My love for blogging

The journey- I did not know what does a blog mean. Totally unaware of the term blogging, I had first heard of this word from the legendary Amitabh Bachhan who interacted with his fans through his blog. That’s when ‘blogging’ caught my attention. However I did not advance towards starting my own blog, since I was too busy with my post graduate studies. Exams and assignments were more important than blogging that time. Reading and writing remained my first love, but I barely found time to pursue them.

And then the day came; Something I had been running away from, caught me by my neck.

I always aimed to be in the advertising field. When my college placement cell announced the campus interview from an ad agency, my joys knew no bounds. I left no stone unturned to crack the group discussion and written test. Among 30 odd students, I was the privileged one to be short listed for the personal interview. My heart pounded and feet trembled. I had given my 100 percent. The interviewer was impressed! The last question she asked me before the session ended was “Do you blog?”

Without thinking about consequences, confidently I affirmed ”Yes, I do” biting my lip and hiding my nervousness.

Blogging educates you 

Thanks to my stars, she did not ask for my blog URL; because I would have been blank if she did or probably would have lost that job opportunity. Post interview, I headed straight to the computer lab and the first thing I did was created my blog. Hence a blog URL and a blogger was born. This ain’t a fake story. This dates back to November 2008.

So a blog that was built on a lie, became my identity. I loved to write and what better way than blogging? It gave me the freedom to express. It made me fearless and independent. My writing style and content evolved from personal stories to brand events or reviews. A hobby turned into passion and then profession. I write at work (as I am a copywriter) and on my blog too. Blogging changed my life by giving me a purpose, direction and meaning.

Blogging is fun

Words are precious. Each and every word on the blog represents honest feelings; be it personal or for any brand. Since I am bad at verbal expression, all the unexpressed emotions go on the blog. At times when my hubby and I fight, I vent out in my blog. haha! So much has blogging become a part of me. My hubby would also check my blog often to read my stories, brand associations or lashing out!!

I blog on numerous topics. With time I concentrated on health care, environment, travel & food, as the realization dawned upon me that a person cant be good at everything. Blogging helped me find my niche.

Three years later, my blog landed me with a second job. The employer looked at my blog posts and offered me a job immediately. This was in June 2011. A full fledged career through my blog is a reason strong enough for me to love blogging. The blog “Unleashed” turned out to be my source of living.

Blogging makes you social

Besides writing of my own, it is my duty and responsibility to read others’ blogs. I constantly look forward to network with them and learn something new. Blogging has liberated me and taught that learning never stops at any age. Blogging gave me a direction to meet new people, open my mind to new ideas/ventures and become an active listener. Blogger meets are a great platform to connect with like minded people. Its only with the support and readership of bloggers/readers one gets recognized or accolades for posts written.

Gone are the days when writers used to stay aloof. Blogging has only changed the image of writing. Blogging has made me social. It has the power make you a better person. It worked magic for me!

Blogging is fun and food for thought. When I am doing nothing, I would write on my blog. Its a hobby, a passion, a recreationand at t he same time a serious activity. I take it seriously, because I value it.

So my blog has shaped me as an individual and a professional as well. I follow what Steve Jobs said; “Do what you love and love what you do”. I chose to blog hence.

Contest entry for India Fashion Interface by www.myfashionbay.com Roposo and Pearl academy

Image sources- All pictures have been clicked during various blogger meets. No image to be used or reproduced without permission infringing the copyright issue.

The gone man

Indo-Chinese border, knee deep snow, hunting animals for a living in adverse climate, no roads or electricity, interrogating terrorists, journey across the nation, dedication to work, transfers, officers party and so on….Each story by you was hooking. Some sent shivers down my spine, some tickled me. Writing a book on your narrated stories was my dream, which unfortunately could not happen. Dedicating this first blog post to you, for you were a loved, respected and an admired man. Though I did not want my first post on you like this, but life often has something else in store for us.

For you Baapi..

The only wish on my lips now is to have you back,Wondering how to could convince God for this hack.Going away was so easy for you, is it?Killing our togetherness by every bit?

