Beach bath – awesome experience

Location: Bekal fort shores, Kerala

On our visit to the Bekal fort, we were captivated by the shores on the far end, never ending Arabian sea till your eyes can see, the lone ship in the middle of nowhere, the dark clouds hovering threatening to open up anytime, the mighty sea eagle swooning over for a prey, lovely couples posing for the shutters, little kids playing around, a lone man sitting on the rocks and drenching in the waves, fishermen and their huts on the far end, it just goes on and on… you just can’t describe all you see and feel in words, you have to be there for that experience, for that awesome feel.

(the bathing waves, photo by the author)

I rarely visit sea shores and if done avoid the salty waters, it sticks and the after cleansing and changing is a lot of worry for me. I stand at a distance, watch those mighty waves crashing on to the rocks and the shore, enjoy the beautiful sunset over the horizon, watch the birds hurrying home, envy/pity the sailors who live on the waters; I ‘feel’ every moment of being there, I ‘get lost’ in that feel that makes me happy and alive.

As always, we were on the rocks at the shore, off the fort watching those incredibly mighty waves crashing on and retreating back, coming again and hitting, coming and going; they never give up, they keep coming and going tirelessly be it day or night and once they get wild, tsunami’s happen J The waves hitting our feet was cool and so relaxing that we forgot that those were salty waters. Whenever you are in good waters, the feet come alive and glow after being cleansed by them and it’s so soothing and healing. As we were busy shooting, the fun moments started with huge wave after waves rising up, up and in an instant showering upon us mercilessly, leaving us zombied and yelling at each other, a moment of fear, a moment of awesomeness, a moment of happiness, a moment of being alive, the alive is awesome moments.

The waves rose so high and came on us unexpectedly that we had no option but to get drenched along with our cameras (see the video to feel it…), we started enjoying the moments, the feel of goodness and freshness engulfing us, I would have shrieked aloud awesome, alive is awesome!

Solo Ride to Ganeshgudi (Dandeli)

500kms, 10 hours, awesome roads, monsoon weather, intermittent rains, lush green forests, you and your bike…!

Yes, recently in August I completed my first solo ride to Ganeshgudi (Dandeli) about 500 kms away from home, not planned but spontaneous.Independence day weekend, on a boring Thrusday evening, as I sat in boredom, needing a break, my bike needing a long ride, I just got up and rode to the bunk, filled up the tank, came home and announced I’m riding to Dandeli tomorrow!

Mom asked – how many, I replied alone and she made a quick nod and walked away, I could hear a frown from my dad sitting on the sofa, expected reactions and a witty smile on my face!

5am – I was running around loading bags and tying them on to the rear seat, filling up the bottles, and those last minute rushes! Mom walked out and said ride safe, ride slow, I nod again with a grin :) Of late, my parents are supportive enough as they know my adamant nature and my quest to do things differently. August is peak monsoon month and I was expecting rains to be my companion, I badly needed to soak in the rains as Bangalore was literally dry and hot with no signs of rains at all, a total monsoon failure this year!

Still the early morning truck and cab traffic on Tumkur road, NH4 took me more than an hour to clear and face the open winding highways. Riding on the highway, it feels like home on a bullet. The bird is a real cruiser, you don’t struggle and the bird never goes out of steam however long the ride may be. The little bumps and humps, bad patches and those curves don’t deter the bird and rationally the speed never comes down, frequent use of the clutch not required unless the roads are horrible. The needle on the speedo kept on nearing the 3 digit mark and I had to often control the urge and reduce the speed, yet I maintained a consistent speed of 70+ all through the ride. Incidentally, I took an alternate route to Ganeshgudi through the country side that consumed more time as the roads were pretty bad but was compensated with stunning views providing relief to my sore eyes. Dressed up in camouflaged dress and with the long boots of Woodlands to protect my ankle and riding gloves completing the gear, I was the object of attention for every curious villager and the kids waving at me :) I was so obsessed with riding the bird that I often relented to stop and take out the camera that I now regret (wish I could have captured those stunning country side vistas with my bird in the frame…!). Anyway, there is always a next time ;)

