Category: Central India

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Central India

Seoni: A Trip to Mowgli’s home

Considering a trip to Seoni? Well, there are several reasons why you should. One of the reasons why the name might sound familiar to you is because Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel laureate for literature who spelled its name as Seeonee, used this small city of Madhya Pradesh as a setting for his two Jungle books. In short, this would have been the place where the famous and beloved characters like Mowgli and Akira would have lived if they were alive.

Though no rainforests, Seoni is a thickly forested town. The home town of Mowgli will offer you it all – stunning views, thick vegetation, exotic animals, a dam, a temple, a tiger safari, old temples, a chance to go hiking, etc. The biggest attraction of the town is, of course, Pench Tiger Reserve, whose ideal location at Mowgli’s home makes it even more thrilling to go for a tiger safari there.

Best time to visit Seoni

The region has extremely hot summers (with a temperature rising as high as 45 degrees) and cold winter (with temperature recording as low as 0 degrees) and there is a very well defined rainy season. We recommend visiting it in October-November when the rainy season is over and the climate is cool without being cold.

How to reach Seoni?

By air

The nearest airports are at Sonegam (109 kilometers away) and Nagpur (130 kilometers away) from where taxis are easily available.

By rail

You can take a train to Chhindwara, Jabalpur or Nagpur and from there hire a taxi. Pench tiger reserve is 145 kilometers Nagpur and 215 kilometers from Jabalpur airport. a

By road

Seoni is well connected by road to all the major cities of the region. Pench tiger reserve is located at a distance of nearly 500 kilometers from the state capital, Bhopal.

Where to stay?

Nothing so perfect as Pugdundee Pench Tree resort. The resort is located at a distance of 32 kilometers from Seoni – in the thick buffer of National Park. It is made in form rustic wooden camps create a feel in one of living in nature – surrounded as one is with flora and fauna on all sides.

Main attractions

  • Pench Tiger Reserve

The Pench Tiger Reserve is the biggest attraction for tourists in the region. It is named after Pench river which flows through the reserve in a North to South direction. The river also acts as the natural boundary between Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. A dam exists on this river built within the tiger reserve. There are a number of other smaller streams as well as springs in the region but distribution is uneven making most of the wildlife to limit to only some of the regions.

The 293 square kilometers terrain of the reserve was uneven with frequent small hills occurring all around located as it is in Satpura mountain range. Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests fill the region with natural vegetation. Teak and Bamboo trees are some of the most abundant ones here.

Covering a huge area of land, the tiger reserve is located in one of the forested regions of the district, surrounded by hills and mountains, and is home to various kinds of wildlife including the tiger, wild cats, leopards, wild bears, sloth bears, Jackals, wildcats, wolves, chital, sambar …… stops for breadth ……… gaur, nilgai, Indian muntjac, wild pig, small Indian civet, langaur, mongoose and lots more.

Visiting the tiger reserve was the highlight of our visit to Seoni – for even though we were greeted by sight of just one tiger during our safari, we get to see a great number of other animals – leopard, two wolves, countless langoor and a wild bear. The tiger that gratified us with his presence was drinking water from the Pench river.

  • Bheemgarh Dam

Bheemgarh dam also known as Upper Wainganga dam and Sanjay Sarovar Bandh is constructed across the Wainganga river of Seoni. The Dam is located at quite a distance, 43 km away from the Seoni. It is Asia’s biggest Mud or Earthen dam and the mesmerizing effect its sight had on us was enhanced by the fact of its being surrounded by mountains on all sides. The place is one of the popular tourist attractions and makes for a nice picnic spot.

  • Amodagarh

Returning back to Rudyard Kiping and Mougli links, we now took ourselves to the place that was supposed to be Mougli’s workplace – Amodagarh. The place is situated on a state highway and doesn’t have much to recommend it. Though a small amusement lies in the sight of the ruins of the palace of Sona Rani that is visible from here. A history lover might also be amused by the ancient Mahakaleshwar and Shiv temples here.

  •  Matradham

Matradham is a village 15 km west in the Seoni and is the place where the Hindu guru Shankara Acharya was born and in its honor, he has constructed a Shiv Temple here in 2003.

  •  Guru Rataneshwar Dham

Last in our list of sights to see in Seoni is Dighori village, 25 kilometers north of Seoni, where one could find the World’s Largest Sphatik Shivling at Guru Rataneshwar Dham. Hindu Guru Shankar Acharya has constructed this Dham  – a sphatik Shivling that is world biggest at 54 kilograms and 21 kg paras shivling).

What to take back home?

We highly recommend buying some locally handcrafted goods made of bamboos as the perfect souvenir one might get from Mukukndpur.

Traveling tips:

  1. There might be some safety concerns especially those surrounding solo women travelers.
  2. Cameras are not allowed inside the Pench Tiger Reserve.
  3. Follow the rules and regulations of the Pench Tiger Reserve inside the reserve.

