The first view of white Marvel

When I first got the glimpse , I thought I would loose the moment of spectacle in the process of believing of what I was seeing until my co-passenger on bus , stirred by heavy honking of a passing truck , woke up to the very sight of it and  instantly yelled a cry of euphoria shaking the fellow passengers off their slumber."There it is ... the peak of a snow-capped mountain" , she cried. I was finally assured. It was rather anticlimactic for me - might be a climactic culmination for the reader-  who had been weaving strings of hopes to his debut tour in the mountains to witness the bewitching snow-capped Himalayan peaks but had to eventually stop his delusional deluge owing to the weather serving as a perfect antagonist.
     
"The Hindu Kingdom" in the lap of Himalayas , Nepal , was the chosen spot three months prior to journey. Excitement sprang to its zenith when I found a ton of adventure activities from trekking to para-gliding could be availed. But I knew in the back of my mind that those fantasies had to be buried due to budget issues. Nevertheless , a view of the rugged white intimidating  beauty ranging in its wishful path creating valleys, gorges, springs and meandering roads cutting through the hills , would  more than make up for it. Those picturesque images from geography books and captivating videos from television would be confronting reality soon. The tour plan looked satisfying - kick-starting with jungle safari then  slowly progressing towards hills and culminating with the much-awaited view of Mt. Everest - cherry on the top.
     
The first night of our trip was a an exotic one , inside a serene resort at the edge of forest . Literally our first night in a foreign land! But little we knew then that misfortune had already announced its ringing endorsement from the next break of light in the east. Apparently , we were unable to witness the breaking of dawn as the cursed veil of nimbus-clouds denied to cast away. On some other time I might have been kept busy flaunting with my camera at those rain-impregnated-elements but that day I could not but curse them. Though the safari was thrilling , I carried a gloomy mind all throughout - the met-forecast showed no signs of hope for the weak ahead.
    
As destined , Pokhara was a complete washout. The place that promised the breathtaking view of the Annapurna mountain range over the horizon along with its lovely reflection on the crystal-clear waters of beautiful Fewa Lake surrounded by green hills on three sides , turned out to be major disappointment. The heavens chose that day to weep over the earth in abundance. While the farmers welcomed it whole-heartedly , the tourists put the day in the list of forgettable ones.
     
The first day at Kathmandu rekindled my hopes. The grey clouds seemed to make way for their immature whiter counterparts. The sun was out , yet not blazing , after a couple of off days to its Himalayan worshippers. The whole day had been dedicated to temple-viewing , the famous Pashupati Temple being first on the list followed by other significant ones. The sky remained blue till the end of day and the stars kept twinkling till I went to bed. Finally a smile on my face before sleeping.
    
The following morning brought even broader smile when I woke up to the glaring rays refracted through the window-glass. I quickly got ready and was up for the day before everybody. The Everest-view from the sunset point at Nagarkot was scheduled at afternoon. Our first sight-seeing spot was the historical Durbar Square. The temples and mansions mesmerised us with their unique architecture and art. It was one of the best views of the tour so far. But , naturally , I was more excited for the upcoming uphill drive to Nagarkot. As we were ascending the hill , my wall of excitement met its tragic end. From no where a large mass of ominous black cloud accumulated within minutes and shoved away the sun to take the limelight."Did any black cat crossed our path today?" - such superstitious thoughts occurred in my mind that moment. It seemed the gods would conjure up any elements at his disposal to thwart us from getting a sight of the real Himalayas. Though the interruption was in the form of drizzle that cleared itself soon, the view had been dwindled. The puffs of grey and white clouds blocked the supposedly distant view of the Everest.It was not the day to see the mightiest!
    
My hyped tour had already turned to a saddening outing. It was like a something-is-missing-type dinner party. The starters were promising but the main course fell short in the major areas. Hence , the expectation of dessert , if any , was fading away fast. Resting my head against the window of our returning bus, I was gingerly gazing over the backward-trailing hills and clouds. And then the unbelievable moment happened. The peeping peak across the farthest horizon did not escape my lazy eyes. Everybody got down and did not waste moment to capture the moment lest some unwelcomed clouds should hinder the "marvel".So, eventually a unexpectedly satisfying dessert was offered. All's well that ends well.
   

   

   

    

Travel at your own cost but don't cost Nature!

