Seasoned Traveller

Bekal Fort

2013-01-24T23:54:00.000-08:00

Bekal Fort one of the most beautiful forts in Kerala, located 15 kms from Kanghangad in Kasargod district. Due to the scintillating beauty of the structure and the panoramic view of the beach nearby, this fort is a famous tourist destination and most sought after shooting locale for filmmakers. Many of the superhit movies like Bombay of Maniratnam were shot here. This fort was completed under the rule of Sivappa Nayak. Chandragiri fort which is also located in Kasargod was also constructed by the same person. Later the fort came under the control of Tipu Sultan who used it as an important military station.The fort spread over 40 acres. One day trip is sufficient for visiting this place. The Archeological survey of India is maintaining the monument. Timings are from 8 am to 5:30 pm. It is better to start the visit early so that you can cover the entire area and spent some good time shooting the same.

The Mukhyaprana Hanuman Temple of Hanuman is located at the entrance of the fort. The prominent structure that can be seen is the observation structure, which was used for the finding the movement of the enemy. One can see the entire towns of Kasargod from the tower.It is interesting to note the tecnique used by the builders. The entrance is zigzag. There are holes located at various heights on the outer walls. The upper most one can be used to target the enemies at the farthest.Almost 75% of the fort is covered by sea. This makes it difficult for the enemies to attack the fort. Now the view from these points are amazing.The other structures are the water tank, the tunnel etc. Visitors are banned from entering certain locations as excavation is still going on. The beautiful garden in the front, a latest initiative will surely enhance the beauty of the fort.

The view of the Arabian sea from the strategic locations of the fort gives a remarkable experience to the viewer. At times one finds it difficult to get a snap due to the immense crowd at these places. The best time to visit the fort is after the rains , that is from September to November. The entire region is filled with green grass, the green brown colour combination gives a true delight for the cameras.

There is ample parking facility available at the fort, a nomical fees is collected for the same. One can can catch a taxi from kangangad to reach this place. State Trasport Corporation is running buses which have a stop near this tourist place. This happens to be most economical mode of transport available.

Bekal Fort is surely a place for a day trip. Can be a place for a leisurely tour or a serious visit for a study of the past. When you come across the emotional song Uyire from the movie Bombay be aware that Bekal Fort is surely one of the main contributor for its success...

Malampuzha Dam

2012-08-27T20:11:00.001-07:00

It is one of the oldest and the largest dam in Kerala, located at Palakkad. The dam site is a very popular picnic spot. Half day trip is sufficient to cover the entire dam site, the adjacent garden, the rope way etc. The dam offers several view points for the visitors. On the background of the dam one can see the Western Ghats.

The 125 meter dam is constructed across Malampuzha River.The water stored in this dam is mainly used for irrigation and for providing drinking water for the nearby areas.A beautiful garden is maintained just in front of the dam. Flowers of various types are beautifully arranged which offer a great treat for the cameras. The water from the dam flows through a canal in the middle of the garden which enhances the beauty of the garden. Pathways and small ponds with beautiful lotus and water lilies give the visitor a remarkable experience.

Fountains and beautiful sculptures are must watch, those of the The Yakshi by Kanayi Kunjuraman and Dancing Krishna are world famous. A rope way has been constructed across the garden. Though the distance is small one can have a beautiful aerial view of the garden. The rope way is maintained by a private firm and separate tickets are to be taken.

Boating facility is available in the garden and those fond of swimming can use the newly constructed swimming pool. Provisions are there for keeping the belongings of people who are using the pool. A nominal fee is collected for the same. Entry is restricted only to ladies from 2 pm to 3 pm.

Forest Department is maintaining a snake park just outside the main entrance of the garden. Visitors can see the various poisonous and non poisonous snakes. The park helps the visitor to mitigate the doubts and superstitions about these reptiles. One can also have a view of the King Cobra which is kept in two air conditioned cages. A separate stall which sells various forest products like honey is also available at the park.

