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A Trip to the Forest Lake: Yercaud

Priya — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:43:07 +0000

Yercaud is a hill station near Salem, Tamil Nadu, in the Servarayan range of hills in the Eastern Ghats . Situated at an altitude of 1,500 metres above sea level, the town gets its name from the lake located at its center – in Tamil “Yeri” means “lake” and “Kaadu” means “forest”. Yercaud is known for coffee plantations and orange groves and also has an orchidarium run by the Botanical Survey of India.
The Yercaud hill area is also called Shevaroy Hills owing to the Servarayan temple which is the highest point in Yercaud, situated at a height of 5326 feet. Some of the original forests continue to exist in the Yercaud hills and contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. The Yercaud hills have many faunal and floral similarities to the Western Ghats. Wild life includes bison, deer, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes, bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows and the bird of paradise.
The Yercaud Lake is a picturesque pool surrounded by gardens and well-wooded trees and is the first thing that attracts a visitor. The garden surrounding the lake is well groomed and best seen during the month of May when the Summer Festival is organized. The Lady’s Seat offers a panoramic view of the ghats and all the distant vehicles winding their way in and out of trees along the winding ghat road. The Kiliyur Falls is a 90-foot high waterfall which is situated amidst picturesque surroundings in Yercaud. Akasagangai waterfalls is on Kolli hills which is known for medical herbs and plants.

Grange, the Castle – like building was built by the then Collector of Salem, Mr.M.D. Cockburn who first introduced Coffee from Arabia, Apples and other fruits from South Africa between 1820 and 1829 A.D. It is believed to be the summer resort of Robert Clive – the famous British Officer of the East India Company in the late 1800’s.
The Bear’s Cave is situated near the Norton Bungalow on the way to Servaroyan Temple. A huge cave formation beside a fantastic bungalow that was supposed to be home for the bears is now an important tourist spot. The Servaroyan Temple is on the third highest range with a bald hill top and offering a real open view of all the hills around.

Best time to Visit: October to March

How to Reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli, 165 km.

By Rail: The nearest railway junction is Salem (36 Km) and Salem Town (33 Km).

By Road: Yercaud is 190 km from Coimbatore, 220 km from Bangalore and 357 km from Chennai.

The Hot Springs of Manikaran

Priya — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:56:54 +0000

Manikaran is a popular attraction in the Kullu district of Manali mainly known for its hot springs. It is located in the Parvati Valley between the rivers Beas and Parvati, northeast of Bhuntar at an altitude of 1760 m and is located about 45 km from Kullu.There are several groups of hot water springs emerging at various locations spreading up to a distance of about 1.3 km along the river from the old bridge to Brahmaganga. The springs at Manikaran come out to surface with pressure and are very hot. There is no sulphur or iron mixed in the waters, but it is said that it contains radio active elements. The water of these springs is hot enough for pulses, rice, vegetables etc. to be boiled and cooked in it. There is a Gurudwara here serving visitors and provides night stay. In the Gurudwara, the food is cooked in the hot springs and is uniquely delicious. The heat near the boiling place, where the meal is cooked, is so high that visitors would not be able to withstand and tolerate the heat even for a few minutes.

The healing properties of the Manikaran Springs are well known all over the country. Pilgrims from far come here and for the cure of their ailments. Rheumatism and muscular pains are said to be cured by bathing in the healing waters. According to a legend, Manikaran is associated with Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. Mani Karan means Ear Rings – it is said that once, while taking bath here, Maa Parvati lost her ear rings in the Kund (pond). When she told Lord Shiva about it, he became furious and looked at the water of the kund with great anger and then thousands of ear rings flowed out from the boiling water and since then the water of the spring is boiling. The rocks surrounding the springs are also very hot.

The Lord Ramchandra Temple is perhaps the most important temple of Manikaran. The temple was constructed by Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century. Though there is no historical evidence backing, still the idol of Shri Ram installed here is believed to have been brought straight from Ayodhya. An idol of Goddess Sita accompanies that of Lord Rama. The temple was renovated by Raja Dilip Singh in the year 1889.

