India is a land of such diverse topography and natural beauty, of rich heritage and culture, of ancient history and mythology – that one need never step out of the country to explore and satisfy their travel lust. And that is what author Aditya Sathe describes with ample evidence in his book Incredible India Bucket List.
“At very beginning I want to thank my motherland, India for being so Incredible with such a variety of attractions that made the choice of these 26 places so difficult!” says Aditya at the beginning of his acknowledgment. So true is this!
Book Cover
What’s in the Book
The book enlists and elaborates on 26 places of attractions pan-India, covering places of historical importance, religious significance, architectural marvels, or natural wonders. Majority of the attractions are hidden gems which a lot of us are unaware of, of the fact that these deeply interesting and important places even exist in our own backyard sometimes! The list includes temples like Sun Temple and Airavatesvara Temple, monuments like Warangal Fort and India Gate, scenic destinations like Ziro Valley and Loktak Lake. The index of names itself whets up your appetite for forging ahead with your reading super quick. And, to immediately set out for that destination! Sigh, if only we could.
What I Love…
Each chapter is about one destination – beginning with each letter of the alphabet. What I love about this book is the way each chapter is broken up into 3 segments – a background story, the noteworthy features of the place and what we should check out or look for when we visit these attractions. Each segment contains a wealth of information about India’s past, her culture or about her inherent landscape and scenery. For example, how Vikramshila grew to be a prominent center of learning during the Pala Empire, at par with Nalanda is a very interesting read and a highly engaging chapter. The Edakkal caves have a connection dating back to The Ramayana.
There are detailed notes on each of the places which helps you form a picture of the places being described. The author gives you helpful tips about when to visit and why, for example: during the festivals of Ziro Valley; and which particular facet of the place you should definitely visit and take a note of. The pictures themselves are borrowed and Aditya gives the requisite credit wherever due.
Trivia
I have been to a few of the places detailed in Aditya’s book but I still did not a few of these very interesting trivia/facts. Did you know that Gir Forest has over 300 species of birds and 37 species of reptiles? Or, did you know that the Marina Beach emerged as a result of construction of wave breakers of the harbour? We all know about the change of guards ritual in London’s Buckingham Palace, but were you aware that you can witness a Change of Guards ceremony held every Saturday at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi? All these and much, much more can be found in Aditya Sathe’s book. Download the ebook here.
Minor criticism
There’s not much to dislike about this book. Only couple of extra things which I would have liked – references to where this information is gathered from and indication of the current location of each these sights because it’s not always clear where we have to head to. But these are minor, there’s a whole host of things to absolutely love about this book.
Fascinating Encyclopedia of Indian Heritage
Once this pandemic is over or atleast in control and it’s possible to travel again, when you are planning your next trip, do refer to this book to help influence and guide your travel plans. I assure you, you will not be disappointed. Aditya Sathe is a travel fanatic like me and hopes to visit these places himself soon.
Image sourced from i.pinimg.com
This review was written as part of Blogchatter Book Review Program especially the Ebook Carnival series.
I continue from where we left off – due to my fright to dip below the water for our first snorkeling foray, I was left alone on the boat staring at the deep blue sea around me and wishing I had had the courage to join the rest of the team.
Day 2: Snorkeling & Dolphins!
The gang of snorkelers who had gone for the activity (including my husband) came back with wonderful tales of seeing turtles and marine beauty. The guy who had accompanied them on behalf of the organizers was also disappointed that I wasn’t able to see all of that and he offered to help train me before the next snorkeling expedition and I agreed. How sweet!
Do not do what he is doing – let them be
Photos of the turtle coral reef that I missed
Picnic time
Our next stop on the half day tour was a tiny uninhabited island for our beach picnic. After a lazy lunch under large beach umbrellas and a walking tour of our island – including a photography stint, it was time for my training session. The trainer explained how the snorkeling gear works and how I should breathe through my mouth; he asked me to submerge myself little by little so that I could practice this. Lastly, I was told that I had to simply kick my legs to propel myself forward. Finally, he took me along for my first ever snorkeling experience and what an amazing feeling it was! It was like the underwater which had seemed like a scary monster was now my friend! I was ready for the next dip for our actual 2nd snorkeling excursion.
Marine Biodiversity
The snorkeling trip was an eye opener. A whole new world had opened up before me – a world popping and undulating with colors and textures. In the calming silence of underwater, I witnessed a wide variety of flora and fauna, indigenous to the Indian Ocean. Here was a school of dazzling yellow fish just swimming along, there was a brightly patterned shoal of tiny fishes darting by or oh hey, there’s a jewel bright blue fish! The coral reefs were full to the brim with life and sometimes scary creatures – eels, water snakes and what not. There were also myriad varieties of aquatic plants which existed harmoniously with the other creatures. It was marine biodiversity at its best.
I spent almost an hour underwater, just gazing at these marvelous finds and enraptured by the beauty of nature – the live corals, the fishes that call it home and the plants which are an integral part of this ecosystem.
Contribute towards Conservation
Appreciate the world established by our creator, of nature which always gives and never asks for anything in return. Do your part in helping preserve this marine life, in making sure they come to no harm.
4 (four) ways in which you as an individual can contribute towards conservation of our wonderful aquatic ecosystem:
Use less plastic – plastic harms all marine species, often fatally. Limit your plastic use, especially one-time usage.
Do not pollute the water – this is home to myriad sea-life; do not throw your trash into it.
Do not uproot the coral – this is their source of food and shelter, not a collectible; this is also illegal
Do not poke / prod or touch the creatures when on dives/snorkeling – worship and admire the beauty from afar, do not disturb them.
I am doing my bit by raising awareness through this post with the aid of Blogchatter’s Cause a Chatter campaign.
Day 3: Water Sports
The next day, or rather late afternoon, we engaged in a few more water activities.
Wind Sailing: First up was wind sailing. This too was something I had never done before so I was pretty excited. We set out on a small sailboat which bobbed lightly as we progressed. It was a pleasant feeling. This initial part of wind sailing receives its power from a small motor. However, partway out to the sea, the motor was stopped, the sails were unfurled and the power of the wind thrust the little boat ahead at jet speed! The boat zoomed ahead, cutting a path through the water and we held on to the rails for dear life! Wheee! It was such an adrenaline rush; the speed generated by the wind was unbelievable. Whizzing along on the water with the wind in your hair and face and teensy fear of falling overboard – what an amazing feeling it was. This is a must-try!
Sailboat and Us
Canoeing: A 2-seater canoe and just us with no guide – sounds intimidating but it was a fun and calming experience. We rowed as slow or as fast as we wanted, in whichever direction we desired (within a given boundary for our safety). Drifting along the water, with the setting sun as the backdrop was the perfect way to end the day.
Tip: It’ll take a couple of minutes to adjust your rhythms and synchronize your rowing so that the canoe doesn’t just stall in one place or go round in circles. Once you establish a pattern, only then venture out further ashore.
Again, we spent the first part of the day quietly enjoying the water and the beaches, refreshing our jaded selves and having a gala time sampling the various foods the island had to offer.
Day 4: Island Hopping & Shopping
Our final day in Maldives included one last water sport – riding a jet ski. That was an exhilarating ride, and a very wet one! We hurtled through the water at jet speed with water spraying on us from all sides. We took a pit stop at another island where there was a lovely stretch of deserted sandy beach to take some commemorative photographs, spot some baby sharks and stingrays.
Back at Maafushi, we shopped for some mementos – tshirts, shell keyrings, postcards, magnets etc. Most of them were reasonably priced but of course we haggled (dil hai Hindustani!).
Laden with presents and memories to last a lifetime, we bid adieu to the delights of Maldives early the next day via the speedboat and a flight from Male.
Other Itinerary Options
The aim of our trip was to relax and have a laid-back holiday. So we choose to do only this much and spent most of our time lazing on the beach or roaming the streets of our island. We also rented a bicycle for a few hours and just pedaled our way across the tiny Maafushi. If you would like to take in a few more attractions or activities, there are plenty available.
Scuba diving – be aware that you need to keep a gap of atleast 24-48 hours before boarding a flight after diving.
If you ever want to relax on the sand, soak up the sun and enjoy views of a startlingly blue ocean, The Maldives is the place to be in. It is one of the ultimate holiday destinations that I have ever been to. It is a place where you can either be a complete sloth and be as laid back as possible or engage in a variety of water sports and activities – and all the while indulge your taste buds to the hilt.
Choosing the best island
The Maldives is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean. It comprises of 1192 islands or atolls with an overall length of 871 kms. and only 298 sq. kms. of dry land out of 90,000 sq. kms. Out of the 200 inhabited islands, few are complete resorts on their own while the others have tourist hotels, shops intermingling with local residences.
Tip: Choosing your ideal island will depend on your budget, your preferences of activities – water sports, culture & history, or simply nothing. Check out this link to decide: https://visitmaldives.com/en/places.
Considering all factors, I chose to stay on Maafushi for our time in the Maldives. It is a mid-range island with options of water sports plus a span of empty beaches.
