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

Munnar

Munnar – you beauty

What is there is Munnar?

Munnar is a small hill station in the state of Kerela, India. It has got picturesque lake and tea estates. It is a place where you can have both a relaxing weekend and also an adventurous weekend in the wilderness.

Byson in the wildlife sanctuary

When to visit Munnar?

Best time to visit Munnar is after/during the Monsoons which start after June and ends in February. It is after the rains when the waterfalls and greenery are at their best, but we went before the rains and still everything looked beautiful. It is better to keep in mind that if you are going at a time when there are holidays in India, then it will be crowded as it is the nearest hill station to many cities. (We were stuck in traffic jam in Munnar for about 2hrs).

How to reach Munnar?

Munnar is well connected via road from Bangalore(10 hrs), Coimbatore(4 hrs), Kochi(3 hrs) and many more cities nearby. The nearest railway station are Kochi and Ernakulum. If you are travelling from Bangalore, it is better to take bus, as you can travel in night and reach early morning to Munnar.

By road from Coimbatore, awesome road

Where to stay in Munnar?

There are so many places to stay in Munnar from hotels to homestays to cottages. Since last time we stayed in homestay, this time we wanted to try cadamom cottage. So we booked a cottage through munnarcottages.in. Our cottage was located in an isolated and big cardamom property ,20km away from Munnar city. We had a great time there but travelling to Munnar was task, still would recommend it if seclusion is what you are looking for.

The lake in our estate, view is breathtaking

Some trekking around our estate

Places to visit in/near Munnar.

There are many places to visit in Munnar. We went to couple of them:

1. Attukal Falls: Around 5-6 kms from Munnar. As we had gone before monsoon, there was no water in the falls. There are many falls around that region but since we went in summers, all of them had dried up so we skipped going to all of them.
2. Matupetty Dam: Amazing place but only if you are willing to walk. Matupetty is very crowded, so the best way to enjoy it is to walk away from the crowd. There are many places near the lake where one can sit and enjoy that place in peace.

   

   The Dam – view from just 100 meters away from the crowded area

   

   Best place to just relax and lie down

3. Eravikulam National Park: Though we didn’t get time to visit the Park but we have heard its a nice place to visit. Also, the best time to visit is during early morning, as the day progresses the day gets hotter and also crowd increases.
4. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary: When you enter Kerela from Coimbatore you pass through this wildlife sanctuary. It is a good sanctuary where you can have lot of pit stops, but due to weather and limited time, we preferred not to stop in between. There is a high rise/watch tower from where you can see elephants and other animals. There is also a trek to one of the falls in the sanctuary.

   

   Falls in the wildlife sanctuary

What more can you do in Munnar?

Best way to enjoy Munnar is to cycle around the city. This was the best decision of this trip. Ansil, the guy who rents out cycle knew lot of unexplored places in Munnar and he suggested us to go to Laxmi falls. According to Ansil the route was for beginners but we found the terrain was bit difficult.

Cycling in munnar

Cycling through the forest road

Picturesque view throughout the cycling expedition

Cycling in munnar is a must if you really want to see its beauty and enjoy the lovely weather. We took the cycles in morning 7am, and went on the trail to laxmi waterfalls. It was about 16km from Munnar city and we passed through undulating road with picturesque tea plantation, it was amazing riding downhill. Little did we know that coming back up will be pain in the ass( and I mean literally).

Downhill was easy …and it was steep

Surprised to see waste segregation in a village in munnar – respect !!

After about 2.5 hrs of cycling downhill, we happily reached the falls, like other falls, this fall was also kind of dried up but still the water was cold and soothing.

Tea estates in munnar

Entrance of  Lakshi Falls

The Relaxing bathing experience in the falls

Uphill ride was the toughest part, sometimes we felt like giving up but then the natural beauty was so breathtaking and we knew cycling was the only way to enjoy it so, we continued on cycles for ext 16km uphill.

Kavya on the way back

I would suggest that cycling is a must do if you are going to Munnar, it was worth the effort we had put in.

Alwar

Alwar – unexplored and mystic place near Delhi

What is there in Alwar?

