My idea of taking a break from routine life is to witness the beauty of history. Art and creativity inspire me to live the life in a different way and if it is of a historical place, it will be like icing on the cake.

This winter I planned to visit my childhood friend Amogh, who lives in Badami, Karnataka. This beautiful town was listed in my must visit places from the very beginning for its Indian Rock cut architecture. I took a flight from IGI airport, Delhi to Bengaluru international airport. It took around 3 hours. From Bengaluru I hired a private taxi to reach Badami.

After reaching Badami, it was difficult for me to wait till morning as I was extremely excited to visit the famous caves of Badami but we planned to leave early morning. So, I took the rest for that day.

The very next morning, we left the home to witness the beauty that is a part of history and posses a unique art form, rock cutting. Imagination and perfection in implementation make the things unforgettable; I realized this as we reached at the entrance of cave temple. The entrance is made up of stone columns and brackets, leading to main hall of the cave. The hall further leads to four-squared shrines.

After entering cave no 1, a five feet high figure of God Shiva simply locked my eyes. It was amazingly designed. Tandava dancing pose with 18 arms was irresistible. Images of Nandi, dancing Ganapati, Mahishasuramardini, Kubja Ganas, Nagaraja and Vidhyadhara couple together made me feel of the divine presence of God Shiva.

From there we moved towards the next cave which was cave no 2. On its front we saw figures of guards with lotus in their hands. After entering, beautifully carved images of different Gods took me in a spiritual mood. This cave was one of the finest model of architecture I have ever seen.

The beauty of cave no 3, which is dedicated to God Vishnu is of that level, which I cannot explain in words.  Breathtaking beauty of the statues and figures creates a spiritual environment. Natural almond( badami) colour makes it look more graceful.

After that, with Amogh, I moved in the next cave, which is a Jain temple. Apart from the beauty and architecture, what fascinated us was, the old Kannada inscription. This 12^thcentury A.D. inscription registers the death of one Jakkave.

Our next destination was Badami Fort that gives a bird-eye view of Badami. Archaeological Museum is just 5 km away from Badami and is located near Agastyatirtha tank, which is considered as a tank with heeling power, so we covered both the attractions in one day.

My tour was over and I came back to my routine life but this time with an amazing experience and some lovely memories of quality time spent with Amogh and his family members.

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Vacations are all about refreshing yourself by leaving all the worries behind. It is the best way to regain your energy that ultimately makes you more productive. Fortunately, I got an opportunity to visit Kerala for an official trip. A group of my colleagues Jagjit, Ila and Tahir accompanied me on this tour.

Kerala Hillstation

We embarked on our journey to the hill stations of Kerala. As we reached Kerala, the soothing hill stations welcomed us with full enthusiasm. Being in the lap of nature, I was feeling awesome and the charm of nature captivated me for a long time.

The first hill station we visited in Kerala was Munnar. Situated at the confluence of three rivers named Nallathani say, and kundala Muthirapuzha, this hill station delighted us with its enchanting backwaters and lush green tea gardens. With it, the cool climate also made our visit a pleasurable experience.

Being a nature lover, I was simply awe-struck to see the beauty of nature. It welcomed us in the forms of exotic orchids, clamorous waterfalls and meandering rivers. The huge peaks of mountains were coquetting with the fog and mist which was a spectacle to hold.

Two of my colleagues Jagjit and Tahir also tried adventure of rock climbing there. At that time, I was enjoying nature walk with Ila. After that, we all decided to visit the Eravikulum National Park, which is 15 km from Munnar. The place withholds mesmerizing beauty with grasslands and hill tops. This park is 97 sq. km. in extent and exhibits impressive natural beauty of exotic flowers.

We saw there Nilgiri Tahr, Tigers, Elephants, Langur, Small-clawes Otter, Leopards and Marten.

On being reached hotel, we treated our taste buds with hot sambhar, idles and coconut rice.

Idduki was our next destination, known for tantalizing natural beauty and bio-diversity. We got to see there Idukki Arch Dam, Hill View Park and Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary which was an unforgettable experience. You can only know why it is being called the prized hill station of Kerala after visiting the attractions of Idduki.

Vythiri, the hill station we visited next day, was ultimate traveller’s delight. Strolling around the gardens was truly a refreshing experience for us. As we started moving ahead, the surprises got revealed. We found there several long rope bridges hanging over the stream and tree houses that added to our interest in this pleasing hill stations.

Wayand, Ponmud, Devikulam and Vagamon are some other hill stations which were a part of our exploration during our Kerala Hill Stations Tour.

