Chittor! Capital city of the Mewar kingdom for several centuries. Chittorgarh- where myth, legend and history come together so seamlessly that it is difficult to know where one stops and the other begins. Chittorgarh- an imposing, awe-inspiring fort whose battle- scarred walls hold memories of epic battles, sieges, invasions, tragedies and triumphs. The largest fort … Continue reading Chittor- Capital of Mewar
The iconic dish of Rajasthan- dal baati churma. A lip-smacking combo, loaded with proteins, carbs and calories! Served here with spicy garlic chutney but can be also served with papads or tangy 'kadhi'. This was lunch on day # 1 of my trip. A lunch like this leaves no room for dinner, despite it being … Continue reading The Food Coma That Wasn’t!
The imposing Kumbhalgarh fort in the kingdom of Mewar. It towers above the peaks of the Aravallis at a height of 1100 metres above sea level, and has the formidable reputation of being unconquerable. The inaccessibility of the fort made it invincible. It is protected by a massive wall that stretches for 36 kms and … Continue reading The Wonder That Is Kumbhalgarh
Mewar, in Rajasthan is not just about magnificent forts and grand palaces built by the Rajput rulers over the course of more than a 1000 years. It is also about the warrior clans that loyally served their kings and were given estates to govern. Deogarh is one such (former) estate, now town; which was owned … Continue reading Discovering Deogarh
The tomb of Tana Shah The 106 acre necropolis which houses the tombs of the Qutub Shahi dynasty is; as I've mentioned earlier, a gem hidden in plain sight. The Qutub Shahi dynasty ruled the kingdom of Golconda from 1518 AD to 1687 AD. Their kingdom extended from the banks of the river Godavari in … Continue reading The Hidden Gems of Hyderabad, Pt 2
The tombs of Premamati and Taramati The term 'hidden gem' is becoming overused as travel bloggers and influencers hit the roads not taken to uncover secluded spots for tourists to crowd at. So much so that many hidden gems quickly turn into 'most popular' places to visit. The Qutub Shahi Tombs of Hyderabad, however, do … Continue reading The Hidden Gems of Hyderabad, Pt 1
It all began in the November of 2016- my very first trip abroad. For me it was a dream come true as well as an eye-opener. A colleague and I were accompanying a group of our students to France for an exchange program, so it was a work trip not a touristy one. But for … Continue reading How I became a tourist in my own country (and city!)
“Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - (verses from a poem by Emily Dickinson) My recently concluded trip with friends began on a note of hope and eager anticipation which then turned into a … Continue reading Hope v/s Disappointment
Much as I was looking forward to my trip along the Karnataka coast, I was eagerly anticipating the return journey as well. That's because for the first time I would be travelling via the Konkan Railway. The Konkan coast is well-known for its scenic beauty- as it is sandwiched between the Western Ghats on one … Continue reading From a (Konkan)Railway Carriage…
Us city dwellers have a complicated relationship with the rain. We long for rain because it ensures our regular water supply and brings some sorely needed touch of green to our concrete jungle. Not to mention giving us a welcome respite from the scorching heat and dust of the summer months. But the rain also … Continue reading One Rainy Evening…
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