Conclusion

The Disney tv series on Mowgli was our childhood favorite and thus it was with very childish grins we saw the wild animals here and called them by titles from Jungle Book series – Akela, Sher Khan etc. If you too craved to visit Mowgli’s town as a child, Seoni is definitely worth your while. J

Categories
Central India Tribal

Dhokra Art : A Living Reminder of Ancient Genius

Today we shall talk about something new ….  correction, something old – something very, very old. 4000 years old. That is how old the Dhokra art is. The oldest surviving artifacts are the statue of a dancing girl found in Mahendrojaro that belonged to Indus Valley Civilisation – a statue rather famous among historians, art lovers, and archeologists alike.

Dhokra art is the beautiful artifacts, statues made by non–ferrous metal casting of copper-based alloys that use the lost-wax casting technique. The technique has also been found in China, Egypt, Nigeria, Malaysia, Central America, etc. The products continue to be in great demand among art lovers.

The name

Also spelled Dokra, Dhokra drives its names fromDhokr Damar tribes. These tribes are the traditional metalsmiths of West Bengal and Odisha. The tribe populates parts of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa but can be found in all parts of India.

The Process

Actually, there are two main processes of lost wax casting: solid casting technique and hollow casting technique. While the first is predominant in the south of India the last is more commonly used in Central and Eastern India. Solid casting does not involve use of a clay core but instead uses a solid piece of wax to create the mold; while hollow casting is more traditional in its ways and uses the clay core.

The first task in the lost wax hollow casting process is developing a clay core which is roughly the shape of the final cast image. Next step is covering the clay core by a layer of wax created out of pure beeswax, resin from the tree Damara Orientalis, and nut oil. This wax is then shaped and carved in all its finer details of the shape of the final artifact. And thus we get a mold for the artifact we desire to create.

After that, it is covered with layers of clay, which takes the negative form of the wax on the inside. Drain ducts are left in this mold so for the wax, which melts away when the clay is cooked. As the next step, the wax is replaced by the molten metal, often using brass scrap as basic raw material. The liquid metal poured in it hardens between the core and the inner surface of the mold. The metal fills the mold and takes the same shape as the wax thus forming the artifact. All that remains is chipping off the outer layer of clay is then chipped off and the final product is there as desired.

Motifs

Dhokra is an ancient art and the motifs continue to have a primitive simplicity to them. Thus commonly occurring motifs are religious images, Dhokra horses, elephants, peacocks, owls, measuring bowls, and lamp caskets, etc.

However, the ‘primitiveness’ of these motifs do not show a lack of growth or that that they are anarchic. Rather they might hide profound wisdom. Even someone like Carl Gustav Jung, one of the biggest psychologists reads much in these archetypical symbols that keep recurring in the simple motifs of Dhokra arts.

Moreover, some of these symbols have something quite modern to them. Of particular notice is the ancient artifact of Dancing girl, who has that provoking a flirtatious smile on her face as she stands with her hand on her hip –  a coquettishness marks her which does more to challenge the repressive tendencies that go by name of ‘traditions’ when it comes to gender matters.

A Declining art

Dhokra art much like several other traditional arts is seeing a very fast decline. Unlike some of the other handicrafts that are declining in India, the problem with the Dokhra art is not a lack of demand. The demand is on the higher side – both domestically and internationally.

Rather the problems are that first, the raw material is getting expensive. The artisans often poorer people are not always able to keep up with the increases in prices.

Secondly, there are problems of logistics. The producers being small are unable to bring their product to their consumers who are distant and often wide apart.

Thirdly, with increased prices and logistics costs, the final artifacts themselves get a bit too expensive and industrial products can often be cheaper.

Fourthly the industry remains untouched by any changes in technology. The artisans have failed to use any mechanization to ease their load. There is a sort of roughness to final products, a lack of final touch.

Fifthly, the newer generation is not showing much interest in art whose future seems a bit uncertain.

What can we do?

We believe Dhokra art can be much helped by some marketing. The government could use the Dhokra artifacts to decorate government buildings. A government or non-government agency might be created that will act as an intermediary between artists and their customers. Some protection needs to be given to industry. And research needs to be made in ways of improving the Dhokra technique

Conclusion

Dhokra art is an example of the ancient genius that has survived to the day despite remaining unaffected by industrialization. It shows that art finds a way of communicating itself whether or not there are technologies that support it. And we hope it shall proposer as travelers are growing more and more conscious of its importance. Cheers. J

Categories
Central India wildlife

Chhattisgarh:Wildlife, waterfalls, and a glimpse into the tribal culture

Like its tourism tagline, the state of Chhattisgarh in indeed full of surprises. Who would have known that in the heart of India, there is an entire state covered in greenery as much as 41.33%? And did you know that the oldest ethnic tribes of India form 70% of Chhattisgarh’s population? From the largest waterfall of India to the ancient natural caves, Chhattisgarh is fascinating in its every corner.

