Kerala · Travel

Thekkady: Jeep Safari and a plethora of activities

Situated very close to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kerala town of Thekkady is every travel enthusiasts’ dream.  Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Periyar forsest, Thekkady is home to a number of tea estates and spice plantations.  It offers great options for every kind of traveler, whether it is sightseeing, adventure, activities or… Continue reading Thekkady: Jeep Safari and a plethora of activities

Karnataka · Travel

A date with the elephants: Sakrebailu Elephant Camp, Shimoga.

Elephants lazing and playing around in the muddy backwaters of the Thunga river in the gentle morning sun is indeed a joyful sight to watch. This can be witnessed in abundance in the Sakrebailu Elephant Camp located about 15 km from Shimoga on the Shimoga-Thirthahalli road. The place which houses a large number of elephants is… Continue reading A date with the elephants: Sakrebailu Elephant Camp, Shimoga.

Karnataka · Travel

Agumbe: ‘Dodda Mane’ aka Big House

Also known as “Cherrapunji of the South”, Agumbe is an utterly beautiful village in the Thirthahalli taluk of Shimoga district in Karnataka.  Nestled in the Malnad region, Agumbe is well-known for its bio diversity and rain forests.  One of the most scenic places in India, Agumbe is most famous for its spectacular sunset which can… Continue reading Agumbe: ‘Dodda Mane’ aka Big House

Decor

Upcycling idea: Copper pot to table top

If you are from South India especially Karnataka, or familiar with old South Indian houses, you would be acquainted with the traditional ‘hande’.  For the uninitiated, the ‘hande’  is a huge copper pot that is built into an earthern stove in the bathroom to heat huge quantities of water.  The pot is firmly affixed using cement… Continue reading Upcycling idea: Copper pot to table top

Food · Reviews

My Fortune, Bengaluru

If you are looking to have a great meal while in the middle of town, look no further than My Fortune.  Located bang in the middle of Bengaluru’s central business district, this 9-floored hotel is one of the hot-spots on Richmond Road.  Part of the ITC group, this premier 115-room hotel is a stylish, trendy… Continue reading My Fortune, Bengaluru

Decor

Color, quirk and a hint of kitsch

Given my fetish for color, collectibles and all things ‘not so conventional’, I love having a whole lot of knick-knacks and souvenirs around the house. I am partial to anything with a hint of vintage and reminiscent of the days gone by. I pick many of them during my travels so they bring back fond memories and… Continue reading Color, quirk and a hint of kitsch

Food

Deepavali: a time for sweets and their signs

Happy Diwali to all my readers:) It is the time for celebration, fun and gifting and of course eating sweets.  Sweets today are much more than the traditional yet good old “besan ladoos”, “gulab jamoons” and “soan papdi”.  Now, you have a whole lot of fancy, well curated gourmet chocolates, ‘creative’ sweetmeats handcrafted with speciality… Continue reading Deepavali: a time for sweets and their signs

Karnataka · Travel

Of Estuaries, Confluences and meeting your ultimate ‘Destination’

As I child, learning the cryptic definitions of terms like estuary, bay, inlet, creek and cove in geography always made me wonder if such phenomena really exist in nature and if yes, how they would actually look.  Many an hour would be spent trying to visualize these ‘water bodies’. Therefore, my joy knew no bounds… Continue reading Of Estuaries, Confluences and meeting your ultimate ‘Destination’

Reviews

Mecca Living: Of pots and pans and colors galore…

As I headed towards Narayana Pillai Street from Safina Plaza, the riot of colors of a little shop adjacent to Shiv Sagar caught my eye.  Curious and always in search of something unique to pick up for the house, I took the small flight of stairs downwards that led to this compact store and discovered… Continue reading Mecca Living: Of pots and pans and colors galore…

Karnataka · Travel

Shimoga Sojourn, destinations uncommon

Located on the banks of the Tunga river, Shimoga now officially renamed “Shivamogga” is a gateway to a number of unknown yet beautiful destinations.  Also called the “Gateway of Malnad”, the city lies at a distance of about 300 kms from Bangalore.  We explored a number of ‘untraveled’ destinations last summer from the city as… Continue reading Shimoga Sojourn, destinations uncommon