Hello lovely people, hope you’re all doing well. I’m so excited today as the exam season is finally ending and tomorrow is Nemit’s last day of Formative Cycle (exams). We are now looking forward to two months of freedom as the summer holidays are just around the corner. We’ve already started planning how to spend them. Nemit wants to visit his grandmother in Delhi for a month. I’m telling him Delhi will be too hot in the summers but he doesn’t care. My husband and I want to explore a new destination. But I also want to add some adventure to it like the road trip we did a few months back. We travelled from Bangalore to Delhi by TATA Punch car, crossing 7 states and covering 2100 Kms in just 3 days. That was epic!

This was the longest I’ve driven in quite some time, breaking our last record of driving for 2000 Kms over 9 days during our trip across Rajasthan, where we explored 5 major cities. We did that trip back in 2020, just before the pandemic struck. However, if I talk about my favourite, most adventurous & also scariest drive to date, it would be our road trip, Delhi – Koti Village – Delhi, through the snow.

So many times, I’m asked why my husband doesn’t drive the car. Some even make jokes about how he lets me drive while he sits in the passenger seat. But they fail to see that the joke’s on them. Driving isn’t gender-specific and anyone can be a good driver regardless of gender or age.

When the husband drives, nobody asks him why his wife doesn’t drive. Then why is this question directed at the wife?

Why is it so hard for people to accept that a woman can be just as passionate about driving, adventure, off-roading, extreme sports and offbeat travel as she could be about child rearing, cooking, makeup, or fashion?

You may also check: 7-Day South Goa Itinerary with Videos!

On the other hand, a man may not feel as comfortable with these activities. They can be gentle and nurturing too. While my husband enjoys adventure like me, he’s not as passionate about driving as I am. Therefore, we’ve our own pact; I handle the driving and he helps with navigation because that’s what he’s good at.

For so long, I’ve avoided voicing my thoughts on this topic and because of that I haven’t written much about our road trips. But not anymore!

So, today I’m going to share about our Bangalore to Delhi road trip experience in our TATA Punch car as a couple. Unfortunately, Nemit didn’t come with us on this journey because his grandmother thought it wouldn’t be safe to travel such long distances with a small child. I tried to persuade her but couldn’t convince her, especially when she offered to take him back to Delhi with her by flight. Yep, I know that’s extreme – we’re a bit of a crazy family here.

Bangalore to Delhi by TATA Punch

Two days before our travel date, Nemit’s grandmother came from Delhi and the next day, she took him back with her. However, a day before our trip, Sumit came down with a high fever in the afternoon and we had to put all our plans on hold. We thought of postponing the trip but we had promised Nemit that we would meet him in 3 days. We started medication for Sumit and waited anxiously. Both of us couldn’t sleep the whole night, I kept checking his temperature, which didn’t seem to come down at all.

You may also check: Lakshadweep Travel Guide for Families!

Our original plan was to start our journey very early in the morning, around 2 am, but that plan was scrapped. So, we waited for Sumit’s temperature to come down before setting off. Luckily, his fever broke in the morning and we decided to leave at 6.30 am from Bengaluru.

Day 1 of Bengaluru to Delhi Road Trip: Bangalore to Hyderabad

Sumit’s fever kept coming back all day which meant it was something serious. Our Plan A was to cover around 750 Kms and stop for the night in Nizamabad, about 177 Kms from Hyderabad. But that plan didn’t work. So, we came up with Plan B.

Plan B was to drive 720 Kms and stay overnight in Kamareddy, just 117 Kms away from Hyderabad. But, unfortunately, this plan also didn’t pan out. We found an hour long traffic jam just before entering Hyderabad so we made a Plan C.

Under Plan C, we made the decision to stop in Hyderabad for the night and start fresh the next day. Finding a decent budget hotel in the outskirts of Hyderabad was a challenge in itself especially on a Friday. We ended up staying in a business hotel and paid a hefty amount just for the night. But I loved the food there. Can you guess the name of the hotel?

You may watch Day 1 Vlog on our YouTube: Bangalore to Delhi by TATA Punch

Now, let’s move on to second day of our journey.

Day 2 of Bangalore to Delhi by TATA Punch: Hyderabad to Narsinghpur

We started our journey around 6.30 am with the plan to drive to Nagpur, approx. 500 Kms from Hyderabad. Luckily, the roads were in good condition, allowing us to cover that distance in about 7-8 hours. However, Sumit’s fever was not coming down, so we started him on antibiotics, which proved effective.

You may also check: Resorts with Water Park in Hyderabad!

We decided to cover some more distance and found a hotel on the way to Sagar (Madhya Pradesh). Here, we did a huge mistake. We took a diversion from NH 44 onto another route, which turned our entire journey into a nightmare. The roads were under construction and there were no traffic police to manage the chaos. The situation worsened during the night drive as there were no street lights on that highway. For about 2 hours, we drove in pitch darkness on a single road with two-way traffic, making it an extremely challenging experience.

That drive broke my spirits as I was in so much pain in my right knee and the stitches area in my lower abdomen. Those who don’t know, I underwent uterus removal surgery (Hysterectomy) in April 2023 due to fibroids.

