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

Green Chilies Pickle – Instant Green Chili Pickle – Hari Mirchi ki Achar
Green Chilies Pickle is one of our favorite pickle and goes very well with Akki Rotti and Paratha. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 20 thin long Green Chilies / Byadagi variety is the … [Read More...]

Cabbage Paratha – Cabbage Flat Bread Recipe – Gobi Paratha Recipe
Cabbage Paratha is an Indian bread stuffed with cabbage. A favorite among North Indians. This is also the best way to make children eat vegetables. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]

Huli Thovve – Hulthovve – Daal with Vegetables – Dal Recipe
Huli Thovve is a curry prepared using lentils and vegetables. It is a popular dish during festivals and celebrations like weddings in South Karnataka. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]

Crispy Vegetables
Crispy and tasty. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 6 florets of Cauliflower 1 Carrot, Peeled and sliced into long pieces 4 Tender Beans, Broken into 3 pieces 4 Green Chilies, Slit … [Read More...]

Cottage Cheese and Asparagus Stir fry
Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1” thin strips of Cottage Cheese / Paneer 12 Asparagus 1 Red Chili, Chopped finely 1 tsp Cumin Seeds / Jeera Juice of ½ Lemon ½ tsp Crushed … [Read More...]

French Fries
French fries is the most popular snack in the western countries. It is tasty and you cannot stop devouring them. Time Required: 40 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 4 Large Potatoes Oil for … [Read More...]

Masala Thepla – Indian Flat Bread – Methi Chapathi – Methi Roti Recipe
Masala Thepla is a type of bread prepared in Gujarat. This has a long shelf life and is very suitable to carry while travelling. Time Required: 25 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]

Mirchi Ka Salan – Hyderabadi Mirchi Ka Salan Recipe – Chilies in Gravy Recipe
Green chilies cooked in a coconut based gravy. Can you feel the heat! Cuisine: Andhra Pradesh Time required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 10 – 12 Green Chilies 2 tbsp Tamarind pulp 2 tbsp … [Read More...]
Travel

Avalanche Lake Ooty – Avalanchi Lake
Avalanche Lake, also known as Avalanchi lake is situated in South India’s Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. In the early 1800s there was a huge landslide due to heavy rainfall that occurred in this … [Read More...]

Beejadi Beach
Beejadi Beach is in Beejadi Village of Kundapur Taluk, Udupi District. The pristine sandy beach makes for a perfect family outing. If you are looking for a non-commercial beach, then this is the … [Read More...]

Ooty Botanical Gardens
The jewel in Ooty’s tourism crown is the beautifully laid 22 acre Ooty botanical gardens. The garden was conceptualized in 1847 by the then governor of Madras Marquis of Tweedale. The 22 acres is … [Read More...]

Shravanabelagola
The first time I visited Shravanabelagola was in 1982 on a school trip. It was Mahamasthakabhishekha time and we climbed up the rickety scaffolding up to the head of the monolithic statue of Bahubali … [Read More...]

Nandi Hills
Rejuvenate during the weekend with a visit to the soul soothing Nandi hills. Nandi hills is situated 60 Kms from Bangalore and you have to negotiate 40 curves to reach the top of the hills. The top … [Read More...]

Amber Fort, Jaipur
Amber also known as Amer was the former capital of the Kachhwahas. The majestic fort built on Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) in the Aravalli range of hills above the Maota Lake is visible from far … [Read More...]

Lakkundi
Lakkundi is also known as Lokki Gundi and it is a place filled with history, striking yet forgotten Hindu and Jain temples, wells, inscriptions and museum . This village is situated 12 kms … [Read More...]
Festivals

Mahalakshmi Ashtakam – Lakshmi Sthotra – Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
Wish you all a very happy Dasara. Today is the first day of Dasara known as Padya. The nine days during this festival is dedicated to the shakthi devathes (divine power). Here is a prayer to goddess … [Read More...]

Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu
Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu means sacred items used on auspicious occasions like marriage rituals, upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), shrimantha (arathi to pregnant women), namakarna (naming … [Read More...]

Chaitra Navratri
Chaitra Navratri also known as Varshik Navratri is a festival observed for nine days in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April in Gregorian Calendar). The festival starts on the first day of Chaitra … [Read More...]

Dasara Procession and Torch Light Parade during the reign of the Wodeyars
Picture1 - Illuminated Mysore Palace Mysore Dasara procession during the Maharajah’s rule used to be on a larger scale and grander. My grandparents and parents generation go on and on … [Read More...]

Happy Vijayadashami – Veeragase Folk Dance of Karnataka – Guggla
Veeragase is a folk dance of Karnataka where the participants wear grand makeup, headgear, and costumes and dance to folk music composed on Hindu mythology. The dance movements are intense with … [Read More...]

Ganesha Ashtotra Shathanaamavali – 108 names of Lord Ganesha
Ganesha Ashtotra Shathanaamavali is 108 names of Lord Ganesha. While chanting this, you can offer 21 Patra or 21 Pushpa to Lord Ganesha. Here there are 110 names of Lord Ganesha. Om … [Read More...]

Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a festival celebrating the birth of Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. “Yada Yadaa hi dharmasya gnanirbhavathi bharatha Abhyuththaana madharmasya thadathmaanam … [Read More...]