Whether it is free or at our own cost we seldom fail to disprove any opportunity or invitation to travel. To explore new places and conquer unknown destinations is coded in our very own DNA. Some travel to photograph memories , some set out to adventure ; some head out to relive history whereas some just go out with their families and friends to spend some quality time. In the era of commercialization , tourism has seen itself evolve and shape into an prosperous industry. An industry whose positive contribution to the economy is augmenting annually. Tourist spots are spawning like mushrooms in every corner of the country. Be it historical places or hill stations or any other natural hotspot , Nature has been exploited as a booming market. Obviously it is benefiting our economical growth , but it is the duty of both government and individuals to ensure that that growth does not come at cost of environmental pollution. But do we regard this duty as "duty"?
      
Area of concern : Rahul is a cute little boy who has come with his parents at a beach to enjoy the evening. Rahul finds an ice-creamwala (a person who sells ice-cream) and instantly demands for one. His loving parents buys him one dutifully. When Rahul is done with it , he asks his parent where to keep the empty container. "Just throw it anywhere, darling". Rahul drops it over the sand and runs towards his parents. Hundreds of other Rahul watches this Rahul and does the same. May be one Sita recalls her school teacher's gospel of use of dustbin and she takes the little pain of scouting a nearby dustbin with her big inquisitive eyes amongst the carnival and thus avoids littering.
    
A group of college buddies plan or rather decide impromptu to feast in some exotic location. A remote waterfall trickling down to a hilly river is the destination. They are bewitched by the ambience , and so much so drunk in the exuberance of things that their ethical and aesthetics-thought-process has been clogged completely. They dump their non-biodegradable leftovers from their sumptuous luncheon in the natural water. No patrolling police , no overseeing security ; hence no one to bother about. Who would take the pain of disposing off the whole waste in any garbage bin or proper disposal site? Or rather are there proper disposal sites at exotic tourist spots?
       
Solution : The solution is simple and straightforward. Moreover any good books on civics and environment will enlighten that. But the most difficult part being implementation requires acute analysis with systematic implementation of policies and compulsory regular monitoring , of course keeping the cancer of corruption and prevalent laziness in attitude behind.
   
The foremost prerequisite is the change in mindset which can only be attained by responsible self-education. We all know that environmental education has been a mandatory inclusion in our school academics but it is highly doubtful the level of infiltration of the "value" into the general mind-system of public is substantially below recognition. So people need to educate themselves. We need to understand that environment is our parent home. Just as we maintain our own houses and mansions, we need to take care of our environment. The recent policies like "Swach Bharat" are praiseworthy initiatives but the seed of its fruitful-ness lies in our own hands. But sadly some of us , or rather most of us, are yet to plant them. If every house starts cleaning their surrounding or prevent littering in a single day , wonders will happen in no time. The policies are like the base , the soil. It is our duty to plant these lectures into action and water them with regular maintenance.
     
The next perspective , perhaps the most complex, that demands higher degree of introspection is the mechanism of education. Advertisement in all possible sectors do sound handy. But is the penetration happening till the grassroots?The government must ensure that they conduct some mobile educational tours with live demonstrations across rural areas , "Swach Bharat" captions and slogans must be highlighted in tourist spots, penalty systems should be strictly implemented in case of violations.
     
Another sustainable solution that has shown light is eco-tourism. This brings a great concept that takes care of contamination of environment and also caters to employment opportunities to locals. Government should promote and implement this on a large scale.
     
Environment is our own and only place of shelter in this beautiful earth. But we fail to realize this bigger picture or rather ignore this so blatantly. Yes if you read in school that "do not litter in public places" , do not. Also encourage your elders not to. If u see anybody in trains throwing plastics and stuff through the window , stop them. If u see anybody spitting in public or streets , kindly tell them not to or better showcase them to nearby police. Take the little pain of finding the "use me" bins. These little efforts in unison has the power of revolution, a silent democratic change. You may think What hellos crime will I be committing if I threw the tiny plastic  covering of a toffee just anywhere. Yes you may not realize the impact. Actually this degradation of environment is like slow poison. But a time will certainly come when the adverse damage will be beyond recovery. Its better now than never!

     

     

My first late-night travel by car

The visit to a place becomes completely fulfilling when the journey attains its comforting dose to the brim at the first place. But when the journey involves adventure , excitement and a first-time experience of a kind - surpassing the comfort quotient to reach the zenith of fearlessness - the
thirst of recharging our souls , being almost quenched , revamps its limit for more. Such was the case in our journey to Daringbari , the remote hilly village at the heart of Odhisa. 
      
