After a long day in Fatehpur Sikri and a sumptuous late lunch in The Pinch of Spice we headed towards Itmad Ud Daula located on the right bank of river Yamuna. The straight faced chauffeur managed to skilfully navigate through…
Sikandra ~ Where The Great Emperor Akbar is laid to rest
We stopped by at Sikandra in the outskirts of Agra very early in the morning on our way to Mathura. I had planned it as a brief visit but the early morning calm, the dancing peacocks, chirping birds and squirrels…
The last Himalayan village on Tibetan border ~ Chitkul
When I first read about Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh a couple of years ago, I was simply fascinated. Maybe it had something to do with me voraciously reading about spirituality and Sat-Chit-Ananda those days. The name struck a chord; Chit –…
Great Living Chola Temples – Solo Travel Guide
I have always been in awe of the Chola Empire. I credit this admiration to my high school history teacher who weaved stories around art and architecture of years gone by and she ensured all of us fell in love…
10 Things to do around Bhuj , Kutch
Bhuj is the gateway to Great Rann of Kutch. Most people head directly to Rann of Kutch with a short lunch stop over in Bhuj. We came in from Dholavira, 5000 year old Indus Valley Civilization site some time in…
Prag Mahal in Bhuj ~ A Photo Essay
Prag Mahal was built in the 19th century in Bhuj. The construction of this Italian Gothic style palace was commissioned in 1865 by Rao Pragmalji II the ruler of Jadeja Kutch clan at that time. It was finally completed during…
Land’s End ~ Koteshwar , Narayan Sarovar & Mata No Madh
During our road trip in Gujarat we drove until Land’s End the western tip of India that merges into Arabian Sea. We visited Koteshwar, Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat Fort and Mata No Madh traveling about 350 kms during the day. Koteshwar:…
Poetry in Terracotta – Guptipara Temples
I have grown in Kolkata but hardly experienced much beyond the city. Recently, I made a quick trip to Kalna after drawing inspiration from a favourite poem penned by Rabindra Nath Tagore. After a little bit of research, I included…
Dehradun In a Day
Nestled in the Doon Valley between the Ganga and the Yamuna lies Dehradun. A couple of centuries ago (17th) the eldest son of the 7th Sikh Guru camped (Dehra) in the Doon valley which led to its name. Dehradun the capital…
Spellbound by the Sleeping Buddha – Sandakphu Trek
Buddha is lying in eternal sleep atop the highest point in India on the Kanchenjunga Range. No, it is not a statue like the one in Kushinagar but the snowline that appears like Buddha in deep slumber overlooking and protecting mankind.…