Tag: toytrain

August 22, 2019 Himachal Pradesh, India, Shimla 3 Comments

Shimla – Why planned trips are always better than unplanned ones!!!

This trip was spontaneous and one of the disastrous one. Read the itinerary and learn from our mistakes. I had no time to research and blindly followed what taxi driver suggested us and wasted time and money.

Days required– 4 days

Nearby places to go – Manali/Kullu, Chail, Kufri, Naldehra/Tatapani

Best time to visit – anytime whatever suits you but please avoid summer vacation time (June) as there is a heavy inflow of tourists that may spoil your schedule and mood. People who want to relish snowfall might visit in January-February.

How to reach –

By road – Direct buses are available from Delhi (8hours) and Chandigarh (4 hours). Route from Chandigarh is very scenic, and roads are in good condition. This is the most common, convenient and cheap way to reach Shimla.

By train – Take narrow gauge train from Kalka railway station to enjoy the toy train ride to Shimla (UNESCO World Heritage site). It’s a once in lifetime journey which will ride through tunnels, bridges and spectacular views of Himalayas.

By air –The Shimla Airport has limited connectivity. A direct flight from Delhi is available. Shimla airport is 20km away from the city.

How we traveled – We reached Shimla by Volvo bus from Jaipur-very long tiring journey of 20hours. Here from the new bus stand, there is taxi service to reach the city. Rates are fixed by the taxi union.

Where to stay – Taxi drops you at Court parking area near mall road. From there, you walk to your hotel so book your hotel accordingly. Most preferred location is Mall Road.

How to go around – You have book a cab which will take Rs.1500-2500 depending on the tour and your bargaining skills.

Activities to do

  1. Kalka Shimla train journey -This historic toy train crosses 105 tunnels and many beautiful rail & road stations.
  2. Ice skating /Skiing- Shimla has the only natural ice-skating rink in South Asia. Visit in January and February for ice skating. Kufri also has fun parks where you can enjoy skiing.
  3. Shopping on Mall Road – Shimla has the most happening Mall road, which comprises several restaurants, clubs, bars, shops, bakeries, etc.

Places to visit –

Mall road – Take a stroll on Mall road. Enjoy food, shopping and view from here. It lies below the Ridge.

Mall Road

The ridge – At the centre of the city, is the Ridge which is a large open space expanding along the Mall road. There is an amazing view of Snow-clad mountains. On the extreme west, lies the Scandal Point.

The Ridge and the Church

Christ Church – Located on the Ridge, this Church, and the Ridge are part of many Bollywood scenes.

Jakhoo hill/temple – 2km from town, lies the Jakhoo hill which is home to 100 feet Hanuman Ji Statue. Beware of bunches of fearless monkeys present there, they will snatch anything from your hand. Do carry stick along with you.

Jakhoo Temple

Johnnie’s Wax Museum – This one is new in the list. This wax museum is now among must-visit spot in Shimla. It is located near the lift on Mall road.

Iron Man with Iron Lady

Indian Institute of Advance study – Pay a visit to this colonial-era building.

Now I am listing day trips from Shimla. These are located at a distance from the town but worth visiting. Pick your tour accordingly.

Chail – Here lies the world’s biggest Cricket Stadium and Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s Palace hotel.

Kufri – A must-visit place if you are visiting Shimla during the winter season. You can enjoy skiing there. It also has a fun park and a zoo.

Go-karting in Kufri

Naldehra/Tatapani – Tatapani has hot spring water emerging near river Sutlej. People enjoy taking a bath in this water, containing sulfur. Although this place is polluted and overcrowded. Also, there is river rafting activity. On the way, you will cross Naldehra, one of the oldest Golf course ground. This tour can be missed as rafting is not worth it and overpriced.

Where to eat –

  • Sitaram and sons: Chhola Bhatura
  • Golgappa stall, Navbhar Chowk: Pani puri
  • Bihari Lal Sharma Stall, Takka Bench, above the Ridge – fruit chat
  • Aunty’s Dhaba – Chinese food

Itinerary

Day 1

After check-in the hotel and having some rest, we could not stop ourselves from walking across the famous Mall road. It was peak season and some kind of festival/carnival was going on there on mall road which brought a huge crowd there. We were following the crowd, watching roadside shops-old one and new brand stores. We reached the RIDGE, took some astonishing photographs near Church and Ridge. We enjoyed the street food at various stalls and when we decided to head back to the hotel at 8 pm. We booked a taxi in advance from the hotel for the next day tour. Taxi usually charge Rs.1500 to 2500 depending on season and sightseeing.

