaited one from the busy schedule of daily life. If you are an introvert and extrovert combo then you can relate the story to mine(Tamasha). We boarded the Volvo from Delhi to bhunter and the front seat in bus was horrifying at night in the hilly areas. One big brake and you would be on driver's seat. But it was an amazing drive, first stop was at a cafe around 6 and for the first time I have seen the scenic beauty of a hill and crystal clear water in the river together. A coffee with omlette was the best breakfast on the chilly morning. Temparature turned from 30 to 10 over a night for me(as I started from Mumbai). We reached Bhunter at 8 am in the morning, from there the chapter began of an amazing holiday I had with my bro.
From bhunter to kasol, we had many options like cab, private bus and haryana roadways. We opted for private bus services which was adventurous and cheap. Local people and their talks about the route to Kasol was noticable. They were talking about the recent accident in which a bus fell from the hill to the river and 20 people died. The flow of river was rapid that day and it took away the bodies and bus residual. Neither the bus nor the bodies were found as reported by villagers. But but i will take a turn now and tell you about the amazing route to Kasol, we were climbing up the hill and Parvati at the same time flowing down. It was like two hills in parallel and in between them there is a bautiful river Parvati. It took 2 hours to reach Kasol from bhunter.
Our hotel was along the river side and one of the best you find there, Sandhya Kasol.
We left for market after freshened up for lunch. We had the snacks at an Irish cafe. The food was ok but the ambience was good.We planned for a walk to Manikaran Saheb from Kasol(4 KMS). I would recommend to have a walk to the place as it's an amazing route. You would get a lot to capture in your camera and at the same time you dont want to distract yourself from experiencing the nature and it's mysteries. Manikaran is famous for hot water stream flowing down, between two stones we saw a rainbow in the river as a prism was created.
It took 40 mins for us to climb up and reach Manikaran village. Gurudwara there serves food as all gurudwaras do. I wanted to have the lunch but tummy didnt permit.Manikaran Gurudwara is the best for eternal peace. We were leaving from there but people suggested to goto Shri Ram temple behind Gurudwara. A small gate behind and it took us to the most beautiful village. Small pathways were there to reach the lord Ram temple. They opened up certainly after a km walk to a road and so called Manikaran village. They were celebrating Dusherra in their own tradition. Celebrations, I cant narrate but it's an experience to experience the versatility in culture within a country. We were amused by the village and their traditions. We came back and it was dark by the time. We sat at a camping cafe near our hotel to riverside and the coffee was great to have when you dont drink alcohol. This was the only day for us to explore more as we were leaving the next day for Manali. We took a rest for an hour before we left for the final meal of the day. Market was full of woolen things to buy and people sitting along roadside witb guitar in hands and smoking weed in public. I was surprised but they were free to live the life they want. We had snacks at german bakery and came back to hotel for a tight sleep.
We woke up early next morning and boarded haryana roadways to reach kullu. Last but not least, two Irish girls at bus stop were super hot to exercise your eyes in early morning.
Overnight decision. Easy way was to take KSTDC trip. Shravanabelagola, Belur & Halebeedu.
Started at 6:30 sharp. Loved the punctuality and the well maintained bus. Not so crowded. Some 20 people. Stopped for Breakfast at a place. Complete silence. Probably wanted to stay there and read a book. So good was the atmosphere and the place.
Reached Shravanabelagola at 9:45. Been here some 25 years back. Steps and temple carved out of one huge rock. Was happy to see so many school children on their excursions. Brought back some memories from childhood. Loved the view downhill.
No guides around. Best thing to know, understand and enjoy a place is to have a good guide. They tell you a lot of story.
Started at 11. Luch at Belur at 1PM.
Belur was one of the most astonishing structures ever seen. So intricate carvings by the architects of Hoysala. One structure that will put every dynasty to shame. Loved the explanations of the guide. Go and hear it for yourselves. Free standing pillar. OMG.
30 minutes travel to Halebedu. Shiva temples.
Simliar stories of Belur. But again worth the time. Probably will repeat for a backpacking 2 days trip to the same places. They have so much to say.
Thai temple"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace" - Gautam Buddha
And the one word which brings peace to me is 'Travel'.
Nothing is better than to visit the place one wanted to visit since ages.
So, yes I visited this place which was on my list, during a cousin's wedding reception trip. And the feeling was amazing!
We left from Delhi on 16/12 at 17 hrs and reached gaya the next day morning on 17/12 at 4 hrs. Took rest at cousin's in laws place and after breakfast left for Bodhgaya which is located at the outskirts of Gaya. It took us one and a half hours to reach. After my nap on the way I opened my eyes to the beautiful view of Thai temple - the first leg of our one day trip.
After paying visit to Thai temple we went ahead to see the enormous 80 feet statue of lord Buddha. The statue is surrounded by standing statues of lord Buddha's first 10 prodigies.
From there we headed towards the main temple which is known as ''mahabodhi temple complex'. This temple complex consists of those 7 place where lord Buddha spent his 49 days (7 days each place) and finally gained enlightenment.