Major renovation work of the dam and the garden started in the year 2005. The project is under completion. The old garden was totally demolished and new one was made. Now it is one of the best tourist places in Kerala. Other attractions include fresh water aquarium, Children’s park, Japanese garden and a rock garden.

The garden is easy accessible from the railway station and bus depot. It is only 9 kms from the bus station. Buses are available every 10 minutes to this place. Also return buses are parked just in front of the park. Basic amenities like the toilets, cafeterias etc are available. Do have a one day trip to this beautiful place. It’s worth watching….

Gavi

2012-08-04T23:01:00.001-07:00

Gavi the most sought after tourist destination after the release of the Malayalam movie ‘Ordinary’ is a small village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.I happened to visit the place during one of my official visit to Pathanamthitta. Famous for its evergreen forest and a huge variety of flora and fauna.Gavi offers a remarkable experience to the visitor. Government of Kerala is running an eco tourism project here. Though one of the famous tour destinations, reaching Gavi is some what tedious if you are going from Pathanamthitta.The roads leading to Gavi are rocky and bumpy; hence don’t take the risk of going by car. Take a jeep from Vandiperiyar or Kumily. But the best option is to catch a KSRTC Bus from Pathanamthitta Bus depot that is going to Kumily via Gavi. As the number of buses is limited do enquire about the timings.

Enroute there is every possibility that you may see an elephant, tiger or an Indian Gaur. The greenery and the fresh air from the forest will surely rejuvenate your mind. There are several look out points which you can enjoy if you are travelling by jeep. The local jeep drivers may assist you if required. Best time to visit Gavi is in the summer season that is from January to May. It is not advisable to travel during monsoon as there are chances of road blocks due to landslide or trees fallen on the road.

There is a forest check post at Vallakadavu. The entry passes to the forest are to be taken from this point. Rs 25 will be the fees per person, Rs 50 for the vehicle and an additional charge of Rs 25 for the cameras. If you are going on your own and not through tour operator it is better to have the advance booking done for your stay, else the tour operator will take care of the things.

Recently the Forest Department has imposed restrictions on the number of tourist visiting Gavi. From May-12 onwards only 100 people will be allowed to visit the place a day. The entire region comes under the Periyar Tiger Reserve area and the unrestricted flow of visitors caused environmental problems to this area. Now entry is under the strict control of KFDC (Kerala Forest Development Corporation).

The tourist can use only the Vandiperiyar- Vallakadavu route and on condition that they are to come back to Angamuzhi from the forest area. In view of these restrictions tourist who are planning to visit the place should contact the Vallakadavu Forest Range Office. The phone numbers are 04869 252515 and 8547603010. Eco Tourism Office can be contacted on 8547809270.

Gavi visit will surely take you closer to nature. It will also remind the visitor how and why it is required to preserve forest and wild life. May you be able to visit Gavi at the earliest…

Payyambalam Beach

2012-08-01T04:51:00.001-07:00

It was after 12 years that I visited the Payyambalam beach on July 2012. The ‘kaalavarsham’ or the south west monsoon is in full swing. Luckily there was a small break and weather seem to be ok for two days and this prompted me to have a visit to the Payyambalam beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in India.The visit gave memories of our good old college days when we were regular visitors of this beautiful beach.Beach is located at about 1.5 kms from Kannur town. One can have a walk or can catch an auto to reach this place. Though it is one of the beautiful beach; in my view beautiful than the Kovalam beach, the visitors are less here. It is a 6 km beach wider at its southern tip. The tourist destination is in this tip. A nominal fee is collected as entrance fees.

Separate ticket has to be taken for cameras (not for mobile cameras). A small but neatly maintained garden is at the entrance of the beach. There are lush green lawns, sculptures by famous artist and a cafeteria inside the garden. A small park specially meant for the kids is an added attraction.

One has to cross a small bridge to reach the beach. The bridge separates the beach and the Padana thodu. The small portion of the land scape is used as a final resting place of famous personalities of Kannur. The mortal remains of Former Chief Minister of Kerala Mr.E.K Nayanar is here. The bridge will take you to the beach. Unlike the other beaches the sand here is white in colour which gives the beach a pleasant look.

