Andaman: Nature’s Sanctum

We were looking for a place to visit during this vacation, and immediately decided against most of the locations outside India, as the passport was on the way after renewal and could not be sure about it returning in time. Then we looked at the islands, and Maldives still continued to be on the list despite being an outside location, but was left out as it was too much of a busy place with celebrities roaming around and an Indian island would be preferred. Lakshadweep was not considered as it seemed to lack the infrastructure that Andaman and Nicobar Islands had. Port Blair seemed to be a place which seemed to have basically all kinds of people, a perfect blend of everything from the statistics, and we decided to go for the same. Such a diversity would make us more confident to make a visit as the language problem is immediately solved like the food complications.

The journey to Port Blair from Cochin was through Bangalore, and before landing at the airport, we could have a glimpse of the beautiful world which was to come. As it was a defence airport, photos could not be taken there. We start with Corbyn Cove Beach, which looks like a standard beach, and having a lot of water activities. Traveling to Havelock Island would bring the Elephant Beach known for the best water activities, Kala Pathar Beach known for the rock formations, Radha Nagar Beach known for its exotic looks and Govind Nagar Beach known for its serenity to the grand picture. Back to the Port Blair, we have the cellular jail with light and sound show, along with those shopping options. The variety in food was rather too good, and with such a diversity, there was so much to choose from, not just sea food, but dosa and biryani to idli and paratha or noodles.

Memories of an independence struggle received with respect in the cellular jail.

Some grand formations become parts of most of these beaches.

Waiting for the sunset at the right place with kulfi & continuing to do so.

Havelock has one harbour that looks like we should stay there for longer.

Nautika makes one fine vessel which makes us wish to travel more on the sea.

White sands and green water makes us feel like two beaches are same, but are not.

Munda Pahad Beach makes a point with the feeling of forest power.

Govind Nagar Beach shows that one tree that stands against the tides.

This reminds us that you do not need to go outside India for the perfect beach.

The clean water here is that miracle that we need to keep away from pollution.

The boats that need to take us far away, into a world of enchanting greenery.

Elephant Beach is where you see the best of coral reefs and more under water.

This is our YouTube video detailing the trip.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my One Plus mobile phone during my visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

TeNy

Joy and Other Bliss

The one special factor about Kolkata is that it keeps coming back to us. You are never satisfied with visiting the city once or twice. In my case, there was the need for a fifth visit, and if you ask me, it will remain a destination for me again and also a place which I would like to make my permanent residence. The usual visit is for the National Library of India, the greatest collection of books in the whole country. But we continue to visit the other attractions again and again including the Mother House, Victoria Memorial, Science City and those lovely malls which are among the best in the nation. The childhood memories just keep us going again and again, as we could be inside the first metro within the nation as well as the last tram many years ago. We find that there is always something more to visit in Kolkata, some place that we missed the last time – the city gets both new and old at the same time.

When you keep visiting the city again and again, you know where the shopping malls are, and you know which attraction to visit again. The shopping gets more interesting with the realization of the location and availability of the requirements in markets. You know how to travel better and where to get down in the city. Then there is the bigger understanding about the food, which remain our priority. Well, visiting the same restaurants multiple times is also a thing of beauty. We might never know when we will visit Kolkata again, but from our minds, we take out the fact that it would not take too long. Until then, we have these memories to cherish. The City of Joy is in the soul, and we are not done with visiting its heart and soul again. This is something which we will keep remembering in the following months.

South City Mall has the perfect shopping centre look.

The legacy of Mother Teresa will remain as it has always been.

Rabindranath Tagore and the National Library of India with glory.

Visiting the legacy of Missionaries of Charity never gets repetitive.

The picture is self-explanatory, and this is a great work of art.

This is one Spider-Man that we remember a lot.

Some food is remembered for long, like this one here.

The bust market area always have us looking for more.

Nizam’s Restaurant has us visiting the place again and again.

Kolkata Airport has its fine food and sweets joints to visit.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Kolkata.

TeNy

Being Closer to Himalayas

As I have visited Kolkata multiple times, there was always the urge to visit Darjeeling, but the same never happened. This time, we decided to make a trip in that direction after reaching the capital of West Bengal. We booked a Goibibo trip which could be well-customized. After reaching the place and until leaving, it was a spectacular journey. There was the complementary lunch at Singalila Club of Bagdogra which was among the best of food we had with a great ambience. The staff especially Risharth proved to be very helpful in making the experience better. The transportation was very smooth and the accommodation provided at Mount Conifer Suites and Spa was too good with an upgrade and once again great complementary breakfast. The location also provided to be perfect for shopping, and Rink Mall with cinemas, Dominos, Reliance supermarket and INOX along with nice local markets nearby.

As I had expected, the best experience of the journey was indeed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) which added Batasia Loop and Ghum Museum, two of the best-looking areas around. The railways journey with the view is one of its kind. The Happy Valley Tea Museum served its purpose really well too. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute with the zoon and the park makes a fine walk with a small group of cheap shops and the option to take your photos in traditional clothing. Along with the Peace Pagoda and the Japanese Buddhist Temple, there are other temples including the ones at Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre and Ghum, which adds some peaceful atmosphere. The place is also not short of its churches. Noor The Biryani House and Sumi Nom Nom Bakery with Korean Cafe were the places we preferred for food along with the street options. Then there is Glenary’s, the oldest and the most impressive bakers around, a must-try for foodies who also get a fine view of the natural beauty from there. All these made a fine memory for us, which we will recollect to inspire more visits to the same direction.

Happy Valley Tea Estate provides some fine views with lovely tea.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute with the statue of Tenzing makes our day.

Buddhist prayer wheels at Tibetan refugee self-help area brings spirituality.

The Peace Pagoda within the greenery provides what the name suggests.

The Japanese Buddhist Temple is a separate entity by its own charm.

Himalayan Darjeeling Railways whether steam or diesel, creates the best moments.

Ghum Railway Station – the highest as well as the most charming one.

You always have the best views in the unexpected areas of the town.

Glenary’s makes the oldest & the best bakers around, not to be missed.

Visiting at least one temple or monastery in Ghum would prove to be fruitful.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Darjeeling.

TeNy

Kolkata in the Soul Again

Kolkata has always remained a favourite destination. It has had that status for me since childhood. Therefore, returning to the same place again one year after the early visit was an easy task. This time, there was also no corona virus with the threat, and this would also mean a visit to the National Library of India once more. We once again visited the largest library in the nation, and managed to find more books of relevance for PhD. The heat outside served to be exactly opposite as the cold inside with the air conditioner on. The place is like no other, and we should have something like this in other states too. As expected, we could visit other places of interest at the same time. This second journey made sure that we could feel like home rather than as a guest during the last time. Kolkata became closer to the soul and leaving the place after fifteen days was tougher.

We started visiting those places from the list – Annabelle House, which would be the first horror-themed restaurant that we visited, managed to be a divergent experience, even though we could have loved to see it as bigger and with a full Conjuring universe effect. We also visited the Science City which I had last seen a decade ago, and there was so much rush there. For the first time visitors, it is indeed a must-visit place. We also visited the Mother House once again, as the kindness and care of Missionaries of Charity would stay. This time, we also took the local train and visited The Basilica of the Holy Rosary at Bandel, a pilgrimage centre known for the blessings of Mother Mary, located about fifty kilometres from Kolkata. We did not miss the wonderful malls this time either, as we visited South City Mall, Acropolis Mall, Quest Mall, Avani Riverside Mall, Forum Courtyard Mall and Lake Mall, one after the other along with the local market areas. This visit made sure that there was some fine shopping for sure. Then Oxford Book Shop with cafe was a favourite place and going through Howrah has always been a thing of joy.

We all need such horror-themed restaurants, maybe with vampires next time.

Traveling through Howrah Bridge a.k.a. Rabindra Setu is true joy.

We can always use some blessings from Lady of Bandel with travel.

Avani Riverside Mall is one busy place which has interesting joints.

Forum Courtyard Mall was the closest shopping centre to our location.

Oxford Book Store at Kolkata remains the ultimate source of literature.

Acropolis Mall will be loved for quite a long time due to its looks itself.

We will keep visiting this science city as it is one of its kind.

Let us keep visiting the library again and again as research scholars.

South City Mall was a new lovely find for us in Kolkata.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Kolkata.

TeNy

Tourism in Goa’s Bowl

Goa has been a destination which everyone has been looking to visit. If you ask any student where the destination for the final year trip should be, the location would be Goa, the land of dreams for almost everyone. This is a place which I visited as a child, and is also the first place from where I first travelled on a flight. There is no shortage of tourists in Goa, as we have those charming beaches with the support of water sports along with the churches which has no matches anywhere else with the classic beauty that they have. We have seen such journeys become part of movies, the most prominent one being Aanandam. As it was shown in that movie, there were troubles in this journey too, which restricted the destinations covered during the trip.

The return to Goa did not bring any nostalgia to me, as I remember very less about that earlier trip which happened such a long time ago. This last tour which happened on a train and a bus was indeed different from what I had in my memories though. The beaches and churches served the purpose really well, and the journey on the scooter to discover the interesting areas would also be worth the time. Aguada Fort would be the place where one could look out for a peaceful sunset, while the beaches like Anjuna continues to be places of interest. We remember that a long time ago, it was Dona Paula that roused one’s interest, but now, there are others. Still, you have so many beaches and churches that never cease to amaze us.

Anjuna Beach gets a lot of attention with the rock formations.

There is always something more when there are rocks with sands.

The sunsets are always there to bring the charm on beaches.

We always have that cute little church building on the way.

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church at Thivim is one of its kind.

The Syro-Malabar model of the churches of Kerala is maintained well.

You look around to find one old church dedicated to St. Christopher.

The altars in the old style has us interesting more than ever.

Some churches seem to be closed, but we enjoy the architectural beauty.

Aguada Fort with the lighthouse from Portuguese times make a heavy impact.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Goa.

TeNy

The Venice of the East

Aleppey or Alappuzha has served as the Venice of the East since it was given that name by George Curzon, Viceroy of India – it is a name that has well-suited the place. With Vembanad Lake, the longest lake in the whole of India, as well as the largest lake serving the state of Kerala, the status of the location can only be further justified. There are so many houseboats in the backwaters and some beautiful beaches which serve Alappuzha, making it a favourite destination for many. It is a location which I have visited multiple times, and there was a new journey to support the same again. Well, most tourists who visit Kerala, especially Kochi do add Aleppey to their list of places to watch.

