Kodachadri trek!

It was the 4 day Durga Puja holiday for me and I was in no mood to sit and home and spend the holidays sleeping! I checked my bucketlist, Trekking to Kodachadri was pending for quite long time. I decided to do it.
We three friends embarked on our journey to kodachadri. we took KSRCTC bus and reached shimoga by 5am in the morning. After little confusion we got our bus to the next destination Nittur, where we had our breakfast and and proceed towards Kodachadri Homestay where we got freshened up and prepared for our trek.

Kodachadri Homestay

One can call Mr. Rajendra(9449145540), a very sweet and helpful gentleman and quite knowledgeful of the entire region. the rooms were clean and decent for overnight stay. If its a group, one can hire tent and the owners will arrange dinner alongside campfire on request.

We started our trekking by 9am first towards the Hidlumane falls, which was a 4 km moderate trek, though we decided to not hire a guide, someonevoluntered to be with us throughout the journey. Our Sweety! She was our new friend on the this exciting trip.

Rain god played cupid as continuous raining made it impossible for us to complete our trek till the sunset point. we somehow reached the Hidlumane waterfalls and decided to abandon the trek on the advise of locals as the rain wasn't planning to stop.

We came back to the base camp half halfheartedly as we couldn't finish the trek. 

May be we will finish this trek someother time, till then lemme share some of the amazing pictures of the trek with you.

Happy Durga Pujo!

Ahha! This is my favorite time of the year, too many festivals and holidays! Durga pujo, Diwali, christmas, new year and what not!

I love the happiness,chaos, explosive sound, overcrowded streets, nostalgia in the air!Everyone around is busy preparing for Durga Pujo or Navartri as you may call it. Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil.

Durga Puja is widely celebrated in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand,Manipur, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal, where it is a five-day annual holiday.

I am more of a Bengali-without-the-Bengali-genes(daddy, mommy, mine best friends were all bengalis, so you know the influence), Mommy used to perform the "kalash asthpna" for Goddess durga on the first day of the auspicious navratri, which marks the start of festivities and celebrations at home.

Celebrations means lots of shopping, sweets and awesome dishes, you know what I mean! The house used to be filled with ghee odour as something or other is continuously cooking in the kitchen, I used to love when the neighboring family would invite us for navratri feast on the eight day of the festivities and treat us like goddness durga, worship us and dool us up with gifts and savories.

Durga pujo is synomous of friends, fun, adda and pandal hopping!As been born in the eastern part of the country, "pandal hopping" is my favorite! If you are lucky enough, visit kolkata during these nine days, its a different world altogether! 

If you are like me, who is Bangalore, here is the list of Durga Puja Pandals in the city,

1. The Bengalee Association - Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, Mekhri Circle. 

2.  Sarathi Socio-Cultural Trust - Mangala Kalyana Mantapa, 80 Ft Road, Koramangala 8th Block. Next to Aangan Restaurant and opposite to Ganesh Temple.

3. ALT Training College-Kaikondahalli, Sarjapur Main Road, Beside Total Mall and Prestige Pegasus Building.

4. Durgapuja Sharad Utsav 2013, opposite to Wipro Gate 16, (Beside Ajmera Infinity), Electronic City, Phase 1, Bangalore 100.

Talking about Durga Pujo and not mentioning about the traditional Bengali delicacies is a crime, which I am obviously not committing!!


The list is way too long, here is my favorite pick which you should definitely try!

 Luchi-Aloo dum:

 Labra:

Chola dal

Misti doi:

  5. Sorshe Illish (Hilsa fish made in a paste of mustard seeds):

6. Kosha Mangsho(Spicy Mutton curry):

7.Rosogulla:

8. Khicuri-Begun Bhaja with pickles:

Begun bhaja:

Still reading this post?! why-o-why?!
Go and nag your friend to take you for Pandal Hopping and discover the awesome "Bong connection"!

Happy Durga pujo to you once again!

:)