Day 2 - 3 was planned to see around Manali .. So we left from Delhi via Bus to reach Manali in morning .. It takes around 16 odd hours or even more to reach there .. Our bus stopped in between for dinner at karnal at a nice little Dhaba .. Oh man it so good to eat the roti and veggies .. Butter roti is one nice tawa roti with huge butter toppings on it .. he he .. Doesn't go well with your dieting .. But who cares .. Not me !!
In Manali you have several hotels to stay at .. We had booked Sterling resorts .. It had beautiful view from all rooms.. We had booked a nice duplex room.. And it is worth every penny .. After a nice little lunch at the hotel we left for sight seeing and some shopping .. With given time we had decided to visit a temple , sulphur hot springs, monasteries and shopping at Mall Road.. Nothing great with any of these places .. But shopping was fun .. Well at Manali you can shop some really nice chudidars with lovely hand woven embroidery .. But bargaining is the trick .. Well I am bad at it .. But my friends were so amazing !! They got the suits for such amazing prices .. I really can't believe .. Lucky me! That I am always surrounded by such good bargainers .. Another thing you can buy is apple jams .. They are really good!! And Dinner as described my friend "WOOOOOOW!!!" lolz.. That was how every bite that went into my friends mouth sounded like .. And it was not in any angle a good way .. If you are wondering where we ate, we ate at Chopsticks .. All web sites said you get really good Chinese.. Either the day was really bad for us or the food there is really that bad!! Not really sure .. One suggestion don't always believe the sites .. I learn't my lesson .. And the funny part was when we asked the locals where we get good food they actually suggested chopsticks .. Hmm ..
Well the next days was planned for Rohtang pass and Solang valley.. The taxi picked us up early morning around 6:30.. Which was a great idea .. I would suggest you to do the same.. As the road is bad and it gets jammed as the day passes by .. The Road were in terrible conditions for a stretch of 16 kms .. Those 16 kms all of us prayedto survive alive out of it!! We could not see the beauty around but our destiny .. The pictures taken made us realize how much of beauty surrounded us ..
Once at the top of rohtang pass, you can take clothes(Rent them for 150 per set which includes coat and Boots) for protecting yourself from the cold and take horses (300 per horse). These horses will take you to teh snow point. Trust me it was all just a bucket filled with snow scattered across. We were very disspointed. I have seen snow before but one of my friend had never seen it and he was wondering why all such a big fuss with snow not even white in color.. So we decided on our way back tell everyone who are on their way up how bad its up there ..We wanted to let them know it was not worth paying so much... But the best part of the whole journey was the Hot Tea and maggie .. Yummy!! I know I know .. I am foodie .. always enjoy the food than the place .. Not really true .. But then food is the source of my energy .. Like my friends kept teasing me "Tosss fakta" Meaning Just stuff yourself.. I would all time keep asking them "what abt Breakfast / Lunch / snacks / dinner!! " So they kept feeding me all the way all 5 days just to ensure I don't cribb to them ... Some views on the way to the top were just spellbinding..
Only pictures can speak thousand words ..
On our way down we decided to do a quick touch and go trip to Solang valley.. It is nothing grand, it is more famous for doing some bike rides / going down upside down in a Big ball!! Wondering why people would like to do that.. Coz when they come out all i can see is white faces scared hell and puking up.. Hmm .. weird.. Lucky me I don't neither do my friends belong in that category .. he he .. There are other things to do there like paragliding .. which takes few seconds from top to reach down and costs around 600. We were unfotunate that it was raining and cloudy so we had to skipp it and return back. Oh i forgot .. There is a nice ride to reach the top via the cable carts .. It is again 300 per head .. and it is nice for once in lifetime :)
Now it was time for us to say bye to manali and travel off to Amritsar via a local bus.. Rest to be continued.....
One of those trips which begin by planning something end up something else.. The trip was to go visit Shivanasamudra & Talakad and we ended up visiting the two falls nearby.
It beautiful on the way.. It is around 140 kms from Bangalore. We left from Jayanagar took Bannergetta road to join Mysore road via NICE road.. Once you cross Maddur you will see a road leading to Talakadu on left. Take that route and follow the signs, at some distance you will see the signs for Talakadu.. You will not miss it… and on that route you will in between see signs for falls..
You can visit all the places Shivanasamudra, Talakad and the two falls in a day and return back.. Ensure you visit Bharachukki falls the last.. This way if you have plans to get wet, you can so at the end..
