Sobha - The Family Traveler

Our Travel Diaries - Series ' 18 March 2025 - Day 7 of our Kerala Trip. We first had the darshan of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy early in the morning and then visited the Puthenmalika Palace Musuem located close to the East Fort of the temple. It was the last day of our Kerala trip and our flight was at around 8.30 p.m. We checked out the hotel at 11 a.m and with the luggage in the cab, we visited Napier Museum, Trivandrum Zoo and Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery as these three are located at one place only. Also Read: Sree Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram It was afternoon and was terribly hot. We felt completely drained off with long walks inside the complex. Fortunately, there are good number of trees in the complex and we saw many visitors taking rest under the shade of the trees. First we had a peep into the ancient artefacts in the Napier Museum which took us to the world of monarchy. From here we went round the zoo. We had no idea that the Art Gallery would...

Our Travel Diaries - Series 18th March 2025 - Day 7 and the last day of our Kerala trip. We got up before Brahma Muhurtam and after refreshing ourselves with hair wash, we dressed ourselves in traditional Kerala off-white costume - the dress code for visiting Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple - the world famous and world's richest Hindu temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Our stay was at Kovalam beach resort wherefrom it's a 30 minutes drive to the temple with toll gate on the way. We mostly visit the temples, particularly in south India, early in the mornings during Brahma Muhurtam only as it is highly auspicious. Moreover, I love the early mornings' ambiance in the South Indian temples. The aroma of fresh jasmine flowers, the fragrance of camphor, chandanam and agarbatti and the divine chanting take you to the divine world and you feel yourself spiritually elevated for a while. The surroundings outside the temples are equally enjoyable in the early hours with mouth-wate...

Our Travel Diaries - Series 27th May 2024 - Day 3 and last day of our Tirumala trip. The departure time of our flight from Tirupati to Hyderabad was 8.30 p.m. Morning we got down to Tirupati and had the darshan of Sree Govinda Raju Swamy and then we headed to Srikalahasti. As it was peak season, these temples were heavily crowded with devotees and being summer it was terribly hot. Somehow we managed to have the nice darshan of Sri Kalahasteeswara and Gyana Prasunamba Devi and then had free anna prasadam which was served hot. The free annadanam hall was not that clean and people of all classes sitting together which we found a bit difficult to adjust. As there are enough time in hand, we planned to visit the less known Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Thondamandu / Thondamanpuram which is the only temple in the world where Sri Venkateswara Swamy is in sitting posture along with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side. It is known as Sridevi Bhudevi Sameta Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy te...

Our Timeless Travels - Series Some journeys stay longer in our hearts, longer than the miles covered. A road trip from Raxaul to Kathmandu, Nepal amidst laughter and togetherness with a batch of school students during the festive glow of Dasara in 2006 is still fresh in memories. An exciting road trip filled with laughter, scenic wonders, innocent joys and priceless teacher-student bonding turned into a meaningful adventure with countless unforgettable moments. As I look back, the entire experience feels like opening an old travel album filled with photographs, stories, and emotions. A school excursion unfolded into a tapestry of culture, camaraderie, and unforgettable lessons beyond the classroom. An Excursion to Kathmandu During Dasara Vacation With the festive spirit of Dasara, students were brimming with energy, excitement and curiosity with the thought of cross-border journey. For many, that was the first international trip and the idea of entering into a different country added...

Our Travel Diaries - Series During our Kerala tour in Mar 2025, our journey took us to the Aazhimala Shiva temple with the vast stretch of shores of Arabian Sea as the backdrop. It was a perfect blend of spiritual and natural serenity which made it a truly unforgettable family travel moment . Day 6 of our Kerala Tour On Day 5 of our tour, we had a very long drive from Munnar to Kovalam and by the time we reached the beach resort, it was around 8.30 p.m. After a tiresome day, we went to sound sleep, got up a bit late the next morning and had hot cup of coffee enjoying the beautiful view of Arabian Sea from the balcony. My daughter was glued to the balcony and she didn't feel like coming inside, so beautiful the sea view was from the balcony. Well, after refreshing and having breakfast we started for this lesser known temple called the Aazhimala Shiva temple. It is less than half-an-hour drive from Kovalam towards the south. We reached the place by 8.30 a.m and it was told that ...

