Kanyakumari

Posted on July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

Kanyakumari is the southern tip of India. It has been a cherished dream of ours as a family to visit this place whenever we were in Kerala. So, about two years back when we were in Kerala, we finally decided to do a road trip from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari. It was a fun ride. It took us about 3-4 hours via NH 66 that passed through Nagercoil. We were not sure of the way and therefore, had to continuously check with people on the road if we are on the right track. The weather was good. There was an overcast of clouds and so we were pretty sure it would rain. We wanted to reach Kanyakumari before sunset to see and enjoy the sun going down the horizon..

The view from the car was very scenic. There were coconut trees and mountains lined on both the sides. There were fruit and juice vendors on the sides of the road to quench your thirst otherwise the places were very dry.

We reached Kanyakumari by about 5 pm and went straight to the beach to catch the sunset. But to our utter disappointment, rain came pouring down as soon as we hit the beach. It was a cloudy day and now that it began to pour so badly, we had to forego our desires and be content with enjoying the rain while we were on the beach. We went back in search of a good hotel to stay during the night and settled in one of those hotels that was close to the beach. We wanted to catch the sunrise even if we lost out on the sunset. We settled into a comfortable place near the beach and went out for dinner.

We were told we should be at the beach early morning by atleast 4.30 / 5.00 if we were really interested in seeing the sunrise. So, we set up our alarms and went off to sleep.

Early morning, it was a task to get all of us ready (we were with our children aged 11 and 12) and head back to the beach. But the efforts did not go in vain.

It was there, first as just a hint of golden and orange colour intermingled with each other and turning to red at some places in the far horizon. There were hundreds of people on the shore all waiting anxiously, not taking their eyes off for that first glimpse. We kept waiting and slowly it did emerge from the depths like a burning fire and then slowly forming itself into a circular white.

We stayed on at the beach enjoying the waves and the waters for a long time. There were rocks on which people tried to climb and experience the waves.

We took a ferry to reach Vivekananda Rock which has a temple dedicated to Devi Kanya Kumari and also a large statue of Thiruvalluvar.

It is believed that Vivekananda once came to this site under the instructions of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

The popular belief is that this place being the tip of the India, is the meeting point of 3 seas but geographically there is only one. We could however, see three different colours of water out in the sea when we stood watching from this place. So, God only knows!

Kanyakumari on Google Maps

Candolim Beach, Goa

Posted on July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

When we were planning a family trip to Goa last year, we kept searching for the right place to stay and finally we arrived at a decision to stay at the Santana Beach Resort at the Candolim Beach looking at the reviews and ratings in Trip Advisor.

I have to say that we were not disappointed. We did have a fantastic time! The resort was right on the beach and we could just stroll down to the beach after our lunch and spend as much time, strolling and lazing around at the beach, picking up shells and just being in the water and enjoying the waves to our hearts content. It gave us an opportunity to really enjoy and feel the essence of being in Goa!

The service was decent, the breakfast was varied and had a good spread of continental and Indian. We had Goan fish curry at lunch which tasted good. The rooms were clean and bathrooms tidy with clean towels when we checked in. We were lucky to get a room with a kitchen attached, though we did not use it as we were out most of the time. It has a separate swimming pool for adults and children with beautiful lawns, properly trimmed and maintained with lots of coconut trees and other plants. It looked beautiful even at night.

Another thing that we really liked about this place was that it was really close to Fort Aguada and we could take a tour of the Fort by taking a short walk through the beach. We saw people indulge in para sailing and other evening sports at this beach. It has a great beach shack too. This place is also very close to the famous Kingfisher villa and Vivantaby Taj – Fort Aguada.

The price is very decent for the facilities that are on offer. We would definitely like to go back and stay there once more if we get a chance!!

How to get there

We can take a taxi either from the Goa airport located at Dabolim which is 46 km from Fort Aguada or any of the two Railway Stations – Margao and Vasco Da Gama.

Santana Beach Resort on Google Maps

Chandni Chowk of Delhi, India

Posted on July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

Going through chandni chowk and it’s various little gulley’s is a favourite pastime for me and my husband. We would hop on a Delhi metro and shoot off, the moment we find we have a day to ourselves and are not needed to do some errand for the family or go the kids school or run to some other event.

We prefer taking the Delhi metro to this place because one we cannot dream of getting our car into the unmanageable little roads and get stuck in traffic for endless hours. It also gives a breather to my husband who is the only one in our family who can drive right now.

So, on a nice sunny winter day, we set off to be part of the busy streets, hawkers, vendors, chai wallahs, the street food guys. It is an interesting mix of people and buildings, old and new, all intermingled with each other that they still maintain an individuality yet look so distinct.