Getting there
The capital city or atoll of Male is the connect to the rest of the world via flight. As we landed, we got our first view of the water, within touching distance – it was so exciting! From Male, we took a shared speedboat to reach Maafushi – it took about 30 minutes. That ride was the first taste of being on the eye-wateringly blue ocean, of feeling the wind in my hair and the freshness of the nature around me.
Tip: The shared speedboat cost around $70 per head for round trip; a private speedboat would cut you back by $185. The other option to travel to your island of choice is by the local ferry from Male. That will take around 2 hours but costs much lesser – $2.
Tip: Visa is free on arrival.
Landing at Male airport
Currency
The currency of Maldives is Maldivian Rufiyaa, however the USD (US dollars) is widely accepted and you can easily carry out all your transactions with the latter. Since Maldives is a tourism-oriented country, all prices be it for activities, lodging or food is listed in USD for your ease.
Where to Stay
There are a multitude of options for accomodation in Maldives ranging from über luxurious resorts spreading over one whole island to mid-range hotels (which are still pretty costly) to budget hotels mixed among the local residences.
We booked a budget hotel called Stingray Beach Inn, which was a cosy hotel with hammocks in the garden and its own parrot!
Stingray Beach Inn (pic from Agoda)
Tip: Do bargain on hotel prices. Ours was for ~$125/night (after bargaining down from $140), check out the internet for current prices.
Day 1: Soak up the Atmosphere
After reaching Maafushi, we were escorted to our hotel where we freshened up and jumped right into vacation mode. The beach was a stone’s throw from our hotel, and we strolled up to the edge of the water. The sea was like a painting – innumerable, unimaginable hues of blue smoothly blending into each other and gently lapping onto white sands; it was paradise We simply enjoyed the whole atmosphere – the warm sun and the cool water and oodles of leisure time.
Trivia: The different shades of blue signify various depths of the ocean; for e.g. the light blue means that part of the sea is not too deep and the color is derived from the white sands beneath. The indigo is the deepest portion of the sea with marine life underneath. Isn’t that interesting?!
Upon arrival, we had an off-putting experience. We were met by the hotel’s manager who told us that our hotel was full and that they had arranged for alternative accommodation for the initial 2 days. However, their offered one was a pretty good hotel at par with what we’d booked so we were comforted. Tiny blip over.
Tip: The hotels overbook considering they will have some cancellations, so beware of your booking – talk personally to the manager.
The beach was never more than a 5-minute walk from any part of the island since the island is so small – in fact you can actually see from one end to the other width wise!
The rest of the day was spent in relaxing on the beach, walking from one end of the island to the other, peeking into shops and having delicious seafood. We also booked a package of water activities covering the next 2 days.
The day ended with us slurping on cold, yummy ice cream! This eventually became a trend of our stay there. There was this cute little shop selling ice creams for $1 and we just loved them.
Help Save Our Oceans
The lovely ocean that has given us so much pleasure is in danger; we all need to do our bit to help save and preserve the pristine nature of our water bodies.
I am doing my bit by raising awareness through this post with the aid of Blogchatter’s Cause a Chatter campaign.
Day 2: Snorkeling & Dolphins!
The 1st of our package activities included a half-day snorkeling outing. This involved a ride out to the deep ocean on a boat, 2 snorkeling forages punctuated with a beach picnic. It took about an hour to reach the deep portion of the sea where the coral reefs were to be found.
In between, we stopped at a dolphin haunt and were able to see several dolphins frolicking in the water, as if performing acrobatics for our pleasure. They were so cute and funny!
It’s hard to pin down a photo. But look closely, in the far distance, one is doing cartwheels!
For snorkeling, it’s said that its doesn’t matter whether you know swimming or not. We have life jackets on for our safety and the snorkeling head gear in place which helps us breathe underwater. I do not know swimming and when the time came to plunge into the water, I was terrified. I still tried – bravely. But as soon as I dipped below the water, the utter silence of underwater ensconced me from all sides, the pressure of water on my ears scared me such that I swallowed a whole load of salty water and jumped back above, coughing. Though I tried couple more times, I just could not do it.
The rest of our party carried on and were gone for a full hour. As I sat on the boat alone, I resolved to do better the next time.
A visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Science yielded a wonderful surprise. During my sojourn to my company headquarters in Houston, Texas, I used my free weekend to visit one of the most interesting sightseeing places there – The Museum of Natural Science. While I was superficially aware of its attractions, the Butterfly Center coupled with the Hall of Entomology was like an exciting find – a wondrous hidden gem.