 

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That pain made me doubt my decision to undertake such a long drive within such a short timeframe. But thanks to my husband, who reminded me of all the wonderful road trips we had done and the lessons learned from each. He also reminded me of my dream to do more adventurous trips in future. That was enough to motivate me.

Fortunately, after taking antibiotics, Sumit began to feel better and his temperature didn’t spike again. Despite our poor health and pain, we came back stronger the next day.

So, on the second day, we covered a distance of 764 Kms from Hyderabad in 15 hours and stopped for an overnight halt in Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Here’s the Day 2 Vlog of our Road Trip: Bangalore to Delhi by TATA Punch

Let’s continue the journey.

Day 3 of Bengaluru to Delhi: Narsinghpur to Delhi

On the third day of our journey, we started 15 mins earlier than usual, around 5:45 am, which made a huge difference. When we started we were worried that we might find bad roads again. However, after driving a few kilometers, we joined back on NH 44 and the roads from there were much better.

The only problem was the stray cattle roaming freely on the highway in Madhya Pradesh. We had read about it before starting our journey and thought how bad it could be. It’s India and we have cattle on our roads, that’s not a big deal!

You may also read: An Ultimate Kashmir Travel Guide!

But it’s a big deal when these animals roam freely on a national highway. They suddenly jump in front of your vehicle out of nowhere. Some just sit and relax in the middle of the road without a care. One has to drive extremely carefully on this particular stretch from Nagpur (MP) to Lalitpur (UP).

But you know what the worst part is? Accidents! We witnessed the distressing sight of dead calves lying on the road, apparently hit by some passing vehicles. To minimize such risks, people should drive carefully at speeds below 40-50 km/hour.

You may also read: Riverside Camping with Kids at Dawki, Meghalaya!

After crossing Sagar, we stopped at a small hotel for breakfast. Surprisingly, the food they served was very good and tasty. After a filling breakfast, we continued our onward journey at around 9 am and drove for 5 hours without taking any breaks, covering approx. 390 Kms.

We skipped lunch that day because we were so excited to reach home. Finally, around 7:45 pm, we reached Delhi. I can’t explain how happy, relieved and satisfied I felt as we entered the city.

You may watch Day 3 Vlog here:

I must admit, this road trip was incredibly fulfilling for me as a content creator. Without the usual responsibilities of parenting, I had the freedom to focus entirely on capturing content. With all the extra time on my hands, I could shoot exactly as I wanted to, taking retakes and capturing shots from various angles, even while driving, without any distractions from the backseat. It was fun but I definitely missed having my son with me. That’s why we decided to bring him along for the return journey.

Despite the challenges, we made countless memories during this trip and learned valuable lessons. This experience has given us the confidence to embark on more such long road trips. Now, we are excited and eagerly looking forward to our next adventure.

That’s it for this post! Now it’s your turn to tell us, what type of travel do you like? And maybe share a bit about your most favourite trip?

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.

The post Bangalore to Delhi by TATA Punch | 2100 Kms in 3 Days appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello everyone, wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Hope the month of January is treating you well. Here’s my first post of 2023. South Goa Itinerary is one of the most requested topics and I had also promised to take this up on my blog. So, here we are!

Travel has become a norm and more & more parents are taking the leap of faith by moving out of their comfort zone to travel with their kids. However, there are still many who dread the thought of taking a vacation with their little ones. One thing I will say to them is plan everything to the T but be open to setbacks, follow the same routine that you follow at home but still take cues from your kid, keep the itinerary simple and days lesser to make it work for you. Gradually you will get the hang of it but don’t say no to the opportunity to travel.

The biggest misconception people have about Goa is that it’s all about the beaches and it’s all for the party people. NO! Goa is much more than that.

And, in today’s post, we are going to explore that other side of Goa.

Why South Goa?

The first time we visited Goa with our son was when he was 7 months old. It was our first trip to Goa as parents & we were not well prepared for it. It was a 10-Day trip and we included both North Goa & South Goa in our itinerary. A big mistake!

Obviously, we got exhausted even before we started settling in the vacay mode.

Let me tell you North Goa is too overrated. If your kids are small don’t even bother to think about this part of Goa. You will have to make a lot of adjustments to enjoy it fully with a child.

But if you are someone who like to indulge in adventure water sports and want to explore the flea markets, churches, ancient temples, forts, shacks and bars then North Goa is your go to destination. I am sure you will find a way to enjoy your time in North Goa even if you are traveling with your kids.

You may also read – 5 Perfect Summer Vacation Ideas for Families in India!

However, if you want to take it easy and slow, then the better option is South Goa. Did I mention that it’s a heaven for nature lovers. You will find the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in this part of Goa. I feel South Goa has everything to keep a family with kids happy. And, parents get ample options to just relax and rejuvenate.

We did a small and exciting trek to a waterfall with our 7-month old in South Goa and we absolutely loved it.

7-Day South Goa Itinerary with Kids

Last year in October was our 3rd trip to Goa with our son (6-year-old). Since he’s a nature lover & explorer just like us, we thought of exploring more of South Goa this time.

So, if you are planning a trip to South Goa with your kids (6 and above) and you want to do more than just beach hopping then this itinerary may help you to plan yours.

How to Reach Goa?

The fastest mode of travel to reach Goa is undoubtedly Air Travel. But traveling by train is also a popular option for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Western Ghats. And, the third option is to reach Goa by Road.

Did you know that Goa has got a new International Airport?

Manohar International Airport (GOX) was inaugurated on 11 December 2022 in Mopa, North Goa. It opened for domestic operations on 5 January 2023, with the first flight operated by IndiGo. International flights will start from February 2023.

Source – Wikipedia

In the last 6 years, we have tried all the 3 options. Unfortunately, for us, the train travel was a failure for many reasons. It was a long journey and on top of that the train was running late. Our son got restless and other passengers didn’t like it at all. Once we reached Goa, it was so difficult to get a cab at the train station. I would highly recommend pre-booking your cab to avoid any hassles if you choose to travel by train. Goa is severely impacted by the Taxi mafia so be careful.

Our recent trip to Goa was a Road Trip from Bangalore and it was an absolute hit. Here you can watch the video to get all the details.

Now, let’s move ahead with South Goa Itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrive at Goa & Relax

We started from Bengaluru at 5 am and reached Goa (Palolem Beach) at 5 pm by road. It was a relaxed road trip, we took ample breaks in between. After reaching Goa, we checked in to our hotel (Palolem Beach Resort) and went straight to the beach to watch the sunset.

You may also read – Andaman Trip 10-Day Itinerary!

So, I would suggest to keep your Day 1 relaxed even if you reach early. You may take a stroll on the beach, watch the sunset or simply relax and rejuvenate.

You may also go for shopping after sunset!

Day 2 – Take a Boat Trip for Dolphin Watching

This boat trip you can plan from Palolem beach and you can include activities as per your liking. You can go for a morning tour or the sunset tour. We did the morning trip which included 3 activities, dolphin watching, butterfly beach and honeymoon beach. I have shared all the details of this boat trip in the video below, so check it out.

This boat ride is completely safe to plan with kids. I am sure your kids would enjoy watching the dolphins and beach hopping.

After coming back from the trip you can relax on the beach, take a dip in the sea, have some delicious food at the shack. And, in the evening, you can go check out the Palolem market and indulge in some shopping.

Day 3 – Kayaking at Cola Beach

Even after visiting Goa many times, we had no idea that we can do Kayaking in the backwaters. So, the second time we were in Goa with our son, we saw people taking kayaks in the sea. Since we are not great swimmers we didn’t try that.

But during our last trip we got to know about Kayaking in Cola backwaters. And, we thought of checking it out. We drove to cola beach then walked a bit to reach the backwaters where we saw the kayaks. And, I can tell you it’s a fun experience. Don’t miss it!

Check out the video below to know more about it.

You can spend this day at Cola beach, play in the sand and swim in the sea, enjoy more of kayaking in the backwaters.

Later, in the evening, you can explore the cafes in Palolem. We tried a variety of vegan food and desserts and everything is so droolworthy, so do give it a try.

Day 4 – Bird Watching, Eagle Feeding and Monkey Island 

This day you can spend at Palolem beach exploring the various activities there. So, if you walk to the extreme North side of the beach, you will find Palolem backwaters on the right and an island to the left.

You can go for bird watching and eagle feeding activity in the Palolem backwaters. You may check out the video for details.

Or, you can walk to the other side to explore the Monkey island. Or, you can do both, totally up to you and your interest. But I feel these are the activities checking out once at least.

Here’s a video you may watch to know how to reach Monkey island. When we went there, it was high tide so we literally had to cross the sea, walking through the waves. It was a thrilling experience!

Day 5 – Waterfalls in South Goa

As I said earlier, Goa is more than just the beaches. So, if you want to explore the other side of Goa, you should definitely visit at least one of the waterfalls in South Goa.

If you are coming to Goa after monsoons then it’s the best time to explore the waterfalls as they will be in their full glory. But that would also mean you will find rush and it may get a bit difficult to handle that with kids along.

So, may be Oct-Nov would be the ideal time to visit the waterfalls.

You can go to the famous Dudhsagar Waterfalls but this opens up only after monsoon, most probably from October. Even if you visit these falls in the months of Jan-Feb, you will not be disappointed.

There’s a 20 mins trek to the falls from the main gate and you will be provided life jackets to enjoy swimming at the pool. Try to reach there as early as possible because once it gets crowded, you will be struggling to find a good spot.

You may also read – Meghalaya Trip Itinerary!

There are a few more waterfalls inside Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and reaching to those falls requires a trek down for about 40-45 mins.

Last year in October, we visited Neturlem (Savri) waterfall and it was one of the best experiences during our trip. You may check out this video to know more details about the same.

There is another waterfall just 15 mins from Savri and that is Mainapi Waterfall, the trek to this one is almost same but there’s less water in this one.

