Festival Trips: Ganesh Chaturthi
The frenzied and energetic celebrations of Lord Ganesha’s birthday has reached fever pitch and if you happen to be in Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh you are definitely in for a quite a treat.Ganesha, Ganpati, Vinayaga – the endearing elephant-god known by many names is believed to bring good fortune and remove […]
Festival Trip: Mysore Dasara
The heritage city of Mysore is at its vibrant best during the 10-day Dasara festival, which continues a tradition started by the Vijayanagar kings in the 15th century. The festival starts with a procession of decorated elephants led by the Maharaja of Mysore – a grand spectacle. Every evening, the Maharaja’s Palace is dramatically lit […]
Malabar River Festival, 2013
The striking contrast of an adrenalin rush with the tranquil backdrop of never-ending greenery around you is only possible in Kerala. No wonder the frothy rivers of Chalipuzha and Iruvanjhipuzha in Kodenchery village of Calicut was chosen as the venue of the first-of-its-kind downriver extreme adventure race in South India this August.
Festival Of The Month: Baisakhi
At night Amritsar’s sky is sprinkled with incessant fireworks, as the tranquil waters of the Golden Temple reflect the magnificent celebrations in the sky above. This is what a traveller can expect on the night of Baisakhi, in the Sikh town of Amritsar. This is the day when Guru Gobind Singh started Sikhism. While the […]
Festival Of The Month: Dharamsala Film Festival
This onset of summer has one more reason to drop everything and head to the cool mountains ofDharamsala. Himachal Pradesh’s abode for the bohemian traveller, the Tibetan town doubles up as the venue for the annual Dharamsala Film Festival (13th to 15th May). This year will mark the third year of the festival’s success of bringing […]
Festival Of The Month: Ganga Dussehra
With the political fervour finally simmering down after the elections, life in Varanasi finally seems to be stumbling back to normalcy. This is good news, especially since the city is a hotspot for backpacking and religious travellers, who come here to relax by the breezy ghats or go on temple trails. Another important hook of […]
Festival Of The Month: Jhapan Mela
If you’re looking to do something offbeat and exploring the lesser known customs and traditions of India, head to the hinterland of West Bengal this August, and experience what it’s like to live with snakes and tribals. Drive 132km from Kolkata, to a small town called Bishnupur. Otherwise famous for its terracotta temples andbaluchari sarees, […]
Festival Of The Month: Champakulam Boat Race
I perched myself on the deck of a parked houseboat, eagerly waiting for the crowd to erupt into a deafening cheer again. The meaning of the running Malayalam commentary escaped me, so I concentrated on the athlete-laden boats before my eyes. Sleek, ornate and powered by a team of a hundred (or more) muscular men, […]
Durga Puja In Varanasi
Magic may be the only word that best describes the pageantry and fanfare that revolves around Durga Puja. In fact, even a month before the colourful mayhem begins, the atmosphere around many cities in India is infused with excitement and frenzy of preparations for the Puja. Though Kolkata is without doubt the most vibrant destination to […]
Festival Of The Month: Rajasthan International Folk Festival
This is India’s leading folk music festival where international artists come together with Rajasthani coterie of musicians. It is not uncommon to hear a folk instrument in perfect harmony with Gospel music or other innovative collaborations. These five days in October bring together more than 150 musicians and performing artists to celebrate Rajasthan’s vibrant musical […]
The Indian Festival Calendar: Nov–Dec
Avid travellers will know that sometimes you need time off from stunning vistas, riversides, mountaintops and rolling hills. Most look, instead, for cultural immersion. And there’s no better place to try some elbow hustle than at the festivals of the country. The history, colours and the celebratory vibe in the air only add to the […]
5 Unusual Dishes To Try In India
In a country obsessed with food, and where every region prides itself for being able to offer a range of interesting dishes, it’s hard to narrow the list down to just a few unusual ones. But we tried anyway. So, here’s a list of the five most unfamiliar dishes you won’t come across anywhere except […]