Karnataka takes a shine to 'gold tourism' in defunct mining sites
As per the Kappatagudda Management Plan prepared by the department, officials intend to allow visitors in tunnels to experience the British-era gold mining sites that were used to extract gold.
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Deccan Herald
7 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Karnataka takes a shine to 'gold tourism' in defunct mining sites
As per the Kappatagudda Management Plan prepared by the department, officials intend to allow visitors in tunnels to experience the British-era gold mining sites that were used to extract gold.
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Tired Of Crowds? These 6 Hidden Gems In Shimla Are Your Escape Route
Shimla has an unparalleled colonial appeal which is accompanied by pine-covered slopes and the bustling Mall Road. There are moments, however, during the peak tourist seasons when you'd want nothing more than to be left alone with your thoughts away from all the noise. Whether you're looking to read a book in peace or soak nature in, there are hidden locations in Shimla that cater to your need for solitude. No need to worry about being suffocated by other people, rather, take a look at some of the top places in Shimla where you can truly feel completely alone. These abandoned buildings and forest trails serve these regions with fresh air while also offering a deep sense of spiritual connection with nature. Falls Sitting in the heart of Glen Forest, Chadwick Falls is a hidden gem that is a painful distance away from all the tourist locations. To make matters worse, the walk towards the falls is covered by dense Deodar and pine trees, which makes the whole 'journey' profound in itself. At the base of the waterfall, misty surroundings add an already mythical touch to this place. Accompanied by the sound of cascading water and chirping birds, peace never felt better. Found about 5 kilometers from Shimla, in the vicinity of Summer Hill This location is best visited very early in the morning for total tranquility. The height of the waterfall is around 86 meters, making it quite a sight. Most suitable for meditation, photography, and easy hiking. Try to avoid visiting during the busy tourism season if you wish to enjoy the peace and quiet. Forest If you seek solitude in the wilderness, the Mashobra forest fulfills your desire. Unlike the crowded Ridge or Mall Note, here, there are miles upon miles of undisturbed walking trails which are accompanied only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional owl hooting. The cherry on the cake? You won't see another human being for hours. Located 8 km from Shimla city center Famous for its pine, cedar and oak trees Is a great place for nature lovers because of the diverse birds and wildlife Provides numerous pathways that venture deeper into the forest for ultimate solitude Best visited during early morning or late afternoon Devi Temple This temple is situated on top of Prospect Hill. Unlike most tourists who do not get infatuated with Jakhoo Temple, Kamna Devi Temple is far less crowded and offers tranquility from the usually tourist populated areas. As a bonus, this beautiful temple can also be accessed with a short and relatively easy trek. Located 4 km from Shimla, near Boileauganj Half hour walk up through a forested area Offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains Rarely crowded, making it a perfect meditation spot Most ideal at sunrise or sunset for stunning views The Annandale region once served as a main recreational site for British officers of the Raj. Now it is a rather unexplored section of Shimla that is covered by thick Deodar forests. This makes it a great location for some much needed peace and quiet. Tourists who happen to visit the region get the perfect opportunity to sit back and relax, taking in the beautiful sight of the soft clouds cascading over the hills. While this region is phenomenal for being a bookworm, yoga mat lover or even immersing yourself in the glorious sun, it serves as a place of solitude which is tough to find elsewhere. Located 3 km from town Once served as a racecourse and polo ground of the British officers Now houses an army museum but still remains mostly uninhabited Best suited for some relaxing and quiet picnics or power naps under the sun The golf course nearby adds to the scenic charm Devi Temple Tara Devi Temple can be found 7,000 feet up a hill, making it a great place for anyone seeking peace. This temple is not as popular as other religious places in Shimla which makes it an absolute must for those seeking solitude. With the stunning view of the entire Himalayan range alongside the fresh mountain breeze, it is perfect for just sitting back and enjoying the surroundings. Distance from Shimla: 13 km, Located near Shoghi Requires a short uphill trek, adding to the feeling of isolation In the winter, it has beautiful views of snow-capped peaks It is also a perfect location for deep meditation, silent prayer and even contemplation. The best time to go is early in the morning when there are few visitors. Hill Out of all places in Shimla, Potter's Hill looks like it is from another realm. This secluded forest area attracts a few, but it is still one of the unexplored regions of Shimla, making it ideal for seeking solitude. The hill gets its name from potters who used to extract clay from this site, but haw it serves as a perfect getaway for people looking to disconnect from the chaos and immerse themselves in nature. Just 5 km away from Shimla, near Summer Hill Sparsely visited deodar and rhododendron forests Great for long solitary walks, self picnics and pondering deeply Offers breathtaking sunset views with no one around No signs mark trails which could lead further into the woods for complete solitude Final Thoughts While Shimla remains a crucial hotspot for tourists, it does offer some of its corners where a traveler can feel truly alone. If you want to escape from the bustling crowd, Shimla surely exceeds expectations with its tranquil forest, quaint waterfalls, and stunning view. The next time you visit Shimla, make sure to forget what you have read in tourist brochures and focus on the not-so-popular fantastical regions and you will surely come back with your head feeling as clean as the mountain air itself.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Fish, friendship, and a fudge
I once read an old English book on fishing, one of those charmingly archaic volumes filled with both practical advice and poetic digressions, which mentioned a guest house on the banks of the Giri river, about 10 kilometres below Solan towards Rajgarh. The memory of that book stayed with me, tucked away like a forgotten map. Years later, it resurfaced at just the right moment. It was near midnight, and we were descending from Himachal Pradesh, weary from the road and in search of a place to rest. I remembered the book and its quiet recommendation, and so, guided by instinct and half-remembered lines, we found our way to that very guest house on the river, a favourite quarry of British anglers of Mahaseers, an angling challenge. It was just as the author had described: a simple, lovely place nestled beside the Giri, where the river widened into a calm pool. The surroundings were clean and undisturbed, with low hills gently enclosing the valley, as if sheltering it from the rest of the world. A place utterly still, yet brimming with quiet life. Literature, after all, has long borne witness to rivers not just as locations but as moral and symbolic thresholds, from the meditative solitude of Izaak Walton's The Complete Angler to the spiritual journeys across the Ganga in Indian mythology. Rivers are indeed not merely backdrops but undying protagonists. Modest in form, the Giri carries the soul of a river, ancient and awake. It flows down through Himachal's foothills, like a whispered hymn, to join the Yamuna at Ponta Sahib, that old, sacred town of pilgrimage and memory, a site where literature, history, and faith intertwine. And from there, its waters merge with the great Yamuna, which eventually pours into the Ganga, India's most timeless river steeped in reverence and legends. To sit beside the Giri, then, was to be part of that immense journey, a thin stream flowing into the heart of the subcontinent. Blissful days We spent three blissful days upriver from that sacred site, a fleeting spell of unbroken serenity full of sunlight and quiet rapture. We basked by the water, swam in its cold blueish-green clarity, cast our lines for the elusive Mahaseer, and relished long, simple meals under the sky. Every afternoon and evening featured fish, either those we had (miraculously) managed to catch, or, more often, the result of a more pragmatic solution. One morning, as we descended from the guest house to the water's edge, we came upon a local fisherman who had already laid claim to the day's abundance. While we enacted our slow-motion drama of enlightened angling, he skipped straight to success without props or pretence. He had stretched a wide net across a narrow bend in the river, and when the early morning fish swam unsuspectingly into it, he hauled in nearly two dozen hefty, slippery Mahaseers without the ancient meditations of bait and stillness. Beautiful tough creatures, golden monsters in their own right, the 'tigers of the river'. We hadn't caught a thing ourselves. But drawn by the sight, and driven by appetite, we asked if he would part with four of his catch. He agreed readily, seemed pleased in fact, and took half a rupee for the lot. It felt like a small betrayal of the sport, of the quiet ethic to catch a fish, not trap and slaughter it in cold blood. There was something crude, almost violent, in that indiscriminate haul, a kind of rupture in the intimacy between angler and fish. I thought of my days in Cambridge, fishing in the River Cam and how, as the fishing principles dictate, we would unhook the fish and let it go back into the river. Understandably, the ethics of fishing, of sportsmanship, restraint, respect for the life one draws from the water, haunted us gently, never enough to stop us from eating, but always enough to make us think. Hunger won over principle that morning. Unlike hunters returning from a thoroughly undeserved triumph, we shuffled back to the guesthouse, fish flapping, egos inflated, and mischief bubbling under the veneer of modesty. We told the others that we had caught them ourselves, a harmless fiction, and the breakfast that followed was among the finest I remember. Simply boiled potatoes, fresh grilled fish, and that shared sense of satisfaction that only a river morning can give. And so the days passed. Morning swims, afternoon naps, evenings of firelight and laughter. Our modest attempts at fishing continued, more for the pleasure of the ritual than the hope of success. And the fisherman continued his efficient work upstream, which we disapproved of in principle but quietly relied on in practice. The Mahasheer, grilled and spiced, always made its way to our plates. Fishing for Mahaseer is, indeed, less about the catch and more about the journey. Immersed in tranquil landscapes and flowing mountain rivers, the experience offers a deep connection with nature. The excitement of encountering such a powerful fish adds to the thrill, but even without a catch, the adventure, the serenity, and the sheer beauty of the surroundings make it unforgettable. In the end, it was not just the fishing or the setting that made those three days special. It was the feeling of being out of time, of living by the pace of water, sun, and hunger. Of watching a small, unassuming river move with quiet purpose toward the sacred confluence with the Yamuna at Ponta Sahib, and then onward, toward the Ganga, carrying with it the dust of mountains, the breath of forests, and the fragments of stories like ours. Standing on the banks, a thought came to my mind that rivers are not only geographical features, but carriers of civilisation, memory, and language. shelleywalia@