Alwar from the top

Sambhar on the way to Bala Quila – a site not observed regularly

Jaipol – en route to the main fort – it is said that when army was in danger the soldier use to shout inside this and its echo is heard everywhere around the fort

Alwar is a small town situated 150 km away from Delhi which is about a about 3 hrs drive. It is peaceful place and gives you tinge of Rajasthani culture. It has everything to offer ranging from mountains, beautiful lake,  forts and wildlife. Alwar is a must place if one is looking for partying also. It offers great choices.

Stairway leading to the boundary of the fort from Jaipol

The hidden door at Jaipol leading to the staircase

How to reach to Alwar?

En route to Alwar you might find lot of animals – see Sambhar 🙂

Beautiful scenery of mountains when going to Alwar

You can take a train from Delhi/Jaipur or you can drive. If you are travelling from Delhi you have to take NH8, then turn to Bhiwadi from Daruweda and go straight to Alwar. The drive from Bhiwadi to Alwar is very awesome, it is well maintained and you will cross the mustard fields and the beautiful mountains. The drive is awesome.

The bliss of mustard farm – a delight to eyes when going to Alwar

Nearest Airports are Jaipur(160km) and Delhi(140km)

When to visit Alwar?

View from Bala Quila

Alwar is in Rajasthan, thus it is very hot during summers. Best time to visit Alwar is after one or two rainfall in July-Aug or during winters from October- February.

Where can we stay in Alwar?

The beautiful and majestic quila of Alwar

There are plenty of hotels available in Alwar – Ritumbhara resort, Clarks inn, Aravali hotel, Jhankar hotel(this one belongs to my uncle), Hive hotel, etc. If you want to have a unique experience you can stay at one of the forts – Dadhikar fort or Neemrana fort (about an hour away from Alwar). It is quite expensive (though no where as expensive as Delhi) but then it is a different experience all together.

How to roam around in Alwar?

You might need to hire a taxi(if you are planning to take a train). The local transport system is not that developed and if you want to move around in Alwar then taxi is the best option. There are many taxi stands near railway station and you can very well negotiate the prices.

What places to go in Alwar ?

Aniesh’s best hangout place in Alwar – en route to Bala Quila

There are variety of places that one can visit.

1. Sariska: It is National Park of India famous for Tigers. It is most visited and one of the best places in Alwar to visit

   

   From the top – Alwar city

2. Siliserh Lake: Starting with the most popular location of Alwar is this lake. It is a man made lake but it is one of the spectacular sight to watch. It is about 30 mins drive from the main city

   

   Siliserh – the awesome lake in Alwar- everybody in Alwar knows about it yet it is not crowded

   

   Lake and the mountains – Kavya’s mood refreshing sight

   

   You can have tea/coffee while sitting around the lake

3. Bala Quila : Another spectacular of Alwar. It is a fort on top of a mountain and one can a bird view of Alwar from this place. The entry is restricted and permissions are needed to enter the fort. But the best part are the walks along the main boundary of the fort which is open to general public. The best views of Alwar comes after reaching places along such boundaries. One can also see wildlife such as Sambhar, porcupine en route to this place. Also there are amazing places where musketeers used to hide, they are worth exploring.

   

   The amazing story of Bala Quila

   

   

   Restricted entry inside the Quila but if you are resident for 23 years you have contacts and way around 🙂

   

   

   Swimming pool of the queen

   

   Inside the fort – all barren and eroding as my grandfather used to say – ” loneliness kills the liveliness “

   

   The main entry to the main fort

   

   Side view of the main fort

4. Dadhikarh fort: This is the newest addition to the places to visit around Alwar. This fort is in the outskirts of Alwar. It is small fort but the view of village and expanse land is very awesome. It is one of the best place to visit during sunrise and sunset. It also restaurant and hotel. But please book the place before going as they don’t allow visitors without prior
5. Vijay Mandir: The mandir is on the banks of a small lake, it provides majestic view of the open lake and mountains.
6. Neemrana fort: Situated bit far from Alwar this is also a great fort to visit. This is a fort turned into hotel. There is entry fee for this fort cum resort.
7. Jaisamand: It used to be filled with water but water has dried now. Still this place holds good if you want to enjoy evening there. The constant cool wind that flows there is just wonderful. It is place where you can sit and relax. There are large number of dome like structure which are quite good. Its not that well maintained but then you can spend 2-3 hours there.

   

   The way from Quila to the first check post – the path is hidden

8. Kesroli fort: This is also a fort turned hotel that is really great to visit. It is on outskirts of *Alwar and lights up beautifully during night. It is magnificent and holds great history.