Day 2

We checked out from the hotel and started our trip by visiting Jakhoo temple on the top of the hill. It was worth going there but be aware of monkeys there.

We earlier decided to go to Kufri sightseeing but the driver suggested us to go Tatapani and Naldehra. After horse riding in Naldehra, we reached Tatapani for river rafting, the only reason to deviate from our plan but it was just a waste of money and time. They charged Rs.5000/couple but it was more like boating. In the evening, we headed to our resort- Kufri holiday resort which was the best thing happened to us on the whole day. Kufri was much cooler than Shimla and we realized it more because we didn’t pack for it but we enjoyed the weather and went for a short walk nearby.

Our room in Kufri

Day 3

It was a beautiful morning with a cool breeze. We had our buffet breakfast and checked out. Kufri is a small place with all sightseeing nearby so better you check out late and enjoy your morning at the resort. Later we visited a fun park and a zoo. The mini zoo was a waste of time and can be missed.

From there, we headed for our next stay on Kufri-Chail road. The idea was to cover Chail next day. Better you stay in Kufri. There are no good hotels on this road. Our hotel was in a small village where we couldn’t find the ATM and we were out of cash. We rested in our room the whole evening and night because there was nothing to do there, that’s another reason to stay in Kufri.

Day 4

We drive to Chail only to find more disappointment. There was nothing else to see other than Kali ka Tibaa and Chail Palace. The stadium was closed.

Chail Palace

Temple was very far away from Chail but was worth visiting as it has very beautiful surrounding but Palace was not worth for entry charges of Rs100.

near Kali Tibaa Mandir

After sightseeing, we returned to Shimla to conclude our journey, but we found a new place-Johnnie’s Wax Museum. It was on the mall road near our hotel.

I hope to visit Shimla again in winter to enjoy the winter activities and enjoy the Toy Train ride.

Few tips for fellow travelers –

  1. Plan the trip in January/February. You can enjoy snow activities like skating and skiing.
  2. Skip Naldehra/Tatapani trip. Better go Kufri.
  3. Book Kalka-Shimla train in advance.
  4. Book only 1-night accommodation in Shimla (near or on Mall Road) and rest of the stay in Kufri (away from the crowd).
  5. Bargain for everything- hotel, taxi, shopping, horse riding, sports adventures.
  6. Don’t do river rafting in Shimla and save your money for Rishikesh.

Ratings (it is subjective and based on personal opinion)

Destination overall rating 8/10 – Queen of hills has most happening Mall road, British era buildings, winter activities, famous street food, and amazing mountain view.

Expense 4/10 – Accommodation and transportation are costly as Shimla is very overpopulated, overcrowded and commercialized now.

Travel ease 7/10 – You can easily reach Shimla from Delhi/Chandigarh and taxi/cabs are easily available there for sightseeing.

Food 7/10 – It has some very famous cafes/restaurants and street foods.

August 6, 2019 Bengaluru-Mysuru-Ooty, India, Karnataka Post a Comment

Bengaluru-Mysuru-Ooty Trip

This trip was planned amid chaos. I resigned from my job, my brother’s marriage was just a week before the trip and I was getting calls from my new employer to join as early as possible and also we had to shift to Punjab for this job just after the trip. Paaro got all crazy while packing for the trip as she didn’t know what to pack for the trip and what to pack for Punjab.

Days required– 6-7 days

Nearby places to visit –From Bengaluru-Ramnagar (Sholay fame), Nandi Hills

From Mysuru – Srirangpatna, Brindavan Gardens

It’s a short weekend trip for people from Bengaluru.

Best time to visit – after Monsoon or during winter (October -February). Two special things can draw up your Bengaluru-Mysuru trip: Aero show by Indian Airforce which is usually held in the month of February every 2 years and Dussehra celebration of Mysuru in October.