All my adventure-laden worms had quickly grown wings and had transformed themselves into tickling butterflies transmitting spasms of excitement and spikes of welcomed fear all throughout my veins when we , myself along with few like minded companions, learnt that our journey by car from Bhubaneshwar to Daringbari was abound with unpredictability. Our driver was unaware of the best route. We would travel through forests or ghat areas ,as they call it , all along night. We did not know exactly when we would finally reach .Cell network would probably remain unavailable for most parts of the journey.So google maps - better not put faith in it!
      
With twilight casting over western corner of heaven , we commenced our journey moving southwards of Bhubaneswar through NH 5 with loads of zeal. The speedometer was ticking almost a ton. Every burst of the centrifugal wind  seemingly sneaking through minute pores of skin was like a antidote to the unexpected cacophony of the malfunctioning music system. It was certainly a disappointment. We took a right turn from Khurda towards Baghamari where we stopped for evening snacks. The occasional glimpses of sophistication and urbanization across highway had given away to acres of barren lands diminishing to indistinguishable purple horizon. Some distant zigzag outlines , like that drawn by a child's free flowing pencil , of unknown hill range was holding on to sight against the fading hues.
     
Travel times often turn treasure memories as normal gossips turn into unheard stories and incoherent music turns out to be the funniest ones. Such a gala atmosphere continued inside our car as we were rollicking towards Nayagarh. We stopped for a loo break in the middle of nowhere only to find the pseudo luminescent silver moon shinning with all its might and the distant hill ranges on either side seeming ominous like that in fairy tales. The driver added more creepy elements to the plate by narrating terrifying stories of certain village nearby that used to stalk strangers at night on road and seize them for a bait - to serve as offering for some undignified worships!
     
There were two roads leading to Daringbari from Nayagarh. As we were already absorbed in the enchantment of the night , it was unanimous decision to explore the longer , definitely more adventurous route. Our car raced towards Phulbani. It was already past 9 pm and the number of visible creatures on the road was slacking every minute. I focused my vision on the moon resting my head against the window. The forest ranges of Daspalla reserve on the left seemed to reel back like a quick flashback sequence of unknown animated film as perceived through the corner of my eyes. Suddenly turning right my eyesight caught hold of a poster of tiger! Ah! We were passing through the Satkosia tiger reserve on a lone road at night. Though I knew capturing a view of the king of jungle is the wildest thought ever but my subconscious mind took the front seat and began to articulate images of tiger and flash them in my brain. I could only hope one of those apparitions transpired into reality.
         
Phulbani was in deep slumber when we reached there. Luckily we managed to get a nocturnal mascot to direct us to the road to Daringbari. All the excitement , uncanny bliss travelling at night might replenish your mental appetite but its physical counterpart craves only for food - something that was awaiting us in Daringbari as we had done away with our snacks long before. Our car was plying smoothly , breaking the peaceful silence around  perhaps only by a whisker , through the road. Distant hill ranges and occasional hillock were still accompanying us. Perhaps I was the only  one awake as my companions had surrendered to the inevitable tiredness. "Fire!" I cried. Everybody sprang up. It was not a prank , as everyone else might think I believe ; and to convince them I pointed to the glowing couple of lines across the hill range - the golden spark against the dark veil is certain not to be missed. It was hard to tell whether it was forest fire or a deliberate inflammation by the wood cutters , but nevertheless it bewitched and  looked majestic.
     
Farther we went , greater the quietness of the ambience was engulfing us. My scaring intrusion into the snoring slumber of my companions did make an unintended endeavor in restoring their clumsy senses but it was short-lived. They had all reclined back. And the most perilous part of this speechless drama culminated with the driver yielding to the sleepy doze of the surroundings. For a moment our car lost balance and aimlessly glided off the road ; but had it been not for the culprit driver's still-awake reflexes - acting promptly to regain control - we might have not reached anywhere in whole. That was indeed scary. On a lighter note , this incident provided us with the leisure of forming a round table conference - an unplanned committee of one-time-nightcrawlers only to exchange laughter and soak in the unadulterated refreshment of nocturnal nature - seated on the middle of the road on a moonlit night!
    