The temple is beautifully built and invites to spend time and get to know about oneself.
Unluckily or I should say Luckily, I lost my way as I entered the temple and got separated from my family. So, that short time separation gave me some time to roam around and look at the things peacefully and alone from my perspective - the cherry on the cake!
The guide we hired told us a lot of mythological stories related to the temple and lord Buddha. There were also a number of people in the temple who were humming and praying per the ritual they follow.
After spending almost 2 hrs in the main temple we moved out with positivity and rejuvenated souls towards the end of the trip and last temple to visit (name of which I've forgotten).
We got back to the reception venue by 17 hrs on 17/12 and after after attending the reception (which was the indirect way to go out and search soul) we finally left for Delhi by 22:50 hrs train.
This was the shortest (in terms of time), longest (in terms of distance) and most rejuvenating trip I've had till date.
Route: from the east of Pune via Pune - Solapur highway, Hadapsar - Yavat - Choufula - Kurkumbh - Bhigwan - off the highway - Take left (Sign board available) - then Right - Kumbhargaon Bird Sanctuary
Distance (round trip): 230 Kms appx. From Hadapsar, Pune
At Bird Sanctuary
The area around Bhigwan is the catchment area of Ujani Dam. This wetland attracts many of the migratory birds from North India & other countries. The prominent birds are flamingos and some other birds that we got to see are: Grey Heron, Kingfishers, Sandpipers, Ruddy Shelduck, Egrets, Pond Heron, Garganey Duck, Gulls etc.
We started early morning and reached around 7 am to Kumbhargaon to see the birds in action, as this is the good time for bird watching.
We met Mr. Sandip Nagare, (Mobile No. 9960610615) here. He made all the arrangements for us, the boat ride in the lake and lunch. He took us close to the flamingos so that we could click some nice photos. He had taken some fish for the birds, it helped us to bring them closer to our boat & we could click some close-ups, still we missed our telephoto lens. He has ample knowledge of birds and he generously showed his collection of photos & shared all the information.
In lunch, we enjoyed home cooked fresh fish. It was mouth watering. Even the Veg Thali was delicious. Home stay is also available here.
These birds arrive here every year around January-February, but it's good to give a call to Sandip before visiting & confirm the status.
At Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary:
As we had some time left & Mayureshwar Sanctuary being on our way back, we decided to visit there also on our return journey.
This is a small but beautiful place to see Indian Gazelle as known as Chinkaras. These are shy animals & they ran away when we tried to go closer. They were running around the track as we drove our car through the sanctuary.
We parked our car at one place & went walking all around in search of them. Walking gave us some advantage to go little closer to these animals slowly without getting their attention.
The time spent at both the sanctuaries was so peaceful and experience of bird watching was just amazing!! This is a must go destination for those who love to spend some quiet time with the natures & do some photography too.
Suggested Itinerary:
Reach Bhigwan early morning around 7 am, & have breakfast
Bird watching at Ujani Lake from 7.30 am to 11.30 am
Have lunch & leave for Mayureshwar Wild life sanctuary. Reach there around 2 pm
Explore the sanctuary till around 5 pm & then leave for Pune
I suggest to carry some food & Water along so that you get to spend ample time in bird watching.
The trek to Kaslubai, was one of my favorites as it includes a whole lot of going through tiny streets, villages seeing how they live, the ausumn village rice that we got to have. This trek was one episode that I would never forget... Thanks to rohan
I am a mountain person, i can spend a lifetime in hills and not complain for a second, but Benaras was more a selfish reason than a travel curiosity. Being a sucker for closures, I needed to tick off Benaras just for the heck of finally crossing North India off my list. I wanted to feel proud that with this one destination, I would have covered 100% of North India (all there is to see, don't quote me on nooks and crannies) and at least 30% of India. Yes, that is a bold claim and the one I was aching to make.
The poorer than poor garib rath
the train journey to Benaras was rather eventful. laptop and movies, check; playlist of favourite songs, check; book to read, check. I purposely booked myself on to the top most berth of the train, i like my privacy, and hopped up even before the train chugged from the station. The thing about train travels is that you spend a lot of time just eating and chatting with fellow passengers. I ate and i ate well, so much so that I soon screwed my stomach up! All my train paraphernalia was rendered useless and what was to be an entertaining journey, soon turned out to be the toughest. This is one of those moments i questioned my decision of booking an upper berth. Sliding up and down all night to make frequent trips to the loo, i was dead by the time we arrived to the city.
Hoping for Benaras, but what you see is Varanasi
Confused? don’t be! haven’t you noticed how I wilfully refrain from calling this place Varanasi? Yes, because I wanted to meet the holy city of Benaras, not its modern rendition that is too proud to refer itself with its old name. Anyway, we alight from the train and find ourselves an auto to take us to Assi Ghat. Station is apparently located quite a distance away from the ghats, the main highlight and perhaps the only point of interest in the city. The roads are a madness, a typical UP region that is fraught with unruliness. There is traffic, pollution and too much noise! I didn’t like what I saw. Already tired from the night of juggling between the loo and upper berth, every bit of food and energy drained out of me, I was rather disturbed by unacceptably warm temperatures of Varanasi. I couldn't wait to see the Benaras I came to see. After a short ride from the station to Assi Ghat, we reached the homestay that I booked for me and my family. The homeowner was very friendly and came to receive us outside in the main street. Just as we made the turn from the main road into shrinking by-lanes, I knew we have arrived. I have finally reached my destination.
