Why Vaishnodevi? So I am not religious. Not the temple hopping types (okay, an occasional hopper). Not in the truest sense of the word. And still there are places I believe in. I would go visit them in a heartbeat. For their energy, the peace you get when you are there, a feeling of connection with a power which cannot be described in words. Vaishno Devi for me is one such place. I had always wanted to visit the Shrine…
This one was long due. Kanpur has earned many worthy as well as notorious monikers. However, what many people don’t know is that this Industrial city on the banks of the river Ganges, is also known to be a foodie’s paradise. While growing up, a hard core non-vegetarian Bengali like me also used to look forward even to the vegetarian offerings because of the sheer taste of the food, be it the street food or fine dining. Not to say…
It had been long since we had made memories as travellers, soaking in the sights and the environment of a different place. We (when I mean ‘we’, I am referring to the composite entity of I and the husband) were itching to pack our bags and leave for the known and unknown pleasures of travel. And that’s when we thought of Vienna, the capital of Austria. Known for its vibrant culture, the opulent Baroque monuments, stunning architecture, coffee houses, lovely…
Do you know that India has a place which is known as the ‘Venice of the East’. I am in the Venice of the East or Alleppey or Alappuzha as it is also known. And I am here to experience what Kerala or ‘God’s Own Country’ is famous for. The Backwaters experience. A lot of my travel choices have been influenced by the movies or video songs I have seen. I first saw the stunning backwaters of Kerala in a…
It has been a two hour journey from Alleppey and we have just a day to explore Kochi, since there is an afternoon flight to catch to Mumbai the next day. We have already decided to explore old Kochi or the Fort Kochi area which is the like the cultural hub of Kochi with an amalgamation of the local culture with colonial culture of the Portuguese, Dutch and later the British. Read on to know more about how to see…
The most important part of travelling is finding the best flights and the places to stay. I have used many websites over a period of time to book my tickets and accommodation. Some have provided excellent service and deals while some have been very unprofessional. I have listed some websites which I use frequently and which offer the best deals on flights and hotels. You can also try them for booking your trip. Flights Accommodation First Choice is a great…
My first visit to the small and beautiful hill station of Lonavala, in the Indian State of Maharashtra, was in 2004 when I went with a group of friends. We went on motor bikes, the approximately 85 Kilometres journey from Mumbai a breeze. Whatever little tiredness I had, vanished the moment I set my sight on the beautiful vistas all around, with hills lush with greenery, water drops glistening on the leaves and natural waterfalls formed due to the rains….
A love affair which began 16 years back and shows no sign of abating. Bombay, Mumbai or Aamchi Mumbai, by whatever name you call it, remains the City of Dreams for so many and for me. On one side is the glitz and glamour of the rich and the famous and Bollywood (India’s movie industry) and on the other side is the seedy underbelly fed by gangsters and mafia. It is fascinating to be a part of the dichotomy of…
The best food in the oldest city of the world is not found in fancy restaurants, but in the small eateries hidden in the galis or alleys of Banaras.
I had always wanted to visit the temple of Angkor Wat after watching a documentary –The Lost City of the God Kings: Angkor Wat which I saw sometime in the year 2005. The documentary throws light on the Angkor civilisation that flourished in Cambodia between the 9th and 14th centuries. I was thoroughly intrigued by this largest religious monument of the world, a Hindu temple of Vishnu in Angkor Wat. Then I forgot all about it until I watched the…