Who will have tea with me now, who will narrate his service days stories,who will talk about China border, who will flaunt IB’s victories?As you left, there is a void within us and also a lump in my throat,You will be badly missed as the anchor of our family boat.

15th Jan 2016- The day I lost my father-in-law. Rest in peace dad. You were extremely generous & honest with a heart of gold. Miss you 

#Colgate360GoldMornings

6 am- Alarm rings. And you snooze it for 10 minutes.

6:30 am- You open your eyes and plan to wake up after 10 mins

7 am- Your heart skips a beat as you are already late by half an hour and you push your schedule by every minute, cursing yourself and ruining the morning.

At work when your colleagues wish you good morning, you sulk “What’s good about this morning”?

If this is what happens to you daily, then it’s time to change yourself. No wait, you can’t buy another body nor go to another planet. But you can certainly change your toothbrush at least! Yeah, you heard that right. Changing your toothbrush can change your lifestyle and make your mornings gold.

Colgate Gold Morning

Colgate Charcoal Gold toothpaste performs a 360 degree duty of more than cleaning teeth. It cleans teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. A magical morning wonder, isn’t it? With fresh breath, clean and healthy oral cavity, you not only feel invigorated but also confident. You subdue your chances of bleeding gums, debris on teeth or tooth decay. Healthy teeth not only makes you look & feel good, they also make you eat and speak properly. Research has proved that can charcoal or “koyla” is actually helpful in changing the pH and health of the mouth. It is effective in preventing cavities and killing the bad bacteria present in tooth decay. With the gold standard of mouth cleaning, you gotta rule the world! Yay! Oral hygiene is important for overall well being. And the charming gold look of the toothbrush is vibrant enough to make you feel good. After you admire yourself in the mirror, this is the second best thing to happen to you early morning.

Okay, one more important thing. The first smile that comes your face early morning is also great reason to turn your mornings into gold! And my Goldie does that effortlessly. I mean he is not a golden retriever breed, but a cute four legged cutie pie who loves to jump on my bed and pull me out (literally) for a walk. As I look at him helplessly, he stares with his head tilted and a smile on his face. See this. I am not kidding!

Stobby with his golden smile

What better way to keep healthy with an energetic dog and bonding with other strays. They often block my way to the gym. Their happy faces and wagging tails is only priceless! A walk, yoga or run, any fitness activity in the morning keeps you healthy and happy; making your morning and life golden by all means. As a fitness enthusiast and good health promoter, I can really well connect to the #Colgate360GoldMornings.

Organic Harvest Lip Balm

Love nature? Love organic things around you? Then this blog post is for you. Ok wait, this is for every beauty, cosmetics and skin care product blogger/user. Organic Harvest approached me with their organic concept and wanted me to try their natural lip balm. Find them at http://www.organicharvest.in/ 

So the package arrived at my doorsteps in a tiny jute bag. Mind you, no plastic, and I made a mental note “Organic Harvest lives up to its name”. The small compact lip balm came packed in sturdy holder. The red round pack looked too cute. Keep away from children. I have two round shaped products now, which I better keep locked away from children, lest they should start playing the ball. (Lakme Mousse Foundation was one, and now Organic Harvest).

So this Lip balm is not in the usual stick shape. Looks interesting, isn’t it? This one is a pomegranate formula. The introductory price tagged on the packing is only Rs. 150.

The brand also claims the lip balm to be free of bee wax and other harmful chemicals. Makes it a vegan lipbalm then  Since it is organic, there is no sun protection formula either.

As I opened the pack, the cute little ball shape looked like hemisphere of the Earth. With no hint of color or fragrance, the open shot looks like an egg fitted inside a cup. haha. Take a look at the open shot and how to apply it-

Apply the roll on surface to your lips and apply the same. Recommended not to rub your finger on the balm for hygiene reasons.

WHAT I LIKED-

-The cute, leak proof, compact packaging. Even if you carry this to a warm place, it will not melt.

-The very mild fragrance which goes away in some time.

-Leaves lips smooth. I apply at night and wake up to even and crack free lips in morning. Repairs lips slowly.

-Absolutely natural without bee wax or paraben. Does not leave a white wax like whitish line on lips like other lip products.

-Since it has no color or gloss, you can apply lipstick or lip gloss over the Organic Harvest lipbalm.

WHAT I MISSED

-Does not give a glossy sheen or visible moisturizing base to lips.

-No SPF(Which is understood, since it is organic)

-No color (Since it is natural)

-Lips may feel sticky in absence of moisture formula

Those looking for a tinted balm or moisture rich balm, this is not for them, If the organic and natural factor is to be believed, this lip balm would definitely suit them. It is travel friendly but not kid friendly. Absence of SPF is a slight turn off for me. Advisable to apply at night before sleeping.

My rating : 3.5 on 5.

Vedic Collection's Tatha Skin Care

Tatha, is an organic skin care brand under the umbrella brand Vedic Collection, founded by Dr. Divita Kanoria. All products of Vedic Collection are absolutely natural without preservatives, paraben or chemicals. And this is what attracted me the most to the brand. A whole media kit of Vedic Collections’ Tatha products was given as trial pack in cute organic wooden box. Here’s my review on two products from the box-

Review of Tatha Face wash- Almond

The first look- The moment I opened the cap of the cute little jar, the yummy aroma hypnotized me. The texture is thick brownish jelly like, mixed with almond particles. The aroma will linger on to your senses and you would feel like eating it. One extra point for a natural scent.

The packaging- So stylish and cute. Easy to carry in hand bag or even while travelling. The golden cap and the little spill proof glass jar are absolutely stunning. The jelly texture is another reason for it to be spill proof.

The ingredients- as per the label are: coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, almond, honey. Rich in protein and vitamin D, it soothes, softens, nourishes and conditions skin.

How to use- Take a small quantity on your hand, rub palms with water and apply on face, leaving eye areas. Very less lather will form on palms. But don’t get trapped! The lather is because of almonds and honey. Upon initial application you might find it greasy and difficult to wash off. But you have to rinse well with water after massaging on face.

The results- The face wash will leave your face squeaky clean. Skin will not feel dry at all, unlike face wash of other brands from the market which tend to dry your skin after washing. The presence of natural oils prevents doing so in Tatha’s case. After wash, your skin feels nourished, bouncy without having the moisture stripped off from skin.

Word of caution- Avoid eye contact. Eyes will get burning/itchy sensation if face wash comes in contact with eyes. Splash eyes with water if that happens.

My recommendation- 100% yes! I loved this unique face wash and recommend to all those who are looking for natural products for their skin. It is safe and soft on skin. I rate it 4 on 5.

Review of Tatha Face scrub- Normal

The first look- The dry content inside the jar left me wondering about its usage. Usually scrubs of market are not so dry. But then again, I realized this is natural product without chemical binders or preservatives. The aroma is delectable for sure.

The packaging- Same as the face wash, the cute jar with golden cap looked very adorable. Neatly done, I must say.

The ingredients- as per the label are avena sativa (oats), prunus amygdalus var. dulcus (sweet almond oil), apis mellifera (bee honey), prunus amygdalus var (bitter almond)

How to use- Scoop out the scrub on your finger and dab on wet face. Focus on forehead, nose and chin, avoiding eye areas.

The result- Since the content is dry, I found it gliding on skin with difficulty. The scrub had a sticky consistency on my palm. Feels very soft and not harsh on skin. However, it did not work well on my skin, may be because I am used to the usual scrubs from market with thicker and harder granules. While scrubbing my face with Tatha scrub, the product lumped in places refusing to spread out. It was difficult to use.

Word of caution- Avoid eye areas.

My recommendation- This scrub will suit you if you have normal skin type. The scrub particles are soft on skin and not meant to exfoliate white or black heads. This face scrub is recommended for those who want mild scrub or want to exfoliate every day. I rate it 3 on 5.

My experiment- For an effective result, I mixed almond face wash with this scrub. It worked well. My face did not dry out, dead skin cells and mild white heads were exfoliated and skin looked refreshed. I can advise you to use the products together or a daily regimen if you want to see visible difference in your skin. The products are 100% natural, contain no parabens, have not been tested on animals and contain essential oils.

You can order all Vedic Collection products from https://vedic-collection.com/

Informal Bar- Review

Food bloggers' meets are always unique and this time I was invited to an equally unique place named INFORMAL in Connaught Place, Delhi. The newly opened restro bar cum club is easy to locate on Tolstoy Marg, just few blocks away from British High Commission.

Lockers@Informal

Against all expectations of a dark place buzzing with smoke and loud noise, Informal made a pleasant

 impression. With wooden floor and rustic walls, the place has its own charm. A well-lit ceiling instantly gets your attention. The rugged looking lockers, as explained by the staff, was for guests to store alcohol if they are unable to finish the same. The lockers are tagged with the guest name and the bottle is given to them the next time they come. A great way to relationship building with the unique personalization!

The ground floor is spacious enough for 40-50 people at one time. The staff directed us to first floor where half the floor was indoors and rest half on-looking into open terrace bar. The aesthetics are beautiful, very charming and do not look overdone. Not to forget the staff, who is super friendly and very courteous. They did not leave us unattended even for a minute. I am impressed indeed.

Informal has a large variety of food & beverages.

I started with Dahi k sholay and it was incredible. Crispy outside, tangy and soft inside. The dahi sholay left me asking for more. I coupled the snack with Virjin Mojito and it was bang on! Fresh, tangy and sweet, the drink was refreshing indeed with minimal fizz. Unlike other eating joints, Mojito wasn’t full of aerated drink. I loved it!

The second specialty dish was served in no time after we finished dahi sholay. Loved the presentation of Turkish caviar olives with lavish bread. Bread was crispy. The caviar did not suit our taste buds so we left it half eaten.

Fruit Mocktails

On the first floor, we dined in the terrace bar soaking the warmth of sun. The staff brought us basket bread with herb butter, barcelona tumaka and extra virgin olive oil. The bread platter had a good variety from soft buns to lavish bread and soft flat bread. The presentation was excellent, but the breads not that exciting. I ordered Curvature, a drink with orange chunks, lime chunks, passion fruit and peach, topped with apple juice. Hubby’s drink was a similar kind with lemon chunks replaced by apple chunks. He ordered chicken bites in charcoal with cilantro and spice parmesan sauce. Looked yummy! Hubby’s feedback- The taste was excellent but the smoky flavor was missing.

Mushroom rolls

Smokey chicken

Vodka on flame

As the day progressed with a huge variety of food on display and interaction with bloggers, we gorged on the Madrid specialty croquetas with mushroom. Deep fried and crispy, the golden rolls were loaded with cheese. Sinfully heavy but delicious.

I eyed the thin crust pizza but was too full to eat any further; though I did not miss chocolate coated lavish breads in dessert.

Informal put up a great show to mark the end to the meet with their “Vodka on flames” activity. Inverted glasses full of vodka at the base were lit up. The guests were to blow at the base of the glass to light up the flame. It soared high! Loved the activity.

My rating to Informal-

Staff Service- 5 on 5, courteous, helpful, friendly, quick

Food- 3.5 on 5 Great quality, less on quantity

Food Variety- 4 on 5 Nice experiment with food

Innovation in beverages- 4 on 5 Nice variety and mix n match

Music- 4 on 5 Not the annoying loud one but peppy, lively, new

Ambiance- 5 on 5 superb, spacious

A repeat visit for me? Definitely yes!

Vedic Collection bloggers' meet

New Delhi (December 12th, 2015) —Vedic Collection announced the launch of a new, redesigned version of its website-https://vedic-collection.com

Key features of the site include a cleaner and more attractive design, a more engaging user experience with enhanced search and navigation. Vedic Collection specializes in Essential Oils and Aromatherapy based products for mind, body and spirit under the categories Tatha and Samaya. A large number of bloggers, journalists and young digital enthusiasts were invited to the event, where Vedic Collection founder, Ms Divita Kanoria and the team disseminated valuable information to enhance the skills, knowledge and outreach of the participating audience.

