Wanna Travel to shop ?

All you women out there , love to shop? Better , love to travel to shop? Well there are a million places around the world but in India which are the hot spots ? read on …

There are a LOT of places around the country that are worth traveling to only to shop, Delhi is forever known for being a shopper’s heaven, then there is Rajasthan and some in the Eastern side of the country, but lets limit this post for the South Indian options.

It mainly depends on the kind of shopper you are, if you are looking for classy concoctions for your home, or a beaded necklace for yourself, the hippie styles have come back, oh but you already know that. Which is the best place to go to get those awesome ali baba pyjamas? Those beaded necklaces and bracelets? Those kaftan styled soft silk loose tops with awesome prints?

Let us first see what we have in the state of Karnataka. Well it is a well known info that Hampi and Gokarna beat most places hands down for shopping. 

Hampi – What will you get there ?

Oh well just about anything a backpacking kinda girl would want, by that I mean junk jewelry, embroidered waist bands, super silver jewelry for definitely some of the cheapest rates [ if you know how to bargain]. Hampi has a very distinctive style, mostly hand made crafts do the rounds as the gypsies living there have a hang of what the tourists look for and create pieces accordingly. So you can also have the liberty to custom make a piece. You can get an embroidered piece done to fit your outfit back home, you just need to visualize it. Then the ready stuff that you get there is out of this world, some of the most amazing bags, hand made, hand embroidered and almost always each different than the other. The waist bands too are lovely, these waist bands mind you can be used as anything you want, just pick up a few of these embroidered ones and you can team it with bells and hang them on your window, or stick it to your big leather belt. And sometimes you will chance upon some real antiques too, hand bracelets and Kum Kum bowls. 

How to Bargain -

And then the silver jewelry, first thing they will talk a lot about how its real silver and the rate of silver and all of that just remember to ask real cheap, ask every earring [ not the small studs those are cheaper] for 200 INR, then every locket for 300 INR and the chain it self should be asked for 250 INR, then keep insisting and you will see how they will come from 1000 rupees down to 500 in a minute.  You will also get some amazing juthis, chappals and shoes there, embroidered colourful ones that are a must buy. Don’t pay more than 250 INR per pair, cheaper if there is not too much work on it. You can also buy some semi precious stones to add it and fit it to your jewelry.

Gokarna  - What will you get there ?

Gokarna is obviously known for its beaches, apart from beaches what you get is a variety of awesome shopping experience. You will get an amazing range of ali baba pyjamas, lovely printed tops in both cotton and synthetic. A variety of bags, from the machine embroidered sling bags with motifs of mushrooms, cartoon characters, Bob Marley and such others you also have the option of picking up the motifs separately and you can stitch or stick them to your bags and outfits back home. They are usually decently priced, but bargaining is compulsory , if you buy more stuff at one place you could get a better discount avoid the shops very close to the Main Gokarna Beach as they are higher priced than the ones a little into the town. You also get some amazing hand made paper diaries, books  and note pads. With cloth or printed hand made paper covering. You will also find jewelry boxes with silk covering they are beautiful and a must buy. Bear in mind most of these things are available only in the peak season. As most of the shops close down for the off season time. The main season to go is between late October and early April. The rainy season sees almost no shopping experience. And also remember that the other beaches in Gokarna like Kutle and om do not have any shops all you shopping needs to be done in the main town.

How To Bargain – The foreigner rates are usually exorbitant and pre decided and so if you are from another country try to start off by telling them you have visited the place a lot of times and know the rates, they normally works. And as for Indians, these guys now have decided rates, so most shops will tell the exact amount for similar stuff, so try and buy more than one thing in one place and ask for at least a 100 rupees lesser what they say, you should get a decent bargain. The Ali Baba pyjamas cost anywhere between 100 INR and 300 INR depending on the material. The tops range between 100 INR and 250 INR.  

Watch this space for the continuation, for more places and what is the best buy there ...

Parinitha Konanur

Belur Halebidu - Must see Heritage towns ...

Of the many destinations that Karnataka has to offer Belur and Halebidu would stand among the foremost, internationally known for its awe inspiring temples, a long and glorious history and easy access from Bangalore makes it one of the must see locations in the whole of Karnataka. The Capital of one of the most wonderful empires in the South – The Hoysalas , Belur was first Capital and then was moved to Halebidu. This wonder of the 12^th century still awes a 21^st century traveler beyond belief, with its intricate carvings and aura. October to April are the best months to visit the place.

 

Getting there :

By Road – It is a 217 km from Bangalore to Belur, one can drive down towards Tumkur – Kunigal on the NH48 and continue till Hassan and then get to Halebidu.

By Train – The nearest railway station is in Hassan and there are ample number of trains to Hassan from Bangalore.

Once you reach the Halebidu – which literally translates to “Old abode” in Kannada will present to you the magnificent Hoysaleshwara Temple, which is renowned for the fact that no two of its sculptures are alike, it has hundreds of sculptures and reliefs, with extreme detailing and spectacular meticulouslness. The intricate carvings run throughout the exterior of the temple which is guarded by the Shivate icon “The Nandi Bull”.  Then there is the magnificent Kedareshwara temple to keep your eyes happy. 

Belur is about 17 km from Halebidu and is known as “Dakshina Varanasi” translating to “Varanasi of the South”. Once you get to Belur the ever green, the ever mystic “Chenakeshave temple” touches your eyes and takes you in into its own aura, tansporting you back in time. With intricate detailing, the friezes and reliefs tell the tales from our great epics and the Upanishads. The 42 “Madanikas” or celestial beauties that are supposed to be inspired by the extremely beautiful and epitome of feminine beauty “Shantala Devi” adorn the place and will leave you speechless. The emblem of the “Hoysala” dynasty the sculpture of the tiger being slain by sala, which now has also almost become an icon of Karnataka. 

It is known that the artists from this time were encouraged to sign their signatures, making way to individualistic expression. The sculptures all though lined symmetrically differ from each other only extending its aesthetic exquisiteness. The distinctive star shaped exterior with detailed friezes is the epitome of the architectural history in Karnataka and mark a very important milestone in the history of art in India.

With all this heritage and history at 200 odd kilometers from the drab of the city makes it a superb destination for all Bangaloreans looking for a nice weekend get away. It also makes for a good trip if you are interested in photography, art and history. If you are used to sketching or making small drawings and notes do carry a sketch pad you will not regret it. 

Parinitha Konanur

Horsley Hills – A nice ride/drive for your weekend

Bangalore sees an absolutely perfect weather condition to ride, drive and travel around, during the time of October, November and December. With a little chill in the air, blue skies and warm sun it’s the perfect time to explore neighboring places on rides and drives. There are a lot of destinations around Bangalore that are worth visiting on the weekend, one of them is Horsley Hills. 

Getting there :

Horsley Hills is about 160 km from Bangalore and you will need to take the road to Hoskote , Chintamani then through Rayalpadu and Madanapalli to Horsley Hills. This is a good and easy route to be taken, or you can choose to go through Palamaneru on NH4 and then get to Madanapalli. 

Public transport Options are : One can take a train from Bangalore to Madanapalle and book a taxi from there to Horsley hills or even take local buses, though one must keep in mind that the buses are known to be crowded.

The best way however is to ride or drive to the place with one’s own bikes or cars. Once you reach the foot hills a narrow road takes you up the hill, the road is absolutely scenic and can make for an amazing ride, drive up. It is lined with Eucalyptus, Gulmohar and Jacaranda trees, making it very visually captivating. 

 Horsley Hills gets its name from the British officer W.D.Horsley, who was captivated by the beauty of the place and had a summer residence here , now it is used by the Governor of Andhra Pradhesh and hence known as the Governor’s Bungalow.

The popular local legend is of a little girl named Mallamma who was looked after by elephants, she used to treat the local tribal people of any illnesses.  When she suddenly disappeared people believed her to be a goddess and have built  a temple for her, thus the earlier name for Horsley Hills was “Yenugu Mallamma Konda”.

The main attractions of the place other than the awesome ride it self, is the High View point, Lake gangotri , Gaalibanda, the Environmental park and the Horsley hills museum. Other than this trekking enthusiasts can trek to the nearby hills, there are ample opportunities to do Rappelling and one of the few places to provide Zorbing in India [ for further information and to book an outing here with life is calling please contact us at contact.lifeiscalling@gmail.com ]

All in all Horsley hills makes for a superb weekend get away with an ample number of activities to do along with taking in nature’s beauty, works really well for a group outing.

Mahabalipuram – A superb Weekend getaway

Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram is 60km south off Chennai in Kancheepuram district in Tamilnadu and just a few hours drive from Bangalore.  It makes for a superb weekend destination, with its ancient history and amazing view, this place is full an awe inspiring sight. 

Kancheepuram is on the way to Mahabalipuram, it is known for its temples and most of all the world renowned Kancheevaram saris. It is a petite place with huge and stunning temples and a minimal crowd which come as a welcome relief. The shopkeepers are eager to please you and if you are the six yard fan you will love it. 

Once you reach Mahabalipuram you might want to plan your visits and so that you reach the shore temple around the sunset time. The temple closes at around 6pm and hence the timing has to be perfect. The beach is the next best to visit as it is right next to the shore temple. Along the short walk to the beach it’s a shoppers paradise with a variety of conch shells and jewelry at your fingertips, bargaining is necessary. There is a wide variety of fishes for the sea food lover, all made with the local masalas. The beach is a stretch crowded by shops and people, it’s an experience to wash yourself with the sea water to play along the waves with the temple as your backdrop.

The town in itself doesn’t have much, but there is a wide array of options for the shopping thirsty, Foreigners throng the town and hence a variety of food is available which includes English breakfasts.

The temples are known world over for their monoliths and the intricacy and ingenuity can be witnessed in the variety of the rock cut architecture. The Pallava sensibility is visible in the temples.

There is the Varaha cave, the Mahishasuramardhini cave and the famous Pancha Pandava Rathas which includes the Yudhishtara Ratha , Bhima Ratha , Arjuna Ratha Nakula – Sahadeva ratha and the Draupadi Ratha .

As you engage yourself on the journey you see the Arjunas penance one of the relief carvings. Arjuna’s penance depicted on the bas relief is known for its splendid narrative and its sculptural significance, it is a ‘continuous narrative’ with the story from the one of the greatest epics of all time “Mahabharata”

The visit at last - if possible should be the shore temple with its never changing  appeal the sound of the waves beating against the beach the hustle bustle of the markets nearby , the setting sun , all this and more will help complete the trip. The grandeur of the Pallava kings their artistic bend and perseverance is evident. There is a line of Nandi (vehicle of lord Shiva) along the compound of the temple complex very similar to the Bruhadeshwara temple at Tanjore. The shore temple looks its magnificent best in the setting sun; the color of the sun on the texture of the rock is an almost dreamlike experience.

The shore temple is known to have been reassembled from the sea after it was washed off in the cyclone. The tsunami waves are also known to have brought some of the hidden sculptures to life. Its an experience you are not bound to forget easily.

Getting there -

There are plenty of buses and trains available to Chennai from where one can board a bus to Mahablipuram. If you are driving down in your own transport, it is a pleasant drive to the place from Bangalore, now with the highways maintained, the only painful part will be the Hosur road which you will have to take initially to go via Krishnagiri where you take a turn to the NH46, from there its just one straight road to Chennai. The drive on the whole will take about 6 hours and mainly uneventful, the east coast road is the scenic best and not worth missing, running along the beach, the blue of the sea consumes you even when at a distance, try and plan this stretch at sunrise or sunset just to add a bit more to your trip, a few tender coconut pit stops are needed with the ever rising temperatures as you enter into the Tamil domain. The coconut groves lush and green and the Casuarina trees [known as ‘Chouk Sabuku’ in Tamil] will welcome you into this small, wonder of a town.

Extra Info:

The weather is extreme heat and light cotton clothes advisable.

Carry lots of drinking water.

A quick read on its history will give a better picture.

There are lots of stay options from cheap stay options to the costly places.

Mahabalipuram is about 60 km to the south of Chennai.

The nearest airport is the Chennai airport.