Rich wildlife
Of all its natural bounties, the biodiversity of Chattisgarh is the most pervasive and prominent. There are three national parks and 11 wildlife sanctuaries across the state that are home to some of the rarest and most endangered species of wild animals found in India. The most-visited ones are the Barnawapara, Sitanadi, and Udanti. All three parks are easily accessible from Raipur- the nearest and the biggest city in Chhattisgarh.

Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary– 128 Km from Raipur and takes about 2.5 hours via NH 53. You can opt for one of the airport cabs in Raipur and reach the park. Barnawapara is known for antelopes, hyenas, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Bison, and wild buffaloes- the state animal.

Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary– This is another half an hour drive from Barnawapara. One of the densest forests of India, the Sitanadi wildlife reserve is packed with clusters of Sal, teak, and bamboo, housing a considerable number of herbivores and carnivores like tigers, leopards and jackals, black buck, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur, and various species of monkeys and birds.
Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary– This reserve forest is the farthest from Raipur at 172 Km and it is better to find a taxi service in Raipur itself to reach Udanti. Spanning 232 sq. km, this natural sanctuary is known for its herbivore population known for its herbivorous population of bison, Barking Deer, Gaur, Sambar, Chital, Four-horned Antelopes, and Chinkara,

Fascinating waterfalls
The rocky terrain of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges dominate the horizon of Chhattisgarh, giving rise to some of the most rapid cascades that one can find.
Chitrakoot Falls– The largest (in breadth) waterfall in the country, the Chitrakoot Falls are also called the Niagara of India because of its horseshoe shape like the Niagara Falls. The waterfalls are fed by the Indravati River and monsoon rains, which drop down from a height of 95 feet, resulting in a torrential flow. You can take a boat ride at the bottom of the falls and watch the rainbow formed by the mist of the water along the edges.

Tirathgarh Falls– This waterfall on the Mugabahar River form a step-like structure, where the water cascades down blocks of rocks from a height of 300 feet. It is surrounded by dense forests and an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, which attract pilgrims. That is how the waterfall got its name.

The Amritdhara Falls and the Rajpuri Falls are also noteworthy and call for a day trip to experience their magic.
A peek into the culture of Chhattisgarh
A majority of the state’s population comprise ethnic tribes like the Gond, Abhuj Maria, among many others. Their life, aesthetics, and traditional practices form the foundation of the colorful and vibrant culture of Chhattishgarh. The most intriguing aspect of these tribes is their warm hospitality and their skilled craftsmanship reflected in the exquisite regional handiwork.

You can also buy fabrics, terracotta figurines, handcrafted bamboo and wood products, jewelry made of cowries, bell metal (Dokra), copper, and bronze, to support these communities and take home a piece of their culture. You can also join the local festivals and see them in their most lively form. They celebrate Goncha, Dantewada fair, Champaran Mela, Hareli – the harvest festival, and the popular Rajim Lochan Mahotsav. Women adorn themselves with leaves, wildflowers, and ornaments made of bones, shells, and locally sourced metals and perform traditional dances like Raut Nacha, Panthi, Karma, Pandwani, and Soowa.

With the rugged yet intriguing landscape, the breathtaking biodiversity, and a culture that is unique to the common man, Chattisgarh never ceases to fascinate and that is why it deserves to be on every traveler’s wishlist!

Categories
Central India Itinerary

5 days Itinerary to Odisha

Driving its name from Odiya language, Odisha might be one of the younger states but land on which it stands has the history as old as times of Ashoka who fought a bloody battle to win this land (at that time known as ‘Kaling kingdom). The state has a rich history, great biodiversity, and rich culture. Add to it, the vast coastline and you can imagine the variety of pleasure you stand to enjoy from a tour to Odisha. Its ability to attract tourists have rightly earned it the title of Goa of the East. Here we bring you a plan with which to get maximum from a five-day tour of the city.
Where to stay?
The best way to see whole of Odisha is to change hotels instead of wasting your time and energy commuting to different destinations and back. Arriving late in the evening, Bhubaneshwar is the best place for your first stop. If you feel rested enough, you can start early. The capital city is also ISBT offering bus services to all major tourist location as well as air and railway services. Afterward, we recommend changing your hotels to those in Puri and Konark. Almost all major tourist spots have good hotels and eating spots.
Place of our stay
We spent our first day in Mayfair Lagoon. The staff was most friendly and paid very high attention to cleanliness and hygiene. The luxurious hotel has air-conditioned spacious rooms offering beautiful views and most beautiful views, thanks to its location in a lagoon. It offers all 5-star benefits. The food is delicious, and breakfast buffet, swimming pool etc but the best thing about it is that it might be considered a tourist spot in itself – displaying amazing artifacts of the country besides the abundance of beautiful natural vegetation. There are options to go jogging, playing games like table tennis, basketball etc, even a yoga and fitness center.
Day 1
We recommend starting your day as we did by chilling out in Biju Patnaik Park. Walk around the lake, go boating, sea water of fountain dance to music here to refresh yourself to go traveling before returning to the hotel. If you still have time, go shopping in the urban part of the town for souvenirs.
Then visit Parashurameshvara Temple, the forty feet high wonder of ancient architecture dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Next, we saw the city’s most popular landmark Lingaraj temple standing one hundred and eighty feet high, have your lunch around here before seeing the temple. Visit Rajarani and Mukteswara temple if you have time but make sure that you reserve your evening for Dhauli Hills, where the famous Kalinga war is supposed to have been fought. The stupas and pillars here are thought to have been built at the end of the war, thus one of them is rightly called Shanti Stupa. Being there, it was difficult at times for us to believe that it was Indian work, and at that, ancient Indian work. We ended our day by seeing Buddhist Peace Stupa in Dhauli Giri before returning to the hotel.

