There are Sal trees planted throughout the length of the park which stand tall and provide shade all over the park. The unique biodiversity observed in the forest represents virgin forests which make the surrounding greener and livelier. The national park was started in the year 1982 and with a large variety of flora and fauna found within the park there are different visiting places there as well. Few of them are Kailash Caves, Kutumsar Caves, Kanger Dhara and Bhim Dhara crocodile parks etc. I even saw two different resorts within the park which provides a very good place for holding picnics and small gatherings.
It was the first day of my stay in Chhattisgarh and I could not resist more to kick start my trips around the city. I decided to start the journey from far off places first and in meanwhile continue looking for places in my locality. Therefore I planned a trip to Bastar in Chhattisgarh which hosts a beautiful national park called Kanger Ghati National Park. From Raipur it is a long distance journey to Bastar. Therefore I took a train to travel to Jagdalpur from Raipur which is a distance of 330 km then I again took a bus from Jagdalpur to Bastar and finally reached at the Kanger Ghati National Park. The entire national park is more like a biosphere reserve which hosts several plants and animals. The Kanger Valley extends over a large area of 34 kilometers and the presence of the national park is just like an added advantage to it. Being situated beside the banks of the Kholaba River, the place experiences a much peaceful climate. The park is spread across an area of 200 square kilometers and the presence of the Kanger River is what makes it name. There are Sal trees planted throughout the length of the park which stand tall and provide shade all over the park. The unique biodiversity observed in the forest represents virgin forests which make the surrounding greener and livelier. The national park was started in the year 1982 and with a large variety of flora and fauna found within the park there are different visiting places there as well. Few of them are Kailash Caves, Kutumsar Caves, Kanger Dhara and Bhim Dhara crocodile parks etc. I even saw two different resorts within the park which provides a very good place for holding picnics and small gatherings. He fauna seen in the national park varies from chital, sambar, cobra, langurs, leopards, tigers, lions, sloth bear, wild cat, mouse deer and barking deer to spotted owlet, racket tailed drongos, parrots, peacocks, hill mynah etc. The best time to visit the park is from the month of Novemer to June. I was actually happy that I had planned my trip in the month of March as it was just the onset of summers and the climate was dwindling between hot and springy.
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It was my first summer vacation ever since I joined hands to the MBA program. Apart from studies what I have always liked is adventure sports, trekking and traveling. Last summer I planned to give it a shot to Raipur in Chhattisgarh which is a place filled with every different thing one would look forward in a journey. I had learnt about this place in text books and I researched a lot over the internet before I started to plan out for the trip to east India. Finally I booked tickets in the Korba Express for a journey from Chennai to Raipur. The train operates only on Mondays and Thursdays. It starts from the Trivandrum Central junction and ends at Korba. The train reached at the Chennai station at 11:05 pm in the night. It stayed there for a good 20 minutes giving me ample time to get on the train and settle myself in it. I found my berth in the bogy and occupied my seat which was on the lower berth. The train passed through major junctions through South India and finally reached at Raipur. Few of the major junctions were Nellore, Ongole, Tenali junction, Vijayawada junction, Khamman, Mancheral, Belampali, Chandrapur, Sevagram, Nagpur, Bhandara Road, Tumsar Road, Gondia junction, Durg before reaching at Raipur. The journey distance was more than 1500 kilometers so it was quite a long journey.
The journey through majestic terrains and landscapes of South India and then covering few parts of Maharashtra was indeed awe inspiring. I was traveling all alone yet it was the pleasure of the journey which kept me abounded with joy. I reached at Raipur on the next day at 10:40 pm in the night. The train stayed there for some 10 minutes which was more than enough for me to get down with my bag pack. Korba Express has its own pantry and therefore the passengers need not be worried for food while traveling in it. I had carried food from home which got managed for the first night. For the rest I bought food from the pantry of the train which is managed by IRCTC. It was indeed a wonderful journey filled with awesome experiences. This is dedicated to all my street shopping fans and those who always like to buy “Tol – Mol Ke.” We Indian women’s are pro when it comes to price war and often ensure we win it at as low as possible. For those who are new to the Bargain basement or are willing to learn to shop at right price here are few tips from my shopping experience at Indian markets. Golden Rule “Ensure you DON’T PAY TOO MUCH!”
