Bon Voyage

Devarayanadurga, Tumkur, Karnataka

*Devarayanadurga is in Tumkur, Karnataka and is quite near to Bangalore. Considered to be a hill station, the scenic settings, great views from the top, mesmerising sunset and a pleasant drive makes it a great idea for a fun-filled one day trip with the family and friends.

*Devarayanadurga is also a very popular trekking destinations. The drive to the foothills of the mountain and a trek through the mountainous path to the path is quite exhausting but also is satisfactory.

*The Temple of Bhoga Narasimha is at the bottom of the foothills. The temple is a quint old place with a beautiful idol of the presiding deity. After the darshan of Bhoga Narasimha, visitors can either start their trek to the top of the hillock or choose to drive part-way up the hill. Reaching the top requires a short climb, which is not very exhausting but might be difficult for elders. The Yoga Narasimha temple is situated at the top of the hill and devotees to the temple throng here for his darshan.

*The route itself is through a forest area and sometimes luck favors the visitors with some wildlife sightings. Leopards are known to prowl this area of the forest, so if you are walking, ensure that it is in a group and not alone.

*Being a hilly area with dry vegetation, the weather tends to get quite hot and dry during summers and is best avoided. Carry plenty of water as the dry weather makes you thirsty quite quickly. The best time to visit is probably just after the rains or during winter.

*Other than the famous Yoga and Bhoga Narasimha, the surrounding area also has other attractions like the Mahalakshmi Temple and a natural spring called Namada Chilume. Legend has it that Lord Rama, not finding water around, shot an arrow at a rock and split it. Water started gushing out of the rock (natural spring) and has not stopped till date. The Namada Chilume attraction also has a deer park which is quite a popular attraction, especially with small kids. You can feed the Deer at this park with carrots and other vegetables.

*A good weekend outing with the family.

*FRI (Forest Research Institute) is an institute of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. This is India’s 1st forest research institute established in 1906 as Imperial forest research institute. 

*It’s a wow place!! The campus is well maintained and clean. You can experience calming atmosphere here. It’s huge and so beautiful that for me it should be the best campus of all institutes in India.

* It was built by Britishers it is simple, huge and marvellous with 6 museums  located inside and lush green well maintained gardens makes it’s a must visit place while on a trip to Dehradun. 

* This complex is so large that we were able manage to visit just the one museum being the pathology area where they deal with disease that trees are confronted with in India. The displays did not contain a great deal of information. One Colour Picture board showed how they did major ‘recover work’ on the Buddhi tree. The brick architecture of the buildings is truly fantastic work and walking through the corridors. I was surprised at the large number of empty spaces.

*Forest Research Institute is the epitome of forest research studies and activities. It’s the hub of all innovative ideas.

*FRI is also popular for film shooting, many bollywood movies had been shot there like Student of the year, Student of the year 2, Rehna hai tere dil mai ,Krishna cottage and much more.

* It’s one of the most favorite place to get clicked, all you need is a good camera.

* It is a Best place to go for a walk and not be bothered by the hassles of Development, traffic and Pollution.I have visited this place quite a few times and I always find it mesmerising.

One must visit this place once if they are in Dehradun ,I am sure this place will never disappoint you.

If you ever feel down/distressed, just pack your bags and change your world

— Arafat Khan

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

The lush green fields cover the terrain as far as the eye can go, the beautiful blue sky colours itself with those white fluffy clouds and the snowy white mountains makes one feel that they are in midst of heaven. No, this is not another wonderful foreign country, one can experience this sight in our very own Solang Valley, 14 km off Manali. Solang Valley is yet another amazing little retreat that Himachal Pradesh has given us. It is popular among adventure freaks and also for people looking for just a serene escape away from the hustle bustle of the city life. It is India’s very own Ski resort and is popular especially around the winter time. The numerous adventure sports offered in Solang Valley makes the place extremely fun for everyone.

Things to Do 

Paragliding

Imagine just flying across the mountains and touching the skies. Solang Valley has two great jump spots that make the perfect place for a little paragliding. The view while one glides through the wind is to die for. This is a must for the adrenaline junkies, and even for those who just want to feel alive.

Quad Biking

Summers in Solang Valley makes the perfect weather for some Biking activity. One can drive through the cool green grass, explore new places and just go around the area with a Quad Bike. Quad Bikes are available with a trained driver too. But, if one wants they can easily rent the bike and carry on with their loved ones at the back. It makes for a perfect couple thing to 

Snowmobiling

Solang Valley is a paradise during the Winters. The snow covers the rusty mountains, and the sun glitters on top of it. Snowmobiling is more like sledding, but with a little more thrill. It allows one to have maximum fun and makes one feel that they are literally floating on the shiny white ice.

Skiing

Solang Valley is known for its Ski resorts. It attracts a lot of foreigners from around the globe who take part in this activity. Skiing in Solang Valley is a must for anyone who seeks to have some thrill. The snow and wind feel like paradise on one’s face as they zoom across the icy landscape.

Camping

Camping is essentially a summer activity here at Solang. Solang is far from the madding crowd. This makes it the perfect spot for camping. One can light a bonfire, get a guitar and just strum your hearts out in this wondrous valley. Stargazing is also a whole another activity which one can do while camping. The clean atmosphere makes it possible for one to just look up at the night sky and see a cluster of stars that light up the night sky like a million lanterns floating above your head. Songs and bonfire under the starts- what more can one ask for.

Gondola

While Gondola is not really an activity in itself (one needs to use it to go to the top) but the ride itself is joyous. Each Gondola has a small cabin that flows smoothly along the ropeway. As it goes higher the sight is breathtaking. One can see the clouds floating across, and the trees get smaller and smaller as the Gondola ascends. This is truly a view to behold.

A trip to Manali is incomplete if you fail to visit Solang Valley.

Hi.

My name is Arafat Khan. I am an enthusiastic student of Mass communication.

Though being a media student, I’m also a traveller, a little bit of travel writer and a photographer. Well, I don’t own a DSLR but my phone can capture pretty amazing views. I don’t think you need a DSLR to be a good photographer. It all depends on how you see things and how they seem beautiful to you.

I’m starting this Travel blog because I got it as an assignment from my teacher. But I think it’s a good opportunity for me to express my views regarding all the places I have travelled. So wish me Bon Voyage on my journey of writing Travel Blogs.

Today I’m going to tell you 10 powerful reasons why people like me love travelling

Challenging yourself

You might feel like you’re stuck in a rut in your daily life. Or you’re yearning for something exciting and different. You’re craving new experiences and new challenges. Travel is the ideal place to test yourself. It pushes people to their limits and gets them outside their comfort zone.

You’ll discover how resourceful you are when you’re exposed to new places, people and experiences. Maybe it’s finding your way around a busy city. Or ordering a meal when you don’t speak the language. Or zip-lining. You’ll feel pride when you finish your trip successfully. Overcoming challenges will bring you joy and energy for future tests. You’ll realize how capable you are and build your confidence.

Learning

Learning is a strong reason why people love to travel.  They want to experience something unfamiliar and leave with new skills or knowledge.

Seeing the world is more educational than a high school or college class. This condensed crash course in discovering how the rest of the world lives actually will cover subjects like history, geography and sociology. Every destination has something unique to teach visitors, and immersing themselves in a completely different world is the best learning experience.

People may travel to learn something specific: a new language, a new cuisine, aspects of a different culture, or a deeper appreciation of faith or spirituality. As a bonus, they’ll take away more than their specific goal. They’ll discover totally different ways of doing things. They’ll also gain awareness of new customs, cultures, people and places. And because you’re actually experiencing this learning in real life, not reading it in a textbook, it will stay with you for a long time. You’ll gain a deep sense of satisfaction with the new skills you’ve learned – and new insights you’ve gained.

Expanding your perspective

Another reason why people love to travel: it helps open your mind. You realize that there’s no one way to live life. Meeting people from other places will show you that your world view isn’t the same as everyone else’s.

You can’t imagine how different life is in another place until you see for yourself. Everything from work to family to beliefs to interests is not what you might expect from your own experience. The different setting will also help you discover and consider fresh ideas you hadn’t thought of before. You’ll come home with different notions and possibilities.

By being exposed to new places, people and cultures, you’ll develop a wider world view. And that will make you a better-rounded global citizen. It’s a great reward and big reason why people love to travel.

Getting in touch with yourself

Getting away from home gives you the opportunity to reflect on your life. You have the needed time and space to let your mind wander and take stock. Traveling is one of the best ways to learn more about yourself. Every day traveling brings a new set of issues and opportunities. The way you handle those also gives you insight into who you are. You’ll come home knowing yourself better, and with a fresh perspective on what you want out of life. The experience will change your life.

Appreciating your life

When you’re mired in your daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of what you have. Your eyes aren’t open to what’s really special about your home. Exploring another place will give you a fresh appreciation for your hometown, country and “real life.” Once you’re back, you’ll feel lucky to live where you do. You’ll see that there really is no place like home.

Building and strengthening relationships

The shared experience of travel brings people together. A family getaway, a romantic trip, or long weekend with the girls or guys can strengthen important bonds.

The latest Virtuoso Luxe Report names multigenerational travel as the top trend of the year. Travel with immediate family also made the top 10 trend list. With the demands of today’s lifestyle, and relatives spread across the country and world, families don’t have much time together.

That travel could be grandparents, parents and children together on a Caribbean cruise. Or it could be parents and children going across the country to visit Grandma and Grandpa at their home. Or just the immediate family renting a Mediterranean villa. Whatever it looks like, travel is an opportunity to connect with each other. It may even smooth over any family grudges and build happier relationships.

Couples, too, need to bond with each other away from home and work demands. Sharing travel experiences can ignite fresh sparks that last long after the couple returns home.

Travel is a special way to deepen friendships as well. Whether it’s a quick ski break with co-workers or a week-long sun-and-sand getaway with your high school gang, travel will remind you why you became friends with them in the first place, and how good it is to spend focused time together.

Travel is also a great opportunity to make new friends – either fellow travelers or locals. Meeting and befriending new people is a valuable travel benefit. And once you’ve bonded, new possibilities for future travel unfold – either to visit them or journey with them.

Having an adventure

Conquering fresh territory is exhilarating – and one more reason why people love to travel. Humans crave new experiences and travel lets us tap into that craving. A trip is the perfect time to do something different and exciting, especially something you can’t do at home. The thrill starts the minute you land in a new place. Conquering that territory could be trying spicy Thai street food or conversing in Madrid with your rusty college Spanish. Or it could be a physical experience, like scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef or hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. You’ll have lots of fun. You’ll revel in the rush you get from your exploits. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. And you’ll return home with the best souvenir of all: a memory of your incredible adventure.

Escaping

A demanding job. A bad breakup. The loss of a loved one. Just like the heroine in Eat, Pray, Love, travel can be a great relief from the stress and unhappiness that come along with those.

People seek from their travels what they don’t have back home: better weather, nicer scenery, the freedom to do what they want, experiences they can’t normally have, a slower relaxing pace. Admiring masterpieces in the Louvre or lying on a Hawaiian beach are wonderful breaks from the regular grind.

Travel is particularly helpful for workaholics who have trouble leaving their job behind. Stepping away from the workplace is good for you both mentally and physically. When you return to the job, you’ll have had the space to look at issues with fresh eyes. Travel has the power to let you not only escape but also heal. A new place with lots of fun distractions can work wonders. You’ll return home more at peace with yourself and your challenging situations.

Relaxing and rejuvenating

Maybe you’re not looking to escape your problems. But everyone can benefit from a break from our usual diets of all work and no play. You may not realize how much you need to disconnect from the ever-present pressure of being available by phone, email or social media.

A restful vacation is just what you need to renew yourself. In this year’s Virtuoso Luxe Report, 44 percent of respondents named this as a reason why people love to travel. A relaxing natural setting and good weather are common ingredients for the R&R-focused trip. But everyone’s idea of the perfect rejuvenating vacation is different. One person might want to trek through a rainforest. Another may want to lie poolside at a Mexican resort. Yet another might opt for a wellness retreat in the mountains.

What should you do when you’re there? Nothing, really. Relax and be present in the moment. Let sensations like the lapping water and the warmth of the sun, along with the sound of waves, recharge your batteries. Live day to day: focus on where you want to go sightseeing (if you decide to leave the beach), what activities you want to pursue (if any), what you’re going to eat, what souvenirs you want to buy. Travel helps your mind and body reboot in a way you can’t achieve at home. In fact, 86 percent of people believe it improves their mood and outlook on life.

Celebrating

There’s always a happy reason to take a trip. It could be a landmark birthday or anniversary. A graduation. A wedding – or pre-wedding festivities. Even a babymoon before a little one arrives. A special occasion is made even more special by celebrating away from the hectic pace of life at home. It’s also a good way to gather family and friends from distant corners to mark the milestone. Celebration vacations provide a lasting benefit as well: shared memories for a lifetime.

So if you ever feel low, just pack your bags and change your world 😉