The rest of the journey saw most of us yearning to reach sooner rather than later. Eventually we did after requiring guidance from a couple of local nightcrawlers. No sooner did we step onto the main village road of Daringbari than we were taken aback to find men and women in groups trotting along like zombies at midnight. It was definitely the least expected thing to witness in a remote , rustic village. But later we learnt those were the retreating audience from the night-theatre show. We now live in the age of malls and multiplexes but this little information brought a big smile to my face.
     
However we were finally at our pre-booked eco-resort and it was time, infact  well past the usual schedule , to dine and get the much-needed rest. But did we sleep? It had already been a successful night to topsy turvy the.routine and then why not further it? We went on gossiping and exchanging stories only to lay our backs at first stroke of Orange in the east.

   

      

Peace at Daringbari

When it comes to visiting hills or any hill station , the general trend is paying a visit during spring or winter. And the usual recommendation for Daringbari, a small hilly village in heart of Odhisa surrounded by green hills and dense forest and mainly inhabited by tribals at an altitude of 915 meters above sea level, is no exception. But breaking the stereotype I along with few companions decided to travel in the hearth of summer. No bone-chilling weather , no clouds hovering across surface trying to encapsulate leaving you drenched , almost no unknown eye-catching birds gleefully flocking branches of trees and bushes bountiful of colorful flowers - Nature may not be in its most pleasant attire but a tolerable temperature and the picturesque greenery perpetually conceiving the unique tranquility were enough to draw us in.

                    

How to reach : Daringbari can be reached through several routes from Bhubaneshwar , the shortest route being 243 kms which runs south of Bhubaneshwar through NH 5 and going through Aska town and Surada and then through the meandering roads in Daringbari-Udayagiri forest range. Another option , though longer but more adventurous , is taking a right turn at Khurda through Bolagarh-Nayagarh. At Nayagarh two routes are present. A left through Bhanjanagar and eventually meeting the first route at Surada; a straight route towards Daspalla and Phulbani provides passage through forest ranges of Satkosia, Daspalla, Khandapara. One can stop at Phulbani to view the putudi waterfall 15 kms from the town. From there a left route is available to Daringbari. One can also travel by train upto Brahmapur and then take a cab to the destination.

Where to stay : There is a eco home known as Deers Eco resort. This is decent and at reasonable price but you need to pre book during winter months. There are not many hotels around but some government dormitories are coming up soon.
       
Places of interest : Daringbari is not a hot tourist destination yet. But it is growing steadily to become a popular spot in Odhisa. Sadly, this region is alarmingly underdeveloped. Once ruled by Maoists had augmented its adversity. As reported by Jagruti , the NGO operating there since decades, the place marks the most deaths caused by malnutrition. But still amidst all this apathy , the place is developing as a tourist spot to add considerable value to its economy.

                       

Waterfall : Few kilometres southeast from Daringbari the road crossing beautiful green valleys and hills and pine forest leads to  a hilly waterfall. The place is highly adventurous as you have to take a
narrow dusty road through the jungle and then climb down the hill to reach a coveted area facing the waterfall off the small cliff. The canopy of green tall trees  and the bed of loosely scattered rocks  banking downwards to a small catchment area creates an enchanting experience. Photographers will definitely be kept busy discovering alluring angles to shoot.

      

Coffee plantations : Though the temperature and soil and the overall climate may not be entirely conducive for growing coffee , still they have managed to produce coffee. A visit to the plantation site is worth it. Tall trees providing the canopy and the necessary shade for the coffee shrubs grown amidst them - a perfect place to spend a few moments and inhale the non-contaminated air. I was already imagining the slithering white puffy clouds finding their aimless way into the plantation maze.Winter definitely has cold colors!

       

Hill view : Common to every hill station , Daringbari too provides a beautiful view point. Sunset is the best time to be in. There is a nature park beside it , a fun place for children to play around and spend the evening amongst butterfly park and fountains. The hill view point gives the spectacular panoramic view of the green hills encircling the Daringbari valley.The changing hues of twilight gets reflected on the face of hills as the greenish tinge slowly transforms into fading bluish facade. A perfect time for silhouette photography! 

          

There are several sites in and around Daringbari that one can explore.Taptobani is a place on the way to Brahmapur that has hot springs. Tara tarini temple on the top of a hill is 23 kms from Aska town. Belgarh and Kotagarh sanctuaries in neighboring districts are also possible exploration options. Overall Daringbari provides a soothing experience of  interaction with Nature. The natural beauty along with the harmony is something cannot be missed.Definitely winter is the ideal time to pay a visit but if you are a travel freak and your hand itches with your camera , summer or winter is irrelevant.

