tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39619664543550019462024-03-08T10:11:33.244+06:30Travellopedia BlogNainital, Darjeeling, Ooty, Kodai, Singapore, Tirupati, Kodaikanal, Madurai, Nallattoor and info on tickets, budget accommodations and places to see. Special new year packages and events.R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-15841485023654469482009-10-17T09:31:00.000+06:302009-10-17T09:32:35.889+06:30Happy Diwali !!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; ">Travellopedia wishes one and all a very happy Diwali and a prosperous year ahead !!</span>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-14408733789269187942009-01-26T20:43:00.001+06:302009-04-29T23:38:46.583+06:30Travel to Singapore - Part IIIYup.... here I have detailed on what I saw in Sentosa.<br /><ul><li>Images of Singapore (Museum): This was an excellent place depicting Singapore's history and how it was born. Just have a look at the following snaps.......</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SNoBFgj-jDI/AAAAAAAAAgs/cqdzBJz491g/s1600-h/IMAGES+OF+SINGAPORE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SNoBFgj-jDI/AAAAAAAAAgs/cqdzBJz491g/s400/IMAGES+OF+SINGAPORE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249509509805542450" border="0" /></a><br />I have not gone too deep into how and why of all events and happenings but tried to be pictorially depict the entire thing. So here we go...<br /><ol><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Commercial square:</span><br /></li></ol><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPHzJh2-H_I/AAAAAAAAAg0/2HArvNSKWjg/s1600-h/COMMERCIAL+SQUARE1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPHzJh2-H_I/AAAAAAAAAg0/2HArvNSKWjg/s400/COMMERCIAL+SQUARE1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256249585151385586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPH04fco1jI/AAAAAAAAAg8/7Ms8Wt8amko/s1600-h/COMMERCIAL+SQUARE2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPH04fco1jI/AAAAAAAAAg8/7Ms8Wt8amko/s400/COMMERCIAL+SQUARE2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256251491469547058" border="0" /></a><br />2. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Early Chinese immigrant:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQgx28kfjaI/AAAAAAAAArE/E41rlOR4M8o/s1600-h/EARLY+CHINESE+IMMIGRANT.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQgx28kfjaI/AAAAAAAAArE/E41rlOR4M8o/s400/EARLY+CHINESE+IMMIGRANT.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262510984624311714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Harbour and dockside:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPH9KGbxDZI/AAAAAAAAAhc/M4l4KcnBW80/s1600-h/THE+HARBOUR+AND+DOCKSIDE2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPH9KGbxDZI/AAAAAAAAAhc/M4l4KcnBW80/s400/THE+HARBOUR+AND+DOCKSIDE2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256260590085672338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPH7u3mCCZI/AAAAAAAAAhM/gd4_Pon-mk4/s1600-h/THE+HARBOUR+AND+DOCKSIDE1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPH7u3mCCZI/AAAAAAAAAhM/gd4_Pon-mk4/s400/THE+HARBOUR+AND+DOCKSIDE1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256259022734100882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Indian milk seller:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPIBeV2aCaI/AAAAAAAAAhs/BjTzNhosoz8/s1600-h/THE+HARBOUR+AND+DOCKSIDE3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SPIBeV2aCaI/AAAAAAAAAhs/BjTzNhosoz8/s400/THE+HARBOUR+AND+DOCKSIDE3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256265335867836834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQgv4EtTVkI/AAAAAAAAAq8/wX4w8Kf3okM/s1600-h/MILK+SELLER1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQgv4EtTVkI/AAAAAAAAAq8/wX4w8Kf3okM/s400/MILK+SELLER1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262508804965357122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Letter writer:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhD0f5Z4dI/AAAAAAAAArc/OECBfuWBLcw/s1600-h/LETTER+WRITER..jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhD0f5Z4dI/AAAAAAAAArc/OECBfuWBLcw/s400/LETTER+WRITER..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262530733776953810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> Chinese hand puppets:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhBmjfGm1I/AAAAAAAAArM/5THNgKOVVy0/s1600-h/CHINESE+HAND+PUPPETS1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhBmjfGm1I/AAAAAAAAArM/5THNgKOVVy0/s400/CHINESE+HAND+PUPPETS1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262528295198956370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhCV5mzmBI/AAAAAAAAArU/AOXTmNpjwQI/s1600-h/CHINESE+HAND+PUPPETS2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhCV5mzmBI/AAAAAAAAArU/AOXTmNpjwQI/s400/CHINESE+HAND+PUPPETS2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262529108590696466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />7. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Rikshaw puller:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhFiTlp2gI/AAAAAAAAArk/zzAMPEDrY64/s1600-h/RIKSHAW+PULLER.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SQhFiTlp2gI/AAAAAAAAArk/zzAMPEDrY64/s400/RIKSHAW+PULLER.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262532620258499074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />8. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Coyller Quay:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHMAEmNvII/AAAAAAAAAr0/XMYCS2iArN8/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHMAEmNvII/AAAAAAAAAr0/XMYCS2iArN8/s400/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265213740978912386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHRDlZxFRI/AAAAAAAAAr8/zbTDjdISeAg/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHRDlZxFRI/AAAAAAAAAr8/zbTDjdISeAg/s400/Picture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265219298882819346" border="0" /></a><br />9. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Empress place:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHeC-4QTEI/AAAAAAAAAsE/-Oe9rdk4-Ag/s1600-h/Picture3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHeC-4QTEI/AAAAAAAAAsE/-Oe9rdk4-Ag/s400/Picture3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265233582192872514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHgBaF8HHI/AAAAAAAAAsM/9t7lo74JUq8/s1600-h/Picture4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHgBaF8HHI/AAAAAAAAAsM/9t7lo74JUq8/s400/Picture4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265235754161544306" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">10. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Life during occupation:</span> This was when the Japanese occupied. They interred and<br /> executed thousands of Europeans. This is considered to be the darkest period ever in the<br /> history of Singapore.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHpRsm0e8I/AAAAAAAAAsU/Qdh_zBZ4iQE/s1600-h/Picture5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHpRsm0e8I/AAAAAAAAAsU/Qdh_zBZ4iQE/s400/Picture5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265245929613851586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHps0kVinI/AAAAAAAAAsc/sgrMtd2FVs4/s1600-h/Picture6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SRHps0kVinI/AAAAAAAAAsc/sgrMtd2FVs4/s400/Picture6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265246395607386738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">11. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Signing of pact:</span> In 1819, a British official named, Sir Stamford raffles arrived in Singapore<br /> with the plan of creating a port. He then signed a treaty with Malaysian rulers. This granted<br /> the British to build the port. It was the endurance of the people in Singapore that the<br /> Japanese surrendered. And it was this meeting of cultures that the modern Singapore was<br /> born.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Signing of pact and road to independence:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SXywSLUSLGI/AAAAAAAAAug/nQO1l-h2Wmg/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SXywSLUSLGI/AAAAAAAAAug/nQO1l-h2Wmg/s400/Picture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295301088202861666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SXyx6tMGdLI/AAAAAAAAAuo/rKN2z2k0Bns/s1600-h/Picture2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SXyx6tMGdLI/AAAAAAAAAuo/rKN2z2k0Bns/s400/Picture2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295302884001739954" border="0" /></a>I saw many more in Sentosa. I will post in my next post.<br /></div></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-89089607099018264802009-01-26T00:10:00.003+06:302009-01-26T00:14:23.257+06:30New package blog.To know about latest and best travel deals, please visit travellopediapackages.blogspot.com.<br /><br />This is an exclusive place for all travel packages available.R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-87115895713485174672008-12-31T18:32:00.003+06:302008-12-31T18:39:03.878+06:30Heritage site on Indian rail map.<div style="text-align: justify;">Khajuraho, the world renowned tourist attraction has been included in the Indian rail map after the railway station has been constructed and dedicated to public. Earlier it had air ans road access.<br /><br />This step is said to bring more connectivity to this place. This place is known for the architecture- scriptures and temples dating back to the Chandela dynasty.<br /><br />Keep it up <span style="font-style: italic;">Bharatiya rail !</span><br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-12146744963301879152008-12-31T18:19:00.004+06:302009-01-22T15:21:12.170+06:30Terror tremours !<div style="text-align: justify;">The aftermath of the recent Mumbai terror attacks were seen almost everywhere in India in some or the other form. Also really affected is the travel industry.<br /><br />Now, the government of India has issued travel advisory to tourists visiting Pakistan. Several Indians have got arrested on false charges of terrorism in Pakistan. The Indian government's advisory clearly states that it is highly unsafe for Indians to travel to Pakistan or to be in Pakistan.<br /></div><center><a href="http://www.shaadi.com/ptnr.php?ptnr=wy6oi"><span style=";font-family:Ms Sans Serif;font-size:78%;color:blue;" >Shaadi.com Indian Matrimonials</span></a><br /><iframe src="http://origin-img.shaadi.com/shaadi-rewards/get-html-banner.php?ptnr=wy6oi&banner_type=searchbanners&banner_size=336x280" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="336" frameborder="0" height="280"></iframe></center>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-44200123668566309812008-12-22T23:57:00.003+06:302008-12-23T00:01:59.551+06:30Special new year packages !Travellopedia is very happy to provide special New Year packages for individuals, groups and families:<br /><br />- Indian Rs.800 per person for individuals and groups.<br />- Indian Rs.1500 for a couple.<br /><br />Venue: Hotel Ramada Raj Park, Chennai.<br /><br />Please contact for more details:<br /><br />R Shridhar.<br />Mob: +91-9790878071.<br />travellopediaindia@gmail.com<br />info@travellopedia.com<br />www.travellopedia.com.R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-40170659022708287882008-11-18T10:03:00.002+06:302008-11-18T10:12:58.037+06:30The new Indian world heritage !<div style="text-align: justify;">It is a matter of pride to India that Kalka-Shimla mountain railway line has been declared as "World heritage track" by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization).<br /><br />It is yet another feather in the cap of Indian railways. Nilgiris mountain railway and Darjeeling Himalayan railway are already included in this list.<br /><br />Carry on Indian railways !!!<br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-86148447580497151542008-08-14T23:12:00.000+06:302008-08-18T01:43:08.738+06:30Travel to Singapore - Part II.<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Visit to Little India:</span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We then visited Little India. This was the place where I felt really at home. The streets, the shops, the restaurants, the houses- everything was so Indian. It is famous for The Mustafa- The 24 hour men. The Mustafa centre, as many would know is a big shopping mall cum multi-departmental store.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Mustafa Centre:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyUJLqjmWI/AAAAAAAAAbg/6XvIhSs24PE/s1600-h/mustafa1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyUJLqjmWI/AAAAAAAAAbg/6XvIhSs24PE/s400/mustafa1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232219752568691042" border="0" /></a><br />One of the internal road called Syed Alwi road leads to Sim Lim Square and Sim Lim Towers famous for electronic items.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Arya Samaj Temple in Syed Alwi Road:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyXgakRW3I/AAAAAAAAAbw/okWsIXG1o3M/s1600-h/aryasamajmandir.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyXgakRW3I/AAAAAAAAAbw/okWsIXG1o3M/s400/aryasamajmandir.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232223450240736114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyVAetq5MI/AAAAAAAAAbo/MkDcRE07poU/s1600-h/mustafa2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyVAetq5MI/AAAAAAAAAbo/MkDcRE07poU/s400/mustafa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232220702574830786" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br />Hotel Saravana Bhawan on the same road:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyav1qpbJI/AAAAAAAAAb4/bh0YB2JbZts/s1600-h/saravana+bhawan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJyav1qpbJI/AAAAAAAAAb4/bh0YB2JbZts/s400/saravana+bhawan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232227013748157586" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br />A view of Syed Alwi road:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKVX7jAQu4I/AAAAAAAAAcE/D5Fp4BVwr74/s1600-h/little+india.