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 […]
Festival Of The Month: Rann Utsav
Starting the first week of December, the salt plains of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat are lined with bedecked camels, colourful turbans and tents to accommodate the thousands who come to this three-month cultural extravaganza. The Rann Utsav is when Gujarat’s warm hospitality, excellent food and bounty of colours are easily noticeable. Here is a […]
Mumbai in 24 hours
Be prepared to be jostled, hurried and incessantly chatted to as you soak in the trendy yet traditional vibe of Mumbai. 24 hours isn’t nearly enough time to explore all the highlights of this intoxicating city, but this whistlestop tour will help you catch the flavour of Mumbai: serene mornings by the sea, alternative cafes, crispy […]
The Best Of Jaipur During The Literature Festival
Adding to the list of flamboyant forts, bustling markets huddled inside the walled quarter and bright textiles, there’s one more reason that has secured Jaipur’s position in the Golden Triangle of north India – the annual Jaipur Literature Festival.
A Perfect Plan
Skip the stuff everyone does and head to these destinations for a taste of the unusual. Besides, your choice of destination might make for a stunning backdrop for a trailing photographer. With our list of where to go on your honeymoon, you’ll love getting your travel boots dirty with your better half.
24 Hours in Mumbai Lonely Planet UK
Be prepared to be jostled, hurried and incessantly chatted to as you soak in the trendy yet traditional vibe of Mumbai. 24 hours isn’t nearly enough time to explore all the highlights of this intoxicating city, but this whistlestop tour will help you catch the flavour of Mumbai: serene mornings by the sea, alternative cafes, crispy […]
Audio Guide for The Bangalore Palace
” You are standing at the foot of an ivy-clad fortress, which once belonged to the principal of the Central High School in Bangalore. His name was Reverend J Garett. The palace was nothing like the way it looks now. When Maharaja of Mysore, Chamarajendra Wodeyar set his eyes on it in 1874, he envisioned […]
Ganesh Chaturthi Lonely Planet Sept 2013
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 […]
The India Festival Calendar: Sept– Oct
It’s autumn heralding a line of colourful Indian festivals and holiday season.Check this ready reckoner and plan your itineraries. Ganesh Chaturthi, 9 September: Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with fanfare and is special in Maharashtra, the Konkan Coast, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and southern states except Kerala. Colourful clay idols of Ganesh are decorated and worshipped at homes and […]
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 […]
Temple hopping along the Karnataka coastline The Alternative
One does not particularly need a religious bone in their body to enjoy the impressive historic landmarks dotted along the Karnataka coast, in the form of ancient temples. The decided Hindu vibe of destinations like Udupi, Dharamsthala, Kollur, Gokarna and Sringeri testifies how deep the region is steeped in legends and mythology, drawing devotees from […]