If you don’t like to trek or if you feel your kid won’t be able to walk for such long but you still want to enjoy the waterfall then there’s a small but beautiful waterfall on the way to Netravali. You should definitely check it out.

Keep your evening relaxed after coming back from the waterfalls.

Day 6 –  Trek to the Butterfly Beach

Yes, this is the same beach that you can visit by boat also as I shared above for Day 2. But if you like to trek then skip the boat ride to this beach and instead go trekking.

You may also read – Krabi Trip Itinerary!

Butterfly beach is known to be one of the most scenic beaches in South Goa, it’s a small beach surrounded by rocks and in my opinion the best one to enjoy time with family.

I have shared complete details of the trek in this video, do check it out.

Day 7 – Beach Hopping

I know many people enjoy beach hopping and why not. Goa is famous for beaches and if you love exploring beaches too then you should definitely include this in your itinerary.

I am not sure how much the kids would enjoy this though. But the good thing about beach hopping is there are no restrictions to this plan. You may check out as many beaches as you like or you may simply stop at the first beach and spend the rest of your day there.

PIN IT!

Here are the names of most of the beaches you would find in South Goa starting from Palolem.

So, if you start from Palolem, you can go further South and visit Patnem, Rajbag, Talpona, Galgibaga, and Pollem beach and then the last beach to the South is KA-GO border beach.

Or, you may go further North and check out Agonda, Cola, Kakolem, Cabo de Rama, Nuem, Mobor, Cavelossium, Carmona, Varca, Colva, Majorda, and Bolmallo beach.

So, that’s it from my side for South Goa Itinerary. I have shared activities and places for 7 days in this post. You may choose as per your interest and the number of days you have in your hand.

I hope this post and the videos will help you plan your Goa trip with ease. If you have any queries or doubts you may reach out to me anytime. I would try my best to help you out plan your perfect South Goa Itinerary.

If you like this post, please do share it with your friends and family. Till then bye bye and take care!

The post 7-Day South Goa Itinerary with Videos – Traveling with Kids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Weekend Getaway – Noida to Jaipur

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing good. Today, I will write about Caesar’s first road trip with us, a weekend getaway from Noida to Jaipur. Though it was his first travel experience, we didn’t expect him to go wild & us going mad. We had our moments of panic, doubt, shock & embarrassment. Simply because we were not prepared for the unexpected, you can easily avoid all of that just by preparing well in advance. We had no idea what traveling with caesar would feel like.

I admit it was not a perfect trip, but it is still our most memorable trip with Caesar.

You may read the other parts of this Blog Series –

1. In memory of our fur baby, Caesar!
2. How we met our fur baby, Caesar?
3. Caesar’s First Month & Health Issues!
4. Caesar’s First from the First Year!
5. How to Prepare for a Road Trip with your Dog?

Traveling with Caesar – Road Trip

October 2015 – We had all the reasons to celebrate. It was my hubby’s birthday month. Caesar had completed 6 months with us. And I was in my second trimester, which was going well.

And, for me, a perfect celebration is the one which involves travel and family.

So, we planned a weekend getaway to Jaipur. I wanted this trip to be memorable for all of us, including Caesar. I was thinking all I have to take care of was booking the right cab and perfect accommodation. Well, I was wrong!

I didn’t consider the other potential issues Caesar might face during the long-distance travel by car.

Book the right cab. Make sure your pet gets a comfortable seat at the back but not the boot space.

Caesar was quite used to traveling by car. But he preferred the front seat & we didn’t mind that. No, not the driver’s seat, though.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

However, this became an issue when we had to make Caesar sit in the back seat.

He was uncomfortable & unhappy!

The safe place for a dog in the car is at the back seat. Better to crate train your pet.

We somehow managed to keep him cool for the first couple of hours on the road. But soon, he started showing signs of anxiety. And we were not sure if he was just feeling anxious sitting at the back, or was he feeling unwell.

We took several breaks; we gave him his favorite treats, we kept talking to him; basically, we tried everything to calm him down. This worked but only for a while.

Don’t get irritated with your dog’s behavior. Try to understand what’s bothering him.

By the time we had covered the half distance, I was already thinking of going back home. And then, Sumit came up with an idea. He decided to sit at the back with Caesar. Surprisingly, it worked!

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

Make the seat cozy & comfortable by putting sheets & blankets. Keep your pet’s favorite toy near him. And, if nothing works, try sitting with him. 

I have shared some tips to prepare for the first road trip with a dog!

Traveling with Caesar – Pet-friendly Resort

We had booked Lohagarh Fort Resort & Spa, which is located near the Jaipur-Delhi highway. The best thing about this resort was the spacious rooms and big open lawns. That’s what we needed for our weekend stay.

Book a dog-friendly hotel/resort, confirm that they allow the pet inside the room.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

Some hotels and resorts mention ‘pet-friendly’ on their websites, but if you go through their policy or rules & regulations page, you may notice several restrictions on having a pet.

It is always better to research a bit before finalizing the hotel. You would not like to stay away from your fur baby while on vacation!

Caesar at Lohagarh Fort Resort

It was a big relief for us when we reached the resort after a challenging time on the road. The moment we entered the resort, we were greeted by some smiling faces who were quite happy to see Caesar. I loved the way they were giving attention to him.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

After a quick check-in, we took a look around the resort. Their property is impressive with big beautiful green gardens and beach style pool area. Caesar’s continuously wagging tail was proof that he approved it.

Our cottage with a private garden & outdoor tub was splendid!

Pet-proof the room to be sure there is nothing that can hurt your pet.

As soon as we entered the room, Caesar started running from one corner to the other to express his joy. Our first task was to pet-proof the area, so we checked the room for anything that could be dangerous for Caesar.

Our Cottage at Lohagarh Farm Resort

Now, it was time to relax!

We went to the resort pool area, ordered some food, and spent the afternoon chilling around. Caesar took a long nap under the tree.

Fast forward to that embarrassing yet funny moment. It was time for Caesar’s evening walk, and he needed a bathroom break. But we forgot to ask the hotel staff about that part. Now, Caesar was getting desperate & could not wait any longer. And, he relieved himself right in the middle of the lawn.

Not just that, now his body movements were tensed; he needed to poop.

First thing, ask the hotel management where to take your dog to pee & poo.

Some hotels need you to take your dog outside the property & others just want you to clean up the mess. But you should know!

Clearly, we forgot to ask, and it was already too late to do anything. Well, what could we do?

We were quite skilled at scooping the poop!!!

I have shared some tips for booking a pet-friendly resort!

That moment of shock – Traveling with Caesar.

It was the DJ night, and the music was loud, so we thought of leaving Caesar in the room with his favorite chew toy. But we got the shock of our life when Sumit got a call from the resort staff on his phone.

“Sir, your dog is unattended & roaming on the lawn outside your cottage.”

We were confused because Caesar was inside the room. How could he be there?

Well, we had left the back door open for him to walk in the garden. But there was no way he could come outside.

Don’t leave your dog unattended inside the room. It’s good to crate train your dog before the trip.

A team of 3 staff members checked every part of the room & garden to figure out how a dog could make his way out.

“Ma’am, this has never happened before. We are really sorry about this.” I have no idea why they were apologizing to us.

After a while, they all left still clueless.

“What if there’s a secret passage that Caesar might have found?” All kinds of thought were running in my mind.

There was only one way to find out what happened. We again left Caesar inside the room and waited outside.

After a few minutes, we saw him jumping out from the sidewall of the garden.

Well, he was being Caesar!

We are not leaving you, Caesar!

The next morning was beautiful. We thought Caesar would enjoy some time outside the room soaking up the sun. So, we tied him to the chair and went to call my Mil & Bil from their room. But then we decided to go for breakfast first, so Sumit went back to bring Caesar along.

This image belongs to www.growingwithnemit.com, and reuse is strictly not permitted.

And then he got another shock when he saw a guard pulling his gun towards Caesar while Caesar was barking & trying to jump on a lady standing nearby.

Invest time in training your pet. This will go a long way.

Well, he was not attacking her. This was his wild way of making friends. But I know this was wrong.

And, it was my fault that I could not train him well. He had no idea how to behave around other humans in the absence of his family members.

Sumit shouted from behind at the guard to put his gun down. And, Caesar came running to him.

That lady was terrified by this incidence. Sumit apologized to her, but she was threatening to call the police. Soon, the resort management joined the scenario and calmed the lady.

If your pet is not well trained & gets hyperactive, it’s sensible to keep him on a leash when in public.

PIN IT!

They didn’t say anything to us, just requested us to keep Caesar on a leash.

Well, he was on a leash, but this time he managed to remove his collar & break free. More than anyone else, it was me who was feeling terrible & shameful for what Caesar did.

I am his mother, and he was my responsibility!

This realization struck me only later that it was not Caesar’s fault, nor was he misbehaving. He was afraid that we might leave him once again.

I am doing a blog series this month in memory of our fur baby, #My_Son_Caesar.

You may read the other parts of the series here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5.

Since this is the month of #MyFriendAlexa by Blogchatter, I will be linking all my posts to their website. Do check out the new reloaded Blogchatter website to discover some amazing blogs, bloggers, and campaigns.

Click on the below link to read the next part

My Husband Became a Pet Parent! – Blog Series (Part – 7)

The post Traveling with Caesar | Weekend Getaway – Blog Series (Part-6) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

We, Delhites, are famous for taking impromptu weekend trips to nearby hills whenever we feel strangled by the city stress or the ever-increasing workload. Even on the weekends, I find myself finishing off my previous week’s pending tasks. I try to complete my work on the weekend so that I can have relaxing weekdays. However, that’s a vicious cycle and there’s no rest in our lives, we all know that. The only time I feel rejuvenated is when I am somewhere far away from the city life with my family. Those few days, make me feel alive. And that’s the rule of our family, we work hard and rather than partying, we travel to new places to rewind ourselves. Long trips or short trips, don’t matter but we try to take at least 2-3 trips in a year.