   

Why make traveling a hobby?

Confinement of knowledge or happiness may bring self-contentment but after certain period of time the insatiable heart and soul of man craves for more. It wishes to expand its horizon. It intuitively responds to the reckoning of the unknown  and uncertainty. This very trait is coded in our very DNA and at some point or other every man yields to this. Every man has their own choice of evasion but when it comes to this traveling and exploring unseen places definitely it has a high priority set. Traveling is not only about passing the free time or just taking a break. It is educational and if one manages to get the right chord hit it can be highly addictive.
      
Connection with Nature :  Once you leave your air conditioned room and embark on open paths , you begin to feel Nature with all your senses. And then if you let that feeling , or rather be bound to , touch your soul you will definitely gain some mystic energy, refreshing to say the least , that has effect like purging your soul. We all are natural , organic and Nature itself can cleanse and heal off all our pains and sores. Understanding Nature means understanding life and society at large. The first thing one will certainly develop is this delicate yet strong connection with Nature.
          
Knowledge about Life : Life is itself a teacher and traveling to new places open our minds to new dimensions of life. New places brings new acquaintances of all sorts , be it interaction with people  or experiencing the essence of different culture. And newer meetings means discovering a different perspective just like unfolding of a tight knot. Apart from all the fun and enjoyment involved , traveling lets you grow as a person. It inspires you and teaches you to hope again. It aids in doing away with your prejudices and stimulates you to conquer your fears. Thus our knowledge of life is enhanced.
      
Discover yourself : Do we really know ourselves well? We spend a better half of our life discovering our true selves. Nobody knows one's true talents unless discovered. Traveling , especially solo , is hard test. Not only your mettle is tested but certain never-faced-before situations can bring unknown traits of your character. Learning about life around ,not from any book or magazine, but from real live experience might steward you to your goal in life or rather aid you realize your purpose in life.
       
Romance with Nature : Are you single? Or your life is too boring? Are you feeling lonely quite often? Shake off the jinx and plunge your soul into a ever-satisfying romantic relationship with Nature. It's a relationship with no breakups. It's a relationship to frame some beautiful moments of life and etch them in memory to be relished for lifetime. Nature can be harsh at times, sometimes unpredictable, but visiting a place at a suitable time , at conducive weather conditions, will thwart most of such feared mishaps.
        
A hobby should not be just a time pass. Simply killing time with no utilization is not worth it. A hobby should feed your soul. If your profession fills your stomach, your hobby ought fill your mind. And traveling will definitely do more just filling your mind. You may argue traveling often is costly but once you start you will figure it out how to manage the budget. It's not that dear as it might seem superficially. There are always public transport available and reasonably-priced hotels. Traveling is fun and making it a hobby is healthful cum funnier.
      

         

           

Why Chandrabhaga beach is better than Puri beach?

When one gets completely bogged down with the frustrations of monotonous mundane life and desperately craves for escape from reality , nothing can be a better option than spending a few moments with Nature. Added to that if you stay nearer to sea you are definitely at an advantage. The saline ambience coupled with the cozy bed of sand at the beach is the perfect gateway recipe. And if you happen to be in Odhisa the obvious choice would be a day off at Puri beach. But if you could travel 30 kms from Puri northward you will come across Chandrabhaga beach which will offer you better and memorable moments.
               
Avoiding the crowd : If serenity and tranquility is what you seek the most then Chandrabhaga beach has exactly those ingredients to offer you. Puri beach always remains overcrowded being a pilgrim site. Hence a quiet interaction with Nature soaking the saline atmosphere and feeling the grainy sand between your legs with only approaching-retreating turquoise waves in front of you - is rare in Puri.
     
Cleaner Beach : As the crowd is much thinner at Chandrabhaga the beach is cleaner and so the water seems less polluted. Even at waist height water you could see through your apparent feet which is highly unlikely in Puri. The absence of fleeting crowd keeps the beach less contaminated from wastes.
     
Nature all around : Puri beach stands just beside the busy marine drive and with it comes all the hustle and bustle. If your sole wish is to experience only Nature around , Chandrabhaga is ideal. The beach is withstood with a line of tall trees. Thus the view of greenery at your back and blue waters in front is nothing short of picturesque graphic.
   