Day 2 

We started the day by visiting Nandankanan Zoological Park. The name ‘Nandankanan’ literally means  ‘The Garden of Heaven’. And this 400-hectare zoo might rightly be called so being home to over sixteen hundred species including White Tigers, Asian lions etc besides having a botanical garden, aquarium and a reptile house guarded by  …. Ross Galler should Wait for it! …. a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Spend some time in the Tribal Research Institute Museum, also known as ‘Museum of Man’ and get a chance to observe and study tribal art and artifacts, displayed in its five different parts -You can find Personal Adornments in first Hall, Belongings, Arts, Paintings Photographs in second Hall, Hunting Fishing Implements & Weapons of Offence and Defense in the third hall, Household Objects and Agricultural Implements in fourth hall and Dance, Musical Instruments and Dhokra Items in the fifth hall.

Be sure to leave in time for Dayagiri and Khandagiri Caves. There is some climbing that has to be done and you must be on top in time to enjoy the sunset and beautiful carving on the walls of the cave that house an ancient monastery there. Remember to carry your water bottles and beware of monkeys.

Day 3

We checked out of our hotel in Bhubaneshwar as, though we did have to return to the city once more, it would still mean commuting extra distance. We took the bus to Konark, only sixty kilometers away from Bhubaneshwar.
We spent our day enjoying the architectural beauty of the Sun temple here. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this seven and a half century old temple has been labeled Black Pagoda by European travelers as early as in seventeenth century. The temple is actually a temple complex, each one of which is a celebration of Indian Sculpture art in itself. The open display of sexuality is some of the cravings of this temple might shock those holding narrow views of Indian culture.

A bus ride of another thirty kilometers from here will take you to Pune in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon marveling at the amazing architecture of the famous Jagannath Temple, labeled ‘White Pagoda’ by European travelers. Jagannath Puri is one of the four dhams of Hinduism.

We follow it up with a relaxing beach evening and were easily able to find a budget hotel in Puri. It was easy to find a reasonably comfortable budget hotel here to crash in the night.

Day 4

We took an early bus to reach Chilka Lake. It is the largest lagoon in the world and the second largest in the world. Besides being home to many species of migratory birds, it also shelters Irrawaddy Dolphins. Satpada, located next to Puri, is in fact known as dolphin Sanctuary. Dolphins were so pretty!

After having our fill of nature, we paid a visit to Mangalajodi village on this lake. Declared as International Bird Reserve Area, the wetlands offering scenic beauty are home to thousands of migratory birds.

We returned to Bhubaneshwar via bus and catch a train from there to Sambalpur. The train takes roughly six hours to reach Sambalpur. We managed to catch 15:05 train which meant that we had reached Sambalpur in time to find a budgeted hotel there.

Day 5

Tired of having traveled so much yesterday, we had a somewhat late breakfast before going to visit the Hirakund Dam and letting ourselves be awed by its grandeur.

Our last stop was Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary. A 22-kilometer bus journey from Sambalpur, this beautiful Sanctuary shrines several rare spices like tigers, elephants, sambar leopards,  bison etc.

Conclusion

The above plan will give you a chance to see the best of Odisha in five days. There are lots of other attractive spots but Odisha is a big state and these spots are too far apart. Moreover, there are not many airports, thus if you are willing to see it all, you may wanna consider an extended tour.

Categories
Central India Corporate Outings Culture Deserts

Ultimate Guide to Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

If not for the persistent advertisements by Amitabh Bachchan popularizing this spot, this land would have gone unnoticed for a long while. The vast white land merging with sky blue horizons was no less than a wondrous sight. While seeing this part of the Thar desert, one can be reminded of the Rajasthan’s sand dunes. As we were guided on camel-backs throughout the desert, a conversation kept brewing, telling us about the place. When monsoons hit, the place gets covered by Arabian sea and when the summers come, the water dries up, leaving behind salt marshes.

On our visit to the district, we found so many reasons to visit Rann of Kutch. And if you do believe in the truth ‘Nature is beautiful”, Rann of Kutch will prove you right. One look at the vast panorama was enough to convince us that ‘Kutch nhi dekha toh Kuch nhi dekha’. Though popular belief says, the real view of the shallow marshlands are seen under moonlight, we preferred the views of sunrise and sunset. The orange hues on clear blue sky contrasting with the white of the lands made for a picturesque scene.

The White Rann

It has to be the major highlight and yes, the biggest reason we found for our memorable trip to Rann of Kutch. As we stood there in the morning with the cold wind blowing, and the rays of sunlight brightening up the salt crystals, it was the most mesmerizing scene ever. We had goosebumps as we saw the beautiful transformations of the skies. The white desert of Rann of Kutch is something of an enigma with its calmness and charm.

Mandvi

Getting to dip your feet in the Arabian sea is an entirely different feeling than watching the sunset in the White Rann. Mandvi is one of the old ports in Gujarat and used to be a summer retreat for Maharajas. There are so many fascinating things to see over here, like the 400-year-old industry that built ships, Vijay Vilas Palace, and the harbour. As we walked around, we saw many ships in different stages of completion and the bird flocked to them.

Bird-watching

We didn’t have to go specifically for bird-watching because here in Kutch, these water birds flock together in abundance. All around the lakes, marshes, oceans, and swamps, you can see the variety of birds. We saw many pelicans as well as flamingos in the lakes near Mandvi. There were other birds like spot-billed ducks, black-winged stilts, and red-wattled lapwings as well, among other water birds. We did nothing but sit there for hours watching the birds and soaking in the sun until it got too much to handle and then we finally moved away.

Dhordo – Rann Utsav

Most of the tourists that do come to Kutch do it during the Rann Utsav which takes place mostly during the winter months. Starting from Bhuj, it covers entire districts and finally stops in Dhordo for the grand finale.

Amenities

There are many tents available in Dhordo that go from basic necessities to luxurious, depending on your requirement. It is established so as to be able to keep up with extreme temperatures of Kutch and provides basic comforts like air conditioners as well as heaters and hot water supply. Even the marketplace, adventure sports and exhibition centres are not far away placed. We stayed at White Rann Resort and had a great experience.

Exhibition and shopping

The exhibition centre showcases the real Kutch with its history, culture and traditions. It is such a vibrant place to be that we often forgot that we were there on a barren land.  We were amazed by the varieties available to us on sale. The selection of things you can buy in the markets is dazzling. Those handcrafted pieces with intricate work on them is a feast for the eyes. Most difficult part is trying to decide what to buy and what to leave behind.

Food

There are huge dining halls serving authentic, yummy Kutch delicacies and it doesn’t matter whether you are a foodie or not, you will want to eat everything. There are food corners all around and one can find something to munch on at all odd hours.

Culture

The evenings in Kutch are when we got to soak in the culture. With beautiful cultural performances going on, with music and dance by local artists, we couldn’t help but be dazzled. Those tunes are the kind we carried in our hearts for a long time and the whole performances were a nice mix of modern and ancient styles making it even more interesting.

Sightseeing

There is so much to Kutch that you cannot expect to see it just wandering around the ‘city’. So we decided to do what seemed the best idea at the time: Hot air ballooning.  A beautiful view of the whole of Kutch from amidst the air. It is a sight to behold. Don’t forget to visit the Narayan Sarovar and Charl Dhand. There are just so many places in Kutch that one can’t afford to miss out on. Just keep your camera handy because you don’t want to miss capturing the perfect shot. And those views are ones that will be imprinted on your memory forever but it is still better to capture the moment.

Adventure

Whether it is kids or adults, the Rann Utsav has something for everyone. The bikers get to have a solo ride on the desert on a Desert Patrol Vehicle. That is always a fun thing to do. There are also pool tables, paragliding and other modes of entertainment available.

Craft of Kutch

You can’t go to Kutch and not go Village hopping. As we went to the heart of Kutch, visiting village after village, we saw such beautiful craft and every hamlet specialized in one kind of craft. But the number of practitioners was so low. We saw weavers working in Bhujodi and printing practices in Ajrakpur. One of the must-see villages that we recommend would be Nirona where they still use castor oil for their art which is in Persian style. There were many other villages with their own specialization and we visited to see the craftsmen at work while getting tempted to buy some of the things.

Some Things to Know:

1.    You can fly straight to Bhuj and then travel to the venue. Also, there is a Kutch Express rail that travels from Mumbai to Gandhinagar. There is also a direct train to Bhuj. The place is well connected by roads as well.

