Vishakapatnam

Some places are really awesome that you fall in love with them when you first see them. Here's one city of that kind. The silvery sands on the beaches, the hills you see around, the movie halls, the university with old buildings, the eat outs, the roads (for some reason the 5 road junction fascinates me, wonder how they planned it) and the 24km ride from the city to a small fishing own called Bheemunipatnam. Lots of interesting places around this really beautiful city.

My trip to this "beach city" is kinda memorable. It was a sunny March morning and the railway station seemed like some desterted place. I always thought Vishakapatnam was a really big city but this station gave me ideas. I hire an auto to my friend's place and I see how big the city is. Ya, is kinda old but definitely not in the lines of Chennai or Hyderabad. I had to go to Andhra University where I had some work. I was really excited because the university is supposed to have really old buildings. I kinda love old buildings. The University is on the Northern end of the city. It has a really huge campus. I was really happy to see those old roads with trees on the sidewalks and all. The campus had a huge greenery. Its worth spending sometime down there and dreaming about studying in such a college.



After this one would go to the beach. The coastline along the city is really fantastic. The beach inside the city is called R.K. Beach. There is a Ramakrishna Mutt located on this beach drive. It is kinda attracive for an average tourist with the Submarine Museum and VUDA (Vishakapatnam Urban Development Authority) Park with boating and some small amusement park. But there are better places to look into. Basiclly the city is too crowded and irritating and after realzsing this I went off the city along the coastline.

And I see the beaches to my right and hills to the left on this prety good curvy road. After riding a stretch of a kilometre I see a small park facing the sea. Not so crowded so really amazing. Go up the stairs and you get a clear view of the unbelievable amazing and beautiful coastline. The stairs down lead to the shore, with some rocks and comaparitively clear water (comparing to Chennai and Pondicherry). Walking northwards on this shore can be bad idea since it gets dirty on the middle. I would suggest a nap here in this park. Btw its called Thenneti Park.

And while riding towards this park we see a cable car station. The cable car goes up the hill which has a globe kinda thing on it. This hill is called Kailashgiri, dont know wtf the globe thing is. TThere is a road also leading to the top. Its just a small hill with some ShivParvathi idol on the top. Nothing muchs. But the view of the entire city you get from here is not worth missing, and even the coastline you can see from this hill is heartwarming. Actually even this place is crowded, so its better to peep in and leave off.



On riding further, you're in the middle of a really scenic road. Hills on the right and the sea on the left, with pretty clear water. After a 15 minute ride you see this really sucky college called GITAM. Please ignore it and go further looking to the right.

This hill you must be seeing on the right almost opposite to GITAM is Rushikonda. Its a hill just adjacent to the sea. There are few restaurants on the top, quite good to hang out and all provided its not crowded. The view from this hill is good too. Can relax in those really sands if the weather is good.



And from this place, on riding further north, the beaches get more beautiful. Supposedly you can see dolphins on this route. The beach near INS Kalinga is too good, never miss this place if u go to Vishakapatnam. And after a 18 km ride, you get to a small fishing town Bheemunipatnam. Go here with your fuel tank loaded, this place doesnt have a gas station (I had to buy a bottle of petrol for the kinetic and it was 5 bucks dearer. . .hehe). Just before you reach this town there's a small hilltop temple. Its quite awesome. Going further in, you see this really old market with a clock tower which says "1789". The streets are really beautiful. They give you some really happy feeling (atleast i got it). There's a beach here, with really weird statues, but its really awesome. The Portuguese Cemetery is really old and reminds you of those you see in the movies, can spend some really lonely time here. Its damn silent except for the roars of the beach.

Vishakapatnam has the beaches, the hills, the eat outs. But I personally feel the pple are kinda senseles (no offence, personal experiences). I found Bheemunipatnam pple better. They're really nice. I think you'll start thinking about a retired life in Bheemunipatnam after this trip. Missing Bheemunipatnam while visiting Vishakapatnam is like not having Haleem after going to Hyderabad during the Ramadhan month.

Madras a.k.a Singara Chennai

About 165 kilometres from Pondicherry, there exists a really old, Cosmopolitan city. It was the Administrative headquarters of South India during the British regime. Yup, Its Madras. Right from childhood i have this obsession with old buildings which one can see in plenty in here. I dont know much about Madras but I do know something. I usually go to Chennai through the East Coast Road. The bus journey is quite good. But Wind biking would be 'Ulti. The road leading to Chennai has lotta Resorts and a couple of Amusement Parks and also a Multiplex cum Shopping Mall.

MGM, Little folks, Mayajaal, VGP and lots. There are lotta major food joints like Marrybrown, Juice Shop on Greams Road, Planet Yumm. Thiruvanmiyur is nothing for a person who own a bike or car. Its everything for pple like me. Its like a major bus terminus. We get buses to every part of the city from here. Adayar... hmm... It always reminds me of my BITSAT exam. It also reminds me of the Pizza Corner through which an aircraft rushes into (Its just below the flyover). Its like a major center. Its called Adayar because there used to be a lake (i'm not sure). It has nothing now though.

