tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23231014235547857972024-03-05T10:37:00.302+05:30TraveLorePreeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-50492911928787953982016-09-05T21:45:00.001+05:302016-09-05T22:20:30.999+05:30Coorg - A refreshing monsoon gateaway
Although Coorg is a sought after
monsoon gateway, it wasn’t my first choice for an August trip. Originally the plan was to trek in the
rain forests of Agumbe, followed by relaxation at Chikmangalur. I even had my
train tickets booked to and from Mangalore.
However, due to an unforeseen spur in my left heel after Europe trip, an
adventure trip (which also involved trekking) wasPreeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-25939369248193311492016-09-02T01:21:00.001+05:302016-09-02T08:37:24.830+05:3012 months 12 trips - Quarter 2 round up
Quarter 1 of my challenge was rather exciting and
interesting. While quarter 2, in
contrast, was dull – the only high-point being a long pending, full-fledged family
trip to Kashmir.
April 2016
Kashmir: where
Tulips bloom
I visited Srinagar (just for a day!) in June 2015 as a part
of road trip to Ladakh. At that time I was
rushing from one place to another, trying to Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-23335474884137271332016-05-15T12:19:00.000+05:302016-05-15T12:24:35.448+05:30Eating and drinking my way through Kashmir
You know you’re in Kashmir when bed-tea is replaced by Kahwa
in bed! Kashmir is a photographer’s paradise and a gastronomer’s dream! I had a
great time sampling drinks and food from this region. Read all to know what interested my taste
buds!
Traditional Kashmiri Kahwa
& noon chai
Since the day we checked into our BnB (Bloomingdale, Dal
gate, Srinagar) till the day I left Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-44663994487531167722016-05-03T09:00:00.000+05:302016-05-15T12:22:06.131+05:3012 months 12 trips - Quarter 1 round up
I have a track record of breaking New Year resolutions
within the first few weeks of January.
But what do you expect if the envisaged goals center on fitness, eating
right, reading more, etc! However, this year my goal is far more engaging and completely
driven by “wanderlust”. I strive to take
a trip every month i.e. 12 months 12 trips! Yes, as crazy as it sounds and as
damaging Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-40746393611797601322016-02-09T00:19:00.000+05:302016-02-09T00:38:30.806+05:30Offbeat Karnataka - St Mary's Island (Udupi, Karnataka)
Note: My love for Karnataka began with an impromptu trip to Jog waterfalls, Gokarna and Murudeshwar (in 2014)(this & this). My next two short trips to Karnataka [Hampi/ Badami/Pattadakal (Oct 2015)(this & this) and Udupi/ Mangalore (Jan 2016) are testimony that its not love anymore, it's a full-blown obsession! And guess what, St Mary's Island was my #1 reason to squeeze in a trip to Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-38248572348430177882016-01-09T16:22:00.002+05:302016-01-10T10:24:57.072+05:30Hampi & Pattadakal: What, When, How, Stay?!
What – ticking off
my UNESCO bucket-list!
With every passing day, my love for visiting historic sites
and photographing good architecture keeps growing; my blog is an evidence of
this obsession! To add to that, last
year (2015), I was possessed with ticking off UNESCO Heritage sites in India. Hence, a weekend gateway to Northern
Karnataka [Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal and Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-8769627903617655172015-12-25T02:16:00.000+05:302015-12-25T02:16:38.032+05:302015 in Travel
If you recall reading about my “Best experiences (travel andotherwise) of 2014”, I signed off by asking you to stay tuned for some exciting
travel plans. The epic Thailand-Cambodia
trip spilled over to January 2015 and that’s where I shall begin my travel
round up of 2015:
Thailand
The madness started with Christmas party at Ko Pha Ngan (renowned
for Full Moon/ Half-moon parties), Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-5047596580678518042015-11-03T09:00:00.000+05:302015-11-04T23:01:30.344+05:30Reason not to be “Hampi” High!
Located on the banks of Tungabhadra River in North Karnataka,
Hampi group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It houses ruins of temple complexes
from Vijayanagar Empire. Hampi also figures several times in Mythology
(Ramayana). Wikipedia tells me that Hampi is the most searched historical place
in Karnataka.