2.    Look for the best packages and book them for Rann Utsav in advance.

3.    Do not miss the sunset from Kalo Dungar which is the highest point.

Everyone should get to experience the vibrant festivities of ran Utsav or witness the beauty of the White desert in Rann of Kutch. It is a sight to behold and you will leave with a light heart and a mind full of memories, each beautiful and unique. For any queries related to Rann of Kutch, drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com

Categories
Central India

Ujjain- City of Coolest God of Indian Mythology Aka Mahakal

Ujjain is one of the holy cities according to Hindu religion and was known as Avantika in ancient times. It is located on the banks of river Shipra and as the myth goes, during the Sagar Manthan, some of the nectar fell on this place making it sacred. Ujjain is a small and quiet place (during off season) and is quite a relief from Delhi’s hustle and bustle.
During our trip to Ujjain, we #ghoomophiro sisters reached Indore’s Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, we looked at nearby hotels in the vicinity to stay at. The climate was not too hot so after two hours of freshening up and relaxing, we went to Sarawate bus stand and got on a bus to Ujjain. Since there were many buses plying between Indore and Ujjain, it wasn’t hard to find one. It took us around 2 hours to reach Ujjain. As soon as we reached, auto rickshaw drivers surrounded us to take us to the famous Mahakal Temple.
The temple was very crowded even off-season. This famous Shiva temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. It had an idol of Omkareshwara Shiva consecrated above the Mahakal Shrine. The temple is massive on the inside with many small temples inside the complex. We stayed inside and prayed to Lord Shiva for a while before moving on to see the other temples. But we were hungry at that point since we hadn’t had our breakfast. The place was called Damru Wala and it was a mid range restaurant popular among tourists. Their special Thali was very fulfilling and delicious.
Our next destination was Harsiddhi temple which is one of the 51 shaktipeeths. It is a 5-minute walk away from Mahakal temple. This temple is built entirely of stone and the architecture is beautiful with two tall stone lanterns in the front yard. We saw a man climbing on the tall deepmalas to put oil in each of the diya.

As we drove through the dusty roads of Ujjain in another auto rickshaw for about 15 minutes, we reached Gadkalika Temple. This temple is actually a reconstruction of the ancient temple and is known as Shaktipeeth among the locals. This is the temple where the great poet Kalidas was given a boon by Maa Kalika. Just a little distance from this temple is Sthirman Ganesh temple so we walked over there as well.
Our next stop took us to Kal Bhairav temple. We were impressed by the intricate paintings here. The gateway showed Maratha influence and as we walked in, a mid-sized temple was in front of us. There is alcohol sold on the gate that people give as offering to Kal Bhairav. Before our next destination, we stopped by to eat at a local shop and tried ‘Sanchi’ flavoured milk which was delicious.

But our favorite spot in all of Ujjain has to be our final stop there. The Bhartrihari caves were an interesting place for sure. These caves on the bank of river Shipra near Gadkalika Temple is believed to be the place where Bhartrihari (step brother of King Vikramaditya) who was a great scholar-poet lived, meditated and wrote his literary works. These underground caves can be accessed through narrow stone staircases that descend from the main road. Though once we were inside, we were terrified of the stone structures collapsing on our heads. Since the caves are very small, it is easy to get overcome by claustrophobia. The heat inside doesn’t help with the shortness of breath either. Even though the sculptures were fantastic and it was a great experience being in a place with rich history, it was a relief to finally walk out of there. There were a few shrines and ancient sculptures at the entrance of the caves. Then it was time to head back and before leaving, we stopped by at Meghdoot Punjabi Dhaba. They had delicious North Indian food that was spicy as well as yummy. There were also Chinese food options, all at a decent price.

The driver got us back in one and half hours. Though Ujjain isn’t normally a popular spot among tourists but is more adored by pilgrims, there are wonders that can only be seen in this holy city.

Categories
Central India Inspiration

In Conversation with Padmaja Rathore

There are rare times when you come across some rare people who are not only an inspiration to you, but you always feel that their story needs to be told to everyone. And exactly this is what I felt when I met miss Padamaja Rathore from Jodhpur. She has been kind enough to share her story with us in the most candid way and here is the glimpse from the conversation.

Brief us about your background?

Rajkumari (Princess) Padmaja of Jodhpur who is filled compassion and courage has left the comforts of her Palace and has taken it as her duty to protect, educate and guide the people and wildlife of her states eastern frontier, the wild of Jawai and Bera.

Born in the Royal House of Jodhpur Marwar, Maharaj R.K Rajendra Singh is a conservation aficionado who for 45 years done various deeds in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand. He is a trained forest firefighter, has been a part of several volunteer activities with the Indian Air force and has done surveys the Indian Government- the Great Indian Bustard conservation, Blackbuck protection, CITIES, WWF, flood-affected areas, afforestation, water conservation and the list continues.

Rani Durgeshnandini Singh is from Himachal Pradesh, she has in silence helped several women in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan with domestic violence and social abuse, hygiene and sanitation, birth control and volunteer education.

Baiji Lal Rajkumari Padmaja and Rudhrani are following the footsteps of their great-grandfather and parents, both are involved in the conservation of Flora, Fauna, culture, and education in Godwar, Rajasthan.

