Mauritius

1 of 6

I had heard a lot about the buzzing beaches and boisterous water sports of Mauritius. I had also caught glimpses of its beautiful locales in many a Bollywood movie. Mauritius seemed magical. So, we decided to take off to this paradise island in the Indian Ocean. Since the packages offered by tour organisers were hectic, we headed off on our own. There are many hotels and restaurants around the beaches in Mauritius and we made our bookings online. The resorts have their own entrance to the beaches, much like giving you private access to the sea whenever you felt like it.

We booked ourselves into a hotel in Quatre Bornes [which means four boundary stones in French] as we thought it would be quieter than the capital city of Port Louis. Besides, the capital is just 15 minutes from here. We could also reach any of the beaches or places of interest easily and cover many spots in half a day. So it seemed a convenient base to explore the island nation. Our room offered us breathtaking views of the nearby hills. And the restaurants, shops, park and bus stop were at a walking distance. Having settled down, we went off to explore…

The island is dotted with beaches and every beach has its own charm. So, a visit to a few of them is a must to be able to pick up the pulse of Mauritius. Grand Baie is a public beach with a long stretch of silver sands. A line-up of coconut palms shades you from the sun. You can spend your day leisurely exploring wayside stalls that sell T-shirts and curios or just dive into the inviting vast ocean to surf and sail. Watching scores of beach lovers involved in the myriad activities makes your head spin.

It is a joy to walk on the cool sandy beaches of Flic en Flac and relax on the sand while the young and old wet their feet in the lashing waves. Looking at the foreign tourists lined up to soak in the beautiful sun, makes you want to join them. The horizon, the sea and the sands with visitors using props to relax and rejuvenate delight the photographer in you.

Blue Bay, as its name suggests has blue, green and bluish-green waters. You can catch white sail boats zooming past contrasting with the colours of the ocean or spot white floaters bobbing up and down. It is a scene worth freezing in time. Surfers and divers are a common scene at all beaches here. You can watch them from the beach or join in the fun but whatever you choose to do, don’t miss the ride on the glass bottom boat.

Sitting on the edge of the boat and peeping into the waters gives you glimpses of the fascinating sea world. The coral reefs, mushrooms and wide variety of fish pass below as your glass bottom boat glides over the water. The cool green surface with moss, algae and a variety of plants are among the many treasures of the ocean. It’s delightful to see the colourful fish gather to grab the bits of food the boat man throws and disperse suddenly. It is an experience unlike any.
Tamarin is the surfing centre of Mauritius. It is a small beach that offers beautiful views of the estuary. The Tamarin village is surrounded by salt pan ponds. It also has a beautiful waterfall that comes cascading down steps enhancing the beauty of the surrounding hills.

If you want to do nothing but walk around the sea and watch the fishing boats kiss the horizon, head to Mahebourg. Still retaining the local flavour, this town has a charming waterfront with a rustic laid out path that takes you straight to meet the horizon. Enthusiastic anglers and leisurely walkers- this beach is perfect for relaxing. No wonder, it is a favourite with the locals.

Compared to Mahebourg, the Le Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis is more modern in its layout. It is a place where you can enjoy your meal looking at the parked ships in the dockyard. You can also walk along the bridge observing the ships sailing into the sun. It has many restaurants, bars, shops and a museum. Walk out of the waterfront to view the stately statues of Sri Seewoosagar Ramgoolam and other leaders of Mauritius. Further down, the road leads to the Apravasi ghat, where the first immigrants alighted.

If you are in a mood to shop, take the subway to the Central market, where you can buy souvenirs, shell jewellery and clothes. Don’t hesitate to exhibit your bargaining skills here; it will get you good deals. To shop for clothes and accessories visit the flea markets in Port Louis and Quatre Bornes.

A visit to the Pamplemousses Botanical garden gives you a peek into the green side of Mauritius. With a wide variety of plants, trees and birds, this garden can boast of being one of the best in the tropics. Its Victoria Amazonica, the giant water lilies, are one of the main attractions and you can feast your eyes on them for hours. As you stroll through the narrow shaded pathways of the garden, you will get to see its picturesque pond, green lawns with picnic spots, tortoise corner, deer park, old sugar refining plant, and the memorial to the father of their nation. As you go along, don’t miss the rare birds perched on trees.

Spend some time driving down to the scenic Domaine les Pailles to visit the Vivekananda complex. In Marie Reine de la paix, the white statue of Marie with a hill as a backdrop makes for a fantastic postcard. From here you can also get a beautiful view of Port Louis. The tall bronze-coloured statue of Mahashiva in Grand Bassin is a fine work of art and can be viewed from miles down the road. In close proximity is Ganga Talao, the lake that houses the idols of Shiva and other gods.
The Black River Gorge National Park spread over 6574 hectares is a visual treat. However, one spot that no tourist misses is the ‘Seven-Coloured Earth’ in Chamarel. In the vicinity of the Chamarel falls, this is a rare natural phenomenon. The earth here is formed in layers and mounds, in shades of pink, brown and blue. From the different viewing points the coloured earth assumes different tinges due to sun’s rays. It’s awe-inspiring to observe so many shades on this earth that has weathered years of sun, wind and rain.

