Life Etc Etc

Where is it? About 25-30 km away from Hampi .  Sanapur Lake Lush green fields on the way to Sanapur Lake What is it? Backwaters of River Tungabhadra and in the past was also a freshwater reservoir for the Vijayanagara Empire .  Sanapur Lake and its association with Vijayanagara Empire What activities are available here? Coracle rides are available until sunset. There are also designated spots near the lake for cliff jumping. I was told that there were quite a few accidents in the past when these jumps were not undertaken under official supervision. Therefore, please follow all instructions before taking up this activity. Coracles at Sanapur Lake Sanapur Lake: View from the Coracle What else can you do here? After completing the coracle ride you can walk around the lake to capture some exhilarating views of the world renowned Hampi boulders and even catch a glimpse of the Sanapur reservoir.   Sanapur Lake: Right before sunset Sanapur Reservoir The view is particularl...

Where is it? Around 125 KM from Bengaluru, on the Kaveri river right on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. What is it? They call it the Niagara of India but after stating unequivocally in my previous blog that nature is incomparable, I will just ask you to make up your mind after looking at the pictures below as some things are indescribable. Hogenakkal Waterfalls as the moon begins to shine Hogenakkal Waterfalls from an alternate view Hogenakkal Waterfalls: The gorge on the Kaveri River  If the sights look familiar then you have probably seen them in movies such as Roja or Raavanan . How do I explore the area? If you are visiting the falls during the rainy or winter seasons then you will not be allowed to take the boat to view the falls. Instead there will be a separate viewpoint to explore the region.  My trip fell in March so I got to use the small round boats known as coracles to catch some eye-popping views. Coracles on the Kaver...

Where is it? Around 60 KM from Bengaluru. Scenic landscape from one of the viewpoints What is it? A hilly retreat with a rich history and fantastic vistas all around. View from the top of the rock face How do I get there? I reached the parking which is at the base of the summit by car. The hairpin bends are a bit challenging but as long as you stick to your lane you should be fine. There are cabs which will take you there and there's also public transport available from Majestic  I believe.   Parking Lot at Nandi Hills What should I take? All plastic water bottles are confiscated at the base of the summit so do carry water in a non-plastic container. There's a bus which will take you from the base to the top of the hill but if you want to explore the surroundings by yourself you will need plenty of water to refuel yourself Take a windcheater (I suggest using a heavier jacket if you are visiting in winter or rainy seasons) along just in case it gets chilly up t...

2020 has brought the travel plans of the world to a standstill but yours truly has not given up on finding some scenic spots close to the neighborhood. I don't enjoy visiting the same places over and over again, hence it's actually a hobby of mine to unearth some great vacation spots which can be reached without too much of a travel hassle (considering these are the days of the Pandemic). And what a gem it was, at just about 30-45 minutes drive from Toronto (right on the border of Pickering) and thoroughly accessible via Public Transit (TTC). When I first googled Rouge Beach (which is one of the Lake Ontario beaches), I found something very similar to the pic below but I was able to learn from Google Maps that there was actually a park right next to the beach. That clinched the deal for me, if the water was cold the park would serve me well and give me the outing I needed. I reached the park via public transit and had to walk almost a kilometre before the beach was in my sights...

On a bright May afternoon I found myself on the Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver facing the Pacific Ocean . This was the ocean hike that I was most looking forward to. Now before I go any further you might ask me. What is the Seawall? There you go, the picture below should answer your question very well 👇 Stanley Park Seawall (Courtesy: Tourism Vancouver) How did I get there?  Simple via public transport ( TransLink ). In front of me was a 10 KM hike right next to the Pacific Ocean and I was grossly unprepared (didn't even have a bottle of water with me). But water or no water I wasn't about to back out from exploring this beautiful waterfront trail . My first pit stop allowed me to take in the sights of Vancouver downtown along with the  docks . Vancouver Downtown Vancouver docks and the Pan Pacific Hotel Pan Pacific Hotel from the top (Courtesy: BC Ferries Vacations) The next sight to behold my attention was the 100 year old Brockton P...