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...]
Vegetarian Recipes

Banana Raitha Recipe – Banana in Yoghurt – Kela Raitha
Banana Raitha is a dish prepared using Banana and Yoghurt. It is a no fuss dish, can be made in a jiffy! Time required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 2 Small Ripe Bananas 1/4 tsp Chili … [Read More...]

Palak Mangodi
Green Gram dumplings cooked in Spinach gravy. A dish from Rajasthan. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: ½ Cup Mangodi 1 big bunch Palak / Spinach or Methi / Fenugreek … [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...]

Udaru Bele
Recipe by mom. This is one of the side dishes from her childhood days. Udaru means separate, Bele means Dal / lentils. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: ½ Cup Tuvar Dal 1 Onion, … [Read More...]

Eggless Pancakes – Pancakes without eggs
Pancakes are an all-time favorite in the West for breakfast. I like them when topped with fruits like Banana, Blueberries, and Strawberries. Time required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 cup Maida / … [Read More...]

Subsige Padavalkayi Palya – Dill and Snake Gourd dish
Addition of Dill leaves to Snake Gourd adds a punch, which lacks in a Gourd. Try making Subsige Padavalkayi Palya and let me know how it turns out. Time required: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 … [Read More...]

Basmati and Yellow Pepper Salad – Basmati Rice Salad
A salad with an unusual combination of Basmati Rice and Yellow Pepper. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Chilling Time Ingredients: 1 Cup Basmati Rice 1 tsp Ghee / Clarified Butter or Olive … [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

Shore Birds of Kukkarahalli Lake
Busy birds chirping and singing joyfully greets early morning walkers in Kukkarahalli kere/lake. Birds of all sizes both aquatic and land/shore birds have found this lake a very conducive environment … [Read More...]

Shri Venugopala Swamy Temple, Kannambadi
Since the day it was reported that the Venugopala Swamy temple resurfaced in the backwaters of Cauvery 2002 due to drought in the Mysore region, I was very keen on visiting the temple. There was … [Read More...]

Maravanthe Beach
On our Karnataka coastal temple trip, my husband insisted on driving up to the Maravanthe beach. The drive was spectacular with the Arabian Sea lashing on one side of the road and the Saurpanika River … [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...]

Chikmagalur – Chikkamagaluru
Chikmagalur was always mentioned by my dad and his cousins with a lot of affection as they spent all their holidays in their maternal Grandfather’s coffee estate. I have heard many incidents and … [Read More...]

Chamundi Hills – Mysore
As you near Mysore city, the first thing that you notice is Chamundi hills standing protectively over the city spread on its foothills. Every Mysorean is fond of this hill and they might have visited … [Read More...]

Ralliah Dam, Coonoor
It was a pleasant surprise to know that there is a Dam in Coonoor and what made the visit more exciting was the fact that we had to trek in the striking mountain ridges along the Wellington-Coonoor … [Read More...]
Festivals

Significance of Diwali festival in different religions
Jainism Diwali is celebrated by Jains with devotion, on this day Lord Mahavira the 24th Thirthankara achieved Nirvana on Amavasya of Ashvina masa in 527 B.C. The Lord left the body and achieved … [Read More...]

Guru Nanak Jayanthi
The birthday of Guru Nanak who is the founder of Sikhism is celebrated by Punjabis all over the world. Devotees pay obeisance to their Guru in Gurudwaras. Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469 at … [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...]

Basava Jayanthi
Kalabeda, kola beda, husiya nidiyalu beda Muniya beda, anyarige asahya padabeda Thanna bannisabeda, idira aliyalu beda Ide antaranga shuddhi, ide bahiranga shuddhi Ide namma koodala … [Read More...]

A thought on Saraswathi Pooja
ವಿದ್ಯೆಯ ಮಹತ್ವ ಒಡಲೊಳಗಿರುವದು ವಿದ್ಯೆಯು ನಡೆದರೆ ತಾಂಬರವಲ್ಲ ಕಳ್ಳರು ಕದಿಯರ್ ಪೊಡವಿಪರು ಕಸಿದು ಕೊಳ್ಳರ್ ವಡಹುಟ್ಟಿದವರು ಪಾಲು ಕೇಳರು ಕೇಳೈ Meaning: Knowledge is something that belong to you. Strangers … [Read More...]

King Raghu and Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni Tree – English Version
King Raghu of Raghuvamsha fame was a brave, generous, humble, and sensible ruler of Ayodhya. He had won many battles and his treasury was filled to the brim. On the behest of his guru Vashishta, he … [Read More...]

Lohri festival in Punjab – Makara Shankranthi – Harvest Festival
Makara Shankranthi is called as Lohri in Punjab. It is one of the major festivals of Punjab. It is celebrated with great pomp and show. This festival falls on Chaturdashi i.e., the 14th day in the … [Read More...]
