Dhanushkodi - The Last Land on India, An Abandoned Town of Tamil Nadu

Believe it or not, Dhanushkodi, which is located in Tamil Nadu, has been declared by the Government of India as a Ghost Town that is unfit for living, yet it is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations.

About Dhanushkodi

According to mythology, Dhanushkodi is the place when Lord Shri Ram built the very famous Ram Setu bridge to connect the mainland of India with Sri Lanka so as to rescue Devi Sita from the then King of Lanka, Raavan in Sri Lanka, and bring her back safely to India after the rescue. In this context, Shri Hanuman built this world-famous Ram Setu bridge for Lord Shri Ram and Devi Sita as also depicted in Ramayana. It is also mentioned that Dhanushkodi is the place where Lord Ram offered prayers sitting beside the sea and this is the place where Ram Setu bridge originally originates.

 

How to Reach Dhanushkodi?

Rameswaram is the nearest railway station for Dhanushkodi. After worshipping the holy pilgrimage of Rameswaram and all local sightseeing, next day one can plan for a road drip to Dhanushkodi. Dhanushkodi is located at hardly 20 km from Rameswaram. The drive from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi is hardly 30 – 45 minutes via local cab. We need to cross the world famous Pamban Bridge on the Pamban Islands that connects Rameswaram with the mainland India. The views and drive are amazing, you will definitely fall in love with it. Visitors and tourists are allowed to visit Dhanushkodi only from morning 8am to evening 5pm.

 Also read: Pamban Bridge, Port Blair, Havelock Island, Kufri in Summer, Morni Hills Tikkar Taal

Experience Dhanushkodi

We recently got this opportunity to visit the beautiful Dhanushkodi and we spotted the famous Pamban Bridge and also the beautiful mythological and holy Ram Setu Bridge which holds a great importance in Ramayana. Here is a short video related to the famous Pamban bridge and also the beautiful Ram Setu point.

Dhanushkodi - The Ghost Town??

Dhanushkodi is and abandoned town. It has been named as a Ghost town and a lost land India. There are several stories and truths that are linked with these names as to why this place is named as a Ghost town or why it is called a lost land in India.

It all started after the severely hit 1964 super cyclone of Tamil Nadu that badly affected Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The 1964 cyclone completely wiped off the town of Dhanushkodi, the sea tides were really high. It took loads of lives and wiped off the entire city set-up. It was a beautiful town before this cyclone. 

It was a major hub, a major business hub and a major sea port. However, post this wipe off, Government completely declared this town of Dhanushkodi as unfit for normal living or businesses. Since then, we can only find few local fishermen and few tourists like us. Residents and stays are extremely rare there. It’s a unique place all together.

I would be sharing pictures, the rare collection of pictures and a beautiful historical live video of the lost structures and memories of Dhanushkodi. Those rare collection of pictures I have myself clicked during my recent visit to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. The pictures and the video would be very interesting and full of mysteries. I will be sharing that in my upcoming blog so make sure you hit the follow button of my blog page and subscribe to my blogs and YouTube channel Simmi’s Passion for quick updates and notifications on the same.

 

Drive to Dhanushkodi

Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu, India is a picturesque place to be in. It’s a dream drive with a unique mix of history, mythology, mystery and heart stealing natural beauty. All sea lovers will definitely love this place. Here is a road trip, view of the roads that you would be driving through when you are travelling to Dhanushkodi from Rameswaram, by road. 

Both sides you can get a view of the sea, however there is something very unique and special about this again, Both the sea are not the same sea. On one side you will see the Indian Ocean that is flowing silently with beautiful deep blue water, while on the other side of road you will find Bay of Bengal flowing loud with a lighter blue water. Both seas are different, their flowing pattern, the waves flowing sound, their colour and their beauty are different. It is unique! And you would be driving through a road that runs in between these two oceans. It is a unique experience totally, a beautiful scenic drive that you definitely fall in love with.

So, we are on way to Dhanushkodi, and this that you are seeing on this side is the Bay of Bengal and on my other hand side is the Indian Ocean. We are driving in between both the different ocean. This road runs in the middle of both the sea. It’s an unmatched experience you will get over here, truly exceptional.

Things We Spotted in Dhanushkodi

·   Fish Farming: We spotted fish farming here on a large scale with few local fishermen who are staying here in this abandoned town because they love their native home land and love to work for us from there without thinking of the risks attached to it. They are dedicated and strong, and working since years. The town is really beautiful, though lonely.

·    Tourists: Apart from fish farming, we also spotted a lot many travellers and tourists like us who have come here to visit this beautiful abandoned town dated back to Lord Ram and Ramayana. The quest for mysteries and the history is exceptional. It is a lifetime experience, a beautiful place to visit that one may not afford to miss.

·       Merging of 2 Oceans: At Dhanushkodi, one would easily spot the point where both the two oceans meet. The meeting point for Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean is coming from once side while Bay of Bengal is flowing and coming from opposite side. Here there is point, a much identifiable point where both of them clash together and gives us a heart taking view.

·   Sri Lanka: When you reach the end point of Dhanushkodi, you find that you are just a few kilometres away from the Sri Lanka. During the evening time you could easily spot the lights of Sri Lanka from here. There is a viewing point built in Dhanushkodi where they keep a telescope to help you spot Sri Lanka while standing in India. Sri Lanka is just a sea away from here. This is the last land of India, That side of sea is Sri Lanka, and it feels amazing to be in this breath-taking place.

Dhanushkodi - The Last Land of India

Altogether, it is an amazing trip to Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu, the last land of India and mysteriously an abandoned town of Tamil Nadu. It is an offbeat destination to be in Tamil Nadu. Sunsets are very beautiful here to be clicked, however tourists and visitors are only allowed to be in this beautiful place till a maximum of 5pm. So, it is impossible to shoot or click pictures of sunset from here. Travelling to this naturally beautiful town unlocked a new world to me. I recall and remembrance this day with joy! 

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Also read: Pamban Bridge, Port Blair, Havelock Island, Kufri in Summer, Morni Hills Tikkar Taal

#Tamilnadu #Travel India #Bay of Bengal #beach #dhanushkodi #IndianOcean #India #HinduPilgrimSites #offbeatdestinations #rameswaram #travelwithsimmi #travelblog #Dhanushkodiblog #Dhanushkodi travel guide #Destinations in Tamil Nadu #Howtoreachdhanushkodi

💛 Simmi Shekhar

PAMBAN BRIDGE - India's Most Dangerous Sea Bridge

The holy pilgrim town of Rameswaram situated on the Pamban Islands is been connected to the mainland of India with the help of a railway bridge which is known as the popular Pambanbridge.

It was India’s first bridge to have been built over a sea, the first ever India’s sea bridge. It is the Pamban bridge of Rameswaram. This bridge got opened on February 1914.

Here’s a thrill ride over India’s most dangerous sea bridge, the Pamban bridge, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu:

The rail bridge is a conventional bridge that rests on concrete piers and has a double leaf bascule section in its midway that open up to allow ships and barges to pass through the sea and cross the bridge easily. The midway section of this uniquely designed bridge can be raised as per the requirements. This is a unique feature of this bridge which makes it very popular and special. The two leaves of this Pamban bridge gets opened manually by using levers.

Key Specialties of Pamban bridge:

• Bridge can be raised from midway
• First bridge built over the sea
• Connects Pamban island and Rameswaram with Mainland India
• A key tourist attraction in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
• India first and the longest sea bridge

Nearby Attractions:

• Dhanushkodi
• Ram Setu
• Narthamalai
• Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple
• Thirumalai Nayak Palace
• Padukottai

Initially there was only a rail bridge that was built to connect the two untapped places, but later in 1988, a Pamban road bridge was also constructed parallel to the Pamban rail bridge. This road bridge was also known as India Gandhi Road bridge that connected the National Highway NH 49 with the city of Rameswaram. The bridge was inaugurated by our former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi in October 1988.

Pamban is one of the fishermen towns of Rameswaram, popular as the Pamban Island. As per the sources of Wikipedia, construction of this 2.345 km long sea bridge too almost 14 years to be completely built. It was a tough project to work upon because building a bridge over some surface or over forest or lake is possible, but building a ridge over deep oceans and sea is a unique challenging project that needed time, knowledge and patience. Salute to the Engineers and workers involved in this who gifted us this great work with their sincere efforts.

Location: Between Mainland India and Rameswaram Island

Maintenance of this bridge is also a challenging task and responsibility. Being built over the sea, this bridge’s maintenance is a challenging job. Apart from that, the location of this bridge is another big challenge because this location is a high cyclone prone zone with high wind velocity.

1964 Rameswaram Cyclone: The major 1964 Rameswaram Cyclone affected and wiped off the entire town. It was a deadly moment and a great loss to the nation. It took multitude of lives. The Pamban rail bridge got damaged in that 1964 super cyclone of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Later on, it was repaired, but it took a really very long time to repair it back to its normal. The town was declared as a ghost town when Dhanushkodi got completely washed off in 1964 cyclone. This railway bridge connects Mandapam on Mainland India with the Pamban Island and Rameswaram. 

Mini Switzerland of India - Khajjiar, Himachal Pradesh

Did you know that Khajjiar is known as the Mini Switzerland of India? Are you really aware about the presence of this heaven on the earth? Do you know about this place existing in India? I frankly did not know about this place before I actually landed in Himachal. Khajjiar is a beautiful hill station in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by lush green meadows and fresh dense forests #khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh is worth visiting. 

Khajjiar is a rare and an ultimate combination of three major ecosystems which are the lake, forest and the pastures. India truly has a bit of everything that we could dream of, it's beautiful. India tour is incomplete without Himachal, and Khajjiar is a treasure of Himachal's beauty. Wonderful place, truly a Mini Switzerland of India. Or I would rather say, Switzerland is the Mini Himachal.

Our Trip to Mini Switzerland:
We went to Khajjiar in September 2019, wonderful place and truly a wonderland in India. Himachal Pradesh is truly beautiful. I prepared a travel series for my trip to Khajjiar that I have shared on my YouTube channel and also linked below, you may go through the videos - in fact the total series of videos covering my road trip from Chamba to Khajjiar, followed by a complete travel vlog of the beautiful Mini Switzerland, and then the famous Khajji Nag temple tour. Enjoy full ride from Chamba to Mini Switzerland Khajjiar which are definitely the most scenic road in Himachal Pradesh here in the video below:

So as we started our journey for Khajjiar, the road trip was a breathtaking ride. It is the most exotic and a beautiful place that is full of scenic beauties that one would definitely fall in love with. My school teacher taught me about the grasslands in India. And I came here and I felt as if I am there, there at the grasslands of India. Its a wonderful place to be in, truly a Mini Switzerland of India. Or rather I would say Switzerland is the Mini Himachal. India is beautiful!! 

You can feel the freshness, you can feel the beauty, you can smell the greenery, and you can hear the birds chirping with peace. There you may even find rabbits or birds running around you. You can catch hold of them and click as many pictures as you can, they only charge you Rs. 20 for unlimited clicks. The people of the locality are very helpful and co-operative. During our visit to Khajjiar, we found all of them very hospitable.

Why Mini Switzerland?
There are around 160 locations all around the world that resemble the beauty of Switzerland. Khajjiar was brought in the world tourism map by certifying it as "Mini Switzerland". A yellow sign board of Switzerland showing the distance of Khajjiar from the Swiss capital is mentioned in kilometers. Khajjiar is one among those 160 precious locations in the world that bear some or the other tropical and panoramic resemblance with the beauty of real Switzerland. Apart from that, Khajjiar is even referred to as the Gulmarg of Himachal Pradesh. And it's beautiful. You can get a panoramic view of the beautiful dense and lush green mountain peaks. 

Where is Khajjiar Located?
Khajjiar, the beautiful hill station of Himachal Pradesh is located at a distance of approximately 22 km from Dalhousie and 24 km from Chamba. You may call it a small but a beautiful town located very near to Dalhousie or Chamba, the popular tourist destinations of Himachal and all so well connected with Himachal tourism buses and tourist cabs to and fro round the year. Khjjiar falls in the Chamba district of Himachal, and its a picturesque destination attracting tourists for its exquisite charm and magnificent beauty.  

How to Reach Khajjiar?

