Age is just a number. It's irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.

Wine is bottled poetry!

Very truly said. So the post is all about wine and my very first experience of a Vineyard Tour. How it was planned and executed would be a quite nostalgic story to share. So here we go!

It was back in 2019 Oct, I had already invited my three close friends from different cities to Bangalore, everything was already planned for the bash and the occasion was my bachelor party. As planned, the party began from the moment they entered my home and it actually began in the morning itself. After having an amusing and enthralled party full day and night, we had no idea what are we doing next. 

With a noble thought of wine and outing, the next we were standing in front of the Heritage Vineyard Winery, As we say, Wine is the answer to all the questions. 

I along with my friends at Heritage Vineyard

The notion of a stroll with the rose-colored, glasses of top-notch wine was enough to convince us. With a soft corner for wine in our heart and the lines of Tyrion Lannister from GOT - I drink and I know things somehow tricked and we began our drive in the afternoon around 12 PM towards the Heritage Vinyard, to learn the skill of making and tasting this fantabulous drink, Wine.

I had heard of Heritage Vinyard Winery before but never visited the place, although it was always on my checklist being a wine lover, maybe because now was the time to explore and check out the real process of winemaking.

Heritage Vinyard

Heritage Vinyard is located in Channapatna village in Ramanagara District, around 60 kilometers from Bangalore, and is extremely famous for the finest quality of wine and the choices they have. The rustic town Channapatna offers the best favorable climatic condition to produce remarkable grade wine and is exceptionally famous in Karnataka. 

It is probably the best place near Bangalore to witness the winemaking process from the scratch and taste authentic wine. Other than the tour of winemaking and wine tasting, there is an in-house restaurant offering European, Italian and Indian cuisine, where you can grab an amazing meal with your favorite wine served.

The theme of the Vinyard is the barrel and big bottled theme, giving an amusing feeling and creating a perfect spot for a picnic or outing with friends and loved ones. The bamboo fences and the creativity around the whole compound were superb and impressive. They have many varieties of flavored, red wine, white wine, and sparkling wine, which they ship in and outside the country.

Heritage Vinyard is themed using barrels and big bottles

How to Reach the Heritage Vinyard?

There are basically two routes to reach Heritage Vinyard:

1. Mysore Highway --> Shortest and easy way to reach. You can reach there, within 2-3 hours, and it's around 60 km from Bangalore.

2. The countryside route via Bylalu --> Since this is not the highway route, and the way is along the countryside, and villages, this route may be time taking.

If you are staying in Bangalore, you can book a car/cab or book a self-drive car and reach here. 

Information About Heritage Vinyard

Timings: 10AM to 5 PM

Charges: Wine tasting and tour - Rs.250/person for 1-2 hours. Tour to the kids below 10 years is not chargeable.

Stomping Grapes: Rs. 500/person (you need to call prior to check the availability).

Wine Tasting and Tour Experience

To witness the process of winemaking is definitely an amusing experience. After taking the tickets, we were waiting for our chance to come as there was already a wine-tour session going on. The instructors are assigned to each batch of around 10-15 people. We waited for 10-15 minutes for our chance to come.

The tour begins with grape farming, we were taken through the fields and shown how grape cultivation is done, how different varieties of grapes are grown in different climatic conditions as well as how watering is done based on the timings of each grape quality. The grape should be ripe enough to have skin to seed to the pulp ratio as this define the texture and quality of the wine. The quality of grapes plays a major role in the taste, flavor, structure, and quality of the wine.

Big grape farms where different varieties of grapes are grown

The next section of the tour begins with the tour of winemaking process, the guide took us to the crushing section first, where they crush the skin and pulp of the grapes. The Black grapes are used for Red wine and the green ones are kept for White wine. If you want you can ask for grapes stomping (you have to pay prior and check availability for this).

Next was the fermentation of crushed grapes juice. The fermentation tanks were around 16-20 times doubled layered. Yeast plays a major role in winemaking as it converts the sugar of the grapes into alcohol, heat, and carbon dioxide. Titration processes are used to check the acidity of the wine and classify it into different categories.

Wine Fermentation chamber

In the next stage, wine is processed in centrifugal machines, which are used to deliver around 90% clear wine after removing the sedimentation then later the wines are transferred to softeners and tanks for bottling up. It takes around 35-40 days to make a bottle of wine. 

Once we reached the tasting room, the aroma of rose-colored, glasses of wine was almost everywhere. Our instructor was explaining us the correct way of drinking wine. He referred to the wine as shy in nature and until you provoke, they won't open up at all, 

Six different types of wine to be tasted

He taught us to swirl the wine and try to get its aroma, take a sip of wine, let it stay in our mouth and roll it for like 5-8 seconds and then finally swallow. They served around six types of wines for tasting which include, dry, carbonated, and regular sweet wine. It took about half an hour to complete the wine tasting and by that time we were completely engrossed and thrilled by the subtle and elegant taste of the wine.

The whole experience of the tour was just amazing, incredible, and informative. 

We finally grabbed some food from the restaurant there which was as wonderful as our trip here. We purchased a few bottles of wine, had a walk through the vineyard as it was almost sunset time and then we came back to our car, ready to move back to Bangalore.

Our experience here was wonderful and definitely a memorable trip for us to remember as part of my Bacherolate party.

I hope you liked this post and got some valuable information about the Heritage Vineyard Winery. Let me know in the comment section if you need any information.

Do visit and share your experiences as well.

Keep Reading!