A person probably visiting for the first time might not find this place interesting at all. I used to be like that. I hated going there amongst the dirt and the chaos, amidst people jostling with each other to get ahead, people screaming at the top of their voices, a mayhem of cycle rikshaws, auto-rickshaws, car, scooter and hoards of people all getting into each others way and nerves.

I only had to make 2 or 3 visits with my husband to really understand the depth of these places. Once you get into a gulley or a lane, the varieties of a single aspect displayed was simply mind boggling. Now, I sometimes simply go there to open up my horizon, of my understanding of what all things are available there.

There is a lane dedicated to only gems and stones. Another lane would be selling only buttons and embellishments. On one lane, you will simply find laces, rows of shops selling different coloured, different styles of laces. There is a lane for bicycle parts, one lane for clothes, one for sarees, one for dry fruits and nuts, spices….. The list just goes on.. Everytime we go, we choose a different lane to explore.

This old Delhi used to be the only Delhi people knew some 30 to 40 years back. By now though the boundaries of Delhi has expanded to beyond Gurgaon on the south and Noida on the west, Rohini on the north, etc. But when you visit old Delhi, you would not imagine that Delhi has expanded so much. Life goes on as it used to couple of decades before. It is as if time stood still somewhere in those periods for Chandni Chowk while the others moved on!

The Hill Station of Kerala – Munnar

Posted on July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

A visit to Kerala is incomplete without visiting the famous hill station of Kerala called Munnar. It is part of the Western Ghats falls in the Idukki district. The name Munnar actually means three rivers. This is a place where 3 rivers (Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly river) come and join together.

During one of our annual vacations to Kerala, we made this journey to Munnar by renting a car. It takes about 3.5 hours from Kochi via Adimali. It is an uphill drive through a natural forest with a view of the most picturesque valleys and waterfalls.

As you climb up, you can see the clouds on top of the mountains enveloping the peak and then slowly as you keep going up, you can feel the clouds kind of settling in on you as well. It is a wonderful feeling when you realize that you now are part of the clouds that you saw when you were down. As you come closer to Munnar, you can see the landscape has changed into smooth slopey mountains, trimmed and parted in columns and squares. The tea gardens are spread wide across mountains and as you inch closer to Munnar, the temperature dips and you start feeling a little cold.

Munnar is a very small town with houses scattered across the mountains. You can have a good look at the entire town from one of these mountains. We stayed at the Mar Thoma Retreat Centre on the Mattupetty Road. It was a very comfortable cozy place and once we had freshened up, we were on our way to see the Mattupetty Dam, or as some call it, the Madupetty Dam. The dam is nearly 13 Kms from Munnar town. Further ahead is a beautiful tourist spot called the Echo Point. The river enveloped by mountains all around was a beautiful sight to behold.

Munnar on Google Maps

If you are making the trip from Kerala, the nearest airport is Nedumbassery at Kochi. The nearest railway station would be Ernakulam or Aluva. And then take a taxi or cab. It is about 110 Kms from airport.

Interesting tidbits on Munnar

The blooming of Neelakurinji. This tiny blue flower (Strobilanthes kunthianum) blooms every 12 years and spreads the entire mountainscape of Munnar and is a phenomenon worth clapping ones eyes on. The flower with 40 odd varieties bloom mostly in shades of blue, and thus the name. Neela in the local language stands for the colour blue and Kurinji the local name for the flower. The blooming of Neelakurinji usually starts from August and would last up to October. After 2006, we can expect another blooming in 2018. Book your tickets!

The Royal Jama Masjid of Delhi

Posted on July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

Jama Masjid is the biggest mosque in Delhi. It is important as a heritage property as it was built by Shah Jahan and the coronation ceremony of later Mughal emperors were performed by the imams of this mosque. It is walking distance from Red Fort and consequently catered to the needs of the royalty of those times.

The mosque is situated in the middle of the most crowded and congested streets of old Delhi and therefore, getting to the place itself is a bit of adventure.

We took the Delhi metro and got down at the Chawri Bazaar Metro Station and walked the entire length of Chawri Bazaar to reach the West side of Jama Masjid. Crossing Gate No. 5 from where we could see the three domes from behind the structure. we walked around the border to reach Gate No. 3. The entrance gate to the mosque was on top of a flight of stairs. The wide structure looked majestic on top from where we were standing.

There is a wide worship area inside – it is supposed to be able to accommodate 25000 people to worship at the same time. There are 3 entrance gates to the inner porch and entire courtyard is lined with arched verandahs leading to the towers at the four corners.

From the verandah on the opposite side of the mosque, one could see parts of Red Fort. If you come out of the gate on the east side, you will step into the old and famous colourful Meena Bazaar of Delhi.

Lotus Temple

Posted on July 25, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

As we exit Nehru Place under the Nehru Place Metro Station towards the Lotus temple, the roads begin to slightly deteriorate. This road definitely needs layering. As we bank left into the road that leads to the Lotus temple, the temple perimeter becomes visible with a lovely fencing that is both aesthetic and useful. The morning sun reflected the temple in all its splendour.

