Travel – Page 5 – Yatripandit

Guest Post || Five Things With Kids: Kuala Lumpur – by Ben

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s bustling capital city, is a fantastic destination for a short break or a longer holiday. However, unlike many of Malaysia’s popular tourist hotspots, there isn’t a beach in sight. Crammed full of trendy bars, shopping malls and hotels, it would be easy to think that this South East Asian hotspot wasn’t the best place for a family trip. Listed below then are our 5 top picks for things to do with children in Kuala Lumpur.

5. Batu Caves

Located just outside of the city, Batu Caves is a significant Hindu holy site built into a large complex of limestone caverns. One of the most important Hindu sites outside of India, the shrine is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the deity of war and features the world’s tallest statue of the god standing 42.7m tall by it’s entrance.

Characterised by the huge flight of 272 steps leading up to the shrine caves, it’s an arduous slog to the top and small feet will get tired (we carried our youngest and, to his credit, our 5 year old managed the entire flight without a single word of complaint).

The draw for families besides the impressive caves and statue of Lord Murugan however, has got to be the families of monkeys that populate the stairs. From the top to the bottom, they are everywhere. Our two children had a great time alternately laughing at their antics and screaming in terror if they came too close.

4. KLCC Park

Situated in the heart of KLCC, at the foot of the iconic Petronas Towers, KLCC park is a natural haven in the centre of a busy city. Full of green space and with literally hundreds of pieces of playground equipment, it will keep children entertained for hours.

Towards the Suria Mall side of the park, there is also a large padding pool area featuring waterfalls and smaller pools for younger children. These are complemented by small changing facilities which make a lengthy, comfortable day out in the park possible. All of these facilities are also free to use.

My only reservation about including KLCC park in the list comes in the form of the viciously vigilant security guards who patrol the park. They take their jobs incredibly seriously and as such it is impossible to relax over the sounds of their zealously blown whistles at busier times. Walking on the grass, playing with a ball, sitting on a see-saw with your 3 year old. All are crimes that will result in a loud blow of the whistle and a stern telling off. Bizarrely, the rule is that as an adult you literally cannot touch the equipment, even if your reason for doing so is to ensure the safety of your child.

If you can cope with this then it’s a great place to spend an afternoon. And if you can’t, we discovered a see-saw out of sight towards the back of the park and played to our hearts content!

3. Hop-on, Hop-off, Bus Tour

We joined this bus tour by chance after it stopped next to us by the KL Aquarium and were very glad that we did. Incredibly reasonable (RM45 per adult, no charge for our 3 year old or our 5 year old) and thorough, this open-top bus tour features 23 stops conveniently located next to most of the cities main tourist attractions. The ticket also last for 24 hours (48 hours also available) meaning you can continue using the ticket the following day depending upon time of purchase.

All of the buses feature a large open-top section with air conditioned seating available towards the rear of the bus upstairs and downstairs.

During busy times the bus does get full and we did witness passengers at the Petronas Towers stop being told to wait for the next bus (a 20/30 minute wait) as the one we arrived on was full.

Similarly, when it rains, the inside of the bus can be very full and vice versa, when the weather is good, outside seating is at a premium.

Courtesy of MyHopOnHopOff.com

2. Petrosains Discovery Centre

A surprising diversion at the top of Suria Mall, Petrosains Discovery Centre is a fantastic attraction for children of all ages from the very young, to young adults.

A dark ride, dozens of interactive experiments, building areas, a large dinosaur and volcano diorama and more. Check out our full review of Petrosains here.

This is definitely one not to be missed.

1. Kidzania Kuala Lumpur

Just outside of the city center by The Curve, Kidzania offers a world of fun for young people of all ages.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, Kidzania is an entire indoor city designed for children. Kidzania KL is based around 2 main streets on the ground floor and one winding thoroughfare upstairs. The streets on all sides are populated by business’ and services, which are sponsored by familiar, real-world business’ and all of which provide fun activities for children.

From fire fighting and driving an ambulance to stocking shelves in a supermarket and constructing their own burgers at McDonalds; families will love Kidzania. The sheer variety of things to do and value for money present in the ticket price is the reason this takes the number one spot when choosing things to do with Kids in Kuala Lumpur.

About the author

Benjamin Burgess fondly know as Ben is an fantastic human and fellow travel blogger. He is an avid traveler and always encourages yatripandit.com.

He describes his blog as “MyExpatFamily.com is a travel blog, specializing in family travel, written by an expat couple based in China. We travel with our two young children and share our experiences around the world with a 3 and 5 year old in tow.”

Disclaimer: *Contents in this story is Authors personal views and presentation.

If you also want to get featured as a guest author on yatripandit.com, share your story with us on info@yatripandit.com

Please click on the ads which appear on the website and help us earn some money to travel. This blog is still very young and growing. If you like the story, do not shy away from reciprocating your love in form of likes comments and sharing on social media

Cheers !!

Credits

Story By

Benjamin Burgess

Edited By

Yatripandit

Guest Post || Bhutan beyond Mountains and Monasteries – by Neha

When I informed my dear ones that I was going on a trip to Bhutan, many of them questioned my decision; some reasoned Bhutan was not an interesting place to travel, some asserted there were only monasteries to see there, some suggested I should go to Ladakh instead. While a few baffled at my choice, just asked ‘Why?’