The Artistic Expression of Love!

Taj Mahal is not just a monument but a symbol of Love!

As we all know February is the month of Love, we decided to visit the most iconic spot of love expression, the Taj Mahal, Agra. We came back to our hometown, Jaipur at the beginning of February month and decided to visit the seventh wonder of the World, the Taj Mahal with our family on a day trip to the Taj Mahal. 

It came out to be one of the best experiences and one of the most happening trips. I am going to share our experiences, tips, transport, places to have food, shopping, and shops to buy sweets (Petha). 

Iconic Taj Mahal

How to reach Agra from Jaipur?

There are many options to reach Agra from Jaipur:

1. By Train: The cheapest and the most convenient way to reach Agra is by Train. The train takes around 3.5 hours to reach Agra station from Jaipur. After reaching Agra station, you can book a cab or taxi to take you to further destinations.

2. By Bus: The other roadway to reach Agra is by bus. There are plenty of options available to opt for a bus from Jaipur to Agra.

3. By Car: Another option is by booking a car/cab from Jaipur to Agra. As we were traveling with our family of 7 members, we opted to book a Car to reach Agra. The journey from the highway was smooth and comfortable. We enjoyed the car drive with family as we had enough time to chit chat and spend quality family time.

What is the route to reach Agra from Jaipur by Car?

The best road route to reach Agra is via Jaipur-Bharatpur-Agra Highway

Route: Jaipur -> Dausa -> Mahwa -> Bharatpur -> Agra (View Map)

How many toll plazas are there between Jaipur and Agra Highway?

There is a total of 5 toll plazas en route on the Jaipur Agra highway and the total return cost will be around 700-750 approx.

Toll plazas on Jaipur Agra highway

1 Day Itinerary

Jaipur-> Morning Breakfast -> Taj Mahal -> Lunch -> Red Fort -> Return to Jaipur

Note: If you have an extra day you can cover Fatehpur Sikri Fort which is on the way to Agra and is only 35KM from the main city.

5AM: Start the Journey

We woke up very early in the morning to prep some snacks for the road trip and started our memorable journey from Jaipur early in the morning. 

8:30AM: Breakfast at Khandelwal Hotel in Mhowa

After completing half of our journey to Agra we took halt for breakfast and refreshment in Khandelwal Dhaba. The place was good as expected. We ordered their special Tandoori aalu paratha and kulhad chai, which was really satisfactory. There was proper shop to buy wrapped chips and packed beverages inside the hotel. Also they had proper parking area and the clean toilets to freshup.

10AM-1:30PM: Taj Mahal Visit

We reached Taj Mahal in the expected time as we had planned. We booked a guide, which costs around Rs.950 as we were 6 members.

Once you come out of the parking area and move towards the Taj Mahal, you can take an e-rikshaw to reach the main gate of the Taj Mahal. We had an insight visit of Taj Mahal with the help of guide.

There are many souvenir shops available, You can purchase a miniature Taj Mahal showcase as a memory of your trip. You can do shoping and do bargain as much as you can.

1:30PM-2:30PM: Lunch at Bon Sizzler

After completing the tour of Taj Mahal, we had lunch at 'Bon Sizzler' which is very near to Taj Mahal. The food was amazing and the restaurant was perfect with great ambiance to have food with family. 

2:30PM -5PM: Agra Fort

Post Lunch we headed towards the Red Fort. Booked our tickets using the QR-Code available outside the Fort. Spend some time visiting the complete Fort. 

There was the option of public toilets if in case you want to use them and they were quite clean as well.

5:30PM: Return to Jaipur

Buy some Petha sweet from famous shop Panchi Petha and Gopal Das Pethe Wale on the way back to Jaipur. 

We would recommend if you only want to buy petha then go for Panchi Petha  and if you intrested to buy some other quality sweets then go for Gopal Das Pethe Wala. 

8:00PM: Halt for dinner

For dinner we took a halt in Khandelwal Dhaba at the same place where we had our breakfast but its on the opposite side of the highway. Although the dhaba is very famous but the food quality that we experienced was not satisfactory.

10PM: Reach Jaipur

We reached Jaipur around 10PM after the long drive from Agra.

Our Taj Mahal Visit Experience

Being one of the Seventh Wonder of the World, the Taj Mahal needs no formal introduction. Marked as one of the most astonishing arts of Mughals, this beautiful monument is located in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Taj Mahal is famous in the whole world not only for its outstanding architecture but also for the incredible love story behind the creation of this masterpiece. Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memories of his wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death. 

Gateway of TajMahal

Once we reached the parking area of the Taj Mahal, there were considerable guides, waiting in the parking area ready to be picked up by the visitors. As we visited on weekend, Saturday, there was a huge crowd of visitors and travelers. We chose a guide for us. He helped us to get tickets, in fact, he took the tickets online for us.

You can book a guide from the parking area itself. The guide will help and explain everything, the terms, and conditions inside the Taj Mahal. He will take you through the entire monument and narrate the entire stories linked to the Taj Mahal. He will explain the architecture and the design, the type of marbles and stones used to make this beautiful piece of art.

The guide will give enough time to take photographs and devour some quality time in the Taj Mahal. 

Important Points:

Entry Fees: Rs. 50 /- Indian Visitor and Rs 1100 /- Foreigner Visitor

For visiting the Taj Mahal from the inside, one has to buy an extra additional ticket of Rs.200 per person.

Timings: The opening time of the Taj Mahal is 30 minutes before sunrise and the closing time is 30 minutes before sunset.

