The Uttarakand Tragedy

The recent tragedy in the northern state of Uttarakand and to a lesser extend in the state of Himachal Pradesh has to be one of the worst in memory.  Due to cloud burst, rain came pouring down the hills and the river swelled and took everything in its paths. Big buildings were washed away in seconds. Thousands of people and pilgrims were either left stranded or lost their life.

This tragedy was waiting to happen. Due to pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath and many more and the natural beauty of the place, people from all over India and the world thronged the place. The locals saw a way to harness this boom in tourism and started developing the place. This put great burden on the fragile ecosystem of Uttarakand.  Increasing number of tourist led to greed and mis-governance and huge unauthorized structures were built on the riverbank restricting the flow of the river despite warning from numerous ecologists. They argued that it is a well known fact that during the rainy season, the river always breaks its banks and swoops down the hill with unimaginable force but unfortunately their warning was never heeded.

Now that this tragedy has happened, everybody is pointing fingers at each other. It may be the Congress or the BJP or any other political party, everybody is equally to blame. To satisfy their own greed and of their followers, they allowed unrestricted construction on the ecologically sensitive land.

Now the tragedy has happened, the rescue effort was not coordinated by our ruling class and due to this, many lives were lost unnecessarily. But like always our military came to the rescue and are doing a awesome job.

My point is that let this tragedy be a lesson to all those people who put their own benefits over lives of the common people andshould learn from their mistakes. If India is to develop all round, we should always place the people of this country above everything. 

A Journey down South

I like to write about things I see and hear. But today I am writing about a journey that I will be undertaking with my friends. And yes, I am excited about it. I haven't left Mumbai for a while now. It's not that I am complaining but seriously I need a good break from the hectic life in Mumbai. Initially, we had zeroed on Manali and Ladakh but then at this time of the year, Ladakh is not accessible through Manali so we cancelled the plan. Pondering over where we can go in the last week of March, we decided to drive down to South India. Now was the time to decide on the places to visit. After some serious discussion, we decide to drive down to a town in Karnataka called Gokarna which is a pilgrimage center along with a very happening and vibrant party scene. From Gokarna, we will head to Padubidri, a small town about 20 kms from the famous temple town of Udupi and it is my native place as well. We will spend time visiting temples and then head out to some of the numerous pristine beaches there. After distressing our self, we will drive down to OOty in Tamil Nadu passing the beautiful Coorg and the famous Bandipur National Reserve. To be very honest, I am much more excited about Bandipur then any other place that I am going to visit. Staying in a forest lodge for a night and then going on wildlife safari in one of India's best kept forest is a treat for me anytime of my life. After Bandipur, we will head towards Ooty, a beautiful hill station. On the way back, we may pass through Goa and stay there for a day. This is the plan but we have decided to keep it very flexible so that we can do what we like and if we feel like, we can extend or cancel any stay and place. Doesn't the plan sound exciting? For me, it surely does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Battle of the Captains

Yesterday's match between Pune Warriors and Chennai Super Kings was a very significant match. The two teams were led by two of the best captains, India has ever produced. Pune Warriors were led by the Prince "Sourav Ganguly", while Chennai super Kings were led by the swash buckling Mahendra Singh Dhoni. If we were to have a debate as to who is the best captain India had, yesterday's match can be called an indicator to the argument. Chennai won the match by 13 runs but the match was not without its moment of ups and down. Chennai scored 164 runs for the loss of 5 wickets and Pune could make only 151 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. The Chennai score included two well make half centuries by Faf du Plessis and S Badrinath. The form of Sourav Ganguly is not at its best. In all of the previous matches played this season, he has not managed to make any remarkable impact. His fielding too has been far from satisfying and has given away couple of runs through miss field. Can a player be selected into the playing eleven just for his ability to captain the team well is a question most team management have to ask themselves specially in the 20-20 format where each ball, each wicket and each run can make the difference between victory and defeat. This also raises the idea of non playing captains whose job is to plan the strategy of the team like in lawn tennis. If the idea is viable, the IPL governing body should have a think about it. It may be beneficial to the teams and may increase the popularity of the tournament. On the other hand MS Dhoni was captain cool like he always is. Making some useful contribution in the end overs and commanding him team well. It has always been his trademark. Though Dhoni didn't get the start his team expected in this tournament by loosing some games but there are lots of matches left where both Chennai and Pune can up their antics and make an impression. Over all, the match can be summed up as the clash of the captains where both the captains have led well their respective teams and will certainly look to perform better.

Travelling to Kerala

By Air :-
Kerala has the International airports at Kochi (Cochin), the capital city Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. You can also catch a direct flight from Abu Dhabi, Maldives, Singapore, Dubai, Colombo, Kuwait, Riyadh, Doha, Muscat and major cities of India.
By Rail :-
All the important cities and most tourist places of India are very well connected by rail to Kerala.
By Road :-
Kerala is connected to all the major cities of India.
Kerala celebrates…
In February, Kerala celebrates 7 days of Nishagandhi Dance festival; around April-May Pooram festival in Thrissur is celebrated; in May Flavor Food Festival for all the food freaks, happens at the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram.
Onam is the annual harvest festival of Kerala, which begins in August and lasts for 10 days. This matriarchal society also has a festival for women, which is celebrated annually by the house lady, known as Pongala Utsavam, when women can visit Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, at Thiruvananthapuram.
What to wear ?
Though the average temperature remains same in Kerala through out the year. Light cotton clothes are advisable during summer to beat the heat. During monsoons one must carry protection. In winter it gets a bit cooler so light sweaters can be carried if you plan to visit during that season

