Kutch was never on my agenda, and little did I even know about it — except for the fact that savvy tourists often fly here in winter for spotting the rare migratory birds. It moreover had very little to offer to a backpacker, given the region’s bad transport network. My fear (of Kutch not being a backpacking destination) moreover started haunting as soon as I arrived there. Local transport here was a rarity, and the long-distance(s) from one tourist attraction to the other — total

When I was planning my trip to Gujarat, particularly around the Rann of Kutch region, I felt hopeless. Hotels in Rann of Kutch were charging at least a couple of thousand Rupees per night. And this did not include food. Some generous places, however, offered complimentary breakfast but their price tag was way over my budget. “I would never be able to budget backpack in this part of my country” I remember wondering. The only option for me, if I wanted to travel to Little Rann of Kutch (o

Planning a trip to explore Lakhpat Fort, in Gujarat? Read this travel guide and plan your trip better. From how to travel from Bhuj to Lakhpat to where to stay there to top tourist highlights (other than the fort), I have covered all details in this blog here. So let’s get started, with a bit about my personal travel experience! My Visit To Lakhpat Lakhpat, in Gujarat, was introduced to me by someone whom I met in Bhuj. Liakatali, a local guide and a journalist with BhujMitr news

Other than the popular Nirona Art and Copper Bell of Nirona Village, Kutch has always been known for its wealth of culture, handicrafts, and artforms. The region produces some of the world’s most unique textile products, as well as intricately crafted metal works. In the book, Kachchh: The Last Frontier, author Tejinder Singh sums it up well: “The intricate embroidery stems from the Kutchi lifestyle… One can see the influences of the Cretan stitch of Greece, surface interlaci

The most common reply I get every time I talk to someone about my nomadic lifestyle is that they wish they could do it too. People tell me about their solo travelling dreams and share the fantasies of being a solo backpacker somewhere in Amsterdam, then they come up with common excuses as to why they can’t realise them: They fear they will feel bored alone. They fear if solo travelling is safer for them as a woman. They fear their parents won’t allow. Fear! It’s always the fear th

“So how many years have you travelled for so far?” “Almost two. I quit my job to travel, in February 2015, and that’s where I’ve been ever since.” “And you said you lived in Scotland for a couple of years while studying, right? That makes it four years man, and not two.” I clearly remember how a small conversation with a fellow traveller made my day, during one of the evenings at Agonda, in South Goa. I suddenly felt proud, and moreover realised that I’d always underrated my travel sti

Full-time backpacking is more than just lugging a 70L rucksack on your back. It is a way of travelling, of feeling comforted even during the most uneasy conditions. And if you ever doubted that you still don’t qualify as a full-time traveller backpacker, despite quitting your job and travelling for months, now is the time to find out! If you do most of the things mentioned below, you’re one of us! Things A Full-Time Backpacker Does You always write down your parents’ addres

Before you make generalizations let me get this straight, I am not scared of flying.  I am not afraid that the airplane I’m flying with will fly into a mountain because of pilot error. Or that a Korean Navy ship thought that the Boeing flying above their head is an enemy aircraft and knocked it off by mistake. No, I don’t find flying a scary thing, and I feel perfectly normal even during the worst of all turbulence in the history of aircraft. Moreover, I know flying is, by far, the

Malaysia is one of those countries that can never disappoint a tourist. From Highlands that are a breath of clean, cool air; to mesmerizing islands; to new-age modern cities – Malaysia has something for everyone. But among all, if you’re looking for something that fits best to your few days of a family holiday, look no further than a trip from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands. For those who don’t already know, the distance between the two destinations is only about 50km. It is ap

Some people are born savvy travellers. They are street-smart and know how to be prepared in every situation. However, others learn from their experiences. My travel savviness was also gradual — born out of missed flights and countless tiny errors. From what to carry while travelling to how to budget travel in India, I slowly learned it all. I remember when I left home — after quitting my corporate career out of frustration — with a one-way ticket to Bhutan, I had no idea what to expect.

