Mysuru trip 2020

After many discussions and calls, we had also worried about the location. Later we all decided to go to Nimishamba temple and Ranganathaswamy temple . Also cheluvanarayana swamy temple and Ranganathittu Bird sanctuary.

My wife Jyoti and friend Teju suggested Belum caves in Gandikota. Vidya suggested Bhimeswari temple and hogenakkal as destination. Madhusudan , Vidya's husband suggested the place is not as good due to non-veg food items available over there and even we didnt like it. Moreover, its 105 km - 2 hour journey . My wife Jyoti had already visited there . Later, they kept on playing with me and my emotions whethter Male Madeshwar betta . There was a stage when all decided to follow up and Teju  , the one who initiated the trip had to drop the plan because Vidya communicated us that she can't leave her mom alone and join us for the trip. Jyoti said that she would plan and finally decided to done with the trip and plan Vanavasi trip . Later, I called Ganga and discussed whats the plan when they mentioned about Srirangattana, Ranganathittu and Nimishamba temple. Eventually, Madhusudan ( Madhu) decided to book the vehicle as the taxi drivers were close to his home .

We visited Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, spent nice time boating, watching birds, strolling in the campus etc. Later , at Balamuri, we went and paid parking fees but there was no place for us to even have swim. I told lets move and play at Yedmuri falls . At balamuri, we ate nice bhelpuri which was tasty and satisfying.  It was less crowded unlike balamuri falls. Later, we had late lunch on the way to KRS . After soul-wrenching show at krishna raja sagara dam , we decided to move back to Bengaluru. 

Visit to Cauvery Gurukula

After a long gap , I was motivated to spend a Sunday near Karnataka's prestige.
Fellow friends invited us to the weekend getaway , specially to learn the eco-friendly activites undertaken. We set out early morning to visit Cauvery Gurukula. It is located after Srirangapatna city. We took a bus from Satellite Bus stand and reached their by 11 am.

Reputed scientist shared his life experiences as well as  walked us around the farms to see the produce. We got a chance to relish the sattvic food prepared in the Gurukula. Along with that, we also played along the pristine waters of river Cauvery . The Gurukula also has a college such that the underprivileged kids across the state study there. It's fantastic experience to see natural hotspots are being developed to preserve and nourish.

A weekend trip to Golden Temple , Vellore

Plans to Tirupati trip ended abruptly, but never knew destiny had plans of Golden Temple , Vellore for the weekend , not just for me but for the fun-loving gang of my workgroup . Something never even planned but something cannot be denied with a group who are ever-ready to live every single moment ! Times have changed, we had to plan for a trip a month before in college and now, a lunch break is enough to plan a trip anywhere . :)
Early morning on a weekend , we were supposed to be at Madhu, Nari and Dass's flat. It is central location for any plans which we make , and its more than a palace where the high-profile conglomeration happens . I am referring in lines of G-8 , G-20 and G-... You can add any no of persons to be part and there is a place here for them . I kept an alarm at sharp 6 and woke up unreluctantly . By now, you have realised I wake up on trip days at scheduled time , so no need to boast this from now on . Krishna called up at regular intervals to me and Raja so that we are there on time when he comes to receive in his chariot, sorry his car . Ofcourse I was on time here too , but Raja came 15 min later. But this was good time for us to sit in a car and view the early morning scene near Old-Airport Road. I wonder so many people jog early morning, instead of sleeping cosily on a Saturday morning ! Newspaper vendors , BMTC buses , milk valahs... the world is already fired up so early , and I never realise the beauty of these things if there are no w eekend trips. I guess you all agree , right ?
We reached the central point around 7.45 . Already late , but there were many late-latifs than us so we had a chance to grab a hot cup of tea nearby . Naveen, Hemant and Yugandhra were on time, but an uninvited accident delayed Uma's arrival by 30 min more. The group was already hungry and we left finally on a journey sharply at 8.15 in a group of five in two cars . We had a safe driver here and cruiser in the other . The journey was blissful with songs continously played and who reaches first was decided long before the start to the breakfast destination A2B, but by how many files was the hot dog cooking up in Krish's car. As usual , I was damn hungry and so were others . The moment we reached , Narayanan aka our beloved Nari along with Krish and Madhu were flagbearers of paying bills throughout the trip, and started in style by ordering a Pongal, Puri, Upma/Kichdi - the fight was going on why it is called with Kichdi when Upma sounds so delicious. Who cares ? The motto was to gobble all these and satiate the hungry belly , and all ten were honest enough relishing the tasty breakfast . Let me assure, I never ate such a tasty Pongal before, and it left me craving for more. The crowd was unforeseen specially on a secluded place on NH-7 but as the saying goes " pet ke liye aadmi kuch bhi karega" hold true here and goes any corner on earth. Infact, A2B was a blessing for the travellers at this corner of earth .
After hunger was satisfied, we all realised that we had to rush up to Vellore soon . At 10.30, we began the trip ahead . The road-less taken to the divin Sripuram was the one we took and reached before the cruiser's car reached. A tortoise- rabbit story was recalled which we learnt during our kindergarten's and it holds so true even today . :) No offenses to anyone, but the darshan tickets worth Rs. 250/- per head ensured a comfortable long walk inside the temple premises. The moment we stepped in , I glanced at golden templ and was mesmerising. The temple is built comprising the modern architecture equally laced with Dravidian architectural style. It is spread on a huge sprawling premise with Vedic quotes teaching you lessons on the way to deity . We had a very good darshan of Lord Lakshmi Narayani , and were blessed enough to have a comfortable and pray for a while . After wrapping the darshan task , the next destination which was reverred by the foodies and shoe-shoppers was Ambur. We reached here around 3 pm and you wont believe we roamed so-many shops owned by Muslim community here cluttered with leather shoes . Madhu was the person who had advertised about this , and probably after our visit, it may come in the list of Incredible India ! must-visit destinations :) We had a quick lunch here .Uma played his prank to the fullest by hiding my Nokia N78 in car's vouch and then roamed to every shop in the tiny hamlet of shoe-vendors .By the time , we tried our bargaining skills and bought a pair of shoes , Raja and Uma were already fed up and having a relaxing time seated in hotel.Ofcourse , there were many comments about my bargaining skills . But I take them