Monday Medley - Monsoon and the Scorpio!

We are naming our Monday posts as "Monday Medley". Yes, this will be a potpourri of interesting articles, posts from fellow bloggers which we liked, interesting images of fellow travellers or images from our own portfolio. We hope it will be a good start to the week. 

We all love our cars. Don't we?

We wanted to profile the mean machine which carries us all around the country. A faithful companion which has taken us to the remote corners of Chhattisgarh, the mountains of Sikkim, the shores of Kushi beach and to the waterfalls in Western ghats and many more. The Scorpio. Incidentally we just completed 125,000 KMs in last three and half years yesterday.

In the last week's monsoon drives to Goa and this week's drive to Sirsi -Yellapur, we clicked the mean machine in different surroundings. Take a look and we hope you like them the same way we did framing it.

Please click on the pictures to see them in original size.

Next to a lovely sun flower field between Birur and Tarikere off highway.

In front of a lovely lake after Soraba, Karnataka

On a  beautiful stretch of road on the way to Gudavi bird sanctuary, Soraba

Inside a green tunnel in Yellapur forests

Soaked in rain. On the way to Unchalli falls, Sirsi

We saw this lovely patch on the way to Unchalli falls. Lucky to take off the road and get this clicked

In Anmod ghat, Karnataka 

In Amboli ghat. On the way to Belgaum from Goa

A bit of off roading in Yellapur forests :-)

BTW the man machine gets ready for another chance to hit the highway this weekend again!

For complete list of celebrating monsoon in India including our drives, water falls, treks, itineraries etc. please click the link below

Celebrating Monsoon in India - A List!

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Skywatch Friday - Monsoon skies in Kashmir

This blog is celebrating Indian monsoon in the last few posts. 

We have written about monsoon magic in the western ghats. How does this magic transform the mountains in North India? In the Himalayas?

We had a first hand experience last year when we went to Kashmir to trek the great lakes. Landing in Srinagar, we had to travel to Sonmarg in a bus. We were a large group taking this trek. Rains had lashed the Kashmir valley in the previous weeks. We were keeping our fingers crossed even as we looked at the overcast sky.

Leaving the narrow roads of Srinagar behind, we headed towards Sonmarg, our camp for the night. A drive for an hour, we are in the middle of rural Kashmir. We parked the bus next to a Dhaba for a tea break. It was bang on the bank of Indus river which was flowing full. Around the river were green fields of paddy. Stretching for miles. Disturbed only by rows of poplar trees.

We walked around the area to feel the fresh air and savour lovely vistas. Here are some pictures. Click on them to see in original size.

Monsoon is a lovely season to visit Kashmir. No crowds. Streams and waterfalls rolling down the hills. Clouds kissing the mountains. Yes, you will not be able to see the snow capped peaks. That will be an excuse to come back again either in autumn or summer.

Because, you will never be tired of Kashmir!

Here is a list for celebrating Indian monsoon in all its glory. Click on the link below.

Celebrating Indian Monsoon - A List!

We invite you to check out the following posts on our Kashmir experience.

Spectacular Srinagar 1 - Floating market on Dal Lake

Spectacular Srinagar 2 - Lullaby on Dal and Nagin lakes!

Spectacular Srinagar 3 - Magnificent Mughal gardens

Yusmarg - the hidden wonder of Kashmir

You may also take a look at other posts under Skywatch series here

Skywatch Friday

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Magic of Monsoon Drive in Western Ghats 1 - Amazed @ Anmod ghat!

We hadn't driven in this monsoon while we were egging everyone to get out and get soaked in the rain. We could only blame it on late arrival of rains. But when you get a chance to be with the legend of Indian road trips for a monsoon drive in Western ghats, you don't miss it. Do you?

When H V Kumar ( Check out this facebook Group page for details H V Kumar - Fan, Forum and Message board) organised a monsoon drive last week we had to say yes. It was a god sent opportunity for us to drive in the monsoon. Being road trippers ourselves, we had to go.

We normally start around 5 AM and there was no difference this time too. Driving early in the morning before anybody hit the road helps you to pick up speed and cover distance quickly. As Kumar always say, cover half the distance to destination before others hit the road! That's what we did and before people could hit the road we were in Davanagere relishing "Benne Dosa" for breakfast!