How to reach –

First & foremost – Make Bengaluru entry and exit point of your expedition. Take a flight/train/bus to Bengaluru, then from there go to Mysuru by road and then to Ooty. Return to Bengaluru by bus and head back to your city. This is the most convenient way that works out for most of the travellers.

  • Self-drive – If you are a road trip guy, you can use this option as roads are in good conditions. Renting a car for self-drive is easily accessible from Bengaluru (e.g., Zoom cars, etc).
  • By cab/taxi- you can rent a cab/taxi from Bengaluru to reach out Mysuru and Ooty. This is a very suitable but little expensive way.

By air –Kempegowda International Airport is serving in Bengaluru,well-served by the city’s public transport agency Vayu Vajra (airport shuttle bus service by govt.) which connect the airport and the city through 11 routes.Ask the ticket counter person about the bus number that will go to your area.

Direct flights are available from Delhi and all major cities in India.

  • By train – Trains available from all major cities but train journey are time-consuming.
  • By bus – you can easily book bus from official Karnataka govt. Website(www.KSRTC.in) and Redbus. They run luxury air-conditioned buses which are super comfortable.

How we travelled – Took a flight to reach Bengaluru then switched to bus to go to Mysuru and Ooty.

Why? It is time friendly (even money friendly if you book flights timely) to book a flight to Bengaluru and bus for Mysuru and Ooty as it is very economical, comfortable and convenient.

Where to stay – you can stay anywhere in Bengaluru as the city has very many modes of public transport-City buses, metro, taxis, rickshaw, Ola/Uber. For accomodation, you can look around near Majestic (their main bus terminus) or near Bengaluru palace or botanical garden so that you can reserve your time to reach these tourist places and commute to next destinations.

Mysuru – stay close by bus stand/Lashkar Mohalla.

Ooty- near bus stand (railway station is adjacent to bus stand)

How to go around – Bengaluru – If you have your own vehicle/driver then there is no issue or else use City buses, metro, taxis, rickshaw, Ola/Uber.

Mysuru – If you have your own vehicle/driver then there is no issues, otherwise go for City buses, taxis, rickshaw, Ola/Uber.

  • Mysuru has unique TRIN TRIN public bicycle sharing system for locals and tourists. If you are fit enough, then you can register yourself and use it to travel all over Mysuru in a very cheap and healthy way.

Ooty – you can easily find a taxi (near main bazaar/bus stand) for a day tour that will take you to all major destinations. We used self-driven electric bike rentals here- GREEN BIKES by Sathya (Read our experience of E-bike tour in Ooty in different blog).

Places to visit:

Bengaluru

Bengaluru Palace – Ticket charges for entry and camera are high. Only history lovers would like the palace, as not a much-maintained palace. Also, most of the area is closed.

Botanical garden – another place to visit preferably in evening time.

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace

*Bengaluru is well-known for its pub culture (also known as Pub Capital of India) so once you are done visiting these places, you can opt for any famous Pub in Bengaluru.

Mysuru

Mysuru Palace- a must-visit place in Mysuru. It will take around 60-90 minutes to cover the Palace premise. You have to take off your shoes there. Camera/phones/bags are allowed.

*Do Not miss the illumination at night. There is a light and sound show although it is in the local language but, the alluring illumination of Mysuru Palace cannot be missed. It is for 10minutes on weekdays but on Sundays and public holidays, it is for 30-40minutes. Confirm the timing with locals. But it is usually after 7:30 pm.

If you plan out this trip around Dussehra celebration, then you can see Mysuru and Mysuru Palace in full glory.  It is a 10-day festival, starting with Navaratri and the last day being Vijayadashami. Palace is lightened up daily with nearly 100,000 light bulbs from 7 pm to 10 pm on all days of the festival. Various cultural and religious programs highlighting the dance, music and culture of Karnataka are performed in front of the glorified Palace.

Illumination at Mysuru Palace

Mysuru Zoo and Lake- common tickets for both attractions are available but the lake can be missed if there is a shortage of time. The zoo is one of the largest and oldest in India and will take 3hours to cover 3km long zoo but if one is running out of time or there is any health issue, then Zoo provides with battery-operated vehicles which then cover up the zoo in 1hour.

