Ravenous Legs

Things to do in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh -a hidden gem in the Himalayas

4/16/2018

Tirthan Valley, a hidden gem in Himachal Pradesh is what I call my home in the Himalayas. I had planned to slow travel in this valley for 2-3 weeks when I had quit my job to take a break and give myself a chance to work towards my passions. The unparalleled beauty and simplicity of this place wooed me so much that I ended up living in Tirthan Valley for 8 months. I continue going back to the valley, as I find myself the most peaceful when I'm home. The pristine valley around Tirthan River has just enough basic facilities for travellers looking for local Himachali experience. The valley has impressed many and is now becoming a popular destination offering simple experiences to the travellers:

Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

1. Trek in the Great Himalayan National Park

Great Himalayan National Park is recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to various endangered species of wildlife like snow leopards and Jujuranas (western tragopan). As per your fitness and comfort level, you can choose any number of days to trek in the GHNP. Trekking by the Tirthan River to the source Tirath glacier through the treacherous jungles would be an experience of a kind. For birding and wildlife spotting, make sure you go only with experts. A short 1 day trek to Rolla with overnight camping in the GHNP can be a wonderful experience.

Trekking in Great Himalayan National Park

2. Reconnect with yourself on the banks of Tirthan River

Tirthan river is one of the most pristine rivers in India. This is the only river in Himachal Pradesh whose flow remains unobstructed by any dam. I have spent 8 months here waking up to the sound of river and going back to bed with the sound of the river. Spending some silent moments near Tirthan river is a rejuvenating experience.

Tirthan River in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

3. Drive to Pekhri village / Sharchi village in Tirthan Valley

Pekhri and Sharchi are higher villages in the valley, approachable with dirt roads. Both the villages offer majestic views of the snow-capped Himalayas in the Great Himalayan National Park. Sharchi village is one of my personal favourites!

Sharchi Village in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

4. Hike up to small hamlets in Tirthan Valley to learn the basic lifestyle of the locals

Tirthan valley is not commercialised and the locals are happy keeping it that way. They believe in self-sustainability. Apart from growing their own food and building their own houses, they indulge in collecting grass for their cattle, weaving their own clothes, weaving their own baskets, preserving food for winters, grazing cattle, weaving woollens. Take a morning walk to some of the hamlets in the valley to observe their lifestyle, and be ready to be invited for a cup of tea at their homes. People in Tirthan valley are very friendly and welcoming.

5. Birding in Tirthan Valley

Just walk around the valley and you would find exotic species of Himalayan birds either on the river side or on trees. You can get lucky with paradise flycatcher, red capped white start, Himalayan Griffon, verditer flycatcher, hundreds of red billed blue Magpies and Himalayan bulbuls, black bulbuls, drongo, tits, etc . Go to hamlets on the height like Chhamni and Pekhri and you can get lucky with Koklass pheasant, Cheer pheasant, Kaleej pheasant. Trek into the GHNP to find Western Tragopan (jujuranas), Monal Pheasant.

6. Relish fresh local food in Tirthan Valley

I bet you would over eat during every meal if you get lucky with homemade fresh food. You might end up giving the food excuse of food tasting very nice here. It is true, even the simple food cooked with minimal spices tastes really good here, mainly because the river water used for cooking adds to the taste. Also, the river water has lot of minerals and digestive enzymes that makes you hungry every 2 hours. Enjoy the luxury of eating without the worries of adding calories!
Must Try local dish in Tirthan Valley - Siddu (Local steamed croissants, filled with mashed potatoes, onions, walnuts and served with melted ghee and walnut chutney)

7. Angling / Fishing for Rainbow Trouts in Tirthan River

Though I wouldn’t promote killing of fish for any purpose, but Tirthan river is the only river in India which breeds rainbow trouts. Catch your own fish and get it cooked at your homestay. These locals really know how to cook it tasty. For fishing, you would need daily permit from the forest department.

Angling in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Rainbow Trouts in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

8. Hike to Chehni Kothi in Jibhi Valley

Jibhi valley is adjacent to Tirthan Valley. It is beautiful, but not more beautiful than Tirthan Valley (sorry, I’m biased). However, you can take a day trip to Jibhi Valley, spend some time taking a walk around the valley and spending sometime at one of the river-side cafes there. You can take a short hike to Chehni village which boasts of the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Himalayas. It is a 1500 year old towered castle built in traditional Himachali style.

Chehni Kothi in Jibhi Valley, Himachal Pradesh

9. Drive to Jalori pass and Hike to Serolsar lake

Jalori pass is famous for magnificent views of the snow capped himalayas. Jalori pass connects Jibhi valley to Shimla with a very dangerous and treacherous, but quite short route. Driving or riding through Jalori pass is a thrill for many adventurers, but better done carefully or with locals.

Jalori Pass, Himachal Pradesh

Once you are at Jalori pass, you can take a small easy hike to Serolsar Lake. The lake is of religious value to the locals. The lake remains frozen in winters and looks quite pretty. The hike to the lake and back to Jalori pass can take 3-4 hours.

Serolsar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

10. Trek to Bashleo Pass

Bashleo pass is connects Tirthan Valley to Kullu Sarahan. The bus takes around 12 hours to reach any of these locations from the other, but for locals it is more convenient to cover the distance on foot in 5-6 hours. The trek to Bashleo pass and back covers 20km and gets little strenuous to complete on the same day. You may consider camping for 1 night and returning back to either Tirthan or descend to Kullu Sarahan.

Trek to Bashleo Pass

11. Hike to Chhoie waterfall in Tirthan Valley

This is the easiest and most common hike in the valley. A short 30-45 min hike leads to a beautiful waterfall and depending on the season, the water level of the fall changes. Almost everyone who comes to Tirthan Valley visits the waterfall.

Hike to Chhoie waterfall in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

12. Buy homemade products from locals in Tirthan Valley

The local ladies make handmade authentic products like woollen socks and caps, apricot jam, apricot oil, etc. Since there’s no shopping market in Tirthan Valley, you may consider buying local stuff from the ladies at the homestay (I wouldn't miss any opportunity to promote women empowerment).

Things NOT to do in Tirthan Valley:

This list come out of my sheer love for the valley as I don’t like to see it get ruined by irresponsible travellers. I’m no authority to tell you what not to do, but if I can spread awareness of pristine places on my blog, I think I can spread awareness of traveling responsibly as well.

1. Camp fire
Camp fire means burning lot of firewood and producing unnecessary smoke. Fire is actually a way of survival for the locals in the harsh winters. We should much rather respect the purpose and let the firewood be used when really required, instead of burning it for us to booze and dance around it.

2. Taking pictures of locals without their permission
Travelers are quite fascinated to take the pictures of locals. They either find them cute or beautiful in their traditional wear. We need to respect the fact that they are humans and not puppets or objects. Nobody likes you sticking your camera on their faces for pictures. If need be, either ask for their permission before taking a picture or the best option is to take distant pictures of them without making them conscious or asking them to pose for you.

3. Playing loud music on the banks of river
The valley is known to be serene and many travellers come to the valley to enjoy the peace that it has to offer. Even the locals have a tough lifestyle where they wake up in the wee hours of the day and go to bed early as well. We should respect the privacy of others.

4. Boozing and throwing bottles on the banks of river or throwing any waste in the valley
Before you pick up that bottle of alcohol, don’t forget the purpose of travel - to broaden your mind with different cultures and traditions, rejuvenate your soul and not boozing. Also, don’t dirty the beautiful places by dumping garbage in the naturally beautiful palces. It destroys the very reason of visiting the beautiful places for its beauty.

5. Asking for room service in the homestays
The government of Himachal Pradesh had introduced the scheme of homestay for locals to help them earn their basic living. Many people have opened up their homes to travellers. Please don’t treat the owners of the homestay as room attendants. Treat the homestay as your home and the owners as your family. Travel should be a beautiful experience for both the hosts and the traveler.

How to reach Tirthan Valley

The best option is to take an overnight bus from Delhi / Chandigarh to Kullu or Manali and get down at Aut on the way. You can either hire a taxi from Aut to Tirthan Valley or take local bus from Aut to Banjar and another bus from Banjar to Gushaini.
You can take a flight to Kullu (Bhuntar Airport) and take a taxi to Tirthan Valley.

I strongly recommend Bisht Niwas Homestay (Mahendra Bisht +91-9816650262) for local homestay experience.

Related Posts:

Tirthan Valley - my home in the Himalayas

Living in a traditional Himachali house in Tirthan Valley

Pristine Palachan Valley

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Gili Islands: tiny and laid-back islands in Indonesia for backpackers

4/13/2018

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GiLi Islands, one of the best Indonesian Islands for relaxed and laid-back vibe, made me fall so much in love with the destination and myself, that I crave to go back to them over and over again. Gili Islands are exotic, quiet, non-polluted, yet, cheap islands for backpackers as well as honeymooners. Gili means "tiny island" in native language and they completely justify their name as you can actually walk-around the perimeter coastal track of the islands in less than a couple of hours. All automobiles have been banned on Gili islands and the islands breathe pure air.
My primary reason to travel to Indonesia was for Scuba Diving certification course. I chose Gili Islands for Scuba Diving and planned my entire trip around it. I’m so glad I did that as I could feel the pleasant vibe of Gili Islands even before I stepped on to it.

Gili Islands - the three tiny islands:

The group of 3 tiny Gili Islands on the north-west coast of Lombok are radically relaxed and laid back. As all automobiles have been banned on Gili islands, the only ways to get around on the island is by walk, on a bicycle or by horse carriages known as Cidomos. All the three islands are so tiny and close to each other that the other island can be viewed right across the other the beach.

Gili Trawangan: The biggest of all three Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan is more commercialised, has great nightlife and many dive centres. It has many hostels and is backpackers paradise.
Gili Meno: The most tranquil of all, Gili Meno is covered with luxury resorts and romance. Gili Meno is honeymooners paradise
Gili Air: Perfect balance between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, Gili Air is peaceful and not too commercialised. Gili Air offers guest houses, homestays, cafes and bars. It is perfect for the ones seeking serenity with island fever.

How to reach Gili Islands from Bali:

There are private speed boats that operate from Padang Bay / Sanur / Serangan in Bali to Gili Trawangan and Gili Air. The speed boats take around 2 hours to reach Gili Islands from Bali. Government ferries are a cheaper option but they around 6 hours to reach Gili Islands. Availability can be an issue in the peak season.
I had a misadventure at Padang Bai. I carelessly missed my speed boat while I was waiting for it at the Bay. Luckily the speed boat company, Marina Srikandi, had another one scheduled after 2 hours. I was hating myself for wasting 2 precious hours for this as I had a lot do to with my 10 days of solo backpacking trip to Indonesia. However, I was pleasantly surprised to be onboard a very special boat. Few of us avoided the AC cabins and took the roof top deck. The moment the boat started, the music started and beer cans opened! We had a sunset party on the boat before we arrived Gili Islands with a bang. I very well understood what to expect from the island, and I don’t regret this misadventure as not all boats have parties!

Accommodation in Gili Trawangan:

Gili Trawangan has huge range of accommodation from hostels to mid-range guest houses to luxury resorts. The beach-side accommodation is super expensive. Also, all the places get booked in advance in the peak season.
I was on a complete backpacking trip to Indonesia, I hadn’t booked anything apart from my return flights to Bali. I walked around the island to find some budget accommodation and happened to check a hostel. I loved the vibe of the hostel but it was expensive. I tried to negotiate with the owner, but he said I was lucky that there’s availability here because of some cancellation, otherwise it gets full months in advance. I still tried my luck to look for a cheaper accommodation or a room to myself for the cost of one bed in the hostel. It was difficult to find accommodation as everything was full. I still managed to find a very basic room to myself in the same range, but I returned to the hostel instead. It was a classy hostel with all modern facilities, 2 swimming pools, bar, table-tennis table, bicycles and lively people. I’m glad I spent the next 4 days here. Also, it was my first ever hostel experience.

The room with 6 bunk beds was common for males and females, both. This was the first time that I shared room with stranger guys. But, it was only in my mind. Everything was chilled out, it felt the same as sharing room with females.

Cafes and Bars in Gili Trawangan:

All the beach side cafes serve wide variety of international cuisines on the island. There are smaller joints in the inner lanes serving Doner kebabs, local Indonesian cuisine - Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng, crepes, desserts and a lot more.

Most of the cafes turn into happening bars in the evenings. The bars are lot of fun with drinking games, live music and DJs, dance floors which can be open till 4 am. Some bars also have open air movie screening on the beach. It is surely a great place for happening nightlife.

Things to do in Gili Islands:

Scuba Diving, Scuba Diving, Scuba Diving!!!! - That is what I did for all the 4 days I spent here.
Known as the Turtle Capital of the World, Gili Islands is one of the most beautiful diving destinations. All three islands are surrounded by a lot of dive sites offering varied diving experiences. The visibility is generally very high that makes Gili Islands an excellent destination to learn Scuba Diving.

Apart from Scuba Diving, these are the activities you can do in Gili Islands:

Read a book on the beach - Pull up a bean bag in one of the cafes on the beach and get up only in the evening. All your other needs would be taken care of by the cafe.
Island hopping - there are various boats that take you around to other islands.
Swimming from one Gili island to another. It is possible!!! The islands are so close to each other that one can really swim across.

Snorkeling - If you aren’t diving, don’t miss out the opportunity to snorkel with the turtles. Just pick up your snorkel and start snorkelling on the beautiful reefs from the shore.
Stand up paddle boarding - Next time I go to Gili Islands, I will surely try this.
Glass bottom boat kayaking - This is a really interesting way to enjoy the underwater world!

Shopping from designer boutiques - The fashion wear here is expensive, but worth a try.
Massage on the beach - This is another luxury that I die for! There are open air massages with a beautiful view of the sea and Indonesians are brilliant at giving massages. I had one everyday after my diving sessions.

Few more activities that can keep you entertained on the Gilis are - Sunset Party Boat, Freediving, yoga and Surfing.

After my scuba diving course, I had to leave for Mount Rinjani active volcano trek in Lombok. After that I had planned to head to Bali, spend a night there and take my return flight to India the next evening.
Towards the end of my scuba diving course, the thought of leaving Gili Islands was killing me! I had already fallen in love with the islands and I wanted to come back.
After the trek, instead of going to Bali, I returned to Gili islands, this time Gili Air, to spend a night before I leave the country. This was the second best decision I made on the trip (The first one, I’ll reveal on my next post).

A day in Gili Air:

I reached Gili Air in the evening, walked around the island and found a lovely homestay for the night. My legs were aching a lot after the strenuous trek. I found an excuse to take one more massage at a spa before I leave. I spent the latter part of the evening in a bar, treating myself with a glass of wine and pasta with the view of the full moon glittering up the sea. After some chats with few travellers in the bar, I walked out to go back to my room. It was almost midnight and on my way back, there were a some tattoo artists (few locals and an American lady - Tasha) jamming outside their studio. They invited me to join them for a while. Tasha was very much involved with creating more tattoo designs. Her passion intrigued me. We started conversing and I was so happy to share similar thoughts about life with her. We went into deep conversations while intermittently singing with the others. I was so happy to have found someone with whom I could share my crazy ideas and being understood as well. Tasha had quit her corporate job in New York, given up her apartment and started living in smaller places and doing things which made her happy. Making tattoo designs was her passion and she would freelance with tattoo studios in every new place she lived. For once I found someone practically implementing what I had been dreaming about. After meeting her, I realised that my dreams weren’t impractical, it is actually possible. It took me 2 months after my trip to Indonesia to make a decision to quit my job and do what I love doing, and another 1 month to actually resign!

Next morning I woke up early to make the most of the little time I had. I spent tranquil moments at the beach side when I had the entire beach to myself. In the noon, I took a speed boat to Bali and headed straight to airport to take my return flight to India.
But I had left my heart in Gili Islands and I would want to go back, yet again!

Dates of my travel to Gili Islands

I traveled to Gili Islands on 23 Aug 2015 - 26 Aug 2015

Best time to dive in Gili Islands

Best time to visit Gili Islands is May-November

If you are still reading the post, I'll assume that you are as much in love with Gili Islands as me. Live with me, my favourite moments on Gili Islands through my video. I'd made this video on Gili Islands in 2015 that still lists on top on youtube.

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Scuba Diving in Gili Islands, Indonesia - My Open Water Diver certification

4/10/2018

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Scuba Diving in Gili Islands, Indonesia - the Turtle Capital of the World , was my primary reason to set off on a solo backpacking trip to Indonesia in 2015. I was itching to get myself certified as an open water diver after I tried scuba diving in Lakshadweep for the first time. Anyone who has ever dived in Lakshadweep, would agree that I was spoilt with my first step in the underwater. So I had to choose a destination which would match upto my high expectations. I did my own research and figured out that the Philippines, Indonesia and Andaman Islands would be the best options for me. I chose Indonesia as I wanted to do my course at an international destination and the flights to Bali are cheap. And Gili Islands are only 2 hours away from Bali by a speed boat. I had spent a couple of days in Bali before I took the speed boat to Gili Trawangan.

Fast Boat from Padan Bay to Gili Trawangan

Diving in the turtle capital of the world - Gili Islands, Indonesia

The island impressed me beyond my imagination and I can’t ever find enough words to describe my experience of doing Scuba Diving course in Gili Islands.

Beach life at Gili Trawangan

The first morning, I walked up to the dive centre without any expectations in my mind. I had an instructor to myself for the entire course and I was extremely happy about it! I love personal attention when I pick up any new skill. Tim, the German instructor, was very very particular about time. Apart from this, he was super fun. We made jokes all the time during theory, confined water sessions, while I had to write my exam, on the diving boat while he gave me instructions and even underwater!

Scuba Diving - Gili Trawangan

Theory:
The first entire day of the course was theory, video trainings. I was relearning physics and biology from a very different perspective, the perspective of implementation! I wish I was taught all the subjects in my school through adventures! It is very important to understand the gear used for Scuba Diving and how your body is affected by the pressure underwater. At the end of the day, Tim gave me a book to read at my hostel in the night, as if the entire day’s learning wasn’t enough on a holiday!

Theory sessions for Open Water Diver Certification: Scuba Diving - Gili Trawangan

Confined water sessions:
On the second day of my course, I was given briefing on how to use the equipment practically. I geared up and then jumped into the pool with the gear. Tim trained me on breathing with the regulator underwater, removing the regulator from the mouth and recover it while underwater, remove mask underwater for a minute, wear it and clear the mask. He then took me on the diving boat for my first Open Water Dive, and made me perform all the skills in the ocean! I would admit that I was scared with the thought of removing my regulator and mask in the ocean. I couldn’t jump out if anything goes wrong. But with the strict instructor like Tim, I had no choice! He didn’t entertain my scare at all, he probably knew everyone goes through this :) After performing the skills on a sand bed, I proceeded for my dive. I was swaying up and down, right and left. Tim had to pull me down sometimes.

Confined Water sessions for Open Water Diver Certification: Scuba Diving - Gili Trawangan

The third day of the course was similar to the second day. I was taught more skills like going out of air and using buddy’s alternate air source in confined water. I had to perform these skills in the ocean during my second open water dive before proceeding for my dive. I was still swaying in the water. Towards the end of the dive, Tim asks me to perfrom CESA (Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent). I had to act out of air while ascending. This time I wasn’t allowed to use his alternate air source. After coming on the surface, I had to inflate my BCD with my mouth to float on water, but I was doing it right and I was drowning. I panicked and still wasn’t able to do it right. Tim didn’t come forward to help me and kept shouting “Save your life”. I hated him when he was letting me drown, but now when I see myself diving so well, I understand how well he has trained me.

Open Water Diver Certification: Scuba Diving - Gili Trawangan

Open Water Dives:
One needs minimum of 4 Open Water Dives as part of the certification. I had completed my first two dives at the depth of 12m on day2 and day3. On the fourth day, I didn’t have to perform any skills underwater, I only had to enjoy my Open Water Dives 3 & 4 at the depth of 18m. I was learning neutral buoyancy and fish identification. By this day, I had started being stable in water. Tim let me use my underwater camera too on the last day. You aren’t allowed to use the camera during your course.

Scuba Diving in Gili Islands - the turtle capital of the world

Final Exam:
By the end of the course, I had to answer an exam and score 75% to get certified as an Open Water Diver. You get multiple attempts to clear the exam, the idea of the test is not to fail anyone, but to help them improve in the areas they lack.

Open Water Diver licence:
While I was answering my exam, Tim went out to get my licence printed. He knew I would clear it! Once he returned, he went through my answers and asked me to fulfil one more tradition before he hands over my licence to me - treat your instructor with a beer! I never liked beer, but I was so happy, that I got 4 beers and celebrated with Tim and two more divers whom I dived with. That was the best toast of my life!
My open water diver licence allows me to dive with a certified buddy upto 18 metres depth.

Open Water Diver licence - Scuba Diving in Gili Islands

LogBook:
Maintaining all the logs of your dives is very important to check your progress as a diver. I was given my first logbook after my course. Tim helped me fill all the details, my first 4 dives were logged!

Open Water Diver logbook - Scuba Diving in Gili Islands

I proudly walked out as an Open Water Diver!

Open Water Diver - Scuba Diving in Gili Islands

Open Water Diver certification is a very intense schedule and tough routine of 4 days. But, probably those were some of the best moments on my travels. I had got into the routine of an island life:

Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast at the hostel
Walk down the beautiful streets of the island to the dive centre
Learn Diving, Take a lunch break at one of the cafes by the beach, continue the course till the evening
On my way back to the hostel, stop at the spa for a beach massage
Return to the hostel, rest for few minutes on the bean bag near the pool, meet my new roommates (everyday the new ones would replace the ones who checked out in the morning)
Take a shower, get dressed up for the night, eat & shake a leg at a bar with other enthusiastic party animals and head back to the hostel.

Open Water Diver - Scuba Diving in Gili Islands

I got AQUADDICTED for the rest of my life!
I went ahead to do my Advanced Open Water Diver certification in Andaman Islands and then I'm diving across the different countries - Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and dying to add more to this list.

Dates of my travel to Gili Islands

I did my Open water Diver course from Gili Islands 23 Aug 2015 - 26 Aug 2015

Best time to dive in Gili Islands

Best time to dive in Gili Islands is June-October when the visibility is great.

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Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

3/31/2018

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Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand, offered me a fabulous diving experience, contrary to the belief of finding "more divers than fish in Thailand". The Andaman Sea lives upto its expectation for fantastic marine life even from this side. Ranging from the tiny nudibranchs to huge leopard sharks, the dive sites around Phuket is home to rich diversity of marine life. I had got AQUADDICTED after I tried Scuba Diving in Lakshadweep for the first time when I had gone island hopping in Lakshadweep on a cruise. I took this newly found passion to another level by getting myself certified as an Open Water Diver in Gili Islands, Indonesia and Advanced Open Water Diver in Havelock Island, Andaman. After being certified, each time I went Fun Diving at any other destination I visited, they raised eyebrows when I said I've dived in the Andaman Islands. I agree I'm spoilt. But, to my surprise, I ended up falling in love with some dive sites in Phuket while working on my buoyancy by shedding away those extra weights on my belt.

Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Fun Diving in Phuket, Thailand

For the certified divers, Fun Diving in Phuket is actually fun. Well-equipped comfortable diving boats are available for day trips to different dive sites around Phuket to Raja Islands and Phi Phi Islands. The dive boats are equipped with compressors so that you don't need to change your tank after every dive.

Diving boat - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

A typical diving day in Phuket looks like:

Wake up early in the morning with lot of excitement to board the diving boat.
Sit back and enjoy the boat ride through the Andaman Sea admiring the marvellous limestone cliffs on the way to the first dive site.
Check your equipment, gear up and take a Giant Stride in the sea.

Giant Stride - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Check the current, plan your dive, release the air from your BCD, equalise while descending and enjoy some of the best moments of your life underwater.
Come back on the boat, remove the gear, take a hot fresh water shower, let your hair down, restore your energy with food on the boat and get ready for the next dive.
And by the time you have repeated the procedure for your third and the last dive, believe me, you don't want to come out of the ocean.

Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

The long journey back to Phuket gives sensational sunset views. I bet you would be so deeply lost in thoughts, you would be so connected to yourself and nature, that going back to the island life would feel alien to you.
Unwind with a "Chang" beer and some lip smacking Thai food at one of the bars to savour the everlasting nightlife of Phuket town, as you look forward to diving the next morning.

Gorgeous sunset views while returning from Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Best Dive Sites for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Koh Bida Nok, Phi Phi Islands

Koh Bida Nok, one of the uninhabited Phi Phi Islands, is for advanced divers as currents can be really strong at times. It has been my all-time favourite dive site in Phuket. A lime stone rock forms a wall underwater and multiple dives can be planned around the wall. I had dived here thrice in different directions and was amazed to spot black tip reef sharks all the three times the moment I descended to the dive site. The wall is covered with vivid soft corals, fan corals and sponge corals. Some of the remarkable sightings I got lucky with - squat shrimp, feather star fish, crocodile needle fish, white spotted Boxfish, blue spotted Sting Rays, huge schools of thousands of yellow snappers, school of Barracudas.