• Taj Mahal is closed every Friday.

• There are no entry fees for children below 15 years of age.

• Only online tickets are available. The ticket counters are closed since COVID.

• Book ticket online from www.asiagracircle.in & www.tajmahal.gov.in

Time Required: The total time required for the complete tour - around is 3-4 hours.

Rating: 10 out of 10 (a must-visit place in India)

Agra Fort Experience

Also known by the name Laal Qila or Qila-i-Akbari displaying the symbol of power and strength. The Fort is grand and huge. After the entry into the fort, you will notice Diwan-i-Am, the hall for the public. The pillars are tall and strong and the architectural design of the fort is really amazing. There is an amazing view of the Yamuna River and Taj Mahal through the windows of the Fort.

Taj Mahal view from the Red Fort

Once we reached the Fort, we parked our car in the parking area, which is just opposite the Fort. We booked our tickets online using the QR code instantly which is available at the entrance gate. As it was the weekend, the Fort was too crowded. We had to stand in the queue to enter the Fort and get our tickets checked. 

The fort was tremendous and crowded with visitors. We sat in the garden area for some time, clicked a satisfactory number of photographs, and had some rest. We checked out the entire Fort. There were many guides available at the front end of the Fort. Although we had not opted for one as we were short of time.

Red Fort Courtyard

Important Points:

Entry Fees: Rs. 50 /- Indian Visitor and Rs 650 /- Foreigner Visitor

Timing: Sunrise to Sunset.

Time Required: The total time required for the complete tour - is 3-4 hours.

Rating:  8 out of 10 

Important Points to keep in mind:

1. Maintain the cleanliness inside the monuments and do not throw the garbage anywhere.

2. Online tickets can be taken for the Taj Mahal and no counters are working post-COVID.

3. The tickets for the Agra Fort can be taken online using the QR code available outside the Fort.

4. Try to wear comfortable clothes and footwear as you have to walk for a long.

5. Try to carry water bottles, especially if visiting during summer.

A vintage divine in the aura, the bright yellow taxis running across the streets

That elegant Howrah Bridge, the trams operating from ancient times, the art, and that chaos on every street.

The smell of Fish -Rice, Kosha Mangsho, and Rasgulla, available on every other alley

This is the city of Durga Puja, the city of Joy, and the city of Tagore, Ganguly.

Kolkata, Khoob Bhaalo!

Are you visiting Kolkata for the first time? Are you nervous to plan your trip to Kolkata because you don't know much about the place? Well, then you just have to read this blog, we have got you covered. :)

Trust me, I was a bit timid to visit Kolkata earlier until I had to visit for a friend's marriage and this turns out to be one of my favorite trips till now especially because of Jol-Bhara Sandesh (very famous sweet) and that Kesar chai (special Saffron Tea).

If you get a chance, do visit Kolkata, at least once in a lifetime. I am sharing our experiences and itinerary to help you plan your trip. Starting with the brief information about Kolkata.

About Kolkata

Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the second-largest city in India and is the capital of West Bengal. In fact, the city was the colonial capital of India back in 1773, during the British Raj. This chaotic city is famous for its tradition, culture, and rich heritage. The city of Joy, Kolkata is flourishing with its impressive and intelligent people day by day.

The Britishers explored and well organized the city in their times. The trams, the colonial-era architecture, the buildings built by the Britishers are the center of attraction of the city. 

Kolkata is full of places to visit and explore. Beautiful Temples, built in the adorable and appealing architectural design and the tradition followed is worth knowing and visiting. The Durga Pooja of Kolkata is very famous across the country, especially during the Navratri (9 days of the goddess).

The street food, special sweets like Mishti Doi, dishes like Fish curry, Bengali Sarees, Book Market, and the Old Museum are some other specialties of Kolkata, that will attract you.

Majestic Vidyasagar Setu on Hoogly River, Kolkata

The Kolkata trip was like a complimentary trip to us, as we went to attend a friend's wedding. We stayed back for 2 extra days which turns out wonderfully.

We began our journey from the Bangalore morning flight and reached our stay in Kolkata by afternoon. We attended the wedding functions that entire day. I must say we were blessed to attend a Bengali traditional wedding and experience Bengali culture and food.

Let me give you a brief idea of how you can reach Kolkata.

How to reach Kolkata?

Air: You can directly take a flight to Kolkata from your location, the easier and the fastest way to reach Kolkata. There is an International airport, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, which is very well connected to almost every major city of the country.

Train: The second option that you can opt for is the railway, which may take time depending on your starting location. But the train would be cheaper than the flight, (that too depends if you book your flight early and use a few coupons, it may cost almost the same). There are three important railway stations in Kolkata, Howrah station, Kolkata Terminus, and Sealdah Station. All three stations are well connected to the entire country.

Bus: The last option is by Bus, but if you are traveling from a nearby place then only buses are available to reach Kolkata. Also, I would not suggest going by bus if you are traveling from a far distance.

What is the mode of transport in Kolkata?

Once you reach Kolkata, you have to keep in mind how to travel around in Kolkata. Traveling in Kolkata is very cheap and at the same time easier also. You will get the option like - 

Metro: Indeed metros are the best to travel to, but metro stations are not available in every part of Kolkata, they are only available in a few places. But still, if you see a metro station in your source and destination location, you can travel in the metro. They are cheaper, cleaner, and the faster way to move around.