A home away from home
Homestays, my one and only preference for stays has been so for a reason. When I travel it is not for the views and popular spots, it is for the food, the culture, its people, their hospitality, and their proud tales of the city they live in. At Assi Ghat, my homeowner had a cosy crib that he gave to guests from all the over the world. We had a top floor room and the house was already filled with people from different countries. So we made ourselves comfortable and I stepped out of my room to talk to the host about his beloved city.
I just enjoy talking to locals for a simple reason that their eyes sparkle when they talk about their hometowns with such pride in their voice. My host was more than forthcoming and gave important highlights of the place I was staying at and all that I can explore. I needed to see the place, the local way, but before that, I needed my energy. So i slept to restock on the lost energy reserves and I slept so fitfully.
Reaching Benaras
I woke up fresh and excited, better than I was feeling before. Leaving my and siblings behind, I decided to explore a bit on my own. So i picked up my camera, my bag and my aching spirit to set out into the holy city. Just as I was coming down from the steps, my host volunteered to walk me to the ghats from those by-lanes that Benaras is famous for. 2 more guests from England joined us on our short walk who helped me with a few insights of their own since the had been in Benaras for a while. Reaching our destination at the Assi ghat, i parted ways and began the soul searching. The moment I stepped on to the famous stairs that lead all the way to Ganges riverside, I was mesmerised by the wide expanse of water body that Hindu pilgrims regard so dearly. I started walking along the riverside.
What is interesting about the Ghats is that there is far too much action. You see yoga, some people involved in holy ablutions, the boat-wallahs haggling with customers for a ride down the river. I was taking in the views, smiling at an occasional fellow traveler and acknowledging the locals with an occasional nod. Making my way to Kedar Ghat, i reached a coffee shop, Lotus Lounge, that offered breathtaking views of the river and had an excellent outside seating. Enjoying my evening cuppa, my brother called me to join them for a local street food expedition.
The mouthwatering delights
After walking a bit in lanes of Kedar Ghat, i was actually intrigued to see too many south Indians. Such was my curiosity that I ended up asking one that why are so many south Indians present here. Rather than obliging me with an answer, he got rather offended! I may have crossed line and decided to make a hasty exit. After joining my brother, we all went to Kashi Chaat Bhandar to try their famous street food. I didn't know that this place served the best Chaat in all of Benaras. Located near Naya Bazaar, we ordered palak (spinach) chaat, tamatar (tomato) chaat and churma matar (rice flakes cooked with peas and other spices). I must admit that the food was absolutely delicious. We repeated our order and then again and then again until we started to feel guilty about our shameless indulgence.
Day 2 in Benaras, When the Transition happened
While Day 1 was more of just looking around, day 2 gave me more opportunity to immerse in its spirit. I started early today and decided to do my thing. Strangely, i remembered the way to Assi Ghat, making the confusing twists and turns. I reached the spot that had a different shade today. I walked down the steps and started walking in the same direction I took yesterday. After retracing my steps, I reached the same cafe that gave me even better views today. While i was immersed in the beauty of the ghats, I received a surprise message from a fellow traveler I know from Facebook, all hail the social media! He said he was from Benaras and would be happy to meet me! Aah, the day is made. I have a local in their own city, the one I know. It is such a delight to see the place with someone who knows its eccentricities. Excited by this latest discovery, i got up and made my way to the homestay where my family was resting out their day.
On my way back, as I was walking, refusing the boat ride offers, there was one boy who called me out, like many others, offered me a ride; like many others, only this time I accepted it and I am glad I did. I have a habit of making small talk with people in a hope of finding out something new. My boat wallah was a 17 year old boy with an ambition. I love it when people have passions and dreams. This one too had dreams and reasonable ones, honourable ones, the ones that will make his family proud. He wanted to be a police officer, for the sake of his city, his home and his parents. He said he studies hard to make that happen. My little talk was so enjoyable with him that I decided, I will take his boat for the evening ride to the famous aarti at Dashaswamedh Ghat.
The Local Flavour
Reaching home, happy and satisfied as the day was progressing, I told my mom, sister and brother that we will be met by a friend of mine for a little excursion of the city. Our first stop was Ramgarh Fort, a short ride from Assi Ghat, across a rickety bridge that seemed like it would give away any minute. Ramgarh Fort is just something I wanted to see because of my love for forts and ostentatious architecture. When I got there, i was told that this is the place where some of the most famous Bollywood movies were shot, one that I remember was Bhool Bhulaiya. I wasn't really thinking about this place much until I saw the views of the River from its backside. As we made our way to the backside of the fort, it gave us such panoramic views of the River that lay ahead of us and Varanasi in the short distance.
