Is travel to Manali in summer rewarding

The road from Keylong to Manali re-opened after six months in May 2011. But the BRO is still clearing the stretch  from Keylong to Rohtang. Tourists are being allowed only up to Marhi, as of last week of May. Rohtang pass is the reason why tourists flock to Manali in summer. Bu considering the crowds and the fact that being able to drive up to Rohtang pass is uncertain, is Manali worth the trouble?

First of all the distance from Delhi to Manali is 580 km on the route via Ropar, Bilaspur, and Mandi. The drive by car takes around 16 hours, with stops for lunch and tea. In summer, the weather is blistering hot  with dust storms all the way till Mandi. You will be very tired by the time you reach Manali.

When you reach Manali, instead of a charming hill station, you will be greeted by a concrete jungle with dirty narrow roads, and teeming crowds. The roads are choked with cars and people, just like perhaps Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Even the Log hut area, which is 3 km from the Mall and is supposed to  be un-crowded and calm, is not much better. In short, Manali in summer presents a ugly picture and is no different from any touristy hill station.

Rohtang pass is about 50 km from Manali. The road gets clogged with cars, with frequent jams. You should start before 6 am to avoid getting held up by traffic. The route crosses Kothi and Gulaba. After Kothi, the views of snow clad mountains is enchanting. But once you near Marhi, a claustrophobic scene of boisterous tourists and snow blackened with mud will hit you. If you were looking forward to a beautiful snow clad valley with view of Himalayan peaks, you will be disappointed and wish to retrace your journey.

Marhi

Yaks in Marhi

Para gliding at Rs 500 each ride, horse riding, skiing (very short slopes) are available in Marhi. There are food stalls offering instant noodles and beverages, but no other food. If the thought of riding a horse and making your way through crowds and slush does not excite you, you can chose to sit in the snow and watch the crazy crowds. Uncouth Indian tourists have no thought for protecting the hills; they simply litter the place without care. There no sign boards against littering or dust bins either!

Hidimba Temple, Manali

Within a 4 km radius of Manali, the places to visit are Hadimba temple, Vasisht temple with its hot springs, Manu temple and Buddhist monasteries. In peak season, there is a queue to get into the Hadimba temple. The interior of the tiny temple is rather plain with no carvings or paintings. There is no idol, only the foot prints of the devi and small brass idols.

Shiva Temple, Solang Valley

Solang Valley

Visit to Solang valley is more rewarding.  The shiva temple can be reached with a 2 km trek along a pebbled valley with mountains covered with forests on all sides. To reach the tiny temple, you have to cross a foot bridge across the river and climb few steps with icy water cascading down.  The temple is at the base of a waterfall, and a Shiva linga is formed from ice in winter, like in Amarnath. Horses are available for the feeble limbed. Adventure sports like paragliding and Zorbing Ball in Solang and river rafting are available. The Beas river makes for easy river rafting and even novices can try it. Actually it looked rather tame, even and old lady can enjoy it being no different from boating.
There is ski lift which costs Rs 400. The cable care will take you to the top where it is uncrowded, with grassy slopes and 180 degree views of snow clad peaks.

The Castle, Naggar

Naggar, is the old capital of Kullu and is about 20 km from Manali.  The Castle, built entirely in wood and stones, without mortar, and has been converted into a heritage hotel and Roerich House and Art gallery are worth visiting if you have time. Murlidhar Temple, Thawa is built in shikhara style and is 3 km far from Naggar village. It belongs to early medieval period. Tripura Sundri Temple is a massive wooden structure having three storeys. The top most storey of this pagoda type of temple has a canopy with a kalasa (pinnacle) at the top, crowned by a chhatra. Shiva temple (Gauri-Shankar) is about 4 km from Naggar, and can be reached from the highway with a 15 minute walk through a village road.

That about sums up Manali for those who do not intend to trek.

Letting go is hard

Apy has not come home since last night. We stood out and called it till 11pm.  During my fitful sleep, I kept getting tensed, wondering if he was safe.

