Misty Nandi Hills

That morning in Bangalore (B'lore), a quiet call and a whiff of hot coffee woke me up. My friend had made us a perfect cup! enough to make me jump out of bed and get ready for our early morning journey to the mesmerizing hills called Nandi Hills. 

Statue of  sitting 'Nandi' bull on top of a temple.It was very foggy that morning so the pictures are not that clear 

'Nandi' is the sacred bull,the vehicle of lord Shiva. There is a famous ancient dravidian Nandi Temple situated a top the summit. Hence, the name Nandi Hills.

We started our drive @ 0400 hrs from B'lore as we wanted to reach our destination before sunrise. Weather that day was perfect. Not to mention,B'lore has always had an awesome weather. Ever perfect- not too extreme. 

The misty fog, chilly breeze, freshness of early morning feel in the air made our car ride to the hills more rewarding. Nandi Hills is a beautiful weekend getaway. The panoramic view of the landscape from a top just holds you spellbound. It is 1,478 mtrs above sea level and is around 60/65 km from B'lore. It is best suggested to visit these hills before sunrise. The wind,the fog and the clouds magically blow towards you at this time of the day. Early morning clouds condensation brings water.That is why, while we explored the ruins, I felt soft water droplets continuously pouring. Although, it wasn't raining, however, it felt wet if you stood at one place for long. There is a good motorable road to the top of the hills and we stopped our car twice to enjoy the quiet sound of breeze and the mistiness of the clouds that beautiful morning.

When I saw the ruins on the top I was a l'll surprised as I had expected huge statues with huge temple complex. However, after spending some time, I could relate to the grandeur and majestic that this place must have reflected hundreds of years ago. We did find a small Nandi statue on top of the roof of a temple ruin. It was a sitting Nandi and was not a big one though. But I could imagine how magnificent it would have been when the area was alive during the reign of its various rulers. 

There is also a beautiful palace on top called 'Tipu's summer residence' but it was not opened for public that time. Tipu's drop is an interesting point here from where you get the best view. They say that Tipu Sultan punished his prisoners by getting them pushed off this 600 meters high cliff.

On our way back from the hills we loved walking a bit alongside the pavement, admiring the flora growing on the hills and the fog all around.

Me standing on the pavement near a milestone. yes,there was a lot of fog around that beautiful morning.

What Travelling has taught me !

Spread-your-wings-travel

 1) Be yourself!-Travelling to a place can be fun only when you are yourself while travelling. Whether you are a permanent or a perpetual traveller, touring traveller,worker traveller, adventure traveller or XYZ traveller, you enjoy, only by keeping up with your spirit & nature of 'T'(travelling). So why not travel keeping your mind and body free from any inhibitions. Keep a child like inquisitiveness in exploring the place around.Taste local cuisine,interact with the locals,keep an open mind in discovering new culture and geography. Trust me all this stays with you for your whole life. I read somewhere that travelling is one investment that always gives you something fruitful out of it and that stays with you for life long. The benefits of other investments may go away/fade/be consumed after some time but travelling always makes you rich for life!! Rich with knowledge,happy memories and sometimes good friends to keep.

2) Share what you enjoyed,saw and captured! While you enjoy your travels do make it a point to capture and remember every funny,knowledgeable moment/fact.It could be about that place you visited, a tradition following, about people, a legend, a story typical to that place or anything. Then share it with people,friends and family. They say sharing is an act that makes one happy. Believe me it works. You never know this act may bring friends to you from your community or from the other corner of the world. It is an act that opens up a forum for discovery. An act that definitely enhances on your individual outlook and philosophical perspective. Like I discovered the world of memes only because someone shared it with whosoever they could share it with. Thanks to fellow bloggers Indrani & Magiceye for introducing me to the world of memes through their posts. Also,to my blogger friend Don, that I discover beautiful nuggets of life & wisdom in various shades in his posts. 