Yellow Taxi: You will flatter by seeing the number of yellow taxis running on the roads like we were, and Kolkata is especially famous for these yellow Ambassador taxis. You will get these taxis very easily on the roads. Make sure to go by meter because they may try to charge you more after knowing you are not a local.

Cabs - Ola/ Uber: The most convenient option that we found was booking a cab from Ola or Uber. They are available everywhere in Kolkata and will charge you wisely.

Hand-Pulling Rikshaws: You will also notice, that hand-pulled rickshaws are still running in some parts of the city. We have not opted for one but for a shorter distance, you can try in a crowded place like New Market.

Hand-pulled Rickshaw in New Market, Kolkata

What is the best time to visit Kolkata?

Kolkata has a tropical climate with a hot temperature for almost the whole year. The most pleasing time to visit Kolkata is from October to March. We visited in the month of November and we're lucky to explore Kolkata in such beautiful and captivating weather. It was not so cold and we kind of enjoyed the noons under the shining sun.

The favorable climatic conditions of visiting any place cause the trip 60% more successful and more joyful.

The summer season ( April to May) will be much hotter along with humid. This season is not quite a favorable time to explore the city.

Monsson (June to September) will be full of humidity and hot. Again not a good time to visit as rain can spoil your day. Still, if you are eager, you can put on your raincoat and visit the city. As we say a traveler can explore and relish their holidays anytime. You just need enough intrepidity to initiate your journey.

Where to Stay in Kolkata?

There are many good choices to stay in Kolkata. Good Hotels, Villas, and Airbnb options are available in all ranges. You can choose any hotel in the city center like near Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Bhawanipur, and Park Street area. 

If money is not a concern you can do your booking in luxury 5-start hotels like JW Marriott, the Oberoi Grand, or Taj Bengal.

Since we went to a wedding, and we were a group of friends, we had booked our stay in one of the properties of Airbnb Home Away from Home. It will cost you around 4500/-per night for 6 guests. The place was very nice, comfortable, and clean. It was hygienic and luxurious also. We enjoyed our stay there.

Note: Check the reviews and ratings from google before booking and try to book in advance to check in without worrying.

Places to visit in Kolkata in 2 Days

Day 1: Breakfast at Flurys Cafe --> Victoria Memorial --> Attractions near Maidan --> Sunset at Prinsep Ghat --> Shopping if time permits --> Reach hotel

Day 2:  Visit Kalighat Temple --> Explore Indian Museum --> Lunch --> BBD Bagh (if time permits) --> Howrah Bridge --> Mallick Ghat Flower Market --> Street shopping in New Market --> Dinner --> Back to Hotel

Day 3: Check out from Hotel 

Two days will not be sufficient to cover many places in Kolkata as there is a lot to explore.

Day 1 Itinerary

• Breakfast at Flury's Cafe

Starting your day in Kolkata, the city famous for its food, should be a happy breakfast. Flury's cafe is quite renowned and is located right at the center of Park Street in Kolkata. It is famous for especially English breakfast, cookies, and amazing pastries. People come to this cafe to spend some quality Tea or Coffee time in the morning and evening. 

We left our place around 8.30 and reached directly here. We had English breakfast and tried pastry, which was super delicious. The cafe and service were satisfactory, we enjoyed our time here. Though I must say, it was a bit costlier, but at the same time worthy to spend.

Timing: 7.30 AM to 11 PM

Costs for 2: 1000-1500 INR

Famous for: Flury's English breakfast, Darjeeling Tea, Pastries for your favorite choice.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Breakfast at Flury's Cafe, Kolkata

• Victoria Memorial

One of the most renowned monuments, situated at the center of Kolkata is Victoria Memorial. Victoria Memorial is the most elegant and grand marble structure, with a museum. This beautiful piece of architecture was built from the year 1906 to 1921, in memory of Empress Victoria, and is the World's largest remembrance devoted to a royal. 

The interior design of the Victoria Memorial is a mix of British and Mughal art with a touch of Egyptian architectural elements. The complete building is made of Makrana marble. 

This grand stunning building has a museum with multiple galleries of freedom fighters, containing antiques and art and a beautiful well-maintained garden. Being so recognized, this is one of the most visited places in Kolkata and indeed famous among the visitors. 

The museum is filled with great freedom fighters like Subhash Chandra Bose

We reached here directly after Flury's cafe. The Victoria Memorial is very beautiful, exotic, and captivating. The beautiful garden area, where tourists were sitting and enjoying their time. As we move forward, we glimpsed the complete memorial, the open museum, the architectural work, everything was very impressive. It was such a great experience. There were so many visitors along with us, relaxing in the lawn area. 

Museum Timings: Opens from 10 AM to 5 PM, closed on Mondays and National holidays.

Garden Timings: Opens from 5.30 AM to 6.15 PM

Museum Entry Fees: 30 INR for Indians, 500 INR for Foreigners

Garden Entry Fees: 20 INR per person

Rating: We enjoyed our time here. It was worth visiting, one of the significant architectural creations of the Britishers. And to add to, the garden, the huge water reservoir in the lawn area added the attractiveness and beauty overall.  The rating from us - 9 out of 10.

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

• Attractions near Maidan

After exploring and spending enough time in the Victoria Memorial, you can troll the Maidan area just in front of the memorial. Maidan is also known as the Brigade Parade Ground, located just at the center of Kolkata. Expanded in a very large area of around 1000 acres, this is Asia's largest park area, covering a football stadium, many sporting grounds, cricketing ground. 

