After having visited Sikkim in 2021, I have been craving for more of Northeast India. You know, how greed works. š 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…
Tag: lifeonweekendsblog
4 days and 3 nights in Odisha: a travel itinerary
It was my parentās 30th anniversary. Actually it was the 31st anniversary but we will pretend that it was their 30th. Because 30th sounds way cooler than 31st. š 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…
Sabarmati Ashram | The stunning start to India’s Great Independence
āA man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.ā – 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…
Two lazy days of rare birds and high mountains in Latpanchar, Darjeeling
Remember Zazu? “Well the buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of a spot. And the baboons are going ape over this. Of course, the giraffes are acting like they’re above it all… The tick birds are pecking on the elephants. I told the elephants to forget it, but they…
Driving through Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world
Some trips are impromptu & fun, and some need immaculate planning that starts from booking your plane tickets at least three months in advance, planning your leave so that it doesnāt coincide with any program launches or business reviews at work & designing the itinerary to have a fulfilling experience (which means not miss anything…
What’s so GREAT about the World UNESCO Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park?
People love their school days. I don’t. You would never find me reminiscing about my school time or talking about the memories one makes during their school days: planning for mass bunks, stealing food from your neighbour’s lunchbox, waiting for the Zero Period so that one can go out & play & going to the…
10 things to do in Calcutta (Kolkata), the cultural capital of India
Vir Sanghvi once said, āCalcutta 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; Bangaloreās your place. But if you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta.ā 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. Thereās 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…
The empire that could have been, and the emperor’s resting place, the tomb of Sher Shah Suri in Sasaram
I was on my way to Bodh Gaya, Bihar. It was a six-hour long journey from the Chunar Fort in Varanasi. And I was getting bored. Well, sort of. It wasn’t because I was holed up in a car, doing nothing. It was because there was nothing interesting going on inside the car or on…
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…
An evening in the Wine Capital of the Country, to SULA Vineyards, Nashik
āEither give me more wine or leave me alone.ā ā Rumi When you arrive at Sula Vineyards, it feels as if you have arrived at Cyber Hub in Gurgaon. You see the same glitz & glamour, people dressed up in fashionable clothes & a melange of smells wafting your way. Then, you look at the…
A journey like no other, from Patan to the 100 rupee banknote: Rani ki Vav
It is said that Egypt gave pyramids to the world, and India gave stepped wells. India gave a lot of other things to the world too (that are showcased in the museums all over) but that’s a topic for some other day. Today, let’s talk about stepped wells that are believed to have originated in…
7 things YOU donāt 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 Forsterās, āPassage to Indiaā. It was one of the recommended books, as part of the preparation for Verbal Ability in CAT. So, naturally I didnāt read the book then. I didnāt read it in MBA either. Because letās admit it, who reads books (other than the…
Welcome to Sikkim
āSabse bura log Dilli ka aata hai (The worst people we receive are from Delhi)ā, my cabbie remarked. I couldnāt help but laugh at his candid and innocent ways. āAap Dilli ka hai madam (Are you from Delhi?)ā 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…
Riding down memory lane, my first trip to Pondicherry in 2013!
Today, I am going to talk about my visit to Pondicherry back in 2013. Itās a special trip because I planned it four months in advance, and saved a fixed portion from my salary every month, while proudly defaulting on my education loan EMI. Just a week before the trip, a big launch was planned at work, and I have been working towards making that happen. Everything was happening like clock work, and I happily reached Puducherry with a bag full of amazing clothes and a heart full of desires. By the way, do you know how I thought of āPondicherryā of all the places?
Running for shade when it rained – a day at Miramar beach, Goa
It needed 12 hours of drive to reach Goa, from Bangalore. We started early morning & before we knew; we all were in holiday mood desperate for an evening in beach. So, we took a halt in Karwar enjoying the beach walks & jhaalmuri. It was windy & beautiful – the perfect start to the next three days in Goa.
Kehwa aur Kahaniyan!
Two days before our scheduled departure to Kashmir, there was news about stone-pelting & open firing in the valley. They were showing live footage on the news channels. It would scare the hell out of people like us who began watching TV in the 90s & have heard only one kind of news when they…
Mountains NEVER called me. I showed up uninvited.
