Hang Around ...

Karanji Natural Park, Mysore

I dont know how many know this place. Becuse i was not aware of this place until recently i went there. Karanji natural park is in the close proximity of Mysore Palace and if any one wants to reach the place either from the Central bus stand or the palace, autos can be taken where they will charge around 40-50 rs. This park is a huge area with a beautiful green carpet laid over it. Its surrounded by lots of bamboo trees and some more very old trees of more than 50 yrs. And in the middle of the park is the lake where pedal boats are available for 2 and 4 ppl. BUt have to be little careful since the lake has got lots of water plants on one side. There are fountains in the middle of the lake. Nice place to spend a holiday which gives a break from the regular crowded and noisy tourist spots.

Other major attractions in this park are the Peacocks and the Butterfly Park.

There was a huge crowd surrounding the peacocks to take a glimpse of their beautiful colors in the features and people were eagerly waiting to see it, opening its feathers and start dancing, as that being a rainy day. And there we go, not to disappoint the crowds, peacocks started dancing :) . There was a white peacock which attracted 90% of the crowd on that day. That was really enjoyable. Those peacocks had too many flashes on them that day, like the models who walk on the ramp ;) .

Sad thing is that we were nt abel to see the butterfly park. One reason is that, its little too far inside. From the peacocks area, one has to walk about 3 km if you want to see the butterflies. U should have enuf time, to have a leisure walk inside to reach the place. The second reason is that, we have been told by one of the vendor there that the butterflies wont be there always and is kind of seasonal (??!!??). And he said now there are no butterflies there. When we enquired few people who were returning from the butterfly park, they were all disappointed to find nothing there.

 
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Ishya Dhyanalingam Coimbatore

Isha Dhyanalingam

"Isha dhyanalingam" is a yogic temple, first of its kind , located at the foot hills of velliangiri hills, near Coimbatore.


This is purely a space for mediatation and does not fit into a particular religion, does not need any particular ritual or prayers to be performed.


"Just sitting silently for a few minutes within the sphere of Dhyanalinga is enough to make even those unaware of meditation experience a state of deep meditativeness" - Sadhguru


People gather here for meditation. The earth coloursm Natural granite and the fusion of irregular shapes that form the temple creates a perfect ambience for meditation.


The architecture is also first of its kind because, this structure which looks like a sphere from outside is constructed only from bricks and mud mortar stabilized with lime, sand and some herbal additives. And does not include any other steel or cement conmcrete. The main intention of sadhguruji who is the master behind this , they wanted this structure to last not for 100 years but fro more than 1000 yrs.


How to reach Dhyanalinga
It is situated 30 kms west of coimbatore at the foothills of velliangiri mountains.
Coimbatore is well connected by air,road and rail with all major cities in India. From coimbatore lots of regular buses and taxi facilities are available to reach Dhyanalinga
Pls take extra clothes to take a dip in Theerthakund


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City is, ofcourse , my favourite Chennai :)


So, When weekend arrives, its time to hang around pals.... but where and how ? ... Here u go with a list of places to hang aroud during the weekends in chennai ... mind you, this is not the complete list.. got a few which i have visited

Sno	Category	Destination
1	Theatres	Satyam, Anna Salai
2	Theatres	Inox, Radhakrishnan Road, Mylapore
3	Theatres	Mayajal, ECR road
4	Beaches	Elliots, Besant Nagar
5	Beaches	Marina, Anna Salai
6	Malls	Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai
7	Malls	City Centre, Radhakrishnan Road, Mylapore
8	Malls	Shoppers Stop
9	Malls	Lifestyle
10	Malls	Prinze Plaza, Egmore
11	Theme Parks	VGP Golden Beach, ECR
12	Theme Parks	MGM Dizee World,ECR
13	Theme Parks	Queens land,Poonamallie
14	Theme Resort	Dakshin Chitra, ECR
15	Theme Restaurants	Rain Forest, Adyar
16	Others	Crocodile Bank, ECR
17	Others	Brittania View Point, ECR

The other major attractions in and around Chennai are,


1. Covelong Beach
2. Muttukadu
3. Mahabalipuram


Lets point out few for people who are looking for devotional locations


1.In Chennai
     Chennai has got a bunch of famous ancient temples. The list is quite big. Let me try to mention atleast few in that. Here u go -
1. Ashtalakshmi temple in Besant nagar which has got all eight lakshmis and lord narayana.

2. Aarupadi Murugan Temple - Not an ancient temple though , said to be maintained by some NRIs, the main diety being lord Murugan. The speciality is that it has  "aaru padai " Murugan in 6 different sannadhis within the temple. One round in the temple, and there u go round aarupadi veedu.

3. Sri Parthasarathy Temple - One of the ancient temple in Royapettah, the main diety being Lord Krishna in the form of Paartha Sarathy with a moushe... yes, Partha Sarathy meaning, one who drives the Car of Arjuna
4. Thiruverkadu
5. Mangadu - Temple of Kamakshi


2.Around chennai


1. Kanchipuram
2. Thiruthani
3. Vellore Golden Temple
4. Thiruvannamalai


will be posting the details of the places around chennai shortly