My only reply to all of them was – ‘You will know when I get back!’

I am back and my answer lies in this post. Bhutan is definitely a lot more than its Mountains and Monasteries. Sharing a list of things to look forward to when you are in Bhutan:

Treks and Trails

From a day to month long, Bhutan has all kinds of treks for adventure lovers.

The most clichéd but certainly not overrated is the Taktsang Monastery Trek. It is popularly known as the Tiger’s Nest. It is literally perched on a cliff and is one of the most important Buddhist sites. It is believed that Yeshe Tsogval who was a follower of Guru Rinpoche, transformed herself into a tigress and carried Guru Rinpoche on her back from Tibet to Taktsang. Here is one of the nine caves where he meditated.

Another popular trek of Bhutan is the Druk Path trek, which is about 6 days long. This trek not only greets you with beautiful landscapes but also introduces you to some ancient Lhakhangs and Dzongs.

For people who find trekking arduous, you could soak in nature while walking on the breathtaking trails of Bhutan.

At an elevation of 3000 meters, Phobjika Glacial Valley is surrounded by huge mountains on all sides. This is a short (4 kms) but beautiful trail. During winters, black necked cranes migrate to Phobjika from Tibet, and the monastery in Gangtey holds a special festival to celebrate their arrival.

Camping
Bhutan is blessed with natural beauty. Owing to its forest reserves, which are about 70%, it becomes a wonderful place to camp.We camped under the star lit sky, by the river stream, in the forests of Gasa. There was no network connectivity in the forest which was the best thing about the camp. This disconnect from the virtual world helped me establish a wonderful connect with myself.

Tshechu Festival
Tshechu is the biggest festival of Bhutan, which is held on the tenth day of the lunar month in dzongs of each district. Participating in this festival is the best way to experience the culture of Bhutan. The Bhutanese men and women attend this festival dressed in their traditional attire. In this festival, mask dances and other traditional Bhutanese dances are performed. These events have deep religious and mythological significance.

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The Bhutanese believe that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins.

Hot Stone Bath
You will miss out on something really awesome if you go to Bhutan and not try Datsho, the traditional Hot Stone Bath. I rate it as one of the finest experiences of Bhutan.In this therapy, river stones are heated and put in a wooden tub filled with water. Sometimes medicinal herbs are added to the water before it is ready for the soak.

It is believed that the heat of the water, the minerals released from the rock, and the local herbs all combine to produce medicinal benefits for joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorders and arthritis.

Happiness

While all other countries of the world measure their progress by GDP, Bhutan measures its progress by Gross National Happiness.

I had my doubts when I read Bhutan is the happiest country in Asia. But it took me just a 10 days trip to realize that Bhutan is truly a country of happy, shiny people! Their clothes, their houses, their bank accounts don’t define their happiness. They don’t need reasons to be happy. Happiness comes naturally to them. It was on this trip that I truly understood that ‘Happiness is a state of mind’.

Gawa rang gi zon go zo; choem rang gi choen go choel

This popular Bhutanese proverb means, Whatever joy you seek, it can be achieved by yourself; whatever misery you seek, it can be found by yourself. (It is a state of mind)

About the Author:

Neha is a very dear friend and a fabulous company to hangout with. She is an avid traveler and always encourages yatripandit.com.

She describes herself as,”I live to write and I wish I wrote to live! By profession, I am a Software Engineer and currently working in a Multinational IT company. There is a stability in this field, albeit my heart truly wants to get rid of this software job and unleash my creative skills. I share an ardent relationship with writing. My mind is my canvas and I pen hundred’s of thoughts there every single minute. I aspire to devote my entire time to writing and take up writing as my career very soon.”

PS: This story was originally published on http://nehasharmahere.blogspot.in

Click on the link to find out more on Bhutan food, Shopping and architecture http://nehasharmahere.blogspot.in/2016/05/bhutan-beyond-mountains-and-monasteries.html

Disclaimer: *Contents in this story is Authors personal views and presentation.

If you also want to get featured as a guest author on yatripandit.com, share your story with us on info@yatripandit.com

Cheers !!

Credits

Story By

Neha Sharma

Edited by

Abhimanyu

Guest Post || Lucknow – The City of Nawabs and Kebabs by Anushree

Sprinkled with exceptional British Raj–era buildings, Literature, performing arts, tehzeeb and famous throughout India for its lip smacking food, the capital of Uttar Pradesh is surely worth visiting.

Lucknow’s reputation as a city of culture, gracious living and rich cuisine has continued to this day from ages – the phrase for which conveniently rhymes in Urdu as: Nawab, aadaab (‘respect’), kebab and shabab (‘beauty’).

So “Muskuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hain” (Please smile because you are in Lucknow)

Places to visit in Lucknow:

Rumi Darwaza: Rumi Darwaza is a spectacular gateway and a popular monument of Lucknow city. It is an example of Awadhi architecture. It is also referred to as the Turkish gate which is 60 feet high. It was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula to generate employment during the famine of 1784.It is adjacent to the Asafi Imambara in Lucknow and has become a logo for the city of Lucknow. It used to mark the entrance to Old Lucknow City, but as the City of Nawabs grew and expanded, it was later used as an entrance to a palace which was later demolished by the British insurgents.

