Yelagiri

What is there in Yelagiri ?

Yelagiri is a small hillstation in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Just like other hill stations of south, Yelagiri too has a lake, beautiful green valley but with one difference, it is not crowded. Though Yelagiri might not be the perfect hill station but the drive to this place is worth it.

Which is the best season to visit Yelagiri?

As Yelagiri is not at a great altitude, summers can be really hot. Any day that is pleasant is good for this short trip.

Yelagiri is also famous for snakes so probably rainy season should be avoided if you are planning to trek.

How to reach Yelagiri?

 Yelagiri is around 150km from Bangalore and the the best way to reach would be to drive to Yelagiri (GPS- our best friend). Though the road is in very good condition but last few kilometers have lot of twist and turns so it can be fun for some and no so much for others.

Stairway to Heaven

What to do in Yelagiri?

We had heard para-gliding could be done in Yelagiri but it turned out it was no more done there. Disappointment.

Swami Malai Trek :This is an small 3km trek which takes around 1-1.5 hrs climbing uphill. It starts behind a small temple (ask locals they will guide you to the starting point, GPS will also guide you to the starting point) and passes through fields. The trek is pretty decent with many mud stairs. At the top of the hill there is a big boulder on which one can climb and view the whole valley. Must do trek in Yelagiri.

Jalagamparai Waterfalls : We were not able to visit these waterfalls but there is a trek to reach to these falls.

Punganur Lake : This is an artificial lake and meant for families with kids, so you can pass on this lake.

Vainu Bappu Solar Observatory : One of the largest solar observatory is around 35km from Yelagiri. Prior permission is required.

Where to stay in Yelagiri?

There is not much to do in Yelagiri so a day trip would be enough to explore this place, but if you have to stay then there are few good hotels/ resorts in Yelagiri such as Yelagiri Marigold Ridge, O’Nila resort. Cheap stays are also available.

Top of the rock where you get the bird eye view

Our Experience

To be honest, the trip wasn’t as per our expectation. We had gone to Yelagiri to do para-gliding which as I mentioned above was no longer done there. Also,it was a hot day and we didn’t know what to do there. After some online search we came to know about the trek but by then it was already 10am so it was pretty hot. Though the trek was nice as most of the route to the trek had tree cover but would have been better if we had started a little earlier.

But anyway,the drive to this place was very nice with some good view points and also the trek was good, so we would recommend this place if you want to do road trip from Bangalore.

Alwar II- Chand Baori & Mangalsar Dam

Though Alwar is not very renowned, but there are some amazing places to visit in and around Alwar.

To know more details on how to travel to Alwar, where to stay etc, please check our previous post – Alwar

This post is about the places which are around an hour away from Alwar and quite picturesque ones.

Chand Baori

Chand Baori is in Abhaneri which is about 1.5 hrs away from Alwar en route to Jaipur. This place is very near to the main highway connecting Alwar and Jaipur. Just a single turn from the main highway and about 1 km from that highway would lead you to this place (GPS would be your best friend- look for directions to Abhaneri – from there sign boards will guide you Chand Baori )

Baori in Hindi means step well. So as the name suggest this is a step well which was constructed in 800-900 AD. Rajasthan is extremely hot and arid region in India and thereby to conserve rain water, many step wells were constructed in Rajasthan. Chand Baori happens to be one of the oldest and massive structure of its kind.

How to Plan your trip to Chand Baori?

Half day is more than sufficient to visit this place (plus the traveling). If you are into photography, then probably you could spend a whole day here. Also, if you love architecture then this place is must visit.

Guides are also available for both Indian and foreign tourist. If you need a guide other than from Hindi & English, please check with tour operators from Jaipur.

Where to stay in/near Chand Baori ?

As Chand Baori is in a village and on way of Jaipur- Alwar highway, its best to stay either in Alwar or Jaipur.

Some tips for Chand Baori travel.

Best season to visit this place is definitely the winter months say from November to February.

This place is about old architecture, so please don’t expect any kind of luxury facility for that matter even food. Please carry your own food and water as there is only a small teastall near this place.

