Make a organic insecticide by adding onions and garlic to a jar of water, let it stand for a week, and spray plants with it. Used tea bags sprinkled on rose plants will make them blossom faster … [Read More...]
Nambhi Narayana Temple, Thodanur
The Nambhi Narayana/Lakshmi Narayana temple is the largest and the oldest temple in Thodanur. This was originally a Jain basathi/temple. Hoysala king Bittidevaraya, who was a Jain was influenced … [Read More...]
Akeel Dip Recipe
Yes, like you I was intrigued hearing the name of this dip. Akeel Dip is from Yemen and is similar to Indian Raitha with its own unique twist. This dip can be served with any of the crisp starters or … [Read More...]
Song on Lord Panduranga
This song is in praise of Lord Panduranga of Pandharpur. Panduranga appeared in Pandharpur to bless his devotee, Pundalik, who was busy serving his parents when the Lord arrived, … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Windy
The wind blown arrangement is the nearest you can get to nature. This arrangement is one of my favorite. This arrangement gives an illusion of a tree laden with flowers blown to a side by … [Read More...]
Dinner with Pumpkin – Roti platter with Pumpkin
Light dinner keeps you agile the next day. Early dinner the better. Though this is easy said than done! Pumpkin is a powerhouse of fibre and when teamed with Roti is a perfect way to … [Read More...]
Black-eyed Susan Vine
The attractive flowers of Black-Eyed Susan Vine are like a pop-up in any garden. The profuse flowers are attractive and add the much needed colour among the other trees and plants. The … [Read More...]
Needle Rock View Point, Gudalur, Ooty
Needle Rock View Point is known as Soochi Malai. Soochi in Tamil means needle and Malai means hills. The name needle is derived from the rock that narrows to a sharp needle tip. As you wind up … [Read More...]
Boondi Burani Raitha Recipe – Boondi Raitha Recipe
Raitha is a dish prepared using Yoghurt in India. This is served as an accompaniment with Indian Bread and Pulav or Biryani (Spicy flavorful rice). During summer this is a prepared dish in most of … [Read More...]
May 2026 Hints
To preserve your expensive shoes, slide each separately into zip bags and hot blow over them to get a perfect shoe cover. To unclog shower pores, place a paper towel over the shower head, pour … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Vaisakh month – April and May 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 Vaishākh (April – May) Akshaya Tritiya – 19 April 2026 Basava Jayanthi– 20 April 2026 Ramanujacharya … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Kalina Usali – Mixed Lentils Usal Recipe – Usal Recipe
Kalina Usali is prepared using a mixture of whole lentils like Chik Peas, Horse Gram, Green Gram, Cow Peas, Kabuli Peas, and so on. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 30 Minutes + … [Read More...]
Shavige Pulao – Vermicelli Pilaf Recipe – Vermicelli Pulav Recipe
Vermicelli cooked with vegetables and spices. Cuisine: South + North Indian Required Time: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 4 Cups Shavige / Vermicelli 1 Carrot 1 Potato 6 String … [Read More...]
Pudina Sherbet – Mint Juice Recipe
Mint juice is healthy and great thirst quencher. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: ½ Cup Pudina / Mint leaves 1tsp Lemon Juice 4tbsp Sugar A pinch of Salt 2 Glasses of … [Read More...]
Ranjaka
Chutney prepared using fresh Red Chilies. Ranjaka can be stored for more than a year. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 40 Fresh Red Chilies 2 tsp Fried and Powdered Methi … [Read More...]
Padavalakayi Beejada Raitha – Snake Gourd Seeds in Yoghurt
Padavalakayi Beejada Raitha is a yoghur based dish, prepared using snake gourd seeds. Long, long ago my grandmother's elder sister used to prepare this very often. My mother passed on this … [Read More...]
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate Juice is healthy and refreshing and extremely easy to make. Time Required: 5 Minutes + time to remove the seeds Ingredients: 1 Bowl Pomegranate Seeds Sugar and Salt to … [Read More...]
