Wanderlust Tales - The new ISKON Temple , kondhwa - PUNE

The new ISKON temple, said to be the biggest ISKON temple in Pune.

Since, I stay in Magarpatta - reaching there took me around 1 hour-ish, in spite of me leaving in the wee hours of the morning.

To add there are no hoardings at all on the way,we found it little difficult to find our way till there. The landmark would be - there is a restaurant Kanha Veg - and just opposite to it, there is a gali which you need to take. Rest you need to rely on google maps and our very helpful and confused pedestrians. :)

As you enter, you will see the temple dazzling in white since it is made with white and red marble. There is a garden right in front. The temple is spread over a good amount of area.
The main temple houses the radha krishna,jagannath baldev subhdra and gaur nitya. There is a big hall, where you can sit and gain some inner peace. The hall is beauitfully done, lot of picture frames on the wall of the temple depicting the krishna katha. :)
They were also having some preaching that day, on the occasion of  Hanuman jayanti. We sat for some time to listen to it - it was soothing.

There is another temple which houses the Balaji, which is just across.

On sundays, from 13:00-14:00-ish they serve free lunch which is the prasadam.:)

Since we reached early, there was no one to collect any parking fees, but I think they do have parking charges, not sure though.

Indeed the visit arouses your spirituality, and you mind feels serene.

Here are some images:



The temple - main entrance



Temple - side view



Interiors of the temple

Balaji Temple:

Cheers to life!!

~Journey  of a thousand miles begins with a single step! :)

P.S. All the photos have been clicked by me. :D

Lifestyle : The DIET!

Diet - a quotidian word in my dictionary! :D

It is the only one thing that I always have had a strong desire to follow, but mishaps always occur. ;)

Whenever I see that I have put on some weight, the very first thing that comes to my mind is that I must start dieting. This noble thought crosses my mind, but the will power to go by it - doesn't happen easily.

Following something strictly,and abiding by it requires a lot of patience and the urge to start over again if we fail.

Thanks to a page that I follow on Facebook - "Indian makeup and beauty blog",where I came across a very do-able diet.It presented with a very detailed time table of what to eat and what not to eat. At least unlike the others where maybe for one entire day you have to eat only certain kind of food - this diet allows you to eat most of the things,you eat on a daily basis with some restrictions of course.

For me the main culprit for putting on weight is my weakness for sweets. Trust me having a sweet tooth,sometimes adds to so much trouble - just hard to defy sweets.

But now with time, people are getting more conscious about their health, and I decided I take matters to my hand,before my weight becomes a serious health issue.

Below is the 8 week plan that ensures at least 3-4 kg of weight loss,the least.

I have started with week 1 - let's see how far can I take it with my hassled lifestyle.

Wishing everyone who wants to follow it - ALL THE BEST!! :)

Some things you need to follow this diet:

• No salt after 7:30 
• No aerated drinks. Yes that includes even the diet version. 
• Restrict mango and banana 
• Restrict potato and rice. 
• No artificial juices as well. 
• Half an hour of aerobic exercise daily. If u want to join a gym good enough. But if due to any reason maybe time or money constraint u can’t join a gym. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes to do some aerobics, a skipping rope to do at least 500 skips (5 sets of 100 skips and increasing it as you go). 1.5 -2 kgs dumbbells for toning your upper body. Just these basic things and you are set. 
• 20 mins of breathing exercise. ( I’m talking about Baba Ramdevs pranayam) 

Without further ado I present you with the Indian diet.

Week 1

8:00 am (as soon as you wake up) – 2 glasses of methi seeds water ( soak 1tsp of methi seeds in 2 glasses of water. Strain out the methi seeds and drink the water. Helps a lot in water retention and bloating) 5 soaked almonds with the skin. 1 kali mirch u don’t have to chew it just swallow it down.

9:00 am – 1 toast (brown bread) with amul lite butter / hung curd dressing/ salad and chutney

11:30 am – one fruit of your wish

1:30 pm – A small plate of salad before starting the meal. The fibers in the salad fills u up which in turn prevents false hunger that makes u overeat.1 bran chappati (mix wheat flour and wheat bran in equal proportions.) with 1 bowl ( normal sized katori ) of dal. Generally at my place dal is cooked at night so I used to store the dal made at night for the other days lunch, u can do the same.

5:00 pm – 1cup of milk or tea with 2 biscuits(just marie, no other biscuits)/ 1 small bowl bhuna channa/ 1bowl popcorn ( not the buttery act 2 ones but air popped popcorns without the butter)

7:30 pm –A small plate of salad before starting the meal. 1 bran chappati with 1 k vegetable ( any vegetable not rajmah, channa or kadhi)

8:30 pm – one fruit of your wish

When this week ends, weigh yourself again. You can loose up 1-1.5 kgs this week. You lose the max in this week because you lose all the water weight and the bloating is gone. The further weeks you are surely going to lose weight but it won’t be this much.



Now to the next week.

Week 2

8:00 am (as soon as you wake up) – 2 glasses of tulsi leave water ( soak 5 tulsi leaves in 2 glasses of water. Strain out the leaves and drink the water.) 5 soaked almonds with the skin. 1 kali mirch.

9:00 am – 1 toast (brown bread) with amul lite butter / hung curd dressing/ salad and chutney

11:30 am – one fruit of your wish

1:30 pm – A small plate of salad before starting the meal. 1 sandwich (2 brown breads with paneer filling, if you are a vegetarian and egg whites, if you are a non vegetarian.)

5:00 pm – 1cup of milk or tea with 2 biscuits

7:30 pm –A small plate of salad before starting the meal. 1 bran chappati with 1 k vegetable (this week you can take rajmah, channa or kadhi )

8:30 pm – one fruit of your wish

This week you can loose about 0.9kgs

Week 3

8:00 am – 2 glasses of methi seeds water. 5 soaked almonds with the skin. 1 kali mirch.

9:00 am - 1 glass of milk and a fruit

11:30 am – one fruit of your wish

1:30 pm – 1 bran chappati and any vegetable

5:00 pm – 1cup of milk or tea with 2 biscuits/ 1 small bowl bhuna channa/ 1bowl popcorn (not the buttery act 2 ones but air popped popcorns without the butter)

7:30 pm – 3 pcs steamed or roasted chicken or fish + salad (non vegetarians)

Any one of the following for vegetarians:

1. 1 bowl dal .+ 1 bowl curd + salad

2. 1 bowl veg + 1 bowl curd + salad

8:30 pm – one fruit of your wish

Week 4

8:00 am - 2 glasses of methi seeds water. 5 soaked almonds with the skin. 1 kali mirch.

9:00 am - 1 glass of cold coffee and a bb toast

11:30 am – one fruit of your wish

1:30 pm – This week you have a lot of options which you can take alternatively.
1 bowl sprouts + fruits
2 bowl vegetables + salads
1 bowl dalia + 1 bb toast
1 bowl vegetables + 1 bb toast
1 bowl kadhi + 1 quarter plate rice

5:00 pm - 1cup of milk or tea with 2 biscuits/ 1 small bowl bhuna channa/ 1bowl popcorn (not the buttery act 2 ones but air popped popcorns without the butter)

7:30 pm – 1 bran chappati and 1 bowl vegetable.

8:30 pm – one fruit of your wish

By the end of the month you will definitely lose 3-6 kgs.

Some pointers if you some outings with friends:
When you go out with friends try to have your lunch or dinner at subway. The healthiest option out there. Take a veggie delite sub in brown bread and eating out won’t harm your diet and weight at all. Tell them not to put mayo in it though.
If you don’t have a say in the place of eating then make your choices sensibly. If you go to eat Chinese have rice rather than noodles. Order stir fried veggies instead of Manchurian. And control your proportions. Don’t take fried starters. Avoid those thick soups they are no good.
When going out just pick 2 fruits before sitting in the car and eat it on your way to the venue. When you are already a little filled before going out. Your somewhat filled stomach helps your mind take the right decision.
If eating Indian, order tandoori chappati rather than butter naan or parantha. Take less gravy since it is the most fattening.

