Thally: The Little England in Tamil Nadu

I lifted my visor, craned my neck and asked with a smile, “Lake?”. The two old men who seemed to be happily chatting away looked up with a confused expression on their face. When I said ‘Eri’ (Lake in Tamil), one of them walked up with a smile. “Not Lake, it’s Little England”, he said, and pointed his hand down the road to Thally Lake. I had read in many websites that Thally is referred to as Little England, which I felt was coined by the so called ‘travel influencers’. But, surprisingly that wasn’t the case, as most locals too refer to Thally as Little England, probably because of its serene setting with lakes and open farmlands.

The ride beyond Hosur was a picturesque one with blue skies, thick canopy formed by the lined-up trees, intermittent villages, sporadic farms sprawling on either side of the meandering road, and the occasional livestock that made me slow down.

Had the first glimpse of the expansive lake as I entered Thally village, but it hardly looked like a village, with numerous shops, pushcarts and vehicles. A narrow mud road from where the old man guided, led me to the lake. With lush greenery lounging along the fringes, the tranquil lake was absolutely captivating. The quite surroundings were infiltrated by a couple of men having a dip in the waters and laughter of a few boys enjoying their camaraderie. The lone tree here with a stone platform is an ideal place to gaze in oblivion at the placid lake. A while later, I took a stroll along the shore of the lake, which led me into bushes.  

Shortly after that, I headed back to explore the opposite shore, which was laced with open farmlands. Narrow muddy tracks led to the farmlands, where I parked my bike and walked across. The spectacular sunset with a silver lining caught my attention as I trudged forward, oblivious to the fact that I was walking on a ploughed and uneven surface. Standing by the shore and gazing at the setting sun that played peek-a-boo behind the clouds, I could hear people chattering and walking towards me. Two local men who had come to check their farmland had walked up to see a new visitor grazing their land. Warm and friendly, we spoke about the dead fishes that had washed up the shore and about the next farming season. They also advised against visiting Devarabetta Hill, which offers an aerial view of Thally Lake and surroundings. It was quite late, and apparently the place is not safe after sunset.

Taking in the final glimpses of the setting sun and the placid lake, I walked back on the narrow path to my bike, and bade goodbye to the two men and ‘Little England’. 

There isn't much to explore in Thally beyond the lake and the farmlands, but it definitely makes a wonderful day trip from Bangalore.

How to reach Thally:

Thally lake is 55 km from Bangalore, and the closest main town in Hosur, 32 km away. Though are buses from Hosur to Thally, it is recommended to take your private vehicle to visit the lake, as the buses are not frequent.

13 Years of Tales of a Nomad!

 
The last few months have been dull for Tales of a Nomad with hardly any posts published. However, there will be more posts published consistently in the coming months. Let me start that with this birthday post!

Thank you all for the continuous encouragement and readership over that last 13 years.

As They Bloom!

 Manapattu Chira, Malayattoor, Kerala. February 2022.

Illithode: A Secluded Getaway!

It got greener, denser and darker as I drove through the winding road to Illithode, an eco-tourism site along the banks of River Periyar, near Malayattoor in Ernakulam. I was reminded of Paniyeli Poru from the photos I found, and the diverging road that led me to the place.

Bordering forest reserves, the Mahagony Thottam here is resplendent with innumerable Mahagony trees intimidatingly staring down at you. A short trail meandering through the tall trees with bird calls in the distance made it a delightful walk from the information counter. Swirling branches, the sunlight filtering through the canopy, fallen tree trunks and the rustling foliage made it seem like I was deep inside a forest. The wind swishing once in a while, and the chattering of the monkeys made it all the more engrossing, until the break of a laughter among a few visitors behind brought me back to the moment. 

Strolling further, while dodging past the trees, I could hear the gurgling of waters as we neared a clearing. Soon, I was staring at the Periyar, flowing relentlessly, and the water glittering like precious stones. Despite the sun blazing away, I waded into the cool shallow waters, placing my feet with caution over pebbles, some of which were round and smooth, while a few not so much. While the waters at Paniyeli Poru are gushing, and with dips, under currents and whirlpools, it is much calmer here, and you can into the waters, which are mostly knee high. Making myself comfortable on a protruding rock, I gazed at the flowing waters, greenery along the opposite bank, and pebbles, which were so visible through the waters. The water was so pure and clear that the pebbles seemed like they were right on the surface, and not a foot below. I sat there for a while in the midst of the peaceful surroundings, watching in oblivion the Periyar flowing away.

Illithode is a great place to connect with nature, to play in the clear waters, or sit idle under the shade of trees, watching nature in all its glory.