Princess Padmaja is a Taj product after completing her B.Sc honors in Business and Hotel Administration she has devoted her several years in the wilderness of Godwar Belt of the Aravalli Ranger with the Tribal folk, her compassionate nature has made her leave the luxury of Rai-Ka Bagh Palace Jodhpur and live the life of a common farmer.

Princess Padmaja is doing a private research on indigenous flora and conservation of wetlands for  fauna

Baiji Lal Rajkumari Rudhrani Singh Rathore is a young budding Lawyer, a keen traveler and is showing interest in social upliftment and conservation, she has a small Homestay in Manali and works with local people in that part of Himachal Pradesh.

Tell us about the support from family?

Family support is a blessing, they are strict and liberal at the same time with both of us ( my sister and),, they have demands and expectations, with deadlines we must meet. Their love and guidance are always with us. They have worked on making us emotionally and financially independent. We also work in the budget and have to give accounts back to the time. We owe every bit of knowledge and success to our family.

How did it all start?

Conservation started at a very young age, motivated by our family. They pushed us to be sensitive and responsible towards our planet. Giving us knowledge of plants and environment. We were made to pick up plastic and plant trees, we were taught how to respect all big and small creatures and human beings. We were made to address all our staff as Ji with respect. We very made to dig small catchment for water conservation, we were taught how to do farming and the rest is now reflecting in our Arid Recovery Wildlife and wetland project at Bagheera’s Camp.
Being into this for a while, how do you feel?
I  feel motivated and strong, working with tribals is very challenging and a slow process requires a long-term commitment towards them for they have trust issues. The positive part is that we all want our lands to become rich in indigenous flora and fauna so that the present and future generations can benefit. – we are all at Bagheera’s Camp working on
  • WETLAND CONSERVATION
  • ARID AND SEMI-ARID DECIMATED…
  • AYURVEDA
  • PROTECTION AND REVITALIZATION OF INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS AND TREES
  • NATIVE SPECIES
  • LIVESTOCK GRAZING AND THE ASSOCIATED DIFFICULTIES

Your message to our readers?

My message and pursuit are simple – to bring an understanding and awareness to the importance of protecting our fragile and disappearing wild areas. Nature conservation and preservation is a key to our own survival as well as giving us natural areas that can be enjoyed and experienced.
 let us all take action – every bit of what we do can help. Do not be a part of the group of people who wish to ignore these vital issues to our own health and the welfare and health of our families – GET INVOLVED – start a group amongst your friends and/or family to change the landscapes of your own garden and then to see where you can help your city and region become more eco friendly and aware.
YOU CAN ALSO START BY JUST NOT THROWING TRASH OR PLASTIC ANYMORE IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY – SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS – its an easy start.
If you have similar inspirational stories, send us at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com
Categories
Adventure Central India Corporate Outings South India Travel Trends

Best waterfalls in the country

Waterfalls are beautiful, wherever they are. In a country like India, where there is no lack of natural marvels and thick forests, there are many waterfalls that could make the visitors have their mouths open with all the magnificence and brilliance. India is one of the very few countries that have been blessed by the Mother Nature herself. Even after all the economic and financial growth, due to which most of the natural beauty has been destroyed; there are still many places in the country that offer some excellent time spent in the arms of mother nature.

Speaking about the waterfalls, there are many in the country that may make you get lost in the magnificence and here are a few of them.

Jog Falls- Located in the breathtaking south Indian state Karnataka, the Jog falls a thing of pure bliss and beauty. There are many great waterfalls in the country, but this one located in Shimoga takes the cake to be the most beautiful one of them all. The second-highest plunge waterfall in the entire country, it falls from a cliff that is 300 meters high. You can imagine the speed at which the water touches the ground and the effect that erupts out of it.

Dudhsagar Falls- Goa is known as the perfect holiday spot for the western Indian states. And no wonder it looks all filled with people from different walks of life. But we are not sure how many of those people are aware that there is a natural marvel in the place worth a visit. At Mollem, Goa, the falls come down from 300 metres high cliff and the name that translates to an ocean of milk is enough for us to understand how beautiful it looks.

Iruppu Falls- Coorg is one of the most beautiful places in the country and also the most visited ones. The Iruppu falls located in the city is very close to a national park and serves as a great spot for hanging out or setting up the camps. People come here to take dips in the holy water before going to the nearby Shiva temple.

Jang Falls- From the tourism point of view, the eastern India remains largely unexplored, but that doesn’t mean that it is devoid of all the beauty that rest of the country has been blessed with. One such example is the Jang falls. The waterfall also serves as a source of electric power production for the local villagers.

Dhuandhar Falls- Located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, this can be termed as the most magnificent and massive waterfall in the entire country. The Jabalpur district is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and a big reason behind all that popularity is the Dhuandhar falls. The smoke erupts out as the water touches the ground and it gives away a psychedelic effect.