Khajjiar can easily be reached either by bus or by taxi. Cabs can even be hired online via #MakeMyTrip or similar applications. I personally trust MakeMyTrip for my bookings, be it any hotel booking or a cab booking. Khajjiar is a popular tourist destination and therefore cabs are easily available to and fro for this place. Many people prefer to book complete tour packages for a trip to Khajjiar including few other places as well in the list that are near and around Khajjiar like Dalhousie, Dharamshala, or even Chamba. Khajjiar can be reached from Chamba, from Dalhousie, or from Pathankot. Dalhousie and Chamba are the nearest towns for Khajjiar. It hardly took us 50 minutes to reach Khajjiar from Chamba through cab. Hence, I would suggest that if you are planning for Dalhousie or Chamba then try not to miss this Mini Switzerland - Khajjiar as well #khajjiartourism

Khajjiar Lake:

Surrounded by beautiful lush green mountain ranges and floating island all around, this lake is an amazing beauty. You can see dense trees all around the Khajjiar lake. The ranges surrounding this lake are full of greenery that are evergreen. It is a ring like lake that is beautified by grassy landscapes all around it. Tourists find the beauty of this lake and greenery worth exploring. When the shadows and the rays of the sun fall on these grassy landscapes, they are beautiful to watch and feel. 

Khajjiar in September:
We got an opportunity to visit the beautiful Khajjiar in one the best time to visit this place. The months of September and October are I would say the best time to visit Mini Switzerland of India - Khajjiar because these are the months when it is neither too hot nor too cold. It might rain on a few days during these months, but it is not so common during this period. If you want to experience snow and if you can really bear the chilling cold there then you may plan for winters when the place is all covered with snow. However if you planning to visit it for simple hangouts, family outings, picnics these September and October could be a great choice.

There are rabbits, there are birds, and there are sheep loitering around you at the scenic Khajjiar grounds. There are options that you click photographs, in fact unlimited clicks with those cute little Benny or rabbits, or even the birds or parachutes. They hardly charge Rs. 20/- for allowing you to click pictures with these lovely creatures there in the beautiful scenic backgrounds. Passing time there at Khajjiar is not at all a issue. The place is ultimate. And am pretty sure that anyone visiting there would definitely fall in love with the scenic beauties of lush green surroundings and the freshness of the place.

As you breathe there, you can feel the real freshness and the hearth taking smell of the greenery there. The birds enjoy there too, you can hear their sweet voices singing behind you. So if you are in search of some calmness, then yes Khajjiar is a solution. You really have options to eat, stay and rejoice over there for hours or for days! In the vicinity there are options for holiday hotels or resorts where you can spend your vacations with you family while even enjoy the freshness and beauty of the real nature. Online booking are even available, and lots of tourists visit this place again and again.

Khajjiar is a preferred tourist attraction in Himachal not only because of its scenic beauties, calmness and chilled weather, but also it is a preferred place for various activities like horse riding, ball gaming, parachutes, and even trekking. It is a very good place for hangouts, for picnics and multiple activities. And when you come to this place Khajjiar, don't miss visiting the famous Khajji Naag temple there which is very old and historical.

It was built year and years ago by the then King of Chamba. And the temple when you see has a golden dome over it and because of that it is also called as the Golden Devi temple. The Khajji Nag temple is dedicated to Naag Devta and you can even find a lot of snake idols kept inside the temple and being worshiped daily. Further, there are even deities of Lord Shiva and Goddess Hidimba. All in all its a beautiful ancient temple worth exploring. The history of this temple I would be telling you in my next blog so make sure you do not miss giving that a quick read too.

Indeed, a lovely place. Difficult to find a match to this ultimate beauty of Khajjiar, Chamba, Himachal. Himachal is filed with immense natural beauty. It's like a paradise, it is real heaven on earth. Khajjiar would definitely be a great option, a great destination for your holidays. This place is not worth skipping in your North India or preferably Himachal vacation list. Best time to visit this place would be from August to October when the place is cool and comfortable. So, if you are planning to visit India during these months then consider including Khajjiar in Himachal in your list. During the winters, the place is filled with snow and the temperature there would be really low.

- Simmi Shekhar 

Jammu to Katra Yatra Mata Vaishno Devi Train Journey

Chalo bulawa aaya hai Mata ne bulaya hai!! It is told that Mata Vaishno Devi calls us to serve her at this holy place where she resides. Ahead of Jammu, in Katra there resides Mata Vaishno Devi on top of the peak that is visited by multitude of devotees all round the year. Recently I was also called by Mata Vaishno Devi, it was my first visit to Vaishno Devi and Katra and the whole experience was amazing. The scenic beauty of train journey from Jammu to Katra is really mesmerizing. Here in this below video I have shared the scenic beauty of this route don't miss that out.