Pristine waters : When you land at the beach the first difference with Puri beach that ignites your instincts is the pristine waters. Not only does it provide a captivating view but also cater a refreshing and rejuvenating bathing experience. The waves might seem a tad less violent but definitely more soothing and no less adventurous.
      
Let your body afloat : This is one of the most unique feature that I noticed. The retreating waves often create a mini lagoon which is only ankle depth but here you can just set your body free and the salinity will take care of the density to let your body afloat. This is the most soulful experience I ever had. The warmth of the water adds cushions to this unique experience. The formation of this mini oxbow lake is not guaranteed but it happens often. This is like experiencing Caspian Sea at Chandrabhaga.
      
In a nutshell , Chandrabhaga beach has all the bounties to be experienced in close connection with Nature - a day wrapped in Nature's refreshing outfits , a day worth spending off the crowd and off the necessary corporate boredom.
      

     

      

Rajarani Temple - a hidden beauty.

Bhubaneswar is the city of old temples and having acquired this newfound fondness of visiting places of historical interest it is very tempting not to have a walk in to the rather interestingly named temple , Rajarani Temple.Why such a catchy name? Well thats a mystery. Situated in the old city just a couple of kilometres away from the Lingaraj temple the temple has been fenced amidst well maintained garden that has a straight footpath leading to the temple. To see a temple with city buildings around gives you the feeling of an ordinary shrine in your colony or neighborhood and given its smaller structure compared to the majestic Lingaraj acts as a alibi to the first-glimpse-analysis.
    
As you walk closer to let the image formed in your brain through your optic nerve gain enhancement in terms of definition and clarity , it takes no time to shred off your initially formed notions. The picture of 'the temple' in our childhood scrapbook is  given the extra dimension ; hence to conceive a lively real-life monument out of the gallery. The plain strokes of brown on paper has given to yellowish and dull red complexion and so has the adhering particles of crayons to chiseled sandstones. The casually depicted designs has made the finest transformation to acute and crafty artwork of varying subjects which undoubtedly makes this rather common architectural monument special.
     
Built on a raised platform the temple has distinctly two parts - the frontal squared shaped jagmohana, as they call it, and at the rear end the long pyramidal vinama reflecting typical Kalinga architecture. As the historians say the temple dates back to mid 11th century AD believed to have been built by the Somavamsi kings. Many believe that central Indian temples owes their seeds of architecture to this piece of art. Talking of architecture , this very aspect arrested my eyes instantly - the 'wow' factor of the love-at-first-sight. The vivid depiction of the life of Shiva , his marriage to Parvati in the form of inexplicably brilliant sculptures coupled with several slender feminist characters in various roles and moods are well preserved and worth capturing. Internet will help you to get the background details of all the prominent mythological characters but unless you witness by yourself you cannot apprehend the amaze.

The most striking thing about this temple is being a shrine without any idol - something thats unusual in Hindu history of temples. The sanctum is empty , bereft of any platform that might had indicated the existence of some past idols presently removed . Even google could not give me the definite story behind this. The popular theory is that it is not related to any particular sect of Hinduism hence might hold its roots to Saivite origins. Unlike the exterior the interior lacks  designs or artworks . Another obvious peculiarity lies in the name. How come it got such unique name? Neither it is in vicinity of any palace nor its structure is large enough to bear the weight-age of such a name. The local argurment transpires from the fact that the entrance is sculpted with naga(king) and nagina (queen) on both sides. But historians counters the derivation might have come from the foundation stones which were locally known as raja-rani- quite an intriguing fact indeed , definitely a research matter.

Regardless of its uncertain history and extent of historical significance compared to the Lingaraja or the famous Jaganath Temple of Puri , the mere visuals are enough to make this significant in the memory lane. The lack of idols or worship schedules , the absence of any extended courtyards , the small-scale structure, the sprouting congested urbanization in the immediate surroundings might prevent the full-fledged expression of the 'marvel' mental orgasm. But in no way it fails to be a treat to the eyes. If you come to visit Lingaraja an extra hour afforded to this place will definitely be an added bonus , a worthy inclusion to your repository.

    

       

The Grand Mysore Palace

Throughout their mighty reign the Mughals and other Muslim rulers have built marvelous palaces across the country and have showcased their rich architectural and artistic skills that have been bewitching visitors for years, but when it comes to this particular monument , the center of attraction of the cleanest city of the country , I can say that in no way it is less grand or less charismatic than its counterparts. It was the residence of the Wodeyars - the Maharajas of Mysore. Located at the heart of the city, this awesome piece of majestic art is surrounded by lush gardens and overlooked by Chamundi hills , eastwards. There are three entrances on each ends and the main approach , a gigantic arch of acute architectural craftsmanship , faces the palace at the east end.
             