The sea here is rough and swimming is not advisable. The long stretch of white sand, the breeze and the scintillating view of the cliff nearby gives a refreshing effect to your mind and body. Today Payyambalam has maximum number of flats than any other place in Kannur. One can enjoy the sunrise and sunset in Payyambalam beach.

The most beautiful location is the cliff which is located outside the park. A ten minutes walk will take you to the top of the cliff. The entire beach is visible from this point. This was the place when we normally spend our evenings.

The rocks here are dangerous and my advice is not to stand over them. A small cave like passage is really a great thing to watch.

A large number of resorts are available for staying near the beach. Food may cost a bit more than expected. Do enquire about the rate before ordering. Nearby tourist spots include Kannur Fort.

Ajanta Caves

2012-08-01T03:31:00.002-07:00

Ajanta caves, a world heritage site is in Aurangabad. To be more specific it is about 60 kms from Galgaon. One day trip is sufficient to have a detailed view of the great Buddhist Cave. Buses to Aurangabad are frequently available from Mumbai. You can get down at the State Transport Station and from there buses are available to the caves.The best idea is to start the journey at around 10 pm from Mumbai so that you will reach Aurangabad early morning. The cave site is around two hours from Aurangabad, so you will reach the cave before 9 am. A cloak room and basic amenities are available at the cave site, hence you don’t have to stay overnight for the Ajanta visit.

Ajanta caves were discovered by the British in 1819. An officer named John Smith discovered it during a hunting expedition. To honor the great discovery a small monument of Smith is erected at the cave site. The entire caves resemble a horse shoe and have 30 caves in it. These caves depict the life of Lord Buddha through painting and sculptures. A path way has been made for the visitors to have a glimpse of the caves. But one has to cover a steep climb to the first cave from the entrance. If you are not in a position to climb bearers are available at Rs 400.

There are 30 caves in number. But they are not in the chronological order. The first few caves have beautiful paintings. The ceilings are beautifully decorated with wall paintings. Another important thing that is to be noted is that flash photography is not allowed in the cave. So you may not be able to capture the full beauty of the paintings unless you have a torch. Here is one the world known painting in dim light.

All the caves are not opened for the public. Caves 3,5,8,22 and 30 are closed. At time some other caves are closed for renovation work. The paintings of the caves are done with colours that are made from minerals. Some of the paintings are faded, but ASI ( Archaeological Survey Of India) is doing their level best to preserve the caves. The roofs are painted mostly in black and white. Have a look at this roof painting.

Apart from the walls of the caves you can see paintings on the pillars. These depict the entire stories of a particular episode like the Buddha and his disciples, Kings court etc. It is better to hire a guide if you are particular in knowing the things in detail. Tourist guides approved by the India Govt are available. They will tell you the various stories related to each picture and sculpture.

One of the largest cave is the Cave No -4. It has almost 28 pillars each describing a story. A large number of sculptures also can been seen. Each cave has got a guide who is well versed in the subject. They will tell you the details about the particular cave.

Books and reference materials are available at the site. It is advisable to buy a book from the entrance itself so that you can refer the same when you pass each cave. This gives you a fair idea about the things even without a guide. A small museum is also available in one of the cave.

Another attraction is the designs of the stones that are being used for making the pillars. Each pillar has got a particular design which are notable for its precision and geometry. Here's one of the pillars.

Ajanta caves also have several sculptures of Buddha. We could find sculptures of various sizes and postures in different caves. One of the finest is in Cave No 26. Have a glimpse of the sculpture.

One of the stone work in Ajanta caves. Note the designs they have made.

Ajanta trip was one of the best tours that we have conducted. This place will surely take you to the glorious history of our country. It is surely an encyclopaedia for the researches in this subject. Once again thanks to ASI for the proper maintenance of the place.

