Top 10 things to do at Redhill Nature Resort

Redhill Nature Resort is at one of the most beautiful locations of the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ in India, Ooty. The resort offers a captivating panoramic view of the ‘Emerald Valley’ and the ‘Emerald Lake’. Being a family friendly resort in the middle of Redhill tea estate with a backdrop of the Redhill Mountains, its a calm location to enjoy the climate, homely grown organic food and to engage in a lot of nature bound activities. Some of the activities that a Yoga traveler may be interested in participating in besides yoga.

1. Photography: Interested in photography or being photographed, there are a lot to capture, an old British Bungalow, mist, dew and plush greenery. Perfect walkways, lawns and traditional buildings change their colors with the advent of the day, starting with morning mist, long rays of rising sun, perfect daylight and a very colourful sunset; the photographer in you is sure to be touched profoundly.

2. Hiking: The Redhill Mountains behind the resort is a perfect trek for those who love a bit of adventure, a lot of nature and breathtaking views of the hills around and the lake. Though it might be a bit hard for those who are not familiar with trekking, the view and the breeze on top of the hill will reenergize your tired body and will present you with an unforgettable experience of exhilaration, relaxation and a panoramic view of the valley displaying forest, tea estates, agricultural lands and water bodies.

3. Tea plantation tour and tasting: Different blocks of tea plantations at Redhill Nature Resorts are at different stages of growth, giving a visitor the complete picture of tea cultivation, growth and harvesting. Different varieties of tea are produced from these tea plantations with different styles of harvesting. A walk through the plantation will let you smell the tea, pluck a few and taste them raw. Tea tasting is a continuation of the plantation visit where a visitor gets to taste different type of tea; green, white, black, organic tea and a variety of others. You develop a taste for fine tea and it’s a perfect chance to find your type of tea, if you have ever thought of trying some different tastes to find the best for your daily consumption. It’s a perfect opportunity to get started with a healthy habit with many benefits.

4. Waterfalls: The waterfalls are a bit far from the resort, however if you prefer to walk the distance, it will be rewarding as you walk through a road that goes through the agricultural lands, tea plantations and forest.

5. Toda Village: Todas are the native tribes of the Nilgiris with a culture of their own. The traditional houses are still present and they will be happy to show you around. These hut shaped houses are originally built to protect the tribes from the extreme climatical conditions and wild animals.

6. Bird watching: You will see birds and hear them chirping at all times. There are many varieties of birds in and around the resort. For those who with a passion for bird watching, the stay at Redhills can be rewarding with a lot of surprise visitors in and around your room and the resort.

7. Organic farm visit: The organic farm visit can be organized upon request for those who are interested in taking a look at a fast growing trend in the agriculture market. The organic farm has many varieties of vegetables that grow only in Ooty. One can walk around, taste a few fresh vegetables and learn the way they are cultivated organically.

8. Lake Visit & Fishing: Emerald is the second largest lake in the Nilgiris. For the scenic beauty of the lake from a closer range, many travellers prefer to go to the lake where they can engage in fishing, photography and family time.

9. Shopping in Ooty: Ooty is known for its spectacular tea varieties. A traveler can pick some of the best tea from many shops around the town, tea is also available at the resort. Home made chocolates are another shopper’s favorite in Ooty. These delicious chocolates are available from very old chocolate brands known for home made chocolates in Ooty. Clothing is available across a range of shops. Visitors can pick home made jams and home  grown vegetables from Redhill Nature Resort as well.

10. Yoga: Okay okay, we couldn’t leave Yoga out of the top ten list because Redhills is really the best place to practice. Wake up a little early to watch the sunrise. There is also a small temple if you prefer a spiritual set up for your practice. Or if you just want to look into the nature, all around you are flowers, lush green tea plantations and a magnificent view of Emerald lake. Whether you prefer your practice inside the room or outside, you will find nature is the only distraction.

Mysore – the birthplace of Ashtanga Yoga

Here’s a list of things a yoga traveler can discover in Mysore.

1. Yoga: Mysore has a very important position in the world Yoga Map. It is the birthplace of Astanga Yoga where Guru Pattabhi Jois was teaching. Mysore is home for ‘Krishnamacharya’ widely regarded as ‘The Father of Modern Yoga’ which makes it much more authentic and attractive for many Yoga practitioners. In fact, it is the birth place of Yoga where great teachers like Guruji BKS Iyengar, Sri Pattabhi Jois and Madam Indira Devi, Sri TK Deshikachar learnt from the Great Krisnamacharya. This is one of the major centres of Yoga learning and training for people from across the world. There are many yoga studios in this scenic, small city of the state of Karnataka in South India. Most Yoga Studios are located in a place called ‘Gokulam’ where one finds many westerners living, learning and teaching Yoga. This is one of the places you may not want to miss if you are inclined towards Yoga and want to experience where it all began.

2. Mysore Palace: Adding to the historical charm of this old city, Mysore palace is an important attraction for leisure travelers and Yogis alike. This magnificent palace displays an architectural perfection that cannot be matched by modern monuments. Though visitors are allowed during the day, an awe-inspiring view one gets to enjoy when the palace is lighted on Saturday and Sunday evenings. There are guides available to explain the details of each location of the palace and explain the history behind them.

