Two Sides Of The Coin

It was the cusp of Independence for the two countries—29th August 1947. The streets of Lahore were burning. Having never felt a shred of intimidation being the only Hindu family in a Muslim colony for over 20 years, my grandfather could now only sit furrow-browed, waiting for the door to be slammed open and calamity […]

A Dutch Touch To Galle

Villa Templeberg Built over 150 years ago, this Dutch colonial manor house is surrounded by  a coconut plantation and is frequented by travellers and the winner of the hotel’s annual writing residency programme. it is a wonder that any work or sightseeing gets done when surrounded by the temptations of a massage room and rooftop […]

Tourism Update: In The Middle Land

Spiti Valley is a perfect summer getaway offering unrivalled delight. My photographs from the region were used by India Now for their Tourism Update column.

Sullivan’s Nilgiris

I am standing on the creaking wooden floors of the Pethakal Bungalow in Kotagiri. This is the very place in which John Sullivan, a young official with the East India Company, planned his explorations of the Blue Hills in 1819.

Past City Limits

Stepping out on to a wooden-floored balcony I was greeted by a landscape of towering silver oaks. at gorukana, in the biligiriranga hills at the northern tip of the nilgiris, a cup of tea and a book were my companions, and my only conversation was with birds.

Southern Trails

With the receding monsoon having washed the southern circuit of the Western Ghats a conglomeration of different greens, september is a great time for hikers to head out to Karnataka’s coorg and chikmagalur districts.

Royal Reams

The Kerala sari is as simple as it is elegant. the body is made from spotless cream silk or cotton, with a border of dull gold. the kasavu, as it is called in Malayalam, is everywhere

Backyard Beauty

I opted for the one-km steep trek to Surkhanda Devi, huffing my way to the summit at 9,976 feet. I braved the aggressive gangs of monkeys to reach the ancient temple dedicated to Parvati.

Shades of Green

Set aside a day or two to explore places around the plantation. A trip to Kuruva Island (17 km east of Mananthavadi, the town nearest to the estate), which abounds with plant and bird life, includes a boatride in a small river raft.

Ocean Crossing

Bent over a block of wood, with a hand-powered drill by his side, nothing seems to break the khalasi’s concentration. Since my frantic waving doesn’t catch his eye, I climb the rickety rope ladder to peer over his shoulder.

Tapping the Adrenaline

Most people think of coorg as a relaxing break, to be enjoyed with cups of hot coffee and good company. the opportunity to laze around in estate houses, enjoying the misty valleys, makes coorg a favoured getaway destination, especially for travellers from Bengaluru.

Smell the Coffee

The coffee plantation-draped hills of Chikmagalur are a striking green after the monsoon.