Note: Going down the step well is restricted and is allowed only through a permit which can be taken from Jaipur only.

Our Experience 

It was more like a picnic for us, we were leaving for Jaipur airport and we decided to take a short detour to this place. We left early from Alwar as we had planned to visit this place, initially we got confused as from where we should take the left but google maps and people on the way were quite helpful.  We sat in the garden outside the Baori and had our lunch, it was such a good experience and we felt nostalgic about the picnics we used to have in our childhood time. This place just makes you feel that even back then people could build such magnificent structures. Also, to our surprise we saw many parrots in Chand Boari, its just that we hadn’t seen parrots in a while so it was kind of cherry on the cake.We just spent an hour or two exploring this place though we wished we could have spend more time but we had a flight to catch so we made most out of what we had.

Interesting fact:  Many movies like – Dark Knight Rises (Batman), Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Bhul bhulaiya etc have some scenes shot in Chand Baori.

Mangalsar Dam

This place is about 65 kms away from Alwar and again a very nice place to visit during and after monsoon season in India.

Mangalsar is man made Dam in middle of nowhere. This is also very famous for people who are interested in bird watching as lot many exotic species visit this place during winter months.

How to travel to Mangalsar Dam ?

Driving to this place is the best way to reach. Apart from a small patch, the road leading to this place is in good condition. We used google maps to reach to this place (Just a pointer –  don’t take the road which passes through Sariska as it is not in good condition)

How to plan a trip to Mangalsar Dam ?

This place is perfect for a short day picnic. Very close to Bhangarh fort (famous for being Haunted), this place is a must visit for those who love water bodies in middle of no where. For people traveling from Delhi can combine Bhangarh and Mangalsar dam.

We would suggest a minimum of 2 hours but you spend a whole day doing nothing here.  Also do carry your own food and water.

Where to stay near Mangalsar Dam ?

If you want to have luxury stay near this place then I would recommend Vanaashrya camping resort.  If saw few more hotel sign boards near to this place. You can also stay in Alwar (Dhadhigarh fort) and travel to this place.

Our Experience

In March 2014, we went for this short impromptu trip. After reading about this place in local newspaper we decided to take a short trip there. As in March many exotic birds flock this place, we thought it would be a different experience.

The road to this place was quite good and we stopped in between to see couple of farms  and to have tea and snacks at small stalls. It is always interesting to make these small pit stops.

It was a bright sunny day  but we had got a nice place to sit near the lake under the shade of a tree. We carried our own food & water and had this small family picnic. Also, as the place was very calm and serene and weather being very pleasant, we enjoyed our short stay at this place. Though we didn’t see any exotic birds but still the place was worth the visit.

Jog Falls & Gokarna

What is there is Jog Falls & Gokarna?

Jog Falls is the second highest plunge waterfalls in India. The drive from Shivmogga to this falls is through a wildlife sanctuary ( Sharavathi Valley) and this drive is definitely worth it. One time visit to this place is a must.

Gokarna, 3 hours drive from Jog falls, has really beautiful beaches such as Om beach, Kuddle beach , half moon beach where one can relax and enjoy the serenity. Must visit place- its like a mini Goa minus people

There is also a famous Sharavathi trek in this region, which is a two day trek in forest.

Jog falls in June’15

When to visit Jog Falls & Gokarna?

Best season to visit Jog Falls is after monsoon but still there is no guarantee that falls will have water. Around October or November should be a good time to visit, later or before that, might not be that fruitful.

Gokarna has beautiful beaches and the best season would be October to January. We had visited Gokarna during monsoon (June), and it was super hot and humid during the day though evenings were pleasant. It was the rain that made it awesome and really lovable place.

Om beach of Gokarna, Aniesh just love the beaches in rain

Observing the beautiful pattern of waves as it comes to the shore only to go back

How to reach Jog Falls & Gokarna?