Our next stop was the famous Benaras Hindu University that is like a city in a city. We reached a temple within the complex that my friend insisted we should see. I being an atheist couldn't appreciate the temple more than its architecture but my mom enjoyed the visit. Outside the temple complex, we picked up some quick snacks like samosas and tea, another must have! You will never find better food than the one you find in the Universities.
Checking off BHU, we drove hastily to the Ghat where I was to meet my boat-wallah from the afternoon. He had been waiting for me for more than 45 minutes and I was feeling bad about it. When i reached, he told me excitedly, “didi bada locha ho gaya” (sister, something went terribly wrong), I asked him what happened, he took someone else on the boat thinking its me and only later realised that it is someone else. He showed them around quickly because he didn't want me to wait and I made it quickly to the ghat because I didn't want him to wait. We both laughed at this incident and he took us on his motor boat to the main highlight of the evening, Dashashwamedh Ghat for the evening aarti.
Not Just Religious but Spiritual Experience: Evening Aarti
We reached the ghat where the aarti was happening and I asked boat-wallah to take us as close as possible. People were present in thousands, on the steps, on the boat, buildings, everywhere. There were hundreds of lamps gracing the river and even more that synced with the sounds of bells and chants. Every one was awe-struck in silence at the spectacle. The only sounds reverberating in the cool Benaras air was that of bells. I sat their transfixed, looking at the simplicity and yet the grandeur of the event, the faith and respect people have for this show and the precision with which the aarti is conducted. Soon after the act was over, we made our way to Manikarnika Ghat. This one has an interesting legend behind it. The famous cremation ghat, Manikarnika has the curse/blessing of being always lit up with a funeral pyre. There is always a body being cremated on this ghat, 24x7!
The boat ride is over, my friend parts ways from us and we sit at the ghat in the evening that is still active from all the action. There are students, travellers, preachers, yogis, locals and everyone you can think of. While the rest of the Varanasi may be whatever it is to the people, to me Benaras is ghats, the confluence of culture, faith and belief. My short journey to this land transpired into something I didn't know existed, I felt a spiritual connection to this place, its people. I loved Benaras, i loved its vibe, its pulsating energy and its culture.
Well, the city of dreams, right?Yeah indeed it is rightly quoted as such. My recent trip to Mumbai has been something special. Actually my family has a get-together scheduled every year during Diwali to celebrate the auspicious festival. And this time around it was to be held at the city that never sleeps. In the previous years as well, we have had a couple of get-togethers in Mumbai, but this time around it was something special. I finally had realized that my destiny lies in travelling. So for the first time since the time beginning, I was looking up to this trip with a totally different pair of eyes.
Well for the first day, we arrived at the Borivali Station around 4 in the evening. Then we had to hire a taxi to reach to our relatives' place. When we were on our way, I was feeling enlightened. I don't know how to explain that feeling in words. The air of the city seemed to acknowledge me with a different feel. Okay, so after a soul-liberating ride from Borivali to Bhayandar, we finally reached our destination. Chandulal Park. We were welcomed with great enthusiasm by our relatives. After that we got freshened up and then we were on for dinner.After dinner, we went out for a walk down the alley. At the beginning of the walk, I spotted a church at some distance. I asked my father if we could go there as I always wanted to go to a church. He agreed. Then we entered the church and just as we were admiring the building, my sister spotted a graveyard just next to the church. And suddenly my argonaut blood pumped up and I was on my way on the gate of the graveyard trying to solve the mystery of life and death with the philosophical side of me!
The next day we did not have an outing as it was the day of Diwali. So we stayed indoors preparing for the evening puja the whole day. The day after was an amazing day indeed. We were gonna go to The Marine Drive. We went there by a local train which is a common part of a mumbaiite's life, but it certainly was something mesmerizing for me. Those heavily filled locals with hundreds, probably thousands of people traveling in one single train. I mean wow. Some hanging off the gate with just a single handed support with the hooks provided on the roofs of the train. We reached Churchgate, the platform from where Marine Drive is the nearest. We reached the place just in time to see the firecrackers burst around as a practice of the festival. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Watching the endless sea soothe your soul with its gentle breeze. After awe-inspiring ourselves with the experience for an hour, we had dinner at The Burger King outlet just outside Churchgate station and then we called it off for the day.