We first went off to Gaganchukki falls.. Had a to pay a token of 10 Rs for entry.. I wouldn’t say the falls was flowing with full strength; it was breathtaking and very majestic!! We spent some time enjoying the scenic beauty and eating kala jamun’s and avla’s.. At this falls you cannot go down close to the falls with all warning signs for danger.. So we decided no point staying here longer and go down towards Bharachukki falls where you could get close to the water..
It’s around 13 Km drive from Gaganachukki falls and in between we encountered a spot where the river Kaveri was flowing silently and it was kind of a view point for the river.. And there is a famous Dargah on the way from which the view is supposedly even more beautiful.. We did not stop on the way there as I was full on excited to get into waters to dip my legs.. Well I ended up dipping just more than my legs.. Once you reach Gaganachukki you can walk down the stone stairs to the banks of the falls.. You can take coracle rides to see the falls.. Pay around 200Rs max and enjoy the ride and the view. But since my last trip to hogennikal was very recent and I had enjoyed the rides there, I decided to skip the ride and walk down by crossing the small streams to reach the falls.. It’s just amazing to feel the cold fresh water touch you.. And the sound of the gushing waters has a spell binding effect on you.. We enjoyed the waters for an hour or so. Then It was time we got freshen up and leave back to Bangalore.. Ofcourse we were hungry as we had forgotten that it was way beyond lunch time with all the view and the excitement to enjoy the falls..
Where there is public you will find vendors selling food and all. You can eat good fish, hot bhajji, more or less small snacks .. Be careful of monkeys.. They are one naught bunch.. Not scared shit of anyone.. I have had my share of incidences with them trust me they are not to be messed with..
On Mysore road you have cafĂ© coffee days to kamat to mc’D.. And it’s barely 30 -40 kms from the falls.. So you will not have issue with restrooms or food..
The way back was again through the same route.. so we reached back Bangalore in no time.. No tips and tricks for this trip.. as the road was good and travelling by car has its own advantage..
Have a safe trip and Happy travelling!!
Long time since I had been out traveling.. This was a sudden plan.. A sudden thought came up our mind looking at weather.. A very gloomy gloomy climate just perfect for long drives. So all decided.. let go.. But where?? Hmm few friends suggested skhandagiri treck some said Talakadu some said Hogenikal falls.
So we decided falls is a better options instead of just seeing a few clouds and hills.. Water seems more interesting to me always.. Ok Lets GO!!!
The very typical of me.. No sense of responsibility. Guys being more of the sensible types and I trust enough to let them decide.. So I just went along with the idea to take the shorter route which is around 150 kms. The 150 kms drive from Bengaluru via on Hosur road till attipalle, via Thally, Denkanikottai, Anchetty is a novel experience except a stretch of 10 – 15 kms at the end..
The trip was planned such that we had to leave early and return back early as we were not very certain of the road and how easy would be for us to ride on bike for such a long stretch.. Which was a good decision, as I kept cribbing every one hour wanting to get down and walk a little bit.. :D.. We left in morning by 7:30 and reached DenkaniKottai around breakfast time and ate at a small restaurant.. Pretty decent place as I am still fit and fine.. ;) And reached Hogenikkal Falls by 11:30.
The moment you reach, you can expect people to approach you to take you boating on those lovely swirling boats.. But the bargaining part.. I am really bad with such things. If I need to bargain I could not come down by 1 rupee but instead might end up paying higher.. So my friend who had said he is really good with such stuff bargained from 600 and paid 500.. Not sure if that was a good bargain or not. But I can bet you I would have been worse.. :P So off we went on the boat.. One suggestion, find someone who knows Tamil. I had my guide to talk tuta phuta tamil .. he he.. The boat takes you a little far and then you need to walk down the stream where the boat is set up again to take you through rest of the journey.. If you want to get wet, the best is to request the boat man to take you close to falls and get wet sitting in your boat. Which we did not realize till the journey was almost completed. We assumed the island side water will be good to enjoy(which turned out to be a disastrous decision). The falls is beautiful! There are several small ones and few big ones. But all of them have the same spell bounding effect on you. If you are a fish lover.. Its just your lucky day.. They sell fresh cooked fish though I did not eat it. It smelled good. Yeah Yeah I eat fish but the company matters and I decided to be nice and not eat once in life time..
Other than the boat ride there is a hanging bridge. It’s nothing great about it but decent. Few things we learnt the hard way was don’t buy anything to eat.. Too many monkeys to snatch from your hand and snare at you.. They can really scare you.. And I am telling I was scared shit!!! Shouting and running.. In all the mess I fell into water nothing serious. Lucky enough a photo of me fallen into water was not taken.. Decent people around me.. ;) .. Also gals not a place you can enjoy either.. No place to enjoy the water. Guys everywhere showing off not their best looks ;). The Food!!! Oh yeah .. Veggies you better carry something to eat else you will starve yourself.
