India Travel Stories from others - Hema Ramprasad on "Mysore and Yoga"

Mysore, the cultural capital of Karnataka in South India is well known for its beautiful palace. Not many know that Mysore is also famous for its Yoga teachers and Yoga tradition. The famous Yoga Guru Sri B K S Iyengar is from Mysore. The city has a grand old tradition of imparting Yoga to discerning students.

We thought of sharing this excellent article by Ms Hema Ramprasad which is published in the latest issue of Indian publication of National Geographic Traveller. She has given lot of details which is very helpful for anyone looking for a "Yoga holiday" in Mysore. This is the best season to be in Mysore when the rains have come to an end and there is a nip in the air. The city still retains its laid back charm which is apt for a yoga holiday!

Read all about "Mysore and Yoga" by clicking this link. 

Head and Shoulders - A Journey through Mysore's Yoga subculture

For other related posts on Mysore, please click this link

Exploring Mysore

India Travel Stories from Others - Trekking tales of Kotresh

If you love to be amidst nature, the you have to trek to mountains. 

Alone, being on the summit is something of an experience to cherish which every trekker will vouch for. 

The "wow" moment when you reach the destination is something one can experience himself. 

Kotresh is an avid trekker. He has done many treks in South India.

More importantly he is someone who documents these treks nicely to help others to experience what he has done and dusted. Here is one of his trek log for the "Kumara Parvatha" trek, the big daddy of all treks in Karnataka's Western ghats.

To know more about trek to Kumara Parvatha or KP as it is known, please click here.

Kumara Parvatha Trek

Where you trekking next?

India Travel Stories from Others - Rakesh Holla explores Udupi coast

Rakesh Holla is based in the temple town of Udupi in South India. 

He and his friends are always on the move during weekends exploring little gems of Western Ghats. When they have more time they venture out to other lovely places in the country. He documents his exploits in the nice blog which he calls as "Voice of Greenery".

Rakesh was exploring the unknown islands off Udupi coast last month before the monsoons set in. These islands look lovely and serene. Good part of the story is that they continue to be away from the glare of mass tourism. Hope they remain likewise for some more days to come.

Till then, enjoy the trip to "Light House Island" and "Kotepare Islands" here

Exploring Udupi Coast -Light House Island

Exploring Udupi coast - Kotepare Island

If you want to know more about Udupi or plan to travel there please look at the following posts in this blog.

Driving Holidays from Bangalore - Karavali and Koffee Kombo

Karavali Vistas II - Udupi, Mangalore and Bekal

India Travel Stories from others - B V Prakash visits two Dams in unexplored Malnad

It is no secret that we are fond of Malnad region in Karnataka and Western Ghats in General. 

Anyone who has been to the region will not come back without getting mesmerised by the beautiful vistas of the region. With monsoon round the corner, it is time to pack your bags and head for a drive to Malnad.

B V Prakash is someone we envy. He is a quintessential traveler and regular contributor to Deccan Herald, the venerable newspaper of Karnataka. It is a misnomer to say Prakash is a traveler. He is much more than that. He is an explorer with a keen eye for detail bringing out gems of Karnataka.

This week on Tuesday, Prakash introduced two Gems tucked away in Malnad. We did travel through this a month back. It had not rained in this area and we could see huge tracts of backwater dried up. It is already on the agenda to visit these places during monsoon. Add to this another gem called "Mani Dam" which is close by and very picturesque.

Click the link below read on. Make sure you visit them next time when you are around Tirthahalli. 

Stunning Vistas

Photo Courtesy by Rajesh Naik, the avid traveller and a popular blogger in Kannada. You can visit his blog (in Kannada) here

Visit to twin dams in Malnad

If you are planning to explore Malnad during Monsoon, please take a look at this post in this blog for more details

Monsoons in Western Ghats - An itinerary to experience it

If you need any help for planning a trip to Malnad, please write to poorna62@gmail.com

Happy to help.

India Travel Stories from Others - Arun's Payana to Red Hills

"Payana" in Kannada, the South Indian language means travel.

Arun lives by the word and is a quintessential traveller. Getting out of his comfort zone in Bangalore to explore the country. There are so many places close to us which we miss them out. Arun makes it a point and takes us to those places through his blog.

