Manikaran Gurudwara

Manikaran is a highly auspicious place for Sikhs & Hindus. Both the community has a special attachment to the place for various reasons.

Sikh Belief: As per the story, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was with his Sikhs(Bhai Bala Ji & Bhai Mardana Ji) in the Himalaya mountains of India. His Sikhs were hungry and there was no food. Guru Nanak sent his Good Friend Bhai Mardana to collect food for langar (the Community Kitchen). Many people donated rice and flour (atta) to make parsadas (bread). The one problem was that there was no fire to cook the food.

Guru Nanak then lifted a rock and a hot spring (hot water) appeared. The Sikhs were able to make rice and beans. Bhai Mardana was having trouble making parasadas (chapatis) because they kept sinking. Bhai Mardana said, “I am going to donate my life in the name of God”. The parsada amazingly floated. Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that anyone who donates his life in the name of God, All his (or her) drowned items will float. This was a miracle. This is not all, it is believed that the hot springs can cure skin diseases or even ease the swelling caused by gout.

To pay respect to Guru Nanak who is believed to have visited the place. A huge Gurudwara is erected at the place. The Gurudwara is visited by millions of devotees each year. Even today, devotees are treated with free langar organized by Gurudwara.


Way To Manikaran
Hindu Belief: The Hindus believe that Manu recreated human life in Manikaran after the flood, making it a sacred area. Further, According to legend, when the Hindu God Shiva and his consort Parvati were walking in the valley, Parvati dropped one of her earrings. The jewel was seized by Shesha, the serpent deity, who then disappeared into the earth with it. Shesha only surrendered the jewel when Shiva performed the cosmic dance, the Tandava, and shot the jewel up through the water. Apparently, jewels continued to be thrown up in the waters at Manikaran until the 1905 Kangra earthquake. Hence the name.


Waterfall Near Manikaran
Manikaran is approx 5-7 km from Kasol & can be with ease. The road is properly paved & one can find many people visiting the place. The place is peaceful & the best part is the hot spring. Even during winters, hot water is more hotter than water running through a geyser. So having a dip in the water will relieve your tiredness.

The place an absolute gem & visiting it once is absolutely necessary if traveling to Kasol in Himachal.


Manikaran Gurudwara Mark My Adventure

Handy Resources:

Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.

Amazon: I am a member of Amazon affiliate programme. Amazon is probably the biggest market place there is. Buy your trip essential from this link

Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.

Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.

Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.

Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.

Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.


Malana Village Trek

Malana village is famous all around the world for a sole reason only & that reason is marijuana. The green stuff is available all over the world & because of which people are willing to visit this place to get a glimpse of it. Malana also has a hydro plant. Though, the attraction point is the village only. One can reach Malana while traveling to Kasol. After Jhari, take a right towards the Malana Hydro project & follow the path. This beautiful path will take you to the Malana Village entrance point. From there, one has to walk to the Malana Village.


Malana Village Himachal
The way to the entrance gate of Malana Village is not difficult & a four-wheeler can help you achieve this feat. However, during snow cabs are allowed to travel only up to a certain point, & from there one has to take a 4 by 4 to reach to the village entrance. After reaching the village entrance, one has to walk for around 1.5 hours to reach the main village.

I went during the winters & it had snowed the night before & because of the snow, the whole place was covered with it & resembled a Disney movie, straight from the fantasy. The trees top & branches were covered in the snow & one can only see snow. This was my first experience of snow & it was truly remarkable. The view of snow-capped trees & route is hard to describe.


Enroute To Malana
Every great thing is achieved by working hard & Malana village will make sure that everyone goes through hell before reaching heaven. Although, I am blowing this out of proportion. Yet, the trek of 1.5 hours to reach Malana village is moderately hard for some. People who have completed the Kheerganga trek can easily complete the task. But, people who have done little to no physical activities will find it very difficult to trek. The trek is tiring & exhausting & will take around 1.5 hours to reach Malana Village.