The Venice of the East has maintained and lived up to that title, a realization which has elevated the status of Aleppey among the tourist destinations of South India. A vast network of rivers and canals has served the town really well. This journey to Aleppey can be combined with a straight trip from Fort Cochin on one side, stretching through the model tourism village of Kumbalangi and going further to reach the place past Andhakaranaazhi, another beach of interest. Some of the snaps from the last journey in that direction can be seen shared below. It was a one-day journey which took the route through Vyttila, Maradu and Cherthala, even though a tour from other directions including Kumbalangi would also be that interesting.

There is always enough of houseboats that we see around.

You see one of the houseboats and then you see many more.

There are always some houseboats which catch attention more.

You see those houseboats from a long distance away with beauty.

Like they say, you choose your destiny, or rather the houseboats.

Walk through the path that lead to the right houseboat.

The sunsets never get less beautiful around here.

The octopus sculpture made out of plastic waste on the beach.

Decommissioned Fast Attack Craft (IN FAC) T-81 on display.

The lighthouses are always there to keep us interested.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Aleppey.

TeNy

Trivandrum: A Quick Return

I have been to Trivandrum multiple times. The first time goes a long time back, and the most recent one was related to the Airtel 4G launch some time ago. The last journey has been different as the motive was to visit the University of Kerala as part of my PhD studies. As a research scholar, this happens to be one of those interesting library visits, which includes the time spent in the National Library of Kolkata, British Council Library of Kolkata, Calicut University Library of Kozhikode and Kannur University Library of Cannanore. This was not really a visit as a tourist, which means that there were not many places visited, and not that many photos taken. After all, we just cannot have them all during a trip, if there is a specific focus. But during my early journeys, I have visited a lot of tourist attractions in Trivandrum.

This is also my first journey to Trivandrum during which I was driving the car all the way; this makes the journey much different – we took the Perumbavoor-Ramapuram-Palai-Ponkunnam-Ranni route as the route was comfortable to travel. There was always one Indian Coffee House on the way to take a break. If you are a tourist, you know that there are many options in Trivandrum from those churches and temples to the beaches which have remained the classic destinations for such a long time. Kovalam Beach and Padmanabhaswamy Temple have been there as the first priorities for an eternity. On the way to Trivandrum, you are sure to find Jatayu Earth’s Center on the way, where we didn’t stop as there was a certain shortage of time. There was also Museum of the Word, a Bible Museum showing on the map available with a diversion. Well, there is so much more to be seen in Trivandrum and on the way back, but that would be left for another day.

University of Kerala has one peaceful library.

Madre De Deus Church (Vettucaud Church) is legendary.

St. Mary Queen of Peace Basilica of Palayam enlightens.

Palayam Juma Masjid is a place frequenting the films.

St. Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral features in many movies too.

A beachside church has remained a thing of beauty.

There is the eternity of serenity in these places of worship.

Some places of worship are not to be avoided during any trip.

Why wouldn’t one visit the Indian Coffee House even when there is a choice?

God faces the tides; the eternity of the sea and its waves.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Trivandrum.

TeNy

The World of Biennale

The exhibition of art at Kochi Biennale has always been something that interested us. The largest art exhibition in the nation has never ceased to draw people from not just Kochi or all around the state, but also from different parts of the nation and the world. We have had our journeys to biennale before, and people around Cochin have surely considered it to be a very significant event, something which happens with the Cochin Carnival at times, bringing an even bigger crowd to the area. Fort Cochin has remained the area of such cultural significance which cannot be matched with any other place.

The exhibition continues to be set in areas across Cochin, while using existing galleries, halls, and installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and abandoned structures. Ever since beginning on 12th December 2012, the popularity of the exhibition has only increased, despite the price of the tickets reaching a new high. The cost of the entry has now reached Rs. 150 from the early Rs. 50 which prevailed during the early times of the exhibition. As Fort Cochin is a destination of interest at all times, visiting the main locations of biennale remains a priority for the tourists.

A little bit of environment catches in with biennale every time.

Some scenes at the exhibition is worth being in the camera.

The Aspinwall House serves among the best destinations too.

There are always enough exhibits to explore at the biennale.

The Aspinwall House itself is a place which requires exhibition.

You look at the boats and the backwaters which lies in front of you.

And there is also the cafe, even though expensive and crowded.

There is also the option to travel on the boat towards other areas.

There is also that nice little biennale shop, even though it is expensive.

The old Mattancherry Bridge, also known as the Harbour bridge.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the visit to the last biennale at Fort Cochin.

TeNy

Grand Malayattoor Carnival

The mega carnival at Malayattoor set around one of the largest human made fresh water lakes in the Asian Continent is an attraction like no other. This is one other carnival which reminds us of the the Cochin Carnival. This seven day long festival with thousands illuminated stars spread around 110 acres of a lake begins with Christmas and ends with the New Year. This pool is a thing of beauty even without the stars, and it is a celebration like no other, with the crowd increasing further after the corona virus pandemic break. This event, just like Cochin Carnival, includes the burning of Santa Claus in the end.

