Augumbe Trip - With Office Colleagues

It was winter' Dec'20, I was planning to go out with office guys for the trekking in addition to the fun filled trip. I picked up Agumbe location and thought of having waterfalls trek to Kudlu Water Falls, but this was closed due to Covid hence we choose the Kavaledurga hills for the trekking, this is short trekking about 3KMs from the base. 

We all joined at office together near Hennur flyover at 10PM and guys started drinking already. Everyone boarded the vehicle and departed towards destination. We were enjoying the music, dancing and having so much fun till midnight. We reached the homestay @ 6AM and got freshened up. 

Having breakfast at Homestay

Then we departed to the Kavaledurga hills for the trekking. It was sunny morning, we packed some snacks and started trekking at 7:30AM. Trek started near paddy fields, it has clear path filled with rock steps. Need to be careful during rainy season otherwise, it easy to climb. We used to see fort ruins along with our trails, guys were busy with taking pics. we reached to the mid point where we could find the beautiful Pond. Then went inside the dense forest where trial is very thick and hard. Reached the top of the hills, view point is beautiful and mindblowing. The wind was much pressure and pushing us towards the downhill.

Below is video of our trekking in the kavaladurga:

Kavaledurga Hills View Point

We climbed down the hills by 11AM and reached the home stay for the breakfast. The breakfast at home stay was ok. We took some rest till after noon. then decided to go to beach near Udupi in the evening. 

Beautiful Beach

We went to the beach by 4 and spent 2 hours till 6. The beach was very beautiful and no plastics around. I really like the clean, and peaceful beaches. This is private beach with no much access to the public. The residences nearby the beach warned us not come to again to this beach. This beach is about 20 KMs from Malpe near Udupi. We reached back to the homestay at around 9P and got refreshed for the dinner + Firecamp.

Homestay arranged the nice fire camp and we really enjoyed whole night. Very few of us doing chit-chat will 3AM morning, talking some old stories etc. There was also small clash between two of my colleagues for some reason and turned to be softened after I intervened and made them ok. 

Kundadri Hills

Next day, we went to Kundadri Hills, which has been very steep and driving was good but made us all scared at some point when we encounter one car near the curve. They vehicle was coming back and we put stone to the tyre immediately and ensured it drives forward at high power. The hills are beautiful, you should visit either morning or evening. There is Jain temple located in this hill station.

Augumbe View

Shringeri Hanging Bridge

Shringeri Temple

We head back to the Sirimane Waterfalls near Shringeri unfortunately, the falls were closed due to renovation and we had to come to the temple. We had darshan and had some food. This temple is old and beautiful. This is one of the Peethas of four established by Shankaracharya. This temple is located on the banks of Thunga River. There is hanging bridge across the river. We had some photoshoots on the hanging bridge. Then we started heading back to the Bangalore. 

On the way we had dinner and reached Bangalore at midnight. 

The Pondicherry- Unexpected Trip

 This trip isn't really planned by me at all. My two friends had planned for the new year party , 4 days before 31st Dec. They went to Pondicherry and roaming around the places near Pondicherry and sending me the places and food dished they had experience thru Whats app.. I was getting tempted  by seeing this , I know I could not join the trip since it was month end. 

on 30th Night, they called me , we had long conversation about the trip at around 10PM. They asked me to join by making me tempted. I like really food joints, they  mentioned about these, added some sugar and asked me to come by Bus. I got up ready and packed all clothes in the bag. 

There was last bus available @ 11:15 PM near Slikboard, my friend booked ticked for the same bus, I was at KR Puram @ 11PM, 15 mins, can we reach from KR puram to Silkboard. I took cab and asked him to reach by 11:20 at least.. We were going fast to reach the place, bus guy called me and said they are moving to next stop : Electronics City Toll Plaza by 11:35 as they can not wait for me since another passenger waiting at next place, then I should reach that place before 11: 40. Somehow my cab driver reached the Electronics City Toll Plaza within the time and I boarded the bus but this costed me additional bucks. 

As I reached the Pondicherry next day morning, my friends came to pick me and we went to the hotel back and took some rest. As the day geared up, my friends had some plans in the min. We went to the beach morning, weather was pleasant since it was rained previous day.

