Travel To Phnom Penh The Historical Capital Of Cambodia And Experience the Water Festival

Phnom Penh, one of the first city which despite being a capital made us feel like we belonged there. We had an amazing experience just munching at the riverside cafes, taking a stroll around many lanes and finally sitting by the river Tonle Sap talking about life, relationships, philosophy while admiring the river.  Interesting fact about Tonle Sap river is that it changes course twice a year. The beautiful breeze just calming our souls made us realize though we were in a foreign land, we felt at home doing what we love the most "Traveling." The friendly locals with their smiling faces made us feel not just welcome in their country but we felt like we belonged there.

We started our sight seeing by visiting the most famous and important Pagoda in the city- Wat Ounalom. This sprawling Pagoda is in the heart of river front and is a star attraction of Phnom Penh. It is one of the oldest Buddhist foundations in Phnom Penh. Established in 1443, it is here where the Chief monk of Cambodia resides. It consists of 44 structures and it used to house more than 30,000 books which were unfortunately destroyed under the Khmer Rogue regime. The Wat has now been renovated and it is believed that in one of the stupas housed here lies the eyebrow hair of Lord Buddha. We took a walk around the Pagoda and were received by an old monk who opened the doors of the Pagoda and performed a small ritual for us and blessed us and was happy receiving a small donation. Though we knew the ritual was more to get some money, we were happy to oblige considering the ripe age of the old monk. 

Cambodia's National Museum took us back to the glorious 12 century. The museum structure in itself is extremely impressive and photogenic. Different galleries are beautifully laid out and the lovely central green lawn is an ideal place to sit and be lost in thoughts. The relics and artifacts are extremely well preserved and exhibited in the best possible way. 80% of the relics are associated with Hinduism centered around Lord Shiva and Vishnu and various incarnations of Vishnu. There are quite a few impressive and cute Ganesha statues as well. Park at-least 1 to 2 hours for this attraction and do remember that they close by 5 pm while most of the gallery lights are turned off by 4:40 pm. Entry per person is USD 10 and if you want an audio guide it would cost an additional USD 5. There is an in house cafe serving refreshments and there is a traditional dance show organized every day from 7 to 8 pm. Tickets are priced at USD 15 to 25.

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda is a perfect half a day tour into Cambodian Royal life. The massive Palace complex has 25 attractions that were pretty well laid out and mapped. We did not find the need to hire a guide. The Palace is the King's residence and Royal ceremonies take place here till date. Set aside a few hours for this beautiful monument that reminded us of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Among the many attractions within the Palace compound the show stopper is "Wat Preah Keo Morokat" aka The Silver Pagoda. It gets its name from the silver tiled floor. This is where the King meets with the Monks, royal ceremonies are performed and at the center of this grand hall sits the stunning, priceless emerald Buddha. There are many other exquisite antique Buddha relics showcased here. We spent considerable amount of time in this Pagoda where right below the emerald Buddha stands the staggering Buddha statue that is made out of 90 kilogram gold and if that not enough it is embedded with 2086 diamonds! Right behind the Buddha statue is a palanquin made of 23 kilogram gold. Photography is prohibited inside the pagoda. 

Within the palace compound are the magnanimous stupas of King, Queen and Princess and Phnom Mondop- an artificial hill symbolizing mount Kailasha. The murals and wall paintings within the complex are spectacular.

The Preah Tineang Chanchhaya (Chanchhaya Pavilion), this grand hall is out of bound for tourists and we could only catch a glimpses from outside. The beautiful pavilion serves as a venue for Royal dancers and the King addresses the country from here and the hall is used to host State and Royal banquets. The beautifully painted domes and the massive golden chandeliers add to the striking beauty. Photography is prohibited here and in Silver Pagoda. The Palace complex is open from 8 to 11 am and 2 to 5 pm everyday, admission is USD 10 per person including camera fee.

After a tiring Palace visit we headed to Fresco Cafe at river side and enjoyed a piping hot pot of Grey Earl tea and pain au chocolate. It was an amazing quaint cafe and easy on the pocket too.

