তুঙ্গভদ্রার তীরে ( On the Bank Of The Tungabhadra)

The river Tungabhadra holds a special place in the hearts of the Bengalis. Though it is far from Bengal and most people have never seen the river ever, they feel very connected to it. This is because of the famous novel by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay "তুঙ্গভদ্রার তীরে ( On the Banks Of The Tungabhadra)". The story is a historical fiction that narrates stories and incidents from Vijaynagar. Hampi has been on my bucket list for long and I had a chance to visit it a few months back. I personally chose to recapitulate the novel before visiting the place and it worked like magic. It was dark in the night when we reached Hampi, and we headed off to visit Ram temple. In my mind, I was imagining myself as a princess who sneaked out at night to meet someone. The roads, the paths the pavements everything felt so ancient, and I felt that I have traveled back in time. Once we stood on the banks of Pompa Sarovar, I felt like a queen who had come to bestow an offering to Lord Shiva. The ambiance around felt ancient as if time had stopped and the ancient Vijaynagar prevails only. Once we boarded the coracle, our boatman pointed out that the hills around belonged to the Kishkinda dynasty. At once I recalled the reference from the Ramayana. Around the place, there are references from the Ramayana and Vijaynagar kingdoms where Lord Ram is worshiped besides Lord Shiva. 

To some this may be facts, to others, it might be fiction or myth. 

The Tungabhadra only knows the truth. 

Bishnupur- Not only City of Temples but also a gastronomical destination too

 Usually, when I head towards any destination I look for things that I can eat. Yes, a holiday is not only about going around but also filling up my tummy. We reached Bishnupur during the Pujas. Durga Puja is the time when you can cheat and eat every day. Trust me, you can. On the second day of our visit, we found a restaurant or pice hotel to be specific- Monalisa Hotel and Restaurant. It was Dashami. The place was crowded during lunchtime. We managed a 3seats for ourselves. Before we could order anything there were 3 plates in front of us. Rice, curry, dal, alu bhaja, postor bora. So, this is compulsory. The option that you will get is in the non-veg items. There are varieties of fish, chicken, egg, and mutton. You need to decide quickly and order. Trust me all of the items were delicious. And the postor bora is to die for. Most importantly all of these came at a pocket-friendly price too. 

We stayed at a hotel- Hotel Annapurna where we were offered a buffet breakfast. The usual part of a continental breakfast was nice as usual but the additional specialty was the sweetmeats that we had. Penra from Chatna, Monohara, Misti Doi, Murki, Mihindana- it was an array of sweets. Leaving aside luchi and bread we dived into these items every day. 

Last but not least on our way back we packed a bunch of these delicacies. 

Our 3 days trip was gastronomically satisfying :-) 

Kashmir - The paradise on earth

After planning for almost 20 years at last I made my first trip to Kashmir. This was a second visit for my parents but first visit for me. There are numerous blogs/vlogs pertaining to Kashmir tour plans. So, I am not thinking about making another. But there are a few tips I would like to share. Please keep in mind, prepaid SIM card doesn't work there. You have to take a post paid Sim card. Airtel, Jio and BSNL are pretty good. You will also not receive any OTPs, so plan all your payments etc. accordingly. Everything you buy or rent is charged high , so you need to brush up your bargaining skills. There are different types of scenic beauty throughout the year and unique in its own way. You can decide before hand which scenic beauty you would be interested in and plan your trip accordingly. If you are interested in witnessing snow fall then winter ( December, January, February) is the best season. For the Tulip 🌷 garden and flowers Mid March to Mid April is the season. If you are interested in Apple or Red Chinnar 🌲 then visit between October and November. And Kashmir being a hill station receives rainfall through out the year. So, you need to carry umbrella ☔, shades and winter clothes simultaneously. The scenic beauty of this place is one of its kind and mesmerizing 

Chandraketugarh

Chandraketugarh is approximately 2 hours drive from Kolkata. The place is located at Berachampa and site is maintained by Archeological Survey of India. You can see the "Dhibi" of Khana and Barahamihi. It's the best to follow Google Maps direction for reaching there. The drive through Kharibari is smooth and scenic at the same time. You can spend an hour or so, at the place. But there are no eateries at Berachampa , so you need to head back towards Kolkata for your lunch. Locating a restroom can be tricky too. But luckily there is one.  If you have interest in history  then this place can be definitely be a day gateway for you.  

NORTH SIKKIM TRIVIA

Sikkim is picturesque. And every picture is different. North Sikkim is a bit difficult trip than the others. The temperature drops really low in places of North Sikkim. It can be difficult for people who have breathing trouble or who have difficulty withstanding cold. So, do plan according to the season.

I would write a few tips on North Sikkim Trip.

1) Don't Hurry through the trip. You can't reach North Sikkim in a day from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri. You need to start from Gangtok, Mangan, or any place closer to North Sikkim.

2) Plan a 2 nights trip or preferably 3 nights trip for Lachung and Lachen. But if you want to skip Gurudongmar then a day or two at Lachung will be nice. 

3) The hotels are of varied range in this hamlets, but mainly basic types. Choose the moderate type of hotel preferably. You will need provisions of hot water i.e. geyser and an electric kettle. 

4) Powercuts are very common in those areas. Carry your power bank and get it charged regularly. Electronic gadgets like mobile phones and cameras tend to rapidly drain once you are at a high altitude.

5) There are no towns in North Sikkim, so carry all your medical necessities with you. There are high chances you will not find any shop there. 

6) Everything is overpriced and you need to accept that ( no use bargaining)

7) Very basic food is served in the hotels like bread and jam, momo, maggi or egg curry and rice. Trust me, that's actually all they have.

8) You will not find decent toilets on road. And disposing any kind of sanitary product will be difficult.  

9) You can have shared car facilties or private . Do not carry too much luggage one or two bags per person is fine. 

10) Decide beforehand what do you want to see, like snow or flowers or apples , you can't see all of them together. Once you know your interest, then you can decide the season. We visited in the last week of March and everything was snow covered.

11) Do not opt for very budget hotels or cars they may be bad enough to spoil your whole trip. 

12) Carry cash or opt for BHIM or something . Using card is not an option. carrying cash is the best.

North Sikkim Trip can be a Mini Adventure For You. Just keep in mind. you should choose the right partner and the right time. 

:-) 

You can Visit the link below for Gurudongmar Details 

https://thetraveltellerstales.blogspot.com/2021/04/gurudongmar-lake.html

Gurudongmar Lake

Ok, Let me be very honest, visiting North Sikkim and Gurudongmar Lake is difficult. You should have very sound health to do this. I will share with you some dos and don'ts for visiting the Lake. It is situated at a height of 17,800ft from sea level.  It is a 3 to 4 hours drive from Lachen. 

Here is a list of things you should definitely carry with you.

1) Woolens, thermals Windproof jackets, gloves, socks, and mufflers. How many layers you should be wearing is a matter of controversy. It definitely depends on your tolerance but you cannot go up there in your bare minimums. So, carry extra "winter wear" with you, and if you don't need them it's good and if you need them then it's great too. 

2)Umbrella - There can be sudden snowfall. Sunglasses- To protect your eyes from anything and everything except beauty. :-p

3) Camphor- If you are facing any breathing difficulty smell the camphor, it really helps.

4) Medicine like Coca-30 and Ondem-OD should be taken along.

5) One-time use plastic bottles are not allowed in North Sikkim, so take a flask along. ( and carry some hot water with you up to the lake)

6) If you are diagnosed with any sort of pulmonary disease you can carry your regular inhalers and oxygen Pump along.

7) Carry a Boroline along with you. Rubbing Boroline on your palms will save them from getting numb. 

8) Carry packets of popcorns with you or buy them locally at a slightly higher rate. Munching popcorn helps ( sorry don't know how    :-p)

What you May do.

1) You can have sips of Rum and Coke to keep yourself warm. ( Not Mandatory ;-))

2) Once you reach the place, wait for some time in the car, before you go out. Just let your body get accustomed to the temperature. 

3) You should reach there really early like 8 or 9 in the morning for good weather and beautiful shots. 

4) Have a light breakfast. Fasting or heavy eating may both cause problems.

What you should avoid doing.

1) Don't stay at that place for very long. 

2) Do not run around once you reach there.

3) Do not litter the place in any form.

This is one of the peaceful and serene places I have ever seen. You should definitely visit the place but with caution.  Which season will be suitable for you depends on your tolerance to cold. Oh, and if you have a cold allergy do not forget your anti-allergic. And trust me, this place is all the worth of so many efforts

P.S. You can't go to Gurudongmar Lake directly from Gangtok or any other place. Since you need to reach there very early, you have to be near the place. 

 

The Story of Maheswari Saree

The Handloom

Rani Ahilyabai

The Fort

Maheshwar is a place in Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the bank of the river Narmada like many other places of MP. Narmada is the holy river of the Deccan. Mythologically Narmada river is considered to be the daughter of Lord Shiva. In the bank of the river is the Maheshwar Palace/Fort. This Palace was the home of the kings of the Holkar Dynasty. Rani Ahilybai was the queen of this dynasty and she was considered to be a pious lady and was looked upon by her subjects. She worshiped Lord Shiva and it is said that she got a Shivlinga each day from the Narmada at the time of bathing. As a Hindu widow, she lived a very simple life and took all important decisions while holding a Shivalinga in her hand. 

