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6th December 2024, 11:48
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| BHPian  Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Kolkata
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| Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty It often feels unfair about how I’ve explored India - i.e., focusing mostly on the Himalayas. Sometimes, Google Timeline reminds me and, in the process, nudges me to realize that I have yet to appreciate the beauty of other places as much as I have been opportune to appreciate the Himalayan expanse. I admire people who can afford trips to various parts of our country, including the Himalayas. I’ve always wished that I could manage a few more trips each year to explore other regions. But time is running out, and the clock won’t wait for me. As a father and a son, planning family trips is no small task. I need to choose places that make my 4-year-old son happy, are comfortable for grandma and grandpa, and offer a pleasant driving experience for me. Finding all this in one place, along with perfect weather, isn’t easy. Luckily, we managed it this time. Looking back at the trip, everything turned out to be better than what we expected—some things were even more beautiful than we imagined. �� That’s why I chose such a title for this travelogue of mine, which can sum up the overall experience of our journey. Glimpse:  Tishan in his own mood  Lazy Turtle on Vizag  My Parents in bheemili beach  Deomali, what we have seen  Chitrakoot Waterfall Itinerary:
People and Cars: It was the festive season, and since the schedule matched perfectly with the school holidays, I travelled with two other families this time. In our Lazy Turtle (Mahindra Bolero), it was me, my son Tishan, and my parents. My cousin Debasish, his wife, and their two kids travelled in a Ford Ecosport. My friend Santu Da, his wife, and their two teenage children came in a Hyundai i10 Nios.   The team, me taking the picture  We all started the journey together, but after visiting Bora Cave, my cousin and his family went straight to Vizag to spend two extra days there. They skipped visiting Chitrakoot and Deomali. Later, on the 7th day (Vizag to Barkul), Santu Da took a detour to Puri and spent an extra day there. They returned to Kolkata on day 9, while the rest of us finished the trip in 8 days. The Travel Story: Day 01: Kolkata - Barkul (Chilka), Odisha: There’s not much to say about this part of the journey since it was mostly highway driving. With so many speed cameras and sensors on the Odisha highways, we decided to stick to a speed of 80 km/h and covered the 567 km in about 11 hours, including breaks. We hadn’t booked a hotel in advance, so we searched for options on the way and found that Chilika Heritage Resort had three family rooms available at a reasonable price. The start of the trip was quite frustrating. As usual, during the holidays, Kolkata roads were packed with traffic, and to make it worse, the WB administration decided to repair roads at all the entry and exit points that Saturday morning, right before Durga Puja. This caused a massive traffic jam. Thanks a lot for the timing, WB administration! There wasn’t much to do that evening except take a short walk around. My son was desperate to see a beach and the sea, as he had insisted on visiting the beach instead of the mountains. To calm him down, I pointed to the lights over Chilika Lake from the perimeter of Pantha Nivas and pretended it was the sea we came to visit. He believed it and finally settled down for dinner. Someday, when he’s older and reads this blog, he might be mad at me for this little trick, but for then, it was the only way to keep him happy and end the day peacefully. Day 02: Barkul - Araku: Yesterday was mostly spent travelling on highways, so the kids were thrilled to explore something other than sitting in the car. Tishan had already checked out every corner of the car, played with the seat setup, fiddled with all the switches, and even used up all the windshield washer fluid multiple times. With nothing left to discover, he asked for an extra steering wheel on the left side so he could "drive" while sitting in the child seat next to me. All three kids were surprisingly well-behaved during breakfast, knowing they had a boat ride on Chilka Lake to look forward to. As promised, we went for a boat ride on Chilka. There weren’t many tourists around that morning, and our group seemed to be the only one there, so we didn’t have to wait in line. All 11 of us enjoyed the ride, and the kids were especially excited. Tishan, however, was curious why the sea ( actually a lake ) didn’t have waves like the ones he’d seen on TV. I tried to explain the difference to him, and while he still had questions, all the kids were really happy overall.         The latter part of the day involved more highway driving in the intense heat. The weather was harsh, especially during the noon drive from Barkul to Vizianagaram. The Bolero’s AC wasn’t very effective, making the journey quite uncomfortable. However, the weather became pleasant after 4:00 PM. Since we avoided taking breaks during the hot afternoon, except for lunch, we decided to stop for a break once the sun went down. My cousin, Debashish, was not in favour of a break, as he was very particular about avoiding hill drives at night. On the other hand, Santu Da and his family, travelling in their i10, were flexible and agreeable to all decisions throughout the trip, as they didn’t have young kids and were very easygoing. We took a long break just before sunset and then resumed the drive to Araku.   When we arrived in Araku, the weather had drastically changed—it was cold and foggy. The sharp contrast between the highway heat and Araku’s cool climate surprised us all. Although we hadn’t booked a hotel in advance, we had contacted two hotels with available rooms. Thankfully, the first one we visited was satisfying, and we checked in at 8:00 PM. The resort was newly built and didn’t offer dinner, so we drove out to a nearby restaurant and ended the day with a delicious meal. To be continued ... Last edited by PointZero : 6th December 2024 at 12:13. |
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6th December 2024, 11:59
| #2 |
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| Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty - Araku Day 03: Araku - Araku Tribal Museum - Bora Cave - Sunabeda (Semiliguda), Odisha: The last two days were mostly spent driving, so the morning felt slow and lazy. The weather was also very foggy. After packing our bags and giving the kids some food, we started for the museum. Since it wasn’t open yet, we had breakfast at a small South Indian food shop near the museum’s parking area. The food there was very fresh and tasty. It’s easy to find the shop because it’s always crowded.    Random at Araku In my recent trips, I noticed that whenever I try to take a photo, Tishan either blocks the camera with his head or hand or sometimes hangs onto my legs like a little monkey. It’s a fun game for him. I don’t mind not taking pictures, but this time I had a solution. I found an old point-and-shoot camera that hadn’t been used in 15–16 years. It still worked, so I gave it to Tishan to use during the trip. Whenever I took a photo, he would try to copy me, focusing on similar things. For him, the pose and position were more important than the actual photo. This might not seem like a part of a travel story, but I feel trips are not just about reaching destinations or staying in fancy places. For me, trips start from the day we prepare, especially when travelling with family. Back in the day, we explored every part of the museum and then left for Borra Caves. The day before, when we were travelling from Barkul, we saw the signboard for the caves, but it was already evening.       Inside museum Borra Caves were very interesting, even though they were overcrowded. Since my mother could not handle too many stairs, she went down a little and enjoyed the view from a spot she could comfortably reach. My father walked the full path to the temple, while the rest of us explored about 70% of the cave. We decided to wait there for my father because the next section was very slippery, and it wasn’t safe with three hyperactive kids.      After visiting the caves, my brother and his family decided to head straight to Vizag, while Santu Da, our families, and I decided to drive to Semiliguda for the night. We said goodbye to Ecosport and promised to meet again in two days. The drive to Semiliguda was beautiful, with scenic views of water bodies and natural dams along the way. The smooth roads were shaded by trees, creating a feeling of endless driving through nature. We stopped for tea and coffee on the way and reached Semiliguda before evening.   Some random pic before starting for Semiliguda Initially, we thought of staying at Kunduli, but the accommodations there weren’t suitable, so we returned to Semiliguda to look for hotels. To our surprise, all the hotels were fully booked because a film shoot was happening nearby. After some searching, a friend suggested Roma Resort at Sunabeda, about 5 km from Semiliguda, as a good option. Without delay, we drove there and found it to be a peaceful and quiet place. The property was nice, and the rooms were clean, but the owner was very rude and unprofessional.    Random picture on the way from Araku to Semiliguda  Tea Time At check-in, the owner asked us to place our dinner order, saying it would take two hours to prepare and be served at 8:30 PM. We planned our evening accordingly and reached the dining hall at the promised time. However, every 15 minutes, he told us the food would be ready in “just five more minutes.” We waited until 10:00 PM, then returned to our room to feed the children something and asked the cook to bring the food there since it was so late. Suddenly, a young boy informed us that the owner refused to serve food in the room and was fine with cancelling the order. At this point, it had been nearly two hours since the promised time, and we were frustrated. I decided to cancel the order and go back to Semiliguda to eat at a restaurant. However, the owner eventually apologized to Santu Da and served dinner at 10:15 PM. While the food delay didn’t ruin the entire trip, the owner’s attitude and lack of professionalism made those two hours the worst part of an otherwise wonderful journey. To be continued ... |
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6th December 2024, 12:11
| #3 |
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| Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty - Deomali & Chitrakoot Day 04: Sunabeda / Semiliguda - Deomali (Odisha) - Chitrakoot Falls (Chhattisgarh) - Jeypore (Odisha): It was a very long day for us. We started early at 4:00 AM with a plan to reach Deomali before sunrise, return to Sunabeda, pack our bags, and head to Chitrakoot. In the morning, some of us - my son, my mom, Santu Da’s wife, and his daughter—decided to stay in bed a little longer. The rest of us made it to Deomali Peak before sunrise. Known as the highest peak in Odisha, Deomali is truly beautiful and, in my opinion, a great spot for camping. The last few kilometers of the road leading to the peak are especially scenic and peaceful, making the journey even more enjoyable. We watched the sunrise at the peak, feeling the chill in the air, and were eagerly looking for tea or coffee. Unfortunately, it was too early, and the coffee shop there hadn’t opened yet. When we returned to Roma Resort, we found the others already ready. Tishan, who had just woken up, was told that we had gone out to look for tools to service the car since we’d left ours at home. Initially, he was angry that I wasn’t there when he woke up, but he quickly calmed down when he felt important, being the “mechanic” of the trip. He even started recalling previous trips when he “fixed” our Lazy Turtle. This trick usually works to make him calm when he’s angry or super angry. Because of the owner’s behavior the night before, we decided to skip breakfast at the resort and eat elsewhere. After leaving Roma Resort, we began the nearly 200 km drive to Chitrakoot Falls. The roads were beautiful, and the journey was pleasant.        Random snaps during the scenic drive As expected, Dandami Resort was fully booked when we arrived. We first took a boat ride at the falls and then had lunch at a small local eatery that served freshly cooked food. The meal was delicious! During lunch, we decided not to stay overnight in the area. Since we could easily reach Jeypore that day, it made sense to drive there to make the next day’s journey easier. Plus, we wanted to reunite with our other companion car, as the kids were missing their friends.       Random snaps at Chitrakoot I also checked with the manager of Dandami Resort, and he confirmed that the lighting at the falls hadn’t started yet. Since it wasn’t a full moon night, we decided it was best to head to Jeypore the same day. To be continued ... |
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6th December 2024, 12:20
| #4 |
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| Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty - Vizag Day 05: Jeypore - Vizag (Andhra Pradesh): Spending the night at Jeypore turned out to be a good decision. We found an excellent hotel with great food served right in the hotel’s restaurant last night. Since Dandami Resort wasn’t available, I was initially unsure if other options would be suitable for a family stay, but everything worked out well. The drive from Jeypore to Vizag was also smooth, and as our hotel in Vizag had already been confirmed over the phone, we headed straight there. The rooms were ready upon our arrival, and the hotel offered beautiful cottages right across from the beach. The location, view, and overall accessibility were perfect.      Another scenic drive from Jeypore to Vizag During lunch, I made the mistake of forgetting we were in Andhra Pradesh and didn’t ask the chef to prepare less spicy food. At the table, we all suddenly realized how spicy the dishes were and ended up drinking more water than eating, even though the food was delicious. Even my father, who loves spicy food, found it zesty. That was entirely my oversight. The incident reminded me of my last visit to Vizag in 2009, which happened by chance after I missed a flight from Bangalore to Kolkata during Durga Puja. At the time, the next day’s flight was too expensive, so I opted for a Volvo bus ride to Vizag and spent a day there. I faced the same issue with spicy food back then! Thankfully, the rest of the meals at the resort were excellent in both taste and quality. The manager personally ensured that the chef kept our preferences in mind after our first meal experience. The weather in Vizag was pleasant before 8:00 AM and after 4:00 PM. While it wasn’t too hot, direct exposure to the sun made it feel like the skin was burning. However, standing under a tree was cool and comfortable due to the breeze. In the afternoon, we decided to visit the “INS Kurusura Submarine Museum,” “TU 142 Aircraft Museum,” and “Sea Harrier Museum” as planned. Before heading out, my brother and his family joined us at our hotel, and we started the journey together. The Marine Drive was stunning—I’ve lost count of how many times I drove up and down the stretch, enjoying the view. In the evening, we enjoyed some quality time by the beach, indulging in delicious Chinese food made by a Nepali chef at a food truck. My brother had discovered this spot the day before, and it was so good that we went back the next evening to relive the experience. The kids also loved having a wide, safe area near the beach to play.  Afternoon at Vizag  Our stay at Vizag One thing that stood out to me in Vizag was the ease of parking, which is often a challenge in many cities. Almost every place was accessible by car, with ample parking spaces available—most of them free of charge. The helpful traffic police also added to the convenience, making driving around the city a hassle-free experience. |
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6th December 2024, 12:31
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| Re: Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty Day 06: Vizag: “Baba, you promised to go to the beach in the morning. I’m ready!” These words woke me up, and I saw that Tishan was already up, had brushed his teeth on his own for the first time ever, and was all set to head out. For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming, but it was real. Even my parents, who are usually early risers, were still asleep.  Traveling with a tiger It was Tishan’s first experience of the real sea (a “real” sea because, a few days ago, I had tricked him into thinking that Chilika Lake was the sea). There was a small coconut arena within walking distance from our hotel, but I decided to take Lazy Turtle along, hoping to capture some photos of it as well. Tishan excitedly ran into the water but quickly fell when the shifting sand under his feet made him lose balance. It was a new sensation for him, and he couldn’t maintain his footing. Thankfully, the car had a spare set of clothes I had packed, thinking we wouldn’t need them. I cleaned the sand off him with some water stored in the car and got him changed.     The early morning sunlight streamed in horizontally, making it hard to look at the water directly, but nothing stopped us from enjoying the peaceful, empty beach. After spending over an hour there, we returned to the hotel to find my parents just waking up and still in bed. Meanwhile, Santu Da and his family were enjoying a lazy morning, sleeping in.     Before Starting the day with grandparents We had a lot planned for the day. Our plan was to end at Kailasagiri and take a toy train ride to enjoy the sunset from the hilltop. In the morning, we decided to visit Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, which is the third-largest zoo in India and conveniently located within walking distance of our hotel. After breakfast, we walked there while my brother and his family drove and met us at the zoo entrance. The zoo was vast, and most of the paths were shaded by trees, making the walk comfortable despite the intense sunlight outside, which I’d mentioned before felt like a skin burner. Spending time at the zoo turned out to be a great idea, especially for the kids, who had a blast mimicking the animals and enjoying the experience to the fullest.             Random snaps inside zoo Late afternoon we spent time together in Kailasagiri, had the toy-train ride and then back to the same place near the Chinese food track. It was the last day in Vizag and sitting there Santu da decided to start early in the morning and drive till Puri as they had a plan to visit Puri Jagannath temple. Others did not have plans for temple visit so we decided to spend some more time in Vizag and start after Lunch towards Puri.       At and from Kailasagiri To be continued ... |
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6th December 2024, 12:37
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| Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty - Vizag Day 07: Vizag - Barkul (Odisha): As with the previous day, Tishan and I started our morning early, and soon my parents joined us. Before breakfast, we visited Bheemili Beach, enjoying the calm and refreshing morning atmosphere. We then returned to the hotel to bid farewell to Santu Da and his family. My brother also came by to say goodbye to them.            Some random picture of Bheemili Beach To be continued ... |
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6th December 2024, 12:43
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| Re: Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty Day 7 continued ... After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and headed to Kailasagiri again since we had missed the 9D show the previous evening. I wanted Tishan and my parents to experience it. From there, we drove along the entire stretch of the Marine Drive, all the way to Bheemili Beach. Before hitting the highway, we stopped for lunch to refuel for the journey ahead.                               Random snaps during marine drive of Vizag The latter part of the day was mostly spent driving on the highway. While I was keen on staying at “Kutumb Farmhouse Resort,” an offbeat destination known for its natural beauty, my brother insisted we stay in Barkul again. In the end, we checked into the same hotel in Barkul where we had stayed on the first night of our trip. This time, we decided to try the famous jumbo crab at "Chilika Dhaba" instead of dining at Pantha Nivas. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a disappointing decision. While the crab was undeniably large, the taste didn’t live up to expectations. The food at OTDC and other restaurants we had tried earlier was far better and came at half or even one-third of the price. |
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6th December 2024, 12:45
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| Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty - Puri Day 08: Barkul - Puri - Kolkata: It was another long day for me, though not for the others. We started early, planning to visit Puri. Santu Da and his family had already arrived there the previous night. However, upon reaching Puri, we realized that due to the Puja vacation, the town was overcrowded with tourists. The hotel where Santu Da was staying could only provide a single family room, while we needed two. After exploring 4–5 other accommodation options without success, we decided to drive back home. Before heading back, my father and the three kids wanted to make the most of their last chance to enjoy the beach. We went to Golden Beach in Puri, parked the car, and spent a couple of hours there. These days, Golden Beach is an excellent spot for spending time, thanks to its cleanliness and available facilities.      Fun time - Puri This marked the final chapter of our trip. I drove back to Kolkata, while my brother drove to Medinipur, our native place. On the way, we encountered the same road repair work near the CM’s office that had caused delays earlier. To make matters worse, the area was packed with thousands of motorbikes as people tried to squeeze in a last bit of festive enjoyment on Dussehra. This trip was a mix of fun, comfort, and stunning views. We explored Chilka, Araku, Deomali Hill, Chitrakoot, and Vizag, creating wonderful memories together. The kids enjoyed every new experience, and we loved the scenic drives. The beautiful places and precious moments with family made this trip truly unforgettable. Thanks for reading - PointZero |
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7th December 2024, 22:40
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| Distinguished - BHPian   Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Calcutta
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8th December 2024, 00:40
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9th December 2024, 16:20
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10th December 2024, 17:31
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| Re: Happy Parents, Happier Kids: The Perfect Mix of Comfort and Scenic Beauty Thanks ABHI_1512. Yes, the road surface is good and not to worry much except the y last 1-2 KM before Deomali Top. Quote:
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11th December 2024, 21:29
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12th December 2024, 11:33
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12th December 2024, 11:38
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