It was a very cold day of November. There was mist all over, visibility was very low and bone-chilling wind was blowing. We checked out inner line permites, confirmed the home stay and started for the journey that I will remember all my life. We were at Rongli the previous night. Rongli is a beautiful little town with lovely people and all, almost all houses full of flowers. It was an uphill drive...
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Following the Old Silk Route, Sikkim
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
Himalayas
,
Nathula Pass
,
old silk route sikkim
,
Sikkim
,
Travel ideas
,
Travel stories
,
Zuluk Loops
Sunday, December 6, 2015
A Royal Retreat - Prim Resort PUSHKAR
Pushkar to me was primarily either a place for backpackers or for pilgrims till my last visit. Amazed and thrilled I was to experience a stay at a boutique resort in the heart of desert that gave me a royal experience in moderate prices.
Just 6 hrs from Delhi and 2 hrs from Jaipur, I find Pushkar as a perfect weekend getaway for everyone. Be it small treks to Gayatri and Savitri devi or relaxing...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
Resort review
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Kochi Trip (Part I) - "The Flying Experience"
"After midnight the moon set and I was alone with the stars. I have often said that the lure of flying is the lure of beauty, and I need no other flight to convince me that the reason flyers fly, whether they know it or not, is the aesthetic appeal of flying." ~ Amelia Earhart
It was a clear day with a few patches of clouds up there. After completing the formalities and collecting my boarding pass, I checked in. I would be reaching Kochi around 3.30pm. I was excited to fly except for I was a little worried for, in my last flight to Kolkata I got severe pain in my ears that took more than 24hrs to recover.
The flight proceeded on the runway and slowly gained momentum and took off. It reminded me of my paragliding "leaving-the-ground" moment. How suddenly you lose contact from earth and your heart misses a beat. In no time we were up above in the sky watching establishments, cars and trees getting tiny and tinier. getting a bird's eye view of my city. We all look so small from up above... and the buildings, cars and roads look like toys.
I could hear the engine roar as the plane gained height defying gravity. The little patches of clouds grew bigger and denser. Suddenly I realised we were entring the clouds. The earth and its establishments were no more visible. Slowly we crossed this layer of clouds. We were above clouds and I was transported to a different world. Those patches of clouds that I saw up in the sky in the morning were below me. The whole scenario had changed. Patches of clouds were hanging all over. Bear, rabbit, elephant, birds... there was a whole jungle up there. Sun was smiling at the play and rays were trickling in through my small personal window warming my body and soul. At that moment all I was missing was the feel of that wind on my face. I just wished the whole airplane would disappear dropping me on one of those clouds.
I was suddendly bought back to "our world" by one of the airhostess who was distributing a menu of things I could eat and the list of products I could buy while flying and the offers I will get if I buy them now. How I wish I could be in my own dreamy world forever. Anyways, I ordered some tea and Honey Oat Cookies.
After a super exciting flying experience I was in Kochi to see my friends, Lishin and Anoop.
It was a clear day with a few patches of clouds up there. After completing the formalities and collecting my boarding pass, I checked in. I would be reaching Kochi around 3.30pm. I was excited to fly except for I was a little worried for, in my last flight to Kolkata I got severe pain in my ears that took more than 24hrs to recover.
"Leaving-The-Ground" Moment
Filled with apprehensions on what the experience would be, I boarded the flight. While climbing the stairs of the flight the sudden blow of wind on my face felt so good. Smiling air hostesses welcomed me to the flight. I wonder how they manage this smile throughout the day. Anyway unlike many others who just chose to ignore their smile, I smiled back. I got the window seat near the wing of the plane. I made myself comfortable, checked the safety instructions, just in case, and checked on the fellow passengers. Fortunately or unfortunately there was no one sitting next to me and I had all the privacy. I lost a chance of that great friendship that happens while flying in our Hindi movies. Anyways, I was happy to get my privacy.The flight proceeded on the runway and slowly gained momentum and took off. It reminded me of my paragliding "leaving-the-ground" moment. How suddenly you lose contact from earth and your heart misses a beat. In no time we were up above in the sky watching establishments, cars and trees getting tiny and tinier. getting a bird's eye view of my city. We all look so small from up above... and the buildings, cars and roads look like toys.
"The Dream World" up there
I was suddendly bought back to "our world" by one of the airhostess who was distributing a menu of things I could eat and the list of products I could buy while flying and the offers I will get if I buy them now. How I wish I could be in my own dreamy world forever. Anyways, I ordered some tea and Honey Oat Cookies.
