Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary – Trip 2 and Trip 3

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Currylines

Feb 8th, 2026 and Feb 19th, 2026

The boat glides forward, its oars briskly slicing through the gently flowing waters of the Kaveri. We weave alongside mini islands … thickly vegetated mounds that rise out of the water and provide sanctuary to the innumerable birds that make these trees their home … birds so many in number, that their large, pale forms hunched along the branches are visible even from afar.

As we draw closer, we are greeted by the guttural squawks of hundreds of pelicans, open billed storks and painted storks, which oblivious to our presence, go about their daily routine of lifting their large wings and balancing like ballerinas, flying around busily in search of fish, attending to clamoring little chicks in their nests and in general, inadvertently performing for us, their enraptured human audience who have come to be entertained by this avian extravaganza in this renowned bird sanctuary called Ranganathittu which lies in the Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district in Karnataka, India. Standing in clusters, their white bodies glowing in the sunlight and webbed feet gripping the tangled branches, they make for easy targets for the camera, even one as basic as mine … and I click away to my heart’s content.

So join me on the waters of the bountiful river Kaveri and enjoy the beautiful winged specimens that she and her islands generously play host to, where every branch holds life and every breath of wind stirs wings into graceful motion.

This post is about my second and third visit to the place and I am combining the 2 in one post because they happened in quick succession, 7 years after my first visit in 2019 (not counting the few times that I visited as a child, of which I have no photographic records!)

Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Domestic travel, Holidays, Nature, Reviews, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Pause, Camrose Estate – Sakleshpur

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Currylines

Jan 14th – 16th, 2026

Shall we start the New Year with a Pause … a true pause to stop and smell the roses? Well, the cliché takes on an almost literal meaning when you find yourself at The Pause at Camrose Estates.

I enter the gates of the property just to be greeted by the welcoming notes of innumerable birds. I quickly activate my Bird Call app which I have recently discovered (better late than never) and in moments it results in an impressive list of nearly 25 species of birds which are currently ‘performing’ exuberantly in my honor … or so I would like to believe.

I am now within the grounds of this picturesque villa tucked deep inside the heart of a lush coffee plantation, where birdsong is the only soundtrack by day and utter silence, your companion by night … a silence so profoundly ‘loud’ that your ‘city abused’ ears are initially thrown into bewilderment but then slowly made to realise that this gift of a complete absence of noise is to be savored to the fullest … and a sound sleep which one has not enjoyed for ages, is to be thoroughly Slept!!!

And to further delight those in quest of quietude, this spacious and charming retreat with verandahs overrun by delightfully unruly flowering climbers and the serene backwaters of the Hemavathi river lapping its periphery, is barely a leisurely 4.5 hours from Bangalore.

So join me on my first discovery of 2026 and stop awhile at the The Pause at the popular hill station of Sakleshpur in the Hassan district of Karnataka, India and spend a couple of days unwinding in its lap and relearning the art of staying still.

Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic travel, Holidays, Home Stay, Hotels and Resorts, Pet Friendly Stay, Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sri Saumyakeshava Temple, Nagamangala, Mandya

Posted on December 20, 2025 by Currylines

Magnificence in stone … an apt way indeed, to express the gorgeousness of Hoysala temples of Karnataka. While the 3 temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura which are also recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, definitely are the most famous of these, one also cannot discount the numerous others which are remarkable too, despite being smaller and not as much in the limelight.

One such place that I recently had the pleasure of visiting, is the Saumyakeshava temple at Nagamangala town in the Mandya district of Karnataka, India.

On an online hunt for bird-friendly lakes to visit with my bird photographer friends, I came upon the Hirikere lake in Nagamangala. Further exploration via Google, led me serendipitously to the almost adjacent temple which even in its virtual avatar, caught my fancy and ironically as you will see, became the main focus of my trip, with the lake getting just a cursory visit and being bookmarked for another day for a more thorough visit.

The Saumyakeshava temple is yet another exemplification (albeit a smaller version) of the ornate and intricate unique South Indian style architecture developed under the patronage of the rulers of the Hoysala empire of the 10th to the 14th century era.

So step into its sacred precincts with me and be prepared to be charmed by this beauty in stone.

Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic travel, Heritage, Reviews, Travel | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Trishvam Symphony, Krishnagiri – Trip 2

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Currylines
Nov 16th, 17th 2025
When a place is so easily accessible, beautiful, comfortable, has a wide range of dishes to satiate the palate and is wonderful for a quick getaway, then it is exactly what I would choose to visit multiple times!

My second visit to Trishvam Symphony comes close on the heels of my first visit in July 2025, barely a few days after it was launched and I am writing about it again just because I like to document all my trips 😊

You can read all about Trishvam Symphony – Trip 1 here.

Lying in the lap of the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, India, Trishvam Symphony is one of the resorts of the well known brand, The Great Indian Group of Hotels and Resorts (TGI)

Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic travel, Holidays, Hotels and Resorts, Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shampoo Ginger – Zingiber zerumbet

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Currylines

During my visit to the Trishvam Symphony resort in Krishnagiri, I had the pleasure of realizing that a large part of their well landscaped garden was dedicated to the prolifically growing Shampoo ginger shrub.

The Zingiber zerumbet is also called pinecone ginger because of the likeness of its flower head inflorescence to the pine cone.

This is an unusual plant whose mature flowers produce a mildly scented and slightly soapy fluid, somewhat like thin honey in viscosity.

This blog post is to document what little I have learnt about this plant and I will update the information as and when I discover more about it.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Palmyra sprout

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Currylines

I have always been fascinated by palm trees of every kind but the Palmyra palm in particular holds a special place for me, since its fruit is one of my favorites, donning different avatars in its various stages of life, right from the tender to the overripe and also in between.

I have also written about the tender palmyra fruit and ripe palmyra fruit earlier in my blog but today I am here to present yet another facet of this amazing tree.

When the palm seed germinates, the ensuing sprout presents yet another option for consumption and these unusual looking woody, elongated, edible tubers are pleasantly mealy in texture and also rich in nutritive properties.

Also known as Panang kizhangu in Tamil, these sprouts are sold in ‘sheaves’ and can be cooked and eaten in many ways but today I will only be demonstrating the method that I have used. Please note that many a time they are sold pre-boiled and ready to eat but I feel that it is more hygienic to buy the raw ones and cook them at home.

Do let me know in the comments below, what you call these sprouts in your language.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Vegetarian, Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bitter Gourd Mini

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Currylines

You either love it or hate it … it can leave you feeling better or bitter. Hint – this is a vegetable riddle and there are no prizes for guessing correctly because I know that hardly anyone will get the answer wrong.

Yes I am speaking of the much loved/hated Bitter gourd or Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), known as Karela in Hindi and by several other names in other Indian languages.

This vegetable with its distinct bitter flavor, presents itself in quite a few variants which include the dark green, sharp ridged, long ones, the pale green, whitish ones, the stumpy short and rotund ones, the smoother skinned Chinese ones and the tiny, mini, thumbnail sized ones, just to name a few.

I was introduced to the last variety, the Mini, a few years ago, while on a visit to Ramnathpuram near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Being quite a favorite vegetable of mine (yeah I thrive on bitterness :-D), I was very excited to see this miniscule little non-conformist and I bought a bagful to take back home to Bangalore.

So here is one more interesting vegetable to enhance my (currently sadly neglected) series on unusual produce. Check out the rest in this section on Fruits and Vegetables.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Vegan, Vegetarian | 8 Comments

TGI Redolent Resort, Coorg

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Currylines

Sep 27th – 29th, 2025

When you have the finest view of the resort right from your balcony, it’s tempting to spend most of your time simply letting nature serenade you with its rhythm, as you indulgently sink into a reclining chair and soak in the pleasing panorama, right from the vibrant blue of the pool to the encompassing lushness which it shimmers through.

