This Diwali vacation, families are looking to experiment with their travelling plans. Exploring new places in domestic travel is the new trend.

“Going to places like Mahabaleshwar or Lonavala does not make sense. They are commercialised and we have been there several times,” said Vrinda Choughule, a Mahim resident who has decided to go on an eight-day vacation to Coorg. Coorg, surprisingly happens to be one of the most happening destinations amongst vacation-goers.“My family wanted to be close to greenery and hence we chose Coorg. Besides, it’s nice living at a home stay,” said a traveller from Borivli who will be visiting Coorg, Vainad and Kabini.

Cheap rentals and a greater distance from home rank high on the list when choosing a destination. “The per head cost is around Rs20-25,000 for places like Coorg and these can also be customised according to preference enhancing their appeal,” said Yogesh Lele, director of Dadar based Sanyog Tours Pvt. Ltd.

Another destination that is hot on to-do list is wild life sanctuaries. The sanctuaries appeal to people who are tired of the same old hills and beaches. “A lot of youngsters like going with their families to places like Gir, Kanha and Ranthambore. Besides the novelty of a safari ride, they like being in the lap of nature,” said Gaurav Athalye, director of Jungle Lore, a Mahim-based tour operator. “My brother and I have planned a trip to Ranthambore this year. We like Rajasthan and feel that this is the right time to go there as the weather will be pleasant too,” said Vidhi Salla, a 27-year-old Kandivli resident.

In the international market, it is popular destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand that are still the favourites fro travellers. “Better connectivity and cheaper travel is what attracts people to these palces,” said Iqbal Mullah, president of Travel agents association of India.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> Mumbai> Report / by DNA Correspondent, Place: Mumbai, Agency: DNA / Sunday, November 04th, 2012

The entire city was illuminated for the grand finale.

Madikeri Dasara celebrations concluded with the grand procession of Dasha mantapas on Wednesday night. The celebrations culminated with the pooja at the Banni mantapa at Mahadevpet.

A large number of people, who had arrived from across the district and outside, participated in the procession. The public watched the procession of Karaga of Shakthi Devathas with devotion.

The entire city was illuminated for the grand finale. Post office, BSNL and police station buildings and temples of the four Shakthi Devathas were decorated for the occasion.
The mantapas depicted mythological stories.

Depending on the story, the tableaux, sound and lighting effect, the judges adjudged the best mantapas. The tableaux were taken out in a procession in the mainstreets at private bus shelter, in front of Basaveshwara temple, KSRTC bus shelter, Bata main road, Indiragandhi Circle, in front of police station, Anand Bakery and at Town Hall.

The police had made elaborate arrangements. In fact, CCTV cameras were installed at six places, to keep a watch on the movement of the people.

Mantapas were restricted in two tractors. Sound and light experts from Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore were hired by the Dasha Mantapa committees to make the mantapas look attractive. Laser effect on the Dasha Mantapa was another attraction.

The mantapa of Kote Mahaganapathy temple had depicted ‘Ganapathi Gajamukhanada kathana,’ Sri Kanchikamakshi temple had highligted on ‘Manikantana mahime,’ Pete Sri Rama Mandira on ‘Veerajaneya darshana,’ Sri Kote Mariamma temple —’Andhakasurana vadhe,’ Dechoor Sri Rama Mandira temple committee— ‘Parashuramaninda Karthyaveeryarjunana samhara,’ Sri Chowdeshwari temple— ‘Saptha mathrike killing Daarigasura,’ Sri Dandina Mariamma temple— ‘Seethapaharana,’ Sri Karavale Bhagavathi Mahisha mardini temple — ‘Shumba-Nishumbhara samhara,’ Sri Kodanda Rama temple— ‘Moshikasurana vadhe’ and Kundurumotte Sri Chowti Mariamma temple— ‘Andasurana vadhe.’

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District> Madikeri / DH News Service / October 25th, 2012

As the Dasara vacation is coming to an end, the number of tourists visiting Kodagu district is increasing.

Though there was a decline in the number of tourists visiting the district, following row over river Cauvery, the tourism has resumed its pace in the second week of October.

The number visitors visiting Kodagu has doubled over the years. According to the sources, about 3,000 tourists from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Bangalore have visited the district during the week end. Over 2,400 tourists have visited Kaveri Nisargadhama on Saturday and 1245 tourists have visited Dubare elephant camp. The tourists who first pay visit to Talacauvery, Bhagamandala, Abbey falls, later visit Kaveri Nisargadhama, Dubare elephant camp, jungle lodge and resorts, Bailukuppe Tibetan camp and Harangi reservoir.

Majority of the tourists stay at lodges in Madikeri and Kushalnagar, while a few go for home stays that are located at various parts of the district. Though the number of tourists visiting the district has increased over the years, the district still lacks basic facilities. The public have been demanding good road connectivity, specially to Dubare elephant camp.

The elephant camp is still the most sought after tourist destinations in Kodagu district. Hundreds of tourists from India and abroad visit daily. The camp has gained popularity in Asia itself.

Situated amidst lush green forest and on the bank of river Cauvery, this centre is a perfect getaway for the tourists coming from cities.

The camp accommodates 20 elephants at present. The Jungle Lodge and Resort has made arrangements to offer packages to the tourists which includes, studying elephants, understanding their routine life, food habits etc.

The package programme which begin at 9.30 am, allows the tourists to bathe the elephants, offer them food with the assistance of mahouts and elephant safari. The elephant safari will be open to the tourists from 10 am to 1 pm.