Our Travel Diaries - Series Travel is not just about reaching a destination — but it’s about the paths we take and the memories we create along the way. 2nd Oct 2025 - on the day of Vijaya Dasami, we went on a sudden unplanned trip to Srisailam from Hyderabad as it was Dasara vacation. It was just a two-day trip and we were back home on 3rd Oct night. After an early morning Sparsh Darsan of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and a close darsan of Sri Brahmarambika Devi on 3rd Oct, we enjoyed a boat ride in Patala Ganga. On 3rd October 2025, our family set out to experience the sacred waters of Patala Ganga in Srisailam, a place steeped in devotion and natural beauty where we enjoyed a boat ride. What awaited us was not just a boat ride, but a journey filled with adventure, resilience, and serenity. Well, this was our 2nd visit to Patala Ganga, the 1st visit was in 2008 when we went down to Patala Ganga in a rope way but we did go on a boat ride in our 1st visit. Normally, tourists descend to Pa...

Our Travel Diaries - Series Some trips leave you with beautiful landscapes and some leave you with warm memories. Our trip to the ancient Sri Uma Maheswaram temple offered us both - serene views, sacred vibes and moments cherished forever. There are some places that instantly make you slow down, breathe deeper, and feel connected to something far older than our everyday lives. Our recent family trip to Uma Maheswaram Temple, tucked quietly in the Nallamala forests near Achampet, Telangana, was one such soulful escape. Located close to Srisailam and is known as the North Gateway of Srisailam, this temple offered us peace, cool breeze, and an experience wrapped in nature and spirituality. 3rd October 2025, the day after Vijaya Dasami - we had an early morning Sparsh darsanam of Srisailam Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy and close darsanam of Sri Brahmarambika Devi. After energizing with the divine blessings we went on a boat ride in Patala Ganga and were on our way back to Hyderabad. Also Read...

A Story from my Travel Diary The magnificent Temple of Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Amma stants in the heart of Thrissur, where tradition dances with devotion and history hums through temple corridors. The temple is a sacred space that embodies Kerala’s spiritual intensity and cultural vibrancy. On the same day as our visit to Vadakkunnathan Temple, we found ourselves drawn to this powerful shrine, just 500 metres away, where the festive celebs were in full fervor. Also Read: Our Vist to Sree Vadakkunathan Temple in Thrissur After the serene darshan at Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple, on suggestion of locals, our footsteps carried us just a short distance to another sacred space — the Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Amma Temple where devotion takes on a vibrant, living rhythm. The air was alive with the pulse of Kerala’s traditional chenda melam, the courtyard thronged with devotees, and the goddess herself seemed to radiate through every beat, every prayer, every procession. In that moment, Thrissur ...

A Story from my Old Travel Diary Recollection of a Family Traveler's trip to the Cave Temple in Bidar, Karnataka In 2008, we (three friendly families) embarked on a long-awaited road trip to Jharni Narasimha Cave temple nestled in a cave in the historic city of Bidar in Karnataka. It was not just a pilgrimage but was a spiritual reflection. Hyderabad-Bidar Road Trip We, hree families from different locations in Hyderabad, started our long drives early in the morning in our cars. It was early morning and the roads were clean and calm making our drive easier and faster. As we moved on the highway, we enjoyed watching the morning sun casting its golden hues on the road. It was a long drive winding through calm villages, strethes of open lands and bustling towns. The time melted away as we moved on with a medley of music. At around 7.30 a.m, we halted at a roadside dhaba for a hot cup of coffee. Two of the families were with children who made the trip lively with their mischiefs and...