School of yellow snappers at Koh Bida Nok, Phi Phi Islands - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

I had got so comfortable diving in Phuket that by the time I went for my 13th Fun Dive here, the oceans had become my playground. I was chasing the sting rays and playing with them in circles, I was purposely getting lost in the schools of yellow snappers and I was peacefully admiring the sleeping sharks for minutes near them!

School of barracuda at Koh Bida Nok - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

On my last dive here, my dive guide took me to a cave for the 3 minute safety stop at 5 metres before ascending up on the surface. This was my first experience of cave diving.

Limestone cliffs that make dive sites Koh Bida Nai & Koh Bida Nok - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Koh Dok Mai, on way to Phi Phi Islands

Koh Doc Mai is again a limestone cliff on way to Phi Phi Islands from Phuket. It is a beautiful wall dive for advanced divers. This dive site is deep and can be difficult in times of current. During my 3 dives at this dive site, I spotted some banded shrimps, a juvenile clown triggerfish, ghost pipefish, various nudibranchs, moray-eels of all shades (white eyed, yellow edged) popping out of this wall.
On my second dive, my dive guide took me deep to spot 4 Bamboo Sharks sleeping under a sheltered coral. They looked so pretty and it was the closest I've been to sharks. I had my "Walter Mitty" moment there - "Sometimes if I like a moment, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it." My dive guide was worried about my air consumption as I stopped there next to the bamboo sharks admiring them for few minutes.

Anemone Reef

Anemone Reef is the most pretty dive site in this region suited to beginners as well as advanced divers. The entire dive site looks spectacular with zillions of budding sea anemones and Nemos playing with them. I spotted anemone crab in carpet of anemones, devil scorpion fish, porcupine fish, bearded scorpion fish, clearfin Lion Fish, spot fin lion fish, various nudibranchs. I also spotted crown of thorns - the marine creature responsible for bleaching corals, the creature that is causing threat to the Great Barrier Reef.

Colourful Anemone Reef - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Clownfish at Anemone Reef - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Hin Bida

Hin Bida is another charming dive site for beginners as well as advanced divers. When I was gearing up to dive into this site, my guide Timos came to me and said - "Be ready, I want to go the first to spot the sharks before anyone enters the site". He had helped me spot bamboo sharks in my earlier dive and I trusted him the most when it came to spotting sharks! As per his instructions, he jumped off the boat first and I followed. Before anyone could make his way, Timos tried to look around for the sharks and was disappointed to mot find them at their regular spot. He navigated a little ahead to progress the dive, and there he pointed at a huge Leopard Shark, lying peacefully on a sandy patch. I was so excited to see it, I went quite close to the shark from the behind so that I don't wake it up. Being up, close and personal with a leopard shark for several minutes was so exhilarating that me and Timos almost signalled eachother to end the dive after this. We navigated around a little to spot some more fish as the visibility was really great.

Leopard shark at Hinbida - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Koh Racha Yai, Racha Islands

Racha Islands are famous for beautiful dives because of the great visibility all the time at the bays. It is a very good dive site for beginners because of huge sand bed, good visibility, low current. There are quite a few dive sites around Racha Islands. Diving at these dive sites can turn out to be fortunate if you are lucky to find some iphones, cameras, gold jewellery on the sand beds, mostly lost by the snorkelers! Jokes apart, the dive site at Bay1 is going to be very special to me as it was my first dive through a wreck! When I saw the werck for the first time, I stood still next to it, admiring it. My dive guide, Klaus, held my hand and insisted me to dive through the wreck and I'm so glad he did that!

Wreck diving at Koh Racha Yai - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Bungalow Bay and Banana Bay are other dive sites where you find man made ice blocks to protect the reefs. I spotted different varieties of shrimps - dancing shrimps, banded boxer shrimp, white banded cleaner shrimp, banded mantis shrimp, sting rays, flounder, giant moray eels, black spotted pufferfish and many other fish radiating in the clean waters.

Great visibility at Koh Racha Yai - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Day trips for Scuba Diving in Thailand can be planned over 3 days to different locations:
1. Phi Phi Islands
2. Shark Point / Anemone Reef / King Cruiser Wreck
3. Raja Yai & Raja Noi Islands
However, you wouldn't regret diving at the same location again as there are different dive sites at the same location. You can go exploring as much as you want without any limits.

Dive sites for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

I returned home completely content with the varied experiences I added on to my scuba diving profile - wreck diving, cave diving, chasing sting rays, my "Walter Mitty" moment with the bamboo sharks, flooding next to leopard sharks and getting lost in the school of yellow snappers, I had it to the fullest!
Needless to mention, I turn speechless for few days after every diving trip. I always come back as a calmer person than before. The oceans greatly influence my inner peace and I'm AQUADDICTED!

Dates of my travel to Phuket for Scuba Diving

26 February 2018 - 7 March 2018

Best time for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Diving season in the Andaman Sea is from October - May.
Best time to dive in Phuket - February & March

P.S. I was on a Scuba Diving trip to Phuket with Trip360

Related Posts:

Scuba Diving in Havelock, Andaman Islands

Scuba Diving in Gili Islands, Indonesia

A Rejuvenating getaway to Thailand

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My favorite things to do and places to visit in Goa

8/17/2017

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Goa, apart from being famous for its laid-back beaches and cheap beers, has many hidden getaways and offbeat things to do. Over multiple road trips to Goa from Pune, I spent time at different beaches of Goa and also explored Goa beyond beaches. Here's a list of my favourite things to do in Goa:

1. Beachside Shacks in Goa

The shacks of Goa are very inviting for beers and food. I have learnt to cook some of the most creative dishes out of the menus of Goan shacks. While I’ve tried various shacks on various beaches, this shack on Patnem beach became my favourite just because of its sheer uniqueness. This was the only outdoor shack in Goa which wasn’t covered by the colourful umbrellas, but with green trees. The tables are set up between the trees and the hammocks which are tied up next to the tables. I chanced upon this shack for my breakfast and it just made my entire day. I have learnt some of the best breakfast recipes from the these shacks!

2. Beach Gym in Goa

If you are health conscious and were avoiding Goa because you thought it was only about beers and tasty seafood, you didn’t know that the beaches care enough for us. The fantastic beach gym that I discovered on Ashvem beach in North Goa completely blew me away. The wooden equipment completely blends into the beach ambiance. It was the most scenic gym I have seen till date.

3. Paragliding In Goa

Arambol beach at Goa offers paragliding with a beautiful bird’s eye view of the beach. The gliders take off from a cliff top near the beach and land on the shore of the Arambol beach. It’s an experience very different to gliding in the mountains.

4. Spa in Arambol Lake

Arambol Lake is the only fresh-water lake on a beach strip of Goa in close nearness to the Arabian Sea. The lake is remarkably placed at the bottom of a hill from where the paraglider takes off. The mud of the sweet water lake is believed to have a healing effect on the skin. Arambol beach offers a remarkable experience of a swim in the sea and then a mud bath in the stream near the lake followed by a bath in the sweet water lake.

5. Local Fish and Spice Market

Goan fish and spice markets is an ideal place to watch the daily life of the Goans. Everyday these markets are setup with heaps of fish and dried fish, spices and pork-hangings. I just walked around the markets and stood in a corner to observe some action.

6. Living in old Portuguese house with Goan family

I had once stayed in a 500 year old Portuguese house with a Goan family in Siolim. The house had huge wooden doors, antique artefacts and furniture. The Balcõe of the house was very inviting every morning for teas and chit-chats. I was here during the Christmas days and I got to relish the local Christmas sweets and cakes with the family. I would love to have such an experience again.

7. Traditional Museums in Goa

Some passionate Goans (artists, sculptors, restorers) have put tremendous efforts to preserve the dying quirks of Goan lifestyle through museums. The various facets of life of Goans beautifully depicted in the form of statues and collection of traditional farming implements and other ancient tools of trade. Though I'm not a museum person at all, I learnt a lot about the lifestyle of Goans in olden times through these.

8. Portuguese Colony in Fontainhas

Fontainhas is a heritage Portuguese colonial quarter in the centre of Panjim, where the influential Portuguese rulers lived. The Portuguese style old villas and buildings with overhanging balconies in the narrow and winding lanes reflect the old European architecture. The blue, yellow and green coloured houses make up a vibrant and cheerful locality. A heritage walk in Fontainhas, the Portuguese colony of Goa, was a journey back in time.

9. Birding

Goa is home to many species of birds. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Chorão Island is located on the Mandovi River. The backwaters and the river islands of Goa had fascinated me for a very long time. The boats take you around the island, through the mangroves for spotting. Migratory birds are often found in winters.

10. Spice Gardens

Goa has various Spice farms and they have some best quality of organic spices as well. Some spices were brought in India by the Portuguese too. It is a wonderful experience to learn about varieties of spices at one place.

11. Authentic Goan Cuisine

Goan dishes are flavoured with special goan spices which give a very unique taste to the food. I would not let go of any chance to experience the Goan culture on my travels. Goan food topped up with Feni and Cashews can be one of the best experiences there.

12. Parties in Goa

Who wouldn’t want to party when in Goa? It offers variety of options like beach parties, club parties, casino parties, cruise parties, private parties, music festivals and some secret parties in the hidden areas. I managed to get an invite to some secret parties, where I danced on the cold sand for the entire night on trance music. I must confess those were the best parties I’ve experienced in Goa.
Shhhh............ they were the secret parties!!

13. My Favourite Beaches

Lastly, let me talk about the beaches. On my every visit to Goa, I’ve stayed at different beaches. After I found my favourite ones in Goa, I stopped wandering around to pick one. Ashvem beach in North Goa and Patnem beach in South Goa are undoubtedly my favourite beaches. Go there to find out why I say this.

Best Time to Visit Goa

Winter months (October - February) are the most pleasant. Summers (March-May) are extremely humid in Goa. Water activities and shacks are closed in the monsoons (June-September), but it is still a pleasant time to visit Goa as the entire state becomes lush green. I have made numerous trips to Goa in all seasons.

Where to stay in Goa

There’s no dearth of hotels in Goa. Tourism being the largest occupation of the state, the facilities for tourists are taken care of really well. For the budget-range, there are a lot of local hotels and guest houses at every beach. For the economy hotel chains like IBIS Styles Goa have their presence in Goa. The heritage Portuguese houses turned into guest houses in Fontainhas is also a great option. For the luxury category, all the luxury hotel chains like Marriot, Hyatt, Taj, have grand properties with private beaches. Apart from these, there are boutique hotels, hostels and beach huts for different accommodation experiences.

Related Posts:

Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Chorão Island

Goa Tribal Festival

Portuguese heritage colony in Fontainhas

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Tripping on roads of Ladakh for Highest Blogger Meet

8/14/2017

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Ladakh, the land of high passes, is the topmost road trip destination in India. But, for me, Ladakh was only about trekking when I’d ever thought of traveling to the outlandish Trans-Himalayan range. I first visited Ladakh in 2014 winters for 2 weeks for the Chadar Trek and experienced extreme temperatures ranging from -5 degrees in the day to -30 degrees in the night. The glamorous frozen rivers, waterfalls and snow-covered mountains had stolen the entire show. This gave me a reason to visit Ladakh once more in 2014 summers to see the flamboyant Trans-Himalayas in brown, green, orange, purple, teal, pink under the rich blue sky. This time I spent 3 weeks in Ladakh and went on a solo trek to Markha Valley and Stok Kangri with a guide. I’d experienced living in authentic Ladakhi home stay on Markha Valley trek. I learnt about the culture, traditions and people of Ladakh. I’d even visited few monasteries, Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, KhardungLa. I knew there was more to Ladakh than just this. I was trying to control my temptation to visit Ladakh again, but i’d heard about the breathtaking roads that lead to Ladakh and I knew I would someday come back for that (I’d flown in previously due to limited leaves I had then).
While I was living in Tirthan Valley, a thought had crossed my mind about driving to Ladakh in 2017 when it rains in Tirthan. And I must say that wishes do come true. Come mid-June and I got invited by Scout My Trip for a road trip to Ladakh for Highest Blogger Meet.

A convoy of 5 SUVs, each one taken over by an expert scout, a squad of 15 bloggers and the trip leaders - the 2 co-founders of Scout My Trip, were flagged off from OYORooms Gurgaon. I didn't set expectations from the trip as I knew I had to just let my hair down and enjoy the journey. The entire trip was planned by the master minds of the DIY road trips platform ScoutMyTrip. But what came along the trip was an experience of a lifetime for me. The solo traveler was traveling in a group after years, and for the first time with such a huge group. It was a kind of travel that I’d never experienced before.

Swapping cars everyday:
Every morning we changed our cars and raided the roads of Ladakh on a different engine. My technical knowledge about cars was enriched by learning a lot more about different cars’ behaviour on the roads of Ladakh. While we swapped cars, we also swapped car partners. It was an exciting to travel with new people everyday. The rugged terrains of Ladakh would break down the cars at various levels and our official rescue car - Thar would attend the call of duty.

Pratik (on the driving seat), Deepak and me

Experiencing curfew and road block in Kashmir:
We started our journey from Delhi towards the Srinagar route. The day we reached Jammu, there was a road blocks due to the Anantnag incident, so the next day when we left for Sonamarg, we weren't allowed to go ahead of Ramban. We had to spend the night at the only available property at Ramban. Scout My Trip team had smoothly arranged this impromptu night halt for the 20 of us.

Amarnath yatra base camp - Baltal

Checking into comfortable OYORooms each night:
We spent around 10-12 hours on roads each day and every night we checked into a new OYORoom. The cosy beds and the warm rooms welcomed us for comfortable stays. I was surprised to see the presence of OYORooms in the remote parts.

OYORooms

Eating local food on highways in each state:
As we crossed 5 different states on our 12 day road trip, Neeraj Sinha (the head scout and CTO of Scout My Trip) and Anuradha Goyal (veteran blogger) wouldn't miss out on recollecting the local delicacies of those regions and we slurped on the parathas at Murthal, farm fresh corn in Punjab, punjabi food at local dhaba, Rogan josh in Sonmarg, Thukpa in Ladakh, Wai wai in Changthang, Mutton curry and rice in Koksar and a lot of tit-bits on the way.

Chhali (corn) and punjabi food

Listening to various genres of playlists:
As we shared cars with different travellers each day, we grooved to various genres of music ranging from Qawalis from Anuradha, coke studio from Shubham, Kishore Kumar from Ami and Ajay, punjabi songs from Neha, SP Balasubramaniam from Deepak, live Gujarati translated songs from Samarth, EDM and DJ Snake from me.

Calming our souls at tranquil monasteries:
Visiting the oldest and most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh (Mulbekh monastery, Lamayuru monastery, Diskit Monastery and Thiksey monastery) on our road trip was soothing to the soul.

Mulbekh monastery near Kargil

Waking up to the beautiful lakes:
Ladakh is highlighted on the world map for the most beautiful lakes it holds. We spent our nights and early mornings at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. We lived in luxury tents which gave us the best views of the lakes. Driving by the side of the Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Tso Kar and Tso Kiagar was the most fascinating part of the journey.

Luxury camping at Pangong Tso

Ending the day with drinks in one of the rooms:
After the back-breaking journeys on the roads of Ladakh, we would gather in one room to end our day on a “High” note. We joked about all the frustrations and difficulties we would have gone through in different cars each day. Neha, Karan, Amit, Prateek, Neeraj, Deepak and me were involved in this joint effort every night.

Partners in crime

Knowing other interesting travellers:
I was revisiting most of the places, but this time it was in the company of other travellers and destinations seemed to matter less than the journey.
It was such a wonderful feeling to meet Anuradha Goyal, Mridula Dwivedi, Ragini Puri - the faces that I’d only seen and interacted with on social media.
My first hand interactions with Neha Kapoor, Johann Kuruvilla and Raza Rahil were so great that I would love to meet them again on some other travels.
I had some of the best times knowing the interesting team of scouts - Neeraj Sinha, Prateek Jain, Samarth Sankhla and Amit Nikam and I would be roadtripping with them often!
The co-founders of ScoutMyTrip, Deepak Ananth and Vineet Rajan, blew me away by their craziness and ability to pull off one of its kind of event on the highest and toughest roads of the world. Kudos to you!