The speakers and participants held enlightening discussions about the site’s refreshed and simplified look combined with optimization for mobile devices which allows consumers to better interact with Vedic Collection online. The consumers can choose the beauty products according to natural ingredients like Almonds, Rose, Lavender etc and customize their own beauty box according to their regime, diet, skin type etc.

The site intends to build an online community that changes the beauty-shopping pattern; an interactive community where consumers’ opinions matter and where all beauty lovers are valued. So one can actually try out a product prior to buying it by choosing samples and getting them delivered. The users can also sign up for exclusive newsletters as well as the Vedic Collection’s special. The event witnessed some fun filled activities like ‘What’s your skin age’ wherein the bloggers filled up a form to determine their actual age of skin; ‘What’s your Rashi’?wherein the Bloggers were given an essential oil according to their sun sign. There were also enthralling round of discussions and a good grub session. The beauty , wellness, lifestyle bloggers and journalists were delighted to get hands-on experience and personal guidance from the learned experts of Aromatherapy.

Speaking on the launch of the website, Divita Kanoria, Founder and Chief wellness Officer says “Theelegant, consumer-centric design of the new Vedic collection website provides an innovative platform for our users that will boost the discoverability of our products and drive sales. There is an abundance of relevant and useful information on the site such as usage, tips, ideas and benefits of essential oils. This new website launch takes into account several of the most requested features including addition of tips and tricks, in-depth information on essential oils and aromatherapy, and enhanced search functionality, all of which give the reader a pleasurable viewing experience. We are pleased to see the young digital influencers who have participated in the Bloggers event and I courteously thank them for their enthusiastic participation .Vedic Collection looks forward to sharing and creating greater momentum with them.”

About Vedic Collection

The Vedic Collection is totally committed to provide pure, natural, safe and effective products,
thereby, enhancing and enriching the lives of all those we touch. All our products are handmade under strict quality supervision and are paraben, sulphate and chemical free and are not tested on animals. We use, only recyclable glass bottles for storing our products to maintain its purity, as we are aware that plastic containers react with the essential ingredients used in aromatherapy and loses its potency. Our products are 100% pure, authentic, unique and safe. They do not contain any chemicals.

Face Care: Tatha Face care range suggest you the best natural products according to your skin Kind.

Body Care: Tatha works towards re-establishing harmony and balance. Tatha body care products help in Detoxification, facilitate healthy living, maintain youthfulness and vitality.

Hair Care: Nourishes the scalp, Keeps Hair Strong, Keep them shining, Keep hair thick, Enhances circulation.

Mens Care: Tatha range for men is focused towards the much herald metro sexual generation

Are you a responsible tourist?

I am blogging for #ResponsibleTourism activity by Outlook Traveller in association with BlogAdda

Cover places on foot

How does one describe travelling? For few it means discovering new cuisines and culture, for few it is a change of place and weather, and for few it means pure fun or family time.

For me, it is unraveling myself keeping stress at bay. But how many realize the stress that we pass on to the environment or the residents of the place visited? Like many others, the realization came to me after I graduated from school. I became a frequent traveler who loved to make short trips on extended holidays or weekends. Convenience is what travelers pay for, and the most convenient way to travel for me was Volvo bus. Little did the fact dawned upon me about the fuel consumption and the pollution caused due to it. It was for the first time when I went to Jaipur, I found it so difficult to breathe in the polluted air! Unlike Delhi, commercial vehicles in Jaipur run on diesel instead of CNG. Perhaps CNG does not generate profit. Same was the case in Manali, when I almost choked in polluted air, in spite of the serene nature and trees around. Further,  the disastrous news on ban of snow sports in Manali left me heart broken. Activities like skiing, snow biking, paragliding were banned in Manali due to rising pollution level. The entire purpose of my visit was defeated with this ban! However, the very next moment, it was also a learning for me, how tourism has destroyed our environment.

While trekking up the hills of Manali and McLeodganj, heaps of non-bio-degradable waste turned me off. Why can’t we stop trashing plastic, if not stop using? I trash wrappers, packets or bottles in my handbag but never leave them at picnic spots. Shopkeepers at hill stations, wrap items in paper bags, as a measure to curb plastic pollution. It is the responsibility of tourists like us to respect the move and not litter the tourist places. Boozing at the recreation places in hill stations should be banned and a fine be imposed on those who leave their bottles there. That’s not a dustbin, mind you!

Love nature

Agra Tourism ministry has introduced battery operated rickshaws for tourists from parking to the Taj Mahal entrance. Any initiative to bring down the air pollution should be encouraged. Welcome the initiative and travel in eco-friendly vehicles, wherever possible. If the distance is short, why not walk? You might as well burn some calories! As a responsible tourist, I propose nature walks or jungle safaris instead of hiring diesel jeeps or noisy cars. We have strayed away from environment in the daily hustle bustle of life. Lets reconnect with nature and rediscover some inner joys while touring. In fact, many tours are for a change of weather. Let’s keep the same weather stable, green and pleasant for all.

Refrain from littering in water bodies too. My dad once scolded a gentleman washing utensils in the river while we were on a picnic in Sahastradhara (Sulphur water spring and river in the hills of Uttarakhand). The gentleman had a perception that running water carries away the dirt/waste. Little did he realize the harm he was doing by adding pollution to water and river-bed, which my calmly dad explained. Such is the kind of stand we need to take, for the environment, as a citizen, if not as a tourist. Let’s think beyond “Oh there are so many washing clothes/ trashing packets in the river already. Why not me?” Let’s do that everywhere, in any country. You don’t want the coming generations to see a dead world, will you?

Protect monuments

Stand up and speak up if you witness historical monuments being tampered. From scribbling names to fishing out stones or breaking walls, a responsible tourist will refrain from such activities as well as be vocal against these. Destroying cultural heritage is nobody’s business, and I am intolerant about it as a responsible tourist.

I have pledged to gift a green from my next tour onwards. Instead of buying fancy show pieces, why not bring back a tree sapling from the place visited? Apart from that, why not gift a sapling or indoor plant to your friends/ relatives as a memoir of the place, instead of bringing sweet boxes or fatty snacks? This will encourage green tourism! 

Respect wildlife. Do no barge into their habitat or disturb their lifestyle, else they should come charging at you. As far I am concerned, I end up befriending animals (not the wild ones of course), bringing back great memories from each tour.

Be kind to animals

Be compassionate

In a nutshell, we as responsible tourists can contribute a lot consciously to make Earth a better place. We can balance our recreation activities with little efforts for the environment that can make big difference gradually.

Lakme Absolute Mattreal Mousse Foundation Review

Ladies often refrain from using makeup daily. Often they complain of breakouts on skin or oily look due to usage of foundation. It happens because skin pores get blocked with foundation and further cause skin problems if not cleaned daily. I use foundation almost daily and have always chosen from Lakme daily range. I was an ardent fan of Lakme daily souffle and Lakme face magic daily foundation. However I was looking for an advanced foundation with more benefits, which is why I switched to Lakme Absolute Mattereal Mousse Foundation.

Lakme claims- Feather-light finish easily blends into the skin keeping it healthy, hides pores & evens out skin tones. The new SPF 8 formula protects the skin from sun damage, leaving it peachy-soft & naturally flawless for up to 16 hours. (Source- http://www.lakmeindia.com/product/lakme-absolute-mattreal-skin-natural-mousse)

Positives I experienced-

-The soft cake like filling in the round container is ultra smooth on skin. It gives amatte finish, gliding on very easily.

-The finish on skin feels like velvet.

-The foundation is not messy, does not spill and is not cakey on skin either. Your skin looks natural and not overdone.

-I am happy my skin does not look greasy or patchy after its application. Itcovers blemishes without weighing down skin. I use this daily!

-SPF 8 comes as an added advantage protecting skin from sun damage. I really love this foundation.