Prior getting in into bargaining you should know how much the goods cost, so visit the fixed price stores, ask from friends, and do your homework very well. When you are into street buying, make sure you pay half of the initial asking price of the items you are willing to purchase. At times when you buy in bulk / more than one thing, it is possible to get items at far low price. Control your excitement of buying the goods, how much ever you are interested or like it - Pretend to be uncaring. First Sale Sentiment of the shop vendors – Try to shop at the beginning of the day, this will get you things at very reasonable price as the shopkeepers consider their 1st SALE (BONI) to be lucky. Do NOT HESITATE be bold and ask the shopkeeper is it the best price of the good he is selling or is there any scope for discount. If you are well aware, he is charging more then get into direct negotiation. Price Dropping this is an effective way – let shopkeeper list the price FIRST then tell him yet the item is too expensive then he would ask you to list your price, which increases the chances of purchasing goods at much more cheaper rate.[NOTE WHEN YOU SAY THE AMOUNT SAY MUCH LOWER THAN YOU WILL TO PAY]. Be ready to hunt for the best, do walk, and check out what rest stalls are offering at the market; Mostly they have similar and common items. Then bargain at 2-3 shops and buy from the one who offers you the best deal. Please note bargaining is FUN maintain your cool and crack a best deal. After all, it is all about being street smart. Madness - Ramee Guestline Hotel : Madness Ramee is a hotel in Khar, Mumbai which offers multiple cuisine and lots of entertainment. You will find the Madness pub with dazzling lights, music and lots of delicious foodstuffs to nibble and amazing place to be in. Make sure you vist Madness Ramee in your next trip to Mumbai.
After visiting the busy Crawford Market, the next place I had in mind was Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai. I had already booked my ticket for the 9 PM show Cinematograph`s NOTHING LIKE LEAR through an online show booking site. Hence, getting in did not come much as a trouble. Since I started writing blogs, it has become a habit to make acquaintances during the travel. This time was no different. I had already finished my dinner early and I had plenty of time to get some insights about the history of the theatre. I spoke to a gentleman in his mid fifties. He seemed to be a patron of theatre art form. He said he had been visiting Mumbai for business purpose since 90s and had never missed a chance to watch what Prithvi Theatre offered at the time. The theatre was named after Prithviraj Kapoor, who is considered to be the architect of Indian Theatre. It was built by his son, the renowned actor Sashi Kapoor. Prithvi Theatre has shows around the year and is closed only on Mondays. Prithviraj Kapoor started theatre in the year 1942 and it was a traveling theatre then. It was his ambition to have a home for his theatre, which was accomplished by his son Sashi Kapoor in 1978. Since then, the theatre has been a pioneer in Hindi theatre art. He also narrated an incident that unexceptionally proves the dedication of Kapoor family to the art form. Sashi Kapoor’s wife Jennifer Kapoor was the backbone of Prithvi Theatre’s operations. On the 7th of September 1984 she died and the theatre was not closed and the show went on as per the schedule. Since inception, the Prithvi theatre has staged more than 2000 shows and is still in its prime time.
The show was based on Shakespeare’s novel King Lear. It went on about the tragedies in the life of a clown. I thoroughly enjoyed the show. After the show, I went back to my hotel room. We had to pack our bags for the next day early morning train back to our homes. The Prithvi Theatre has given me a grand finale to my travelogue. With all the wonderful moments and happy thoughts the financial capital of India had given me, we concluded our journey. Holy Cross Church, Mumbai : The Holy Cross Church in Kurla is a Roman Catholic Church and it was built in the Portugese era. This surely is one of the oldest churches of Mumbai making it a place worth a visit when you tour Mumbai. The church has been renovated several times after its original construction.
Our next destination after visiting the beautiful and serene Powai Lake was the famous Crawford Market, Mumbai. We hired a taxi, which took us to the famous Crawford market in less than 40 minutes. It is located opposite to the Mumbai Police Headquarters and very close to the Victoria Terminus Railway station. The market is officially known after Mahatma Jotirao Phule and is named as Sanket Phule; however, people still call it as Crawford market. Shopping is one activity which I thoroughly enjoy it and being a budget traveler, I was sure this century-old market will provide me a good discount. The Crawford market is a shopper’s paradise; I was overwhelmed with the quality and quantity of commodities available in the market. It’s a bustling place and the majority of shoppers I found were women. The market was pretty much old styled with its colonial buildings. It offers a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables for regular buyers. I decided to take a tour of the market and within moments I realized why it was so famous. I saw shops selling pet animals and birds, including cute puppies, cats, and parrots. In the next corner, I found chocolate stalls offering both Indian and International brands. Being a chocolate lover, I bought a few chocolates for myself. There were other shops, which sold Sweet and Sour savories and bought a couple of them for my dad as he loves these items. As advised by a fellow traveler, I bought cosmetics, including creams, shampoos, and perfumes for a good bargain. I got a call from my mom just when I was thinking what to buy her. She asked me to buy a few household items such as broom, buckets, tubs, etc.
The last part of shopping in Crawford Market, Mumbai was my favorite. Shopping for myself, there were plenty of stalls displaying clothes of latest fashion and I could not hold myself any longer and bought a pair of jeans, t- shirts and Churidars. It was a great experience being among such a lively crowd and street hawkers inviting you to try out their products. With a heavy bag and a happy heart I left the market to my next destination. Marve Beach, Mumbai : Marve beach is located in the Western suburb of Malad. Visit to the beach is inevitable if you are touring Mumbai. There is ferry service from this beach to Essel World and the Water Kingdom. These amusement parks are worth a visit. You must allot one or two days for these trips.
After a great experience at the Flora Fountain, Mumbai I decided to call it for a day and return to my hotel. I had a great day behind and hopefully a much more fun-filled day ahead. After a quick shower and a hearty meal, I opted to listen to my favorite songs on my iPod and went through the pictures captured. May be self praising, but I felt my photography skills have improved drastically. At that moment of pride I bid adieu, good night to myself with my next destination in mind, the Powai Lake, Mumbai. After a stomach-filled breakfast of great Maharastrian cuisine, I packed my bags to visit a place you cannot miss if you are in Mumbai, the Powai Lake. The hotel staff explained to me that the lake is amongst one of the most gorgeous places and among the six lakes in Mumbai. The Powai Lake is an artificial lake located in the northern suburbs of Mumbai city supplying water to various industries. For me, I longed to see some sort of water bodies in my visit, I fell in love with this lake. The blue water shining in golden sun rays was something I couldn’t resist and forced me to take snaps of this wonderful exhibition of natural beauty. My local guide told me that the lake was artificially made by the British more than a century back, which is in 1891 to be precise. All of my friends were mesmerized to see the hills surrounding the lake and the crowd explained why it was a hot destination to relax and break free from the busy chores of life. There is a lush-green garden developed around the walls of the lake and offers a boat ride, which is highly recommended. Apart from beauty, the lake offers great animal life such as crocodiles, ducks, blue and white kingfisher, sunbirds, stork, and many more. The lake is constantly monitored and reviewed by many state-owned departments who make every tourist experience tranquil. The Powai Lake, Mumbai not only offers the above mentioned attractions, but also makes this place a heaven with immaculate surroundings. After a hectic schedule visiting Mumbai local destinations, we went straight to the hotel and checked in for the night stay. We freshened up quickly in our allotted rooms and went to the restaurant in the hotel premises itself. The dinner was filled with an enormous variety of cuisines and we ate like anything. We were so excited with Mumbai’s cuisines that some of us did not even wait for other friends and started having the food. After dinner, we took a short walk in the premises and the corridors of the hotel. It was late night and the sky was attractive with the stars and so was the hotel, which was dazzling too with the sharp lights. Chateau Windsor Hotel, Mumbai consisted of 50 well-furnished accommodation and rooms with the new concept of hospitality and modern amenities to welcome the guests with warm greetings. The rooms allotted to us were deluxe rooms with imported and well-furnished bed systems. There are one-touch electronic control systems at the bedside to make it convenient for the guests. The entire bathroom is well-equipped with the fittings of the American brand bathroom accessories. The eco-friendly AC system and electronic safes are the added advantage and amenities to the guests. The housekeeping and the other serving staff are very cooperative and soft-spoken, which I liked the most. They are ready to serve anytime without any irresponsible gestures. Since the hotel is located in the heart of the city and near the Gateway, it has become a major accommodation entity in the corporate world and the tourists who come to explore the modern city. The atmosphere of the hotel is quiet and cozy. We loved the reception service too. They are always there to assist and serve with hospitality. The additional services offered by the hotel are enough car parking space, minor repairing and stitching at no cost, complimentary breakfast, competitive rates and tariffs, and 24-hour room service to serve the needs of the guests. On the whole, Chateau Windsor Hotel, Mumbai gave me a distinguished satisfaction and sense of contentment, which I packed in my mind and took with the memories of Mumbai.
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About Author.
Hello, I am Ayushi Manroa. I love travelling and have also dabbled in photography. Being a student, I mostly end up back-packing! I started this blog to record my travelogues about the amazing places that I have been to. Be it frolicking in Goa, taking a dip in the Ganges, trekking in Coorg or hitching a ride up the Western Ghats, it is all listed here along with some of my best shots. Hope you like it. Happy reading!
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