More Than Just Beaches

I was the youngest of six playmates in a large house with two sprawling gardens, a busy mango, plum and guava orchard and a sticky floored cowshed. A large patch of veggies was covered with grape vines for the much needed shady breaks in the bright Dehradun summer sun. There was always a large bushy […]

Hoppy Times

There might be little chance of one feeling beat or overworked in Copengahen. After all, it is the capital of one of the happiest nations of the world – Denmark. But if you were to feel drained at some point of time, a shot of Hoptomist cheer is all you need. A round happy face […]

Nature Trips Chhattisgarh

Nature Trips Chhattisgarh: The endless green of the paddy fields, the shimmer of sinuous rivers clinging to silted banks, cool shaded stretches of verdant forests and the torrent of water gushing down cliffs, breaking the gentle drift of rivers, is designed to mesmerize the traveller in Chhattisgarh. As far as nature is concerned, from Barnawapara […]

Pocket Bastar

Pocket Bastar: One of the most untreaded states of India, it was a delight to author the Bastar book for Lonely Planet. The region offers a riveting melange of dense forests, tribal culture and history. Even though the region is now fragmented by district boundaries of Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada, Jagdalpur, Sukma and Bijapur, together […]

Best Escapes North India

Best Escapes North India: For this edition of the lonely Planet Guidebook, I was thrilled to contribute a chapter on my favourite city in the world- Varanasi. Visit one of the oldest living city of the world for its mythological lineage, delicious street food, traditional music, hand-woven silk saris and a strong spiritual connect. One of […]

Tribal Culture Chhattisgarh

Tribal Culture Chhattisgarh: In Chhattisgarh, step back a few hundred years – in the land of some of the most fabled, ancient, unique and more importantly, proudest, tribes of India. Reticent, as they are, the tribes of Chhattisgarh have stirred the interest of many travellers in the region. Veer off the main tourist circuits to […]

Best Escapes South India

Best Escapes South India: Traversing between the narrow lanes of Charminar in Hyderabad, the sunny cobblestone streets of Pondicherry, museums of Trivandrum and bouldery backdrop of Hampi, I couldn’t help but think of the wonderful diversity that South India encompasses. The southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh offer an inimitable flavour […]

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.

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.

Tripura

Still inching slowly towards creating a spot for itself on the travel map of the Northeast, Tripura remains pleasantly away from tourist clichés. Running to its own rhythm, for those going solo, it is as offbeat as it gets

Punjab

Long fabled amongst travellers for its serene Golden Temple, langars at scenic gurudwaras, authentic farm-stays and delicious street food, Punjab could be the highlight of this new year for your solo wanderings

Nagaland

Explore this land where folklore is an essential part of life, where age-old traditions still come alive during festivals. Nagaland is perfect to get lost in if you are disappearing alone