We spent our first evening strolling around the Tonle Sap river banks and enjoying the city like locals do. To get the local feel or the vibe of the city, the best place to head to would be their local and night markets. The local market offers a glimpse into the local life beyond the tourist radar. People could either love this or hate this and we loved the local market experience. While the local market shuts shop by sunset, the night market starts setting their stalls and is the perfect place to enjoy their local cuisine. It was here, we had the unique experience of tasting durian flavor ice cream and looks like we still have not warmed up to the taste. But as always the coconut and blueberry flavor was lip smacking and was served in the coconut shell.

We were in Phnom Penh just in time for the Khmer water festival held in November which denotes the end of monsoon season. One startling fact that we got to know was that the Tonle Sap river flows in the opposite direction post this festival. Along with the locals we were also gearing up to celebrate the much awaited water festival of 2017. The entire city was getting geared up for the mega festival that was being celebrated again after the tragic event which claimed the lives of close to 350 people in 2010. People from all parts of Cambodia had congregated on the banks of tonle sap river. The water festival is such a big mega cultural event that the picture in their 10000 Reil currency is of the water festival with the Royal Palace in the backdrop.

It was an event of a massive scale and out and out a local festival. Beautiful boats that were lit up were sailing on the Tonle sap river. We were quite excited to witness the festival. The first day of the 3 day festival was an extravaganza to say the least. We witnessed exciting and thrilling traditional boat races and cultural shows. Post sunset the sky was lit up by magical firework show and as we were enjoying the lit up sky, several boats sailed on the tonle sap river beautifully lit up with the Royal Insignia and various emblems of the Cambodian government. It was an awesome water parade of Khmer culture, traditions and glory. We were extremely lucky to witness such a gala event.

Apart from the boat races and offering to the water Gods locals celebrate by feasting and having fun on the streets. It is more like a mela with tons and tons of authentic food stalls, indigenous games. Cambodian are dressed in their very best singing and dancing and having a gala time. There are many bands from across Cambodia that perform live during the festival. So if you are planning your Cambodia trip around November save the dates. Word is it gets extremely crowded and people from all parts of Cambodia descend on Phnom Penh and with this comes anti social elements and petty crimes. Be mindful of your personal safety and belongings. Just basic common sense should keep you away from any trouble.

Our first impression of Phnom Penh was on the way from airport to hotel there were banks, banks and more banks. In a short 11 kilometer drive we saw way more luxury cars. The streets were filled with Porsche, Rolls Royce, Range Rovers, Land Cruisers, BMW's, Audi et all. Maserati and Bentley were parked on the streets right next to one of the many pubs. Cambodia is gifted with amazing fresh tender coconuts for just a dollar. During our trip we spent more on coconut than on alcohol. It is massive, extremely sweet and of-course very good for health.

During our last day in Phnom Penh we had plenty of time to spend and we had the best of time and learnt a very valuable lesson that "you don't have to spend money to be happy or occupied." The climate was perfect for a leisure long walk to Wat Phnom- an ancient Buddhist pagoda sitting pretty in the center of a massive park. After a customary visit to the pagoda we walked down to the park. We were sitting under the shade of one of the many hundreds of massive trees. To entertain us and give us a glimpse of Cambodian culture there was a massive group of youngsters playing traditional games. It was an amazing experience which kept us occupied for hours. Though not part of the playing group we were super involved and cheering spectators. Later we were invited by the kind group to join them and we gladly obliged. 

After this it was time for the senior Cambodian citizens to show us a very exciting game of Khmer shuttle cock kicking- a springy badminton like feather ball. It is more like badminton and the aim is not to drop the shuttle but instead of a racket any body-part can be used, usually the legs. There is so much class, style and acrobatics involved. These things along with the leisure walk around the park and unending conversations kept us occupied for several hours together without spending a penny and fulfilling very basic requirement of hydration.

While in Phnom Penh if you crave for Indian food "Phnom Penh India" on Sisowath Quay Road (River Side) is the best option. They did not over do the flavors and their tomato soup, veg kofta and garlic naan were lip smacking. They serve generous quantity and the salad is super fresh. A lavish dinner for a couple costed USD 12. The service is top notch.

We checked into Hotel Golden Noura Villa Pub in Duan Penh, in Phnom Penh. This budget property is right by the river side, at a walkable distance to several cafes, roof top restaurants, bars and a happening night life. We reached in the afternoon and a quite little room was neat and ready to host us. The room is located with all modern amenities and is a steal deal at the discounted price MMT gave us. The Palace and the museum is at a walkable distance. USD's are widely accepted and preferred. There is no need to convert USD to local currency.

The hotel is centrally located. The Palace, Museum, River Front, night market, plenty of eat outs and bars are all at walkable distance. The hotel seems safe we left our passports, DSLR and cash in our room which was left untouched. The room and the sheets were pretty clean and spacious. The breakfast at the hotel was decent but slightly over priced.

During our multiple halts in Phnom Penh 19 happy house backpacker hostel was not one of the best hostels around. We opted for the standard double room and the rooms are quite small. But the very friendly and helpful management totally made up for it. The hostel is very close to local market, riverside and the palace is at walkable distance. The hostel offers Wi-Fi, pool table, massive movie collection and laundry. We had initially booked the standard room with fan but it can get a little stuffy so we upgraded to an air con room for 4 extra USD. They also help in organizing tours. The night market is also pretty close by. Though the rooms in the hostel are small they were extremely clean and tidy. The only downside to the room is you cannot hang your clothes or towel in the room as there are no hooks. This hostel is right in the next lane of Cambodia's very own Soi Cowboy.

Even here the tuk tuk guys played the age old scam saying that the "palace is closed" and offered to take us else where. They were trying to make a living but not in an honest way. 9 out of 10 times the palace would be open, do not fall for the con. 

Plenty of guys in the streets of Phnom Penh offer marijuana and other drugs. Be wise do not do drugs! Especially in an alien country where genuine help might be a distant dream. Also, you don't know what stuff they are trying to sell under the guise of marijuana. It could either be a simple con or a serious crime! Reiterating Do Not Do Drugs!

Stay safe in Phnom Penh there are lot of reports of bike borne hooligans who snatch any valuable from a tourist (especially en-route the airport.) Be very careful and cautious of your surroundings. Be sure to split you cash and have your valuables safe while on the streets of Phnom Penh. There are anti social elements in all countries and cities, they do not represent the country! Be mindful and simple safety techniques will ensure you have a good time in any part of the World.

As we arrived in Phnom Penh we encountered one of the simplest and least time consuming formalities. We had already applied for Cambodian E-Visa that Indian citizens are eligible for. This single entry e-visa is valid for 90 days from day of approval and one could stay for a maximum of 28 days. At the immigration station all we had to do was fill out an arrival and departure card and after basic questioning our passports were stamped.

As we walked out we were approached by many a tuk tuk and taxi drivers, we politely declined them and walked towards the pre-paid taxi union kiosk. Based on location and distance of drop, flat rates are set. This is one of the safest and scam free ways to leave the airport. We were charged USD 12 for the cab ride and tuk tuk's are a few dollars less expensive.

Our Slow Backpacking Travel Experience Across South East Asia!

It was time for us to set out on yet another memorable long trip but this trip would be nothing like our previous ones, not in the comfort of our homeland. The trip focused on South East Asian countries and we finally zeroed down on visiting Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar for 75 days in all. The different culture, people, fantastic food, language barriers and challenges that came with this Asia trip was just the perfect travel experience that we were longing for.

It was a smooth sail and we had the most amazing experiences where we got to spend a night on a cruise, fired an AK 47 at a Gun Range, kayaked in deep blue waters, swam into a dark cave with just a helmet mounted torchlight. The stunning architecture distinct to these Nations was visible in their palaces, temples and monasteries. Their beaches and islands showed us the stunning natural beauty that these nations have to offer. We also were able to experience some extreme weather conditions from being blazing hot to continuous rains for days to experiencing the after effects of a typhoon. Their museums gave us more insight into their past and we learnt so much more about their History. We also had our first dormitory experience in one of the hostels and this trip was not just an amazing journey but a great teacher as well.

We started our trip with Cambodia, the land of ancient Hindu temples and fell in love with not just the Angkor Wat temple but the beautiful temples surrounding the complex. Though these temples are not much in the limelight, we feel they are way more deserving than the Angkor Wat itself. The other beautiful highlight of Cambodia was the stunning Koh Rong Samolem island. This beautiful island with crystal clear water was the most spectacular experience. Getting to meet so many lovely people from across the Globe and going for a swim under the cover of darkness at the Plankton Beach was definitely a trip highlight. We ended up snorkeling and fishing while on a boat and feasting on barbecued fish right on the boat - an experience that we can never forget.

While in Phnom Penh, on one hand we witnessed the amazing water festival and on the other we learnt about the depressing past that still haunts this wonderful Nation. A visit to Killing Fields and S21 Prison showed a glimpse of the terrible times and what the people had been through making our eyes moist. Under the Khmer Rogue rule, the atrocities committed by them were gut wrenching. The mass killings by the regime lead to the death of close to 2-3 million people (25% of Cambodia's population) just because they were educated or were not following the ideologies laid out by the communist Khmer Rogue.

After spending 15 days, with a heavy heart we bid adieu to Cambodia and flew into Vietnam. We wouldn't even know where to start with the awesomeness of Vietnam. The cruise on stunning Bai Tu Long Bay, beautiful Tra Ang grottoes, heart stopping caves of Phong Nha, rich history of Hoi An, lovely beaches of Nha Trang and the chaos of Ho Chi Minh city was a complete package. The sheer number of UNESCO world heritage sites, cool coconuts, pagodas, Palaces and amazing local beers literally made our 30 days in Vietnam feel like 3 minutes. Also, not to forget trying out the local cuisine and instantly falling in love with their sinful coffee so much so that we became coffee addicts and we are not really coffee drinkers. The coffee is so amazing here that we picked up 2 kilograms of coffee powder and two very beautiful and cute Vietnamese coffee filters. Though we experienced stormy weather in Vietnam, we still managed to enjoy the cultural history that the Nation has to offer in the beautiful city of Hoi An.

These beautiful places are so pristine, it is difficult to digest that some of these places were bombed on a daily basis for close to 20 years by Uncle Sam. The courage and valor of these people needs to be saluted.

We also got a glimpse of the harsh reality of the Vietnam War and the repercussions that the war has left on the people of Vietnam. Many parts of the country are still suffering due to the unrepairable damages caused by the war and the atrocities carried out during the war. The museum in Ho Chi Minh city displays photographs wherein many regions have suffered due to the toxic chemical sprays (Agent Orange) and the deformities that people are now born with. These pictures are pretty graphic and not for the faint-heart. While most of us were in tears reading the atrocities carried out, it is unimaginable to even think that these people are still suffering and for no fault of theirs. Human mind can think of such inhumane things and not have a bit of remorse is shameful.

After 45 days of strict budget backpacking, it was time to pamper ourselves on the beautiful islands of Thailand with creature comforts and we did not have to look far. The calm and serene Koh Yao Yai island off Krabi would come second to none. Koh Yao Yai offered perfectly calm, secluded beaches that we had pretty much to ourselves the entire time.

All the 3 nations have amazing local breweries that dish out inexpensive and the best beer on the planet. It was a very budgeted trip and while in Cambodia we managed to travel by local buses, in Vietnam we preferred the train services. Despite opting for some pricey excursions- Bai Tu Long, Trang An, Angkor Wat, plenty of foreigner priced entry tickets, internal flights, plenty of walk and public transport and very few cabs, we managed to spend almost the same amount or less had we been travelling in our homeland. In none of these countries we opted for local sim cards. One could also do the same trip in a way lesser budget.

Due to prior commitments, Reshma flew back home while Ram continued the journey to the beautiful Burmese Land- Myanmar.

While travelling to Myanmar, it was on the news for all wrong reasons and it still is but it was simply the best travel destination in South East Asia. In my experience, Burmese people were really nice, warm and welcoming. Though it might sound cliché, it was truly the warmth of these people that made me fall in love with this Nation. Will dedicate detailed post about the issues the country is facing (political/Rohingya crisis.)