We had a great weekend trip last month to Kausani and here’s the Part -2 of our Trip. So, by now, you know how we planned a weekend getaway road trip to Kausani. If you still haven’t read the previous post, do check it out, here!

Things to do in Kausani

In today’s post, I am going to share about some exciting things you can do in Kausani. But before anything else, I want to mention that please don’t confuse Kausani with Kasauli. Kasauli is another beautiful hill station but is located in Himachal Pradesh whereas Kausani is located in Uttarakhand.

When you have come so far to a beautiful destination which is surrounded by Himalayan peaks, sightseeing is a must. There’s one best thing about Kausani and that is you can have a picturesque view of the beautiful snow-clad mountain ranges from anywhere in Kausani. Although, we were on a leisure trip for a day and wanted to relax in our hotel. But when the weather changed in the evening and it started raining we wanted to go out and enjoy it.

1) Anasakti Ashram

In 1929, Mahatma Gandhi visited Kausani and stayed at this place for 2 weeks. During his stay, he practiced Anasakti yoga, due to which this place is named as Anasakti Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram.

Anasakti Ashram

Gandhi Ji was so mesmerized by the beauty of this hill station that he named it the ‘Switzerland of India’ due to the resemblance in landscape and beauty.

Anasakti Ashram viewpoint

The ashram has a small museum and a prayer hall and also offers an accommodation facility to its guests. The place is very peaceful and attracts many tourists due to its historical attachment to Gandhiji.

Entry to the Ashram is free.

2) Trek to Pinnath

If you are an adventure junkie and trekking is your game, then you must check out this trek to Pinnath. It’s a small, beautiful village about 5 Km from Kausani and is reachable only by trekking. The trek is not too difficult hence even first-timers or amateur trekkers can do it too. This trek may take up to 5 hrs to and fro, hence keep a full day in hand to enjoy its beauty to the fullest. We skipped the trek as we were traveling with a toddler, but this is still on our list for the next time.

Trek to Pinnath
Image Source – daaju.com

You may also want to read Top 5 travel essentials when traveling with kids!

3) Baijnath Temple

Just like any other hill station, Kausani is also famous for its old temples. One of them is, Baijnath temple located in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, some 16 Km from Kausani. This temple is dedicated towards Lord Shiva and is a delight for religious people as well as for admirers of great architecture.

Baijnath Temple
Image Source – doonmozaic.com

4) Rudradhari Falls and Caves

In case you do not want to opt for the 5 hrs trek to Pinnath, but still want to experience the fun of trekking, consider visiting Rudradhari falls. This is situated at a distance of 12 Km from Kausani. First, you have to reach Kantali village and from there start the 2 Km trek inside the village to reach Rudradhari falls.

Rudradhari Falls
Image Source – trawell.in

The best time to enjoy the falls is during monsoon when the water flows with full might over a vertical drop. There is also a small temple of Lord Shiva situated near the falls. The overall experience of trekking and the sight of falls along with the natural caves will leave you mesmerized.

5) Visit the Shawl Factory

Kausani is also famous for its handmade woolen shawls. You can see many small shawl factories in Kausani. The shawl factory is an initiative taken by local people to help create employment and growth opportunities for the people of Kausani. Since we started exploring the marketplace in the evening, the shawl factory was already closed when we reached there.

Shawl Factory Kausani

However, the factory owner was so humble and opened the door for us so that we could have a look at the machines and how they make shawls and other small woolen garments. The person who accompanied us to the factory also showed us how the shawl is made. We couldn’t resist ourselves from buying shawls from there.

These shawls have beautiful embroidery work done on them and their price depends upon the type of wool used and the fineness of the embroidery.

6) Space Museum at Stargate Observatory

If you like science as much as you adore nature, and if have always been curious to know about space and celestial objects, then you should definitely visit Stargate Observatory. It is just a walking distance from Anasakti Ashram. Yes, an observatory with a space museum on a hill station.

Stargate Observatory

They charge a fee of INR 100/- if you want to observe celestial objects using professional equipment.

Unbelievable, isn’t it? Check out the below pics from the museum which left me awe-struck.

Stargate Observatory – Museum

7) Kausani Planetarium

Just opposite the Stargate observatory, across the road, there is a small cafe with a small board which says Kausani Planetarium since 2001.

Kausani Planetarium

So, basically, this one is the old planetarium and is operated by one man who is an amateur astronomer and his name is Mr. Kiran Khulbe. And he’s also from Delhi, coincidence.

I consider myself lucky that I got to speak to such an amazing person who knows so much about the objects in our universe. And he’s doing his part by sharing his knowledge with the people who visit his planetarium. And he charges only INR 50/- for an evening and morning live planet show. Unbelievable!

Night Planet Show

Check out the pictures and you will know how much we enjoyed watching planets so close to us. We saw the moon, Venus, Jupiter with its moons, and Saturn with its ring. It was an extraordinary experience and I highly recommend visiting this place to everyone if you are in Kausani.

Morning at Kausani Planetarium

That’s all, for now, guys, hope you liked reading this post. Do share it with your friends and family. In my upcoming post on Kausani, I will share about our next day of the trip and how we found the amazing caves in Nainital. So, stay tuned and keep watching this space.