Malana Village Mark My Adventure
The narrow path to the village is beautiful but restricting, as one opposite valley is visible that gets monotonous after some time. But, when one hikes a little higher than, one can enjoy more pleasant & unique views of other peaks. After the hard trek, the person witnesses the pure beauty of the place & suddenly all the tiredness & exertion vanishes. Such is the beauty of the place & one of the core reasons to visit this place. The best way to spend in Malana Village is by sitting in cafes & sipping the majestic view of the place.


Malana Village Mark My Adventure


Chalal Trek

Chalal Mark My Adventure
Chalal is a small village near Kasol. To reach Chalal, one has to trek through the rough terrain & while doing so, one will stumble upon some of the most scenic views that one can imagine. The trek is roughly 30 to 40 min walk from Kasol. The place is known for its calmness, beauty & parties. There is a bridge that connects Kasol & Chalal. Thus, one has to cross that bridge & walk adjacent to the Parbati river in a narrow lane. The trek has many ups & downs but nothing substantial to demotivate you or demoralize you. The path is straight forward & marked as well. Hence people, who are trekking for the first time will not face any issue while reaching Chalal.


Parbati River Chalal
During trekking, experience the peace & quietness of the place. Places that are so calm & peaceful can only be found amid the mountains. At such places, the noise of the machines is replaced by the voice of the chirping birds or flowing river. Another reason that makes this place fabulous & breath-taking, it is tough to find such places where one can connect with nature at its purest form. Himachal has a flurry of such places & one of the many reasons to visit Himachal.


After walking for approx 40 min’s, one will see the village. The village is quiet & houses are pretty. There are many cafes in the village, which will offer food & drinks.However, the most famous ones are Cafe Maya & Cafe Freedom. Cafe Maya is more secluded & closer to nature. From Cafe Maya, one can view the might mountains while sipping a cup of tea. The raw nature of the place is magical & probably one of the major points that attract you to it. If compared to kasol, Chalal is hardly commercialized, finding a modern equipped home will be difficult. Whereas Kasol is fully commercialized & with increasing footfall the place is buzzing with the tourists literary in every season & finding peaceful place seems to be bit difficult. Chalal is much more secluded & because of which is preferred by many people.


Enroute To Chalal Mark My Adventure
There is nothing much to do apart from staying & chilling & enjoying nature in its full flow. So, if one is looking for a more secluded, closer to nature & can spend time with him or herself, can opt-out for Chalal.


Mountain View From Chalal Mark My Adventure
My experience of visiting the place was amazing. The calmness in the wind & nature will help to relax to the core & even though one is doing nothing. Yet, sitting in the lap of nature & enjoying it without any disturbance is one of the experiences that are ought to be tried & is a kind of meditation in itself.


Best Places Near Jabalpur

Jabalpur is one of the well-developed places in Madhya Pradesh & also among the few which are developed. A small-town city, still crawling to find some fast-paced life, like big cities. The place has been blessed by the nomad culture, which is eventually helping it too grow. Enough about the city amenities. What about the places near Jabalpur?. There are a few good options to choose from. So, if one is living in Jabalpur & looking for some good options to relish, can opt for the following options. All these places are around 200 Km from the city & can be fruitful for an outing or a long drive.


Bhedhaghat Waterfall Mark My Adventure


Bhedhaghat

Bhedhaghat is the nearest to all the places near Jabalpur. Bhedhaghat is known for the waterfall & Marble rocks. The waterfall is located on the Narmada river. Its stature is very minute compared to some of the well-known waterfall, yet it is beautiful to watch. Another attraction is marble rocks, a boat ride through the marbles is one of the most pleasing & calming things one can do. Huge cliffs surround the river & thus is very calming & quiet. This can be one of the best half-day trips.


Mandla Kanha National Park Main Road


Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is one of the few places where one can enjoy the natural habitat of the Tiger. The place is awesome for nature enthusiasts. The natural abode of animals is worth enjoying & if one is lucky enough to watch Tiger; it is the icing on the cake. The place is well maintained & a trip for a couple of days is a must.


Maihar Mark My Adventure


Maihar

Maihar is a place with a mythological history. It is said that God Shiva was carrying the dead body of Sati & her necklace falls on this place hence the name. Maihar is known for its temple & each year thousands of people visit this place for some blessing. Many other fascinating mythological tales are surrounding the temple are worth listening to.