A Specially Designed Natural Habitat
The butterfly conservatory is a 3-story glass structure which has been built to emulate a tropical rainforest. It is home to thousands of butterflies of varied species, which are all allowed to grow and thrive in their natural habitat. The butterfly museum, called the Cockrell Butterfly Center, boasts of a central display of a 50-foot-high waterfall and numerous tropical plants and flowers.
Upon entering, my senses were hit with an explosion of colours and movement. Unlike zoos or other museums, these butterflies are live ones and roam around freely in the simulated forest. The innumerable brightly coloured creatures are a delight to watch. I spent ages going around the place, watching these butterflies and their vivid patterned wings, observing the jewel like insects fluttering about or landing on the leaves or flowers. There was also an iguana!
Entomology Hall
The Brown Hall of Entomology precedes the Butterfly Center; it is located on the same floor as the entrance to the latter. The entire floor is dedicated to a large plethora of insects and their study. The experience is an interactive and educating one. From introducing me to new species and hitherto unknown insects to informing me about the sounds they make to their food habits and their life cycles.
There are both live insects as well as preserved specimens The exhibit also contains an area for cocoons from where butterflies actually hatch out! That is something to look out for. There is another play area for further interaction and games with these arthropods. I did not visit that because it was more for kids.
While this is mostly an educational experience, this museum does its part in conservation of nature. Breeding new insects, creating a natural, sustainable environment for them goes a long way towards preservation of nature as it was meant to be. Bringing about awareness and knowledge leads to appreciation of God’s creatures which in turn help the next generation carry on the job of environmental preservation and enhancement.
I am doing my bit by raising awareness through this post with the aid of Blogchatter’s Cause a Chatter campaign.
Other Exhibits of Interest
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has various other highly interesting exhibits and shows. Notable ones are:
The Paleontology Exhibit – let’s face it, dinosaurs are always interesting!
Foucault Pendulum – mimicking the Earth’s rotation.
Hall of Gems and Minerals
The Planetarium – the Black Holes show is very interesting, and I highly recommend it.
Tip: The museum is full of interesting attractions, you may want to check out the various offerings online to help plan your visit. The HMNS.
Tip: Entry tickets are for $25 while the special exhibits and shows require extra tickets. Butterfly Center (including Entomology Hall) is ~$9.
French food, I have always heard, is highly technical and involves precise measurements and use of ingredients. The various regions of France are known for and boast their own specialized dishes e.g. Lorraine, Champagne, Burgundy, Brittany etc. Somethings are common like wine, coffee, and breads! Oh! their breads! Melt in the mouth delicious, you will always find some at every table accompanying whatever dish you order.
From my observation, the French love their food. Mealtimes are almost religious; lunch is atleast an hour and dinner is a leisurely affair lasting for as long as you wish it to be. They dine early while there is still light out so there isn’t really a “tea-time” per se, and breakfast is not a fussy meal as well. When they dine out, they almost always eat al-fresco. I mean most of the restaurants I visited were crowded on the outdoors seating but empty inside. They enjoy the weather and their food.
The Parisian Love
On my solitary trip to Paris, I had a variety of French food, most of which I, unfortunately, do not remember – or was never able to pronounce – the names of. I do remember baguettes, confit duck, braised veal, cheese board with a sharing platter of blue cheese, tuna, pork etc. And…I also remember the French wines! Oh yum!
French Food
However, before you get your hopes up, I want to say that is merely an appreciation post for all French food. I have not yet tried making any French dishes at home except crepes and…French toast. Though as Rani said in “Queen”, this is probably “Indian French Toast”.
For crepes, I use this recipe, its not mine: Allrecipes
Ingredients:
Bread – 6 slices
Eggs – 2
Milk – ¼ cup
Salt – to taste
Pepper – 1 tsp.
Oil – for shallow frying
Method:
Slice the each of the bread pieces in half.
Beat the eggs in a flat-ish bowl.
Add salt, pepper and milk and mix well.
Now, dip the bread triangles into the egg mixture and hold for a few seconds. Turn over and repeat the process.
Heat a frying pan and add oil. Shallow fry the dipped bread pieces in the frying pan making sure to turn over so that they are evenly fried till golden brown on each side.
Serve hot with ketchup.
Tip: Don’t keep it dipped in the egg mixture for too long or it tends to tear away into blobs.
Tip: You can add chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, chillies to spice up the whole thing but I like it plain and simple so I have mentioned the basic recipe.
Indian French Toast. (I confess, this is a borrowed picture. I will come back with better personal pics.)
This is where the Indian version varies with the classic version – the accompaniment. We have it as a namkeen / savory dish whereas the classic French toast is had with syrup and is a sweet dish. Either way, it makes for an ideal breakfast or even evening snack.