Beautiful landscape enroute to Gokarna from Shimoga

From Bengaluru, Jog Falls is about 450 km and Gokarna from Jog Falls is about 120km. There is a good connectivity from Bengaluru to Shimoga (100 km from Jog falls) town (have direct trains and buses which take about 6 hours to reach) and from Shimoga train or bus or cabs are available for forward journey.

The picturesque jungle enroute to Gokarna

The ferocity of waves cuts the rocks and deposit the sand at the shore making it a beach, you can see this spectacular phenomena of erosion at Om beach, see the waves are full of the sand

Best way to plan Jog Falls and Gokarna is to take a night train from Bengaluru and reach Shimoga is morning. Hire a cab from Shimoga to Gokarna and back, visit Jog falls on the way. It would take around 1.5 hours to reach Jog Falls from Shimoga and from there 2 hours for Gokarna.

How many days are required for Jog Falls & Gokarna?

It is not allowed to go near Jog falls , hence about 2-3 hours is enough . Gokarna has many nice beaches and 2 days are enough to enjoy the beaches but for beach lovers extended stay is also worth it. In all, if you have a weekend then these two places can be covered but 3 days would make the trip more comfortable.

Where to stay in Jog Falls & Gokarna?

The Sun, the cloud and the water playing hide and seek with each other – it was fun to watch

There is not much to do near Jog Falls, hence staying there does not make much sense but if you plan to stay near Jog Falls then try Stay@Matthuga, a eco homestay ( have heard a lot about it – prebooking is required for this).

Kudle beach – it is stony beach where as Om is sandy

There are many options in Gokarna, near Om beach or Kudle beach. As we had gone in off season we didn’t have any problem to find a place to stay, we stayed in Patang Beach Resort near Ganga Beach.There are both budget and luxurious stays available.

Our experience.

Namaste Cafe @Om beach, one of the best places for spending time at beach

Jog Falls was a disappointment not only because there was no water in falls but also it was really hot that day. We hardly stayed at the Falls for 20mins. Gokarna was nice and we stayed in Patang beach resort; the best thing about this resort was its proximity to the Ganga beach. Next day we went to Om beach though the morning was hot but afternoon rains made the temperature go down; we took a shower in rain and it was one of the most beautiful rain bath we took. .

Ganga beach was cleaner and better for taking a dip compared to Om and Kundle

We enjoyed the most at Om beach, where we we had one of the best breakfast at Namaste Cafe. We had planned a weekend trip from Bengaluru so we didn’t have a lot of time to visit other beaches. But the trip was worth it.

Ganga beach at sunset, a walk to remember

Hognekkal Falls, Tamil Nadu

What is there in Hognekkal Falls?

Falls in the gorge

Hognekkal falls is known as Niagara falls of India. Being on Kaveri river, the throughput of the falls is very good and that makes this fall perennial. Though after rains it becomes massive but even before rainy season it is equally good and enjoyable. The best thing about this falls is the small round boat ride which takes you directly under the falls crossing the small gorge. It is amongst our “must visit” list.

Just before reaching the falls, de tour to this place

When to visit Hognekkal Falls?

Well, as it is on Kaveri, anytime is good time. But then, weather can play an important role to decide if you want to go or not. If its hot and sunny weather then you might not be able to enjoy as much as when the weather is pleasant or cloudy. Moreover, after monsoon, the boat ride is discontinued as the water level rises in the gorge. So the best time can be during monsoons.

Also, visit should be made before 11am as after that it gets very crowded and the boat rowers also do not spend much time showing you around. Few friends of our’s did not appreciate the place as they reached after 12 pm.

How to reach Hognekkal Falls?

Though Hognekkal is in Tamil Nadu, its very close to Karnataka border. From Bengaluru it is about 120km. Best way to reach is by taxi or by car. Route is also pretty and worth the drive. For self drive GPS will be reliable. Don’t take the highway which is shown in the GPS but a detour through village via Denkanikotai will be good, also you can further detour to Devrabetta in Thally

The community place of one of the villages that we crossed

How much time is required for Hognekkal Falls?

Kaveri river, just before the hognekkal falls.