Bara Imambara: The Bara Imambara is Asia’s largest hall without any external support from beams and is a symbol of Awadhi culture and architecture. This magnificent structure was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 and is one of the architectural wonders of that era. It is also famous for its “Bhool Bhulaiya” a labyrinth.

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Chota Imambara: Also known as Hussainabad Imambara, was built by Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah between (1837-1842). The Imambara has a white dome and is richly decorated with chandeliers and a good number of crystal glass lamp-stands. For this profuse decoration Imambara was referred by European visitors and writers as The Palace of Lights. The exterior is also beautifully decorated with Quranic verses in Islamic calligraphy.

Ambedkar Memorial Park: The foundation stone of the memorial was first laid in 1995.It is situated in the posh locality of Gomti Nagar.The construction is the heart of the entire memorial. The entire memorial is built using red sandstone brought from Rajasthan.

The Residency: The British Residency was the place that served as a refuge for approximately 3000 British inhabitants during the time of the uprising of 1857 – The Mangal Pandey Revolt. It reminds us of the Colonial past. The Residency still has within its walls; the graves of around 2000 British soldiers who died in the Revolt of 1857. You can also treat your eyes with a lot of greenery around.

You can also visit the famous Hazratganj market, Lucknow Zoo, Clock Tower, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Park, Gandhi Museum, Dewa Sharif, Jama Masjid, Janeshwar, Mishra park, etc during your stay in this beautiful city of Lucknow.

What to Eat?

Lucknow is famous for its mouth watering cuisines, especially Non Vegetarian dishes. Lucknow is the perfect blend of Nawabi delicacies and Awadhi cuisines. From Kebabs to paan and biryanis you have it all!

You can miss tasting anything but not the world famous Tunday- Kebab!You have to try these dishes when you are in Lucknow or your visit is just incomplete!

Tunday Kabab and Rumali Roti IC- Shravani

Mumbai Xpress

Galawati Kebab
Boti Kebab
Tunday Kebab
Rogan Josh
Lucknowi Biryani
Tokri Chaat
Paya Ki Nihari
Malai Ki Gilori
Sheermals
Lucknawi Paan

And last but not the least- Prakash ki Kulfi

I believe, nothing can beat the delicious food of Lucknow.

I am sure next time if Anyone tells you, he/she is travelling to Lucknow, the first thing You tell him in case they are non-vegetarian that they should without fail try Tunde-Kabab and also get some packed for you!

What to buy?

The first thing that comes to mind while talking about shopping in Lucknow is of course the famous Chikan work of Lucknow. Chikan is a very famous thread work that is done by the skilled craftsmen of Lucknow. A white chikan kurta is a must buy! Chic and Designer Chikan garments are available in stores like Ada chikan, Seva Chikan, Nazrana Chikan,Saraswati Chikan Store amongst a few.You can also buy chikan garments in wholesale prices with a lot of variety and colors from Chowk and Aminabad.

You can also visit Gadbadjhala, which is quite reputed for its exquisite jewellery works.

Hazratganj is also a major shopping area in the heart of the city. You can enjoy “Ganjing”Along with some mouth watering delights from Royal Cafe or your personal cup of coffee from Cafe Coffee Day.

Among the malls, one finds some malls like Sahara Ganj, Fun Republic and East End Mall. One also finds some multiplexes like PVR, Waves and Fun Cinemas,,Inox, Cinepolis which provide entertainment around the clock.

Nightlife: Over the last decade Lucknow has witnessed a massive change when it comes to pub culture and nightlife. There are a lot of party places and nightclubs to enjoy your weekend.

These include the Resto bars, pubs, Hookah bars, and sports bars.

To name a few – Underdogs Sports Bar, Mocha, Zero Degree, EOS club, Lebua, Cappuccino blast are very famous amongst the youngsters.

How to reach?

Lucknow being the capital city is well connected to all major cities by air, rail and road.So do not think twice if you have to visit Lucknow. I am sure you are very likely to fall in love with it.

About the Author:

Story contributed to yatripandit.com by Anushree Singh who is fondly called by nickname Anu and is a Marketing Professional. She loves to travel to new places exploring local food, shopping and has been lucky to have done what she loves the most.

She is a girl with many aspirations in life likes to read books and write.She believes in reading the firsthand experience about places before planning a visit to a new place and yatripandit.com has been her one of the handpicked websites to read travel tales.

Disclaimer : *Contents in this story is Authors personal views and presentation.** Some of the images are taken from google images. Yatripandit owns neither images nor the story.

Picture Courtesy : Shravani Ayyagari(food photography) and Google images

If you also want to get featured as a guest author on yatripandit.com, share your story with us on info@yatripandit.com

PS: Please click on the ads which appear on the website and help us earn some money to travel. This blog is still very young and growing. If you like the story, do not shy away from reciprocating your love in form of likes comments and sharing on social media

Embraced in the City Of Lakes- Udaipur

It is an addiction and passion to be a traveller. Follow your heart and go out to explore the world. That’s what yatripandit does, packs his bag, takes his DSLR and wanders the beautiful, royal city of Rajasthan —Udaipur Vilas Palace

Lao Tzu rightly says, “ A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” ( Talking to myself sitting on a confined seat inside the bus); it’s been 12 hours since I left Mumbai.
Couldn’t find an ounce of food to eat. Have been just on water… Yeah! This journey is definitely the most testing and exciting one till date.) I never imagined my life would revolve around travelling and photography. Maybe it’s a passion or just an addiction, but travelling and photography is now a culture, a family, a place where you make good friends

Yatrpandit Lakshmi Vilas Palace — Lakshmi Vilas Palace

Till date I have made many trips with friends and family, and each time I was fascinated to hear varied stories of different lifestyles and culture or come to know about some amazing place across a river that is still not much explored. Also in each trip, some of the places from the plan use to get skipped because of a shortage in time or road block; some reason or the other. So once I had decided that a solo trip is a must. And it’s the only way I could quench my thirst for good photography.

It was one fine Friday evening when I was coming back from work that I saw a graffiti which read “ Travel far enough, you meet yourself”, by the time I finished reading that, I had already decided that I will be traveling this weekend. The best thing about being in Mumbai is you can go anywhere you want; you can be anyone you want to be! The joy of being in Udaipur for me was unexplainable. For me Rajasthan has always been the answer to the royal and colourful living. It is not just the most visited tourist destination in the world but also the liveliest one. Udaipur is referred to as the ” Venice of the East,” the ” Most Romantic City of India” and the ” Kashmir of Rajasthan” ( a reference to Dal Lake) and not without reason.

Tourists flock to this enchanting city in the heart of the Aravalli Hills, which has three interconnected lakes: Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichhola and the smaller Swaroop Sagar Lake. With its forts, palaces, temples, gardens, mountains and narrow lanes lined with stalls in the medieval historic center, Udaipur is a living memory of a heroic past with valor and chivalry.
Udaipur receives travellers from all over the world every year. The city is still inhabited by people of the Bhil tribe. Udaipur dwellers are really friendly and good to be with.
Here, people usually prefer wearing bright colored clothes. Colorful festivals and fairs depict the cultural prosperity of Udaipur.
I took a hotel near Udaipur Circle ( Shrinath Market) and next morning I walked 1 km to reach Gulab Bagh and the vintage car collection gallery. Then walk 1- 1.5 km to reach City Palace, The splendid City Palace, posing over the fascinating Lake Pichola, is one of the most beautiful palatial structures in Rajasthan. The elegant palace, originally built by Maharana Uday Singh II, rises 30 meters above Lake Pichola and extends up to 244 meters.
Udaipur City Palace is not just one structure but a complex of small and big palaces, museums and gardens. The unique aspect of this conglomeration is that the architectural design ( a rich blend of Rajasthani, Mughal, Medieval, European and Chinese architecture) is distinctly homogeneous and eye catching.

The palace complex has been built entirely in granite and marble.
The interior with its balconies, towers and cupolas exhibits delicate mirror work, marble work, murals, wall paintings, silver work, inlay work and colored glass mosaics.
The complex provides a fine view of the lake and the city from its upper terraces.
There is an entry fee of 115rs pp ( March 2014) and more if you want to be able to take photos.
Then I walked towards Bagore- Ki- Haveli, a mansion built in the 18th century on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat by Amir Chand Badwa, the Prime Minister of Mewar, now a museum.
It has over a hundred rooms, with displays of costumes and modern art. The building has a large and exquisite collection of Mewar paintings and glassworks, after taking a dose of history and culture I took a sharing auto to reach Chetak Circle and walk 0.5 Km to reach Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandol where I watched fascinating puppet show.

Lifestyle Although there are many diversions for daytime, there is not much in the way of nightlife. There are cinemas and a few cultural shows for evening entertainment, but there are no bars ( other than in upscale hotels) and no discos or nightclubs. Streets become deserted and it’s almost impossible to find a taxi or tuk tuk after 10 pm What to eat You are in Mewar! You must not miss the opportunity to have the really loaded Daal- Baati- Choorma. It is an experience you will remember forever. Look out for a helping of Gatte- ki- sabzi, as well. Udaipur is also famous for its spicy snacks such as mirchi bada and kachori.

Where to stay For tourists traveling on a budget, there are numerous low cost places to stay in Udaipur.
These hotels are clustered around the City Station road which is a bustling area. Many low budget hotels are across Lake Pichola in the Naga Nagri sector. There are also many hotels between the Bandstand to the City palace. Their scattered location and low tariffs make them attractive to many tourists.

HOW TO REACH AIR: There are various domestic flight options available from the Mumbai domestic airport to visit Udaipur.

ACCOMODATIONS Cambay Resort, Udai Kothi, Taj Lake Palace, Jaiwana Haveli, Chunda Palace, Lake Palace, Jagat Niwas Palace, Kankarwa Haveli

ATTRACTIONS Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon ki Bari, Gulab Bagh and Zoo, City Palace, Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar lake, Jag Mandir

Expense – Approx. INR 6000 PP (Excluding Flight tickets)

— UT@yatripandit.com

**********This Article is published in Leading Daily News Paper************

Raiding Mighty Himalayas – Himachal Pradesh

As you might have understood by far that I am a road trip person.

