Kashivishwanatha / Lord Shiva Temple is the most flamboyant of all the temples in Lakkundi with intricate designs carved on the shikara / towers and the doorways. Kashivishwanatha … [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...]
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
Kadalebele Usali
Kadalebele Usali is prepared using Channa Dal or Split Bengal Gram was distributed as prasada / blessed food in a Srinivasa temple, which was opposite to our house. Time Required: 30 Minutes + … [Read More...]
Aloo Sev Dahi Puri – Alu Sev Dahi Puri Recipe – Puffed Bread with Potatoes
Aloo Sev Dahi Puri is a sweet and tangy snack prepared using Potatoes, Yoghurt and flat round crisps. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 6 Puffed … [Read More...]
Vaththu Shavige – Idiyappam Recipe – Rice Vermicelli – Nool Puttu Recipe – String Hoppers Recipe
This is also known as Idiyappam in Tamil and Malayalam. It is known as Vaththu Shavige or Akki Shavige in Kannada and is prepared on Bheemana Amavasya festival. This Rice noodles is served in many … [Read More...]
Kajjaya
A sweet dish prepared using Rice and Jaggery. This sweet has been immortalized by the famous Kannada song “Bisi Bisi Kajjaya, Bisi Bisi Kajjaya maadi koduve naanu…” sung by Annavru Dr. Rajkumar in … [Read More...]
Dragon Fruit Salad Recipe
Dragon fruit growing is catching up across India. The plants thrive in this weather and the farmers are reaping good harvest year on year. Here is a simple yet difference fruit salad using Dragon … [Read More...]
Guava Juice
Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Ripe Red Guavas 6 - 8tbsp Sugar A pinch of Salt Method: Chop Guavas into 1” pieces. Blend Guavas, Sugar, Salt and two glasses of water. … [Read More...]
Panch Phoran – Spices of Bengal – Five Spices
Bengali, Assamese and Oriya cuisine is tempered with Panch phoran, which is a combination of 5 spices - Fennel Seeds / Saunf, Cumin Seeds / Jeera, Fenugreek Seeds / Methi, Nigella Seeds / Kalonji, … [Read More...]
Midi Uppinakayi
Tender whole mangoes are pickled and stored for a year. Midi Uppinakayi is common in regions of Mysore, Bangalore, South and North Canara and parts of Andhra and Tamil Nadu. The pickle is … [Read More...]
Travel
Birla Mandir Jaipur
People visiting Jaipur never fail to visit the Birla Mandir Jaipur dedicated to Lord Narayana / Vishnu and his consort Goddess Laxmi. The temple was built by B.M.Birla foundation in white Markarana … [Read More...]
Aloka Palace, Mysore
I visited Aloka Palace near Yelwal, Mysore as part of my son’s summer camp outing few decades back. I visited again to take pictures and to know more about the place. A bit disappointing as there … [Read More...]
T Narasipura
T stands for Tirumakudalu and in short referred to as T Narasipura. Tirumakudalu or Trimakuta means the place of confluence of three rivers. In T Narasipura, Rivers Kaveri, Kabini, and Spatika … [Read More...]
Raja Seat – Coorg
Raja Seat means King’s Seat. It is view point in Coorg, which used to be a favorite place for the royals of Kodagu to hang out and watch the sun setting in the horizon. A small structure is built with … [Read More...]
Horanadu
Annapoorne sadapoorne shankarapranavallabhe Gyanavairagyasiddhyartham bhiksham dehi cha parvati|| Meaning of the above verse is in praise of Goddess Annapoorneswari and the meaning is as … [Read More...]
Kudremukh Peak
Though we did not trek up to the peak, the drive to the place where the actual trek starts was an awesome journey. Yes, we do plan to trek to the peak sometime soon. The Kudremukh peak is 1892 … [Read More...]
Sri Eklingnath – Kailashpuri – Eklingji
The temple village Kailashpuri is situated 23 Kms from Udaipur, Rajasthan. The place has 108 temples and the 1200 years old temple of Sri Eklingji Prabhu / Lord Shiva is the biggest, oldest and most … [Read More...]
Festivals
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...]
Mahashivarathri – Shivratri
Om Vande Shambhu Umaapatim Surgurum Vande Jagad Kaaranaam | Vande Pannag Bhushanaam Mrigadharam Vande Pashunaam Patim| Vande Surya Shashaak Vahninayanam Vande Mukundapriyam| Vande Bhakta … [Read More...]
Celebration of Hindu New Year in different regions of India
New Year is celebrated all over India in different ways and is also called by different names. Some states follow the solar calendar and some follow the lunar calendar. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh … [Read More...]
Ele Ashtami – Jesta Devi Pooja
This festival is celebrated widely in North Karnataka. This festival falls on the 8th day of the Hindu month Bhadrapada, August – September of Gregorian calendar. For the festival dates click … [Read More...]
Vaikunta Chathurdashi Vratha
Vaikunta Chathurdashi Vratha is a religious practice that people vow to perform in the Hindu month of Karthika, which is October – November in the Gregorian calendar. It is performed for 14 years and … [Read More...]
Gowri and Ganesha Festival Platters – Festival Food – Habbada Adige
Wish you all a very happy Gowri - Ganesha festival! Shopping, mantapa decorations, and preparing delicious festival food mark the Gowri - Ganesha festival celebrations. Gowri … [Read More...]
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is perfomed in West Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. It falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month Ashwin, September – October according to Gregorian calendar. For the festival date … [Read More...]
