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...]

Kodanad View Point, Kotagiri
When in Kotagiri it is a must to the Kodanadu View Point. It is a place that one can spend hours looking at the rolling hills and valleys. Kodanadu View Point is 20 km drive from Kotagiri … [Read More...]

Flowering Tobacco
I was surprised that there is a flowering version of Tobacco. Tobacco is largely grown in K.R.Nagar area. During my birding trip, I have come across large acres of land growing Tobacco and … [Read More...]

Quinoa Buddha Bowl
Quinoa Buddha Bowl is a bowl teeming with fibre and protein. Various tastes and textures form this bowl to satiate the soul. Ingredients: 1 Cup Cooked Quinoa with Salt 1 Cup Purple … [Read More...]

India loves to pose – 58
India loves to pose series contains random pictures of people in different moods and gears captured during a moment in their story. I believe that behind every face lies a story. Young India is … [Read More...]

Patchwork frame making – Snow White and Seven Dwarfs
When kids during summer holidays we used to be engaged making a lot of arts and crafts. There was not continuous TV nor mobile phones. Here is one art work that I made using material … [Read More...]

April 2026 Hints
Clean window tracks by pressing paper towels into the groove and pour half a cup of water and slide the window. Remove the paper towel. Your tracks will be clean. To make a paper towel … [Read More...]

Watermelon Sparkler
Fruit juice with soda adds the right spirit to the mood. Here is a simple cool watermelon sparkler recipe to keep you cool and your spirits high! Ingredients: Watermelon juice with or without … [Read More...]

Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 are as follows: Chaitra (March - April) Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram - 19 March 2026 Gangaur - 4 March … [Read More...]

Kotagiri
Kotagiri is small hill town situated in Nilgiris biosphere at an elevation of 1793 meters above sea level. The famous Longwood Shola forests are part of this biosphere. Kotagiri is one of the … [Read More...]

Ooty
Whether you call this place Ooty, Ootacamund, Udhagai or Udaghamandalam the title best suited for this place is “Queen of hill stations”, which is the capital of Nilgiris district. Picture1 - … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Mosaru Vada Recipe – South Indian Dahi Vada – Thayir Vadai
Mosaru Vada are fritters prepared using Split Black Gram and soaked in spicy yoghurt/curds. Cuisine: South Indian Time Required: 1 hour Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 Cup Urad Dal (Split Black … [Read More...]

Pundi Palya – Gongura leaves Subzi – Sorrel Leaves Side Dish
Pundi Palya is a side dish very popular in North Karnataka. It is prepared using Sorrel leaves also known as Gongura. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 big bunch Pundi Soppu / … [Read More...]

Golgappa
Small deep fried puffed bread stuffed with Potatoes and spices. This is dipped into a vessel of tangy water and comes out filled with the water. It is put into the mouth and the tangy water, crispy … [Read More...]

Pomelo Coconut Salad
This salad has an unusual combination of Pomelo and Coconut. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 5 - 6 segments of Pomelo 2 tbsp Coconut, Chopped and roasted 1 Onion, thinly sliced, … [Read More...]

Special Pakoda – Pakora Recipe – Onion Pakora Recipe
The rains bring in so much cheer and the Monsoon has visited South India on time this year. The temperature has come down and isn’t it a perfect time to have Pakodas / fritters and hot tea listening … [Read More...]

Idli Bites
A tasty snack using left over Idli / steamed rice cakes. Time Required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Idli / Steamed Rice Cakes 12 Curry leaves 4 Green Chilies, Slit 1tbsp Oil 1tsp Mustard … [Read More...]

Balekayi Alasande Huli – Raw Banana and Black Eyed Peas Sambar Recipe
Balekayi Alasande Huli is a South Indian Curry prepared using raw banana and black eyed beans. It is also known as Sambar. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 2 Raw Bananas 1 … [Read More...]

Carrot-Cucumber Clear Vegetable Soup
Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Carrot cut into roundels 1 Cucumber cut into roundels 5-6 Spring Onion Bulbs 2tbsp Spring Onion Scallions, Chopped 2” Ginger, Chopped 2 Green … [Read More...]
Travel

Hanumanagundi Waterfalls
Hanumanagundi Waterfalls figured on the top of our must visit list during our travel to Kudremukh National Park located in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. Also known as Soothanabbe … [Read More...]

Keladi
The historical place Keladi is situated 6 Km from Sagar, Karnataka. Keladi Nayaka kingdom was established in 1499 by Chaudappa Gauda. Chaudappa Gauda came across treasure hidden in a cauldron. … [Read More...]

Birds of Puttenahalli Lake
Being a nature loving family, we are always exploring places to trek or bird watch. With hectic work and study schedules, these getaways take a back seat. A visit to Puttenahalli Lake was refreshing … [Read More...]

Ramanagara
Ramanagara is situated 50 Km from Bangalore at an elevation of 2450 feet above sea level. Ramanagara was known as Closepet in memory of Sir Barry Close who was a British official during … [Read More...]

Sharada Devi Temple, Sringeri
Namaste Sharada Devi| Kashmira Puravasini| Tvamaham Prarthaye Nithyam| Vidya Danam Chadehimi|| Sharada Devi Temple, Sringeri is one of the main temples in Sringeri Matha (monastery) … [Read More...]

Kalathgiri Waterfalls
After spending a fair amount of time in Kemmanagundi, we drove to Kalathgiri waterfalls and were very disappointed. There was less water, due to summer but, the garbage, litter and unruly crowd made … [Read More...]

Lakshmeshwara
Lakshmeshwara also known as Puligere is a town in Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag district, Karnataka. There are many ancient religious places situated in this town belonging to Hindus, Jains and Muslims now … [Read More...]
Festivals

Buddha Poornima – Vesak
Buddham Sharanam Gatchami|| The above verse is a chant of Buddhists meaning "I take refuge in Lord Buddha". Buddha Poornima is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. It is celebrated on … [Read More...]

Satyanarayana Aarathi Song
It is a must to read the story of Satyanarayana at the end of Satyanarayana pooja. Here is a song covering all the stories that has to be read. You can sing this while doing the final … [Read More...]

Chhat Pooja
Thou by whose luster all the world of life comes forth, and by thy beams again returns unto its rest, O surya with the golden hair, ascend for us day after day, and still bringing purer innocence – … [Read More...]

Ganesha Aarathi Song
This is a aarathi song dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Kannada Script: ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳ ಗಣರಾಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಚಂದದ ಆರತಿ ತಂದು ಬೆಳಗುವೆ ಸುಂದರ ನಿನ್ನಯ ಚರಣ ಕಮಲಕೆ ವಂದಿಸಿ ಬೇಡುವೆ ಸಿಂದೂರ ವದನ ಬಂದು ಕರುಣಿಸೋ … [Read More...]

Hanuman Arathi Song – Hanumanthana Aarathi Haadu – Devotional Song
Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated in April in North India and in December in South India. North or South a song is always sung during the Arathi. This song in praise of Lord Hanuman is written by … [Read More...]

Habbada Thindi and Panaka – Festival Snacks and Juice Recipes
Food and festival go hand in hand in India. Special dishes are prepared on festivals and during vratha (observance). Habbada Adige / festival food is prepared on all festivals. But … [Read More...]

Bhagvad Gita Jayanti – Bhagvad Gita Birthday – Srimad Bhagvad Gita Jayanti
During Corona time, my quest to listen and understand the Srimad Bhagvad Gita started. My mother patiently read the Bhagvad Gita shlokas and explained each of them in Kannada. I was in awe … [Read More...]
