Different Hues of My Mind

March 12, 2017 - view from seventh hill, Velliangiri Hills One of the toughest pilgrimages in South India, coincidentally also known as the Southern Kailash  ( Then Kailayam ) - is a pristine mountain range in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is revered as one of the abodes of Lord Shiva, and accessible by foot passing through Seven Hills. The hills are also home to many siddhar  (type of saints) and sunai (natural springs). The trek that takes 5-6 hours one way for a fit person, is usually taken up by pilgrims barefoot (the hills are considered sacred), with a bamboo pole for support. Its worth mentioning that the entry is controlled by the forest department, and they allow access only from February to May. Due to the daytime heat, the trek is usually taken up overnight and ends sometime early next day. Full moon nights are preferred as moonlight helps treading the tricky path at many places. We followed suit and started our trek at around midnight. There was a hug...

October 14, 2016 - Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka On a road trip to Wayanad and back spanning 3 days and 750+ kilometers - passing through BRT Tiger Reserve (Biligiriranga Hills), Bandipur National Park, and Nagarhole National Park - among other state forests, we had rendezvous with many wild animals. It was a pleasure to drive on the roads with sparse traffic, while enjoying the remaining time lazing around. Being the more pleasant time of the year in terms of weather added up to a fantastic break.

September 11, 2016 - Avalabetta Some 95 kilometers away from Bangalore is a quaint little place called Avalabetta - short detour from the excellent Hyderabad highway. A decent and well marked road leads right up to Sri Narasimhaswamy temple. This place was made famous for a wafer-thin protruding rock. People posed for selfies and groupies on top of it, and fondly christened it as the "Potato chip rock". Now the "authorities" have cordoned off the area as a crack has developed. So one can only see this from afar. It is, however not the only attraction, we had a wonderful time inside the temple and amid beautiful scenery.

February 20, 2016 - Childrens' Seat, Yercaud The name of the hills - Yercaud, originates from Tamil words Yeri (lake) and Kadu (forest). Very easily accessible from most South Indian cities due to its proximity to Salem. Although not as popular as its counterparts, it still provides for wonderful break from the humdrum of city life and revitalizes your soul. Major tourist attractions are the Lake itself, various gardens, Ladies Seat, Gents Seat, Children's Seat, Pagoda Point and them some not so famous but worth visiting places like Servarayan Temple and Karadiyur view point.

December 6, 2015 - Yerrada Beach, Vizag Visakhapatnam, also popularly known as Vizag is located on the coast of Bay of Bengal. Its a charming city with lovely views of the sea from throughout the city. We visited some of the many tourist attractions - Marine Drive, Kailasagiri, numerous beaches, Simhachalam, Borra Caves, Araku Valley, and Dolphin's Nose. The Steel plant on the outskirts of the city is also a big landmark. This photo is the best representation of the fact that Vizag has a unique blend of hilly terrain, beaches and sea.

January 18, 2015 - Lalbagh, Bangalore Every year a flower show is organized by the Department of Horticulture at Lalbagh on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day. The show typically starts a week before, and ends on Republic/Independence day. Apart from the regular arrangement of flowers, there is a different theme on every occasion. On this occasion it was formation of Red Fort with red roses.

December 6, 2014 - Golconda Fort, Hyderabad My first visit to Hyderabad happened incidentally due to my colleague's marriage. We (colleagues) landed there a day before marriage. As we had a spare day, we planned to do some sight-seeing around Hyderabad's more famous landmarks. First up, was Golconda fort. This fort built on top of a hill is surrounded by vast ramparts. On the way up and from hill-top you get good views of the city below. Later that day we also covered Birla temple and planetarium, Lumbini Park and Hussain Sagar lake.

October 19, 2014 - Vittala temple, Hampi Situated in the north of Karnataka as the erstwhile seat of Vijayanagaram empire, Hampi has a strong connection with history. A quick glance around the town tells us the magnitude of the grandeur which lays in ruins now. Places of interest are divided into the sacred center and the royal center. Sacred center is interspersed with the town and comprises of temples. Royal center lies about 5 kms from the main town and it is populated with royal and military constructions.

October 7, 2014 - Balamuri Falls, Mysore This is one of my favourite places in Mysore. Having lived there for a number of years, Balamuri was the first option when it came to planning a day out. A very popular tourist spot for families and youngsters alike, Balamuri Falls can be visited anytime of the year. However after monsoons the river Kaveri is really swell and entry into water is prohibited. Coracle ride, and of course a bath in the river is a must-do during the visit.