In his own words.....he wants to visit most of the paces in this exciting country as soon as possible. 

God speed to him.

And of course continue to share his experiences with others.

Here is his post on "Red Hills" the beautiful get away near Ooty in South India as he is floored by the European countryside charms of the place.

Please read on and here is the link

Red Hills - A Slice of Europe near Ooty

If you want to read more on Red Hills and Ooty, please look at this post in this blog here.

Ooty - A quick Escape to Red Hills

India Travel Stories from Others - Sankara on Leh Palace

Sankara Subramanian C is a free spirited traveler, Travel blogger  Motor cycle junkie, photographer all rolled into one. In short, he just want to be "On the road" with his Royal Enfield! When he is not on the road, he pens his experiences in his superb travel website.

Sankara is truly at home when he is on the road meeting new people and making acquaintances, exploring places, forests, wildlife, cuisines, cultures, languages and its history. 

Sankara is an ardent motorcycling lover, wildlife researcher and enthusiast, keen bird watcher, hiker, explorer, photographer, videographer and an avid reader.

Here is one of Sankara's stories on Leh Palace in Ladakh. This is an old palace being restored by Archeological Survey of India. It is located in the city and provides a panoramic view of Leh city. 

Entrance to the Palace

Read about Sankara's story on Leh place here 

Leh Palace - Rich ruins that overlook the capital of Ladakh

If you want to know more about Ladakh/Leh and want to plan a trip there, you are welocme to visit the posts titled "Ladakh Diaries" in the blog. 

Here is the link - Ladakh Diaries

India Travel Stories from others - Charukesi on Chettinad

Ms Charukesi Ramadurai is a quintessential traveller, free lance writer, filter coffee drinker, blogger.........

More importantly, she is a blogger of extremely popular travel blog

Itchy Feet - Travel Blog from India

I was going through her article on Chettinad in the January Issue of National Geographic Traveller. Chettinad is a region of mansions  built by the mercantile community of Tamil Nadu known as Nattukottai Chettiars. Each mansion has a story to tell. Unfortunately many mansions have been pulled down and very few remain now to tell the story of a glorious past.

Chettinad Palace in Kanadukathan

Read all about it in her blog here

Storied Mansions

For more information on Chettinad, you can see the post in this blog

Chettinad - Magnificent mansions and Mouthwatering menus!

India Travel Stories from Others - "Hampi" by Arun

Hampi throws up unsual experinces to a traveller. The ruins of Vijaynagar empire are spread over miles on the banks of Tungabhadra River. You can spend days exploring the ruins, revisisting the glorious history of South India. 

This is the right season to visit Hampi when the sun is mild. There is a nip in the air in the mornings and evenings are pleasant. The fields are green. Hire a bicycle when you are in Hampi. That is the best way of exploring it.

Arun is a very well known professional photographer and a travel writer based in Bangalore. He has a very popular website on travel, photography. Here is his account on his trip to Hampi and excellent pictures of the UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Please take a look at these links on his website for stories on Hampi

Hampi - A trip report

Images of Hampi

You may be interested to see these posts on Hampi in this blog here

Hampi's Wonders and Sandur's splendours

Royal ruins of Hampi

India Travel stories by others -Valparai in Monsoons

We love to travel. 

Naturally we love to read travelogues as well. We believe that every travel is personal and every traveler has his own story to tell. It is his/her own experience of new place, new people, new sights, new food and new culture. It is interesting to read the experience of of others which will only enhance or complement one's own travel experience. Possibly, it may provide a new insight as well. We read many travel blogs and we would like to share some of the interesting ones we come across in this blog as well.

Here is the first one from Lakshmi. A prolific traveler and writer of a popular travel blog, here is her experience of visiting Valparai in Monsoons. Valparai is at its best in monsoons or post monsoons. It is green everywhere. The lakes are full and the waterfalls are brimming with glory. 

Please read on.........Lakshmi's account of Valparai in this link......

A Wet and Wild weekend in Valparai

If you want to know more about Valparai, you may visit the post in this blog here

Escape to Sinnadorai Bungalow in Valparai