Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 Vaishākh (April – May) Akshaya Tritiya – 19 April 2026 Basava Jayanthi– 20 April 2026 Ramanujacharya … [Read More...]
Kodanad View Point, Kotagiri
When in Kotagiri it is a must to the Kodanadu View Point. It is a place that one can spend hours looking at the rolling hills and valleys. Kodanadu View Point is 20 km drive from Kotagiri … [Read More...]
Flowering Tobacco
I was surprised that there is a flowering version of Tobacco. Tobacco is largely grown in K.R.Nagar area. During my birding trip, I have come across large acres of land growing Tobacco and … [Read More...]
Quinoa Buddha Bowl
Quinoa Buddha Bowl is a bowl teeming with fibre and protein. Various tastes and textures form this bowl to satiate the soul. Ingredients: 1 Cup Cooked Quinoa with Salt 1 Cup Purple … [Read More...]
India loves to pose – 58
India loves to pose series contains random pictures of people in different moods and gears captured during a moment in their story. I believe that behind every face lies a story. Young India is … [Read More...]
Patchwork frame making – Snow White and Seven Dwarfs
When kids during summer holidays we used to be engaged making a lot of arts and crafts. There was not continuous TV nor mobile phones. Here is one art work that I made using material … [Read More...]
April 2026 Hints
Clean window tracks by pressing paper towels into the groove and pour half a cup of water and slide the window. Remove the paper towel. Your tracks will be clean. To make a paper towel … [Read More...]
Watermelon Sparkler
Fruit juice with soda adds the right spirit to the mood. Here is a simple cool watermelon sparkler recipe to keep you cool and your spirits high! Ingredients: Watermelon juice with or without … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026
Festival dates in Chaitra month – March and April 2026 are as follows: Chaitra (March - April) Ugadi/Gudi Padwa - Sri Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram - 19 March 2026 Gangaur - 4 March … [Read More...]
Kotagiri
Kotagiri is small hill town situated in Nilgiris biosphere at an elevation of 1793 meters above sea level. The famous Longwood Shola forests are part of this biosphere. Kotagiri is one of the … [Read More...]
Ooty
Whether you call this place Ooty, Ootacamund, Udhagai or Udaghamandalam the title best suited for this place is “Queen of hill stations”, which is the capital of Nilgiris district. Picture1 - … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Heerekayi Kadlekayi Chutney – Ridge Gourd Chutney – Beerakaya Chutney – Heerekai Chutney
Heerekayi Kadlekayi Chutney is prepared using Ridge gourd peels and Peanuts. Cuisine: Karnataka Time required: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Heerekayi Sippe / Ridge gourd peel 1/2 Cup … [Read More...]
Ambali
Gruel prepared with rice and curds. Ambali is prepared on Shravana Shanivara Vratha / religious observance. Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 Cup Rice 2 Green … [Read More...]
Bettada Nellikayi Rasa – Whole Gooseberry Pickle Recipe – Indian Gooseberry Pickle
Whole Indian Gooseberries are pickled in raw Tamarind extract. Bettada Nellikayi Rasa pickle is prepared in regions of Mysore and Bangalore. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required: 1 … [Read More...]
Ragi Malt
Ragi / Finger Millet is a powerhouse of calcium and is extremely good for people of all ages. Ragi Malt is a powder that can be stored for a long time, which is prepared using sprouted Ragi, Dry … [Read More...]
Mulberry Juice Recipe – Hippunarale Panaka Recipe – Shahatoot Ki Sherbat
Though Mulberry is grown extensively in Mysuru - Bengaluru region (the silk belt), we never see Mulberry fruits in the market. I was delighted to get some this year and here is this unique … [Read More...]
Basmati and Yellow Pepper Salad – Basmati Rice Salad
A salad with an unusual combination of Basmati Rice and Yellow Pepper. Time Required: 20 Minutes + Chilling Time Ingredients: 1 Cup Basmati Rice 1 tsp Ghee / Clarified Butter or Olive … [Read More...]
