Destination Lonavla

Lonavla is raucous resort town about 106 km southeast of Mumbai. Its main drag consists almost exclusively of garishly lit shops selling chikki, the rock-hard, brittle sweet made in the area, and you get fun-for-the-whole-family kind of stuff like wax museums, go-carts and India's largest water park. But there are some pleasant side streets, serene residential areas and destination yoga places along with the pastoral surrounding countryside that means you can choose your own path here.

The main reason you’d want to come here is to visit the nearby Karla and Bhaja caves which, after those at Ellora and Ajanta, are the best in Maharashtra.

Hotels, restaurants and the main road to the caves lie north of the train station. Most of the Lonavla township and its markets are located south of the station.

he name Lonavla derives from Len (Prakrit, A resting place carved from stone) and Avali (Prakrit, series). Lonavli in Prakrit is a place which has a series of such Len around it.[3]

History

Present day Lonavla was a part of the Yadava dynasty. Later, the Mughals realized the strategic importance of the region and kept the region for an extended time. The forts in the region and the "Mavla" warriors played an important role in the history of the Maratha and Peshwa empires.[4] In 1871, the Lonavla and Khandala hill stations were discovered by Lord Elphinstone, who was the Governor of Bombay Presidency at the time

Tourism

Lonavla and the adjacent Khandala are twin hill stations 622 metres (2,041 ft) above sea level, in the Sahyadri ranges that demarcate the Deccan Plateau and the Konkan coast. The hill stations sprawl over an approximate area of 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi). Tourism peaks during the monsoon season. The name Lonavla is derived from the Sanskrit lonavli, which refers to the many caves like Karla Caves, Bhaja Caves and Bedsa that are close to Lonavla. A trip to Lonavla and Khandala can be combined with sight-seeing visits of Karla, Bhaja and Bedsa caves and also the two fortresses, Lohagad and Visapur. Another place of interest is the Tungi fort, one of the forts captured by Malik Ahmad near the village of Karjat and was known for its natural strength. The Andharban trek begins from village Pimpri, passses through dense forests, valleys and waterfalls and ends in Bhira.

By road 

Lonavla is on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and is well-connected to several towns of Khopoli, Karjat, Talegaon Dabhade, etc.

By train

Lonavla is well-connected by train. Local trains run from Pune at 2 hour intervals. Those originating from Mumbai along the central line have Khopoli as their last station. Buses are available at regular intervals to complete the remaining 15 km of the journey to Lonavla from Khopoli bus station. It takes 2.5 hours by train from Mumbai and 1 to 1.5 hour from Pune. All trains, travelling between Mumbai and Pune, halt at Lonavla. Trains from Mumbai halt at Karjat to attach banker locomotives before the train starts journey up the western ghats to reach Lonavla.

By air

Lonavla does not have an airport, though the Indian Air Force station Troppo is situated on the way to Aamby Valley City. The city of Aamby Valley has its own private airport. The nearest commercial airports are Pune International Airport at 64 km and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 104 km. A seaplane service is also available between Juhu and Pawana Dam, which is 14 km away from Lonavala.

Enchanting Bekal Fort

View of the Bekal fort 

Bekal Fort (Malayalam: ബേക്കൽ കോട്ട), is the largest fort in Kerala, situated at Bekal village in Kasaragod district, North Kerala and it is 67 km from Mangalore spreading over 40 acres (160,000 m2).

How to reach Bekal
BY FLIGHT: Bekal does not have an airport. Nearest airport is Bajpe Airport.
Bekal is 57 km away from Bajpe Airport (IXE), Mangalore, Karnataka
Bekal is 156 km away from Calicut International Airport (CCJ), Kozhikode, Kerala


BY TRAIN
You can easily get regular trains to Bekal from other major cities of the country.
Railway Station(s): Kottikkulam (KQK)

BY BUS
Bekal is just 12 km away from Kasaragod
Nearest bus stand is Kasaragod. Kasargod has excellent bus connectivity from Calicut/Kozhikode and major cities in Kerala. 

There are frequent Kerala RTC buses and Karnataka RTC buses from Mangalore to Kasargod. Get down at Kasargod Kerala RTC bus stand and hop onto Kanhangad bus via Chandragiri

Video of Bekal fort on : ENCHANTING BEKAL

View of the Bekal fort 

Important features of Bekal fort 
An important features of this fort is the water-tank with its flight of steps. The fort has a tunnel opening towards the south and a magazine for keeping ammunition with broad steps leading to the Observation Tower. From there one has an ample view of towns in the vicinity like Kanhangad, Pallikkara, Bekal, Kottikkulam, and Uduma. The nearest railway stations are Bekal Fort, Kotikulam, Kanhangad, and Kasargod. This observation center had strategic significance in discovering even the smallest movements of the enemy and ensuring the safety of the Fort.[1]

The Fort appears to have been built up from the sea since almost three fourths of its exterior is drenched and the waves continually stroke the citadel. The Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman and the ancient Muslim mosque nearby bear testimony to the age-old religious harmony that prevailed in the area. The zigzag entrance and the trenches around the fort show the defense strategy inherent in the fort.

Unlike most other Indian forts, Bekal Fort was not a center of administration, for no remains of any palace, mansion or such buildings are found within the fort. Arguably the fort was built especially for fulfilling defence requirements. The holes on the outer walls of the fort are specially designed to defend the fort effectively. The holes at top were meant for aiming at the farthest points; the holes below for striking when the enemy was nearer and the holes underneath facilitated attacking when the enemy was very near to the fort. This is remarkable evidence of technology in defense strategy.

View of the Bekal beach from bekal fort

History 

Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore constructed the Bekal Fort in 1650 CE. During the Perumal Age Bekal was a part of Mahodayapuram. The Kodavalam inscription (Pullur, 7 km from Kanhangad) of Bhasakara Ravi II (the King of Mahodayapuram) illustrate the undisputed political sway of Mahodayapuram over this region. Following the political decline of Mahodayapuram Perumals by the 12th century AD, North Kerala including Bekal, came under the sovereignty of Mushika or Kolathiri or Chirakkal Royal Family (who were a secondary royal family at that point to the Cheras, Pandyas and Cholas). 

The maritime importance of Bekal increased much under the Kolathiris and it became an important port town of Tulunadu and Malabar.

It was usual in older days for every royal palace to be protected by a fort. The Bekal fort might have, therefore, existed even from early days of the Chirakkal Rajas. While writing a description of the Kolathiri Kingdom in his Kerala History, K.P. Padmanabha Menon writes: "The eldest of the male members reigned as sovereign Kolathiri. The next in succession, the heir apparent, was the Thekkelamkur. The residence assigned to him was the Vadakara fort. The third in succession was the Vadakkelamkur in charge of Vekkolath fort. This V(B)ekkolath fort is identified by some scholars as the present Bekal."

View of the beach from Bekal fort 

H.A. Stuart, in his Handbook of South Canara (1985), makes this observation: "Several forts were built by the Shivappa Nayaks of Badnore between 1650 and 1670. The two forts of Bekal and Chandragiri were originally under the Kolathiri or Chirakkal Rajas until the time of Shivappa Nayaka's invasion. Perhaps, the Bednore rulers might have rebuilt and improved it."

The Battle of Talikota in 1565 led to the decline of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire and many feudatory chieftains rose in political prominence including the Keladi Nayakas (Ikkeri Nayaks). The Nayakas realized the political and economic importance of Tulunadu (which is the region comprising modern-day Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts along with the northernmost part of Kasargod District ) and attacked and annexed the region. Bekal served as a nucleus in establishing the dominance of the Nayakas in Malabar. The economic importance of the port town prompted the Nayakas to fortify Bekal subsequently. Hiriya Venkatappa Nayaka initiated the construction of the fort and it was completed during the period of Shivappa Nayaka. The speedy completion of the port was aimed at the defense of the fort from overseas attack and to strengthen their attack on Malabar. Chandragiri fort near Kasargod was also constructed during this period.

View of the beach near Bekal fort 

Somashekhara Nayak captured Manjeswar and Taliparamba and built a fort at Kanhangad called Hosdurg which literally means 'New Fort' in Kannada/Tulu. The other forts found in Kasargod are constructed on the coastal region and on the route to Madikeri (Mercara in Coorg). It is believed that the 'Koteyar'/'Ramakshatriya' community found in Bekal, Panayal and other places in Kasargod were brought to this land by the Nayaks to strengthen and defend the fort. There was a prolonged struggle between the Kolathiries and Nayaks to recapture and maintain their hold over this area. These battles came to an end with the rise of Hyder Ali who conquered the Nayakas. Subsequently Bekal fell into the hands of Mysore kings.

Bekal served as an important military station of Tipu Sultan when he led the great military expedition to capture Malabar. The coins and other artifacts unearthed by the archaeological excavation conducted recently at Bekal fort is a manifestation of the strong presence of the Mysore Sulthans. The death of Tipu Sultan in Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799 saw the end of Mysorean control and subsequently the fort came under the British East India Company.

During the reign of the Company Bekal became the headquarters of the newly organized Bekal Taluk of South Canara District in Bombay presidency. South Canara became a part of the Madras presidency in 1799 and Kasargod Taluk was up in the place of Bekal Taluk. Gradually the political and economic importance of Bekal and its port declined considerably. Kasargod became part of Kerala with the state reorganization in 1956.[6]

Its solid construction resembles the St. Angelo Fort at Kannur built by the Dutch and also the Thalassery Fort. The Ikkeri Nayakas had not developed guns to defend themselves from the invaders approaching from the Arabean sea route. But the western part of the fort is built in a solid manner with numerous slits on the walls for defending the fort from the naval power of other rulers. So it is believed that the present look of fort was the outcome of the conflict between European powers. Modification to the fort was made by all the rulers who ruled the land from before the time of the Ikkeri Nayakas. Moreover, a number of forts built by the Ikkeri Nayakas have failed to stand the test of time and perished. Located at the centre of the fort is an Observation Tower built by Tipu Sultan,[4] which offers a scenic view of the coastline. Also in existence is a rest-house built by the British Government. Presently the protection and preservation of Bekal fort has been entrusted to the Archaeological Survey of India

Bekal beach - view from the Bekal fort 

Tourism

In 1992 the Government of India declared Bekal Fort as a special tourism area.[8] In the year 1995 the government formed Bekal Tourism Development Corporation for transforming Bekal Fort into international tourism centre.

Tourism promotion activities have been taking place of late in the areas surrounding the fort, under the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC). 
The song 'Uyire' (Tamil) from the movie Bombay (film) directed by Mani Ratnam has been shot at Bekal Fort. Many such films, music albums, and commercial advertisements are being shot at Bekal Fort.

The Bekal beach has a beach park. This is as an ideal location for a day trip with family or friends. The beach park has amusement rides, horse ride and a small park for children.

Bekal beach

St. Mary's Islands - Coconut Island

Boats near beach - St Mary Islands

There are no words to describe the adventurous and yet fun filled boat ride from Malpe beach to the St Mary's Islands / Coconut Island.  This was my second venture straight in to the Arabian sea. The previous one being an official assignment to board a container ship at outer anchorage, Goa port on a Sunday- 2005 with Indian Customs! 

An islander's life for 2 hours: Yes I became an islander for 2 hours. Strolled the complete length of the islands, picked up beautiful shells, sipped on coconut water, enjoyed walking and wading in the azure blue waters of St. Mary Islands. The bright neon green mangroves provide a striking background along with the tall and lofty coconut trees.

The rock formations will provide one with an opportunity to imagine Mother Nature at work!

An hour is all we get at this island. And after that the boat captain (the helmsman) signals to board the boat... it is time to bid bye to this beautiful place!

How to reach St. Mary's Islands

The only way of getting to the islands is by ferry boat. Regular ferry service ply the 6 km distance from the Malpe fishing harbor (which has a ship building yard also) to the islands. However, the frequency of these boats may vary depending on the number of tourists visiting.

About the St. Mary's Islands

St. Mary's Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka, India. They are known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar basaltic lava.

St Mary Islands

Scientific studies indicate that the basalt of the St. Mary's Islands was formed by sub-aerial subvolcanic activity, because at that time Madagascar was attached to India. The rifting of Madagascar took place around 88 million years ago.[2]

The islands form one of the four geological monuments in Karnataka state, one of the 26 Geological Monuments of India declared by the Geological Survey of India in 2001. The monument is considered an important site for "Geo Tourism

Historical facts

According to folk legend, in the year 1498, Vasco da Gama landed at St. Mary's Islands on his journey from Portugal, fixed a cross on the island and named one of these islands, O Padrão de Santa Maria, as a dedication to Mother Mary, before proceeding to Kozhikode in Kerala.[3] It is from this name that the islands got their current name

Rock formations - St Mary Islands

Geological facts

The columnar basaltic lava found in these Islands, which is very well developed in the basalts of Deccan Traps, exhibit an imposing range of hexagonal shaped or multi-faced (polygonal) columns split into a horizontal mosaic. In geological terms these are called "columnar joints".[1] The lava rocks form regular five, six or seven-sided pillars, called "laminar lava", and are found in varying heights in all the islands; the tallest of the columns is about 6 m (20 ft). Considering the importance and rarity of such an occurrence, these islands were classified as a National Geological Monument in 2001 by the Geological Survey of India.[4][6]

The Deccan Traps, that formed during Cretaceous–Eocene time about 60 million years ago. emerged from the vast deluge of hot molten basaltic lava in the western part of India which is now seen as flat topped hills and step like terraces

Important : Carry a light bag with adequate fresh water. Apply sunscreen lotion and Try wearing a chinese hat. You will need these as the climate is hot near the island! Please avoid littering. Please carry trash back to the mainland. Respect Mother Nature!
Prepare for a 3 hour adventure involving 15-20 minutes boat ride one way. It will take an hour to stroll and cover the island. Carry an extra pair of clothes in case you want to take a swim. Avoid slimy rocks underneath water..they are simy and slippery.