How to reach Illithode: 

The closest city is Cochin, which is 60 km away from Illithode via Aluva and Malayatoor. Cochin is well connected to other cities across India by trains and flights. It’s ideal to take your vehicle or a private cab to get to here.

How to Visit Manali on a Budget

Manali is one of the best and most alluring holiday destinations in India, and one does not have to take so many leaves to visit this little hill station located in Himachal Pradesh. The things that make Manali mesmerizing and breath-taking are too many, with some of them being the great weather, mountains covered with lush green forests, and amazing sight-seeing options. While you are there you can experience the best recreational and adventurous activities that will make your trip worth it. So, if you are bored and do not have any plans for the summer, pack your bags and visit this beautiful place. Below are some points that will help you to plan the entire trip on a budget.

Book the tickets in advance

The best and first thing you have to do if you are planning a trip to Manali is to book the tickets in advance. Since it is a popular hill station, and most travelers plan their vacation to visit there, it is highly likely that you might not get tickets for the required dates. Also, if you book your tickets in advance, there are high chances that you will get them at a cheaper price. If you are traveling from Delhi then you are in for some luck, as you can catch the bus from the Kashmiri Gate bus stand, and it would take you about 12 hours to reach Manali. The fare is approx. Rs.1000, which is nominal.

Book the hotel rooms in advance

Once you have decided your dates, make sure to book the hotel rooms as well, especially if you are traveling during the peak season. During this period most hotels charge double the rate than they usually do. So, if you are a little tight on budget, or do not wish to spend a lot on the trip, ensure to make your stay arrangements as well in advance. You can book the rooms in advance with affordable price from Makemytrip, Cleartrip, Agoda and more. To avail the extra discount use coupon code. Try to book a hotel room near Mall Road since the hotels there are comparatively cheaper and more affordable.

Rent a bike or a scooty

When it comes to visiting the local adventures, an ideal way to save money is to rent a bike or a scooty for commutation. There are several places that you can visit on a bike, which includes Vasisth Temple, Solang Valley, Naggar, Jana Waterfalls, and many more. All of them can be reached on a two-wheeler.

Skip the big restaurants

The best part about Manali is you will get ample eating options along the roads. So, if you don’t want to spend a lot, skip the restaurant at least for a day. This will save you a lot of money and you will get to taste the local dishes as well. The place has so many street food options including Bombay Bhelpuri, Samosas, Sidu and Babru among others.

Take every essential thing that you may require

It is an obvious fact that when you visit Manali, you will go there with the thought of having some adventure. However, do not forget to carry all the necessary things required for the same with you, as everything there will be expensive since it is a touristy place. So, if you don’t want to spend unnecessarily, pack a little more. Also, take a few packets of wafers and snacks to keep yourself satiated.

Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass is one of the major attractions of Manali, and if you are planning a trip here, make sure you plan to add this to your itinerary as well. However, Rohtang Pass cannot be visited throughout the year; it opens from May end to October third week, which also depends on weather conditions. So, if you have to go there, make sure to book the cabs in advance since last-minute bookings can cost you a lot. So, to avoid any type of inconvenience, make sure to do all the books before your departure date.

The above tips can save you money while you are exploring Manali. Being on a vacation does not mean that you have to spend a fortune. You can easily plan a trip on a budget, especially to a place like Manali.

 

P.S. This is a collaborative post.

Coddiwomple!

 

Like the goats here, sometimes the traveler in me needs a bit of guidance. Else, I always prefer to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination! As the saying goes, isn't traveling also about the journey, as much as it is about the destination?

Gaze in Oblivion!

Myriad shades of green blanketed over obscure and undulating mounds, with fog intermittently draping the setting, and the road making its presence felt by snaking through, makes this view from Thamarassery Churam, one of my all time favourite landscape frames.

Nallur Fort: Ruins Amidst a Biodiversity Heritage Site

It’s not tough to find this secluded place, but blink your eyes and you are sure to miss it. Nestled close to the Bangalore International Airport, Nallur Tamarind Grove was declared a biodiversity heritage site in 2007.

The lone guide here says that this 50-acre site is home to a few hundred tamarind trees, some of which are more than 300 years old. There are claims that the trees here were initially planted by the Chola kings, during the 12^th or 13^th centuries. The oldest tree is more than 400 years old, which was interesting due to the fact that the tamarind trees usually do not live for more than 200 years.

As much as I was amused listening to the stories about the trees, I kept looking for a fort, or ruins of one, as the name Nallur Fort suggested. There were no traces of a fort here except for a dilapidated Chennakeshava temple, with a few broken pillars scattered around, with no roof, and walls that had caved in. This is all that remains of Nallur Fort, which as per historians and locals was built during the 14^th century, by a local chieftain. While there are stories that might pique the history lover, there are no proper records suggesting when and who built this temple.

