Skip to main content

Featured Post

The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.

Back at last.... after a long break!

Here I am, after almost a month of silence. Where have I been? On a trip of course!




It was a trip of many firsts....

It began with a wedding, which was certainly the most fun one I have attended in ages...

Then, we embarked on a trip which Shankar bowed out of, citing the summer heat and work (in that order) as excuses, and we decided to go on, without him. This was a big first.... a mom and son vacation!

This was a trip planned well in advance, yet nothing could be finalised till almost the very end.... and then, as usual, plans changed!

I have always planned my own trips, arranging accommodation, travel, sightseeing and everything else by myself. This time, I left some of the planning to professionals... another big first! That helped a lot, leaving me free to plan the rest of the trip.  I was busy till almost the minute we left, finalising details, which is why, the blog has been neglected for so long... thankfully, the hard work paid off, and the whole trip went off without a hitch!

So, if you are wondering by now where I have been, these last few weeks, here are the details....

We began our vacation at Bangalore, attending a cousin’s daughter’s wedding. It was one with a difference, held at a venue which was more a resort than a marriage hall, making it a lot more interesting and memorable. It was two days of catching up, renewing relationships, and, for Samhith, playing with his cousins like there was no tomorrow!

The Bangalore trip was all about family, and we spent all of it with relatives. It was then time for me and Samhith to set off... to Wayanad.

The Wayanad trip was the surprise part of our vacation, cutting short our stay in Bangalore. However, who wouldn’t want to escape the city for 4 days in the hills, surrounded by nature? Wayanad was all that and more..... The experience was even better than we expected, and the 4 blissful days passed faster than we imagined! We visited temples and caves, walked over islands and tea estates, tried adventure activities..... You will have to wait to read more.....

Samhith discovers that he likes broken down temples more than well preserved ones!


And then came the long planned and much awaited final part of our trip – Mysore. It was our first visit to the city, and Samhith fell in love with it.... the beautiful houses and the variety of birds we saw made him want to relocate... at once! We spent 5 peaceful days... walking around the palaces, the art galleries, the lakes, and of course, the zoo. This was a visit meant for leisurely exploration, and that is what we did, taking our own sweet time at every location. We visited well known and less known places, over and over again, something we have done rarely, but enjoyed to the hilt.

Birds were surely the highlight of our Mysore visit!



Coming back to Mumbai, by bus this time, there was just one thing on both our minds.... we must do this again!

Comments

  1. Good to have you back and waiting to hear more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mridula!! loads to write.. just no time to sit down and write!

      Delete
  2. Sounds like loads of fun! Waiting to hear all about it. btw, I too was in South India during the last week of April :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was just catching up with your blog, Arti, and realised the same thing... we were both in kerala! but at different places, unless your trip included Wayanad... am looking forward to reading all about your south indian sojourn too

      Delete
  3. Mysore is a place that never disappoints and if you are a first timer, nothing like that. Personally I feel Mysore comes all the more alive during and after Dasara, it's something you should not miss next :)
    As a nature place, there can be nothing better than Mysore and ease of which you can step into wilderness from there. Awaiting more :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats what I have been hearing too, Santosh! Unfortunately, Dasara is exam time for us, and no chance of getting away then.. at least for the next few years... but its a dream to go someday... fingers crossed! as for nature and wildlife, wow! we were really blown away! kiddo is a big fan of the city now!

      Delete
  4. We indeed missed reading your posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its so good to hear that, bnomadic! hope to bring you more and more to read!

      Delete
  5. That is lovely. Waiting to hear the stories!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes I saw you at the wedding, through photographs earlier. Waiting for the individual destinations being covered at length.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those were just the first set of pics I uploaded, PNS! loads more coming up!

      Delete
  7. Welcome back Anu. Looking forward to read all about your trip, particularly the Mysore leg :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sudha! loads to write of Mysore... but you have to wait... am starting with Wayanad first :D

      Delete
  8. Hey, you presented very nice post about your trip, inspire me to have some adventures trip to India. Thanks for sharing this post.
    voyages en inde

    ReplyDelete
  9. Been to Mysore twice and want to go again. Btw, I too was in Kerala around that time, but visiting parents :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice informative post! Mysore is a popular destination at all time. pictures looking fantastic.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw

The Power of 8 - The Ashta Dikpalas and Ashta Vasus at Khajuraho

The four cardinal directions form the axis on which a temple is built, and are thus the basis of temple architecture. Leading from them are the eight directions, which are believed to be guarded by the eight guardians, or Ashta Dikpalas . In the temples of Khajuraho, great care has been taken by the sculptors to carve the Ashta Dikpalas on the walls, both inside and outside. They not only guard the temple, but also look over us as we circumambulate the shrine, protecting us by their presence. They are augmented by the Ashta Vasus , celestial beings which represent natural phenomena. Together, they enhance the idea of the temple as cosmos, enfolding within it, all the aspects of nature, both, on earth, as well in space.

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis