After a busy 6 days in Meghalaya, I was looking forward to spending a quiet day away from the tourist humdrum. I hired a vehicle for Nartiang where the monolithic rocks and an ancient temple had promises of Jaintia history but…
Around Mawlynnong, cleanest village of India
Until about a decade ago, hardly anyone knew about Mawlynnong, the cleanest village of India as well as Asia. Tucked away in the East Khasi Hills about 80 kms from Shillong, this tiny village of a handful of households has won the…
Boatride on Umngot, Dawki; Meghalaya
During a trip to Meghalaya, it is really worthwhile to spend an extra day and travel 80 kms from Shillong right up to its final frontier in Dawki bordering Tamabil, Bangladesh. Dawki is a small sleepy town in the West…
Glimpse of the Dawki-Tamabil Border Post
During my recent trip to Meghalaya, I had planned a day trip to Dawki the last frontier for India with Bangladesh. The chaffeur suggested that we go ahead to the Dawki-Tamabil border post as well which was a good 10…
Baby Taj ~ A jewel box for Itmad-ud-Daula
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…
Hiking to Hikkim, Posting Letters and cherishing Innocent company
Spiti Valley was on my list for a long time but when the trip finally materialized; it was sudden and impromptu. While figuring out the itinerary; I included a hike to the World’s Highest Post Office (4400 metres) in Hikkim…
Impromptu Trip to Spiti Valley – Powered by Cheap Air Tickets
Did you ever flip through a series of pictures and feel an unexplained connection, an instant urge to just pack your bags and get there.Sometime during mid- August, I was browsing through pictures of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and as I…
Climbing 400 million year old Batu Caves
While in Kuala Lumpur, a half day visit to the 400 million years old Batu Caves is a must. It is a lime stone formation that was used by the indigenous people. Batu Caves owes its name to the Batu…
Walking around Kampung Baru; Kuala Lumpur
In between the glitzy high rises, grid tied roads and criss-crossing flyovers of Kuala Lumpur there is a different world in the leafy lanes of Kampong Bharu (Kampung Baru) oozing old world charm. Kampong Bharu (new village), Kuala Lumpur was founded in…