Even if you don’t want to lose weight keep these points in your mind and you will be able to maintain your weight easily.

So go on a diet now and get your svelte figure back.

Week 5




8:00 am (as soon as you wake up) – 2 glasses of tulsi leave water ( soak 5 tulsi leaves in 2 glasses of water in a copper utensil overnight. Strain out the leaves and drink the water.)

9:15 am – 1 stuffed chappati (without any ghee) with pickle or chutney and a small cup of milk

11:30 – a small bowl of sprouts (you can add tomato, cucumber, onions and pomegranate to it)

2:00 pm – 1 soup bowl of kadhi/ rajma/ chana/ Raita/ mix vegetable/ soya nuggets/ stir fried veggies with a big bowl of salad

5:00pm – a cup of milk or tea

7:30 pm – 1 k (katori, bowl) veg or dal with salad and fruit

Yes in this week you eat chappati just once and that is in the breakfast.. but rest assured you wont starve since there is a lot of food to have, salads and fruits are going to fill you up pretty easily. But I really felt that I can not stay without having chappati, yes it is a mental block that I won’t fill up unless I have a chappati. So I asked my dietician and he allowed me to have half a chappati in addition to the diet in my luch and dinner. So you can do the same if you are like me and feel you dint ate unless you see a chappati in you see a chappati in your plate.

My dietician told me start giving myself massages on my own. It isn’t very time consuming, just needs 10 mins a day. All you have to do is take some oil in your hands and with stiff and hard hands massage the whole body. The strokes should be “towards the heart” (upwards) as my doc said. This according to him helps in toning. I really don’t have any idea whether it’s true or not. But I did it nevertheless.

Week 6




8:00 am – 2 glasses of plain H2O with 5 soaked almonds with the skin + 1 kali mirch

9:15 am – BB Toast with diet butter or green chutney and a cup of milk

11:30 am – any medium sized fruit of your wish

1:30 pm – ANYTHING

5:30 pm – a cup of tea with 2 marie biscuits

7:30 pm – Clear chicken or Vegetable soup with a lightly buttered toast ( amul lite)

8:30 pm – a fruit of your wish

Week 7




2 glasses of hot water + 5 soaked almonds + 1km

1 bran chappati and 1k vegetable or

1 vegetable sandwich made with 2 bb

1 fruit of your choice

1 bran chappati and 1 k vegetable with a quarter plate of salad or

1 quarter plate namkeen dalia with vegetables

a cup of tea with 2 marie biscuits

1 bran chappati and 1 k vegetable with a quarter plate salad

1 fruit of your choice

Continue with the 20 mins walk and the massage.

No timings since this week its your timings week.

Week 8



8:00 am – 2 glasses of methi seed water + 5 soaked almonds + 1 km

9:00am – a glass of milk and a fruit

11:30 am – air popped popcorn or 1 pc dhokla

1:30 pm – 1 chappati with dal/ paneer/ chicken or

1 besan chila with pudina chutney

5:00 pm – a cup of tea with 2 marie biscuits

7:30 pm – 1 BB toast sandwich with a quarter plate salad

8:30 pm – a bowl of watermelon


Cheers to life!!

~Believe in yourself always!

Scullery experiments : Palak ka paratha

Palak the wonder leafy vegetable having lot of nutrient values. But sadly many don't like to consume it - and among the many is me as well. :D

An innovative way to have it is - Palak Paratha. 

I found it pretty interesting, when one of my room-mates told me about it's recipe. I personally don't like having palak in any other form other than dal palak. :D

But one step at a time for a healthy lifestyle - isn't it?!

