Munnar- A paradise

Before anything I say, I would like to declare that one cannot describe the beauty of Munnar in a word or even in a sentence! Some call it 'Gateway to hills', some describe it as a heaven of peace and tranquility. But one thing is for sure that no one will regret going there and in any season for consideration.
One of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Located at 1600 Mts above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the British Raj. One can still find the essence of British royality if you enter good restrurants or hotels in Munnar.

Munnar is the place of tea plantation and most of its beauty is flourish with well maintained tea gardens. Most of the tea gardens are owned by TATA tea. Apart from TATA tea there are also small tea companies which operate in this area.
The visitor is greeted with miles and miles of unending tea plantations on entry into Munnar. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji a flower which bathes the hills in blue colour once in twelve years. The Neelakurinji, will bloom next in year 2018 AD. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India - Anamudi - which towers over 2695 Mts and is an ideal spot for campers who like to do some trekking.
Local Attractions:

1. Mattupetty: Situted 1700m above sea level, it is famous for its highly specialised dairy farm, the Indo-swiss live stock project. Over 100 varietes of high yielding cattle are reared here.Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm.
The Mattupetty lake and dam , just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot.

2. Eco Point: Echo Point has a natural echo phenomenon and offers panoramic views.

3. Rajamala: Rajamala is the natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr. Half the world population of this rare mountain goat is found here, which is fast becoming extinct.

My personal Experience and Clicks

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Murudeshwara- Sea Coast

Murudeshwara is one of the western beach of Karnataka. This place is more famous for its Shiva temple which is bounded by sea from three sides. With the help of private estate company government is developing this place as a tourist spot.
With the roaring sea to the west, the towering hills to the east and the coconut and areca groves nearby, the temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists as well. This place is full of local tourists in weekends. Thus makes a very good picnic spot.


Around 466 km from Bangalore and 209 km from Goa, this scenic beauty is the connecting between Bangalore and Goa. Other famous beaches of Karnataka like Bhatkal and Hanavar can be accessed in same day. But to enjoy every bit of each places it is suggested to devote single day for each place.



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Hotels are also cheap. One can find many small hotels and lodges ranging between 300-600/per day. The most famous hotel here is RNS Residency, a 3 star hotel. This hotel is surrounded by sea from 3 sides, and gives a phonemic view of sea from its balcony. This hotel serves very good vegetarian food including Chinese and South Indian food.
Accessing this place from Bangalore, capital of Karnataka state will cost 2000 per person/day. One side bus fare is around 600/person. One can enjoy fish curry and coconut water at the coasts.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar- Birth place

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Date of Birth	:	1820
Date of Death	:	1892
Place of Birth	:	Mednipore, West Bengal

Narasimha Temple

Virupaksha Temple- Hampi

This temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, also called Pampapati. This is the oldest temple in Hampi and an ancient temple of Hoysala period. Some parts of this temple were built by HariharaI and Krishnadevaraya built a stage for public assembly.

The temple has two towers and two distinct compounds. The first and the bigger tower is known as 'Bistappaya Tower'. It is 165 ft high, 150 ft in breadth and 120 ft in length. It is not known that who has built this tower but it has been renovated many times by different rulers.
The second tower is the 'Raya tower'. Krishnadevaraya built this at the time of his coronation. On crossing this tower we get into inner compound or second compound. This compound consists of flag and the lamp post in middle. On the lest and right side of the compound there are small temples of different god and goddess.

Enter the past lock through Hampi

Hampi was the capital of the powerful empire of Vijayanagara from 1343 AD to 1565, today ruins of Hampi spread in 26 sq km of area. Bordered by Tungabhadra river in the north, this land remind us about the royalty and strength of largest Hindu empire. In medieval times, the Vijayanagara dynasty, framed for its patronage to art and culture ruled from here.

Hampi's history does not restrict to the medieval times, it has connection to the Hindu God Rama. It is said that this region was the mythical Kishkindha, where Sri Rama has spend most of his period of Vanvasa and there are ample proofs to satisfy the Hindu sentiments. It is here that Sri Rama met Hanuman and Sugreva and planned the battle against Ravana to regain Devi Sita. During the medieval period, Hampi and its environs were ruled by a succession of dynasties, including the Kam including the Kadambas, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas and the Hoysalas. Then between 1326-27, the Delhi sultan, Muhammad- bin - Tughluq, conquered the area but within ten years the Sangama brothers, Harihara and Bukka, led a rebellion and regained the area. They founded the celebrated city of Vijayanagara along the Tungabhadra river whose essence is alive till today.