Before getting to the trip, let me introduce to a new member – A white Maruti Suzuki Swift VDi and the owner is none other than, my brother from another mother, Sandy. He has recently shifted to the capital city, New Delhi imparting me a chance to plan and RAID the Mighty Himalayas.

Coming back to the journey, I booked myself on late night flight to Delhi from Mumbai and landed to be received by Sandy at the Airport. Trust me I was more excited to see the car than seeing him. We reached Sandy’s place around 2am and tried to get some sleep before the Raid, but the butterflies of excitement in our stomach had planned the other way round.

We left early in the morning and our breakfast haul was at Sukhdev Dhaba in Moorthal just outside the national capital. The paranthas are to die for and you cannot afford to miss the white makkhan (butter) even if you are on diet. Filling out tummies and satisfying our souls we are all set to hit the road again.

We stopped at Ambala to meet an old friend from the university and continued our journey. After crossing Chandigarh bypass, we were welcomed by a board saying, “Welcome to great Himalayan Highways.” There we are, the commencement of uphill journey begins. After, a few KMs we could not control of emotions and urge to have Maggie noodles on one of the Maggie points (Any hill u go in India, Maggie points are omnipresent)

In about 10 hours we reached Kasauli (our would be basecamp) and wasting no time we booked Hotel Pine View located off Chandigarh – Shimla Highway, towards Kasauli. It was a budget hotel, which offered us a Room for two in Rs 1300/- (excluding Meals). Not a bad deal at all, being a long weekend.

Kufri:

We decided to rest that night and dozed off after having dinner in the hotel’s restaurant itself.

On the 2nd day, we left after having tea and breakfast to reach Kufri, on the journey we drove through Solan, Shoghi and Shimla (bypass) . The dist. Is about 100 kms but Kandaghat is not easy to drive on, the average speed was about 20 km/h. We obviously stopped at some Monsoon waterfalls and Maggie points to grab a hot tea and Maggie. Reached Kufri in around 6 hours and then our guide (avoid hiring one) told us to take a horse ride to see some sightseeing points (we came back half way disappointed by the ruthless way the horses are treated and made to walk in the mud slurry till knee height) We had to pay the full amt. about Rs. 350/- per horse. Nonetheless, we decided to visit, The Himalayan Nature Park. It is home to about 30 Himalayan wild animals and birds. Witnessing this was a true delight. We started our return journey at 4:30 pm from Kufri ( as we had decided to avoid driving after dusk ) we managed to reach our base camp by 8pm. We had dinner at very famous Giani Dhaba, but it turned out to be even worse than what we could have got at some other not so famous place. AVOID GIANI DHABA.

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Note: The area is a landslide prone, so be cautious while driving and follow sign boards strictly.

Shimla:

Next Morning was the most pleasant one, I have experienced in my lifetime. The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds and the fog was waiting to embrace us in its arms. Wasting no time we head started our journey to state capital – Shimla. Driving through Kandaghat was not as difficult as the weather was pretty clear.

Do not forget to take an apple break at the magnificent apple mandi(market) in Solan.

Reached Shimla in about 5 hours and had to struggle a lot to find a Parking place. We headed straight to Mall Road, which is a must visit when you are in Shimla. Bought some Pashmina shawls and stoles for our loved ones, after a lot of bargaining. We were mesmerized to know about the history and importance of Gaity theater. This theater was constructed by British and is one of the six theater left on the planet to be built on Victorian Gothic Architecture. After wandering around and having luscious Chole bature and Chole Samose, in a local Stall, at Mall road. We decided to explore Shimla a little more and click some pictures.

Happy Me right before bathing in the waterfall behind

We were back to Kasauli by 8:30 pm and decided to have dinner at Haveli, trust me the food was delicious and way better than what we had @Giani Dhaba last night.

It was an amazing journey with Sandy who got hitched recently. We enjoyed every bit of the mountains. Pure air, green mountains, warm hospitality, well maintained roads, lip smacking food and the most welcoming Pahadis. That’s Himachal for you.

This trip to Himachal Pradesh – The land of Gods will be relished till we leave the land to meet Gods in heaven.

Signing off with a song playing in my mind in loop,”maye ni meriye” by Mohit Chauhan. Here is the link

Trip Duration – 5 days

Expense – Approx. INR 9000 PP (Excluding Flight tickets)

— Abhimanyu@yatripandit

Warangal- Weekend gateway to kakatiya’s dynasty

Spending an extended weekend sitting idle at home is never a good idea. So, as always I planned a roadtrip to nearby place called Warangal, approximately 150 km away from Hyderabad with my husband. Warangal is referred as the cultural capital of Telangana state. It was the capital city during the flourishing days of mighty Kakatiya dynasty.

We started our journey from Hyderabad around 8 am just to stop for breakfast at one of our favorite places called Udipi Uphar. After that we started our journey towards the city of Warangal. Reached the destination around 1:00pm in the afternoon and checked in our hotel immediately.

How to reach Warangal:

Nearest airport to Warangal is Hyderabad which is approx. 150 Kms

Public Buses- There is direct connectivity from Hyderabad. Buses leave very frequently and take around 6-7 hours to reach Warangal

Train- Warangal is well connected by train routes to major railway corridors in India.

Roadtrip- This is my favorite. The roads are in good condition and one can easily reach within 5 hours.