Well, we left around 6 :30 am in morning, and after making many pit stops we reached Hognekkal around 10am. We left from Hognekkal around 1pm, stopped for lunch but still made back to Bengaluru by 4pm.

Some hair pin turns on the road to hognekkal

What to do in Hognekkal?

In India, you can have snacks even in gorges like this.. see the man with potato chips and cold drinks

There is a bridge from which you can see falls (also, half naked guys taking bath after getting oil massage), but going to the other side of the bridge is not allowed. The only way to go to the main falls is by taking a round boat. If you are early and it is not crowded then you can enjoy a lot as you can haggle a bit and get some extra time of the boat ride. Usually the boat ride takes you to the gorge and from there to a small beach and return.

There are two interesting part of the boat ride, first is that they take you to beach, which has flowing stream in which you can take bath. But one needs to be very cautious in taking the bath as the flow of stream is quite good. The other interesting thing is the 360 degree spin that you get on the boat.

We were on a beach which was in Tamil Nadu and the boats on the other side of the river were in Karnataka.

What to carry to Hognekkal Falls?

Do carry extra pair of clothes as you might get wet during the boat ride. Also make sure you carry food with you, because we didn’t find a single dhaba on the way, and one or two which were there, were closed.

Our Experience of Hognekkal Falls.

Hognekkal was a pleasant surprise. After visiting Jog falls, we didn’t have much expectation. But this was way more beautiful and fun. Also, because the weather was good we enjoyed a lot. We had some funny encounters at the falls, many men were getting oil massage done near the falls. I feel that these things should be stopped as after oil massage they take bath in the falls, making it all oily, greasy and dirty. The guys who were giving massage were actually hitting those guys and climbing on them, jumping on them. It was a funny site but then that’s the way locals earn there. Some of our friends hated this place because of this activity which was going on, but somehow we enjoyed a lot.

You can get typical oil message if you are willing to get it here… 😀

We reached here by boat. It was fun to take bath in this flowing river

Gangtok

Gangtok/Sikkim

What is there in Gangtok/ Sikkim?

The view from our hotel

Best place to have b’fast…Don’t you agree..??

Gangtok , at an elevation of 5,410 ft is  one of the most beautiful cities in India and is the capital of Sikkim. India’s highest peak Khangchendzonga of a height of 28,169ft (3rd highest in the world) is here and there is an amazing trek in Khangchendzonga National Park, which starts from Yuksom , 125km away from Gangtok. Gangtok is the base point of many beautiful places in Sikkim such as Nathula Pass, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang and many more. It has both the natural beauty and city appeal to it. MG road which is always full of people, has clubs, restaurants (it has some very beautiful cafes) and shopping stores. Sikkim has so much to offer, if you are interested in trekking or paragliding , or you just want to sit and relax or you want to visit second highest lake in India , this is the place to be. It is the place for solo travelers, family vacations, honeymooners, or a trip with friends.

The place for walking…I have not seen that in cities like Delhi..Gangtok seems to be way ahead

We noticed two amazing things in Gangtok ,one, they have a small walking trail which is fenced on both sides, hence very safe for children to walk around the city (mountains) and two, they actually have a very operable government tourism centre on MG road. If you are going then do check this place to know more about trekking trips.

When to visit Gangtok?

The view of from Gangtok

It was cold in April also…

The beautiful flags in Sikkim

Moving out of Sikkim to Gurudongmar

Crossing the bridges

Gangtok’s temperature varies from 22 degree C in summers to 4 degree C in winters. It does not get any snowfall but it does rain a lot there. We had visited Gangtok in April, and it was very pleasant. Summer(May-June) is the peak season hence prices are high and during monsoon(July –September) it rains a lot , so it is bit risky to travel in this season. The best times to visit Gangtok is October to December. During this time you can visit nearby places, but in Jan and Feb (depending on the snowfall), some routes might remain close. So if you are planning to travel then make a few calls to the hotels or information centres and then only book for vacation. Route to Gurudongmar closes in Jan and opens in March/ April depending on that year.

Where to stay in Gangtok?

