History on a "sole"ful Sunday morning!

A Sunday morning rendezvous with Bangalore Walkers is a date with Serendipity-You discover that amidst the chaos of concrete and rubble,lies a plethora of stories waiting to be discovered...


On a frosty Sunday morning, I find myself on the steps of a church, in the company of two mongrels and a flight of pigeons.The church is bathed in a hue of pink and ahead I can see an almost deserted road stretch far into the horizon.In my mind's eye, I could be anywhere...On the sets of some European film or in some quaint city in a far corner of the world.But here I am...right in the heart of Bengalooru-M.G Road and making my first discovery that yes, there is a time in the day where M.G road exists sans people,sans four plus two wheelers,sans all!- Out of nowhere materialises a Khadi clad gentleman who as I soon discover would be our sutradhaar (storyteller) navigating us on a "Victorian walk" through the annals of M.G road.Come on, surprise me, the cynic in me seems to say.We are soon joined by a diverse group of both home grown natives and visitors who have made it on time, adhering to a plea of punctuality(after all this is a Victorian walk!!) made by Bangalore Walkers.

From the moment, Arun begins with the introductions, we know that we are going to be under the expert care of a thorough professional.Starting with an exercise that sets the tone for the rest of the three hours,the walk begins by an exploration of history behind,inside and on top of the church.The group is slowly warming up and we are soon like a bunch of excited schoolchildren on a trip.From here, the walk is so well mapped out , that it takes you down M.G road and shows you landmarks and signposts which you would have probably whizzed by a hundred times.After this walk, I am sure to look at these with a new sign of respect, seeing the story behind the scenes.Arun dons various avatars-quizmaster, Hercule poirot doling out clues,teacher,guide and at each point we are all taken in by how history is brought alive.Often, it is only when crossing the road or sidestepping rubble and touts that you realise the present.Arun manages to even make the horrendous violations of the metro construction disappear...weaving his tales and peppering it with dollops of wit and anecdotes.Besides, learning facts about old monuments, the delight is in discovering history that is very much alive behind pop-colored glitzy hoardings.It is also a chance to see many hallmarks that will soon give way to newer structures.The walk also throws up questions about development and makes you wonder if development can weave itself around the stories of the past.Many times, you felt a lingering sense of nostalgia and sadness among the group at how much we are losing in the race for accelerated growth

I would not like to play spoilsport and reveal where the walks take you and what you will discover.But, it is something that would be a wonderful experience for bangaloreans and visitors alike.And yes, the "High" light of the trip is incentive enough for a three hour trek- A breakfast at a surprise location.And as you exchange notes with new found friends and give recopies for idli and sambhar,you realise that with all the technology around, life and history will always be about the human interaction.

Someone once said, "History is Bunk!"-Maybe, but at least on this Sunday morning, I walked away with a sense that history will stubbornly persist and that the past will always be there to discover.

Bangalore walks conducts many other interesting weekend walks.For more information ,log onto their website: www.bangalorewalks.com

travel tales-Our Native Village

Going native…village style!


An hour away from Bangalore takes you to a little hideaway where a motley mix of happy animals make you feel completely at home. Our Native village, an eco-resort, offers a perfect weekend away from the hustle and bustle of city life…complete with farm life and organic experiences, it can also lay claim to guarding a breath-taking little secret…




Our Native village is approximately 23 km from Mekhri circle. The detailed directions to the resort leaves no room for travelers who wish to get lost. As one who is severely challenged when it comes to reading maps, this was a blessing. (Though due to a road block, we took a diversion, adding to a little excitement!).The city’s character changes slowly, and concrete buildings and relentless ongoing of vehicles gives away to open fields and the occasional tutut..ing of a moped. The Government Film Institute is the final landmark before the turnoff into a dirt road. .And what meets our eyes is one of the best kept secrets, right out of the sets of an old western film..


Hidden treasure
There is something hypnotic about land, open land. which stretches as far as the eye can see. The horizon stretches beyond our imagination and one could almost visualize a scene from “little house on the prairie”, where caravans of explorers from yesteryear make their way through the landscape. A grove of the most unusual specimen of trees is the only addition to this landscape. The grove looks like it has been transplanted from some remote part of Europe and adding to the surrealism of the whole scene is a pink and green kite waving in the wind under the hands of a cheerful ten year old. It is spectacular-and we are told that is the last surviving open grassland, commonly used by migratory birds as wintering ground. What is most welcome is the total absence of the plastic trail commonly left by weekend picnickers. Later at the resort the staff tell us of how they do a clean up operation every time they see a picnic in progress. They even make the effort of stopping by and collecting garbage.” It’s not our job officially but we feel it is our responsibility”. Apparently, film crews use the place and leave behind a trail of debris(like tires and shards of glass).


Welcome Natives!
A little mud track takes you right into the resort. The staff at the reception greet us with marigold garlands and an herbal drink. Our four year old has found his weekend playmates. a mother cat and two kittens who don’t seem to mind the intrusion. We are shown into our rooms, which exude a sense of calm. The stone walls, the low mattressed bed with walls adorned with a painting in the local style adds to the charm.





The perfect way to enjoy the resort is barefoot!-It seems to go with the philosophy of the resort-which believes in asking the guests to reconnect with the environment. The ethos of the resort is outlined in a set of “rules” which the guests are asked to follow. Not listening to ear-drum shattering music and respecting the four legged creatures on the farm doesn’t seem too restrictive. And the staff seem committed and well versed with this creed. They take us for a quick tour around the resort and explains the various methods by which the resort runs through recyclable energy. Hot water in the resort is from Solar panels and Gujarat boilers, a system where waste wood is used to generate steam which is used for heating purposes. There is a 7.5 acre organic farm that grows fruit and vegetables and a bio gas plant to recycle food waste. They also assure us that all their soaps,shampoos and cleaners used at the resort are 100 percent organic. The silence in the resort is soothing and is only interrupted by birdcalls, the resident rooster and the occasional moo from the cows at the diary.

Village activities
Lunch followed by a short siesta and we are in time to see :cow milking”-It definitely altered my son’s perception that milk comes from packets!!-A wonderful way to explore the grasslands is to hire bicycles from the resort. The mud trail is fun and its zig zag trails leave us slightly breathless. There is nothing like retiring to one’s childhood, and it reminds us how the years have slipped as we try to race with each other. We stop by the groves and decide to park our bikes and explore it by foot.Watching a sunset seems to be the perfect finish to our day.

We decide to spend the next day participating in the Village activities.The bullock cart ride is the urban version of a mini rollercoaster and we bumble our way through kite flying and gilli danda much to the amusement of the staff. The perfect way to cool off is the natural swimming pool. It took me back to my childhood vacations in our kerala home. The pool is chemical and chlorine free and is maintained by natural filtration devices such as aquatic plants, carbon filters and oyygenators.This is one pool where you swim with the resident frogs and literally feel green!!

Special Friends
What makes a place even more special is the friends one makes.Sugunna,Muthanna and Patch ,the four legged residents are friendly and add to the feeling of a home away from home. And the management style is relaxed and unpretentous and they seem more than willing to share their experiences and their passion for holistic healing practices such as Past life regression. Our Native Village offers a series of programs called “Soul Spa” which range from Yoga retreats to rebirthing workshops.

A perfect weekend getaway hold promise of adventure, space to rewind and rejuvenate and packaged life alternating experiences, which can be dutifully captured on digital camera!-we managed a little bit of each.

It won’t be long before we find ourselves heading back to the village...

For details , visit their website
www.ournativevillage.com









L