Yatri Yadien: February 2020

February 28, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.636: Seasons Mall, Magarpatta, Pune.

Beehive Of Activity.

Seasons Mall at Magarpatta City in Pune has become our favourite go-to place for shopping and entertainment. Compared to the other malls like Phoenix and Amanora the infrastructure is very simple and uncomplicated. Parking charges are also very reasonable, unlike in Phoenix mall where they jack up the parking rates on the weekends.

The mall is spread over four floors. There are shops and retail stores of all the major global brands, parlours, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, hypermarkets for daily necessities, gaming zones, and a multiplex where you can watch the latest movies in town. You could spend your entire day at this mall without getting bored. Needless to say that the washrooms are clean and well maintained.

After some shopping we went up to the top floor to see a movie in the ten hall multiplex run by Cinepolis. There is a Cinepolis VIP where you can watch a movie in sheer luxury with the snacks being served at your seat. After the movie we had a snack at the Food Court on the same floor.

Best time to visit the mall is during the festive season where the mall is all decked up and the shops offer many discounts. Sometimes you have celebrities to host a show or grace the occasions.

Date of experience: February 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.635: Kamat Upachar, Ankola, Karnataka.

Good Pit-Stop on Highway NH-66.

This was the second time we were stopping at this Kamat Upchar restaurant on NH66 near Ankola. Belonging to the Kamat Yatrinivas group, they have acquired a good reputation of serving excellent pure vegetarian snacks and meals on the main highways of Karnataka and Andhra. Their eateries are always next to a good petrol pump so one can take a pit-stop break and refuel one’s vehicle as well as refresh ourselves. The washrooms are always clean and well maintained, which is very necessary for any highway restaurant. There is a dedicated parking lot and a CCD nearby as well.

We started off with a glass of buttermilk and then ordered one Veg Biryani and one Curd Rice. We enjoyed our meal. Service was courteous but a bit slow. There are uniformed lady waitresses to serve you. Prices were very reasonable. The menu includes rice plates (thalis) and other nutritious Udupi and Malnad cuisine. They have very good service standards, and a relaxing ambience, at very reasonable prices.

One can also buy local snacks like murukku, chakli, chikki, farsans and sweets at the cash counter. Card payment facility is available as well.

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Date of visit: December 2019

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 27, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.634: GouSwarga, Siddapur, Uttara Kannada.

World's First Sanctuary Exclusively For Cows.

We visited Gou-Swarga on the way to Kumta from Siddapur. It is in Bankuli village, about 6 km from Siddapur town and we had to take a village road for about 1.5 km off the Siddapur-Kumta Road. Siddapur town itself is about 10 km from Jog Falls. The sanctuary was set in a very serene rural farmland area with hills and forests surrounding the estate.

There was no parking or entry fee and we just walked in through the gates and a garden pathway leading to the sanctuary enclosure. There was a rectangular lake in the centre with hundreds of cows in the open enclosures around the lake. None of the cows were tied up and they were free to roam and feed in their enclosures. Some preferred the shaded areas while some were standing in the open sunshine. They all seemed to be at peace in their surroundings. Some of them had their calves standing besides them. One cow and calf were resting in a bed of hay in the walkway and we fondled the calf gently with the mother looking at us with a wary eye. Here the calf has the first right to its mother’s milk.

It is a very unique concept to have a sanctuary for our desi holy cows, and the first of its kind in the world. It has been conceived and built by Sri Ramachandrapura Matha. There are lush paddy fields and grasslands nearby to provide fodder for the cows and plentiful water bodies in the valley surrounded by the hills of the Western Ghats.

Besides the sanctuary there is a medical care unit for cows, a place to conduct pujas and havans, a meditation arena, a library with cow related books, a shop selling cow related ayurvedic products as well as some daily requirement products, an auditorium for cultural programs, a mini theatre for audio-visual shows, and a huge production unit for cow related products. In addition there is lodging facility and a restaurant for people who want to stay overnight and do go-seva.

We bought some special pellet feed from the shelter-in-charge for ₹101 and fed some of the cows with our own hands. The cows came forward eagerly and happily took the feed from us. It was our first experience of interacting with cows. Before this we always thought that cows were sleepy and docile animals.

It is worthwhile to pay a visit to Gou-Swarga specially if your children are accompanying you. It’s a different kind of place than a regular zoo, as you can actually touch and befriend an animal, and get to know why they are called ‘Holy Cow’.

Date of experience: December 2019

February 26, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.633: Jog Falls, Shimoga/Siddapura, Karnataka.

Gift Of Nature.

