If Ooty is the queen of hills then monsoon is the time when she adorns the most exquisite fabric of nature. Never is she more romantic and more pulchritudinous than in the monsoons. The deluge may be a predicament for the tourists but it also brings with it billowing clouds which wreathes the peaks and the tea gardens. The mist and the breeze creates a miasma of happiness and romance. Truly said love is in the air of Ooty in the monsoon. Read more
Tag: weekend getaways from bangalore
Gomateshwara Bahubali: The largest monolithic statue
Bahubali- The Telugu blockbuster of 2015. Bahubali became a household name in India after the massive success that the movie achieved smashing the record books with a collection in an excess of 300 Crore. Everyone loved the story and plot of the movie but few were aware of the allusion it had to the life of the real Bahubali- Gomateshwara Bahubali. Read more
Belur and Halebidu: The antic temples of Hoysala empire
I had a believe that the carvings and sculptures of the Sun temple at Konark, Odisha is the zenith of a sculptor’s expertise. But now, after visiting Halebidu and Belur, I am certain to have discovered a higher summit. Although it hits my pride of being an Odia, I must accept that the sculptors of Hoysala empire were more proficient than ours.
These rich temples built in the 12th century (started in 1121) were plundered and destroyed by Ala-ud-Din Khilji, Islamic ruler of Delhi Sultanate as evident from the hundreds of mutilated sculptures of the temples. Most of the sculptures are without heads and hands, yet what remains is enough to testify the expert craftsmanship of the artists of that time. Read more
Nandi Hills: A paradise of Clouds
Staying in Bangalore and wondering what to do in the weekend? Quite a common thing. Well, there is one option which always presents itself as a strong contender among all the places in your shortlist: NANDI HILLS. You are new to Bangalore, you are on a weekend trip or even if you have been here for years; doesn’t matter. What are you looking for? A breath of fresh air after a hectic week in the office, an early morning refreshment after a long Friday night booze, sunrise, cool weather, a short trek, a tryst with nature, a lesson of history: Nandi Hills has it all. Read more
Trek to the heart shaped lake at Chembra, Wayanad
Difficulty: Moderate
Total trekking time: Approx 5 hours
Total distance: 4.5 km
Major Attraction: Heart shaped lake at the top
Best time to visit: October-April
Chembra peak located at 2100 m above the sea level is the highest peak of Wayanad. I went there with a group of 9 people in July 2015. We were a bit late to start from our homestay which was about 20 mins from the base. Read more