Malayattoor is a place which was blessed by the work of St. Thomas the apostle who remains the central figure of this particular village community which consists of a large number of churches. Saint Thomas Church at the top of the hill has remained one of the most visited pilgrim centres of the area. As Cochin International Airport is less than twenty kilometres from here. The nearest towns are Angamaly and Perumbavoor which serves the village well, along with Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Sankara. Kanjoor, the nearby town is known for St. Mary’s Forane Church, another popular pilgrim centre.

The beautiful decorations of the lake keeps us interested.

Ferris wheel is the amusement ride that we shall have at all carnivals.

You see the stars, and you see thousands of them here.

The huge star and the even bigger Santa Claus remain charming.

You can keep walking around the lake to enjoy the illuminations and shops.

The number of people who visit the area in the evening is enormous.

The Christmas spirit remains there with the stars hanging around.

The pirate ship which swings back and forth would also be there.

The walk with water on both sides of the road makes a beautiful sight.

The lake and the forest – nature has blessed Malayattoor well enough.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the visit to the carnival at Malayattoor.

TeNy

Calicut: University and Others

This would be my third journey to Calicut by car, even though there were a few train journeys before that. The first one was the longest one, with a Kannur-Wayanad combination added to the trip. The second one was a direct trip to Calicut. If I am asked about which side of Kerala would I go from the centre, I would go North, to Calicut side. Well, food is one major reason for that. Otherwise, there are also others contributing to the same. Calicut’s Hilite Mall is my favourite mall from anywhere in South India. People would have wanted it to be Lulu Mall, but this one feels more like a divergent place. There are the best shops with fine offers, and the food, once again, is so good. Well, my next favourite malls are also Shobha City Mall of Thrissur and Centre Square Mall of Cochin – not the ones most people would have guessed.

This particular journey was meant to be about visiting Calicut University library rather than anything else. I visited the library for collecting some material for my research, and it seemed to be the better option in comparison with the other university libraries in Kerala, and going outside the state seemed to be difficult, considering the fact that there were too many Corona virus based restrictions at that time. So, this journey to library was made into a combination of different things – we wandered through the city, visited two beaches, and one mall – we were thinking about adding another mall to the list, but Hilite Mall was too good, and we really had to keep visiting it again. We had food from some more interesting places, and then decided to come back. We shall return to this side to visit the remaining beaches and a few historical places on the list.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Calicut/Kozhikode.

TeNy

Thanjavur: Cholas and TTDC

We have been to Thanjavur multiple times, and the last one was in 2010, when we stopped on the way back from Velankanni – we had booked an a/c bus which had too much of air conditioning, leading us to choose the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses on the way back – then we had stopped at Thanjavur to visit the temple and then stayed in Trichy. But the new situation was different, as we were traveling in Tata Tigor, and the location chosen to stay was TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu in Thanjavur. Unlike their counterpart in Kerala, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation provides some fine facilities at a cheaper rate, and the free breakfast in the morning is just perfect. We have stayed in their Hotel Tamil Nadu at Kodaikanal and Yercaud before, and they had also proven to be some fine choices. But their hotel at Thanjavur is even better, as it is a very old building converted into hotel, providing the beauty of architecture along with the bigger rooms and a lot of space to walk around and also to park the vehicles. I would suggest that those who are traveling to Velankanni can also stay here, to travel early morning and return here.

Thanjavur is located ninety kilometres from Velankanni and sixty kilometres from Trichy, making it a fine space in between. When we stay here, the one place which we cannot miss is Brihadisvara Temple which is part of the Great Living Chola Temples, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The architectural marvel from the times of Chola Empire never really gets old, and provides the feeling out of this world – a perfect place to spend the evenings, as we witness the grandeur of an empire which needs to be considered among the greatest of the world. If you can travel some more distance, there are two other similar temples which can also be visited, but this one in Thanjavur city remains the best known work of architecture. Then we also visited Sacred Heart Cathedral, a lovely church located in the heart of the lovely city. We also found a favourite in Shri Dhivyam Sweets and Snacks, with Arya Bhavan vegetarian restaurant on the next floor, both serving as fine examples of quality. It is a fine place to buy some sweets to take home. Despite the posh looks, it is not that expensive a place either.

TTDC Hotel Tamil Nadu is where we would stay whenever it is possible for us.

This TTDC hotel scores with the food & the looks both from outside & inside.

Thanjavur is one nice place which combines different elements for you to love.

You would never want to miss the Great Living Chola Temples in life.

Spending an evening with spirituality and history combined into one will be special.

There are not many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that provides such beauty.

Brihadishvara Temple, also known as Thanjai Periya Kovil is one of its kind.

Sacred Heart Cathedral of Thanjavur is a peaceful place of divine worship.

The cathedral is at a main area of the city & has people praying inside most of the time.

This proved to a perfect place for sweets & snacks, with also a vegetarian restaurant.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Thanjavur.

TeNy

District 13: Kannur Shores

I had my second visit to the thirteenth district of Kerala, Kannur recently. The summer in the busy town as well as the district in total felt very much hotter than what we had in the central districts of Kerala. Well, we used to complain about the heat then, and this felt more like in proximity to the sun than anything else. The journey was also very much difficult after Thrissur as the roads became narrower and with the drivers being more careless; it seems to be getting widened with more bypass paths though – the buses were more terrifying out there as we came across them; we feel that we have to move away from its path or die. But it is indeed a beautiful district, especially with the beaches which are much cleaner than what we have in the central of southern side. There seems to be poetry in the seas out there, and we enjoy the less polluted world out there.