A closer look revealed beautiful carvings and friezes on its remaining walls, which had withstood the time. The detailing, carvings and architecture has resemblances of Vijayanagara style. The motifs though visible, have faded over the years, but still kept me captivated. A lone sculpture of a headless goddess greeted me as I stepped in. The insides of the temple had overgrown bushes, creepers, lantanas, and more scattered remains of what were once magnificent works of sculptors. Surprisingly, I find ruins and dilapidated structures more intriguing than the ones that have remained mostly intact. They probably have more stories to tell than the rest. How this temple survived, despite everything else related to the fort having disappeared over the years makes it quite an enigma.

Vandalized or destroyed during the rule of the kings; the sculptures, carvings and ruins of this temple shrouded by tamarind trees remains totally disregarded, and needs immediate attention. As much as we need nature, the world needs art too, in its various forms. Unless the authorities act, the next time you are here, all that remains would probably be only the tamarind trees, which is sure to leave you with a sour taste.

How to reach: Nallur Fort or Nallur Kote is near Gangamma Temple, and is 45 km away from Bangalore.

Top 5 things to do on your visit to Dubai Expo 2020

Even though the pandemic has spoiled the travel plans of many, Expo 2020 Dubai has not failed the hopes of travel enthusiasts by allowing them to travel around the world without any hindrance. Are you already wondering ‘how’?

Expo 2020 Dubai is an event where 192 countries from across the world are participating to share their innovative ideas for a better world through sustainability, mobility and opportunity, which are the themes of this mega-event. This expo is aimed at inspiring and triggering curiosities and ideas for the upcoming generations. After a long wait, the ban on international travel was lifted by UAE, which led to the sudden increase in applications for Dubai visa as travellers were waiting to visit the city of gold.

Top things to do at Dubai Expo 2020

Here are the top five things to do on your visit to Expo 2020 Dubai

·    Experience future of food at the Epochal Banquet

Although you will be able to enjoy a wide range of tastes at Expo 2020's food court, why not experience the future of dining through Bompas & Parr's immersive multi-sensory studio, at the Epochal Banquet. It's a two-hour long culinary experience that arouses your senses with AI feats from the future. It is also influenced by microbiology, space, artificial intelligence and hyper-intelligence.

·    Visit the SpaceX rocket at the Expo

Do you really think you can navigate all of the 1080 acres on foot? Hitch an electric bicycle that will help you explore a lot more than what you can on foot. In the USA pavilion, you will be able to see a real Space-X Falcon rocket, and the atmosphere doesn't feel anything less than a space lab in the expo. Also, you can spot genuine Moon rocks and the US Mars Rover at the space lab.

·    The future of service stations inspired by UAE’s national tree

The national tree of UAE is Ghaf, which is also symbolised as an epitome of resilience because of the region’s harsh climatic conditions. This futuristic service station has been designed on the exoskeleton of the body of the Ghaf tree. Moreover, it’s entirely solar-powered plus its canopy is made of carbon fibre too.

·    The glorious Al-Wasl Plaza

The first thing that will catch your attention once you enter the expo is the glorious Al-Wasl Plaza. It's a majestic cathedral of projection lights, 3D sounds, and other attractions to offer you a mind-blowing experience. If you feel like taking a break, just have a seat there and experience the grand theatre of light work that you will remember forever.

·    Interact with the on-ground robot-pals

Another exciting activity that one can indulge in is interacting with on-ground robots that can be seen walking around the place who can talk and respond to you. It is certainly exciting for the kids, and you can take photos with them easily.

In addition to these activities, there are many more things to do at this Expo 2020 Dubai. Make sure to choose the best Dubai packages while making your holiday plans because you wouldn’t want to miss a single thing when it comes to travelling in the city of gold.

P.S.: This is a collaborative post.

Rural Frames from T.G.Halli Reservoir

At a time when we are slowly going back to travelling our backyards, my visit to Thippagondanahalli Reservoir threw up a surprise. The gates were closed and access to the dam was denied, but further search on the maps led me to a different route through a village to the reservoir. It proved once again that maps aren't totally trustworthy, as the road turned into a mud trail and came to an abrupt end without a cue. However, it was serendipity, as the trail led to lush green pastures and sprawling farmlands where farmers and bullocks toiled away. Beyond the farmlands I could see glimpses of the blue waters of the reservoir with the intimidating Savanadurga Hill in the backdrop. Absolutely picturesque frames on offer!  

Sometimes a wrong route takes you to the right destination!

Travel Information:

Thippagondanahalli Reservoir is 46 km away from Bangalore.

Built over River Arkavathi, this is one of the largest reservoirs near Bangalore.