It is preferred and I would suggest that you also opt for a day time journey for this route of Jammu to Katra such that you don't miss out the mesmerizing scenes outside your window glasses. The beautiful mountains, valleys, river Tawi, the greenness and the fresh air outside is heart stealing. Everyone and anyone can fall in love with that view that you get in free while travelling from this Jammu Tawi to Katra train route. The pictures and videos that I have shared here are only few samples, but the real experience something really special. 

Jammu to Katra Yatra Mata Vaishno Devi is an all together a different experience, worth experiencing at least once. The scenic beauty from your train window is amazing. Jammu to Katra train journey  includes few stations like Udhampur and more. All its stations are super neat and tidy. Here's a view of the tidy and absolutely clean Udhampur railway station. I was silent station with so many empty benches on its platform and fresh green air around. I didn't find any people around on that platform that day. But the place was really clean and fresh.

How to Reach?

Tourists in Katra come from far off places all throughout the year. Few like me prefer to take the train route, few take flight, while few prefer to travel in bus or any other mode of roadways. All these trains coming to Katra take the route of Jammu and crosses the beautiful Tawi river of Jammu Tawi. Once you reach Katra by train or bus, from there you can either opt for helicopter or take a pony or start marching on foot. The approximate distance from Katra Banganga to Vaishno Devi temple is around 13 km. As soon as you get down the railway station you can hire an auto till Banganga. Banganga is the place from where your Yatra will actually begin, by foot, bare foot, pony, horse or helicopter.

Registration Slip

To get permission to enter the Vaishno Devi temple we first need to complete our registration process which verifies our adhar card and identity whereby allowing us to proceed further in the Yatra and worship Goddess! Yatra registration slips can be attained from the railway station itself. There is a registration counter inside the railway station which verifies our identity and allows us the permit by providing a registration slip, which we need to keep safely until we complete our total journey. 

Katra railway station

When you come outside the exit gate of Katra railway station, you will see the eternal beauty outside in open air. The view of the beautiful mountain ranges right in front of the station exit. And cleanliness must be awarded there, the station was really very neat and tidy, all well maintained must say.

And not only that, Katra is a station that is all powered by solar power. Here in the picture below you can have a look of the solar panels that have been installed in the railway station. And yes, it is not so common at all. Full railway station working on solar panels is a great achievement and a pride for the country.

Jai Mata Di! Mata Vaishno Devi yatra with this train route was a pretty one and an all together a great experience worth experiencing at least once!

The Historical Minjar Mela of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Breathtaking landscapes, hospitable crowd and a welcoming weather all combines together here at Chamba in the holy month Shravan. The historical Minjar festival represents a unique tradition of Chamba attended by multitude of people from each and every corner of the town. Several fascinating stalls, sport events and cultural performances shake the entire Chowgan ground of Chamba. 

This colorful festival of Minjar began recently on the fourth Sunday of July, 2019 at Chamba, Himachal Pradesh and it will probably continue for at least a week.

About Chamba:

Chamba, located at the banks of river Ravi is a beautiful town of Himachal Pradesh and is worldwide famous for its historical importance. The ancient and rich values of Minjar fair is one such very old and historic festival of Chamba which is being celebrated mostly in the months of July, the month of Sawan, every year. 

Multitude of visitors, travelers and tourists are attracted to this historic event every year. The weather of Chamba as you can see in the above video is awesome, really pleasing the year round and amazingly heartwarming. So if you are in search of some peaceful hill station that is relaxing and mesmerizing then I would definitely say that get your bags ready, pack your bags for this heart stealing destination "Chamba"

About Minjar Festival: 

The world famous Minjar festival of Shiv bhoomi Chamba has already started. It started this Sunday, July 28, 2019 and will continue for around a week. 

This International Minjar Mela is one of the most popular festival of Chamba when a large number of people gather over here from all over the world. And Chamba, it looks beautiful in this fair. Entire city comes to a life, full Chamba is lighted, decorated, and charmed with twinkling lights all throughout the way. Its a happy festival for the town. People come from far off places to enjoy and rejoice themselves with their families and friends. 

Minjar fair is held at the Chowgan grounds in Chamba, Himachal which has a beautiful scenic view from the ground. A beautiful view of the glorious mountains covered with floating clouds looks like you are in Switzerland or somewhere like that. A beautiful and a peaceful hill station, must say! 

Why the name Minjar?

Minjar fair is a festival of emerging paddy and maize stalk. Minjar actually refers to the tassels, the stalk of maize which is symbolized by a silk thread like attire. 

There are several beliefs and ancient stories that are been associated with the celebration of Minjar festival, and thereby this festival holds a very important position in the history of Chamba, Himachal

My Experience at Minjar Festival:

I recently visited Chamba for the very first time and by chance I got this thrilling opportunity to explore the historic Minjar fair too. The fair was beautifully lit and it was an awesome experience to spend your evenings with the musical shows, cultural events, fun rides, amusement zones, food stalls, popcorn, cotton candies and so many shops selling each and everything that you would actually search for. 

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All in all, it was a power packed evening well spent with live music and the amazing weather of Chamba. These mountains, these valleys, these clouds backed with this colorful musical fair now is amazing and the experience is extremely thrilling!

Minjar Mela 2019 at Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Who doesn't love fairs, festivals and events? Whatever is your mood, just attend a fair or a festival and rejoice yourself. They will definitely cheer you up. Now be it any cultural event, or some folk dance performances, or a live music performance, choose your option and check with your event calendars. Chamba is like a heaven on earth. It is an awesome place and the July weathers in Chamba are simply super amazing. You can see the white feathery clouds floating on the valleys, the beautiful Ravi river running with its speed and the slight splashes of rains will blow your inner soul. The views are majestic and an international fair during this time at this beautiful place adds to the charm. Every year mostly in the last week of July, Chamba hosts this international Minjar mela which continues for at least 7 to 14 days. 

About Minjar Mela:

Celebrated in the month of Sawan, this festival is also known as the Sawani mela. This year in 2019, it is starting from July 28, 2019 and will be held at the Chowgan ground in Chamba. This is a worldwide famous international Minjar mela. Multitude of people gather here for the events, shows and festival from far off places, every year. This is a very old fair that is being organized year after year in Chamba and people from all around wait for this dates. Even the business people come from far off places to sell their exclusive products to the tourists and visitors at this fair.

The festival attracts loads and loads of people every year. The preparations for this fair starts several days before the opening date, as i have covered in the video above, you may check that out to get the visual details related to the preparations before the start of this festival and the beautiful venue first look. 

When & Where:

Date: July 28 to August 04, 2019

Venue: Chowgan ground, Chamba

International Minjar Mela will be held at Chowgan in the Chamba town, Himachal Pradesh. The festival will start from 28th July this year and is expected to continue till 4th August 2019. However, most of the time the dates get extended later on due to the heavy rush and demands of public. And therefore we can also expect the fair to continue for around 15 days, starting Sunday, July 28th. 

Key Attraction of Minjar Festival:

- Cultural events

- Folk dance

- Kunjari Malhar

- Live music/dance performances

- Wheelchair dance

- Ujjwal Himachal displays

- Exhibition and stalls

- Fast food stalls

- Fun rides or jhoola

- Mr. & Miss Chamba

and more

Mornings are generally engaged with sports and business activities, while the evenings are rocking with stage performances buzzing the town. Several top artists, performers, and entertainers are being called to perform and celebrate this festival. It is a power packed full day package all in all, daily. 

Significance of Minjar Mela:

This fair, the international Minjar festival is being organized in the cultivation season of July, the  holy Sawan month. These cultivation seasons are considered because maize and paddy they cultivate  and emerge from the soil during this season. To symbolize this, most of the representatives who visits the Minjar mela are told to wear a corn-cab which is made of silk, generally golden in color and looks similar to the corn-cabs. This is a symbol of Minjar. 

The events and the fair looks exciting. The wheelchair dance I think will be amazing. Minjar mela is filled with life and zeal. Entire Chamba comes alive. Chamba is filled with colors, music and life. Everyone looks excited for this week long event. 

Guru Purnima Significance, Wishes and Greetings

Guru Purnima is an inspirational day that is dedicated to the guide, the well wisher, you idol and your Guru. Guru can be any person whom you follow, anyone who inspires you, anyone who shows you the better path, who lightens up your life, anyone who aspires you to be a better human being. Today is His day. Happy Guru Purnima to you and your family. Have a blessed Guru Purnima! 

Remember your Guru on this auspicious day of Guru Purnima. Wish you all a peaceful Guru Purnima 2019. Today is the day when you can pay tribute to your Guru. Its the best day to remember him or her in your thoughts, wishes and prayers. On this holy spiritual divine day of Guru Purnima, let us remember our Guru and try following their footsteps. Let them be our guiding light. Be grateful to your Guru, your guiding path, your well wisher, your teacher and your Guru. Remember when he taught you so many good good things. He gave you the inner courage, the will and the patience. 

May the blessings of Guru always shower on you and your family. Here I wish you and your family a very very happy and a blessed Guru Purnima 2019. You learned so many things from him. Warm wishes on this auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. Happy Guru Purnima! Be devoted to your Guru, he is your inspiration, he is your aspiration, he is your Guru. Happy Guru Purnima!

As you walk with your Guru on his guiding path, you take yourself away from the darkness and move more closer to the light. The rays of positivism calls you. You leave behind your problems and move towards the solution for inner peace and heavenly life. Have a blessed Guru Purnima. Happy Guru Purnima #guru #gurupurnima #happygurupurnima #gurupurnima2019 #festival

With love,

Simmi Shekhar

Kufri in Summer and Jakhoo Temple Shimla

Planning to go on a beautiful chilled vacation? Be it summers or be it winters, hill stations are always the all time hit destinations to chill out any vacation. Shimla is one such destination. And if you are planning for Shimla then Kufri is something that you cannot afford to miss. Kufri, a small hill station is full of greeneries and fresh air and is really an amazing place - a real beauty worth exploring.  

Recently we got an opportunity to visit #Himachal Pradesh, and we made it to #Shimla and #Kufri. It was a 3 days trip where we stayed at Shimla and from there we visited all places including the beautiful Kufri. Here in this below linked video I have shared my travel experience of the beautiful Kufri as in summers. It was the month of May, end of May in 2019. Yet it was not that hot, it was cold there in Kufri as well as in Shimla.

On way to Kufri, when you are driving from Shimla to Kufri by road, you will find the beautiful Green Velleys #greenvalley that is full of lush green mountain ranges with contrasting colors and shades. That is a beautiful photoshoot point where travellers like us park and have a shoot while enjoying the freshness of shady mountains. The silence, the peace, the calmness and the beauty, it will all steal your hearts.

Best Places to Visit in Kufri:

- Green Valley

- Apple Garden

- Adventure Island

- Naag Temple

and more..

Different sorts of adventure sports you will find here in Kufri, where paragliding was one of my favorites. Apart from the activities, you can also get a beautiful view of the apple garden there in Kufri. When we went to the apple garden in May-June 2019, then we could not see any apples there on the trees but we were able to see some very cute little tiny pieces of them, the baby apples hanging on every apple plant there. July to November were the suggested time for apple there, as told by the local people. We did horse riding there in Kufri, and also saw the amazing potato farming of Himachal. It was all a real beauty. 

Apart from Kufri we also went to the famous Jakhoo temple of Shimla, located on the Jakhoo hills, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. It was a Hanuman temple located on the heights of the hill top. We hired a  local Shimla tourism taxi from The Ridge for Jakhoo temple and Kufri. Otherwise there are options for ropeways as well if you only wish to go to the holy Jakhoo temple. The temple is famous because of its holy and heavenly history from the past when Lord Hanuman was on his way to get the Sanjeevani Booti, then he stepped at this hill may be for rest. His footsteps has been preserved here in this temple and worshipped for years. There we can find a big Hanuman statue standing right in front of the temple, and is visible from far off places in Shimla too.

Apple garden, green valley, Jakhoo temple, The Ridge, Mall road, Kufri hills, Himachal, adventure sports, horse riding, and many more such beautiful things are waiting here at Shimla and Kufri. #himachaltourism

With love,

SimmiShekhar

Life on THE RIDGE SHIMLA

THE RIDGE, SHIMLA is actually a very large open street situated along the popular Mall road of Shimla. And when you are here, for a while you will not feel like you are in India. You would feel like you are in some other country like Europe or in London because the buildings here are of the British era. And you all must be knowing that Shimla had been the British summer capital once long back. 

You can see visitors spending a lot of peaceful merry time walking along the streets of the Ridge with their family or loved ones. The place is pleasant, the views are fantastic and the whole atmosphere is very happening. The day time look, the evening look, and even the night view is amazing. The most preferred timing for visiting this place would be during the sunset time as the view of the sunset from this view point at Ridge is simply mesmerizing.

Standing at the Ridge you can easily get a whole view of the beautiful Shimla town spread along the hills. And on one hill top you would find a big Hanuman statue right on top of the Jakhoo hills. That is the famous Jakhoo temple that you would see.