Although it’s a tiny country, Mauritius has much to offer to the discerning tourist. The devout, the nature lover, the seafarer and the aqua sports enthusiast are bound to find this paradise island exciting. You easily lose your daily pressures the moment you step into Mauritius. But be warned—you may never want to leave this place.

This was first published in the November 2010 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post Mauritius: the silver, the blue and you appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

The big question

Whenever I introduced myself, I would pronounce my name and add my profession. When I wrote my resume, I mentioned my age, physical address, qualification, profession, experience and extra-curricular activities along with my name.

Looking back, I doubt whether my resume represented my real self. Was I just a name, qualification and profession? Or am I just the way I look, talk and react? These are my physical and social traits. What then do I signify? Am I just a physical being with a distinct presence? Am I a thinking individual with opinions and abilities? Or am I an emotional being with feelings? Or a being with a spiritual presence?

Spiritual intelligence or spiritual consciousness is the key to success and to achieve success, we have to be aware of ourselves. Self-knowledge and self-enlightenment would lead to happiness and success.

How can you know yourself? Through meditation, one could realise one’s true self and worth. It is not easy to achieve this. Pursuing our worldly interests in this world of competition and ambition, our minds are always preoccupied with goals and targets. There is no inclination or time to reflect within.

The revelation

What we do not realise, however, is that without self-awareness we would not be able to know our true potential to attain our goal. It is like blindly running after a target without being able to view it properly. Deepak Chopra, the wellness guru of international fame and the principal speaker at a seminar I attended, told his story of revelation.

As a successful medical practitioner, he experienced spiritual consciousness after his father’s demise. After performing his father’s last rites at Haridwar, while looking around, he suddenly experienced oneness with objects around him. “Suddenly I was suffused with joy as I could identify myself with the priest, the tree, the river and the chirping birds,” he narrated. It was an awakening that made him a better person, a better physician and the best-selling author of many thought-provoking books.

It reminded me of a story of Gautam Buddha. Suddenly one day, while travelling in his palanquin, he noticed a sick man and a beggar and his heart went out to them. Buddha had experienced universal consciousness. This spiritual awakening made him aware of his role as a messiah, out to provide solace to the suffering humanity.

He gave up worldly possessions to lead the life of a monk and to enlighten others. Swami Vivekananda too realised early in life that he was an agent of Goddess Durga and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He started his mission to enlighten people about godliness, peace and harmony.

Mahatma Gandhi realised his true potential after he was thrown out of a railway carriage in Petermaritzburg, South Africa. He understood that you had to fight for your rights and lead  a life of dignity without resorting to violence. This self-awakening transformed him from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to Bapu or Mahatma Gandhi.

Mother Teresa realised her purpose in life at a young age. She travelled to India and started her missionary work—helping the needy, hungry and the sick. “I am the messenger of God,” she always stated and that the smile of an infant was her gift from god. The Mother, the Mahatma, the Swami and the Buddha were fearless, enlightened, and contented souls, able to succeed in their missions. They all became what they were only because they had asked the question, “Who am I?” and found the answer to it. They dwell within themselves to find the true meaning of their lives.

The answer

As Deepak Chopra recommends, through meditation, you can surely find an answer to this question. It may take time but once you realise your self, your potential and your purpose in life, you are bound to achieve your goal. You will be able to spot your weaknesses and correct them. You will be able to identify your strengths and use them to your advantage. You will become a source of positive energy inspiring others to achieve their best.

“Awake, arise or forever be fallen,” said the heroic Ulysses. It is time we become aware of our self and move ahead in life. We don’t have to renounce the world to be enlightened. We just need to find time to awaken our self. Yes, “The kingdom of heaven is within you.” It is for you to unravel it to find true happiness.

This was first published in the April 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post Know yourself appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Kenya

1 of 14

If there is one country where animals are cared for with utmost love and attention, it is Kenya. In this country, you can find a number of homes where animals are looked after with affection. There are also numerous wild life parks where these creatures roam about in blissful abandon.

You can start your wild life journey from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Nairobi is a modern city with pulsating African culture and wildlife. With a good population of the city comprising Indians, you feel at home in Nairobi. Also, as you drive down the city, you will pass temples and gurudwaras. You can enjoy an authentic desi meal too in this African land as there are quite a few restaurants specialising in Indian cuisine. There are also a number of good hotels in Nairobi to suit all budgets. Two days in Nairobi and 2 – 3 days in Masai Mara is all you need to make your trip to Kenya worthwhile.

Several tour companies operate from here to show you around the city and also offer a packaged tour to Masai Mara National Reserve. However, before you embark on the journey, you can get a taste of the wild in Nairobi itself, which has the Nairobi National Park and animal orphanages.

The Nairobi National Park is within city limits. So visitors can not only enjoy the comforts of city life, but also drive down to the National Park nearby at their own convenience to enter an entirely different world. The tour to the National Park and the animal orphanage in it takes only a few hours. So if you leave for the park soon after breakfast, you can be back at the hotel for lunch!

The Nairobi National Park spans 117sq km. An interesting feature of this park is that the southern side of the park is open, so animals migrate uninhibited from this side especially during August-September. In the park, you can spot the rare and diffident black rhino [this is one place where these rhinos are found aplenty]. You can also catch a glimpse of lions, leopards and wild buffaloes along with giraffes, elands, Thomson gazelles, zebras, baboons and a wide variety of birds in the park. The only animal out of the big five [lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo] that you may not come across here is the elephant.

The orphanage inside the National Park is also an interesting place to study the moods and attitudes of animals as they recuperate after an injury or after they are orphaned. Lions, cheetahs, monkeys, hyenas and other animals arrive here in pain and discomfort. Over a period of time, they regain their health and composure, thanks to the caretakers of the orphanage, and feel completely fit to return back to their homes in the wild.

Close to the National Park is an orphanage for elephants and rhinos run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. A visit to this home is an experience you won’t forget easily. As you walk in, you will find rhinos lazily sleeping in their corners. If it’s lunch time for the elephants, you might get to see how lovingly the caretakers feed them and play with them. The elephants too, especially the little ones, keep nudging their care-givers to seek attention and love. For those interested, the caretakers share details about the elephants from the time of their arrival to their eating habits and emotional states of mind. It is fun to watch the elephants fool around the water tub or tease one another with their trunks. Sometimes a little one may just walk to you to wish you and pose for a photograph with you. It is pure pleasure to see these lovable creatures enjoying themselves without a care in the world. For a while, they make you forget your cares too.

To get up close and personal with the rare Rotschild giraffes, drive down to the Langata Giraffe Centre, which too is located near the Nairobi National Park. This home for the giraffes is where you can watch these long-legged animals tugging at branches of trees or stretching their necks to grab grass from your hands. These lovable creatures slowly pick their feed from you and allow you to pose with them for a perfect picture. Once they have had their fill, they return to the forest to roam around.

After you’ve mingled with the animals in Nairobi, it’s time to head to Masai Mara to rendezvous with the wild beasts in their natural habitat. Masai Mara is a journey that can be enjoyed on the road as you pass through the rift valley with streams and hills. If time is a constraint, you can even fly down to Masai Mara.

The Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve is spread across 1510 sq km. It lies in the Great Rift Valley and its gaming activities are on the Valley floor. To stay, there are a number of resorts within the reserve and outside too. Many of these resorts are green, spacious and have well-laid pathways that lead to tree top viewing spots. From here, you can spot hippos lazily having a swim, vultures flying down and barbet monkeys jumping from one tree to another. At any time of the day, you can take a walk in the garden and observe the activities of the animals at close quarters.

The resorts arrange for two-hour safari rides to the reserve early in the morning and in the evening. You are sure to spot not only the big five but also hyenas, cheetahs, foxes, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, and gazelles. The reserve has birds in every size and colour. With the birds of prey totalling 53, and spotting one is easy.

As you start your early morning ride you will pass through open savannahs under the canopy of a large sky not yet lit up with sunlight. You will see hot air balloons with tourists taking off to get an aerial view of the reserve. Spaghetti trees and those with vultures on the branches, ready to fly down for a meal, may also arrest your attention. You may pass a variety of animals from the deer family with their distinct horns, gracefully standing on the fields. Zebras too with their beautiful stripes are found grazing in the company of wildebeests.

As the morning unfolds animal activity comes into full view. Be alert with your camera lest you miss unique scenes like two bulls fighting, little elephants following their mothers, cubs cosily curled up near a lioness, a lion ravenously biting into the carcass of a wildebeest, hyenas stealthily waiting to feed on the leftovers, a rhino playing hide and seek with the curious visitors and a running cheetah scaring gazelles walking together.

A visit to Masai Mara is infinitely more thrilling than watching an exciting documentary on TV. You witness interesting episodes from the life of the wild beasts. At peace in their surroundings and pursuing their daily chores unmindful of the presence of visitors, the animals seem to teach mortals a lesson on survival and merging with the environment.

The best time to visit Masai Mara is July – August as this is the season of migration. Thousands of wildebeests along with zebras, gazelles and other animals march 600 miles from the Serengeti plains of Tanzania to Masai Mara in the north in search of greener pastures. It is a wondrous sight to watch the beasts tread in hoards towards their destination. You will never get tired or bored clicking pictures of the ‘Great Migration.’

Once they finish with their feasting and the grass is almost gone, the wildebeests return to Serengeti in October – November. This great exodus of the animals lures visitors from all over the world to Masai Mara in July and Serengeti in October. As the sun sets over the Mara, its golden hue falls over trees, birds, beasts and the Masais, the brave locals in their red robes who move around fearlessly in the animal land. Back at the resort, these Masais entertain you with their songs and rhythmic steps as you enjoy your dinner. In the night, as you close your eyes, the animal world along with the Masais of the Mara may flit across in your vision before you are lulled off to sleep.

This was first published in the June 2011 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post Kenya: Experience wild life appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

The broad footpaths and many subways make Abu Dhabi a walker’s paradise. Even crossing the roads is tension-free as most of the signals have timers.

As you walk, palm trees lining the road dividers and cars parked neatly in the allotted space don’t fail to impress you. Public transport in Abu Dhabi is good with plenty of taxis and buses plying on the road. All it costs to reach any destination by bus is one dirham. Taxis too are metered, easily available and nominally charged. The roads are less congested than Dubai, with fewer traffic jams. So travelling within the city is convenient and hassle-free.

Of course, walking around the neighbourhood is the best way to explore the charm of the city. You don’t want to take this option if you visit Abu Dhabi in the summers [July and August] as the temperatures soar over 45 degrees. But not so in winter, when the weather is pleasant and you’ll actually enjoy going on foot. Don’t let this discourage you from visiting it in summer though, as the heat is hardly noticeable in the heavily air-conditioned homes, shops, buses and taxis.

When you tread on foot, you are bound to admire the varied colours and shapes of the tall buildings. Most residential buildings have money exchange centres and shops selling electronic goods, ready-made garments, footwear and jewellery. Every once in a while, almost at every street corner, you spot a mosque—out of the 5000 mosques in the UAE, Abu Dhabi has the maximum. In the evening when the whole city lights up, the mosques stand out with their green and yellow minarets and domes. They cast a divine glow over the surrounding.

Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque is one of the world’s biggest and most beautiful. Laid out on an area of 22,412sq m, it can accommodate 40,960 worshippers at a time. With a thousand pillared outer area, 96 columned inner prayer hall and 82 domes to create the beauty of the marble mosque, it is indeed an architectural marvel. Inlay work of gold and semi-precious stones further enhances the beauty of the columns.

Reflective pools and manicured gardens embellish it from the outside while dazzling chandeliers of Swarovski crystals and Venetian glass light up the interiors. Indeed a marble wonder, the Grand mosque is the pride of Abu Dhabi. Avail of one of the many free guided tours that are provided to tourists at specific times of the day. Women visitors are given a hijab to wear over their dress before the tour and women, especially foreigners, love to get photographed wearing this garb.

There are as many malls as there are mosques in the city. In fact, you can spend an entire day exploring just one mall, especially if it’s a big one like Mushrif or Khalidiyah. With beautiful fountains outside and in the foyer, stunning decorative pieces, stalls, shops, supermarkets, coffee bars, food courts, children’s play area and theatres, the sheer variety of things that is offered in a mall will take your breath away. These malls serve as a cool eye-pleasing respite for tourists in harsh summer months. On days like Eid, Onam or Diwali, the malls take on a festive look and there are special events organised for shoppers.

Speaking of malls and shopping, one cannot leave Abu Dhabi without visiting its souks. The souk near Central Market is one of the oldest in the city and is a nice place to visit to get a feel of the old Abu Dhabi. With an impressive wooden exterior and pillared interior with shops on both sides of the narrow corridor, it is a favourite destination for tourists. From charms, baubles and semi-precious stones to jewellery, curios, perfumes and furniture, the souk lures you with its old-world charm. For ceramics, pottery and carpets visit the weekend Iranian Bazaar near the harbour. For the glitter of the yellow metal, go to the Gold Souk behind Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre. In this fully air-conditioned building, you will find lines of shops selling different kinds of jewellery in Arabian, Indian and Italian designs. During Eid, you can really strike a good bargain.

Parks too dominate the landscape of this emirate as it is dotted with 2000 well-maintained gardens and parks. Beautifully laid pathways, comfortable seats to relax, palm trees all around, a scenic fountain in between and a restaurant in the corner make these green zones in every locality pleasurable resting areas. Khalifa Park, near Sheikh Zayed Mosque, is one of the best in the city. An abra [ancient boat] welcomes you at the entrance. The park has a restaurant, colourful fountains, a water park, and a toy train to take you around.

Also, don’t miss the Corniche beach. With its golden sands, blue bay, palm-filled parks, beautifully-laid jogging and cycling tracks, and a great view of the Abu Dhabi skyscrapers lining the sea, all make your evening special. During weekends you will find families coming here to frolic in the waters, surf or play beach volleyball. Even lazing on the beach is pleasurable as you can watch the sunset, admire the Marina Mall tower, Cultural Centre, flag pole and Emirates Palace on the skyline.

To understand the culture of Abu Dhabi, visit the Heritage Village. At a walking distance from the Marina Mall and Cultural Centre, the Heritage Village is a great crowd puller. Mud homes, pigeon shelters, dresses, Bedouin villages, ancient excavations, forts and wooden boats all give you a glimpse into the ancient Arab civilisation. It also houses a women’s centre where embroidered textiles and craft items are available for sale.

A similar museum can be visited in Al Ain, the oasis city of Abu Dhabi. Also called the ‘Green City,’ Al Ain is 150km from Abu Dhabi and takes about two hours to reach. The small town has many large attractions. The Al Ain museum recreates the lifestyle, occupation, commerce, and attire of ancient Arabs. Here and also in the palace museum, you will be given a traditional welcome with a small cup of Arabian coffee and dates. The Palace museum unfolds the life of Sheikhs of the past who ruled and moulded the present day Abu Dhabi.