Black clouds were hovering all along but somehow the rains were reluctant to shower on me and they only came down after me covering 450 out of the 500 odd kms on the bird. Once you bypass Dandeli, the vista’s have a dramatic changeover with the teak plantations taking over and forests all along the way replacing the barren lands along the highway. The road to Ganeshgudi after Dandeli is laden with beautiful curves and you ride through the reserve forest all along. I stayed at my regular jaunt, the Old Magazine House campsite run by the Jungle Lodges (www.junglelodges.com) and the staffs were no less happy in welcoming me back again there. I was completely drenched riding the last stretch in rains as I had no intent of stopping too; in fact I was hoping to ride in the rains :) It rained pretty much the entire time I was there and I was happy to just loiter around, eat, sleep and relax without any care in the world.

On the ride back, I started off late due to the rains and yet again I loved the ride in the rains, but the ride was slow as I was busy feasting on the beauty of nature when it rains. Three hours of riding in the rains and next seven without it ensured that I was completely dry by the time I was back home, not an inclination that I had rode in the rains. Stops were few more on the return journey for that hot cup of ‘chai’ to fuel me along and to check the baggage as not to let them fall (the spring chords had lost a little of their elasticity that made the weight of the bags shift to one end). Again, I was so engrossed in the ride that I forgot lunch and only stopped for a late heavy snack at dusk time. The last couple of hours ride was all about riding in the dark and the only thing I felt unsatisfactory on the bird is the weak headlamp, highly insufficient on the highways, barely manageable.

Back home, much to my and parents’ surprise, I was active and showed no signs of fatigue as I always do when back from a trip however comfortable it may be. Signs of comfortness and more biking rides on its way :)

‘bird’ in the article refers to my bike – Royal Enfield Thunderbird, 350cc

Route – Bangalore-Tumkur-Chitradurga-Davanagere-Haveri-Ranebennur-Bankapur (turn left off the highway)-Mundgod-Kalghatgi-Haliyal-Barchi(bypassing Dandeli)-Ganeshgudi

Note: No tolls to be paid for any bikes; the leftmost bay is for the bikes to ride away.

For Biking:

A good riding jacket and a sturdy helmet

Ankle covering boots

Riding Gloves (and knee protectors)

Lots of Water

Sturdy bags / backpacks that sits on the rear seat

Ropes (preferably elastic with hooks) or the typical Saddle bags

Rainwear (if riding in rains/monsoon)

Tool kit (I need to build one now)

All documents and Id cards

Read this post by Sankara to know more here - http://www.beontheroad.com/2012/10/packing-tips-for-your-motorcycle-trip.html

Ride safe! Ride slow! Enjoy your ride!

Unknown falls: for that awesome adventure

Place: Unknown falls

Located deep in the Western Ghats, near Yellapur town, Karnataka

(lovely inviting streams...photo by the author)

It’s quite common for people to visit known locations and famous tourist spots, but how common is it to go to an unexplored place, deep in the jungle, miles away from civilization, on the quest of an unknown falls, for that thrilling adventure, to explore the uncharted territories, to unravel the hidden secrets, for that alive is awesome epic!

(off we go for those awesome moments, photo by the author)

On our adventurous visit to a remote hamlet deep in the Western Ghats, after a mammoth river crossing and trekking through the jungles in the night, we reached the remote hamlet Shivapura with barely few settlements here and there and their plantations and fields in between. Almost an island surrounded by water on 3 sides and delicate connectivity on the 4^th primarily as the hamlet being in the backwaters of a major dam nearby.

(enjoying the cherished moment, photo by the author)

We had a local guy who would be our guide in the quest to the unknown falls. Rains had just stopped and the lush green cover all around made us nostalgic and with no vehicles at all, it was ‘pure’ air that we were inhaling that tickled our senses too. The trek was a fairly long one as we crossed multiple streams, made our way through dense forests, being bitten by numerous blood sucking leeches, chartering through the rocky terrain, climbing uphill and sliding downhill, treading on non-existent paths in many places, a real adventure in real life.