Rani Ahilyabai started the tradition of weaving Maheswari Saree in her kingdom. And till now there are handlooms within the palace( picture above) where sarees are made. 

Maheshwari saris were traditionally made in bright colors and an Indian red dye called Aal and was woven in pure cotton. But now the silk variety is also available.   The pallus are designed with stripes of gold zari. Stripes in the pallus are an important aspect of  Maheswari saree. Borders like Leheriya Narmada are typical patterns of the Maheswari saree. 

On Narmada Jayanti ( typically celebrated every year), Mother Narmada is clad in a Maheswari Saree. The saree is spread from one bank of the river to another along the width of the river. 

Maheswari sarees are available all over India and is something you can be a proud owner of. I do have a few but incidentally did not get those from Maheswar. :-) 

In the Land Where Vasco da Gama Landed

From the city of Kozhikode, Kappad Beach is around one hour drive. It's the place where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. A beautiful clean beach it is. The sound of the waves keeps makes sweet music. The best time to visit it is obviously at the time of the sunset.  The beach has very little plastic pollution.  We arrived there on a rainy evening and so could witness the sun through the clouds only. 

If you are visiting Kerala don't miss the chance of visiting this serene beach. 

Photography Competition

Hi, all one of my photographs of Kunming Stone forest China, got Encouragement Prize in the 1st China culture and Tourism Photography Competition and here is the prize, a cool T-shirt. I have loved to share with You. 

The Travel Teller's Tales: Plastic Plastic all the way

The Travel Teller's Tales: Plastic Plastic all the way: Winter is the time for a picnic, especially in West Bengal. The winter season, which is not too harsh, calls for an outing with friends and...

Plastic Plastic all the way

Winter is the time for a picnic, especially in West Bengal. The winter season, which is not too harsh, calls for an outing with friends and family. Years ago, what picnic meant was carrying food in a basket and going up to a good scenic place and having a good time. Entertainment meant playing games, singing chatting merely and the like. But nowadays a picnic is totally different. Fo The serenity of places is always destroyed by loud yellings of songs ( if they can be called one). Sometimes this nuisance is up to the extent of spreading loud noise within the wildlife sanctuary. And next comes the plastic pollution. Every step you take, you can land up on bottles, wrappers, leftover food and foils. We always tend to complain about foreign destinations being clean and beautiful, but it's we the people who destroy our scenic property. If we keep on doing, nature will take its revenge. 

P.s. You can see the plastics in this crystal clear water.

International travel tips

Hi! This post is not about any particular place, but rather a guide for traveling beyond your country. While traveling on international flights, packing and organizing luggage is very important. Make sure your hand luggage doesn't have any food or beverages. Don't carry any extra medicine either. Avoid carrying homeopathic medicines and syrups. But make sure to carry your sanitary accessories in your hand bag. If you are traveling with aged people , make sure to arrange for assistance at the time of getting boarding pass. Carry an international plug so that you don't run out of charge in cellphone. 
Will be back with more tips and tricks of travel, stay tuned.
Bye 👋😘.

Jhargram Raj Palace.

Today's post is completely not about Jhargram Raj Palace and it's history. That is something you can find easily on Google. But this is all about some rare pictures of the Rajbari at night. On 24th December Jhargram tourism arranged for a dance programme and bonfire. Some ethnic dance forms of West Bengal was performed. And luckily we got the entry in parts of the palace where on other days, entry is restricted. 

Next Extended Weekend You Can go Hiking

 In the extended weekend of Christmas four of us decided to pay a visit to Jhargram.  On 24th December we went to visit Belpahari. It is just an hour drive from Jhargram town. It's a green patch of land with multiple hillocks and rivers, canals in it. But here I will only mention about the Garddasini Hills and not the entire area. Garddasini is a hillock in the Belpahari. If you want to explore your trekking ability you can start from here. It's about half a km or slightly more vertical trekking.  At the top, there is a small temple. But what attracts most is the scenic beauty of the place. The whole valley is visible from the top. You can take rest half way( where there is another small temple). Just don't carry any heavy belongings. Grab a camera and bottle of water and climb up. The entire visit may take you an hour or so. But it will be a really nice experience and will not cost you the exhaustion.  So go for a trip next weekend and go hiking. Happy climbing.