Gangtok has many hotels, lodges and inns. So you can have a luxurious stay at Welcome Heritage Denzong Residency or a budget stay in Shilton Lodge. Check booking.com to book your stay.

How to reach Gangtok?

One of the Seven waterfalls near Gangtok

• By Train : The nearest railway station to Gangtok is about 148 kilometres away at New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri. From here you can take a private cab (they charge around 2k) or you can take shared cab (200 Rs pp).
• By Air : The airport nearest to Gangtok is about 124 kilometres away in Bagdogra, West Bengal. You have to take a taxi to reach the city.

What to visit near or in Gangtok?

You can’t cover all the places near to Gangtok in a short trip. So depending on the time you have in hand, you can plan which places you would like to visit. Below are few such places:

1. Gurudongmar : Second highest lake of India. Only Indians are allowed here, foreigners are only allowed till Chopta valley.  Lachen is the nearest place where nigh stay is possible. If going via Gangtok then night stay is necessary at Lachen, leave for this early morning.

   

   Gurudongmar Lake

   

   The beautiful way to the second highest lake in India

   

   En route to Gurudongmar lake

    

2. Chopta Valley: Foreigners are allowed till this point only, it is also a very great valley and trekking in Chopta valley is an experience in itself. The trekking is easy and for a day only.

   

   Chopta Valley

3. Yumthang Valley : A beautiful valley or wind tunnel. Lachung is the nearest place where nigh stay is possible. It is a three 3 day trip

   

   The Yumthang valley

   

4. Zero Point : A complete snow ridden area with natural geysers and breathtaking views. It is above Yumthang valley and this can be completed along with the trip to Yumthang valley. It is a must go place

   

   Majestic view at Zero Point

5. Nathula Pass : A  mountain pass that connects India to China. A beautiful destination. It’s a day trip. It requires permit so get the work done a day before (Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays are only visit able days)

   

   Gangtok main city

   

6. Lake Tsomgo : Is one of the magnificient lake at height of 12310ft. It’s a day trip. Permissions are needed to visit this lake.
7. Pelling : A small town near Gangtok with beautiful view. There are hotels available here.
8. Darjeeling : Hill station in West Bengal.

There are many such beautiful places near Gangtok which are must visits.

How to travel within Gangtok?

Travelling in Gangtok

The grandeur of nature

Near MG road there is a taxi stand from where you can get shared taxi or private taxi to move around Gangtok. For longer journeys check tourist information centre on MG road.

What are must carry things to Gangtok?

The beautiful eastern Himalayas

 Umbrella, sunglasses, woollen wear and good camera. Though everything is available in Gangtok.

What was our experience at Gangtok?

The best thing about Gangtok is the people of Gangtok. They are all well dressed and very good in etiquette . We never felt that we are being cheated and most of the people were polite. We had really awesome experience at Gangtok. The journey to Sikkim was quite tiresome as we took the train and then shared taxi, There was too much dust on the way as there was construction of road going on but other than that It was good and we enjoyed our stay.

The food of sikkm was also very great, we tried once and we fell in love with it. If you are going there then do try their traditional food it is nice and different.

Also, a short trip wont do justice to Sikkim, we had gone to Sikkim for 9days and we still haven’t seen 10% of it. But we had prioritized the places we wanted to visit, hence we choose Gurudongmar (Cholamu is the highest lake of India, 1km ahead of Gurudongmar but civilians are not allowed to visit it).

McLeodganj – Triund

McLeodganj – Triund

Who says that there are no free lunches – This view costs nothing just some efforts

What is there in McLeodgunj?

The World is Flat theory might have come after seeing this !!

The magical experience after reaching Triund

McLeodgunj is in hill station in Himachal Pradesh at 6,831 feet. It has beautiful mountain ranges and also has falls. Its an amazing place if there is no crowd but unfortunately it attracts a lot of tourists on weekend specially from Chandigarh. So plan a trip such that it does not coincide with any holiday else you can actually witness traffic jams in McLeodgunj.