(A flip-flop somersault dive, photo by the author)

As we reached the falls after all the adventure in getting there, we were greeted by crystal clear cold water and the sun lashing out in full glow but the breeze being still pleasant. The real adventure had just begun, a few somersaults, dives, flip-flops, thrills of energetic activities and all the fatigue and tiredness was washed away and the pure natural spring infusing us with freshness and loads of energy, a real alive is awesome moment to cherish. Sitting under the falls, the cool water engulfing you all over, those slippery rocks and sudden shivers, with a no-care attitude in the world, with the only idea of ‘living the moment’, with friends to share and friends to live for, life couldn’t be more adventurous, more bliss, more awesome, surely alive is awesome. The thrills of adventure bathing filled us with life and laughter and what better way than not to 'live' the alive is awesome moments with your friends :)

Awesome waterfall bath destinations – Coorg and Kudremukh

Place: Scotland of India – Coorg

Irpu / Irupu falls

Well, nestled in the pristine Western Ghats of Karnataka and home to some rich evergreen forests and an amazing climate, rich in biodiversity – be it summer, winter or the monsoon, the land of aromatic coffee and the estates, the birthplace of river Kaveri, the terrain of undulating mountain peaks, the land of shola forests and barren hillocks, the land of mesmerizing greenery, the land of the beautiful Kodava tribes, the land of warriors and the place not to be missed is Coorg. Coorg is home to some of the finest waterfalls located amidst thick jungles and some of them thrive round the year and some prosper particularly during the monsoons.

(Photograph by the author)

On one such casual visit to Coorg, we happened to visit the Irpu falls after obtaining permissions from the forest department as it’s located in a wildlife sanctuary. There was dew in the air and chillness in the breeze as we made our way on the moss infested concrete steps laid out for easier access to the falls. Songs of the birds and the roars of the river were the only sounds we could hear as we moved on feasting upon the rich green covered hillocks in the surroundings that we could see. Irpu looked ravishing from the viewpoint and as we moved ahead, we reached a place much closer where actually the little pellets of water were splashing on to us. Getting drenched slowly by those numerous little pellets, we needed no further invitation to get in right away and within minutes the ice cold water had us soaked and chilled our spines with no mercy and all that we could hear was the continuous chattering of our teeth. Slowly as we moved towards the base of the majestic falls, the thundering splash made us quiver for an instant but later turned out to be a awesome massage relieving us of all the fatigue and filling us with some energy and loads of freshness, we went in tired and came out quivering with freshness and joy, a true blue alive is awesome bathing moment.

Place: Kudremukha, Karnataka

Hanumangundi falls

(Photograph by the author)

Kudremukha is a well known tourist destination located in the lap of Western Ghats in Karnataka, an earlier iron-ore mining area now rich with wildlife after the mining has ceased. It’s a major trekking destination and home to thick dense forests making its terrain pretty difficult to navigate. Kudremukha shines in the finest of glory when it rains and sends shivers down your spine in the winters and attracts huge crowds to its folds and not to the mention it has a lot of hidden treasures in the form of streams, valleys and waterfalls. Hanumangundi falls is pretty well known and visited by many people and easily accessible. The water here is bone-chilling and a dip refreshes the senses no end and a shower beneath the thundering falls makes you forget your pain and misery and fills you up with enthusiasm, freshness and life, its an testimony for being an alive is awesome moment.

(Video by the author)

Both the above mentioned falls have similar characteristics and makes you forget your pain, fatigue and fills you with freshness and life. You may ask why?

Let me tell you both of the river sources originate in dense forests and travels through untouched, pristine nature filling themselves with rich mineral properties and are pretty much clean and thankfully away from pollution. The pain and fatigue that we carry along are removed when the thundering falls roar upon you cleaning you with the pristine crystal clear waters rich in minerals and natural elements and in the process filling you with freshness and energy making you cherish those alive is awesome moments for a lifetime.

More videos of "Alive is Awesome" here - www.youtube.com/cinthol

Rafting - the feeling of being alive

Continuing the posts on ‘Alive is Awesome’, let me take you on a new set this time, a new journey, new adventures, new thrill, new excitement that left me gasping, an adventure that filled me with a breath of new life, confidence and increased my quest for more.

Rafting: Rafting is an adventurous, challenging outdoor water sports activity using a inflatable raft to negotiate a river or other water bodies with varying rapids.

When I first heard about an opportunity to go river rafting, I was pretty excited and equally scared, scared of the phobia of water, a feel of drowning every time I’m in a water body. Putting up a confident face in front of my friends to convince them to go rafting with me, all along I being nervous and timid. After certain years, the question still haunts me, why? What made you do it?

Probably now after seeing the series of ‘crazy’ adverts of Cinthol advocating the concept of ‘Alive is Awesome’, the answer is pretty much clear and the adverts showcase them in a brilliant manner.

Now you may still ask me why? I would just reply, to experience life, for extreme adventure, to feel the feeling of being alive, to do something different, for the thrill, for an awesome experience, to survive, to pacify your crazy adventure gene, to live, to get over the phobia, to quiver ‘alive is awesome’.

On board the raft with a nervous feel and more nervous friends for company, with the heart rate soaring each passing second, following the instructions of the guide, the raft moves ahead slowly amidst placid waters, flowing wide and silent, life around me comes to a standstill when I hear “Guys, Jump off the raft now!!!”

2 minutes of silence…!!!

Now death sounds imminent when I next hear the words “Jump now or be thrown!!!”

With closed eyes and shivering souls, the next moment all that I hear is a loud splash (my heavenly body falling into the water) and blank…blank…

The life jacket propels me up and I rise to keep my neck afloat, a sigh of relief engulfs me, the shivering souls calm down, my senses make a slow comeback, the joy of being alive erupts and I quiver deep inside with the shrillest of voices “Alive is Awesome” and then its fun, gala, joy and happiness :)

Rafting not only helps you as an individual, it helps you grow team skills, to work in tandem with the others, with efficiency, co-ordination, trust and the joy of togetherness.

I would love to recommend these new Alive is Awesome video’s of Cinthol to be seen, felt and lived.

1. The Deep Cave Bath - here

2. The Elephant Bath - here

BR hills (KyatadevaraGudi - KGudi)

BR hills has been one of our favorite destinations for a choice of a getaway, be it for the weather, the pleasant drive, the pristine forests, the chillness, the rich birdlife and not to mention the elusive mammals.

We chose again to stay at the Rajathadri Hill Villa (that has been our regular abode at BR hills now…) to spend a weekend in June. Another reason we chose to visit here was the climate to be (it rains generally in June and BR hills turns green and the weather is just fantastic). We drove through Kanakapura-Malavalli-Kollegala-Yelandur-BR hills (a distance of about 180kms) and we realized this route is much shorter than the route through Mysore-Nanjangud and with less traffic too. The route via Kanakapura and then towards Kollegala is in excellent condition and a better alternative to the crowded Mysore road (but note it’s a single lane state highway).

The ride through the country side was a pleasure and at one place Baya weaver’s activities kept us hooked on to them for some time (I should say, it was my first proper sighting of the common birdie…) and that was another reason I stopped for a longer duration and no cash with any of us and no fuel in the gaadi took us all the way till Yelandur town and back.

As we approached BR hills, the first thing that came to our notice was the weather. It was hot, dry and was like a typical summer month, blame the drought this year! Amit (http://wildlifeodyssey.blogspot.in/), his wife and his friends had already reached there and were on a quick visit to the temple and the viewpoint behind. Hotel Giridarshini that is a small eatery on the main road is the only food outlet in the entire area and it may not suit everyone who is after cleanliness and hygiene, but the food served is too good. This time around we chose to have food at our place of stay itself (the caretaker informed the food would be prepared and served and not from Giridarshini). As he said we were served hot piping delicious food supplied from one of the Iyengar’s house in the surroundings and it was finger licking good.

After the heavy lunch, we and Amit’s group drove towards K.Gudi, 35kms away on the road this is part of the BRT (Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve) and laden with possibilities of good wildlife and birdlife sightings on the road. True to its nature, birdlife was good but the mammals were missing as usual J After driving through till Chamarajanagar, we drove back just in time to enter the gates before 6pm (the road is closed b/w 6pm and 6am) at K.Gudi and from there drove back to BR hills, our place of stay. Amit and team left for Bangalore as he was about to fly to Saudi the next day and we had booked to stay for the night at Rajathadri Hill Villa (http://rajathadrihillvilla.in/home.asp).

The weather was not as we expected it to be and it was pretty hot in the afternoon and a bit mild in the night (we missed the notorious chillness and the fog this time). Early next day, we drove again to K.Gudi for a safari ride in the forest department jeep. We had to wait for a long time for that to happen and in the meanwhile an almost empty beehive kept me occupied as hordes of birds were still visiting and collecting something out of it.

Blue-bearded bee eaters, Lesser Goldenback Woodpecker, Great Tit, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker and finally a Bonnet Macaque tearing it apart. The late safari ride yielded us a few more birds and the deer’s and the gaur’s as usual. With half hearted minds, we rode back, checked out and came back the same way we traversed back to the confines of our homes in the city.

For accommodation at Rajathadri Hill Villa:

Contact: Ramesh Babu – 09740820508 / 09036809218

www.rajathadrihillvilla.in

Hotel Giridarshini has also expanded and couple of cottages is available with them too, forgot to collect more information on them this time.

Jungle Lodges property at K.Gudi - (http://www.junglelodges.com/index.php/resorts/kgudi.html)

Gorukana Eco Resort - (http://http://gorukana.org/)

Route: Bangalore-Kanakapura-Malavalli (bypass)-Kollegal-Yelandur-BR hills/K.Gudi.

Bird Checklist:

Babbler, Jungle

Barber, White-cheeked

Bee-eater, Blue-bearded

Bee-eater, Green

Bulbul, Red-vented

Bulbul, Red-Whiskered

Bushchat, Pied

Coot, Common

Coucal, Common

Coucal, Greater

Dove, Emerald

Dove, Eurasian-collared

Dove, Laughing

Dove, Spotted

Drongo, Black

Drongo, Racquet-tailed

Drongo, White-bellied

Eagle, Crested Serpent

Egret, Cattle

Egret, Little

Heron, Pond

Hoopoe, Common

Kingfisher, Common

Kingfisher, White-throated

Kite, Black

Kite, Brahminy

Lapwing, Red-wattled

Moorhen, Purple

Munia, Scaly-breasted

Myna, Common

Myna, Hill

Myna, Jungle

Owl, Brown Fish

Parakeet, Rose-ringed

Peafowl, Indian

Pigeon, Imperial Green

Prinia, Ashy

Robin, Indian

Robin, Oriental Magpie

Shikra

Thrush, Orange-headed

Tit, Great

Treepie, Indian

Wagtail, Pied

Waterhen, White-breasted

Weaver, Baya

Woodpecker, Brown-capped Pygmy

Woodpecker, Common Flameback

Woodpecker, Lesser Goldenback

Neelkanth Peak, Badrinath

Last time about 7 years ago, when I had been to Badrinath temple town, I was mystified with the temple, himalayas and the deity and the tales, internet was still in its infancy then and I had completely missed getting information about this peak.

This post by Arti of MYD last year made me sit and take notice of what I had missed - 

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/07/neelkanth-peak-in-badrinath.html

Instantly, I had decided that I would not miss it on my next sojourn to Badinath and I didn't when I went there again this year :)

Neelkant or Neelakanta or Nilkanth or Neelkanth peak is a major peak in the Garhwal Himalayas and towers to a height of 3474m (11398 ft) above the holy town of Badrinath. What's amazing here is that the peak is the first one to get the rays of the rising sun on it and thereafter slowly it expands across the horizon. In those few moments, the peak is covered with golden light and is a treat not to be missed.

I was running and up there by 5:05am but alas, I was still late by probably 15-20 minutes; still I got to see a glimpse of it before the entire horizon was covered in sunlight.

I will speak no further and let you see it through the pictures... enjoy :)

 

If you ever go there, don't miss it...!

Meenmutty waterfalls

Going through the new set of ‘Alive is Awesome’ concept ads on the Television and the Internet, I’m overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu as fond memories of our similar experiences are bought alive again, true blue moments of adventure, craziness, excitement and friendship.