The main attraction of Al Ain are the oases. Enter any one of these green zones with thousands of palm trees to understand the planting and picking of delicious dates and the irrigation system here. Meandering through the narrow alleys of the oases you are likely to lose your way. However, it is pleasurable to walk through the palm groves and view the trees laden with date fruit. Out of the millions of palm trees in UAE, Al Ain has the maximum.

From any oasis, you can take a drive up to the second highest mountain of the emirates, Jebel Hafeet. At 1249m, it gives a splendid view of the city and bordering Oman. Coming down the limestone hill you can stop at the sprawling gardens of Mubazzarah to feel the hot spring water and admire the splendid scenery around. Al Ain is a great place to spend a quiet weekend.

Saadiyat Island, 500m away from the Abu Dhabi coast, is another place worth visiting. The future Cultural Centre of Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat, has an exhibition centre that reveals the future of the island through models, visual displays and a film. An art museum, a Louvre museum, a performing Art Centre, New York University Campus, an 18 holed golf course, residential complexes, beach resorts and hotels are some of the main attractions to look forward to. Just walking around the island, in its gardens with pools, palms and flowering trees is pleasurable.

Abu Dhabi has as much to offer as Dubai, but is greener, cleaner and more spacious. The wealthiest of the emirates, it is fast developing into a high class city with the best hotels, resorts, malls and expressways. You can drive down from Dubai to spend a few days here to get a feel of the old Arab world and the new modern emirate. But I suggest flying down straight to Abu Dhabi and exploring it for its own sake. It’s worthy of such respect.

The post Abu Dhabi: Space city appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

But that’s not all, Munnar also has lots of other things to offer—the Neelakurunji flower [the flower that lights up its forests once in 12 years], the Nilgiri Tahr [a rare breed of mountain goat that is found only in Munnar] and the Anamudi [the highest peak in South India].

Munnar derives its name from the Tamil words munu [three] and aaru [river]. The town is situated at the confluence of Mudrapuzha, Nallathani and Kundala rivers. It is located near the Tamil Nadu border and is close to both Coimbatore and Kochi, making it a preferred weekend spot for those residing there. But its beauty lures people from far and beyond—it’s also a popular destination of foreign tourists coming to India. It used to be the favourite summer resort of the English, when the British ruled India. And why not? The town and its surroundings vary in height from 1700m – 2700m above sea level and offer stunning views of hills and valleys. It has a salubrious climate round the year, which makes it a pleasurable place to spend your vacation. Even in summer, the temperature varies from 8 degrees – 16 degrees Celsius.

In summer, the sudden showers turn its tea gardens into magical carpets and bestow an ethereal look to the landscape. No wonder many good resorts have cropped up in the area. A four or five night stay in these resorts can give you everything from recreational activities and tours to ayurvedic massages and treks—a total rejuvenation package. We booked ourselves into a resort near a tea garden. And as far as the eye could see, there was mist and miles of tea gardens. The main town is a little congested though.

So, if you want to live amidst nature, go a little farther to Chinnakanal. The pristine beauty of the hill station comes alive with mountains around and valleys below decorated with lakes and tea gardens. And it is in this place that most of the holiday homes, guest houses and hotels are set up.

There are lots of sights to see and explore in Munnar. Tours are arranged by the resorts. However, one can also hire a cab from outside. We hired one for four days and soaked in the scenes of Munnar at leisure. On the first day, we went around Munnar. We saw the Gap and Lockhart view points.

Here, you get tender coconuts, roasted corn, fresh carrots, cucumbers and hats. On the way, you can see the varied hues of green and grasslands. Streams flowing in between hill crevices greet you from time to time. During monsoon, they become full water falls, with frothy white water gushing down in force. Lakkom and Periyakanal are two falls worth visiting.

The Mattupetty Lake is a major crowd puller. Located 13km from Munnar, at a height of 1700m above sea level, it has a boating station where you can get pedal, motor or speed boats. As you cross the lake in a boat, you’ll pass thick eucalyptus plantations, pines and a variety of trees, cattle grazing on even land, the lush Shola forest and the dam. There are numerous lakeside shops that sell honey, home-made chocolates, shawls, caps and Kerala handicraft.

The Echo Point, a few kilometres from the dam, also offers panoramic views along with horse rides. The flower garden, on the way back, is a treasure house where you’ll find rare flowers like the Mother of Thousands along with common ones like the rose. Red, white, yellow and violet flowers in different sizes are displayed in hanging pots and steps, there is also a great variety of plants, ferns and cacti in every shade of green. It’s an eclectic mixture of beautiful creations of nature.

On the second day, we headed to the Eravikulam National Park, 15km from Munnar. High up on Rajamalai [King of hills], this national park, spread out on 97sq km, is home to the rare Nilgiri Tahr, a variety of butterflies, birds and trees. The car goes up to a certain point, after which you have to board a bus that takes you to the start of the National Park. From there, you hike your way up. It is a steep climb that took us the better part of an hour. But once we reached there [though panting], we were well rewarded with a close view of the Nilgiri Tahrs that roam around the forest freely unmindful of the curious onlookers.

