My TripAdvisor Review No.672: Bidar Fort, Karnataka.

Historic Fort. 

Bidar is a small town in the northernmost tip of Karnataka state. It is about 135 km driving distance from Hyderabad. The Bidar Fort is the most impressive and historic monument in Bidar. Sultan Alla-Ud Din Bahman of the Bahamani Dynasty built this fort when he shifted his capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427. The fort compound is protected by a moat and a wall. There are about 30 monuments inside the fort compound.

When we visited the fort in October-2020 there were very few visitors due to the restrictions on travel during the pandemic. There is a parking lot next to the entrance. There were some security guards posted at the entrance gate and we had to enter our details even though the parking and entry was free. We were quite impressed with the imposing structures, though they were in a decaying condition, and the wide moat which was surrounded by the fort walls. There were well laid out gardens and parks and the monuments are being taken care of by the ASI.

The main monuments to visit inside the fort are the 1) Rangin Mahal (Painted Palace), 2) Takht Mahal (Throne Room), 3) Jami Masjid (Great Mosque), and 4) Sola Khamba Masjid (sixteen pillar mosque). One can easily spend a couple of hours browsing at the fort and admiring the ancient and imposing Persian style of architecture. A song from the hit 2011 hit Bollywood movie ‘The Dirty Picture’ was filmed inside the fort premises.

Date of experience: October 2020

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My TripAdvisor Review No.671: Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib, Bidar, Karnataka.

 Bidar is a small town in the northernmost tip of Karnataka state, and it is about 135 km driving distance from Hyderabad. The road to Bidar is along NH65 till Zaheerabad, and then there is a right turn to Bidar for about 35 km along the state highway. It took us about 3 hours from Hyderabad.

Divine Experience.

The Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib is located in a large well planned campus, and is a beautiful place of worship for the Sikhs. The main Gurudwara is a beautiful building in white marble in the centre of the campus. There is a large satsang hall nearby. There is also a huge 500 room pilgrim’s inn, and engineering college and a 100 bed hospital in the campus.

Since we were visiting during the pandemic there were some restrictions in moving around. We visited the main gurudwara, and then went to the ‘Amrit Kund’, which is the perennial spring (Jhira) discovered by Baba Guru Nanak Dev himself, more than 500 years ago, and tasted the refreshing sweet water emerging from the spring. Free langar is distributed during normal times.

It was a spiritual experience to visit the Gurudwara.

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Date of experience: October 2020

My TripAdvisor Review No.670: Glacier National Park, Trans Canada Highway, BC, Canada.

Avalanche Prone Mountains With Glaciers.

We passed through the Glacier National Park on our coach tour of the Canadian Rockies in August 2019. We were driving along the Trans Canada Highway to Banff National Park and stopped for a while at the Rogers Pass National Historic Site which is at the centre of Glacier National Park.

We could see the high mountain peaks with dense pine forests and active glaciers. There is a lot of wildlife in the forests like bears, wolves, deer, elk, caribou and many more. We saw some stuffed exhibits of these animals in the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre. The park has many trails, campgrounds, and some backcountry huts and cabins.

The park is known for its heavy snowfall and avalanches, and maintaining the Trans Canada Highway which passes through the park is a constant challenge. The Canadian Armed Forces help in the task to keep the roads clear with the help of Howitzer cannons which we saw stationed near the Rogers Pass Discover Centre.

Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.669: Yoho National Park, Trans Canada Highway, British Columbia, Ca.

Stunning Lakes And Alpine Scenery.

We passed through Yoho National Park on our coach tour of the Canadian Rockies in August 2019. We were driving along the Trans Canada Highway to Banff National Park and stopped for a while at Emerald Lake which is in Yoho. The waters of the lake were a stunning turquoise colour.

The region is incredibly beautiful with more lakes, forest trails, camping sites, waterfalls and snow capped mountain peaks to be seen. There are some Alpine lodges where you can spend some time and enjoy a blissful vacation hiking, fishing and boating in the lakes. Though we did not spend the night but we enjoyed a stroll around Emerald Lake, which was located near Kicking Horse Pass.

Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.668: Mount Washington Resort Mile High Chairlift, Vancouver Island.

High Point Of Vancouver Island.

Mount Washington is one of the highest peaks on Vancouver island, located 25 km west from Comox Valley. We visited the mountain in August 2019. There is a chair lift which takes you up to the mountain peak in barely 10 minutes. We got fantastic views over the Strait of Georgia and could see some of the West Coast mountains on the mainland. There was still some snow on the ground. In winter Mt. Washington is one of the best ski resorts in British Columbia. The tickets for the chair lift were quite pricey though.

Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.667: Spice Bowl, Lakkidi, Wayanad, Kerala.

Vegetarian Restaurant, Great Ambience, Tasty Food.

We drove past this restaurant on the NH-766 Wayanad to Kozhikode Highway in December 2018, but then we turned back to the nice looking veg restaurant called ‘Spice Bowl’. It had a good parking area and a great ambience which was quite noticeable as we were driving along. It was not air-con but it was tastefully decorated with plenty of large spice jars lining the showcases.

Wife had a ‘Hawaiian Pasta Salad’, which was very tasty with pineapple chunks, carrots, capsicum, tomato and pasta with mayonnaise topped with black peppercorns. I had a South Indian Thali with Kerala boiled rice. I found the thali to be quite heavy as the gravies were quite thick in consistency. The masala chaas was very spicy but the payasam was good. There were 3 vegetables, papad, pickle, dal, sambar and rasam.

Prices were on the higher side, but the service was good.

Date of visit: December 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

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My TripAdvisor Review No.666: IKEA Restaurant, Hyderabad.

Swedish Food With An Indian Twist.

After a bout of shopping for furniture and furnishings at the IKEA showroom we decided to have dinner at their restaurant. There were quite a few healthy and tasty items on the menu which included vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, both Indian and Swedish style of food, as well as fusion.

Their signature dishes are the Meatballs in gravy, Veggie balls in Indian masalas, and a Salmon fish fillet combo meal. We also enjoyed their Dal Makhani with rice, Potato Wedges, Boiled Shelled Corn Niblets, Boiled Broccoli, a Salad, Spring Rolls and a Chocolate Cake. There are many other items on the menu including Chicken Tikka masala, Cheesecakes, fruit salads, soups, and hot and cold beverages.

It is a self service restaurant where you take your food in a wheeled trolley and pay as you take it to your table. Prices are on the higher side but the quantity and quality of the food is very good.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.665: IKEA, Hyderabad.

Gigantic Furniture Showroom.

The IKEA furniture showroom in Hyderabad is a huge place where you can see and buy furniture and appliances for your house. We visited the place in early March 2020 and were simply astounded by the variety and range of the furniture modules available.

It is a one of it’s kind place right from the time you enter. The entrance itself is so mind blowing, we thought we were entering an airport. Every room inside is designed in a unique way, with the pieces of furniture in each room complimenting each other in texture and material, so the entire room gives you a feeling as if a master craftsman has planned and fitted the parts like a pretty jigsaw puzzle. There were many different styles of bedrooms, dining rooms, drawing rooms, modular kitchens and bathrooms, and more. We enjoyed walking through each room marvelling at the various layouts and the furniture in them.

In addition you can buy furnishings, utility items and appliances, both small and big, for the house and kitchen.

There is ample parking space in the compound, but it becomes crowded during weekends and holidays. At the end of all the browsing we went to the unique restaurant and had a sumptuous dinner.

Date of experience: March 2020

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My TripAdvisor Review No.664: Kanchenjunga Mountain, Darjeeling.

Towering Presence Over Darjeeling.

The Kanchenjunga mountain has a towering presence in Darjeeling. It is the main reason why Darjeeling, Gangtok and the surrounding areas of North Bengal and Sikkim get so many tourists. Kanchenjunga is the highest and most beautiful mountain peak in India, and the third highest in the world at 8586 meters. There are many viewpoints in Darjeeling from where we can get a fantastic view of the mountain on a clear day. The most popular of these places are Tiger Hill and Batasia Loop, and the best time is at sunrise when one can see the colours on the peak changing from red to pink to yellow and finally to white.

We were lucky to get fabulous views of the entire Kanchenjunga range from Sandakphu, which is the highest peak in West Bengal, about 58 km from Darjeeling. The entire range is popularly referred to as the ‘Sleeping Buddha’ because of it’s appearance, with the head of the Buddha in the west and the feet in the east. Mt. Kumbhakarna forms the head and face, Mt. Pandim forms the feet and Mt. Kanchenjunga constitutes the belly of the Buddha.

Date of experience: March 2020

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My TripAdvisor Review No.663: Sunset Lounge, The Tea Bar, Darjeeling.

More Than Just Teas.

Sunset Lounge of Nathmull’s is located at Chowrasta at the end of the Mall. One can also call it The Tea Bar as you get to sample a variety of Darjeeling teas before deciding which one to buy. They have a bewildering array of Black, Green and White Darjeeling teas varying in price from ₹400 per kg to ₹30000 per kg. One can also sample the aroma, texture and colour of the tea at the display counter.

We relaxed in the Sunset Lounge, which had glass top round tables and cane chairs, adjacent to the Tea Bar, and sampled a cup of their Green Tea which they served up in a transparent tea cup, at a nominal price. One can also order snacks like muffins or pastries to go with the tea. On a clear day one can get an excellent view of the Kanchenjunga mountain and the sunset from the window.

One can also buy some memorabilia and tea accessories like decorative and useful tea pots and cups in ceramic as well as metal. In addition there are fancy strainers and Tea Cosies. We purchased some packets of Green and Black teas, and souvenirs like fridge magnets and keychains with the tea motif, as small gifts for our friends back home.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.662: Japanese Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling.

Beautiful Buddhist Monastery And Stupa.

Review of Japanese Peace Pagoda

Reviewed yesterday

The beautiful Buddhist monastery and Peace Pagoda is located near the top of the Jalapahar Hill, about 2 km from the Darjeeling Clock Tower. As we entered the gates we first visited a small Japanese temple with a prayer hall on the first floor. It was built by Japanese monk Fujii who was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Unfortunately it was closed due to onset of the virus pandemic when we visited. Normally it is open to the public for prayers from 4.30 to 6am in the morning, and from 4.30 to 6.30pm in the evening.

We walked a little further to the beautifully sculptured stupa, also known as the Japanese Peace Pagoda. The pagoda had beautiful gold plated sculptures of the Buddha in various postures and murals depicting some of the events in his life.

The surroundings were very serene and peaceful, with tall pine trees and rhododendron bushes just beginning to flower, and with the majestic Kanchenjunga mountains as the backdrop.

Date of experience: March 2020

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My TripAdvisor Review No.661: Nathmulls Tea, Darjeeling.

Merchants Of Darjeeling Teas.

We were looking for a place to try out the Darjeeling Teas before buying some to take back home with us. Nathmull Tea had a store located at Chowrasta Mall and we walked in. They also have another outlet on Ladenla Road opposite SBI Bank building. We heard that they are one of the oldest and most famous of the Tea merchants of Darjeeling.

They had a great variety of Darjeeling teas which they source directly from the tea estates around Darjeeling. There were some containers of loose tea which we could smell and feel the texture of the leaves. There were black, green and white teas. The partner of the store explained to us at length the differences in the varieties and the method of preparations of the different types. He advised us that these teas taste better if we sip them without milk and sugar, because Darjeeling teas ate like the Champagne amongst the teas of the world.

We ended up buying not only some packets of teas but also some more souvenirs like magnet stickers and key-chains from the store. We also sampled a cup of their green tea in transparent cups.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.660: Subway, Darjeeling.

Design Your Own Subway Sandwich.

We were very happy to see a Subway outlet in Darjeeling on Gandhi Road very close to the Clock Tower and Chowk market. By now we have grown quite used to choosing our own breads, meats, veggies, sauces, and the other ingredients to help craft our own healthy meal. Besides Subs and Wraps they also had Lays, Cold drinks and Cookies available.

We ordered a Chicken Seekh Sub and two Veggie Patty Subs. We could choose the sauces, mayo and other ingredients like cheese, onions, tomatoes, olives, jalapenos, and customised the Sub to our liking. We also ordered a Signature Corn and Peas Wrap. They got it nicely packed in their branded paper bags and we brought it back to eat it in the comfort of our hotel room. The service at the Subway outlet was quick and courteous.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.659: Glenary's Bakery & Cafe, Darjeeling.

Excellent Bakery & Restaurant, But Indifferent Service.

Glenary’s Bakery and Restaurant is one of the prominent eateries of Darjeeling and has been in existence since pre Independence days. It is located in a large white painted two storied heritage building on Nehru Road very close to the Chowrasta Mall. The bakery is on the ground floor, the restaurant is on the first floor and there is a pub in the basement.

We first visited the restaurant for lunch. The dining hall was quite large and decorated very well with antique furnishings and had a nice old world charm about it. There was a huge fireplace at one end of the room. There was an outdoor seating area with a grand view overlooking the hill town and the mountains. We ordered Paneer Pakodas as starters, Chicken Kofta Curry with rice and American Chop Suey. The food was very tasty and hygienic. Prices were reasonable but the service was a bit lethargic.

Later we went down to the bakery and had their Blueberry cake which was excellent. There was a nice seating area and an open air sit-out with a good view here as well. There were nice picture frames and artifacts decorating the walls and the ambience was very uplifting.

Later we decided to pick up some take-away items at the bakery. We placed an order for Patties, Buns, Muffins, Scones and a Quiche with the counter staff who were busy gossiping among themselves. Billing was done by one of them and packing by some other girl. When we opened the package at our hotel we found that one item was missing, and it was a bit late to go back to recover it.

The indifferent service marred our good experience at Glenary’s. I guess we will have to be more attentive and wary if we visit again.

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Date of visit: March 2020

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

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My TripAdvisor Review No.658: Lazeez Affaire Restaurant, Darjeeling.

Great Ambience, Attentive Service.

We stepped in to Lazeez Affaire restaurant for some non-alcoholic refreshments and found the ambience quite above our expectations. We walked up a narrow flight of stairs to the dining hall on the first floor. The furnishings and décor were quite nice and we had a lovely view of the mall market and surroundings from the restaurant windows.

It is a multi-cuisine pure veg restaurant. There was a separate beverage menu which was quite elaborate. Besides Darjeeling Tea there were many different varieties of tea and coffee. We selected Kahawa Tea, Mint Tea and a glass of hot milk. The teas were served in nice transparent cups with extra sachets of sugar if required. The service was attentive and the prices were reasonable.

In our short visit to Darjeeling we found Lazeez Affaire to be one of the better restaurants and would love to visit again for a meal.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.657: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, West Bengal.

Iconic Attraction Of Darjeeling.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is one of the iconic attractions which draws many tourists to the hill town of Darjeeling in West Bengal. This 2 ft narrow gauge train hauls passengers and goods from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling, a winding and uphill track covering a distance of 88 km. It is one of the three railways designated by the UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name of ‘Mountain Railways of India’.

If you are a lover of trains and locomotives then a ride on the DHR is a must do. However, if like us, you want to get to the top in a hurry then it is better to do the journey from Siliguri or Bagdogra by car or van. A road journey takes only 3 hours whereas the rail trip will take all of 7 hours or more if there are any delays. The train, pulled by a diesel locomotive, travels at a much slower pace and you have ample time to enjoy the views of the tea gardens and the mountain-scape along the way, taking photos from your carriage window. The sights, sounds and smells from a toy train, sitting with your kids is an experience in itself. The train also does some amazing loops and reversals of tracks to negotiate the bends.

There is another option too, if you want to enjoy a shorter ride. You can book a two hour joy ride from Darjeeling to Ghum, which is the highest railway station in India at 7407 feet. This train includes the to-and-fro fare and a 30 minute halt at Ghum where you can visit the DHR Museum. The joy ride has the option to select the steam locomotive or the diesel, which is cheaper. However, most of this two hour trip is through the congested hill town itself, passing very close to the houses and the town traffic. There is also one steam train which has only ordinary compartments, travelling from Kurseong to Darjeeling.

Another, but not so romantic way, is to just visit the train stations, or the loco sheds and see the DHR heritage trains from close quarters, taking snaps and waving out to the passing passengers.

Date of experience: March 2020

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