Bandhavgarh Travel


Bandhavgarh

Bandhavgarh National park is another park famous for Tiger spotting. Bandhavgarh is having one of the highest density of tiger & thus there are high chances of spotting a tiger in its natural abode. A trip to the national park is always exciting because of the uncertainty of the next moment. All the national parks shall be booked online from the government portal & it is highly recommended to book the tour before visiting the place. As only limited vehicles are allowed in the region & after reaching the place & not having tickets for entry will be disheartening.


These are some of the best places near Jabalpur. The best time to roam around Jabalpur is winters. As the temperature is reasonable at this time & one can easily enjoy outdoor activities. Enjoying the sunshine in winters is among the most pleasurable things to enjoy during winters. So, if one is near Jabalpur & looking for some of the places to explore then these can be great options to choose from.


Handy Resources:

Below are a few resources you should check before making an itinerary.

Cheap Internation Flights: Best place to find cheap international flight tickets.

Best Deals On Hotels: Places to find best deals on hotels.

Amazon: Best place for all your needs. Also, find best travel accessories.

Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.

Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.

Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.

Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.

Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.

Is Bhedhaghat Worth Visiting?

Bhedhaghat gives a sense of ancient place the area, is hardly developed & have lots of glimpse of the undeveloped portion. Bhedhaghat main attractions are limited to the Dhuandhar waterfall & marble rocks. So, how is the place & is Bhedhaghat is worth visiting to? These questions are meant to rise & considering people zeal to visit new places this can be an interesting topic to write upon for those who are looking for travel options.

Bhedhaghat is a very small town near Jabalpur which is the only major city near the town. One can reach Jabalpur from any part of India because of a very well connected rail network.


First Impression Of Bhedhaghat:

Following the national highway towards Nagpur, there is a diversion towards the right which will take you one step closure to the destination. The way from the national highway to the entrance of the village is still under construction (the year 2020) & hence one can witness few bumps during the road. After taking a right cut to the village, a single lane narrow road will maneuver one to the main entry point. One can experience a few bumps en route to the parking location. From parking, one has to walk towards the waterfall. The way to the waterfall is surrounded by shops, on either side & after some 1 Km from parking, one can sense the voice of dropping water. A sense of excitement will grapple one’s mind & heart. The water is not thunderous for a waterfall, yet feels threatening at some time. There is not an option to enjoy the waterfall from the bottom of it, but a facility is available to enjoy it from the top. It is one of the pleasant sites to enjoy, the sound of water & calmness with which it flows after cutting through the marble rocks. It is amazing to see the stillness of a river before reaching the inception point & then calming again. A unique formation to watch for sure. There are few points before the waterfall where one can enjoy a dip in the river.

The second attraction of Bhedhaghat is boating in the Narmada River through marble rocks. Naturally cut marble rocks are one of the best sites to enjoy & some of the famous Bollywood movies have shot some shots here. A boat will carry people through the different parts of marble rocks & some of which are beautiful to watch. During the different sections of boating, one can experience different colors of marbles in their natural form, the site has been managed well by the caretakers & it is always a pleasure to witness an unadulterated site. Boating will give a calming feeling amid the nature & for once a person can forget about the outside noise.


Was It Worth Visiting Bhedhaghat?

Bhedhaghat is some 100 Km from the place I reside & during covid times when there are no options available this seems to be an obvious choice to roam. Surprisingly, the place is a decent one & a half-day tour is more than enough to cover both these points. For a person who is staying nearby & looking for some change of view can surely visit this place. But, I feel one will not enjoy going there again & again. The place is good for a couple of times but not more than that.

So, will I recommend visiting Bhedhaghat? I wouldn’t if you are specially coming only for this. There are many other places where one can enjoy a good outing. Bhedhaghat is one of those places, where one can have a decent outing if one is staying in a nearby city & wants to have a day off among the river, which is a nice way to relax & enjoy nature.




Handy Resources:

Below are a few resources you should check before making an itinerary.