Dal Lake: A Floating Microcosm

Priya — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:45:52 +0000

In the heart of Srinagar in Kashmir glitters Dal Lake like a turquoise jewel. Spread over 16 sq km and 10 ft deep, the Dal lake is fed by hundreds of natural springs, from the melting snow on the surrounding mountains and the excess water is released into the Jhelum that flows through Srinagar. The beauty of the lake knows no boundaries. There are beautiful long Shikaras that look majestic. These houseboats offer good scope of riding in the serene waters to all the tourists.

The population of Srinagar is divided into people who stay on land and on the Dal. The lake supports several small lakes and its different parts are recognized by different names like the Sona Lank, where sunset floods the water with golden light, the Rup Lank around the tiny island where Char Chinars stand, the Lokut Dal and Bod Dal which are little islands with quaint little houses.

In Srinagar there is no sense living on land in the hotels when the unique and affordable option of staying in the boat houses is so easy. Some of the boat houses have 3 bedrooms, a common living and dining area, and exquisite Kashmiri furniture, carpets and curtains.

The lake is very productive with huge fields of water lilies, lotuses, reeds, hyacinths which have private ownership. You’ll also see a whole lot of boats with vegetables like beets, Kashmiri spinach, and turnips, tomatoes which are grown in the Dal islands and sold to vendors in the Srinagar bazaars.

The sparkling rippling of water of the Dal Lake makes the lake one of the most worth visiting lakes of India.. On the lake itself you can witness an entire floating world – doctors, tailors, bakers, vegetable sellers, flower sellers and even the postman.

Best time to Visit: March to November

How to reach:

By Air: Srinagar Airport

By Rail: Nearest Railway station is Jammu

By Road: An extensive network of road covers Srinagar and connects it to important cities in Jammu and Kashmir and North India, namely: Chandigarh (630 km), Delhi (876 km), Jammu (290 km), Leh (434 km), Gulmarg (48 km), Sonamarg (88 km) and Pahalgam (96 km).

Lakes of Rajasthan

Priya — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:17:30 +0000

In a terrain dominated by deserts, Rajasthan’s lakes provide a welcome relief and offer a glimpse into the heritage, culture and natural resources of the state. The most famous lake in Rajasthan is Pushkar. Myth has it that the lake was formed when a petal from the Lotus held by Lord Brahma fell on the earth. Hence Push means lotus and kar means hand. It is also believed that Sage Vishwamitra meditated for thousands of years in Pushkar. Bathing in the lake in the Kartik month (around Oct-Nov) is considered auspicious and reduces the load of one’s sin. Pushkar is also popular for the extravagant camel fair where camel breeders and buyers and sellers and tourists throng the place for a colorful fair.There are around 52 ghats like the Naga Kund, Roop Tirth, etc, that line the lake and the water around each ghat is believed to have its own special powers.

Another lake which is famous for it’s beautiful Jain temples surrounding it is the Nakki Lake in Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan. The Nakki Lake is believed to have been dug up by the Lords. They used their fingernails, and hence the name ‘Nakki’. There’s a fountain in the center of the lake and a rock that resembles a toad about to jump into the lake. An ideal time to visit the lake is between April and May.

Udaipur, the Venice of Rajasthan, prides itself on its lakes. Lakes to see here are Lake Pichola and the Rajsamand Lake. The latter, built in the 17^th century by Rana Raj Singh1 is 4 miles long and 1.75 miles wide. The Gomati river flows into it ensuring that it never dries up. It had nine pavilions with beautiful carvings.

Jaipur’s only lake, Man Sagar also houses the Jal Mahal. he palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.

Travel facts:

Pushkar is 3 hours drive from Jaipur.

Mount Abu is 135 km from Udaipur

Dimna Lake: Ideal Picnic Spot in Jamshedpur

Priya — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:42:10 +0000

If you’ve stayed in Calcutta or Jamshedpur, visiting Dimna Lake for a picnic would have been very common. It’s a very popular weekend trip both among the tourists and local people. The lake is situated 13 km from the steel city of Jamshedpur and is located at the foot of Dalma Hills.
It’s an artificial water reservoir constructed by Tata Steel to fulfill the water requirement for its plant and the city. Tourists, including school and college groups, and families throng the place throughout the year, especially during November to February when the climate is pleasant to cold. You can see groups gathered on mats on the sprawling lawns or under shady trees having breakfast/lunch, playing badminton, or indoor games or some even painting or sketching. It is simply amazing to view the vast blue water of the lake with the reflection of the beautiful surrounding on it.

The lake also provides boating facilities for the tourists and some other forms of water sports like jet skiing and rowing which makes it an ideal venue for day trips. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is nearby.

Nearest Airport: Jamshedpur airport
Nearest Railhead: Tata Nagar Station
By Road: 13 km from Jamshedpur/250 km from Calcutta

Khau Gallis in Mumbai!!

Priya — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:09:07 +0000

If you are in Mumbai, it’s unlikely you haven’t heard the term Khau galli. In Marathi, Khau means ‘food/eat’ and Galli means lane, or street. So Khau Galli means Food Street, or Food Lane. Mumbai being the haven for foodies with varying budgets, Khau gallis are found in plenty. But a word of caution, Khau gallis may not be popular with people who are too fussy about eating street food. But the actual flavor of any city exists in its street food like nothing else.
It’s a lane where you typically get chats like bhel-puri, pani-puri, sev batata puri or snacks like dosas, dhoklas, juices, vada pavs etc. These stalls are typically open from evening 6 to late in the night upto 1 am in some cases and there is always a throng of hungry Mumbaikars gorging away!!
There’s one in Churchgate, near Cross Maidan, on the lane connecting SNDTs Sunderbai Hall to Fashion Street. Here you can dig away at your favorite Pav Bhaji, Misal, Juices, juicy syrupy hot Jilebis, and even non-veg delicacies and gravies at the dhaba-like shack towards the Cross Maidan. The variety of street food here is awesome you name it and its there!
During Ramzan, every evening, the entire lane near Mohammed Ali Road, transforms itself into a spectacular Khau Galli with mouthwatering aromas wafting through the air and exotic foods, with the crowd tearing away at chicken and mutton delicacies, kebabs, malpuas, phirnis and faloodas.
The ‘khau galli’ off Carter Road, in posh sea-facing Bandra, serves shawarmas, sandwiches and the ilk. In middle-class Ghatkopar, they serve pav bhaaji, and other staple chats of Mumbai which are value for money.
Other cities too may have their own distinctive Khau gallis. When you are in Mumbai, don’t miss going to one of them for a unique gastronomical experience.

Temples & Churches in Pondicherry

Priya — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:38:42 +0000

For those who want to get charged religiously and spiritually in Pondicherry, there are the temples, some of them dating back to the 10th Century AD Chola period. The Manakula Vinayagar Koil is more than 300 years old and is dedicated to Ganesha with a golden spire and walls portraying forty different forms of Ganesha. The Varadaraja Perumal Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located on M.G.Road, and is believed to be the oldest temple in town, dating back to 600 AD. The temple built in the typical Dravidian style, is complete with brightly colored ‘gopuram’ and sculpted pillars.
Another temple Kanniga Parameswari Temple, dedicated to the goddess Shakti is unique as it is strongly influenced by the French and Tamil architectural style, with arched walls, ionic columns, stained glass windows, traditional granite pillars and the sanctum sanctorum, which has with typical Tamil design and features.

A temple worth visiting is the Sri Gokilambal Thirukameshwara Temple, located in a small town called ‘Villianur’, 11 km from puducherry. The main shrine housing the ‘Shivlinga’ and the shrines dedicated to the Devi and Murugan date back to the 12th century Chola period. The annual Temple Car Festival is held in the months of May and June where a large crowd of devotees pull of a 15 metre tall chariot through the streets. During French colonial rule, the Governor of Pondicherry used to join this very procession and actively participate in the drawing of the chariot through the streets.

For Churches you have the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus located on Subbayah Salai, is a white and brown neo-gothic church and is one of Pondicherry’s finest. It was built by French missionaries in the 1700’s in Neo-Gothic style, with towers flanking a central gable and stained glass windows on the side and a cemetery which has some interesting tombs with ornate marble decorations on the southern boulevard. Located on rue Dumas, the Church of the Capuchins, is one of the first churches to be built in Pondicherry and houses an orphanage these days.

The Notre Dame de’, located on Mission Street, was built in 1791 in the place of a former church. The interior design consists of eight barrel vaults and a central dome pierced with eight circular openings. The Notre Dame des Anges, The Church of our Lady of the Angels on rue Romain Rolland was built in 1852 in the Greek Roman architectural style and is also famous for its rare oil painting of Our Lady of the Assumption, which was a gift from the French emperor, Napoleon III.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, is located at Villianur, a small town 11 km. from puducherry. Erected in 1876, it is modeled on that of the Basilica in France and has a statue of Notre Dame which was donated by the French Government a year later. A curious feature here is the Church tank, which is usually common in all the Hindu temples.

Mandu: The Original City of Joy

Priya — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:27:33 +0000

Perched along the Vindhya ranges at an altitude of 2,000 feet is Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, which is the biggest fortified city in the world, originally the fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. Towards the end of the 13th century, it came under the sway of the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom named it Shadiabad – ‘city of joy’. The City is steeped in history with exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions, as graceful and refined as those times of peace and plenty.

Mandu is a celebration in stone, of life and joy, of the love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful wife, Rani Roopmati. Amongst the most famous historical sites are the Jahaz Mahal, a five-storied palace built between 2 lakes, and the tomb of Mandu’s most famous son, Hoshang Shah. Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, an architectural splendor in marble is the inspiration for Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal. It is believed that Shah Jehan sent four of his great architects to study the design of and draw inspiration from the Tomb. Among them was Ustad Hamid, who was also associated with the construction of Taj Mahal.

Other architectural wonders are Jami Masjid and the Rupmati Pavillion, a testimony to the love between Rupmati and Baz Bahadur.

The 45 km parapet of walls that encircle Mandu have by 12 gateways called Darwazas. Most notable of these is Delhi Darwaza, Alamgir and Bhangi Darwaza, Rampol Darwaza, Jehangir Gate and Tarapur Gate.

An audience hall, called the Hindola Mahal, derives its name of “swinging palace” from its sloping sidewalls with ornamental facade, delicate work in sand-stone and beautifully molded columns.

There is also an elaborately constructed well called Champa Baoli which is connected with underground vaulted rooms where arrangements for cold and hot water were made.

Other places of interest in this enclave are Dilawar Khan’s Mosque, the Rewa Kund, a water reservoir, the Nahar Jharokha (tiger balcony), Taveli Mahal, the two large wells called the Ujali (bright) and Andheri (dark) Baolis, Gada Shah’s Shop and House, Hathi Mahal, Darya Khan’s Tomb, Dai ka Mahal, Dai ki Chhotti Behan Ka Mahal, Malik Mughit’s Mosque and Jali Mahal are some of the other fascinating monuments. all worth a visit.

Best time to visit: Throughout the year, but best during July to March

Distance from Delhi: 907 km SW of Delhi

Nearest Airport: Indore

Ainsworth Hot Springs: British Columbia

Priya — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:43:44 +0000

The Ainsworth Hot Springs are located near the community of Ainsworth Hot Springs, located on Highway 31 on the western shore of Kootenay Lake, 11 miles (17 km) north of Balfour and 12 miles (20 km) south of Kaslo. Ainsworth Hot Springs lies in the heart of the Kootenay wilderness. is the community of Ainsworth Hot Springs.

It overlooks the vast expanse of Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountains and is home to three odorless pools, a unique 150-foot horseshoe-shaped cave, main lounging pool, and stream-fed cold plunge. The main attraction is the horseshoe cave, where the darkness, the mineral deposits, and the humidity all combine to offer an exhilarating experience.
You can have a rejuvenating natural steam bath in the hot steamy, odorless shower of mineralized water which falls from the cave’s roof and forms a waist-deep pool.
Gallons of hot mineral water flows through the pools, changing the water naturally about six times per day. The temperature of the water varies between 40-42°C (104-114°F) in the Cave, 35-38°C (96-101°F) in the Pool, and 4-10°C (40-50°F) for the Cold Plunge. The origin of the springs is in the Cody Caves area, which is directly above and to the west of Ainsworth Hot Springs. The water flows down through porous rock to a depth of 1-1/2 to 2 km.
The caves are old mine tunnels which were carved out by miners who attempted to increase the flow of hot water from the springs. You can explore the cave’s tunnels and stalactites, relax on a hot ledge, bathe in the natural hot shower, or have a natural sauna.
Ainsworth is open year-round, and is visited by families and local residents who like to be refreshed in the soothing waters and play in this exhilarating wilderness pools. The pools provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of West Kootenay’s splendid scenery – the Purcell Mountains and Kootenay Lake.
Any time is a good time to visit Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, but the cool, crisp air in winter provides a delightful contrast to the warmth and humidity in the caves.

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