Kannur has the beautiful town of Thalassery, which catches our attention, even though the roads are too narrow – same is the case of Mahe which is officially the part of Pondicherry even though within Kerala’s geography. Muzhappilangad Beach is among the best drive-in beaches which you will see anywhere in the continent, and there are so many other beaches to remember. St. Angelo Fort is a very well preserved Portuguese fort which provides a beautiful view of the sea in serenity. There is a lot to see with the fort too. Holy Trinity Cathedral also happened to be a lovely sight. For more of spirituality, you can travel to the Parassini Madappura Sree Muthappan Temple. There are some fine Indian Coffee Houses located in the area too. Parassinikadavu also has its own interesting Snake Park. The malls in the area are smaller, but still good enough for some random shopping.

Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach – nothing better for Tata Tigor.

You continue to visit the libraries, this time at Kannur University.

Holy Trinity Cathedral serves the spirituality well.

Tata Tigor has its first visit to any fort anywhere.

St Angelo Fort is surely among the best 3 forts of Kerala.

How many battleships has this particular cannon struck?

You look beyond the borders of the Kerala lands.

The view from the top of the fort is good enough for a soldier.

Kannur is a place which can easily be proud of its history.

Indian Coffee House never losses its charm.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during the last trip to Kannur/Cannanore.

TeNy

Kolkata: Joy and Nostalgia

After the COVID-19 pandemic, our first grand trip was to Kolkata, and it was also the first journey by airplane – each and every other trip was by car, as we were not sure about traveling somewhere in public with the corona virus around. We did feel that the flight was also going to be difficult with the restrictions around, but thankfully, Kerala and West Bengal didn’t have problems with accepting travelers from the other. The basic motive of this journey was to visit the National Library of India, the largest of its kind in India, so that I could find some material for my research. It did turn out well, as we could get a membership online and use the reading room as much as we needed. The library is a beautiful structure in huge green compound. There is a huge collection of books, and I am sure that I wouldn’t find anything so well-maintained anywhere else. Indian Coffee House of Kolkata could have been better if people wouldn’t smoke in there, and if they had tea like those in Kerala.

The other journeys were to Victoria Memorial and Mother House, both I am visiting for third time – never to be missed while traveling to the city. We also chose to visit the British Council Library which felt so small in comparison to the National Library, and also the Kolkata Book Fair which didn’t seem to have enough English book, but seemed like a nice place to wander – too crowded though. St Paul’s Cathedral was undergoing renovation, but remained as beautiful as usual. Another visit for a show in Birla Planetarium also followed. The South Park Street Cemetery became my third favourite cemetery after the ones in Bradford and Glasgow. We also visited three malls, City Centre Salt Lake, Forum Courtyard and Quest Mall. It was very quick a journey, as we did all of these in just a week and rushed back home. Yet, any time spent in Kolkata brings happiness, as it is indeed the City of Joy. I will still miss the trams as we couldn’t find them in the areas we visited.

National Library of India. The library of the life-time.

All the time, you visit Indian Coffee House for no reason.

Quest Mall is among my favourite malls, all-time.

St Paul’s Cathedral in the evening is lovely Gothic.

This one had fascinated my as a little kid long ago.

There is no end to a cemetery love that goes on.

I have always preferred Victoria Memorial to Taj Mahal.

Mother House has been a place of blessing for long.

The mall is lovely, but needs a food court with options.

Tea in a pot is something that we need here too.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Kolkata.

TeNy

Velankanni: Longest Car Trip

This is not our first journey to Velankanni, as we had been to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health the last time in 2010. But this is the first time that we are traveling in that direction by car. Tata Tigor was ready for the most distant location from its origins, and the journey was a memorable one. We took the journey in two different routes – on the way there, we went through the Palakkad-Coimbatore-Karur-Trichy route and while returning, we took the Trichy-Dindigul-Pollachi-Nenmara route, and I would suggest that traveling through the return route, but avoiding Nemara would be the right choice, for traveling from Trichy to Pollachi is joyful. While getting to Velankanni, the route through Mannargudi was better than the shorter Nagappattinam route, which was undergoing repair. Well, we reached Velankanni at a time when there less visitors. There are times when so many people go to the pilgrimage site, and there is rarely even the space to pray in peace.

The better roads in Tamil Nadu made sure that the journey was not troublesome, and only a few areas were troublesome for the vehicle’s suspension. I don’t remember much about that earlier journey to the sacred place, but it didn’t feel like something that far away from memory; yet the place has changed in twelve years. Velankanni is part of Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation, which means that we have hope for the place to feel better. We prayed in the Lourdes of the East, and hoped for the best, as we live in an uncertain world. These are the times when life in this world seems irrelevant, and therefore, such spiritual journeys seem to be the need. Among the requirements to survive in this world, the connection to the other world becomes more important than ever. This trip has been pending for a long time, and the completion of this one provides more confidence and self-belief.

The trip anywhere would require a Tata Tigor and the usual food.

There is something about visiting Velankanni that never leaves us.

The beauty of the basilica will continue to enchant us.

The basilica has been visited by all of us for such a long time.

There is always something about the prayers and penance around here.

You keep looking towards divinity for the spiritual guidance.

Resting at places of divinity has never ceased to bring blessings.

The shrine of the old times continues to be a place of faith and belief.

You look up to God and hope for redemption in a world of chaos and hatred.

No journey is complete without Tata Tigor stopping by the side of highway for tea.

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Velankanni.

TeNy

Yercaud: Vagamon’s Twin

There are many interesting hill stations in South India, and among them, we have Yercaud, the less visited and lesser known one in comparison to the others of the same kind. With Ooty and Kodaikanal being the better placed attractions, and also with a cooler climate, this place has gone unnoticed by many nature enthusiasts. If we look at the climate there, the two places in Kerala which can be compared to it are Vagamon and Kumily. The place is located about thirty kilometres from Salem, to which a journey from Coimbatore is remarkable, considering the quality of the roads. We did think about going to Valparai, another hill station with a similar climate, but this one was preferred due to the roads. You can always trust Tamil Nadu with their roads, as they are as good as you will find anywhere else in the South. Well, always choose the less travelled good roads.

Yercaud is well-known for Montfort School, its chapel and the Sacred Heart Church, but all of them were closed. The three lovely viewpoints are Gents’ Seat, Ladies’ Seat and Children’s Seat, all providing some fine views of the area around. Cauvery Peak, despite a long drive away, is a must visit for coffee lovers – they also have some activities of adventure and some history attached to it. The boating and park area is pretty good, and the lake in the middle of the town is a lovely thing of beauty. There is scarcity of big restaurants, and the Guru Restaurant turned out to be a favourite. We stayed at Hotel Tamil Nadu just like we did in Kodaikanal, and it turned out to be lovely option, very close to the boating and lake area, also providing some fine breakfast. Our journey was quick, and it was lovely. The place was not crowded at all, and that helped us to go through the whole hill station very quickly.

You have the wonderful roads and you love the 20 hair pins.

We loved the rowing boats over everything else.

Just cool enough on the lines of Vagamon in Kerala.

The hair pin roads can be seen from a distance here.

The misty, foggy world of Vagamon was missing here though.

There are always the signs of antiquity being seen around.

Cauvery Peak is a place of coffee, unlike the usual tea plantations.

It is calm, peaceful and without the crowd; so love the serenity.

I would always choose Hotel Tamil Nadu (TTDC) when available.

When roads are so good, why wouldn’t you choose to drive Tata Tigor?

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***The images used on this blog post were taken by me on my Samsung mobile phone during my visit to Yercaud.

TeNy

The Highland Connection

Kerala has always had its natural beauty in its hills, as these are the more preferred destinations in comparison to the beaches during the days when temperature is higher than it used to be. Among all these options, the first choice would always be Munnar, followed by these two special places – Thekkady and Vagamon. Located forty two kilometres, and about one and half kilometres apart, these two were to be combined in our trip. Our original idea was to travel to Thekkady and return after spending some time there, but the tour was rather extended. These two have been among our most visited destinations, with Thekkady being a place visited even when we traveled to the Tamil Nadu side, even though Munnar comes first as the most traveled hill station of all time, but a journey there would have meant eighty six kilometres and three hours, and so Vagamon seemed to be the much better choice.

At Vagamon, we stayed at Chillax Vagamon this time, and it was a simple place very close to the town itself, and the main attraction was a swimming pool at the roof top. During our earlier trip, we had stayed at Fairmount Vagamon Resorts, which was located further away from the town, and had a better view of greenery. At Thekkady, we stayed in Crown Valley Resorts, which was a grand place, a four star hotel which provided some fine facilities. During an earlier trip, we had stayed at Hotel SN International, which was closer to the town. The idea about this journey was more about traveling all the way there, and staying there to enjoy the atmosphere, and sight-seeing was not part of the plan. Well, at times, you need these hill stations for just the same, and not more.

The journey towards the destination always matters.

Reached the Crown Valley Resort, and then I had to take online classes.

Ford Aspire resting at Crown Valley Resort makes a fine view.

Note the route between Thekkady and Vagamon which is one grand sight.

What lies between Thekkady and Vagamon is the treat for the eyes.

Vagamon has its cute little hills at all places for you to see and admire.

There is always the setting sun which has the hills and clouds to hide itself.

Vagamon, even though the smaller among the hill stations, has its special charm.

View of the rooftop swimming pool of Chillax provided something to cheer for.

Some greenery is always there to be seen, from different angles and spaces.

*All the above photos were taken by me during our earlier trip in March 2021.

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TeNy

Just a Little Away from Munnar

Mankulam which is located at about twenty seven kilometres and an hour and a quarter from Munnar was our location of choice when a few months had passed after the end of COVID-19 lock-down last year. We had chosen this place over Munnar because is it is located ten kilometres closer to the midlands than Munnar, even though it will still take the exact same amount of time to reach there due to the bad condition of the roads – but the road is being repaired, and so that can change. We had chosen this area because it was peaceful there in comparison with Munnar, even though the temperature there was lower by three or four degree Celsius. But it was December, and so that ended up okay. It is to be noted that the other hill stations like Thekkady, Vagamon and Nelliyampathy also have lower temperature than Munnar, and so this is not that much of negative at that particular moment.

We really wanted a break at that time because we hadn’t gone for a trip in such a long time, and we were staying at home whenever possible. At Mankulam, we stayed at Treebo Trend Misty Garden Resorts and Spa, a fine place to stay with a swimming pool, and a good variety of food options available if ordered early. There is also some nice areas to visit nearby, even though they are not big tourist destinations. An evening walk in the area was refreshing. The roads which were being repaired at that time, if finished, can make this journey a quick and easy one. If Munnar seems to crowded, or if you don’t want to go that far, you can choose Mankulam, and I have shared ten pictures below for you to remember this particular area. After all, a stay away from the crowd and within nature with hill view can always be refreshing enough.

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***The images used in blog post were taken by me on my Samsung Galaxy A20S.

TeNy

Kumbalangi Nights and Days

There might be many islands which you know for the scenic beauty, but Kumbalangi is different. You will know the same, as I have known it from my childhood itself. It might be the same reason why it was chosen as the perfect setting for Kumbalangi Nights, one of the greatest films of the century, a flick which should have been nominated for multiple awards including international ones. With some fantastic performances to go with that background of Kumbalangi, the movie became the best of India, a thing worthy of sending for Oscars, even though they don’t seem to have considered the same in favour of some lower class films. I guess it was Gully Boy which was nominated during that time, much to the surprise of sensible people.

There, we stayed at the Kallenchery Resort, a place which we have preferred for some peaceful times for some years now. We celebrated my birthday there, and that proved to be the perfect one, with all settings being done there, and we had also ordered customized food – even though the place is known for its great seafood, the Paneer which we ordered was superb too. Kallenchery itself is an island which is connected by a small road to the island of Kumbalangi, thus making it a remote area – – it is the inner area of the village which provides a lot of view. This resort itself is getting more developed during these days, and during the next visit, I would expect things to be even bigger, as hope for a new dawn past COVID-19 is certainly there.

You have to be there for the sunset, every time.

You watch the sun setting in peace, and so do you have serenity.

Ford Aspire had a journey to remember past the city.

They brought one of the best cakes we ever had.

You sit and watch this throughout the dark night.

Always spend some time to happily work from Kumbalangi.

The Chinese Fishing Nets make your perfect reflection of the world.

There is always a lot of space to walk around this resort.

You move around & find that the money spent here is worth it.

Just the random nice shot which you get by looking above.

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TeNy

Seven Nations of My Travel

1. United Kingdom: As I place a quick writing on the seven countries which I have visited in my life, this one basically counts as two nations, as we did visit both England and Scotland. We remember the same from those cricket matches itself. It was also the biggest journey we had, not just with the amount spent for flight as well as the time spent on transit, but also with the world which we had there to witness. From the monuments to writers to those huge church buildings, there were a lot to be witnessed, and the traces of history out there was indeed splendid. You know that there is Canterbury Cathedral, Lake District, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and more, being part of a very long list.

This is one massive structure at Liverpool that reminds us of our minuteness.

2. Sri Lanka: The Sri Lankan trip happened in the same year as the journey to UK. Both of these trips were actually the result of the inability to go for that Israel-Palestine-Jordan-Egypt trip which was supposed to be the official Holy Land trip. So, we ended up in Ceylon, the world of serenity with tea and Buddhism, even though we were there more for a Ramayana tour rather than anything else. The most beautiful place out there was Nuwara Eliya, a hill station which was indeed the Little England. It was a world which felt closer to Kerala in many ways, especially the nature and the climate prevailing out there. We were very close to going back there again.

Nuwara Eliya, my favourite hill station with awesome tea and natural beauty.

3. Thailand: Well, we all know that everyone wishes to go to Pattaya. The Malayalam movie, Amar Akbar Anthony had made it clear already, and there were indeed more Keralites around than people from anywhere else outside that nation. Pattaya is indeed a charming place, a perfect beach-based destination, while Bangkok is the city with the charm. Bangkok Metro also became the third metro I had traveled outside India after London, Singapore and Malaysia, a metro which I traveled in, even before traveling in the Kochi Metro which was already running. The Buddhist temples of the place has the charm too, even though we got to visit only two of them.

The beach at Pattaya about which you know very well from movies!

4. Indonesia: The trip which followed exactly one year after the journey to Thailand was to Indonesia, or the beautiful island of Bali, to be exact. Visiting the one place in Indonesia which was so popular with its natural beauty, beaches and Hindu temples became the next on the list. It is also that nation where you become a millionaire due to the exchange rate even though the cost doesn’t go down in comparison to India. You have those differently designed temples, the rice terraces, volcanoes and a divergent culture out there. There are places for some nice shopping too, even though we do need a direct flight to Bali rather than being forced to travel through Kuala Lumpur.

Everybody loves Bali, and you will love the place too, once you are there!

5. Singapore: This is a journey which happened much earlier in comparison to those other foreign trips. The trip to Singapore was also our first journey outside India, and it is also the result of a failed plan to travel to the United States which had become very strict with its visa policies after the World Trade Centre attacks. Well, you have Singapore, which has been the cleanest place you could be, as far as Asia is concerned. Being in a place outside the nation, it was a rewarding experience, and it would take another five years to go on a journey like this one, and another eight years for another foreign journey. Well, some years are indeed special in more than one way.

6. Malaysia: While Singapore had its Sentosa Island, Genting Highland make the highlight for Malaysia which was known for its Petronas Towers. We could go to the top of the tower though, as we were restricted to a few levels then. One has to say that Genting is a place of beauty like no other, not just related to nature, but also associated with the attractions which were provided in that particular theme park. We do have the journey on the ropeway, and Kuala Lumpur is a nice city to roam around too. It is to be noted that my first visit to a shopping mall was not in India, but at Singapore and then in Malaysia. We visited Kuala Lumpur airport again during our journey to Indonesia and back.

7. UAE: Almost everyone from Kerala has been to UAE, or rather Dubai in particular. Our visit to Dubai was rather a short stay during the journey to the United Kingdom. Emirates flight made a happy journey, and Dubai indeed has one of the best airports around, even though my personal preference is still the Cochin International Airport. We had to spend a lot of time at the airport, and therefore I could explore the place very well. I can go to Dubai at any moment as there are so many people I know right there, but even so, we are indeed getting delayed. Easiest places to visit are often the most difficult places to reach, just like it has been a while since we wanted to visit our relatives in Bangalore. A detailed note on the place will come soon enough.

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***The images used in blog post were taken by me during these trips between 2005 and 2019.

TeNy

Kerala Drive: 14-1 Districts

In the last few years, I have driven through thirteen out of fourteen districts of Kerala, along with three districts of Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Theni and Dindigul. The only district in Kerala in which I haven’t driven by myself is Kasargod, where I haven’t tried to travel, and when I had finally had my plan, COVID-19 pandemic came upon us. As the district where I have been living, and where my ancestral home is situated, journeys through Ernakulam have been many. Ernakulam itself is a place with all kinds of tourist destinations, which can be visited again and again. Then, the other districts also follow, and among them, Kottayam and Thrissur have the lead with such drives.

Kottayam: Vagamon’s location in Kottayam itself makes the district a favourite travel destination. Along with the same, I have driven to Ilaveezhapoonchira multiple times, and Illikkal Kallu was also added to the list later. Along with the same, visiting St. Alphonsa Pilgrime Centre and shrine at Bharananganam came naturally to us. Other pilgrim centres like the Kuravilangad Church also comes into the picture, and these have made the district regular driving destinations. Along with the same, there are some relatives’ places out there which made me go through the district early itself. Kottayam should be the most driven through district outside Ernakulam.

Thrissur: It is to be noted that Thrissur is so close to Angamaly that we keep visiting the district’s border areas on regular intervals. There are also some relatives’ places to add to it, and pilgrim centres also exist there, starting from the Koratty Church. Some of the best known tourist destinations, Athirappilly and Vazhachal Waterfalls are there, and it is the district which serves as a border to Tamil Nadu through the Sholayar side, and towards Valparai on the other side. We have also loved traveling to the Shobha City Mall in Thrissur City itself, a mall which is one of the best in Kerala, and having a fine multiplex to go with it. There are some very nice resturants on the way.

Idukki: Having some of the best places of natural beauty, Idukki is a district which provides all the beautiful scenery to the eyes. There is always Munnar and we always have Thekkady out there. Along with the same, when we are crossing the borders, Kumily is always there to have a charming journey through the area. The best of tea is also available there, and just crossing the borders, takes us to those grapes in the vineyards of Cumbum. There are so many places which we have visited in Idukki, and you know Munnar very well in advance. Parunthumpara, Panchalimedu, Kuttikkanam and all have you there, and in the lowlands, there is the town of Thodupuzha which I always come across.

Alappuzha and Kollam: There have been many journeys witnessing the beauty of the backwaters of Kerala, and Alappuzha is indeed close enough – we also have some nice beaches to go with the same. Kollam might not be that close, but it also has the beauty of backwaters and those fine beaches. We remember having visiting a good number of them, and going through some interesting journeys on this path. Both the district capitals got their own fine beaches too. Yet, it has been some time since we went through this path, and there is the feeling of such a requirement.

Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram: The former is known for its beauty of nature, which we have quickly gone through, and the latter, is the charming capital of Kerala. The most recent visit to Thiruvananthapuram was for Varkala Beach, but there have been other journeys to that direction earlier. The capital city does have many interesting places to visit, and we have covered most of the beaches. Yet, Pathanamthitta is a district which we require to explore more. With some presence of the relatives, maybe that could happen later at some point of time.

Malabar (Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Malappuram): We keep on traveling through Palakkad whenever there is the need to cross over the border to Coimbatore, and Palakkad Fort is always a charm. The Kozhikode trip was a nice one with Thusharagiri Waterfalls, multiples beaches and others. We had visited Thunchan Parambu and other beaches in Malappuram, and more beaches like Muzhappilangad, as well as multiple forts in Kannur with a fine dose of history. We also had a taste of the natural beauty of Wayanad even though a more detailed trip is needed there, as well as in most of Malabar.

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***The images used in blog post were taken by me during these trips between 2005 and 2019.

TeNy