The Roaming Shoes

Rustic and appealing with a tiny speck of chaos – This is how I would describe JODHPUR, the famed Blue City of Rajasthan. The city welcomes you with pretty lakes, vibrantly painted lanes and iconic monuments. At the same time, stray animals wandering along the streets and cacophony of honking vehicles trying to make way through the dusty alleyways are also quintessentially Jodhpur. This striking contrast is probably the reason why the city still maintains its primordial charm. And as you start settling in, it wraps you in its cocoon of colours and warmth.   Tempted to visit Jodhpur?  Here is our list of top experiences in the Blue City. Best Time to visit Jodhpur November to February : The climate of Jodhpur is normally hot and humid. So winter months are the best time to visit the city. Day time temperature is pleasant during this time and great for exploring. Mornings and evenings are cold. Expect more crowd as this is peak season. August to October : Durin...

Standing under the warm morning sun while the gentle winter breeze flirted with my hair, I looked at the surreal landscape in front my eyes. Verdant mountains dotted with a myriad of windmills stood proudly under an azure sky. There was no rush of people or vehicles around or no vendor trying to sell souvenirs to tourists. The soothing silence was cut through by occasional chatters from a few people around. I said to myself exultantly – “ Finally I am here ”. This is my story about how a small temple tucked away in a village in Hassan stole our hearts and made it to our list of all time favourites. Here is a complete guide to visit this little heaven which we fondly call as the “Windmill Temple of Hassan” .   Being close to Bangalore and with excellent road conditions, this can even be done as a half day trip if started early in the morning. It takes around 3-3.5 hours from Bangalore by car. We decided to visit this place as part of our Hassan Trip . This gave us the op...

  It was a regular Friday night in January and as usual we were up late binge-watching a tv series while savouring some pizza. This is when Sush casually suggested visiting Mandaragiri the next day. It seemed like a good idea as it was something offbeat and not frequented by many. So cab was booked for Saturday afternoon and just like that an impromptu trip was planned to Mandaragiri Hills. About Mandaragiri Hills Mandaragiri Betta or Mandargiri Hills is a small hillock in the Tumkur district of Karnataka. This place is gradually gaining popularity due to its uniquely shaped Jain temple. Apart from the Jain temple, Mandaragiri also has a smaller version of the Bahubali statue and offers gorgeous views of sunset from the hill top. Things to see at Mandaragiri Jain temple at the base of the hill This Jain temple (also known as the Guru Mandir) at the base of the hill is the main attraction at Mandaragiri and has played a significant role in making this place popular. The t...

When we visited Jog Falls this October, we had an additional day in hand to explore other places. I was just searching for nearby attractions when I stumbled upon Mirjan Fort. The name was unfamiliar, but the pictures looked absolutely stunning. The fort covered in a blanket of green moss looked like a pretty castle from Scotland. The best thing about this fort is despite being so close to the touristy Gokarna, it is still offbeat and visited by very few people. So we decided to skip the other popular destinations and instead take a day trip to Mirjan fort. About Mirjan Fort Mirjan Fort lies at around 22 kms from Gokarna in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The fort located amidst the idyllic green surroundings by the river Aghanasini is spread over an area of 12 acres. Built with laterite blocks, the fort has high walls and bastions.    Believed to be built in the 16th century, the actual history of the fort is still unknown though there are many legends on who...

  It has been a year since this pandemic started and 8 full months since most of us have been confined to the walls of our home. Whether going out with friends or family for a meal or taking the kids to the park or even celebrating special occasions at our favourite places – everything has come to a halt in this time. And honestly, none of us know when it is going to end too. So does it mean we give up on all of the things that make us happy? I say, no.  Since Home is the place we now spend most of our time at, we decided to break the monotony and come up with ideas that make our home an even happier place. And creating cute little corners using existing things at home was definitely one of them. Whether it is anniversary or birthday or even weekend date evenings – we have used simple home decors to make the best of this time at home. And let me tell you, the experience has been so great and fulfilling that now it has become a part of our life.  So here are a fe...

  Perhentian Islands have long been on our list ever since we came across it while searching for some good beach destinations. The crystalline water, the white sandy beaches and the towering greenery were enticing enough to make us add it to the top of our wishlist. Two years later, on our 6th wedding anniversary, we could not have selected a better place to visit amongst the Malaysia tourist attractions .  Perhentian Islands consist of 2 islands – the small one is called Perhentian Kecil and the bigger one is Perhentian Besar. Both islands are beautiful and you can never go wrong with your choice irrespective of whichever island you choose for your stay. We stayed at Perhentian Kecil and absolutely loved it.   Top things to do Perhentian Kecil is the kind of place where you can spend days simply relaxing at the beach or enjoy your time swimming in the crystal clear water of the sea. But if you are more than just a relaxing person, then here is a list of top thing...