Tip: I once tried a version where I tore the bread into bite sized pieces and made the French toast as tiny, crispy tea snacks. People loved it. You may try it out.
This post was written for Blogchatter A2Z challenge; Day 6 – Letter “F”.
The quintessential American breakfast, apart from cereal, consists of pancakes. Drenched in syrup, this hot, fluffy, fried floury goodness is loved by one and all, young or old.
Pancakes come in many varieties like sweet or savory, plain or blueberry, with maple syrup or with strawberries, with cheese or with chopped veggies and so on. However, the basic recipe remains the same and the rest are just additions or simple substitutes. What I will be sharing here is the basic recipe which, although initially sourced from various sources, is now my own recipe with adjusted quantities.
The NY Connection
While I was in New York, I had the chance to taste the original version at a cute breakfast place just round the corner from my hotel. They were mini pancakes smothered with maple syrup. Yum! Eating them fresh from the oven with hot coffee is the stuff ideal holiday breakfasts are made of. Since then, pancakes – American style – have become a breakfast staple at my home. Here’s the recipe I use.
Ingredients:
Flour – 1.5 cups (~180 gms.)
Milk – 1.25 cups (~250ml)
Eggs – 2 small
Sugar – 1 tbsp.
Salt – ¾ tsp.
Baking powder – 2.5 tsp.
Butter – 1.5 tbsp, melted
Oil – for frying
The above ingredients are enough for 12 pancakes of about 6cm dia. each.
Method:
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl with a whisk (I feel that creates a more homogeneous mixture).
Add the milk and the eggs and mix well. However, do not beat too hard.
Finally add the melted butter making sure its not hot or it will curdle the egg. End result should be a smooth batter.
Heat a flat frying pan and the lightly oil it (preferably with a silicon brush).
Once the oil is hot, ladle the batter – about 5 tbsp. for one pancake – onto the pan and let it fry for about 3-4 minutes. Then the pancake and fry the other side for a couple of minutes. Both sides should be light brown at the end.
Enjoy the hot and fluffy pancakes with chocolate syrup or strawberry syrup, or any sweet syrup at that.
Ingredients (these are half measure for 6 pancakes)Final batterLadling batter
Cooking processVoila! Pancakes!
That’s it, the easy and quick recipe for American pancakes! If you try it out, do let me know how it turns out.
This post was written for Blogchatter A2Z challenge; Day 1 – Letter “A”.
Writing is a matter of discipline. Just having an idea isn’t enough. One needs to sit down for long enough at regular intervals to take the idea to fruition. But, writing needs to be fun too!
For a long time, due to various reasons, I have been in a fuzz and unable to drum up enough disciple and enthusiasm to write a new post. I was more interested in spending time watching mindless stuff on Netflix/Prime or, reading. I wanted to dedicate enough time to my reading this year and so I took on Blogchatter Reading Challenge – been doing well at it too; currently at #13 on ReaderBoard.
Gradually, though, I felt myself wanting to get back to writing. And I remembered, the last time I had fun writing was the MyFriendAlexa challenge. Thus I decided to participate in this year’s A2Z challenge by Blogchatter for the first time ever. For the month of April, I will be writing one post each day except Sundays and the posts will start with each letter of the alphabet. Hence, A to Z! Talk about jumping in the deep end huh?
My blog is about travel but I certainly haven’t travelled enough or that far and wide to have that many posts. So I had this germ of an idea and here goes my theme for A2Z.
“FOODS OF THE WORLD”.
I will be writing about various dishes I have had during my travels which I have had the opportunity and the skills to make at home. Again some of them may simply be dishes I love but have never dared to try at home. Some of the dishes will be desi dishes/family recipes which I’d like to share with the world. I am aiming to mix it up and bring in colour, yumminess and a little knowledge to my posts.
Looking forward to writing and reading. Bring it on April!
I have lived in Kolkata for more than half my life but I barely ever took trips to nearby places of interest. There’s so much to see and do in and around Kolkata! In these uncertain times, all we can afford – safely – right now in terms of travel are day trips. Taking all necessary precautions for Covid (details below), we were able to have an enjoyable day at the scenic location of Raichak.
Raichak (or Roychak) is located on the banks of the river Ganga or, as it’s known in Bengal, river Hoogly and is an ideal place for a weekend vacation. Pleasant stay, fabulous views and self-pampering – from what I read and saw. However, due to the situation being what it is, we decided to do a short day trip instead to relax our exhausted minds and jaded lives.