Of course you do have to reluctantly budge from time to time for your meals and to explore the sights you’ve planned to see but for the most part, relaxation is the mantra, just as it should be on an ideal holiday!

Nestling in the lap of the undulating terrain of the Coorg district of Karnataka, India, TGI Redolent Resort is yet another addition to the list of burgeoning resorts from the well known brand, The Great Indian Group of Hotels and Resorts, a name synonymous with hospitality and comfort.

If you are looking for a very convenient stay which offers modern amenities in the heart of nature and which is also close to a few popular tourist attractions, then join me in lolling around in this scenic getaway, which is less than 5 hours from Bangalore.

Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic travel, Holidays, Hotels and Resorts, Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Bandipur National Park – Jungle Safari

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Currylines

The flavor of the season was ‘Leopard’. Ever since I arrived at Dhole’s Den, the jungle lodge which was my launch pad for the upcoming safari in Bandipur National Park, all I heard were tales of how guests and guides on recent safaris had easily sighted an elegant specimen of Panthera Pardus and how high the probability was, of it not disappointing me either. 

After a few safaris in recent years in the neighboring Kabini forest where the tigers had been more generous with their presence while the leopards had pretended they did not even exist, I was excited and hopeful that my first foray into the Bandipur jungle located in the Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka, India, would finally yield a bountiful spotting of the spotted one, which I had seen only once in my life on a Masai Mara jaunt in Kenya.

So wait with bated breath, just as I did on my safari, to find out whether my luck was in a stingy mood or whether the Panthera Pardus was written in plain sight in my fate … or whether it was a weird blend of both!

Come, be a part of my adventure as I hop on to the rugged Bolero Camper, subjecting myself to its bumping and jumping, in the hope that the forest will reveal whatever treasures it is willing to display in the short duration of 2.5 hours.

Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Domestic travel, Environment, Holidays, Home Stay, Hotels and Resorts, Jungle Lodge, Nature, Reviews, Safaris, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dhole’s Den – Bandipur

Posted on September 14, 2025 by Currylines

Aug 31st – Sep 2nd, 2025

Hum aapke hain Cuon?

A cheesy caption, you say? Well perhaps but this isn’t merely a pandering to my compulsion for wordplay (ok, maybe just a little) but is also a title that I thought would match the block buster real life story which is waiting to unfold … a headline gleaned from the Cuon alpinus, the Asiatic wild dog, known locally as the Dhole, which is the inspiration behind Dhole’s Den, a soulfully designed safari homestay in the woods.

But this is more than just a story about a place and its name. It is a tribute to a man whose journey is as stirring as the wilderness that surrounds his creation. A remarkable narrative of grit, fortitude and unwavering determination of finding his purpose in the lap of nature after battling personal adversity and conquering its consequences. He is a true role model from whom one can learn so many profound lessons. Dhole’s Den, is not merely a tranquil escape into the wild but is also the achievement of someone who built more than a home … a legacy rooted in resilience.

Yes, this might be the first blog where I could write more about the owner than the place and mind you, the place is well worth writing about. But I have tried to be brief (believe that if you can 😎) because his full story has its own space which you will find on his website. Here I will simply offer a tiny glimpse of him, a reverent nod if you will because I also have to do justice to the beautiful home which was my retreat for a couple of days.

So delve into a story worth knowing, as I explore this charming jungle homestay that is tucked away in the verdant region bordering Bandipur, a major forest which lies in the lush, biodiverse heart of Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka, India and is a part of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve.

And just for effect, here is a little rhyme to get you started!

Step inside with me, Through the Dhole’s Den gate

Where your hospitable hosts, With open hearts await

Where you will be treated, Truly as one of their own

Where you will never have to ask, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun!

Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Domestic travel, Environment, Holidays, Home Stay, Hotels and Resorts, Jungle Lodge, Nature, Reviews, Safaris, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments