Temi Tea Garden, Ravangla

The Temi Tea Garden in Ravangla, considered one of the best in India and in the world. It is established in 1969 by the Government of Sikkim.

It is the only tea garden in Sikkim. The garden is laid over a gradually sloping hill covering an area of 177 hectares. 

Organic tea is produced in this garden based on the guidelines issued by the Institute of Marketology (IMO) of Switzerland.

Top quality tea is produced, which has great demand in the international market.

Flowers at Sim's Park - 1, Coonoor

Sim's Park in Coonoor is one of the major attraction that is feast for the nature lovers. Here one can see variety of beautiful and colorful flowers.

Here are a few of them.

Drive from Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake

We managed to get some sleep in the very cold night at Lachen. We were up very early in the morning by 4 a.m for a drive of 67 kms to Gurudongmar Lake.

We passed through a beautiful valley Chopta Valley. It is located in-between Lachen and Gurudongmar which gets covered with flowers in spring and with snow during winter. 

As we go up the high altitude one can distinctly see the change in foliage. From green forests or large trees, the foliage changes to mostly smaller bushes. On either side of the road on come across beautiful snow covered peaks.

Beautiful Gurudongmar Lake which is located further up at an altitude of 17800 ft near Indo-Tibet border. 

Snow Peaks of Lachen

Lachen is a scenic mountain village surrounded by imposing snow capped peaks, glaciers and rock cliffs.

Th place in all directions is surrounded by snow capped peaks.

Seven Sisters Waterfalls, Gangtok

On our way to Lachen in North Sikkim from Gangtok we came across beautiful scenes and water falls. One such water fall just 32 kms away is Seven Sisters Waterfalls.

There are quite a few waterfalls on the way and this is a place where one has to break to savour the pristine beauty and to be with nature.

This lovely falls is named so because it can be seen that water in the waterfall falls cascades in seven stages. 

This serene waterfall can be seen in three distinct tiers. One can climb a few steps gives a beautiful view of the waterfall in the upper stages.

This is a ideal place for break up for the tourists travelling to North Sikkim.

Drive to Yumthang

We reached beautiful Yumthang Valley from Lachung. The drive through on the winding roads is very memorable. 

It is a beautiful place that nature lovers will definitely love to spend their time.  

On the route one will get to see the snow covered peaks.

The road side had lot of flowering shrubs and trees of variety.

Squirrels at Hebbal Park, Bangalore

Hebbal Lake in north Bangalore is favourite spot for nature lovers. It is nice to watch the various birds, butterflies and other animals.

It is fun to watch the squirrels to go about their routine.

Monkey at Sivanasamudra Waterfalls

The beautiful Shivansamudra  Waterfalls on the Kaveri River formed when plunges down through the rocks and ravines.

During the rainy season this is a must visit place. 

Apart from this water falls here one can get to see the monkeys.

Yumesamdong, the Zero Point

Yumesamdong is a beautiful place situated at an altitude of 15,300 ft. above Mean Sea Level. This natural beauty is just a distance of 26 kms from Yumthang is very close to the Indo Chinese border.

This place is often called as Zero Point as because beyond this point there is no motor-able road and the other side of the mountain lies on the India - Autonomous Region of Tibet border.

After crossing the small stream through man-made bridges, one can climb on top of the snow clad mountains. Breathtaking views here is delight for the tourists.

During winter or spring the area is mostly snow covered. Here the tourist could rent snow boots and jackets on the spot and go on a trek in the snow. Kids had great time by playing in the snow for the first time.

The sweet fragrance of Azalea / Ezilia fill the region and the plant is used for by the locals as incense. 

How to Reach: To visit this place one has to find accommodation at Lachung for the overnight. From Lachung this place is just 3 hours drive by road. Oxygen density in this place is bit lower and it is good to be cautious. 

Yumthang, the Valley of Flowers

Yumthang Valley is a beautiful place situated at an altitude of 11,800 ft. above mean sea level. It is a truly paradise on Earth for nature lovers with a fascinating blend of flora and fauna and breathtaking scenic beauty.

It is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim.

Here one can get to see lovely views of the mountain peaks such as Pauhunri and Shundu Tsenpa forming the backdrop of the river Teesta.

This beautiful place is popularly known as 'Valley of Flowers'.  In spring season, wild flowers such as primulas and Rhododendrons cover the landscape in rich colours, making it delight to the eyes. It is home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, which has rear species of the rhododendron.

We started from Lachung at 8:00 in the morning and visited this and many more places on the route. It was a truly paradise with all its scenic beauty.

How to Reach: To visit this place one has to find accommodation at Lachung for the overnight. From Lachung this place is 25 kms and it is just 1.5 hours drive by road.

Aravelam Waterfalls

Aravelam in Goa has many spots of interest. In the vicinity of Rudreshwar Temple is very scenic and is a beautiful picnic spot that has a waterfall.

This charming waterfall cascades down from the mountains from a height of 50 metres.

The waterfall descends to the ground through rocky cliff with thunderous gush shedding its exuberant silvery showers.

Moon over Lachen

Lachen is a scenic mountain village surrounded by imposing snow capped peaks, glaciers and rock cliffs.

During our stay in this picturesque valley we could see half moon over the snow peaks.

Here are few shots that I could capture in the cold night.

Yaganti

Yaganti is located at a distance of 75 kms from Tadipatri in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This place is nestled in the middle of some hostile terrain like the the dry, rocky region of Erramala Hills. 

This place is not on the regular tourist track. People who wish to visit the temples here or interested in rustic beauty of nature must visit this place.

Places of interest here are:

• Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple 
• Agastya Cave
• Venkateswara Cave
• Veera Brahmam Cave

We left Bangalore by 5:00 a.m and reached this place around 4:00 p.m after covering Lepakshi, Tadpatri, and Belum Caves. It was hectic but very nice places to see.

Jog Falls

Jog Falls is the magnificent water falls in the Western Ghats just 100 Kms from Shimoga city. This beautiful water falls is formed when Sharavati river plunges from a height of 829 feet in four magnificent cascades namely Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. 

This is the tallest waterfalls in India that is situated in the dense evergreen forests of Western Ghats. The water does not stream down the rocks, instead it thunders down the slope losing contact with the rocks.

The lush green surroundings enhance the beauty of the waterfalls. It  is also known as Gerusoppaa Falls. The best time to visit the Jog is in winter when the sky is clear of the mist. 

The place is well connected by rail and road. It is just 100 kms from Shimoga on NH26.

Sikkim, the Paradise

Sikkim is one state that my family has been planning to visit for last 3 years. This has been getting postponed for one or another reason, but finally it happened in the last month.

Located in the Himalayan mountains, this beautiful place is characterised by mountainous terrain is a very lovely destination. The original inhabitants of Sikkim, called it Nye-mae-el, meaning "Paradise".

The entire state is hilly, with an elevation ranging from 280 metres 8500 metres with summit of Kangchenjunga peak forming the state's highest point. The state has 28 mountain peaks, more than 80 glaciers. Numerous rivers originate from the snow covered Himalayan mountains. The major river of the state is the Teesta River.

It is one of the few states in India to receive regular snowfall. The green cover for the state is provided by the thick forests. We covered length and breadth of the State by visiting important places in East, West, South and North. 

The entire state has roads built on the mountains with never ending high, low, twists and turns. It was a exciting trip with skilled local driver taking us around. We shall cover each of these places in more detail.