Accommodation:

1. Haritha kakatiya, Warangal- This hotel is managed by government of Telangana and offers good accommodation, restaurant and a health club

2. Hotel Suprabha- This lovely mid range hotel lets you stay with complimentary breakfast option. This is located in Hannamkonda in Warangal

Places to visit:

Warangal fort– This places is in ruins form but maintained well by Archaeological survey of India (ASI). Fort was commissioned by king Ganpathi Deva. It has beautifully carved arches and pillars that surprised us. Also, has four main ornamental gates to welcome. One can find a Shiva temple with statue of Nandi and many more idols of Hindu Gods like lord Ganesh, Vishnu, Shiva. The extensive rock carvings on the pillars and arches will leave you mesmerized.

Ruins at Warangal Fort

Kush Mahal – This architectural masterpiece built by Shitabh khan is located very close to the Warangal fort and is of great historic and architectural importance.

Ramappa Temple – This temple is around 60 km away from Warangal city. It is also called as Rudreshwara temple as this temple is dedicated to lord Shiva. Temple is a legendary example of kakatiya art. The temple was constructed during the reign of kakatiya ruler Ganpati deva. Here we hired a guide, who explained the history and other details of the carved pillars of temple. There are three entrances to the temple the main entrance to the temple faces the east where a Nandi mandapa placed. The interesting part is that, across India you will find Nandi sitting in relaxed position in all Shiva temples but here the Nandi is sitting in an alert position waiting to execute the command of lord Shiva.

Main Building Ramappa Temple

Art Work on Walls of Ramappa Temple

Prototype of Ramappa Temple

Thousand pillars temple– It is located in Hanamkonda also called as Tirkutalayam signifying three gods as lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. The six feet high monolithic Nandi is a sight to watch. The temple was built by king Rudra-1 of the Kakatiya dynasty. Temple is situated on a platform raised above ground level and consists of a central hall with three shrines in different directions.

Shri Bhadrakali temple– Close to thousand pillar temple is Bhadrakali temple which has an idol of goddess kali in a sitting posture. The nearby lake called as bhadrakali lake which gives a magnificent view of the place surrounded with lush green hills. It imparts the temple and its serene surrounding a mystical air.

Nearby places:

Pakkhal lake– This huge manmade lake is enveloped by forested hills around few miles away from main city. The Pakkhal wildlife sanctuary can also be visited to unwind in the wilderness.

Laknavaram lake– Approximately 50 km away from Warangal, Laknavaram lake is located. Built by the Kakatiya rulers, this massive lake is of a bowl like structure having 13 small islands which are scattered amidst the jungle. This makes it a serene and perfect bird watching spot. Also, has a one of a kind suspension bridge connecting three islands managed and maintained by Telangana tourism department.

Few quick Tips:

1. Plan your trip during winters (October to January) as in summer it’s too hot and you will not enjoy your trip to the fullest.

2. Carry sufficient cash as ATMs are rare in the villages around Warangal.

3. If you are going by train or bus please book your cabs for city travel and sightseeing in advance for a hassle free trip.

Story by -Shikha@yatripandit

Pictures by – Utkarsh Tiwari

Story appreciated and shared by Telangana Tourism Facebook page. 🙂

Guest Post || Mumbai: Glimpse of shrine divine and street food – by P.G.

About the Guest Author – Prateek Goel aka PG is a Jaipur Boy who is a passionate traveler and that’s why yatripandit connects with him so well. He describes self as,”I will make you smile and take you out of your comfort zone. with Road Aviator blog you will get inspired to travel. As an adventurer, a photographer and a passionate traveler we will travel India ambiguously.”

You may read PG’s other travel tales on http://roadaviator.com/

Story :- Few hours prior to my Mumbai visit, I was searching quotes, books and maps to find something special of Mumbai. I found a quote said by Madhuri Dixit (Bollywood actress), “Mumbai is like Manhattan. There’s a certain pace, social life and the thrill of a professional life“. Her quote got stuck in my mind and to establish the evidence of Mumbai as Manhattan I was off there.

Being thousands of miles away with difference in their cost of living, there is certainly something special that makes Mumbai similar to Manhattan.

During my whole trip I came across many things that seems to prove that quote. Mumbai’s architectural beauty (Gateway of India, CST and airport), Marine driveway and lots of beaches along the coastal line resembles Mumbai to Manhattan. In addition to that, the skyline, worli-sea link of Mumbai and historic caves shows their similarity. The photograph taken at Marine drive will prove everything.

Mumbai looks a perfect Manhattan from Marine drive

To know furthermore about Mumbai please refer to my blogs; Mumbai travel guide series will definitely gives you the feel of Manhattan.

I still think, yes there’s a lot of similarity between Mumbai and Manhattan, but there are other things that will give you the feel of Indian culture. This includes the presence of shrine temples and lovely “Mumbaiah” street food. So lets have a look:

Shrine divine temples:

Siddhivinayak Temple

Siddhivianayak! What does this means? What is it so in this temple that makes it so famous? The answers to these questions are very simple..

“Siddhi” means perfectionist and “Vinayak” is synonym of Hindu Lord Ganesha. Mumbaikars believes, no fortune happens without blessings of Lord Siddhivinayak. Siddhivinayak is present right in the heart of Mumbai and a lot of devotees are seen here throughout the year. It is the richest temple in Mumbai.

