Snow Capped Mountains in Kalpa | Image Resource : wordpress.com
The sunrise and sunset is a must- watch sight here. It’s just something that words can’t explain… I remember watching it from the other side of the valley and my heart really skipped a beat! To stand in the mighty realm of nature and have it silently whispering it’s heights before our eyes is the best feeling of all!
Baspa River Sangla Valley Kinnaur | Image Resource : trekearth.com
One good thing of your in- laws who reside in the north is that you get to see the magnificence and splendor of the Himalayas every vacation and wedding! Himachal is our refuge….from professional and household tension. And this time we had a chance to visit this valley once again and it was an unforgettable one just like the one before. While the glaciers were just melting and filling up the Sutlej, this small tributary looked like a safe haven.
Hey there everyone! After three months of constant phone calls and meetings, I have decided that it is time once again for a family tour. Now my kids too have the thirst for adventure and no time could be better than now for me to make use of. After much thought and consult, I’ve decided to head for the mountains. And so Muhammed began his journey, but this time with his entire family.
Shimla, Darjeeling, been there, done that… So what’s new, you ask? Kinnaur, a trekker’s desire and a photographer’s dream. To be in the mountains and far away from all the hassles is exactly what my family and I need at this moment. I surf through the cheap flight app in my android phone and look into all possibilities to reach the hills of Himachal Pradesh from the hub of Ahmedabad. Umpteen choices did turn up and trust me, this gets more interesting.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Ahmedabad Airport | Image Resource : indiaadvices.com
The Journey from Ahmedabad to Kinnaur
Though I am a man who enjoys a bit of luxury and travel in style, when one plans a family trip, you need to be extra cautious of each and every expense. Take it from this financial advisor. I listen to my own advice this once and look for economy domestic flights. Indigo Airlines happens to be the one airway that serves me the best budget and best plan.
Indigo Airlines | Image Resource : wikimedia.org
Instead of looking for any direct flight I take up one with one stop. This allows my kids to enjoy more places and me to plan more for the trip. So we take the Indigo Flight from the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Ahmedabad Airport to Chandigarh Via Mumbai. From there we have our connecting taxi to Kinnaur. Indigo airlines had a very comfortable airbus with very cushy seats and a kind and helpful crew.
With tasty snacks and other nick knacks from the flights, I see my kids jump with excitement. The captain has turned on the ‘seat belt on’ sign as we are about to land. More details about my trip, and how it turns out will be posted in my upcoming blogs. Until then!
I have been practicing Yoga for years now and it has changed my life in many ways. I believe that yoga not only touches your body but also your soul. It is not just a workout that is practiced to stay fit but connects you with your spiritual self.
Yoga Practice | Image Resource : plos.org
In this blog, I will be pointing out few of the basic things that needs to be considered by every person practising yoga:
1. No matter how busy your schedule is, make sure to incorporate Yoga into your schedule. However, Yoga should not be practised in a rush. It is a meditation practice that is supposed to calm yourself. Remember, unlike gym workout yoga concentrates on your physical as well as mental wellbeing.
2. Practice whenever you get time, even 20 minutes a day can make a difference. When you start practising Yoga seriously everything else will fall into the right place. Your mind will be clearer and your brain will be more efficient.
Meditation | Image Resource : huffpost.com
3. Always meditate in a place that makes you comfortable. I usually meditate in my living room facing the balcony. It gives me a good view and maintains a fresh ambience throughout my yoga session. I recommend that you practice in a place that is quiet and calm, be it your terrace, garden, bedroom. The place you choose for yoga should be away from all distractions.
Yoga | Image Resource : thegloss.com
4. I would recommend that you analyse how you feel before and after your session, you will definitely notice the change within a few days. Check your heart rate, blood pressure, stress level and breathing. If we concentrate on how you feel before yoga then we will be able to choose the right yoga practise for you. This will also help you understand the improvement that is happening in your life due to yoga. This will greatly motivate you to continue yoga.
These are some the factors that need to be considered while you practise yoga. Hope you find this post useful. Feel free to share your Yoga experience, I would be more than happy to read your comments.
Radisson Blu Hotel Ranchi
Planning to visit Ranchi, then the Radisson Blu is one of the best luxury hotels here. Ideally located in the heart of Ranchi, this hotel becomes very easy for tourists for exploring the city. You could absorb the entire city’s culture and heritage by staying in this hotel. The customer service, the food and the rooms are all worth the money you spent!