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKVX7jAQu4I/AAAAAAAAAcE/D5Fp4BVwr74/s400/little+india.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234686822408305538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Also see this:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKVzX5ob8xI/AAAAAAAAAcM/lBwgCNvfQdk/s1600-h/little+india+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKVzX5ob8xI/AAAAAAAAAcM/lBwgCNvfQdk/s400/little+india+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234716996332679954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWaJJxmYFI/AAAAAAAAAcU/8xdjc7qiPxM/s1600-h/little+india+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWaJJxmYFI/AAAAAAAAAcU/8xdjc7qiPxM/s400/little+india+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234759623921524818" border="0" /></a><br />Veeramakaliamman Temple: This is a south Indian temple of goddess <span style="font-style: italic;">Parvati</span> who is the consort of Lord Shiva, one of the trinity gods according to the Hindu mythology.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Veeramakaliamman Temple, Little India:</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWagmZJm0I/AAAAAAAAAcc/KPH6Y9s05tA/s1600-h/llittle+india+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWagmZJm0I/AAAAAAAAAcc/KPH6Y9s05tA/s400/llittle+india+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234760026740595522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWaoCftDDI/AAAAAAAAAck/BnPd52p58_Q/s1600-h/little+india+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWaoCftDDI/AAAAAAAAAck/BnPd52p58_Q/s400/little+india+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234760154543361074" border="0" /></a><br />We wrapped up our Little India journey with all the fond memories of seeing a little India itself in Singapore.<br /><br />Next day was a dream visit. Visit to the Sentosa Island.<br /><br />We reached up to the Mount Faber cable car station by bus and from there we wired our way to the hotspot.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">These was taken near the boarding point in Mount Faber.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWoPcNk0vI/AAAAAAAAAcs/YQ_439QDSZk/s1600-h/sentosa+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWoPcNk0vI/AAAAAAAAAcs/YQ_439QDSZk/s400/sentosa+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234775125112705778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWooAvBDoI/AAAAAAAAAc0/jJtGofsuxBU/s1600-h/sentosa+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWooAvBDoI/AAAAAAAAAc0/jJtGofsuxBU/s400/sentosa+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234775547233504898" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br />These were taken from inside the cable car:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWovFgg4BI/AAAAAAAAAc8/X7jzbn4SIa0/s1600-h/sentosa+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKWovFgg4BI/AAAAAAAAAc8/X7jzbn4SIa0/s400/sentosa+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234775668773937170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This looked to be one of the stations, but right in the middle of the backwaters ? !!!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXEOvloZFI/AAAAAAAAAdE/ZpCDubU0CAA/s1600-h/sentosa+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXEOvloZFI/AAAAAAAAAdE/ZpCDubU0CAA/s400/sentosa+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234805899459585106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXG5ISVA2I/AAAAAAAAAdM/yCPzQ0MCxPI/s1600-h/sentosa+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXG5ISVA2I/AAAAAAAAAdM/yCPzQ0MCxPI/s400/sentosa+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234808826667271010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXHYBkND2I/AAAAAAAAAdU/eToA82BzwP8/s1600-h/sentosa+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXHYBkND2I/AAAAAAAAAdU/eToA82BzwP8/s400/sentosa+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234809357439143778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXH0Pm8GzI/AAAAAAAAAdc/syrTgabydSM/s1600-h/sentosa+7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXH0Pm8GzI/AAAAAAAAAdc/syrTgabydSM/s400/sentosa+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234809842245049138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXIT3qAHjI/AAAAAAAAAdk/G65UCmW29AU/s1600-h/sentosa+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXIT3qAHjI/AAAAAAAAAdk/G65UCmW29AU/s400/sentosa+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234810385571257906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Sentosa station</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXJJLkyTrI/AAAAAAAAAds/ROYnAuMqua4/s1600-h/sentosa+9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SKXJJLkyTrI/AAAAAAAAAds/ROYnAuMqua4/s400/sentosa+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234811301451157170" border="0" /></a><br />I will post about the places I visited in Sentosa in my next post. In fact, this was the place where I took lot of snaps.<br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-49441869536699619882008-07-30T13:11:00.004+06:302008-12-10T10:20:01.562+06:30Travel to Singapore (Part I).It was one of the most interesting and sizzling experiences of my life. A group consisting of me and my friends had assembled outside the departure lounge of Anna International Airport in the wee hours of a Friday, don't remember the exact date though........ visited long back.......<div face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We boarded the Jet Airways flight and reached Singapore in about three and a half hours. It was evening there when we reached. Everything there was so neat and clean.</div> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A snap of the Changi Airport (Singapore Airport):<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9Nm8XL5jI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/QUvtW5QhTtQ/s1600-h/airport.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228483023834179122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9Nm8XL5jI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/QUvtW5QhTtQ/s400/airport.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We then checked in to Hotel Carlton in the central business district. The man in the photo is me.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJhtJnzPNJI/AAAAAAAAAbY/nR8oSzVZus4/s1600-h/SHRIDHAR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJhtJnzPNJI/AAAAAAAAAbY/nR8oSzVZus4/s400/SHRIDHAR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231050979260970130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A view from my hotel room:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9SPhok2CI/AAAAAAAAAZg/3VaJAXxh7Rw/s1600-h/carlton2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228488119080507426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9SPhok2CI/AAAAAAAAAZg/3VaJAXxh7Rw/s400/carlton2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Blast from the past! (A brief history of Singapore)</span></span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>14th century: Singapore raises to prominence under the rule of king <span style="font-style: italic;">Parameshwara</span> of the<span style="font-style: italic;"> Srivijayan</span> province.</li><br /><li>19th century: It came under British colonial rule. It then grew as major trade centre in southeast Asia.</li><br /><li>1963: Merger with the federation of Malaya to form Malaysia.</li><br /><li>1965: Differences between the ruling parties one hailing from Malaysia and other from Singapore leads to separation and finally, independence of Singapore.</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Some prominent buildings in Singapore:</span><br /></span><span><br />We visited some buildings of prominence, the next morning.</span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The old parliament building:</span> This is the oldest government building ever in Singapore.<br /></li></ul></div><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9CNRWs19I/AAAAAAAAAZA/etMQETaeJps/s1600-h/Picture1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228470488164784082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9CNRWs19I/AAAAAAAAAZA/etMQETaeJps/s400/Picture1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> This has been converted into an art museum.</span><br /><br /><ul style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;"><li>The old Supreme court building:<br /></li></ul><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9ZBKgPZjI/AAAAAAAAAZo/31zCad8dCdM/s1600-h/supreme+court.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228495568934757938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9ZBKgPZjI/AAAAAAAAAZo/31zCad8dCdM/s400/supreme+court.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We walked down upto the Singapore river. A few snaps......</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Singapore river:</span><br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9jVePQLfI/AAAAAAAAAZw/ugQI9Gob0tI/s1600-h/river1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228506912945876466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9jVePQLfI/AAAAAAAAAZw/ugQI9Gob0tI/s400/river1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9jt2C74tI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/E9zZENDjQaU/s1600-h/river2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228507331653526226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SI9jt2C74tI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/E9zZENDjQaU/s400/river2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >There were many skyscrapers around the river. See this.........</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCaKoNVZXI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/ssj14d0ZI8o/s1600-h/Picture4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCaKoNVZXI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/ssj14d0ZI8o/s400/Picture4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228848674759861618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >One more view of the river.......</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCPCAbF81I/AAAAAAAAAaI/7Htjmaz9N3g/s1600-h/Picture3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCPCAbF81I/AAAAAAAAAaI/7Htjmaz9N3g/s400/Picture3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228836432013292370" border="0" /></a><br /><div face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;">The Malion or what is the real representation of Singapore. In fact the name Singapore is derived from the sanskrit word Singa and pura respectively meaning, lion and place. So the entire word would mean "The country of Malion".<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >The great emblem- Malion:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCeQMeevpI/AAAAAAAAAaY/IBUoNPYSDho/s1600-h/Picture5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCeQMeevpI/AAAAAAAAAaY/IBUoNPYSDho/s400/Picture5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228853168441310866" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCvYRToyWI/AAAAAAAAAag/ZBRJH7dw8ls/s1600-h/Picture6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCvYRToyWI/AAAAAAAAAag/ZBRJH7dw8ls/s400/Picture6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228871998874634594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">We took rest, then went to Orchard road which was 10-15 minutes from Carlton. The very thought of Orchard road still reminds me of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ajmal Khan</span> road in New Delhi and T Nagar in Chennai, both famous for shops and malls.<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >So, here you are, The Orchard Road.... from dusk to dawn .....<br /></span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCxuXg9RoI/AAAAAAAAAao/8YHV3Z_-r-A/s1600-h/Picture7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJCxuXg9RoI/AAAAAAAAAao/8YHV3Z_-r-A/s400/Picture7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228874577521493634" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC33h0XUKI/AAAAAAAAAaw/HvuBxd55XKw/s1600-h/orchard1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC33h0XUKI/AAAAAAAAAaw/HvuBxd55XKw/s400/orchard1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228881331975835810" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC4niW8CyI/AAAAAAAAAa4/aFgUsIu0Pok/s1600-h/orchard2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC4niW8CyI/AAAAAAAAAa4/aFgUsIu0Pok/s400/orchard2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228882156754570018" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC5WtbbufI/AAAAAAAAAbA/ZAKIdJu7cdY/s1600-h/orchard3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC5WtbbufI/AAAAAAAAAbA/ZAKIdJu7cdY/s400/orchard3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228882967180065266" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC6YD6OQFI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/YoylTb7ak4E/s1600-h/orchard4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SJC6YD6OQFI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/YoylTb7ak4E/s400/orchard4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228884089906282578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">You can reach Orchard road by MRT train (the network of local but world-class electric trains of Singapore), the nearest station being Somerset.</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">That's it for this post. I have lots of photos to upload and info and experiences to share. So, keep visiting and sharing your comments.