Pondichery is quite clean city and I dont find plastics much anywhere. After retuning from the beach, we had breakfast on the street, omg this was yummy and really enjoyed it. Post that, we went to the massage and enjoyed the massage at the some place in Pondicherry town. We went to see other beach called Eden beach or veerampattinam  beach. This beach absolutely beautiful and cleanest. We head back to the lunch. 

Morning breafast

Me, Giri and Dhivin near beach

There was local guy helping us in exploring the places or food joints in the Pondicherry. We have got biriyani, Fish, Prawns etc got parceled to the Hotel along with Ballantine. This combination of lunch made our day. My friends reminded me about Kumaran mess where they had Prawns Curry which was yummies they had experienced previous day, I missed those dishes. In the Evening, we went to beach again for the walk, it was beautiful and spent decent time there.

Manjil Biriyani Center in Pondicherry

We went to the city beach where we had spent decent time and explored the French architecture building. We had planned for the new year celebration in the city and thought of enjoying it to the core but bad times, there was no such events and all bars and restaurants getting closed down by 11:30 PM itself. We spent very short time in the restaurant and came to the hotel back by 1AM. 

French Buildings

Then morning next day, we got up ready and had break fast at hotel and checked out. We had lunch in the pondicherry itself and started our departure to Bangalore. The police start the checking interstate cars as usual. While coming on the way near Thindavanam, one bike hit the wild pig which was crossing across the road, three people in the bike fell down on the road, thank god, nothing to happened to them except one guy got major injuries. We immediately called ambulance and waited there till Ambulance come and helped them to board the ambulance. 

Then I got little disappointed and thought of staying back in the Tiruvannamalai. We decided to stay back in the town, We had not seen the Tiruvannamalai Temple. So we stayed in the hotel nearby temple. My friends did shopping the clothes  for the temple. We do not find the decent bar and restaurants in TN. Better you should always plan accordingly.  The morning, we had darshan at Temple and departed the city morning. We reached the bangalore at around 1PM in the after after having biriyani near hosur. 

Thiruvanamalai Temple

This trip is one of memorable and unexpected the trip.

Shishila Hills-Mudigere

This was the first trip planned to outstation after the lockdown, It was damn boring at home during lock time, Covid pushed our life to the down and tested us so badly. 

I was searching for the homestay which should be adventures and should get lost in the woods of forest. We have finalised the place called Shishila Jungle Stay, near mudigere. We have four people, my and my wife and two friends joined us. 

We started our journey on Saturday morning as usual @ 5AM and picked my friends near Bommanahalli.It was really feeling relaxed  after so many days we went outside. We had breakfast on the way to Hassan. We reached the Shishila hills at around 1 PM in the afternoon. The road towards this jungle stay was off road, my swift car really amazing and road condition is bad for about 2kms, it was completely off road, so many stones, up and downs. etc, but it was really fun and adventure. 

Road towards Jungle Stay

After reaching there, we had nice lunch along with few drinks, It was raining and u know when you are in mid of forest, drinking when it rains, it feels really so excitement. Food was really good, we enjoyed it. After the lunch, we went to nearby place where we can see the astonishing views. View points are really awesome but it was raining continuously. We enjoyed a lot under the rain. 

My daughter Nishita Roy

Nearby Hills View Point

In the evening, while we finished our drinks, we went to have dinner to canteen at 11:30PM , It was crazy chilled weather, I couldn't tolerate that much cold. Myself and Girish took the food in the plate by that time it started raining. There was 40 meter distance between my room and canteen. When we started running towards toom along food and umbralla, I slipped and my leg was stuck in the wood which was lying across small aqueduct. It really hurts a lot then somehow I removed my leg and went to the room. 

