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...
The month of April-May (‘Medom’ in Malayalam) is the season of ‘poorams’ (festivals) in Kerala. For culture enthusiasts, this is the best time to visit Thrissur, the temple town and cultural capital of the state when it gets ready to unfurl the major temple festival called Thrissur Pooram.
Pooram was...
Dwarka, one of the char (four) dhams, is a must on every Hindu pilgrim’s itinerary. It has been referred to throughout history as “Mokshapuri”, where the soul attains salvation. It is also known as the kingdom of Lord Krishna, where he came to live after slaying his evil uncle...
My penchant to visit offbeat destinations took me to the picturesque and virgin territory of Dharamshala. It is snuggled in the lofty Dauladhar Mountain on the Himalayan ranges on three sides only to give way to a lush valley on one side. It is divided into Lower and Upper...
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...
West Bengal is not just Kolkata and the Victoria Memorial. The virgin territories of Dooars, the untouched mangrove forests of Sundarbans, the sylvan surroundings of Santiniketan are only some of the brilliant experiences that have made the state a vacationer’s delight. For centuries, Kolkata - the second largest city -...
The land of surprises, where tradition meets modern, where laid back meets development and where happening meets relaxation, Karnataka is a travel destination for all ages of people - no matter what it is that you seek from your travel experience. Through some of the best of what state...
Sometimes we need to make that external physical journey in order to make that inward spiritual journey and connect to our souls. That is the essence of the Pandharpur Yatra (pilgrimage) or ‘Wari’ as it is more commonly referred to.
The Wari
Sant Tukaram was the first one to set out...
Equidistant from Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore sits a cut of emerald called Coorg. It was since long on my wish-list to visit this terrestrial of undulating hills, populated by an honored race of martial men, good-looking womenfolk, and coffee plantations. It finally got crystalized with an...
The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event that takes place in February each year in India. It is held in the Hindu month of Magh, three days prior to the full moon. In 2018, during this period, without having any prior knowledge of it, luckily, we were in...
Tucked away in the quiet suburb of Chembur in Mumbai is this new delectable Sindhi cuisine eatery, finding its way into people’s hearts and stomachs. It’s called Duma Dum Mast Kalandar – quaintly named after the famous Sufi spiritual song, whose beats travel with the wafts of soft breeze...
During my journey as a traveler, I meet innumerable people from different walks of life, many of whom have lived a life in ways polar opposite to mine. While there are some I have never seen for more than a few hours, there are others who have turned into...
In India, endless memes and WhatsApp jokes circulate stating Goa as the ultimate party destination for generation millennials and how travel plans always evolve around the famous Goan beaches and nightclubs. From the onset of fall to the end of winter, Goan beaches are packed with holidaymakers, taking havoc...
Jaipur usually tops the list of best places to visit in Rajasthan, and for good reason. The Pink City is colourful, historic, packed with culture, and BECKONS travellers from all parts of the world. But while most people travel to take in iconic sites like Amer Fort and Hawa...
Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival to commemorate the revered King Maveli, is a much-looked-forward-to festival not just for Malayalees but even for Palakkad Brahmins. Chingam is the first Malayalam month and Onam falls in this month.
The myth behind Onam
It is believed that Mahabali, also known as Maveli, the benevolent Asura king...
