My last visit to Varanasi was nearly 10 years ago and it was so brief that I barely had time to dig into syrupy jalebis and crispy kachoris. This time, I had told myself that it would be a foodie…
Temple Town Bishnupur ~ Stone & Terracota Marvels
I grew up in Kolkata during my school and college years but sadly did not get to see much of Bengal then. I made a day trip to Kalna sometime back and was planning a trip to Bishnupur which finally…
Stepping into 2019; with Hope
Happy New Year 2019 to everyone reading this piece. I am writing after several months ; most of this time was spent in self introspection, travel and reading. I stepped into 2019 with hope thanks to a teenager who I…
Deoriatal and Chopta Chandrashila Trek
Sometime in February; when the winter sun was blazing down in Bangalore; I was yearning for the mountains. I toyed between a quick drive to the Nilgiris, a couple of hours away or make way to the Himalayas for a…
“Urby” to my rescue to keep my Passport safe
My absent minded self which often emerges during my travels have led to a few funny and more than a dozen tensed situations. These incidents have occurred at regular intervals in different cities in India and overseas so much so…
Why Cellular Jail in India is more than a National Memorial
I was born in post Independent India and grew up in the 80’s of Kolkata. Storytelling afternoons with a dadu (grand uncle) who lived with us were nearly always about Indian Independence. In between the stories of his childhood that…
The Unmissable 20 Kolkata Durga Pujas in 2017
Durga Puja has evolved over the decades from being an annual religious festival to one of art and culture. This year too, I traveled across Kolkata, pandal hopping from one corner to another experiencing the grandeur of Durga Puja. I…
Symphony of Comfort & Warmth in Sound Garden Hotel, Warsaw
The best and cheapest stay during my recent 24 day trip around a few countries in Europe turned out to be the smartest and the most comfortable. I was flying out of Warsaw pretty early in the morning and I…
FlixBus Travel Around Europe ~ Cheapest & Punctual
I have always traveled in trains within Europe for the half a dozen trips across various countries. During a recent trip to Europe I was looking at alternate modes of travel specially since the trains were turning out to be…
Top Tips and Itinerary to Plan a Trip to Andaman
Andaman Islands in Bay of Bengal off the Eastern Coast of mainland India is a sight to behold with gorgeous beaches, pristine waters and unending white sands dotted with mangroves. Towards the north of the islands there are mud volcanoes,…