Now there are lots of places you can go from Adayar to. There's Madhya Kailas, Anna Salai, Royapettah, Mylapore, IIT, Anna Univ, Central Raiway Station, T.Nagar. Thats how much i know. And if you go back on the other direction you have the IT Corridor which is being made ready. We'll start with Madhya Kailas. This rarity is found in the newly built temple at Madhya Kailas, located in a sequestered corner of Adayar, one of the posh localities of the metropolitan Chennai. Anna Salai is like the heart of the city. It houses the Spencer Plaza which is one of the biggest Malls in South India. Lottsa Showrooms, Halls, LandMarks, Government Buildings, thats Anna Salai for me. Royapettah has nice coffee shops and the Satyam Multiplex in store for you. Its like Paradise for Movie buffs. Its not far away from Spencer Plaza. Just a 5 minute walk. Mylapore is where there are lotsa temples and where Iyers live. If you wanna have a really strong coffee, this is the place. Go to any roadside coffee shop. You'll have a coffee of your lifetime. There are also Pizza shops and Coffee shops in here....

IIT tho is a must go for Non-IITians(hehe). Awesome...!!! Playgrounds, Auditoriums, Old buildings.... I seriously am not aware of why i liked that campus so much. i've been there some 3 or 4 times. Anna univ, I like that Guindy Engg. College Building. I went there to give my HSEE. The Engineering Drawing room was kinda Old OLd. But the seating was comfortable than 6th floor TT, VIT(ahem ahem). T.Nagar or Thiagaraya Nagar is like shopping paradise for those who have their marriage in a week. Jewellery, Textiles.... only these. There are some good restaurants also... One i remember is Saravana Bhavan. Awesome Sambar Rice....!!!! Central Railway Station is just a Monument for me. I love watching really old buildings. And the Corp Building next to it... oh that sight is amazing... Ripon Buildings... Finally if you wanna go to the beach Marina can be a nightmare, better go to Beasant Nagar.

After being to Chennai recently, i found out something i missed before.... A Ride on the Electric Trains. Thats like really amazing... "Dont Miss It". And i found this really amazing Rock Pub, Star Rock in Nungambakkam... heavy metal's playing saturday nights... so be there if you're goin to chennai on a Saturday... And Go early coz it gets jam packed really quick... And pple looking for chics stay away... you'll get disappointed... hehe...

Poudichéry a.k.a Pondicherry a.k.a Puducherry

Puducherry translates to "New Village". Puducherry became Pondicherry when Foreign invaders had trouble with pronouncing it. Ahem... btw Now there is no use talking about who invaded and what they did. Pondicherry being my hometown, its obvious i'll like that place. But the old French archtitecture, the beaches, the food bandis selling soups, the perfectly parallel roads. The Boulevard where the streets still retain their french names.... the boards dispaying names of the streets.... The red cap the Police Constables wear.... All these at one place. Pondicherry.

You get quite good French food in the restaurants. The Beach can really be a good place to hang out. The rock beach may be to meet people and the sand beach in Auroville if you want to be solitaire.

Auroville Town can be a great place if you want to go on a ride. French Chics ;), Grannies riding Bullets, Phirangi Munis, hippies, you'll see lot of things you wont be able to see anywhere else. We used to go to Auroville through E.C.R, East Coast Road. A biker's paradise, can turn to hell at any time(hope you're getting me) . Matrimandir is now being renovated... So they're not letting visitors in. They just show you a view of the Structure from outside the fences. Its fun standing at that point where people get a glimpse of the Matrimandir. This was were Kaki got obsessed with French chics. There other spots in Auroville where the tourists flood is the Visitor's Center. We used to see lot of desi chics here.

Now going further North from Auroville on the E.C.R we'll be able to notice a Bunglow on the Right side, it is the Vice Chancellor's Bunglow. Just opposite to it is the Pondicherry Engineering College(PEC) and the Pondicherry Univ. PEC, established in 1985-86 is a reputed Engineering college. Lots of trees, a huge gate, Canteen similar to TASMAC [google it if u donno what it is ;;)], a huge Air conditioned Auditorium. I must havebe been in there. You see couples under trees whiling their times. A group of boys/ girls gossiping. And nothing more. Actually i dont know that much about PEC.

Going back into the Boulevard, you'll get into M.G.Road. We used to hang out in temples in M.G Road. There is a Venkanna Babu Mandir and a Shivalayam. I dont know about who built them and stuff but they do look quite old. The other interesting places in M.G.Road are Eden Gardens,a Juice shop(not on par with the Fruit shop on Greams Road), Dhanalakshmi Ice Creams, serves delicious ice creams, The Snack shops near the "Chinna Mani Koondu" serve hot prawn bajjis and pakodas, The Church.

Coming to the rock beach, the Park Guest House, Ajanta Bar and Restaurant, War Memorial, The Promnade and the virtually existent breeze. For me, the rock beach no sense. I mean generally if someone says that he is goin to the beach, it must be to get some air. But here its gonna be different. The beach is the most suffocating place in town. But it serves as point de réunion for old friends.

Mission street can be one of the happening roads in town. Coffee.com, Geetha Bakery, Immaculate Conception Church, Focus - The book Shop, Casablanca, Pizza Corner and a lot more. Geetha Bakers serve good breads. Casablanca is a small shopping mall.

Going to Lawspet... The only thing i like over there is the Airport road. Everything else is Bullshit... Apart from these JIPMER campus is worth going.

Pondicherry as such is a great place to live in. But the growing population and the increasing number of automobiles is making it worse. The traffic is becoming aweful. The streets being really narrow, even proper regulation doesnt work. God must be working on this for a solution... Please God do work out.... We want our Pondicherry as it was about 6-7 years ago...




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