Getting There
We drove to Raichak from Kolkata (northern part) on a bright and sunny Saturday morning. The road to take is via Behala-Alipore-Diamond Harbour Road-Noorpur Road. There are signs on the Diamond Harbour Road to guide you so it should not be too complicated. The journey should take around 2 – 2.5 hours depending on road traffic.
Tip: The main chunk of the journey is via the Diamond Harbour road which is a 2-lane road with a lot of traffic. The Noorpur road isn’t in a very good condition. Do account for these when you plan your travel timings.
Precaution: We had rented a self-drive car from Revv for our month-long stay in Kolkata for the ease of getting around and to avoid availing public transport. Upon receipt of the car, we quarantined it for 2 days before starting to use it.
The F fort
Formerly the Fort of Raichak, this has now been converted into a 5 star hotel/resort by the Radisson group. The fort had been built during the British times to keep watch on the water traffic of the Hoogly river. Later, the fort fell into ruins due to dis-use. Whatever remained of the fort was lovingly restored and refurbished and now conserved as an ode to bygone times. One can see the crenellated walls and the towers of the fort which were used a guiding structure and foundation for the current hotel.
We looked around at the colonial themed interiors and the very interesting décor of the F fort hotel. We then strolled around the well-maintained grounds enjoying the breeze and the greenery. There isn’t however a view of the river from the grounds; but we could tell that anyone having rooms at the higher floors of the hotel would be offered a superb view.
F fort entrance
The F fort façade
The F fort façade
Main hall/lounge
Main hall/lounge
Interior decorations
F fort Garden
Clock tower
Inside “Raichak on the Ganges”
As we were leaving, we chanced upon my very best part of the hotel visit – an almost life sized chess board! The chess pieces were black for Indians and white for the British. Each piece was sculpted as realistic figures having an English and an Indian counterpart. E.g. Indian rani vs. English queen, Indian kazi vs English Bishop. It was fun to discover this and examine the pieces. (We ignored the racist tones of this find.)
The giant chess set
Lunch
Lunch was an amusing affair. While there are quite a few restaurants at the resort with varied cuisines, we didn’t want to take a risk and so packed a lunch from our home. Problem was, where to sit and eat? There didn’t seem to be anyplace around – the resorts weren’t going to allow outside food. So, we parked at a side road and had our picnic right there in the car. Serving up four plates in that tiny space wasn’t easy but we managed it; it included a lot of yelling, instructions and balancing work! But, it was worth it. Homemade fried rice and chilli chicken had never tasted better!
Tip: For future reference, F fort and its adjacent resorts have multiple restaurants which you can try out when we get back to our “old” normal.
Walk by the River
The whole area has now actually been converted into a “hotel conglomerate” meaning: it houses several boutique hotels / resorts called Raichak on the Ganges. The resorts are Ganga Kutir, Anaya, Ffort Hotel and Ffort Suites. There are spas, golf course, lounges, pools, sports paraphernalia on hire etc.
After lunch, we drove the short distance to the Ganga Kutir resort. This one is situated right on the banks of the river and consists of separate cottages with a common lawn. We took a walk on the open lawn sloping down to the river. The actual water edge is cordoned off by wire barrier for safety purposes.
The view before us was magnificent. The wide bountiful river with its calm waters ruffling in the evening breeze was such a beautiful sight to behold! The setting sun created a perfect backdrop to this postcard-ready vista. Boats and launches travelled up and down the river and completed the typical river “scene”. The holy Ganga in all its beauty mesmerized me. This was the essence of our trip.
Tea to end the day
We turned homewards with the last rays of the sun. On the way home, we had tea and cake in the car to cap off our wonderful day by the river. The tea was also prepared at home and carried in a thermos flask. By evening, it wasn’t so much as steaming but more of a mildly warm cup of tea which still tasted like heaven because of the wonderful day we had just had!
Precautions: We had our masks on at most times (took it off when people wern’t within 6 feet of us) and had pocket sanitizers to clean our hands as soon as we touched anything (which was only a couple of times). As mentioned before, food, water, snacks and tea were all made and carried from home as well as plates, cups, and cutlery.
Lockdown and work from home has provided a small silver lining. After ages, I have been able to stay in my hometown Kolkata for more than a few days. For the last several years it has always been a flying visit but this time, due to the facility of working from home, its a longer visit. Taking advantage of that, I have been around the city and reacquainting myself with its beauty.
They are just phone snaps, taken from a moving car at most times but my city enchanted me all over again and I would like to share the beauty of my hometown with everyone. Presenting, the City of Joy, Kolkata!
