Indian Road Trip

07/12/2016

India Tour: Final Part
ആഘോഷങ്ങളുടെ തീരായാത്ര
https://goo.gl/faPu10

04/12/2016

India Tour: Part 9
ഷിംലയിലെ കോടമഞ്ഞും ആഗ്രയിലെ ചൂടും
https://goo.gl/xPO0Lb

30/11/2016

India Tour: Part 8
ജിസ്പയിലെ താഴ് വാരങ്ങള്‍
https://goo.gl/NnyyVO

27/11/2016

India Tour: Part 7
ഷയോക്ക് നദീതീരങ്ങളും നീലത്തടാകവും
https://goo.gl/xmOnjO

22/11/2016

India Tour: Part 6
ലോകത്തിൻെറ നെറുകയില്‍
https://goo.gl/bXfrKr

18/11/2016

India Tour: Part 5
ഹിമാലയത്തിൻെറ മടിത്തട്ടിലൂടെ
https://goo.gl/ADSp7f

13/11/2016

India Tour: Part 4
ഇടനെഞ്ചില്‍ മുഴങ്ങിയ വെടിയൊച്ചകള്‍

http://www.madhyamam.com/travel/destination/destination-india/india-tour/jallianwala-bagh/2016/nov/12/231443

08/11/2016

India Tour: Part 3
പിങ്ക് സിറ്റിയില്‍
http://www.madhyamam.com/travel/destination/destination-india/india-tour/ping-city/2016/nov/08/230890

06/11/2016

A Drive To Discover India

http://www.madhyamam.com/tags/india-tour

04/11/2016

India Tour: Part 2
ഗോക്കള്‍ വാഴും പാതകള്‍
http://www.madhyamam.com/travel/destination/destination-india/india-tour/cow-streets/2016/nov/04/230262

04/11/2016

ഗോക്കള്‍ വാഴും പാതകള്‍

India Tour: part 2
ഗോക്കള്‍ വാഴും പാതകള്‍
http://www.madhyamam.com/travel/destination/destination-india/india-tour/cow-streets/2016/nov/04/230262

ഇന്ത്യ ടൂര്‍ ഭാഗം: 2 പതിവുപോലെ അതിരാവിലെ എഴുന്നേറ്റ് യാത്ര പുനരാരംഭിച്ചു. താണെയില്‍ റെയില്‍വേസ്റ്റേഷന് സമീപമായിരുന്നു റൂമെടുത്തിരുന്നത്. ഞായറാഴ്ചയായിട്ടും രാവിലെത്തന്നെ റോഡില്‍ നല്ല തിരക്ക്. ആദ്യ

03/11/2016

http://www.madhyamam.com/travel/destination/destination-india/india-tour/india-tour/2016/nov/02/229776

02/11/2016

ആ സ്വപ്നയാത്ര തുടങ്ങുന്നു- മലപ്പുറം മുതല്‍ മുംബൈ വരെ

http://www.madhyamam.com/travel/destination/destination-india/india-tour/india-tour/2016/nov/02/229776

2016 ആഗസ്റ്റ് 25, ഞങ്ങളുടെ സ്വപ്നങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ചിറകുവിരിച്ച ദിനം. മനസ്സിന്റെ നടുമുറ്റത്ത് കൂടുകൂട്ടിയ ലഡാക് എന്ന വിസ്മയ ലോകത്തേക്കുള്ള യാത്രയുടെ തുടക്കം അന്നായിരുന്നു. ഏകദേശം രണ്ട് വര്‍ഷം മുമ്പാണ് റൈഡര്

29/10/2016

വയനാടന്‍ കാഴ്ചകള്‍

വയനാടന്‍ കാഴ്ചകള്‍

പ്രാചീന ചരിത്രവുമായി എടക്കല്‍ ഗുഹകള്‍ ലോക പൈതൃകത്തിന്റെ വിലമതിക്കാനാകാത്ത കൈമുതലുകളാണ് വയനാട് ജില്ലയിലെ എടക്കല്‍ ഗുഹാചിത്രങ്ങള്‍. ക്രിസ്തുവിനുമുമ്പ് ഏകദേശം 4000 വര്‍ഷംമുമ്പ് ജീവിച്ചിരുന്ന ശിലായുഗ മന

