• Submarine Museum Vizag
    History - Places

    The Submarine Museum

    February 10, 2011 - By 

    As kids, like many of us, we were awed by the concept of submarine – something that can travel under the water. And we were under the impression that submarines are a 20th century invention. Yes, the modern submarines were made in later half of 20th century. But efforts to travel under water have been made as early as 325 BC. (A 16th-century Islamic painting depicting Alexander the Great being lowered in a glass submersible. From Wikipedia) Museums have the ability pull us back into the past. The displays recreate history and invoke awe and wonder. Two back-to-back museum visits…

  • Rushikonda Beach Vizag
    Food - Hotels - Places

    Four Days in Andhra and No Andhra Food in Sight

    January 16, 2011 - By 

    When travel turns to be an ‘industry’, it comes with all the perils of standardisation. ‘One-day package’, ‘two-day package’ with a set list of things to see and do. Hotel staff rarely knows places other than these. Most taxi drivers insist there are no other interesting places. Not to mention the standardised Punjabi menu most restaurants offer. After returning from Araku valley to Vizag city, our choice of Rushikonda beach resort turned out to be a good. On a hillock overlooking the beach, this APTDC resort offers comfortable stay. We had figured out a few places in and around Vizag…

  • Araku Valley, TravelWithacouple
    Arts & Culture - Places

    More on Araku Valley and the Friday Market

    January 9, 2011 - By 

    The sprawling fields of oilseed plants form a carpet of yellow flowers in the valley. Making it the more exquisite are the sunlight and the shadows cast by the clouds. Araku Valley is indeed about simple beauties and timeless pleasures. The Friday Market The Araku town comes alive on Fridays as the tribal men and women come to the town to sell their produce and buy their grocery and other stuff for the week. From salt, rice, vegetables, sweets and savouries to bangles, cloths, bags, soaps, seeds, knives and vessels, this weekly market is one-stop shop for all your needs…

  • TravelWithacouple, Borra Caves, Andhra Pradesh
    Nature's Wonders - Places

    Borra Caves: Some Chemistry, a Little Biology, a Bit of Mythology. Whatever, It’s Magical!

    December 5, 2010 - By 

    An architecture marvel created by world’s best architect. How else we describe this amazing, stupendous, phenomenal creation of nature! Considered as one of India’s longest caves, Borra Caves is also the deepest, extending up to 80 m. Lit with a few halogen lamps just enough to create visibility for the damp pathways, the setting appears to be a scene from an Indiana Jones movie. Or at times we thought we were in an alien land. We are in fact wordless to describe the experience of Borra Caves and no photographs can capture its real magnificence. Partially decomposed organic matter creates…

  • TravelWithacouple, Araku Valley
    Places

    Welcome to Eastern Ghats – Tyda

    November 21, 2010 - By 

    We have not come out of the magic spell that Western Ghats casts on nature lovers.  And we will never be able to come out of it. Yet, the Eastern Ghats, which run parallely to the east cost of India, from West Bengal in the north to Tamilnadu in the south, have been seducing us for some time. Not as tall as the Western Ghats,  these are discontinuous ranges with a few hill stations thrown in. (map courtesy:  wikipedia) Araku Valley had been on our radar for more than a year. Known for its highly fertile soil, sprawling fields, tribal…