Sweet Potato Paratha – Shakkarkhand Paratha – Sweet Potato Flat Bread
Indian bread stuffed with Sweet Potatoes and spices. Time Required: 30 Minutes Makes: 6 Ingredients: 2 Cups Wheat Flour Oil for roasting Salt to taste For the stuffing: 2 medium … [Read More...]
Kalan – Raw Banana in spicy Yogurt Sauce – Kaccha Kela Raitha Recipe – Balekayi Mosaru Bhajji Recipe
This dish is from Kerala using raw Banana and Yogurt. This is served during Onam sadya. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Raw Banana, Peeled and chopped 2 Cups Curds / Yoghurt ½ … [Read More...]
Travel
Kerala
State of Kerala known as God’s own country is situated to the south west of India. Capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Kerala with its moderate climate throughout the year is … [Read More...]
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Jaisalmer is a delightful city situated in the middle of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. This fairy tale city is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. I enjoyed every minute that we spent in … [Read More...]
Wenlock Downs, Ooty
Wenlock Downs is popularly known as 9th and 6th mile as they are situated exactly at the 9th and 6th mile from Ooty. Innumerable movies have been shot here with the hero and the leading lady singing … [Read More...]
Bikaner
I was very excited that I would be traveling to Bikaner. Other than Bikaner Bhujia and other savories made famous by Haldirams, I had limited knowledge about the city. Bikaner was beyond my … [Read More...]
Garagadakuppe Anjaneya Swamy Temple
Another long pending wish to visit Garagadakuppe Anjaneya Swamy Temple was fulfilled. The Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Garagadakuppe village is believed to be very powerful and believed to … [Read More...]
Birds of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andaman and Nicobar islands are home to many species of birds, both aquatic and shore birds. As we traveled across the islands we came across the following birds, which we could photograph. Some birds … [Read More...]
Talacauvery
The birth place of Cauvery / Kaveri River is Talacauvery. It is nestled in the hills of Brahmagiri range near Bhagamandala, Kodagu district, Karnataka at 1,276 meters (4,187 feet) above sea level. A … [Read More...]
Festivals
Panchamrutha Abhishekha
"Panch" means 5 and "Amrutha" means nectar in Sanskrit. Panchamrutha Abhishekha is a Hindu ritual performed at all homes and temples, where the idols are bathed with Milk, Curds, Honey, Sugar and … [Read More...]
Festival dates in Kartik month – October and November 2025
Kārtik (October – November) Diwali /Balipadyami/New Year in Gujarat - 22 October 2025 Karthika Somawara - 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, and 17 November 2025 Uttandwadashi - 2 … [Read More...]
Rathasapthami Rangoli
Rathasapthami is a festival in honor of Sun god. On this day a Rathasapthami rangoli / kolam (patterns drawn using chalk powder) of ratha / chariot is drawn inside the shrine of … [Read More...]
Gowri Aarathi Song
Gowri is the consort of Lord Shiva and during Ganesha-Gowri Festival, songs are sung in glory of her during Arathi. Lyrics in Kannada: ಗೌರಿ ಆರತಿ ಹಾಡು ಜಯ ಮಂಗಳವೆನ್ನಿರೆ ಗೌರಿಗೆ| ಜಯ ಭವ ಹರ … [Read More...]
Christmas
"Jingle bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh…" This is a Christmas song that everyone loves to hear and sing not only during Christmas season … [Read More...]
Story of Tripurasura Dahana – End of Tripurasura – Introduction to Baudha Avatara
Demon Taraka had 3 children namely, Tarakaksha, Kamalalochana, and Vidyunmaali. The three together performed deep penance and Brahma pleased with their devotion appeared before them. They … [Read More...]
Dasara Gombe – Dolls Arrangement 2023
The best part of Navratri / Dushehra / Dasara celebrations in Mysuru was visiting neighbour's homes for the Gombe Arathi (doll arrangement / Golu) and enjoying the traditional and delicious sweets and … [Read More...]