With Karan, Ajay and Ragini

Confluence of multiple talents:
Each one was passionate about things beyond travel which we wouldn’t have known had we not travelled together. Ajay Sood’s knowledge about photography and his attitude of selflessly sharing photography tips with everyone, Neha’s talent into singing and theatre, Deepak’s art of cracking us up with all his not-so-intelligent jokes, Samarth’s creativity with live singing performances, my moves on the dance floor, Neeraj’s and Khursheed’s chilled out and calm attitude, Anuradha’s and Lakshmi’s level-headedness - each had so much to contribute to make this trip a memorable one.

Grooving with Swati and Ami

Recording Highest Blogger Meet with India Book of Records:
On our journey, we crossed the Highest motorable pass of the world and recorded the “Highest Blogger Meet” with India Book of Records. 20 bloggers with ScoutMyTrip and OYORooms team made this record at 18380 ft at Khardungla pass. We opened the meet and OYO launched OYONauts - a platform for bloggers to share their travel experiences and win all-expense paid trips in India, Nepal and Malaysia.

We continued the meet at the Tsolding Buddha Park (the most picturesque location for any meet) for 2 more hours where we discussed various facets of travel blogging. We celebrated our feat at Hunder that night and had official adjudication event with India Book of Records in Gurgaon on our return.

A lot was happening everyday and we didn’t realise that we crossed few of the highest passes of the world and ended our trip at the same place we had started from. A huge family who was just a group of strangers 12 days back, dispersed to their respective destinations the next day. I had taken back so many memories from the trip that the hangover of the trip lasted for at least a couple of weeks after it had actually ended.
After this trip, I know that on all my road trips the cars would be loaded with interesting travellers and I'm already planning my next road trip with a few from this very gang!

The poses from Pratik Nano that we never understood

My third visit to Ladakh was all about enjoying company of travellers on the roads. I indulged into a lot of crazy things (took pics in weird poses, clicked boomerangs, got drunk, sang songs, hogged on food, laughed crazily, just relaxed in the car while someone else drove for me) which I wouldn't generally do on my solo travels. I hate to say this would be my last visit to Ladakh, as I know that Ladakh would beckon me very soon, for climbing higher summits.

P.S. I was invited by Scout My Trip and OYORooms to be a part of this roadtrip to record the Highest Blogger Meet with India Book of Records

Related Posts:

Chadar Trek Tales 1 - How I survived to tell the tale

Chadar Trek Tales 2 - How I managed to complete the trek

Solo Trek to Markha Valley in Ladakh

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Solo Backpacking in Indonesia - Bali, Gili Islands, Lombok

7/26/2017

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Solo backpacking trip to Indonesia was the first thought on my mind when I decided to start globe-trotting. It was almost an impromptu plan. I booked my return flights from Pune to Bali just 6 days before my travel. My project at IBM was keeping me completely occupied with difficult routines. I had only 10 days of leave which I wanted to use in the most optimal way in Indonesia. My priority list included Open Water Scuba Diver Certification and trek to an active volcano. I did a few hours research on these and came up with the most efficient plan I could. I chose Lombok for 3 days trek to Mount Rinjani and Gili Islands for 4 days of diving. I was left with 3 more days that I chose to spend in Bali. 2 days before I start to Gili Islands and the last day before I depart.
No bookings and just a plan in my mind, I flew out of Pune. I just had enough time to collect dollars at a high exchange rate from my privileged bank. The processing is on the spot. I was even working from the airports on my layovers at Chennai and Kuala Lumpur.

Day1: Landing in Bali
The spectacular bird’s eye view of the Indonesian landscape from my flight built up my excitement. It was my first experience with immigration and foreign currency. I stepped out of the airport and there were bunch of taxi operators and sim card operators. With some efforts, I managed to fix up a taxi to take me to Lovina beach and show me Tanah Lot on the way. I tried to reach Lovina before the sunset so that I could choose a good and cheap place to sleep close to the beach.

Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

Day 2-3: Backpacking in Bali
Next 2 days were the craziest days I spent in Bali. After dolphin-spotting and snorkelling in Lovina, I hired a 2-wheeler with a chauffeur, yes, you heard it right, a chauffeur-driven scooter (I had so much fun telling these stories to my friends back home). I wanted to ride and explore the northern and central part of Bali in 2 days and had to leave for Gili Islands. I didn’t have enough time to go back to Lovina to handover the rented vehicle. I backpacked through the country without knowing where I would spend my night. The chauffeur even took care of my bags when I went exploring the destinations on foot. He also took me to some local food joints called Warungs and to a village fair where I tasted some local Indonesian food.

Backpacking in Bali on a 2 wheeler

I visited local spice gardens and coffee plantations, tasted the costliest coffee of the world - Kopi Luwak, drove through the beautiful twin lakes - Danau Tamblingan and Danau Buyan, visited the traditional temples - Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Pura Besakih, rode through the heritage villages of north Bali, dipped into the Tabanan hot springs, walked through the rice terraces of Tegalalang and Jatiluwih, spent the evening in the chic town of Ubud, sighted the first ever active volcano of my life - Mt. Batur and the highest point on Bali - Mt. Agung. We then rode through the beautiful coastline of Padang beach and he dropped me at the Padang Bay to take a speed boat to Gili Islands.

Jatiluwih rice terraces, Bali, Indonesia

Day 4-7: SCUBA Diving in Gili Trawangan
I spent my next 4 days in Gili Trawangan and fell in love with these tiny triplet islands. The days were spent studying the physics of diving. I successfully completed my Open Water Diver Certification in Gili Islands, Indonesia and got AQUADDICTED for the rest of my life. I lavishly spent my evenings at the beach-side spas and the nights at the bars. Gili Trawangan has fantastic nightlife.

Scuba Diving in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

Day 8-10: Trekking to Mount Rinjani
Early morning I bid adieu to Gili Trawangan and took a local boat to Lombok where I met my co-trekkers for Mount Rinjani - the second highest active volcano in Indonesia. We took a 3 day trek from Sembalun to Sembalun Crater Rim, the summit of Mt. Rinjani, the Crater Lake, Senaru Crater Rim and ended at Senaru at noon on the 3rd day. I was supposed to head back to Bali and spend my last evening in the touristy south Bali.

Trekking to Mount Rinjani, Lombok - second highest active volcano of Indonesia

Day 11: Departing from Gili Air
But I had fallen in love with the Gili Islands so much that I didn’t return to spend the last day at Bali, I instead took a boat to Gili Air and enjoyed my last night at this island. I met some interesting people there in the evening, spent morning at a secluded beach with the backdrop of mountains of Lombok, and then book a speed boat to Bali. I shared a taxi to head to the airport directly from PadangBai. I had enough time to buy wines from the DFS (Duty Free Shopping) Bali.

Mornings at Gili Air, Indonesia

I had a feeling of absolute achievement when I boarded my Air Asia return flight. The newly-wed couple sitting next to me in the flight could sense the cheer on my face and asked me about my time in Indonesia. They couldn’t believe that I traveled solo and ended up accomplishing so much on my 11-day trip. They also suggested me to visit orange county to spend some leisure time in the southern part of India.

This trip is very special to my heart as I’ve never been as content with any other trip of mine as this one. It was a completely immersive travel experience for me.

Dates of my travel to Indonesia: 20 August 2015 - 31 Aug 2015.
Best Time to travel to Indonesia: May to October

I planned and executed the entire trip on the go, by constantly collecting information from the locals. It is a great way to connect with the locals and discover new places.
I will write separate blogs on each of the 3 islands I visited in Indonesia.

Related Posts:

Scuba Diving in Gili Islands

Tips on Solo Traveling for Women

Backpacking in Vietnam

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Pristine Palachan Valley in Himachal Pradesh

6/28/2017

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Palachan Valley in Himachal Pradesh is named after the Palachan River that flows along it. Locally called Flachan Valley, it is adjacent to Tirthan Valley. Palachan River and Tirthan River both originate from the Tirath Glacier in the Great Himalayan National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Palachan River flows through the valley with hamlets like Galingcha, Mashiyar, Batahad, Barnagi, Sheel, etc. and finally merges into Tirthan River at Gushaini.
Palachan Valley happened to be one of my local explorations since I'm living in Tirthan Valley.

Having tea at Palachan / Flachan River

The roads of Palachan Valley lead to infinite views of the mountains that are densely covered with pine and cedar trees. They make Palachan Valley look lush green almost throughout the year.

Walking down the roads of Palachan / Flachan Valley

Palachan Valley is very sparely populated and not yet popular with the tourists, which gave me adequate opportunities to visit villages, meet the locals and learn their traditions. My RavenousLegs couldn't resist walking along the pristine river and the heavenly bridges that lead me to some secret places.

Walking down the bridges of Palachan / Flachan Valley

The bridge lead me to a trail up a mountain and I kept hiking on it, as a part of my daily workout routine. I got some breath taking views of small hamlets perched on lush green mountains. The villages were flourishing with apple orchards, grean peas and barley cultivation. The mountain tops were covered with deodhar and pine trees against the vast blue sky.

Hiking up to the villages of Palachan / Flachan Valley

I met some interesting villagers who lived in 2 houses on the way to village Sheel. After a chat with them, I had to head back as the weather started getting bad. The snow clad mountains of the Great Himalayan National Park had started peeking out from this spot. I heard of more beautiful views from the topmost village, which I'll explore someday again.

Meeting locals at the villages of Palachan / Flachan Valley

I stayed back in Palachan valley for a couple of days with my blogger friends who had come here for a weekend getaway. I woke up to these pleasing views of the valley in the rain when the hazy mountains layered up in the clouds.

Rains at Tirthan Anglers Retreat in Palachan / Flachan Valley

Tirthan Anglers Retreat is a cosy little resort in the valley, which is five minutes walk down the road near Barnagi. The resort is a hidden gem in Palachan valley.

Tirthan Anglers Retreat in Palachan / Flachan Valley

The sound of Palachan River that continuously flows next to the resort makes an indluging atmosphere for the ones who want to disconnect from the entire world and get lost into the oblivion of nature.

Palachan / Flachan river near Tirthan Anglers Retreat

Palachan River is home to trouts and Tirthan Angler's Retreat is a great spot for fishing. You can spend your entire day with your fishing rods and some catches, and enjoy the bonfire and barbecued trouts in the chilly evenings.

Pic by Sushmita Sarkar

The rains made such a pleasant ambiance for us to bond with each other in delighted moods. I got to share my heart out with my dear friend Sushmita Sarkar and Alka Kaushik - the lady I respect for the person she is.

In arms of Alka Kaushik at Tirthan Anglers Retreat in Palachan / Flachan Valley

P.S. I was hosted at Tirthan Angler's Retreat as a part of Travel Correspondents and Bloggers Group meet.

Related Posts:

Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Bir, Himachal Pradesh

Harsil Valley - Uttarakhand

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Island Hopping in Lakshadweep on cruise M.V. Kavaratti

5/4/2017

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Lakshadweep, a union territory of India, is one of the most spectacular tropical islands of the world. Lakshadweep is home to beautiful unique coral reefs and abundant marine life and hence known as the coral paradise of India. Lakshadweep is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea. Out of those, few islands are submerged in the ocean and most of them are uninhabited. Only 10 of these islands are inhabited. As a step towards preserving the corals and marine life of the islands, the tourism in Lakshadweep is regulated by the Government and the entry permit is restricted, allowing only certain influx of travellers at a time. Only few islands like Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kadmat, Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinkarra, Agatti, are open to tourists.

Travel to Lakshadweep is possible only through packages which are designed by the SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports). I chose the Samudram package, where I could visit 3 different islands in Lakshadweep by the ship M.V. Kavaratti. I found it to be the most economical way to travel to Lakshadweep. M.V. Kavaratti starts from Willingdon Island, Kochi and takes to 3 different islands in 5 days, ending the journey at Kochi. The nights are spent on the ship, while it traverses to a new island each morning. The days are spent on islands.

Inquisitive about the marine life, my trip to Lakshadweep was primarily to experience the underwater life. I tried my hands on snorkelling and Scuba Diving at Lakshadweep in each of the islands I visited and I must admit, I was AQUADDICTED for the rest of my life. For the first time in my life I had taken a dip in the ocean and discovered that a different universe exists underwater.

Kalpeni Island, Lakshadweep

Kalpeni Island is very scenic with huge lagoon enclosed by 3 other islets. It was the first time that I was witnessing emerald island against vast blue sea. The water was so clear that I could see the sand bed through the water! I stood speechless for an hour admiring the beauty of this part of India.

After a swim in the lagoon, I head out looking for a dive instructor to take me diving. My first dive was 6m deep and the current was high. The instructor had to hold me as I was swaying with the current. Of course, diving isn’t easy and requires a technical training.

I then went kayaking in the middle of the lagoons and snorkelled there for an hour. I was happy like a kid to have discovered a new sport for myself.

After a long tiring day, I had a wonderful sleep in the cruise.

Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep

I woke up the next morning at Minicoy Island, a crescent shaped Island with one of the largest lagoons. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw myriad shades of blue sea from the lighthouse of Minicoy. Minicoy looked magical.

No wonder, Minicoy was only 100km away from Maldives! The residents of Minicoy speak Mahl, the official language of Maldives. I realised Lakshadweep Islands are geologically a part of the same chain as the Maldives. Maldives is my dream destination and I’ve kept it aside for my honeymoon (shhh.…). Sitting here at the shores of Minicoy Island, I was visualising the Maldives hotel that I would want to book for myself when I’m there. Soon, I came out of my dreamy world of Kurumba Maldives, back to Minicoy.

I couldn’t wait to enjoy the underwater here and I ended up with another near to death experience of mine when I found myself alone in the middle of the sea, snorkelling without a life jacket in heavy current. I spent a lazy hour on the hammock after the lunch and set out for diving. The clarity of water in this part was so impressive that I felt I was swimming in a huge aquarium.

Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep

Kavaratti was the last island I visited on this trip. Initially I was disappointed with the island as I saw more urbanisation here than the rest islands I had visited. Kavaratti is the administrative capital of Lakshadweep Islands.

I then started hunting for Dive shops. The dive master took me to a dive spot just at the reef, at the depth of 12m. It was my deepest dive in Lakshadweep and I saw a clear demarcation between the lagoon and the deep blue sea. I waited there for quite a few seconds to absorb such a wonderful feeling. It felt like I was daydreaming.

I spent the rest of the day snorkelling. I snorkelled for 2 hours, till the sun began to set, till my stamina lasted. The corals here were the prettiest, with vibrant colours like yellow, orange, purple, blue, pink. I wish I had an underwater camera then, to shoot the most beautiful corals I’ve ever seen in my life. Kavaratti turned out to be my best underwater experience!

I relished my last evening at Lakshadweep with a picturesque sunset at Kavaratti. It was difficult to bid adieu to Lakshadweep, they only left me craving for more.

After visiting Lakshadweep, I knew I wanted to take SCUBA Diving at another level. I got myself certified as an Open Water Scuba Diver in Gili Islands, Indonesia and Advanced Open Water Diver at Andaman Islands. I have also dived in Vietnam and Cambodia, but I would rate the marine life and the corals of Lakshadweep as my best till date. Now that I’m an advanced certified Scuba Diver, I would love to visit Lakshadweep again to explore more marine life.

My travel dates to Lakshadweep

I had traveled to Lakshadweep on M.V. Kavaratti from 27 April 2014 - 1 May 2014

Best time to travel to Lakshadweep

October to May is the best time to travel to Lakshadweep. The cruises and boats don't operate in the monsoons.

Related Posts:

Journey to deep secret world, Lakshadweep

Advanced Open Water Diver: Andaman Islands

Havelock Island, Andaman

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Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh - my home in the Himalayas

4/16/2017

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Tirthan Valley, a hidden gem of Himachal Pradesh, is what I call my home in the Himalayas. Once I started traveling extensively and got addicted to the Himalayas, I consciously kept away from Himachal Pradesh, because I needed my own sweet time to explore Himachal Pradesh, the second most beautiful state in India after Kashmir. Little did I know then that I would be blessed enough to get to spend an entire year in Himachal Pradesh. After I quit my job, I donated most of my belongings, packed only what I needed and drove all the way to Himachal Pradesh from Pune. I am living a completely nomadic life in different parts of Himachal Pradesh since then. Bir in Himachal Pradesh was my first abode in the Himalayas. Thereafter I backpacked in Spiti and Kinnaur. I then planned to spend a month in Tirthan Valley in winters, hoping to write more blogs as the ruthless winters of Himalayas would keep me indoors.

The beauty of Tirthan Valley had blown me away since the day I landed. It is a quaint little valley in the lower Himalayas of Kullu district. The more I explored Tirthan, the more I realised that this is the place I had been looking for all this while, a place which I could call my home in the Himalayas.

