Tamil Nadu
Tales from Tamil Nadu. Home to an ancient language, beautiful architecture, amazing temples, a famed coastline and the lasting legacy of British summer destinations that are now swathed with tea estates.
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A colonial stay in the Nilgiris – Sinnadorai’s bungalow, Mangorange
It is the end of April. Although intermittent rains bring some respite from the summer heat in Bangalore, the heart longs for the solitude and bliss of the hills. Especially the Nilgiris, for I haven’t been there in 4 years. Thus, when the chance of spending a weekend in the lower reaches of the Nilgiris presents itself, I do not waste a moment. This bungalow, approaching it’s 100th birthday, is the oldest of the Murugappa group’s lovingly restored colonial heritage stays. It dates back to a time when tea first came to these hills, and in it’s heydays, housed the deputy manager of the estate. Bangalore to Sinnadorai’s bungalow, Mangorange We start…
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Postcards from Valparai
A few picture postcards from my trip to beautiful Valparai.
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A weekend trip to Valparai
When the idea of making a weekend trip to Valparai struck me, I discovered that the origins of this hill station, and the flourishing state of much of it’s tea estates are due in no small part, to pioneering gentlemen from the days of the British Raj. It comes as a bit of a surprise therefore, that history books are noticeably devoid of any mention of the beginnings of this place. Indeed, precious little is known about Carver Marsh, the man who introduced tea plantations to the Anamalai ranges. Bangalore to Valparai If opting for a bus, Pollachi is the closest point that most buses from Bangalore will ply to. Most private, overnight buses from Bangalore take the Salem-Erode-Tirupur-Udumalpet…
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RE-BLOG: A Higher Place, A Divine Treat | OPEN Magazine
Cannot help but re-blog a few scintillating pieces of writing that I read recently. The first one begins with an introduction to the quaint British concept of hill stations and then delves into details of the writer’s experiences in the charming town of Kodaikanal. Rajni George paints a most endearing picture, one filled with fond memories, insights about the places that only somebody who actually grew up there can reveal, and most importantly, wonderful anecdotes about the people who live in Kodaikanal. Read on to find out more.. A Higher Place | OPEN Magazine. The next one is a lip-smacking, culinary journey through the temple towns of Tamil Nadu. V. Shoba guides us through a labyrinthine path across some esoteric and some famous…
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Uncovering the secret Porthimund lake in the Nilgiris
There is a lot more to Ooty and the Nilgiris than the cliched tourist brochures and websites would have you believe. I couldn’t get enough of the Nilgiris during my last trip and knew for sure there were a lot many things that lay hidden. To uncover these, you either have to know people who know about these ‘secrets’ or be a Google ninja. Either way (and especially if you own a vehicle), sometimes the best map to follow may be your intuition. Parsons valley and Porthimund lake were just two best kept secrets that I unearthed through countless hours spent reading forums and blogs. And once a rough itinerary…
