An amazing array of the hues of nature is perhaps the first thing which strikes any visitor travelling to Yercaud. The brilliant blue sky speckled with puffs of cotton in the form of clouds and the verdant green of the surrounding forests have probably never been so well-utilised in creating such a sparkling landscape. Nestled in the lap of the Shevaroy Hills, Yercaud is located at an altitude of 1515 meters in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu. Bubbling with a healthy harvest of coffee, oranges, bananas, pears and…
Day 24: X-Mas in Kolkata
My first experience of the Kolkata Christmas was in the 1980’s when I as a 5year old dazed eyed kid entered the hallowed portals of Kolkata’s New Market to do our Christmas shopping. The city then still lived a quiet existence unlike its present state when every occasion calls for a blast. In my childhood, Christmas was restricted to the Central Kolkata area (mostly New Market, and Park Street) and the rest of the city, other than a few household like ours slept peacefully through the Christmas carols being played…
Wayanad Wilderness
Every time I visit Kerala, I realise a new facet about God’s partiality to this beautiful Southern India state. At every nook and corner of the place he has lavished his indulgence and left us to wonder at his creation. Wayanad, lying snuggled in the Northern part of Kerala, probably took up most of his time. Adorned with dense forests, gurgling lakes, lush tea estates, mysterious caves and frothy waterfalls Wayanad was the perfect choice for our summer vacations. Nuzzling the Western Ghats, the rocky terrain of the region added…
Day 22: Visiting Varkala
Stretched out lazily at the foot of a cliff, the Papanasam beach is the glistening jewel crowning the coastal town of Varkala. Despite being perched at the most perilous coast of the Arabian Sea, Varkala is Southern Kerala’s most popular hang-out zone. The golden sands of the Papanasam beach is a lively collage of footprints of fishermen bringing home their catch, backpackers thirsting for the thrill of adventure as well as those of the religious minded who come to wash away their sins in the pious waters of the ocean.…
Day 21: Ulsoor Lake -Unmatched Serenity
Day 20: Tawang – A Walk in the Clouds
Enclosed in the misty embrace of the clouds Tawang lies nestled amidst the hills of eastern Himalayas in the North Eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Irrespective of its political and geographical boundaries, Tawang is a unique creation of the Supreme Being. Tawang is inhabited primarily by the Monpa tribe, who can trace their roots to their Mongoloid fore fathers. The traditions and culture practiced by these tribesmen are so unique that the place has been donned with a distinct characteristic typical to itself. This makes it all the…
Day 19: Suntalekhola – The Sound of Silence
It was supposed to be a quiet family outing to Gorumara in North Bengal with a few adhoc places thrown in between. Somebody quipped in with a suggestion for a trip to Suntalekhola and we all nodded casually little knowing how much that nod would change our whole lives. Suntalekhola is a quaint little settlement located at a distance of 5 km from Samsing in the Darjeeling District in the Northern part of the Indian state of West Bengal. It drapes around itself a mantle of solitude, but yet is able…
Day 18: Red Fort – The Last Bastion of Mughal Supremacy
Though I got acquainted with the nuances of the English language from a very early age, I came to comprehend the significance of the three letter word ‘awe’ only when I saw the Red Fort. I was in my second year in college, a student of history, when I travelled to Delhi, Agra and a couple of other places for my summer vacation. It happened to be, as I later realized, the most appropriate time and the most impressionable age to make that journey. It created a lasting impact on…
Day 17: Quest
In my quest for life, I have travelled afar Leaving the windows of my heart ajar Making new friends while visiting strange lands Learning about new cultures and traditions first hand My routes have crossed mountains and wooded paths and the vast seas Allowing me to go wherever my heart agrees! In my quest for life I found new things, yet thirst for more My quest continues with more vigour than before!
Day 16: Phulia – The Colourful Canvas
Colour was definitely the first thing which struck me when I visited Phulia for the first time 15 years ago. Phew! Was it that long ago? It’s still quite fresh and clear in my mind, my first visit. Bright, vibrant shades of colour was almost everywhere I looked. The cool green of the mango orchards, the refreshing pistachio of the paddy fields, the bright yellow of the mustard fields, , the turquoise blue of the cotton threads or even the reddish tinge of the muddy tracks where we cycled seemed…