Cheap Internation Flights: Best place to find cheap international flight tickets.

Best Deals On Hotels: Places to find best deals on hotels.

Amazon: Best place for all your needs. Also, find best travel accessories.

Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.

Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.

Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.

Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.

Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.

5 Ways Travel Is Good For Your Mental Health

It is common for many people to easily get burned out considering how fast-paced life has become. You add to this the responsibilities that need to be attended to, other’s expectations of you, and your personal hopes for yourself and you will surely be overwhelmed.

The stress of dealing with so many things with a seemingly limited period often times push people to the edge. Others who were so emotionally and psychologically strained ended up taking their lives. This is why taking a break and traveling is highly recommended.

Temporarily pulling yourself out of your usual schedule and going to other places pose many benefits. Here are the 5 ways why traveling will do wonders for you.


It Is A Means of Rediscovering Oneself:

Do you wonder how your life has become so predictable and boring? Do you feel like there is nothing to be excited about in your life? Has the situation become so hopeless? If you answered in the positive to these questions, then something needs to be addressed soon. A way to do that is by traveling.

Going to another place will help you rediscover who you are. Many testified about how they have found their passions during a trip. Traveling widens your horizons in ways you cannot imagine. Getting acquainted with the different cultures and various customs broadens your perspective on so many things.


5 Ways Traveling Improve Your Mental Condition

It Increases Happiness Level

Stepping away from your daily grind is a way of rewiring your brain. This will help boost self-confidence and mood. Living new experiences allows individuals to lay low and shed off the feeling of being trapped in their problems and responsibilities.

Being able to visit places gives a sense of liberation that is exhilarating. This does not only happen during the trip. The thrill starts with the planning and all the way until a few weeks after the travel when one reminisces about the experience.


Healthy Travel Mark My Adventure

It Increases Creativity and Improves Productivity:

There is so much inspiration in the places you visit. Being able to immerse yourself in how people do things in their own unique way tickles certain brain functions that enhance imagination.

Also, being able to travel offers a chance for people to improve their productivity. As traveling offers the opportunity to sleep, relax and let loose, these have a positive effect on the cognitive processes.


It Makes You Flexible:

Going on trips is not just about the excitement of planning and looking forward to doing something new. It is also about being flexible and resilient to whatever comes your way. Not everything about how you envisioned about the travel will happen exactly as how you want things to be. There will be instances when you have to come up with another plan to be responsive to the situation.

Having to face adversities in an unfamiliar territory lets you think outside of the box and to give up control on the things you can do nothing about. It teaches patience and to deal with bigger and more important issues than the seemingly menial ones you would normally fuss over.


It Combats Stress:

Overall, traveling combats stress. Going to work and dealing with all the responsibilities tend to distract people from appreciating things that really matter and worry about even the smallest things. So, taking a break from all the hustle and bustle is necessary for you to just relax, rejuvenate and recharge.

Being away from anxiety-causing situations lower your cortisol levels. This will make you more content, calm, and at peace. Just imagine the same kind of zen that dual diagnosis treatment centers offer.

This is even backed by a study showing a significant drop in stress levels a mere two days after going on a trip.

So, are you ready to pack your bags now?




Author Bio: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.


9 Travel Movies To Inspire You To Pack Your Bags Right Now

Travel usually doesn’t require any inspiration. However, if you are losing hope & looking for some inspiration. Don’t look far or Instagram feeds. Here is the list of the best 8 travel movies that will inspire you to travel. It has been difficult to portray a country through lenses. Still, few travel movies justify the beauty of the place by showcasing it beautifully. Without any more delay check out the list of the award winning travel movies.


List of Travel Movies

1. Into the Wild :

Into The Wild Mark My Adventure
A man lost hope in the world materialistic stuff & decides to leave all the glitters, luxury behind & travel without any money. A real story of a guy named Christopher McCandless who chose to travel & enjoy life rather than doing mundane work. The movie is about his journey to the wilderness, experiences & adventure that happened on the road. The movie will take you to different locations in Alaska which are beautiful enough to lure you to it. He travels to the US, Mexico all on foot & made some wonderful memories. The scenes in the movie are amazing & beautifully shot. You will be amazed by nature for sure.


2. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty:

the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty travel movies
A person who stuck at a boring job in a magazine firm always thought of traveling the world & exploring new avenues. But, like everyone he was not able to take that leap of faith step. However, an emergency at work forced him out of his comfort zone. He had to get one job done to avoid any bad outcome. This made him travel to Iceland & then to the Himalayas. The beauty of both the places is unmatched & the dark background of Iceland blended with bright colors makes a perfect display picture. Don’t miss the experience of exploring mesmerizing beauty. One of my favorite travel movies.


3. Wild:

Wild Movie
Based on the famous novel with the same name. A recent divorcee played by Reese Witherspoon decides to hike part of Pacific Crest Trail on a journey of finding self. Throughout the journey her past flashbacks frequently allow her to analyze mistakes that she made. The hiking trail consists of many parts & each part is beautiful, from deserts, jungle, landscapes, snow & whatnot. Before this hike, she had little to none experience of traveling. So, if you are lost in life watch this movie for some inspiration.


4. The Motorcycle Diaries:

Motorcycle Diaries Mark My Adventure
The famous story of Ernesto Guevara who later in life was known as Che Guevara through his diary stories. He started his bike journey to South America. He & his friend covered South America via road in around 5 months. While staying for 5 months on the road, they cross the beauty of South America & also witnessed the unfair behavior towards the people by the government. This led him & his friend to jump into the revolution. But, this movie is more about making of him as Che Guevara & an opportunity for you to enjoy the landscapes of South America & special attention to Machu Pichu (it is my bucket list), one of the best world heritage site.


5. Eat Pray & Love:

Eat pray love Mark My Adventure
Another adaptation of the book with the same name. A story of Elizebeth Gilbert who decided to take some time out & find herself. The marriage is on the rocks & with no nearby excitement to look up to. She decided to travel to different parts of the world to explore herself. The travel plan is divided into three parts, Italy where she wants to eat, eat & eat. India to pray & to learn meditation & than Bali to end the year, eventually finding the love. You will be mesmerized by the beauty of the place & will force you to travel


6. Lords of the Rings:

Lord-of-The-Rings Travel Movies
A fantasy novel that was so brilliant that it later adapted into a movie. The movie is shot in New Zealand & will further stamp on the point that it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The landscapes, mountains, rivers are just the best. Witness the amazing landscape & theatrical masterpiece at the same time.


7. Highway:

Highway Travel Movie
A goon looking to make his end meet decided to kidnap a girl from high-class family. Kidnapping a high-class girl is never an easy task. So, he decides to travel up north to avoid the police. The road trip covers the parts of Rajasthan, Himachal, Punjab, Haryana & Kashmir. You will hardly ever find such a beautiful collaboration of different flavors. A treat to the eye.


8. Karwaan:

Karwaan Movie
A stranded relation between father & a son & then the news of father death comes. But, the courier company sent the wrong body to his address & the correct body is somewhere in South India, citing no other option; son decided to take that body to exchange. He along with his friend travel from Banglore to Kochi. The movie perfectly captures the nature & its beauty & its culture.


9. Euro Trip:

Euro Trip Movie
A teenage comedy movie, this is only for adults to watch. The guys decided to travel to different parts of Europe for some adventure & while on the roads they have some of the rare experiences. Enjoy different parts of Europe & their culture. travel film

Most of these movies are available on online streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, etc.


Travel has become so engrossing that everyone wants to have a bit of it. But, due to this virus outbreak things have gone bad. However, people are hopeful that once the vaccine is available things will be normal again. People will come out for some adventure & like many others, they also find one a new ray of hope by traveling. I hope it does with you as well.


These 4 Countries Will Give You Financial Help On Your Trip

Who would have thought that countries will give financial support to the travelers who are willing to travel to those countries after COVID 19 pandemic? But, you will be surprised to know that there are few gems who are willing to do this. Many countries are opening not only their borders but will also their wallets. They will pay you or help you on your trip to boost tourism. Due to this widespread virus, the economy of the almost whole world is in devastating condition & with no immediate relief on the sight. This step could boost its financials. Traveling has always been one of the luxurious expenses in a person’s life. So, without wasting any more time, here is the list of countries that will offer some financial assistance to travel.


