Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
MY TEAM - Mar 14, 2012
After nearly a decade, I resigned from Spheris (or HealthScribe or CBay Systems). And my team arranged a surprise treat and gift for me.
To the great friends and all the amazing people out there, I love you all.
To all the 3 great teams I have worked with, THANK YOU !!!
To the great friends and all the amazing people out there, I love you all.
To all the 3 great teams I have worked with, THANK YOU !!!
Gangaikondacholapuram Trip - Mar 5, 2012
I never get tired of visiting the great temples of the Cholas. Built by Rajendra Chola to commemorate his victory over the Palas, this amazing temple is around 1000 years old. Driving to this temple reminds me of the pages of the great novel Ponniyin Selvan. The whole route is flanked by small lakes with lotuses, small temples, cattle and villages.
What a great culture we are, how lucky that we should be born in this nation.
What a great culture we are, how lucky that we should be born in this nation.
Mukurthi Fishing Hut Trip - Feb 19-20, 2012
After a long time, a real trip into the forests. Mukurthi Fishing Hut is famous in that you can't do any fishing around there :-) Well, it was built by a Britsher named Richard Radcliffe. When you go there, make sure that you take enough candles or electric lanterns and buy groceries from the market at Ooty as there is no electricity, and if you are working tell your supervisor that he/she can't reach you for 2 days because there is no cellphone reception there - what a nice way to live, really!!!
It is maintained by the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association, which incidentally is the first wildlife conservation organisation in India. You either have to take a SUV or rent a jeep from Ooty to reach there as the access road to the hut is not paved. I don't want to describe much about it as you really have to be there to enjoy the place.
It is maintained by the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association, which incidentally is the first wildlife conservation organisation in India. You either have to take a SUV or rent a jeep from Ooty to reach there as the access road to the hut is not paved. I don't want to describe much about it as you really have to be there to enjoy the place.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Bannari Amman Temple Trip - Sep 6, 2011
This is another one of Coimbatore's hidden treasures. My friend Udhay had know about this place and had been here a couple times and suggested that we should go here. Legend is that this temple is the origin of the present Bannari Amman Temple in Bannari. Situated on the outskirts of the forest, this temple is will tucked in, attracting a few visitors on most of the days. One has to travel around 5 km from the Bannari Checkpost to reach the Selva Vinayakar Temple. Vehicles have be parked there and one has to walk around 2 km to reach the Bannari Amman Temple. If you are lucky, you might see a few deer and an occasional Indian Gaur. Morning time, between 7 and 9 am, will be the apt time to visit here.
Route: Coimbatore-Annur-Puliampatty-Bannari
Route: Coimbatore-Annur-Puliampatty-Bannari
Monday, April 18, 2011
Odhi Malai and Beddathamman Cave Trip
Coimbatore never ceases to interest me. Trek, shop, roam, relax, drive - You've got everything here.
The first 5 photos are of Odhi Malai. Out of nowhere a hillock rises on the way to Bhavanisagar Dam. It's around 45 km from Coimbatore. After climbing around 1200 steps you reach a very old Murugan Temple at the summit. And when you go, go in the late afternoon so that you don't miss the glorious sunset at the hilltop.
The next 5 photos are of Beddathamman Cave Temple near Karamadai. This again is around 45 km from Coimbatore towards Mettupalayam. The cave temple here is around 300 years old.
The first 5 photos are of Odhi Malai. Out of nowhere a hillock rises on the way to Bhavanisagar Dam. It's around 45 km from Coimbatore. After climbing around 1200 steps you reach a very old Murugan Temple at the summit. And when you go, go in the late afternoon so that you don't miss the glorious sunset at the hilltop.
The next 5 photos are of Beddathamman Cave Temple near Karamadai. This again is around 45 km from Coimbatore towards Mettupalayam. The cave temple here is around 300 years old.
3-State Trip (Wyanad Bike Trip) - Aug 28-30, 2010
It had been quite a while since I went on a long bike trip, and me and Vinay too had not been together on a bike trip, so finally it happened. Also, I had never done a 3-state trip.