The valley is a collection of small hamlets along the road and the ones beautifully perched on mountains on both the sides.

Fresh Air to Breath

One road runs through the middle of Tirthan valley with mountains on either side and Tirthan river on one side. The vehicles that run here are so few that it hardly pollutes the air. Tirthan Valley offers a blend of rocky mountains, dense forested mountains and snow-covered mountains. The valley is covered with fruit orchards and fields. This valley completely satisfies my need of breathing fresh air.

Fresh Water to Drink

Tirthan River has the cleanest water, with minerals and digestive enzymes that make me hungry every 2 hours. The river is a tributary of river Beas and originates from glaciers of Hanskund, a snow covered peak in the Great Himalayan National Park . I feel privileged to drink this natural water everyday. The river flows right outside my room, and I'm addicted to the sound of the river. It constantly reminds me of the life that runs through my veins and motivates me to go with the flow.

Fresh Food to Eat

Naturally grown food is another priority of my life. Agriculture is the primary occupation for the people in Tirthan Valley. They grow all the grains (wheat, barley, corn, rice), dals (chickpeas, kidney beans, gram, lentils), vegetables (green peas, potatoes, tomatoes, ladies fingers, brinjal, beans) and fruits (plums, apricots, peaches, pears, apples, walnuts, oranges, Japanese persimmons).
I again feel privileged when I can pluck fresh fruits and veggies straight from the orchards for myself.

Non-commercialisation in Tirthan Valley

What makes the valley more beautiful is the non-commercialisation here. The village names change after almost every kilometre. There's just 1 shop in each village that provides with the basic needs. The shopkeepers have opened up shops in their homes itself. I have no choice of shampoos or toothpastes or washing powders. I can buy a toothpaste only worth INR 10, bigger sizes aren't available. And to make it clear, that doesn't make me sad at all. I'm happy to walk down to the shop every time I need to stock up my little resources. I had started living minimalistic even when I lived in Pune. I had stopped using departmental stores so that I don't buy things in bulk. I had started visiting the local stores to buy only what I really needed.
Tirthan Valley has a central market in Gushaini (3km away from my home) with 15-20 shops for groceries, vegetables, medical, stationery, confectionery, mobile and other daily needs. There's also SBI bank and ATM at Gushaini.

Loving Family to Live with

One of the wisest decisions I made was to live with a local family in Tirthan Valley. I chose a family,based on various factors, and I'm proud of my choice. It is a small family of a young couple and their kid who mostly lives with his grandmother in a traditional Himachali house perched on a mountain. They run a small homestay. I had moved in with them on my birthday 16 November 2016 and since then, I'm a part of their family, to an extent that the lady mentioned that if I don't get married, their son will take care of all 3 of us when we grow old :) The lady cooks lovingly for me and feels satisfied only when she serves me food. The guy protects me from everything and makes me feel secured here. Both of them easily read my face and check on me if they see me worried. They wake up to see me off and wish me "Best of Journey" when I go out of town and miss me while I'm away.
The bond and trust that we have built over few months is so strong that it is difficult to separate me out of their family.

A cozy room to myself

I have my own room in the homestay, though I use the entire house freely. My room even in Tirthan Valley smells of aroma oils. I make my own ginger lemon honey and green teas and there are times when I ask the lady to rest while I cook for the family.

Abundant Nature around me

I am addicted to waking up to the sound of the river and birds who drop in by my room to wish me good morning. The mornings are so refreshing here, that I love to get out of my bed early just to treasure the serenity of nature.

People of Tirthan Valley welcomed me with wide arms

I'm lucky to be welcomed in Tirthan Valley with lot of warmth. The ladies here loved talking to me about various things like why I quit my job, how is everyone back home, how was my lifestyle in the cities, how do I like it here. They never forget to invite me to their place for tea or dinner. There are few locals here doing great work with ecotourism. I learn a lot from them about the nature and how it has changed over time. I'm very impressed with the humility of these simple and hard-working people. I have a lot to learn from them.
I have already had teas and dinners at so many homes in Tirthan Valley, I don't know how am I going to pay it back to them! They make me feel at home. More than the teas and dinners, it's their warmth that makes me obliged to them.

I think I've listed enough excuses for me extending the month to 3 months in the winters. I had them gone to the cities for some work and other travels. I had to come back to Tirthan Valley to spend my summers here. Like they say, I deserved the summers here after living through the harsh winters.

I have a lot to write about Tirthan Valley, I'll keep writing in subsequent posts.

My loving family in Tirthan Valley are owners and hosts of Bisht Niwas Homestay. If you happen to visit Tirthan, please drop by and give my regards to Kavita & Mahendra Bisht (+91-9816650262).

Related Posts:

Things to do in Tirthan Valley

Living in a Traditional Himachali house in Tirthan Valley

Bir - my first abode in the Himalayas

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<<Previous

Travel Blog of Medhavi Davda (from India)Adventure Travel ~ Responsible Travel ~ Experiential Travel​ ~ Solo Travel

​1. Trek in the Great Himalayan National Park

​2. Reconnect with yourself on the banks of Tirthan River

​3. Drive to Pekhri village / Sharchi village in Tirthan Valley

​4. Hike up to small hamlets in Tirthan Valley to learn the basic lifestyle of the locals

5. Birding in Tirthan Valley

6. Relish fresh local food in Tirthan Valley

​7. Angling / Fishing for Rainbow Trouts in Tirthan River

​8. Hike to Chehni Kothi in Jibhi Valley

​9. Drive to Jalori pass and Hike to Serolsar lake

​10. Trek to Bashleo Pass

11. Hike to Chhoie waterfall in Tirthan Valley

12. Buy homemade products from locals in Tirthan Valley

Things NOT to do in Tirthan Valley:

How to reach Tirthan Valley

Gili Islands - the three tiny islands:

​How to reach Gili Islands from Bali:

Accommodation in Gili Trawangan:

Cafes and Bars in Gili Trawangan:

Things to do in Gili Islands:

​A day in Gili Air:

Dates of my travel to Gili Islands

Best time to dive in Gili Islands

Dates of my travel to Gili Islands

Best time to dive in Gili Islands

​Fun Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​Best Dive Sites for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Koh Bida Nok, Phi Phi Islands

​Koh Dok Mai, on way to Phi Phi Islands

​Anemone Reef

​Hin Bida

Koh Racha Yai, Racha Islands

Dates of my travel to Phuket for Scuba Diving

Best time for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

1. Beachside Shacks in Goa

​2. Beach Gym in Goa

3. Paragliding In Goa

​4. Spa in Arambol Lake

5. Local Fish and Spice Market

6. Living in old Portuguese house with Goan family

7. Traditional Museums in Goa

8. Portuguese Colony in Fontainhas

9. Birding

10. Spice Gardens

11. Authentic Goan Cuisine

12. Parties in Goa

13. My Favourite Beaches

Best Time to Visit Goa

Where to stay in Goa

​Kalpeni Island, Lakshadweep

​Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep

​Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep

​My travel dates to Lakshadweep

​Best time to travel to Lakshadweep

​Fresh Air to Breath

​Fresh Water to Drink

​Fresh Food to Eat

Non-commercialisation in Tirthan Valley

Loving Family to Live with

A cozy room to myself

Abundant Nature around me

People of Tirthan Valley welcomed me with wide arms

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Travel Blog of Medhavi Davda (from India)
Adventure Travel ~ Responsible Travel ~ Experiential Travel ~ Solo Travel

1. Trek in the Great Himalayan National Park

2. Reconnect with yourself on the banks of Tirthan River

3. Drive to Pekhri village / Sharchi village in Tirthan Valley

4. Hike up to small hamlets in Tirthan Valley to learn the basic lifestyle of the locals

7. Angling / Fishing for Rainbow Trouts in Tirthan River

8. Hike to Chehni Kothi in Jibhi Valley

9. Drive to Jalori pass and Hike to Serolsar lake

10. Trek to Bashleo Pass

How to reach Gili Islands from Bali:

A day in Gili Air:

Fun Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Best Dive Sites for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Koh Dok Mai, on way to Phi Phi Islands

Anemone Reef

Hin Bida

2. Beach Gym in Goa

4. Spa in Arambol Lake

Kalpeni Island, Lakshadweep

Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep

Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep

My travel dates to Lakshadweep

Best time to travel to Lakshadweep

Fresh Air to Breath

Fresh Water to Drink

Fresh Food to Eat

RavenousLegs on Twitter

Quitting My Job series