3. Chamundi Hills: It’s a hill situated very close to the city of Mysore at an average elevation of 1000 meters with a temple of goddess Chamundeswari. The journey uphill offers panoramic views of the city of Mysore. The steep road has many hair pin bends with forest and rocky walls which were once used as marbles for structures in Mysore. One another attraction of this sacred place is the 1001 steps from a few hundred meters down the hill to the temple territory. Walking up these 1001 steps is a common ritual practiced by religious people and it’s a refreshing hike for travellers. Very knowledgeable guides are available who can fill the history while you climb up the hill. A big statue of Nandi, said to be built from a single rock, welcomes the visitors where the 1001 steps start.

4. Shopping in Mysore: Mysore silk is a famous product of Mysore. These are available from a state owned shop where travellers can buy them without hesitation or fear of being cheated with fake price tag. These shops have many Indian ethnic outfits for men and women at fair prices. Mysore also has a local clothing market where one finds a large variety of clothing both Indian and Western, most of these shops sell their merchandise cheap and nowadays not much of a bargain happens contrary to the popular belief that street vendors take travelers for a ride.

5. Eateries: Mysore has many excellent restaurants and cafes including international chains. Many serve food and alcohol in the same place. Mysore is also home to many of the state’s famous food chains that serve Karnataka cuisines. A sweet dish named after the city is Mysore Pak, prepared with ghee, sugar, grand flour and often cardamom.

6. Other activities: Though nightlife is not so active in the city, there are many bars across the city where a group can hangout. Mysore Zoo and a number of small parks add to the glitter of the city. There are other places nearby like Srirangapatna, hill stations such as Ooty, Wayanad etc, nearby.

Top 10 things to do in Bangalore, India

1. Yoga: There are many Yoga Studios in Bangalore. Most of them are in Jayanagar and Indiranagar; two of the upscale localities in Bangalore. Neatly furnished, these Yoga Studios are quite active and have many students perfecting their practice; learning and experimenting with Yoga. Teachers aka “Yogis” are masters in the art of Yoga; being calm, relaxed and knowledgeable. Not to worry, most teachers speak beautiful, natural English.

2. Cultural Walks: Bangalore, being an old city with reminiscence of British ruling, has a lot of stories on the buildings, parks and monuments. Some of the top cultural walks are Lal Bhag walk, Oota walks and McGrath road walks. Lalbagh walk is perfect for traveler with a keen interest in history and plants, tory of the park, age of trees and every detail about life in and around Lalbhag. The Lalbhag walk ends in a delicious, typical Kannada lunch at MTR, an age old, very traditional hotel chain. Oota Walks are a beautiful mix of food, culture and history where travellers are introduced to different local dishes from trusted sources. The beauty is you get to enjoy the local food from someone known and trusted.

3. Wine tasting In Bangalore: There are many Vineyards around Bangalore and wine tasting is offered at most of them. This would be a perfect opportunity to get to know the local culture, nature and taste some great wine if you are wine buff. Nandi Hills and Kavery valleys are some of the world-class wine producing areas near Bangalore.

4. Ayurvedic Treatments and Massages: Being a financial hub of South India, Bangalore has a lot Spas and Ayurvedic massage centres that can relax your body and mind in a short time. If you don’t prefer and ayurvedic, oil massage, there are plenty of normal spas that will help relax and pamper your body.

5. Parks: Known as the Garden city of India, Bangalore has many parks around the city. Cubbon Park and Lalbhag are some of the major parks adjacent to Vidhana Soudha, the legistlative assembly of the state of Karnataka. For those who prefer to do Yoga outside, these parks can be a great choice.

6. Shopping: Bangalore has many shopping malls that sells both Indian and western products across a range of categories. Even though there are street vendors, there is no guarantee on the pricing and quality of the materials. However, there are specific areas where you can actually find great Indian clothing cheap. Chickpet is one of those areas where quality Silk Sarees, women’s clothing at low prices, they are primarily meant for wholesalers. Commercial Street is another choice for shoppers.

7. Nightlife: Bangalore is easy on night life when compared to other cities in India, thanks to the booming IT industry which attracts a lot of youth to the city. You can find pubs and bars across the city, however MG road, Indiranagar and Koramangala areas have large number of pubs and quality bars. Bangalore has come a long way from the rest of Indian cities in terms of quality, innovation and customer service at pubs and bars. There are a few beer breweries as well, where you get to see the making and get beer made right there.

8. Temples: You will find a lot of temples in and around the city. Just a walk a couple of hundred meters from where you stay, you are likely to find a temple, a church or a mosque. There are many historically important religious buildings in Banaglore. This friendly city is also home to many new age spiritual movements such as “Art of life”, Ishkon temple and a lot of famous Gurus have their Ashrams in Bangalore.

9. Expect traffic: If you are out in the city during peak hours, you can expect a lot of traffic and you may not get to your destination just in time, planning your travel accordingly may help you enjoy the traffic rather than worrying about it.

10. Eateries: Bangalore has all sorts of eateries, Indian, American, Chinese, Italian and many more, an online search and reviews can help you find the one of your type. Many multinationals such as KFC, McDonald’s, Starbucks and more are found easily across the city.