17/10/2016

Redmi 3S (Gold, 16 GB)
2 GB RAM | 16 GB ROM | Expandable Upto 128 GB
5 inch HD Display
13MP Primary Camera | 5MP Front
4100 mAh Li-Ion Polymer Battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 64-bit Processor

http://fkrt.it/VB!C0TuuuN

14/05/2016

A traveller’s guide to Srinagar – 10 things to do for a great experience in Srinagar

A traveller’s guide to Srinagar – 10 things to do for a great experience in Srinagar
I heard a Kashmiri once describe his land "It's an emerald set in pearls, a land of lakes, clear streams, green turf, magnificent trees and mighty mountains. Here the air is cool and the water sweet", and he wasn't wrong at all. Earliest travellers have described the land with streams sweet in taste, waterfalls which are music to the ears and climate absolutely invigorating. The land continues to enamour its visitors. If Kashmir is the emerald, Srinagar—the summer capital of Kashmir—is definitely its finest and rarest gem. In this virtual tour of Srinagar, see sights that have inspired artists, poets and painters, visit places of historical significance, get to know adventure activities that you can participate in and much more.

I heard a Kashmiri once describe his land “It’s an emerald set in pearls, a land of lakes, clear streams, green turf, magnificent trees and mighty mountains. Here the air is cool and the water sweet”, and he wasn’t wrong at all. Earliest travellers have described the land with streams sweet in taste...

09/05/2016

::: Tamil Nadu Tourism - Hillstation :::

ANAMALAI HILLS
It is also called as Elephant Hills. It is a range of mountains in the Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, located along the Western Ghats, lying between 10° 13' and 10° 31' N. and 76° 52' and 77° 23' E. It is also the tallest of the hills in South India that rises up to 8850 ft. The geological formation is of metamorphic gneiss, veined with feldspars and quartz, and interspersed with reddish porphyrites. The Lower slopes yield valuable teak and other timber. In some areas, coffee plantations are a common sight. The area was notified as Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974 and established in 1976. anamalai

There is a 30 Km wide gap [big break in the Western Ghat mountain range] between the Nilgiri Hills to the north and the Anamalai Hills to the South that straddles the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border and serves as a major communication route between them. Highways and Rail Transport connect Palghat with Coimbatore and Pollachi. This huge gap is called as Palghat Gap.

Attractions of Anamalai Hills : Monkey falls, Aliyar, the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Amaravati, Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary and National Park, Attakarai, Kulipatti, Manompally, Chinnar, Varagaliar, Manjampatty are some places the tourist can afford to miss.

INDIRA GANDHI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY and NATIONAL PARK : This was originally called as Anamalai Wild Life Sanctuary notified in the year 1974 and established in the year 1976. Later on renamed in honour of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s visit in 1961 . It is located at an altitude of 1400 meters at the Top Slip. The National Park is 108 sq.kms is the core area of the total 958 Sq. Kms sanctuary zone. Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Project Tiger Zone in the year 2008. Elephants, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Pangolin, Black Headed Oriole, Green Pigeon and civet cat can be seen in this Sanctuary. Karian and Anaikunthi Sholas, Grass Hills, Waterfalls, Groves, Teak forests, Estates, Dams and Reservoirs add beauty to Anamalai Hills and attracts visitors in large numbers. Elephant Safari and Van services are available at the Top Slip to take the tourists around the Sanctuary.

Palghat Gap. Monkey falls, Aliyar, the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Amaravati, Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary and National Park, Attakarai, Kulipatti, Manompally, Chinnar, Varagaliar, Manjampatty are some places the tourist can afford to miss.This was originally called as Anamalai Wild Life Sanct...

08/05/2016

Sandakphu and beyond in a Mahindra Thar - Team-BHP

Sandakphu and beyond in a Mahindra Thar
We have been planning to do a camping trip for ages but the determination to do it was lacking. The last camping that we did in India was way back in 2012 in Zanaskar (Ladakh). This time nothing short of a calamity was going to stop us. The destination was finalised, Sandakphu.

We have been planning to do a camping trip for ages but the determination to do it was lacking. The last camping that we did in India was way back in 2012 in Zanaskar (Ladakh). This time nothing short

03/05/2016

Ridden: Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom - Team-BHP

Ridden: Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
Earlier this year, Harley-Davidson launched the 1200 Custom in India at a price of Rs. 8.90 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).