   

   View from the first check post

9. Moosi Maharani ki chattri: This is amongst the oldest places in Alwar city. This one has a museum and a grand pond nearby. The pond is always filled with water though it has stagnant water but still it worth going as it is not usually crowded

   

   Top view of Musi Maharani Chatri and the main palace turned museum

10. Bharthari Temple: This is one of the holy places around Alwar. It has a very interesting story to itself. The road to this temple from Alwar is also very interesting and filled with lot of small pit stops.

    

    Adult Sambhar , other animals that you can see around this area is – panther, peacock and porcupine

Amazing views – just can’t get enough of it

 

Is it worth going to Alwar?

Alwar is calm and beautiful place with a touch of rajasthani culture. It is in between Delhi and Jaipur. It is best place to have a good weekend filled with culture/history/hiking- everything that one is looking for.

Our Experience at Alwar

Kavya’s favorite place (till now) in Alwar

It is Aniesh’s hometown, so we have visited this place lot of times and every time we have found a different place to visit. The tourism industry here is not very developed, so you will not find many people at the tourist place and you can enjoy the views and nature. We never get bored of Alwar and keep finding new places and new tracks here and there. Alwar unlike other cities of Rajasthan Jodhpur/ Jaisalmer is not at all crowded and is serene.

P.S: We will be adding more pics and places of Alwar

Agra

Agra is just not famous for Taj look at Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur

What is special about Agra?

Ahh..The famous Taj Mahal-I thought it is just myth that this is famous but actually it is quite a sight to watch – it is beautiful

Taj Mahal along with whole Agra population there- only part I didn’t like was that it was filled by people

Entry gate for theTaj- no population there – felt like we were in some other era- before we entered and saw the whole population

First and foremost, Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world is in Agra. To add to this it has many Mughal – era structures- tombs, mosques, forts. All the structures are beautiful and have a historical story behind its creation. So if you are looking to see historic places and you don’t mind crowded places then this is a paradise for you.

When to visit Agra?

The sunny bright entry during the winter was fun in itself

The great way to the Taj Mahal – this is also beautiful – isn’t it

Agra is very hot during summers and cold during winters. The best time to visit Agra is from October to February.

Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri are open from sunrise and sunset. Best time to visit would be early in the morning as it is not that crowded. Taj Mahal is open to visitors for night viewing for 5 days i.e on full moon light night, two days before and two days after that. It costs about 500 Rs pp and is open from 8:30pm to 12:30pm. Only limited entries are possible. Though taking night pics is very difficult even with DSLR, but if you have always wondered to see how Taj Mahal looks at night then do visit it during those particular days.

The Surahs from Quran selected by Amaanat Khan

The magnificent height of the main entry gate

On the banks of the river Yamuna – this view from the back side of the Taj

Renovation going on the eastern gate of Taj

Minaret – standing tall to the one of the wonder of the world

Taj Mahal – side view

The view from the Taj Mahal of the entry gate – awesome experience

Inside the Taj

How to reach Agra?

En route to Fathehpur Sikri – the main gate between the two cities

Evening walk to the Fatehpur dargah

Entering through the King’s gate to Buland Darwaza

So many cremation inside this

Delhi is the city nearby from where you can get taxi, bus, train to travel to Agra. It takes around 2 hrs (if you are going by train or by road).

What places to visit in Agra?

The door from which Anarkali was sent to Pakistan

The front view of Buland Darwaza – the story of this is interesting

The grand hall – (with no population – (sob sob))

 

As mentioned there are many places to visit in Agra. If you are interested in Mughal history and would like to know more about these places then keep at least 2-3 days for Agra. We have been to Agra twice, but till now we were not able to visit all the monuments. Traveling consumes a lot time in Agra, as in all the private cars, buses are stopped 1km before the monument and from there you need to take rickshaws, or you can walk. Agra Authority have their electric rickshaws (cost around 10 Rs) at these monuments so don’t spend too much money on hiring autos and other things. Below are some places which are must visits:

1. Taj Mahal: Entry fee is 20 Rs for Indian and 750 Rs for foreigners. No food is allowed in TajMahal. Washroom facilities are available within the complex.
2. Fatehpur Sikri: Fatehpur Sikri  is about 43km from Taj Mahal and takes around an hour to reach. No entry fee for the tomb of Samil Chisti but 20 Rs fee for the Sikri. Taking a guide would make some sense if you haven’t googled enough about the place.
3. Agra fort

There are many more places but these are the most interesting and beautiful places. For night stay in Agra, you have many options, do check booking.com for the bookings.