We were visiting Jog Falls for the second time. The last time we had entered via Sagara and Talaguppa. This time we entered via Gersuppa as we were driving up from Honavar after visiting Murudeshwar. This time we did not cross the bridge across the Sharavati River but entered and parked at the opposite view point near the Government Inspection Bungalow. There is a free parking lot here and there are many small snacks and refreshment stalls. It is not as crowded here as the main viewpoint which is near the KSTDC Mayura Jog Falls hotel, but there are as many monkeys here if not more. The falls are much closer here.

The falls make for a spectacular sight in the rainy season from July to September. Sometimes mist and clouds obscure the view for a bit, but add to the magic. The water falls from a height of about 250 meters into a plunge pool down below. There are many viewing points constructed by the state tourism department from where we get a wonderful view of the falls. The flow is divided into 4 distinct streams called the ‘Raja’, ‘Rani’, ‘Roarer’ and ‘Rocket’. There are 1400 steps leading down to the bottom of the falls.

However, this time we were here in December so the flow was not as strong as we had seen it in monsoons of 2018. But it looked just as enchanting from a different angle and in a different season. Before leaving we had some steaming hot chilli and potato bhajjis (fritters) from one of the stalls and a refreshing cup of filter coffee, sitting out in the open air on the makeshift tables and plastic chairs.

Date of experience: December 2019

My TripAdvisor Review No.632: Statue Park, Murudeshwar, Karnataka.

More Statues Inside A Cave.

There is much more to see at Murudeshwar besides the giant Shiva statue and the tall tower known as the Raja Gopuram. Walk past the gopuram up to a small hillock where the main temple is located just under the giant Shiva statue platform. The temple is surrounded by a nice garden with the Sun Chariot, a Nandi Bull, statues of Ravana giving the Atma Linga to child Ganesha, and some other statues.

The Shivalinga is in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and is barely visible as it in a depression lit only by the oil lamps of the priest. It is known as the Sri Mridesa Linga from which the name Murudeshwar has been derived. Next to this is the cave museum, named as the Bhukailasa Cave, where you have to pay a nominal entry fee before entering. Here you will see the life-size displays of the mythological characters of the Ramayana and Mahabharata and the many epic scenes with some commentary in the background. The story of Ravana handing over the Atmalinga to child Ganesha is also shown in some of the murals. One can easily spend an hour inside the cave museum admiring the artwork and legends depicted by the statues.

After coming out of the temple we got sweeping views of the well decorated park and the expansive Arabian Sea and the beach at Murudeshwar. There is an artificial waterfall and a pond in the park. It is a good place to visit but gets crowded on the weekends, so it is better to go on a weekday to better enjoy the serenity of the place. There is no entry fee for the temple, but for the Cave Museum the entry fee is ₹10 for adults and ₹5 for children.

Date of experience: December 2019

February 23, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.631: Murudeshwar (Town), Karnataka.

Temple Town By The Sea.

Murudeshwar is a small but beautiful pilgrimage town on the Karnataka coastline. It has been made famous by the huge shimmering statue of Lord Shiva and the nearby temple which has an even taller gopuram which towers over the statue. There is a nice beach nearby.

The town is just off NH66 between Udupi and Bhatkal. We had to turn off the highway and travel towards the coastline for about 1 km. There is a pay and park parking lot. One can avail of water sports activities like boating, swimming and wind surfing at the beach. For those interested in diving there are organised trips to Netrani Island, which is about 10 nautical miles offshore from Murudeshwar. Some diving shops in Goa help with the arrangements.

The destination gets overcrowded during the weekends, so it is best to visit during weekdays in the winter months of November to February. There are some hotels and stay options located nearby and one can spend a few days at Murudeshwar Beach and enjoy a short vacation.

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Date of experience: December 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.630: Naveen Beach Resaturant, Murudeshwar, Karnataka.

Built On Stilts, Excellent Sea View.

After visiting the Murudeshwar Shiva Temple and the beach we decided to have lunch at the Naveen Beach Restaurant, which has been constructed on stilts at the edge of the beach. There are three levels and all floors have a central hall with a veranda where the tables have been laid out. We grabbed a table on the ground floor veranda and we got a beautiful view of the beach and the Arabian Sea. The tables on the other side of the veranda had a view of the giant Shiva statue and temple.

We ordered Alu Gobi with Rotis and Curd Raitha. The food was freshly cooked and quite tasty. The service was average and the prices were reasonable. Seafood and other non-vegetarian dishes were also available as well as South Indian snacks like dosa, idli and wadas.

The main attraction of this restaurant is the balcony seating if available. If it gets crowded you may not get a table outside. The weather has to be good, if it is too hot or rainy then you may not enjoy the ambience.

We enjoyed our meal with a good view of the beach activities.

Ask EkMusafir about Naveen Beach Restaurant, Murudeshwar

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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February 21, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.629: Lord Shiva Temple, Murudeshwar, Bhatkal, Karnataka.

Tall Gopuram and a Giant Statue of Lord Shiva.

There is a huge statue of Lord Shiva and a very tall gopuram and temple which is a must visit alongside the Murudeshwar beach. It is surrounded on three sides by the Arabian sea and the location is very scenic. The entrance to the temple is a twenty storied high gopuram known as the Raja Gopuram, which is guarded by the statues of two large elephants. The main temple devoted to Shri Rameshwara is at the feet of the giant Shiva statue which is the second tallest Shiva statue in the world.

The entry to the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple is banned for all devotees and we could only view the main deity, the Sri Mridesa Linga, which is believed to be a piece of the original Atma Linga, by standing at the threshold of the sanctum. It is dark inside the sanctum sanctorum and only illuminated by the oil lamps held by the priests.

Outside the temple is a park with more interesting statues, the most interesting one being the Sun Chariot. The temple opens at 6 am and closes at 8.30 pm. It is also closed for lunch from 1 pm to 3 pm. There are three main pujas during the day; morning 6.30 to 7.30 am, afternoon 12.15 to 1 pm and night 7.15 to 8.15 pm.

Date of experience: December 2019

My TripAdvisor Review No.628: Murudeshwar Beach, NH66, Karnataka.

Lord Shiva's Beach.

This beautiful beach is just off NH66 between Udupi and Bhatkal. We had to turn off the highway and travel towards the coastline for about 1 km. We parked in a pay and park parking lot. There is a huge statue of Lord Shiva and a very tall gopuram and temple which is a must visit along with the beach.

After paying our respects to Lord Shiva and taking a walk up to the temple at an elevation, we sat down for lunch at the nearby Naveen Beach Restaurant which overlooks the sea. We got a nice view of the beach and saw many kids as well as adults enjoying their activities on the sand as well as taking a dip in the sea. Travellers can indulge in swimming, boating, fishing and sunbathing at this beach. Several water sports activities are available like Speed Boat, Water Scooter and Paragliding.

There are some hotels and stay options located nearby and one can even spend a few days at Murudeshwar Beach and enjoy a short vacation.

Date of experience: December 2019

February 20, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.627: Maravanthe Beach, NH66, Karnataka.

Between The Flowing River And The Deep Blue Sea.

We drove by besides the Maravanthe Beach on NH66 while going to Murudeshwar from Udupi. On the left side we had a beautiful view of the expansive Arabian Sea, while on our right was a gently flowing Souparnika River. The river flows down from near the Mookambika temple at Kollur in the Western Ghats hence it is also known as the Kolluru River. It then takes a U-turn next to the highway as it flows further south, but ultimately drains into the sea later.

We stopped by the beach to take in the beautiful view and enjoy a tender coconut. It was amazing to see the coconut tree fringed road snaking through with water bodies on both sides of the road. It is reputed to be one of the most scenic places on the west coast of India.

Date of experience: December 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 18, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.626: Hotel Chalukya International, Kundapur, Karnataka.

Compact And Well Furnished Room.

The room was compact and well furnished. The AC of the room first allotted to us was not working so they upgraded us to a slightly bigger room with a working AC, which cooled the room efficiently. The hotel is well furnished with marble flooring and Jaquar fittings in the bathroom and it looked very nice with new furniture. There was a study table at one end of the room. There was a cupboard and side tables next to the bed. There was a flat-screen TV and free wi-fi in the room. The small washroom was neat and well equipped with modern plumbing. Towels and soap were provided.

We went down to the restaurant for dinner. Since it is also a bar the receptionist took us to a private family room which was a semi-enclosed cabin and we got special treatment. The restaurant was good and reasonably priced. Next morning’s breakfast of idli and wada sambar was served to our room.

Being located within the city of Kundapur we did not have much of a view but for the rooftops and markets around the hotel. The sea and beach was at about 2 km distance away.

The room tariff was reasonable and well within our budget. All in all, It was a good overnight halt for us. I would give it a four and a half star rating if that was possible.More

Date of stay: December 2019

My TripAdvisor Review No.625: Cafe Coffee Day, NH-66, Udupi, Karnataka.

Refuel And Refresh.

We stopped at an HPCL petrol pump about 37 km after passing Mangalore on the way to Udupi on NH66. Luckily it had a Café Coffee Day outlet in the same compound as the petrol station. So after refuelling our car we took a much needed coffee break.

This air-conditioned CCD has a nice ambience, seating arrangement and décor. There were a variety of snacks available like cakes, muffins and pastries. The restaurant was well stocked with bottled juices and soft-drinks as well. We ordered two cups of latte coffee. Service was slow but the coffee was good. It was served in paper cups. It was very expensive compared to the normal filter coffee we could have had at Udupi town instead.

We had a refreshing break. The washrooms at CCD are well maintained. There is sufficient parking in the HPCL pump, known as the Budhagi Service Station.

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Date of visit: December 2019

See all 5 reviews by EkMusafir for Udupi

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 17, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.624: Kerala Cafe, Kalyani Nagar, Pune.

Salmon Pollichathu.

This was our second visit to Kerala Café. After a trip to Kerala earlier in the year we were again keen to have Fish Pollichathu, fish marinated in a signature spicy masala, then wrapped in banana leaf and slow cooked.

Being a Sunday we had reserved a table and were given a table in the a/c section. The seating was comfortable and the ambience was nice. We first ordered drinks, with a masala papad as starter and quickly ordered the main dish as well thinking that it will take a while to cook the Pollichathu. The masala papad was served in a jiffy. After about 15 minutes of waiting for our drinks we were surprised to be served our main dish. We had to return it to the kitchen and ask for our drinks first. The masala papad had gone limp by then. After finishing our drinks we asked them to reheat and serve the Pollichathu. At least the Appams were fresh and hot.

The restaurant still has a good traditional Kerala ambience with some greenery and plants at the entrance. Apart from the a/c hall, there is an open air seating area on the ground floor and a semi open covered terrace and bar on the mezzanine floor. Valet parking is available. The service is courteous but the waiters are not properly trained.

The menu is specialised in Kerala food both veg and non-veg. Fish dishes are tasty and authentic. Chicken and mutton dishes are served, but instead of beef they serve buff (buffalo). The restaurant is worth visiting if you love the taste of Kerala.

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Date of visit: February 2020

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February 16, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.623: Guru Nanak Dairy And Sweets, Kalyani Nagar, Pune.

Open Air Seating With Traditional Mumbai Street Food.

Guru Nanak Dairy And Sweets started out more than 25 years back as a dairy supplying daily milk and curd to the residents of Kalyani Nagar and the neighbourhood. They also stock butter, ghee, cheese, and the traditional Indian milk sweets like pedha, barfis, laddus, rashgullas, kaju katli, dry fruit, farsan, savoury snacks and much more. They then started keeping and serving breakfast items like samosa, kachori, idli, sandwiches and burgers to the students and office goers. Hot and cold drinks are also available.

They have now opened another outlet in the next building where they serve pao bhaji, chole bhature, rajma rice, pulaos, Mumbai chaat, and snacks. They specialise in pao bhaji with different variations and options, with onion, with kaju, with paneer, with Jain masala, or without all these but with a generous dollop of butter, and the same applies to the pao.

So if one is interested in a healthy vegetarian meal, breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner Guru Nanak is always ready to satisfy you.

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Date of visit: February 2020

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February 14, 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.622: Bekal Fort, Kasargod, Kerala.

Beautiful Fort On The Malabar Coast.

This Bekal Fort was completed in the year 1650 by Shivappa Nayak of the Keladi Nayak dynasty. Later Hyder Ali conquered the Nayaks and Bekal fell into the hands of the Mysore Kings. It was an important military station for Tipu Sultan when he led a military expedition to dominate Malabar. In 1799 the fort came under the control of the British East India Company after the defeat of Tipu Sultan during the Fourth Anglo Mysore War.

The fort is in a fairly well preserved condition and is one of the most visited tourist sites in North Kerala. It is open for tourists every day from 8 am to 6 pm. There is a large parking lot for cars and buses. Entry charges are ₹15 per head. The fort is at a beautiful elevated location overlooking the Arabian Sea and is quite a nice area to walk around in with a lot of greenery and good views of the sea along the ramparts of the fort.

It is a must see attraction if you visit Kasargod. It will take around an hour to walk around the scenic precincts of the fort, but well worth the effort. The best time to visit is early morning before it gets too hot, or in the evening just before sunset.

Date of experience: December 2019

My TripAdvisor Review No.621: Priya Restaurant, MG Road, Pune.

Good Fast Food Restaurant On MG Road Pune.

Priya Restaurant is an old restaurant on MG Road Pune, specialising in South Indian Fast Food, Snacks, Ice-creams and Cold Drinks. It has been there ever since we started living in the city of Pune about 30 years ago. MG Road used to be the shopping hub of the city before the evolution of the mall culture.

We visited Priya again after a gap of almost 28 years and it brought back good memories. It is as popular as it used to be and we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table in the family room on the mezzanine floor. We ordered our favourite Masala Dosa and the cold and sweet Dahi Wada. They tasted as good as ever. Service was a bit slow and the waiter could not distinguish between the ordinary masala dosa and the cheese masala dosa. We had to go down to the cash counter at the entrance to pay with a card. Prices were reasonable.

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