You can do a tram ride, check out several statues in the Maidan area. It is a very pleasant and lovely place to spend time.

Don't forget to have lunch in between. There are many places nearby to grab authentic Bengali lunch. We had some local street munching instead, so we skipped our lunch (we were actually more than full when we came out of Flury's). 

Rating: Rating from us - 9 out of 10.

Maidan, Kolkata

• Prinsep Ghat

Prinsep Ghat is one of the most romantic spots in Kolkata, with the beautiful Hoogly River on one side. This stunning and attractive Ghat was built under British Raj, revealing the exquisite colonial architectural design. The riverfront white structure capturing the attractive bridge background gives an incredible view and a perfect place to view. 

There is a huge lawn area covering the monument. You can settle down for some time and spend some quality moments here. The sunset view over the Hoogly River is just amazing. Boat riding in the Hoogly River is also a great experience to have here. There are so many local stalls and eateries here. You can try and taste the local snacks.

Rating: The rating is 8 out of 10. We spent a great time here. Actually, we reached during the perfect timing of sunset and captured a marvelous sunset view over the Hoogly River and the bridge over it just looked amazing. Also, I must say, the place is very much romantic, we could see a whole lot of couples sitting and spending quality time here.

After spending some time here, we left towards Park Street, witnessed the lighting and the night vibe of the area. Had some food and returned to our Airbnb home.

Prinsep Ghat, Kolkata

Day 2 Itinerary

• Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Kali Temple is a very famous and known temple in Kolkata as the people believe and have faith in the goddess Kali. Dedicated to the goddess Kali, this temple is around 200 years old. This historical temple is very renowned because of the belief that one of the 51 Shakti Peethas falls here. 

In the beginning, there was a sacred ghat of Hoogly River, known by the name Adi Ganga. But now over the time the river moved away, only a small canal is remaining, which connects with the river Hoogly. This is considered the origin of River Hoogly. 

Interesting Fact #1: The name Kolkata is taken from Kalikata Devi of the Temple Kalighat. 

Interesting Fact #2: It is believed that there are four major Shakti Peethas, meaning the body parts of Goddess Sati, fell on earth and those are now known as the below temples:

Kalighat Temple in Kolkata - Head

Tara Tarini Temple in Berhampur, Orissa  - Chest

Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati - Yoni

Bimala Temple in Puri - Feet

The temple is one of the top historical places in the country. If you are in Kolkata, you should visit this temple. You can directly take a metro from Maidan to Kalighat.

Timing: 5 AM to 2 PM, 5PM to 10.30 PM

Entry Fees: No entry fees

Rating: 8 out of 10.

• Indian Museum 

Indian Museum is the most extensive and the most geriatric museum in India. The museum is located at the center of Kolkata. The Indian museum was founded in the year 1814 and is the ninth oldest museum in the World. This is a must-visit place in Kolkata.

There are a total of 35 galleries of different fortes like cultural, scientific, architectural, fossils collection, antiques, paintings, art, and many more. 

If you have a keen interest to know the history and check out the leftovers and the rear collections from the old era, you should definitely check out this great museum. 

Timing:  10 AM to 5 PM, Closed on Public Holidays.

Entry Fees: 50/- for Adult, 20/- for Children above 5 years, 500/- for Foreign visitors

Photography Charges:  50/- for Camera on Smart Phone, 100/- for Digital Camera, 2000/- for Video Camera

Rating: 8 out of 10. You can have lunch after the Indian Museum. There are many good restaurants like SOI - The Asian Kitchen, The Bhoj Company, Blue Sky Cafe.

If time permits, and if you are eager to explore more, you can visit B B D Bagh, around 15 minutes from the Indian Museum.

• B B D Bagh

B B D Bagh is also known as Dalhousie Square or Tank Square. To check out the architectural work of the Britishers, the old forts built in the colonial period, and the beauty of government official buildings you can visit this amazing area situated in the western part of Central Kolkata, near Hoogly River.

We had not visited this place. But if you have time, you can explore this part of Kolkata.

• Howrah Bridge

The most recognized and remarkable landmark of Kolkata is Howrah Bridge. This iconic bridge is built on the Hoogly river connecting two cities Kolkata and Howrah. This Cantilever bridge was built in the year 1943, bearing traffic of around 100,000 vehicles, making it the busiest bridge in the World. 

The bridge constructed without bolts and nuts is definitely a wonderful example of Engineering strength, 

It's a beautiful bridge to witness and hold beautiful memories of Kolkata.

We checked out the bridge and just below the bridge is a huge and loud chaotic flower market, Mullick Ghat Flower Market. This is the largest flower market in Kolkata. The lovely and delighting smell of flowers will attract you to take a round of this colorful market. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

Iconic Howrah Bridge, Kolkata

• Street Shopping in the New Market

New Market is very popular for its amazing collections of clothes, fashionable Jewelry, purse and bags, footwear, sarees, and many more household items. It s like one place for everything with of course a reasonable price. We have seen many flea markets, but this one was really big and impressive.

I couldn't stop myself from buying a few antiques, and jewelry sets.  Also since Bengali sarees are quite famous, and we might never get a chance to get the authentic Bengali sarees, we took two traditional and unique beautiful sarees.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Tip: While shopping, keep in mind to bargain for the price. 

After shopping and spending time in the New Market, we had dinner and left for our homestay.

New Market, Kolkata

• Sweet Shop

Kolkata is famous for one more item, which you can't miss if you are visiting here and that is Bengali Sweets. Whether you like eating sweets or not, I am recommending you to at least try Baked Rasgullas, I am sure you will just love it, and then you can thank me later in the comment section.