But hold on; you shouldn't visit Hampi, because…
…ruins of temple Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-64607032881189100082015-10-31T00:08:00.005+05:302015-10-31T09:39:20.394+05:30 Voyage to a secret lagoon; Ang thong Marine National Park
With the wind in my hair and the sand at my feet; I stood
mesmerized by the panoramic view of the archipelago of over 40 islands that
make up Ang Thong Marine national park. While Gulf of Thailand is revered for
full moon parties at Koh Phangan; cheap diving courses at Koh Tao and
honeymooning couples at Koh Samui, for those seeking tranquility, secret lagoon (not-so-secret-anymore!) and Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-61169710762473632172015-08-17T00:28:00.001+05:302015-10-31T20:50:15.168+05:30Through my lens - Roopkund trek, Uttarakhand
Roopkund is scenic trek in the Himalayas and a journey beyond imagination! Through the route, the trekker can feast on varied landscapes and finally summit at the Skeleton lake 15,696 ft above sea level!
My buddies and I summited Roopkund on 6th June 2014. We did this trek through 'Trek the Himalayas' (http://www.trekthehimalayas.com/TTH-Treks/Roopkund-Trek/). YouPreeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-46880378086755299982015-08-13T01:01:00.000+05:302015-08-15T23:14:33.395+05:30Drive from Srinagar to Leh on NH-1D
I am not a fan of road-trips. I prefer sleeping through road journeys, especially in hilly regions because I am terribly road sick. Given my history, Ladakh seems like an unlikely choice of destination.
However, a road trip from Srinagar to Leh [though National Highway-1D] was on my bucket list for a very long time, more so as I had fed my wanderlust for Ladakh through tons of Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-26093200154541131072015-07-18T03:19:00.002+05:302015-07-18T03:19:54.275+05:30Beyond Dal Lake: The Other Srinagar
Srinagar conjures up images of Dal lake, breath-taking
gardens and endless Shikara rides.
Shikara on Nigeen Lake
But there is another part of Srinagar, beyond the picture perfect postcards, waiting to be discovered. We did just that!
Peacock Houseboat on Nigeen Lake
Easily bored of photographing flowers at the Chashme Shahi
garden, we skipped the other revered gardens (Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-59308540417654727372015-06-06T13:27:00.000+05:302015-06-06T13:28:47.940+05:30Great wall of India – Kumbhalgarh Fort
The birth-palace of Maharana Pratap, Kumbhalgarh fort is revered
in all of Mewar (a region in Rajasthan) and is part of the hill forts of
Rajasthan which together are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I visited Kumbhalgarh as a day-trip from Udaipur (one-way is
approx. 95 kms). This is by-far the most
popular itinerary for the Kumbhalgarh. One
can also take a Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-24000598266099105012015-04-12T02:52:00.000+05:302015-05-30T21:53:19.055+05:30Unhurried hurriedness at Udaipur
Unhurried Udaipur!
Nestled between Aravalli hills, laced with lakes, Udaipur is
lovely. No wonder the city has
captivated artists, poets, royalty and now a steady stream of tourists from all
over the world.
My Udaipur plan wasn’t exactly impromptu. I always wanted to go to Udaipur, especially
after my parents visited this city last summer.
Another draw for me was Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-32499607874414873302015-04-05T17:23:00.002+05:302015-05-30T21:49:28.056+05:30Jain temples of Ranakpur
I love seeing historic places/ temple complexes, especially for
their unique architecture. From my
posts, I’m sure you guys already had that figured! On a whirl-wind trip to Udaipur,
I just “had to” to include Ranakpur (Pali district of Rajasthan) on the ‘go to’
list.
Ranakpur is approx. 96 kms from Udaipur on the highway
connecting Udaipur to Jodhpur. While
Udaipur isPreeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-57092113365044478362015-02-19T23:29:00.000+05:302015-10-31T20:49:08.169+05:30Roopkund - A journey beyond imagination
Not all those who
wander are lost – J.R.R. Tolkein
As we walk over the lush meadows of Ali Bugyal (refer picture above) with no sight
of the trail, my mind wanders to many places, thoughts, emotions and
moments.
I feel lost in the vastness of
the hills. But as I look back now on those
days spent trekking in the Himalayas, I am filled with a sense of fulfilment
Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-67847737969056240542015-02-10T23:20:00.004+05:302015-05-30T22:13:58.974+05:30Dudhsagar waterfalls – who’s the tallest all them all?!
