Switzerland, for Indians, has always been a favorable tourist attraction. For us, it’s a country to skip big towns, wander off the highway across the countryside, and experience those unforgettable Bollywood movie sequences we’ve grown up watching. From Sangam to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Indian cinema’s fascination for romantic songs and dreamy sequences being shot in places like Mount Titlis in Switzerland never took a step back. And to personally experience the never-e

As I stepped out of the airport, to spend 24 hours in Zurich and have my first Couchsurfing experience, I was more sceptical than ever. I was under the impression that a Couchsurfing experience in Zurich may feel sterile, bounded with house rules (because Dutch people can be strict by rules sometimes) but it wasn’t anything like that. My 24 hours in Zurich were just as enjoyable as I wanted it to be. My Couchsurfing host turned out to be one of the amazing people I’ve ever met in life. A

Out of all the tourist highlight, the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart is most popular. And how could it not be? Stuttgart is, after all, the birthplace of this legendary automobile company and of internal combustion engines. The towns are, moreover, around since the early 10th century, and its historic and architectural buildings hold many titles. But out of all architectural marvels and museums there, I loved the popular Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart the most. A visit to this plac

I wrote this travel blog on what to do in Stuttgart after my 2 days media trip there. Though I have explored much more, the things mentioned here are the most popular tourist highlights.  Just like my other travel guides – whether it is a brief 6 hours in Berlin guide or a detailed one-week road trip in Germany guide – this blog too will help you with some of the most popular things to see in Stuttgart. This guide is moreover meant for those who are short in time. People with

In order to complete my Frankfurt Travel Guide (and add some nearby destinations), I did a day trip to Rüdesheim and Bingen on one of the days. So if you too are planning the same, this travel blog is for you. Other than tips on how to plan a day trip from Frankfurt, this blog will help you explore things to do in Rüdesheim and Bingen. Day Trip To Rüdesheim and Bingen As a town, we are talking about two of the most touristy places in Germany — something more touristy than the towns of Ro

Walking along the far side of the glittering Main River, looking for top tourist experiences in Frankfurt, I heard a song-like melody approaching me. I did not see her face, as she slowly overtook me, walking in the same direction, but her humming sounded familiar. Every sound she made with her flawless throat felt soothing. The magic of the riverside Frankfurt had perhaps overpowered me. Love was in the air! The next thing I know is that I took a boat tour in the Frankfurt Main River. I

Man is an insatiable being. And I am just one of a kind. Counting the last few hours of my stay with a beautiful family in Rome (that was my home for almost 2 weeks) as I sat down to ponder upon a question I was asked, at the dinner table half an hour ago, I wondered, once again, what they asked me “why I travel so much? What’s the fascination behind it?” I mean why is it when other people around me are busy sorting out their lives and raising families, I act like a clu

vienna piBefore I start with these Vienna pictures, I want to confess that Vienna wasn’t on my original travel itinerary. After spending one day in Prague and exploring the offbeat Bohemian Saxon Switzerland Park in the Czech Republic, I thought of heading straight to Hungary and click some beautiful Budapest Pictures. Vienna’s ‘old people city’ image was, in fact, the demotivation. I mean why would a 20-something solo traveller want to visit a European town where all he can expect

If you will Google search for what to see in Vienna you will get thousands of travel guides. From where to eat to where to go for the best Vienna pictures, you will get a blog on everything. From outside, Vienna may appear as one of those fastest-growing towns in Europe that hold no charm to an intrepid, but if you try to see and absorb the city in a more real and conscious form, it will appear as one of the most historic places in the world. As you walk on the Grand Ringstrasse (a one-w

I don’t think I like guns. I mean how can anyone like those dangerous chunks of metal, that are designed for nothing but killing people. But since I wanted to try something offbeat in Bratislava, I came up with this idea of a target shooting tour in Bratislava. After all, you do not get to travel to land, every now and then, where shooting, as an activity, has quite a charm. So I thought, “why not”. Before you read further, please leave all your prejudices behind, and try t

