Family Holiday.... the first one is always special..

one of the many shiftings!

Thejas @ Basant Parvati

We moved into Basant Parvati on Worli Sea Face, without doubt our best stay to date in Mumbai. Many years before the bandra-worli sea-link came up, the worli sea face was a pleasure to stay. From morning walks, to quiet streets (my aged parents could peacefully cross to the promenade un-aided) to towering waves in monsoons, lovely sunsets and the occasional Bollywood shoots for films, Worli sea face was a breeze. Kids' real schooling started from here and we spent one of the most eventful periods @ Basant Parvati.

Pranav was 4 and Thejas 2 and we had our first family vacation. What started then has continued every year but the first one always stays etched as one of the most memorable. It was a conscious decision to have it around Diwali and from then on this period has been the most preferred slot for us. Work comes to a halt, holiday of a couple of weeks can fit in, barring western India most tourist places in India or overseas is less crowded and overall weather is good.

@ Tirupati - Pl dont click?!

The family vacation was homeward bound. Starting at Tirupathi to Chennai to Coimbatore and then to Ooty. Tirupathi was essential for customary 2^nd mundan for both Pranav and Thejas (the boys go through 3 in our family tradition). Well the hill town of Tirumala is always tranquil and getting the boys to go through was a task especially Thejas – he is with the set of kids who do not like their head touched –even lovingly. But that got over and we got to Chennai to celebrate Diwali with Parents. The first time kids got to burst themselves. Pranav was already getting environmentally conscious saying no to crackers but Thejas was the opposite – he just loved crackers especially the rockets as they whizzed into sky. Chennai in Diwali is a riot of festivity. The bursting from midnight to noon was still very active then and the night and dawn were truly festive. Chennai always celebrates Diwali a day before the rest of India does and with no major puja etc. at home, it is just fun – eat and burst as much you like. This was still @ home with parents and then started the true holiday.

Monkey around!

We had decided to take the train as it was more fun and with kids even today feel it is the best option. They can run around, climb and monkey around and make friends even if the journey is short. Some of these friendships last a lifetime. Recently Vidya attended the wedding of one of the girls we had met in these journeys – we met in the train and then at the wedding almost 18 years later. The trip was on the Nilgiri express to Coimbatore – my old hometown. Comfort of AC coaches had replaced the old coaches where in 80s one could whiff the smell of coal fired steam engine. We reached Coimbatore stayed and caught up with old family friends and classmates and for family to see our old residences. The stay in Coimbatore took us to Siruvani Falls and Marudamalai.

@ Siruvani Falls

Siruvani water is amongst the tastiest natural water you can get. It brought nostalgic memory of the 70s and 80s when it was challenge to get this water. Coimbatore always has poor ground water – it is hard water with high TDS not easy to consumer. Siruvani used to be rationed and houses would get water alternate days. Motorized pumps were banned and one had to manually use a hand pump to get the water for a couple of hours every alternate day when you pump and store in tanks. Come monsoon, the water would be red and turbid. In late 80s a Dam on Siruvani river got completed and life I understand has since improved.  I had never been to these falls when we lived in Coimbatore but we went there in this holiday - a lovely quaint place, with cool clean water, towering teak trees … Incidentally today the area is also more famous with the Isha foundation nearby.

@ Marudamalai

by Thevar Films

Marudamalai is a popular and well worshipped hill temple of Muruga (Lord Karthikeya). Set at the western end of the city on the western ghats, I have seen this place from the time it did not have a motorable road to go up to it getting well connected. The temple attracted more attention thanks to the efforts of Sandow MMA Chinnappa Thevar was a body builder who later produced films and used earnings for social work and supporting Muruga temples. Interestingly all his movies had an animal in a key role from dogs, rams, elephants etc. Most famous being the Hindi movie Haati Mere Saathi which he produced and apparently this film launched the Salim-Javed combo to Bollywood. Today I dont think Devar with the best of intentions would be able to make any of his films with all the activism over use of animals. Marudamalai overlooks Coimbatore and when you are there it looks as though the lord looks after the city all the time.

Nilgiri toy train

enroute to ooty in Chaiya Chaiya...train

After repeatedly feasting on food at the Annapurna – Gowri Shankar chain of restaurants in our stay at Coimbatore, we set off to Ooty the Queen of Nilgiri Hills in the Nilgiri Passenger. Built sometime in 1908 this 45 km trip is beautiful and breathtaking. The coaches are almost like a toy train and the ride makes one enjoy the fresh eucalyptus fragrance laden air of the Nilgiris. Staying at Sterling Resorts we covered the Nilgiris. From Mudumalai wild life sanctuary, the roses in the floral Sim’s park @ Coonoor, to the vast expanses of Botanical gardens. The lawns in all these places were such a refreshing sight - Pranav and Thejas had a ball rolling down the slopes.

Its fun rolling down the lawns

@ Black thunder

And a trip to Nilgiris is incomplete without a halt at Black Thunder one of the earliest water them parks which used to keep upgrading itself. Don’t know how it nowadays but then it was cool , safeand loads of fun for the family especially for the kids. 

A couple of weeks of holiday like this is needed every year not just to see and explore places but are time that knit the family fabric. Abroad I have often heard people set aside a month’s pay for an annual vacation. I don’t think we do that yet in India regularly but is a good metric to use. But what started here has made me look at a long (10-15 days) and short break (3-5 days) every year. 

Donald and Mickey had loads of fun...