Myanmar took me back in time with it's laid back and chilled out life. While the lovely city of Mandalay welcomed me with some historic monuments and lip smacking food, a hand written train ticket took me on an adventurous train ride over the breathtaking Giotduct bridge and this train journey is a must. The colonial homes in the lovely hills of Pyin ya Loo were enchanting and one of them now converted into a hostel was my home for 4 days where I did nothing but enjoy the pleasant climate, cycle around and soak in the scenery. Of course, Myanmar experience is incomplete without visiting the mighty Bagan pagodas and monasteries and it was out of the world. Watching the sunrise over these ancient monuments was an icing on the cake. Finally, I wound up my trip in Yangon and after 75 days was back to home sweet home.

Individual posts on each destination that will help plan your future trips to South East Asia will be up on the blog shortly!

Satisfy Your Wanderlust! Visit The Offbeat Travel Destinations In India.

Temples Of Bishnupur 

Quiet sleepy town of Bishnupur is home to a series of centuries old terracotta temples built by the Malla Kings. Bishnupur town was named after Lord Vishnu by Vashnavite Malla kings as their main deity was Lord Vishnu. Facing shortage of stones in the area, the Kings decided to build terracotta temples, crafted from local laterite and brick, the temples were covered with terracotta tiles depicting scenes from the epic Mahabharata and Ramayana. Bishnupur town is not just famous for it's terracotta temples but is rich in it's heritage, architecture, culture and handicrafts such as pottery and weaving. Not to forget the famous baluchari sarees.

Ruins Of Basgo 

Among the many stunning stops on the Kargil Leh highway Basgo ruins was like a crown of jewels. Just a small detour off the highway took us to these ancient ruins where once stood a massive clay castle and Maitreya temple. This is one of the most treasured monuments of Ladakh. The views from the highway were so captivating that we were attracted towards it. The most unbelievable fact is that this monument was built using clay, stones and wood. These colossal ruins are such treasures not just of Ladakh but the whole World. It is a must visit while on a trip to Ladakh.

Monoliths Of Nartiang

Meghalaya, the land famous for its bio engineering wonder- "The Living Root Bridges" which are many in number and all of them absolutely breathtaking, was the topmost reason we wanted to visit this state. However, our quest for off beat places made sure we explore not just the Root Bridges but other lesser known hidden treasures which are off the tourist radar. One such gem of a find was the 'Nartiang Monoliths' in the Jowai region of Meghalaya and is 80 km from the state capital, Shillong.

Keibul Lamjo Only Floating National Park 

The only floating National Park in the world, Keibul Lamjao is the last abode for the endangered species Sangai or dancing deer. Once threatened to near extinction, re-appeared a couple of years later and now one of the most endangered species. This Park is a part of the Loktak lake and though the lake has phumdis all over, the phumdis in the National Park are the ones that are best suited for the survival of the dancing deer. The reeds and grasses that grow on the phumdis serve as food for the sangai deer.

Witness The Migration Of Amur Falcons In Doyang

If solitude is your cup of tea and you want to enjoy Nature at it's best without any disturbance then Doyang is the perfect place. This beautiful village in remote parts of Nagaland is a bird watchers paradise and is visited by lakhs of Amur Falcons during the winter months. These incredible migratory birds have chosen this fertile land for roosting, embarking on a marathon flight from East Asia to Siberia via North East India covering thousands of kilometers. Only a handful of homes are dotted across the hill and this is one of those rare places to enjoy wilderness. The star lit sky and massive reservoir built over Chubi river on which the Doyang hydro power project sits is a picturesque destination.

Longwa Village Home To Last Remaining Headhunters

Though headhunters lived among every Naga tribe, the Konyak tribe in Longwa and Mon village is where we found men sporting tattoos on their face which symbolizes only one thing- these men have actually severed heads during raids. We had come to Mon just to catch a glimpse of these men, little did we know that we would dine with one and spend time with a couple of others and have a friendly chat while they were smoking up fresh opium in their wooden pipes. After a tedious ride to this extreme remote corner- Mon, it only made sense to reach Longwa a border town in between India and Myanmar.

Under Construction Living Root Bridge- Umkar 

Siej Village is home to a stunning piece of wonder "Umkar Living Root Bridge." A couple of years ago, this 40 year old bridge was washed away due to massive floods and the villagers are now rebuilding it. This Bridge is 75% complete and would take another 15 years to grow fully and become functional. The bridge can now be tagged as "Under Construction."