Mysuru Palace

Chamundeshwari Temple- Take AC or routine bus for Chamundeshwari Temple from local bus stand (ask the locals) as it is a very cheap and convenient way. There is no need to book a taxi/cab to visit this temple.

Chamundeshwari Temple

Rail Museum- a small museum is there beside the railway station that can be covered in noon.

Ja Simran ja, Jee le apni zindagi

St. Phelomena’s Church

St. Philomena’s Cathedral

If you have one more day then a few more places around Mysuru can be covered- Brindavan garden and Srirangapatnam.

Ooty

A toy train journey- one should must go for in Ooty. There is a toy train running between Ooty and Coonoor that is a 1-hour journey. Tickets can be booked from IRCTC but you have to book them in advance. The view from the train and experience is just amazing.

Toy Train, Coonoor

Places in Ooty – Dodabetta peak, Tea plantation, Chocolate factory, Botanical garden, Boathouse/Ooty lake.

Lush green Tea Gardens in Ooty

These places can be covered by taxi/auto in a day.

Not much of places or market area to see in Ooty like other hill stations.

Botanical Garden

But if you have 1 more day, you can go to Pykara by cab/taxi or green bike tours.

E-Bike tour in Ooty

Where to eat

There is an extensive list of Pubs in Bengaluru to try.

But if you are planning to stay there for 1 or 2 days, you cannot try all of them.

The Biere Club, Monkey bar, Arbor Brewing Company, Pecos, Watson’s, Toit are some which I would recommend.

Now if you love south Indian cuisines, especially Dosa then Bengaluru and Mysuru are heaven for you. These two cities have so many legendary decades-old eateries that you will not able to cover them all.

In Bengaluru

Central tiffin room (CTR), Mavalli tiffin room(MTR), Vidyarthi Bhawan, Indian coffee house. All these outlets are very old. You may not like their ambience but do try their Dosa and coffee.

 

In Mysuru

Mysuru Paak from very famous Guru sweet mart – this very small outlet sells very famous Mysuru Paak and you have to be on time as by evening they go out of stock. We bought the last kilo of Paak and it was only 5 pm. It is loaded with ghee and if kept in the refrigerator it would lasts for up to 15-20days.

Try south Indian food at Gayatri tiffin room(GTR)/VINAYAK MYLARI/ANIMA MADHAV BHAWAN.

South Indian food served on banana leaf

Itinerary –

Day 1- Reach Bengaluru. Visit the Palace and garden. Dine at one of the famous Dosa joints or taste the beer at famous Pubs.

Day 2 – Reach Mysuru by morning bus. It is 4-5hour journey. Have lunch at any famous Dosa joint. Visit the Palace. Enjoy the illumination at night.

Day 3 – Visit Mysuru zoo and lake. Have lunch. Go to the Rail Museum. Then take a bus for Chamundeshwari temple. Visit St. Philomena Church in the evening.

Day 4 – Take a bus to Ooty. Enjoy toy train journey between Ooty and Coonoor.

Day 5 – Take a full/half-day tour of Ooty. Take the night bus for Bengaluru.

Day 6 – Fly back to your city.

Few tips for fellow travelers –

  1. Book your flight tickets in advance (2-3months) to get a cheaper price. Book your bus tickets online 7days in advance. It is always better to book in advance than regretting it later.
  2. Try to use local means of transportation. Usually, there is no need to book cabs for everything.
  3. Take either night buses or early morning buses so that you can get more time to explore the city.
  4. Try to explore some offbeat destination (Ramnagara near Bengaluru) or new experiences like TRIN TRIN in Mysuru and Green bikes in Ooty.

Ratings (it is subjective and based on personal opinion)

Destination overall rating 8/10 – Bengaluru may not be good for sightseeing but Mysuru and Ooty are worth visiting.

Travel Expense 3/10 – we cut down our expenses on travel. We ate like locals, traveled like locals and saved money like locals.

Travel ease 8/10– we covered 3 cities in 6days. One can easily travel like local here within the city.

Food 8/10 – just loved the food here but can’t say for you if you don’t like south Indian cuisines.

Scroll to top