Anakotta

2012-04-09T01:57:00.011-07:00

It was a Sunday, holiday for all. But being part of an organisation that is considered as essential service (power) makes it a working day for me. Need to take charge at 05 pm. The time constrain makes me think of a destination close to my work place so that I can come back on time. Thought for a moment and decided to visit Punnathur Kotta or commonly called as Anakotta.

Anakotta is a 10 acre land maintained by Guruvayoor Devaswam, the managers of the famous Guruvayoor SreeKrishna temple. The kotta has around 60 elephants. Most of them are donated to the temple by the devotees. These elephants are being taken care in this kotta.

A nominal fee is collected from the visitors and this amount is used for the developmental purpose of the area. One can see elephants of all age groups here. Photography is permitted but visitors are instructed not to make any disturbance to the elephants. A large number of foreigners visit this place. They can see the feeding, bathing and various treatment techniques of the elephants here.

Inside the building one could see the various tools and tackles used.

The feeding of the elephants is quite an interesting thing to watch. There is a small feeding ground by the side of the building. Each elephant is called by their name and they along with their care taker comes and collect the same. The discipline which they are maintaining is something amazing.

This building is the place where training is given to the new elephants. The trainers had to do hard work to make the creature understand the instructions.

Separate bathing tanks are provided for the elephants.

Here’s a snap of the big bath.

Regular exercise is a must for the elephants. See this snap, the big old mammal is carrying a log for his daily exercise.

The trip was quite informative and adventurous. Next time when you see an elephant, the visuals from the Anakotta will surely come to your mind.

Kushal Nagar

2012-03-14T23:34:00.003-07:00

Kushal Nagar is one of the biggest townships in Coorg. It is close to the border Mysore. It is one of the majot tourist attractions in Coorg. The climate here is different from that of the Coorg.There are a lot of tourist spots in and around Kushal Nagar. Kaveri Nisargadhama, Dubare, Golden Temple etc are some of them. This post concentrates more on Golden Temple.

Tibetan camp is located in Bylakuppe. It is around 6 kms from the bus station. One can hire a taxi or an auto to reach this place. There are 7 Tibetan camps around this area, Golden temple in camp 4 is a must watch.

The entire area is covered with colourful boards and flags. The Golden Temple is actually part of the Tibetan Monastery. The superb structure and the golden colour makes it a remarkable experience to the viewer.

Inside the Temple there are huge deities of Buddha, Amartyusa and Sambhave, all Buddhist Gods. These deities are made of specially treated mud and later coated with gold. Peaceful atmosphere prevails around the place. The monastery has over 6000 monks

The interior is fully decorated with beautiful paintings. Almost three layers of painting is there. It describes the life of Lord Buddha. Photograhy is allowed inside the hall. Visitors are asked to maintain strict silence inside the hall.

The main temple area holds two buildings, one is the main hall and there is one more just near the main one. Here also one could find small idols of Buddha and other Gods, that too covered with gold. A beautiful maintained landscape is an added attraction.

The entire outside walls of the temple is covered with huge wall paintings, depicting demons and gods from the Buddhist mythology. Foot wears are not allowed inside the premises and special counters are there to collect the same.

Even 3D paintings are there. Here is a snap of one of them.

Apart from this temple atmosphere there are shopping centres, book stalls, decent accommodation facilities near the Golden Temple. One can buy Tibetan handicrafts and religious books from the nearby shops. Every year thousands of tourist visit this place. It also attracts large number of Tibetans also. If you haven’t visited this place you missed one of the greatest monument in India, so plan a trip soon

Athirapally Waterfalls

2012-03-14T12:52:00.002-07:00

Athirapally waterfalls, the most controversial one in Kerala is located in Chalakudy. From railway station it is about 35 kms. It forms part of the Chalakudy river. The peculiarity of this waterfall is that there is sufficient flow throughout the year and this resulted in a proposal to start a hydro electric project there.

Buses ply to this location every 15 minutes from the bus depot. It takes around 45 minutes to reach the location. A nominal fee of Rs 15 is collected for viewing this majestic falls. Separate fee is there for parking.

