After spending a peaceful couple of days in a remote paradise close to Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Sainj Valley and attending the Deori village festival, I along with a friend wanted to explore a Sharchi village (Pronounced Sharchi, although the post office denotes it as Sarchi) which had eluded me 2 times on…
Category: Destinations
Hitchhiking in Winter in Ladakh : Alchi, Likir, Basgo and Leh
It had been a cold and almost sleepless night at the Onpo House in Saspol. Inspite of the many warm blankets provided by the owners, the concrete walls of this annexe had allowed the cold to seep in. I had developed a slight fever overnight and the dim sunlight made matters worse in the morning….
Esbelli Evi – Stunning Cave Hotel in Cappadocia
After enjoying an introduction to Turkey in Istanbul, it was time to take a bus to Cappadocia. I was quite excited to be heading away from the main city having repeatedly heard of Cappadocia’s treasures! And moreover, we were staying in one of the oldest original Cave Hotels of Cappadocia, Esbelli Evi. Istanbul to Cappadocia…
Basar Confluence – An Authentic Tribal Festival in Arunachal Pradesh
First the sad part – I was distraught at not having been able to make it for Basar Confluence or BasCon 3.0 in 2018. Especially after coordinating with Doni and discussing the logistics for the trip to Basar, continuing onward for Mechuka Adventure Festival and possibly to Namdapha National Park. Now for the Happy part…
Practical Tips for Thailand Travel
Thailand remains the premier backpacking destination of choice for travellers. It has built great infrastructure catering to tourism. A forever favourite of backpackers for decades now, it is a starting point for many journeys into South-East Asia. Here, I present some practical tips to save money and travel across Thailand in the best possible manner….
Ziro Festival of Music with Discover Northeast
Experience of Ziro Festival of Music ZFM with Camp Zingaros, Discover Northeast
Istanbul – Top Backpacking Hacks for a Shoestring Budget
I was deeply fascinated by Istanbul after having read and re-read Orhan Pamuk’s Istanbul – Memories And The City. Pamuk’s glorious anecdotes of his life in Istanbul and fine detailing of huzun (melancholy and nostalgia) in the timeless city had unknowingly resulted in a yearning for Istanbul for me. On this visit, I felt like…
Dukpa Tseshi Festival of Dokpas – The High Altitude Nomads of Sikkim
The air is thin as we drive farther away from Thangu on the popular road from Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim. The journey from Delhi has already taken over two days. Time is irrelevant here; and it shouldn’t matter too; for we are documenting Dukpa Tseshi – festival of the Dokpa tribe that…
Top Travel Memories from Thailand
‘Look, the ocean’s lit up’, said the guide in the boat. I was flabbergasted to see bioluminescence light up the water on a night boat ride. Thailand, as a country has been a favourite for Indian tourists over the years. It offers a mix of being a budget destination with pristine beaches, stunning temples, other cultural…
Old World Charm of Landour, with Rokeby Manor
On the circular path of Landour, a board hanging on a tree announces ‘If we liked noise we wouldn’t live here, if you like noise you shouldn’t be here.’ Immediately, an inexplicable rush of happiness courses through my veins. I’m no stranger to Landour; having spent multiple lazy vacations in this tiny fairytale town (if…
The Goodness of Strangers : Travails & Joy in Gada Gushaini
Names of some places strike the mind as mirages. Not because they might be difficult to reach physically, but rather due to the fact that hardly anyone from the mortal world has been there. And hence when unplanned wanderers like me happen to inadvertently land in obscure and little known hamlets like Gada Gushaini, it…
Himachal’s Newest Offbeat Secret : Thachi Valley
It must have been 2 years ago, in 2016 when I had first heard (or read) the word Thachi. I’d reached Balichowki on my way to Gushaini and was having paranthas at a small eatery when I saw a bus with Thachi written on it. I asked the dhaba uncle and he said the road…