Go Goa Gone!

For any college student, going to Goa with his/her gang is always a dream and in that list going on a bike trip is also a dream. For me both came together at once, a bike trip to Goa from Bangalore.

Sounds crazy, isn’t it? Yes, it does but then when 4 guys have 2 Royal Enfield, the word crazy has no definition and limit. With A Solo Rider as a companion, I knew there won’t be any hurdles while riding the bikes.

We were just sitting and randomly one friend said “Let’s go to Goa” and the wanderer in me said yes, even before I could utter a word. At first the plan was to in a bus/train but the this crazy thought came into our mind of going on bikes. 626 kms in bikes that also one way of the journey sounds crazy but trust me once you’re done with it you’ll have a memory for lifetime.

We started on 24^th of November, 2016 from Bangalore at around 5 pm. The plan was to ride while the moon shows us the way with few breaks in between whenever required.

The first stop was just to witness the sunset at the outskirts of Bangalore. With the moon rising, our excitement level was also at its peak.

While riding bikes at minimum speed of 80 kmph we reached top speed of 125 kmph at the highway.

Even if we were riding at that speed, we always kept safety in our mind. We were all cautious about the roads and other vehicles on the highway.

After riding almost 230 kms we stopped at a local dhaba for dinner. We had some food which a friend got from his home. we had everything we got and were all set to hit the road again.

At around 9 pm one of the bikes broke down, due to which we had to make a unscheduled halt at a toll plaza prior to Chitradurga and wait for road assistance. When we called the Royal Enfield toll free number, we got to know that there is a service center in Chitradurga. So, we planned to ride till the place and see what can be done next morning.

Our condition was such that wherever we got a chance, we laid down, even on the roadside.

    

We stayed at a hotel in Chitradurga and in the morning were all set to resume the journey. After almost 6-7 hours of bike ride and many halts we finally reached GOA.

We had planned our stay in such a way that with minimum budget we could enjoy the maximum of Goa. Our total staying plan was set up by A Marwari, so we knew we were getting the best deals.Hence, we decided to keep on changing hotels every day and save money by doing it.

Our first stay was at Down Da Village, quite place with good service. But the only disadvantage was that its almost 50 kms from Baga beach, the main attraction of Goa.

Next day we checked in to a different hotel, kept our luggage there and started exploring Goa.

First stop Calangute beach. We spent time there, witnessed the magical sunset and spent the evening doing nothing.

Next day was all about visiting the Chapora fort, Vagator beach and Aguada fort. But the only problem here was we had no bookings for the day and were in search of a place where we could keep our luggage. At first we found a place owned by a lady and had kept our luggage there but when most of the neighbours started saying something or the other negative about the lady, we decided not to keep our luggage with her and started finding a different place. While searching on the internet we found a place named White Pearl and decided to go there directly and talk to the owners. After reaching there we got to know that it was a hostel and the owners ( 2 sardar jis) after knowing about our condition allowed us to keep our luggage without charging anything.

As I had visited the place before, I insisted not to enter the Aguada fort instead we went to a place nearby to witness the sunset and click some pictures with the bikes.

These pictures will tell you how amazing the place is:

After the sunset, we went to Anjuna beach. Walked on the beach and headed back to the hostel White Pearl.

From there we took our luggage back, thank the owners of White Pearl and headed towards Baga beach.

One of us jokingly said “Why not stay on the beach for a night, it will be fun”. The idea was crazy but then our level of craziness was much higher. We decided to stay at the beach for the night and then leave for Gokarna from there.

We started at around midnight from Baga beach towards Gokarna. It had to be a overnight bike ride to save time and reach Gokarna before sunrise.

We stopped at a petrol pump to fill the tanks of our bikes. We decided to stay there for 10 minutes but ended up staying for almost an hour. The rest was needed not to us but to our bodies.

We reached Gokarna but were a bit late to witness the change of dark sky to a sky filled with sunlight. But we managed to click few pictures there.

After some time we decided not to leave for Bangalore right away but take some rest in a hotel so that we can feel refreshed and it would help us to ride the bikes again. After taking rest for a couple of yours, we were back again on the road only to head back to Bangalore.

After every 100 kms we had to stop to make sure our body gets enough rest. We sat ny the roadside, at the petrol pumps, at dhabas, at anywhere we got a chance. It was all about giving some rest to our bums, rest from the bike seats.

On 28^th November by midnight we were back to Bangalore with little bit of body ache and lots and lots of memories.