Ingredients needed:

• palak - finely chopped
• amchur powder- about 1/2 teaspoon
• ajwain - about 1/2 teaspoon
• red chilli powder
• onion - finely chopped

Make sure to clean the palak leaves extra carefully and before chopping it - squeeze out all the water from it.
Now knead the dough using atta, oil, salt, water and add the above said ingredients to it as well. Try to prepare a soft dough,although the dough would seem to be little sticky because of the palak. Use your cooking skills to judge the amount of water that should go in the dough.

Once knead, leave the dough covered for about 5-10 minutes - this helps in softening of the dough.

- Pre-heat the tawa.

- Divide the dough into small pieces, and carefully roll it to round shape.

- Place the paratha on the tawa, and let it get cooked little bit - flip to check if both sides are equally cooked.

- Once partially done, add oil/ghee as per your choice till both the sides are golden brown and cooked.

- It would take a while for both the sides to get cooked, since it has palak in it. :)

Palak paratha is good snacking option either to be served as breakfast or dinner. It goes best with pickles/sweet chutney or ketchup by far is my best liked option.
It could also be served along with a onion salad,prepared obviously with onions - cut into round shape - and sprinkled with some lime juice and salt .

Just yummy-licious and equally healthy too!! :)

Do try it. :)
 

The dough





~Bon Appetite!!

P.S All the photos have been taken by me. :D

Scullery experiments : Sattu ka paratha

Sattu - is nothing but finely grinded chana dal.Sattu has lot of health benefits and is very nutritious.

Having stayed in Ranchi which was in Bihar earlier and now in Jharkhand, this delicacy is very popular there. Sattu is widely eaten in Bihar and Jharkhand mostly.

Here is the recipe for sattu bhar ke paratha.

Ingredients needed:

• sattu
• garlic -finely chopped
• garlic - 2 slices finely chopped
• mustard oil
• pickle and its oil
• amchur powder- about 1/2 teaspoon
• ajwain - about 1/2 teaspoon
• red chilli powder
• onion - finely chopped (optional - I usually don't add onions)

Mix the above said ingredients nicely, and if the mixture is dry you can add little mustard oil or pickle oil to make it little moist.

- Now knead using atta,oil,salt and water, and prepare a soft dough. Keep the dough covered for some time - this will ensure that the dough becomes soft.

- Pre-heat the tawa.

- Divide the dough into small pieces, and carefully fill it with the stuffing and roll the paratha.While rolling the paratha,be careful - sometimes due to air locked inside, the paratha tears and the stuffing comes out.

- Place the paratha on the tawa,and let it get cooked little bit - flip to check if both sides are equally cooked.

- Once done,add oil/ghee till both the sides are golden brown and cooked.

It can be served as breakfast or dinner with pickles/sweet chutney/curd.

You can also have slices of onions cut into round shape - with some lime juice and salt added.

Just yummy-licious!! :)

Do try it. :)

~Bon Appetite!!
 

Wanderlust Tales - Impromptu road trip to Lavasa

Unplanned road trips induce a different kind of excitement in our rote life.

And we friends, decided on a road trip to Lavasa, about 65 km from Pune. The first trip of 2015. :)

As it was impromptu, we started kind of late. Since we started late, we found quite some traffic in Pune. It took us around 2.5 hours to reach Lavasa city.
Google maps always makes your life easier, and it guided us till there easily.

Lavasa situated atop the hill is a private-planned city, as well as the  newest hill station since Independence.
And as we were ascending, the view was just splendid. Wow!!
Lavasa - A beautiful city, beautifully concept-ed and a clean city. There is lot of work in progress there. But nevertheless, it was just perfect, just perfect for visiting and spending some time during chilly winter evenings.
Waah.....awesome it was!

But to make the most of the place, start early and you can enjoy the utmost beauty of this place. We got to witness the beautiful sunset and the bird view of the city!
There are various fun water activities which one can indulge in.

The last time we were here, we came for an event to X-Thrill, where they organized many sport activities. They provided us with lodging in tents, which were pretty cool.