I will post a series of such ‘Alive is Awesome’ real life bathing adventures that would enable you to decipher the déjà vu feeling I’m going through.

Enjoy and have a blast :)

On an unexpected detour to a less visited waterfall nestled in Kerala,

traversing on a foot track that never existed;

negotiating slippery slides and withstanding numerous bruises that we took;

with no souls around and in midst of lush green forest;

with the sun rapidly going down and the winter chillness setting in;

only sounds but no signs of any waterfall nearby and the never ending downhill climb;

meeting a lone group advising us to backtrack;

fearful minds and wanting hearts;

all for the desire of been there-done that;

all for that adventure gene hyperactive in our self;

all for that sense of déjà vu that is just ‘priceless’.

Finally after negotiating all hurdles and the steep downhill climb, a valley view with a pristine virgin waterfall appears in sight out of nowhere offering itself in complete to you with no other souls around to be seen or heard, the only company you have is the roar of the intimidating falls and the distant music churned out by the birds around.

Haunting us the familiar question in a familiar situation: We plunge in or not?

The adventure gene is back in action and in an instant we are in the crystal clear, cool waters wading away to glory splashing around every ounce of water we can. As we near the thundering shower (where the water jettisons upon you with a thundering roar from the top), the heartbeat pumps up, unable to open the eyes, hands held together and with loud shrieks we take the plunge below the drop, we are jettisoned with water that seems being pumped out of a canon, we are lost in the moment…, we take a while to be back, to feel the aura of alive is awesome, we live to tell the tale, we live to say ‘Alive is Awesome’.

(Photograph by the author)

Just before departing, standing in the cool waters, all drenched and after the alive is awesome moments, with the cool breeze hitting you hard, we look back in awe at the intimidating falls that keeps on plunging, that brings a smile upon you, that makes you evoke, that was a Alive is Awesome bathing experience we had, a natural pressure bath that makes you feel lighter, better and happier.

Location: Meenmutty waterfalls, Wayanad, Kerala, India.

Hope you enjoyed reading this, I will be back with more such moments…, in the meanwhile have a look at this Alive is Awesome waterfall bathing video here.

Alive is Awesome - A new concept

Alive is Awesome

When I first heard those words, I could directly relate to them; alive and awesome are part of our adventures and I know personally what ‘alive’ means to be and what that ‘awesome’ feeling is…

Ah! Now to the topic why am I suddenly writing about alive, awesome that is a daily part of my adventures. If you are curious to know more, see the below videos and subsequently my first impressions of them. The videos are based on a new concept of ‘Alive is Awesome’ bathing experience from one of the leading FMCG brands in the market.

Whenever we are out on any adventure, a flowing rivulet or a jaw dropping waterfall or those little beautiful hidden streams invite us no end to have a dip, an adventure bath in the midst of nowhere, in short we too exclaim Alive is Awesome!

1. The Waterfall Bath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZibuxYvLCo&feature=plcp

Exhilarating – the location – Skogafoss waterfalls in the Iceland and when I say Iceland, you can imagine how the temperatures would be…! The poetic lines are an added attraction here –

"When I feel the thrill of water spraying and the chill, I feel awesome."

The entire ad carries the spirit of Alive is Awesome very well.

2. The Village Bath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzkSgWGUigE&feature=plcp

“When I’m splashing about, and I just want to shout, I feel awesome.”

A unique way of an adventure bath in front of an entire village with their eyes peeled on you. Never knew this kind of a tribal bath ritual existed.

Nice, Innovative and captures extreme adventures that carrier the spirit of ‘Alive of Awesome’ right through.

Wait – there are more to come :)

Badrinath, Mana and around...

Badrinath – The most revered of the Chardhams dedicated to lord Vishnu situated at a height of 3155m (10000+ feet) above sea level in the Himalayan region and accessible for only 6 months in a year and the scenic route prone to heavy landslides and varying weather conditions, and still visited by hordes of pilgrims to have a darshan of the lord Badri vishal here.