Travelling To Gujarat

Gujarat is rightfully described as a paradise because of its variant and caring Gujarati people. Gujarat is visited by numerous tourists every year. The places of visit could be historic, modern cities or calm beaches. Plan your trip by any means possible from among the detailed below
By Air :
Gujarat has ten domestic airports, the largest in any state. The domestic airports are in many major cities like Surat, Vadodra, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Kandla, etc. The only international airport in Gujarat is located in Ahmedabad, named as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
By Train :
Gujarat is connected via all the main cities in India through the very best of train network which operates smoothly. Yes, the trains could be a little delaying sometimes, but it will not affect your schedule.
By Bus :
The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) is the main body which operates bus routes in Gujarat. The entire network is very efficiently connected.
By Road :
The National Highway 6 is the best route to travel which connects all the major cities in Gujarat.
By Rickshaw :
Once you are in Gujarat, the most easily available public transport and fun to travel in is an Auto Rickshaw. This is a small three-tired vehicle that can accommodate three passengers at a time. The fares for a Rickshaw are moderate and make sure to read the meter-card before paying in order to pay as per the hire.

The magic of Mahableshwar

Mahableshwar meaning “God of great power” in the local language is a very beautiful and scenic hill station in the western state of Maharashtra in India. It is one of the most famous hill stations in Western India and was the summer capital of the former Bombay Presidency during the British rule in India. Mahableshwar is famous for its lush greenery, variety of flora and fauna which one can see through out the year.

When one visits Mahableshwar, it’s the old world charm coupled with modern amenities which makes it an idea place for vacationing. It has the distinction of being one of the very few places in the world having ever green forests. The stunningly beautiful peaks and the magnificent valleys of Mahableshwar are the high point of the place. The sight is so spectacular that one gets awestruck by them.

Mahableshwar is located at about 120 km from Pune and 285 km from Mumbai. Mahableshwar lies at an altitude of 1353 metres (4440 ft) above sea level. It is well connected by road from Mumbai and Pune. A new highway has reduced the traveling time between Mumbai and Mahableshwar to 5 hours.

Malcolm Peth, Old Kshetra Mahableshwar and the Shindola village make up Mahableshwar. Wilson Point (Sunrise Point) is the highest peak in Mahableshwar reaching a height of 4720 ft. Mahableshwar is the source of the Krishna River which traverses across the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Mahableshwar is thronged by tourists through out the year. Many people come here to relax amongst the nature. It is one of the most sought after place by honeymoon couples.
The Lake Venna in Mahableshwar is a picturesque lake surrounded by trees. A boat ride on lake Venna or horse ride around the lake is a must do for every tourist. There are numerous small eateries near the lake and food served is delicious.

Mahableshwar has numerous sight seeing points, each having a different story and view point. The Dhom dam is a good place to picnic and the scenery is charming to say the least. The famous Panchganga Mandir in Old Mahableshwar is worth a visit. About 24 kms from Mahableshwar, lies the historic Pratapgad Fort. One can sense the rich history of this place by visiting this massive fort. Some points like the Wilson Point, Connaught Point, Elphiston Point, Marjorie Point, Castle Rock etc. are worth visiting for their breath taking views and for the view of the sunrise and the sunset.

Strawberry, mulberry and honey are the chief produce of this region. Mahableshwar strawberries are well known throughout India. There are numerous farms cultivating these crops. One can take a tour of these strawberry fields in Mahableshwar for a nominal fee.


Panchgani is a town hill station town situated near Mahableshwar. This place is well known for its boarding schools and colleges. The unusual table-land of Panchgani is a treat for any tourist.

Mahableshwar is a fabulous holiday destination for most part of the year, but during the rainy season, the rains are very heavy and should be avoided.

So if are planning a relaxing holiday amongst nature with breath taking sights, Mahableshwar will make an ideal location.

The historic Amber Fort

A tour of Jaipur will be incomplete if one does not visit the historic Amber Fort. This magnificent fort was the capital of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Rajputs till it was shifted to Jaipur.

The architecture of the Amber fort is a unique mixture of Hindu and Muslim style of architecture. The fort is built with white marbles and red sandstone. From the outside, the fort looks huge and rough but soon as one steps inside the fort, it is like a different world altogether. The interiors of the Amber Fort unlike its exterior are comfortable and splendid. There are water fountains, intricate carvings all over the place; the walls are filled with paintings of hunting scenes. The warmth and coziness of the interior is unparalleled. For a moment, one gets the feeling of being royal himself when he visits the grand Amber Fort.

The construction of the fort was started by Maharaja Mansingh in 1592. Maharaja Mansingh, the ruler of Amber was the chief commander of the Mughal army under Emperor Akbar and was one of the ministers of the famed nine Gems in Akbar’s court.
But it was one of his descendants, Raja Jaisingh who completed the fort.

At night when the reflection of fort Amber falls on Lake Maota on the foothills, it looks so unreal as if it is an illusion or a beautiful dream.

Nowadays, one can go from the foothills to the fort above on an elephant back. The ride reminds of the bygone era when the kings used to go there on elephant backs. From the top, one can see the skyline of the jaipur city.

If you want to see the best example of the blending of two different architectural styles or want to relive the pride, bravery of the Rajputs, then a visit to the Amber fort is an absolute necessary.