ಮುಸ್ಸಂಜೆ

Jan 2013 Hampi  – Where Mythology Meets History I always believed Hampi had its own historical charm, but this trip completely changed my perspective. It wasn’t just about old ruins — it opened my eyes to its rich blend of mythological and historical heritage. We began our journey by seeking blessings at  Sasivekalu Ganapathy . Our guide, Mallikarjun, explained in his flawless Kannada (without a single English word!) that the deity was named after the shape of a mustard seed ( sasive kalu ). Built by a mustard seed merchant, the name and form carry a unique story. From there, we walked to the awe-inspiring  Lakshmi Narasimha , a massive monolith in a yoga posture. Today, only Narasimha with one hand of Lakshmi remains visible, but originally, a full statue of Lakshmi sat on his left thigh. Its solitary beauty is unforgettable. Just beside it stands the  Badavi Linga , always immersed in water, built by a poor but devoted woman in the name of Lord Shiva — ...

May 2nd 2012  Ever since we became members of Club Mahindra, I kept hearing about the beauty of Binsar Villa. Perched at 5,025 ft, overlooking the  Nandadevi  and  Trishul  Himalayan ranges, this place was described by everyone as magical. So, after our trip to Gir and Udaipur the previous October, we decided that our summer holidays would be for  Binsar and Corbett . Tickets were booked well in advance — thankfully, at a reasonable price — and the excitement began to build. When the much-awaited day arrived, Gargi and Amogh were bubbling with energy. They even enjoyed spending time at the airport lobby! From Delhi, we took a train to Kathgodam, and from there, a taxi to Club Mahindra. With plates of  hot moong dal pakoras  and cups of steaming tea, we drove towards our dream destination. At the resort, the staff welcomed us warmly with a local drink called  Buransh , made from the bright red rhododendron flowers that seemed to be b...

20/10 /2011 Gargi took a vacation to Udaipur, Gir, Diu and Ahmedabad.This is her side of the story she wanted to share .I am amazed by how she narrates her feelings, emotions and views on many things during the vacation.I am only typing her words.She says she will type on her own next time.Enjoy the roller coaster ride . My first experience of the sea Amma, initially i was excited to see so many colors on the sky .hmmm sun was going down and down into the sea .i think the sun must be hiding behind the sea until morning .I almost flew when the wind blew.Sea was soooooooo bigggggggg!!!!I wonder if there were crocodiles .I was so scared but Ajji told nothing will happen if i go near the sea . i went near and the water splashed on my legs and i felt like falling ..was there a earth quake???later i enjoyed so much that i never wanted to go back . I saw Lion and its den !![visit to Gir] I touched a turtle .It had hard shell and when i touched it went inside .There were stars on the shell.I ...

Thought of writing a Haiku Hand in Hand Loving warmth Togetherness Shared inspirations Building dreams Committed Calm joyful mood Loving hubby Mutual trust seven years True reflection Stands Understanding -nanda

A few days back I received a mail on writing poems. I would like to share this naive attempt. Path A path in everybody’s mind Beckons to destinations beyond Call it nirvana, ultimate desire or dream A path spurs us on to goals Lead us progressively One peak to another Unseen path, we feel lost Emerges the true spirit of man A way is found or built Reflective Ultimate realization that impossible made possible. -nandashree

I was very anxious about this trek because it had been raining heavily for the past 2–3 days, not only in Bangalore but all over Karnataka. At the same time, I was equally excited, as it was my first trek with my hubby and cousins. We started off to Kodachadri on October 1st at around 8:30 pm in one of the KSRTC buses and reached Nittur early the next morning. The locals there warned us about the heavy rains and mist at Kodachadri. After having breakfast at a small hotel, we began our trek. From the moment we started, it was drizzling. Holding umbrellas, we protected ourselves from the rain and leeches and kept walking. The muddy path was alive with nature—the sonorous calls of birds floated through the mercurial mist and crisp morning air. The rain-washed trees with their bright green leaves lined our path. We spotted orange-colored mushrooms, tiny hopping frogs, rare insects, and butterflies. The earthy smell of wet soil calmed my mind, and my heart was filled with a joy I can hardly...

1/09/2009 Waterfalls have always beckoned me because of their incredible beauty. I had always wanted to visit Jog, especially after listening to the famous Rajkumar song  “Jeevanadalli omme nodu joga gundi,”  which I now realize is true, word for word. After an overnight drive, we reached our destination,  Mutthuga’s homestay , located amidst lush green areca plantations, just 8 km before Jog Falls. After a morning breakfast with a refreshing cup of coffee, we set off to Jog. After a fifteen-minute drive, we reached Jog Falls. There, we experienced the magnificent view of the Sharavathi River dropping down as Raja, Rani, Roarer, and Rocket from a height of 930 ft. We could witness many moods of Jog as the weather kept changing from sunny to gloomy, and cloudy to rainy—a unique experience of its own kind. A mantle of deep greens covered the ridges and hollows of the rocks surrounding the falls. I was fascinated to see the rainbow that appeared at the base, adding to the ch...