Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram is one of those incredible places that seems to have everything that fascinates travellers from far and wide. A long history spanning centuries, temples, beaches, nearby getaways, mouth-watering cuisine is what makes it a rich destination to explore – what more could those with a thirst...
The flawless blend of history, culture, architecture, natural beauty, spirituality, and serenity - Pondicherry is a must on every traveller’s list. It is one of those places that feels as familiar as home no matter whether it is your first visit or the tenth one. Such is the hearty...
Picture the serene backwaters of Kerala with its rain-washed monsoon splendor. Add to that, a number of boats flashing through the waters, racing each other with over a hundred paddlers thrusting their oars in union. That’s the Nehru Trophy Boat Race for you.
Something that began as a Vallam...
Alibaug (Arunima Takiar, 2019)
Cracked seashells,
your pointed edges
lucidly reveal
intact sand grains
wrapping fervently
around your body parts,
twisted in
unfamiliar time zones
fast-forwarded
from a past
of splinters
that defied
permanence,
trodden by
unknowing feet
on happy sojourns,
(broken)
not lost,
vestiges
in shining specks
of beach shimmer
that defy
impermanence.
When yours truly wanted to escape for the weekend and was looking for inspiration to write a poem, a...
Perhaps for most people who hear the word “Rajputana”, the picture that is immediately recalled to mind is that of turbaned men curling their moustaches or engaging in war with a “do or die” attitude to protect their legacy and honour. While this may be controversial and stereotypical at...
Transcending all standards of beauty that even nature provides, this spiritual haven is set against the jaw dropping view of the Himalayas. Whether you seek adventure, or you simply want to unwind and get away from the city noise, your trip to Uttarakhand is guaranteed to leave you feeling...
“Holi Hai!” The sound of that instantly conjures a visual of a cloudburst of colours for anyone who has ever seen what Holi is. In a brilliantly plural country like India, every festival has its own unique tradition in different parts of the country and Holi is no different.
Holi...
Goa BECKONS many visitors for various reasons. For me, travelling around India has been a fascination for some years, with paying my respects at various pilgrim and holy temples being the main agenda on most of my trips. In the past six years, I have travelled widely in India...
It is said that in order to truly connect with yourself, you have to disconnect from the world. And, when you come to think of ways to disconnect, camping in the wild has proven to be one of the most effective ways to do it. Imagine, sitting in the...
Yes, right! What’s a trip to Lucknow without looking into its culture through its most famous embroidery work - Chikankari? This gorgeous thread work has become the lifestyle of the gorgeous city, making it globally a favourite!
Intricate and beautiful, the Chikankari work – a type of embroidery - is seen...
Temple bells, laughing waters, sacred rituals, and colourful pilgrims are just some of the features of this oldest holy city of India - Varanasi. That's why a weekend trip from Mumbai to Varanasi was irresistible and I had to tick it off my bucket list.
Day 1: I reached in...
Gudi Padwa is the lunar new year celebrated by the Maharashtrian community in India. On this day, families come together to hoist a gudi and pray for a prosperous year. The entire community participates in swagat yatras organised locally to welcome the new year. And then gorge on a lunch of...
Rajasthan - the land of shifting sands, heritage structures, cenotaphs and vibrant handicrafts - has always fascinated me and I was quick to grab the first opportunity to visit Jodhpur, the state’s second-largest city punctuated with palaces where Rajas and Maharajas still reside. The city is a bit of...
Khajuraho temples: art, worship, or erotica?
Khajuraho – a word that conjures up images of scenes from the lives of men and women and gods and goddesses, immortalized in stone and sculpture for posterity. There is a mystery shrouding these ancient temples in the state of Madhya Pradesh which many...