The next day adventure was calling. We were half awake after making up the previous night's 1 mile walk down The Marine Drive that we found ourselves hitting the road for Essel World, the famous adventure park with dozens of rides in I-don't-remember-the-name-place. It was a quarter-hour drive form Borivali by an auto-rickshaw. After reaching our destination with the sun shining at 90 degrees above our eyesight, we started trying the rides one by one. All rides were amazing. On top of that, some rides were so amazing that you would be puking to death simply by looking how the ride goes about. For instance, a ride named 'top spin' looks like a child's play but when you once get seated into it, it almost grabs the stomach out of you. It might feel that I'm exaggerating a bit too much, but indeed it is true. After spending the whole afternoon and half of the evening, wandering in there trying almost every single ride, we were too tired to even to walk out to the auto-stand. The only things that were flashing in front of our eyes were our nice cozy beds. However, with the effort of the kind it take a mason to break a mountain all by a chisel and a hammer, we found ourselves standing outside the gates of the park in the not-a-single-auto-present-auto-stand. Nothing else could have been worse. All of us collapsed on the road waiting for an auto to pass by. But surely, luck was surely against us momentarily. We waited and waited for an hour but not a single sign of an auto seemed to turn up. Out of the blues, there appeared a bus on the scene. We flapped our hands with all our might to grab the attention of the driver. He stopped and the bus conductor opened the door. He asked us where did we want to go. After our answer, he replied the bus did not go to Borivali, but he could drop us to a place from where autos to Borivali would be available easily. We nodded almost knocking out heads off the neck to show our 100% agreement. We rightly followed the conductor's words and reached home within half an hour. After stepping in, everyone simply kicked off their footwear and crashed into the sofas, relaxing the tiredness out of them. That was quite a bit of experience everyone chuckled about and were fast asleep after having dinner.
The next day was a solitude day, for me at least. Till evening nothing special happened. In the evening, I was sent out to buy some grocery from the nearby store. But every single person knows if you are anonymous to a city, you are most prone to a desire to explore it all by yourself. And so was I. I took the golden opportunity and decided that I'll take a walk around the city all by myself. A faint growing smile emerged on my face out of nowhere. After a soul-inspiring and wanderlust-fulfilling walk, I was home after an hour. That small walk around the city was the last highlight of my tour. I had to depart the next day early in the morning for my hometown.
It was hard waving a goodbye to Mumbai, but it managed to book a soft spot in my heart for itself after this trip.
I always wonder: Is solo-travel the ‘true’ form of traveling? Why is there such a big fuss about a person not being a traveler/wanderer/nomad if he hasn’t traveled alone? I love traveling alone! There is a certain charm to traveling alone – you definitely talk to a lot more local people, other travellers, strangers, you learn a lot about the place, its heritage, interesting tidbits, trivia – the ‘personality’ of the place. Though you might miss your friends or family, at least you’ll get time to miss them.
Vijayapur city, formerly Bijapur, is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. It is also the headquarters for Bijapur Taluka. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of the Adil Shahi dynasty. Bijapur is located 530 km northwest of Bangalore and about 550 km from Mumbai, and 384 km west of the city of Hyderabad.
Bijapur, the land of five rivers and the domain of different cultures, is an ancient city. The city established in the 10th and 11th centuries by the Chalukyas of Kalyani was known as Vijayapura (City of victory). Bijapur was the biggest district place of the state with 11 taluks, but after forming bagalokote new district in 1997 Now it consists of five taluks viz. Basavan Bagevadi, Bijapur, Indi, Muddebihal and Sindagi.
The city was established in the 10th-11th centuries by the Kalyani Chalukyas and was known as Vijayapura (City of victory). The city was passed to Yadavas after Chalukya's demise. The city came under the influence of the Khilji Sultanate in Delhi by the late 13th century. In 1347, the area was conquered by the Bahmani Sultanate of Gulbarga. By this time, the city was being referred as Bijapur.
Beejpur literally means replete with seeds meaning Pomegranate, Beejpur is a Hindi word.
In 1518, the Bahmani Sultanate split into five splinter states known as the Deccan sultanates, one of which was Bijapur, ruled by the kings of the Adil Shahi dynasty (1490–1686). The city of Vijayapura owes much of its greatness to Yusuf Adil Shah, the founder of the independent state of Bijapur. The rule of this dynasty ended in 1686, when Bijapur was conquered during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In 1724 the Nizam of Hyderabad established his independence in the Deccan, and included Bijapur within his dominions. In 1760, the Nizam suffered a defeat by the Marathas, and ceded the region of Bijapur to the Maratha Peshwa. After the 1818 defeat of the Peshwa by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Bijapur passed into the hands of the British East India Company, and was assigned to the princely state Satara.
Bijapur district is historically, traditionally and legendarily, one of the richest districts in the state. The evidence found here reveals that it was an inhabited place since the Stone Age. Many places of this district have legendary history. The history of this district is divided into four periods, from the Chalukya acquisition of Badami till the Muslim invasion.
Early Western Chalukya period lasting from about A.D. 535 to about A.D.757.
Rastrakuta period from A.D. 757 to A.D.973
Kalachuri and Hoysala period from A.D. 973 to about A.D.1200
Devagiri Yadava period from A.D.1185 to the Muslim conquest of Devagiri in A.D. 1312.