What you'll like:
A beautiful low stance cruiser
Build quality is premium for the most part
Fuel-injected, refined Harley-Davidson motor has bucket loads of low and mid range torque
Nice sounding stock exhaust
Fairly direct handling and mature ride quality
Pull-back handle bar is comfortable for long distance touring
Plenty of customization options. Seat, exhaust, footpegs, fuel cap...you name it and Harley has it!
Equipped with all the required daily switchgear, low fuel light, low oil light, pass light, tachometer, trip meter etc.
High quality Michelin Scorcher tubeless tyres

What you won't:
Expensive price tag for a CKD motorcycle
No ABS!!! Further, brakes lack immediate bite and feel extremely wooden
Heavy duty industrial gearbox with its forward inclined position is a pain to use in traffic
Low ground clearance of 105 mm sees it bottoming out on Indian roads
Seat compound is too soft for long distance touring
Pillion seat area is in short supply and lacks a grab rail
Zero storage areas, no space for even the documents
Misses out on a kickstand warning

Earlier this year, Harley-Davidson launched the 1200 Custom in India at a price of Rs. 8.90 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). What you'll like: A beautiful low stance cruiser Build quality is premium for the

24/04/2016

City Palace, Jaipur - Cultural Heritage Palace Complex - Rajasthan Tourism

http://tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/jaipur/18/jaipur-city-palace

JAIPUR CITY PALACE
ABODE OF THE ROYALS
Located deep within the walled city, the City Palace Complex was conceived and built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. A beautiful fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the palace is still home to the last ruling royal family which lives in a private section of the palace. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh is credited with building most of the structures, but it was expanded upon by later rulers as well. The City Palace Complex includes the Mubarak Mahal (the palace of reception) and the Maharani’s Palace (the palace of the queen). Mubarak Mahal now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and displays a vast and unique collection of royal costumes, delicate Pashmina (Kashmiri) shawls, Benaras silk saris, and other dresses with Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery. The clothes of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I are also on display. The Maharani's Palace, surprisingly, has an interesting display of very well-preserved Rajput weaponry, some dating back to the 15th century. Other than the arms, the palace is adorned with beautiful paintings on the ceiling that are well-maintained.

chandra mahal, mubarak mahal

22/04/2016

Muzhappilangad Beach - Kerala's only drive in beach at Thalassery, Kannur | Kerala Tourism

Muzhappilangad Beach
Kerala’s only drive-in beach, the Muzhappilangad beach which stretches across four kilometres of sand where one can drive down the entire length. The drive is ideal for sampling the famed Malabar cuisine from the many eateries in the immediate hinterland. Black rocks protect this long, clean beach from the currents of the deep, making its shallow waters a swimmer’s paradise.

Adventure sports like paragliding, parasailing and microlite flights are possible at the Muzhappilangad Beach in Thalassery. Other attractions include water sports, power boating or a simple catamaran ride.

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Kannur (Main Station), about 16 km; Thalassery, about 12 km
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport, about 102 km
Location

Lattitude:11.792584, Longitude: 75.454416

Muzhappilangad Beach is situated 7 km from Thalassery in Kannur district. This beach stretches across four kilometres of sand is a drive-in-beach where one can drive down the entire length.

03/04/2016

2016 Renault Duster Facelift & AMT (Automatic) : Official Review - Team-BHP

The Renault Duster Facelift has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 8.47 - 13.57 Lakhs (ex-Delhi).

What you’ll like:

• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction
• AMT variant is a convenient city commuter. Also the cheapest diesel AT in the segment
• A competent softroader. AWD system can take you places no 2WD can. 210 mm GC (FWD = 205 mm)
• 109 BHP turbo-diesel is fast as well as fuel efficient. 84 BHP diesel offers excellent driveability
• Outstanding ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Balanced handling & dynamics. Stable at high speeds too
• Safety kit: Dual Airbags, ESP, ASR, ABS, EBD, BA, Hill Hold & Understeer Control
• Practical boot (475 - 1,064 liters of cargo capacity)

What you won’t:

• AMT is jerky and suffers from slow gearshifts. Creta AT, in comparison, is butter smooth
• Higher variants are too expensive for what is a dated model. Felt old at launch, feels even older today
• Interiors look cheap in many areas. Cost-cutting is very obvious
• Mediocre rear seat legroom. More like C1 segment sedans than C2
• Poor NVH insulation. Engine, road & wind noise are prominent inside the cabin
• No 3rd row of seats. You can buy 7-seater SUVs at the same $$$
• AMT unavailable with the AWD; Scorpio & XUV500 both offer 4x4 / AWD ATs
• Renault's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss

The Renault Duster Facelift has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 8.47 - 13.57 Lakhs (ex-Delhi). What you’ll like: • Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction • AMT variant is a

02/04/2016

Fort Kochi in Ernakulam | Kerala Tourism

Fort Kochi
To explore the historic town of Fort Kochi, there is no better choice than setting out on foot. Relax, breathe deep and come out in cotton, soft shoes and yes - a straw hat. At each and every nook of this island steeped in history, there is something amusing awaiting you. It is a world of its own, retaining the specimens of a bygone era and still proud of those days. If you can smell the past, nothing can stop you from walking through these streets.

Walking straight through the K. J. Herschel Road and turning left, you can have a glimpse of Fort Immanuel. This bastion once belonged to the Portuguese and is a symbol of the strategic alliance which existed between the Maharaja of Cochin and the Monarch of Portugal, after whom the fort is named. This fort was built in 1503 and reinforced in 1538. Walking a bit further, you come across the Dutch cemetery. Consecrated in 1724 and managed by the Church of South India, the tomb stones here silently remind visitors of those Europeans who left their homeland to expand their colonial empires.

The next spot to watch is the ancient Thakur House, which stands erect as a concrete specimen of the colonial era. The building is simply graceful. Formerly known as Kunal or Hill Bungalow, it was home to the managers of the National Bank of India during the British rule. Now, it belongs to the Thakur and Company, renowned tea trading firm.

Walk on and there is another colonial structure awaiting you - David Hall. It was built around 1695 by the Dutch East India Company. The hall is associated with Hendrik Adriaan van Reed tot Drakeston, renowned Dutch commander, who is more admired for his monumental book on the flora of Kerala namely Hortus Malabaricus. However, David Hall is named after David Koder, a later occupant of the hall.

Walking past the Parade Ground, the four acres of ground where the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British had once conducted military parades, you reach the St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. It has passed through many phases ever since the Portuguese built it in 1503. Now the church is under the Church of South India. By the way, it was in this church that Vasco-da Gama had been buried and his tombstone can still be seen.

The Church Road is a nice place to walk, with the cool breeze from the Arabian Sea caressing your body. Walk down a bit closer to the sea and there is the Cochin Club, home to an impressive library and collection of sporting trophies. Set in a beautifully landscaped park, the club still retains its British ambience.

Walking back to the Church Road, on the left side, you would stumble across another majestic mansion, the Bastion Bungalow. This wonderful structure of Indo-European style had been built in 1667 and is named after its location on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the old Dutch fort. Now it is the official residence of the Sub Collector.

The Vasco-da Gama square is nearby. A narrow promenade, this is an ideal place to relax a little. Stalls full of delicious seafood and tender coconuts are simply tempting. Savour a bit and feed your eyes on the Chinese fishing nets, being raised and lowered. These nets had been erected here between AD 1350 and 1450 by the traders from the court of Kublai Khan.

Refreshed, you can now proceed to the Pierce Leslie Bungalow, a charming mansion, which once had been the office of Pierce Leslie and Co., coffee merchants of yesteryears. This building reflects Portuguese, Dutch and local influences. Its waterfront verandahs are an added attraction. Turning right, you come to the Old Harbour House, built in 1808 and owned by Carriet Moran and Co, renowned tea brokers. Nearby is the Koder House, the magnificent building constructed by Samuel S. Koder of the Cochin Electric Company in 1808. This structure shows the transition from colonial to Indo-European architecture.

Turn further right and you reach the Princess Street. Mind having some fresh flowers from the shops here. One of the earliest streets of the area, this road has European style residences on both its sides. Located here is the Loafer's Corner, the traditional hangout for the jovial and fun loving people of Kochi.