Deputy Conservator of Forest Dhananjay said that the Department has been stressing on eco-friendly tourism and it has been trying to disseminate information on conserving wildlife and bio-diversity, to the tourists.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS, Khushalnagar / October 07th, 2012

Huge crowds, colourful processions, all-night dancing and merry making

A view of the Dasha Mantap procession in Madikeri; (right) Chairperson of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Tara speaks at the Dasara celebrations./ Photos: nanda kumar / The Hindu

The roar of the demons piercing the darkness, incarnations of gods and goddesses slaying them to usher in peace and a sense of security, the idols of deities invoking instant reverence, all under dazzling lights on Wednesday night through to Thursday morning were the highlights of the Madikeri Dasara Dasha Mantap (decorated cars) procession as the curtains came down on the Dasara festivities in Madikeri a couple of days ago. It was a different experience for the visitors who revelled in music and wandered on the undulating terrains of the city from a warm evening on Wednesday till Thursday morning. The festivities in the city normally begin in the evenings.

Dasara celebrations had started during the times of the former rulers of Kodagu and is said to be over 120 years old. The car procession is said to have been popularised by an individual called Bheem Singh, a Rajasthani man, who had settled down in Madikeri. A big crowd from Mysore too visited Madikeri to make merry after witnessing the Mysore Dasara during the day.

The entire Madikeri city was illuminated to give it a special look befitting the occasion. The Dasha Mantaps portrayed themes of divine forces destroying evil. Gods and goddesses slaying the fire-spewing demons, scenes from mythology, all depicting the victory of the good over evil, were the hallmarks of the Dasha Mantap procession.

The Kanchi Kamaskhi temple mantap depicting ‘Manikantana Mahime’ won the first prize, Chowdeshwari temple car showing the slaying of demon ‘Darigasura’ by the ‘Saptamatrikeyaru’ won the second prize while the car from the Sri Kote Maha Ganapathy temple depicting ‘Gajamukha Katha Saramsha’ bagged the third prize. Unlike the past, only two tractors each were used for the construction of the each mantap (car) this time. Normally, the cars indulge in fierce competitions during the Dasara festivities.

Other temple cars were ‘Andasurana Vadhe’ from the Sri Kundurumotte Chowtti Mariyamma temple, ‘Sri Veeranjaneya Darshana Katha Saramasha’ from the Pete Srirama Mandira, ‘Andhakasurana Vadhe’ from Kote Mariyamma temple, ‘Kartyaveerarjuna Vadhe’ by Parashurama from the Dechur Sri Rama Mandira, ‘Seetapaharana’ from the Dandina Mariyamma, slaying of demons ‘Shumbha-Nishumbha’ from the Karawale Bhagavathi temple and ‘Moshikasurana Vadhe’ from the Kodandarama temple.

Thousands of enthusiastic people from across the State witnessed the conclusion of the grand Dasara celebrations on Wednesday evening. The Dasha Mantaps taken out from as many temples hogged the limelight even as youth danced to the lilting tunes rendered by artistes at the Ranga Mandira at the Gandhi Maidan.

The first car from the Pete Sri Rama Mandira started as per tradition at 9 p.m. on Wednesday being followed by the decorated cars of other temples. They converged on the General K.S. Thimayya Circle before starting their journey towards the Bannimantap on a common assigned route.

The city’s narrow roads were choking as people thronged the temples where the construction of the mantaps were going on before their journey towards the General K.S. Thimayya Circle. The ban on movement of vehicles of all kinds inside the city came as a big relief for the people to walk freely. Police had made separate parking arrangements at four locations to prevent vehicles coming from outside the city.

Make-shift eateries, and toy and fancy item sellers made brisk business on one flank of the Mahatma Gandhi Road (Raja Seat Road) while the youth danced to the tunes emanating from the orchestra at the Ranga Mandira. Sporadic clouds hovering above had created some doubts in the minds of the people initially, which, however, fizzled out later to pave way for a clear sky and an impeccable evening. People were heard saying that the number of visitors was less this year compared to last year. The most congested places were the town police station and the private bus stand where people sat in the galleries to watch the ‘Shobha Yatre’.

The ‘Putani Railu’ (toy train) was operated at the Raja Seat throughout Wednesday night where children and adults alike enjoyed the ride. The police had made elaborate security arrangements and the festivities went on peacefully. The State Government had granted a sum of Rs. 50 lakh for Madikeri Dasara this year.

Gonicoppa

A large number of people participated in the Gonicoppa Dasara festivities at Gonicoppa in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu on Wednesday. Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, Kodagu district in-charge Minister, M.P. Appachu Ranjan, and Chairperson of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Tara, were the guests.

As many as 15 tableaux were taken out on Wednesday afternoon from the APMC yard to the ‘Gonicoppa Dasara Nada habba Samiti’ stage located behind the private bus stand, watched by hundreds of people from both flanks of the roads.

Interestingly, there were two tableaux on Nityananda of Bidadi Ashram which garnered the attention of the people. The tableau depicting the pernicious effects of endosulfan bagged the first prize, M.P. Keshava Kamath, one of the organisers of the festival, said. This was the 23rd time the samiti had organised the tableaux procession in Gonicoppa.

Again, 10 decorated cars were taken out in the evening, watched by an enthusiastic crowd. Many had come from outside the town too. The State Government had granted a sum of Rs. 25 lakh for Gonicoppa Dasara this year.

Somwarpet

The taking out of the bedecked ‘Shakti Parvathi Devi’ idol in Somwarpet town from the temple in a procession for its immersion in the Anekere tank marked the conclusion of the Dasara festivities in Somwarpet town on Wednesday night.

Ayudha Puja

The Ayudha Puja celebrations too were observed in a grand manner in Madikeri, where bedecked public transport vied with each other for the prizes. Reports of Ayudha puja on a grand scale were also received from Sunticoppa, Somwarpet, Murnad and Virajpet towns.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Features> District Plus / by K. Jeevan Chinnappa / October 27th, 2012