Black Rice Tomato Soup Recipe
It is that time of the year when the cold bites even in South India! Steaming hot Black Rice Tomato Soup would be so ideal for the evening with a Bread infused with herbs! Time required: 30 … [Read More...]
Kusuri – Sakkare Kalu – Shankranti Sesame Seeds Sugar
Sesame seeds coated with sugar is known as Kusuri – Sakkare Kalu. These are distributed during Makara Shankranthi in Karnataka. Making them is time consuming and exhausting. My mother used to … [Read More...]
Travel
Pykara Lake
River Pykara originates from Mukurthi peak, which has many Toda settlements. This river is the largest and it is revered by the Toda tribes. The river tumbles down the hills and creates two … [Read More...]
Thataiah Park, Mysore – Mysuru
Every time I have zipped past the strip of a park in front of Landsdowne building in Mysore with the statue of Thataiah, I have wondered who this “Thatha” (grandfather) was? Now I reveal to myself and … [Read More...]
Karanji Kere (Lake)
Mysore is proud of its three lakes, Lingabhudhi, Kukkarahalli and Karanji Kere. Karanji Kere / Fountain lake is maintained by the Zoological department of Mysore and a huge fountain is installed … [Read More...]
Kalpetta
We chose to stay at Kalpetta as all the interesting places are around Kalpetta. We were also tempted to stay in far flung places like Rain Country resorts, but the fact that the drive to and from the … [Read More...]
Shopping in Ooty and eating out in Ooty
Ooty has come a long way, from a quaint hill station to a bustling commercial and tourist destination. Apart from trekking, boating, horse riding, visiting places of interest, shopping in Ooty and … [Read More...]
Jagdish Temple, Rajasthan
Om Jai Jagadisha Hare Swami Jai Jagdisha Hare Bhaktha janonke sankata Dasa jnonke sankata Kshaname door kare Om Jai Jagadisha Hare Meaning - Hail Lord Jagadish / Vishnu / king of the … [Read More...]
Bangalore – Bengaluru
Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka and IT capital of India. Kempegowda was a Palegar of Vijayanagar empire who found Bangalore by chance and named the city Benda kalooru (the place where the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Festival dates in Kartik month – October and November 2025
Kārtik (October – November) Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat - 22 October 2025 Karthika Somawara - 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, and 17 November 2025 Uttandwadashi - 2 … [Read More...]
Nagara Chauthi
Nagara Chauthi festival is celebrated on the fourth day of the Hindu month Shravana, July – August according to Gregorian calendar dedicated to Snake god. For the festival date click here. On this … [Read More...]
Kadalekayi Parishe – Festival of Groundnuts – Groundnuts Fair in Bengaluru – Peanuts Festival
Festival of Groundnuts known as Kadalekayi Parishe is held in Bangalore every year on the last Monday of the Hindu month Karthika, November – December in Gregorian calendar. For the festival … [Read More...]
Ananthanagantu Rangoli
This Rangoli / pattern is drawn on Ananthapadmanabha Vratha / festival of Vishnu. First draw 15 X 15 dots and join as shown below: The Ananthanagantu rangoli can be filled with colors too. … [Read More...]
Chaitra Poornima
Chaitra Poornima is the first Poornima of the Hindu lunar calendar and falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra, March – April according to Gregorian calendar. It is the Poornima (full moon) after the … [Read More...]
Adi Shankaracharya Jayanthi
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Deva Maheshwara Guru Sakshath Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha|| Adi Shankaracharya the founder of the Advaita philosophy begins his Gurustotram or … [Read More...]
Onam
Onam is celebrated in Kerala with a lot of enthusiasm. It is their biggest harvest festival and it falls in the Malayali (Malayalam is the language spoken in Kerala and hence the people of Kerala are … [Read More...]