Bijapur came under Muslim influence, first under Allaudin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, towards the end of the 13th century, and then under the Bahamani kings of Bidar in 1347. In 1347, when the Bahamani dynasty was established, it included southern and eastern parts of Bijapur district. The supremacy of the Bahaman's may be said to have ceased by 1489. At that time five Shahi Dynasties were born and one of them was „Bijapur‟. The Mughal emperor Aurangajeb conquered Bijapur in 1686 and it was under Mughal rule up to 1723. In 1724 the Nizam of Hyderabad established his independence in the Deccan and included Bijapur within his dominions. However, his acquisition on this portion was of brief duration, in 1760 it went into the hands of Marathas. In 1817, war broke out between the British and the Marathas. By 1818, the whole of Bijapur was occupied by the British and was included in the territory assigned to the Raja of Satara. In 1848 the territory of Satara was obtained through the failure of heir and the British rule started. Till 1884, the Bijapur district had headquarters at Kaladagi. Bijapur was made headquarters in 1885.
After Independence, the movement for re-organisation of States gained further momentum and on 1 November 1956 a separate „Mysore State‟ was formed. By the wish of the people it was renamed as „Karnataka‟. Thus, the district Bijapur along with other Kannada speaking areas became a part of „Karnataka State‟ on 1 November 1956.
Information Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijapur
It was my 3rd marriage anniversary and a perfect reason to plan a vacation. Kasauli was a quick choice due to its proximity to Delhi and as we travelled with a super active toddler we didn’t want a place with too many sight-seeings.
A comfortable train ride took us to Kalka and in a good 1 hr time from there, we reached Kasauli by a taxi (well! exactly not Kasauli but our resort which is 6-7 kms before Kasauli). We booked Winnies Holiday resort; a lovely property with big spacious rooms overlooking hills. Oh! It was such a pleasure staying in this resort.
Kasauli is an army cantonment region established by Britishers. We skipped usual guide book locations and planned our days ourselves at our own pace. The british imprints could be well seen in the architecture there while we roamed through the tidy little town (wish whole of India could be this spotless). Passing through the locals made me wonder how it would feel like living in the lap of nature where day ends at dawn.
It has a passable shopping street on lower mall but food in all of Kasauli is great. Watching sun going down at sun-set point was amazing.
Most of our time was spent in the resort. Now this is the best part about Kasauli. Time does stop there. One can truly relax, rejuvenate, and find some inner peace. Our mornings started seeing sun rising high midst the rocky hills and night spent watching stars from the balcony. Me & my husband had some great conversations there. By the end of the trip, it felt like staying longer.
Kasauli, definitely on my list, for fresh air, green terrain, and ME-ME time.
Day 1 - Bangalore to Gandikota [ Distance Around 300 Kms ]
Sandesh reached BIAL from Delhi at 2.30 P.M and after picking him up we were on our way to Gandikota. This is Sandesh's first motorcycle ride.
Roads were good as long as we were on the national highway with a good downpour and multiple rainbows in our field of vision, it was nice to ride on. There is nothing special to write about after we entered the state highway. It is country side riding till Gandikota and we rode the last bit in the company of Star Light Sky and Blood Moon, how cool. We reached the hotel which is in total isolation at 10.00 P.M to a lazy housekeeping bunch. One wise thing we did was to prebook our accommodation at Haritha Hotel as there is absolutely nothing available around this area and you will hardly find people for help. This hotel is located right near the Gandikota fort.
Day 2 - Gandikota to Belam Caves to Hospet [Distance Around 270 Kms ]
If you are at Haritha, you have to eat Pongal with Chutney, pongal here is the best I have tasted ever.
Sun was out and so were we to explore the Fort, Temple and " The Grand Canyon of India".
This place is so bloody dry and to top it we got lost for an hour in search of "The Grand Canyon" and finally I could convey with broken Telugu to a few locals of what we were looking for to be routed correctly. She opened up as a real delight to our eyes sitting like a chilled beer in the middle of a barren land. Gandikota is a very tiny village with very few shops to cater to tourists.
After some rest at the hotel, next up was Belam Caves which is around 70 kms from Gandikota.
We reached Belam at noon time to a holiday crowd.
Belum Caves is the largest tourist cave in Indian subcontinent and the longest caves in plains of Indian Subcontinent. It is pretty well maintained and it took us 2 hours to explore. This place is very intriguing and surprised us with its interiors. We continued our next 200 kms journey to Hospet via Guntakal and Bellary. We stopped for late lunch at Guntakal and again AP has won me over completely with its food. This time it was simple pappu rice with pickles.
We finally managed to reach Hospet at 9.30 P.M and chacked to a hotel in the city after a "bumpy dusty full of potholes ride" and my assumption of good roads because of Reddy brothers failed really badly. Dinner at a tiny Karavalli hotel with "Shenga Holige". This trip is turning out to be a "satisfy your appetite with some memorable food" kinda trip and Sandesh must have put on a few kilos.
Day 3 -
Lets calls this day as "Explore Hampi day" and we managed to visit - Sasive Kalu Ganesha | Virupaksha Temple | Vittala Temple | Museum | Lotus Mahal | Elephants Stable | Guards House | Queens Bath and Mahanavami Dibba.
We also spent some quality quiet time at TB Dam, both of us have fond memories of visiting this place with our parents. This place is still the same like how it was 15 years ago and is not affected in the name of development.