Far away from the commotion of metro life, these hill stations are a wonderful mean to refresh yourself in the lap of mother nature.

Come to Kerala and explore the heart stirring beauty of hill stations!

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I had heard a lot about the temples of South India. Ancient temples are just a magnetic attraction to me. By nature, I am a religious person who love to go for religious places. What could be better option than the temples? So this time we, a group of seven friends planned a trip to south India temples. My wish to find God in nature seem to be fulfilled when I gave my consent to this tour.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The idea of going there was exciting as it was my first time of being there. We browse on web to know the tour details and finally got the suitable one. That is how we headed towards South India. The journey was enjoyable and comfortable as we all friends were very excited to see the ancient temples of South India. Thinking of it we reached Kerala, our first destination in South India tour.

Well, after reaching there, we all were set to embark on a spiritual journey. After taking rest and making ourselves comfortable, we got a brief about our tour plan.

We started with Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which was a unique experience. I was amazed to see the exemplary architecture of the temple. When we entered in this temple, we felt as if we have come to a place where all we can experience is tranquility and spirituality. The temple showcases architectural heritage of South India. Staying there for some time was really a holistic experience that helped us to gain inner peace due to its peaceful environ.

Our curiosity took us to Shree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. The structure of this ancient temple was of typical Kerala style with mandaps, gopurams (gateways) and shreekovil. There, we saw many tourists who were also delighted to see the majesty of these temple like us. The guide told us that this temple is also known as ‘Guruvayoor Ambalam.’

Also, we got an opportunity to visit some other famous temples including Mannaarshala near Trivandrum and the Vadakkunnathar Temple at Thrissur. The glory of the South India temples reflects in its traditional architectural style.

During this tour, we also came across some of the finest examples of architecture in the form of Temples in Karnataka. We visited Iskcon Temple which is located in the Bangalore city. Built on a hill rock, this temple is a unique blend of glass and gopurams. You can experience spiritual harmony and tranquillity here. Our guide told us about the temple that it was constructed to promote the Vedic culture and spiritual learning. During the annual Krishna and Balarama Rath Yatra, this temple is visited by thousands of devotees.

Visiting Chennakesava Temple at Hassan was also a great experience. It allowed us to see an outstanding example of architecture. This magnificent temple was built with the amalgamation of granite and soapstone. Then, we went to see the Cave and Jain Temple at Badami and Virupaksha and Hemakuta Temples at Hampi which showcase great architectural style.

The South India Temple tour was once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Thinking of this amazing tour, we came back with inner peace and increased energy!

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Kerala among the most sought after tourist destinations of India renowned across the globe for its amalgamated beauty of nature and culture. Teeming wildlife, mesmerizing backwaters, enchanting hill stations, tea and spice plantations are foremost attractions of this place. However, the charm of Kerala Beaches stands alone.

Last month during my Kerala Tour, I have experienced the speckled charm and unparallel beauty of Kerala Beaches whose memory still lingers in my mind. The miles stretch of Kerala coastline is dotted with a number of serene and scenic beaches. Each of these beaches has its own charm and glamour, which spellbind tourists who come here from across the globe.

Kovalam Beach is the place where I spent my last vacation. It is located around 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The Kovalam is made up of a three bow-shaped beaches separated by the mountain terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock. The second largest one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam.

For whole day I was lost in the scenic vistas of this place which enthralls me most. The beauty of rising and falling waves washing the shore was among the most delighted scene which I can ever forget in my life. I was standing on the shore and waves lapping my feet were really a thrilling experience.  Though Kovalam is the most sought after beaches in Kerala yet there are many other popular beaches which attract significant number of tourists during their Kerala tour.

Some of the popular Kerala Beaches are:

Varkala Beach

This is one of the popular Kerala Beaches located 54 Km north from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is also known as ‘Papanasam beach’ because of a belief that a dip in the holy water of this beach eliminates body impurities and sins. The presence of natural springs in the nearby area makes this a popular destination for Ayurvedic therapies.

Cherai Beach

This beach is famous for its 15 kilometers long golden stretch of sand, which is bordered by Vypeen Island from the northern side. The composite beauty of sea and backwaters, lush green coconut palms and paddy fields make this beach a paradise for nature lovers and swimmers.

Kappad Beach

This is the historic beach of Kerala were Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed on May 20, 1498. Apart from the historical significance, this beach is also known for its serene and pristine ambiance, which attracts a number of tourists round the year.