<br /><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-6485106818078767"; /* 468x15, created 8/1/08 */ google_ad_slot = "2301769580"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 15; //--><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><br /><br /></p><p></p>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-48955914890562196272008-07-30T11:48:00.003+06:302008-07-30T11:50:00.017+06:30Singapore.<div align="justify">Coming up is a post about my experiences while traveling to Singapore....... I will also upload many photos in it. Please do check out from time to time.</div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-32934903775277277432008-07-10T22:53:00.002+06:302008-07-11T01:07:22.412+06:30New world heritage site in India !<div style="text-align: justify;">Yet another feather in the cap of Indian tourism. The 104 year old Kalka-Shimla mountain railway has been declared world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).<br /><br />Before this there are three railway sites which have got the recognition. They are Mettupalayam Ooty Nilgris Mountain railway in Tamil Nadu in south India, Darjeeling Himalayan railway in West Bengal in East India and Bombay VT (Victoria Terminus) in Maharashtra in West India.<br /><br />The common feature of any of the places covered by these four sites is the natural beauty. To add to the enjoyment, the trains pass though the nature very slowly giving you ample time to relish, relax and unwind.<br /><br />Long live India ! Long live tourism !<br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-72986128909640760702008-06-24T21:11:00.006+06:302008-12-10T10:20:01.959+06:30Darjeeling - The tourist's Darling !<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This beautiful heaven in North Eastern India is known for its natural beauty as is also known for the tourist inflow. Just have a look here............</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SGEgvaZ3WtI/AAAAAAAAAYo/nOnQThzI5A8/s1600-h/Darjeeling1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SGEgvaZ3WtI/AAAAAAAAAYo/nOnQThzI5A8/s400/Darjeeling1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215485842385492690" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SGEhRBNvkjI/AAAAAAAAAYw/d9DcSoWMTAc/s1600-h/Darjeeling2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SGEhRBNvkjI/AAAAAAAAAYw/d9DcSoWMTAc/s400/Darjeeling2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215486419739316786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Now this is known for all the wrong reasons. A group called Gorkha agitating for separate state called Gorkhaland.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gorkhas are Nepalese basically. They have been demanding this to keep their Nepalese identity intact. They have thus called on a </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">bandh</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and have brought tourism there to a virtual standstill.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They might have their own reasons but they are affecting the tourism industry thereby affecting the economy. The travel and tourism industry has immense potential and is on longer seasonal or depending on season. So, it is a good opportunity for the tourists to visit other places in India, especially south India.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Considering this, Travellopedia has packaged tours ready. We can also tailor-make packages considering individual requirements. For more details, do email to:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">shidr@gmail.com.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We are also hoping that the situation in Darjeeling will improve and life and tourism will return to normalcy in Darjeeling.</span>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-90463032607601923322008-06-09T20:04:00.012+06:302008-07-21T12:42:00.158+06:30Travel humour... if you could call it.<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black; font-weight: normal;">I read this article in the net. These are the excerpts.......... enjoy !<br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black; font-weight: normal;">An express train ran backward for several kilometres to pick up waiting passengers after it skipped an important station. The Thiruvananthapuram-bound Vanchinad Express, which stops at the Chirayinkeezhu Station, passed it without stopping there. It was stopped a few kilometres ahead of the next station after the engine driver was alerted. The train was then made to run back to Chirayinkeezhu Station to pick up the passengers.<br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black; font-weight: normal;">When contacted, Chirayinkeezhu Stationmaster told UNI the nearby station was alerted and the train stopped ahead of the next station.<u1:p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></u1:p> The Stationmaster said the driver could have missed the station as he could be new to the</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black; font-weight: normal;">section.<u1:p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></u1:p><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Whatever said and done, some passengers have been taken for a ride, though initially not in train.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Georgia; color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-63751984459253148042008-06-03T21:19:00.000+06:302008-12-10T10:20:16.392+06:30Trip to Madurai and Kodai - Part 3Just on the way back from Berijam lake, we saw a very good view point. It is called the Coaker's walk. It 's truly a walker's paradise as the name suggests. We were simply spell bound with some of the most beautiful views. Just check this out.....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVrHLmkfwI/AAAAAAAAAYg/r7ux9Me0dqA/s1600-h/IMG_0201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVrHLmkfwI/AAAAAAAAAYg/r7ux9Me0dqA/s400/IMG_0201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207686315241668354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVq56KdyMI/AAAAAAAAAYY/3oXBsZNOtqc/s1600-h/IMG_0202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVq56KdyMI/AAAAAAAAAYY/3oXBsZNOtqc/s400/IMG_0202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207686087222085826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVqmmCzYuI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/IxDDrmMYBXc/s1600-h/IMG_0203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVqmmCzYuI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/IxDDrmMYBXc/s400/IMG_0203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207685755403723490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVqUgDVJoI/AAAAAAAAAYI/DIu58gQrYuw/s1600-h/IMG_0204.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVqUgDVJoI/AAAAAAAAAYI/DIu58gQrYuw/s400/IMG_0204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207685444557678210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVqJ9B4uDI/AAAAAAAAAYA/mJZBTGUy4Nw/s1600-h/IMG_0205.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVqJ9B4uDI/AAAAAAAAAYA/mJZBTGUy4Nw/s400/IMG_0205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207685263357687858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVp4fKSK7I/AAAAAAAAAX4/INR7zYHDNLo/s1600-h/IMG_0206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVp4fKSK7I/AAAAAAAAAX4/INR7zYHDNLo/s400/IMG_0206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207684963282070450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVpnB09RkI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ZXnPEqh0w7Y/s1600-h/IMG_0207.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVpnB09RkI/AAAAAAAAAXw/ZXnPEqh0w7Y/s400/IMG_0207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207684663350216258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVpPFi2pGI/AAAAAAAAAXo/q7LMMHf4qRA/s1600-h/IMG_0208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVpPFi2pGI/AAAAAAAAAXo/q7LMMHf4qRA/s400/IMG_0208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207684252031165538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVpFXeCr1I/AAAAAAAAAXg/xDBAq1TH1qc/s1600-h/IMG_0209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVpFXeCr1I/AAAAAAAAAXg/xDBAq1TH1qc/s400/IMG_0209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207684085044129618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVo5iDn0mI/AAAAAAAAAXY/MnT0tSuzXBQ/s1600-h/IMG_0210.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVo5iDn0mI/AAAAAAAAAXY/MnT0tSuzXBQ/s400/IMG_0210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207683881727677026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVos_fIQOI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/OysLNwxzsKg/s1600-h/IMG_0211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVos_fIQOI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/OysLNwxzsKg/s400/IMG_0211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207683666289377506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVoisUpxVI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ahLOiW3dDwM/s1600-h/IMG_0212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVoisUpxVI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ahLOiW3dDwM/s400/IMG_0212.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207683489346471250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVoHX1cx1I/AAAAAAAAAXA/etqSehVTQPA/s1600-h/IMG_0213.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVoHX1cx1I/AAAAAAAAAXA/etqSehVTQPA/s400/IMG_0213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207683019990419282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVn-DYYZLI/AAAAAAAAAW4/2_Ojgv6WHdI/s1600-h/IMG_0214.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVn-DYYZLI/AAAAAAAAAW4/2_Ojgv6WHdI/s400/IMG_0214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207682859880965298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVnzzsK_KI/AAAAAAAAAWw/xK5l-X0qYSQ/s1600-h/IMG_0215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVnzzsK_KI/AAAAAAAAAWw/xK5l-X0qYSQ/s400/IMG_0215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207682683870313634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVne4HqYvI/AAAAAAAAAWo/WhuM5XsHoLQ/s1600-h/IMG_0216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVne4HqYvI/AAAAAAAAAWo/WhuM5XsHoLQ/s400/IMG_0216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207682324282106610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVnUT5XlUI/AAAAAAAAAWg/gfjfmpi8hiw/s1600-h/IMG_0217.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVnUT5XlUI/AAAAAAAAAWg/gfjfmpi8hiw/s400/IMG_0217.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207682142759785794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVnD3MnToI/AAAAAAAAAWY/rxNgvh6vKf8/s1600-h/IMG_0218.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVnD3MnToI/AAAAAAAAAWY/rxNgvh6vKf8/s400/IMG_0218.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207681860177972866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVm1sF28mI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/54N9qXj93sw/s1600-h/IMG_0219.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVm1sF28mI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/54N9qXj93sw/s400/IMG_0219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207681616678679138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVmhk4iWEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/aZilZUrqS_g/s1600-h/IMG_0220.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVmhk4iWEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/aZilZUrqS_g/s400/IMG_0220.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207681271146371138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVmRkPZdDI/AAAAAAAAAWA/ygyoDHCTWxA/s1600-h/IMG_0222.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SEVmRkPZdDI/AAAAAAAAAWA/ygyoDHCTWxA/s400/IMG_0222.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207680996095915058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCcUhPFp-DI/AAAAAAAAAQE/kEP_5GtKamg/s1600-h/IMG_0223.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCcUhPFp-DI/AAAAAAAAAQE/kEP_5GtKamg/s400/IMG_0223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199146856041019442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We wrapped up our trip to Madurai and Kodaikanal with a visit to Silver cascade falls:<br /><br />View from a view point:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCcK1vFp-CI/AAAAAAAAAP8/G6LrUx5qecs/s1600-h/IMG_0107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCcK1vFp-CI/AAAAAAAAAP8/G6LrUx5qecs/s400/IMG_0107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199136213112059938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa7PvFp-BI/AAAAAAAAAP0/zFJO-3QA_dk/s1600-h/IMG_0098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa7PvFp-BI/AAAAAAAAAP0/zFJO-3QA_dk/s400/IMG_0098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199048698858436626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa5I_Fp-AI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Km27X1pCWNE/s1600-h/IMG_0101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa5I_Fp-AI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Km27X1pCWNE/s400/IMG_0101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199046383871064066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa4EvFp9_I/AAAAAAAAAPk/p1a97JdO3zE/s1600-h/IMG_0100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa4EvFp9_I/AAAAAAAAAPk/p1a97JdO3zE/s400/IMG_0100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199045211344992242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a view of the surroundings from the same viewpoint:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa2ifFp9-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/8zCNYkzLDRM/s1600-h/IMG_0102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa2ifFp9-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/8zCNYkzLDRM/s400/IMG_0102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199043523422844898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa1gfFp99I/AAAAAAAAAPU/u_PoEcWzgQA/s1600-h/IMG_0103.