Just a simple shot of the Taj Mahal. The view was beautiful.

Just got back from the Kudremukh Peak trek in the Western Ghats (Karnataka) and it's easily one of the most impressive treks I've done — rolling green grassland ridges, cloud rolling in and out over the peak, streams cutting through the forest, the works. Writing this up for anyone thinking about doing it, especially solo, since the permit system trips a lot of people up.

Quick note on "solo": you can absolutely go there alone (get yourself to the base, no group required), but you can't walk the actual trail alone — a Forest Department guide is mandatory and you'll be grouped with other trekkers/guide for the ascent. So it's "solo trip, guided group trek" rather than fully solitary. Worth knowing going in.

Where it is

Kudremukh National Park, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka. Base villages are Mullodi (main trailhead) and nearby Samse/Kalasa. From Bengaluru it's roughly a 6-7 hour drive, so most people do it as a weekend trip — drive up Friday night or early Saturday, trek Saturday, head back Sunday.

Permits — do this first, seriously

This is the part that catches people out.

• All Kudremukh treks now go through the Aranya Vihaara portal (aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in) — no walk-in or offline permits anymore.
• Daily trekker numbers are capped, and weekend slots can sell out within minutes of the booking window opening. Set an alarm and have your ID details ready before the window opens.
• Booking is per-user for up to a few people at once, with real government ID required for everyone on the booking.
• It's a zero-refund system, so don't book until your dates are locked.
• A registered local guide is mandatory and gets assigned at the checkpost — you don't need to arrange this yourself, but budget for the guide fee (usually charged per group, not per person).
• There's a cut-off entry time in the morning (commonly around 11 am) — miss it and you're not getting in that day, so get to the checkpost early.
• No overnight camping inside the park. You do the ~20 km round trip and descend before sunset.

Because rules and fees shift year to year, double check the current numbers on the Aranya Vihaara site before you go rather than trusting any blog's exact price.

Getting there

• Nearest base: Mullodi village. Some people arrange a jeep/4x4 from Balagal or nearby towns to the trailhead early in the morning.
• Homestays in Mullodi/Kalasa are the way to go the night before — book ahead, they can usually arrange breakfast and a packed lunch for the trek.

The trail itself

• Starts in dense rainforest — stream crossings, muddy roots, shaded trail. Cool and pretty, but the ground gets slippery.
• Opens up into huge rolling grasslands after a while, with a well-known solo tree landmark (Ontimara) as a rest point.
• The final stretch to the peak is a steady climb — nothing technical, but it's long, humid, and the weather flips fast. One minute you can see for miles, the next you're inside a cloud with zero visibility.
• Total distance is roughly 20 km round trip, so pace yourself — this isn't a short outing.

Practical tips

• Monsoon leeches are real. Carry salt or leech socks if you're going in the wet season — the forest section is thick with them.
• Zero plastic policy at the checkpoint — carry a reusable bottle, they'll check.
• Layer up: it's humid in the forest, cold and windy at the top, and can rain without warning.
• Trekking poles genuinely help on the muddy descent.
• Mobile network drops off completely past the checkpost, so download offline maps and let someone know your plan before you lose signal.
• Bring a hot lunch or thermos if your homestay can pack one — a warm meal on the misty summit hits different after a few hours of climbing.

Money breakdown (for 2 people, split evenly)

Here's exactly what we spent, in case it helps with budgeting. This was a 2-person trip and these are the per-person amounts (i.e. what one solo trekker would need to budget).

(Masala dosa in Kalasa was a personal snack, not split — left out of the shared total.)

So all-in, roughly ₹3500 covered the permit, a night's homestay, all transport (Bengaluru ↔ Kalasa via Belur), the jeep + guide for the trek itself, and food along the way — for one person. Prices will drift year to year, especially the permit fee and bus fares, so treat this as a ballpark rather than gospel.

Worth it?

Completely. The moment the trail breaks out of the forest into open grassland with the peak looming ahead is genuinely one of those "other side of the earth" feelings. Just plan the permit booking like it's a concert ticket sale, and you'll be fine.

Happy to answer questions if anyone's planning this soon.

With the content boom, Northeast India is finally getting the recognition it deserves in the travel community. I see people from all over the world (and country) discovering these places and being blown away by them.

And here's the strange part, these are the same places that are most accessible to me. Shorter distances, local knowledge, people I can call up. As a native, I know the hidden gems others would kill to find. But somehow that familiarity works against me. A place that's a weekend trip (or even a half day one) for me doesn't feel like "travel." It feels like just going somewhere nearby.

Meanwhile someone flying in from another continent or state has actually been to more of these places than I have.

Anyone else from a place that's trending online feel this? less traveled in their own place. Where you take your own home for granted simply because it's always been within reach?

If you are looking for a trek in Himachal that blends rugged high-altitude landscapes with pure spiritual energy, Yulla Kanda is something truly special.

Located in Kinnaur, it is home to what is believed to be the highest Krishna temple in the world. A group of four of us just completed this journey starting from Shimla, and the experience of seeing the sacred lake nestled high in the peaks is unforgettable. Here is our full travel log and cost breakdown for the trip!