Back to "My Gola"
We would be landing in half an hour, an announcement was made. I was all set to enter "my gola" and be connected once again. Now we were crossing a dense layer of clouds and suddenly I could feel the water drops on my window. What an amazin thing it was... sunny up above the clouds and rainy down below. And by-the-way, how do people get ear pain while flying, its a divine experience ;)After a super exciting flying experience I was in Kochi to see my friends, Lishin and Anoop.
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
dream
,
flight
,
Kerela
,
Kochi
,
Travel stories
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Spiti Sojourn - A Memorable Journey Through Himalayan Villages
High rocky hills kissing the sky, muddy water stream cutting furiously through the hills and small villages popping-up their beautiful face every now and then. On this road trip to surreal Spiti from Delhi I succumbed to the magic of the Himalayas. Driving on those rough terrains through mighty Himalayas at days and looking at the innumerable stars at pitch dark nights has made for some of the best...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
chandratal
,
Dhankar
,
Himalayas
,
Indian Terrains trips
,
Kinnaur
,
nako
,
ribba
,
Road trips
,
Spiti
,
tabo
,
Travel ideas
,
Travel stories
,
Trekking
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Step-by-step guide to packing efficiently
Are you planning a bag packing trip and having sleepless nights just thinking what and how to pack? Facing difficulty of not able to make it light?
Don't worry you are not the only one. We all travelers have faced this problem some time or the other. Below are the steps I follow to pack my bags for any trip.
There are 3 major categories of things you would need on your trip:
Appropriate and just...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
packing for a bag-packing trip
,
packing guide
,
packing light
,
Travel Tips
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Weekend trip to Mukteshwar
Fully loaded fruit trees, thatched roof mud houses and welcoming locals... Leaving behind the rush of the city life, we had entered a different world all together. Crisp air filled with pine fragrance welcomed us to this heaven. Just 8 hrs drive from Delhi, situated high in the Kumaon Hills at an altitude of 2286 meters (7500 feet), 51 km from Nainital and 343 km from Delhi, is this beautiful little...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
Around Delhi
,
Himalayan birds
,
Himalayas
,
Mukteshwar
,
Route map to Mukteshwar
,
Travel stories
,
Trekking in Uttaranchal
,
Weekend getaway
,
weekend trips from delhi
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Chopta - Tungnath Trek
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” ~ John Muir
We started our journey with this thought in mind with a lively bunch of people from Delhi. Our first halt was at Rishikesh where we...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
ChaloLetsGo Trips
,
Chandrashila
,
Chopta
,
Himalayan birds
,
Himalayas
,
Offbeat destinations
,
Travel ideas
,
Travel stories
,
Trekking in Uttaranchal
,
Tungnath
,
Uttaranchal
,
Weekend getaway
,
weekend trips from delhi
Friday, April 17, 2015
Exploring the mystic city of VARANASI

I rose early in the morning to the sound of hymns. The same loudspeakers that sound nuisance in Delhi were a music to ears with soothing hymns playing in the backdrop of a beautiful morning.
Just a few souls were up and sitting along the Assi ghat waiting for the sun to rise from behind the horizon. We were all game for the boat ride along the ghats.
A Beautiful Morning At Assi Ghat
It...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
,
Ramnagar Fort
,
Sarnath
,
Varanasi
,
Weekend getaway
,
weekend trips from delhi
Monday, March 2, 2015
In the wilderness of Dudhwa
EXPERIENCING DUDHWA – The
Exciting Elephant Safari
As we drove towards Salukhapur, we were moved by the
grandeur and majesty of the saal forest in the cool early-morning light. At
Salukhapur we were introduced to Batalik, our elephant. To our surprise there
were no railings on the platform on elephant’s back. Handling a camera and kit
on the elephant while you are fully loaded with winter...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
Around Delhi
,
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
,
Weekend getaway
,
Weekend trip from Delhi
,
weekend trips from delhi
,
Wild life
,
Wildlife in Uttar Pradesh
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Preparing Yourself for Winter Trekking
1.
The rule of thumb is to be in five layers for a temperature
that goes down to -5°C or lower. With every subsequent increase in temperature
by 10 degrees (say from -5°C to 5°C), you can strip off one layer. But keep in
mind that during the day when the sun is out and you are trekking, it actually
gets very warm with the layers of clothes you have on so don’t over-layer
yourself and be prepared to peel off layers depending on the heat.
An example...
Labels: Explore Delhi, Around Delhi, Beyond Delhi
preparations for winter trekking
,
Travel Tips
,
Trekking
,
Winter trekking
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