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCa1gfFp99I/AAAAAAAAAPU/u_PoEcWzgQA/s400/IMG_0103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199042389551478738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SB9T9mQzgMI/AAAAAAAAAPM/E3OH4VaaoF4/s1600-h/IMG_0104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SB9T9mQzgMI/AAAAAAAAAPM/E3OH4VaaoF4/s400/IMG_0104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196964812716998850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSazWQzgLI/AAAAAAAAAPE/W7TXT0DCn4A/s1600-h/IMG_0102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSazWQzgLI/AAAAAAAAAPE/W7TXT0DCn4A/s400/IMG_0102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193946477205094578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSafGQzgKI/AAAAAAAAAO8/No21NvlpHAU/s1600-h/IMG_0103.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSafGQzgKI/AAAAAAAAAO8/No21NvlpHAU/s400/IMG_0103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193946129312743586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSZ9mQzgII/AAAAAAAAAOs/xhzOFasPCok/s1600-h/IMG_0104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSZ9mQzgII/AAAAAAAAAOs/xhzOFasPCok/s400/IMG_0104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193945553787125890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSZOGQzgHI/AAAAAAAAAOk/SH73Ag3sBDE/s1600-h/IMG_0105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSZOGQzgHI/AAAAAAAAAOk/SH73Ag3sBDE/s400/IMG_0105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193944737743339634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSYN2QzgGI/AAAAAAAAAOc/17QKklo4Lqs/s1600-h/IMG_0111.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSYN2QzgGI/AAAAAAAAAOc/17QKklo4Lqs/s400/IMG_0111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193943633936744546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSTUWQzgFI/AAAAAAAAAOU/U8Ggy6RU0UU/s1600-h/IMG_0112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSTUWQzgFI/AAAAAAAAAOU/U8Ggy6RU0UU/s400/IMG_0112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193938248047755346" border="0" /></a><br />And here is the close-up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSSGWQzgEI/AAAAAAAAAOM/55SyMrkBkzs/s1600-h/IMG_0271.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSSGWQzgEI/AAAAAAAAAOM/55SyMrkBkzs/s400/IMG_0271.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193936908017958978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSQv2QzgDI/AAAAAAAAAOE/-anvC1VAHP8/s1600-h/IMG_0274.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSQv2QzgDI/AAAAAAAAAOE/-anvC1VAHP8/s400/IMG_0274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193935421959274546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSN5GQzgCI/AAAAAAAAAN8/TmMmT4wk5R4/s1600-h/IMG_0278.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSN5GQzgCI/AAAAAAAAAN8/TmMmT4wk5R4/s400/IMG_0278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193932282338181154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSLeWQzgBI/AAAAAAAAAN0/GD4tHReH-Og/s1600-h/IMG_0280.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSLeWQzgBI/AAAAAAAAAN0/GD4tHReH-Og/s400/IMG_0280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193929623753424914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSKZ2QzgAI/AAAAAAAAANs/dvcSXTNjcB4/s1600-h/IMG_0281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSKZ2QzgAI/AAAAAAAAANs/dvcSXTNjcB4/s400/IMG_0281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193928446932385794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSJK2Qzf_I/AAAAAAAAANk/-uD2M3TlMW8/s1600-h/IMG_0282.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSJK2Qzf_I/AAAAAAAAANk/-uD2M3TlMW8/s400/IMG_0282.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193927089722720242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSIRWQzf-I/AAAAAAAAANc/R2Enmu90VAA/s1600-h/IMG_0286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSIRWQzf-I/AAAAAAAAANc/R2Enmu90VAA/s400/IMG_0286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193926101880242146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSGXWQzf9I/AAAAAAAAANU/9T5xidDwxJw/s1600-h/IMG_0285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSGXWQzf9I/AAAAAAAAANU/9T5xidDwxJw/s400/IMG_0285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193924005936201682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A view of God Vishnu (the protector god in the Hindu mythology).<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSFGWQzf8I/AAAAAAAAANM/zKW5hfY_53Q/s1600-h/IMG_0283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SBSFGWQzf8I/AAAAAAAAANM/zKW5hfY_53Q/s400/IMG_0283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193922614366797762" border="0" /></a><br />So, it was a superb trip to one of the most sacred pilgrimages and the most famous and beautiful hill stations. Kodai also seems to have got commercialized like Ooty but if you want to enjoy the nature's bounty then "be lost" in to one of those view points or walks along the mountains.<br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-16251571909162166262008-05-28T22:54:00.020+06:302008-12-10T10:20:19.399+06:30Trip to Madurai and Kodai Part 2<div style="text-align: justify;">We then went to Kurinji andavar temple which is a temple of lord Kartikeya who is the main deity in Kodaikanal.<br /><br />The temple: It is said to be a sub-temple of Palani which is one of the six sacred abodes or Arupadaivedu of lord Kartikeya.<br /><br />The handsome lord:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Image: Kurinjiandavar, Kodaikanal.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2VRYlk11I/AAAAAAAAAV4/C5akwE7qgXg/s1600-h/KURINJI+ANDAVAR.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2VRYlk11I/AAAAAAAAAV4/C5akwE7qgXg/s400/KURINJI+ANDAVAR.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205480870200530770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lord Dandayutapani, Palani.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Uw4lk10I/AAAAAAAAAVw/oBZnzJU-qpU/s1600-h/DANDAYUTAPANI.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Uw4lk10I/AAAAAAAAAVw/oBZnzJU-qpU/s400/DANDAYUTAPANI.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205480311854782274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Our next target was to reach Berijam lake which is a high altitude lake located more than 20 kms from Kodaikanal:<br /><br />For this we needed to get permission from the forest rangers which we got. The route to this lake was through dense forests, but I was stunned by the nature's beauty and bounty there. There was no question of any pollution or big crowd there, though there were some vehicles going towards the lake.<br /><br />These are the sort of the places I am talking about, totally stress relieving and pure. See this ......<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2TkYlk1yI/AAAAAAAAAVg/S_HcyHq5nZk/s1600-h/IMG_0192.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2TkYlk1yI/AAAAAAAAAVg/S_HcyHq5nZk/s400/IMG_0192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205478997594789666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2TQ4lk1xI/AAAAAAAAAVY/VrHjABTwjUE/s1600-h/IMG_0194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2TQ4lk1xI/AAAAAAAAAVY/VrHjABTwjUE/s400/IMG_0194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205478662587340562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2S3Ylk1wI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/B4MbfZaUElU/s1600-h/IMG_0195.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2S3Ylk1wI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/B4MbfZaUElU/s400/IMG_0195.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205478224500676354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Pqolk1uI/AAAAAAAAAVA/evteXEQN8fI/s1600-h/IMG_0171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Pqolk1uI/AAAAAAAAAVA/evteXEQN8fI/s400/IMG_0171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205474706922460898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2PGolk1tI/AAAAAAAAAU4/W0KyEGHG3UA/s1600-h/IMG_0186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2PGolk1tI/AAAAAAAAAU4/W0KyEGHG3UA/s400/IMG_0186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205474088447170258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Oj4lk1sI/AAAAAAAAAUw/w6bQGn3v7HQ/s1600-h/IMG_0193.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Oj4lk1sI/AAAAAAAAAUw/w6bQGn3v7HQ/s400/IMG_0193.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205473491446716098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2N9olk1rI/AAAAAAAAAUo/bOjJF08L3xs/s1600-h/IMG_0170.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2N9olk1rI/AAAAAAAAAUo/bOjJF08L3xs/s400/IMG_0170.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205472834316719794" border="0" /></a><br />This is the view of the lake from one of the view points on the side of the road leading to the lake:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Mt4lk1qI/AAAAAAAAAUg/hzBNgB4KO2k/s1600-h/IMG_0173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Mt4lk1qI/AAAAAAAAAUg/hzBNgB4KO2k/s400/IMG_0173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205471464222152354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2MWIlk1pI/AAAAAAAAAUY/Ko37fMO19Lw/s1600-h/IMG_0174.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2MWIlk1pI/AAAAAAAAAUY/Ko37fMO19Lw/s400/IMG_0174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205471056200259218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2L64lk1oI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/8YP8bQNbPxg/s1600-h/IMG_0176.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2L64lk1oI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/8YP8bQNbPxg/s400/IMG_0176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205470588048823938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2LbIlk1nI/AAAAAAAAAUI/_18E6HRwMrg/s1600-h/IMG_0177.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2LbIlk1nI/AAAAAAAAAUI/_18E6HRwMrg/s400/IMG_0177.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205470042587977330" border="0" /></a><br />And then we reached the lake ........<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2K7Ylk1mI/AAAAAAAAAUA/G3qlKMt2rMU/s1600-h/IMG_0190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2K7Ylk1mI/AAAAAAAAAUA/G3qlKMt2rMU/s400/IMG_0190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205469497127130722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Ki4lk1lI/AAAAAAAAAT4/_R-GtQx43-k/s1600-h/IMG_0187.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Ki4lk1lI/AAAAAAAAAT4/_R-GtQx43-k/s400/IMG_0187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205469076220335698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2JwYlk1kI/AAAAAAAAATw/SfymZRsNIkw/s1600-h/IMG_0188.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2JwYlk1kI/AAAAAAAAATw/SfymZRsNIkw/s400/IMG_0188.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205468208636941890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Jcolk1jI/AAAAAAAAATo/oqdFme9hgKY/s1600-h/IMG_0191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SD2Jcolk1jI/AAAAAAAAATo/oqdFme9hgKY/s400/IMG_0191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205467869334525490" border="0" /></a><br />Rest in the next post. Meanwhile do keep pinging in.R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-19575387091343829302008-05-19T22:19:00.014+06:302008-12-10T10:20:20.043+06:30Trip to ancient Narasimha Temples.It was an occasion of double happiness - <span style="font-style: italic;">Sri Narasimha Jayanti</span> (birthday of lord Narasimha and my parents' wedding anniversary. Lord <span style="font-style: italic;">Narasimha</span> is the lion incarnation of lord Vishnu who is the protector god amongst the hindu mythological trinity. We had planned to visit three rather less frequently visited temples of the lord.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />These were those:<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Parikkal temple (Near Villupuram)</li><li>Poovarasan kuppam temple (Near Cuddalore)</li><li>Tavalai Kuppam (near Cuddalore)<br /></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">All of these places are located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.<br /><br />The temples are visited less because they are located in far off and not very much reachable places in rural Tamil Nadu. They can be only be reached comfortably by car.<br /><br />We started our trip with <span style="font-style: italic;">Tavalaikuppam</span>. We followed the Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry-Cuddalore route to reach the place. But it was the most unfortunate that the temple was closed early because of a death nearby. And in India, it is a belief. We were also told by the locals that the temple will be open in the afternoon.<br /><br />In the mean time, we planned to visit some other temples of the same lord located nearby. We then moved towards <span style="font-style: italic;">Poovarasankuppam </span>around 20 kms away from <span style="font-style: italic;">Tavalaikuppam</span>.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span>I don't remember the exact route but the locals there are very well adept with the locations. Here is the deity<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SDV8Bolk1gI/AAAAAAAAATQ/FC9ifyEYAl8/s1600-h/Pict0001+compressed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SDV8Bolk1gI/AAAAAAAAATQ/FC9ifyEYAl8/s400/Pict0001+compressed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203201312013211138" border="0" /></a><br />This place is also called <span style="font-style: italic;">Ten Ahobilam </span><span>or South <span style="font-style: italic;">Ahobilam</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ahobilam</span> is a place in <span style="font-style: italic;">Andhra Pradesh </span>which is located north of<span style="font-style: italic;"> Tamil Nadu.