Waterfalls are a great gift of nature to the humanity and other than soothing their eyes and other senses, they can also be used for many other purposes. Many falls in India are being used for electricity production, and this is why we are on a progressive rampage.

Categories
Architectural Central India Tribal

Village Walk to Crafty Pranpur

As we the #ghoomophiro sisters got to the heart of India in Madhya Pradesh, a beautiful clear water river flowing through a dam caught our eye. The sight of the Betwa river which is far off from any usual tourist spot gave us what we craved for. A good scenery and solitude.

We delighted in the absence of crowds as we strolled the village of Pranpur, occasionally striking up conversations with the locals who were still awe bound by the visit of stars from 3 idiots. The duo of Aamir Khan and his co-star had arrived unannounced in the village to promote their film and the impressions are still fresh in the mind of the villagers.

With the picture perfect view of the village, the humble hospitality of the locals, the click-clack sound that surrounded us as we passed by the weaver’s houses, there was no lack of charm in this place.

Not only is Pranpur a delight to watch, there are many talented artisans that exist here making Chanderi Sarees and other crafts. The Village even got a National Award in 2009 for Rural Tourism. Don’t expect any resorts or luxurious treatment because the place and its people are very down to earth. You will get to experience the traditional village lifestyle with strict vegetarian diets.

We got to meet the village elder who was a knowledgeable man with all sorts of information about pottery, Bundelkhandi musical instruments, medicine as well as folklore. The day began with the melodious chirping of birds and ended with the star-filled sky. Large portions of delicious meals such as poha. Gujias, kadhi, mangodi etc is what you will find in your meals.

Then it was time for a leisurely stroll through the village during which we came across stone houses painted with pastel colors, four stepwells as well as a countless number of Sati pillars back from the sixteenth century. There was another incredible thing that we got to see and that was a Ram Mandir and a Dargah at the far end of the village, peacefully facing each other symbolizing how religions liver harmoniously in the village. The villagers were happy to indulge us in their pottery making practices as well.

Then there is the most important aspect of the village, the Chanderi weavers. Entering the house of a Chanderi weaver is like being surrounded by rainbows. The superfine cotton and silk warp is stretched tight on the loom and all members of the household be it the man, the wife or young children are indulged in making sarees of different designs and patterns. These Chanderi Silk Sarees are an expensive traditional Indian wear but this little village of Pranpur that makes these Sarees is forgotten. Women all over the country are huge admirers of these Sarees and we were glad to have seen their manufacturing first hand.

There were also a few metal craftsman in the village but their business had not been flourishing like the looms. But when we got a look at their handiwork, it reminded us of great antiques, something that would be admired long after its time.

Pranpur gave us a look into the Indian village life that rejoices in its crafts and talents.

Getting there: Pranpur is in Ashoknagar district, in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Chanderi is 3km from Pranpur.

What to do there: Explore the village’s Maize and barley fields on Bullock cart and enjoy their folk music and dance performances. See the spectacular sunrise and live like the villagers do, close to our roots.

Categories
Central India Culture

Village Walk to Rancha

During our stay at the King’s Lodge by Pugdundee Safaris in Bandhavgarh, a village walk was arranged. Barely a kilometer away from the lodge, we reached a uniquely traditional and secluded village Rancha. Firstly, we were surprised to see how desolate the place was not a soul in sight. Then, we were taken to a villagers’ home. There we saw intricate artwork done above the doors. We were in awe of the beautiful designs and what trumped even that was, getting to know that the males in that household did the work. That made us look at the colours and designs in a new different light. The stuccoed work looked incredible. This small video will surely let you believe how interesting was our walk to village Rancha.

That talk with the family was a delightful and refreshing experience. It taught us how open and friendly village people can be when you show genuine interest. All you must do is respect their traditions and be polite.

After a little while of walking around and meeting other villagers, we discovered that the place was not as desolate as we had imagined but it was the heat that kept people from wandering outdoors. We met other people as well, like a lady who ran a shop there. The shop had an adjoining room where she lived with her family. Some kids showed up from the nearby school to buy sweets with their pocket money and it was an adorable sight.

The kids were incredibly talkative once we sat down to talk to them and a charming smile was all it took to make even the shy kids become extroverts. We visit some other homes and the people welcomed us with warm smiles. Though some of them were camera shy, others did not hesitate in posing for a photo.

We saw some dome shaped temples upon entering the village and creative decor all over the homes of the villagers. Blue seemed to be one of the more popular colours. The smiling faces of all the people and the earthly atmosphere all around instilled us with humility and even the water that we drank tasted better. There were various government run health programs too.

The only thing on should know before visiting Village Rancha is that you should act respectfully and responsible tourism is needed while visiting homes of the people. Take your shoes off before entering the homes and don’t be rude. If you are just visiting to take pictures, then this is not the place for you.

Thank You Pugdundee Safaris for an awesome experience

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