Some of India’s most secluded beaches and more

Every traveler is on a look out for a secluded beach, because every one wants to experience nature at her best, some time alone without a thronging crowd and to be able to unwind with the temptress ocean.

India has many beaches, but most of them are crowded with tourists and vendors with lots of noise, spoiling the tranquility of the place, of the sea and disturbing peace.

Some of the best beaches to visit which are quite secluded are 

1. Tarkarli – Maharashtra

This gorgeous beach near Mumbai has aquamarine water and a long stretch of golden beach. It is the converging point of Kali river and the Arabian sea. An absolute bliss.

Best time to visit – October to January

2. Kutle beach – Gokarna

Gokarna has many beaches, except the main Gokarna beach the other ones like Paradise beach, Half moon Beach and Kutle Beach are quite secluded from thronging crowds and one can expect to retreat into nature’s arms without a care in the world.

Best time to visit – October to February

2. Kovalam Beach – Kerala

This beach in Kerala near Trivandrum city does not attract too much crowd, is pristine with blue water and whitish sand. a perfect place to relax under the blue sky sipping on some tender coconut.

Best Time to Visit – September to April

Beaches never seize to excite and so Watch this place for more secluded beaches... personalized travel info on them and more ... 

Parinitha Konanur

Tips to keep in mind while traveling in a train in India

India is known for its intricate train routes, there are thousands of trains and lakhs of people traveling by train simultaneously and all this is well co-ordinated. But there are a few things one needs to keep in mind before doing a train journey in India. Starting with booking the tickets to things to keep in mind while boarding … some basic points that would just make your trip better and easier. 

Try and book in advance, but as travelers go things change plans change and hence that might not always work out, so booking tickets on the go could be a hazard as most trains are filled. So plan on weekdays so that the chance of getting confirmed births is higher. You can book your tickets in three ways one is the old school way – to go to the ticket counter and booking, where you will have to bear with long queues and fill up forms with details. You can also book Tatkal [ Immediate ticket booking – which is charged extra] which opens two days prior the day of departure.

The other way is t o book E-tickets, while booking e-tickets always bear in mind that if it is in waiting list and doesn’t get cleared the ticket is invalid and hence you will be thought to be traveling without a ticket. So ensure that you have a confirmed birth. So booking in Tatkal [ Immediate ticket booking – which is charged extra] in e-ticket is the best way, but Tatkal opens only 2 days prior to the day of departure.

The third way is to get it booked by travel agents, this could cost a bit more but is always easier and hassle free as they have some reserved quota which they can a lot to you.

The next set of tips are for safety.

Indian trains have loads of people all running here and there and loads of stops and very little security, so one should always keep these things in mind.

1. Carry cameras, costly equipments, laptops and cash separately and wear those bags on you at all times, or leave it with your co-traveler, don’t leave it around near the window and trust no one.

2. Put all your clothes and gadgets in plastic bags and then keep it in your bag, as the trains could be very dirty or the floors could be wet. This way it will also make sure no insects enter your clothes or gadgets.

3. Always carry hand sanitizers, toilet paper and your medicines. Except for drinks and flammable items there are no restrictions in trains.

4. Carry cotton pants and T-shirts, or even kurtas, even if you are traveling to a place with low degrees of temperature you will more than likely pass through regions which are hot, hence its always important to carry both light cotton wear and warm wear to most places.

5. Smoking and drinking is prohibited and you could fined if found smoking or drinking.

6. Food given on most trains is not that great, its always advisable to carry bread and suitable spreads, also note that some of the train stops are long and so you can actually get down and buy some good food from the station. So just look at the list of stops before heading on the journey.

7. Carry a pair of slip-ons /hawai slippers to wear inside the train, its way more comfortable and easy.

8. Go through this site for any concerns http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

Parinitha Konanur

Bhutan - The little paradise

Last month I had been to Bhutan and what an experience it was. If I were to say it was out of this world, believe me I mean it quite literally as that land is not only unblemished by pollution, population and progress but it also is secluded from the ways of the world. Its pristine and has its own pace, by this if you thought that it doesn't have luxuries... you think wrong, as almost everyone owns an SUV there. It is like wonderland where almost everything you ever wanted is at reach, sparkling rivers huge mountain ranges and green valleys. What more could I ask for ? well I dint ask for it nor did I expect such a reception, people are so friendly down to earth and just plain happy. IT made me wonder, wander and see, see and perceive, perceive and commit to memory.

This country is rich in culture and heritage, their temples are called Lhakhangs and their Fortresses called Dzongs and every part of the country is filled with them. Gorgeous architecture placed amidst the gorgeous valleys, its a sight to behold and cherish.

What you see here is called "Taktsang" or popularly known as the "Tiger's Nest" is the cultural icon of Bhutan. Its a temple complex standing on the edge of a cliff. This Temple complex built in 1692 has many legends and stories surrounding it. One of them being - It is believed that Guru Rinpoche flew on a flying Tigress and built this. Leaving the legend aside its enthralling to go there, a decent climb up the hill with no motoring options, the view makes every step worthwhile. Just remember to carry loads of water and some food along.


The Beauty of Bhutan is not just limited to such cultural hot spots, you can see it every where. If you chose to fly down to Paro, or walk across the border from Jaigon into Pheuntsholing your bound to feel the difference, you can smell it in the air. Its so beautiful and clean you would want to settle down there.

There are many places worth a visit. We chose to cross the border on foot, we reached the nearest railway station 'Hasimara' and took a rick to the border town Jaigon and crossed the gate on foot into Pheutsholing. There you can get the permits to visit Paro and Thimphu. To go to other restricted places you can get a permit at Thimphu. The officials are friendly and very helpful, making the trip even more endearing and awesome. 