Red RoadPrinsep Ghat and Vidyasagar Setu in the backdropFloodlights of Eden GardenEden Gardens outside facadeVictoria on the move…Rabindra SadanRandom city road click2nd Hoogly Bridge or Vidyasagar SetuGreenery @ Prinsep GhatVictoria Memorial (from the car)Durga idol at the festivalRandom road click 2 – and because we rarely see so much greenery in MumbaiKali idol at Kali Pujo (in bengal) festivalA local game of football in progress
Victoria Memorial
Diwali Lights!Biswa Bangla Gate
I will keep adding to this post as and when I explore more. Its been wonderful getting to know my city all over again!
A few kilometers from the bustling capital city of Madrid lies the quaint little town of Segovia. Segovia is the exact picture of what you’d imagine a European town to be like – fabulous architecture, cobbled streets and captivating history. This cute little town awash in history and sporting some of the most beautiful representations of Gothic architecture, is a short day trip away from Madrid (approx. 90kms).
This was one of the best day trips I have ever taken. Read about my other day trips to Pratapgadh (Maharashtra, India) and Sausalito (San Francisco, USA) written as part of Blogchatter’s My Friend Alexa campaign which is how I’m taking my blog to the next level.
Getting There
I boarded a Renfe (Spain’s national train company) high speed AVE train from Madrid’s Chamartín station and reached Segovia Guiomar station in exactly 27 minutes. The train departed at 8:55 AM on the dot and pulled into Guiomar at precisely 9:22 AM as advertised. The journey was a smooth one and I loved the scenic countryside flashing by.
Guiomar station is located on the outskirts of Segovia – about 5kms from the town proper. So, from the station I took the No. 11 bus to reach the city, which took about 20 minutes. The timing of the buses are such that they offset with the arrival of the trains. The bus dropped me off right in front of the Aqueduct.
Tip: Book your tickets online here and exchange your booking confirmation for actual tickets at the station. The two-way ticket cost me ~ € 42 (including a small booking fee by GoEuro / Omio). Bus No. 11 fare is ~ €2 each way.
Tip: Trains depart every hour (or lesser) from Chamartín throughout the day but my suggestion would to be arrive early in Segovia to be able to visit all the myriad attractions it has to offer. Though there are other ways to travel to Segovia from Madrid, this high speed train is the best option in my opinion.
The Aqueduct
The Aqueduct is Segovia’s main attraction and its pièce de résistance. It’s easy to see why people come in from far and wide to admire and gaze at this engineering marvel. As I stepped down from the bus, I looked up at the beautiful arches of the aqueduct and was spellbound. I went up and down its length, climbed up the structure and looked across its breadth taking pictures and simply enjoying its beauty.
The Roman Aqueduct of Segovia was built in the early 2nd century to supply water to Segovia. It used the principle of gravity and natural slope to convey water from the Rio Frio river to the city. Water was carried on the upper channel and crossed the city under the ground up to the Alcazar. It is considered a masterpiece of Roman hydraulic engineering whose stones are joined by neither cement nor mortar. It has 167 arches in its entirety and a total length of ~16000 meters from its origin in Guadarrama mountain range. The Aqueduct was declared a National Monument in 1884 and a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Tip: You can also visit the Aqueduct Visitor center which contains interactive multimedia exhibit to help you travel through 2000 yrs. of history of the monument.
Alcázar de Segovia
After spending a leisurely time at the Aqueduct, I ventured further into the town. Walking along its cobblestoned streets in the lazy afternoon sun was a joy indeed. Further on, I encountered the city walls and stood and admired the vibrant green valley view spread out in front of me. About 20 minutes later, I arrived in front of my next stop – The Alcazar of Segovia. The Alcázar is basically a castle; it became one of the favorite residences of the then king and queens. Built over a period of 5 centuries (11th – 19th) from the reign of Alphonse VI to that of Philip II, this palace was the residence of the Castilian Monarchs during the middle ages. The “Old Palace” was extended in 15th century when several rooms were added:
El Solio: Throne Room; houses the throne commissioned for visit of Alfonse XIII and Queen Victoria Eugeria.
La Galera: Galley Room; named after its moulded ceiling resembling the hull of a ship upside down.
Las Piñas: Pine Cone Room; named after the 392 peculiar pine cone carvings on its ceiling.
De Reyes: Monarchs Room; decorated with a frieze depicting the monarchs of Asturias, Castile and León.
Del Cordón: Cord Room; named after the Franciscan cord decorating its walls.
De Capilla: The Chapel, witnessed the nuptial veiling ceremony between Philip II and Anna of Austria. It also houses Bartolomé Carducho’s “The Epiphany” painting.