Indian Passport: You Weak, Useless Thing! After living in the United Kingdom for a few years, travelling a bit of the world, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is: being an Indian is a proud thing. People around the world like Indians, respect Indians and are always eager to know more about Indians. While I was on a road trip in Germany last year, there were so many instances which made it so much easier for me to connect with others – locals and travellers alike – as I told them I’m

Travelling feels like a nourishment for the mind and soul, but travel-fatigue eventually set in and you start longing for those things that feel familiar and comforting — things that make you feel at home. … unless you make the world your home instead! And that’s how I stay on the road for a long time — by making the world my home. It’s a state of mind that helps you to feel comfortable and connected to all the things around you, regardless of where you are. So letR

I know you must be thinking how can I hate travelling in India when I love travelling to a degree that I quit my job to travel. You’re right I am an Indian travel blogger, I love travelling. It’s in my veins. But sometimes I hate certain things about it, and being on the road for months sometimes amplifies the feeling. These are not the regular disappointments like paying high prices during a peak tourist season or lacking the comfort of home. The things mentioned below are the o

Frugal backpacking is more than just slinging a backpack over your shoulder, wearing the same shirt for a week, and doing laundry in sinks. It’s a way of living, of compromising with situations. I remember during my early days of travelling, how a few habits or the little insecurities of my mind made backpacking so difficult for me. Though I could easily travel in rickety buses and eat at someplace totally disgusting, I was still not the right fit. Every time I left home (or even befor

From avoiding currency exchange at the airport to avoiding traveller’s cheques — travel writers keep sharing those useful dos and don’ts that can later lead to regret. Keeping those tips in mind, and with a little planning, it’s easy to avoid common travel mistakes, save some money, and enjoy our vacation more. I’ve made many common travel mistakes too. And from my experiences, I’m sharing some of the repeating travel mistakes everyone should avoid. Top Travel Mistakes To A

Looking for a place to do skiing or snowboarding in Manali? I suggest you do so in Sethan. I had my first snowboarding experience in Sethan in 2017 and since then I’ve been totally hooked on it. I now run a place with the name Footloose Camps near Sethan and organise snowboarding and skiing lessons in Sethan. What makes Sethan a better alternative to Solang Valley (the second option for learning skiing/snowboarding near Manali) is its offbeat location. Unlike other places for lear

A few weeks ago I found myself being intrigued by the idea of snowboarding while planning a trip to someplace offbeat than Manali. But as I enquired more and watched a few videos online, I got a little scared, for I knew nothing about the sport, and the mountain ranges around Manali has some of the steepest and deadly slopes in the entire Himalayas. Then I thought, this would mean learning something new at a place where not everyone tries to, and I bravely said to myself ‘I am doi

I know that we are the vulnerable bunch because of our weak Indian passport, but it’s not impossible to get a Schengen visa for Indians. Though it’s true that we are required to submit dozens of documents to prove our intention of travel and go through a process so mentally exhausting that getting a new birth certificate might apparently feel easier than applying for a tourist visa, I repeat, it’s not impossible to get a Schengen Visa for Indians. I know a majority of I

Yesterday, on my Facebook page, I posted the route-map for my 58-day backpacking trip in Europe. And one of the comments on the post written by someone gave me a bright idea. The comment read “Have a great journey…. waiting to hear more on how you plan a Europe trip from India and what all you’re going to do in Europe”. I realized that I seldom talk about the planning phase of my journeys. And if I don’t talk about that, how can I consider them as journeys — planning is, afte

It has been a few years now that I quit my job to travel. Owning no more than a handful of belongings, I have been travelling world. Yet I never shared here what’s the motivation behind this nomadic lifestyle. So let’s discuss it today… We’re caught up in the clutter of day-to-day existence, of buying this and selling that, that taking some time out only to realise that there is a big world outside our small horizons, has become really difficult. We are not just forgett