The post 7 Exciting Things to do in Kausani – Weekend Trip appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys, many of you know that we took a weekend trip recently, to Kausani, which is a beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand. And, if you have followed my stories on Instagram and Facebook, you have a fair idea of how much we enjoyed and what all we did during our weekend getaway. And if not, you can still check out those stories on my Instagram in Highlights – Travel.

This post is part of the blog train where 24 awe-inspiring bloggers are going to share their story of ‘Summer’. Hop on the train to read some amazing blogs. Today is Day 1 of the blog train and my topic is ‘Summer Weekend Trip to Kausani’. And in this post, I am going to share my first-hand experience of an unplanned weekend getaway. I hope to provide as much information as I can to help you plan your trip.

Hosted By: Neha Sharma

This trip was a sudden plan, and we finalized everything in just one day. We wanted to go on a road trip in our own car to some nearby hill stations like Lansdowne, Shimla, or Mussoorie and spend a couple of days there. However, due to our last minute planning, we couldn’t find a satisfactory place to stay. Of course, we were going on a leisure trip, and we wanted a place close to nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A place where we could feel like resting in the lap of nature with no distracting noises around us.

Morning Family Selfie on the way

You may also want to read Road Trip & Car Safety – Things you must know when traveling with kids!

We got the shock of our life when we couldn’t find a single decent hotel for our stay. Every hotel/resort we were checking was full. I feel that’s the saddest part of living in Delhi/NCR since every other person is planning a weekend trip to the nearby hills in summer. Now, we had to decide on a new place and it was then when my hubby, mentioned this hill station, Kausani, which is also known as the ‘Switzerland of India‘.

Image Source – Wikipedia

I searched on google frantically about this place and was mesmerized by its beauty. The next thing I remember was, Sumit booking a cab and a hotel for us. Ya, we had to travel by cab, since Kausani is quite far from Noida, 393 Km, and 10 hrs, to be precise.

Kausani is famous for its scenic splendour and its spectacular 300 Km-wide panoramic view of Himalayan peaks

-Wikipedia

Due to the lack of information, not many people know about this place. Also, it’s quite far from Delhi, hence, it’s not at all populated with tourists. And this is exactly what we wanted.

You may also read  – How to travel with pets!

Best Time to Visit Kausani –  Summer (March to June)

Summer months in Kausani starts from March and go on till June. And the temperature during these can range from 11 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius, which is quite pleasant. If you are visiting in June, you can also get to experience pre-monsoon showers. It’s always better to pack some light woollens if traveling to any hill station even in Summer months. You never know when the weather changes on the hillside.

On the way fun

How to Reach Kausani from Delhi NCR?

Car – Hire a cab or drive yourself, it can take up to 12 hours to reach there.

Train – The nearest train station is Kathgodam near Nainital and from there you can take a cab or bus for a further journey of 4 hours to Kausani.

Air – The nearest airport to Kausani is Pantnagar. Book a flight from anywhere to Pantnagar and take a cab for your further journey.

Our Weekend in Kausani

We visited Kausani in the last week of May and it took us around 12 hrs to reach our destination. We started in the morning around 5 am and made 2 stops of an hour each, one for breakfast and the other one for lunch. Our 1st stop was near Jim Corbett National Park and the other one was at Ranikhet. After reaching the hotel, we spent the rest of our evening at leisure, basking in the beauty of the surroundings.

Pitstop at Doaba’s Punjabi Dhaba near Jim Corbett National Park

I would suggest if possible start early and reach Kausani by 3-4 pm. This will give you ample time to rest and freshen up and get ready to enjoy the evening. Also, you will not feel as if you have wasted your day just traveling.

Route we followed

Source – Google Maps

Noida -> Ghaziabad -> Hapur -> Moradabad -> Kashipur -> Ramnagar -> Ranikhet -> Kausani

Kausani -> Almora -> Bhimtal -> Nainital -> Bazpur -> Moradabad -> Hapur -> Noida

This way we covered all the other nearby famous places like Ranikhet, Almora, Bhimtal and Nanital.

Where to Stay?

There are many beautiful hotels and resorts in and around Kausani. You can search on Google and book them directly by calling on the numbers provided. However, we like to check and compare the prices on various sites before booking. And then opt for the one which is as per our requirements and also comes under our budget.

Hotel Chevron Mountain Villa (Source – Google)

We booked a deluxe room for 2 nights at Hotel Chevron Mountain Villa, which is a beautiful property at a great location and one can have a direct view of the majestic peaks of the Himalayas from there. It not just offers a serene view of the surroundings but is also close by nature, a little far away from the marketplace. One more reason to choose this hotel was the beautiful lawn and a play area within the premises so that Nemit could enjoy freely.

Our Ratings

Location – * * * *
Food –  * * * * *
Service – * * * * *
Value for money – * * * *
Rooms – * * *

How we spent our first day in Kausani?

