Pykara, Tamil Nadu (Travelogue)

Pykara is a small remote village located 19 km from Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. It is named after the sacred River Pykara which rises from the Murkurti peak and flows through Pykara and Glen Morgan Dams, the two  important  hydro-electric power project in these hills.

The catchment at the Pykara dam forms a beautiful lake and offers a scenic spot for the tourists. The mist lifting like a curtain over the lake during the wee hours of the morning leaves one dumbstruck at the marvels caused by nature. This blue lake shimmering under the rays of the mountain sun lies 21 km from Ooty on the Ooty Mysore highway.

Kayaking at Pykara

The main attraction at Pykara lake is undoubtedly boating. One can enjoy the beauty of this lake by strolling through the dense trees around the lake and  trekking through the muddy tracks to the falls.

Pykara Falls is the last leg of the river. The falls is approximately 6 km from the bridge on the main road. The more adventurous nature lovers can spend a night at the Forest rest house or the Defence Guest house at Pykara Lake on prior requests.

Ride By The Motor Boat - The View Of The Defence Guest House At The Back 

The boat house on the Pykara reservoir is another added attraction for tourists.

Enroute to Pykara lake lies a vast expanse of grassy meadows, the Wenlock Downs. It is an ideal place to  walk and relax a mist the soothing greenery and is a  favorite spot for picnickers and movie makers.
This remote area of Pykara set in the Nilgiri hills, boasts of  everything a tourist would look for - a well protected fenced Sholas, Toda settlements, large grassy meadows and a touch of wildlife everywhere and is  an ideal get away from the crowded town of Ooty during the vacation  and seasonal months.

A Prayer (Just For Laughs)

This was sent to me by a friend, just sharing it through my blog .... to see you smile :)

TO: God.Com
Dear Lord,

Every single evening
When I lie here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:

God, bless all my family
For they're so close to me
Keep them safe and warm
And from all evil and no harm.

And, there is one more thing
Hope you don't mind me asking,
That I  know you will graciously do:
God! Please bless, my gadget, too...

I know that it sounds pretty odd,
So let me explain it Lord,
For inside this tiny compartments,
Rests so.. many long lost friends.

Please take an extra minute
From your duties beyond limit,
To bless those in my friends list
And those to whom request sent.

Bless all those in my message inbox,
And the clever ones who helped me unlock
The games I could never clear...
Especially the ones, who hit- 'like' n 'share'.

Bless the ones who never missed 
My Birthday which was lovingly wished
And all those who sent me a smiley
Or a joke, a link, a thought, almost daily.

Please do save this little prayer
In your grand heavenly computer
For it to be stored in the CD ROM 
As an earnest message to God.com
Amen

The Khecheopalri Lake...Wishing Lake, Sikkim (Unexplored Lands)

Perched at an altitude of 6100 ft is Peling, a small town in the district of West Sikkim. It offers the most spectacular and a closest view one can get of Mt.Kanchenjunga, right from the comfort of our Hotels.  Its a laid back town which is set on a back drop of  the snow clad mighty Himalayas with a few monasteries and falls around it and is an ideal place to relax during a short vacation. While at Peling one must visit The Wishing Lake which is a sacred lake known for its tranquility and scenic beauty. 

                                                                  (Image from Google search)

The Khecheopalri Lake  or the Wishing Lake lies 34km from Peling and  is also known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Padmasambhava). It is a sacred Lake for both Buddhists and Hindus and is believed to be a wish fulfilling lake. This sacred lake is located near Khecheopalri village.

The local name for the lake is Sho Dzo Sho, which means "Oh Lady, Sit Here".This sacred lake is embedded in the midst of the Khechoedpaldri hill. These hills are also considered  sacred and  is one of the pilgrim places of  Buddhists. We can find a few of them seated near the banks chanting their prayers in whispers so not to disturb the stillness of this beautiful lake.

                                                                                          (Image From Google Search)

A very interesting feature of this lake is that not a single leaf  floats on its surface. It is believed the birds pick  them up immediately, leaving the waters clear and clean, that makes this lake resemble a sheet of sparkling glass from the banks.

How To Reach And Where To Stay

The nearest railway station to Peling is the New Jalpaiguri Station, W Bengal. Taxis ply regularly from the railway station to Peling and to other places of Sikkim. There are plenty of hotels at Peling ranging from budget stays to expensive ones according to the view of Kanchenjunga from its hotel complex.