Taking a long solo road trip on a Royal Enfield machine is a dream for many enthusiasts of all ages. The thought of embarking on an extensive journey stuck in my mind, and I decided to take a road trip to Tadipatri, a small town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, located on the banks of the River Pennar. This town has a rich history and has been ruled by major dynasties such as Chalukyas, Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagar empire. Tadipatri's cultural treasures are the Chintala Venkataramana Swami Temple and Bugga Ramalingeshwara Swamy Temple. 

Starting my ride in Chennai, I took the NH16 Chennai Guntur Highway route. After traveling around 130km, I stopped at the tea spot at Gudur junction, where I sipped a hot Irani Chai, which has a unique sweet and creamy taste. The ride was enjoyable, and after leaving the highway, I crossed several villages en route to Rapur, which is 40km away from Gudur Junction. Although the road condition was poor with a bumpy road ahead, the scenic beauty in the countryside energized my mind.

There were two routes to Tadipatri: one was taking a straight route towards Rajampet and Kadapa, and the other was taking a right from Rapur to reach Badvel. I chose the latter and rode towards Badvel, which is 100km from Rapur. Riding along the Badvel route, I concluded that it was the right decision. It's the best route for a smooth and quick ride, with less traffic, some twisty bends, many glorious straights, forest vegetation, and pleasant scenery while crossing the Pennar River flowing under the bridge.

The ride continued towards Gandikota, known as the Grand Canyon of India, which is 100km away from Badvel. To reach Gandikota, one has to reach Jammalamadugu through NH67. The ride between Jammalamadugu to Gandikota held me spellbound by its beautiful landscape. That 10 km ride to Gandikota is fascinating and captivating for the eyes. On reaching the historical fort, a passerby tourist casually told me, “You have finally reached,” which gave me a sense of little accomplishment in life.

Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, called as Grand Canyon of India.  The significance of the place is the century-old Gandikota Fort surrounded by the River Pennar gorges.  There are several structures and amazing spots that can be seen in Gandikota such as the Pennar Gorge viewpoint, Madhavaraya Temple, Jamia Masjid, Granary, Jail and ruins of temples.  The place must be on your travel bucket list for the mesmerizing view from the Gorge viewpoint and various adventure activities.  The natural structure and its beauty of Gorges is beyond our imagination and highly captivating.  When you stand at the Gorge viewpoint and look at the beauty of the river and the rocky walls, the visual beauty will make you think about the value of the distance that you covered to reach the extraordinary destination.

After spending some quality time in the village of Gandikota, I continued my ride towards Muddanur. The ride between Gandikota and Muddanur was simply amazing, with a unique terrain featuring a straight road on the valley. The thirty-kilometer ride left me fascinated with the breathtaking scenery, which intertwined different shades of brown over the hills. However, as they say, unexpected happenings can add to the thrill of travel, and that's precisely what happened during my ride en route to Tadipatri from Muddanur. My rear wheel punctured, and I had to deal with a breakdown midway. While pondering over how to handle the situation, a passerby along the highway gave me some confidence, assuring me that there would be a puncture shop after one kilometer.

With the passerby's words in mind, I slowly rode forward before it got completely dark in the evening. However, the entire stretch to the puncture shop seemed longer than my entire travel, which was a bit frustrating. But I kept my cool, and thanks to the mechanic at the puncture shop, I was able to repair the tyre. Five to six villagers from Kondapuram village also helped me make things right, and their kindness left a lasting impression on me. They cautioned me about heavy vehicles coming from the opposite direction en route to Tadipatri after sunset, which I appreciated.

Once everything was in order, I resumed my ride from Kondapuram to Tadipatri. Finally, I reached the town of Tadipatri after an hour and had a wonderful sleep.

The following day, I embarked on a thrilling adventure, exploring the famous temples in Tadipatri and marveling at the breathtaking Alur Kona waterfalls. However, the highlight of my day was undoubtedly my visit to the Belum Caves, which were not only the longest but also the largest caves I had ever seen. These awe-inspiring caves are renowned for their stunning Stalactite and Stalagmite formations and are located beneath vast agricultural fields. As I traversed through the numerous pathways and freshwater tunnels that extended almost 3 km, I was completely mesmerized by the natural wonder before me. After an exhilarating day of exploration, I took a relaxing ride to the stunning Owk Reservoir, surrounded by majestic mountains. As I watched the sun slowly descend below the horizon, I felt at peace with the world, content in the knowledge that I had experienced some of the most spectacular sights that nature had to offer.

The Happy Solo Trip - an adventure that holds deeper meanings and endless possibilities. It's about embracing every moment, without the pressure of expectations. What truly makes it an unforgettable experience is the kindness and love you receive from strangers on the road.

As I reflect on my journey, I realize that this trip is not just about exploring new places, but also about discovering the beauty within. It's a journey of self-discovery and inner peace.

The memories of the breathtaking landscapes, the unexpected detours, and the warm hospitality of the locals will always hold a special place in my heart.

So, to all the fellow adventurers out there, I encourage you to take that leap of faith and embark on a solo trip. It may not be easy, but the rewards are truly priceless.

And to those who have been a part of my journey, thank you for making it even more special. Your kindness and support will never be forgotten.

Here's to more adventures and discovering the beauty of the unknown! Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your support means the world to me.

In recent days, you may have come across news of layoffs from several companies, with the letter "k" being used to denote the thousands of employees affected. The fear of losing one's job has been at the forefront of many people's minds, especially in light of the global chaos that has caused anticipation of a future recession. This has led to a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty for those affected and for those who fear they may be affected in the future.

"Kantara" is a captivating film directed by Rhishab Shetty and produced by Hombale films with a budget of 16 crores. The story is set in the unique cultural region of Tulu Nadu, which encompasses Karnataka and Kerala, and features captivating traditions such as Kambala (Buffalo race in water-filled paddy fields) and Bhuta Kola (Animistic ritual dance in honor of local deities). The film highlights the conflict between human beings and nature and is deeply rooted in the region's culture, land, and people.

A Brilliantly Narrated Social Commentary on Land Alienation and Tribal Livelihood

The plot spans three different time periods, beginning in the 18th century when a king distributed land to the tribal people for their well-being. In the 1960s, the descendants of the king attempted to reclaim the ancestral land from the tribal community but failed when the claimant mysteriously died in court. Fast forward to the 1990s, where the range forest officer Kishore attempts to convert tribal land into reserved areas for forest conservation, but the protagonist, Shiva, rebels against the government officials, who are attempting to clear the tribal encroachments. Meanwhile, Devendra, a feudal landlord, wants to retrieve his ancestor's land, which was given to the tribal people.

As a social commentary, the film highlights caste discrimination, tribal beliefs and customs, land alienation, and the tribal livelihood based on the forest. The tribal people depend on the forest for their livelihood, and the excessive actions of forest officers negatively affect their lives. The government attempts to evict the tribals and provide rehabilitation, but the tribal dependence on forests and forced migration cannot be ignored.

The film is brilliantly narrated, offering an immersive experience that culminates in a stunning climax, where Shiva appears in the form of Varaha during the Bhuta Kola play. The Panjurili deity is shown to embrace both the local tribe and the government officer, symbolizing that nature conservation and tribal development can be achieved by striking the right balance and involving tribal people and government interventions. Dereservation of forests for the tribals should be approached with more sympathy, while the government can be strict in controlling illegal smugglers with the help of technology.

Overall, "Kantara" is a phenomenal film that tells intergenerational mystic stories in a grand way. The filmmakers' hard work, dedication, and sincere efforts are evident, making this film a must-watch.

Rakshit Shetty Stars in 777 Charlie, Directed by Kiranraj

 777 Charlie film starring Rakshit Shetty as Dharma and Charlie the dog in the lead role, directed by the debutant director Kiranraj.  Dharma is the loner and grumpy who led a monotonous life in an extremely unpleasant and dirty house.  His days were filled with Idly, Factory, Fight, Cigarettes and Beer in a continuum.  Sadly to his familial loss,  he doesn’t pursue any interesting things in his life and has lived with no purpose since childhood.  He wants to be alienated from society.

A Story of Dharma and Charlie's Emotional Journey to the Himalayas

Under this lifeless existence,  Dharma’s life happens to meet Charlie (dog) who escaped from the torturous kennel to save her life from immense danger.  After their meeting, the film revolves around the emotional journey between Dharma and Charlie.   Their bonding deliberately formulates surreal and light-hearted emotions between the duo. The beauty of the film turns out well when they like their existence and found happiness with each other.  

After the arrival of Charlie,  Dharma’s perception of life changes and tries to be compassionate and empathetic.  Towards moving a good life with Charlie,  there is a piece of shocking news for him Charlie was diagnosed with the fatal Hemangiosarcoma due to the inbreeding practice of ill-treating breeder.  Unfolding the events,  Dharma found that Charlie liked to play with snow.  To fulfil her wish,  he set off on an on-road journey with her to the Himalayas.  The emotional ride to the mountains made the movie lively and fell in love with their bonding thrives as the journey closer to the mountains.

Despite the hindrances and small obstacles in the long journey, there prevail people with kind hearts they met during the travel.  As Paulo Coelho wrote - when you want something in life, the soul of the world helps you to achieve it.  In such a way, travel is made easier by kind people to reach the destination of the Himalayan snow.  Limitless happiness was felt by the duo in the snow which was so refreshing and delightful.  

On reaching the climax,  the emotional journey between Dharma and Charlie made us think about adopting the dogs and getting pure love from their companionship.  In the end, the purpose of Dharma’s life is found in the love of Charlie.

The movie with blissful music and remarkable cinematography elevated the tale to reach your heart closer and the emotions deeper.