#1 Reason to visit Dudhsagar - because monsoons need to be spiced up;
# 2 Reason to visit Dudhsagar - Goa trip can be off-beat!
Dudhsagar waterfall
literally translating to 'sea of milk' (measuring 600 m) graces the western
ghats between the railway line from Vasco (in Goa) to Londa junction
(Karnataka).
Second only to Jog waterfall (Karnataka), this Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-37078848976710951882015-01-26T13:25:00.001+05:302015-05-30T21:54:46.286+05:30Exploring Angkor monuments
If you read my post about sunrise at Angkor Wat, you must be aware that I damaged my DSLR at sunrise. Thereafter I resorted to clicking photos on my phone [thank you One PlusOne for the wonderful camera!]. I do hope the photos transport you to Angkor and bring you a holistic experience of the temple ruins.
Also, it took me close to 12 hours (spread over 3 days) to put Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-41798255058543815172015-01-24T02:30:00.005+05:302015-05-30T21:55:03.651+05:30Chasing the sun at Angkor Wat
Let me be honest, Angkor Wat was the sole reason I came to
Cambodia.
The excitement of watching
a magical sunrise at Angkor Wat kept me sleepless the previous night.
Even my alarm was surprised to find me
springing out of bed at 4:15 am!
Patient crowd [One PlusOne]
I waited patiently among the crowd to watch the pitch-dark
night turn into brilliant shades Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-30419757505288197782015-01-17T23:14:00.001+05:302015-05-30T21:58:44.293+05:30Through my lens: Qutub Minar complex
*Warning: Photo overload*
No visit to Delhi is complete without paying an ode to the exquisite architecture. During my leisurely visit to Delhi for Diwali, I revisited the Qutub complex. Even this time, the stunning masterpiece in red sandstone mesmerized me.
Qutub minar is one an iconic symbol of New Delhi. I found the image of the Qutub minar on my metro token. Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-34155901053568540892015-01-13T22:02:00.003+05:302015-05-30T21:55:28.899+05:30What’s in my backpack: Packing for Thailand and Cambodia
I'm just back from my trip to Thailand where I learnt diving, was a beach bum,
shopped till I dropped and took a quick 2-day detour to Siem Reap. The trip panned over 17 days, of which 5 were
spent at Ban’s Dive Resort.
For my trip I decided to chuck the suitcase with wheels and
instead opt for a rucksack. I purchased my
backpack in May 2014, before my maiden Himalayan Trek Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-77323074840403471332014-12-24T17:00:00.000+05:302015-05-30T21:55:54.695+05:30Best Experiences (travel and otherwise) of 2014
2014 began with a bang.
I partied with my girlfriends, till the wee hours of 1st
January 2014. Thereafter, the rest of the day was spent in bed, battling hangover. Like each year, I made some resolutions and
as I look back now, I broke most of them (that’s the norm right?).
The one that stayed is the back bone of my blog. Any guesses? – Right! It’s wanderlust! I
vowedPreeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-4306033166956715862014-12-15T01:21:00.000+05:302014-12-15T01:21:13.355+05:30Coastal Karnataka - What, when, how & stay, eat, damages?!
What? – a power packed weekend!
My limited brush with Coastal Karnataka was during an
impromptu girl’s trip to Murudeshwar, Jog Falls and Gokarna. This time around we had 3 days to squeeze in a quick trip in
monsoon (15th August weekend). While the relentless rains in
Western India isn’t my favourite time to travel, but it was too tempting to let
go off a long weekend. &Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-71793937491447698642014-12-08T00:47:00.001+05:302015-05-30T21:56:38.786+05:30The Golden temple, Amritsar
“Peace is always beautiful – Walt Whitman”
Peace, a singular word which defines my Golden temple
experience. Known to be one of the most
significant and holiest Gurudwara of the Sikhs, Golden temple or Harmandir
Sahib, embodies equality and belief.
I had a chance to visit Amritsar and hence the temple during
Diwali. We visited the temple after
Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323101423554785797.post-6848119124935698382014-11-09T09:30:00.000+05:302015-05-30T21:58:22.290+05:30Through my lens - Great Indian Derby
Well bred race horses and high stakes. Great Indian Derby is exhilarating! Held at Mahalaxmi race hourse, Mumbai (Feb 2014), it was my first experience at the Derby and betting!
The whose-who!
Grand entry
Grand Entry
Racing ahead
Battling for the high stakes!
Holding on
Leaping forward
Centrestage
Showing off the beauty!
Preeti Datarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481048776579978836noreply@blogger.com2