3) Don't be judgmental, don't presume! Open up, be experimental while you travel. But respect the boundaries of nature, be gentle towards people you meet during travels. They may teach you something worthwhile through their interaction.I have observed that life's small learning lessons come to us like this only. So be open to receiving them. Do not presuppose or judge before hand just because you thought so or people think so. Don't stop your self from visiting a place because it doesn't have modern amenities like television or internet. Trust me such places are worth discovering and are worth discarding the modern amenities for a few days. This world will not end if you are living without television or mobile phone for some days:)

4) Spend time with loved ones, make your trips with people you love and like to be with. Be it your family, friends or colleagues. All my trips so far have been with one or the other such company and all these have been memorable ones. As it is we have created our world into a harsh and a competitive place to live in. Knowingly or unknowingly, we become a part of that rat-race. While in this rat-race we forget to invest on relationships and happiness of others. Making trips with your loved ones lets you understand them, care for them and respect them. Trust me caring for others/understanding others is  the first thing we lose and we don't even realize it .So visiting a cousin or an aunt or a close friend once a year doesn't leave you empty handed. It helps you invest in relationships.

5)Keep travelling! Yes, be it to a nearby touristy place or a far off travel destination. Be it by reading about it or by simply watching your favourite travel programme on Discovery. Keep travelling....Like I said, it is always an investment and you definitely grow up to be a far better traveller.

What are your learnings from travelling?

Do share :)

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Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj

I saw this colourful building while taking a stroll in the market @ McLeodganj

These pictures are from my archives. I made this trip during monsoons almost two years back.I found them recently while working on something and I thought of sharing :) 

After hiring a taxi from Delhi for our destination, we followed the curvy roads amongst the greenery of tall trees, crossing the hills and finally reached Dharamshala in the evening. High & snow clad mighty Dhauladhar Ranges form a beautiful backdrop to the hill resort of Dharamshala. It is also known as the 'Little Lhasa in India' after it became the temporary headquarter of his holiness The Dalai Lama. 

It was a day's ride on road but was worth taking as you discover & observe much more when you are on road. After reaching Dharamshala we decided to rest for the day in the guest-house. Next day, we visited the main market, Bhagsunath temple & the waterfall. In the evening I took a stroll to the nearby local market. 

When you visit a hill station, you find your self mesmerized with the beauty of nature around you. (this happens especially with us 'the city people') Smelling  & feeling the pure and cool breeze, looking at the sunrise & the sunset behind the mountain ranges, doing a l'll bit of hill climbing or taking a simple walk around the area is something that fills your heart with contentment. 

Oh yes! I did all this while I was in the hills. A small walk around, walking up or down the roads,stopping by local tea stalls, enjoying the flavourful tea with a bun or a biscuit. Enjoying a 'll chat with the locals, knowing more about their lifestyles. Not to forget that the weather was also awesome and it complemented on my zest to explore more.

With an umbrella in my hand, prepared I was to explore things on foot:)Yes, rain played hide and seek that day:) It would come & go, it would pour for 5 mins and then next 10-15 mins it would disappear. This game of Rain Gods was new to me but to the locals there it was part of daily routine this time of the year. Thanks to the 'Khansama' from the rest house ...it was he who suggested that I carry an umbrella with me.

The people here are very helpful & jovial.They are all ears to give you directions and talk stories about their life on hills :)I had some fun time yapping at a small local tea stall.

Bhagsunath temple is a medieval Shiva temple situated 3 km from McLeodganj. Built in a huge compound with pools that are considered sacred among Hindu devotees. After doing my puja & a l'll chat with lord Shiva I looked around for the famous Bhagsu waterfall. It was at a walking distance from the temple. After a short walk I heard the sound of it and I saw it at a further more distance. The approach to the waterfall was interesting. It has fresh water springs, slate quarries and a beautiful waterfall. 

Bhagsunath waterfall

A narrow walking/climbing path through the hills. It was a good twenty minute walk to the waterfall. 

That evening I came back to the rest house and decided to leave for Mcleodganj next morning. I could not sleep that night much because of the constant jumping and walking sounds of monkeys on the roof. Yes, they were plenty there. Most of the houses are wooden and roofs are slanting so the top structure of the house is such that monkeys find a place to sleep during nights.

McLeodganj is 9 km from Dharamshala and is a well known centre for Buddhist community.The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered here.The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso was given refuge at Dharamshala in 1959.Since then McLeodganj is his official residence and has many Buddhist monasteries and tibetan refugees. 