Journeying is a wonderful experience for humankind where one can fascinate about their life moving on with wheels.  From the technology of bullock carts to the bullet trains, travelling to other places was happening all around the world for leisure and exploration.  Travelling made the travellers explore new places, people and their social & cultural life.  Columbus discovered America to the world, Fahien's account of Buddhism, Abdur Razaq's description of the Vijayanagar Kingdom where travellers brought new dimensions to the world.  

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, Railways helped people to travel longer distances within a shorter period of time.  The Britishers in India introduced Railways during the 19th century.  On 16th April 1853,  the first passenger train between Bombay and Thane.  The development of Indian railways from the Steam engines to the present-day hybrid engines saw a major technological shift for the comfort of the passengers. 

Travelling in an Indian Railways owned Tejas express will fetch you a kind of new experience with facilities like an Automatic door system, a Sensor-based water tap system, CCTV cameras inside the coaches, adjustable cushion seats and improved aesthetics.  The premium train comprises 1 Executive chair car and 12 Chair Car coaches with 56 seats and 78 seats respectively.  The train will be running without any stop between Chennai(6 AM) and Trichy(9.55 AM). The automatic doors will be opened at 5.30 AM from platform 2 and the train resumes sharply at 6 AM without any delay.  The three hours 55 minutes travel time between Chennai and Trichy is highly recommended for convenience and optimised travel when compared to other modes of transport. During the travel, the service provided was 1 litre of a water bottle and a daily English and Tamil newspaper for each passenger. We can avail of Veg/Non-Veg food for breakfast. While booking, there was an option of having a meal. We can either prefer Veg or Nonveg or No food.  With the inclusion of breakfast, the ticket cost is (730+120).  We have a choice of having Tea or coffee before and after breakfast. Veg meal includes Two Idly with Chutney and Sambar, Pongal, Kesari and Vadai whereas Non-Veg meal includes Two Bread and Double Omelette, Two Cutlet and a Cake.  For no meal, keep calm and look out for the scenery.

The charm of the journey is unmatchable with the visual treat of lush green trees moving backwards, songs inciting older memories inside the heart.  Truly, Tejas Express redefined the train travel experience in India.  Currently, there are few Tejas express running in the tracks and it must be extended to iconic tourist destinations in India to boost the Incredible India campaign.

What is Monetary policy?

RBI decides how much liquidity must be present in the financial ecosystem in order to spur growth through credit availability and maintain inflation within the limit by controlling the liquidity into the system.

There are tools present in monetary policy decisions by the RBI.

What is Cash Reserve ratio?

CRR is the portion of the money that banks kept with the RBI in order to prevent cash crunch and control inflation.

What is Statutory liquidity ratio?

The banks need to maintain safe liquid assets such as government securities, gold  and cash to control inflation, promote investment in government securities.

What is Open Market operations (OMO)?

It is a buying and selling of government securities for injection and absorption of liquidity in the system respectively.

What is the repo rate?  It is the rate at which the central bank  (RBI) lends money to the banks against the collateral and other approved securities for better liquidity. What if the RBI reduces the repo rate, this will helps the banks to get money from the RBI at a lower interest rate. What the banks will do with the money? The primary job of the banks is to provide lending to their customers. Business people will approach Banks to get loans since the banks are providing loans at a lower interest rate. After getting the loans, business people will start investing in production. This will balance the demand and supply gap, boosting production and employment opportunities. There will be increased liquidity in the economic and financial system which will increase the demand for the product.

What is the reverse repo rate? The rate at which the banks lend money to the central bank (RBI) against the collateral of eligible government securities. The higher reduction in the reverse repo rate was aimed at allowing banks to lend more to the customers rather than lending to RBI. Because the RBI borrows money from the banks at a lower interest rate(4%). The banks will lend to the customers to improve the investment and liquidity in the hands of the business world and the people. 

Who decides this interest rate for Repo and reverse repo rate?

 RBI has constituted the monetary policy committee to decide the rates of various monetary policy operations like repo rate, reverse repo rate, Statutory liquidity ratio etc. Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is a 6 member committee formed after the amendment in the RBI Act, 1934 through the Finance Act, 2016. The basic objective of MPC is to maintain price stability and accelerate the growth rate of the economy.

Under Section 45ZB of the amended RBI act 1934, the central government constituted monetary policy committee shall determine the policy interest rates required to achieve the inflation target.

On April 8, 2022- RBI’s Monetary policy committee kept the repo rate unchanged at 4% and the reverse repo rate was kept unchanged at 3.35%.  RBI remain accommodative to ensure that inflation remains within the target.  In the same monetary policy meeting, RBI introduced new tool to absorb excess liquidity (8.5 lakh crore) from the system - Standing Deposit facility(SDF) is a overnight facility without any collateral.  Interest rate for SDF has been fixed at 3.75%. The commercial banks will park their excess liquidity in RBI due to higher returns.

On May 4, RBI raises repo rate by 40 bps to 4.40 %.

In June 2022,  RBI increases the repo rato to 4.90%

In Aug, 2022,  RBI raises repo rate to 5.40%