Then morning, we thought of going to the trekking to the nearby hills( Karadi Gudda), This was very good of adventure trekking I can say as my daughter also came with me and I had to put her on my shoulder all the way to peak of of the hills. This sounds crazy as hills path is so slippery as it was raining heavily. The wind was so much across the hills, we could not walk properly. We went to the top of of the hills then rain started coming heavily and spent 10 mins holding umbralla and started climbing down. My Friend Girish got hurt from stone while coming down. This was kind of really nice but also got hurt from this adventure things

Me and My Friends in the Karadi Gudda Hills

Trekking towards the peak

Home Stay-Megur Kelagur

We went to the homestay called Megur homestay on 27th July 2019 after searching the best homestay in the horanadu direction. Horanadu region is deep forest and will be having to many curves and hills upside and down. 

We went along with my colleague family to the Megur homestay. We departed the bangalore morning at around 6AM and reached  home stay @ 12:30. The road about 3 KMs which leads to homestay was very beautiful and Scenery. The rooms we very clean and beautiful bathrooms made my day very happy. The location is extraordinary and beautiful.  We got some drinks and had some beers in the afternoon while having some starters. Having chilled beers in the chilled weather will be awesome. The service is exceptional , they listen to you anything you need during the stay.

After having a lunch, we went to the near place which had beautiful views but we could not spend time since it was rainy season and rain started coming heavily. Our car could not go till end of hills, we had to walk down from about 1 Kms. It was beautiful walk midst of forest. The crazy thing was that, we did not have umbrella despite kids were with us. We did not take precautions and realized that we should take care from next time onwards.

We returned to the homestay and had firecamp which was so good to experience the fire in the chilling nature. I really like firecamp during winter or rainy seasons. After having dinner, we went to the sleep.

The next day we explored into the tea estates and got some clicks and then  visited the "Devaramane" which is beautiful hill station with so much foggy and clouds passing on you. The fog was so much it was pushing people around. Then we departed the place and reached bangalore in the evening

Go Goa Days

Date of Travel: 09 May 2019

Goa is one of my favorite places I will be visiting every year from 2017 onwards. I am unable to go in 2020 since pandemic of corona has created worldwide thus resulted collapse of tourism across global. Hence there was lock downs, Restrictions  between states ,  territories etc.

Coming to this trip, In our group, we had always planned for Goa and wanted to enjoy a lot on beaches etc. The beaches are beautiful in Goa , I don't see such incredible beaches around in India. We took flights to avoid the overnight journey and stress during the night travel so that we can enjoy in the Goa happily. 

 

We took the flight early morning and reached hotel which is North Goa. The hotel was good and beautiful. We had delightful breakfast at this hotel. Food is awesome and tasty here. I really loved it. 

Hotel we stayed

We went to near town where we had boozing along with fish curry. This was really yummy and we all four(myself, Dhivin, Giri and Jack) liked this curry a lot. Goan Fish curry is one of my favorites. I never miss this cuisine when I visit Goa.

We visited the Mandrem beach in the evening. Not many people you find here because this is 25Kms  away from Baga beach ( which is commercial beach). North Goa and South Goa are peaceful beaches where you can enjoy the cleanliness and privacy. 

Mandrem Beach

Next day, we visited the Baga beach where we had parasailing and other sport rides.  Enjoyed a couple of drinks in the noon. We hired local scooters for two days. It is cheaper than taxis. While coming from Baga beach to hotel back, we were caught with Goa Police and they did not let us go unless we paid some fine to the Police. I know drink and drive is not advisable at all. We were in very limited. But jack eyes became complete red and hence they thought we are drunken heavily  

Parasailing

Jack and Dhivin in Baga Beach

Baga Beach in Night Mood

The same day evening we came back again to the Panaji for casinos but we could not go because of the cost. We spent the overnight @ Baga beach. Third day morning, we went again to the near town bar where we had boozing. Three days were completely in boozing mood and enjoyed food and drinks. The we visited fort, Churches in Goa for the rest of day. 

Sea from Aguada Fort

Church in Goa

Home Stay-Watehalli Sakaleshpur

Homestays are wonderful, amazing place where you can experience the nature truly. you get home cooked food, yummy chicken, Shavige with Kayi Rasa, Yummy fish curry, Akki Rotti, etc.. These dishes are native of Malnadu Region. Malnadu region covers Uttara Kannada Chikmagalur Shivamogga Hassan Kodagu in Karnataka District. 

I would love to experience homestays often with friends and families. You get relaxed and get away from city's noisy and pollution. 

Home stays are different kinds of properties you will see.. There several home stays you can find in google across Madikeri, Chikkamagaluru districts. 

We went to the homestay for the first time in July 2019. Below is details of the home stay

Watehalli Homestay Sakaleshpur: Visited on 04 July 2019 during rainy season, departed Bangalore morning at around 6AM and reached the home stay at around 12-1PM afternoon. The location is surrounded by coffee estate, you have to reach the home stay thru off road about 1KM. The owner of the homestay is very kind and service is very good. You have plenty of space is available for the parking and playing cricket or shuttle cock. We had good fun over there and some activities such as walking on the rope between trees, etc  you are interested , you can play. Food is delicious and my daughter really enjoyed.

Location of the homestay: 

https://goo.gl/maps/qaQkSGUxJcYxvUeK7

There is small stream where you can go and have some fun. and the next day, we went to Belur Helebidu temple. These temples are beautiful and structures are very nice. You are blessed to experience such structures. There will be separate blog on Temples situated in Hassan Dist you will get more details. Below is pics of this stay. 

View from Balcony

Plenty of Space infront of Homestay

Yummy Peanut masala

Walk towards Stream

Morning Tea during rainy season

The Journey to Hyderabad

Date: 05 and 06 Jun 2015

This one of the first places we have visited in Telangana. Me and my wife visited this plan after our marriage. We went to the munnar as part of our honeymoon trip. We choose the hyderabad as part of my wife birthday celebration. 

I went to the Nagpur for the business meeting on Thursday and asked my wife to come to Hyderabad on Friday morning, So that I could also come from Nagpur to Hyderabad. I went to the Nagpur by flight, which was first time experience and was thrilling. After the meeting, I departed the Nagpur in the night and my wife departed the Bangalore by bus. My wife was new to the bangalore and booked a ticket in private bus, but the bus had mechanical issue hence it could not come on time and did not arrange the alternative bus as well, this was frustrating for sometime, after 2 hours, they arranged the alternate bus. 

The next day morning, we both reached to the common location and went to the hotel. We began our day with having breakfast and thought of visiting the Ramoji Film City by the public transport as we know Telugu and we thought we could manage but most of hyderabadis especially Auto drivers, Bus conductors speak in Hindi/Urdu to the tourist people. We somehow reached the Ramoji Film City. That was the day pass and enjoyed the overall experience of the City. This has been built beautifully and people can spend even two days here without boring. I liked this city very much. I captured the beautiful photo of butterfly in the park. 

Butterfly

We had nice hyderabad biriyani,Ice creams,evening snacks etc. There was summer event for classical dance function organized in the evening and it was really fun. 

My wife at Ramoji Film City

We came to the hotel which is located in Banjara Hills, and have dinner in the night. The Food is really amazing in Hyderabad. I love the food in this city. The Food quantity is better than Bangalore hotels. They give higher portion , quality and taste wise, Hyderabad is better than bangalore always. 

The next day, the plan was to visit the places in Hyderabad. We first went to the Charimnar, then Golkonda hills , Qutb Shahi Tombs, and then NTR Gardens near Hussain Sagar. All these places are beautiful as the names. The Charminar should have maintained better, this is in old city hyderabad and congested to visit this place. Shopping in hyderabad is ok , some items are cheaper and some are expense than we think. 

Charminar

Golkonda Forts with Hyderabad City

Golkonda hills is you have to hike for 2KMs to the top, all you are going to experience the rocks and fort ruins along with the trail. We could not go to the top of hills as we had heavy baggage which we couldn't carry. NTR Gardens are beautiful and spent some decent time in the evening , There was also celebrations going on as part of Telangana Formation Day . We headed back to the hotel in the evening. 

Celebrations near Hussain Sagar

The next day morning, we booked flight from Hyderabad to Bangalore. We went to the Airport by Auto and spent some time in the afternoon in the airport and also had delicious sandwich at restaurant. We boarded the flight, that is first experience to my wife. It was great journey overall and worth visiting the hyderbad for 2-3 days vacation.