View of McLeodganj & one side of  Dhauladhar range in the background

Because of a large number of exiled tibetans living here this place has the influence and style of the culture.The lanes on both sides of the road leading to the Dalai Lama's Temple (also known as Tsuglag Khang temple) were all full of small cafe & shops selling handmade shawls,local handicrafts. Although, I did not have the time to sit in those cafe but I could not stop imagining myself sitting there with my laptop and writing my way while sipping a hot cuppa:)

While we were at McLeodganj we paid a visit to the Dalai Lama temple as well. Apart from the tourism purpose many people come here to learn & study Tibetan Buddhism, culture and art.  Looking at lots of Thangka paintings, handcrafted bags, lamp shades, wooden & buddha statues, trinklets & jewellery, one gets tempted to buy them as souvenir. So, after buying a small sling bag with 'Om' written on it I walked slowly towards the parking area admiring every bit of visual my eyes could enjoy & take in...

View of Dalai Lama's residence & administrative area inside the Temple

View of  beautiful Dhauladhar Range 

*a piece of heaven*

Episode with Yellow Wasp !

This may sound kiddish! but we all do kiddy stuff even when we grow up :)

I am sharing here an interesting account from my journal. I was never in my life ever stung by a wasp or a bee...*wait*..till sometime back. Well, last week this myth was demystified by two yellow wasps. How? Read on to know about my encounter with the genus Vespula who have built a nest in our mail box.

Imagine! out of everything else- a mailbox *unbelievable*

But after telling a few people about my plight (yes, I had to tell a few friends about my situation with this tiny,powerful,yellow life form) I came to know that they usually build their nests in mailboxes....and I had been so oblivious of this fact *surprising*  Anyways, that day, me and my friend had just come home from the market when I saw my prized possession (my colourful postcards) peeping through the mailbox. Like every other day, they seemed inviting enough to put my hand inside the mail box and read them on.

Suddenly my friend jumped & warned me not to touch the mailbox as she had seen a "tattaiya" in it. ('Tattaiya' is the convenient hindi word for bees/ wasps etc in her lingo)  I stooped and twisted my body a bit to come to my investigative & exploratory mode only to find a yellow wasp coming out of this bright red coloured container of my new postcards.  (postcards that have travelled from different countries bearing beautiful stamps on them)* More about my postcards some other time*

Out of sheer stupidity or call it whatever you may like! I made fun of my friend and stood there   like one almighty being who felt superior and was all powerful in comparison to that little yellow dot like flying creature. So, in all my superiority I announced to my friend that I am taking my postcards and the wasp cannot harm me.( After all, what it could do to me as it was already busy sitting on it's nest) But I was wrong and what happened after that became the famous Wasp Attack Dance and the rest they say is history!

While taking out the postcards I touched their tiny nest (by mistake! believe me it wasn't intentional at all) and before I could understand anything, I heard a 'bzzzzzzzz' sound, saw two Ninja wasps coming out of the letter box in SLOW MOTION *although they were coming out at an incredible speed, something like 100 km/hr but that very time it seemed to me exactly the same 'slow -motion' as they show it in movies.* After that I felt a very excruciating pinprick on my chin and my right hand(yes, the hand that went inside the mailbox). Before I could be at my guard their job was already done.Everything was over in a fraction of a second. All I was left with, after that was -a numbness followed by a knife-like  pain in my hand and my beautiful face.(chin to be precise;))

Like I said earlier,what happened after that was- history! clubbed with a funny Wasp Attack Dance that my friend and my mother had the honour to enjoy and laugh at* Grrrr*

 *Just out of curiosity* -I am curious to know what happens to the wasp after you are stung by it? I mean does it die like a bee? Does it have to recover? or can it keep stinging? 
Just out of sheer curiosity I ask this! *wink*

     

Image courtesy: Google Images

Magic Of Pretty Pink Flowers!

These beautiful pink flowers are blooming at the small arch above the gate of our lawn these days :)

I don't know the name but I call them the magical pink flowers. Early mornings, when I look at them some of them are white and some of them are pink in colour. The colour is white at the time when the bud freshly opens. Each flower slowly turns pink by the afternoon and droops!

Most of them are white and non-drooping at night 

What is your magical moment? Tell me about it!

Update:17th May,2013-
These flowers are called 'Madhumalti' in hindi

Book Review

 My Life my Rules by Sonia Golani

I randomly picked this book while browsing 'Full Circle' for a particular paper back edition that I was looking for. The cover is not so catchy though but since I had already made up my mind on buying two books that day, so (price wise and content-wise) this seemed a perfect second choice for me.

A very interesting read !! Each story is an inspiration in one way or the other. Life changing career making decisions taken by protagonists in each chapter are an eye opener to the ever prevailing social psychology of blindly following the conventional career paths. 

It's a brilliant effort by author to communicate to the the reader here that life skills learnt while growing up are definitely an ardent force in shaping ones career and life. These real life stories hit bang on reader's mind. So, you would want to finish reading it immediately as soon as you start it. Be it Tarun Tahiliani, who is son of a former Navy chief, a Wharton graduate choosing fashion designing and carving a niche. Or R Madhavan, who was hell bent on following his heart and not following the rat race. To all these people success didn't come easily or quickly. But they all believed in doing what they all liked and not what the conventional social parameters of success showed them.

The writer is an entrepreneur and manages a firm. It is a second book by the author. By this book she has succeeded in giving readers an insight into the life and nuances of the rich and famous. More importantly on how they were able to become rich & famous. The language is crisp and the interviews that she took are informatively detailed. This book is a beautiful resource to understanding some business intricacies (stories of Minal Vazirani, Praveen Taygi, Amish Tripathi) and some more legendary entrepreneurs of recent times.

The fact that success doesn't come easily to anyone. Hard work, Belief in oneself, Ambition and the Willingness to strive for the path to success - concepts beautifully unravel in each story.This in-depth and detailed collection of author's conversation with these personalities (who have made a mark for themselves in different worlds) reveals their tough times, moments of introspection and supportive family & friends. 

These 18 stories shout out loud that conventional career options that most of us choose are not the only way to professional success. Vision, Positive attitude, Innovation, Open mindedness of thought process, entrepreneurial attitude and above all learning of 'Life skills' can also take you to top:) These ingredients also result in 'You' loving 'Your Job' as well. 

My favourite stories are those of R. Madhavan, Praveen Tyagi & Amish Tripathi. These stories open your minds to a much broader world of inspiration, thought and information.

A well written collection of 18 life changing stories.

A must read. This book definitely speaks to its readers!!

Faith !

We walk by faith and not by sight !

For me faith is not being rigidly religious....
It is an understanding within my heart, with or without proof...
It is being a little spiritual and being more wistful on thoughts....
It is a belief that keeps you going, tells you to take that first step.... 

My friend Kiran - 'One Picture From My Photo Album'

As soon as I read about the contest, immediately I sat on shaking my head of any such memory or moment of click ( yeah definitely!! the old way not the digital way;)) that still brings a smile on my face when I look at it. Well, to write this piece it meant shaking old albums and photographs tool :))

To my utter  happiness there were many from my growing up days. But this snap in particular brings a smile on my face 'coz not only it reminds me of the fun that I had in that NCC Rock- Climbing camp but it has in it my very good friend Kiran.

Enjoying one of the many NCC trips during college :)- Kiran is 5th from left. 

Beautiful Surprise of life- We became good friends only when we met again after almost 14 years of this picture being taken. Today when I look at this picture and remember how I met her again,(and this time to become very good buddies) it still amazes me. To my surprise, we were in the same organisation working in different buildings and different departments. Since then we are best of buddies and we still laugh; make funny faces, interestingly mimic conversations & instances every time we share our thoughts on that trip. 

Mind you! when this picture was taken we were complete strangers who were on a Rock Climbing trip to South India, with 10-12 more participants from Delhi. Excitement of this trip, individually, was the only bond we all shared. Otherwise we were all more than happy minding our own worlds. We didn't bother to stay in touch with each other after we resumed our lives back in Delhi. :) Till date, we wonder how we became best of buddies years later after we grew up more;)

 "This post is my entry for the 'One Picture From My Photo Album' contest conducted by My Yatra Diary and CupoNation."

My 3 nominations are-

getsetandgo

i share

Anuradha Goyal

All The Hues Of Sunlight !!

I have always been fascinated by sunrise & sunsets. Whether I am able to capture a particular imagery of 'Sun playing games with it's rays' or not, I don't know. But every time I try, I stand awe-struck looking at the hues of colours that the sun beautifully creates all around !!