Finding food here is no big deal, you have ample of options - there is this WaterFrontShaw street.
Overlooking the Dasve lake, this place is just the place you need to relax.
This street is conceptualized in Italian style and it has plenty full of restaurants on one side of the walk-way. They have quite number of places to sit and relax too.
The walk through the street is refreshing. Just spending an quiet evening is enough to get you kick starting for the week.
This place is bustling with people and kids, and you will really enjoy the evening without a doubt.

Not to forget, an experienced driver is always perfect to drive you up. The roads are curvy and there are not much street lights, so drive carefully and safe! :)
Try to leave before the lights start to fade out.

Here are some photos from the trip:

As we were ascending

Dam

The waterfront shaw:

Cheers to life!!

~Journey  of a thousand miles begins with a single step! :)

P.S.All the above photos have been clicked by me. :D

Art conglomeration : Paintings and sketches

Few painting done by me:



Juicy strawberries



Lord Jagannath in suna bheso



Fort in Oman

Cheers to life!!

~Believe in yourself always!!

P.S These sketches are not my original idea, it is just a humble attempt to replicate some of the beautiful pictures found in blogs/sites. 

Wanderlust Tales : Trip to Nandi hills - Bangalore

This time during my trip to Bangalore for my Durga puja vacation, our family decided on for a road trip to the famous Nandi hills.

Nandi hills, believed to be one of the beautiful getaway places near Bangalore. It is an ancient hill fortress approximately 60-65 kilometers from Kanakpura Road.
It would take approximately 2 hours to reach here -  Google maps aids in the directions on the road. If you love driving - drive through the highways would be enchanting.
You would find plentiful grape plantation across the roads.

The best time to visit would be in the wee hours of the morning, so as to get an exquisite view of the place - covered in clouds.

The roads to Nandi Hills, are quite curvy - hence make sure you are an experienced driver if you are travelling using your own vehicle. Moving up the hills gets the road steeper and steeper.

For the passengers, the drive through the curves is scenic giving you a chance to get in touch with the greenery and mother nature.

We intended to trek a little, so we parked our car around 2 km prior the entrance. Be prepared to walk and sweat a lot, to reach till the top.

Do's -

• Wear comfortable shoes
• Carry drinking water
• Carry your shades or caps waive off the sun
• Carry tissues or hanker chief

There is a ticket that we paid at the entrance.
Major problem is information not being provided in English - it gets difficult to even know what you are being charged for.

There are a couple of eatery shops right before you make your way up - you can relax and enjoy a few nibbling here - before you sweat it out to reach the top.

Reaching the top is a task in itself, climb, climb and climb.

Before you start your ascent, you would see the Amrutha Sarova - a beautiful man made water enclosure - mostly seemed to used for private bathing for the Rajas or  people of significant genre.
Then the recreation area which must been used for lazing around and spending some relaxing time.

As you climb up, you would find a beautiful park atop where you can see families with their kids having a gala time.

The Tipu's drop is another fascinating place to watch out for - it is said that the perpetrators were dropped off from this point and there was no returning for them from here.

Things to watch out here are the:

• Amrutha Sarova
• Tippu drop
• Children's playground
• Tippu's summer palace and fort
• Yoga naandeswar temple
• Horse way

We couldn't make it to all - we got exhausted way too fast making our way up. :)

While returning from the Nandi Hills - while on the highway,we spotted a beautiful temple atop the hills.
The architecture of the temple,led us to detour. Although we couldn't find a proper road to reach it, we attempted going there via the rocks and climbing up. We parked our car in the nearest empty spot we saw.
Be extra cautious while heading upwards, crooked totally.
Finally when we made our way up, we were astounded to discover that it was a Jain temple.

The view from the temple was absolutely scenic - the glance of the entire city, sent a shiver down our back. It took quite some time to sink in.

Some of the photos from the visit:

Jain Temple

View from the Jain temple

Lotus

On the way to Nandi Hills:

Curvy roads

Curvy roads

Amrutha Sarova

Recreation area

Tipu's dropping point

The view

Grape cultivation

Cheers to life!!

~Journey  of a thousand miles begins with a single step! :)

P.S.All the above photos have been clicked by me. :D