The houseboat experience in Kerala is chief among the many attractions in Kerala, God’s Own Country. A few of these attractions are nature at its greenest, mountains, lakes, beaches, Ayurveda, culture and traditions… Oh, and food… Let me start by talking of the backwaters of Kerala. Where a houseboat experience is simply a must-do. The backwaters...
Romantic Plantation stay. In the midst of nature. My prescription for either kindling a fledgling romance or making the fire stronger in an existing romance. Why a plantation stay for romance? Why do I say so? Let me try and explain… As logically and rationally as possible for a completely irrational emotion called love… 😊 After all,...
Indian History – from Indus Valley civilization to Modern history Indian history is a long story. We haven't preserved the remnants of this history too well though. Sometimes, we have to piece things together to get a clearer picture. And why not? How can everything be ready on the plate? Humans have to use their intellect...
Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh of North-East India. Beautiful, peaceful, alluring... Remember Hemingway's novel "The Old man and the Sea"? Well this is "The Old Man and the Bowl" in a small monastery there. For me, he was the highlight of my trip to Mechuka. Here’s the story of the trip… The Old Man and the Bowl - Mechuka...
Bhangarh Fort – history, royalty, wars, a one-sided love story, black magic and GHOSTS Bhangarh fort! Let me tell you a story about it - a fairy-tale with a twist. This is a story of a beautiful princess. She lived in a majestic fort on a hill in Rajasthan. A poor magician nearby fell in love...
Travel musings Solo travel has a great way of clearing the mind. It allows one to think and delve into the self in relative anonymity. Paradoxically, the constant movement of travel induces a strange stillness of the mind - Samatha and hence Vipassana, as the Buddhists would have it... These are some of my travel musings...
Chambal Valley – Protected by Infamy, Curses and Crimes The Chambal Valley is a cursed land as per mythology. It boasts of a barren and ravaged landscape, ravines, gorges and jungles. Bandits and dacoits. Outlaws and lawlessness. The setting for many iconic movies and the backdrop for many legendary Indian Robin Hoods… It remains pristine and untouched...
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...
Quarantine Queues This is a ramble about the Quarantine. And the self. Why Queues, you ask? No reason, I say. Of course, the Quarantine has Queues – in front of the provision shops, transport hubs, liquor vends, etc. Hence, Quarantine Queues. There is no other connect that this blog has with queues. Actually, I used the word...
Trichinopoly Cigar, the one that Churchill loved and Sherlock Holmes used was from a town in British India that lent its name to it - Trichy What was it that Winston Churchill, Sherlock Holmes and the average Balaji in South India loved? The Trichie or Tritchie. The Trichinopoly Cigar which is a type of cheroot that...