Walking northwards from the Loafer's corner, you come across Santa Cruz Basilica, the historic church built by the Portuguese and elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. In 1984, Pope John Paul II declared it as a Basilica. After having a quick look at the Burgher street and the Delta Study, a heritage bungalow built in the year 1808 and now functioning as a high school, you walk down, once again to the Princess Street and then to the Rose Street. There you would find Vasco house, believed to be the residence of Vasco-da Gama. This traditional and typical European house is one of the oldest of Portuguese residences in Kochi.

Turning left, you walk over to the Ridsdale Road to find the VOC gate, the large wooden gate facing the Parade ground. The gate, built in 1740, gets its name from the monogram (VOC) of the Dutch East India Company on it. Close by is the United Club, once one of the four elite clubs of the British in Kochi. Now, it serves as a classroom for the nearby St. Francis Primary School.

Walking straight, you reach the end of the road and there is the Bishop's house, built in the year of 1506. It had once been the residence of the Portuguese Governor and is set on a small hillock near the Parade Ground. The facade of the house has large Gothic arches and the building was acquired by Dom Jos Gomes Ferreira, the 27th Bishop of the Diocese of Cochin whose jurisdiction extended over Burma, Malaya and Ceylon apart from India.

Yes, now it is time to wind up the walk. With the feel of the bygone days still lingering in your minds, mesmerizing sights staying back in your eyes and your taste buds yearning again for the delicacies and it is not at all a sin, if you feel like another walk!

Read more on Kochi

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 1½ km from the main boat jetty
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 30 km from Ernakulam

Fort Kochi in Ernakulam district of Kerala is the first European township in India. Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc are some of the major attractions in Fort Kochi.

30/03/2016

Solitary Exploration of the Nagarhole Forests - Team-BHP

Solitary Exploration of the Nagarhole Forests
It has been sometime that I went out for an outing specifically for the wildlife. Spent a good a good five days in the wild. I love the Nagarahole and Thirunelly forests and I keep returning to it. I picked out Jungle Retreat Wayanad again. I had visited Jungle Retreat in January with a couple of office folks. Incidentally I had told Anil that I wish to return for a longer stay in February but had not confirmed any date as such. I called Anil on the Thursday evening to see if I can get an accommodation (single occupancy as I went on a solo trip again). Got an affirmative that he will arrange one at a very short notice in spite of the place running full. Thanked him and immediately transferred the required amount to the resort account. After returning home from office, packed the required stuff and was all set to go.

It has been sometime that I went out for an outing specifically for the wildlife. Spent a good a good five days in the wild. I love the Nagarahole and Thirunelly forests and I keep returning to it. I

25/03/2016

Travel Amazing India

Happy Mood.....
Greetings.........colors............fun every where
Take you through the Indian Street
Holiya mein ude re Gulaal.......................

25/03/2016

Indian Travel

Indian Travel

This mountain is named after the impressions of the feet of Lord Rama which have been found on the rock surface. The place also has historical significance and houses a monument of Kuravar and Kurathi statue which indicates the Sangam Period and Sangam landscape of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Experience Fresh mountain breeze and rolling green hills at Ramakalmedu:

25/03/2016

Kerala Glitz

25/03/2016

Tour My India

Tour My India

Jammu and Kashmir is probably one of the prettiest places in India and there ain’t a doubt about it. Are you looking for holiday in India? Yes, well this blog can be of some use to you.

24/03/2016

Pun-toured : The Beautiful Western Ghats - Team-BHP

Pun-toured : The Beautiful Western Ghats

A warm Hi! to all TBHPians. It took me three attempts to become a TBHPian. It really feels great that finally I am on board. I have been following TBHP since 2009 and being an avid traveler the travelogue section was the one where I spent a lot of time. I used to have an urge to reply to the posts but being a non-member earlier I could not. Now that I can here is my first travelogue. This was my first trip after I bought my Grande Punto 90 HP.

I have tried my best to put all the experiences I had during my trip so that it can help fellow TBHPians who intend to travel to these places in future. I do hope this thread can be of help to fellow travelers.

Comments and criticism are most welcome. I have been trying to pen my travel experiences since 2014 and any inputs to improve my travelogues will be great.