The journey back was even more adventurous. The prediction for the day was sunny as per the weather site which was true till 4 in the evening. But after that it was time for some heavy rains. And we were so well prepared that we did not bother carrying raincoats or jackets or umbrellas.. ha ha .. So stopped under a Tree.. Hmm with really heavy rains.. No use.. Head to toe we were drenched in the rains.. But that added to the whole fun of eating at a local stall really hot Bonda and having hot tea.. What a pleasure that was!!! You just then forget you are cold and shivering.. You just will tend to relish that moment ignoring all the oldies around staring at a gal who is so drenched in rain..
I was lucky the climate was great for a trip like this. But it is beautiful on the way too. So even if it’s not raining or gloomy it’s a trip worth making may be not on Bike but definitely a trip worth going. Happy traveling!!
Wow !! Its been too long since I last traveled. This was just a
weekend trip away from the daily routine. Decided all of sudden that it
was time.. lets get out !!!
So I finally gave in to my wish and
traveled to Mumbai (Thane). Tickets were cheap (Rs 5000) for two
way(Bangalore <-> Mumbai). Now the other issues was how do I
manage to reach the airports both in Bangalore and in Mumbai?? Bus
seemed a good option for me to travel safe and alone at weird hours in
Bangalore. But it was a total mess both the times from home to airport
and vice versa.. :(
Well I tried hard to organize it better ..
Called up the BMTC people earlier night to check if bus comes on time
and what times. Googled to check about the busses and its convenience
and the routes and timings. But its all about luck. For me it was a
complete bad luck!!! The 12th early morning, the bus never turned up at
9th block bus stop in Jaynagar .. And had to travel to 4th block bus
stop wait up for 15 mins, call up the BMTC number to enquire if any
chance I would get a bus.. Luckily there were two other ladies at the
stop traveling to Airport and we got together and went by a shared taxi.
150 per head cheaper than bus and no stops in between .. On my way back
on 14th at 7:20 the bus decided it will not stop at the bus stop
instead just to get on my nerves stop at least 1 km away so that I don't
get an auto and I walk with all my luggage (which was so packed with
all the shopping done.. Can't believe I cursed myself for shopping so
much coz the bus driver made me walk) ..
But lucky me I had my cousin there in Mumbai to pick me and drop me at the airport. So chweet ..
The next problem in hand for me was what do I do in Mumbai for 3 days.
Coz the plans made were completely useless as my bro and my friends
were getting free only on Saturday evening. Hmm so watched movies ..
Harishchandrachi Factory(A Marathi movie ..pretty decent one .. and I
understood what was happening ) and MNIK(My name is Khan .. this was
just for my bro salil that I watched .. but ok .. S scenes were good but
a typical karan jhohar drama ) .. Then ate loads of food (hmm lets see
.. pani puri, wada pav, misal pav, dahi puri, aloo puri, ice cream ..
this was enough to get my system on track next day ;) ) .. And finally
shopped for my cousins .. Now if u r wondering why am I not in the
picture .. Well I wanted to shop cheap stuff.. 100 - 200 rs worth and
not more than that .. Anyways I get the expensive stuff in Bangalore ..
Now the fun part for which I went began .. But could not last long .. :( PARY HARD!!!
So
we all went off to Hawain Shack .. As my friend said to me the party
only begins at 11 .. But then we could find a cozy place and have loads
of alcohol and get a lil high to be able to enjoy dancing after 11 .. ;)
.. it was fun .. free shots for ladies .. uuuuh!!! That was nice .. But
I am not the person who can utilize such opportunities .. well anyways
.. we were lucky enough that my decent bro was not drinking at all .. so
we all could enjoy to the core and get back home safe .. The bad part
of this place for me was we had to pass by linking road .. and it badly
tempted me to shop !!! and I could not .. Oh yeah .. I enjoyed the sea
link long drive my bro decided to take me on .. That was nice .. looks
beautiful in night .. my camera was not good enough to capture the
beauty though ..
With all this we all just crashed out at my friends place ..
The last day, now I had to shop!!! No going back empty handed .. how
could I ?? So asked my bro to take me to a place I can shop and go back
.. So Hurray I shopped at Thane itself .. bought few slippers (not the
bathroom ones :P) and few hand bags for myself and my sis and mom ..
The
funny part is I go so far and all I want to do is shop and party !!!
well that's me .. Hope u guys have better trips to mumbai ..