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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Trip to Shravanabelagola Halebidu Belur

12-oct-2013, it's morning 4:30 am and we are out of bed. We got ready by 5:30 and took our bike and headed toward corporation circle, Bangalore. We reached there by 6:00 and saw there were 100s of people waiting for their tour bus. We parked our bike and got the confirmation of our tour along with the bus number. We boarded the bus and we started our journey by 6:35. At 8:00, we stopped for breakfast in one of the kstdc hotel. We bought token for 4 iddly and 4 vada and a bottle of water for Rs. 165. Next we went to Vindhyagiri hill in Shravanabelagola. The 57-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshvara is located on Vindyagiri Hill. It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue. The base of the statue has an inscriptions in Kannada as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi, i.e. devnagari script, dating from 981 AD. We had to climb up and down 1200+ stairs. It takes 1 hour to go up and down.

Next we went to the Halebidu. It is the best temple I have ever seen. So well decorated. Curving on each and every stone is a Masterpiece. It demonstrate the imagination of the artist. I think nobody would have never seen anything like this before. We can try the curving on the stone by inserting thread through one ear and take out from other. It is said that this temple must be admired from outside for its beauty. It is said that the place was attacked many times in past, but what ever remained is still a masterpiece. The tour guide gave us lot of information about the place. His charge was Rs. 20.

Next we went to Belur. We went to restaurant for lunch. From there we went the temple. It is another masterpiece and it is said that it should be admired from inside. The best part of this temple was that it was not attacked from outsider but there were some minor attacked by localities.

Next we were on our way back to Bangalore. We started at 5:00 PM and on way we stopped for tea for 1/2 and hour and reached Bangalore at 10:00 PM.

Shravanabelagola Stairs
Shravanabelagola Midway
Shravanabelagola Ontop
Halebidu
Halebidu
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur
Belur


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Friday, September 06, 2013

Trip to Thanjavur

I had written mostly everything in my tab, but somehow I didn't save it and lost everything. I don't have energy to write it again. So will just point where we went and what we did.

Its 6-Sep-2013 evening I was returning from office and as usual I was planning to go somewhere and don't know where. I enquired with Runai to check if she wants to go anywhere and she suggested Thanjavur. It was a great idea and I packed everything from home and headed toward Shantinagar Bus Stand, bangalore. Got 2 tickets for to and fro Bangalore and Thanjavur. We started our journey at 10:30 PM.

Its 7-Sep-2013, 7:00 AM. we reached Thanjavur new bus stand. We went staright to a hotel and booked for 2 days. After freshen up, we had beakfast and out on our way for the trip. We took and auto and went to Big Temple.

It is Peruvudaiyar Kovil, also known as Brihadeeswara Temple, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram, at Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and an art of the work achieved by Cholas in Tamil architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples". This is the largest temple in India and one of India's most prized architectural sites. The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The vimana or (temple tower) is 216 ft (66 m) high[4] and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam (Kalasha or Chikharam) (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single stone and it weighs around 80 tons.There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high.The entire temple structure is made out of granite, the nearest sources of which are close to Tiruchchirapalli, about 60 km to the west of Thanjavur, where the temple is. Built in 1010 AD[7] by Raja Raja Chola I in Thanjavur, Brihadeeswarar Temple, also popularly known as the ‘Big Temple', turned 1000 years old in 2010. Next we went to Siva Ganga Garden and later to Schwartz Church. Next we went to Palace & Saraswathi Mahal Library, Art Gallery and Sangeetha Mahal. All these are in same compound. There are many other structures too like Palace Tower, various other palaces and Cooperative market place in same compound.

Next we had awesome lunch which consists of parota, dhosa and mushroom biryani at 5:00 PM and it was so nice that we parceled for dinner too. Took an auto and back to hotel.

Its 8-Sep-2013, we got up for breakfast but we did not go anywhere rather stayed in hotel and did nothing other than watching TV and relaxing. Around 8:00 PM we had dinner and went to the bus stand. Waited till night 11:30 PM and we started out journey back to Bangalore.



















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Friday, July 05, 2013

Hyderabad Trip


After office l was think in of going somewhere. So called up Runai and told her Lets go somewhere . She started asking where to go and I thought for sometime and planed to go to Hyderabad . l packed our bags which are usually prepacked, it took hardly 20 Min  to pack. By 45 min l was out of house and was heading toward Runai's office. We meet each other and took an auto to Santhinagar bus stand and went to ksrtc reservation counter and booked ticket for Hyderabad . Our bus was  8:00 pm and its 7 now. We went to nearby restaurant and ordered for chicken and egg Biragani . By the time they delivered, I went to nearby atm and withdrew cash . Had our dinner and after 15 min our bus was there.

Next day 6-July-2013 9:00 am, we were at mgbt bus stand, Hyderabad . We went to nearby hotel and booked room for 2 days. By the time Runai freshened up, I called up yellow cab service for 6 hours for 850 bucks or 8 hours for 1000 bucks if 6 hours is not enough. The person told that he will be there by 10:30 am. So went for breakfast down stair. Next we went and got in the cab. He asked us where we want to go. I had already prepared a list from Wiki sites. The person suggested us few changes and we were fine with it but we rejected going to Ramuji film city on that very day. We went to Qutb Shahi Tombs.
Qutb Shahi Tomb

Qutb Shahi Tomb

Qutb Shahi Tomb

Qutb Shahi Tomb

Qutb Shahi Tomb

It was so named because they were built by the Qutubshahi dynasty. Most of them were built by Quli Qutb Shah, the founder. Next we went to Golconda also known as Golla konda (shepherd's hill) a ruined city of Southern India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golconda (c.1518–1687), is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.
Golconda