Notice the rays filtering through the trees from the upper right side. This temple is surrounded by long trees and the entire area sort of radiates positive energy.    

Sunset captured at Humayun's tomb one evening. I remember while I was standing there I looked at the 'V' that the sun made with different shades of orange in it.  

I was told that early in the mornings sky here turns really beautiful & changes colour. And beautiful it was:) But to experience and capture this amazement of sun's playful side I had to get up @ 4 and then see the magic.   

While I was trying to frame that tree-trunk behind the arch,  dancing sun rays directed them selves on the pillars so as to dramatically draw more pillars on the floor :)   

Beautiful colours in the cloud.-all the hues of orange in it !

Colours of setting Sun behind the trees at Delhi Zoo 

Random Perspectives

While sitting here and thinking about what to write, I thought of going through some old pictures and sharing them here. 

This is a random perspective on images that captured my fancy one way or the other.

  

An early morning scene at the phool-mandi(flower market). I have come many a times with my father to buy flowers here. Every time there is a happy occasion in the house we rush to phool-mandi. This day, I was accompanying a friend and our cameras. While I was admiring the colourful flowers all around, this man with lots of marigold strings on his back brushed past me and I couldn't stop myself clicking. 

'Bells'during travels have always fascinated me. They are a common site in the hills of north India.

 

Flowers sometimes have this ability to have your attention completely focussed on them. I was trying to take picture of the mosque  (in the background) at Old- Fort, when, with a gentle stroke of wind this 'Hibiscus' moved and I decided to focus on it. 

 I have visited 'Taj-Mahal' twice in my lifetime. Every time you visit here, it's always a new awe-inspiring experience. I would like to go there again once during the full moon. 

I saw these two pigeons sitting cozily like love birds when I was about to enter the gate at Old-Fort.

I am curious to know about any of your perspectives that you captured randomly like this:) tell me about it....

'History Revisited'- part 2: Humayun's Tomb & I.G. Memorial Museum

Humayun's Tomb & Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum

Humayun's tomb was declared a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE in the year 1993

To read on 'History revisited'-part 1 click here 

Next on my visit was Humayun's tomb.It is situated in Nizammudin area. As the name suggests it is the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun. It was designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Giyath and was commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begam in 1569.

It is said that this tomb is the first substantial example of proper Mughal Style (influenced by Persian Architecture) in India. Inside the walled enclosure are the most notable features of  those times-Charbagh(garden squares with pathways water channels) 

Entrance to the complex as seen from inside

Although Sikandar Lodi's tomb was the first garden tomb built in India but it is Humayun's tomb that set up a precedence in new style and fad in architectural designs and creativity during the Mughal rule in India.  This thought on architectural creativity & design reached its zenith with the 'Taj' in Agra. This complex takes in graves of several other subsequent Mughals.

This small door leads to the main complex of the tomb

Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum- My next stop was Indira Gandhi Memorial museum situated at No-1, Safdar Jung Road, New Delhi. This place is near my house, so after spending the earlier part of the day at Humayun's tomb exploring this museum didn't feel tiring at all. I was here today not because of the postcards but because of the awe and respect that we all have for the Iron Lady of India, our first and only female prime- minister.

Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India from 1966-1977 and again  from 1980 -1984

   Her ever confident and powerful gait, her fearless style of working and the wise and strong expression with a streak of grey line in her hairstyle intimidated everyone.She is my favourite Indian political figure ever.

So visiting the museum ( her house at No.1,Safdarjung Road was converted to a museum in her memory after she was assassinated in the garden of the same house one morning) was quiet an educational as well as touching experience for me. 

A view of her desk in her study 

view of her study from another angle

With Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi, September 1924

With her two sons Sanjay & Rajiv 

There is a souvenir shop there, from where I bought some postcards and books on her.  

As an earnest citizen, you may like to have a deeper understanding of what Indira Gandhi stood for as prime minister of this country. Like Gandhi Smriti, I would recommend  that you visit this museum atleast once:)    

The last few meters of Indira Gandhi's walk have been covered with crystal suggesting a river in flow. A sheet of clear glass marks the spot where she fell. 

Place of martyrdom-As she proceeded on this path and approached the gate & sentry post, she was fired upon by two security personnel. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31st October 1984 at 9:20 am.