Brahma Jinalaya is a Jain Basadi / temple built in the 11th century by Attimabbe mother of Ahniga Masavadi the ruler of Lakkundi. Queen Attimabbe was generous and a benefactor of Kannada … [Read More...]
Kashivishwanatha Temple, Lakkundi
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
Carrot Palya – Carrot Onion Stir Fry Recipe – Carrot Toran Recipe – Carrot Poriyal Recipe
Carrot Palya is a side dish from Karnataka. Very easy to make and the dish is rich in nutrition. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 3 Carrots 1 Onion (on a festival day, you … [Read More...]
Eggless Mawa Cake
It's Christmas baking time! Type: Tea cakes Makes: 250 gms Ingredients to make an Eggless Mawa Cake: 60 gms Butter 1 + ½ tsp Castor Sugar 70 gms ( ¼ cup + ¼ Cup) Maida 1tsp Baking … [Read More...]
Dahi Bhalla Recipe – North Indian Dahi Vada – Dahi Bhalle
Dahi Bhalla is a sweety, tangy dish prepared using lentil fritters and served with layers of Yogurt and exotic chutneys. Cuisine: Punjab Time Required: 25 Minutes + Soaking … [Read More...]
Steamed Chilies Chutney
A chutney prepared using steamed Chilies..this Chutney is popular in Coorg District. Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 8 - 10 Green Chilies 10 - 12 Garlic Pods 1tsp Jeera/Cumin … [Read More...]
String Beans Salad
Winter is the best time to buy tender string beans to prepare this salad. Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 12 tender String Beans ½ Yellow Capsicum, Sliced 1 Red Onion, Sliced 6 … [Read More...]
Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables
Two decades ago, Central Food Technology Research Institute (C.F.T.R.I) in Mysore conducted classes for women in Mysore regarding preservation of fruits and vegetables. Mom completed the course and … [Read More...]
Uppu Huli Dose – Spicy Pancakes Recipe – Spicy Crepes Recipe – Uppu Huli Dosa Recipe
Salt, spices and tamarind goes into the making of this dosa / crepe and hence it is known as Uppu / Salt Huli / Sour Dosa. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Soaking and Fermenting time Cuisine: … [Read More...]
Hari Makai Ki Subzi – Sweet Corn and Spinach Gravy Recipe
Sweet corn kernels cooked in Spinach puree. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Makai / Sweet Corn Kernels, Boiled 1 Bunch Spinach, Blanched and pureed 2 … [Read More...]
Travel
Gendehosahalli Island Srirangapatna Mysuru – Gonde hosahalli
Literally unknown place, it is gaining popularity among the birders as many species of both resident and migratory birds have made Gendehosahalli their home. Cauvery River flows here giving ample food … [Read More...]
Dolphins Nose View Point, Coonoor
The winding narrow roads into the thick shola forest and tea estates lead to the Dolphins Nose viewpoint. I love the adventurous drive to this place. The peak is at 6,000 feet above sea level, an … [Read More...]
Lady Cannings Seat
Coonoor and Ooty are famous for their view points. Lady Cannings Seat is one of them. View of tea estates and plains around Nilgiris is best enjoyed from here. An endearing small Victorian style … [Read More...]
Wild Animals of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary
Wild Animals of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary includes microscopic ants to giant Elephants to winged friends in every hue. Some of the wild animals spotted by us on our trip to Kabini is presented just … [Read More...]
Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary
Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary is part of Sharavathi River Valley and was declared protected in 1972. It is the best place to spot many species of exotic birds and butterflies along with mammals and … [Read More...]
Udaipur
Udaipur is a charming city in Rajasthan. It is popularly known as City of lakes and was the capital of Mewar kingdom. Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1559. When Chittor fort was … [Read More...]
Heritage buildings of Pondicherry
Apart from Parks, Beaches, Backwaters, Temples, Ashrams and Auroville another interesting aspect of Pondicherry are its heritage buildings. The heritage buildings of Pondicherry comprises of … [Read More...]
Festivals
Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi
“O Nityam Achyuta Padambuja Yukma Rukma Vyamohataha Tad Itaraani Trinaaya Mene Asmad Guroha Bhagavathosya Dayaika Sindhoho Ramanujasya Charanou Sharanam Prapadye” The meaning of the above … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026
Festival dates in Magh month – January and February 2026 Mouna Gowri Vratha - 21 January 2026 to 27 February 2026 Vasanth Panchami - 23 January 2026 Rathasapthami - 25 January … [Read More...]
Banni Tree
The botanical name of this tree is Prosopis spicigera. In Sanskrit it is known as Shami Vruksha. Banni tree is found in dry and arid regions at low altitudes. This tree is widely grown in … [Read More...]
21 Pushpa Pooja to Lord Ganesha
21 types of Patra (leaves), 21 types of Pushpa (flowers), and 21 Kadabu or Modaka (sweets) are offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chathurthi and Sankashta Chaturthi. There are 21 mantra chanted … [Read More...]
Shivana Bhajane – Shiva Bhajan – Jagratha Bhajan
Happy Maha Shivaratri! Here is an easy Bhajan (devotional song) on Lord Shiva. We used to sing this every evening during our Summer break. Hey Shiva Shankara Namami Shankara Shiva Shankara … [Read More...]
Mysore State Anthem
The existence of Mysore State Anthem was bought to my notice by my dad, who during his primary school days would sing the anthem every day. In 1881, the British decided to give back the state … [Read More...]
Paryaya of Sri Krishna Matha (Krishna Temple) of Udupi
Paryaya is a ritualistic system by which the pontiffs of the eight muttts of Udupi, by turn, take up the responsibility of worshipping the deity at the Sri Krishna temple. The ceremony of the handing … [Read More...]
