Exploring Bentota - Turtle Breeding Farm

On the second day of our vacation we decided to explore Bentota and see what else there was to do besides lazing on the beach, swimming in the ocean and sunbathing. Cab drivers in Bentota double up as guides and tour operators. The cabs are fairly decent and air conditioned. We arranged for one of these to take us on a guided tour for $ 20 ( Sri Lankan Rs 2000).  We were promised a tour of the region - about 4 hours. If you are a good negotiator, you could pay as low as $10. Our first stop was the Turtle Breeding farm on the outskirts of Bentota.

Young Hatched Turtles

The work being done at this breeding farm on conservation of these endangered animals is commendable. Turtles come onto the beaches to lay their eggs in the sand. The greatest danger to the young turtles is when the eggs hatch and the young ones move towards the ocean. Very few survive as most are picked up by hawks and crows and the ones that do make it to the ocean get eaten up the big fish. As part of the conservation efforts, the hatchery picks up the eggs and releases the young turtles into the sea only after the turtles are at least 2 years old and can look after themselves.Loggerhead Turtle

There is a small payment of $2  to be made as entry fee to visit the Turtle Farm. The hatchery has different species of turtles - these include the Loggerhead Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and the rare Albino Turtle.

Hawksbill Turtle

Albino Turtle

The hatchery has turtles of various ages. There are some which are over 20 years old- these are those turtles that have lost a limb or have some other disability which would make it impossible for them to survive outside. Turtles can live upto over 100 years of age.
At the end of the tour, you could buy some handicrafts that the centre sells which go towards funding of this effort.

Beaches at Bentota, Sri Lanka

At Bentota we wake up to the gentle sound of waves breaking on the golden sandy beaches. In the month of February, the mornings are cool and a long leisurely walk - bare footed - is a pleasure. The time to visit Bentota is between November and March - the best time being December and January when the weather is really pleasant.
Take a deep breath, soak in the clean environment, wade into the clean blue water and let your senses drift.
Morning is when other living animals too make their appearance on the beach. Crabs of different colours and hues can be spotted on the rocks .
And of course the omnipresent Crows which are present in abundance in Bentota can be seen at any time. These crows are also the biggest threat to the baby crabs and newly hatched turtles on which they feed.

The beaches at Bentota are safe through the year for swimming and surfing. Most of the swimmers and surfers visible at the beaches are tourists.

There are also a host of water activities that are popular which include wind surfing, water skiing and para sailing, riding on the fishermen boats, cruises on the Indian ocean and the the Bentota river and of course the most enjoyable of them all - swimming in the clean blue waters of the ocean. As the sun rises , beach chairs are laid out on the beaches and tourists spend a relaxed day sunbathing.
Tourist out for a walk in the morning

Local Fishing Boat

Sunset at Bentota Beach

Vacationing in Bentota, Sri Lanka

A long weekend is a great opportunity for taking a break. Last week was one such opportunity and we headed for Bentota Beach in Sri Lanka. Though Colombo is just a 3 hour flight from Delhi, had never considered holidaying in Sri Lanka earlier - (what with the problems of insurgency and LTTE planting bombs at will !). The problem was that everyone else seemed to have the same idea and no hotel rooms were available. We were finally however able to book at the Taj Exotica on the beach. Arrived at Colombo airport in the afternoon to be met by the hotel staff ( very corteous and well informed driver and a nice comfortable Toyota Corolla car) to take us to Bentota - a 3 hour drive from the airport though the distance is just 80 Kms. The Sri Lankan countryside is very green and it is a pleasant drive winding through the small towns and fields to Bentota. Movement of traffic is slow because of the of the heavy traffic and small towns and villages that are on the way.A stopover coffee point on the way to Bentota

The route to Bentota from Colombo is along the sea cost. As you drive down to Bentota, the sea is never far from you and you can stop at the numerous eating places on the seaside and enjoy a cup of coffee or beer .

The Taj Exotica at Bentota

The Taj Exotica is a very well located hotel with a wide front facing the beach. We reached the hotel to a welcome of garlands and welcome drinks. The rooms are good sized with a terrace/balcony - ours was facing the sea and on the same level as the swimming pool. Couldn't wait and hit the beach as soon as check in was complete.

Bentota Beach at Dusk

The Bentota Beach is a clean white sand beach. No hawkers so no garbage, plastic bags and bottles. Great to walk on the beach barefooted. Our tiredness of travelling since the morning vanished with the cool and refreshing wind and the sound of the sea gently lapping the shores.

Anita enjoying a stroll through the water
View of the Sea Shore from our hotel balcony

Sunset at Pushkar

A popular spot in Pushkar is sunset point located adjacent to the Pushkar Palace overlooking the lake and temples. It is rather unfortunate that the lake has been dry for over 2 years now - the Government of Rajasthan is supposedly de silting and cleaning the lake ( we saw no work happening when we were there). Sunset Point is a favourite hang out place overlooking the holy Pushkar Lake where you can watch the sun setting. The very strategically located 'Sunset Cafe' is just in front of the KIshangarh Ghat offering a wide variety of vegetarian though mediocre fare. Nice place to relax and watch the sun go down. Be there an hour before sunset as the place has only 5 or 6 tables outside that give you a view of the place.

Sunset at Sunset Point in Pushkar

Street singers are a common feature at this point . For a small tip of $1 to S2, the musicians will break into song with some fantastic drumming and playing of the local Sarangi.

Street Musicians performing for Tourists

The Pushkar lake has around it 52 bathing ghats where devotees come for blessings and take a dip in the holy waters. Just in front of the viewing platform at sunset point is the Kishangarh Ghat where a priest will offer prayers for you for an amount as low as $1 ( depending on your bargaining skills). This is also the only spot where you can take photographs.Kishangarh GhatsThe numerous Temples surrounding the Pushkar Lake

Pushkar is a popular place to visit for tourists from around the world. There is a wide variety of cuisines from around the world ( the quality though is middling) ranging from Italian, Hebrew and Mexican to a wide range of Rajasthani vegetarian food. Pushkar has a surprisingly large no of tourists from Israel and you will find signs in Hebrew, Indians speaking Hebrew and numerous restaurants with Israeli food. Tourists in Pushkar

Pizza in Pushkar

Pushkar is a small orthodox town in Rajasthan and the one thing you would not expect to find in Pushkar is a good pizza - but surprise! surprise! - we located a place named Bagh Restaurant which serves some the best pizzas possible. Pushkar being a vegetarian town - non veg is banned - ordered vegetarian cheese pizzas which were amongst the best that I have ever had. The restaurant even has a Wood fired oven to turn out the real thing. Highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys pizzas.

Waiting for the Pizzas !!

PUSHKAR

Went on a weekend trip with family to Pushkar in Rajasthan. Had a lovely 7 hour drive from Delhi halting on the way for coffee and snacks.                                         Utsav, Angad and Kartik with Anita at the Dhaba

Entered Pushkar around 3 and headed for the Green House Resort where we were staying. A very nice tented accommodation with all luxuries and comforts.

The Greenhouse Resort is about 7 kms outside Puskar and is located on the foothills of the Aravalis. The resort has made extensive use of drip irrigation to really green up the place and there is an abundance of flowers and plants though the area is very dry and arid. The morning woke us up with the chatter of Babblers – very noisy birds, If you are lucky,  peacocks can be spotted in the fields. Mornings in December are crisp and chilly and the air is absolutely clean.

Pushkar is a holy city. It is a pilgrimage spot and scores of devotees visit Pushkar daily . A rough estimate of the no of temples in Pushakar is 500 temples!!

View of the Temples surrounding the Pushkar Lake

The most prominent place in Pushkar is the Puskhar Lake or Sarovar as it is called. The Sarovar is surrounded by temples, the most prominent of them being the Brahma Temple built in the 14th century,  one of the few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. It is believed that Lord Brahma along with all the Gods and Goddesses performed a special ceremony here. Legend also has it that the Sarovar Lake was formed miraculously when a lotus fell from the hands of Brahma. ( The pity is that the lake is now completely dry),Very few temples to Lord Brahma exist anywhere in the world. Other temples of Brahma include those at Besakih in Bali, Bithoor in Uttar Pradesh, India, village Asotra near Balotra city of Barmer district in Rajasthan and Prambanan in Indonesia. The Pushkar lake 52 ghats where pilgrims descend to the lake to bathe in the sacred waters.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

During our holiday in London , we had spent an interesting afternnon at the Trafalgar Square . This is a popular place for tourists who seemed to be swarming all over the place.

Anita in front of the main fountain.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

Another not be missed tourist spot is Trafalgar Square in central London. It is dominated by the Nelson's Column in the centre.

Chapel Bridge, Lucerne

Chapel Bridge, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

The Chapel Bridge is a landmark in Lucerne. This wooden bridge . is a 204 m (670 ft) long bridge crossing the Reuss River in the city of Lucerne in Switzerland. It is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. This covered bridge was constructed in 1333.
This picture is a veiw of the bridge from the left bank of the river Reuss.

Church of St. Leodegar - Lucerne

Lucerne Cathedral - Front Door, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

One striking feature of the Lucerne Cathedral is it's impressive main door .The intricately carved main door of the Cathedral has the figures of the two patron saints of Luzern: on the left is St Leger, a French bishop who was blinded with a drill (which he is holding), and on the right is St Maurice, the martyred Roman soldier-saint.

Organ at the Church of St Leodegar (Lucerne Cathedral)

Lucerne Cathedral , originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

This impressive and massive organ in the Church has 6000 pipes with the bass pipe being over 33 ft tall. The organ is bedecked in ornaments and has a machine to mimic the sound of rain and a special register for thunder and rain.

Church of St. Leodegar (Lucerne Cathedral)

Lucerne Cathedral, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

The Interiors of the cathedral are beautifully done up with intricate carvings. St. Leodegar's white stone interior is generously furnished with gilt statuary and altars.

Lucerne Cathedral

Lucerne Cathedral, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

The Main Pulpit is an impressive rich wooden structure that blends in beautifully with the interiors of the church.

Lucerne Cathedral

Lucerne Cathedral , originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

View of the alter at the Lucerne Cathedral. Note the elaborate carving on the alter which dates back to the 1630's.
This is the most important renaissance church in Switzerland

Lucerne Cathedral

Lucerne Cathedral, originally uploaded by PRAVINECHESTER.

The Altar at the Lucernce Cathedral.