This morning we are talking about Apy and wondering why he has not returned.  He must be about 6 months old now. When I feel sad about letting Apy go in my mind, I console myself that we did the best for Apy. I hope he is safe and happy and that he must have decided to let go of us, and fulfil his karma, his desires.

It is impossible to keep a cat at home and training it not to jump on to your bed or sofa. A kitten has its own mind. It gets restless and irritated if confined in a space or told  what to do.  Just like a human.

It was hard to let go of bratty, after he was carried away by a dog. Bratty was the cutest kitten there ever was. As I write this, my eyes tear up, remembering bratty, how lovely it would have been if he was still around, and playing with apy.

The grey one is bratty, Appy is all black....

Letting go of sorrow, memories, images of loved ones is a hard spiritual practice. I still find it hard to look at Amma's photo, though it is over two years now.

Maybe, instead of SEO Services, I should look for other entrepreneurship ideas, like spiritual healing (become a holistic healer, like the new age gurus, wearing Gucci and drving Mercedes :) ). Or even start a shelter for cats.  We were always worried where we could leave the kittens when we went for a holiday. There are kennels where you can leave your pet dog, but hardly any kitten kennels in India.

Coorg may be getting commercialised

While the promotion of tourism in any region is beneficial up to a point, we note with deep concern that Kodagu has already reached a stage where massive tourist influx threatens the fragile and precious ecology of Kodagu and the very societal fabric of the indigenous communities. Towns such as Madikeri are already reeling under water shortage and lack proper waste management systems.

During a recent weekend the streets of Madikeri were clogged with vehicles and there were chaotic scenes due to the entry of thousands of tourists. Madikeri was once a serene, peaceful town. Today, tourism has turned it into a dirty and polluted city like Ooty.

But you can enjoy unspoilt beauty by staying away from the center of town. Exotica Coorg Resort, 7 km from Madikeri, is a good choice for stay in Coorg.  You can take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and unwind in picturesque natural surroundings of Exotica. The Exotica Resort in Madikeri is an all season resort for families on vacation and company conferences or workshops. It offers Outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, Massage and multi-cuisine Restaurant.

Must See Places in Coorg :
Abbi Falls his beautiful waterfall lies about 5 km from Coorg.

Madikeri Fort - Located at the heart of Madikeri, this 19th century Fort offers an enchanting view of the entire town. The small museum within the fort displays historical paintings and memorabilia of the ancient kings.

Dubbare Elephant Camp

The Omkareshwara Temple is like a Muslim dargah and has a Linga near the door of the entrance. The history of the temple was inscribed by the king on a plate made of copper that is hanging at the frame of the door to the temple entrance.

Tadiandamol Peak

Cauvery Nisargsdhama Nisargadhama is a beautiful island off the state highway, two km from Kushalanagar town and 28 km from Madikeri. The 64-acre island, surrounded by the Cauvery river, can be accessed by walking across a hanging bridge.

 Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri Hills, is the source of the river Kaveri. A perennial spring situated at a height of 4,500 ft is the beginning of this mighty river.

Payday loans – trap or blessing?

Several countries including North America (USA, Canada) UK,  and Australia has a growing payday loan industry. They were not common 15 years ago, but today payday loan agencies outnumber fast food franchises in some towns!


What is a payday loan?  It an unsecured loan provided by a loan agency till your next payday from as low as 200$ up to 1500$. The tenure of loan is usually 2 – 3 weeks, and you have option to roll it over or extend it, if unable to pay.

Due to the extremely short term, the rates charged are high : typically 15 to $20 is charged for 2-week loan of $100. This works out to an effective annual rate of


Payday loan Interest rates may be high, but are like taxi fare, ideal for short haul, but unthinkable for long distance. They are convenient and fast. Loan is disbursed within 24 hours, often without 100% online processing, no signing or faxing of documents.