So here goes my first travelogue in TBHP

I got my Fiat Grande Punto 90 HP in May 2014 and we had been planning my first major tour since then. After going through multiple threads on various automotive sites and suggestions from fellow travelers we finalised a trip to the beautiful Western Ghats. I had a great long weekend along with my family from 2nd - 5th Oct 14. Our base was decided to be Kalasa and we were to cover Kuderemukh, Sringeri and Horanadu. Adding Chikkamagalur to the trip was considered as well but then the trip would have to be extended by a day. I had to take leave for same and with another long trip planned to homeland Cuttack/Bhubaneswar in Odisha in December 2014 we thought additional leaves would be helpful then.

The route we took

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The route which needs to be avoided

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The route from Hyderabad till Hassan is simply awesome. We lost GPS for a few minutes and instead of taking the Belur route went through Sakleshpur. The stretch after that is simply pathetic and needs to be avoided at all costs if travelling after sunset and with family.

The route through Belur is considerably better for most part. While coming back the route was same except instead of Sakleshpur I came through Belur

Statistics for the trip

Day 1
Start Time: 5:10 a.m. 2/10/2014
End Time: 11:30 p.m. 2/10/2014
Distance Covered: 922 kms
Travel Time (In car): 14:48 hours
Average Speed: 62.3 km/h
Total Time: 18:20
Break Time: 3:32 hours
Mileage: 18.3 km/l

Day 2/Day 3 (Covering Kuderemukh, Kalasa, Sringeri and Horanadu)
Distance Covered: 1254 kms (334 kms around the place)
Travel Time (In Car):27:14 hours (12:26 hours)
Average Speed: 26.9 km/l
Mileage: 17.5 km/l (drop of 0.8 km/l)
Break Time: NA

Day 4
Start Time: 8:30 a.m. 5/10/2014
End Time: 12:10 a.m. 6/10/2014
Distance Covered: 2173 kms (919 kms)
Travel Time (In car): 41:41 hours (14:26 hours)
Average Speed: 63.7 km/h
Total Time: 15:40
Break Time: 1:14 hours
Mileage: 17.8 km/l (final mileage)

Whole trip stats
Distance Covered: 2173 kms
Travel Time (In car): 41:41 hours
Average Speed: 52.2 km/h
Mileage: 17.8 km/l (MID)
Mileage: 17.3 km/l (Tankful Method)
Total Diesel Consumed: 125 liters approx.

My observation since I got the car is that the MID shows a mileage which is in the range 0.5-1.0 km/l more than tank full method. This tour strengthened my belief. There is a difference of 0.5 km/l through the whole trip when the tankful method is used. As per my calculation my actual diesel usage might have been more by 2-5 liters more. The last tankful that I did didn't get over and it was between the 2nd and 3rd lines of the fuel indicator. So the mileage may be a little lesser actually.

A warm Hi! to all TBHPians. It took me three attempts to become a TBHPian. It really feels great that finally I am on board. I have been following TBHP since 2009 and being an avid traveler the

19/03/2016

Popular street food options in Udaipur

Popular street food options in Udaipur
The City of Lakes, as Udaipur is popularly referred to, is not only popular for its historical attractions but also street food. For foodies, every single day could be packed with a variety of flavours given the repertoire of street food in the city. Beginning with the famous Sukhadia Circle and the Chetak Circle, to name a few parts of the city, there are innumerable stalls that serve quick bites from morning till night. Some of these stand out for their taste and quality and have been rewarded with throngs of hungry visitors that have returned for bigger morsels of their incredibly satisfying and moreish street food for more than a decade now. One can have hot samosa, crispy kachori, delicious aloo bada, tasty vada pav, scrumptious dabeli, refreshing poha or a very tender scrambled egg at these stalls. Following are some of the popular street food options in Udaipur that a self confessed foodie should hardly miss.

The City of Lakes, as Udaipur is popularly referred to, is not only popular for its historical attractions but also street food. For foodies, every single day could be packed with a variety of flavours given the repertoire of street food in the city. Beginning with the famous Sukhadia Circle and the…

17/03/2016

Weekend Trip to Darjeeling in a Duster AWD - Team-BHP

Weekend Trip to Darjeeling in a Duster AWD
A few Bhpians met mid September for a cup of coffee at a neighborhood CCD. The Bhpians were Blackpearl, Samba, psurelia, djsr78, imove, dip27in & yours truly. Blackpearl was discussing his Sikkim plans which are beautifully put Here. (Zuluk from the back seat) He invited us to join them but we had already booked accommodations so had to give it a miss. We (my wife & I) had planned Darjeeling for that weekend. Since Blackpearl is a Sandakphu veteran & since I was visiting Darjeeling I asked him about the trail. He gave me the insights & told me that he would be going there around Feb, so we can go together as there will be backup. The discussion ended there.

