India, the land of diversity and colours! India is home to 36 world heritage sites and a wonder of the world, and has always been a must-visit destination for tourists around the world. India welcomed over 8.03 million foreign tourists in 2015, and the number rose to 8.80 million in 2016 (GOI, 2017). According to […]
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‘Aap Calcutta se Chakraborty sahib hai?’ I nodded in affirmation, to be issued a command ‘Chaliye, hume Bhaiji ne bheja hai,’. Before I could ascertain the whys and wherefores of this ‘Bhaiji’, the broad-shouldered young fellow hauled up my camera bag, while his assistant lugged my heavy rucksack and strode right ahead. I had no […]
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No way were we going to sight the highest peaks on planet earth—the clouds were just too overpowering. Yet, the stony faced driver’s insistent ringing at 3 am pushed us out of bed to confront the cold fog outside. “What are our chances?” I asked, staring at a white wall before the windshield incredulously. “There […]
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The Lakshadweep group of islands covering an area of 32 sq km has a total population of 64,429 as per 2011 Census, with a population density of 2,013 per sq km which is much higher than the national average of 382 per sq km. The main occupation of the people here is fishing, coconut cultivation […]
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Out of a total of 36, only 10 islands of Lakshadweep are inhabited by the local populace – Andrott, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmath, Kalpeni, Kiltan, Minicoy and Kavaratti; the latter being the headquarters of the Union Territory. The 11th island, Bangaram, holds a resort. Human communities of Lakshadweep are primarily Koya, Malmi and Melacheri, […]
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One Friday, September 2011, saw six of us donning our travel garb to set out to Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. As our cars meandered their way out beneath an overcast sky, through the Okhla barrage onto the Mahamaya flyover little did we know that Delhi was to experience the worst deluge of the season that […]
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A long weekend, granted by one favourably positioned Id, afforded a memorable winter trip. We started on the Delhi- Ambala Highway early on a cloudy Friday morning equipped with packed breakfast. Two kilometres after Shahbad, we took a right turn by the side of hotel Prince. Following a much needed tea and breakfast break we […]
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Phulvati shyly extended a small intricately woven basket full of semi puffed rice, anandi, urging me to eat more. It was a splendid meal – replete with fresh sugarcane juice, thick curd and a dash of garlic-amla-chilli paste that was so exquisite that I couldn’t stop myself from asking for several helpings. Washing my fingers […]
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