Beastly Luncheon
If you didn’t know better, Abdul Latif Kureshi would appear to be the Pied Piper of the Rawaton Ka Bass area in Jodhpur. After all, he does have at least 15 dogs trailing him for 2km every afternoon, as he makes his way to the Mehrangarh Fort at a funeralesque pace. No haunting tunes waft […]
Periyar
Typical of a famous tourism destination, Kumily (or Thekkady), the base town to visit Periyar National Park, is inundated with guest houses and hotels over a range of budget. Though this town is not that significantly big, there are ample options for travellers to choose from. Since this place has no dearth of accommodation options, […]
Hampi
The surreal landscape of Hampi and Anegundi is not just a reminder of the formidable empire of the Vijaynagara Kingdom. The towns, hold within them, a trail of more than 83 monuments, a bear sanctuary and fascinating spots for bird watching, ancient cave paintings amongst other sight seeing options. The mighty Tungabhadra River cuts across […]
Chikmagalur
It’s not often that a smuggling legend becomes the most important historic and natural lineage to a destiantion. But that’s exactly what happened when a 17th century Sufi pilgrim, Baba Budangiri, tucked away seven seeds of coffee in his belt, when returning from Mecca. He came back and sprung them on the fertile hills of […]
The Indian Festival Calendar: Nov–Dec
As autumn rolls into winter India’s best and glittering festivals warm up the atmosphere. Plan your holidays for a joyful end to the year.
Hornbill Festival
Come December, a festive air engulfs Nagaland’s capital city Kohima as people assemble for the annual Hornbill Festival (www.hornbillfestival.com; Kohima; 1–7 Dec). Sneakers and Ipods are abandoned by the Nagamese youngsters as they don traditional gear and join their elders to celebrate Nagaland’s biggest annual jamboree. Sixteen main tribes of the state converge at a […]
The Indian Festival Calendar: March-April
The last month of the travel season, March is a great time to explore not only wildlife sanctuaries and other tourist hotspots. After the frenzy of Holi, April seems a little low-key. But for the offbeat traveller, this may be a chance to explore unchartered territories.
Festival Of The Month: Surajkund Crafts Mela
Even though the wintery fog of Delhi’s February engulfed the stalls, the bright colours pierced through the haze to establish the vibrant labyrinth that sprawled in front of us. This was back in the year 2000. I remember walking into the gates of Surajkund Mela with three other friends and staying wide-eyed the entire day. […]
The Indian Festival Calendar: March-April
It’s time to recharge the travel spirit to take on the great Indian summer. Here’s your roadmap to the months of March and April.
Festival Of The Month: Jodhpur Flamenco & Gypsy Festival
Now in its second edition, the Jodhpur Flamenco and Gypsy Festival celebrates the rich gypsy cultures of Spain and Rajasthan by transcending all musical and geographical boundaries. The message is simple – to teach everyone the importance of keeping folk music alive. Reportedly, Flamenco’s roots first took hold in Rajasthan, and to see it all […]
Festival Of The Month: Ganga Dushhera
Best Hacks To Survive An Indian Festival
To immerse yourself completely in any Indian festival can be quite an experience, one that people cross the mighty seas for. But no one wants to be left overwhelmed, fighting for air to breathe, and without a place to call home for the night. Here are some tricks every wise traveller should know about when […]