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Sitting atop 6943 feet over the Himalayas, Kasar Devi has been at the center of mysticism and fascination for long. Popular among offbeat travellers, including a lot of foreigners, it’s a place known for its tranquility and spirituality. Here’s my story of enjoying a few days in the spring, celebrating the festival of colours- Holi.
Ninh Binh is like nowhere else. Not only its landscape is unique, the cultural experiences are in a league of its own. If I have my way, I would designate Ninh Binh as the definition of paradise. Its dreamy, charming landscape is straight out of a fairytale. Rivers crisscrossing through caves and mountains create such a magical land!
Talk of verdant Himalayan vistas, Tibetan Buddhism and plentiful adventurous getaways in one breath, you are surely talking of McLeod Ganj. A bustling little town up above the mountains in Himachal Pradesh, McLeod Ganj is a perfect blend of noise and peace. Here’s my account of the best experiences in McLeod Ganj with some travel tips.
Badrinath Yatra (journey) is as much a pilgrimage as it’s a journey through the grand Himalayan vistas and ancient Indian spiritual towns. Starting from Haridwar, the journey takes one through the towns like Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Joshimath- all important sites for Hindus. Here’s an account of our Family trip to Badrinath in May 2024.
While three of the Hindu Char Dham sites are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Rameswaram is the only one devoted to Lord Shiva. So, it holds a special significance. We visited Rameswaram last year as part of our south India monsoon exploration. While sharing our experience, here’s a travel guide to Rameswaram, the Hindu sacred town.
In the cold, harsh deserts of Ladakh, Buddhism provides the much needed equanimity. Though human settlements in Leh- Ladakh are few and far between, they are invariably characterized by the presence of Buddhist symbols like chortens, mani walls and gompas (monasteries). This article lists the best monasteries in Leh- Ladakh for visitors’ convenience.
Vaishno Devi temple is near the town of Katra in Jammu. It’s among the most popular pilgrimages in India today. As per estimates, 9.4 million tourists visited the shrine in 2023! Though Vaishno Devi gets mention in Hindu mythology running into thousands of years, its popularity is of relatively recent origin.
Yuksom in west Sikkim is gateway to the Kangchenjunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One can see elements of both cultural and natural aspects of the World Heritage Site all over Yuksom. Serene landscape, ancient heritage, sleepy villages and laid back lifestyle of people, are features that I love Yuksom for.
Amritsar is known world over, of course, for the magnificent Golden Temple, or Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib. Amritsar has much more to offer though. Here’s my narrative of Amritsar, its history, monuments, people, culture and food, gathered from my two visits.
Millions visit the ghats on the Ganges in Varanasi every year, and come back immersed in a deep sense of spiritualism. Though not all Hindus follow the same belief system, Varanasi, nevertheless is an important pilgrimage for all Hindus. Its history and legend go back thousands of years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world!