My eyes were filled with wonder as I entered the gates of the Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park Bokaro. This park is situated in Bokaro, Jharkhand and is considered to be the biggest zoological garden of this state. A large variety of animals and birds have been shifted here from different parts of the world ever since the park was inaugurated during the early 1990s.
Entrance of Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park | Image Resource : panoramio.com
To me the main attraction of this park seemed to be its count of big cats amongst a large number of birds and animals. The park has remained immensely popular amongst Indian tourists ever since its inception in the early 1990s and late 1980s. The fact that this park is a good shelter for birds and animals of all varieties touched my heart. I was delighted to get a view of its in-house cat breeding process, which increased its possession of cats to a great extent.
I was amazed to see a great collection of white Tigers, Asiatic Lions and Royal Bengal tigers within the premises of this biological park.
Tigers at Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park | Image Resource : tripadvisor
This place is famous for its flora besides its elephant ride and viewing tigers. Much of its wildlife seemed to be comprised of animals of various species like peacock, langurs, bears, sloth and Panthers. A kids’ corner and a bear cage present beside the artificial lake caught my attention within this zoo.
Deer Family Drinks from a Tank | Image Resource : telegraphindia.com
I took a few snaps of a place where in this lake is associated with a small dam, that’s visited by thousands of visitors every year. Apart from this, I found some entertainment for kids as I saw the ‘Mowgli Express’, a toy train moving inside the park. Your little one is bound to find some happiness while riding this train as it takes him past the major attractions of this park.
Lake at Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park | Image Resource : holidayiq.com
It was during the 1980s that the Jawaharlal Nehru Biological Park Bokaro was built, and during 1989 it was modified. The park assumes its name from the then prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Apart from bears and Emu, I came across several birds and animals ever since I entered this park.
Jawaharlal Nehru Statue at Bokaro Biological Park | Image Resource : m4in.com
It just required me to drive for a few minutes to reach this place from Bokaro in Jharkhand. The grounds of this park also showed me through a huge aquarium alongside so many birds and beasts. I’ve read a number of books that mention this park and its rich possessions.
The next place in my itinerary was the Sadni Falls. I witnessed the beauty of a place that stands at 84 degrees 14 minutes east and 23 degrees 17 minutes north within the state of Jharkhand. I found out that the Sankh River which has often been mentioned in the guidebooks and travelogues owes its birth to these waterfalls. It seemed to me quite attractive from the tourists’ point of view.
The entire region gains much of its scenic beauty from the snake like waterfalls situated at a height of 934 m from sea level. It creates one of the major tourist attractions of the state as it’s surrounded by picturesque streams, forests and hillocks.
Sadni Falls | Image Resource : indianetzone.com
I stood spell bound as the falls poured on the Sankh River from a height of 200 ft (60 meters). I found a popular picnic spot to have been developed around this snake type falls. Being an ardent nature lover, I was soon to be lost within its picturesque backdrop.
History associated with this place While talking to the locals, I came to know that the sight was once quite famous for its active diamond mines. During the seventeenth and sixteenth century, the some fine stones worth big sizes were developed in the mines adjacent to Sadni Falls. Amongst these fine stones, the area has contributed to its share of quality diamonds and was identified for its rich diamond reserve.
Sadni Falls Jharkhand | Image Resource : tripadvisor
The Sadnighagh Falls or Sadni Falls Jharkhand is situated at about 3 km from the village of Rajadera. I’ll count it amongst the most visited tourist hotspots within the Gumla district of Jharkhand. The place seemed to be quite popular for its scenic beauty. The active sixteenth and seventeenth century diamond reserves of this falls are no more, but the place is still visited by a few curious minds.
I had approached this place from Netarhat, which is supposedly the best point to reach it. It just took me about 30 minutes to cover a distance of 35 km to reach the Sadni Falls from Netarhat. I had to pay Rs. 100 to the auto rickshaw driver for driving faster than he usually does. This place offered some splendid sight for me and my friends. Both the Sankh River and the Sadni Falls Jharkhand created a reason for us to forget the stress of city life for a day or two. All of my friends appreciated my choice as they returned with a few pleasant memories.
Dassam Fall Jharkhand | Image Resource : wordpress.com
The Dassam falls is a natural cascade that towers across the Kanchi River. This waterfall is one of the best among the various ones found in the state. It is easily accessible from Ranchi by road and is 40 kilometers far. Dassam falls is definitely a waterfall that every tourist in Jharkhand should visit and experience.