Willong Khullen Monoliths Of Meghalaya 

Who knew a small village in Manipur, a rarely visited North Eastern State, could hold such a significant wonder that is on the same lines as the Stonehenge. This exceptionally intriguing monument is sadly not known by the locals of Manipur apart from those living in the villages around Willong. We were left in awe to see massive blocks of rocks many towering over 10 feet and a few over 1 meter wide. There are a total of approx 135 pillars here.

Go Treasure Hunting In Rajgir 

Rajgir, the first capital of Magadha Kindom that later on became the Mauryan Empire, has a lot of tales to tell every inquisitive visitor with a keen interest in history. This city is not just mentioned in the epic "Mahabharata" but also finds a place in Jainism and Buddhism scriptures and has a cluster of attractions spread across 3 lanes- defining Incredible India. This tiny town in the remote part of India has more than enough to give treasure hunters sleepless nights.

Trek Around The Massive Crater Lake In Lonar 

One of its kind phenomena on the planet is the Lonar Crater Lake with geological, geographical, mythical, scientific wonders - all served in one platter. The only hyper-velocity crater lake in the world formed from basaltic rock was created by a meteor impact some 52000 years ago and is the third largest salt water lake in the world. The mystery behind the aftermaths of the meteor impact as to why a compass fails to work in some parts of the crater, how it is able to support some rare micro-organisms that are hardly found at any other place on the planet, why is the water alkaline and saline and what lurks at the bottom of this lake make it even more intriguing.

Be Lost In Mesmerizing Artwork Of Mother Nature Gandikota Canyons

Gandikota canyons and gorges are one of the best kept secrets of India. The site is so stunning and gorgeous that one has to see it to believe it. An impregnable fortress built here stands testimony to the fact that the deep gorges are impossible to climb up mighty Penna river.

Witness The Art Of Cave Dwellers In Bhimbetka

Bhimbetka caves, lying in the lap of the Vindhya ranges, are a gift from our forefathers, aka cavemen! These long lost rock shelters were discovered by Dr. Vishnu Sridhar in 1957. This World Heritage Monument offers a pictorial representation of how our ancestors lived their lives during the Stone Age. The rich paintings and art depict day to day activities, it is hard to believe that plant extracts used as colors centuries ago look amazing even today.

Stay In The Humble Likir Monastery

Our very first experience of staying in a Monastery was in the land of Lamas "Ladakh," home to stunning monasteries. Each monastery is more beautiful than the other. We chose the offbeat yet beautiful Likir Gompa. The abbot of this monastery is the younger brother of the 14th Dalai Lama- Tenzin Choegyal. The monastery is home to around 120 lamas and the school teaches around 30 lamas. It was an awesome experience to stay in a centuries old Monastery and we also had amazing views of the Himalayas from our room.

Wake Up To Stunning Views Of Glaciers In Parkachik Village

It's more often the off beaten paths and tough roads that lead to the most beautiful and non commercialized stunning destinations. The quintessential Parkachik Village is one such destination en route Zanskar Valley. Just 80 km from Kargil, it is home to stunning glaciers, perennial rivers and colossal snowy mountain peaks. The closest that you can get to Nature.

Soak In Unending Views Of Laitlum Canyons

Meghalaya has enchanted us with her beauty and we were in love with the sunning landscape, amazing roads and the perfect relaxing environment that the state has to offer. The best experience was undoubtedly our visit to Laitlum Canyons which holds true to it's name "End of Hills." This beautiful location in East Khasi Hills is an amazing hot spot to catch views of the hills of Meghalaya. A 45 minute drive and some 30 odd kilometers from the capital, Shillong, this lesser known destination can be reached via Smit Village.

Belum caves- Visit To The Second Largest Cave In India.

The second largest cave in India and her neighbor the 'Grand Canyon' of India - Gandikota are the best and thrilling under the radar ultimate weekend getaway destinations.