The place of Palaces in light and sound- Orcha

Orcha through the eyes of womanhood

Today, I decided to write about something different. Not about travel, which I usually write about. I have traveled through many parts of India as well as some parts of the world. Except visiting,  the places of interest I tend to study the life of people, type of food, political and socio-cultural aspect of that place etc. What I also observe is the condition of women in that place. And Orcha surprised me in this regard. Having a guide with us is very necessary while going around in a historical place. While visiting the places in Orcha we also appointed a guide. In the European countries, lady guides are quite common, but in India, I have never met a woman guide before this. In Orcha I met Premlata Ray, the one and only lady guide of Orcha. She is a graduate and also trained for working as a guide. I was happy to see India changing. I was happy for her. Talking about women empowerment is rather easy for me, living in a city. But Premlata faces a lot of sexist remarks and hindrance in working alone. Her struggle does not belong to her alone, but to the women of India, who faces discrimination in their workplace. This is my humble request to you all if you happen to be in Orcha( in the palaces) look for Premlata as a guide. Praise her, encourage her and let womanhood win.

 P.s. Premlata Ray- 9981078197

A different Eatery in Shantiniketan

Well, Shantiniketan is a commonplace of interest of Bengalis. Extended weekends are the peak time of visit. Today I will nor write about the usual places of visit in Shantiniketan since they are well known and widely discussed in the net. This August we went for a trip there and decided to try out some new eatery. 12km from Shantiniketan there is an eatery called "BONOLAXMI'. We decided to have our lunch there. We started for the place in afternoon. On the way we came to know that, prior bookings had to be made in order to eat there. None of the google reviews even mentioned it.I tried calling up the numbers but which were unavailable. On reaching there we found a huge number of people awaiting lunch and we had no chance. We were hungry. Luckily next to banalaxmi we found, Barishaler Rannaghar. I went down there are requested if we can a meal and luckily they agreed. The food served was simply excellent. We had ilish and rui and both tasted yummy. The whole set up was of a mud house and they served delicious Bengali cuisne. The price also was moderate. This place is not in google map till now, but the next time you visit shantiniketan make sure you visit this eatery. I am adding the details. But try to make a prior appointment in peak seasons. 

The Travel Teller's Tales: A SECULAR WEEKEND

The Travel Teller's Tales: A SECULAR WEEKEND: On the chilly January, Saturday we decided to visit Bandel. It was the coldest day of this season. At around 10 a.m. we boarde...

A SECULAR WEEKEND

On the chilly January, Saturday we decided to visit Bandel. It was the coldest day of this season. At around 10 a.m. we boarded a train from Howrah station. Trains from Sealdah station are available as well. Traveling on local trains is fun on weekend.  We munched on different snacks like jhalmuri etc. as we traveled. At 11 a.m. we reached the Bandel station. From the station, you can take a rickshaw or an auto to Bandel Church. We first visited the Church. I don't think it's necessary to write the history of the church. It's a very old church, nicely maintained and functional. After Christmas, you can see the lawns are decorated. You can see locals selling candles so that you can offer. The church is on the bank of the river Ganges, from the top you can have a wonderful view of the river. The time we visited, was during service, and we witnessed it. It will take you around 45 minutes to go around the Church. Photography is not prohibited. There are a number of temporary stalls around the church selling various religious as well as fashion items. You can take souvenirs from there. The next destination was the Imambara. You can drive down the road to Imambara, but going by boat is a nice option. We choose to go by boat. It was an indigenous boat, with the boatman sailing it manually. We enjoyed the cool breeze of the Ganges as we rowed down to the Imambara. On reaching, we climbed up the stairs from the ghat and entered. The most interesting thing to me about Imambara is the sun clock or surya ghori. The clock is so designed that it tells you the right time by the aid of a shadow. The Imambara is also functional. There is a clock tower inside. You can take photos inside go around. We stayed there for half an hour. Again we rowed back near the church. It was lunch time. Now, you cannot expect beautiful restaurant there. But there are decent eateries. We had biriyani but other cuisines are also available. Then it was time to visit the temple. Hanseswari temple in bansberia was our next destination. The temple is not adjacent to the area. You can take a toto or an auto. We took a toto and drove down there. It was a chilly winter afternoon. We shivered as we walked into the temple. The temple is also a functional one. The uniqueness is its design and terracotta work. It takes around half an hour to go around. After the temple visit, it was time for us to return. Returning from there has some options. You can drive back to bandel station. But we preferred to come back through Bansberia station. Trains to Howrah as well as Sealdah are available but are less frequent. On that chilly winter evening, we sat on the platform, shivering and having tea ( Bhanr e cha). The sky was crystal clear and we watched the stars glitter and moonshine. We boarded the train at  6 p.m. We thoroughly enjoyed our secular trip on a chilly winter day.