A 9 km tedious trek from McLeodgunj leads to Triund ( its the place to be ). Triund is a plateau and has a beautiful view. There are two small shops and one government guest house on Triund. You can also trek further and go to glacial trek visiting Indrahaar pass. Trekking is moderate to easy, so even if you are fledgling in trekking, you can do it on your own.

The magic is that you see whole of McLeodgunj from this place and you are just half way through

Let the birds do the talking

When to visit McLeodgunj/Triund?

The tortuous trek to Triund

The serpentine trekking road into the forest

Well, if your aim is to stay in McLeodgunj then you can go anytime, but if you are planning to go to Triund then you should plan to travel during June-July or Oct- Nov. We had went to Triund trek in July ( though a lot of people are hesitant as it rains a lot) , but luckily it didn’t rain the day we trekked. If its raining then do skip the plan as it can be dangerous. July was very hot so we were almost roasted by the time we reached, but the weather on the top was amazing.

How to reach McLeodgunj/ Triund?

From Delhi there are many volvo buses available that goes to Dharamshala and then Mcleodgunj that take around 10hrs to reach Mcleodgunj. From McLeodgunj buses leave during afternoon/evening to reach Delhi early morning.

Triund trek takes about 4 hrs(one way), depending on your speed ( its a hilly terrain).

Where to stay in McLeodgunj/ Triund?

Some stalls to eat and camps to stay at Triund

If you want to do a day trek and come back to base again then I would recommend that you take hotel in Bhagsunath near McLeodgunj as it will be less crowded. They vary in their prices from 400 Rs to 4000 Rs. If you are going during weekend and its the tourist season then try and get a room booked in advance as this place gets overcrowded.

If you want to camp in Triund then there is only one government guest house in Triund which can be booked from Dharamsala ( place before McLeodgunj) and there are several private camping people which can be reached in Mcleodgunj. You can also ask for the govt. rest house when you reach, if rooms are vacant they will allow you(but don’t take the chance). Its an amazing experience to spend so if possible then try to stay a night at Triund.

What places to visit in McLeodgunj/ Triund?

The forest road leading to Dal lake

There is not just one Dal lake in Srinagar

The whole USP of the trip is Triund, so if you are going for this trek only then you have covered everything but still there are few places which you can visit.

• Dal Lake : The route to Dal from the forest is very nice. It is better to ask the directions before venturing into the forest. Lake is small but its serene.
• Bhagsunath Falls : It is a km walk from McLeodgunj, it was raining when we reached the falls so it was amazing to stay there and eat maggi in a small shop.
• Dharamkot : Its full of restaurants, unlike McLeodgunj it has more foreigners and more foreigners owned restaurants.

  

  The water moves the mountain by breaking it into smaller rocks

  

  The view enroute to bhagsunath falls

  

  The clouds descended to embrace us

• Glacier : Above Triund ( a trek) there is Glacier, though we didn’t get the opportunity to visit it but its very beautiful and should be visited.

Can you trek to Triund with kids?

At Triund, a couple had come with their two kids, so its not impossible to trek with kids. There are people in McLeodgunj which carry kids in back baskets to the top.

Our experience of McLeodgunj/ Triund.

We has travelled to McLeodgunj in July, for three days, which we think were sufficient.  Our main aim was to do the Triund trek, which took us about 4-5 hrs uphill and 3 hrs downhill. You need some food, water, sports shoes, sunscreen (sun can be very harsh) and camera and you are good to go.We hadn’t book the government guest house and also we were not prepared for camp, so we had to return the same day. Though we regret that we couldn’t spend a night there but the weather( it was drizzling) filled up for the thing that we missed. Though we took many pictures, but they can’t justify the beauty of Triund, it is a Shangri La in true terms.

The only thing which we didn’t like there was that it got very crowded on the weekend and that is when we decided to come back. We found Dharamkot to be so much quieter and calmer than McLeodgunj was. But still McLeodgunj is a must visit place and Triund a must do trek.

Nahan – Camp Roxx

Nahan

The Camp : Into The wild

What is there in Nahan – Camp Roxx?