The Mountains are calling and I must go”. When John Muir wrote this in a letter to her sister, in 1873, sitting somewhere in Yosemite Valley, little did he know that in another 140 years, his letter would become public knowledge and his words would form one of the most popular headlines ever to announce the love for mountains. When I think of mountains, I think of my childhood. That’s where it all began anyway.
I am out of Bombay & Bombay is out of me. But there’s more.
One fine day in the January of 2019, I decided to move my base from Ghaziabad. I badly needed a change of scene. So, I started exploring my options which (I realised after a while) didnāt exist. In times like these, I turn to wiser people for advice. Even then, I turned to one of the…
Away from the noise, the life in Manoribel, Mumbai
Every Monday, I drag my body with half a soul to work & begin running, only to take a pause on Friday night because the next morning wonāt come with alarms and reminders. Sleeping like no one is watching on Saturdays & Sundays often help me find the rest of my missing soul, only to…
First impressions of erstwhile Calcutta that last forever in the metropolis era
The Calcutta of my dreams: When I imagined Calcutta as a kid, I imagined a city with long, twisted lanes with colourful, old houses on either side. Contrary to the outside scene, these houses with short and humble doors would open to a big verandah with multi-floored rooms and balconies all around it. The verandah…
The city thatās called Mumbai & known by many names!
It’s the city of dreams. Itās the city of dreams; itās the city that never sleeps; itās a mahanagri where people come to realise their dreams, struggle day in, day out, travel in local trains, go without food for days, travel on foot, risk dehydration, and wake up every day to do what they got…
Sign up for a visual treat at Pushkar fair, 2018
Somebody said that all good things in life are free. I couldnāt agree enough – a warm sunny afternoon in December, or dipping your feet in a gushing stream of water, or the colorful spread on an otherwise clean sky on evening – all are free, and the best of experiences. I thought I had seen…
The quest for Neelakurinji- the once in 12 years wonder
2018 was the year of many things – of data breaches, of executive resignations, of political upheavals, natural disaster, of new records in Sports. For me personally, it was a year of new insecurities, never-known fears, and long days that were spent being stressed. 2018 was also the year of Neelakurinji, the flower that blooms…
12 Lifetime experiences from Incredible India
āWhich one is your favorite place?ā, people often ask me. And when I take time to think about one, they are like, āCome on, thereās got to be a favoriteā. And I think harder but I canāt seem to place one as favorite over others. Because itās just not the places but what you have…
12 Lifetime experiences from Incredible India
āWhich one is your favorite place?ā, people often ask me. And when I take time to think about one, they are like, āCome on, thereās got to be a favoriteā. And I think harder but I canāt seem to place one as favorite over others. Because itās just not the places but what you have…
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 this sugar-laden beverage 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…
How to NOT be a spoilsport when travelling in groups
Remember School Picnics when the senior most kids would occupy the last seat and you would be left with the ‘unwanted’ ones – those next to the teachers. And while sitting on those hot seats, you would eye the back seaters who would play Antakshari and dance, while the only awesome company you had was…
A weekend trip to the British Summer Capital – Shimla
I remember the new year of 2018. One of my many resolutions were to grow my Instagram followership by posting daily. Did it grow? Yes, but not substantially. It just feels like yesterday- scrolling my Instagram feed & looking at my ever-stagnant Twitter followers on the 31st of 2017. And it’s September of ’18 already….
The touch of love: Allepey Backwaters, Kerala
Kerala – Godās own country is not called Godās for no reason. Dotted with coconut trees, situated by the coast, with sultry weather most of the year, balmy air in the evenings, full of tea plantations in shades of Green, with myriad beaches & backwaters, pioneer of Ayurveda treatments, skilled in Kuchipudi & their own…
Godās own country needs us. Show some love for Kerala
I have been going to Kerala for years now. Munnar was almost like home with its picturesque views and Green landscapes. We would often pick our car from Bangalore or Mysore and drive to Munnar enjoying the forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries on the way. And it breaks my heart to see Kerala suffering this…
Happy 72nd, India! STAY INCREDIBLE.
ą¤ą„ą¤ ą¤¬ą¤¾ą¤¤ ą¤¹ą„ ą¤ą¤æ ą¤¹ą¤øą„ą¤¤ą„ ą¤®ą¤æą¤ą¤¤ą„ ą¤Øą¤¹ą„ą¤ ą¤¹ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤°ą„ ą¤øą¤¦ą¤æą¤Æą„ą¤ ą¤°ą¤¹ą¤¾ ą¤¹ą„ ą¤¦ą„ą¤¶ą„ą¤®ą¤Ø ą¤¦ą„ą¤°–ą¤–ą¤ą¤¼ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤ ą¤¹ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤°ą¤¾ India – one of the oldest civilizations of the world, famous for its unity in diversity, blessed with changing landscapes from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, tolerant of religions and faiths where Hindu kids celebrate Christmas as much as they celebrate Diwali, Christian…
15 gems from 15 states of Incredible India: travel today!
As most of you know, Life on Weekends was born in the November of 2015. And since then, I have been blogging on and off, but travelling constantly. I began as a naive traveller who would want to holiday anywhere (and everywhere) glamorous, dress well & click pictures (tons of it), and spam my Facebook…
Are you thankful enough? You would be at Hall of Fame, Ladakh
Come Fridays and my mind lights up a like a bulb. I get all the 51 ideas to make my life awesome, and not only the Left or the Right, but unknown sides of my brain get activated because my mind is endlessly creating lists of ‘how to make your weekends awesome’. It doesn’t end…
A fresh breath of air in Manali; a weekend getaway amidst mountains
A chanced break, a road-trip crazy partner & the zeal to burn some money was enough motivation to escape the sweltering heat of Delhi NCR & find respite in the scented mountains of Kullu-manali, even if it lasted for couple of days. So, we picked our car, fuelled it & set out to cover 569…
Five places of evergreen tourism of my state, Uttar Pradesh
āWhere do you come from? Delhi or Noida?ā āWhich part of Delhi do you come from?ā When I answer, āGhaziabadā to these questions. I swear, their eyeballs bulge & tongues come out. People in Delhi & all the villages and cities around Delhi think that people from Ghaziabad dress in Black kurta-pyjama, speak in vernacular…
The ever so young & ever so wise – Amer fort of Jaipur
Situated at a height & spread across an area of 4 kms., Amer keeps a watch on Jaipur, from 11 kms. away. Amer probably never goes to sleep, partly because it stands guard over Jaipur, but mostly because it’s always thinking of the good times, remembering it & taking pride in it. Decades of royal…
Ditch your routine and chase the monsoons in Goa
Most of the days I wake up dreading whatās awaiting me during the day (not all, but parts of it). Some days I wake up with a smile on my face, because I got to sleep till late that day. No points in guessing that those days belong to weekends. Sleeping till late is not…
The trip of a Lifetime: 7 nights & 8 days in Leh Ladakh
Did you have a best friend when you were growing up? The one whom you would look forward to meet every evening. The one who would totally get you, talk to you the way no one had, listen to your problems, give you workable solutions & wonāt make a big deal out of anything. The…
How you can take 12 trips in 12 months
āHow do you travel so much?ā, I am often asked. The simple answer to this one is, āWell, I want to.ā Then, people ask me how do I manage to travel so much. Well, to that, thereās a bunch of things I do to manage travelling in a schedule as busy as it gets. So,…
The Leopoldās from Mumbai |Straight from the pages of Shantaram
I always consider myself a less of a reader. Because I donāt read as much as I would want to. However, whatever little I read, it leaves an impact on me. I canāt keep a book down unless I have read it. I donāt leave books mid-way & I certainly donāt skim or scan. I…
The Golden Sunset from the old Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
One of the many luxuries that travel brings with itself – is the gift of time. You could wake up at your own leisure. Go, take a walk, come back, rest some and then leave for the sight seeing. Thereās just no better way to relax than this. Right? Well, no. Wrong! While we might…
The place of epiphany: the great Ashoka & Kalinga War
After having won the never-before Kalinga, the great emperor achieved what no one had done before him. But at what cost? This question would haunt him day and night & soon the great Mauryan emperor renounced everything and turned a monk. Over the years, he would play an instrumental role in heralding Buddhism in Indian…
The long-preserved art of Pattachitra – painting on dried palm leaves: Raghurajpur in Odisha
Do you remember the first time you sat inside an aircraft? Or the first time you spotted a celebrity? Or the first time you received the message – āSalary Credited on XXXXā? I used to dream about all this as a kid, and experienced all three when I just entered 20s. Itās a feeling that…
The Scotland of India: Coorg, Karnataka
“Why don’t you go to Europe? It’s gorgeous.” “If you can’t afford Europe, explore Asia. That’s equally beautiful too.” “What’s so great about India that you take every other trip domestic only.” And if you think that, you clearly haven’t explored India because you can draw parallels between every other foreign exotic location and an…
The Jewel of India: Kashmir
Imagine yourself opening a box that’s been lying in the storage of your house. You don’t want to go, open the box because you dread the dust, the allergies & the dark. You know the box houses precious items but you put it off because – “who would enter the moist, damp & dark storage?”….
Paradise on Earth – of Tulip Gardens, Kashmir
ą¤ą¤° ą¤«ą¤æą¤°ą¤¦ą„ą¤ø ą¤°ą„ą¤¹ą„ ą¤ą¤¼ą¤®ą„ą¤ ą¤ ą¤øą„ą¤¤ ą¤¹ą¤®ą„ą¤Øą¤øą„ą¤¤ą„, ą¤¹ą¤®ą„ą¤Øą¤øą„ą¤¤ą„ ą¤¹ą¤®ą„ą¤Øą¤øą„ą¤¤ą„! If there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this! I never knew that Kashmir was so beautiful until I saw it. I often heard about the place as a child & I grew up reading about Kashmir & its beauty…
The eternal sunshine of a snow-clouded mind!
Tons of ice-creams, volumes of ice & electricity bills running to pages – is how we beat heat here in North India. For all the love we have shown to the moon in our poetry and novels, we ended up offending the big daddy & he has decided to teach us a lesson with soaring…
Shhhh! The pursuit of Erotica in Khajuraho
An overnight train journey in a second AC compartment with a bunch of young people, my book & a good looking husband who knows a lot of random stuff is how my pursuit for erotica began. As I busied myself with the days of Malgudi, a chemistry was building up between the guy I married…
India beyond mountains & monuments: the incredible life
When Yann Martel won the Man Booker Prize in 2001 for his book, ‘Life of Pi’, many applauded his writing style, his imagination & the ability to build characters. Look at the protagonist – Piscine Patel, who was teased as Pissing patel, and his ingeniousness to rechristen himself as ‘Pi’. Tremendous & Terrific! I, however,…
The incredible Karnataka: of beaches, lighthouses & hills!
I have never been a party person. Those have always bored me with their obsession with absence of Vitamin D, music that threatens your eardrums & rules about how to dress up, who to speak with & how much to speak. I don’t like that. I like places that let me be where I can…
The Surviving Wheels of Time of Konark Sun Temple, Odisha!
What do you think when you think of time? Plenty at hand? Never enough? Fast slipping through fingers? Or Who cares? Or do you wonder where did it all go? I regularly look at my wrist watch & back calculate – how much is left till I finish this presentation, excuse myself from another meeting…
Jai Jagannath – echoes of enigma that remain a mystery!
āJai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath!ā The small compound was echoing with these loud shouts. And with that went many hands in the air, of devotees! I was tempted to join them in chanting when another sound came from the background. It was a familiar sound; I had often heard it in movies – typical…
Five ideas of perfect Valentine holiday destinations!
Come February & people begin talking about Valentine’s Day. From the time I can remember, there used to be such energy in school that we no longer needed Physics Classes to understand Laws of Conservation of Energy. We just knew. Exams would be round the corner. Revisions would be on. But the second week of…
Where they worship a Royal Enfield: Incredible India
India is an incredible country. We got all sorts here – admiring cows, paying respects to Banana & Banyan trees, marrying little girls to the idols in temples, worshipping in a place riddled with mice or bats & planning excursions to places with large ice bodies. And we do all that in style, in faith…
Top five holiday recommendations for the first long weekend of 2018
Much like the first date of teenage years, I am excited, hopeful & highly optimistic about the first weekend of this new year since this means vacation. Have you thought of the venue yet? 26th January is a Friday (drum roll) & the non-banking populace of India can spend these three days in style. It’s…
Bhimtal Diaries: The station near the hills
A chanced picture on my Facebook feed, a familiar name and the appetite for a break took me to Bhimtal last year where I spent three days, off the grid. No Facebook, no WhatsApp, no emails and no phone calls. Donāt believe it? Okay, 3 phone calls every day. Still, donāt believe me? Well, a…
The poetic Chittaur of Meerabai
ą¤®ą„ą¤°ą„ ą¤¤ą„ ą¤ą¤æą¤°ą¤§ą¤° ą¤ą„ą¤Ŗą¤¾ą¤² ą¤¦ą„ą¤øą¤°ą„ ą¤Ø ą¤ą„ą¤ą„„ ą¤ą¤¾ą¤ą„ ą¤øą¤æą¤° ą¤øą„ą¤ą„¤ ą¤¤ą¤¾ą¤¤ ą¤®ą¤¾ą¤¤ ą¤ą„ą¤°ą¤¾ą¤¤ ą¤ą¤¾ą¤ą¤”ą¤¼ą¤æ ą¤¦ą¤ ą¤ą„ą¤²ą¤ą„ ą¤ą¤¹ą¤¾ ą¤øą¤ą¤¤ą¤Ø ą¤¢ą¤æą¤ ą¤¬ą„ą¤ ą¤æ ą¤¬ą„ą¤ ą¤æ ą¤²ą„ą¤ ą¤ą„„ ą¤ą¤æą¤Æą„ ą¤ą„ą¤ ą¤²ą„ą¤Øą„ą¤¹ą„ą¤ ą¤²ą„ą¤ą„¤ After many battles & political tug-of-war, Chittaur was rising again but this time with the melody, like never before. Chittaur by then had witnessed many episodes of pride, valor…
Of Incredible India: Asaf-ud-Daula & Bada Imam Bara of Lucknow
Unmatched Heritage, proud legacy, splendid stories, indigenous craft, envious art & architecture & delicious food – India is all that & more & this is precisely why India is incredible. In this series, we will bring the untold stories from the nooks and corners of the country, waiting to be heard. Stories from the forgotten…
Game for some bird watching in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary?
Freedom is a funny thing. You only get to appreciate it once you don’t have it. The more you fight for it, the more you crave it. How does freedom feel like? To me, it is – spreading my wings & flying high with nothing to control me or pull me back. The sky is…
The legend of Chittaur: Maharana Pratap
ą¤Ŗą¤”ą¤¼ą„ ą¤ ą¤ą¤¾ą¤Øą¤ ą¤Øą¤¦ą„ ą¤ ą¤Ŗą¤¾ą¤°Āø ą¤ą„ą¤”ą¤¼ą¤¾ ą¤ą„ą¤øą„ ą¤ą¤¤ą¤°ą„ ą¤Ŗą¤¾ą¤°ą„¤ ą¤°ą¤¾ą¤£ą¤¾ ą¤Øą„ ą¤øą„ą¤ą¤¾ ą¤ą¤ø ą¤Ŗą¤¾ą¤°Āø ą¤¤ą¤¬ ą¤¤ą¤ ą¤ą„ą¤¤ą¤ ą¤„ą¤¾ ą¤ą¤ø ą¤Ŗą¤¾ą¤°ą„¤ą„¤ I grew up reading about the mighty horse that would often figure in poems and stories of my childhood. Chetak was said to be unbeatable. He was faster than wind, louder than thunder & sharper than…
The mighty warrior of Mewar: Rana Sangha
Chittaur hadn’t celebrated to its full yet, and destiny played its cards. After the untimely demise of Rana Kumbha, Chittaurgarh came under dark once again and silently watched itself getting broken into parts. Now, all Chittaur had to do was wait – wait for its redemption & resurgence. Luckily, Chittaur didn’t have to wait for long….
Great wall of Kumbhalgarh – of King Kumbha of Chittor
Enter Mewar and look around – you will find yourself surrounded by forts to the point your eyes may stretch & beyond that. These forts are generally accompanied by lakes, ponds or bawris (stepped wells) now tended by localites who would don colorful attire from top to bottom. While ladies will be seen in tye-dye…
A life dedicated to travel
Till three years back, I used to take vacations – twice or thrice a year. Sometimes, I would go on picnics too to nearby weekend destinations such as Agra & Jaipur. I would pack a heavy bag & fill it with all kinds of vanity, countless clothes and shoes. Each vacation will precede with a…
My Sully Moment: Flight no. #i5799
My first instinct was to check online – while I was up in the air – as to how to get out of a plane crash. Two seconds later I realised that Google won’t work so high. I frantically take out the card in the back pocket of every seat & read instructions on how to life jacket myself. I started groping for one under my seat, but couldn’t locate one. I got jolted & almost lost a tooth.Ā
What a Fish: Shivsamundram, Karnataka
“Meen, meen”, cried the young lady with the biggest smile I had seen the entire day. When we looked in that direction, a wave of spices wafted through the air – spices just been fried in oil. Oh, it made me drool. Before I could say anything, someone had hit the brakes. It was the…
The Baisakhi of 1919 – the black day of India!
It was the beginning of the harvest season and one of the biggest festivals of India – Baisakhi. People from all over the country had gathered to join the festivities and live a day of joy & happiness. They bowed their head at the holy shrine in the morning and proceeded with the day. Most…
The Bhool Bhulaiyaa that figured in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ : Chand Baori, Abhaneri
At a distance of 95 kms. from the capital of Rajasthan, exists one of the world’s deepest stepped well – Chand Baori in a small village called Abhaneri. The legend has it that a bunch of ghosts created this stepped well, overnight, for reasons unknown. The stepped well, though situated in a remote area, has figured…
953 Jharokhas and one big Hawa Mahal
A king admires a palace & secretly wishes to build a similar/ better one in his own country and thus ends up building a beautiful, huge palace with many outlets to the outer world. The search for a ‘home’ never ends. A home – that’s yours, where you find peace, where you can be yourself….
In the lap of Dauladhar: Dharamshala stadium
Dharamshala – the home to Dalai Lama, a mini Tibet and the second capital to Himachal Pradesh. Anything I will write in praise of Dharamshala will not do any justice to the place that’s magically peaceful. In the backdrop of beautiful Dauladhar, Dharamshala offers a sight to behold wherever you look. While the place is…
A walk through the bakeries of Pune
I started off as a traveller who would shop a lot before any trip and focus on getting clicked as much as the photographer can whenever I went to any place. š After 15+ states in India, I feel I have matured and like to breathe in the place before infinite selfies and checking off…
Breakfast at The All American Diner, India Habitat Centre
I am always on the lookout for good places to eat and drink tea or coffee. And I found one such place in the All American Diner in India Habitat Centre. The place has got the feel of the diners from the Hollywood movies of 80s with bright red seats and wide tables. The service…
Of the love that refused to die: Mastani Mahal, Pune
Close your eyes, fall in love. Stay there. – Rumi Love touches everyone. We all experience love & all that it brings with itself: excitement, change and pain. And even after all the pain and change, we don’t bat an eyelid before falling in love again. They say that love knows nothing. It’s blind. And…
From the South of India!
Sometimes words ain’t required because pictures are worth more than anything. My tryst with travelling began in 2014, and since then I have been to a lot of states in India. Each has its own specialty – culture, food, stories, forts or waterfalls. My love for #IncredibleIndia is unmatched and I enjoy my trips to…
Bhaiya, Eiffel tower chalenge?
English Translation of the post title: Bhaiya, Eiffel Tower Chalenge? (Hey, what will you charge for a ride to Eiffel Tower?) It was a soft evening: of pleasant air, crimson sky and a warm, setting Sun. I was wearing my favorite red colored pants, floral top and a hat. I had my new shades on that…
Temples, Elephants & Rubber Plantation at Thirparappu Waterfalls, Kanyakumari
Have you ever experienced the happiness after finding a crumpled 10 rs. or 100 rs. note in the back pocket of your unused pair of jeans? Or the sense of joy at finding the report card of VI (or VII) standard under the pile of old newspapers stacked away in a corner of your store…
The state of colors: Rajasthan
Like most kids, I also dreamt of fantasy lands where there were mountains of chocolates and taps full of Maaza. My fantasy land was perfect. I could watch TV all day, play whenever I want & roam around wherever I want. There would be no restrictions and I would feel at home in that place….
Where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon: Sarnath, Varanasi
“Buddham Sharnam Gachhami” They say that it was a fine evening in a spacious deer park. On the green grass, sat a group of monks, some 250kms. away from this humble place called ‘Bodhgaya’. That must be a special day. The air must have blown slowly and smoothly without making any sound. The tree must…
The Taj of Delhi: Humayun’s Tomb
A king fell madly in love with his queen and created magic in marble that attracts crowd from all over the world today. Go back a few years, and you would find the inspiration behind the glorious Taj Mahal, sitting quietly, counting its days, and rejoicing in the popularity of what came after itself. The…
A place for monkeys: Jakhu Temple, Shimla
After a horrendous experience in Vrindavan last year when a monkey attacked me in open & snatched my spectacles, I have had my differences with this breed. I don’t go near them, avoid eye contact at all costs & maintain my distance. Any place where I might find a monkey is usually not on my…
The not so talked about story of Fatehpur sikri!
I remember reading about ‘Buland Darwaza’ in History text books from class VII or VIII. The mention of ‘Buland Darwaza’ almost always is clubbed with the description of ‘Fatehpur Sikri’ just like the witty stories of Birbal, that are incomplete without the mention of Mughal emperor Akbar. Both go together! Also read: the highest gateway…
The queen of hills: Shimla
Pitched roofs of colorful houses, red & ripe apples in big orchards & tall, decorated churches – that’s how I imagined Shimla. It was a Saturday early morning of Summers when we caught a train from New Delhi railway station to Kalka. We were excited about our journey, about sitting in a toy train for…
Have you found your travel story yet?
“When one door closes, another opens. Or you can open the closed door. That’s how doors work.” – Douglas Adams No Rocket Science! Life isn’t much complicated either. Figure out something that gives you happiness and do more of it. That’s it. Simple! Our generation is quite blessed in those terms. We somehow were born…
The burnt & broken: Shaniwarwada, Pune
Bajirao-Mastani hit the Cinema Halls in 2016 and took us on a visual treat. The movie got me thinking about many things & I resolved to read the translated copy of the famous Marathi novel ‘Rau’ & pay a visit to the much decorated (going by what the movie showed) Shaniwarwada in Pune. I could…
A little place of books: Waari Book Cafe, Pune
“Reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are.” A book comes with no reservations. You can safekeep a book, begin it at your own pace, go back, flip forward or close it and take a nap. The book doesn’t mind & the book never moves. You will always…
Republic India; Incredible India!
India will celebrate its 68th republic day tomorrow on 26th January, 2017. The pride of the country will be seen in march pasts, rallies and other cultural programs as part of the republic day parade at Rajpath. Many television shows will lose their audience to the live telecast of republic day parades tomorrow because India…
Cafe trail: Seven places to check out the next time you visit McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh
Some people are not meant for discotheques or bar hopping. They don’t identify with that. They can mask their emotions and pretend to enjoy the loud music, dark setting and glammed up gentry. But deep down, they long for their cosy bed where they can lie for hours reading a book or binge watching Hotstar/…
The aloof tiger and the lazy Python of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
15 years ago when I visited Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary for the first time, our guide told us about a tiger that lived in the sanctuary and came by the lake in the evening to drink water. It was an excursion trip organized from KVS (Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan). I was in 9th standard and for the…
Gwalior: Where she fought gallantly, the queen of Jhansi!
āNo, impossible! I shall not surrender my Jhansi!ā On June 18th, 1858, a 29 year old widowed queen of Jhansi, with courage in her veins and valor in her blood, fought against the British and lay her life in the battle of Gwalior, trying to save her state from the British. The British (greatly outnumbering…
A box of chocolates ā Kodai Kanal.
My mother never told me that life was a box of chocolates. She had a list of adjectives that Life was ā demanding, whimsical, eccentric, and mischievous – but it was never a box of chocolates in her dictionary. Chocolates were instead a treat for us reserved to be enjoyed only on special occasions like…
Life on weekends- Home 