The place Ridge is something very unique. You wont find any rickshaw, auto, cars, buses, cycles or any form of public transport over here. And that is one the biggest reasons as to why and how people of all ages come and enjoy the beautiful walk here on the streets so peacefully. 

You would find a beautiful big sized Indian flag waving high right here with the cool winds. It looks really patriotic and beautiful. Apart from this you will find that here at Ridge you get a beautiful viewpoint for Shimla. So simply enjoy the view from here. You will of-course feel very much relaxed and rejuvenated as you walk along the streets of the Ridge and around this beautiful Indian flag waving high with the air.

Ridge is something like a central point for Shimla and it connects most of the major places of Shimla like the Mall, the Jakhoo hills, the Lakkar bazar, Snowdon , Christ church and many more. You can also find a statue of Dr. Y S Parmar, the Founder of Himachal standing right here at the Ridge.

The evening and night view of this place and Shimla is simply amazing and worth exploring at least once in your lifetime. The sparkling, twinkling light on the hills make The Ridge and overall Shimla such a beautiful place to explore and enjoy. 

The months of April to June are considered to be one of the most preferred seasons to visit Shimla or nearby places as during this time the weather is clear and cool. You would be able to see the clear lush green mountains all around you. The beauty of the green valleys and the cooling temperature during summers makes this place a preferred choice for spending your holidays at the Himachal. 

With love,

Simmi

How to Make Aloe Vera Gel at Home in 5 Minutes Using Fresh Aloe Vera Leaves

The scorching heat of summers are troubling our skin. We need to protect our skin, cool them down, and keep them healthy & hydrated during the summers while even ensuring to maintain that perfect glowing look. So here's a quick look on How to Make Aloe Vera Gel at Home in 5 Minutes using fresh Aloe Vera leaves:

Aloe Vera is being referred to as a wonder plant that is being used by generations to grow since thousands of years for its medicinal benefits to our skin, hair and health. 

There are several brands that are available in markets that sell Aloe Vera gel like Patanjali Aloe Vera gel, Lakme Aloe gel, Wow Aloe Vera gel, and many more. All of these gels are easy to use and very easy to apply. But the purest and the most beneficial of all these marketed gels are the homemade fresh Aloe Vera gels that can be prepared without using any artificial color or chemicals. 

Aloe Vera plants are very easily available in the markets and in nurseries. So we can easily afford buying 2 pots of Aloe Vera plant for our own skincare routines. And then its very easy to prepare Aloe Vera gels at home within minutes. Here's a quick process to make the gel at home:

How to Make Aloe Vera Gel at Home?

1. Take 1 big or 2 small sized fresh Aloe Vera leaves
2. Wash the leaves and let it dry in standing position for few hours
3. Remove the bottom part where you could see some yellowish sticky liquid as they may cause irritation to your skin
4. Cut the teeth, the side portions of the leaves using a knife
5. Tear the upper skin
6. Once peeled, then gently scrape out the gel from the leaves using a spoon and keep collecting in a bowl
7. Crush all the scraped gels in a mixer grinder to make it light and fluffy. You may even use hand blender of folk
8. Beat or grind until no chunks are left, and then transfer it into a bowl
9. Add 1 Vitamin E capsule to the blended gel
10. Add 2-3 drops lavender or orange or any other essential oil
11. Add 3 drops rose water
12. Beat them for 1 or 2 minutes using a folk such that it mixes up really well with the prepared gel
13. Your homemade Aloe Vera gel is all ready, now transfer the gel into a dry airtight container or tube
14. Refrigerate and store this gel for up to 3 weeks in your refrigerator
15. Apply it directly on skin as a moisturizer, or use it in your favourite face packs, or add it in your hair pack

Vitamin E and essential oils act as natural preservatives to the gel while also helps in improving your skin elasticity, smoothness and health. Both of these ingredients are very beneficial for your skin as well as hair. This method of preparing Aloe Vera gel at home is one of the easiest and the most simple way of preparing this gel like a market. This simple formula of preparing homemade gel can do wonders to your skin. So apply this home made fresh Aloe Vera gel on a regular routine basis to your skin and hair. Make Aloe Vera your favourite potted plant in the balcony this summer, and try utilizing its leaves for several health benefits apart from skin and hair care routines.

Thank You!

Simmi Shekhar