<br /><br /></span>Our next stoppage was at <span style="font-style: italic;">Siruvandhaadu </span>where in we visited the <span style="font-style: italic;">Lakshminarayana swami </span>temple.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SDWEr4lk1hI/AAAAAAAAATY/ix1bzU0L_88/s1600-h/Pict0003+compressed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SDWEr4lk1hI/AAAAAAAAATY/ix1bzU0L_88/s400/Pict0003+compressed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203210833955706386" border="0" /></a><br /><span>The temple priest told us that the temple was built during the <span style="font-style: italic;">Chola</span> empire in th 16th century. So, a place of historical importance.<br /><br />It was noon time and we had just started to feel hungry. We didn't find any decent eat out anywhere nearby. My uncle had gone to a good restaurant in Neyveli border, Archana. We had south Indian meals. Our next visit was to <span style="font-style: italic;">Parikkal </span>and here is the lord who resides and presides there:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SDbm2olk1iI/AAAAAAAAATg/o6OBW1Sgcg8/s1600-h/Pict0002+compressed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SDbm2olk1iI/AAAAAAAAATg/o6OBW1Sgcg8/s400/Pict0002+compressed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203600245755532834" border="0" /></a><br />This completed the trip to lord Lakshmi Narasimha's abodes, with just the dissatisfaction of not being able to visit one, <span style="font-style: italic;">Tavalaikuppam</span>. No worry.... will make an attempt next time....<br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-8055198697685560372008-05-13T19:14:00.019+06:302008-12-10T10:20:23.825+06:30Trip to Madurai and Kodai Part I<span style="font-size:100%;">It was on the occasion of my uncle’s second son’s first birthda</span><span style="font-size:100%;">y that we had planned to visit <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madurai</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city> and also simultaneously visit Kodaikanal. Please go throug</span><span style="font-size:100%;">h</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">this post and give your valuable comments.</span><div> </div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Madurai:</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Also called the city of temples, it is located in the south In</span><span style="font-size:100%;">dian st</span><span style="font-size:100%;">at</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e of Tamil</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Nadu. It is one of the </span><span style="font-size:100%;">major pilgrimage centres. The most famous amongst the temple</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> i</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s th</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e goddess Meenakshi temple. There is also one <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Joseph</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>’s church but we coul</span><span style="font-size:100%;">dn’t find t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ime to visi</span><span style="font-size:100%;">t there. Nor coul</span><span style="font-size:100%;">d we visit Meenakshi temple because of some big festival held</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> th</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ere.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I am giving details of the places we visited in this post. The first place we visited was the temple of lord <i>Azhagar</i> (also called <i>Sundararaja Perumal </i>temple or <i>Kallaz</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>hagar</i> temple). It i</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s one of the 108 <i>Divya desams</i><i>divya desams</i> is said to have been d</span><span style="font-size:100%;">one </span><span style="font-size:100%;">by <i>Ra</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>m</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>an</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>uja</i> who is placed in the level just below lord <i>Vishnu</i> himself.<o:p></o:p> or sacred shrin</span><span style="font-size:100%;">es of Vishnu. The</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> classification of</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">So, here are few snaps of the temple:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The <i>Rajagopuram</i> or the spire in the main gate.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmdI_Fp-bI/AAAAAAAAATE/7z-dGtxsO7E/s1600-h/IMG_0059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmdI_Fp-bI/AAAAAAAAATE/7z-dGtxsO7E/s400/IMG_0059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199860022475618738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmcJPFp-aI/AAAAAAAAAS8/mmQRwVNtPj8/s1600-h/IMG_0062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmcJPFp-aI/AAAAAAAAAS8/mmQRwVNtPj8/s400/IMG_0062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199858927258958242" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">A view of the temple complex:</span> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmbiPFp-ZI/AAAAAAAAAS0/Q6yKO5Y-BS0/s1600-h/IMG_0065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmbiPFp-ZI/AAAAAAAAAS0/Q6yKO5Y-BS0/s400/IMG_0065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199858257244060050" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmbhvFp-YI/AAAAAAAAASs/agqxlS6I_m4/s1600-h/IMG_0066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmbhvFp-YI/AAAAAAAAASs/agqxlS6I_m4/s400/IMG_0066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199858248654125442" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">You can find lots of Monkeys outside the temple complex.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCma2_Fp-WI/AAAAAAAAASc/5i3d5lF-NXc/s1600-h/IMG_0070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCma2_Fp-WI/AAAAAAAAASc/5i3d5lF-NXc/s400/IMG_0070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199857514214717794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCma2_Fp-XI/AAAAAAAAASk/1elFoJovLVI/s1600-h/IMG_0069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCma2_Fp-XI/AAAAAAAAASk/1elFoJovLVI/s400/IMG_0069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199857514214717810" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Beware of these dangerous human predecessors</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. They can snatch away your belongings. They sit in trees as a clout.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmYiPFp-VI/AAAAAAAAASU/-e8XT0qstds/s1600-h/IMG_0060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmYiPFp-VI/AAAAAAAAASU/-e8XT0qstds/s400/IMG_0060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199854958709176658" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our next visit was to the <i>Murugan</i> or <i>Kartikeya</i> temple at <i>Pazhamudircholai</i> which is the sixth amongst the six sacred abodes of the lord which are also called <i>Arupadaiveedu.</i><br /></span></p><p face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmXrPFp-TI/AAAAAAAAASE/xjowbyDrgSA/s1600-h/IMG_0075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmXrPFp-TI/AAAAAAAAASE/xjowbyDrgSA/s400/IMG_0075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199854013816371506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmXrfFp-UI/AAAAAAAAASM/R45KLlf300E/s1600-h/IMG_0074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmXrfFp-UI/AAAAAAAAASM/R45KLlf300E/s400/IMG_0074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199854018111338818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">We then went t<span style="font-style: italic;">o </span><i>Vedanta Desikar</i> temple.......</span><br /></p><p face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmWZvFp-SI/AAAAAAAAAR8/G9jWgC4WPAA/s1600-h/IMG_0086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmWZvFp-SI/AAAAAAAAAR8/G9jWgC4WPAA/s400/IMG_0086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199852613657032994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">and then to <i>Koodalazhagar</i> temple</span><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmVwPFp-RI/AAAAAAAAAR0/KlJHERwXfL0/s1600-h/IMG_0085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmVwPFp-RI/AAAAAAAAAR0/KlJHERwXfL0/s400/IMG_0085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199851900692461842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmVMfFp-QI/AAAAAAAAARs/FeWC0-qd7k8/s1600-h/IMG_0087.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmVMfFp-QI/AAAAAAAAARs/FeWC0-qd7k8/s400/IMG_0087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199851286512138498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After this we went to Kodaikanal by road,</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> the next day. The route we took was the Madurai-Vathlakkundu-Kodai Road-Kodaikanal</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">. O</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ne</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> normall</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">y pass through only one hill while climbing to a hill station due to which there is a co</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">nstant</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> increa</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">s</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">e in </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">altitude. But while going to Kodaikanal, one passes through many hills. One need</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">s to clim</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">b up and down a hill and then sevral such hills might make one feel giddy. So jus</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">t be car</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">e</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">f</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ul in this route.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rest everything seems to be totally fine in this place - much less c</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ommercialized as comp</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ared to Ooty. You may not have much siteseei</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ng to be done at Kod</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">aikanal but can find much of the nature's</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> beauty in and around the city.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here you can find the places we visited and their snaps.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Kodai lake:</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmUoPFp-PI/AAAAAAAAARk/5CRvmEXv5lk/s1600-h/IMG_0246.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmUoPFp-PI/AAAAAAAAARk/5CRvmEXv5lk/s400/IMG_0246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199850663741880562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmSovFp-OI/AAAAAAAAARc/kME3wy3uaoA/s1600-h/IMG_0127.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmSovFp-OI/AAAAAAAAARc/kME3wy3uaoA/s400/IMG_0127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199848473308559586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmSovFp-NI/AAAAAAAAARU/_JEXC0XwSNs/s1600-h/IMG_0129.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmSovFp-NI/AAAAAAAAARU/_JEXC0XwSNs/s400/IMG_0129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199848473308559570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmSofFp-MI/AAAAAAAAARM/MEH1RRRO4sQ/s1600-h/IMG_0145.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmSofFp-MI/AAAAAAAAARM/MEH1RRRO4sQ/s400/IMG_0145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199848469013592258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmRF_Fp-JI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/q8Ch2rMLnRM/s1600-h/IMG_0152.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmRF_Fp-JI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/q8Ch2rMLnRM/s400/IMG_0152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199846776796477586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmRGPFp-KI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/u41ljNIgjqM/s1600-h/IMG_0148.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmRGPFp-KI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/u41ljNIgjqM/s400/IMG_0148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199846781091444898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmRGfFp-LI/AAAAAAAAARE/Xk0L9truMR0/s1600-h/IMG_0146.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmRGfFp-LI/AAAAAAAAARE/Xk0L9truMR0/s400/IMG_0146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199846785386412210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">There have been occasions earlier when wild bu</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">lls hav</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">e </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">attacked the Kodai lake region from open unfenced jungles along the corner of the lake like these.