TravelingBeats

Distance: Around 20 km from Mangalore city, 370 km from Bangalore, 50 km from Manipal, 40 km from Udupi, 1,015 km from Mumbai

How to reach there: By train using Bangalore – Mangalore train from Mysore and Bangalore and then public or private bus to Surathkal. One can use Konkan railway to reach here from Mumbai. Also, bus services are available from various cities to Mangalore and then city bus service to Surathkal.

Where to stay: Hotel Lalit International (0824-2476343), Hotel Panchami (0824-2479533), Hotel Saroj (0824-2271212), Hotel Sathyapra (0824-2279100), HOTEL SADANAND (0824 – 2475370, 2475570). As Surathkal is nearby one can even stay in Mangalore.

Where to eat: HOTEL SADANAND (0824 – 2475370, 2475570), Dhabas on Highway, Kamadhenu Bar and Restaurant (0824-2475654 ), Tikka Hut Fast Food Restaurant (0824-2478386). You can aslo eat in Mangalore.

Languages spoken: Tulu, Kannada, Hindi, English

Surathkal is small suburb of Mangalore on NH 17 and is famous for housing India’s number 1 National Institute of Technology (NIT), formerly known as Regional Engineering College (REC). It also has few big name industries like The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (MCF) and a port The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT). Legend has it that the name Surathkal has been derived from the Tulu word “shiradakal” which means headstone.

What to see:

1. Sadashiva temple: Also, known as Narahari Parvatha Sadashiva Temple is located in the Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada District. The temple located on top of the is hill is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are 4 ponds in featuring the shape of Shanka (Conch), Chakra (Wheel), Gadha (Weapon) and Padma (Lotus). It is believed to be scared to take bath here. The Surrounding of the is enchanting scenary.

Evening view from Sadashiva temple

2. Krishnapura Matha: It is one of the ashta matha established by Sri Madhwaacharya located around 3 kilometres from Surathkal. The extensive wooden work are worth seeing.

3. Lighthouse: The lighthouse is located near the Sadashiva temple and it gives an awesome view of the surrounding and the Arabian sea.

4. Beach: Surathkal has some of the most clean and pristine coastline and beaches. One take a long stroll just listening to the music of Arabian sea. Do check the sunrise and sunset.

If you have tie in hand do visit the country side as much you can and relish the coastal food as much as you can. 

Filed under : Adventure, Karnataka, Religious Place

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Main meditation hall – Vishalakshi Mantap

Address:

The Art of Living
Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Peeth
21st km, Kanakapura road,
Bangalore south – 560082
Email: ashraminfo@artofliving.org, ashramcourses@gmail.com
Website: www.vvmvp.org, www.artofliving.org

Distance: Around 36 km from Bangalore city center

Journey time: By bus 45 – 60 minutes depending on traffic, private vehicles can reach earlier

How to reach there: Regular BMTC buses ply on Kanakapura road from Market, Majestic and Banashankari. It is advisable to go to Banashankari bus stand where frequency of bus is higher. Bus # 211P, N, 212 – 214.

Stay: If you take up any course, you can stay there.

Food: Lunch is provided to visitors free of cost

View from Sumeru

The Art of Living foundation was founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a spiritual guru in his endevour for stress free, violence free and peaceful world. There are numerous centers Art of Living centers in India and around the world which offers courses in Yoga, rejuvination etc. Today I will talk about the Art of Living international center located in Bangalore. The campus spread over 65 acres is built to suck stress out of you. After the entrance to the ashram on the left had side you can see a little bit of wildlife with two elephants The buildings built to co-exist with the natural habitat on the Panchagiri Hills will in itself make you feel good about you. The main meditation hall which resembles a lotus cen be visited if no courses are going on then or after 6 pm. One can climp to the top floor and have a bird’s eye view from there.  Photography is not allowed without permission inside. Just opposite to the meditation hall, there is information center and the gallery where many conventions take place.

View of the lake

Behind the meditation hall if you walk down the bridge, you can find many hostels where people stay and the dinning hall where food is served. Volunteers serve food and one should wash their own plates. The campus is nicely planned architechture. At the starting of the bridge if you take left and keep walking along the hill side, you will reach Sumeru. It is like a mantap or like a view point. It is atop a hill and one can climb to the first floor of the structure to get an awesome view of the surrounding country side. It is very peaceful here and one can just sit here to be with oneself, read a book, think about plans or just take a quick nap.

Besides Sumeru there is a library featuring vedic literaures etc. One can also find uniquely built quarters for people who work there. From many locations the lake is visible alongside the garden Vrindavan. For tea – coffee or some lighter food, you can visit the cafeteria at the entrence. Also, you can check the counter which sells organic fruits and vegitables. Also, you can have fruit juice there. You can also do little bit of shopping at the stores located there.

One should be there to experience it! To take a virtual tour, click here.

Evening congregation at the gallery

If you are interested in staying here, I suggest you to enroll for a Weekend Yoga Retreat which includes:

1. 2 day stay at the campus

2. Joyful yoga sessions

3. Pranayama

4. Meditation

5. Ayurvedic consultation

6. Ayurvedic Massage, full filled stress busting activities

For more info call: 9916399464, 080 – 32922160
Email: info@srisriyoga.in

Also, you can check one of their sister concern:

Vyakti Vikas kendra
#19, 39th A cross, 11th Main,
4th T block, Jayanagar,
Bangalore – 560041

They also conduct Ayurvedic cooking course featuring:

1. Info on Ayurveda
2. How to deal with health problems through food
3. Practical demonstrations of correct food preparation techniques
4. Diet plan according to body constitution
5. Recipie and home remedies
6. Duration: 6 days ( 2 hrs every day)

For more info contact: 09916035018
email: ayurvediccooking@vvmvp.org

Filed under : Bangalore, Religious Place, Weekend Getaways

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