If at all you want to do a bike trip covering 3 states within a 3-day period, want to see historic places, a superb drive, gorgeous landscapes, mix spirituality with nature, feel the hospitality of Tamil Nadu, view the rolling plains and villages of Karnataka, and hilly terrain of Kerala, then this is it.
Day 1 = With an equal mixture of scolding and concern from my parents, we started around 8 a.m. The drive to Karnataka passing through the hills of Aasanur and Thimbam was excellent. And we reached Nanjangud. You have to see in person to see the beauty of this great Shiva temple and the Kapila river. Of course, you can't miss the old world charm of Karnataka towns like Chamrajnagar and Gundelpet. You can also go straight from Chamrajnagar to Gundelpet without touching Nanjangud, thereby saving 30 km, but then don't do that. You will miss Nanjangud. And the same day we reached Wyanad, Kerala, via the Bandipur forests. Don't forget to cross the checkpost at Bandipur before 6 p.m., they won't allow you to cross after 6 p.m. And we stayed the night at Sultan Bathery.
Day 2 = Started with a visit to Edakal Caves. This is a prehistoric site dating back to the neolithic period, nearly 6000 years old. Ancient man lived in these caves and you can see carvings depiciting their gods and animals among other things. The same day we visited the Phantom Rock, Wyanad Museum, Kanthanpara Falls, and Karapuzha Dam. We stayped the night at Meppadi.
Day 3 = Rain, Water, Wet, Drenched - these are the words which can describe day 3. It started to rain from 6 a.m. and was contnuing and we had no other go than to start in rain. It was raining continuously till we reached Ooty, Tamil Nadu, shivering like wet chicken.
Route: TAMIL NADU = Coimbatore-Annur-Bannari-Aasanur-Thimbam. KARNATAKA = Chamrajnagar-Nanjangud-Gundelpet. KERALA = Sultan Bathery-Meppadi-Vaduvanchal. TAMILNADU = Cherampani-Gudalur-Ooty-Kotagiri-Mettupalayam-Coimbatore.
Distance: 600 km/3 days
Expenses: Rs.1600/= per head including petrol, food, and lodging.
If at all you want to do a bike trip covering 3 states within a 3-day period, want to see historic places, a superb drive, gorgeous landscapes, mix spirituality with nature, feel the hospitality of Tamil Nadu, view the rolling plains and villages of Karnataka, and hilly terrain of Kerala, then this is it.
Day 1 = With an equal mixture of scolding and concern from my parents, we started around 8 a.m. The drive to Karnataka passing through the hills of Aasanur and Thimbam was excellent. And we reached Nanjangud. You have to see in person to see the beauty of this great Shiva temple and the Kapila river. Of course, you can't miss the old world charm of Karnataka towns like Chamrajnagar and Gundelpet. You can also go straight from Chamrajnagar to Gundelpet without touching Nanjangud, thereby saving 30 km, but then don't do that. You will miss Nanjangud. And the same day we reached Wyanad, Kerala, via the Bandipur forests. Don't forget to cross the checkpost at Bandipur before 6 p.m., they won't allow you to cross after 6 p.m. And we stayed the night at Sultan Bathery.
Day 2 = Started with a visit to Edakal Caves. This is a prehistoric site dating back to the neolithic period, nearly 6000 years old. Ancient man lived in these caves and you can see carvings depiciting their gods and animals among other things. The same day we visited the Phantom Rock, Wyanad Museum, Kanthanpara Falls, and Karapuzha Dam. We stayped the night at Meppadi.
Day 3 = Rain, Water, Wet, Drenched - these are the words which can describe day 3. It started to rain from 6 a.m. and was contnuing and we had no other go than to start in rain. It was raining continuously till we reached Ooty, Tamil Nadu, shivering like wet chicken.
Route: TAMIL NADU = Coimbatore-Annur-Bannari-Aasanur-Thimbam. KARNATAKA = Chamrajnagar-Nanjangud-Gundelpet. KERALA = Sultan Bathery-Meppadi-Vaduvanchal. TAMILNADU = Cherampani-Gudalur-Ooty-Kotagiri-Mettupalayam-Coimbatore.
Distance: 600 km/3 days
Expenses: Rs.1600/= per head including petrol, food, and lodging.
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