We wanted to keep our stay at leisure since we had just one day to relax and enjoy. So, we decided to stay at the hotel and just laze around. When we reached the hotel at around 5 pm, we didn’t go to our room, instead, we checked out the property and took Nemit to the play area. He was so happy to finally have something of his interest, I know he was clearly bored in the cab.

Nemit enjoying the swing in the play area

And, he met some people there who definitely had a good time looking at his mischievous stunts.

Nemit having a good time with a new friend we met at the hotel

The next day morning, we went for a nature walk, strolling a few km uphill from the hotel. The weather was pleasant and the morning view of the Himalayan peaks was breathtaking. We had a fun morning and spent an hour exploring the nearby beautiful flora and fauna. There was a small tea garden nearby and we tried to get some Bollywood style pictures standing in the center of the garden. However, it was a little difficult to try some stunts with Nemit. We managed to get a few good shots though.

Sunrise from our room – Taking a shortcut – Nature Walk – Beautiful flora on the way

While on our way back, we saw a mother Langur (black face monkey) with her little baby, playing on a roadside tree. We had to wait for some time as we were terrified to cross that path, it was completely deserted and we had no idea how that monkey would have reacted to us. Luckily, we met a local there, who helped us reach back to the hotel safe and sound. That experience was thrilling, you don’t get to see such encounters in the city, right?

After returning back to the hotel, we had a scrumptious breakfast, sitting on the lawn overlooking the serene view of the peaks. We spent the rest of the day at leisure, played badminton and carom, relived our childhood with Nemit. It was so much fun just running around with Nemit and doing nothing. Check out this small video.

The weather took a sudden twirl post-lunch and it started drizzling. As the day progressed, the wind became chilly. We had packed our winter jackets and it was the right time to take them out. And then we decided to go out to the market area, enjoy the weather and have some more fun.

I will continue further in my next post where I will share the things we did at the main Kausani market. Stay tuned as I will also be sharing my experience of watching the planets live at the Kausani Planetarium. And our adventure in Nainital. I hope you enjoyed reading until here and have already started planning your weekend trip to Kausani.

And now, it’s time to move on to the next station where Priyanka Patwari will share her take on the theme ‘Summer’ on her blog Flavors of World. Visit her blog and show some love.

Lastly, do comment below and let me know how you liked this post. Don’t forget to share the post and spread the love, with your friends and family. Sharing is Caring! Till next time, take care.

The post Plan a Summer Weekend Getaway to Kausani appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Road Trip

Hello Friends, Hope you all are doing well and having a great start to the New year. Some of you must be knowing that I took a break for the month of January to celebrate the New Year as well as Nemit’s 2nd Birthday with family and friends, now it’s time to get back to writing and social media since holidays can’t last forever. And let me tell you how much I loved spending exclusive time with my family and the road trip we took was just awesome but there were instances where I really missed you all too and of course my blog. So, here I am back again to share my experiences with my lovely friends and readers.

Today I am going to talk about things related to Road Trip and Car Safety since we ended the last year and started the new year with road trips and the experience had been exhilarating. Parents out there will agree with me how daunting it feels to travel by road when you have a toddler as a co-passenger with you. When you travel with kids the responsibility doubles, especially for their safety.

We took Nemit for his first road trip when he was just 2 months old and it seemed a lot easier back then. Maybe because we had an expert driver with us. But after that, we could never build up the courage to take a road trip on our own. And the phase started where we totally cut out the possibility of taking any long road trip with our kid.

Car Safety

But last year around Christmas, when we were planning to meet my dear friend who stays in a different city, we decided to come out of our fear and planned a road trip. And just like any new parents, we started gathering all the information about car care and self-repair options in case we happen to need them. We wanted to travel prepared and safe. Cars.com is a great source of all the information you will need to make your car ready to hit the road for a long journey. You can find some very helpful videos and DIY tips for car service and repair.

With all the information handy and available at one place, it becomes really easy to understand the important things which will be helpful during such long road trips. One thing we got to know through our research is the importance of car service and maintenance before taking any road trip.

When your vehicle is ready and fit, no fear can stop you from taking that road trip. Cars.com is the go-to guide when it comes to any doubts related to cars. And that’s why I highly recommend you all check it out.

We are glad we took that road trip as that was one of the best experiences we had in a very long time. One of the memorable Christmas trips and definitely the best one for Nemit. This road journey opened the doors for even longer and adventurous road trips. And we took our next one just after a week to celebrate the New Year.

I know many of my friends who fear traveling with their kids just because they are not sure whether they will be able to handle any unforeseen situation or not. Well, I have just one advise, don’t let any fear stop you from experiencing the best of the moments. Plan ahead, gather all the information and just get going!

Have you taken a road trip with your kids? How was your first experience? Were you afraid or excited? Share with me in the comments below. Would love to know your experiences.

Also, stay tuned as February will bring a lot more Travel-related posts, especially keep a watch for our Andaman experience series and know how to plan a budget trip in just 10 days.

Till then, bye and take care!

 You may also want to read – Traveling with Toddler – Top Five Travel Essentials

The post Road Trip & Car Safety – Things you must know when traveling with kids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.