Macritchie Nature Trail and Reservoir Park

With the exams finally out of our way, we decided we required a breather. We did take the thought quite literally and headed off to Singapore’s largest fresh water reservoir – the Macritchie Nature Trail and Reservoir Park.  A Sunday Trek Ever since we moved to Singapore, we have been enthralled with its collection of well curated nature parks. This little country has displayed quite an efficient way of being “carefully careless’. Nature is allowed to flower at its own pace and passion aided with a few minor human touch-ups…

The Scent of a Dream – Swapnagandha Resort in Chorla Ghats

Living a dream in Chorla Ghat The Vazra Sakla roared down the idyllic slopes of Chorla Ghat. The sun kissed mountains stood stoic and stately indulging the twin waterfall their moment of mirth. We watched with gaping mouths as the white foamy water cascaded down into the jade green pool beneath, an offspring of its frothy downpour. It was the month of November. The monsoons had just wrapped up its work for the year leaving things to dry up after a wet spell. For the hills at Chorla Ghat, however,…

Kolkata! Kolkata!

Kolkata, the city of my birth is the only city I can truly call home. It has given me all my ‘firsts’ which has made my life what it is today – my first friend, my first love, my first job and also my first story. It has nurtured my childhood, witnessed my adolescence bloom into youth and seen me mature as a woman. Today when the heart is all aflutter with the uncertainties in the World, the mind strays to those moments that I hold close to my heart.…

Selamat Datang Di Bali

Bali – The Prologue “chak ke-chak ke-chak ke-chak” The chants that had begun as a hum rose to a crescendo. We watched entranced as the bare chested men swayed their upper bodies rhythmically to the beat. The coconut oil lamp, set in the middle of the stage, flickered in glee. The orange glow of the setting sun smeared the sky with a gory hue as Sita fainted in the evil clutches of Ravana, the King of Demons. The spotlights illuminating Uluwatu’s ramparts glistened on Ravana’s specter as he bared his…

Chilapata National Park

The Journey to Chilapata Begins Travelling to Chilapata National Park was an impulsive decision. Nevertheless, I will always be thankful for all such impulses that lead me into wondrous worlds which I would have otherwise been oblivious to. We boarded the 8.20 pm KanchanKanya Express hopeful of energising ourselves and rising from the urban stupor that was fast enclosing us in its deathly grip. We desperately wanted to be thrown into lush greenery and spend 3 days in serene bliss. However, what we got was more than the ordinary ‘bliss’ that…

Andharban Jungle Trek and a Gang of Girls

Andharban Jungle Trek – The Jumpy Start A surreal rattle was drumming a shrill jingle in my heart as I paced the empty lane which was marked as my pickup point. I was on my way to my first ever solo trek in one of the most amazing forest patches gracing this beautiful planet. I wanted myself to believe I could do it. The Andharban Jungle trek was yet to start and I was already throbbing with excitement. The Andharban Jungle Trek was marked with a lot of slips –…

Ranikhet – Tales from the Queen’s Meadow

Travelling to Ranikhet in the summer of 2016 It was the peak of summers and Gurgaon was boiling. We needed a respite from the grime and sweat and from our own flaring tempers. The hills around Ranikhet in Uttarakhand were alive with the peace we were craving for. So we surrendered unabashed to its allure only to return excited, energized and euphoric. With the numerous choices laid bare owing to the locational advantages of Delhi, we had a difficult time making our selection. We chose Ranikhet because we were enticed…

Uttarakhand Hikes – On the Serpent’s Trail

Uttarakhand Hikes – Exploring the Dhaulinag Temple We count the hike to Dhaulinag temple as one of our most exciting Uttarakhand Hikes. Our stay in Vijaypur, Uttarakhand, was quite an eventful experience to say the least of it. It was spiked with allergy bites, back breaking falls (which still makes it difficult for me to remain seated for long), a swim in the boisterous mountain rivers, overturning of Kayaks and many more. On the whole it was exhilarating, exasperating and ecstatic. Though difficult to believe, but it was stupendously stress relieving.…

Chestnut Grove Himalayan Lodge – Hotel Review

The Bell Beneath the Chestnuts Nestled snugly in a thick grove of green chestnut trees, The Chestnut Grove Himalayan Lodge is truly a traveler’s delight. Located strategically between Bageshwar and Chaukori in the sleepy hamlet of Vijaypur, in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Chestnut Grove receives a motley footfall during season and even during off-season. Most use this as a night halt enroute to Munshiyari and then decide to stay on for another day. Tourists  also stop over on their way back. For us however, it was a 6 night stand and an experience which we…

The Allure of Ellora

Ellora The Enigma Ellora welcomed us with huge white windmills flailing their arms wildly. We had started off quite early from Pune and were getting surprisingly enthusiastic as we approached our destination. The long road stretched out straight and smooth ahead of us glistening and clean after the morning showers. The long drive had failed to dampen our spirits as we geared up for the day ahead. Getting lost in the Caves Ellora caves to me is a clear evidence of what man can achieve without artificial intelligence. Built in…