Its not easy to describe the entire trip in a blog but then by reading it one can get a fair idea of thr journey. That’s what I’m here about.

You can visit my Facebook page for more updates of my blog by clicking HERE. Photos of the trip will be shared on the page.

Few locations where we stayed, click to explore:

Down Da Village 

White Pearl

Banyan Shade ( you can get some good food here)

So, here ends my post with another experience. Will come up with another post, another experience soon.

By visiting Goa my friend got a chance to experience One life at many locations

Till then Happy Wandering J

The Royal Mysore

The Wanderer in me have been waiting for a long time now to write about my experience of visiting Mysore (Mysuru). This was my second trip to the place and coincidentally on the same occasion i.e. Dussera.

Just like the previous trip even this was an unplanned one. A night before Dussera the Wanderer in me thought to visit Mysore with my camera to capture the city palace with the extravaganza of the occasion.

As the travel was totally unplanned, I thought it would be better if I take a train from Bengaluru. Unlike last year the rush this time was way more, maybe because I took an afternoon train this time. Half of the journey was covered standing as I didn’t get a seat. The latter half of the journey was way more comfortable.

The weather in Mysore was amazing, was comfortable enough to walk. A little bit of drizzling with cool breeze. 

As the weather was too pleasant, was not at all in a mood to sit in a closed restaurant have my lunch. So thought to try the roadside eateries.

 

For some it might be unhygienic but I would like to ask them one simple question “How many have died after eating from road side eateries?” It’s one’s own perspective so I think it’s better not to discuss that here. May be that I will write a blog only related to roadside foods I have had in different parts of the country.

After having rice and dosa, I headed towards the nearby Mc Donald’s for some dessert as there no other shop seen nearby.

There was an auto driver whom I approached to take me to the palace but he advised me to walk down till the palace as the roads are too crowded. Taking his advice seriously, I took the road for the palace and after seeing the sea of people I thanked him for his advice.

I bet no one can count the number of heads in this picture :P

I had never seen this many people at one place for such a long time. It reminded me of Kolkata’s Durga Puja.

The moment I reached the palace, I was told by the palace guards and the police that the entrance is closed for today for any tourist. I was disheartened as I really wanted to witness the illumination of the palace that I missed last year. But then another police officer suggested us to go to the next gate as there management might allow the tourist to enter the palace.

Just after listening to it I almost ran to the gate where I found few people standing near the barricades. I decided to stand there till the palace gets lit up and if I’m lucky I would also get a chance to enter the palace.

The police kept on saying that this year unlike last many years, people won’t be allowed to enter the palace as results in chaos but still many people like me stood there and kept waiting.

Finally the clock showed 7:00 pm, the time when the lights of the palace is turned on.

One thing that it was in my mind for a very long time was to shoot a video where the palace gets lits up. And coincidently I was able to capture it when I just started shooting the video right at 7:00:31 in the evening. The short video can be seen here.

Then after a couple of minutes the gates were open and the wait was finally over. Everyone was allowed to enter the palace and then only I understood what chaos the police and the management were talking about. Hundreds of people trying to enter the palace from a gate where only 1/2 can enter at a time. It looked like all are running for their lives and unfortunately even I was one of them.

The view of the palace was amazing, almost 10,00,000 bulbs lighting up a palace, something that you don’t see every day.

The following pictures are few of those of the palace which was clicked on my visit.

After the visit, returning to Bangalore was also an adventurous event.

I had in mind to catch a train at 8:30 pm because right after that the next train was at 10:30 pm. Hired an auto near the palace and asked him to rush to the station. To my surprise I made it on time for the 8:30 pm train but to my shock it was full over the maximum capacity. When I asked a police officer regarding any train prior to 10:30 pm, he asked to me board this train and see if I can get any place to seat. Third advice of the day to me.

After thinking for some time, I finally decided to board the train and manage till Bangalore. But then I noticed there was no seats available and also there was no space to stand in the coaches. But I had to travel in that train itself as it had already left the station.

So, the entire journey was spent by sitting at the door (yes, the door was closed).

An hectic day came to an end when I finally reached the Bengaluru Station and finally I reached home at around 12:30 am.

Here i'm, A Solo Wanderer signing off.

Next, i will be sharing about my trip to Goa, a trip where i met another blogger The Solo Rider.

Till then keep exploring :)

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Taj Mahal - The symbol of Love

Everyone in this world has at least once fallen in love. It's a different story if their love was a success or not.
Whenever a person wants to link the emotion of love and a man made monument, the first name that comes to the mind is The Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders of the world located in Agra, India.