Muzhapilangad Beach

This is a secluded beach which attracts a large number of tourists who loves to spend their time in the calmness of nature. The scenic charm is heightened by the presence of scattered black rocks. These scattered rocks not only heighten its scenic beauty but also protect it from deep currents and form a shallow pool of water. This pool is a swimmer’s paradise. The long sandy stretch of this beach makes it an ideal place for sunbathe or just laze around.

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How would you feel watching and clicking a herd of over 20 mammoth elephants bathing in a serene lake just in front of you? Especially when you are a crazy wildlife lover; especially when you’d travelled thousands of kilometres to explore the finest greens of your country; especially when giant wild creatures drive you crazy! The answer is that you become speechless, because the beauty is beyond adjectives, beyond descriptions.

The story starts with my arrival in the dense greens of the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala. I was booked in Aranya Niwas – a forest rent house in the park’s tourist complex area. Located 260 km from Trivandrum, 200 km from Cochin and 140 km from Madurai, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of being a Tiger Reserve as well.

I contacted a Kerala travel guide and asked him to take me to the best attractions of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. While entering the dense greens, a herd of playful wild elephants was my first remarkable view near the Periyar Lake. My guide told me that it was a favourite haunt of those elephants for frolicking in the water. While stepping in deeper areas, we came across other inhabitants like wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels and gaur (Indian bison). Unluckily, we could not spot any leopard but watching those elusive creatures was very thrilling and exciting.

I stopped for a quick bite in the afternoon at a small canteen inside the park. While going through the Periyar travel guide, I came to know that around 260 species of birds are also found at Periyar. My guide, being familiar to the entire area, took me to the other side of the Periyar Lake where I clicked a number of rarest birds like darters, cormorants, ibises, gray herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood pigeons, kingfishers and blue-winged parakeets.

I returned back to my resort by a motorboat, for which I was supposed to take special permission from the forest authorities. But my guide, again, helped me out in the issue. He insisted me to explore some other nearby places like tribal villages around Periyar and spice / coffee plantations, but I was running short of time. So I preferred going back to my resort. We exchanged our contact numbers and planned a schedule for the next day’s sightseeing as well.

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You travel to the God’s doors only when he wants! That was a hard luck for me when I was planning a trip to Kerala since one long year and could not get even a single chance. But surprisingly, this year when my mother wished to visit temples in south India, I got a two-week’s leave from office very easily! So we did a stretched packing for a long vacation in south India. This was the lifetime opportunity for me when I was about to explore the best three cultures – Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

While starting from Mumbai, we first visited Chennai – the place known for its cultural heritage & temple architecture. On the city tour of Chennai, we visited the finest of historical monuments like Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church, Fort Museum, and many such places. Later we headed towards Mahabalipuram, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The true beauty of Mahabalipuram lies in its rock-cut & monolithic structures and authentic Dravidian architecture. The best part here was visiting Shore Temple (one of the oldest Dravid temples in South India), Arjuna’s Penance (world’s largest bas-relief), and Pandava Rathas (monolithic temples fashioned as chariots).

We also extract some time and took a day excursion to Kanchipuram, one of the seven holy cities in the country. My mom was willing to visit Kanchipuram as the place is world famous for its temples & silk sarees. We paid a short visit to Kailasanatha Temple (built in typical Pallava style), Ekambaranatha (ancient Shiva temple) and Kamakshi Amman Temple (where the deity is seated on Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Eswara & Sadasiva).

Our next halt was Tanjore, the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Being an art lover, I appreciated the city’s fine art plates, pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings & classical South Indian musical instruments. After lunch, we paid a short visit to the Brihadeshwara temple, one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a classic example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. Next we moved on to Madurai via Trichy and spent one day there.

Seeking for the true peace in the lap of nature, we headed for Periyar. This is the perfect heaven in Kerala that has endless attractions ranging from Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to Periyar Lake, boat cruise facility, spice / tea plantations and the finest of divine greens. After a day of relaxation, we left for Kumarakom where we visited the Kumarakam Wildlife Sanctuary and spent the rest of the day at leisure in a luxurious houseboat (traditional Kettuvallom). The houseboat was equipped with all the modern amenities like bedrooms, attached bathrooms, kitchen, lounge, deck etc. We spent the night there only and travelled to Alleppey the next day, which is again a soothing, green and watery destination – meant for perfect relaxation.

