Coorg women are gifted wine makers

Coorg women are gifted wine makers. It is said, “Gift a Coorg woman a bouquet of roses, she will thank you politely and as soon as you are out of sight, she will rip off the fragrant petals and turn it into wine”. So you see Coorg women can transform anything and everything into wine that catches their fancy. Cashews, rose petals, rice, raisins, plums, berries, passion fruit and even hibiscus. Unbelievable, right? 

Variants also include "Pomegranate", "Beetal Leaf", "Ginger", "Sapota" wines. There's a lady in Coorg who also makes the world's best home made "Apricot Brandy". Female guests at family functions love all these flavors without the worry of getting drunk!! 

Homemade wines are sugary, full of flavour and fragrance. Passion fruits form the ingredient of their wine making as these trees with juicy and rich flavoured fruits grow galore along the hills of Coorg, Karnataka, India.

P.S: Content curated from Cheers Coorg.

A day's drive to Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar, Karnataka which boasts of the tallest Shivalinga in Asia

The Kotilingeshwara Temple lies in a very small village named Kammasandra in the Kolar district. The temple is extremely famous because of the largest and the tallest Shivalinga present in Asia. More than 2 lac devotees visit this temple every year.

Maha Shivaratri is a special occasion and a large number of devotees make it a point to be there on this auspicious day. The temple can be easily reached from the gold fields of Kolar.

Kotilingeshwara. Image courtesy Mithila

The Shivalinga is 33 mts tall. It has an accompanying Basava statue which is 11 mts tall and is surrounded by a large number of Shivalingas spread across the area. The project involves an establishment of one crore shivalingas hence it is named Kotilingeshwara and currently, there are about a hundred lakh shivalingas.

Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy pponnada

Quick Facts about Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar

The best time to visit: between July and January.Address: Kodilingam Temple Road, Ghattakamadenahalli, Kolar-563121 (Map)Timings: 6:00 AM- 9:00PMEntry Fee: INR 20 per personCamera Fee: INR 100 per cameraParking Charges: INR 30Linga Installation Fee: Starts from INR 6,000

Panoramic View of Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Visurao4all

History of Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar

This temple has been constructed by Swami Sambha Shiva Murthy in the year 1980. The first linga was installed in 1980 and since then there have been many lingas present in the temple. There is also a huge and tall Nandi installed beside the linga. The Nandi is 11 mt tall and sits over a huge platform.

Within the premises of the temple, there are about eleven other temples for different deities. The first of them includes the temple of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Lord Maheshwara temples. This is followed by a temple of Lord Kotilingeshwara.

Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Pponnada

The temples include Goddess Annapoorneshwari Temple, Goddess Karumaari Amma Temple, Lord Venkataramani Swamy Temple, Lord Panduranga Swamy Temple, Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana Temple, Lord Panchamukha Ganapathy Temple, Lord Anjaneya Temple, and finally Goddess Kannika Parameshwari Temple.

The Government has declared this temple as a tourist spot so that hundreds of tourists from across the World can come and pay their respects to the largest Linga in Asia. Two flower trees, named one Nagalinga and Cannon Ball are located here, and many unmarried women pray for a blessed and happy married life.

Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Pponnada

Poojas at Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar

Daily poojas are performed at all the installed Shivalingas by the priests every day. The pooja is carried out with music and drums and all the priests recite mantras as well as pour water on the lingas.

The devotees can also offer special poojas by installing the lingas. These lingas can be installed on any day chosen by the devotees in their names. Regular poojas will be carried out and offered to all the lingas installed.

Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Pponnada

Facilities at Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar

There are rest houses constructed for devotees in the temple premises. In addition, free mass marriages are performed here every year. This is carried out by priests with drums, music and chants. Currently, there are around twenty weddings performed every week. There is also a meditation hall built for devotees who wish to meditate in peace.

Kotilingeshwara Temple. Image courtesy Mithila

How to Reach Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar

By Road

If you want to reach the temple by road, you need to head through Kolar. Kolar is at a distance of 2.5 hours from Bangalore. Kotilingeshwara Temple is a day's drive from Bangalore and back.

Harley-Davidson from Mumbai meets a ship of the desert in near Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India

It was near Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India where a Harley-Davidson from Mumbai, almost 1200 kms away crossed paths with a ship of the desert, viz. camel.
India is one country where one gets to see a $160K LandRover Evoque sharing a highway with a $40K Harley or Indian and with camel carts strolling past at easy pace. It's a country of mixed demographic profile. Come to India. Do a 'backpacking India on road' and also 'be my car travel buddy in India'.

Photo courtesy: Bharat De.

PanchaMukha (five-faced) Hanuman Temple is 2 kms from Rameshwaram temple in Tamilnadu, India

PanchaMukha (five-faced) Hanuman Temple is 2 kms from Rameshwaram temple in the state of Tamilnadu, India.
Here Hanuman is dressed with vermilion. The temple also has deities of Rama, Sita and Hanuman which were originally at Dhanushkodi but were brought to the temple site after the killer cyclone in 1964. A few of the floating stones called 'Sethu Bandanam' supposedly used for building the ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka are carefully preserved in the temple.

By worshipping PanchaMukha Anjaneyar, one can get rid of enemies with the help of Narashima Mukha, overcome all types of Dosha with the help of Garuda, get all types of wealth with Varaha; and get Gnana with Hayagriva.
At this temple, there is an oil-fired lamp next to lord Ram which has been kept burning for over three decades. Panchamuga Anjaneyar’s huge idol is open to the sky without any canopy on top. It is believed that the 700 years old temple at Dhanushkodi, was also destroyed during the cyclone in 1964 and some of the 'moorthams' (idols) were brought here.

Temple timings: 6:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Assam's 126-km long twin bridges will be India's largest

The longest bridge in the country will come up in Assam soon. Twin bridges running along 126 kilometres will stretch from Sivasagar in Upper Assam, connecting the river island Majuli to the rest of the state.

“The project, running up to Rs 15,000 crores, has been sanctioned by the Centre. A South Korean company is working on a detailed project report (DPR) which will take a year to complete,” Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told DNA.

The bridges, Sonowal said, will start at the Nitai Pukhuri bridge in Sivasagar, pass via the Tekeli Phuta bridge in Dhakuakhana, from where the bridge will trifurcate and connect Majuli island at the ports at Kamalabari and at Nemati.

Majuli, the biggest river island in the world, was earlier part of the Jorhat district, and is Sonowal’s constituency. He had promised to declare Majuli a district and build a bridge to connect it to the mainland. Majuli has now been declared a district.

Sonowal also said the state is also working on the island’s problem of erosion. “We are working on a project to dredge the riverbed so that it can hold more water. This will allow for the passage for ships of up to 10,000 metric tonnes via the river,” he added.

The CM said that the sand that will be deposited on both sides of the river will be converted into national highways to stop the erosion. Sonowal added that the idea was mooted by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari.

Waterways as a mode of transport has been largely ignored, he said. “The British used the Brahmaputra to transport Digboi’s oil, Margherita’s coal and Tinsukia and Dibrugarh’s tea, on to Bangladesh via the Padma, and then on to other parts of the world to develop a global trade environment. The river is the cheapest mode of travel. If rail transport costs you a rupee and road transport Rs 1.5, river transport costs only 30 paise,” said Sonowal.

Source: DNA, New Delhi dated 2017-04-01. 

HOGs at Asansol Energy (IOC) on 2017-03-26 evening

HOGs on their return ride from Adra to Kolkata stopped to tank-up at Asansol Energy (IOC), on NH2 between Ghagarburi Temple and Kalipahari on 2017-03-26 evening.
There was an Indian and a Suzuki 1000 in the group, too. The others were Fatboy, Fatbob, Street, all from the Harley Davidson stable.

Sandip Samanta (owner of Asansol Energy), an avid Indian Roadie fan treated the 16 riders to hot 'pakoras' and tea.

Incidentally, #AsansolEnergy is an #IndianRoadiePreferredFillingStation.

HOG => Harley Owners Group.

Let's explore India together on road

I am at Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, the land of leopards in the state of Chattisgarh, India while driving solo from Pune to Kolkata.
I love to see India while travelling together with wanderlust backpacking travellers from throughout the world. 3 to 4 persons at a time from across the world are invited to travel with me in my car (SUV or sedan) at a very low cost (we will go Dutch!) in total comfort and absolute safety.
In the process, my travelbuddies get a true feel of entire India, its culture, topography, people, food, etc, etc. I get them to talk to the local populace in villages/ towns/ cities, school students, and also engineering/ business school students at various locations to understand the true India.
Multiple numbers of driving circuits have been planned for all weather round the year drives. However, we strictly do not drive during the night.
For students, researchers, bloggers, photographers, friends, couples, backpackers this will be one cherished and unforgettable holiday. This is not a business proposition. We simply embark on a journey and drive around as friends!

Does this sound interesting? Do you have friends who could be interested in joining me?

Email me on: roadieglobal@gmail.com
Call/ WhatsApp: +91 82408 49300

Connect to me and 'inbox' me on: www.facebook.com/deepbanerjee.marketingpundit.
Also 'like'/ 'join' the Facebook 'pages'/ 'groups' @ IndianRoadie, @ GlobalRoadie.
Follow me on Twitter @IndianRoadie, @GlobalRoadie.

#BeMyCarTravelBuddyInIndia
#BackpackingIndiaOnRoad

Drive to Tungnath, world's highest Shiva temple

Tungnath (12051 ft above sea level) is the world's highest Shiva temple.
One can reach Chopta from Haridwar or Rishikesh. It's approx 163 km from Rishikesh. One can drive or can take a bus or taxi till Chopta.
From Chopta it's a trek of 4 - 5 kms for Tungnath. 

Photo credit: Dinesh Negi

Goudaguda in Koraput, Odisha is home for an Australian guy

An Australian guy has made Goudaguda in Koraput district, Odisha his home.
Friend and award winning travel blogger Shivya Nath had the privilege of being a guest at this quaint little place.

Karnataka doctor's card swiped for Rs 4 lakh instead of Rs 40 at toll booth near Udupi

Toll attendant swiped Rs 4 lakh instead of Rs 40 from a doctor's debit card at Gundmi toll gate on the Kochi-Mumbai National Highway near Udupi around 10.30pm 2017-03-14, Saturday. The toll gate is 18 kms from Udupi, Karnataka.
The Mysuru-based doctor, who cops could identify only as Dr Rao, was travelling in his chauffeur-driven car to Mumbai via the coast. Around 10.30pm, he gave his debit card to pay the Rs 40 toll. The attendant, after swiping the card, gave the POS receipt and and toll receipt to the doctor.
When he received a text message that Rs 4 lakh had been debited from his account, he brought it to the notice of the toll gate staff. They refused to acknowledge their mistake, even after about two hours of the doctor's efforts to retrieve his money.
The doctor proceeded to Kota, which is about 5 kms from the toll gate, and went to the police station there around 1am to file a complaint. He returned to the toll gate with the head constable.
Finally, the toll booth personnel admitted the attendant had entered the wrong amount and offered to reimburse the excess amount by cheque. But the doctor insisted he wanted the entire amount in cash.
The toll gate personnel contacted senior officials of the collection company and made arrangements to pay the Rs 3,99,960 in cash around 4am. Police said the company usually has a daily collection of around Rs 8 lakh at Gundmi gate.

(Source: The Times of India dated 2017-03-14)

Jeep Compass to be launched in India in 2017

Jeep has huge plans for India going forward. While they currently have their CBU range on offer, they will soon be making their products in India. The Compass will be the first product to be made in India and according to a report by Overdrive, the vehicle is expected to start as low as Rs. 16 lakhs, which means it is going to take the fight to the XUV500 and the top end variants of Creta.

When is the expected launch?



The vehicle is expected to be launched in India in August 2017 and will have an introductory price of Rs 16 lakhs ex-showroom, which is way below the 20-25 lakh expectation that most people had. The Compass will be the first Jeep to be built in Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility near Pune. The Compass will also be exported from India to other markets.

Possible positioning:
The Compass is a compact SUV that seats 5. It is based on the Renegade platform, which means it is a small SUV about 4.4 meters long and 1.9 meters wide. It borrows design cues from its elder sibling, the Grand Cherokee. It has the similarly designed front grill and headlamps that give it an aggressive yet macho look. At the back, it will get LED tail lamps. The vehicle is pretty stylish to look at and will surely bring in a lot of customers if the pricing is done right.



On the inside, the car will get a U-Connect infotainment system with Apple carplay and Android auto. The touch screen system will either be a 7″ or a 8.5″ one based on the variant chosen. Safety features will include 6 airbags, ABS, ESP, hill hold assist and reverse parking camera with sensors. Jeep has confirmed that all their products launched will come with the option of 4wd, which means we can expect both the 2wd and the 4wd version to be on offer. The 4wd model will feature a Terrain-select dial to choose between the various terrains.

Power:



Fiat will offer the 2.0 liter Multijet engine with the Compass. This will churn out 160 Bhp and 350 Nm and will be mated to both a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed automatic gearbox. There is no clarity on what petrol engine will make it to the Compass, if any.

Variants:
The Compass will be offered in a total of three trim levels, Sport, Longitude and Limited. Details on the loadings that each trim will possess are still not available and will be known closer to the date of the launch.

Competition:
Given the 16 lakh introductory price tag, the Compass will surely take buyers away from the Creta and the XUV500. This Compass will take on the Tucson and the Yeti though, in terms of positioning. Yes, the XUV, Hexa and the Crysta all have a third row, something which the Compass doesn’t. However that third row is barely used. What you loose there, you make up for in terms of brand value. Also the Jeep will be more capable than its competition, given that we will be getting the 4wd variant as well.

Source: Overdrive

Toyota Innova tyre burst kills JNTU VC near Anantpur on NH44 on 2017-02-22

A ghastly accident claimed the lives of the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University Prof M M M Sarcar, his personal assistant and his driver on 2017-02-22. The accident took place in Pamidi Mandal, about 30 kms from Anantapur on NH-44 (erstwhile, NH7) .

The trio were travelling in a Toyota Innova when one of the front tyres of the car burst. The car was reportedly travelling at over 100 kmph at the time of crash. After the tyre burst, the driver lost control of the car which jumped over the median divider onto the other side of the road where it crashed into a truck that was coming in the opposite direction.

Everything ahead of the B-pillar of the Toyota Innova was crushed. The impact was so severe that all three died almost instantly and a crane had to be called to extract the bodies.

Bike trip to Bogatha waterfalls (near Etturnagaram), Laknavaram Lake from Hyderabad in October 2015

Travelogue of a single day ride by two friends (Raghu Jayaraman and Naveen Kalluri) in a single bike from Hyderabad to Bogatha waterfalls (near Etturnagaram) & Laknavaram Lake and back in October 2015.

1. Total distance clocked around 550 kms+.
2. Route: Hyd-Warangal-Mulugu-Etturnagaram.
3. Started at 5am from Uppal, Hyderabad. Six lane toll road before Ghatkesar till Raigir, which suddenly becomes a single lane all the way.
4. Reached Hanamkonda at 6.50am. After breakfast, started at 7.45am, less traffic and good roads till Pasara, after which a mini forest section with a single road for around 30kms. This stretch is quite narrow. As it was a long weekend, lots of vehicles started coming.
5. Before Etturnagaram saw another new wide road branch off, still we proceeded and reached the town at 9.15am. After some enquiry, learnt that the new road was the one we were supposed to take to the falls which leads to Bhopalpatnam as well.
6. Proceeded on that magnificent bridge and few kms ahead took a narrow strip to the falls. Spent around an hour near the falls, which had less water. Should be a good sight during the monsoon.
7. Started around 11.am, and went to Laknavaram lake and spent an hour there. Good amount of crowd, lined up for the boating.
8. Reached Hanamkonda at 2pm, and after lunch departed at 3pm and reached Hyd at 5.15pm, with couple of minor breaks in between.
9. One interesting fact about the newly constructed bridge at Etturnagaram is that it reduces the road distance by a whopping 175 kms to go across the river, as per some news links.

Test drive of Tata Hexa XTA in Kolkata on 2017-02-22

Accompanied my school buddy Sandip Samanta for a test drive of Tata Hexa XTA in Kolkata on 2017-02-22.



What's good in the XTA variant:
- The 2.2 ltr diesel engine is unbelievably quiet.
- The AMT version is a pleasure to drive.
- Powerful engine.

- The 2.2-liter VariCOR diesel engine, which delivers 156 PS and 400 Nm of torque, is paired to 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions, the latter gets a ‘Sport’ mode for better response. 
- Superb braking with disc brakes in the rear wheels also.
- 10 Speaker JBL system (5 speakers + 4 tweeters + 1 subwoofer) is awesome.
- Reasonably good safety features with 6 airbags.
- Premium Benecke-Kaliko seat upholstery. Very comfortable seating system. The finish is excellent.
- Smoked projector headlamps.
- Steering mounted Audio, Phone, Cruise control.
- 19" alloys with 235/85 tyres.

What's bad:
- All plastic items inside the car are of very poor quality.
- Access to the last row of seats is not an easy affair.

My verdict:
I have every reason to believe that Tata Motors is still trying out the perfect fit for the Indian market. The company will surely discontinue the Rs.19+ lakhs priced car in another 3 years, viz. by March 2020.