Tuesday 13 February 2018

KASOL " Mini Israel of India"

Kasol is a small village in Himachal Pradesh, near to Kullu. However, it comes in the road from Bhuntur to Manikaran. The town is having excellent view from all sides, with perfect scenic beauty. Visitors get to the unexplored and unnoticed village for many reasons. The foremost of the reasons is the scenic beauty with flora and fauna. The second reason is the perfect beauty of the place with Parvati river flowing sideways. The third reason is the beautiful foods in the location. 

The specialty of the place lies in the trekking routes to various places like Malana, Chalaal, Kheerganga etc. Kasol is abode for the trekkers, backpackers and for those who cannot control their adrenaline rush. The cafés in the area offer you world-class cuisine which will definitely make your mouth water.

Why Kasol for Israelis?
In the last decade, Israel has emerged as a great ally to India and it can be seen in the increasing influx of Indian and Israeli tourists in Israel and India respectively. It is also known that Israeli backpackers live in groups and rarely mix with others.
Meical, a young woman from Israel, says, “Israelis see India as a second home.” “We love India. Israelis have a great fascination for this country, its culture, history and the people.” Let’s have a look at some of prime reasons that attract Israelis to this remote Himalayan village:
· Internet cafes and body piercing parlors
· Reggae bars and cheap rentals
· Western-style restaurants
· Israeli flags spotted near Kasol
· Hebrew is spoken in internet cafes
· India is a haven for hippies
· Indian’s hospitality toward foreign tourists
· Higher exchange rate against Indian currency
· Hospitality, beautiful environs, and wild charas (hand-made hashish)
· All signages in Hindi and Hebrew
· A room to stay there for just INR 500 per day...
· Presence of virtual Jewish settlements


Kasol new destination for party freaks and animals
Villagers claim that Israelis are also drawn to Himachal due to the easy supply of narcotics. While the police are not exposing anything on the issue, yet there were some crackdowns on Kasol Himachal Pradesh rave parties at Kasol occasionally. The connection between Manali and Goa has come to light a number of times. Records of Israeli, Russian, Italian, Japanese and Nigerian tourists show that many of them first reach Goa and then plan their trip to Delhi, Manali and Dharamsala.


No Indian allowed in hippieland on Himachal soil
Kasol village in Himachal Pradesh is always dotted with Israeli tourists. When you reach this village, you will find a different ambiance and it will make you feel like an Israeli village, as most of them speak only in the Hebrew language. The Indian men are banned from the village. If any men from outside occasionally dropped in, villagers won’t give them shelter.
The locals said the ban on Indian men is due to rampant eve-teasing of tourists living there. That is why the Israeli tourists, mainly women, are very fond of the place, they said. The Israelis believe that their fellow nationals discovered the village some 10 decades ago. Consequently, there is no food for Indians in Israel café in Kasol.

Malana village in kasol is  known oldest democratic place of the world. Even famous celebrity Bob Marley has visited this village just because lots of Cannabis is grown there.Kasol is also home to a large population of Israelis. According to locals, the town is a hot spot for a lot of young people who finish their compulsory military service in Israel and then escape to the Parvati Valley. After receiving a mandatory military training, which is hard and exhausting, in their country, they like to visit this village for a well-deserved vacation.

Friday 29 December 2017

God's Own Country : Kerala

Kerala, a state on the Malabar coast in southern India is probably one of the most popular Indian tourist destinations. It has been popular among tourists - couples, families & backpackers alike for the longest time - perhaps because geographically it is the complete travel package - It has everything from serene beaches to scenic hills, from tea & spice plantations to dense forests & calm backwaters. Apart from scenic beauty, it is popular for Ayurvedic treatments, classical dances - Kathakali & Mohiniattam, Kalaripayattu & of course, its delicious cuisine.


I spent an unforgettable 10 days in Kerala on a trip of a lifetime. I had so much fun exploring and getting to know this part of India. It would be really hard not to love it here.  It is definitely the best state in India!
             Best Itinerary to cover famous places in Kerala (Kochi to Trivendrum)





Kochi: The thriving port town of Kochi, or Cochin, once the main centre of India’s spice trade, is a unique amalgamation of the old and the new. Take a walk down the rambling alleys of Kochi’s historic Jewish Colony, lined with brightly-painted houses, to see the Mattancherry Synagogue, one of the oldest existing synagogues in the Commonwealth. Or go see the Chinese Fishing Nets, in the Fort Cochin area. Unlike usual nets, these are fixed land installations and can only be found at Kochi, outside of China—a lasting testimony to the good relations between ancient Chinese emperors and the rulers of Kochi.