Originally, it was built in 1801 by Devbhai Patil and contractor Laxman Patil. History says, Deubia Patil didn’t have any child, so she decided to build this temple. Hence normally, if any lady comes here and wishes for child then she got blessed. That’s what makes it shrine, divine and famous. Thumbs up for Siddhivinayak Temple.

Photo source: Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Mumbai

Haji Ali Dargah

An iconic place of Mumbai, an important landmark of Islam stands still and eternal on an isle. A steep way of 500 m from the coast will take you there. The best thing about Haji Ali Dargah is that it is the tomb of Sufi saint of Persia – Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. So you’ll experience Sufi songs there. Furthermore, Haji Ali is accessible for everyone, irrespective of any religion or caste and creed.

Most noteworthy is that Haji Ali was built in 1431 under the influence of a story. The story revolves around saint and crying woman who had dropped oil from her pot. She was afraid of her husband of been tortured with such an act. But saint helped the woman and pushed the earth with his thumb and oil gushed out. Consequently, he started having bad dreams and that’s why to repentance his act he moved to India through Mumbai. He spread Islam by his preaching and at the end, Haji Ali Dargah was formed.

Such more temples are there that sticks Mumbai to spirituality, culture and tradition.

Mumbai street food

Mumbai is boost up with lot of delicious Mumbaiah cuisines and mouth-watering street food. After all, the lifeline of Mumbai is in its street food. Every Mumbaikar whether billionaire or poor, everybody relies on street food. Therefore, I’m going to present some famous street food in front of you that I liked most.

Vada Pav: Poor’s man burger

It is quite easy to find a Vada Pav stall in Mumbai. Probably, every corner, every street of Mumbai has one. Just pay Rs. 10- Rs. 20 for a vada pav served with sweet and spicy Chutney. The main ingredient is “Pav” is bread bun and “Vada” – mashed fried potato. The main spot to enjoy these Vada Pav is near CST, Malad or at Juhu beach.

Eating Vada Pav local street food near CST

Pav Bhaji

Afterall being the inventions of Mumbai’s street food stalls, it is one of the best snack to fill your stomach. Pav remains the same as that of Vada Pav but bhaji gravy of evergreen vegetable mixture. It is the delicious food, I’ve ever tasted.

Mumbai street food — Enjoying Pav Bhaji (left) with Vada Pav (right below) and Bhel Puri (right above)

Pani Puri

Pani Puri is known with lots of name all over the India, such as goll gappa, batashe etc.. As the matter of fact, Pani puri is the most crispy delicious soft dish. A round, hollow crispy puri filled with potatoes, tarmind chutney etc.. One of the most blissful dish I’d tasted.

Sev Puri/papdi

This sev puri is originated from streets of Bombay. The fun part is it’s Bombaiah style. The tangy chutney and sev namkeen on the crunchy paapdi offers a spicy taste. In fact, the smashed potato, onion, tomato and tasty chaat masala ingredient makes it more delicious. Shopkeeper sells it at relatively cheaper rate Rs. 30/plate (6 no. of pieces). In my opinion Juhu and Chowpatty serves this sev papdi the best.

Close-up view of delicious Sev Papdi Chaat – local dish

This story was originally published on http://roadaviator.com/

Camping by the lake side @ Pawana Lake INR 1300/-

You will agree that we all are fascinated when we see a traveler carry a tent in his/her back pack and always wish to do something of similar sort. Isn’t it?

Find a calm and clean place besides a water body, pitch our tent, cook some food, talk to ourselves, sing to the acoustic guitar and sleep peacefully under the sky full of stars.

But the next moment this wonderful dream breaks and we realize that we are corporate dogs who do not have the liberty to do all this. Leave this dream apart; we do not even own a bloody tent!! I know how bad it feels, but don’t you worry at all, Yatripandit has found out a fabulous midway. Read on!!

Do not own a tent but still be able to camp out in the nature’s lap!! Sounds fun right!!

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The crazy corporate employees in Pune / Mumbai surely have heard of Pawana lake. This amazing place is about a 70 KMs drive from Pune, off Pune-Mumbai old highway in Lonawala. You may follow google maps.

It’s better to reach the venue around 5pm so that you do not miss the beautiful sunset and the snacks served with tea by the property owner and organizer of Pawana camping, Mr. Vijay.

We suggest carrying booze and snacks along with you because there are no liquor shops nearby.

As the sun sets, you also may settle down, relax and unwind yourself in the natures lap.

Package details are listed below:-

Cost – Rs. 1300/- Per person
Evening snacks, dinner(veg and Non-veg – Must be informed beforehand), and next morning breakfast
Includes – Double/triple occupancy tents – Will be pitched by the us
Blankets, pillows and mattress inside the tents, to enjoy a cozy night
A table to dine and chairs
If you are a group of more than 20, you may also indulge in water-sports, but we suggest to ignore this and just enjoy peaceful camping experience
BONFIRE – Separate bonfire for every group shall be lit around 10 pm and will last for approx. 2 hrs
Neat and clean western/ Indian toilets
Barbecue can also be arranged on prior information on Per KG Rates i.e. Mix Veg Rs. 600/-, Paneer Rs. 800/- and Chicken Rs. 700/-

You may also carry Bluetooth speaker but do not blow it too loud to disturb the mountains and serene water in the lake.

