T E Narasimhan's journal

How will you feel if you happen to meet innovation, transformation, hospitality and last but not the least technology under one roof? Isn’t it a vague combination? Doesn’t this, combination sounds unique? I am fortunate enough to experience this in a tiny village called Sanasandiram in Hosur town at Tamil Nadu. Located on the foot hills of a hill temple called Chandrachooda Eswarar temple, this village is located off the Chennai-Bangalore highway and once considered to be the dirtiest till two years ago, no proper roads, electricity and drainage system, is now considered to be one of the eco-friendly and well improved in terms of infrastructure in district. This transformation not only came to the village, it also happened to the rural youths who were working in tea-shops, was taking care of cattle today speak fluent English and are walking with high pride. Thanks to the entrepreneurship of two personality Dr Santhosh Babu and M. R. Ashok Kumar with a combination of technology which ga...

Nestling in the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar is the highest hill station in Western India and it as religious and historical associations. My trip to this hill station started from the Bollywood city of Mumbai. I took a bus from Dadar one of the busiest places in Mumbai. The air-condition bus cost Rs. 300 and it will take about four to five hours. During my trip I did various activities I visited ancient temples, beautiful points of Mahabaleshwar, unforgettable trek to Pratapgad Fort, a stronghold of the Maratha leader Shivaji, boating at lake and finally roamed through the tiny lanes of the bazaar, and did some shopping from luscious strawberries, blackberries, jams and jellies. (Click here to read full text)

Reaching Rothang Pass will probably remain as the best adventure of my life. Driving in Tata Qualis in the challenging roads and landslides gave a thrill that I guess is not achievable anywhere else except in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal (Him+Aanchal) literally means a dupatta or cover of snow. ( Click here to read the full text )

Following River Cauvery was an thrilling and nice trekking experience. In these three days i have seen different flows and look of Cauvery and i visited (stopped at) Nisardagama (bamboo forest or island in the banks of river Cauvery), Bylakkupe (small Tibet and second largest Tibet settlements outside Tibet), Coorg (on the Western ghats), Bhagamandala (meeting point of three rivers), Talacauveri (origin point of river Cauvery), Abbi Falls, Harangi Dam, Somnathpur (which speaks about Hoysala Dynasty architects Sivasamudram Falls. ( Click here for the full text of the tour )

The hardest, tiring and the most dangerous trek in my life was at Parvathamalai – Hill of Hill on a full moon day. It took almost 10 hours inside the deep hill forest to trek without any lights, water and food in the hardest rocks to reach 3,000 feet hill top. There's a Shiva temple at the top of the Parvathamalai hill. Devas and spiritual beings from other lokas worship here every night along with Siddhas. (Click here to read the full text of the trek)

Rajasthan the Land of Maharaja’s is the homeland of the Rajputs, who are known for their chivalry, valor and heroism. In battle, the Rajputs preferred death to dishonour. Rajasthan not only famous for it’s desert, forts and palaces it is know for it’s hospitality. My 3,000 km journey to Rajasthan started from the Indian capital city of Delhi to the cities of Mandawa – Bikaner – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur - Mount Abu – Udaipur – Jaipur and finally I concluded the trip back in Delhi. (Click here to read the full text of the tour)

Talakad and Somnathpur is one of the finest examples of Hoysala Dynasty architecture. My drive started from Mysore and it took more than 2 hours to cover 32 kms by road since roads are heavily damaged. Talakad is situated on the left bank of the River Cauvery. It is one of the oldest towns in the state. It was capital of the Gangas [6th century A.D.], Talakad has a number of temples including Vaidyeshware. Most of the temples are buried by sand, a few buildings, including a 12th century Hoysala temple, still poke through the surface. Once every 12 years this surreal temple is dug out for the performance of Panchalinga Darshan, though it doesn’t take long for it to be smothered once again by the sand. (Click here to read the full text)

A fort in Panchalankurichi tells us how our great and brave freedom fighters fought against the British and died for our freedom. One among such a legend was Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a brave warrior who laid down his life for his motherland. Panchalankurichi Fort holds the greatest record - it was built in five days with new techniques. I started my journey to know more about this legend and about the fort to the town of Panchalankurichi from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu . (Click here to read full text of my trip)

SAMODE PALACE, a magnificent example of Rajput-Mughal architecture, it boasts some of the finest frescoes and mirror-work in Rajasthan. The 150-year-old Samode Palace stands in serene sprawling splendour on a hilltop at the end of a dusty road and bad road, an hour's drive from Delhi - Jaipur highway. The palace surrounded by Aravali Mountain. I was travelling from Delhi to other places in Rajasthan via Samode Palace i spent two nights in this royal palace which is the best place to experience desert hospitality. ( Click here to read the full text of my trip )

Himachal (Him+Aanchal) literally means a dupatta or cover of snow, my drive to the hill stations of Shimla, Kullu, Manali and Rothangpass in Himachal Pradesh started from Delhi via states of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Click here to read full text of my 7 day drive

Imagine a world with no tar roads, no motor vehicles, no phones, no papers, no smell of gasolene, only green trees and trees all around, clean fresh air and aerial views that are breathtakingly beautiful. The world is not very far away just 140 kms from Mumbai then you get Matheran. It was discovered by British collector of Thane Mr. Huge Mallet in 1850. My journey started from Mumbai by car after two hectic days in Mumbai towards Matheran. (Click here to read the full text of the trek)

It was a pleasant evening that led this lush journey by crossing the mountains, cut through the forests looking for Bylakuppe, which has a little more than four decades of history to it a charming village presents itself to the unsuspecting traveller. A diversion from the Kushal Nagar highway lead to Bylakuppe. My first stike to see gaggles of road-cloaked Buddhist monks wandering down the lanes, prayer flags fluttering in the wind, sign boards saying “Long Live Dalai Lama” and slogans against Chinese. ( Click here to read full text of my trip )