The Dzongs are equally beutiful and most often than not placed next to a river, which gives it a magnanimous, an ethereal and surreal feel. One must go there and experience for themselves to know what I mean.

Coming to the next important info, the travel between one place to another is quite easy, one can opt to book an entire cab for themselves, or chose to go by the shared taxis which would be the cheaper option. One could also go via local buses, which are clean and comfortable, only thing is you will need to book a day earlier.

The Bhutanese cuisine is largely non-vegetarian, pork and beef dishes taking up the menu, there are some scrumptious  cheese dishes. The hot favourite is the 'Ema Datshi'. The momos are mouth watering and when delivered hot is heaven in the cold climate.

So go to this land of wonders, to this land of people of golden hearts and the land of the Thunder dragon and have an experience of a life time, in its real sense. 

Parinitha Konanur

Life on the road

Life is one hell of a journey and everyone knows that. This journey is filled with ups and downs, for some people its as calm as a placid lake, for some its a roller coaster all the way. But what makes life worth what it is ? what makes this journey memorable and defined with little highlighted spots of awesome moments? its travel. Travel can help one look into one's inner most feelings, into one's soul. Travel helps expand the mind and ease the vision.

The Best thing about travel is that its not just a way to kill time, its always an experience that is remembered, if fondly because the trip went well or with disgrace because everything went for a toss. But it is always remembered. It helps friends and family bond better and understand each other and oneself better ...

So here is to the road ... may it never end and may the journey continue ...


Parinitha Konanur

Rafting in Barapolai ...

Rafting one the earliest ways of transport and later a sport, a recreational activity  caught fame in the mid 70’s and has been a hot favourite for adventure seekers ever since. White water rafting has made its way into the adventure world due to its sheer adrenaline rush, a pulsating surge that it provides. The rafting experience includes maneuvering rafts on water rapids that are caused due to constriction of the water flow, the more number of twirling rapids the better the experience. The best rafting in the sub-continent is undoubtedly in Rishikesh, the South has very few options which include the Kali Nadi and Barapolai in Karnataka.

Barapolai which is close to the famous Coorg region renders some really neat weekend options that include trekking and Water rafting among others.  A few kilometers off Hunsur it provides a good opportunity for the adventure seekers. There are plenty of buses available which will lead you to Hunsur but if you are taking your own vehicle you can take the Bangalore Mysore highway and then near Srirangapatna take the Ilwala by pass and then head straight to the State highway 88 towards Hunsur. There are a few camps in Hunsur that provide an all over experience including picking and dropping to and from the trekking  and rafting spot. This will usually include a two day program.

We decided on one such camp and head out of Bangalore, the drive was pleasant owing to the new Bangalore Mysore highway, a few Chai pit stops and we reached Hunsur. We camped at one of the camps called ‘Leopard Rock’ which provided great options of camping outside in tents with a lake in view.

The itinerary included a jeep drive up to the starting point of the trek into the Chengani forest range and then a whole days trek in rain, then return in the jeep to the camping spot and a campfire by the end of the day, rafting in the morning in Barapolai.

The jeep ride to the trekking spot was by far the best as it involved random water splashing from the road puddles teamed with an almost continuous down pour. A few stops to feed our hungry stomachs with the local delicacies which included snacks like ‘Gole Bajji’ and some ‘muruk’ and then we headed of on our trail with a proper shower from the rain gods. It was quite a non tedious trek with not much pulsating climbing which renders itself as the best option when one is looking for a pleasant walk in an atmosphere with lush green and a few wildlife spotting.

 We were graced by none other than the largest mammal in the forest the elephant, a good half an hour of the view made us happy enough to continue on our trail. There were forest guards provided with guns to act if the scenario got a little out of hand as this region is known for their Leopard population. The canopy was thick providing us protection from downpour; there were occasional sunny moments that increased the humidity making it a stifling weather condition. The trek consisted of about walking six kilometers into the jungle and returning on the same trail. The trek ended by evening on a good note as we had witnessed a variety of snakes, deer and an elephant.

 The jeep ride back was equally pulsating and we were all looking forward to the Coorgi style food awaiting us at the camp site. The menu consisted of some real delicious ‘Pandi curry’ [pork curry] along with chicken fry and also a decent variety for the vegetarians. The day broke and the immense murmur in the air indicated the enthusiasm towards rafting. The rafting place which is run by Mr. John was a few kilometers off the camp site and a warm welcome was awaiting us. There were a number of rafting experts who gave out instructions and safety precautions to be taken.

The pre-rafting experience included fastning on the life jacket learning the right rowing techniques and also being plunged into the icy cold water to prepare us for what might be coming up. Rowing is not as simple as one would imagine, it requires high levels of concentration to co-ordinate the given instruction [left front and right back] and actually do it on the ever slipping raft along with the rivers turns and tempo. There were even experts dong their rounds on Kayaks as to be prepared if anyone slipped into the river needed to be saved from the currents. The key to rafting is to not panic and getting in stride with nature and her tumult, her sense of humour.

When we actually set ourselves into the raft it was an unbelievable experience. The rain splashing down in full throttle, six rapids were explained well and it was a quick rollercoaster ride on rough waters. The abundant green of the trees and overhanging branches along with the blue-green waters made a sight when mixed equally with rain and the mist caused by the surging torrents. A chill that had stiffened our backs due to the weather was relieved with a sumptuous offering of soup given to us by the thoughtful rafting club.

After a weekend well spent and having indulged in a great sport made the journey back to the boring cosmopolitan less weary. The sun came down in haste and the rain continued as we headed back to Bangalore.  

Extra info –

The nearest airport is the Bangalore airport.

The easiest way to get there is by buses or by your vehicle as trains aren’t available.

Carrying water proof gear is a must.

Carry a pair of floaters as they are required for the Rafting.

Parinitha Konanur