With a population of 6.9 million people, if looked from a distance, a metropolitan like Hyderabad may seem to have nothing more than a budding economy to offer. But if looked closely, in the hustle bustle of the city, there’s a Shahi heritage that doesn’t go unnoticed. Hyderabad: A City of History & Heritage Established about 400 years ago Hyderabad remained under Qutb Shahi dynasty for a long time. It was, eventually, passed on from one dynasty to another until finally, it became what it is now. That fact justifies the rich heritage of this city. Knowing all this, who wouldn’t want to relish the things it can offer. I visited Hyderabad with the purpose of attending my niece’s first birthday. Deep down, I had been meaning to explore Southern India and the family function came as a perfect opportunity. But odds are not always in one’s favour, and in…

Mary Budden Estate: A Luxury Boutique Homestay in Kumaon
Mary Budden Estate, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary Putting you in the position of joyful contemplation, this place helps you reconnect with yourself. Mary Budden Estate makes you believe that to know yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. To catch up…

Sadhana Forest – Introspection Through Ecological Renewal
Sadhana Forest, Tamil Nadu Stepping out of the cubicle to begin a journey of self-discovery through travelling is fascinating. When one lives it, roads feel like home, all directions look right and you’re ready for more. Travelling isn’t only about…

Golconda Fort: A Tale of Diamonds, Treason & Architectural Marvels
Golconda Fort, Hyderabad Being the home of world’s most famous gems like Koh-i-Noor and Hope Diamond to name a few, Hyderabad is also a highlight for one of the medieval sultanate’s architectural wonder – the Golkonda Fort. Originally named Mankal,…

Top Tips to Pack Light
The world of travellers has two types of people – those who pack light and those who wish they had. If you want to travel far, pack light. It is, in my not so humble opinion, one of the smartest…

A Walk Into ‘The Valley of Flowers’ – Part II
Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand Check this post for the next part of the story of Valley of Flowers – Part I Check this post for the latest Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Guide —————————— Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers I…

A Walk Into ‘The Valley of Flowers’ – Part I
The universe has a way of leading you to the things that you should do. A close friend once gifted me ‘The Valley of Flowers’ – a travelogue written by Frank S. Smythe, who discovered the valley in 1931. If…

A D.I.Y Guide to Valley of Flowers
Snowcapped mountains peaking from behind the curtains of thick white clouds, lush green meadows and plunging waterfalls from the sky. When the reality starts looking prettier than your dreams, pinch yourself as you are, in fact, in the Valley of…

Mumbai’s Own Little Italy
Asalpha, Mumbai From the beginning of our history, art has been a well-adopted form of communication. Though the makers of history switched between paintbrushes and typewriters, the motive of highlighting a cause didn’t change. Irrespective of taking various forms, shapes…

Elephanta Island: Magnum Opus of Medieval India
About 66 million years ago, a volcanic eruption created the canvas for the astonishing piece of rock-cut architecture in India. This island of basalt rock was later turned into what is now known as The Elephanta Island- a baffling cave…

A Picturesque Mountain Getaway in Jibhi
The everyday existence in a city is a relentless grind. Work, meetings, traffic and the constant buzz of mobile phones seem suspiciously designed to leave us listless. To break the monotony of this, we crave a respite- someplace scenic, serene…

Spiti Valley – The Day of Dream Destination: Chandratal
Spiti Valley Day 7: Batal – Chandratal – Manali Seemed like waking up early was a ritual we all performed with utmost dedication. Well, not me; but I tried my best. It gets hard to wake up early when you…

Spiti Valley – The Day of Beaten-up Roads
Spiti Valley Day 6: Kibber – Kunzum La – Batal For a change, we started off early. It was 6:00 am and we were already on the road, moving towards the Key monastery. Key monastery is the biggest center of…

Spiti Valley – The Day of Changed Plans & Closed Doors
Spiti Valley Day 5: Kaza – Komic – Kaza I woke up looking like an alien. It looked like I had a nose upon my nose; courtesy of the nearly perfect spherical shaped star at the center of our solar…

Spiti Valley – The Day of Body Aches & Sunburns
Spiti Valley Day 4: Tabo – Dhankar – Kaza I was the first one to get ready in the morning. That’s how excited I was to begin my first bike ride in the mountains. Me and Ravi on a glorious…

Spiti Valley – The Day of Strangers Becoming Friends
Spiti Valley Day 3: Nako Okay. So this is gonna be a little long! For the first time in a really long time, I woke up at 5:00 am in the morning. Everyone else was already up by then. I…

Spiti Valley – When The Roads Scared The Shit Out of Me
Spiti Valley Day 2: Reckong Peo I woke up to the sound of thunder in the middle of the night. My worst fear was coming to life. The fear of a bad weather. There was a huge jam on NH…

Uncovering ‘The Middle Land’ – Spiti Valley
This series on Spiti Valley is an attempt of tracing my journey which set me out as a solo traveller. Travel has always been a part of my life. But before, I used to seek company, make plans with people,…

The Ghost Solider Who Guards India-China Border
On 4 October 1968, a young soldier died on the India-China border while serving in the Indian Army. But he hasn’t abandoned his post just yet. The youngest recruit of 23rd Punjab regiment, Harbhajan Singh died at the tender age…

How to Make the Most of Your Weekend in Udaipur
The Ultimate Udaipur Itinerary The city of lakes Udaipur is believed to be the most romantic city in India. Nested around quaint lakes and fringed in by purple hills of Aravallis, Udaipur is also known as ‘Venice of the East’.…