The valley overlooking the mountains

Camp Roxx is organized by Frank Hospitalities in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh. These people own a land in Nahan where they have built camps (with good toilet facilities). They have camps ranging for a day to three days. Camp Roxx have pre-built camps at Kangojodi (Nahan). These camps are in middle of forest, near a very small river. It is basically a weekend getaway place from Delhi. At camp roxx you can enjoy the nature and some fun activities like flying fox, burma bridge etc.

Do you need a pre-booking for Camp Roxx?

Panoramic View of the valley in CampRoxx

Yes. It has limited number of tents, hence you need to pre-book.

What facilities and activities are possible in Camp Roxx ?

A small trek in morning is always rejuvinating

They have nice tents, mattresses and pillows, good toilets and also they have a big dinning room (they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner). Some activities which we enjoyed there were flying fox, burma bridge, small trek, river crossing.

How to reach to Camp Roxx?

The Lotus lake during trek from Camp Roxx

There is no bus service for the camp, so the best way is to rent a car or drive to Nahan. Its a five hour drive from Delhi. All information is present on Camp Roxx site and you can ask them the exact way ( GPS is always handy).

Is it worth going to Camp Roxx?

Yes. Its a good place to relax in middle of nature. To top it you have adventure activities to do and also you get three meals a day. So its worth the money ( try to get price reduced if you are traveling in a group). Its a good retreat and not many people come there so the whole experience is very good.

What are places worth visiting near Camp Roxx site?

The beautiful hut en route to Renuka Lake

The sweet and serene – Renuka Lake

The whole way to Camp Roxx is amazing and luckily the day when we went it was raining, which made the whole trip more amazing. But one good place near Camp Roxx ( 2-3 hrs) is Renuka lake. Unlike other lakes, Renuka lake is very serene place to be and is not flocked by travelers.There is a government guest house just opposite to the lake.

Our Experience of Camp Roxx

The Flying Fox and not “Firefox”

The river and the mountains near Renuka Lake

We had gone to Camp Roxx for a day ( which I think is sufficient ) from 12 noon to next day 12 noon(we customized it according to our need). You can try to customize your trip and discuss it with the owners. As it had rained the day we had reached, Bonfire at night was simply amazing. The whole trip costed us 10 k for two ( including travel, stay,food)

Binsar/ Basoli

Binsar

What is there in Binsar?

The world so close yet so far – Zero Point Binsar

The Great Valley of Binsar – it makes you sweat just by looking down

Binsar is Wildlife Sanctuary (2500m above sea level) in Uttrakhand, around 100km from Nanital. It has dense forest and various bird species present in it. Walk from the bottom of the sanctuary to the top (zero point ) is about 12 km. From Zero point, Himalayan peaks( Nanda Devi, Kedarnath Peak) can be seen. There is an entry fee of 150 Rs for Indian national, 250 Rs car fee for light vehicle, 75 Rs for student. If you want to relax then its the best place to be. Binsar is very calm and quiet place.

How to reach Binsar?

 

En route to Calmness and Quietness

If you are travelling from Delhi, then you can reach Kathgodam by train and from Kathgodam cabs are available for Binsar. Binsar is about 120km from kathgodam.and cab takes around 3-4 hrs to reach Binsar and  charge around 1600-2000 Rs depending on the season.

Where to stay in Binsar?

The Hut, The Trees, The weather – Feeling Bliss at Club Mahindra Villa

Within the Sanctuary itself there are few hotels available. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam rest house is present at Zero point in Binsar. They have rooms priced 2400 Rs and 3300 Rs that includes a night stay, breakfast and dinner. The only problem in KMVN is that, there is no electricity and limited supply of hot water(If you are travelling in group then it can be fun to stay in that). There are other Binsar Resorts available too. Club Mahindra Valley and Villa resort is also present in Basoli (is a small village), which is 10 km from Binsar. They are bit expensive but great place to stay.

When to go to Binsar?

Monsoon season is a “No No” you say – I beg to differ

Usually people go to Binsar in Winters. Summer is also not a bad season to go. During monsoon the Himalayan Peaks are not visible due to the clouds, but as it is off-season bargaining can be done. Roads are decent so its not difficult to reach there in monsoon (confirm a week before to be sure).