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmQffFp-II/AAAAAAAAAQs/us2-K5A6qX0/s1600-h/IMG_0153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmQffFp-II/AAAAAAAAAQs/us2-K5A6qX0/s400/IMG_0153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199846115371513986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">More snaps........</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmP6vFp-HI/AAAAAAAAAQk/U5MLUR5XYsQ/s1600-h/IMG_0154.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmP6vFp-HI/AAAAAAAAAQk/U5MLUR5XYsQ/s400/IMG_0154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199845484011321458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmPGPFp-FI/AAAAAAAAAQU/F9s6pk4r1O8/s1600-h/IMG_0251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmPGPFp-FI/AAAAAAAAAQU/F9s6pk4r1O8/s400/IMG_0251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199844582068189266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmPGPFp-GI/AAAAAAAAAQc/5FB7X_Alq-E/s1600-h/IMG_0247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmPGPFp-GI/AAAAAAAAAQc/5FB7X_Alq-E/s400/IMG_0247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199844582068189282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmORvFp-EI/AAAAAAAAAQM/e4-SG97obs8/s1600-h/IMG_0252.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/SCmORvFp-EI/AAAAAAAAAQM/e4-SG97obs8/s400/IMG_0252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199843680125057090" border="0" /></a><br />Rest will be posted in the coming posts. Please do keep visiting.R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-4176004964926500512008-03-04T00:15:00.003+06:302008-07-14T01:24:38.530+06:30Travel services, Cheapest travel arrangement and dedicated NRI services.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">We are pleased to inform you that we have started providing affordable and best travel arrangements. Our aim here is to make traveling, the least tiresome and the most comfortable. Please revert regarding any travel requirements to:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">travellopediaindia@gmail.com</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">or call me @ 0091 9790878071.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This arrangement is currently for tours in India. We soon hope to extend it to other countries and also provide the best travel services.</span><br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-42355090802352929472008-02-27T00:04:00.002+06:302008-02-27T00:14:35.825+06:30The Indian Rail Budget<div style="text-align: justify;">The railway minister seems to have indeed given a populist budget. He has announced 10 new Garib Rath trains apart from reductions in fare. Eventhough people feel that the travel fares have not been considerably reduced, the minister has been successful in keeping the fares constant, in the sense that they have not increased. He has also maintained consistency in this. The fares have been more or less the same for the last four years.<br /><br />Whatever said and done, at the end of the day, things are conducive for promoting travel and tourism in the country. The steps taken by the railway minister and other connected ministers can take indian tourism to great heights is what is my hope.<br /></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-37301702028224519532008-02-16T18:53:00.006+06:302008-02-17T16:40:43.127+06:30Ooty to Tirupati<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Google searches made by many individuals from various places have lead to my blog frequently. This has made me to give details of travel from Ooty to Tirupati. From Ooty, there is no direct way to reach Tirupati. I don't know of any travel operator providing cab facility from Ooty to Tirupati. But one easier way to reach would be through railways.<br /><br />From Ooty, reach Mettupalayam by the Nilgiris passenger. Then from Mettupalayam, an overnight train (Nilagiri Express) would lead you to Chennai. There will be tour operators who ply between Chennai and Tirupati. One can reach Tirupati from Chennai by train (Chennai Tirupati Sapthagiri Express). Alternatively use Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's tour package. This again is available from Chennai. I don't think so that they run any transport buses from Ooty. To have more details regarding tour packages run by the Devasthanam, visit www.tirumala.org which is the Devasthanam's official website.<br /><br />For any ticket bookings or other details please contact me at shridr@gmail.com or at +91-9940171287. My name is Shridhar.<br /></span></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-82793039133253645292008-02-02T23:15:00.002+06:302008-08-02T02:07:05.176+06:30Travel to Tirupati (Info on accomodation, restaurants and places to visit)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >I consider myself fortunate for having got an opportunity to travel to one of the most well known and most sought after places by pilgrims and general tourists alike, not only from India but also from across the world. This is one of the prime abodes of lord Vishnu, who in turn is one of the hindu trinity gods-namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This place is also listed II in the list of 108 divya desams. The first one is Srirangam which is also called Bhooloka Vaikuntham, or the prime abode of lord Vishnu on the earth.<u1:p></u1:p> <o:p></o:p></span> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tirupati is also one of the most crowded pilgrimages. So, all the more it is very difficult to get the darshan of the lord. People stand for hours in the queue to have darshan of the lord.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It was the wedding anniversary of one of our relatives and we had planned to join them on the occasion.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is more to tirupati than the main temple. The highlight of this trip was that we were able to visit places and temples other than the main one in Tirupati. First we visited the Panchamukha Anjaneyar shrine in Tiruvallur, which was under construction. We had darshan of lord hanuman who had five faces, namely- hanuman, narasimha, hayagriva, varaha and garuda. The deity was so huge that one can have part darshan from outside the temple.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Next we went to the Veeraraghava perumal temple at Tiruvallur which is one amongst the 108 divya desam classified by Ramanuja who was the architect of Vaishnavism or worship of lord Vishnu. We went to the pushkarni (holy lake) called Hrittapanasini, there which is known for its sanctity. There is an old belief that if jaggery is dissolved into this lake then all diseases will be cured. The tank is so holy that evens a sight or a touch or a bath would immediately dispel all anguish of heart. As usual, at the centre of the tank there is a mandapam, where seasonal Festivals are performed. But when we went near the lake, we could see that it was extremely dirty and we found garbage lying on it.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">From there, we went to Tirupati during late afternoon as we had to reach there quickly as some persons amongst us were to climb the hill on foot and rest by car. We reached the place in the night.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Good Restaurants in Tirupati:</span> The best we found was Bhimas Deluxe in <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Tiruchanoor Road</st1:address></st1:street></st1:address></st1:street> near Govindarajaswami temple. The food there was par excellence. Don’t forget to ask for <i>Gonghra</i><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span> chutney (hope I have spelt correctly) there. This chutney can be used as sidedish to Dosas etc and also mixed with rice and taken. But some may find this place expensive.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Other less expensive but good quality restaurants in <st1:place st="on"><st1:place st="on">Upper Tirupati</st1:place></st1:place> (i.e where the presiding deity is) were Anjanadri (formerly Annapoorna hotel) and Annamayya which is guest house cum hotel. When overcrowded, tokens are issued and people are called when there is place inside in the order of the token number. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We visited temples like that of Sri Kalyana Venkateswarar in Srinivasa Mangapuram. After that we went to Papavinasanam falls, the next morning. Then we took some rest in the afternoon and then went for the darshan. The entire ambiance of the temple was so superb that I felt like relaxing there for a while. The lord is well decoratedas a groom. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We had booked for the special arjitha seva. It was a small prayer (pooja) followed by renditions of few annamayya sankeerthanams. We went for the darshan after the pooja and to my surprise, there were no people behind our crew and we were the last set, for the moment from start to the darshan. I was feeling very uncomfortable as this place is a big crowd puller and there is no body.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But still, the davasthanam people were pushing us out of the chamber where the main lord is. So, whether there’s crowd or not, it seems that the devasthanam people have got habituated to the characteristic pushing with the word <i>jargabndi</i> which means “move”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><!--<span title="Click to correct" class="transl_class" id="0">span</span>--></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">It would be more comfortable if people can stay put at Tirupati for more than one day and have darshan। One can cover many places if they also visit places that come on the way while going to Tirupati or places near Tirupati। Few of such places are Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, Nallattoor, Srikalahasti, Veyyanjeri etc.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-6485106818078767"; /* 234x60, created 1/27/08 */ google_ad_slot = "7505479928"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><br /></p><p></p>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-14500514581115239682007-12-07T20:52:00.000+06:302008-02-08T22:38:57.149+06:30Travel to Ooty (Info on Ooty and budget hotels and accomodation in Ooty)<div style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the place where I have been planning to go since long time, since I have been in Delhi. Yes, I am talking about the queen of hill stations-Ooty. It is also known as Udhagai or Udhagamandalam.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Location:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Ooty is located in Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, Southern India.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The word </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Nil (pronounced as Neel)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> means Blue and </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Giri</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> means mountain. As the name suggests Ooty is full of mountains, valleys, Tea plantations and gardens.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >How to reach:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >By Air:</span> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The nearest airport to Ooty is at a distance of about 88kms and is located in Coimbatore. There one can take Indian Airline flights to Coimbatore, Bangalore, Cochin and Chennai. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="subheading"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >By Rail:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ooty railway station is very much near to the main city. One can come upto Mettupalayam and then pick up the world heritage train - </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >The Mettupalayam -Ooty Nilgiris passenger.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This toy train that connects Ooty with Mettupalayam and Coonoor, another famous hill station. The train is not really fast. But tourists can enjoy natural beauty all along the way. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >By Road:</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Traveling by road is a not a bad idea as Tamil Nadu has a very good road network. The state has many highways that connect distant places and make traveling much easier. But I do have a feeling that you will miss out all the charm and view of nature that you can have in the Narrow gauge Ooty train.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >So, that's the best option I would consider.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Accommodation:</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > Sterling Holiday Resorts, Fern Hill.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >It was a very short weekend trip with some friends. I couldn't see many places that I really wanted to. It got out of my mind to take my camera. It's criminal not to take it when you are travelling to such a beautiful place.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >But I am surely determined to visit them soon and then will be writing and posting photos. Here I am about whatever I could visit.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Botanical Garden:</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >It was built in the nineteenth century by the Marquis of Tweedale, the Indian civil servant during the british rule. It was full of trees and plants. In fact the most striking thing about it was the "beauties that blossomed". I would describe this garden as a repository of a wide variety of beautiful flowers (that's what I meant). This is indeed very big and a must to visit place for any tourist.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Doddabetta peak:</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >It is the highest peak in Ooty. The fragrance of Eucalyptus trees left me spell bound so much, that I didn't even bother much about the bumpy road climbing uphill leading to the peak.