2023: the year I journeyed inwards.

‘Life on Weekends’ came into being more than eight years ago in November 2015 and since then, one thing that has stayed constant in my life is travel. Well, that and my travel partner, my husband, Prashant. Nothing could come in our way. We have travelled through it all: family emergencies, long work commitments, extremely…

Theme 6: Logic-defying places of India that evoke awe, wonder & faith

After a short break of 6 weeks, we are back with yet another travel theme that will introduce (or reintroduce) you to some of the uncanny places on the Indian subcontinent & fill you with awe and wonder. Welcome to the sixth theme of our ongoing campaign, ‘‘Rediscover India, Incredible India’ – ‘Logic-defying places of…

Shining again: Panna Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh

“Ma’am, be silent. There’s some activity going on here. Maintain absolute silence. No movement at all”, said our guide during the evening safari in Panna Tiger Reserve in 2021. We heeded his advice & stood still. No movement at all. One could hear the soft rustle of leaves or a bee buzzing nearby. A Sambhar…

The hitchhiker’s guide to the stunning & 160 million years old Western Ghats

Yes, 160 million years old. That’s older than the Himalayas themselves. Welcome to Western Ghats, the Sahyadri Mountain range that runs parallel to the Western Coast of India. Lush-green mountains, pristine waterfalls, rugged cliffs, picturesque hill stations & endemic flora and fauna, the Western Ghats are more than a mountain range. It’s a collection of…

Adventure is out there: the Great Indian Himalayan Outdoors

Back in the Summers of 90s, when we had ‘Desert Coolers’, we would often draw the curtains in, switch off the lights and get the cooler to do magic. This was our way of boxing in the cold. In a couple of hours, the temperature would fall & it would get so cold that my…

From the land of Kanchenjunga & the Himalayas: Mountain ranges of India

Home to Mount Everest, world’s highest mountain peak, the great Himalayas is a mountain range that is mighty & mysterious. Crossing across several states in India, the Himalayas has become an integral part of India’s culture, heritage & landscapes. Together with other mountain ranges, the Himalayas has given India an enviable biodiversity – that’s too…

Stories of haunted Stepped Stairwells: Dare to visit alone?

Vavs/ Baoris aka Stepped Wells are well-like structures that were designed to store water in olden days. These wells were often designed to be deep so that more & more water could be stored; the water was made accessible with a flight of stairs directly descending into water. In India, there are about 2500 stairwells…

Theme 2: Haunted places in India that turn touristy during the day

Have you ever felt uncomfortable or queasy at a place? Experienced that feeling that someone is watching you and not with good intentions. That feeling of dread that something untoward is going to happen.No, no! I am not talking about your boss waiting for you to finish that damn piece of work so that s/…

7 tourist places in India that look like international destinations

Home to 28 states and 8 union territories, India is one of the most diverse nations in the world. The presence of Himalayas, being surrounded by water on the three sides and a rich, cultural heritage together make India incredibly unique. You can experience not only giant mountains, picturesque hill stations, beautiful beaches, forests, deserts…

Incredible India – my 7 year long journey through the country

On popular demand, beginning next Sunday, you will see a new series of blogposts on ‘Rediscover India, Incredible India’. I will pick a new travel theme every month and write 4-5 blogposts on that theme every Sunday. I invite suggestions from my readers on these travel themes. There are 195 countries in the world. In…

Fall in love all over again at the iconic Howrah Bridge, Kolkata

Who says that romance can be found over candlelight dinners, or cosy spots alone?! Romance can be discovered during an eye lock while travelling in busy local trains, while searching for books of your favourite authors in a library or exploring the busiest places of the country and rejoicing over an ice-cola! All you need…

The Glorious Gorge, Marble Rocks of Bhedaghat, Jabalpur

As a child, I found it easy to solve Algebra, create fictitious answers, solve equations & imagine borders & atmospheric gases. What really baffled and hooked me was the Television. For years, I watched a minimum of one movie everyday. And like many of us, movies left a long lasting impact on me. Not the…

13 places to explore over the weekends if you are in Delhi NCR, India

Something’s happened to our generation. The pressures that we faced from: academics, peers, neighbours, relatives and random strangers judging us – changed us a bit. And then we saw the world changing with the internet & smartphones. We learnt to focus on ourselves, our happiness and the joys of life. And we also got into…

My all time favourite: 8 iconic cafes from Bombay

Bombay wasn’t my favourite city when I lived there. But it grew on me. And now I miss the city so much so that I find reasons to go back and spend some days with my friends and family there. When I first arrived in Bombay, my friends often directed my attention towards the awesome…

120 hours in Berlin: Bread, Bars and a bit of brute welcome

When I reached Brandernburg airport, I was tired. Almost dead with exhaustion. And if that wasn’t enough, I developed a splitting headache and couldn’t keep my eyes open. On top of that, it was hard to tell which way were the conveyor belts, and how do I collect my luggage. Labels were mostly in German…

Coffee tales straight from Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Once upon a time, there was a country that drank tea. The country and its countrymen were happy sipping sugar-laden tea until one Baba Budan Giri decided to give Coffee to his country, and thus began the coffee journey of India. It’s being said that Baba Budan Giri brought Coffee seeds to India and planted…

Things you don’t know about the Golden Triangle of India!

Delhi- Agra – Jaipur — the golden triangle of India – popular amongst tourists, generally busy at all times of the year & home to many stories that have been told many times over. I have been going to Agra and Jaipur since the time I was a child. I have lived some 20 kms….

Once upon a time, in the old, dusty college street of Calcutta!

I am 34 years old and have been working for the last 12 years. At this point in time, I can afford all the best scents that are out there: Musk, Jasmine, Rose, Vanilla, Bergamot, Patchouli, Vetiver & Sandalwood. But even today, my absolute favourite thing to smell is an old, printed book. When I…

Cave 16, 30 and 34: a grand tour of Ellora Caves, Aurangabad

In the last five-seven years, I have seen more of Netflix, Amazon Prime and other OTT than sunrises and sunsets. No no, I am not complaining. After a long day of work that ends pretty late at night, one needs to unwind with some more content. But then, on vacations, whenever I do end up…

A day of eternal romance in Pahalgam, Kashmir

It was almost afternoon when we reached Pahalgam. It had started to drizzle. I craved tea and before I could say anything, the hotel manager declared, “The tea is coming, ma’am” as if he read my expressions. But no surprises there! I am quite expressive. Anyone with a pair of eyes and a mind can…

12 things to take with you on your upcoming trip to Leh, Ladakh

Thanks to the growing popularity of travel bloggers, social media influencers, and the movie ‘Three Idiots’, Leh Ladakh has become a must-visit place on every idiot’s…errr I meant traveller’s itinerary. Come Summers, and people go berserk about making their already difficult life even more difficult by flying to Ladakh and gasping for breath at high…

A sultry afternoon inside the royal, splendid Mysore Palace

That was the year of Neelakurinji and that was the year of natural disasters. Twice we rescheduled our tickets to Munnar to view the once in a 12 years wonder! We could manage the trip, the third time. We were lucky; we could manage glimpses of Neelakurinji & left Munnar in time. The day we…

Salar Jung Museum & the veiled Rebecca

Disclaimer: The veiled Rebecca statue by Giovanni Maria Benzoni & the book Rebecca by Daphne du Murier has no correlation whatsoever in the real world. Please excuse my book-fanatic mind that couldn’t help but fit in pieces of Rebecca, the book in a blog about the the veiled Rebecca, the masterpiece by Benzoni. “I wish…

Another token of eternal love, Bibi ka Maqbara of Aurangabad

Shahjahan made Taj Mahal in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz. Five centuries later, the Taj is still a wonder to behold. Magic in marble, as they say.Rumour has it that there were plans to build another Taj right opposite to this one. Before he could do that, Aurangzeb captured his father & Shahjahan spent…

My first Mumbai rains & the onslaught thereafter!

There are two things that Mumbaikars love to talk about – evening party scenes & Mumbai rains. The first time I experienced Bombay rains was the first of that season. In May 2019. I was returning home from Phoenix mall, Kurla. I was just 5 mins away from my place when all of a sudden,…

12 amazing experiences in the land of one-horned rhinoceros, Assam

After having visited Sikkim in 2021, I have been craving for more of Northeast India. You know, how greed works. 😀 Not for exploring mountains, waterfalls or altitude, but for finding an escape from the daily life, for reminding myself that life can be simpler & meaningful, and for meeting people who haven’t yet been…

4 days and 3 nights in Odisha: a travel itinerary

It was my parent’s 30th anniversary. Actually it was the 31st anniversary but we will pretend that it was their 30th. Because 30th sounds way cooler than 31st. 😉 We wanted to celebrate with them by taking them out on a holiday. My father was still working at that time, and he was still not…

The smoky Dhuandhar Falls of Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh

Dhuandhar Falls are situated in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Famous for its Marble Rocks, Jabalpur is also the launchpad/ central point for the most beautiful Tiger Reserves of India such as Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench & Panna. While the best time to visit the falls is monsoons, I happened to pay a visit in…

Indian Coffee House and its smoking, hot stories!

It was a beautiful day. Humidity was at its peak. Temperature was soaring. I was getting thirsty every 30 mins. My black kurta was drenched in sweat, and my long hair were coaxing me to use the rubber band. But I didn’t want to break the character. With a bindi on my forehead, I was…

10 things to do in Hyderabad and soak in the royal air

Back in 2008, when I first visited Hyderabad with my mother, I was surprised with how friendly the city was. Wherever we went, we found people who readily helped, with a smile on their face. Since then, I have been to Hyderabad numerous times to attend conferences, business meetings or simply to explore the city….

Sabarmati Ashram | The stunning start to India’s Great Independence

“A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.” – Mahatma Gandhi Situated by the bank of Sabarmati, Gandhi Ashram (also known as Sabarmati Ashram) is a place of mythological significance, a place of worship, the land of duty (Karmabhoomi) & a significant milestone in India’s Independence journey. On 12th…

Abandoned tales of an admired country: Kashmir of Incredible India

Disclaimer: This post is a combination of my experiences as a child who lived in North India & as an adult who has worked with people from Kashmir, travelled to Kashmir & spoken with locals. I do not claim anything. I know no mechanism to decipher truths. Only stories…that I am sharing here. All pictures…

10 things to do in Calcutta (Kolkata), the cultural capital of India

Vir Sanghvi once said, “Calcutta is not for everyone. You want your cities clean and green; stick to Delhi. You want your cities, rich and impersonal; go to Bombay. You want them high-tech and full of draught beer; Bangalore’s your place. But if you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta.” Having lived…

Thin air, low Oxygen & high altitude: Zero Point, Sikkim

A night before trekking to mountains or any other gruelling travel, I go to bed early. My body, soul & mind reach a consensus like it often happens between cross-functional teams before a tight deadline. There’s a certain calm that I feel with no anxiety, no worry and no bad memories. No matter the content…

Seven Truths about Bihar, Jharkhand & Chattisgarh

Most of you know that I was on a personal mission to visit all 28 states (29, then) of India by 2020. My own 2020 mission! I was making good progress and had done 15+ states by 2018. But then, life happened and all my travel plans were stalled & readjusted. It happens. It’s Life….

The Savanna of India: Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar

The best things in life are often chanced upon. They make their way into your life serendipitously when you expect them the least. The same thing happened to me a few weeks back when we had planned to spend a day in Velavadar. It was supposed to be a halt on our return journey from…

The flamboyant & the cinematic City Palace of Udaipur

Wherever you live on this planet – India, Asia, the US or Europe, chances are that you have heard of (or stayed in) this luxurious, heritage resort of India that floats on a lake – the magnificent Taj Lake Palace of Udaipur. Taj Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is known for many reasons…

A piece of Portugal in Diu, the Diu Fortress

The most fun part about taking a road trip is the luxury to take a stop whenever, wherever you want to. You can improvise the itinerary on the go & visit the places that you won’t visit otherwise. This is why I love road trips. On one such road trip to Gujarat, Diu became a…

Igatpuri, in the Western Ghats: found on maps but not by cabs

Like a coin, every tourist place has two sides. There’s often a known side that’s exaggerated in blogs & glorified by travellers. It’s usually the good stuff that someone would tell you about after having spent their hard-earned money on a trip to that place. And then there’s an unknown side that everybody knows but…

Bodh Gaya, and the lessons of life!

I was in the queue, adjusting my mask & ensuring social distancing. My family was already inside the premises & I was still at the security check. Queues frustrate me – not because I have to wait for my turn but because there’s always some pushing & shoving going on. People behind you want you…

7 things YOU don’t do in a Tiger Reserve or a forest!

India is an incredible country, home to the Western Ghats & the Himalayas & more. We have got Alpine, Rainforests, Tropical & Subtropical forests & more. 50,000+ species of plants & 40,000+ species of animals stay in India. So, yes, India has got gorgeous forests & must-visit tiger reserves. You don’t even have to be…

The oldest rock-cut architecture of India- Barabar caves, Bihar

I discovered Barabar caves when I read E M Forster’s, ‘Passage to India’. It was one of the recommended books, as part of the preparation for Verbal Ability in CAT. So, naturally I didn’t read the book then. I didn’t read it in MBA either. Because let’s admit it, who reads books (other than the…

Welcome to Sikkim

“Sabse bura log Dilli ka aata hai (The worst people we receive are from Delhi)”, my cabbie remarked. I couldn’t help but laugh at his candid and innocent ways. “Aap Dilli ka hai madam (Are you from Delhi?)” Well, you can say that I am from Delhi. Whether we go to Ladakh, Kanyakumari or Sikkim,…

Ranchi – the smart city of waterfalls, niceties & poise

What comes to your mind when you hear about Ranchi?! (Bombay people – it’s the capital of Jharkhand, just so you know.) Mahendra Dhoni, Erstwhile Bihar, or maybe the cult movie, Gangs of Wasseypur? At least that’s what comes to my mind. That, and my ex-roommate & super-cool friend, Neha Bharti from Ranchi, who shares…

A day in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh

On my recent road trip to Bihar, Jharkhand & Chattisgarh, the last stop was Raipur & then we were to go back home via Jabalpur, MP. We started early morning from Ranchi to drive down to Raipur. The trip was to end in another 2-3 days. I wanted to make the most of whatever was…

Home to Mowgli, the Pench Tiger Reserve

“But this is my home” – Mowgli As a child, I was shy. Really shy! I won’t talk to strangers, run away from people, hide in the tiniest possible corners of my home & would prefer silence to speech. I liked my own company and until people pointed out that I should be more social,…

Meet the prince of Jhalana – Rana, the leopard

Leopard is an interesting animal. It sometimes enters residential areas, attacks the pets & creates a terror amidst (otherwise terrifying) homo sapiens. Other times, it’s rarely seen. While you can certainly count the number of tigers in a forest, you can’t really ascertain the number of leopards. Why? Because it’s a super elusive animal, who…

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: Unbelievable, Untouched & Unexplored

India is home to more than 75% of wild tigers in the world today. While that might swell your chest with pride, don’t overlook the fact that we have been excessively reckless with our resources & gifts over the centuries. Back then when we were a country of many princely states where each king harboured…