We did some research on the sweet shops and directly reached out to try some sweets in the shop Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick sweet shop near the Parkstreet area. They are inheritance sweet makers for many years. Sweets with impressive names like Jal Bhari Shondesh, Mishtoi Doi, Roshogulla, and many more tasted so yum. We actually purchased 1-2 kg of sweets, a mix of all.

Park Street, Kolkata

Points to keep in Mind

1. Have your COVID Vaccination certificate handy. If you have not taken the vaccine yet, then carry the RTPCR report with you for not more than 72 hours.

2. Try to prefer cabs - uber/ola instead of a yellow taxi, as they will charge you extra. 

3. Also be aware of traffic and plan accordingly. You might get stuck in traffic.

4. The climate of Kolkata is hot and moderate, try not to wear double-layered clothes.

5. Carry your water bottle with you.

6. Try to bargain as much as you can if you are purchasing anything from the local market.

7. And lastly, keep your surroundings clean.

There is no better place to discover for yourself than sitting by the waterfall and listening to its music.

Waterfalls are just nature's way of giggling!

Be wild and free like a waterfall!

Yes! This post is all about a very prominent waterfall, Shivanasamudra. I am going to share the experience of our one-day trip to Shivanasamudram Waterfalls, Bangalore. A traditional one-day pause from a tedious life and a holiday spirit is exactly the requirement of this trip. You can plan a small gateway on any of the weekends to Shivanasamudra waterfalls. Although this may work for the people staying in Bangalore, Mysore, and nearby areas still you can read and get to know a few facts and information about this place.

Let's get to know about Shivnasamudra waterfalls - 

About Shivanasamudra waterfall

Shivanasamudra is the most stunning and glorious waterfall, situated in the small town of Mandya district, Karnataka. It is around 120 kilometers from Bangalore and 65 kilometers from Mysore, situated on the bank of the Kaveri river. The waterfall is surrounded by lush greenery and hills covered in dense forest, known as Kaveri Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kaveri river boldly forms its way all along the Deccan Plateau and falls down in this end, forming an outstanding and beautiful waterfall. The waterfall is also known by the name Shiva Samudram, which means the sea of Lord Shiva.

This magnificent waterfall is created by the flow of the Kaveri river and is divided into two different streams forming an island in between, also known as Shivasamudra Island. These two streams tumble down at almost the same point creating two different impressive waterfalls, which are known by the names, Gaganachukki waterfall, and Barachukki waterfall. The view of the two neighboring waterfalls is extremely tremendous. 

Incredible view of Gaganachukki and Barachukki waterfalls in Shivanasamudra

We visited Shivnasamudram with friends on a weekend from Bangalore. We had heard a lot about this place so thought to take a drive and explore this beautiful waterfall. We relished the magnificence of nature here. It was like a small adventurous picnic to us, we also carried a little munching like chips, sneakers, and other eatables. 

Knowledge Fact 1: India's first hydroelectric powerplant was set up in Shivanasadura waterfall in the year 1905.

Knowledge Fact 2: Shivanasamudra is the second largest waterfall in India and comes in sixteenth rank in the World. Also listed in 45th number in the top 100 waterfalls list of the World.

Moving on when to visit this place - 

What is the best time to visit Shivanasamudra Waterfalls?

The best time to visit this beautiful waterfall is the Monsoon season, from July to September. The monsoon is the time when the water is released from the KRS dam, giving the full flow of the Kaveri river and hence the waterfall becomes more magnificent and gorgeous during this season. You will experience the windy breeze, the exquisite greenery, and the best time for a picnic with friends and family. This is the most crowded during Monsoons. 

We visited in September month, though the place was not at all crowded. But it was indeed very sunny. After spending some time, we started feeling burning hot.

The summer season, from March to June is the time when the climate is hot along with the humidity. If you plan to visit during this time, you may experience the bright sun and will feel really hot, also the flow of water in the waterfall will be very low. I would suggest not to visit during summer. 

The Winters, from November to February give a pleasant climate to visit this place. As the weather is moderate like neither too hot nor too cold, you can plan your visit during this time of the year also, without any hesitation. The scenery will be lovely and stunning. The beauty around will take your heart plus you will see less crowd during this time.

The beautiful scenery along the highway in Monsoon

How to reach Shivanasamudra waterfall?

Shivanasamudra can be a half-day trip if you are traveling from Bangalore or Mysore. We traveled along with our friends from Bangalore and booked a 6-seater car, via Ola-outstation which charged us around five thousand(5000/-INR). The scenery that we crossed on our way was tremendous. There was perfect greenery and we could see the picturesque view from both sides of the window. The highway was in very good condition. We enjoyed this road trip.

Traveling from Bangalore:

If you are traveling from Bangalore, one option is you can directly take a bus to Mandya and take a taxi from there to the waterfall. The other option is directly to book a cab or car to the waterfall from Bangalore, which is the most convenient way. The road and the highway are perfect for a smooth drive. It took just 3-4 hours to reach.

Traveling from Mysore:

If you are traveling from Mysore, car driving is the best option. Book a car or cab or if you have a vehicle then its the best to drive till waterfall. It will take less time than Bangalore to reach Shivanasamudra, just 1.5-2 hours.

Traveling from otherwise:

If you are traveling from far or other states, you can opt to take a flight to Mysore Airport, which is the nearest airport from Shivanasamudra waterfall. The second closest airport is in Bangalore, which is very well connected to almost every major city. Once you reach the airport, you can either pre-book a car or directly book a cab to Shivanasamudra waterfall.

Picturesque view of Kaveri River on the way to Shivanasamudra

What are the places to visit in Shivanasamudra?

Gaganachukki Falls View Point

This is a viewpoint to witness the beautiful Gaganachukki fall, just near a Mosque, Hazrath Mardane Gaib. You need to trek a little and then take stairs to go downwards to reach near the Gaganachukki waterfall. This offers an amazing and much closer view of the fall. There are barriers to stopping people from going very close to the waterfall for security purposes and preventing any accident.

Gaganachukki Waterfall

Barachukki Falls View Point

This viewpoint is at the end of Barachukki Falls road. The viewpoint is at the top point to give a perfect view of Barachukki Waterfall. The view from this point is impressive, you can click photos and just enjoy the beauty of the waterfall. 

Barachukki Waterfall

Kaveri River Bridge

The bridge is around 7 kilometers from Shivanasamudra, at the National Highway 948. You can have an amusing sight of the Kaveri River from the bridge. The beautiful Kaveri river emerging from the rocks shows a tremendous glimpse of the power of a river. As the Shivanasamudra waterfall is nearby, you can see the distant view of the stunning waterfalls standing from this bridge.

Kaveri River Bridge

Shri Ranganathswamy Temple

This is the most famous temple because of its architectural layout and its Dravidian design. The temple is dedicated to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Ranganath Swamy. The temple is also known by the name Madhya Ranga Temple. You can visit this temple on your way.

Shivanasamuda Maramma Temple

This is another beautiful ancient temple, full of optimistic power. The atmosphere of the temple is very calm and offers inner peace and positivity to the people. You can spend some time here as it's on the way and near to Shivanamsamudra waterfall.

Our Experience of Shivanasamudra

We started from Banglore around 9AM in the morning and we have reached around 1PM in the afternoon. Once we reached, we parked our vehicle almost 1km before the waterfall. It was not so crowded when we reached. In fact, there was a shooting going on for a movie or song. We checked out for some time and went ahead. 

Then we moved on towards the waterfall. We took the stairs to reach the waterfall. The waterfall looks stunning, we could hear the thundering loud sound of it. We witnessed the overwhelming set of nature's beauty. The view of both waterfalls, Gaganachukki and Barachukki were incredible. The twin waterfalls are just around 1 kilometer distant. The water was falling down speedily from across 100 meters of height and the width of the waterfall is around 300 meters, giving an amazing view. 

As we reached close to the waterfall, there was a mystic and foggy-like surrounding probably due to the speed of water falling and hitting the rock in the basement. We also felt this tremendous feeling of small water droplets falling on our faces.

Clicked photo with friends in Shivanasamundra

We spend our time clicking photos and witnessing this nature's beauty.

The location is an absolute picnic spot. You can visit this place with friends, family or loved ones. It's a perfect gateway for a day.

Returning Journey from Shivanasamudra

While returning back, we stopped at the Kaveri bridge to click some pictures and then continued our returned journey as we already passed our lunchtime. So before reaching Banglore we took a break in a very famous cafe called Rasta Cafe. The vibe of this cafe is really good and they serve delicious food. The ambiance and staff were up to the mark. We loved our time here and then we moved on our way to Bangalore.

Rasta Cafe

Finally, we reached Bangalore in the evening and completed this memorable and refreshing trip.

Rating from Us

The rating of the place from us is 7 out of 10, purely because of the weather. Although we visited the place in monsoon, still we experienced the burning hot as it was so sunny.

Points to Take care in Shivanasamudra Trip

1. Don't try to enter the water because the water is very deep and it is very dangerous. 

2. Don't go very near to the waterfall. You might slip and can cause a major accident.

3. The waterfall is open from 6AM to 6 PM. So plan your trip that way.

4. Keep food items and enough water bottles with you as there is no eateries available nearby waterfall.

5. Be aware of monkeys, they might try to snatch your accessories or shades.

6. Keep the environment clean. Don't throw away any waste in open.

I hope you like this trip to the Shivanasamudra waterfall. Let me know in the comment section if you have any questions or feedback.

Thank you for reading!

Love

'If you have a cold, Tea can warm you,

If you are too heated, Tea can cool you,

If you are depressed, Tea can cheer you,

If you are excited, Tea can calm you.'

As you may have already guessed, this blog is all about Tea. As promised, I am going to share all the facts, stories, history, and the process of tea production. I will give you a small tour of how the tea is produced in the factory from tea leaves. Also will share the experience of the renowned  Ooty Tea Factory visit.

Tea is an aromatic beverage and a widely consumed drink after water. Due to its caffeine content, tea has a stimulating and refreshing effect on the human body. Tea is widely used for medicinal purposes like headache, pain, cough, and cold.

Ooty Tea Factory

Ooty Tea Factory is situated at the height of 1839 meters in the Nilgiri hills, around 4 kilometers from the center of the city. The complete factory is established in the area of 1 acre. There is a tea museum, where we can know how the tea is processed using the Cut, Twist, and Curl method. Along with this, we can learn the history and the evolution of Tea.

Ooty Tea Factory museum in Nilgiri Hills

Let's start with knowing the history of tea, which we got to know when we visited the Tea Factory as everything was framed.

Origin of Tea 

Around 5000 years ago in ancient China, the story of Tea began with a skilled and scientist ruler. He used to drink boiling water as a precaution. One day while visiting a far destination, he stopped in the midway to take a rest and to drink water he started boiling it. Some of the dried leaves from the nearby bush fell into the boiling water and formed a brownish liquid. 

As the Emperor was a scientist, he was curious to know what is that. So he drank that drink and he felt so refreshing. And that was the moment, Tea was discovered. The Chinese word for Tea is Cha.

The tea seeds were sent to Japan and became popular there. When the Chinese and East India Company started tea trading, Tea became the most popular among the Britishers and quickly became the national drink of England. Tea was spread all over society. 

There is a very old story in the history of America and British known as the Bosten Tea Party.

The Bosten Tea Party

Setting an example of rebellion against the British, the Bosten Tea Party is very famous in American history. In Dec 1773, the ships carrying tea cargos were boarded off the Bosten shore. The native Americans smashed and throw the tea cargos into the sea as an act of rebellion. Other ports followed the same. That's how every American gave up Tea and switched to Coffee even now.

Origin of Tea in India

Before the commercial production of Tea in India, tea was already growing wildly in Assam jungles, which was identified by East India Company employees, Robert Bruce and his brother Charles Bruce. But since the company was already trading with China, they were not interested in spending money on Indian tea.

Later the company lost its trading monopoly from China, and they became interested in growing tea in India. In the year 1833, everything was changed. In Assam, Charles Bruce along with his coworkers cleared a vast area for tea cultivation. They managed to get a secret requirement of high-quality tea cultivation from the Chinese, the best tea grows under the shade of surrounding trees, so the new seeds were planted in the gaps between the already grown tea plants. 

Tea Exported to England from India

After production, the first 12 sets of manufactured tea, made from Assam leaf, was sent to London Auction and was sold. The Indian tea became famous with excellent reviews.

In the southern part of India, the land of Nilgiris was great for coffee cultivation and so a chance was taken with the tea cultivation. The tea plants were growing heavily giving positive results. The tea of excellent quality was produced and became very popular very soon. The tea cultivation was started in around 200-300 acres of land of Nilgiris.

After the successful tea production in Dodebatta, now known as Ooty Tea Estate, tea was cultivated in Coonoor and the results were great, now known as Coonoor Tea Estate.

Railways and Tea

Nilgiri railways play an integral role in transporting the tea produced. Since the roads were rough and rugged also most of the area was already used for tea plantations, railway seemed to be the most suitable mode of transport. In 1898, the railway line from Mettupalayam to Coonoor was completed.

A special train, The Tea Garden Express was launched to transport tea batches from Mettupalayam to Cochin. This train is serviceable even today, by the name Karaikal-Ernakulam Express. This was a revolutionary step for the Nilgiri Tea Factory.

Tea Auction in India

In 1861, the first Tea Auction was held in India where the tea of East India Tea Company and the Bengal Tea Company was offered for sale.

Health and Tea

Tea has a wide range of medicinal benefits, also approved by modern research. 

• It can cure sore throat and cold.

• It can prevent cancer and tumor.

• It has the ability to improve the digestive system.

• It is helpful to reduce the toxicity to smokers.

• It can be helpful to overcome depression.

• It's good for people who are suffering from Diabetes.

Besides, there is no harm proven till now for drinking tea, so you can enjoy the beverage.

Tour to Ooty Tea Factory

We reached the Tea Factory at around 9AM morning. As we entered the factory we could smell the intense aroma of tea. There was a video running, explaining each stage of tea production. They showed us from the beginning, exactly how the tea leaves are processed through different stages like withering, rolling, drying, and finally the shifting stages.

Tea leaves are being processed through different stages

We could actually see the real production of tea in the factory. The process of drying the tea leaves inside a stainless steel sheet and then these dried tea leaves are passed through the crushers and finally, the tea is produced using the cut, curl and twist method. 

The final stage where tea is being packaged

Once we witness the tea production, we got to taste a cup of hot tea, which was very refreshing and good to taste. There is a proper tea store to purchase tea for the visitors. Each visitor is attended by each person in a queue, they will guide you and help you to decide which tea you can buy. There were many options like masala tea, cardamom tea, ginger tea, green tea, masala green tea, and many more. we purchased three varieties of tea.

Tea store to purchase different types of Tea

Then we moved further to the Chocolate production section, we saw how they prepare chocolates from cocoa to powder and then prepare the chocolate paste and later mold it in different shapes. They also add dry fruits to some batches. Once we saw this, we purchased almost all varieties of chocolates like fruit n nut, dark chocolate, rum chocolate, etc.

Handmade chocolates are being prepared

Then we came out of the factory, after getting significant information about tea and of course shopping. Just in front of the factory, there is an adventure club, we saw many people taking part in that. Adventurous sports like walking on a rope, hiking, free fall with tied ropes, etc. We had not participated though we went to that section to take photographs of the fantastic marvelous view to Ooty. 

Time to visit: 9 AM to 6. 30 PM - All-day

Entry Fees: Rs. 20 per person

Our whole experience at the Tea factory was amazing. We were surprised to know a few facts and history about tea, which I have already shared with you. I think you would also be surprised after reading this blog on Tea. 

Please share in the comment section, how you felt after knowing the origin and history of tea.

Also, let me know if you like this blog in the comment section. Also in case you are planning to visit the Ooty read it in our blog Trip to Ooty and Coonoor - A Complete 4 Day Tour Guide

Thank you for reading!

Love