Unforgettable boat ride to St Mary Islands

Mithila painting / Madhubani painting

Mithila painting (also known as Madhubani painting)

01-Dec 2016- A memorable day for me as I got a chance to view and experience the beauty of Madhubani paintings at a major handicrafts exhibition in Mangalore, India. I also had the oppurtunity to interact with Mr.Bajrangi Kumar Jha (from Bihar) who was very keen to show m these paintings. He explained to me about the natural colors used to painstakingly paint these art forms.

He was also proud to show me a news article highlighting Shri Narendra Modi, PM of India gifting a Madhubani Painting to Hannover Mayor 



What are Madhubani paintings? 

Mithila painting (also known as Madhubani painting) is practiced in the Mithila state, Nepal and in the state of Bihar in India . Painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks, using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns. 

History of Madhubani paintings

The origin can be traced to the time of the Ramayana, when King Janaka of Nepal ordered his kingdom to decorate the town for the wedding of his daughter, Sita to Lord Rama. The ancient tradition of elaborate wall paintings or Bhitti-Chitra in Nepal and Bihar played a major role in the emergence of this new art form. The original inspiration for Madhubani art emerged from women’s craving for religiousness and an intense desire to be one with God. With the belief that painting something divine would achieve that desire, women began to paint pictures of gods and goddesses with an interpretation so divine that captured the hearts of many.

Madhubani, which by one account means Forest of Honey, (‘Madhu’-honey, ‘Ban’-forest or woods) is a region in Mithila, Nepal and the northern part of Bihar. A region that has a distinct regional identity and language that reportedly spans 2500 years.

The women painters of Mithila lived in a closed society. It is locally believed that Madhubani painting tradition started when Raja Janak of Nepal commissioned local artists to paint murals in his palace in preparations for the marriage of his daughter Sita to Lord Ram. The paintings were originally done on walls coated with mud and cow dung. The kohbar ghar or the nuptial chamber was the room in which the paintings were traditionally done. Originally the paintings depicted an assembly of symbolic images of the lotus plant, the bamboo grove, fishes, birds and snakes in union. These images represented fertility and proliferation of life. 

Noteworthy contribution of foreign scholars for Madhubani art

The contribution of foreign scholars in promoting the art form internationally has also been immense. Yves Vequad, a French novelist and journalist, in the early 1970s wrote a book on the basis of his research on Mithila painting and produced a film ‘The Women Painters of Mithila’. The German anthropologist film-maker and social activist Erika Moser persuaded the impoverished Dusadh community to paint as well.

Madhubani art -  Styles

Madhubani art has five distinctive styles, namely, Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, godna and gobar. In the 1960s Bharni, Kachni and Tantrik style were mainly done by Brahman and Kayashth women, who are upper caste women in India and Nepal. Their themes were mainly religious and they depicted Gods and Goddesses, flora and fauna in their paintings. People of lower castes includes aspects of their daily life and symbols , story of Raja Shailesh [ guard of village] and much more, in their paintings. But nowadays Madhubani art has become a globalised art form so there is no difference in the work of artists of the region on the basis of caste system

Mithila painting (also known as Madhubani painting)

5 Facts about Madhubani paintings

1. When Rama and Sita tied knot, Madhubani style of painting was born  

Mithila paintings; you hear the name and right away you know there is a connection between this style of painting and Ramayana, right? And yes, there is.

The origin of this style of painting is related to the famous ‘Sita Kalyan’. It’s said that King Janaka, father of Sita, arranged quite a number of artists to create paintings of the marriage. According to history, this is when Madhubani style of painting was born.

Are you looking for beautiful madhubani paintings for your home? I recommend you visit Amazon.in. They have a great selection of these paintings.

2. Believe it or not, Madhubani paintings prevent deforestation

Artists from Bihar are using Madhubani paintings as a way to prevent trees from being cut down. But, how can simple paintings stop people from cutting down trees?

These artists of this region are drawing Madhubani paintings on these trees and since the paintings mostly depict Hindu deities, people restrain from cutting them down.

According to a report from BBC, “The Madhubani artists believe that they are showing the world how an art form can be used to convey a strong social message ‘in an effective way’.”

3. Once on mud walls, today- on canvas to bangles

It is the women who live in rural areas of Bihar do the traditional ‘Madhubani art’. But today, things have changed and now this style is popular not only among the people of India, but also among the people of other countries, especially US and Japan.

During the traditional times, this type of painting used to be done on mud walls of houses that were freshly plastered. Now, you would find Madhubani paintings on canvas, cushions, paper or even cloths. People are also doing Madhubani artwork on utensils and even bangles.

4. It is not just Gods you can see in Madhubani paintings

Hindu mythologies and deities has always been a prolific presence in the Madhubani paintings and it still is. These paintings are mostly about Hindu deities like Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Lakshmi, Durga etc. At times, events like weddings have also made it to the canvas of Madhubani paintings. Whatever space is left on the surface is never left alone and the space is filled with some simple paintings of flowers or even geometric designs.

5. There are Exclusive Madhubani Painting Art Galleries around the World

Today, many exclusive art galleries for Madhubani paintings can be found in India and even overseas.

The MITHILAsmita is an organization formed by some entrepreneurs for carrying on the tradition of Mithila paintings. This art gallery is located in Bengaluru, India. Apart from the art gallery, they also organize exhibitions for these paintings time to time.

In Japan, there is one ‘Mithila Museum’, which has over 850 Madhubani paintings. The museum also conducts research and also works for the publicity of these paintings.

In the town of Madhubani, there is also a ‘Mithila Art Institue’, which stands for the development of Madhibani paintings and also for the training of young artists.


Now that you know this much about Madhubani paintings, what do you think about its future? Will it be a major art form from India? Share your opinions with us in comments.

A Journey to the Southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu – Nagercoil, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi

13^th October 2016 0330 HRS: A date marked as very important & “must attend meeting” in my organiser. But, I had a shock when I found an empty KSRTC bus stand @ 0330 hrs - Thampanoor, Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum). I was told by a passer-by that I might be lucky enough to catch the train at 0345 hrs. My heart was racing – I dashed to the ticket counter located at the railway station opposite KSRTC bus stand. I was promptly informed that the Trivandrum-Nagercoil train had just chugged out of the platform no.1. I cursed myself and the general public for allowing the harthal/bandh to cripple Kerala daya after day!

My Father told me not to worry. We discussed and agreed to take turns to drive up to Kaliyakkavilai. Kaliyakkavilai is a panchayat town in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, close to the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. It lies on Coimbatore-Kochi-Trivandrum-Kanyakumari National highway 47.   

We started our journey by 0415 hrs and I took the wheel and we reached Kaliyakkavilai by 0500hrs

0500 HRS: I sighed relief when I saw the Nagercoil bus at Kaliyakkavilai SETC stand. I might have thanked the people, drivers and conductors behind SETC, a million times for keeping the service active. I was happy as the driver pressed the ignition key and brought the bus to life.

Padmanabhapuram Palace

We soon crossed Thakkalai. I remembered the earlier trip to Thakkalai and the famous Padmanabhapuram Palace. I had visited this place along with my brother when my aunt was working in the Kerala Archaeology Department.

0600 HRS: The route to Nagercoil is dotted by mountains and coconut farms. I reached Nagercoil by 0600 hrs and started looking out for the famous “end to end bus” to Tirunelveli. I located the bus and boarded the same without waiting for tea/snacks as I was in a hurry to reach the destination.

I was greeted by the sight of several hundreds of Wind mills while crossing Muppandal

Muppandal is a small village on the southern tip of India in Kanyakumari District, in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in a hilly region where wind from the Arabian Sea gusts through mountain passes. There is a legend that Avvaiyar had arranged for a marriage, to which she invited the sovereigns of the Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms. The kings erected pandals (mandapams) in the respective places allotted to them and this eventually led to the place being called Muppandal (meaning 'three pandals').

Muppandal

This area is located in between Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Highway (NH), You can also catch a glimpse of Jayamatha Engineering College in Muppandal. The Muppandal village has benefited from the building of the nearby Muppandal wind farm, a renewable energy source, which supplies the villagers with electricity for work. This is the Second largest onshore wind farm in the world. The village had been selected as the showcase for India's $2 billion clean energy program which provides foreign companies with tax breaks for establishing fields of wind turbines in the area. Huge power-producing windmills tower over the palm trees. The village has attracted wind energy producing companies creating thousands of new jobs, dramatically raising the incomes of villagers.  The suitability of Muppandal as a site for wind farms stems from its geographical location as it has access to the seasonal monsoon winds.

Wind energy generation capacity of Muppandal and surrounding areas is estimated to be around 1500 MW, which is about 20% of that of India.

0730HRS @ Tirunelveli – I was woken up as the bus entered Tirunelveli. I could see the sweet stalls decked with the famous Tirunelveli Halwa. Before entering the next bus for Thoothukudi, I vowed to purchase a small packet of this world famous halwa on my way back.  

About Tirunelveli Halwa : Ask any person who hails from Tirunelveli about the must visit spots and iruttu kadai will definitely be mentioned. The shop is named iruttu kadai because of the lack of lighting. The shop is owned by Rajputs who migrated from to Tamil Nadu 5 generations back.  The first owner cooked the sweet by himself during the day and sold it in the evening. It was poorly lit those days and hence the name “dark shop”. Well this is the place that sells one of the best halwa in the world. Packets of halwa purchased from here by locals are shipped to various parts of the world.  

About Tirunelveli: Tirunelveli also known as Nellai is a city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirunelveli District. It is the sixth-largest municipal corporation in the state (after Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Salem). Tirunelveli is located 700 km (430 mi) southwest of the state capital, Chennai and 58 km (36 mi) away from Thoothukudi.

Tirunelveli - has lush green farms, largest wind farms. Also the famous end to end bus 

The city is located on the west bank of the Thamirabarani River; its twin city Palayamkottai is on the east bank. Tirunelveli is believed to be an ancient settlement; it has been ruled at different times by the Early Pandyas, the Medieval and Later Cholas, the later Pandyas, the Malabar and Tirunelveli sultanates, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Madurai Nayaks, Chanda Sahib, the Carnatic kingdom and the British. The Polygar War, involving Palaiyakkarars led by Veerapandiya Kattabomman and forces of the British East India Company, was waged on the city's outskirts from 1797 to 1801. Tirunelveli has a number of historical monuments, the Nellaiappar Temple being the most prominent.

Industries in Tirunelveli include administrative services, agricultural trading, tourism, banking, agricultural machinery and educational services. The city is an educational hub of southern Tamil Nadu, with institutions such as Tirunelveli Medical College, the Veterinary College and Research Institution, Tirunelveli Law College and the Government College of Engineering.

0830 HRS – I started from Tiunelveli by a bus and reached Thoothukudi before 10:00 hrs: This was my 3^rd trip to Thoothukudi. Thoothikudi has a harsh climate.  

About Tuticorin, also known as Thoothukudi : Thoothukudi is a port city and a Municipal Corporation and an industrial city in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city lies in the Coromandel Coast off Bay of Bengal. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District. It is located about 590 kilometres (367 miles) south of Chennai and 190 kilometres (118 miles) northeast of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). According to Confederation of Indian Industry, Thoothukudi has the second highest Human Development Index in Tamil Nadu next to Chennai.

Tuticorin City serves as the headquarters of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited. Major educational establishments in the city include Thoothukudi Government Medical College, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Marine Training Academy, V.O.C. Arts & Science College, Government Polytechnic College, and Anna University Tuticorin Campus.

Tuticorin Port is one of the Fastest growing Major Ports in India. Tuticorin is an "Emerging Energy and Industrial hub of South India". Thoothukudi is known as "Pearl City" due to the pearl fishing carried out in the town. It is a commercial seaport which serves the inland cities of Southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the major seaports in India with a history dating back to the 6th century AD. The city is administered by a Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation covering an area of 90.663 km2 (35.005 sq mi) and had a population of 237,830 in 2011. The urban agglomeration had a population of 410,760 as of 2011.[2]

Tuticorin Thermal Power Station & Tuticorin Port

The majority of the people of the city are employed in salt pans, sea-borne trading, fishing, and tourism. A major attraction in the city is Our Lady of Snows Basilica, a 16th-century site. The 21 islands between Thoothukudi and Rameswaram shores in the Gulf of Mannar are noted as the first Marine Biosphere Reserve of India, and have around 36,000 species of flora and fauna. This protected area is called Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. Our Lady of Snows Basilica festival is celebrated annually during August. This and the Shiva temple festivals, e.g., Adi Amavasai, Sasti, and Chittirai chariot festivals – are the major festivals of the area. Roadways are the major mode of transport to Thoothukudi, while the city also has rail, air, and sea transport.

I had a good meeting at Thoothukudi and started my journey back by about 1300 HRS. I did purchase Tirunelveli Halwa which was relished by my friends and family. A journey that began on a sour note turned very sweet! 

A trek to the highest peak of Karnataka – Mullayangiri

If you think that you need a bulldozer of a body to go through these trek experiences then you are wrong. Sheer will-power is all that you need to traverse across valleys, ridges and hills to reach the summit !

Heaven is not a different piece of creation, but it is there on the earth itself bonded with the nature.

Mullayangiri hills

Video on 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJixsMwuqss&list=PLV31EEF4nJGy7DVXaHEjllZUTwxUcutIk

We trekked to Mullayangiri and Baba budangiri- Chikamaglur on 16^th & 17^th July 2016. This group had fully charged enthusiasts from my (KV Vizag Steel) school days, who had already trekked Narayangiri and Antharagange and certain new members also. Members for this trek were Soman, Manmeet, Srinivas, Vamsi, Rajath, Anupama and Kanchanmala with her husband Hemanth and their son Dinesh.  We also had new friends Abhishek and Yukthi.

The action started with Manmeet preparing a map for pick up points & Kanchan and family boarding the Tempo traveller van arranged by escape2explore at Banashankari. Kanchan & Manmeet coordinated the pick up at Marathahalli for Soman, the rest of the gang at Hennur Main road and Anupama at Hebbal.

We had the school friends shaking hands and welcoming each other at the pick up points. Friends then chatted up with each other followed by cracking jokes & later music was played for the group. Music was an interesting medley of old melodies of Rafi sahab, hindi melodies of 90s and also popular numbers by Robbie Williams, Mr.Mister, Michael Jackson.  I made it a point to sleep the next 6 hours like any other day in order to remain sane! Am not sure whether my friends slept! The driver would not have slept as he had to drive a distance of 280 kilometers from Bangalore to Chikamagalur

Mullayangiri 

Day One – 16^th July 2016

We woke up once the van halted at Kaimara forest check post. Thankfully, our van was the first to stop at the check-post. Curiosity made us disembark the van and check this new place. Soon it was time for selfiegraphy - read photography! We also sipped on hot tea and munched biscuits. Soon we noticed a long queue of taxis, jeeps and buses lined behind our van. At around 545 am, the wait ended with the check-post gate being opened.

We were all thrilled as the van started moving on its way. The driver quickly drove through the roads laced with hair pin curves towards Kumble's Misty Mount Estate and Homestay.

We freshened up at the home stay. Me. Vamsi, Srinivas & Anu decided to take a morning walk. This turned out to be quite an experience. We collected fresh lemons that fell from the tree. Several of the trees were covered with moss and lichens indicating the limited sunshine received. We ventured deeper into the coffee estates to be attacked by leeches! We made a quick retreat.

After a heavy breakfast of idlis and chithranna, we drove to the trek base and started off for the sarpadhari trek to Mulayyanagiri.  

The trek - stretch is fairly steep (almost 50-60 degrees) and first passes through brush and low trees until it turns right alongside a ravine on the right. The trail was found to be slippery owing to monsoons. We keep climbing uphill with very brief breaks in between. The trail snakes along the side of the mountain until we reach the black cliffs of Mullayanagiri and pass through an opening between them. From here, the trail starts to relent as we pass through a small field of short flowering shrubs. Here on, we hit the last and final stretch to the Mullayanagiri peak. The incline gradually increases once again until we see the temple flag at the peak. In about 20 minutes of steady plodding and we would have reached the Mullayanagiri peak. The place is extremely silent and still  - a perfect spot for the temple to exist.

Mullayangiri 

About Mulayyanagiri (Kannada: ಮುಳ್ಳಯ್ಯನಗಿರಿ)is the highest peak in Karnataka, India. Mullayyanagiri is located at 13°23′26″N 75°43′18″E in the Chandra Dhrona Hill Ranges of the Western Ghats of Chikkamagaluru Taluk. With a height of 1,930 metres (6,330 ft), it is the highest peak between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. Mullayanagiri is one of the best trekking places in Karnataka and South India.

The peak gets its name from a small temple (gadduge/tomb) at the summit, which is dedicated to a Tapasvi "Mulappa swamy" who, is believed to have meditated at the caves only a couple of feet below the summit. The caves are accessible and not very deep, they have a direct entrance to the garbagudi of the temple, which is now blocked by the temple priests. Apart from multiple versions of folklore and strong Siddha culture around the belt, the origins or any information about the deity remains ambiguous.

When the present asphalt roads and the 300 concrete steps were not present, a trail was used to reach the peak, known as 'Sarpadari' or 'sarpanadi'. Although it is not very frequently visited now, this trail is cherished by trekkers.

The trek must have taken approx. 3 hours to complete. The trekker is presented with breath taking views from each ascending level. The views of the plains below are unforgettable. So are the beautiful clouds kept on creeping up along ridges almost engulfing us along the way!

The temple at the summit draws a good number of visitors who come on their vehicles through the asphalt roads.

We took the steps from the temple and started a descent of approx. 4 km to the base where our van was parked. This was inconvenient as the group members were exhausted. However, we managed to reach the base and quickly headed back to the home stay. A simple Lunch with rice and sambar, rasam was served which was quickly downed by our group members.  

We then drove towards Bababudangiri hills. 

About Baba Budangiri & Manikyadhara 
Baba Budangiri is a mountain in the Baba Budan range of the Western Ghats of India. Located in the Chikkamagaluru District of Karnataka, Baba Budangiri is known for its shrine to the Sufi saint Baba Budan, a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims.

Near Manikyadharafalls - Bababudangiri

The main peaks in this range are the Mullayanagiri and Baba Budangiri (height 1895 m). Collectively, these peaks are known as Chandradrona Parvatha Shreni (Chandradrona Mountain Range)as they naturally form the shape of a crescent moon.
Manikyadhara Falls is near Kemmangundi of Chikmagalur district. It is on the Baba Budangiri Hills, which is a sacred place for Muslims and Hindus. It is one of the main attractions of Baba Budan Giri


We then re-entered the trail to hit the more exhilarating part of the entire trek. This stretch involves hiking along the lofty and steep rocky ridges of Bababudangiri. With a cliff on one side and a steep hillside on the other. We noticed the graceful lumps of clouds that hazed over mountains. We crossed beautiful lakes before reaching a staircase towards waterfalls at Manikyadhara.

View from bababudangiri hills - on way to manikyadhara

We were exhausted and needed to head back to the base and then the home stay. Manmeet had taken the lead and tried arranging a jeep – however, there were early bird visitors who took this last jeep out. We were a little disappointed and started walking – soon we saw a mini truck heading the same way. We requested a drop and voila they agreed. This part was totally unplanned and yet we had the maximum fun! We boarded the mini truck and we laughed, screamed and yelled to our hearts’ content!

We reached the home stay by 8 pm. We soon discovered that there was no hot water. With outside temperature touching 15 degrees Celsius, we reluctantly took the cold water for bath. The group members had yet another surprise with disco lights and music to which they all sung and danced! This was followed by a simple dinner and rest!

Day 2 - 17th July 2016

Kanchan, Srinivas, Vamsi and myself went for the morning walk. We took the asphalt roads and stayed away from muddy tracks to avoid leeches. We completed the morning walk in about 20 minutes and headed for breakfast of upma and idlis.

Our guide Manoj suggested Belur and Halebidu as the places to visit prior leaving for Bangalore.

Belur & Halebidu

Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire. With Halebidu which is only 16 km away, this is one of the major tourist destinations in Karnataka. Belur is located in Hassan district. According to inscriptions discovered here, it was also referred to as Velapuri.

The main attraction in Belur is the Chennakeshava temple complex which contains the Chennakesava Temple (dedicated to Chennakeshava, meaning handsome Vishnu) as the centre piece, surrounded by the Kappe Chennigraya temple built by Shantaladevi, queen of king Vishnuvardhana. It is said that Shantaladevi herself danced in front of the main shrine during its installation and her dance inspired the poses of the figurines on the temple walls.The first moulding were the temple wall meets the jagati (platform) around the temple is made up entirely of a frieze of elephants

Temple at Belur

There are two more shrines here that are still in use by devotees and there is a Pushkarni or stepped well to the right side of the main entrance. The Dravida style rayagopuram at the entrance which was a later addition by the Vijayanagar kings, who considered this deity as one of their Kuladevata or family god. The temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It was built by king Vishnuvardhana in commemoration of his victory over the Cholas at Talakad in 1117 CE. Legend has it that it took 103 years to complete and Vishnuvardhana's grandson Veera Ballala II completed the task. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. The intricate workmanship includes elephants, lions, horses, episodes from the Indian mythological epics, and sensuous dancers (Shilabalikas). Inside the temple are a number of ornate pillars. Darpana Sundari (Lady with the mirror) carved on walls of Belur Temple is one of major attractions in the complex.

Temple at Halebidu

This temple along with Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu and the Jaina monuments at Shravanabelagola are being proposed as UNESCO world heritage sites.

Belur was a great inspiration for Soman who mentioned that he will visit this temple again as he could not soak the beauty of the temple! Anu had visited these temples thrice and yet was able to find something new during every visit. My friends were very happy to complete the temple visit.

We soon hit the highway to Bangalore with only one stop-over at A2B for lunch. We reached Bangalore by 730 pm. Each one of us carried back treasure troves of memories that would last an entire lifetime.

“The natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest” says David Attenborough, British naturalist.

And, if you want to take the walk of your life over every single foot of Promised Land, you have to see it for yourself.