April 20, 2014 - Upper Bhavani Lake, Avalanche I have been to Ooty and seen usual sight seeing places numerous times. This time I wanted to visit Avalanche, which I have never seen before. It is around 22 kms from Ooty and the route beyond Emerald goes through Reserved Forest area. The road ends at a check-post, beyond which only forest department buses are allowed. Seats need to booked at the ticket counter here. A round trip takes approx 2 hours, and the bus winds its way through some breathtaking scenery to reach this lake.

March 21, 2014 - Wonder La, Bangalore Wonder La is one of the better amusement parks around Bangalore. It's conveniently located off the Bangalore - Mysore highway, making it easily accessible. Once inside, you will find all kind of rides and activities that you would typically find in an amusement park. There is something for everyone here, from adventure seekers to people who just want to unwind. I had quite a few photographic opportunities from flowers basking in sun, to people getting drenched in water - such as this water ride.

August 09, 2013 - Innovative Film City, Bangalore Innovative Film City is another worth visiting place on the outskirts of Bangalore. Located near Bidadi on the Bangalore - Mysore highway, this place is just right for a day outing. Once inside, there are numerous options to while the time away. Almost everything is done lavishly - the filmy style. One such example can be seen in this photo. Best time to start exploring this city is in the morning as time flies through the many activities and attractions, including a water park.

August 2, 2013 - Mango Mist Resorts, Bangalore A lot of resorts have sprung up in and around Bangalore in recent times to cater to the demands of the ever-increasing IT companies. Each trying to stand out from others in terms of ambiance, activities, food and packages. Located on the outskirts of the city a few kilometers after Bannerghatta on Bangalore - Jigani road. This resort provides a relaxing atmosphere along with some adventurous activities. One of the specialties here is a unique take on rain dance, and one can experience mist on the dance floor.

May 5, 2013 - Bannerghatta, Bangalore Bannerghatta National Park is a very famous tourist destination in Bangalore. However, the small village of Bannerghatta which the National Park is named after, is largely untouched. This small town has a few prominent temples. There is one on the foothill of a hillock, and one on top of it. From the top of the hill, a 4 km walk takes one to another temple which is famous for its pond, locally called "kalyani". It is believed that a dip in the holy waters of this pond cures all health problems and fulfills wishes. This photo is from top of the hill.

December 29, 2012 - Thiruvannamalai, near Srivilliputhur The trip down to Srivilliputhur in southern and interior Tamilnadu was of a religious nature. This town is famous for its Andal temple, and is unmistakably built around it. We stayed in a "chattiram" (community hall) right by the street that led to temple entrance. However, we also visited a small town temple of Thiruvannamalai around 15 kms away. The street that begins the climb to the temple on top of the hill is lined with usual hawkers and vendors. This old woman had a totally different ware to sell - "Kuzhi Paniyaram". This traditional snack comes in deliciously sweet and spicy varieties.

November 30, 2012 - Manipal County, Bangalore Another click from Manipal County resorts. This was a find during my leisurely stroll around the resorts. With not much else to do, this was best to while the time away.

November 30, 2012 - Manipal County, Bangalore Taken during a team outing to Manipal County Resorts, which is located well within the city limits. The resort is a fairly run-of-the mill kind, offering typical facilities like playground, restaurant, swimming pool, and other indoor games. Upon arrival, stalls with colourful canopies caught my eye and soon I discovered that there was a wedding hosted on one side of the resort and we were to share the space. Initial hours were spent clicking photographs of various things inside the resort. Rest of the day was quite uneventful.

March 30, 2012 - Wonder Valley, Bangalore Wonder Valley is a resort which is aimed at a more adventurous crowd. To keep such clientele involved, there are several activities involving the rope, like climbing, walking, etc. You also get to create your own bamboo-raft and go rafting in the adjacent lake. Apparently, the resort used to offer rappelling from a cliff looking over the lake. But due to quarrying the cliff is no more and so is rappelling. However, it was good to see a bunch of people having a peaceful chit-chat after lunch.

October 24, 2012 - Tulip Resorts, Bangalore I clicked this photo in Tulip Resorts while on a trip with my family. The resort is a slightly different resort with more facilities for amusements and entertainment than typical resorts. As soon as one steps in, it feels like they stepped into a mini amusement park. Different kind of rides and kids playthings share space with facilities like swimming pool, indoor games, and restaurant. I didn't find any tulips there, though this Lily caught my eye.

September 29, 2012 - Butterfly Park, Bannerghatta A recent visit to a nearby butterfly park was a revelation. Few things learnt about butterflies there: Butterflies have antennae that have rounded ends, while moths have fuzzy ones. Butterflies rest with their wings perpendicular to their body, moths use theirs as a "roof". Butterflies taste with their feet. Butterflies have long tongue which is normally rolled, and extended only when they want to eat/drink. Butterflies are active in the day, while moths are active at night.