-The packaging is cute. Come in a round ball shape container with silver lid. (Keep away from kids lest they should start playing with it)

Shades-   Three- Ivory fair (For fair complexion), Beige Honey (For Medium complexion), Golden Medium (For Dark wheatish complexion)

Available- At retail stores and online stores Flipkart, Purple, Snapdeal and many more.

Price- MRP Rs700, Available at Rs 618 on Flipkart (subject to change)

Word of caution-

-Works on my skin as I stay indoors in air conditioned room for 8 hours and my skin is a combination one. However foundation may run out in humid climate. Those with dry skin should moisturize face before applying.

- Gives full but light coverage. Not recommended for those who need heavy coverage or for party makeup.

-For daily use, price is on higher side.

- Does not stay for 16 hours. Good for 6-7 hours. Have to reapply after 8 hours.

-Though the content is cakey and spill proof, it should be held cautiously. If tumbled or tilted, the whole content falls out in one piece. (I have suffered twice)

I would rate it 3.5 on 5 since I look for more coverage in a little lesser price. Rest, the product is fantastic with matte feather touch.

Marvellous Manali

For corporate professionals, a three day holiday calls for a vacation, and there is nothing better than hill station to rejuvenate yourself! Hubby and I chose Manali in Himachal Pradesh for a short trip.  The beautiful hill station is more than five hundred kilometers from Delhi, which takes 12 hours+ to reach. Book your Volvo tickets from Himachal Pradesh Tourism Desk in Himachal Bhawan, Mandi House (Delhi) or Chandra Lok Building in Janpath, (Delhi).  The latter also books hotels for Himachal. Bookings can be made online as well from http://hptdc.nic.in/bus.htm

Rohtang Manalsu

Carry food with you for the long 12 hour journey. Volvo leaves from Kashmiri Gate/Himachal Bhawan at 10:30 &10 pm respectively and reaches Manali next day around 11 am.

Instead of hiring a taxi, we chose to walk with our bag packs from the bus stop to our hotel. Vibrant flowers, warm sunshine and fresh breeze (the perks of walking) welcomed us as we checked into Rohtang Manalsu  located on Circuit House road, a little away from Mall road.

Itinerary Day 1

1-Himdimba Devi Temple

Hidimba Devi temple

Post lunch, we left for the famous Hidimba Devi Temple, just 1.5 km from our hotel. 

I love road signs 

The Mahabharat History says, Bheema (the strongest Pandava) married Hidimba during the Pandava exile in forest. Hidimba stayed back in Manali and continued to meditate as Bheema left. The temple dedicated to Devi Hidimba, is believed to be centuries old, carved on stones and deodar wood. Make this place a must visit during Manali trip.

2. Great Himalayan Forest

Few meters away from the temple is the open worship place of Ghatotkach (Bheema’s son). The tranquil place is surrounded by Dungri Forest, also named as the Great Himalayan Forest, entry for which is 5 rupees person.

Dungri Forest

Walk through the forest trail, let fresh air wrap you while you soak the refreshing greenery. The sun shines through the thick tall trees, offering a marvelous natural view. Managed to get some amazing pictures as we spent quality time there.

Beware of hawkers selling saffron and shilajit to every couple they spot. Also, politely refuse the ladies loaning mountain rabbits at 20 Rupees to pose for a picture with you. F.Y.I. it is against Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. I did not raise a hue and cry over it because law & order is not strict in H.P, and the ladies were earning a living for themselves. Thirdly, I did not want to spoil my vacation. Seeing a white lady renting a python for picture, did not surprise me.

3. Mall Road

Mall road bustles with life all day long. Dotted with restaurants and travel agent shops, the entire stretch of road offers you everything from grocery to fancy clothes. There is also a flee market on the left where you can go shopping without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Do buy Fruit Burfi there, which is a specialty made of fruit extract, very low on artificial sweets. You’d love the guava burfi for sure! Looks like aam-papad, but it is a pure fruit pulp extract.

Guava Barfi

Bought this delightful box of sweets from Nature's Hut, Mall Road. 