Our next destination was Cochin, which is a popular historical sea trade center. A half day tour to Cochin is sufficient to visit the major attractions like Jew Town, Chinese fishing nets, and Kerala’s most popular classical dance – Kathakali. Cochin is located at a distance of about 300 km. from Ooty – the Queen of Hill Stations & the capital of Nilgiri district. We spent one another day at leisure at this picturesque picnic spot, and left for Mysore the next morning.

Along with Mysore, last on our list was Bangalore. Both these places are known for various historical monuments, temples and a cool climate throughout the year. We travelled like exploring the world. The trip was so fantastic that it refreshed my mind, body & soul. It was quite rejuvenating in every aspect.

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After completing my official work in Mysore, I with my colleagues booked one day Ooty Tour through Caper Travel Pvt Ltd. Ooty or Udhagamandalam nestled in the gorgeous green hills of the Nilgiris is one of the favorite summer retreats of people in South India. Orchards of peaches and plums, terraced tea plantations, eucalyptus, pine and wattle lining the landscapes make Ooty among the most sought after hill stations of India.

Our journey started at 5 in the morning. Our cab driver picked us up at 5 in the morning and we reached Ooty around 9 am. This four hour journey was really pleasing and soothing to my eyes because our cab passed through beautiful landscapes laden with dense forests. It was after a long time I saw lush greenery and nature’s scenic beauty. We took a breakfast break near Mudumalai where we had some awesome idli and coffee. Then we again embarked on our Ooty journey through the hilly areas. For me everything was like a dream, those beautiful farms, small cottages on hills and small churches amidst lush green valleys.

Ooty the queen of southern hill resorts of India is standing at 7,349 feet above sea level. This hill station is located at the junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, three famous southern states of India.

Our cab driver dropped us at a point called Shooting Point which is named so because many bollywood movies have been shot here. At this place we climbed up the hill and reached the top of the hill. The panoramic views of surrounding landscapes just took our breath away. We were stunned by the nature’s spell of Rolling Meadows lined up with tall pine and wattle tress. We stayed here for a few hours to enjoy the nature’s dramatic vistas at their best. The ecstasy of this place was maximized by the misty clouds which soon engulfed the entire surroundings. For the first time in my life I experienced the joy of clouds. The natural glory of this place fascinated us so much that we started running, shouting, jumping like crazy children. The drizzling cloud drenched us but romanticism of nature kept us engaged for long without even a single thought of cold.

Our next destination in itinerary was Botanical Garden which is located on the lower slopes of Dodabetta peak, the highest point in Ooty. This is among the most sought after destinations of this place which is visited by a large number of tourists round the year. We decided to visit this place quickly so that we can get time to enjoy boating in Ooty Lake. This Botanical Garden is a home to many rare species of trees, shrubs, flowers and bushes. The most prominent attractions of this garden are cork tree, paper bark tree, monkey puzzle tree and an old fossilized tree which is about 20 million year old. The monkey puzzle tree is so called because even monkeys fail to climb it which we didn’t accept at first but finally we agreed with this view.

After enjoying the floral beauty of Botanical Garden we went to Ooty Lake which is the foremost attraction of this place. It is said that if you have been to Ooty and not seen the Ooty Lake, then you have seen nothing at all. The Lake is synonymous with Ooty itself which was constructed by the first Collector of Ooty, John Sullivan in the year 1823-1825. The charismatic feature of this lake can be best felt with boating in the lake. Out of motor boats, pedal boats and rowing boats we preferred motor boat so that we can explore this wide expanse of lake in a short time span.

After enjoying the lake cruise we came back to our cab. And our cab driver headed back to Mysore.

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Kovalam Tour was the pleasant gift that I got after completing my official conference in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the capital city of Kerala State. It is among the best known beach destinations of the world located around 13 km downtown of Thiruvananthapuram. Though one day trip to Kovalam was not enough to explore its scattered awesome beauty yet it was sufficient to experience its charisma. On Sunday early morning I reached this place from Trivandrum by taxi.

I have heard and read about this place but never visited so the joy and enthusiasm of sea kept me busy the whole day. I was so much fascinated that I was unable to decide from where to start my exploration. I was sitting on the glistening sand with this thought bouncing around in my mind. Sitting there I was watching the beauty of rising and falling waves washing the shore. The freshness of air and the whooshing sound of waves captivated me for long. This hypnotic effect was broken by the passing by hawker who was selling coconut water. I bought a coconut from him and while sipping it marched towards the sea to pamper myself in foaming waves.

