As June begins, we are back with a brand-new theme to match the season. Welcome to Theme 4: Tiger Reserves of North & Central India. As the name suggests, we will take you through a few Tiger Reserves of North & Central India, where a Tiger sighting is almost guaranteed if you travel this time…
Tag: travel blogger
The Grand Aravalli: a journey along the mountain range in the royal city of Rajasthan
Welcome to the fourth blog of Theme 3, ‘From the land of Kanchenjunga & the Himalayas, mountain ranges of India’. As part of this theme, we have introduced a new Mountain Range from India every week of this month (May 2023). We started with the Great Indian Himalayas & covered Western Ghats in the last…
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…
For the night is dark & full of terrors; enter at your own risk: Haunted forts of India
Creaking wooden floors or swaying windows don’t create as much noise as silent hallways do. When it’s dark outside & no tourists are allowed inside, the fort becomes dead quiet. In that eerie silence, you can hear the cries & soul-stirring screams of a young boy asking for help, “Kaka mala vachwa” (Uncle, save me)….
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/…
The great wall of Kumbhalgarh, the second longest wall in the world: Incredible India
One of the seven wonders of the world is the Great Wall of China – next to none, a marvellous example of fine architecture and a must-visit destination on every international traveller’s itinerary. While the great wall of China has no other parallel in the world, I am proud to share with you a similar…
Emerald Green Tea plantations of Munnar that are way more gorgeous than those of São Miguel, Portugal
As part of our first theme, ‘Affordable places in India that will make you forget International Dream Destinations’, we are back with the second blogpost – the tea plantations of Munnar, India that are way more Green, Gorgeous and Glamorous than those of Europe. Two weeks back, I decided to launch a new campaign, ‘Rediscover…
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 ‘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 this world,…
1212 pillars and the world’s largest temple corridor – in Ramanathaswamy temple of Rameshwaram, India
It was the occasion of MahaShivratri yesterday that ended with Sunrise this morning. A lot of Indians celebrated the festival with music, happiness and energetic sounds. In Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore, they hosted a night-long MahaShivratri festival that’s believed to be one of the biggest festivals in its own right. Each one of us has…
Amidst the mountains and (almost) subzero temperature in Uttarakhand: a few days of nothingness and yet everything
The worst part about 2022 was the volume of things I lost, and the best part about 2022 was all the things I gained especially towards the end of the year. In the nail-biting cold of the end of December, we stayed the last few days in Sari Village, Uttarakhand. And that was one of…
Two days in the wettest place on Earth: Cherrapunji, Sohra (India)
Back in the late 90s, they showed the footage of a place on TV that received the maximum rainfall. It took me no time to figure our that this was the wettest place on the face of this planet. It was Cherrapunji. Since then, I have wished to travel to Cherrapunji and realise my childhood…
Pitch dark night and a pair of glowing eyes: the spooky yet thrilling Night Jungle Safaris
“It feels like you are in a horror movie”, said our guide while we were waiting for the Tiger to show up. ‘Why would we pay up to get horrified.’, I thought to myself. The guide sensed my reluctance and started telling me all the things that make a night safari stand apart from all…
Resting up by the Ganges, overlooking the mighty Himalayas amidst nail-biting cold: Rishikesh and Tilwara in December 2022
In the last week of December 2022, when it had started to get colder in Delhi NCR, I took time to reflect on the year that was about to get over – to think of my happy moments, celebrations, regular days that I absolutely love, disappointments, arguments, my friendships ❤️❤️, friends who refuse to let…
2022: year in review, the places I visited & the experienced I earned
2022 was brilliant in terms of teaching me new things. Like I said on my Instagram feed a few weeks back, I am thankful for all what this year gave, taught and took from me. But then, is that all? How could it be? It’s just rude to sum up 365 days of 2022 in…
Ruins of a Harappan City & Indus Valley Civilisation at Dholavira, Gujarat
Think of Gujarat, and what comes to your mind? Ahmedabad, a certain list of famous personalities from there, Porbandar, Statue of Unity, Temples or ocean, maybe? In my mind, however, the first thing has always been Rann Mahotsav. When the seawater begins to recede or dry up, the salt desert begins to take shape, and…
A memorable sunset at Raja’s seat: intimate, beautiful and rainy
There are a few moments in life that you never forget, no matter what. No matter how trivial the place was, how you felt at that moment, how shitty or glorious life was, some incidents imprint on your memory and become better as years go by. One such memoryj is my trip to Coorg (Kodagu)…
Where land ends: Dhanushkodi, a beautiful yet haunting ghost town of India
On our recent trip to South India, we had decided to stay in Rameshwaram for two days. You know, breathe in the religious air, grow a bit in the spiritual culture of the town and visit the nearby tourist attractions. My ultra religious family (read: parents) try and discover temples of every kind, on each…
A beautiful boat ride in the cleanest river of India: Dawki, Meghalaya
A few years back, I saw the picture of a clean river – spotless, virgin & sea-blue. What’s special about this river, you might wonder?! Well, the special thing is that it’s the cleanest river in the country. If you toss a coin in the river, you can actually see it hitting the river bed-…
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…
Of sandstone, stories and splendour: the stunning Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Rajasthan is one of my favourite places in the whole wide world. It houses all my favourite things in a multitude of colours and variations. As I cover the distance, the stories & people change too along with the places. I feel like an explorer who’s always hungry to have more, and Rajasthan gives me…
Encountering Occult and much feared black magic in a town of 21st century: Mayong, Assam
“A lot of cabbies don’t go there no matter the amount of money. We believe, ‘black magic’ is still practised there.”, our cabbie told us when we enquired about Mayong village of Assam. No no, it’s not that kind of story. So don’t just get scared yet. 🙂 🙂 But first, let me tell you…
Pandal Hopping, feasting on Bhog & dancing with Dhunuchi & Dhak: a soulful, extraordinary experience of Durga Pujo in Bombay 2019
I was in Bombay during Durga Pujo celebrations a few years back. Great company, great timing and with the support of my super awesome sister, I shushed my lazy self. Luckily, it’s the time of weekend and I could shift my focus from conversations, negotiations, deliverables to decking up, getting excited and hopping Pujo Pandals….
Maa Aaschen, Tumi Kothay? A humid afternoon amidst the magicians of Kumartuli, Kolkata
The best part about this time of the year is festivals that start end of July or early August. One after the other, we find causes for celebration – harvest season/ birthday of Lord Krishna/ arrival of Ganpati Bappa/ the relationship between sister and brother/ married couples/ the victory of right over wrong and what…
The pursuit for the best Litti-chokha in the erstwhile Magadha region
Let me say it: I am a hopeless traveller. I keep travelling to the same places, doing the same things over and over. I also go to places that might not figure in the bucket lists of travellers. You see, I fall in love with places. No biases. No demands. Just pure joy of discovery…
3500+ demanding stairs to one of its own kind, the double-decker bridge of Meghalaya
While man-made marvels excite me, I prefer the wonders of nature: the gushing waterfalls, towering mountains, an ordinary brook, a giant & old tree, a secluded beach somewhere remote and quiet spots inside a forest. Over the last seven years, I have been rediscovering such hidden and visible riches of my country…and waiting for my…
A rush of adrenaline and a bridge like no other: Pamban bridge, Rameshwaram
A long time back, a Brahmin King abducted the wife of a brave, Rajput king. The Rajput king in-turn waged a war to bring back his wife. He built a stone bridge from the southernmost tip of today’s India to erstwhile Lanka. And the rest is well known. 🙂 The Rajput king fought the war…
From peace and solace to bazaar like hustle bustle: Kovalam then and now
Some scenes get etched on your memory permanently. And no matter what happens to you in Life afterwards, no one and nothing can dampen the effect of that memory. That memory evokes happiness and joy whenever you come to think of it. It could be a walk with a loved one, in the hills. Or…
Following my heart in the ever admired & always fragrant town of Madurai
It’s my third visit to the town that houses one of the greatest temples ever. And yet I spent three days in Madurai like never before – exploring the city like a tourist, speaking with people like localities do and absorbing every inch of the place like there’s no tomorrow. Discovering the joys of Mallipoo…
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…
From NDLS to Sawai Madhopur, a train journey of 5 hours but of a hundred old memories
I don’t know anyone in my huge circle (thanks to jumping schools every two years & changing jobs every three years) who doesn’t romanticise train travel. It all began with planning in those days. Papa would pack everyone’s luggage bags and mom would be in-charge of snacks. We (me, my sister and brother) would try…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 doesn’t 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, “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…
Wolf, Wolf – cried our neighbour the third time that fateful morning!
It was a cold morning; I could feel the dense fog on my face while waiting in an open jeep, for our driver to arrive. The seats of the safari were drenched as these often are in early morning safaris & the driver hadn’t bothered to wipe those dry, as these drivers often don’t. With…
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…
Spend a weekend with Painted Storks & Cormorants in Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
During the three years of my stay in Gurgaon, not even once did I hear of this place. Every weekend, I would wake up & make new plans to spend all of my hard-earned salary & some of that of my parents. And yet I would end up exploring the pubs, the movie theatres, some…
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…
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
‘Which one is your favorite place?’, people often ask me. And when I take time to think about one, they are like, ‘Come on, there’s got to be a favorite’. And I think harder but I can’t seem to place one as favorite over others. Because it’s just not the places but what you have…
12 Lifetime experiences from Incredible India
‘Which one is your favorite place?’, people often ask me. And when I take time to think about one, they are like, ‘Come on, there’s got to be a favorite’. And I think harder but I can’t seem to place one as favorite over others. Because it’s 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 – God’s own country is not called God’s 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…
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
“Where do you come from? Delhi or Noida?” “Which part of Delhi do you come from?” When I answer, ‘Ghaziabad’ 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…
Ditch your routine and chase the monsoons in Goa
Most of the days I wake up dreading what’s 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
You know why we call India, Incredible?! Because in no other country of this world, you will find such diversity of opinion, culture, food, language, clothes, art, handicraft, topography, flora and fauna, religions, festivals, terrain and beliefs. No other country. Period. Wherever you go in this country, you see a glimpse of ‘unity in diversity’….
How you can take 12 trips in 12 months
‘How do you travel so much?’, I am often asked. The simple answer to this one is, ‘Well, I want to.’ Then, people ask me how do I manage to travel so much. Well, to that, there’s a bunch of things I do to manage travelling in a schedule as busy as it gets. So,…
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 – ‘Salary Credited on XXXX’? I used to dream about all this as a kid, and experienced all three when I just entered 20s. It’s a feeling that…
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…
Jai Jagannath – echoes of enigma that remain a mystery!
“Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath!” 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…
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. Don’t believe it? Okay, 3 phone calls every day. Still, don’t believe me? Well, a…
Hungry for travel? Here’s your 2018 bucket list!
2018 is here and with that comes 16 long weekends and at least 20 days of paid leave for us – lesser beings – who have to work (supposedly) 9 am to 6 pm, five days a week to earn a living & thus the means to – travel, travel & travel. No matter how…
By the river Betwa, I sat down and smiled.
Ours is a beach generation – a shack, a beer and a beach in Goa. That’s all we need to unwind from crazy routines at work. And if that’s not reason enough, how about ‘getting high by the beach’? 😀 I have no such favorites. I can enjoy a scenic beach as much as I…
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…
Palampur: of Bollywood and Dauladhar range
The best stories are always chanced upon: the unknown restaurant that served the yummiest food, the stranger who helped when least expected, catching the train at the last moment, waiting for the delayed flight at the airport & finishing that pending book on Kindle or the road that led to a beautiful place that wasn’t…
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…
Where all that shines is Gold: Jaisalmer
The land is barren and the farms are dry. The weather is harsh and the temperature is very high. You would think that this can mar the spirits of the locals. But no ma’am, no. You are wrong. The place beams, the buildings shine & the locals,the locals sparkle under the hot Sun with a…
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…
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/…
A wondrous morning & ‘Waah Taj’!
“Let the splendor of diamond, pearl, and ruby vanish like the magic shimmer of the rainbow. Only let this one tear-drop, this Tajmahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time, forever and ever .” -Rabindranath Tagore More than three centuries ago, a muslim emperor built an ivory-white monument in the memory of his Persian…
A walk down the ancient India: Pattadakal
At a mere distance of 22 kms. from the famous Badami caves, exists the rustic village of Pattadakal. Located on the left side of the Malaprabha river, Pattadakal lives graciously, away from the madness of the contemporary world. Evidence suggests that Pattadakal came into being around 6th or 7th century when the Chalukyas decided on…
The Great Indian Parantha of Amrik Sukhdev, Murthal!
I have a theory – When something is denied to you, you crave it even more. And when that something is food, your cravings know no limits. Good food takes you to another world and that world is still untouched by the woes of real life. In that world, only happiness and only happiness exists….
Life on weekends- Home 