Our travel stories | Your travel clues
At the fag end of our European sojourn in 2018, we decided to spend two days in Amsterdam, the city where canals weave a web of magic. With the North Sea flanking its north, the Amstel river flowing through the city, and 165 canals crisscrossing the whole city, it felt like water, water, and water everywhere! It hardly felt like a city, rather it seemed like a big garden with curated buildings all around.
Maheshwar tells a lucid story that is intricately woven by its traditional weaver community around the pious river Narmada and the glory of its most famous rulers, the Maratha-Holkar dynasty. With a great architectural heritage, one of India’s finest weaving traditions, and a serene Narmada flowing by, Maheshwar is a cultural hotspot in central India.
What is your first choice for lodging while travelling? Mine is a cute little homestay near a river or in the woods. These days travellers have plethora of options- from luxury hotels to happening hostels to peaceful homestays. It’s what one chooses for lodging can make a lot of difference to their travel experience.
Phuket, an island in southern Thailand offers the most gorgeous beaches, stunning islands, pulsating nightlife and plethora of fun activities to immerse in. And quite a few interesting things to explore that are not talked about as much. Here is our account of the tropical wonderland that Phuket is.
The Pink City Rickshaw Company is a one-of-its-kind social enterprise operating in the space of community tourism. While on one hand it provides tourists a unique experience, on the other, it gives its women drivers an aspirational income they would never have dreamt of otherwise. PCRC is indeed a model of community tourism like no other, a perfect example of sustainable tourism.
Hills and clouds are made for each other. They make for such a romantic combination! That’s why, I love visiting Nainital during the monsoon. Named after the Naini lake, Nainital can be described as a land of a beautiful lake and seven hills. Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi-Bandi, Naina, Alma, Lariya-Kanta and Sher-Ka-Danda are the seven hills that surround the Naini lake and make for a gorgeous view.
One of the most majestic animals to still roam the surface of earth is the Rhinoceros, an endangered species. And one of their largest homes is the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. This makes it one of the most important National Parks in the world. The “UNESCO World Heritage Site” tag is just an official proof of it.
Then known as “Thailand-Burma Railway”, it was later called the “Death Railway”. Construction of the railway track between Ban Pong in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma was/ is a dark chapter in the history of mankind. More than 1 hundred thousand labourers perished during its construction. A visit to the site changed my travel perspective.
Paris is indeed charming, and a very romantic city. Its beautiful cityscape, classy buildings, lovely boulevards and river Seine make it a truly lovable city. It’s also called the city of light. My 2016 trip was short, but quite memorable.
Ooty, charm of the Nilgiris, is one of the most beautiful hill stations in south India. Situated within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges, both Ooty and Coonoor are almost replica of each other. Verdant hills and valleys, lush green forests, beautiful tea estates, small waterfalls and lakes abound. Here is an article on my Ooty – Coonoor experience.