I enjoyed the thrust, chilliness and salty taste of sea for long. There I realized that it is not an easy task to resist the force of waves. Though it was a tiring experience but the charm of sea waves refreshed me. After that I moved to the nearby rocky cliff to enjoy the binocular vision of the entire surrounding. The view that I saw was beyond description and one must visit this place to experience it. I took several snaps from this place and moved towards the nearby rooftop restaurant to satisfy my appetite with exotic Kerala seafood. The lunch was good as it was made from the fresh sea fish and original spices whose taste is still lingering on my taste buds.

The Kovalam beach is internationally renowned for its three bow-shaped beaches which are separated by the Rocky Mountain Terrain. The largest beach is known as Light House Beach because of its 35 meter high lighthouse, situated on Kurumkal hillock which I visited in the evening. The second largest one is Hawah Beach. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing has been banned here. And the third is Samudra Beach which is famous among the local fishermen of Kovalam.

Along with the scenic locale Kovalam Beach is also the hub of various water sports activities, herbal body toning massages, cultural programs and sunbathing. I saw scores of national and international tourists involved in these activities enjoying their vacation in the best possible manner.

Though I missed the evening charm and the beauty of sunset of this place because I had to reach Thiruvananthapuram airport to board my flight, but, with no regrets, I was happy with what I could enjoy.

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My experience with community events, fairs, and the like, was little, to none. Though I was and I am a fun loving person, buy my inclination is more towards adventure sports rather art & culture. Thoughts get shaped with time. Tastes get changed with time. The story starts with my tour to south India along with my family during summer vacations.

We explored a number of destinations in states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry. That was an exciting trip and I surrendered my soul to south India attractions. Ranging from enchanting wildlife to serene backwaters and thrilling adventure sports to holy pilgrimages – every bit of that entire belt was incomparable. But what stole my heart was south India culture.

For instance, when it comes to the food – rice is a main dish that can be relished with coconut chutney, pickles, aromatic curries and sambhar. Though people are crazy for spicy sea food as well, but main food items are less spicy that do not harm your stomach.

Coming to music, the sophisticated Indian classical music of South India is called Carnatic music that is linked with various wooden instruments. These musical instruments are enjoyed with various dance forms of South India, like as Koodiyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Theyyam, Ottamthullal, Oppana, Kerala Natanam, Mohiniaattam and Yakshagana. The people are humble and helping here. All these qualities make it fascinating and a crowd puller tourist belt.

I spent my most time in Kerala and enjoyed various rejuvenating Ayurvedic therapies in beach resorts. People in south India are addicted to festivities and celebrations. The age old culture of this region is so impressive that millions of tourists from all over the world flock here to spend their holidays.

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The exceptional natural beauty of Kanyakumari draws a large number of tourists not only from India but also from abroad. Among several tourists I am one of them who visited this small but picturesque town which is located at the confluence of three important water bodies the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Kanyakumari Tour was viable for me because I was in Thiruvananthapuram for my official tour. After completing my official work I took Kanyakumari Express and reached here after three hours of journey.

After reaching this place I went to the private tourist lodge where I booked a room and took delectable South India food in my lunch. After that I went to explore the speckled beauty of this magical town. Firstly I headed for beach where the majestic expanse of three seas impressed me the most. The rising and falling waves with their grueling sound were like an utterance of nature. The amalgamated beauty of the three colored waves of three seas forms three different colorful layers of sands at the shore which captivated my attention for long.

After enjoying the beauty of sandy shore I took a ferry boat and went to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. This place is located 400 meters from the sea shore in the midst of the ocean. The Vivekananda rock temple is dedicated to one of the greatest spiritual philosophers of India, Swami Vivekananda. It is said that Swami Vivekananda meditated here before setting out on one of the most crucial religious campaigns in India in 1892.

This memorial consists of two main structures, the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. I was impressed by the design of the mandapa because it incorporates different styles of temple architectures from all over India. This place is very clean, well-maintained and offers a sense of being at peace with nature.

As evening fell I rushed to a place from where one can see the best views of sun set and moon rise. At this place one can see colourful departure of the sun in number of shades that change from moment to moment.  On one side, nature adieu the sun and on the other it welcomes the moon.

Though sunrise can be viewed throughout the year but sunset is visible only from October 15 to March 15 from this southernmost tip.  But one can view both sunrise and sunset throughout the year from atop a hill called Murugan Kundram which also offers a panoramic view of the entire city.

After enjoying my pleasant evening of watching sunset and moonrise simultaneously from this hilltop I returned again to the sea shore where I stayed till 10 PM. Then I returned to my hotel where I satisfied my appetite with scrumptious South Indian food in my dinner and left for Thiruvananthapuram via luxury bus.

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