The sky was overcast throughout and started raining off and on. The road throughout was excellent. A detour at Dharwad took us through one of the picturesque roads to drive on. We were sceptical about this road as we had nightmarish experience few years back. Checking with Kumar in advance helped. He confirmed that the road is excellent and we decided to drive on. What a pleasant surprise it was.

We reached Mollem in Goa and joined others in a convoy. Winding through the roads of rain soaked Goa the convoy of 55 cars arrived at a spectacular place for a break in North Goa.

Join us on this drive in the rain. Get soaked in loveliness of nature!

Click on the pictures to see them in Original size.

Rain drops on the windshield of the car as we hit the highway

The road from Dharwad to Goa via Ramnagar is top class with lush greenery on either side!

We saw this small lake with lotuses in bloom waiting for the rains. 

The railway track to Goa, the one we had trekked last year to Dudhsagar

Rains in forest means clear tarmac and lovely greenery!

Surprised to see terraced farming in this area. Isn't it beautiful?

We crossed a river which was coming to life with bountiful rains.

First waterfalls spotted. Hidden inside the thick foliage!

Fog enveloped as we drove. Rains splattering every now and then.

We had to stop on seeing these series of waterfalls!

Four little waterfalls at their glorious best!

As we drove on, we saw another one!

Soaking in the rain!

We stopped again on seeing this. A stream gently hurtling down the rocks!

Some more rain, this spot will be wonderful.

We join the convoy at Mollem

We wind through the roads of Goa soaked in rain!

A Portuguese bungalow in Goa. We loved the contrast in this picture.

We reach this spectacular hillock with painted rocks in Vagator

Cars parked in the open area at the foothill

Time for a hot samosa and chai in the rain!

Panoramic view of Vagator beach from the top of the hill

A small cross installed atop the hill

On the hill, in the rain.

It was a pleasurable drive and amazing vistas on the way. A drive where every minute was memorable. 

The route - Bangalore - Tumkur - Chitradurga - Haveri - Hubli - Dharwad - Ramnagar - Anmod - Mollem

Road condition - Excellent through out. A small rough patch in Anmod ghat. No worries.

Eating places on the way - Enjoy Benne Dosa at Kottureshwara in Davanagere. 

Loo breaks - Cafe coffee day at Dabaspet and Haveri, Kamat outlets at Dabaspet, Sira, Hubli 

Wait. The fun is not yet over. Look out for next part of our return drive to Bangalore through canopy of waterfalls in Amboli ghat. 

Till then make plan to go out this monsoon. Here is a list to help you. Everything you wanted to explore and enjoy rain - drives, itinerary, places, waterfalls, monsoon treks.......

Celebrating Indian Monsoon - A List!

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Monday images - Monsoon clouds over Arizona, USA!

Monday Images. Every weekend, we share images taken by us during our travel or those taken by fellow travellers from different parts of the world to places we haven't been to but liked them. Hope you will like them too.

We returned from a fabulous monsoon drive over the weekend in the western ghats (Look at the cover photo of the blog). More about it later.

How will the monsoon be over arid deserts of Arizona looks like? With vast expanse of open spaces with houses scattered, watching the clouds and thunderstorms during American monsoon in Arizona must be an amazing experience. We haven't been there but we could see the magic of nature in these photographs of A Burrows.

These are the Monday Images for this week. Take a look and get mesmerised at the pictures taken by him. 

Read what Mr Burrows say about himself - I love the outdoors and anything dealing with the outdoors. My favorite outdoor activities are hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking and canyoneering. I have been actively involved in landscape and wildlife photography since 2007. 

Based in Prescott, USA, this professional pilot has amazing pictures of American landscape.

Check out his link on Flickr here

Thunderstorm Album, An amazing collection of 279 photographs. See it in slideshow mode with a cup of coffee in hand and not disturbed by phone. You will love it. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aburrows/sets/72157627135574411/

Here is his page on Flickr. Enjoy the lovely landscape of Americas!

A Burrows Photostream on Flickr

If you want explore other posts in "Monday Images" series, please click here.

Monday Images - Feel good pictures, you would love to see!

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Skywatch Friday - Garuda and the sky!

This was quite interesting.

We went on a Hoysala Trails drive two weeks back. The idea was to see few unknown Hoysala temples. 

Our first stop was at Belvadi which has a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. We will cover it in a separate post. From here we went to Javagal - the home town of Indian Cricketer Javagal Srinath - which has a small but exquisite temple. 