The principal image is of black ‘saligram’ stone and it represents Vishnu seated in meditative pose and is about a metre tall. Lord Badari Narayan (also called as Badari Vishal) is armed with Shankh (Conch) and Chakra in two arms in a lifted posture and two arms rested on the lap in Yogamudra. The Tapt Kund hot sulphur springs just below the temple are considered to be medicinal—many pilgrims consider it a requirement to bathe in the springs before visiting the temple. The springs have a year-round temperature of 55°C.

(It was my first view of the ice capped Himalayas so close...)

Although Badrinath is located in the far north of India, the head priest, or Rawal, is traditionally a Nambudiri Brahmin from the far south of India in Kerala. The Rawal is assisted by the Garhwali Dimri Pundits belonging to the Village Dimmer. Badrinath is one of the few temples in North India that follow the ancient Tantra-Vidhi of Shrauta tradition more common in South India. Devotees of all faiths and all schools of thought of Hinduism visit the place. Many religious heads of various Muths, such as Jeeyar Mutt (Andhra mutt), Sringeri, Kanchi, Udupi Pejavar and Mantralayam Sri Raghavendra Swamy Muths have their branches/guest houses here. The Rawal (chief priest) is selected by erstwhile rulers of Garhwal and Travancore. The Rawal has been accorded high holiness status by Garwhal Rifles and also the state governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. He is also held in high esteem by the Royals of Nepal. For six months in a year (during March to pre November), he performs his duties as a temple priest. Thereafter, he either stays in Joshimath or goes back to his ancestral village in Kerala.

Posts from Aarti of MYD, that I recommend to read here –

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/06/badrinath-temple.html

We stayed for 2 nights here and were witness to the dramatic changes in the weather conditions. Mornings and Evenings were cold and the sun often came up for a few hours (believe me and that is sufficient for a person to have sunburns, my family people had sunburns while doing shradh at the Brahmakapal). Rains were intermittent and less as it was not yet the season for rains and we were lucky in that as we were witness of fewer landslides and got to see the ice capped Himalayan mountains. BrahmaKapal is the place where people perform shraddh for the departed souls.

(River Alakananda, BrahmaKapal and the pathway on the left that goes to Mana village)

See these posts by Aarti of MYD for places of importance in Badrinath…

this and this -

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/06/other-places-in-badrinath-part-i.html

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/06/other-places-in-badrinath-part-ii-tapt.html

Mana – the last Indian village and places of interest around –

About 3kms from Badrinath is the Mana village, the last village on the India-Tibet border line. It’s a typical laid back Garhwal village and is shut down for 6 months owing to the inhospitable weather conditions, yet it has few places of importance that is a must see when visiting Badrinath. You can drive or hire a taxi from Badrinath or even walk along a small track to the village. All that you can see from here are the various ranges of the Himalayas and ecstatic views of ice capped mountains and wonderful valley views.

Aarti of MYD has compiled some excellent information on Mana -

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/07/exploring-last-indian-village-in.html

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/07/places-to-see-in-mana-village-bhim-pul.html

http://myyatradiary.com/2011/08/treks-beyond-badrinath-swargarohini.html

Ganesh Gufa – the place where elephant god Ganesha composed Mahabharatha as narrated by holy sage VedaVyas.

Vyas Gufa – the place from where sage VedaVyas narrated Mahabharatha to Ganesha. A feature of the temple is the roof that resembles pages from his epics.

Bhim Phul and River Saraswati – the source of River Saraswati is hidden but is seen at Mana village. Bhim Phul has lot of stories related to it and the real story behind is not very clear as there are differences of opinion to it, so playing it safe, I’m not going into the stories related to it.

Mana is the last Indian village on the Indo Tibetan border line and the couple of shops here advertise the fact very well, in fact one of the boards in the shop has this written in over
12 different languages.

(the board depicting "its the last Indian tea shop" in 12 different languages...)

Other places that I wish to visit sometime in the near future –

Vasudhara falls
Swargarohini trek
Valley of Flowers (near Govindghat)

The way back was not as eventful as the onward journey with fewer landslides and fewer breaks in between. The initial stretch till Joshimath is the most daunting and covering that before dusk is the best way as you also get to see panoramic views of the valleys and the Garhwal Himalayas. Also notable are the numerous sadhus or nag sadhus who do a pilgrimage to Badrinath on foot... god knows how!