Prague is one of those destinations that always seems to be in vogue. It has been on the tourist map for a long time, and the crowds show no signs of abating — particularly when it comes to women. And I understand the fascination. It is gorgeous, has a Vegas-style nightlife, and it speaks of, from its all nooks and corners, nothing but a hint of romance. See these Europe pictures to compare the romantic Prague streets with other cities in Europe. For those who plan a Europe tour from In

Before you read this story about the robbery in Bratislava, I request you to please read the entire story — from how I got robbed in Bratislava and what followed next. Please do not leave the blog in between and find a negative tone against Slovaks, or Central Europe at large… because that was never the intention, and just cannot be!  While planning my 2-month backpacking trip across 8 countries in Europe, and before I arrived in Bratislava, the capital town of the east-European co

I remember my second day in Budapest was long and tiring. The city had too much to offer, and I had only a week to cover it all. But the good thing about the town was an efficient public transport, which itself is a tourist highlight. Yes, I am talking about the 19th century UNESCO site of Budapest Metro, that is not just beautiful, but has a long history associated with it, making it no less iconic. So let’s talk all about it – from history to how to travel to some of the b

Home to world-famous artists, mouth-watering food, and above all, cheap beer, travelling Budapest is one of the top destinations in Europe. I personally loved Budapest over the other neighbouring capital towns of Ljubljana (in its west) Prague and Vienna (in its north) for the value of money it offers. When I visited Budapest, my initial plan was to stay for three nights, but the city had so much to offer and at such a good price that I ended up staying for a week. But I understand th

[I visited Cambodia in 2016, and this is an edited version of the original story provided (by me) to be published by the print version of… Harmony India Magazine, May 2017 edition] The mugshot of several dozen victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide lay in front of me. Some appeared to have a broken jawbone, and some, a few missing teeth. I winced every time I looked at a new face. The man next to me, however, stood still, though he appeared twitching from time to time. He looked Cam

One of the days while travelling in Rome, I happened to plan a day trip to Villa d’este (or Villa d este) in Tivoli. The hilltop town of Tivoli, back in time, may just be a summer retreat for ancient Romans, but today, it is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Villa Adriana, the sprawling estate of Emperor Hadrian; and the 16th-century Villa d’este (or Villa d este). During my two-week of volunteering experience in Rome I happened to explore the old city of Tivoli, and i

I have so much to write from my recent trip to Europe, that even after writing a dozen stories, it looks like I’ve hardly scratched the surface. Also, though two months was a good amount of time for Europe it was not enough. And when we’re talking about places like Budapest, the statement becomes even more valid, for the city has a rich history associated with it. I have already written two travel blogs on it, including what to see in Budapest and the photo of Budapest Metro

By the time you’ll be reading this, I’ll be flying over the Black sea, inching my way towards Oman, before finally boarding the flight to New Delhi. If you already do not know, I am arriving home after a 2-month backpacking trip across Europe. But all this time, as I backpacked across Europe, a part of which seemed more like a business trip, and less like freestyle-backpacking, I wondered if this was originally how I planned my travels would end up as I’ll progress as a travel blog

Out of my nearly 3-day travel, I have written these Vienna budget travel tips blog that includes useful points on how to travel, what to see, where to eat and where to stay in Vienna on a budget. You can also read my other blog with tips on what to see and do in Vienna if you’re looking for those suggestions. Now, let’s get started with the topic in hand and discuss… Vienna Budget Travel Tips A city of culture, history, music and art, with a nightlife to rival with that

Before I visited the graffiti street art area of Metelkova Ljubljana, I didn’t know that this Slovenian Capital has some of the world’s most impressive artwork done. I have seen a few other graffiti areas in the world, including the popular street art in Perth and the Georgetown Penang street art, but the scene in Metelkova Ljubljana was quite different. Here, everything was a lot more intense. Other than street art, Ljubljana happened to be the tiniest capital town I had eve