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >There was a telescopic tower used to view the natural sceneries.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >You can also find lot of vendors selling hats, caps and various other items there.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Kart racing:</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I preferred not to go to Ooty lake as I had done enough boating in Nainital. When one of the group members suggested about going kart, I was really enthused. We went to the kart racing club of Tamil Nadu Tourism. Cant recall its name. It was a circular race course with rubber tyres spread all around to prevent people getting hurt when they hit corners. We had a small race amongst ourselves.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >It was only few minutes after it started that I went out of control and hit the kart of one of my fellow group members. Then I saw him pressing the accelerator and turning the steering but to no avail. His kart was entirely above the set of tyres and wheels in the air.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I again hit another person, but this time I also went fully out of control. I think I am amongst the luckier ones. The wheels on the left side of the kart was over the rubber tyres and those on the right side were still on the road. So, I was able to accelerate. Then I turned the steering to the right side to bring my kart back to the road. The earliest to complete seven rounds was the first (not me).<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I couldn't gauge the extent to which Ooty has got commercialized, but I believe it has still got the scenic beauty left in it to be called "The queen of Hill stations".<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-6485106818078767"; /* 234x60, created 1/27/08 */ google_ad_slot = "7505479928"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><br /><br /></span></span></p><br /></span></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-85580769670822987222007-11-03T23:33:00.000+06:302008-12-10T10:20:25.744+06:30Travel to Nainital Part III. (Info on accomodation, budget hotels and places to visit in Nainital)<div style="text-align: justify;">The next day's outing spree was to the high altitude Zoo in Nainital also called Govind Ballabh Pant Zoo. There is no proper transport available to the zoo. So we preferred walking. So it was a 15 to 20 minutes climb from near one of the sides of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Nainital</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Lake to the zoo</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Don't remember properly........ We just asked one of the locals there.<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, have a look at some of the "wild" attractions, if you could call it........</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Mountain Bear:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><will><photo>Will be posted shortly.<br /></photo></will></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ghoral:<br /><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2tKCVNyOI/AAAAAAAAALM/H13yKcMSZns/s1600-h/IMG_1161.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128945938581014754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2tKCVNyOI/AAAAAAAAALM/H13yKcMSZns/s400/IMG_1161.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2x7SVNyPI/AAAAAAAAALU/A06AKM6I-JY/s1600-h/IMG_1157.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128951182736083186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2x7SVNyPI/AAAAAAAAALU/A06AKM6I-JY/s400/IMG_1157.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry20OCVNyRI/AAAAAAAAALk/kQjc30OmlBA/s1600-h/IMG_1163.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128953703881885970" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry20OCVNyRI/AAAAAAAAALk/kQjc30OmlBA/s400/IMG_1163.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Leopard:</span></span></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry231SVNyWI/AAAAAAAAAMI/ye0SKsyO_fs/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_1172.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128957676726634850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry231SVNyWI/AAAAAAAAAMI/ye0SKsyO_fs/s400/Copy+of+IMG_1172.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Owl:</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2r4yVNyNI/AAAAAAAAALE/QmIRPqzG0fU/s1600-h/IMG_1149-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128944542716643538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2r4yVNyNI/AAAAAAAAALE/QmIRPqzG0fU/s400/IMG_1149-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sambhar:</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry21GyVNySI/AAAAAAAAALs/IN_cb1e-mAs/s1600-h/IMG_1168-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128954678839462178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry21GyVNySI/AAAAAAAAALs/IN_cb1e-mAs/s400/IMG_1168-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry214iVNyTI/AAAAAAAAAL0/FsD5drl71HQ/s1600-h/IMG_1169.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128955533537954098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry214iVNyTI/AAAAAAAAAL0/FsD5drl71HQ/s400/IMG_1169.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />We were eagerly waiting outside a well fenced cage of snow leopard to catch a glimpse of it, but couldn’t see it. That was the last place we visited in Nainital. We however couldn’t visit other attractions like Snow view point, Dorothy’s seat and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tiffin</st1:place></st1:city> top. Sure, will post when I get to travel next time.</span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2y2iVNyQI/AAAAAAAAALc/xJXDW0jRXZs/s1600-h/IMG_1159.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128952200643332354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry2y2iVNyQI/AAAAAAAAALc/xJXDW0jRXZs/s400/IMG_1159.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry23ASVNyUI/AAAAAAAAAL8/xUxfXqggBFI/s1600-h/IMG_1170.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128956766193568066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Ry23ASVNyUI/AAAAAAAAAL8/xUxfXqggBFI/s400/IMG_1170.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />We found a lot of garbage thrown on the Nainital lake, thereby polluting it. Further the commercialization in the vicinity of the lakes can further pollute it, as we heard from some locals there that sewages are mostly let into the lake. It would be better if man protects nature as it</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> has been protecting him since time immemorial.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-6485106818078767"; /* 234x60, created 1/27/08 */ google_ad_slot = "7505479928"; google_ad_width = 234; google_ad_height = 60; //--><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><br /><br /></span></span></p><br /></span></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-31168760701416287612007-10-25T12:17:00.000+06:302008-12-10T10:20:31.917+06:30Travel to Nainital - Part II (Nainital - Places to visit)<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The lakes we visited were:</span></span> <ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saat Tal </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >(the seven lakes)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> These are<br /></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Ram</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Lakshman<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sita</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">HanumAn</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Garud</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Nal and</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Damyanti.</span></li></ul></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Whilst the first four are combined and are seen as one single lake, the rest are at different places and altitudes.<br /><br />Few of the photos of the first four lakes:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyQ7ACVNxwI/AAAAAAAAAHc/WA-nxOBD5zo/s1600-h/IMG_1109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126287147666360066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyQ7ACVNxwI/AAAAAAAAAHc/WA-nxOBD5zo/s400/IMG_1109.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyQ9_CVNxxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/CbE4rq8e-zI/s1600-h/IMG_1108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126290429021374226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyQ9_CVNxxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/CbE4rq8e-zI/s400/IMG_1108.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > Entry fee:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> INR 20 Boating: INR 60 per hour for one pedal boat and per full round of the lake for one row boat.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Naukuchiatal</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > (or the Nine sided lake):</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> It is the biggest lake in the region. The best of the boating experiences was in </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Naukuchiatal</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, as it was really very large and it took a lot of time for us to complete even one round of the lake, pedaling in a pedal boat andt was covering the mountains. The lake was also so very neat. The sun was also showing up every now and then. So it was a hide and seek play between the sun and the fog.</span> simultaneously viewing beautiful trees, mountains and the fog tha</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The part of Naukuchiatal which is laden with lotus and its leaves, is called Kamal Tal. This means, a lake full of lotus. Please see below:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRKiSVNx2I/AAAAAAAAAIM/0rfRRnUaLg0/s1600-h/IMG_1116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126304228751296354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRKiSVNx2I/AAAAAAAAAIM/0rfRRnUaLg0/s400/IMG_1116.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRc0yVNx3I/AAAAAAAAAIU/B0rEtjFfi0M/s1600-h/IMG_1117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126324337788176242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRc0yVNx3I/AAAAAAAAAIU/B0rEtjFfi0M/s400/IMG_1117.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And below is Naukuchiatal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRCeSVNxyI/AAAAAAAAAHs/bkrju3mC5kk/s1600-h/IMG_1107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126295363938797346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRCeSVNxyI/AAAAAAAAAHs/bkrju3mC5kk/s400/IMG_1107.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRD6iVNxzI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Fg2qYs4oels/s1600-h/IMG_1114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126296948781729586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRD6iVNxzI/AAAAAAAAAH0/Fg2qYs4oels/s400/IMG_1114.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A view of mountains and fog covering.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRGSiVNx0I/AAAAAAAAAH8/gn2A-rYsD08/s1600-h/IMG_1090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126299560121845570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRGSiVNx0I/AAAAAAAAAH8/gn2A-rYsD08/s400/IMG_1090.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRImSVNx1I/AAAAAAAAAIE/PrnDQvpFlKw/s1600-h/IMG_1092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126302098447517522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRImSVNx1I/AAAAAAAAAIE/PrnDQvpFlKw/s400/IMG_1092.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-size:100%;">We then went to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hanumaan Garhi</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (pronounced as Gaadi) temple which had a big size statue of the monkey-man incarnation and the sanctum-sanctorum of lord Hanumaan. Here is the temple</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126344373810612098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 259px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRvDCVNx4I/AAAAAAAAAIc/7FQbrbuDYbM/s400/13.JPG" border="0" />and here is the deity, lord Hanuman.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126346929316153234" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyRxXyVNx5I/AAAAAAAAAIk/-R2AEkUdQhk/s400/15.JPG" border="0" />A den called Vaishno Devi Gufa on one side of the temple leads to Vaishno Devi shrine. Initially I was hesitant to go in. When I came to know that it's an artificial den, then I decided to go.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is the entrance of the<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126405495490201522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySmoyVNx7I/AAAAAAAAAI0/VZGMlGI37sU/s400/6.JPG" border="0" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySq-yVNx-I/AAAAAAAAAJM/Zx5-X-cjcv0/s1600-h/IMG_1130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126403618589493154" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySk7iVNx6I/AAAAAAAAAIs/VtPahHKkRTo/s400/12.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The shrine of Vaishno Devi at the other end of the den.</span><br /></span><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySqCyVNx8I/AAAAAAAAAI8/FRGPe68kc_g/s1600-h/IMG_1131-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126409240701683650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySqCyVNx8I/AAAAAAAAAI8/FRGPe68kc_g/s400/IMG_1131-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">After coming out from the den, we saw a very big bell.............