tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8153894514801803432012-02-16T21:05:20.461+05:30Trekking. Biking. Ecology.Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-26750875591352509312010-10-25T19:45:00.003+05:302010-10-25T19:48:24.675+05:30

Guys, my new website http://aviramsworld.com is ready and so is my travelogue which is published on it. Kindly visit and subscribe to the new site.

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-79713561510337559992010-10-04T08:16:00.003+05:302010-10-04T08:16:10.495+05:30

Just returned from Nepal after completing 160 km of trekking of the Annapurna Circuit including crossing the Thorong La, 5416 meters. More soon!

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-40416407559757384042010-09-04T11:07:00.000+05:302010-09-04T11:07:21.507+05:30

Have a look at my recently added USA 2010 photo album.

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-12407624757516393512010-08-01T07:12:00.000+05:302010-08-01T07:12:39.184+05:30

Apologies for the delay....but here it is! The state of Jammu and Kashmir was historically made up of many distinct areas viz. Jammu region, the Kashmir valley, the Zanskar region, the Gilgit-Baltistan region, and Ladakh. Most of the Gilgit region and a part of the Kashmir valley are occupied by Pakistan. You can read about the history of Kashmir, and how it has become what it is today though

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-71786698815687626322010-07-17T08:17:00.003+05:302010-07-18T05:34:55.712+05:30

Trying to improve the layout and the design of my site...hope you like it! Do cast your vote on the right!

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-16219370740886382382010-06-15T04:13:00.000+05:302010-06-15T04:15:07.006+05:30

What a lovely place Pittsburgh (USA) is...really loving it. Have been very occupied though so haven't found the time to write the Kashmir travelogue yet. But I promise to start working on it soon!

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-47148010647985391972010-05-20T23:21:00.000+05:302010-05-26T07:54:18.513+05:30

My trip to the Satpuras…Gawilgadh, Melghat WLS, and Narnala fort and WLSForts and Maharashtra are synonymous. As soon as you say ‘Qilla’ one thinks of the numerous forts that were built by the Marathas and the Mughals, mostly in the western ghats. There happen to be many more forts, important and older, than these in the north-east of Maharashtra. These forts were built in the Satpura ranges than

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-52620291093884477232010-04-23T00:15:00.000+05:302010-05-01T23:21:22.849+05:30

I know my Satpura travelogue is still pending, but I returned today from an amazing trip to the Kashmir valley. Check out the Kashmir pics below. The travelogues will be ready soon!

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-69692811104655821332010-04-05T23:44:00.000+05:302010-04-11T20:46:02.678+05:30

Returned today from a four day trip that I did to north-east Maharashta...which covered Chikhaldara, Gavilgadh, Melghat WLS and Narnala fort and WLS. Pics are available below...and a travelogue will be ready soon...

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-74802504395900568142010-03-14T12:40:00.000+05:302010-03-14T12:44:57.997+05:30

I was supposed to be in Melbourne by now, but due to some visa hassles I am still home. Why I am mentioning this upfront is because one of the major reasons for a quick trip to Gujarat was to meet my maternal aunt and her family, who stay in Ahmedabad. So, I wanted to visit them before going to Australia. Ahmedabad is around 540 km from Bombay. King Karandev 1, the Solanki Ruler, had waged a war

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-30056827514281287332010-01-27T13:47:00.000+05:302010-01-27T13:48:56.501+05:30

Did a quick 4 day trip to Gujarat in which I visited Gandhi Ashram, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary and Lothal (Harappan civilization archaelogical site). Pics are available in the album titled 'Gujarat' below. A travelogue will follow soon.

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-64380737159391595852009-10-10T18:59:00.000+05:302009-10-12T21:59:40.748+05:30

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan;

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-4778912545963745612009-09-24T11:22:00.000+05:302009-09-27T20:08:26.148+05:30

Back from a mesmerizing Ladakh trip...did all that I had set out for...and more...Marsimek La!! Scroll to the bottom of the page for pictures and vidoes...and watch out for my travelogue soon.

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-71953210442956602302009-08-23T12:11:00.000+05:302009-08-23T12:22:01.300+05:30

After much delibrations, here is our final itinerary for our Ladakh biking trip:Day 01 is September 10th. Most of this will be done on a hired bike from leh. So if any one is interested, you must be willing to hire and ride a bike through the highest roads on earth and willing to tent in the wilderness.Day 01: Arrive in Leh. Complete day for rest and leisure to acclimatize. Evening Visit to Leh

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-45147072748091504042009-07-26T23:27:00.001+05:302009-07-26T23:28:22.181+05:30

All is set. Bikes have been arranged for as well...directly in Leh...from Planet Himlaya, Leh City. Will arrive in Leh on 10th Sep morning...and 9 days of non stop biking and photography.

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-66587592562698406852009-05-04T11:20:00.000+05:302009-05-04T11:26:24.857+05:30

Here is our plan for Leh in September. Day 01 is September 10th. Most of this will be done on a hired bike from leh. So if any one is interested, you must be willing to hire and ride a bike through the highest roads on earth and willing to tent in the wilderness.Day 01: Arrive in Leh. Complete day for rest and leisure to acclimatize. Evening Visit to Leh Market & Shanti Stupa. Overnight at a

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-47963169537252633432009-04-19T11:59:00.000+05:302009-04-19T12:02:45.007+05:30

One may argue that developed nations have higher tax rates than India. Australia, Canada, USA, all have very high tax rates. The tax payers money is of course used to provide world class amenities to the 'tax payers'. In some Scandinavian nations, progressive taxation is very severe. So you really pay the price for being rich. But... in return 'you' get the best infrastructure, power, water, the

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-38598609628034917152009-04-12T10:28:00.000+05:302009-04-12T10:54:19.839+05:30

The jokers of Indian politics....Amar Singh and co. are back. They did a good job by supporting Congress during the nuclear deal trust vote, but I guess thats all they have ever done.How can a party insist on fielding a person who is convicted of a serious crime? Sanjay Dut...? I am not against Sanjay Dutt...but the party knows that the guy is convicted and is even sentenced to prison. Why do

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-12154994291042637422009-04-11T20:31:00.000+05:302009-04-11T23:09:01.918+05:30

I looked at the elections of the manifestos of the Congress and the BJP...both of them contained crap...nothing that would put a smile on the face of a middle class Indian. Congress promises rice at Rs.3 a kg so BJP promises it at Rs.2. Lucky for us that the Congress didn't offer it at Re.1 a kg...!The same old stunts...Congress' politics though vote bank and primarily appeasement based, have

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-28807766454479898272009-04-11T20:28:00.000+05:302009-04-11T20:30:03.959+05:30

Since I won't be traveling much in the next few months owing to the heat and my knee injury, I have decided to start putting down my other thoughts....just randon things that come to my mind, at this blog.

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-83786829396717185492009-02-03T10:05:00.000+05:302009-02-03T23:49:51.932+05:30

I always dreamt of biking the whole of Konkan, and covering it unlike others. Sea forts and the glorious history of Konkan is something that has always intrigued me. Last week, I did a solo trip to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />North Konkan in which I covered Arnala fort and the Bassein fort. I also visited a really old church at Vasai. Arnala

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-15982264915301936332009-02-03T09:58:00.000+05:302009-02-05T00:18:45.530+05:30

The third an final phase of my plan to comprehensively cover Konkan has arrived. (I have already covered north and central Konkan last month. Sindhudurg, Malwan, Vengurla are known for its awesome beauty and I need not introduce Goa. Also, the objective will be to visit off beat tracks, forts and places of historical importance. Beaches, though will be covered, will be of secondary importance.The

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-20054303725997693222009-01-29T00:07:00.000+05:302009-01-29T00:16:41.523+05:30

770 kms in 3 days on my bike, 5 forts and 3 beaches....awesome trip...watchout for my travelogue soon. Check out the pics at the bottom of the page..

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-6566379214784213972009-01-19T13:09:00.000+05:302009-01-19T13:13:08.260+05:30

As some of you may be aware...I am doing three bike trips to comprehensively cover Konkan and Goa this winter. I did a solo trip to north Konkan last week and now it's time for the central Konkan trip.Inviting a couple of bikers to join me. We are two of us presently. The trip will commence on 24th of Jan morning and end on 26th Jan afternoon/evening. The outline is:(24th) 1. Leave from Bombay/

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-39756374728431326492009-01-14T23:49:00.000+05:302009-01-15T11:29:50.472+05:30

Alang Madan is arguably the toughest trek in Maharashtra Sahyadris, and undoubtedly one of the best any where. It involves a healthy mix of trekking, rock climbing and rappelling. Alang Madan is located in the Igatpuri region. It is a part of the highest plateau of Maharashtra and is neighboured by Kalsubai,and the grand Kulang fort. Both Alang and Madan are around 4800 ft high, making them one

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-28257708069042184992008-11-27T23:37:00.000+05:302008-11-28T23:08:03.527+05:30

My trip to Everest Base Camp (EBC) was planned in February ’08 itself, when I first heard from Pinakin (of Trek’Di) confirming that an expedition to EBC will happen this October. I clearly remember excitedly calling him and others to confirm my participation in February itself! My leave was approved by my bosses in Pune, who were convinced quite easily as it was a once in a life time event. After

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-24097177018077347642008-04-30T10:26:00.000+05:302008-04-30T10:28:27.825+05:30

Nanda Devi Trekking(Base Camp & Milam Glacier Trek)The people of Johar, as the Milam valley is locally known, were traders whose caravans crossed from India into Tibet by the high passes of Unta Dhura and Kungribhingri La. Once the trading season was over the entire population of Milam and the surrounding areas migrated to Munsyari or lower during winter. Trade stopped with the Indo-China

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-35134979816857796852008-03-26T14:55:00.000+05:302008-03-26T14:59:57.705+05:30

Garhwal - Best TimeThe optimal timing for our trekking trips is between May 1st and June 30th and between September 1st and October 15th. Both seasons have their attractions. During the month of May the spring flowers bloom at the margins of the snowline while the weather is generally settled barring the occasional pre monsoon storm that can blow up at any time. Day time temperatures can rise to

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-29828670440944833092008-03-07T10:36:00.000+05:302008-03-07T10:37:21.970+05:30

Early AMSThe earliest known account of mountain sickness can be traced back to the first few decades of the first century A.D. One account from the period reads, “The travellers have to climb over Mount Greater Headache, Mount Lesser Headache, and the Fever Hill, where they will develop a fever, turn pallid, feel a headache, and vomit." (Ward 1975)In 1590 in Peru, a Spanish priest wrote of the

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-84660364405226349872008-03-07T10:26:00.000+05:302008-03-26T14:46:23.895+05:30

There is a charming legend about the famous, beautiful lakes known as Chandratal and Surajtal in the folklore of Himachal Pradesh.The story goes that the daughter of the moon and the son of the Sun were in love. They wanted to meet, but this was very difficult as the son and moon come into the sky at different times. So, they decided to meet o­n Earth. They chose to meet near the Baralacha

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-43914748663083390792008-01-24T09:38:00.000+05:302008-05-08T12:11:16.984+05:30

The new hazard comes from human waste scattered along the mountain slopes, which could run into hundreds of tonnes...A deadly peril lurks on Mt Everest, the highest summit in the world, which is far more dangerous than the freezing cold, gale winds and recently posted security forces who are empowered to shoot at the sight of political activities. The new hazard comes from human waste scattered

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-31195940758101883672007-12-19T11:47:00.000+05:302007-12-19T11:49:53.033+05:30

An ancient meteor impact in North America sent up waves of rock fragments that peppered prehistoric mammals with "space shrapnel" about 34,000 years ago, scientists say.Many of the animals, particularly in the region near present-day Alaska , didn't survive. That's the story being pieced together by a research team led by Richard Firestone of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley,

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-30673978206382514002007-12-11T11:42:00.000+05:302007-12-11T11:44:17.047+05:30

The newly anointed Ashe's spitting cobra, or large brown spitting cobra (Naja ashei), can reach lengths of more than 9 feet (274 centimeters) and is believed to deliver more venom with a single bite than any other cobra on the planet.The aggressive reptile was previously identified as a brown-colored variant of the black-necked spitting cobra, though researchers had long suspected that it merited

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-11794897351941479242007-11-26T11:52:00.000+05:302007-11-26T11:56:25.032+05:30

Mineral analysis shows that most of nearly 150 sampled artifacts dated as far back as 3000 B.C. can be traced back to a single site in Taiwan about 190 miles (120 kilometers) off the coast of mainland China.This indicates that the small island supplied much of Southeast Asia with a unique variety of the semiprecious stone via a 1,800-mile (3,000-kilometer) trade route around the South China

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-75676535343863059202007-10-20T14:48:00.001+05:302007-10-20T14:48:50.637+05:30

Historical Trekking (also called Period Trekking, Experimental Archeology, or Experiential Anthropology) is a hobby where we as 21st century people attempt a task someone in our chosen time period would have done, using only the tools and equipment they would have used, or the knowledge we have gleaned from research. Whether you are interested in the Longhunter of the 18th Century and you are out

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-85644837103563632152007-10-20T14:36:00.000+05:302007-10-20T15:15:35.426+05:30

It began with a decision to quit ISB&M over ideological issues...i joined Indira approximately an year back. The journey has had its ups and downs, bright and dull moments but it has been a journey to remember. College days are always worth savouring; I spent most of my time playing football with Arab students or sweating it out in the gym...or as Dheeraj ( my dear classmate) would have added '

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-815389451480180343.post-13154134963511023972007-10-20T14:34:00.000+05:302007-10-20T14:35:33.346+05:30

Newly found fossilized footprints show that reptiles walked the Earth a bit earlier than scientists believed.An unknown animal created the fossilized prints seen above while strolling along the muddy bottom of a nearly dry riverbed.The tracks were found in the same region of New Brunswick, Canada, where the oldest-known reptile skeletons were unearthed 150 years ago.But the ancient footprints are

Aviramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12048249475689544366noreply@blogger.com0