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
Bhindi Pakoda – Okra Fritters – Ladies Finger Fritters Recipe – Bhindi Pakora Recipe
Light and crispy Lady's finger/Okra fritters. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 10 to 12 Bhindi/Bhendekayi/Okra/Lady's finger 1 tsp Chili Paste 1 tsp Ginger Paste 1/2 tsp Turmeric … [Read More...]
Bruschetta
Grilled Italian breads rubbed with garlic, topped with Tomatoes, and drizzled with Olive Oil is a very popular and tasty starter. Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 1 loaf Bread, cut … [Read More...]
Dum Arbi – Calocassia in Gravy Recipe
Dum Arbi is Calocassia cooked in a gravy. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 30 Minutes Ingredients: 7 – 8 Arbi / Calocassia / Kesuvina Gadde ½ Cup Curds 1tsp Jeera / Cumin Powder ½ … [Read More...]
Cabbage Dosa
Crispy dosas/crepes with crunchy cabbage. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time + Fermenting Time Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1½ Cups Raw Rice ½ Cup Urad Dal/Black Gram split 1 tsp … [Read More...]
Sabudana Vada Recipe – Sago Fritters – Sago Vada
Sabudana Vada are fritters prepared using Sago Pearls. It is an authentic snack of Maharashtra. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking Time Ingredients: 1 Cup Sabudana / Sabbakki / Sago … [Read More...]
Nimbehannina Thokku – Lemon Thokku – Lemon Chutney
It is very unusual to make Lemon Thokku, which is a kind of chutney. It is perceived that the thokku might become bitter. Contrary to the belief, the thokku turns out to be a very nice … [Read More...]
Thambittu
Thambittu is a sweet is prepared using fried gram flour and is prepared on Nagara Panchami festival. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Hurigadale Powder / … [Read More...]
Paneer Butter Masala
A side dish with gravy prepared using Cottage cheese. Cuisine: Mughlai Time Required: 25 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Paneer / Cottage Cheese, Cubed 1 Onion, Grind to a paste ½ Cup … [Read More...]
Travel
Talakadu – Part II
Picture1 - Sand Dunes at Talakadu Talakadu is a place known for its sand dunes, river, ancient temples and innumerable legends. Picture2 - Trees of Talakadu Cashew nut, Fig, Nilgiri, … [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...]
Tipu Sultan Summer Palace
A palace for different seasons could only be afforded by the kings and queens. Every historic place you visit, you will have palaces built on hills or lakes to beat the summer heat, on flat lands to … [Read More...]
Ramana Ashram, Thiruvannamalai
"Distracted as we are by various thoughts, if we would continually contemplate the Self, which is Itself God, this single thought would in due course replace all distraction and would itself … [Read More...]
Nanjanagudu
Nanjanagudu is famous for the Srikanteshwara Temple, Raghavendra Swamy temple, Kapila River, Nanjanagudina Rasabale (Banana), and B.V.Pandit Sadvaidyashala / ayurvedic institute. Nanjangud is … [Read More...]
Ikkeri
Ikkeri is the erstwhile capital of the Keladi Nayakas situated 3 Kms from Sagara, Shimoga district. Ikkeri in Kannada means two streets. The dynasty was founded in 1499 at Keladi very close to Ikkeri … [Read More...]
Birds spotted in KR Nagar, Chunchanakatte and Hosa Agrahara – Krishna Raja Nagara
KR Nagar also known as Yedathore is situated 57 Km from Mysore. The ancient Arakeshwara temple is situated in KR Nagar. The small yet beautiful Chunchanakatte waterfalls is very near to … [Read More...]
Festivals
Song to Goddess Lakshmi – Varamahalakshmi Arathi Haadu
My mother had written this song in the praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi in 1996. This song can be sung on festivals like Varamahalakshmi, Diwali Lakshmi Pooja, Shravana Shukravara Pooja, Ashada … [Read More...]
Hiranya Kashyapa Samhara
ಹಿರಣ್ಯ ಕಶ್ಯಪ ಸಂಹಾರ ಧೈರ್ಯಮಾಡಿ ದೈತ್ಯ ಹರಿಯ ಚರ್ಯ ನೋಡಿದಾ।। ಶೌರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಯುದ್ದವೆಂಬೊ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಮಾಡಿದಾ।।೧।। ಗದೆಯ ಕೈಯಲ್ಹಿಡಿದು ಹರಿಯ ಎದೆಗೆ ಹೊಡೆದನು।। ಗದೆಯು ಸಹಿತ ಕೈಯ ಹರಿಯು ವದಗಿ ಹಿಡಿದನು।।೨।। ಬಿಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬೇಗ … [Read More...]
Dasara Gombe – Doll arrangement – Golu – 2024
Ten days of festivities begins in India with great devotion. Dasara is celebrated in different ways in various regions of our country. The celebration is the same, which is "Good over … [Read More...]
Lullaby to Lord Rama
It is Lord Sri Rama's birthday today. Rama Navami is celebrated all over India with great devotion. The lullaby below was written by my grandfather M.M.Patil, Kurtakoti. ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮನ … [Read More...]
Phala Gowri Vratha – Molake Gowri Vratha – Gowri Festival
Phala Gowri Vratha (observance) also known as Molake Gowri (Sprout Gowri) falls on the Sharvana Amavasya day in the Hindu month of Shravana. August – September according to Gregorian calendar. For the … [Read More...]
Sri Vadirajara Aradhane
Vadirajatirtharu is one of the greatest saints belonging to the Madhwa Brahmin sect. He was born in 1480 on Magha (February) Shudda Dwadashi to a Shivalli Tulu Brahmin couple, Ramabhatta and Gowri in … [Read More...]
Ashada Shukravara
Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) pooja / ritual is performed on all the Fridays of the Hindu month of Aashada, July-Aug in Gregorian calendar. This year (2020) Aashada starts on 22nd June and the … [Read More...]
