Kumbalgarh, Rajasthan, India 21st December 2013 The Great Wall of India. Yes, you heard that right. India has its very own version of the great wall in Rajasthan. This thirty-six-kilometer-long wall surrounding the Kumbalgarh fort is the second longest continuous wall in the world after its more illustrious peer in China. But unlike the Chinese …
Varkala, Kerala, India 26th January 2015 Originally a small temple town, the South Keralan town of Varkala is fast turning into a favourite backpacker hangout. And I would attribute this to what is called ‘the Varkala Formation’ – a steep red cliff rising adjacent to a small strip of beach having excellent views of the …
Ramanagara, Karnataka, India 22nd February 2014 Idli is undoubtedly my favorite breakfast. This traditional South India cake made of rice batter is hugely popular not only in the South but many other parts of India. I was aware of many variations of the traditional circular Idli, but stopping at a restaurant on the Bangalore-Mysore highway …
Alleppey, Kerala, India (28th January 2015) Going around the backwaters of Alleppey provides a fascinating sneak peek into the different facets of local Keralan life. One such example was when I saw a man dipping into the water repeatedly and emerging after a few moments. I thought he was taking a bath or probably swimming. …
24th December 2013 I do not believe in ghosts. But I do like ghost stories. As a child, I was brought up on a diet of spine-tingling ghost stories, and I remember feeling thrilled while listening to those, although they were meant to put us to sleep. After I grew up, I seldom got that kind of excitement when …
Continue reading Experience: The Haunting in Kuldhara (India)
Shravanabelagola, Karnataka, India (15th August 2014)Hinduism as a religion is a very attractive lure for many foreigners visiting India. More often than not belonging to a monotheistic faith themselves, they marvel at the hundreds of gods that Hindus worship. As I was walking near the Shravanabelagola temple in Karnataka, I noticed these idols of Hindu …
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India (25th December 2013) As we were strolling through the by lanes of desert town Jaisalmer, some soothing Rajasthani folk tunes wafted out from nearby, something which we had heard in other parts of Rajasthan also. We found the source of music to be a middle-aged turbaned man, presumably from the desert, playing …
Over the Himalayas, India (3rd September 2011) As I boarded the Delhi flight from Leh after an eventful week in Ladakh, I prayed to the Gods for clear skies for the next couple of hours. This particular flight, which flies over the vast Himalayan range, is famous for its breathtaking views of the mountains, provided …
Baga, Goa, India (14th April 2013) At dawn on a midsummer morning in Goa, I strolled on to the Baga Beach with my precious book in hand, found a beach chair and made myself comfortable. With a gentle early morning breeze blowing and the ubiquitous sound of waves in the background, I got immersed in …
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India (22nd December 2013) Hookah, the quintessential instrument for smoking flavoured tobacco, was very popular with the Rajputs, the kings who ruled Rajasthan for centuries. The museum in Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur has an interesting collection of intricately designed gold and silver hookahs studded with precious stones that were used in the erstwhile …
East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India (2nd May 2010) While India is known for its sweet tooth and a range of tasty sweet foods, I have seldom seen how they are actually made. Fortunately, I got this opportunity rather unexpectedly while travelling through the villages of East Godavari district in the Southern Indian state of …
The Wandering Buddha 