Photographs, Travel Stories from India
Meghamalai – Breathtaking Beauty in Western Ghats (Aug ’14)
Chennai – Hyderabad – Chennai by Road (Jan ’14)
Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2013 – Alleppey (Aug ’13)
Yedamakky Cottage – Coorg (May ’12)
This trip happened as we have to attend one of our close friends marriage in Bangalore. So, we decided to take couple more days off to visit Coorg. I came across this cottage while looking for some offers from Crazeal.com (now Groupon) for our stay in Coorg. This homestay is situated in Yedamakky a small sleepy village (approx 3 kms from Virajpet) in the Coorg district of Karnataka. The drive from Bangalore to Coorg was a pleasant one. We reached the cottage around 12.30 PM and it’s located about 5 kms from Virajpet. We had a good 2 day stay there and enjoyed every bit of our time. Food was excellent though you have to place your order well before.
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Ajanta Caves – Hidden Jewel Of India (Jan ’13)
Details will follow soon…until then enjoy the paintings at Ajanta…
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Delhi to Chennai by Skoda Rapid – (Jan ’13)
Trip Summary:
Day 1 – Delhi to Chail
Day 2 – Chail – Narkanda – Hatu Peak to witness Snowfall & back to Delhi
Day 3 – Delhi to Jaipur – Shopping – to Kota
Day 4 – Kota to Orchha – Sunset View & Betwa River
Day 5 – Orchha to Ujjain – Kali Mandir / Evening Aarti
Day 6 – Ujjain to Omkareshwar – Shiv Darshan & Maheshwar – Ahilya Fort to Ajanta
Day 7 – Ajanta Caves – Centuries old Paintings & Ellora Caves – Centuries old Carvings to Shirdi
Day 8 – Shirdi – Sai Dharshan to Davangere
Day 9 – Davanagere to Chennai
Route Taken: (Total distance – 4550kms)
Delhi-Chandigarh-Chail-Narkanda-Hatu Peak-Shimla-Delhi-Gurgaon-Jaipur-Kishangarh-Bhilwara-Chittorgarh-Kota-Jhansi-Orchcha-Jhansi-Babina-Lalitpur-Sagar-Rahatgarh-Raisen-Sanchi?-Bhopal-Dewas-Ujjain-Indore-Mhow-Dhamnod-Maheswar-Bharwain-Omkareshwar-Khandwa-Burhanpur-Edalabad-Jamner-Ajanta-Sillod-Aurangabad-Ellora/Grishneswar-Aurangabad-Godegaon-Shani Singnapur-Shirdi-Ahmednagar-Pune-Satara-Kolhapur-Nipani-Hebbal-Belgaum-Dharwad-Haveri-Davanagere-Chitradurga-Bangalore-Hosur-Vellore-Chennai
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Bunglow on the Beach, Tranquebar (Aug ’12)
Nothing could match the views you get from here and there is no other good place than this to witness the changing blue colors of the Sea. Overall a nice place to stay. We had lunch at this place during our visit to Fort Dansborg. This hotel is located in stones throw away from the Fort offering some majestic views of the sea shore.
Let pictures do the talking here…
Quick Visit to Danish Fort – Tranquebar (Aug’ 12)
Life has been so busy for the past one year and we even couldn’t dream of getting away from the city for a weekend. On Independence day, we decided to go for a trip for sure and planned to vistit Tranquebar. This place was on my travel list for quite sometime. Primary attraction in this place is the Dutch Fort and the Hotel that is maintained by Neemrana. The name itself is quite attracting ‘The Bungalow on the Beach’. So, planned for a quick visit to the Fort and Lunch at the hotel.
On Independence day we left all our worries and started our journey as early as 3 AM as we have to cover a distance of 280km one way. Grabbed some money at ATM, filled tank and started the journey by 3.15. It rained the previous night and the roads are not in very good shape. Since it’s too early for the city, there was very thin traffic so we crossed the city in 15 mins and touched ECR road in no time. At a constant speed of around 100-120, we easily crossed Pondy in less than 2 hours and reached the destination in 3.45 hrs @ 7 AM. I love my Rapid
When we reached, there were hardly any people around except few fishermen who ventured out for their work. Relaxed there 10 mins and decided to have breakfast and planned to return to the Fort by 9. When we reached the main road, wifey told about Nagoor which is 20kms from Tranquebar and also about Velankanni. Decided to give it a try we started from Tranquebar and reached Velankanni by 8 AM. After visiting the holy church had our breakfast and turned back to visit the famous Darga in Nagoor. Offered our prayers in Nagoor and returned to Tranquebar around 11.30. I was expecting the climate to be cloudy and even expected showers but to my disappointment the sun was in its full glory and we had to sweat it out for the next couple of hours.
Another twist waited at Dansborg, the dutch fort. The main gate was closed and saw the written announcement that the Fort was closed for Independence Day. We didn’t expect this and thought the place will attract more visitors on holidays than a normal weekday. We are very much disappointed for not checking this information prior to our departure. But we can see a couple standing close to the doors and anxiously watching us with another person who seems to be the care taker of the Fort. We turned around and started our walk towards the beach as we had no other option other than to see what was available.
While we walk towards the beach, we noticed that a couple standing close to the gate disappeared and we thought there must be a way to sneak into the fort. After few negotiations with the gate keeper we were allowed inside the fort. Next one hour was spent roaming every nook and corner of the Fort though the Museum inside the Fort was closed. The view from the top was amazing and it should be good to spend evening there, which we didn’t do.
By the time we left the Fort, it was lunch time and we quickly spent sometime on the shore and went to the Bunglow on the Beach for lunch. They have limited options but the food was worth the price and also the views you get from the balcony. After lunch, we started my journey back to Chennai and reached Chennai by 8 PM.
Glimpses To The Glorious Past – Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Jul ’12)
This place was on my list since my first visit to Kumbakonam during my Navagraha temples visit in the year 2010. Back then I didn’t have any idea about the location and hence had to skip without knowing it’s just 30 odd kms from the place I stayed. Fast forward, last week we planned for a spiritual tour to Thiruvidaimaruthur, Trichy and Madurai. While plotting my driving direction on google map, saw this beauty lying on my way to the destination. So, decided to visit this place for sure this time. It was a magnificent structure and require a full day to explore. We reached GKC by 4 PM and the Sun on its full glory. With the scorching heat and the travel we did till then, we decided to have a break for couple of hours and planned to visit the temple by 6 PM.
But when I reached the place again by 6 PM, I found it very difficult to shoot against the fading light :(. Add to that the constant stare I got from the ‘authorities’. Never faced such a situation in any of the heritage sites before. Does anyone know why they don’t allow Tripod inside the heritage sites?
To know more about the place visit this link : Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Below are the pictures I managed, already dreaming of visiting this place again in Monsoon later this year.
Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDI Ambition – Candy White – (Jun ’12)
It’s been wonderful time with our newly acquired Skoda Rapid. We already clocked 3500kms and our love to this machine grows every passing day. Though, I don’t like to drive it in bumper to bumper traffic, due to the constant vibration in the clutch. Not sure if Skoda is listening and many of them complained about this earlier as well. Hope they come up a solution soon. They are going all guns to sell this car and they are successful too, but their A.S.S still continues to be pathetic and I am sure they can’t continue like this for long.
Nevertheless, the Car is quite a machine and it munches miles with ease. A trip to North India is long due and hope it happens soon..
Some photographs taken along ECR road.