Tonight's dinner was Mandakki, Holige and Menasinakai Bajji's. I had 10 of them :).
Day 4 - Hospet to Bangalore [Distance Around 330 Kms ]
We had decided to parcel breakfast to go and eat at the dam side. This moment there was very emotional as it reminded me of all the good times I had with my Dad who used to take us there in the evenings every other day.
Breakfast done and our journey to Bangalore began at around 10.00 A.M. The roads are pathetic again till you reach NH4 which is at Chitradurga. We stopped for lunch and got served by a eunuch. It is good to see them land a job. I have also heard that there is an "all eunuch run Dhaba" somewhere near Chitradurga.
And it rained again and again and again till we reached Bangalore at 7.30 P.M.
Lepakshi is a small village in Mandal in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 15 km east of Hindupur and approximately 120 km north of Bangalore. A perfect destination for Bike ride or Long Drive... rather a Day Out !!
We started pretty early in the morning 7 am and reach our destination in almost 2 hours. The magnificent Bangalore Hyderabad Highway did not even make us realize this 2 hours duration.
Lepakshi is a village. You can very well feel the essence of rural Andra there. But the people are quite humble and helpful.
The entrance has got a one rocked Nandi in Sitting position. Its an amazing piece of art.
Coming to the main temple. It is believed to have a connection with Ramayana. In the Ramayana, Rama meets the dying Jatayu. They help him to attain moksha by uttering the words "le pakshi", which is Telugu for "rise, bird". Hence the name, Lepakshi.
The Veerabhadra temple of Lepakshi, which was built by the brothers Viranna and Virupanna, is dedicated to Veerabhadra.
The main point of interest in the temple include a rock chain, Vastu Purush, the Padmini race lady, the hanging pillar, Durga Paadam, the eyes of Viroopaakshanna and Lepakshi saree designs. The paintings on the roof are made with natural pigments. Several stories like the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana; Vijayanagara murals and Kannada inscriptions on the walls.
Gulmarg- the Enchanting beauty in Paradise called Kashmir.
It all started with planning a Diwali vacation when my child suddenly said,”I want to see snow….so we decided to go to Kashmir- Paradise on Earth.
So initially we had the first reaction…Why Kashmir? We said,” Why not…It’s a beautiful part of India.”
Thus began our journey to Srinagar. On reaching Srinagar airport we had our full time guide through the trip- Mr. Waseem Ahmed (the hero of our trip). What started next was a fun filled, life enriching experience.
After our trip to Srinagar, Sonmarg & Pahalgam, we reached Gulmarg. When we thought Thajiwas glaciers in Sonmarg was the most beautiful, we were taken to heaven on earth. Now the real surprise was awaiting us… Waseem on our way to Gulmarg said, today we are heading to the most beautiful & best place in Kashmir Valley. When in Kashmir, don’t miss Gulmarg. It is mesmerising. He was true in every sense.
As we were approaching towards the glaciers, we realised the real beauty of Kashmir was yet to be seen. Gulmarg – the real attraction for every tourist. Gulmarg refers to meadows of flower. Lush green meadows, Skiing institute, festival club, a Shiv temple, a Masjid & a Church. Ice hockey area & world’s 2nd largest Golf club. We saw everything in a pony ride.
When in Gulmarg experience the divinty of nature….here’s the Gondola ride in the snow capped mountains. The Phase 1 of Gondola ride was a recap of Sonmarg whereas the real Paradise on Earth was in its Phase 2 which is 14000ft above. We could see ourselves amidst snow capped mountains. It was mountains on all sides & we at the middle. I just closed my eyes & could experience such a calm feeling. There was a feeling to do nothing & just be there & live for that moment. I knew those few hours were the best times I was experiencing. We decided to give skiing a miss as it would just take us to the top of the mountain & LOC of India & Pakistan.
We started a conversation with Aamir- a young tourist guide, a dreamer & a simple guy. He was a skiing instructor for foreign tourist during their peak winters – December & January. He made me wonder why we Indians go crazy to visit foreign countries when we have the best in India & this is the place that attracts foreign tourist the most.
As now women are also moving forward alone to accomplish their dream to explore the whole universe. There are few products which can be very useful for people who are travelling alone in case of Self defence.
Pepper Spray
This unique pepper spray is available in different varieties, sizes & shapes. It contains an invisible UV marking dye, it works by leaving an intense burning sensation in the skin as well as the eyes of each & every target.
Mace spray contains OC pepper as well as Tear gas where OC pepper can result into uncontrollable coughing & choking where as tear gas can cause an intense facial burning.
There are personal & key chain alarms available in small sizes which is light weighted & easy to handle. It can be used as a
panic or medical alarm.
Taser Self Defence
Taser can be used as a fire weapon as one can fire a 50,000 volt charge from a distance of up to 15 feet. it can damage any part of your body as there is no restriction regarding specified target areas. It is the best self defence for women as well as for men.