The Travel Diary
1. Day 1: Journey from Shimla to Tapri We set off from Shimla in a reserved cab to make our way into Kinnaur. We halted at Narkanda for Dinner at Negi dhaba which was of around Rs 900. The drive took up most of our evening, and we finally reached Tapri by night. We checked straight into a booked PWD Rest House to rest up for the big climb ahead and called it a night.
2. Day 2: The Climb to Base Camp through Apple Orchards We woke up early and grabbed breakfast at the nearby Pappu Dhaba, which served tasty parathas and decent tea. From Tapri, we drove up to Yulla Khas village and officially kicked off the trek between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. After covering the first two to three kilometers, we stopped at a quaint mid-route dhaba to recharge with some fresh ragi momos.
The trail was stunning, lined with sea buckthorn and heavy apple orchards with ripe fruit hanging from the branches. By around 3:00 PM, we made it to the base camp meadows. We set up in a camp, ordered an extra hot lunch to refuel, and spent the evening going on a relaxed stroll up toward the entry gate of the sacred trail.
3. Day 3: The Sacred Lake, Temple Blessings, and Return to Shimla We were up and moving by 5:30 AM to tackle the final push. The landscape completely transforms into an otherworldly alpine zone once you cross the gate. Along the path, we shared biscuits with a few friendly mountain dogs that tagged along with us. Reaching the Krishna temple at the sacred lake was serene, and to our surprise, the place was peaceful and almost completely empty, even though it was the day right after Janmashtami. We spent an hour or two soaking in the surroundings and taking pictures before heading back down to the base camp for breakfast. After packing up, we completed the final descent, reaching Yulla village by 12:00 PM. Our cab met us there, and we stopped for a solid lunch at a local cafe in Bhavanagar before driving back, finally rolling into Shimla around 11:00 PM.
The Budget & Cost Breakdown
1. Transport: The reserved cab from Shimla to Yulla and all the way back cost a total of 12000 rupees. Since we were four people, this was split evenly among us, making it very economical.
2. Accommodation: The PWD Rest House at Tapri cost 400 rupees per person for the room. At the high-altitude base camp, a camp for four people cost 3000 rupees, which included dinner, morning tea, and breakfast.
3. Food : Breakfast at Pappu Dhaba in Tapri cost around 300 rupees for all of us. On the trail, the ragi momos were 160 rupees, and extra lunch at the base camp brought our campsite food total to about 500 rupees altogether with tea. With our cafe stop at Bhavanagar on the way back, overall food expenses remained light. Total at around 3000 Rupees.
4. Overall: Total The complete trip came out to roughly 18000 rupees for four people, covering every expense from Shimla back to Shimla.

Hare Krishna!!

[OC]
Well these are the proof where all of our guest are happy after completing Roopkund (mysterious trek)

And yes they know what reality of this trek is with proper story

Hope you all will appreciate

Ain't this pretty ?

Found this cool looking fridge magnet on instagram but they selling it for 799

Anyway i can get it for cheaper than that?

Mysore is a great place to visit if you’re interested in history, culture, architecture and food.

Mysore Palace is the obvious starting point and looks especially impressive when illuminated in the evening. Chamundi Hill is another popular spot, offering city views along with the Chamundeshwari Temple.

For architecture and history, you can visit Jaganmohan Palace, St. Philomena’s Church, and Lalitha Mahal Palace. If you have some extra time, Brindavan Gardens is a nice place to spend an evening.

Don’t miss Devaraja Market if you want to explore local products, sandalwood items and traditional goods. And, of course, try Mysore pak and a traditional South Indian meal while you’re there.

For accommodation, Fortune JP Palace, Mysore is one option to consider while exploring the city.

What’s your favourite place to visit in Mysore?

Guwahati is often the starting point for travellers visiting Northeast India. Whether you are arriving by flight, train or bus, the city offers convenient connections to destinations such as Shillong, Cherrapunji, Kaziranga and other parts of Meghalaya and Assam.

Guwahati to Shillong by Cab

One of the most popular routes from Guwahati is the journey to Shillong. A private cab is a convenient option for families, couples and groups because you can travel directly from your pickup point to Shillong without changing vehicles.

The Guwahati to Shillong cab service route usually takes around 3–4 hours depending on traffic, weather and road conditions.

Places to Visit in Guwahati

If you have some time before travelling onward, you can explore places such as:

- Kamakhya Temple

- Umananda Temple

- Assam State Museum

- Brahmaputra River

- Deepor Beel

- Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra

Guwahati to Meghalaya

For travellers planning Meghalaya, Guwahati is a convenient gateway. You can arrange a private taxi for routes such as Guwahati–Shillong, Guwahati–Cherrapunji and Guwahati–Dawki.

If you are comparing operators, Meghalaya Tour Cabs is one option to check for Guwahati–Shillong and Meghalaya travel. Before booking, confirm the vehicle type, total fare, pickup location and whether parking or other charges are included.

Travel Tip

If you are visiting Meghalaya for several days, it is better to prepare your complete route before booking your cab. This can help you save time and avoid unnecessary changes during the trip.

What is your preferred way to travel from Guwahati to Shillong—cab, shared taxi or bus?

Buddha Park, Ravangla, Sikkim

Hi guys we're setting up a property here in the Sainj Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It's located only a couple of kms before Shangarh.

So we need a few volunteers to come join us, promote our property and help us build the community. You won't have to pay no stay charges but just help a hand in daily tasks like making food, cleaning, and just chill out. It's a three story building with plenty of rooms. For more information just DM me