Chasing the sun set

My love for the sun set emerged many years ago, I coined a phrase for it “If you run you might catch the sun”. My obsession with photography had just blossomed and the fact that ‘everything looks spectacular in the last rays of the sun, golden tinted, like Sun’s golden fluid touch was tangible at this hour of the day, the twilight hour where everything morphs into another being’ , had lodged it self in my mind .
The best sun sets are always on the beach, while gaping absent minded at the horizon on the ocean. So I like many others would go to places in search of the perfect sun set, the ones that I saw that I loved and would never forget would be in Kutle in Gokarna, Alappuzzha in Kerala, Anjuna in Goa and in Kanyakumari.

The beaches bring with them an unforgettable aura. The salty air caressing your senses while the sun tired of his days work dives into the till now blue Ocean. Casting his reflection on the gigantic water body while ripples of water enjoy the golden light on themselves as the dance their way to the shore. The wet sands holding many imprints, glinting and glistening with the sun, and hugging the oncoming waves. The most peaceful experience one can have.

Besides these obvious hot spots for the sun set, there are non sea places, which beyond doubt present some of the best sun set experiences.
Kodachadri is one such place where both a splendid sun rise and sun set enthralls you. Another place, which is Hampi. It isthe most beautiful when touched by the rays of the sun. The ruin, the magical land, the stone temples with their textured exteriors when hit with the golden rays one is transfixed and transported to another world. A world of wonder.

Rishikesh – The abode of Ganga

This little city in the Northern part of India in the district of Dehra dun though well known for its temples, culture and more, nothing takes your breath away like Ganga flowing in Rishikesh.

When we went to Rishikesh it was a blistering 45 degrees heat, we were completely famished, sun burnt and dehydrated, the cruel summer upon us and a tedious journey to add to it but the one view of Ganga evaporated all the pain all the heat from our minds and bodies. She was flowing in full force, inspite of the weather she was cold, and it was refreshing to just dip ourselves in her.
The most wonderful part of this was the white water rafting, the rafting starts way up in the Ghats with a view you will never forget, mountains on all sides, sandy river beaches, and the sky kissing the waters. We were spell bound by the beauty of the sight not worried about the dangers or rafting, only when we were strapped up with life jackets and were sitting in the raft did we feel the adrenaline.

Looking at Ganga there, no one would believe she could be fierce, but as the rapids come, that’s when you see what natures force is, making you feel infinitesimal. At the same time the happiness, the glory, the adrenaline and the feeling of euphoria as man and nature combine forces, sets in and you are in for one hell of a ride.
As our adventures ended, we visited all the places of interest and packed our bags and headed out of the city and back to Delhi and then back to Bangalore. Inspite of all the colours, the brewing culture, the boat rides, the temples, the bridge and food, one image never leaves your mind the image of Ganga , one feeling never leaves you the feeling of euphoria when you were wrestling in her arms in a raft.

Shimoga - The different shades of green

I have been to Shimoga on many occasions and this time it was purely to welcome the rains.
The rain in shimoga as many of you would know is just splendid. We went to Sagar and from there on our first day went to an old “ Aghoreshwara” temple in Ikkeri .

This temple though quite well known isn’t hoarded with tourists and has maintained its pristine peace, it’s a very calming experience to just sit there and look into the old sculptures, into the rain and sketch the temples out in the mind and leave it etched for posterity. The walk to Ikkeri from the main road is absolutely beautiful, with a variety of shades of green encompassing your view, many small lakes and ponds shimmering in the rain, the small house laid across , looking peaceful in their existence, it was a walk to remember. After having visited this beautiful temple the walk back to Sagar was also equally enthralling, the green never stopped, the rain became a light drizzle leaving mercury droplets on the large leaves, glinting and glistening.
The next day we went to Holebaagilu , the backwaters. This is a really splendid place, very calm and very little people , with a spread of watery grassland, trees and water with ripples forming on its surface.