Munnar: The rolling hills of Munnar house some of the largest tea plantations in South India. Take some time off from Kerala’s more famous beaches and visit the tea museum, 1.5 kilometres out of town, or simply relax with a freshly-brewed cup on a serene tea estate. A perfect honeymoon destination in Kerala, Munnar boasts of an astonishing terrain and breathtaking landscapes. 
Alappuzha: Home to the famous backwaters of Kerala, Alappuzha or Alleppey, as it’s more commonly called, was originally a small fishing village that has now become one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. Precariously balanced on an intricate network of inland canals and backwaters, life at Alleppey is languid, best experienced on a houseboat, or by taking a quiet stroll on Alleppey Beach.
Kovalam: The most famous of Kerala’s beach destinations, Kovalam might be a tad touristy—families in for the weekend from Kochi, tiny kids making a dash for the water with ice cream in hand, beach-umbrella wallahs accosting you at every turn—but it still hasn’t lost its charm. You could go up to the lighthouse on the headland or see the sunset at one of the beachfront restaurants.
 Things to do:-
Take a ride on a houseboat at Alleppey: No trip to Kerala is complete without a lazy ride on a kettuvallam meandering through the winding backwaters of Alleppey. Originally used for transporting rice and spices to and from the port, these boats are now luxury liners that are available for hire.
Cruise along the Periyar River: One of India’s most popular wildlife sanctuaries, the jungles of Periyar are home to langurs, bisons, sambars and tigers. Take a one-and-a-half-hour cruise, organized by the Forest Department and Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), to spot some wildlife!
Watch a performance at the Kathakali Centre, Kochi: Kathakali is the ancient form of storytelling through dance that originated in Kerala in the 17th century. Get a taste of the past with an enthralling dance performance at the Kathakali Centre. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Centre also holds performances of Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest forms of martial arts.

When to go:-

October to February: Winters are the best time to visit Kerala, although tourists abound all year round. Temperatures are mild (17-30 degrees Celsius) and perfect for beach bums. pack your bags with your kids or spouse and heato those amazing beaches for a perfect holiday











Saturday 23 December 2017

Holy Amarnath Yatra

For me travel is all about new experiences. Meeting new people, learning about different cultures, trying the local cuisine, trying a new exciting activity. What’s that saying? “Travel, it leaves you speechless then turns you into a story teller!” Never a truer word spoken.

I recently went to Holy Amarnath Yatra,What an incredible place to Visit...

Yatra can be done in two ways , either by Foot or Helicopter.

How to Reach:



BY AIR-Srinagar, the nearest aerodrome, has world famous sights to see, such as Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, Shankaracharya Temple and Mughal gardens like Shalimar, Nishat and Cheshma-shahi. Known as "Paradise on earth" and being the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, the city is well connected by air and road. There are daily flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Jammu. On certain weekdays flights also pickup passengers from Chandigarh and Leh.




BY RAIL-Jammu is the nearest Railway Station. Jammu is the winter Capital of Jammu & Kashmir. Also known as "CITY OF TEMPLES", one may visit old temples such as Raghunath Temple, Mahadev Mandir and other temples. Railway station is very well connected and there are lots of express trains to various towns in India.




BY ROAD-Jammu and Srinagar are also connected through road. Buses and Taxies are available for this part of the journey. These can be hired on daily as well as on full tour basis.
My main purpose to write this blog is to provide you information about the Helicopter yatra ,when you want to finish the trip in a short span of time.





USEFUL INFORMATION: 

  1. The trek to the Panjtarni - Holy Cave and back to Panjtarni takes approx. 4-5 hours by walk and aprox 1.5 hours {one side} by ponies Or Palkies. And the Darshan takes min. 1-2 hour time. Normally the flights stop operation after 5 PM {Sub. To the weather conditions}, hence, it is likely that passengers reaching Panjtarni after 11 AM may be unable to take the flight back to Neelgrath the same day. Such passengers will need to put up for a night at Panjtarni {at Tent}at their own cost and they will be picked up from Panjtarni the next day on first come first serve basis by the same helicopter service.