A certain light was beginning to dawn dimly within her, a light which showing the way forbids it.'' - Kate Chopin ''The Awakening''. Realisations and decisions are made in a moment, when you try to remember a memory, you relocate it in moments, not in a linear chronology but in moments and memories. Little did i know that one such decision taken in an impulsive moment would transform my life forever. I decided to break up, leave my job and yes, go on a solo trip. The rustic background of my family have contributed to my knack for adventure and longing to be close to nature. Even when i was i a little girl i remember going out for long strolls in the fields, cycling on highways, taking bullock cart rides and observing the 'sublime'(nature). I did not know that my desire for seclusion was my awakening in disguise, but Freedom always comes with fear.
I did not have any money on me so i decided to go to my first best option, Rishekesh- safe, easy to reach, cheap, convenient and close to Delhi/NCR. I started mid-day on my Activa, already in anxiety I did'nt feel a need to stop before Roorke. When I did stop at a petrol pump to refuel, a man who noticed that i'm a girl (only when I removed my helmet) questioned me about my concern for personal safety and I told him '' Uncle don't worry i'm in Police and i carry a gun with me for my safety". Did he believe me? I'd leave that to you, but i decided this to be my answer to everyone who'd be concerned for my safety more than me. It was already 7, dead dark and cool. A sudden gush of guilt for hurting others by my decisions overpowered me and all my way from Haridwar to Rishikesh I was crying and shouting all on my own. By the time I Reached, it was already 9:15, down at Laxman Jhula the Diwali decorations had still dimly lighted up the background to welcome me by emitting their glow on my cheeks. I managed to get a room at a temple which had a beautifully countrified aangan(veranda) covered with mango and rudraksh trees and lit up with golden lights and diyas. All my weariness had vanished merely at the sight of the place which was going to be my home for a few days.
I do not promise you the views that one may witness at the Leh- Ladakh tour but its worth giving a shot mainly because of the river Ganges. Deep, pure and silent, its water is amalgamated with the purest and rarest of Himalayan Herbs, and if you are a winter lover like me than probably this is the best time to visit Rishikesh. My day was generally spent on the Badrinath highway enjoying the scenery, looking for spots where I would sit to contemplate and get invisible in the scenery. There is an isolated bridge about 5 Kms above Shivpuri and I would just go there, put on my earphones, open my hairs and feel the wind pass through them. Everyday of my stay I went to the banks of Ganges and watched the river looking like a wide patch of sea green crystal,the golden winter sun made the sand shimmer in silver. Someone precisely said''Nature is not a place to visit; it is home''. My Evenings were generally spend at the 'Freedom Cafe', they've got all kinds of music instruments and they're never short of pro players. Just imagine strangers meeting randomly and deciding to play a common tune and the results were ecstasy by pure music; but as I said that Freedom always comes with fear, by the time I used to get back at the temple it was always late and I could sense the local people eyeing me with contempt and dislike, only this time I was ready for everything that comes my way. Night time is the Breeze time in Rishekesh, it would start flowing at night and continue rustling till dawn on all 365 nights of the year. I still did not get the answer to the reason behind it flowing at night but it sure is crisp and fresh, though it would get so strong with the passing night that one can hear the bridge creaking for whole night. Still nowhere close to sleep I would go to the terrace and feel the power of the place I was at while staring at the moon and stars shining bright over me which would slowly lull me to sleep.
Travelling is like visiting a parallel world where you become part of a place where you don't belong, its an escape from the mundane where there is no one to judge or blame, you become like an invisible observer who's vulnerable and yet so carefree. Everyone has a different meaning to life and you can understand yours in nature's lap, but its very important to envision that the damage done to it is irreversible, its annoying to see so many people who'd come to worship this flowing store of ambrosia and go back polluting it, while the foreigners would visit and keep our country clean, why can't we keep our own?? India is the most beautiful country geographically and if something is not done to preserve its wilderness, human's got the most to lose. I would not only like to travel and explore the pieces of Paradise on earth but also do something to preserve their sanctity for the coming generations. God is religion, Nature is spiritual. ''Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience'' -Ralph Waldo Emerson.
We planned for a walk to Manikaran Saheb from Kasol(4 KMS). I would recommend to have a walk to the place as it's an amazing route. You would get a lot to capture in your camera and at the same time you dont want to distract yourself from experiencing the nature and it's mysteries. Manikaran is famous for hot water stream flowing down, between two stones we saw a rainbow in the river as a prism was created. 
Small pathways were there to reach the lord Ram temple. They opened up certainly after a km walk to a road and so called Manikaran village. They were celebrating Dusherra in their own tradition. Celebrations, I cant narrate but it's an experience to experience the versatility in culture within a country. We were amused by the village and their traditions. We came back and it was dark by the time. We sat at a camping cafe near our hotel to riverside and the coffee was great to have when you dont drink alcohol. 
This was the only day for us to explore more as we were leaving the next day for Manali. We took a rest for an hour before we left for the final meal of the day. Market was full of woolen things to buy and people sitting along roadside witb guitar in hands and smoking weed in public. I was surprised but they were free to live the life they want. We had snacks at german bakery and came back to hotel for a tight sleep. 
