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.

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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.

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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.

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Posted in Birds, Domestic travel, Environment, Holidays, Home Stay, Hotels and Resorts, Jungle Lodge, Nature, Reviews, Safaris, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 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!

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

Harohalli Lake – North Bangalore

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Currylines

Aug 24th, 2025

When I decided to visit Harohalli lake in North Bangalore on one of my bird photography jaunts, I realised that there was sufficient potential for error in getting there, since there is another lake by the same name in the village of Harohalli in the Ramanagara district just 50 km away from Bangalore, which our ‘friendly, mischievous’ Google is happy to throw up.

To add to my bewilderment, another lake called Herohalli showed up in my online search. And then to top the confusion, Google maps indicated 2 names Harohalli and Gantiganahalli for the same lake!

Anyway to cut the tale of puzzlement short, the friends whom I accompany on these trips, seemed to know exactly which lake to head to and thus began our birding session one early Sunday morning at Harohalli Lake, Yelahanka, Bangalore Urban district, Karnataka, India

Fear not, I will provide the accurate Google link at the end of this post but for now, come with me as I take you through a visual exploration of whatever I found at this lake.

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Maddu thoppu – Justicia Wynaadensis

Posted on July 26, 2025 by Currylines

The bright green leaves bubble and boil in my pot of water and the colorless liquid miraculously and rapidly transforms into a brilliant indigo hue. Justicia Wynaadensis is performing its magic in my kitchen and I am transfixed by the process which I have finally had the pleasure of personally witnessing!

Justicia Wynaadensis, also known as Maddu thoppu, is a shrub that grows prolifically in some regions of the Western ghats of India.

This plant is very special to the Kodavas (the people of Coorg). Maddu means medicinal and thoppu translates to leaves, in the Kodava (Coorg) language.

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Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Organic, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Trishvam Symphony

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Currylines

July 4th – 6th, 2025

The date palms sway gently in the breeze, their sweet, ripe, fallen fruit dotting the verdant lawns as they contrast with the bright green, like little oval nuggets of chocolate. I sprawl languidly on the deck chair beside the vast, blue swimming pool that lies alongside, popping the sweet fruit in my mouth as I gaze out the distant peak of the Bala Kondarayanaswamy hill which looms like a sentinel of the horizon and offers a panoramic backdrop to this picturesque resort called Trishvam Symphony.

Lying in the lap of the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, India, Trishvam Symphony is the latest and most recent addition to the list of burgeoning resorts from the well known brand, The Great Indian Group of Hotels and Resorts.

Surrounded by hills and nestling within lush landscapes and vast mango orchards, this resort presents an elegant getaway deep within a farm, offering a blend of the charm of farm life and the comfort of style and luxury.

If you are looking for a very comfortable stay which also offers a host of features for your entertainment, then join me in exploring this interesting getaway which is barely a 2 hour drive from Bangalore.

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

TGI Livancia Hillside Hotel

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Currylines

June 11th – 13th, 2025

I gaze out of my large window at the ‘mist-kist’ hill that looms in the distance. The vista of the iconic and imposing Chamundi hills draped in lush, rain washed greenery, makes it difficult for me to believe that I am actually in a hotel in the heart of the city and not in some idyllic resort amidst pristine surroundings, with air so fresh that it makes my Bangalore bred (and battered) lungs gasp in pleasant surprise!

I speak of the TGI Livancia Hillside Hotel, a recent addition to the list of hotels that lie within the culture rich city of Mysore which is the headquarters of the Mysore district in Karnataka, India.

If you are looking for a very comfortable stay, economical pricing and pleasant service in Mysore, then follow me into the portals of this hotel and see what it has in store.

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Posted in Domestic travel, Holidays, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurant reviews, Reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Muthanallur Lake – Bangalore

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Currylines

Jun 8th, 2025

A vast, thick drape of green, broken only by a tiny puddle of water, was my first view of Muthanallur lake. A dirt track below that had suffered the lashings of a recent rain and another track atop the raised lake bund, were the only access to my friend and I who were visiting the place, mainly for the purpose of bird spotting and photography.

Due to the choking of almost the entire surface of the water by the knotted tapestry of water plants, there were no water birds to be found but the surrounding vegetation was better blessed with a few other species. Apparently the lake was less polluted and less overrun with aquatic weeds in the past.

Muthanallur Lake is located in the Bangalore Urban district of Karnataka, India. Come with me as I take you through a visual exploration of whatever I found at this lake … it was certainly not water 😏

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Blackbucks of KGF/BGML Grasslands, Kolar

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Currylines

May 4th, 2025

My previous blog post which I hope you have read, spoke of my recent and rather futile expedition to Bethamangala lake where my friends and I had gone to photograph the Knob-billed ducks but ended up scoring a duck instead (certainly no pun intended). So as we came away empty handed, we decided to try our luck at least for a Buck at the nearby Blackbuck sanctuary before returning home to Bangalore.

Our drought however, continued and blame it on the wrong time of the day but we could not buck the trend … yeah, the blackbucks barely graced us with their presence and needless to say, no noteworthy pictures were created here either.

And hence my previous caption holds good here too – No Luck, no Duck, no Buck! (And you definitely need to read the earlier post to get the context)

Well regardless of our poor outcome, let me share with you the brief glimpse that we had of the bucks and of the Kolar Gold Fields/Bharat Gold Mines Limited (KGF/BGML) grasslands of the Kolar district, Karnataka, India because … well just because!

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Posted in Birds, Domestic travel, Dosa, Holidays, Nature, Reviews, Safaris, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments