People and Places, Yuksom

Meet the happy cardamom farmer Tsering, from the tiny town of Yuksom.

George Everest House Near Mussoorie

It was a beautiful morning that made me want to hike to some place but not too far, as I had a bus to catch that would take me back to Dehradun that evening. I ate a good breakfast, packed a small, light, day bag and set off to visit Sir George Everest House.

Stunning Lakes of Kashmir

Kashmir Great Lakes trek is one of my favorite treks – for one too many reasons. The beauty of Kashmir needs no introduction, but these gorgeous lakes high up in the mountains were true stunners!

Memories From Pahalgam: A Beautiful Town In Kashmir

Kashmir is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places that I’ve travelled to. There’s so much I’ve missed and yet there’s so much I’ve experienced on each travel. Each time that I’ve been to Kashmir, I was always in for a new experience and abundant beauty to feast on. The people I’ve met, have always been so kind and friendly and listening to them has always given me new, fresh perspectives, much different from what is perceived otherwise .

Trek to the Enchanted Nagalapuram Forests

The best part about traversing the unpopular trails has its share of unbiased fun and the power to enjoy at your own discretion. The Nagalapuram forest trek is one such fairly uncommon, 1-day trek in the Eastern Ghats.

Velas: Visiting the Turtle Village of Coastal Maharashtra

“The mother turtle never meets her babies, and so she takes the utmost care to protect the eggs as she leaves them in mother nature’s lap”, Mohan – my host spoke, as we sipped on the ginger tea. Since my arrival the previous evening, he had shared many interesting facts about the sea turtles. The dawn was breaking, but it would still be some time before the first ray of sun entered this densely covered, remote village; tucked away amidst the Sahyadri mountain range in coastal Maharashtra.

Trekking in the Incredible Valley of Flowers

“Phoolon ki Ghati” the board read, meaning “Valley of Flowers”. A mountain stood tall behind it with its peak buried in the wispy clouds. The mist moved about slowly with an aim to embrace everything in its path.

Scuba Diving In India

Splash! A leap of faith taken! The surface closes overhead, you are sinking in slowly. Buoyancy is working its science but the weights on you help you descend into the blue water that looks colorless now. You hear the sound of your breath and your heartbeat regulates with the rhythm of the quiet waters. Tranquility takes over and everything becomes still, even the chaotic thoughts go hush. Absolute peace pervades as you glide weightlessly in the vibrant underwater realm.

Roaming in the Western Ghats

Sitting in a sparsely crowded bus station at 5 a.m. and sipping hot tea, I looked around. A few curious faces stared back at me. I was waiting for the daybreak. A sudden plan & I had packed my backpack, journeyed overnight and landed in a new place at the wee hours. And so here I was, waiting for the sunrise to take over the hostile darkness. In about an hour or so, there was light & we strutted in the small town to lookout for a place to stay. After checking some places (read negotiating the tariff) we finally dumped our luggage in an okay-ish room (clean+affordable is always a thumbs up for me).

How To Pack Light And Travel Smart?

Traveling is exciting and packing bags is like a countdown – excitement building up every minute. As a kid I have seen Papa pack bags with perfection and I am glad I’ve inherited some of his skills.