Finally we visited the elusive Belum caves. These magnificent natural caves were thrown open to the public only in 2003. Such wonderful destinations are perfect justification to the tag 'Incredible India.' It was such an amazing and thrilling experience to explore the massive caves and go gaga over the natural stalactite formations. Kudos to ASI and the government the caves are maintained very well and is almost spotless. The massive passages are well lit and the well laid pathway led us deep into the caves throwing open several beautiful natural rock formations and other attractions.

The complex cave structure takes different forms, the cave starts with massive pathways and the roof towers several feet high as we walked in the massive caves shrunk in size and we had to squeeze ourselves through narrow passages only to be lead to another series of massive caves structures.

The best part about being in the cave was having no clue about our bearings. If not for the directions marked by ASI we would never be able to walk out. This is the point when we realized how challenging and thrilling it would have been for the team that explored and mapped this wonderful cave. They would have not had the luxury of man made ventilator shafts that circulate fresh air, continuous electricity supply that keeps running the lights and of-course the well laid paths and staircases. All of this luxury is provided to us at a very nominal cost of Rs.50 per person.

Be sure to stay in the demarcated pathway and do not wonder off, as inviting as it may seem remember you are on a highway to hell. It is very easy to get lost in here and reliable help for sure would be a distant dream. Guides are available at the entrance however, we chose to explore the caves on our own. Park aside couple of hours to do justice to this wonderful work of Nature.

Either from Bangalore or Hyderabad, Whichever be the origin of the drive or ride, the ideal plan would be to visit the caves in Belum and head to Gandikota and stay overnight at the Harita Nivas Resorts run by APTDC. The NH7 is a road trippers delight and the State highways that run between Belum and Gandikota are in excellent shape too for most parts. Just watch out for the unmarked and well camouflaged speed breakers.

Visit Our Very Own Grand Canyons! Gandikota

Gandikota canyons and gorges are one of the best kept secrets of India. The site is so stunning and gorgeous that one has to see it to believe it. An impregnable fortress built here stands testimony to the fact that the deep gorges are impossible to climb up mighty Penna river.

The views of Gandikota gorges are simply breathtaking and would remain edged in our memories. This place would be an ideal quite spot to watch sunrise and sunset. As beautiful as it is, the threat to life here is very real. By wanting to have exceptionally good selfies do not risk your lives for a few pics. You have one life choose wisely.

Spending morning hours at Gandikota canyon was an idyllic and romantic time spent with nature in absolute solitude. It was amazing to be there and watch birds fly by, the cool breeze whispered in our ears and as hours went by we did not have the heart to leave.

Within the fort complex is Jama Masjid, Madhava temple, a jail and a massive barn. It is a living fort meaning settlements are found both inside and outside. Another exciting feature is the fact that one can drive their vehicle inside the fort. The narrow gateways are just enough to accommodate one vehicle. Any slight miscalculation and our car would have been beautifully decorated by the fort walls and gates.

As we entered the fort complex we were first greeted by Charminar, if you have seen the one in Hyderabad this might not really impress you. Followed by a jail complex and then comes the parking lot and the adjacent building is the pretty Jama Masjid and a massive barn. Next comes the Ranganatha Swamy temple and past all of this awaits the stunning gorges of Gandikota.

Of all the amazing monuments of Gandikota, Madhavaraya temple simply takes the cake away. Standing tall in between the jail complex and Jama masjid tucked away in a small corner, this temple could be reached by couple of minutes walk. The massive gopuram is visible from far off and is such an inviting factor. The carving in this temple are mesmerizing and stand as testimony to the fine craftsmanship of Indians. The other ruins within the temple complex are in pretty bad shape yet strikingly beautiful and begging for attention and care from authorities.

The only stay option here is 'Harita Tourist Resort' run by APTDC. The amazing cottages provide a feel good factor and have a charming aura around it. The spacious sit out and the terrace offers scintillating panoramic views of the fort, masjid and temple. The rooms are spacious but basic. The food too is basic and decent. For a government owned property the service standard is commendable. The rooms are priced at Rs.1251 inclusive of taxes, in our opinion it is a steal deal. Another plus is you could park your vehicle right outside your cottage. It would be wise to have an online booking. Remember to pack some snacks of your choice as there are no good or even basic dining options in Belum or Gandikota.