Royal Dreams

There are two colours that I have always associated with Kerela: a cathartic green, owing to the verdant surroundings and a combination of virginal white bordered by a strip of dull gold. Swathed in this pale white and gold, the Kerala markets are suffused with the ‘Kasavu’ sari or the ‘typical white Kerala sari’, as […]

Toy Story

It was the whirring of a machine that gave away the presence of a small factory in the otherwise sleepy town of Channapatna as I walked along the edge of the road, looking for souvenirs. Inside, six men bent over small blocks of soft wood chiseled out magical pieces of horses, candle stands, bangles and […]

A Date With History

My pictures from Nagaland substantiated an article by Sangita Thakur for the Travel Update section on India Now.

1000 Years & Still Going Strong

The air is thick with tension for the few seconds, before a crowd erupts into a deafening cheer as the whip-lashing farmer and his buffalo dash past, creating a muddy wake around them. It takes some time for the duo to find their apt starting rhythm and then in a matter of seconds, it’s over. […]

Kanadukathan

I grudgingly woke up to the vigorous shaking of my shoulder by the conductor and groggily dragged myself out of the bus. In no time I was being ushered hastily in the car for a bumpy ride along the dusty road from Karaikudi to the small town of Kanadukathan.  Typical Indian village topography rushed past […]

Exploring the Eastern Edge of India

Amidst the dwindling need of preservation of tradition in the frenzied pace of the country it’s a pleasant surprise to see one State which is quite removed from this uncaring evolution. The first week of December finds Nagaland in a charming cultural milieu, tacitly holding onto its tribal legacy. The decade old Hornbill Festival of […]

Fort Kochi

  In the times of well packaged holidays and brisk itineraries, some destinations have stilled managed to keep the indulgent spirit of travel intact. The charming town of Fort Kochi certainly is one of them. Apart from the affable status of being Cochin’s alluringly accessible namesake, Fort Kochi owns an illustrious past, being the melting […]

The Glorious Backyard of Hampi – Go Air

  I heave myself to the last of the steep steps on the mountain in an attempt to make it to an inconspicuous white temple perched on top. Having barely caught my breath and absorbed the magnificent topography of strewn boulders, typical of this region, is when I’m ushered conspiringly into a small dark temple. […]

Get Trekked Out in Coffee Country – Go Air

Each destination goes through its cycle of getting explored, then popular and eventually being discarded as ‘too frequented’, as the allure runs out. Tourism often exhausts the charm of a place unless it refreshes itself!  Locals in Coorg or Kodagu have seen a torrent of tourists since decades, given that it’s just a 6 hours […]

Discovering local-ness in India

Check Out from Hotels and Resorts The last half a decade has seen some radical changes in the notion of travel in India. While backpacking, single travel, ethically motivated travel and other such concepts have gained momentum with a wide audience, a much needed concept has brewed slowly but surely in some states of our […]