Yatripandit is happy to help you plan this one of a kind camping experience.

You may call/whatsapp us on 9975712713 or fill the below form

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This can be planned on any day of the week. Discounts on large groups on weekdays.:)

As Coldplay says, “Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of stars, I wanna die in your arms”

By : Abhimanyu @yatripandit

Bow Down to the King – Bandhavgarh

Jungle Safari

King of the Jungle

Bonfire Area

Last January, we were in Jabalpur – The city of Marble Rocks, for a relatives wedding. En-cashing this opportunity and deciding to go on a short vacation and enjoy great family time explore the woods. Katni is a small town having superb railway connectivity. As always, We opted for roadtrip, taxis are easily available from Jabalpur to Katni. Its about a 3 hours drive on a not so good road. After reaching Katni and taking refreshments we borrowed a car from a family friend and hit the road again to touch our final destination – Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. We are a happy family of four and luckily all travel enthusiasts. The distance between Katni and Reserve is about 50kms but you have to drive through kachha road from Teori to Bandhavgarh. This stretch is about 25 kms and runs through the jungle. As per the locals, the road is not well maintained to avoid over speeding of the vehicles which might harm wild animals.

Where to stay: After this bumpy ride, it was a delight to reach our pre booked resort – The Bandhav Vilas (www.bandhavvilas.com). It is a beautiful resort just at the brim of the jungle. We were welcomed with a fresh lime juice and a warm towel (to wipe of the fatigue). Mr Vijay Parwar, our resort manager was extremely friendly and had a lot of Jungle tales to narrate. They serve amazing veg and non veg food freshly cooked using organic vegetables procured from the near by villages. The resort too has a small farm. Its endorses a small library which is full of various books on flora and fauna. The resort has a swimming pool and spa to relax and de-stress. We also experienced digital detoxification as there was not much mobile network coverage.

Jungle Safari: After a calm night and sound sleep, we geared up for the early morning safari. the resort served tea and snacks even before the dawn @ 4.30 am. The 4X4 wheel drive Maruti Gypsy with a driver and a guide was waiting outside the resort. The temperature was 4 degree Celsius and the surrounding had a blanket of fog. We were all set to witness the “King of the Jungle”. As we started off with our journey we could see the varied flora and fauna. Got to see many peacocks, bison, monkeys, enormous colourful birds and countless dears. But you have to be fateful to witness the King. We wandered across the park in search of the tiger but our dormant fate took a steep turn on our way back to the entrance of the reserve. Oh my God, Screamed my brother – there he is – the giant cat – so elegant as if he wanted to say, ” Keep calm and bow down to the king” We held our nerves when he crossed the pathway to get lost in the wild. It was the scariest yet the most elegant moment of our lives. We reached back to the resort after the dusk. The sky turned orange to impart us a perfect evening before the infinite stars took charge.

Before the sleep: After enjoying the delicious finger licking dinner we decided to sit around the fire place and beat the chills. Trust me we had one of the best conversations that night, sipping coffee and popping popcorn, before we dozed off sinking between the soft mattress and warm blankets.

-Abhimanyu

Note : Story appreciated by Madhya Pradesh Tourism on Twitter

twitter @yatripandit

Yatripandit’s Best Travel Photos 2016

We picked our favourite travel photos published in 2016 on yatripandit Facebook Page

See majestic … Best of 2016.

Title : Divine Uttarakhand

Category : Nature and Travel

Photos by Siddharth Singh Bist‎

When nights are far more glorious than the days. Nag Tibba Base Camp

#The_origin_of_Mother_Ganges . Gomukh, the terminus or snout of the Gangotri Glacier, from where Bhagirathi River originates, is one of the primary sources of the Ganges River. The place is situated at a height of 13,200 ft in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand

#EnrouteMunshyari Its name refers to a ‘place with snow’. Situated on the banks of Goriganga river, mountaineers, glacier enthusiasts, high altitude trekkers and nature lovers commonly use it as their hub or base camp. It is inhabited mainly by the Shauka tribe.

The Great Tibetian Mastif with its tamers

15442240_10153964192445706_1106532342726988850_n — #The_divine_Tungnath_temple shrouded by the careless Monsoon clouds, —.Located at an altitude of 3,680 m (12,073 ft), and just below the peak of Chandrashila, Tungnath temple is the highest Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the world. The temple is believed to be 1000 years old and is the third (Tritiya Kedar) in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars.So gear up you Shiva followers this is one thing you cant miss.

Title : Magnificent Manali

Category : Travel

Photo by Devendra Sharma‎

Somewhere on the way to Kheerganga
#nature #yatripandit #competeforthebest

Title : Dreamland Himachal

Category : People and Travel

Photos by Sudipty Sinha

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Shrine divine temples:

Siddhivinayak Temple

Haji Ali Dargah

Mumbai street food

Vada Pav: Poor’s man burger

Pav Bhaji

Pani Puri

Sev Puri/papdi

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Title : Divine Uttarakhand

Category : Nature and Travel

Title : Magnificent Manali

Category : Travel

Title : Dreamland Himachal

Category : People and Travel

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