I was taking my cousin, who had come from Kerala, to see a wonderful architectural wonder in modern Delhi – the Lotus Temlpe, the worship abode of the Baha’i community in Delhi. Created in the shape of a flowering lotus, it is an architectural wonder and was opened to public in 1986. It is situated east of Nehru Place, south of East of Kailash and north of Kalkaji. While technically, the place where it stands is called Baharpur, everybody calls it Lotus Temple!! The regular flow of visitors, including a vociferous group of schoolchildren, was picking up as we made our way into the premises. The entry is designed in such a way as to let the visitors view the exterior for an extended period of time before they can enter the sanctorum. Verdant gardens envelop the surroundings and this autumn morning, they were in a colourful riot.

A flight of tastefully crafted steps lead up to the entrance. The structure itself is surrounded by pools of clear water. We came to know that these help keep the sanctorum cool. Footwear is not allowed inside the sanctorum. However, we were provided bags to keep the footwear.

There are nine gates that open into the sanctorum and we entered through one into the coolness of the great hall. Silent and majestic, it was a beautiful experience. We sat in one of the many benches that are provided inside the hall. After a few moments of meditation we explored a bit and then made our way out. The bags were returned and after the many customary photo sessions, we made our way back to our car.

Some facts about the Lotus Temple to help you make your visits more enjoyable

1. Visit towards the evening. The light show is a must-see!
2. More than 20% of the total electricity requirement of 500KW is generated through solar panels.
3. There is an elaborate arrangement for water conservation throughout the premises.
4. The pools cool the sanctorum even in the most fiercest of summers.
5. Photography inside the sanctorum is disallowed.
5. Entrance is free.

Know more about the Baha’i Temple | Wiki Entry on Baha’i Temple

Baha’i Temple on Google Maps

Bekal Fort in Kerala

Posted on July 24, 2018July 24, 2018 by indtr

Bekal Fort is one of the lesser known forts located in the northern part of Kerala. It is one of the oldest and largest forts of Kerala. It is part of the Kasargod district of Kerala.

We made a day trip to Bekal Fort from our home in Pathanamthitta District by taking an overnight train that left us at the Bekal Fort Station early morning. The station was right beside the Beach. It was very convenient for us to get to the beach and to the fort walking down from the station. However, since we were on an overnight train, we did not have anything to eat in the morning and therefore went out in search of Breakfast. This, being a very small town did not have too many options. There were roadside restaurants that served all Kerala dishes but it was off season. We went during the monsoon season and therefore the place was less crowded. We were told that this place is usually flocked till May end when the school kids in Kerala are on vacation!

Bekal fort is a protected monument. It is a key like structure. The fort was the citadel of the Kolathiri Raja’s of Kerala which finally fell into the hands of Vijayanagiri empire. It was then taken over by Tipu Sultan and the security features around the fort gives us the impression that it was built to keep an eye on the enemies coming in from the sea side as well as land.

After our Breakfast in the town, we took an auto to the main entrance of the fort. Inside the fort, there was an observation tower in the center of the fort with a ramp going up and down. The walls that surround the fort went on and on across the length and breadth of the fort.

The walls were approx 12 ft in height and were very strong built. We could see the holes that would have been used to keep guns and ammunition by the fort guards. There was a wider opening that was used to keep tanks. As we peeked in through these holes and the gaps, we could see the entire stretch of the sea around.

The fort is surrounded by sea on the west side. There was a lane that would take you down to the sea and beaches. The beach on the fort side was rocky. The waves lashed on them with so much fury that it was exhilaratig to look at the lather foaming up as they hit the big rocks.

The beach near the fort was beautiful and crescent shaped. It could be accessed by just walking down the fort. The view of the beach from the fort was also very nice. We had the whole beach to ourselves and we enjoyed the afternoon sun in the waters. There were coconut trees lined and a garden adjacent to the beach which also had interesting things for kids.

Bekal Fort on Google Maps

The famous Taj Mahal of India

Posted on July 24, 2018July 25, 2018 by indtr

It was time to make a visit to this famous structure of India. I spent almost 25 years in Delhi before I made the effort to finally visit this beautiful place. Once decided we set off from Delhi one early morning (we started around 6.30am) to reach this destination by about 11.30 am. The roads were really bad and congested to get there at that time but now I’ve heard there is a highway that’s built to make it possible to reach Agra in just about 2 hours from Delhi.

It was about 10-15 mins walk from the place where the bus dropped us. There were options of carts being driven by camels or to stretch our legs after the long hours spent in the car. We definitely chose the second.

Well, getting inside the place was a struggle with long queues and endless wait at the south gate. There were however, multiple things on that little gully which kept us quite intrigued and fascinated. craftsmen working on the roadside and small shops selling those craft items that we spent most of the time window shopping.