Japan Travel Guide

1. Japan

Japan is the land of rising Sun & is known for its fabulous hospitality. Japan has some of the best natural attractions in the world & who has not fantasized about clicking a photo in front of snow-capped Mt Fiji? If visiting Japan was your long time dream, your dream is about to get fulfilled. Japan Govt is proposing to pay half of the flight tickets. Not only this they are also planning to subsidize attractions substantially. However, there is no clarity as now. The guidelines are expected to come into effect from Jul 2020. So, if everything is formulated then Japan will see a surge in the tourist numbers.


Sicily Mark My Adventure

2. Sicily

Sicily is the largest island on the Mediterranean sea. It is known to lure luxury travelers with their unmatched beauty. As per the reports, Sicily Govt will cover 1 night for every 3 night at the hotel along with the free entry to museums & archeological sites. This is not all, they will also cover half of your flight ticket cost.


Mexico Travel Guide

3. Mexico

Mexico is more than its tequila, Cancun is a famous destination in Mexico who is looking to ramp up its tourism by offering great deals on stay. Cancun hotel association has decided to give 2+2 on hotel deals & many more lucrative offers on car rentals, spa services & flights as well.


Cyprus Countries To Visit After Corona

4. Cyprus

Cyprus is not exactly allowing any freebies. However, they have mentioned that if you or your family gets infected with Corona Virus. They will fund your trip. However, getting infected for getting freebies is not a wise option to take. Cyprus is a famous tourist spot for Britishers.


Bulgaria Mark My Adventure

5. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is in European union, it is also one of the most affordable places in Europe & yet under the radar. Some beaches along with their amenities are set to become free to the tourists.

So, until this coronavirus vanishes from the face of the earth. Be safe & sound & take all the necessary precautions. I am sure this post will help you decide on your first destination after the coronavirus.




Thoughts While Hiking Solo

Doing a solo activity is always a tough task, Andrew Agassi said in his biography, Open; that tennis is one of the loneliest sports in the world. From the moment you step into the court you are disconnected from the world & from there on, it is you & your decisions throughout the match. Apparently, which is true. Making decisions in real-time can be tough & hard & probably that is the reason which makes great players. A great player can control his or her emotions & can stay on the top of their game compared to their peers.


Hiking Solo

Yet, unlike tennis where there are hundreds of spectators watching your every move, cheering you & motivating you. Hiking is a solo & lonely affair. For the starters, there are no spectators & one step can terribly dampen your spirits. While every other solo sport takes this thrill of death from the moment due to the availability of medics, crowd & other help (that does make it a little less risky than hiking). Hiking check all these points that make it thrilling & dangerous at the same time. So, here are my experiences while hiking solo at some of the places lesser-known to me, a place where I went for the first time.

I am not an active hiker, but I have hiked a bit. From hiking solo in Mount Huashan to Lion’s head I have completed a few of the hikes that too solo. Every time I start with a hike, there is a sense of excitement, thrill & fear of mishappening. Hiking is very uncertain, many external factors complemented with the thoughts dictate your experience of a hike. With each passing minute, many thoughts will cross your mind from past to future, to holidays, to love, to the sport, to random events & whatnot. It is hard to control the mind amidst when there is silence on the outside. Hiking requires an alert, doing anything for the first time releases the dopamine in mind that is the reason for your happiness & one of the main reasons to hike. Although it seems to be simple, however uncertain external conditions make it challenging, something you were not aware of, sudden rain, a fear of the wrong step, slipping at the wrong place, walking the wrong path, etc. There are so many things that can ruin the moment which can’t be determined beforehand. Some things have to be kept for the chance & as some wise man has said,” while driving on the highway at night, you only have to see 3 mts ahead of you & rest will follow”. On the same line, you have to take few steps at a time & then think forward.