Parasnath Hills | Image Resource : cpreecenvis.nic.in
During my visit, I had chanced upon visiting Parasnath hills. It’s a range of hills located within the same district. My staff in the hotel advised me that it’s a must see place and that it’s still considered a center of pilgrimage by the Jains. The highest peak of this range rises to about 1350 meters from sea level. They would refer to it as the Sammet Sikhar.
The hills got named after the 23rd Tirthankara – Lord Parasnath. This hill is famous for witnessing salvation attained by twenty four Jain Tirthankara’s. I was told that some preachers still argue that only nine Tirthankara’s attained salvation over here. The hill has a shrine for each of these Tirthankara’s, which I visited during my trip.
It felt wonderful when I visited each of these 2000 year old temples. The temples seemed to be of a recent origin, although the place seemed to be quite ancient to me. Marang Buru is a Santhal name given to this hill, as they regard it as the deity’s hill. I had just missed the Santhal hunting festival, which is celebrated during mid April. It takes place on a full moon day in the month of Baisakhi.
Parasnath Hills Jharkhand | Image Resource : wordpress.com
I had reached the Parasnath Hill from the northern side, although it can be approached from the southern side. The Parasnath Hill has two routes that are recognized by tourists from different corners. To reach it from the southern side, one needs to reach Isri Bazaar and drive upwards for about 2 km. the remaining 8 km have to be climbed on foot.
Giridih | Image Resource : giridih.nic.in
I chose the northern routes, which seemed easier to me. I had to reach the Dumri-Giridih road and move past the Madhuban village for a distance of 13 km. You may choose to take a taxi from Isri Bazaar, but I chose to follow the bus route from Dumri that went past the Madhuban village. On my way, I visited a number of Jain temples near Madhuban.
Jain Temples on the Parasnath Hills | Image Resource : telegraphindia.com
I chose to opt for a Jeep to pull me up to a certain point in the hill; rest of the journey had to be trudged on foot. The distance that I covered on the jeep can even be climbed with the help of ponies. It doesn’t cost you more for hiring a pony than opting for a jeep.
Gonda Hill Ranchi | Image Resource : wikimedia.org
Ranchi is one of my favorite tourist destinations in India. Waterfalls and green hills made it a wonderful place for me to spend a weekend in the company of my loved ones. Jharkhand has pretty many lovely places to attract tourists from various parts of India.
Sunset at Tagore Hill | Image Resource : zipmytravel.com
A few places that I considered for their scenic beauty are Gonda Hill, Rock Garden, Ranchi Hill and Tagore Hill. Once I moved from the center of Ranchi for about 4 km down the Kanke Road, I reached the Gonda Hill. It is one of the nicest places wherein the tourists like me can enjoy their vacation. The front side of the hill showed me through the CMPDI headquarters.
Thereafter, I retreated towards the Kanke Dam which has a huge lake underneath the Gonda hill. Amongst a wide variety of tourist groups, the Kanke Dam is famous for associating some sentiments that amount to peace and joy. The rock Garden and Gonda hill have become famous and are attracting tourists from neighboring nations.
Kanke Dam | Image Resource : wikimedia.org
The famous Jaipur rock Garden that I came across has some close resemblance with the Rock Garden near Gonda hill. I found two poles to the iron-bar swing placed within the garden. In addition, the garden also has some granite statues that I really liked. Amongst all of the tourist hotspots in Ranchi, the Gonda hill and rock garden seemed to be the most popular ones for me.
The gonad hill constitutes a rock which has been used to create the rock garden. The beauty of the garden is enhanced by its waterfalls and variety of sculptures. The vastness of nature and the seemingly endless horizon create a real reason for me to visit this wonderful place once more.
Rock Garden near Gonda hill | Image Resource : garden.ie
I do count upon the Gonda hill and rock garden amongst the famous picnic spots near Ranchi. I found a lot of people enjoying their time by visiting this place in groups. At the top of the gonad hill I found a water reservoir; the Kanke village is situated near the foot of this hill. This place is known for accommodating the biggest mental asylum in India. From Ranchi I could reach the Gonda hill and rock garden very easily. All one needs to do is to hire a taxi or auto rickshaw from Albert Akka Chowk.
Travel with Darshik 