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Udaipur, a dream etched in stone and reflected in shimmering waters

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  Our 50th year of existence called for a celebration. P had decided that it had to be the beautiful city of Udaipur - a historic city which welcomed tourists. We did not have any other recommendations and so relented The thought of a trip to a city known for palaces and temples was exciting yet we needed some adventure to draw us there. It was then decided to begin the journey with a safari visit to Jawai - a leopard hotspot. Sunset while on the evening safari  Posing (to ward off boredom while waiting for the leopard to make an appearance) While we flew to Udaipur (in the interest of time) and drove for nearly 2.5 hours to Jawai Bera, we later learnt that we could have taken an overnight train to Jawai or any of the other 2 stations - each of which was only 10-20kms from Jawai Bera - the leopard sanctuary. While I call it a sanctuary, it is NOT because it is not designated as such by the Wildlife department. The guide - Rituraj (interestingly a Zoology + Bschool grad from Maharashtra

Kaas Paathar, a tale unfolds

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Mumbai was hot, sweltry and hazy. The month, October and the year, 2023. The hindu calendar had earlier informed that the year had an additional month (adhik maas). This meant that some month lasts well over the usual 30 days. This time it was Shravan, which lasted for well over a month...almost 2. The Ganesh festival arrived with much fanfare almost mid September and by the time it was over in late September, the skies shown blue and azure. We got busy with a much delayed trip to Mangalore - a land with which I have not just a familial but cellular connect. The trip as always felt good. Bonding with family, walking the familiar streets, delighting the taste buds with memorable goodies. The rains were receding and the weather was lovely. It was unlike the usual hot and humid coastal weather.  Once we were back, Pari insisted that we visit Kaas. After a little exploring we realised that the season was almost getting over. The Kaas plateau in Satara is known for its beautiful indigenous