As I entered , the initial glimpse left me short of adjectives - the kind of feel one delicately archives much like witnessing Taj Mahal. A bright day, perfect cobalt afternoon sky ; just the tailor-made canvas ready to be glorified with the subject - the expansive three storied mansion fortified by  high towers with red colored domes . Shot. Camera ought not miss such a naturally conducive frame of perfect light and shade thus avoiding further edits. Built of fine gray granite that dazzled  atop the series of great arches supported by tall pillars. How the sculptors accomplished such finesse without any modern machinery always remains a mystery to me.
                       

It was time to explore the interior. A rich exhibition of the articles that belonged to the royal family. The physical archives ranged from eye-catching metallic weapons , silver throne to crafty furniture and daily household items of sophisticated designs. Coupled with the tabled antics what left me amazed was the interior designs - checkered marble floors and pristine pink and amber colored marble pillars flaunting the acute artworks and carvings. It wonders me how the taste of styles changes with generations - how the buildings and mansions are going to be few centuries hence!
                            

The big hall at the ground floor has a multi-colored glass ceiling enabling the sunlight to peep through creating a prism-like effect. Scintillating. I took a moment to teleport myself back in time of the kings and queens in my mind ; imagining the fellow visitors dressed in royal customs , the exhibited antics restoring their places in accordance with my assumption , the shine of the marble enhanced and the paintings looking more lively. Goosebumps! I wish I could practically revisit history when this history was the present.


Having done over sightseeing the royal embellishments , I strolled round the palace through the gardens and capturing shots from every angles possible. Sunset was round the corner and twilight was steadily creeping in. I decided to come in front of the main entrance to get a full frontal view of the palace against a camouflaging sky. And the sight was simply breathtaking. With every pixel of the sky changing its complexion among variety of shades of orange and red and yellow within minutes , the palace reflected the hazy glitter thus adding different flare to my shots. Eventually the fading light disappeared and the artificial lights came into prominence. And as the best is often saved for the last - the view of the dazzling palace illuminated collectively by every lamps defining every curves and arches as acutely as possible. Lovely decorations. Mind blown.       


The rich architecture of the palace not only speaks volumes of the culture and artistic acumen of the people of that time but also exemplifies our history proudly in the book of world heritage. And It is as important a duty for the government to preserve its sanctity as to ours , the visitors , to maintain the place clean and safe without causing any damages out of some crazy activities.


It was time to leave and relive the stunning visuals in my memory which has definitely coveted a place for this marvel besides other famous palaces of our country. Mysore palace is indeed grand!

        

Mesmerizing Shivsamudra Falls

Various bounties of Nature have their own unique appealing effect but everytime I see a waterfall it seems I am experiencing it for the first time.And the case was no different when we visited Shivsamudra and Bharachukki Falls on river Kaveri.Located in a remote area at about 70 kms from Mysuru, the public transport facility is not that great.We were traveling from Mysuru and their are two ways to the destination.One through the town of Mallavalli and Shimsa village and another through Somnathpura , where you can visit the ancient Keshava temple on the way.If you taking the first option you can board the local bus from Mysuru to Mallavali and from there to Shimsa through the only bus in a day at around 9 am.It will be better to book a auto or jeep for the rest of the journey as there isn't any means of transport available on the return journey.

The way from Mallavali through Shimsa is refreshing  - open lush green fields on either side intercepted occasionally by few urban habitation and clear cobalt canopy above. Soon the surroundings gave away to small hills , initially scattered , but quickly turning into a range of green hills with bluish hills at the far background.Gradually the excitement was soaking in.

Soon we halted - the rustling sound of the bonded hydrogen and oxygen atoms , colliding with each other , began to randomize  as we stepped forward towards the view point of the Shivsamudra. Lovely view . Not a singular stream rather several tributaries converging to meet the catchment area down leading through the gorge. The fall creating the white froth at the greenish catchment water is the best part of any waterfall . The force was not strong enough due to less stiffness of the cliff, to create significant mists.The whole scenery around indeed seemed like scenery  made on drawing boards in our childhood.Distant bluish range of hills , the rollicking Kaveri flowing against a rough rocky bed and then falling off the cliff into the gorge thus creating the falls - perfect ambience to transport our souls to fairy-land.