The Temple is getting renovated. At the entrance facing the sanctum sanctorum is a tall "Garuda Gamba" or "Garuda Stambha" or "Flag Pole". 

This literally means "flagpole." This is placed between the Rajagopuram and the Sanctum sanctorum. It is generally made of wood, cladded with brass and with or without gold coating. It is called as Garuda Sthambam because a cloth flag with Garuda figure is hoisted during Brahmotsavam for a Vishnu temple. Nandi flag is hoisted during the temple festival Brahmotsavam for a Shiva temple. (thanks to answer in Yahoo answers Dwajasthambham )

But here was a stone pillar. This was really tall compared to the smallness of the temple. Interestingly, we saw a nice sculpture of Garuda - the divine vehicle of Lord Vishnu - at the base. 

It was afternoon and few clouds were hanging in the sky. We thought of doing some experimentation with the camera and click the Garuda Gamba from bottoms up.

What we got was a spectacular picture. Click on the pictures to see them in original size.

The pillar towering into the sky!

Notice the Garuda figure at the base of the pillar

The pole towering into the sky. Or was it Garuda, the divine bird trying to take off?

Please take a look at this pictorial on spectacular Hoysala Architecture in Halebid.

Halebid - Where stones speak to you!

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Back of the blog - Photographing the monsoon

Last few posts on this blog have focused on monsoon in India. Naturally as this is the season to experience rain and green in India.

We consider ourselves as novice photographers still learning the tricks of the trade. When we were looking at posts by fellow bloggers on monsoon photography, we were lucky to find this one.  This series of posts by Arun focus on tips for photographers trying to capture the green vistas on a misty morning or droplets of water on a lotus in a serene pond.

Arun Bhat is not unknown to many of us. An acclaimed photographer and travel blogger, Arun gives excellent tips on photographing during monsoon in this series.

Check out his tips while photographing in monsoon

a) Keep the sky out

b) Capture the flowing water

c) Walk into the fog

d) Look at people

Then of course, he talks about something which is very important - How to protect your camera in the rain.

So what are you waiting for? Go and experience monsoon. But don't forget carry your camera and bring back lovely memories.........

Please go ahead and click on these links in his blog to get wiser and click better pictures this monsoon.

http://travel.paintedstork.com/blog/2009/06/travel-photography-photographing-monsoons.html

http://travel.paintedstork.com/blog/2009/07/travel-photography-protecting-your-camera-from-rain.html

http://travel.paintedstork.com/blog/2011/01/travel-photography-photographing-waterfalls.html

If you want to experience and celebrate monsoon in India, please click this link in this blog below which has a list for you to do!

Celebrating Indian Monsoon - A List!

Photo Courtesy - Arun Bhat

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Monday Images - Rocky wonders of Ramanagaram!

This was an impromptu trip. How lovely it turned out to be!

We finished the charity run and went for a drive to Magadi, then to Bangalore via Ramanagaram. The showers in the last few days in the area had turned landscape green. Farmers were out in the field and tilling their land. The contrast of earth's brown to the green around was striking. Driving on the road to Magadi is always a green feast to the eyes, especially when you go around the curvy roads in the valley of Thippagondanahalli. 

More surprise was in store when we drove towards Ramanagaram from Magadi. A fantastic road through the reserved forests, stunning landscape of hills of Savandurga and surrounding made it a pleasant drive to cherish. 

Check out the pictures of lovely vistas we saw..... (Please click on the picture to see the original size)

The monolith of Savandurga towering into clouds. In the foreground is a lovely lake

The other face of Savandurga

The amazing rock formation in Savanadurga

The stunning landscape around Savandurga

A stunning formation resembling a huge Shivalinga 

As we approached Ramanagara, we saw another stunning vista

It was a pleasant and memorable drive. Easy to do. We urge you to go for it anyday. You will not regret it!

Postscript - Ramanagaram is the same place where Bollywod blockbuster "Sholay" was shot. Ramanagaram was named as Ramgarh in the movie

Monday Images. Every weekend, we share images taken by us during our travel or those taken by fellow travellers from different parts of the world to places we haven't been to but liked them. Hope you will like them too.

Please check out a related posts on rocky wonders of Ramanagaram here in this blog.

Kootagal Hill - Rocky wonder!

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