Nilgiri Tahr is a mountain goat that resembles both a goat and a deer. As you climb up the forested hill, you will find Tahrs on stone cliffs walking or sitting perched behind a bush. Sometimes they come down and walk across the road searching for food. Herbivores, they feed on leaves and shrubs. Tourists get excited spotting these rare animals that are declared endangered and wait to focus their camera lenses on the Tahrs for the perfect picture.

As you trek the hill, you will also find wild shrubs, tall trees, the shoal grasslands and peaks that make the National Park an ideal place to explore and shoot pictures. After a hard trek and climb down, you can drop in at the restaurant for cool drinks and a hot cup of instant noodles. On your way back, the driver stops the bus to point at the Anamudi, the highest peak in Southern India.

A tea factory is usually the last stop on the day trip. The guide takes you around the factory after offering you a stimulating cup of CTC [curled, torn and crushed] tea. The tour begins with a visit to the storing area, where you get to see how the curling, tearing and crushing of tea leaves is done before drying and packing them. You can buy the tea you like at a discounted rate at the sales outlet attached to the factory. You will also be shown a short film on tea making process that usually sums up the tour.

For us, each day in Munnar sprung a fresh surprise. On the third day of our tour, we visited Kolukkumalai, the highest tea gardens and factory. Kolukkumalai is in Tamil Nadu, near the Kerala border. It is an hour’s drive through narrow tricky roads. The journey shakes you up, but the surrounding exotic scenery compensates for the rough uphill drive. Miles of tea gardens, semi-circular hills tapering down in steps with bordered roads and designer patches—as if an artist has created a masterpiece out of the nature around. And when you reach the top, you feel like you are in heaven—it’s a mesmerising sight to see the mist slowly enveloping the surrounding hills and homes. A visit to the oldest tea factory enlightens you on the natural method of cultivating tea.

We reserved the last day for the spice garden tour. This time, we travelled down instead of up, through cardamom orchards, eucalyptus groves and streams. We stopped to walk to the Anayirangal dam and view the beautiful lake from above. Unending tea gardens were around us this time too. One can never get tired of shooting pictures of the scenic gardens and the roads cutting through the estates. The hues and shapes of the tea gardens astound you with their variety.

Our driver stopped near a spice shop. From here, a guide gave us a tour of the five-acre spice garden. We walked through the cardamom orchards that occupied more than half of the sprawling spice garden. Our guide explained how long it took for them to ripen before they are plucked and dried. We passed by turmeric, ginger, coconut, black pepper, cloves, banyan, Neelakurunji, rudraksh, bamboo and many more trees and our guide once again explained the life and nature of the trees and their products. A few guests even climbed up a tree-top view point to get photographed. We left with a wonderful aroma of the spices in our minds. We also bought some spices from the shop before bidding goodbye to our guide.

Our trip had come to an end and it was time to leave. As we left the resort right after sunrise, the morning mists were still over the hills. The sun’s rays had covered the surroundings to provide a completely different picture. I captured a few in my camera. The curving roads through the tea gardens this time led us out

The post God’s own hill station appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Then I thought I would call up one of my friends. We had a long and interesting conversation.” When he finally emerged from the lift, he was feeling refreshed. That was how he made the best use of the available space and time.

A lift, flight, car, train, hotel or a house becomes our living space—while we inhabit it. The time we spend in these spaces can be used for our wellbeing.

When my son used to travel in the suburban train, he and his friends had made their compartment their home. They would share each other’s stories, play games and even celebrate birthdays! So you get the point.

Long distance journeys

Long distance travel can become really tiresome. The only way you can keep oneself fit on such journeys is to keep the mind and body relaxed but charged. Here are some ideas:

• Stretch your hands and legs and rotate your ankles and wrists once in a while to regulate the blood flow in your limbs and also be alert and avoid getting cramps and stiff joints.
• Keep walking up and down the passage of your compartment. If you are on a train, take a light stroll on train stops.
• Consume more liquids than solids during long journeys to avoid indigestion and headaches.
• If you have to break your long journey, make use of the opportunity to exercise by walking at the airport. You can even have a bath, and shop in the meanwhile. You will feel refreshed and recharged for your next journey!
• Keep yourself occupied either by reading or watching good programmes.
• If you are travelling by car or train, take photographs of the scenery or interesting spots on the way.

Hotel stay

Once we reach our destination, the city of our visit and the hotel we are staying in becomes our home for the duration of our stay. It allows us to rest, refresh and recharge after a hectic day of sight-seeing.

That is why choosing a good hotel is imperative, also from a safety perspective. Here’s what you can do to make your stay comfortable:

• Plan your trip in advance. It gives you enough time to look for good, clean hotels and strike good deals.
• Make sure that your hotel is in a good locality with easy access to the market place, bus stop and restaurant. It shouldn’t feel like a strain to get back there or like a prison with no proper transport to get you out.
• Check whether your hotel room has good ventilation, clean toilets and comfortable beds.
• Ensure that it offers at least a decent if not spectacular view. Looking at the backside of other buildings when away from home is depressing.
• Select a room that allows for privacy. But make sure it isn’t too isolated for safety reasons.
• For the sake of your own hygiene, use your own toiletries and towels.
• Open the windows and air the place as soon as you occupy it to get rid of the unpleasant odours or other contaminants in the room.
• Insist that your bedding be cleaned and replaced every single day of your stay. Ensure that the laundry is freshly done.

The post Transient life appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Shravanabelagola is actually a Jain pilgrim centre that draws devotees from different places to seek the blessing of Lord Gomateshwara [another name for Bahubali] immortalised in stone. [Bahubali was the second of the one hundred sons of the first Jain Tirthankara, Lord Rishabha. Bahubali later renounced worldly pleasure for spiritual pursuits].

Nature meets heritage and history

Tucked in between two rocky hills,Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri, Shravanabelagola is a collection of heritage monuments and statues that can only be witnessed if you are prepared to trek hundreds of feet. However, once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with stone marvels and the blessings of Bahubali.

It delights a trekker’s heart to climb up the steep, stony hill to reach the temple complex. To the nature lover, with the coconut palms swaying all around, corn fields glowing in the sun and the stunning image of Bahubali peeping out of the rocky mountain, Shravanabelagola is the ideal place to head for a rejuvenating trip.

The place has a history. Bhadrabahu, a leading Jain Acharya [guru] migrated here from Ujjain along with his 12000 disciples. Chandragupta Maurya, the great emperor from the golden age of the Guptas also arrived here to be with his master, Bhadrabahu, and spent the rest of his life in surrender and penance. Across Chandragiri is the rocky cave where Bhadrabahu spent his last days in isolation. His footprints are still intact outside the cave.

Exploring Chandragiri

Chandragiri also called ‘Chikkabetta,’ is the smaller of the two hills. An artistic entrance leads you to the foot of the steep rock-hill, which you have to climb barefoot. So climb it early in the morning or evening to avoid scorching your feet in summer.

During monsoon, the steps might get slippery, so watch your steps. However, the climb itself is exhilarating. Even though the steps are steep, you can halt to sit back on the big stones to take in the beautiful view around.

After climbing hundreds of steps and crossing a picturesque pond, the main entrance to Chandragiri Basadi [temple complex] comes into view. Enter the complex comprising sixteen monuments to view artistic structures and sculptures.

A huge pillar named Brahmadeva pillar confronts you as soon as you enter the complex. This tall pillar supported by eight elephants [now reduced to five] at the pedestal of the column, has an inscription that mentions A.D. 974 as the date of its inauguration. It has a seated figure of Lord Brahmadeva on the abacus at the top.

Other structures worth admiration in Chandragiri are the stunted image of Bharata, the brother of Bahubali, Chandragupta basadi, Chavundaraya basadi and Manasthamba. The robust, but incomplete, image of Bharata seems symbolic. While his image has human proportions, his brother, Bahubali’s image on the opposite hill has godly visage.

As per the inscriptions on the hill, Bharata, Bahubali and their brothers were given equal proportions of land to rule after their father renounced his kingdom. Bharata, being ambitious, conquered his neighbouring territories before reaching the kingdom of Bahubali and challenged his brother on the battlefield.

Bahubali, on the other hand, asked Bharata to fight duels with him both on land and on water. In no time, he vanquished Bharata and instead of punishing Bharata, he forgave him and himself took up penance. It is in this act of penance that his image has been beautifully captured in the temple complex of Vindhyagiri.

From Chandragiri one can get a beautiful view of Vindhyagiri, the lofty hill with the gigantic image of Bahubali. The whole scene from the sturdy rock hill with its sloping steps winding all the way up and the ornamented top of the temple along with the bust of Bahubali to the Kalyani tank below with its green waters makes for an enchanting view.

Visiting Vindhyagiri

Vindhyagiri is steeper and has 614 steps cut into it to reach the temple complex. After every hundred steps, there is an archway, where one can halt before proceeding ahead. As you climb up, you can observe devotees— young and old, men, women and children—climbing up with fervour. The upward and downward climbs have been partitioned to ease the traffic as well as lessen the strain on the trekkers.

From each archway, one can have a breathtaking view of the village and the Chandragiri hill, especially early in the morning. With the morning sun piercing through the mist and the breeze blowing on your face, it is bound to make the early trek exhilarating and inspire one to click scenic pictures of the surroundings.

Reaching the top after a strenuous climb, you are greeted with sunshine and astounding architecture. The inscriptions on the ground of the outer hall are well-protected by glass slabs.

The Vodegal Basadi, to the left, is an impressive temple complex as is the ornamental pillar with a twined creeper on its right. From here, one has to pass into the final archway to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Bahubali.

Every tourist is amazed by the gigantic image of Lord Gomateshwara or Bahubali. After all, it is the world’s tallest single monolithic statue cut in stone, rising to a height of 17m, it can also be seen from a distance of 25km.

Installed by Chavundaraya, the minister of the Ganga King Rachamalla Sathyavakya in 988 A.D., the massive white image of Bahubali with its chiselled features and smooth finish is indeed a wondrous marvel in stone. Pose in front of the massive statue and you will be dwarfed to a shadow!

Standing on a lotus pedestal, the imposing statue of Bahubali has only the sky to cover him. Inspiring awe and reverence, the unclothed saint figure looks all too pious with his face serene and composed.

On all four sides of the image, inside a closed verandah, are the statues of the 24 tirthankaras. He is worshipped daily with aarti’s and jala abhisheka to his sacred feet every morning and evening. The lord gets invoked with reverence and pomp at a grand ceremony held every 12 years.

You can stay at the Jain guest houses in town that provide cheap but comfortable accommodation. Both Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri are at a easy walking distance from the rest houses. Pick up tender coconuts, fruits and curios from the roadside kiosks while walking towards the Jain Mutt.

After the long walk to the Mutt, visit the temples in the complex for beautiful paintings, sculptures and architecture. Finally reward yourself with a vegetarian meal at the mess, which is free of cost. It is nevertheless wholesome and tasty.

If you are planning a short holiday in scenic surroundings to recharge, rejuvenate yourself and refurbish your knowledge of history, Shravanabelagola is the place to head for. Hike the steep hills, admire our ancient heritage and heal your soul observing the serene statue of Bahubali.

The post Shravanbelagola: Trek and heal appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

You are a chemical engineer by qualification. What made you change tracks to become writer-editor of children’s illustrated books? How has the experience been?

I love children and I wanted them to be acquainted with the cultural heritage of India. Thus, I started writing and editing Amar Chitra Katha and then Tinkle. The experience has been pleasurable. There is joy in writing for children and attending to their imaginary complaints. [He laughs]. I still receive 4,000 to 5,000 letters from children every month. And I love reading them.

Is being with children a therapy to feeling young and energetic?

Definitely; I do feel energetic in the midst of children. Often, I forget myself when I am talking or relating stories to them.

Do you think there is a connection between diet, attitude and longevity? What has been your experience?

Yes, certainly. Food is what makes a person healthy. If you are tensed, your stomach, duodenum and intestines release chemicals in response to this feeling. Secretion of plenty of gastric juice makes your stomach acidic. It may result in constipation or cause pain. There is a hormonal balance in your body which is maintained by glands called pituitary [main gland], thyroid and parathyroid gland near your neck.

Our emotions affect the levels of these hormones. If you eat lot of sugar and sweets, it may lead to diabetes. Eating spicy and hot food, may affect the pressure in your stomach. This can cause many complications.

What is the secret of your wellbeing?

The Bible gives the age of man as three score and ten. Whatever you get more than that is a bonus [he laughs again].

When I was a child, I had the habit of eating fast. I recall what my grandmother had told me then. She would say: Kalidasa said ‘Hita Bhuk [eat what is good], Mita Bhuk [eat little] and Kala Bhuk [eat at regular times].’ I follow this dictum even today. I eat little and avoid eating fried stuff. Also, I have been taking morning walks for the past 25 years. Of course, now I walk less than I used to before.

Further, I do not lose my temper easily and keep my cool whenever I am faced with problems or difficult circumstances. Perhaps, these are the reasons why I have not had any major sickness or chronic health problems till now.

How do you manage to keep your cool when you are faced with problems? How does it help to stay healthy?

Just as easily as others, I too find it difficult to keep my cool when I am faced with problems. Almost all human beings rue over words said or actions performed. I also tend to do something similar. But I immediately recall words of Kabir, “Beeti tahi bisarake age ki sudhi leye” [forget the past and move on]. Harivansh Rai Bachchan too has composed a long poem expressing at the end of each stanza, “What is done is done.” [Beet gayi so bath gayi]

“Look at the skies, from where stars fall away [Poetic license]. The sky does not cry over stars that have parted company. Look at the gardens. The buds ripen and then fall down on earth. The plants do not cry about this. This little pots sometimes fall down and break apart. But no one cries over broken mud pots.”

Can you elaborate on Kalidasa’s dictum ‘Hita Bhuk [eat what is good], Mita Bhuk [eat little] and Kala Bhuk‘? How has it helped you?

Let me tell you at the outset—Kalidasa has never said a word of advice on good health. To impress me and her other grandchildren, my grandma just added some flavour of her own to persuade us. Follow this and you will remain healthy.

Please give some advice to our readers for a long, healthy and happy life.

For a healthy and happy life, remember Kalidasa’s words: be moderate in your eating, in your exercises; do not get angry as it affects your memory. Krishna says in the Gita: When you are deeply attached to a person or object, you feel angry with the person who takes away [or threatens to take away] what you like. Anger leads to confusion and confusion leads to loss of memory.

When it rains heavily, water pours down from the sky. Water, which does not accept the two restraints we call banks, leads to floods and a lot of destruction. Therefore, self-control is good for you.

The post Uncle Pai: I do not lose my temper easily appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.