Golconda

Golconda

Golconda

Golconda

Golconda

It is also a mandal of Hyderabad District. The region is universally famous for the mines that have produced the world's most famous and coveted gems, including The Hope Diamond, Idol's Eye, The Koh-i-Noor and Darya-i-Noor. The most important builder of Golconda was Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali, the fourth Qutub king of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty. Ibrahim was following the spirit of his ancestors, the Qutub Shahi kings, a great family of builders who had ruled the kingdom of Golkonda from 1512. Their first capital, the fortress citadel of Golconda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golconda's splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates, the grand portico, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot (91 m)-high granite hill. This is one of the fascinating features of the fort. After parking our cab, we started walking up the fort. For few meters, path is maintained well and after that it is rough one. It takes approximately 1 hour to climb on top of the fort. On top its awesome view of entire Hyderabad city. It took us 2 hours to return back to our cab. Though it was cloudy, but we were dead thirsty, so had lemon water and got a bottle of water. Next we went to the Falaknuma Palace. It has been closed for public and been converted to hotel by Taj. So we returned back to city center straight to Charminar. It's a very busy road. It's in center with 4 roads in four corners. Each road has shops on both sides. Side of Charminar, it's Mecca Masjid. It's a huge mosque. We didn't go to either of these two because it was very crowded. So we planned to go to Chowmahalla Palace.

Chowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace

It is very near to Charminar. From entrance it looks very small, but as you go in you never reach its end. It's very decorative with lots of things to see and huge in area. It will take minimum 1 & half hour to complete. It was already 4 and we were hungry, so we asked him to take us to a good hyderabadi biriyani restaurant. On our way we went to Salar Jung Museum but it was closed so headed toward the restaurant. He took us to Adab Restaurant where we ordered for a family plate chicken biriyani. The serving was huge and definitely not for 3 of us but rather for 5 of them. Anyway it was very yummy and also we were very hungry, so cleared the plate. We finished our lunch with hyderabadi special sulaimani chai. From there we went to necklace road. It is so called because the road is surrounding the lake which is in a shape of necklace. It is a beautiful place. From there we went to Birla temple.

Birla Temple

The parking was full, so we had to park little further up near to a small museum. From there we walked to the temple. We didn't enter the main temple because we have to deposit every bag which had all our valuables. We went around the temple and did some photo session. From there we returned back and he took us through some old market of Hyderabad. After that he dropped us to our hotel at 6 pm with 8 hours for charge. He told us that if we want to go to Ramuji film city then we can call him tomorrow morning and he will take us there. After that we went to our room and freshen up. After sometime we started thinking about dinner. So immediately checked in Google about where is the nearest good restaurant. I came out of hotel and followed the Google map and went to Sadab restaurant which was just like our Arsalan restaurant restaurant in Kolkata. Anyway I ordered for butter nun with shami kabab masala. Walked down to hotel and had our dinner. Oh that gravy was spicy with lots of spices and oily too. After that we watched tv for some time and then went to bed.
Next day 7-July-2013, we got up and decided to go all alone. So after finishing our breakfast from downstairs, we walked down to Charminar.

Charminar


Charminar

Took few pictures from different sides. Next we went to Mecca masjid.
Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid

There Runai had to wear dupatta as tradition. The lady security guard helped her to wear it correctly. We went in and had to keep all our belonging to the cloak room. From there we went to Salar Jung Museum.
Salar Jung Museum
Its huge and needs minimum 4 to 6 hours to see everything. We didn't have whole day, so completed it in 3 hours. Here we had to keep all our belonging which we didn't want to do. So first I went in and after I came out Runai went in. From there we took an auto to Paradise restaurant branch. I had googled it when Runai was inside. I was looking for 2 restaurant Bawarchi and Paradise. Somehow I thought let's go to Paradise. Once we reached there, we found that it is take away center. So we asked him is there any nearby branch. He directed us to imax branch in necklace road. We saw the direction in Google map and which is 2 km away. So we thought to go walking. Once we reached there, it was 3:30 pm. We ordered for fish malai tikka, 2 drinks and 1 chicken biriyani, 1 butter nun and chicken masala. They served the fish tikka. After having few bites Runai found pieces of glasses in it. We were worried, angry and upset too. After some discussion, I asked them to get the bill and walked off. Later I saw that they took the bill for 2 drinks and not for fish tikka. Anyway it was a horrible experience in Hyderabad with paradise. We took an auto from there and asked him to drop in Karachi bakery junction. From there we took 2 packets of fruit biscuits. From there we walked down to hotel. Our mood was off because of this incident. Runai didn't want to eat anything but I was very hungry, so went downstairs and had veg biriyani. After that we watched tv for some time and then checked out from hotel and walked down to bus stand. The bus left Hyderabad at 7 pm.

Next day 8-July-2013, we reached bangalore at 6 am.

30 auto, 16 bus, 50 auto, 2445 ticket, 270 dinner, 22 water, 5 toilet, 40 breakfast, 1300 hotel, 140 breakfast, 40 tomb, 35 golconda, 20 lemon water, 40 water, 20 parking, 130 chal palace, 40 parking, 300 lunch, 0 necklace road, 20 birla temple parking, 1200 cab charge, 350 dinner,  40 water, 160 breakfast, 10 clock room, 10 slippers, 10 gulab jamun, 20 salar jung museum
 
Chowmahalla Palace Inside

Chowmahalla Palace Inside

Chowmahalla Palace Inside

Chowmahalla Palace Inside

Duck
 

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