</span><br /></span><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySrPSVNx_I/AAAAAAAAAJU/bzMlBHomcDs/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126410554961676274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySrPSVNx_I/AAAAAAAAAJU/bzMlBHomcDs/s400/14.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">..... and the beautiful backyard, blending with the mountains.</span><br /></span><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySq-yVNx-I/AAAAAAAAAJM/Zx5-X-cjcv0/s1600-h/IMG_1130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126410271493834722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySq-yVNx-I/AAAAAAAAAJM/Zx5-X-cjcv0/s400/IMG_1130.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bhim (Bheem) Tal:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> As the name indicates, it is said to have been built by Bhim, one of the Paandavaas of the times of Mahaabhaarat era. I found this lake to be the cutest one. Will let you know why later.<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySsriVNyBI/AAAAAAAAAJk/Tp-_1UL9-vU/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126412139804608530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySsriVNyBI/AAAAAAAAAJk/Tp-_1UL9-vU/s400/4.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyStTyVNyCI/AAAAAAAAAJs/ruZFkEijvic/s1600-h/IMG_1119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126412831294343202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyStTyVNyCI/AAAAAAAAAJs/ruZFkEijvic/s400/IMG_1119.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySuGCVNyDI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/0ILSb4S74Zo/s1600-h/IMG_1120.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126413694582769714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySuGCVNyDI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/0ILSb4S74Zo/s400/IMG_1120.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySvfiVNyEI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/_8rJbEHxQSc/s1600-h/IMG_1132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126415232181061698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySvfiVNyEI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/_8rJbEHxQSc/s400/IMG_1132.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySwJSVNyFI/AAAAAAAAAKE/zDyCrXDQ8Pg/s1600-h/IMG_1134.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126415949440600146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySwJSVNyFI/AAAAAAAAAKE/zDyCrXDQ8Pg/s400/IMG_1134.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">One of the cutest creatures available on earth......... Making the place the cutest. I really wanted to see them for a long time. But I might end up disturbing these cute innocent beauties.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySxPiVNyGI/AAAAAAAAAKM/lc0_78x_dEg/s1600-h/IMG_1137.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126417156326410338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySxPiVNyGI/AAAAAAAAAKM/lc0_78x_dEg/s400/IMG_1137.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySyRSVNyHI/AAAAAAAAAKU/q6cpELDIjxQ/s1600-h/IMG_1138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126418285902809202" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySyRSVNyHI/AAAAAAAAAKU/q6cpELDIjxQ/s400/IMG_1138.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySzESVNyII/AAAAAAAAAKc/BdhFqcA-CtI/s1600-h/IMG_1139.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126419162076137602" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RySzESVNyII/AAAAAAAAAKc/BdhFqcA-CtI/s400/IMG_1139.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">jharnaas: </span><span style="font-size:100%;">These "mini waterfalls" were created by rain water flowing through the gaps and openings between mountains.<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyS0OiVNyJI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Td-QXkxkDeo/s1600-h/IMG_1140.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126420437681424530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyS0OiVNyJI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Td-QXkxkDeo/s400/IMG_1140.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyS2DSVNyKI/AAAAAAAAAKs/YFyuHwpZuPE/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126422443431151778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RyS2DSVNyKI/AAAAAAAAAKs/YFyuHwpZuPE/s400/3.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rest will be posted in my next post.<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!--<br />google_ad_client = "pub-6485106818078767";<br />/* 234x60, created 1/27/08 */<br />google_ad_slot = "7505479928";<br />google_ad_width = 234;<br />google_ad_height = 60;<br />//--><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript"<br />src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><br /></span></span></div>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3961966454355001946.post-25947437941228473722007-10-17T17:52:00.000+06:302008-12-10T10:20:34.797+06:30Travel to Nainital - Part I (Budget hotels and travel info on Nainital)<p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,102)"><strong>Nainital, the land of lakes............</strong></span></p><p align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122522164960892818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RxbaxMyPF5I/AAAAAAAAAE0/jBpDPjl96us/s400/IMG_1101-1.jpg" border="0" />The name itself signifies the same. The word Naini means the beautiful eyed goddess and stands for the goddess pArvatI who is said to have been associated with the place, and the word tAl means lake.<br /><br />It is located in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It has two parts, Mallital and Tallital, each located in the opposite ends of the Nainital Lake. The main bus terminus is located in Mallital and Naina Devi Temple, Gurudwara etc. are located in Tallital.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">How to reach:</span> (rather how we reached)<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">By rail:</span> By Ranikhet Express from Old Delhi railway station. Departs at 10:45 pm and reaches Kathgodam, the last station in the north eastern railway broad gauge line at around 6 am, the next morning.<br /><br />From Kathgodam, a 3 1/2 hour journey along the road embellished with natural sceneries leads you to the place I am talking about.</p><p align="justify">This is the most convenient mode of transport, as far as this place goes.</p><p align="justify"><strong>By Air: </strong>The nearest airport being Pant Nagar (70 kms from Delhi). But Delhi and Lucknow (in Uttar Pradesh) are better connected Airports. So, it is most prudent to reach one of these places and then by train.<br /><br /><strong>By road: </strong>From Delhi, it is more 300 kms. This can be tiresome for few people. So again the conclusion is "go the rail way using the railways". </p><p align="justify">We traveled around September time during the rainy season from Delhi. We reached Kathgodam and were traveling from there to Nainital in a car. We thought that rain would be the only hurdle to cross before reaching the destination. But that's not all. We were to face the music of................ </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RxZPl8yPF0I/AAAAAAAAAEM/9F4FxlN8nqA/s1600-h/7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122369139571103554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RxZPl8yPF0I/AAAAAAAAAEM/9F4FxlN8nqA/s400/7.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RxZPl8yPF0I/AAAAAAAAAEM/9F4FxlN8nqA/s1600-h/7.JPG"><br /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">"the landslide."</span> </p><p align="justify">We came to know that they have been created due to heavy showers the previous night. There was total panic for a moment. But then there also was excitement and an adventurous feeling in me to cross the hurdle packed with stones - rocky as well as lots of smaller ones. These rolled down to the road from the mountains flanking one side of the road and blocking the entire way (You can see above that they have rolled down from the left side of the road). So while crossing, we had to ensure that we cross over unscathed and also not be hit by a rocky one and fall down the slope on the right side of the road that leads to the "hell below". People coming from either side confirmed that there were no such problems anywhere else on the way.<br /><br />The locals seemed to have lot of experience. There were cars standing on both sides of the blockade. On one side were those who were going to Nainital and on the other side were those who were coming back from. The stones weren't piled up to the same height and extent everywhere. Some parts of the blockade were just muddy and had lesser stones. One could cross over with less difficulty. When we found that there were no stones falling for some time, people would cross over and the cab drivers would also follow suit with the luggage. This cross over happened from both sides. Then the tourists got into the cars waiting on the other side. Then the cars drove to their destinations, (and so did we).</p><p align="justify">We couldn't book accomodation in advance as none of the hotels accepted the same. There are so many hotels that one can get when one reaches there.</p><p align="justify"><strong>Accommodation: Hotel National</strong>, Mallital Road, Nainital. Very near to the Nainital lake and good accommodation. Go for deluxe accommodation because ordinary rooms had a toilet which was on sharing for two rooms.</p><p align="justify"><strong>Food:</strong> The most important thing. I wouldn't recommend ordering from the hotel. There are restaurants located in close proximities to the hotel, that serve tasty and good quality food at lower rates.</p><p align="justify">Some of these that we found were:</p><ul><li><div align="justify">Anupam Hotel: Serves Veg as well as Non-veg. High quality. +91-5492-236417. One gets to listen good devotional music, if you are a music lover. From National Hotel, we had to cross the lake to the opposite side either by boat or in a rickshaw along the road encircling the lake.</div></li><li><div align="justify">Vaishno Dhaba. Pure Veg. This is well known for homely food at reasonable rates. This is in mallital bazaar.</div></li><li><div align="justify">Opposite to this Dhaba is Shivalik Restaurant which serves Veg as well as Non-veg food which can be a third compromise.</div></li></ul><p align="justify"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Visits on the first day:</span></p><p align="justify">The main attraction of the place is the main Nainital lake itself. Most of the tourists make it a point to visit this lake first in first. In any point of moment, one can find maximum number of tourists here.</p><p align="justify">The first day passed on with the visit to Nainital lake.<br /></p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></span><p align="center"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The Nainital lake:<br /><br /></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RxbYS8yPF4I/AAAAAAAAAEs/21Xurwob-HI/s1600-h/IMG_1099-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122519446246594434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="300" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/RxbYS8yPF4I/AAAAAAAAAEs/21Xurwob-HI/s400/IMG_1099-1.jpg" width="476" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxbb7cyPF6I/AAAAAAAAAE8/ZZ6HqaBk9wg/s1600-h/IMG_1102-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122523440566179746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxbb7cyPF6I/AAAAAAAAAE8/ZZ6HqaBk9wg/s400/IMG_1102-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />These are different places which we saw when we had boating around the lake: <ul><li><div align="justify"><strong><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Nainaa Devi</span> temple</strong> (Nainital has been named after this goddess).</div></li></ul><br />(photo will be uploaded shortly.....)<br /><br /><p align="justify"><strong><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span></strong></p><ul><li><div align="justify"><strong><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Hanumaan</span> temple:</strong></div></li></ul><p align="justify">Front view. </p><p align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxt3ucyPGFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/BqlbNwb84Xo/s1600-h/IMG_1178.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123820640948656210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxt3ucyPGFI/AAAAAAAAAG4/BqlbNwb84Xo/s400/IMG_1178.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and the side view. You can see the Gadhaa, the weapon used by the monkey man<br />incarnation.<br /><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxt7CMyPGGI/AAAAAAAAAHA/-ENNpolY6lQ/s1600-h/IMG_1175.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123824278785955938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxt7CMyPGGI/AAAAAAAAAHA/-ENNpolY6lQ/s400/IMG_1175.jpg" border="0" /><br /></a><br /><ul><li><strong><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Bhole' Naath</span> (shiva) temple:</strong><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123826954550581362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z1l6oXesJ0M/Rxt9d8yPGHI/AAAAAAAAAHI/0UzO9ObEqmM/s400/IMG_1180.jpg" border="0" /></li></ul><p>We had a plan to visit the other lakes as well which we did the next day. The details will be posted in my next post.</p><p>(Traveled by: Shridhar and Sumit).</p><p>(Photos Courtesy: Shridhar and Sumit).</p>R. Shridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15382253398039231958noreply@blogger.com0