Several countries regulate the industry. In UK all payday lenders need to be registered with the OFT (Office of Fair Trading). In the US, 12 states have banned payday loans. .
In 2009, a financial system reform bill was passed. It created a new consumer agency that regulates payday loans and includes measures like a limit on interest charged.

Payday loans UK explains how to get a payday loan.

Abuse of OTC drugs to beat stress by yuppies in Bangalore

The other day, when I was buying medicines from my pharmacist, a young man, stepped up and asked for something. The pharmacist immediately shook his head and the boy walked away.

The pharmacist, whom I have known for years, turned to me and shook his head “did you see how confidently he asked – without any fear?’. Apparently the boy had asked for spasmo proxyvon. Youngsters mix it with coke and drink it to get  a ‘kick’ or euphoria. It is widely used, he said by young working men and women to beat stress, mostly people who stay away  parents.  He was sure that within 10 years the boy’s liver would be damaged or he would get tremors and become like any other drug addict.

Read the story at earth-news.info/health

Learning to swim through life

Having left my job in November 2008, I was at a loose end. I wanted to utilize this break to indulge in long cherished dreams - trekking and learning to swim.

After lot of misgivings about aggravating my sinus problem (classes are at 5 AM and 7:45 PM), near-drowning experiences, looking ridiculous in front of people who would learn fast, and effort in going to classes for 21 days at night, I joined PM Swimming Center (Jayanagar corporation swimming pool) on 5th Feb, 2009.

Lesson 1 : In Life, overcome your barriers and leap into the unknown!

One coach being on leave, we had only one coach for a batch of 30 guys. The coach could hardly manage the gang of learners of different capabilities. On second day, after kicking the wall and simply gliding, I had a panic attack in water and struggled to come up, even though coach had said 'Do not fear, I am here'. Later in the night, after resolving not to panic again, I remembered Krishna's delcaration in Bhagavath Geeta :

'Do not fear : surrender to me and you will surely come to Me'

Lesson 2 : While struggling to swim in the ocean of life, remember, God is there to save us.

On the third day, I learnt to glide. On fourth day, I could not get my legs to kick water properly. Coach pointed out that my feet were kicking below water, and did not kick the surface. He then turned to others. As I kept hesitating against the wall. afraid to try on my own, a gang member exhorted me to keep trying and not be inhibited.

Lesson 3 : In life, it helps to have a mentor or coach to make you do things which you already know, but hesitate or are too lazy to do. Even if you do not find a coach, keep your goal in mind and PUSH!

trek in B R Hills

My brother Kumar and I setoff to Biligirangan Betta on 18th December. We reached the hilltop at night and settled in our cold, tiled room at the guest house of Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra, which has preserved tribal information and the biodiversity of the region, and runs scholl for tribal children.

The next day we went to the Bilgiri Rangaswamy Temple and saw the famous 1000 ft. drop into the valley behind the temple. In the afternoon we trekked up to Mulki betta, accompanied by a nervous forest guard, who kept a look out for elephants, for it was the mating season. We unfortunately did not see any animals, except a sambar at a distance, which promptly fled, and heard the roar of a tiger and trumpeting of the elephants. It was a bit exciting, the sense of fear at being chased by a herd of elephants!

Early next morning we set off for great champak tree, Doddasampige mara, believed to be more than 2000 ears old and worshipped by the Soligas, the tribals of that area. I tried to medidate on Lord Shiva, sitting by the side of the 100 lings at the base of the tree. My reverie was interupped by a small gang led by the priest, who set about cleaning up the place. The rivulet is said to be an incarnation of Renuka, the wife of Mara rishi Jamadagni (my gotra!).

The forest cast their spell on me, with its deep silences interupted by bird songs. I tried to focus my consciousness on the peace of the forest and discover peace within me, but my mind kept wandering, including worrying whether we would reach the bus stop in time to go back to BRT. I concluded that one cannot attain peace by a quick trip to a forest. Mind has to be stilled after immense sadhana of spiritual practice.