The height of the fall is 80 meters. A 10 minute walk from the road will take you to the top of the waterfall. One can have a spectacular view of the Sholayar hills from this spot.During season huge crowds can be seen in this place.

Several safety measures are being taken to prevent accidents. Visitors are not allowed to cross the border lines marked by the security staff. This often prevent visitors from taking a good snap of this picturesque location

Getting down the bottom of the waterfall is somewhat tedious. Pathways are constructed for easy movement. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the bottom. During monsoon the entire area become slippery and extra care needs to be taken.

The beauty of the fall is maximum at the bottom. Swimming is not allowed at the bottom. One can take beautiful snaps from this location. During summer season the entire waterfall will look like two small falls. This increases its beauty.

The best time to visit Athirapally is during monsoon, which starts from the month of June and ends in August. Roads to this picnic spot is in very good condition and hence travelling will not be a problem.

Athirapally has several tourist spots nearby like the Vazhachal waterfalls, Chapra falls, Chiminey wild life sanctuary etc. An amusement park is also located en route. Several resorts that provide decent accommodation can be found in the nearby areas. Rates are high during tour seasons. Natural beauty with scintillating locations are the factors that attract huge crowds to this place. If you have not seen this place, try ..

Panchgani

2012-01-08T04:46:00.002-08:00

Panchgani is a tourist destination five hours from Mumbai. It is called the Land of Five Hills. This place is famous for its climate, scenic beauty and also for boarding schools. En route you will find a number of such schools. A two daytrip to Panchgani is sufficient to cover all the tourist destinations.

Panchgani is famous for strawberry. You can see large strawberry farms here. Panchagani strawberry is cheap and tasty, its size is also big. Do ask your cab driver to take you to a strawberry farm, its worth seeing. Just like strawberry you have carrots, radish etc..

Parsi point is one of the major tourist spot. The view of the valley from the top is remarkable. This was supposed to be the place where Parsi people used for religious purpose.

The beautiful lake and the surrounding valley make it one of the beautiful locations in Panchgani. During seasons paragliding teams gather on the hill top. Common public can also enjoy the paragliding at reasonable fees.

Mahabaleshwar is near to Panchgani. Tourist can hire a taxi from Panchgni to reach Mahabaleshwar. One day is enough to have a good tour of the entire place provided you have a vehicle. Panchganga Mandir is a famous temple in Panchgani. Water from five rivers meet at this place and hence the name.

Our cab driver took us to a strawberry farm. The farm owner explained the various farming techniques and processing. We bought fresh strawberry from this place. He neatly packed the same along with leaves and told us that it will remain fresh for next 48 hours and that happens to be true.

In one of the farm we could see strawberry planted along with cabbage. See this snap.

‘Mapro’ a company which is cultivating and processing strawberry on a large scale is very famous in this part of the country. On our way to Mahabaleshwar we had an opportunity to visit one of the factories of Mapro. Here a picture of the beautiful garden at the entrance.

There is a chocolate factory inside Mapro . We can see the various chocolate manufacturing techniques here. Here’s something interesting, a chocolate fountain.

They are maintaining a beautiful restaurant .The entire restaurant is inside a garden. One can enjoy delicious strawberry items.

Our Panchgani trip was one of the best tours which we had attended. A superb tourist spot near to busy Mumbai . See another snap from the place we stayed.

Nilambur

2011-12-02T21:40:00.001-08:00

Nilambur is a small town north of Kerala. It comes in Malappuram district. It is close to neighbouring Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Vazhikkadavu , Edakkara are the famous town centres in Nilambur. Vazhikkadavu is the last stop on the Kerala side, after that its Tamilnadu. Travelling by State run bus is the most comfortable mode of transport for reaching this location. Buses to Vazhikadavu are available from all parts of the state. One can hire also hire a local taxi for transportation.

Nilambur is a forest area and a great tourist destination, but the potential has not been fully utilised. Nilambur Teak is famous from the very early days. One can find several beautiful teak forests in and around Nilambur. The climate here is very good for the teak, this has been identified by the British and they started Teak plantations here. Snap shows one such plantation.