This is shallow waters and good for a quick swim, but when you go a little further it gets real deep real soon, so taking precautions is better. It makes an excellent spot to read, write and have a little picnic of your own. The way to this place is to get on the ferry which unbelievably just costs “ One rupee” and the ferry takes people buses, cars, bikes and everything and goes across this vast water body. It is very unlike the Kerala back waters. The last ferry is at 5pm and so heading back is better unless you carried a tent that can hold heavy downpour. Heading back from a place so serene is as painful as ever, yet we had to and so we did, then having had a cup of hot coffee in the hotel near by we retired for the day.
The next day which also happened to be my Birthday we went to the Varadahalli Sadhguru Sri Bhagavan Ashram, I am not one who believes in god people, or people who are considered gods, but the Ashram was just so absolutely beautiful, surrounded by nature, by greenery every where. With a fresh water bathing place. We went on the top of this hill, the view from which is breath taking, the clouds had given away finally and some sun shine barged through, the warmth was much appreciated, we lazed around and headed back down. The catch was the hike was to be made bare footed, the pebbles hurt every time I stepped on it, but the sound of the crickets, the lush green was enough to keep my mind of the crunching sound inside me every time I stepped on a sharp stone. I liked the Ashram a lot at the end of it and considered the idea, whether a person is god or not as long as he is good willed and shelters people and animals alike he could be considered god. For me god lay in all those leaves, in the blue skies but that was a different story all together.

Backpacking in India – what to pack

Backpacking in India – what to pack

The best way to see India is by backpacking across it. There is no one destination lesser than the other, there are just too many places and none can be missed. But covering the entire nation this big could be difficult , then what is the best way to see it for what it is, to sense the vibrations of the country to take in the minutest details? It is by backpacking.
Backpacking in India can be both awesome and invigorating, it will provide you with a superb way to interact with the locals try local cuisines and take in the place.
Hence when you plan your trip make sure you packed the right things. India being a country with tropical climate, cotton is the best thing to carry, so Cotton pants, cotton Shirts, cotton T-Shirts, Kurtis whatever will do.
With this always add some rain gear, for most parts of India a good Poncho and water proof shoes should do the trick. Carry a foldable umbrella if you feel the need. For cold, one sweater/jacket or shawl will do the trick. Most places in India are well connected with buses and trains, [for trains read our previous blog too].
Carry one cotton dupatta or long length of cloth, it will help you prevent the sun, or cold or you can even put it on the pillow while dozing off in the train, roll it and use it like a pillow while waiting for a bus. Always carry sun shades with UV protection and sun screen lotion with +15 SPF.
Carry loose change, auto rickshaws, local buses and small shops do not accept cards, they will also not have change for bigger denominations, so make it easier and carry change. Carry polythene bags and cover all your clothes with polythene bags, in the monsoons the rains can hit even the driest regions, if not for the rains at least for the buses and trains wrap all your stuff in polythene bags, as there might be slush on the roads or water leakage in trains or even against dirt it will help.
Carry a torch, a multiple sided adapter to charge your phones, camera batteries or ipods as most low budget hotels, hostels and rooms will have only one plug point. Carry thin cotton towels, don’t bother to carry big shampoos and soaps, most things are available everywhere. Put in a pair of Hawai chappals or floaters. Carry one or two books or magazines, that you can flip through while awaiting your train or bus, dump some chocolates and biscuits into the bag and you are ready to go.
Don’t carry too much clothing, keep your bag light and easy to carry.

Coorg - A land of coffee, culture and many trails

Coorg – has always fascinated me, with its endearing trails, with its unique culture, its amazing food, the green that covers every inch of this land, the rain and of course the coffee estates in abound.

The first time I entered this land was with a friend of mine, whose grandparents lived in a secluded village very close to Nagarhole. I was unaware as to what to expect. We went in a rickety bus and were picked up by her uncle in a jeep, to their house. The houses were at a distance of 3kms of each other or more. The backyard leads to a trench to Nagarhole, the front extended in rows of coffee plantations. Thus I had reached a place I loved and would visit ever so often.
This experience stayed in my mind and I decided to head there again and have visited this fascinating land many a times after.

The main touristy places have their own stand in the quest to see the real Coorg – or Kodagunadu, but the ones that will let you observe this brilliant place and take in every bit of its gorgeousness is when you do many trips to this land, for treks, for backpacking trips, for visiting the Golden temple at Kushalnagar and many more such attempts. As the place is very close to Bangalore a straight 6 hours can get you there, the opportunities increase in folds.

There is a particular scent, that hits you every time you enter Coorg, the smell of the coffee plantation, for the ones who have never been near a coffee plantation, it doesn’t smell anything like coffee, its more like jasmine, when the coffee flowers are in bloom, its an intoxicating flavor, even addictive. So in whatever transport you are heading there as long as there is an open window you will know you have reached Kodagu.

There is an ample amount of options from amazing kakkabe that will let you start your trek to Thadiyendamol Peak , or even ‘relaxing in the expanse of green’ - lounging under the million stars that you can witness on a cloudless night. You can visit the Nalknad palace or have serene moments at the stream.