DURATION: 3 Nights - 4 Days {1 Nt at Srinagar + 1 Nt at Holy Cave + 1 Nt at Srinagar}
PLACES can be COVERED: Srinagar –Neelgrath – Holy Cave – Kheer Bhawani Temple - Srinagar
SIGHTSEEING: Enroute Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple Tour , Srinagar Local

ITINERARY:

You can start with your arrival at Srinagar airport then proceed for local sightseeing tour to famous Nishat Garden known as 'Garden of pleasure' built in 16th century (1633) by Mughal Emperor Asif Khan. Then visiting Shalimar Garden known as 'Garden of love' built in 16th century (1619) by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife Noor Jehan or (Mehr-un-Nissa). Overnight at Srinagar.
After breakfast and drive to Neelgrath Helipad {100 Kms ~ 4 Hrs}. By the afternoon arrive at Neelgarth via Sonmarg. Neelgrath {Baltal}- Panchtarni helicopter ride {One way}. The Helicopter start operating at 06.00 Hrs (Weather Permitting). Panjtarni is approx 6 Kms from Holy Cave, you can go there by Foot or can hire Palki/Pony at your own cost. After darshan return you can stay at Holy Cave / Panchtarani at Camp. Free meals are available at Local Langars. Overnight self stay at Holy Bhawan / Panchtarani.
Morning take your return bording from Panchtarani - Neelgarth by helicopter {One way}. On arrival at Neelgarth, pick up and directly transfer to Srinagar. You can take the darshan of Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple {Enroute}. Kheer bhawani Temple is situated in the village of ‘TULMUL’(meaning –of great value )is the shrine of Kheer bhawani.The sacred spring at the temple symbolizes goddess Ragnya Devi.When Ravana finished his worship goddess accepted his offer of kheer(Rice pudding),since the goddess is known as Kheer Bhawani. After darshan continue your drive to Srinagar. By the evening arrive at Srinagar. overnight stay at Srinagar.
This is the day you can depart to your Home with the happy memories...



REMARKS: 

Your journey shall involve trekking across high mountains, facing strong cold winds. You must carry (i) adequate woollen clothing; (ii) a small umbrella (preferably one which is tied with an elastic band around your head and supported by a strap around the chin); (iii) windcheater; (iv) raincoat; (v) waterproof trekking shoes; (vi) torch; (vii) walking stick; (viii) cap (preferably a monkey cap); (ix) gloves; (x) jacket; (xi) woollen socks; (xii) trousers (preferably a waterproof pair). These items are essential as the climate is highly unpredictable and changes abruptly from sunny weather to rain and snow. The temperature can sometimes abruptly fall to 5 degrees Celcius or lower. Postpaid connection will be working at Neelgrath onward (BSNL/ Airtel). Please carry the postpaid mobile connections in Jammu & Kashmir sector.
FOR LADIES:
Saree is not a suitable dress for the Yatra. Salwar Kameez, pant shirt or a track suit will be better. Ladies who are more than 6 week pregnant shall not be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.




Do’s & Don’ts for Shri Amarnathji Yatra

1. Prepare for the Yatra by achieving a high level of Physical Fitness. You are advised to start at atleast a month prior to the Yatra at least a 4-5km Morning/Evening walk. For Improving the oxygen efficiency of your body, you should start doing deep breathing exercises and Yoga, particularly Pranayam. 

2.Keeping in view the tough nature of the trek, children below 13 year in age and elderly persons above the age of 75 years shall not be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage. 

3. It would be better if the porter / horses / ponies carrying your luggage travel just in front or behind you, as you may suddenly need something from your baggage. 

4. During the Yatra from Pahalgam/Baltal onwards, you should keep spare clothes/ eatables in a suitable water proof bag to ensure against their getting wet. 

5. Carry a water bottle, dry fruits, roasted grams/channa, toffees/gur (jiggery), chocolates, etc for use during the journey.

6. Carry some cold cream/Vaseline/sunscreen to protect your hands /face against sunburn etc.

7. You should not trek alone. Always travel in a group and ensure that all those comprising the group, walking in front of you or in the rear, always remain in your sight, to ensure against your being separated from them.

8.To enable prompt action being taken in case of any emergency, you should keep in your pocket a note containing the name/addresses/mobile telephone number of a member of your group with whom you are travelling. You must also carry your Yatra Permit and any other identity card. 

9.On your return journey, you must leave the Base Camp along with all members of your group. In case any member of your group is missing you must seek immediate assistance of the Police and also have an announcement made on the Public Address System at the Yatra Camp. 


Don’ts

1. Don’t stop at places which are marked by warning notices.

2. Don’t use slippers because there are steep rises and falls on the route to the Holy Cave. Only wear trekking shoes with laces. 

 3. Don’t attempt any short cuts on the route as doing so would be dangerous. 

4. Do not do anything during your entire forward/return journey which could cause pollution or disturb the environment of the Yatra area. Use of plastics is strictly banned in the State and is punishable under law.



Thanks for visiting , i will update you with more journeys soon.For any assistance you can call me on my num i.e. ( 8560043906) or comment me on below...

KASOL " Mini Israel of India"

Kasol is a small village in Himachal Pradesh, near to Kullu . However, it comes in the road from Bhuntur to Manikaran. The town is havin...