While hiking, you have to take care of yourself which goes without saying. Hiking a random place with no prior experience will only make it tough & it becomes the priority to take care of your self. While hiking, a lot depends on your intuition, the intuition plays an important role while hiking solo. I trust my intuition more than often than not. After preparing for the hike, the only thing left is to make that hike & stories of your hike.

The starting point is always exciting, the views & there is something rememberable that supersedes all other expressions. With each passing step, the view becomes more memorable, unique & slowly the happiness of hiking a new place starts to sinks into the mind. But, before reaching the top, many other landmarks need to be crossed, some in the path & some in the mind. The funny thing about hiking solo is infinite thoughts, that come in the mind with each passing view. Each view will trigger some story in your mind. The story can be relevant or irrelevant it doesn’t matter because it is nonessential in the context of the things.


Most of the hikes have easy parts & tough parts. Let’s begin with easy parts, the easy parts are simple & can be completed easily by anyone. The normal walk is hardly a concern for anyone, just put on the headphone & walk while enjoying the pleasant surroundings. Each view will take you to some memory lane. The beautiful sceneries, fresh air, sound of leaves rattling, etc all will amaze you to the core. You will be astonished by nature & would often criticize yourself for not enjoying these precious little moments. The deeper you are in nature the more clear your thoughts get & sometimes all the glitters of the world seem to be vague & irrelevant when in such an environment. The happiness of enjoying life as pure & raw which is hard to fathom. The reason for enjoying nature is you don’t calculate the time you passed in nature or how much is left, you are in that present moment which is the only thing that matters. There comes a point when your thoughts leave you for the good & then there is nothing left other than your surroundings. This stage is what we are craving for but with so many noises in our mind, we are always miles behind that point. People have tried many ways to reach this point some use meditation, some use sports, some use adventure & some use passion. If one reached that position where they can enjoy the present moment, respect them. They are part of a rare breed.

The tough part is pretty amazing, adventurous & full of surprises. Every step you take determines the rest of your journey. The tough part usually comprises of slippery slopes, dreadful stairs, or something not experienced before all those thrills that give a sense of achievement after completing it. It is not always about the external factors like the path you walk, but sometimes its small battles in your mind. The tough path does test you alot, whether stepping up or stepping down you have to be sure about your next step if you are not then things can take an ugly turn. This is the beauty of the tough phase, there is always uncertainty about the next step, but everyone is certain that they have to make one. So if some unfortunate incident happens with you, suddenly every nerve in your body will worry about that problem & will forget surroundings in a fraction of seconds. The same surroundings which looked beautiful as heaven becomes bleak & the focus shifts from surroundings to that incident. We keep on thinking about it till we are comfortable with the fact that something has happened with us & completely ignore nature. In other words, we think more about the internal factors than the outer once & internal factors can change about how we look outer things.

So, a hike is like a summary of life unpredictable, unreliable & seems to be in control but not really is. A hike perfectly depicts, how things are during the various stages of life & how it affects your perspective. Read more about my travel stories here https://www.markmyadventure.com/


How To Plan A Budget Trip

Budget is one of the most important things while planning a trip & it is probably one of the main reasons why people avoid traveling to their dream locations. However, is it hard or impossible to travel on a budget? Especially, at this time when most of the information is available with just one click. The answer is a simple “NO” period. There are ample ways which can help you to plan a budget trip. So, how to plan a budget trip?. This post will help you plan a budget trip in an affordable & doable way.


Table of Content:

1. Choosing destination:

When the world is at your disposal, choosing the right place is always a tedious part & with so many options to work from it corrupts our minds for expectations of better places. The best way to choose on the destination is based on your interests. If you like places with natural touch search for similar options. As the mind will always play games & you will miss an opportunity to travel to a place you always wanted to travel to. Shortlist the place & do not deviate from it. Research about a destination like what all you can do. Choosing a perfect destination is 1st step in planning a budget trip.


Choosing destination how to plan a budget trip

2. Visa requirement:

After shortlisting the destination read about the visa requirement, fee & process involved. As some destinations requirements are high compared to the others. Of all the destinations I traveled so far the most difficult was of Europe. So, it is better to research visa process & then go ahead with your plans.


