Kashmir, romancing the paradise This couplet from Amir Khusrau says it all about Kashmir. Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast If there is a paradise on earth, It is this, it is this, it is this” So what does a paradise look like ? Meadows, valleys, mountain peaks, lakes and flower gardens ! Did you...
Chopta is called the mini-Switzerland of India for a reason. This is a small region of green meadows at a height of about 2500 meters above sea level. In the midst of an evergreen forest that is part of the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. In the middle of the Himalayas. Surrounded by snow-clad mountains. The views...
My flight was about to land at Leh airport, and my first feeling was, where is this flight landing … I am not trying to hint at turbulence, rather trying to divert your attention towards the scenic beauty. Leh airport is one of the highest airports in the world and the experience of touching down...
Hemis national park gets its name from the 400 years old Hemis monastery, which lies within its boundary. It is nestled in the lap of mountains and is at an altitude range between 3000 -6000 metres. It is the highest national park of India and is known globally for snow leopards. With a total area of...
JIM CORBETT NATIONAL PARK A jungle at the foothills of Himalaya- just the thought will give wings to your imagination! Living in Delhi, a lot of places become weekend getaways. And Jim Corbett national park started featuring in one of my long weekend break plans. The good part these days is that, thanks to the internet...
Malana, The Magic - Of ancient Sages, Myths, Alexander and Malana Cream. This is a strange story and a real place. It involves ancient sages, kings, mythology, legends, history and drugs. To understand this, you have to get to know the ancient sage, Jamadagni, and a bit of Hindu mythology. Let me start with ancient times...
My kids have always been wanting to witness snowfall, always had skiing in mind coupled with some amount of hiking, trekking etc. So after a lot of iterations we decided to visit Himachal Pradesh and planned for a 10 day trip. Interestingly , while we were trying to optimise travel time, break the trip...
The Beatles and their India connection. Their spiritual journey with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Indian music and the White Album. The Hippie generation. The Swinging 1960s, The Beatles, India and The Fab Four. A generation disillusioned with the rush for materialism. The turning away from it all. Idealism, Spirituality, Yogis and Sanyasis. The search for Utopia. And...
Skeleton Lake of Roop Kund in India – where Myths, Mythology and Nature conspire to hold and reveal a gruesome secret The Skeleton Lake Roopkund (also known as Rudra Kund, Mystery Lake or Skeleton Lake) is a high-altitude (about 5000 meters above sea-level). It is a glacial lake in Uttarakhand in northern India, at the base of...