The last trip to the hills was in my Brio in June which is documented here (Sikkim - The Abode of Gods). If you have read that travelogue you would know that purchasing the HULK (Duster AWD) was a decision based on the experience we had in the Sikkim trip. The HULK was approx 4k kms & 3 months old, and the itch for making a trip to hills was pertinent. So as soon as we found ourselves 3 days free, we finalized on the Darjeeling plan. So basically we had 72 hours of which 55 hours were spent driving.

Day 1 : Kolkata to Darjeeling

We started from Kolkata at 0300 hrs & chose the route thru Bihar-Jharkhand after our bad experience 4 months back on NH34. This route has been discussed in length on another thread. I posted an update (Kolkata - Siliguri route via Dumka, Bhagalpur. Avoiding NH34) after completion of the trip. Thanks to Sheel's help we were able to byepass Bhagalpur without a hitch. Both the byepasses have been explained in the post mentioned above.

We were near Purnea around 3 pm & then coordinated with fellow bhpian Sheel to have a cup of tea at the Mahindra workshop.


There was some news on a bridge that was broken near Sukna due to landslide but I could find any online news item to tell me the exact place where it happened. Sheel connected us with a bhpian from Siliguri rahul_kej who updated us with the road conditions. People familiar with this part of the country might know that there are multiple routes to go up to Darjeeling from Siliguri. We had planned to go up thru Pankhabari. rahul_kej was surprised as the route was now rarely used since it was quite steep than the other options. He asked us about the car we will be driving & was relieved to hear that we were traveling in HULK.

Around 7pm, we reached Matigara. The sun had set. We thought of taking a break at a momo shop at the foothills. Had wonderful momos & tea & started our ascent thru Pankhabari. This is the steepest climb to Darjeeling & the visibility due to fog had dropped down. It was pitch dark. We only crossed one vehicle, a police SUV on its way down till Kurseong. We finally reached our hotel at 2130 hrs & it was raining cats & dogs. We were staying in the Gymkhana club. I parked my on a narrow uphill road just besides the Gymkhana wall & went out with an umbrella to ask for parking. Came back with the bearers who helped us unload the luggage & pointed me to the parking. The parking was in the opposite side for which I had to take a U turn. The road was so narrow that I had to drive around 500m uphill just to get some space for a U turn.

Day 2 : Around Darjeeling & a dash of adventure.

The heavy rains thru the night meant that the weather would be cloudy, with no chance of any sight of the mighty K. Woke up in the morning to find that true. Had breakfast & checked out of the club.

A few Bhpians met mid September for a cup of coffee at a neighborhood CCD. The Bhpians were Blackpearl, Samba, psurelia, djsr78, imove, dip27in & yours truly. Blackpearl was discussing his Sikkim

13/03/2016

Varkala Beach,Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Tourism

Varkala Beach
Location: 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city in Thiruvananthapuram district and 37 km south of Kollam, south Kerala.

Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam - Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach.

The Papanasam beach (also called as Varkala beach), which is ten kilometers away from Varkala, is renowned for the natural spring. It is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name 'Papanasam beach'.

A two thousand year old shrine the Janardhanaswamy Temple stands on the cliffs overlooking the beach, a short distance away. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great Hindu reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) is also close by. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30th December to 1st January. Sree Narayana Guru propagated the ideology: "one caste, one religion and one god", in a society torn by the taboos of caste system.

Varkala offers excellent accommodation facilities for tourists and is fast becoming a popular health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centres.

Attractions: Beach, mineral water springs, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000-year- old Vishnu Temple.

Read more on Varkala

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Varkala, about 3 km away
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 57 km away

Varkala, lying on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district is a calm and quiet hamlet. Apart from the beach, the mineral water springs, the Sivagiri Mutt, the Janardhanaswamy Temple and the laterite cliffs add to the attraction of Varkala. Ayurvedic massage centres operating in Varkala make it a…