3. Duration of travel:

Not every destination requires a month-long duration to explore. Some can be completed in a few days as well. I believe that one must spend at least 3 days at the same place to enjoy it fully. However, the duration of the travel must be in sync with your things to do & budget (which will be covered later). It is not required to do all the activities, you can only do those activities which you really want to. So, prioritize your activities & calculate the duration. In the case of multiple stops, it is recommended to consider extra days for each stop.


4. Travel budget:

Planning for a budget is the tricky part. But, if you want to travel sustainably it is recommended to stick to the budget. I know it gets lucrative to spend on all the activities once on the road. But, this is what will decide your fate of budget traveling. Search for basic prices of items & liquor this will help you to decide the upper limit of the budget. Suppose, if the meal prices are high then it is better to cook your own food. You can buy stuff from supermarkets which will significantly lower your expenses. Decide on the maximum amount you are willing to spend & work per day expenditure backward. This will help you massively in planning a budget trip.


5. Saving for the trip:

Once your budget is fixed it is time to save for that extra amount. Keep a check on your expenses. This is an entirely personal way of money management. Not spending is also one kind of savings. I personally don’t like to spend on things I don’t require. I don’t watch movies in the theaters, don’t eat outside, don’t shop much until & unless it is an absolute requirement & invest whenever possible. Along with this keep certain money aside each month & spend the rest. This will help you to plan your priorities. You can check the following books if money really matters to you.
Read these books if money really matters to you.


6. Seasons for traveling:

This is probably the most underrated & most missed point while planning a budget trip. As most of the people are aware that during the season prices of everything rises 2 or 3 times from the normal season. Traveling during the season has many benefits but those benefits don’t sync with the finances. I traveled to Cape Town during winters & it helped me to save on my accommodation by at least 50%. This is the impact of in season& off-season traveling. If budget is constraint then traveling off-season is highly recommended. It will help you to save at least 20 to 25% of the amount & with that amount you can travel to some new destinations. Deciding season is important step in how to plan a budget trip.


7. Book cheap flight tickets:

When all the above steps are done, it is time to book cheap flight tickets. You can check the following article which helps you to find cheap international flight tickets. Also, during off-season, there are massive discounts on flight tickets.

How to find cheap flight tickets.

If you run out of the breath while reading the article, you can check the following link which will directly help you to book cheap international flight tickets.
Skyscanner
Kayak
Kiwi
Jetradar


8. Booking hotel:

Stay is one fixed cost that will be surely there. Hostels are the perfect place to stay for solo backpackers. It not only saves money but will also help you to interact with the other solo backpackers. A great way of community building. Here is a post to sites which you should refer to before booking a hostel.

How to book hostels at affordable prices.

If hostels are not your cup of tea, then you can book hotels or Airbnb. These will be slightly costlier if compared to hostels but it comes with luxury. Use the below links to book a hotel with a discount.
Agoda
AirBnB


9. Travel Insurance:

Traveling solo is unpredictable. So, one must be prepared for any mishappening. The best way to protect yourself is by taking travel insurance. There are many sites which help to book travel insurance at discounted rates. This is an important aspect as this can really protect you from anymishappening & will allow you to plan a budget trip.


10. Memories:

After planning rigorously for a budget trip. It is time for some fun, each new destination brings new memories & new experiences. Visit the places you want to & paint the white canvas of your life with the memories created by traveling. As traveling might rob you with some money but it will enrich you with experience, thrill, amazement, excitement & energy. So, don’t waste life counting days, go out do things that excite you & make it memorable.

These steps are essential & will teach you how to plan a budget trip. I hope this really helps you to plan your budget trip with minimum efforts.

After reading this post, if you are not ready to take that next step I don’t know what will motivate you :P. Don’t wait, book your next destination right now & travel world.


Handy Resources:

Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.

Cheap Internation Flights: Best place to find cheap international flight tickets.

Best Deals On Hotels: Places to find best deals on hotels.

Amazon: Best place for all your needs. Also, find best travel accessories.

Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.

Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.

Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.

Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.

Club Mahindra: One of the best resort chains in India.

Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.