Taj Mahal - The symbol of love

I was fortunate that after waiting for almost 5 years when the initial plan to visit the Taj Mahal was cancelled, i got the chance to visit the monument in August 2016.
I was always excited to visit the place and had prepared myself. I read all the minor and major details about Taj Mahal.

Tanga Ride to Taj Mahal

No cars are allowed in a radius of  500 meters of Taj Mahal, so the options you have to reach the monument are: Walking, Booking a battery operated car or take a tanga ride (Horse cart).
We preferred the tanga as it was the only option available at that given time.
We entered the monument from the eastern gate and walked to the Gateway, which is the entrance to the courtyard.

The Royal Gate

There was a magic in everything made during the ancient times and the era of kings. One of those architectural genius is the Gateway to the Taj Mahal. When you move towards the gate, Taj Mahal looks smaller and when you walk away from the gate, you'll find the Taj Mahal becoming bigger and bigger. An illusion crafted with genius. The illusion can be seen here.

Once you enter through the gate, the main attraction comes in front of you, THE TAJ MAHAL.

The view from The Royal Gate

You will almost every time find this place full of tourists from different geographical locations, age, sex, religion. Coming here just to witness the brilliance of the craftsmen who built this monument centuries ago.
You'll be approached by guides and/or photographers even before you buy tickets for the entry. My suggestion is to go with the registered guides, which will help in understanding the history of Taj Mahal.
On the left of the Taj Mahal there's a mosque and on the right there is a guest house.
Just behind the Taj Mahal there is Mehtab Bagh, just by crossing the Yamuna river. It is beleived that Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal for his dead wife, had planned to build one more monument similar to Taj Mahal but in black stone in the place of Mehtab Bagh, but couldn't due to his son and some financial problem.

View of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh

I certainly fell in love with the monument and i'm very much sure that Taj Mahal will keep pulling tourists from all around the globe for many more decades to come.
It was like a dream come true for me to be able to visit the place and i loved every bit of it.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your tickets to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal with your loved ones.

For more information about Taj Mahal, click on this link: Taj Mahal
Next up is my one day trip to Mysore, Karnataka on the day of Dussera.
Do subscribe to my blog, comment and keep sharing.

A Solo Wanderer :)

Behind the scenes- Durga Puja, Kolkata

It's almost October and the entire world is preparing to welcome Durga Maa. Whenever a person thinks about Durga Puja, i'm sure the city that comes to their mind is Kolkata (Calcutta).
I have stayed in Kolkata for 6 long years so i know how the city changes before the festival. I know how the people of Kolkata prepare for the festival. I know what this festival means to the people of Kolkata aka The city of Joy.
There are many pockets of the city where the idols are made but the most famous place is Kumartuli.
If you visit the place at any time during the year, you'll find sculptors working.  But the energy, the environment is totally different prior to Durga Puja.

I had an opportunity to visit the place with many known and unknown faces during a photowalk last year. Being first time there, i had no idea what to expect but i soon realised that the place is full of art. Everywhere you look you'll find one or the other sculptor working day and night to complete the idols on time for the buyers. You'll find different tents where the work is done.
If you are planning to visit the place with an intention to click pictures, you might find people charging Rs. 10 for the same. Once you take that receipt, no one will ask you to pay any more amount but don't forget to take the receipt against the payment.
Once you visit the place, you come to understand the Do's and Don'ts of the place. You surely won't like people screaming at you just because you have disturbed them, you will surely love to get the best angle or view but don't forget to take permission. One should understand that it's their work and they don't want to get interrupted between that.
Carry as minimum objects with you as possible as the more objects you have, the more chances of hitting a sculpture which i'm sure nobody will like.
The lanes are not too wide and on both the sides you'll find tents and sculptures, so you'll have to be careful while walking.


If you visit the place during the month of September and October, you'll find many people with their cameras trying to get a shot of the place.
The place will be full of enthusiasts of different age group. There you will find many new comers and regulars as well.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit the place soon to discover the behind the scenes of the festive season.

The direction tothe place is follows: Kumartuli, Kolkata
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An Introduction!

It's not about how many vacations you have in a year, it's about how well you traveled during those limited days and how many experiences you can recollect.
This blog of mine is all about my experiences, traveling in different parts of India with family, friends or going solo.
Sharing what i have experienced is why i'm here and will look forward to get connected to the readers.
Sharing your own experiences will set my next destination wishlist.