Restaurant for the Seafood lovers

Moonrakers Restaurant at Mahabalipuram near the shore temple is a very good restaurant. After so many years, I had a chance to visit Mahabalipuram yesterday. The place where I used to run around and play as a kid had changed so much. I just couldn't recognize the place itself, the way it had changed in the last four decades.

My daughter and son in law took us there for a treat. He has been telling me about this restaurant for some time now about the way they show you the fresh fish and asks you to choose which one you would love to eat etc. and then we can choose the way it has to be cooked and given in a platter to you.

He took me there yesterday, MoonRakers Restaurant it is called. It looked like a very simple ordinary dhaba like restaurant from outside. I found some foreigners sitting in the chairs and waiting for the food, some looking at the variety of fish kept there and trying to select which one they would like to eat and bargaining the price with them etc

We also saw many types of fish kept there. They have variety in the menu. Squid you can get golden fried and also batter fried. batter fried ones we had ordered as an appetizerthen as usual went in for mixed fried rice and mixed noodles, chose a fish and asked them to tava fry that for us.

Food was very tasty and we enjoyed that very much. Batter fried squid was excellent. Mixed Fried Rice had only sea food and no vegetables or chicken etc as it usually has. they had mixed boneless fish scrambled and mixed with the rice.

Had a nice day at the beach too. Soil erosion was there and most of the beach was eaten up by the sea. I remember seeing a lot of sand in the area when I was a kid.

After a nice trip we came back home happily. Since the day was also cloudy it was not that hot we had enjoyed the trip very much.

You can reach the place by Hip and Hop buses and other transport services because Mahabalipuram is well connected to Chennai. This is basically a non vegetarian restaurant.

Brahma's Temple - Pushkar

Pushkar is situated in the heart of Rajasthan and has over 400 temples in and around the area. One important temple amongst all of them is the temple dedicated to God Brahma, the creator of the universe and also the one of the Hindu gods Trinity.
according to the Hindu Mythology, wherever you visit if your visit does not culminate in the Pushkar your visit to the other temples will not be rewarded, that is the salvation will not be achieved.
Pushkar Fair commences in Nawami (Ninth Moon) and ends in Purnima (Full Moon) in the month of Kartika, which can be in October or November depending on the Moon calendar as per the Hindu mythology and calender.
This Brahma Temple in Pushkar was built in the 14th century and the idol stands on a high platform. Marble steps leads to the sanctum sanctorum and a turtle lies embossed there facing the the God's idol. There are coins fixed on the floor to commemorate the births and deaths of their loved ones. There are images of Peacock and consort Saraswathi carved on the walls of the temple.
God is shown with four hand and four faces, facing four different directions as if he is looking everywhere at the same time.
Pushkar is a distance of 11 kilometers from Ajmer and is the nearest railway station to go to Pushkar. Ajmer is well connected with all the main cities and places in and around Rajasthan.
The nearest Airport is 131 kms far and is at Jaipur the capital city of Rajasthan. There are two bus stands one is marwar bus stand and the other Ajmer bus stand Marwar bus stand is the connection point for all long distance buses and Ajmer bus stand, which is located east of Pushkar town , for the local trips like Ajmer and Jaipur.
Accomodation

The Pushkar Bagh
Hotel Pushkar Palace
Hotel Sarovar, Pushkar

There are other places to stay other than these hotels, like RTDC Tourist Village , Royal Desert Camp where you can get tented accommodation with all amenities.

Bheemeshwari - angler's paradise

Bheemeshwari is the nature created picnic spot between the Shivanasamudra falls and Mekedatu falls. This has become a natural habitat for Mahseer fish and a variety of exciting animals and birds.
The lush forests, steep valleys and the scattered little streams here and there shelters large groups of animals like elephants, Deers, Wild boars, monkeys, jackals, crocodiles, otters and even leopards !
Heron, Ibis, Cormorant, Kingfisher are some of the birds there in the forests.
Most important pleasure of pinicking here is that it is an anger's paradise. Fishing camps are there, you will be able to catch mahseer fish weighing 100lbs, if you can take the challenge.
The River Cauvery is abound with this fish and the camp also has comfortable tents fitted with all the basic amenities like cot, mosquito nets, shower, toilet and a small kitchen.
If you are a budding angler, amateur or Professional, you will enjoy this fishing expedition.

Vedanthangal - for an avid bird watcher

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is situated at about 86 kilometers from Chennai and 30 kilometers from Chengalpattu, the nearest railhead. Chennai is the closest and the convenient airport to land if you are planning to go to Vedanthangal Sanctuary.

This Bird Sanctuary is the oldest in India and is situated near a small village Padalam in the Kancheepuram in the state of Tamil Nadu. This is also very close to Kancheepuram the temple and the silk weavers city and Mahabalipuram the famous tourist spot with carved temples built during the Pallava dynasty. So you can stay in either of these places or in the resorts at Vedanthangal itself. You will be able to visit all these places at one go.

Even if you are not an avid bird watcher, you can just wal;k about in the area. It makes a beautiful picnic spot for the day and a safe place to wander about and scroll in the evening times. As and when you enter the place your attention will get arrested by the numerous birds on trees, local common ones as well as the migratory birds making noises like chirping and chatting among them.

Painted Stork, Cormorant, Egret, Spoonbill, Oriental Darter, White Ibis, Grey Pelican, Grebe, Sandpiper, Shoveller, Tern, Open Billed Stork and Pin Tailed Duck. The migratory birds which include Brahminy Kite, Booted and Short Toed Snake Eagle, Montagu's and Eurasian Marsh Harriers, come from as far as Australia, Bangladesh and Pakistan are some of the birds you can find in this sanctuary.
There are paved paths dotted with watchtowers and benches for the visitors to sit and watch the birds as they go about on their business. You can spend time there with your packed lunches etc but please do not litter place. Keep them neat always. If you are quiet and sit in a place watching the birds, you would be able to observe them much more.