The Golden Temple at Kushalnagar is one of the best weekend trips you can make. The Tibetan colony, the temple in itself is an astonishing sight, the Tibetan Buddhist paintings on the walls, the super hip hipish monks a contrast, the beauty surrounding it, the shopping complexes where you will find some awesome Tibetan trinkets, mantle pieces or even get a Kimono stitched in your fav pattern and colour.
For the adventure seeker the White water Rafting and treks will keep your adrenaline high, for the traveler who loves food, drink and a relaxing view the home stays provide this with gusto. There are many waterfalls, all of which are gorgeous and worth a visit.
Modes of Transport – Many Buses are available from Bangalore to Virajpet, Madikeri, kushalnagar and other major stops. There are ample of local buses you can take to reach your particular destination from the main bus stands.
Car – Its an easy 6 hours drive an easy 260km in the southwest direction from Bangalore.
Bike – The roads are sometimes under construction but Bike trips can be made with ease. The green of the place adds beautifully to a bike ride.

Parinitha Konanur

Off Season Goa - A treat

I had been to Goa a couple of times, it is one of the most popular destinations in India. The idea of Goa I had before going there for the first time is that it would be full of carnivals, very less green and loads of musicians and beaches with Hippies and colour. I was pleasantly surprised, apart from the thronging beaches , for which it is well know, the small streets are lined with trees everywhere, moss ridden walls, palms and little shops, Portuguese style houses lined up as a treat for the eye, all this and more can be experienced just riding around on the bikes.

I have been there during New years, during post monsoon and this time in peak monsoon. The difference in it all, is awesome. During new years there is a large Mumbai and Bangalore crowd, traffic jams at the mouth of the beach, people parading everywhere, one needs to stand on a higher platform to just be able to view the ocean, hearing the waves is out of question as the "Goa Trance" will be piercing through the beaches non stop.

Off season Goa is a completely different experience, rain lashes out, roads wet, beaches free of people, shops closed and very little music from the few restaurants that are open. We went to Arambol and just stayed put over there. Arambol has a stretch of sand and a cluster of rock structures amidst the ocean, making it a visual delight.

To experience the true Goa one must visit it at least once in their life during off season. The room rates are real low, almost next to nothing shopping experience , but the peace and calm will compensate with all things missed. Its as good as your own private beach. But the rain can be really heavy with almost, through the day downpour. This is best if you would like to sit back with a book and keep ordering some fenny and fish. which sits perfectly well with me.

The over hanging clouds, rain, green, ocean waves continuously lashing against the rocks and more to be experienced and all this at an affordable cost.

Parinitha Konanur

Kalimpong - a visit to remember

It was one of the first of the long trail of travel expeditions I was about to do. I had not been up North and North east had not been touched by me before that. I did not know what to expect and hence began the journey I am going to remember for a long time to come.

After having finished with Kolkatta and Darjeeling we headed to this small Hill station called Kalimpong in West Bengal. Kalimpong means " Assembly of the King's ministers" in Tibetan. Kalimpong has a large Nepali populace, and many cultural ethnicities. I was studying art History then and was fascinated by Monastries, so most of our travel destination maps were marked with the main monasteries and the ones that ought not to be missed. So once we were done with all the eating and walking we visited "The Zang Dhok Palri Phodang" Monastery.

As we saw the place we met a very interesting Monk. He was not too old, but had a fascinating way of talking and told us many stories while he guided us around the monastery, showing us the place where many scriptures are kept and also where the head monks rest when they visit the Monastery. He also took us to the upper chamber where they were making these figurines in Dalda as an offering to Buddha, we wished we could take some back to Bangalore, but then for these temperatures it would only melt down. That got me thinking that most Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries are located in areas with low temperatures and mostly hilly regions. Though one of the exceptions would be the "Golden Temple" in Kushalaganar in Coorg.

Then he also took us to a place where they were making "Thangka" paintings. We watched them paint carefully, with precision and I was absolutely engulfed in this process. Thangka painting needs alot of practise and there are only a few authenticate Thangka painting teaching schools in the world, one of them is in Himachal Pradesh. These Thangka painters had learnt their art from there and were here to make some of the best pieces of art.

After having this one hell of a cultural ride it was time for us to head back and pack our bags as we were headed to Gangtok and another exploration lay in wait.
But even after having done many trips and having seen many Monasteries this experience has etched itself in my mind and will stay so for years to come.

Parinitha Konanur