Another attraction is the bamboo. The hissing sound of the bamboo leaves can be heard in the forest area. Often this cause problems for electrical installations as most of the electric network consist of overhead lines. One such bamboo plantation can be seen in the picture.

There are not many places to stay in Nilambur that makes it difficult for the tourist to visiting this place. A hotel run by Kerala Tourism is comparatively good. Its close to a very beautiful river and inside the forest area. The ambience it creates is really amazing.

There are several tourist locations in Nilambur, one of the important one is the Teak Museum. The museum helps us to understand the various techniques used in the plantation of teak, its use, furniture made of teak, details about the various teak types. I found the museum quite interesting.

Furniture made of Nilambur teak are very durable and lasting. The museum staff will give you tips when buying such furniture. One of the costly item is the ‘Ungal Kattil’ made of teak wood. See this

Earlier houses were build using wood. This includes roofing, flooring and walls. The replica of the old type houses was exhibited. Snap shows the roofing of one such house.

All parts of teak are useful. This is evident when you see this snap showing a teak root used as an artifact.

Teak museum has a Butterfly park in it. But it is open only on seasons. As I visited the park during off season could not see the same.But the musem gives us affair idea of the type of butterfly that visits the teak plantation.

The Bio Resources Nature Park is another attraction in Nilambur. It shows various rare species of orchids,plants. It has a beautiful garden too.

Garden is well maintained.

The park and the museum are maintained by the Govt of Kerala. The staff here are very co-operative and will tell you every details about the various species.

Have a look at the Cactus collection.

The beautiful forests area of Nilambur is really beautiful. Though the place is not suitable for long vacations, but quite good for a two day trip.

As this place is close to major tourist location Ooty it is time saving and easy for the tourist to have a visit to this place.

Visit to Nilambur and the teak museum is a remarkable experience for me. Its different from the normal tourist locations. Serene atmosphere prevails here. My visit was all the more fruitful as I visited it during rainy seasons.

Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin)

2011-12-02T21:18:00.001-08:00

Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) is the tip of the great India. It is also the meeting point of three oceans namely The Indian Ocean, The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. A two day trip is sufficient to cover the entire tourist locations in and around Kanyakumari. For those who are on a vacation in Kerala can very well see this place as it is only 80 kms from Trivandrum.
Tourist can hire a taxi or can catch a bus run by Tamilnadu Road Transport Corporation to reach the destination. Kanyakumari is one of the best place to watch the sunset and sunrise, also it has several religious places . The major attractions in Kanyakumari are The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, The Kumari Amman Temple,Gandhi Memorial, Vivekanandapuram.

The most popular tourist attraction is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial ,a sacred monument build on two rocks located around 600 meters away from the mainland in the sea. It was build in honour of the great saint Swami Vivekananda.It is believed that Swami Vivekananda swam to this rock, meditated and attained enlightenment.

Here you could see the Rock Memorial in the background

Millions of tourist visit Kanyakumari every year. Boat services are available to reach the Rock Memorial. But often we find heavy rush for getting the tickets, so plan the trip in advance or get the help of locals to buy ticket well in advance. Boat will take you to the destination in 15 minutes. The sea at times may turn rough and hence all are asked to wear the life jacket.

One can spend around 2 hours on this monument. A spiritual mood prevails over the entire region. Have a look at the monument.

The monument consists of a large hall having several pictures and statues of Swami, a meditation room, a book stall. The book stall has a large number of books written by Swami mainly for the youth, I found the same very useful.

Sun dial is another interesting thing in Rock memorial. You can actually calculate the exact time by looking at the location of the sun and the shadow which it cast.

Just in front of the Rock monument on another rock there is a huge statue of Tiruvalluvar. The statue is 133 feet high. Boat will take you to this rock also. The statue is well lit with lights during night.

A small temple few meters away from the memorial is another attraction. The temple has foot prints of Devi Kanyakumari.