View of the city from Buland Darwaza

I think Darwaza needs some cleaning – 😛

The iron horse shoe are put in the Darwaza showing the horses that were killed in the battle

What was our Experience at Agra?

We always drive to Agra through Yamuna express highway which has almost no traffic. But we end up spending a lot of time commuting between the monuments. What we realized is that Taj Mahal is always crowded and should be visited early morning or at night. Also only two monuments can be covered in a day, hence a night stay is important.

We spent an hour looking for the original shop which is famous for ‘Petha’. We didn’t like the petha but then if you are there then you should definitely try it. ‘Petha’ (Indian sweetdish) which is famous of a shop named ‘Panchi Petha’. There are about 1000 or more shops with the same name. It is said that Sadar bazaar Panchi Petha is the original one ( you can try and check it out yourself).

Overall we liked Agra, though very crowded but still it should be visited at least once.

Waiheke/ Rongitoto

Waiheke/ Rongitoto Islands

What is there at Waiheke/ Rongitoto Islands?

Wahike: Wine:: Rongitoto : Volcano

The shore of Waiheke Islands

The boat ride to Waiheke

The answer my friend is blowin in the wind..the answer is blowin in the wind

The island en route to Waiheke

Rangatoto island view from the boat

Wahike islands is one of the islands in Hauraki gulf, near Auckland. Waiheke is famous as it is most reachable wine island. Waiheke has vineyards, beautiful beaches and amazing restaurants near beachside. It’s an amazing place for lunch date.

Rongitoto island is famous of the its volcanoes. Though we didn’t get an opportunity to travel to Rongitoto island due to lack of time, but we came to know from fellow travelers that the view from the island is worth the trip.

How to reach Waiheke/ Rongitoto/Hauraki Islands?

Aniesh is happy to reach Waiheke island…his happy dent smile..

We decided to cover the island on foot – (seriously bad idea !!)

Are those black rose…Seriously..!!

From the bay region of Auckland, ferries are available every hour for the islands. There are many brochures available near the ticket counter which have discount coupons. A 36$ round trip would cost about 28$ (money saved is money earned). All information is available at the ticket counter. It takes about 40mins from Auckland to reach the island, but time passes very fast once you board the ferry. You can either sit on the upper deck of ferry and enjoy the view and open sky or you can sit on lower deck in shade and still enjoy the view. For more information check Fullers, they are leading ferry operator in NZ.

You can plan a day trip to one of the island or plan to visit two of them in a day. You can spend the whole day at these islands.

The hard road to the clouds

Beautiful and well trimmed gardens at the Waiheke

Where to eat at Waiheke islands?

The open restaurant near beach

Fish and Chips – the food we tried

Vineyards and that too with restaurants…awesome(two likes!!)

Kavya didn’t let me have anything..that is why the sad face

There are many restaurants and vineyards in Waiheke. You can try any one of them. The ones near the beach Oneroa are the best choice.

You can also carry your food and barbeque at the beaches at the open kitchen.

How to travel within Waiheke?

Got sunburn from walking in the sun at Waiheke

Open deck restaurant at the beach..awesome

If the weather is good then you can walk, or you can hire a bike ( from the ferry station) else there are buses ( don’t rely on them), do confirm their timing and frequency (Fullers provide whole day bus pass in Waiheke). The best way and expensive way is to hire a car to travel within Waiheke.

All the information regarding how to travel and what activities to do are present at the ferry station. There is no need to pre-book anything.

The beach at the island

Our Experience of Waiheke Islands.

Its nice…!!

 

We weren’t sure on how to spend a day at Auckland, but while talking to some NZ native we came to know about this island. Winds were pretty cold that day so we didn’t realize how hot the day was going to be. When we reached Waiheke, we decided to walk to Oneroa beach, which I think was a mistake. It was so hot and unfortunately we never got any bus ride too. So we had to walk around in sun to wineries. It wasn’t a very pleasant walk, though it was very pretty.

We had awesome fish and chips (famous of NZ) at one of the restaurant which was facing the ocean. It was one of the best lunch we had in NZ.

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)