4. Tibetan Monastery

Take a right turn on Mall Road for Tibetan Monastery.   The small neat temple houses a large Buddha statue and is decorated by Tibetan artefacts. (Photography restricted inside the temple) 

The rolling bells or prayer wheel surrounding the temple is said to bring good luck when rotated in the right direction, coupled with the chanting “Om Mani Padme Hum.” A true delight to your senses.

                            

And not to forget my furry four legged friends who shook hands, err paws with me. This one made my day. They photo-bombed us as well.

Late in the evening, we approached the Hiamchal Taxi Operators Office, Govt authorized place for tourist transport. The board on display clearly mentions the rates of transport to Rohtang and Solang. However, here is a fresh update. National Green Tribunal has recently banned all snow activities in Rohtang (skiing, snow mobile, horse riding) to curb pollution. Also, there is a limit to the number of taxis entering Rohtang. Against the fixed rate of 2400 (on display board), the taxi driver asked for 1500 INR to ferry us to Rohtang as well as Solang Valley. You need not book a taxi for early morning and leave at 4am for Rohtang. Though the ban may be lifted in near future.

Fantastic Fatehpur Sikri

Having one of the Seven Wonders of the World in our own country draws tourists from across the world. A proud thing to flaunt indeed! Thousands of tourists flock to visit the dreamy Taj Mahal in Agra; A must see for every Indian at least. However, very few visit the other historical monuments in Agra, like Fatehpur Sikri, which I visited in July  2015.

40 kms away from Agra, Fatehpur Sikri is a city which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569. Known for its hybrid architecture of Mughal and Hindu era, the place will not fail to awe you.

The moment you enter the city in your own vehicle, locals will try to extort money, calling it MCD tax. Since hubby has dealt with situations like this before and being the son of an Intelligence Officer, we managed to shoo the "tax collector" away. DO NOT PAY ANY TAX. If they insist or stop your car, ask for their rule book or say "your dad is a cop". They will flee from the spot within seconds.

Fatehpur Sikri Mahal has a separate gate for entry where private vehicles are forbidden (reasons unknown). We were not allowed to enter in our car and charged 80 INR for car parking. Near the parking, you are made to wait for a bus that ferries you to Fatehpur Sikri Palace. Surprisingly the bus service is also not free!

Beware of the shopkeepers around the parking area who plead you to visit their shops and force their visiting cards on you. Be polite but assertive in refusing them. This kind of stalking and repeated pleads is unpleasant, leaving you feel unsafe and turned off. 

We made an entry through the Buland Darwaza but could not take its picture.

The imperial palace complex has a number of geometrically arranged independent pavilions on a piece of level ground. It is believed that this pattern was derived from Arab and central Asian tent encampments. You can see prominent inspiration of of the Mughal and Rajput architecture in Fatehpur Sikri. The entire building complex construction has been done with red sandstone.

Here is the Diwan-e-khas- The place for private audience of King Akbar. He held meetings in this special court with his royal men.

Khwab-gah or the place of dreams was the private place of the king with beautiful spacious rooms. The double story structure had a library, bedroom, bathroom and meeting room for the king to hold his secret meetings with his officials.

Along side is the picture of Anup Talaao, a beautiful structure amid the water tank in the royal palace. The center of the structure with raised seats is a romantic place to spend time. The pond is situated right across Khwaab Gaah.

Along the perimeter of the palace complex

Jodha, Akbar’s wife had a beautiful palace to herself. Few glimpses of the Jodha Palace-

Jodha Mahal

Jodha's Kitchen

                        The backyard is not accessible to public and lies in ruins.

Fatehpur Sikri city is beautiful with a great architecture and cultural heritage to learn from. It is a fantastic place for photography enthusiasts and art lovers. The city makes a perfect weekend getaway from Delhi or nearby places. Best would be to travel in your own car. Don't rely on public transport because of less frequency and are are overcrowded. 

Wear cotton fabric or lose clothes, not too tight or hugging. The place is VERY warm. On rainy days the place is hot and humid. July was quite warm, but the onset of rains made it little pleasing for us.