Once inside, the place was huge and marvellous. The expanse of green gardens was well maintained.

This was just the outer court. We were still not able to see the Taj Mahal from this entrance. There was another gate we had to cross before we could behold the structure we had come to see from so far.

The walls were quite impressive. They had chambers built in the walls with domes at each corner. we spent sometime reading the inscriptions and information given by the tourism department. The history behind the Taj Mahal and the construction was elaborate.

By this time, we were dying to get into the inner courts to actually behold the structure with our very own eyes. There is an excitement in seeing something and feeling something in real rather than pictures and images. It was the same feeling and exhilaration that was sweeping us. I guess whoever planned this structure had simply that in mind.. to create an intrigue in the minds of the people coming to visit and there was just that gradual and most beautiful reveal awaiting us.

Once inside, the complete picture was before us to view for as long as we could afford. It was truly magnificent, the white marbles glistening in the bright sunshine and standing tall and majestic before the world. It was truly worth the wait.

Walking around the structure, we went back couple of decades back. There was exquisite work done on each of these marbles and the views from each side of the structure was breathtaking.

We could also see the yamuna from parapet. I have never seen such a serene flow of the river from anywhere else.

Taj Mahal on Google Maps

Kovalam Beach, Kerala

Posted on July 24, 2018July 24, 2018 by indtr

Kovalam is one of the famous beaches of Kerala and almost everyone in the country has heard or know about this famous beach. A lot of people hold it as a cherished dream to atleast once visit this famous spot. Even though we reside in Delhi for the most part of the year, because we are keralites, we get to travel to Kerala couple of times in a year and have been able to make it possible to visit this beach more than once.

We have visited many beaches in Kerala but this beach is different. It is a small and compact one and one of the most important things that stand out in my mind is that it has black sand.

Kovalam is a beach town in Trivandrum. It is a crescent like beach lined with coconut palm trees.

Beaches are always fun. Looking at the waves coming with such force and might gives a little thrill going down the spine. The foam and the froth that hits us as we stand on the beach waiting for these waves is exhilarating.

The sands from beneath our foot gets washed away and we feel like floating without actually floating. It is scary and yet very exciting. Children have fun but the gaurds at this beach are very strict and vigilant and don’t let people go far away from the beach.

There is a red and white striped lighthouse to the left of the beach that keeps a watch over the sea .

Kovalam Beach on Google Maps

Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kanyakumari

Posted on July 24, 2018July 24, 2018 by indtr

It was while we were coming back from Kanyakumari we got a chance to visit the Padmanabhapuram palace in Thuckalay.

The Padmanabhapuram Kottaram as it is called, though currently falls under the jurisdiction of Kanyakumari and therefore under the state of Tamil Nadu, was once the capital city of Travancore which was majorly formed of the Kerala Hindus. The palace got shifted from here to Trivandrum and therefore, this place lost its former glory and pride of place. However, the palace has been maintained well and has been preserved as a heritage site. There are people to assist you at each corner and care has been taken to ensure that nobody touches or destroys anything that belongs to this site.

The entrance is through a traditional ‘Padipura’ entrance gate. This is a very common feature in all the traditional Hindu family’s ‘illams’ as they were called earlier.

The first chamber we got into was the performance hall – the hall was lined with solid granite pillars and wooden tiled roofs.

The stairs used to go up to the first floor is old and one has to be very careful of not hitting the roof. These stairs lead up to the council chambers where the king used to have meetings with all his council members and take important decisions. The kings throne and the seating arrangement as well as the furnitures used for the council members are still preserved as it is.

The Dining Room is a large one that can seat approx 1000 people at the same time. it is said that the kings were very generous and they used to serve lunches to 2000 people everyday in these dining halls. The hall definitely was huge with a line of pillars on both sides. The roof was supported with horizontal columns of wood structures.

The Thai kottaram or the mother’s chamber had an inner courtyard with sloping roofs. These kind of structures are still seen in many houses across Kerala. Kerala is a place where there is continuous downpour of rain throughout the year and therefore the sloping roofs are preferred for most houses as it helps in getting all the rain water flow down fast and not get collected anywhere.

The exquisite wood carvings and the furnitures show the opulence that was maintained at that time by these kings. There were balconies where kings could view the place around the palace and balconies in ladies chambers were covered with wooden columns. These were used by the ladies to sit and watch the temple procession or the elephant procession going from below.

There was a hall with all the pictures of all the kings and the dates, their bedrooms, worship rooms and many other buildings adjacent to the council chamber, mother’s palace and the central mansion. A pond that was used by the ladies was visible with steps going down.

A clock tower also could be seen that is supposed to be built around 300 years back.

Padmanabhapuram Palace on Google Maps