The Alcazar was the State Prison in the 18th century and the Royal Convert of Artillery in 1764. Currently, it houses the Military Historical Archive. Most parts of this monument can be visited including its roof. After visiting all the rooms and fantastic exhibits, I headed to the tower. The view from the Tower of Juan II was terrific!
Tip: Summer hours (April – September) are from 10 AM to 7 PM while the winter hours (October – March) are from 10 AM to 6 PM. Tickets were ~€11 for a palace + tower top visit. Check details here.
Alcazar
Suit of armour
Tapestry
Glass painting
Painting
Golden ceiling decorations
Altarpiece
Inside the Alcazar
View from Alcazar tower
The Cathedral of Segovia
My final stop before lunch was The Cathedral of Segovia. I had initially planned to spend about 15-20 minutes in the cathedral – after all how much time can one spend while sightseeing in a cathedral, right? Wrong! This cathedral has the most sublime glass paintings, wall paintings and magnificent sculptures. I was so fascinated with all of the art this place has to offer that I was there for nearly 2 hours goggling at the absorbing creations of the great masters.
The original Cathedral called Santa Maríe was of Romanesque style but after its destruction in the Comuneros War (Communities’ War), the church was rebuilt in Gothic style though its conception echoes the Renaissance era. Constructed on the proposal of Charles V, this church was dedicated to The Ascensión of Maria to Heaven and Saint Frutos (Patron Saint of Segovia). It has a 3-nave structure and an ambulatory.
Some of the most glorious artworks are: the sculpture of St. Andrew, The Descent from the Cross triptych by Flemish painter Ambrose Benson, Renaissance altarpiece with sculptures of The Immaculate, Baroque grillwork by Antonio de Elorza, the Tree of Life etc. Other important works of Pedro Berruguete, Sánchez Cuello and Van Orley are housed in this cathedral.
Cathedral of Segovia
Glass Paintings
Mesón de Cándido
Apart from the Aqueduct, the other thing that Segovia in known for is Cochinillos or roasted suckling pig. Even though it is available in various parts in Spain and in a lot of restaurants in Segovia, I chose the best and the original – Mesón de Cándido. It is a traditional Spanish cuisine consisting of tender, succulent roast pig fresh from wood-fired ovens. The dish put me in gastronomic heaven! This is a must-do in Segovia!
Lunch!
La Granja Castle
Palacio Real de La Granja de San Ildefonso or the Royal Palace of La Granja in San Ildefonso was the next and final stop of my Segovia trip. It is located in the outskirts of Segovia (approx. 10 kms.) in the town of San Ildefonso. To reach, I boarded a La Sepulvedana bus from the stop in front of the Aqueduct, heading into the hills. It took about 20 minutes to reach La Granja whereupon I de-boarded in front of the castle entrance.
Tip: Visit the La Sepulvedana bus station to collect a bus time table so you can plan your La Granja trip accordingly. Buses leave every 45 minutes from the station.
Due to the long time spent in the Cathedral and my laid-back splendid lunch, I did not have a lot of time on my hands to fully explore the castle. However, I did have time enough to visit all the palatial rooms and the wonderfully kept gardens. I moved from room to room admiring the paintings like the ceiling frescoes and the luxurious furniture (an understatement) like the ornate elaborate four posters and chest of drawers, armchairs etc. Then there was the vast, dazzling collection of gold jewelry, urns, lamps, utensils etc. and finally, the armoury and artillery rooms.
Tip: Photography is prohibited inside the castle so commit everything to memory. You can however take pics of the palace façade and its grounds.
La Granja castle from the outside
Lost!
After breezing through the castle visit, I made it on time to the bus stop, barely – or so I thought. However, there were no buses to be seen. Usually the buses run like clockwork so I started worrying that I had missed it. Soon, a bus arrived. Initially I was told that I was in the opposite direction, but then that one turned out to be wrong too. In the end, I didn’t board the bus, I contemplated walking, yada yada. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I missed my bus and thereby my chances of catching the return train on time.
I broke out in cold sweat but after a call to my husband, who managed to calm me down, I eventually got my head on straight and boarded the next (correct) bus to Segovia. From Segovia, once again Bus. No. 11 took me to Guiomar for my return to Madrid. Thankfully the very sweet guy at the ticket counter understood my predicament and kindly changed my ticket to that of the next train. God bless him!
Fondest Memories
Although there were a few bad moments at the end of the trip, Segovia was a superb experience which I fondly remember till date. I hope to visit again someday.
Tip: While there are other attractions in Segovia, I feel the above curated list consists of the best ones that can be enjoyed in a day. Do take some time out of your day to simply roam the streets and enjoy the serene beauty of the place.