After having the soulful gaze , we turned our wheels towards Bharachukki falls situated on the other side of Shivsamudra. The road ran across the Kaveri with beautiful view of bunch of coconut trees and swamps.The purity of Nature makes your soul feel light, feel like growing some new pair of wings to wander freely. While we approached, the rustling sound seemed louder , definitely suggesting bigger stream of water making its course downwards. But the excitement rose its peak as there was provision to go all the way climbing down some hundred stairs at the bottom of the falls.

The greater volume of water was accounted for confluence of many small tributaries. The area of the fall was much wider thus giving rise to several streams tunneling down edges of rocks duly following gravity.The sight was so splendid that it seemed we have landed in a cauldron of springs and fountains much alike fairy tales. Lots of people had flocked there to carry out their fun-water-activity stuff.Why miss the opportunity? We boarded a , what can be called as basket shaped boat , with a boatman guiding it right at the mouth of the fall - a chance to drench oneself , a chance to act crazy. Shrills and screams of excitement echoed all around the moment the icy water touched our skin causing the neurotransmitters to carry the sensation to the brain and eventually forcing the adrenaline react instantly.What an experience! Definitely etched in memory.

The journey up the steep stairs was tiresome but our spirits were fuelled enough to accomplish that. It was time to leave this perfect snapshot of Nature and return to our urbanized world. For this rejuvenation it's certainly worth coming back again and again.

Twin hills

It was Sunday afternoon but definitely not an off day for the Sun. Scorching hot at beginning of February! Ah! What a promising summer it is going to be.Nevertheless , after visiting the sacred Lingaraja temple we were headed to the twin hills - Udaygiri and Khandagiri.Situated south of the city , Bhubaneswar , it were some eight kilometres away from the temple.The auto service in the city is never disappointing.Prompt and reasonable.Taste buds of our souls being already scintillated , we were hoping to discover more taste palate.

Known to be ancient Jain caves , the entrance to Udaygiri hillock gave the essence pretty much. Rugged and rocky as expected.We climbed a long slope to reach the top of a plateaued rocky bed.Lots of big rocks , of various shapes and sizes , stood scattered still.I wondered how many seasons they might have experienced.Some might have never moved an inch amidst concurrent natural phenomena.In no time , we began to feel some extra spring in our feet - climbing and posing for photos - the exuberance ignited.

A higher elevated cave stood in front but we decided to take our usual detour around it.On the way we came across some houses carved out from the hill sculpted with Jain deities.Not so well finished designs or sophisticated either.But the sylvan essence gives it a different taste.Definitely worth to be framed.

A forestry area behind the cave - it seemed the adrenaline had infused the adventurous drug and we reacted.Sliding through a narrow passage we moved bustly through the green haze.As if it were a maze or like the hidden world of "Chronicles of Narnia" . No one knew where we were heading to and suddenly we reached a dead end.We had reached the other side of the hill giving the western view of the city in the distant.A moment of course - overlooking the downward plantations standing as if at the edge of the world , we let the ambience sink in , the serenity unexpectedly disposed by our rollicking footsteps seemed to regain fortitude. The peacefulness to breathe the natural air rather than our mundane polluted gases is inexplicable.

The spiritual appetite had received its reward. Now it was time return to the cave.Slithering through the bushes we carved our way back to the top of the highest plateaued cave.A clear view of the city on one side and its counterpart, the Khandagiri , the taller one , lay on other side.Jumping off rocks and boulders as well intense photography sessions went on. Need not to mention , the selfie-maniacs hovered all around. The reminiscent caves were covered too. 

We did not spent much time on Khandagiri  , which was rather more populated because of the temple at the top.Lots of visitors had flocked there.The climb was much steeper.A little chaos - a group of langurs huddling around - children tempting them , crowded places had never been my recipie. Nevertheless we quickly moved to the temple , not so architecture - rich , made of white marble that housed a Mahavir statue. As it was taller , we could get a better view of the city - an eagle's view perhaps.Ruins of several small caves were encountered on our way down.

The light was getting dim in the distant horizon and the hills reflecting a more blunt, rusty gaze - the reddish nature of the red sandstones more prominent then.
With camera full of snaps , heart overwhelmingly satisfied to his nurturing mother Nature, it was time to depart.