The three oceans meet at a point called ‘Sangam’ which can be seen from the Rock memorial. During evening the tides can be high and can be dangerous. Boat services will be available only on normal tide days, during high tide and rainy seasons the same will be stopped . It is advised to call the office to make sure that service is available.

This is another view of the Sangam from Vivekananda Rock memorial.

During after noon the entire rock over which the monument stands becomes so hot that its very difficult to walk over it. Path ways painted white with special heat resistant paint help us to move around the place.

A large number of hotels are mushrooming in Kanyakumari. Many of the promises which they make are only on paper. Getting a good place to stay is a tedious job in Kanyakumari, especially during season. The Vivekananda Kendra is a 100 acre spiritual centre set up by Eknath Ranade. It provides food and accommodation at nominal rates. But not many people know about this place.

Sunrise and sunset can be viewed from a small beach which is close to the campus. One can have a walk early morning and watch the sunrise. Hundreds of people can be seen during sunrise.

There are beautiful gardens, small forest areas, temples, art galleries etc inside the campus. Peacock sanctuary is another attraction, where one could find peacock freely moving around.

Our trip to Kanyakumari was a remarkable one, the most notable ones are our stay at Vivekananda Kendra and our visit to Rock Memorial.

Coorg

2011-03-18T11:05:00.001-07:00

Kodagu is in the western ghats. There are a number of valleys, forest, waterfalls and religious places in and around Coorg. This makes it one of the favourite holiday destination. The climate, the orange farms, coffee plantations etc gives us a remarkable experience of the journey.

Coorg or Kodagu is often called as the Sctotland of India. This hilly region is famous for Coffee plantations. One can see a large number of coffee estates and spices cultivation on the way to Coorg.

Madikeri is an important city in Coorg. It has got a number of prominent places nearby. Transportation to all the destinations are available from here. Also 90 % of the hotels are in this part of Coorg.

Rajas seat is the nearest point from Madikeri. It was build by the Rajas of Kodagu for their recreational purpose. The view from the Rajas seat is stunning. People gather here during morning to watch the sunrise. Have a look at the sunrise at Raja seat...

Rajas seat is a jogging spot also, during morning hours you could find several joggers. A well maintained garden is an added attraction of this place.

Some shots from the garden.

Abbey falls is another place worth watching. It is an artificial water fall created just in the midst of a coffee plantation. Its only 10 kms from Madikeri. Rickshaws ply to this area. One has to walk at least a km through the thick coffee plantations to reach the falls.

A hanging bridge just in front of the falls gives us a clear view.

Got the snap of this mosque on the way to Abbey falls.

During all weekdays there is fountain show at Rajas seat. Mostly children assemble in large numbers to watch this event.

Mahabaleswar

2011-03-18T03:54:00.001-07:00

Mahabaleswar is often called as the Grand Canyon of India. Located at around 200 kms from Mumbai it holds the distinction of a major hill station in Maharashtra state. Famous for its good climate and scenic beauty it attracts large crowds during weekends.

Buses ply from Mumbai in the evenings. Best time to visit this place if in the winter. This is the best time for taking photographs as fog will be less. Also visit the palce after 10 in the morning to get a clear view.

There are a large number of points to be covered so plan accordingly. Each point has got its own speciality and at times it may take longer time at a particular place.

Elephant Head point is the first point. At the end of the mountain range it resembles the head of an elephant. As you can see this from the snap

Most spectacular view is from the Kates point. The river below the mountain range and the beautiful location surrounding the same makes it an unforgettable location. Do visit the place before summer else water level in the dam will be less.

Special provisions are made for the visitors to have a clear view of the mountain ranges. Tourist can have a better view from here.See the platform that is leading towards the mountains..

Another attraction is the table land.

The mountain range , clear sky, and the greenery around takes us to another world. Snap is from the Window point.

Venna lake is a nearby tourist destination. People fond of boating can get the fantastic experience..The area surrounding the lake is thickly covered with jungles.