Are there any places to visit near Binsar?

Aniesh showing the Map of Binsar- You can always find more places around it. Just keep your mind open

• Kausani is around 80km from Binsar, it is known for scenic beauty.
• Jageshwar temple is also a good place to visit.
• Sharda Math is also known for the valley view.
• Mallika devi temple near Takula is also known for valley view.

Can we do trekking near /in Binsar?

Binsar – May the Forest With You

The answer is – Yes. If you plan to trek then you can go to Malika devi temple which is on mountain top. It is about 15km from Basoli (which is 10km from Binsar). You can also hike to the top of Zero Point. Cab drivers charge a lot to travel to various places and we find that all of them were quite similar.

Is it safe to do trekking in Sanctuary?Any animals/insects we should be aware of?

Liog(Lion + Dog): The cute dog(only animal) we found on the way

It is very safe to trek to Zero Point, animals generally tend to be inside the forest and don’t come on road. But always be cautious about it. We found no insects that one should be worried about. Mobile phone signals were there, so keep an emergency contact just in case.

What about food/lunch when trekking?

A single bag pack having snacks, umbrellas and water is enough to conquer the Binsar Zero Point Trek

For zero point, you can have lunch in Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam but don’t expect much there as they usually don’t make lunch during off-season.

Extra weight of lunch to Malika Devi can be laborious 🙂

For Mallika Devi: you will not find anything for lunch, it is better you take something along with you.

How to save money in travelling?

You can take a local cab (paid 20 Rs/ person) to Binsar Sanctuary gate from Basoli and from there you can hike for 12km to the zero point. Shared local cabs are easily available on various routes.

What was our experience?

When ever you see window of opportunity to go- Grab it with both hands

A night at Binsar – not a place to visit during Karva chauth.. heheheh

Zero point Binsar:  It took us around 3 hrs to reach the top (we stopped many times on the way to enjoy the view). To enjoy the Sanctuary a walk is must (even if you plan to skip the long hike).

It is said that in order to gain something you have to loose something – how about going to Mallika Devi and loosing weight  !!

We also hiked from Basoli to Malika devi ( Cabs also go till Mallika Devi), it was a very strenuous hike in the forest unlike the Sanctuary hike which was on a cemented road. We took a shared cab from Basoli to Takula (10rs pp) and from there we hiked all the way up. It took us about 3-4 hrs to reach the top.

Do you need to have guide for the trekking?

Hitchhiker’s(mine and aniesh’s) Guide to the Galaxy(Mallika Devi) – with his weapon – The Big Cucumber

For zero point: No

For Mallika Devi: Yes, maybe. If you plan to take the route that is taken by cabs then NO, if however you want to take shortcut then YES.

Our Experience without Guide: Luckily we found a villager (Mr. Goswami) who guided us to the destination otherwise we might have lost our way. People on the way were generous and helpful. Goswami   also took us to his home and gave us the “Kheera”(cucumber which weighed around 1.5 kg.) from his farm.

Anyone in Basoli whom you can consult about treks/places/bird watching?

Ahh..The blessed tree and a swing in between..

We met Pradeep Bisht ( Kumaon Cusine), a local traveler,guide and owner of a small dhaba. He used to tell us where to go for hike and how to go. The food at his dhaba was freshly cooked and amazing. We saved quite a lot of money by eating there. Infact all the local people can help.

Any other precaution we should take?

If you are planning to visit Nainital while going back then you should keep in mind that the cab drivers don’t tend to wait for more than an hour in Nainital because of the challan issue.

What we should not to do on the trip?

The serenity of lake has become ephemeral – Nainital

If you want to be away from city life then please skip Nanital. Its very crowded and very city like. The whole experience of Nanital was bad. People keep pestering for boating or for room or for sightseeing. Though the way to Nanital was very good (clouds were on the road) but then overall it was just bad.

Home Coming- Always the difficult part after an awesome experience- ameliorated by the clouds