If you are planning a solo trip to Kashmir or Srinagar in particular, you need to read this travel blog. In this blog, I have shared the reasons why I didn’t like the experience personally. Other than my experiences, I have also shared some useful practical information too. This includes travel tips like how to travel from Delhi to Srinagar, where to stay there, what is the best time to travel, top places to see in Srinagar and so on and so forth. But before we get into the detail

I woke up confused, almost in Haze, questioning myself, “How the hell did I crack my iPhone’s screen?” “Did I break it while I was sleeping?”  Then a closer look, still half asleep, and I realized that it wasn’t broken. It was the new wallpaper that I’d installed a few days ago. It made the screen looked as if it was cracked.  I was simply being groggy. I couldn’t see clearly. Negative thoughts had held sway over my thinking process. It had been a few long weeks since I was

If you turn from the main road that leads to Shivpuri (not for beer in Rishikesh but something else) and walk along the many small, you will find a place swirling with all kind of adventure sports companies, alluring tourists to partake into its cultural destruction. For those who can see its invisible forces and sense the unseen currents in its air, Rishikesh is a magical world. It is one of those places where you would want to come to regain your inner consciousness and learn about mai

Train journeys in India have always fascinated me. A 24-hour drive on any route, in any direction, and you feel entire India. From bucolic country-sides to sedative garbage dumps – you get to see it all. Not to mention, a variety of interesting people, you meet on the way who challenge the ambiguity of the Indian mind, and its awkwardness, or better put, its ludicrously confusing state! I’m writing this as I struggle to grab myself from an arresting view of open farmlands, perfectl

These 25 Fort Kochi photos are your complete doze of a virtual visit. But before we see these pictures, let’s have a little introduction about my visit, perhaps… Every place has its own defining attraction. And the tourist attractions in this cultural capital of Kerala needs no introduction. The Jew Town and the Chinese fishing nets make the headlines for most of the travel guidebooks and of Fort Kochi pictures in any blog. But there is much more to see and plenty more to do

Tourists in their fancy houseboats in the Alleppey backwaters seemed high in spirit, with their impressive camera doing most of the work. But on the local ferry, the atmosphere was rather regular. Here, no one appeared to be in a hurry or amazed by the arresting beauty of the backwaters of Alleppey – one of the prime highlights of tourism in Kerala. Backwaters of Alleppey I heard a lot about this place. I heard that tourists here hire a floating houseboat and wander through its maze of

Since 2015, I have been living out of my backpack, while exploring an assortment of new places all over the globe. And it is because of that,  the commonest question I still get is, “how do I afford to travel so much?”.To most of the people, it looks like I am having a blast (which I sure am). But there’s more to it. I’ve worked hard to make this happen. And interestingly, even after two years of full-time travel blogging travelling, I still struggle most of the months in a year to

When it comes to telling old folklores or mythological stories, cultural performances like Theyyam can’t be disregarded. There is some kind of liveliness in such performances that not only give life to the original stories but also bring our life to a state of exuberance and enthusiasm. When you watch a set of people doing complicated dance moves or enacting mythical characters, you get a sense of awe and experience a new reality. And that is the beauty of such mythological stage

When you visit a place what is that one thing that you look out for, the most? That vibe that makes that particular place unique. Sure you want to have a good time and follow your own way of travel. Those, who are all into leisure, for example, may look for a place to relax, a beachside resort, when travelling someplace in South India. But you also want to live that experience, that vibe, that the place you’re visiting is popular for. Kanyakumari Blog When I came to Kanyakumari, I

The sun was scattering diamonds as we left our campsite – home to a few temporary nights – and started heading back to Bangalore. Driving through the wilderness and the many sleepy settlements around Coorg, we slowly turned onto a snarl of bigger roads that clog and clutter the modern city life. The final drive, back to where it all started, was rather strange. Everyone kept silent, despite much going in their head. I think it was the melancholy kicking-in hard, as no one, it seemed, had

As I travelled across this town and clicked these Hampi photos I wondered how many times this place fell to prey to human greed. It felt as I walked across its empty ruins, that people submitted themselves to the insatiable thirst to acquire more and looted Hampi generation after generations. And then they returned again, and took back with them whatever else they assumed was of any value. As I walked through the empty ruins and tried clicking some Hampi photos, I was reminded of that co

People often ask me how I make my travel dreams possible. They either assume that my dad supports my travels or that I am independently wealthy. Well, to honestly admit it, I am not independently wealthy; and no, my dad doesn’t contribute anything to my travels. Read: How I Make Money As A Travel Blogger You can call me a little lucky, for I’ve been travelling fill-time since 2016, without any permanent corporate job but just relying on money I make from blogging. But I’

Kerala, the southernmost state of India, as I found it, has some sort of warmth in its air. Its people, despite walking fast – with their lungis, all tucked up –never seem to be in hurry. They say, people in Kerala are most educated, I say they are well learnt. And what makes them so qualified is the culture they follow and the kindness they preach. I always wondered what’s in this place (and perhaps in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu) that it gave India so many great teachers of ph

At the southernmost part of India is located the town of Kanyakumari, where India concludes its boundaries, almost gracefully, surrounded by the mighty Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal – from all its directions. Known for its mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets, Kanyakumari entertains thousands of Indian tourists every day. But when it comes to the life of locals living there, everything becomes much usual and far more ordinary. I happened to travel and write this Kanya

People often ask me a question, which otherwise may sound so simple and direct, but when attempted an answer, becomes no less than a tiring puzzle. I find myself struggling to give a clear, calculated reply, not because I get confused but because of the fact that its answer lies somewhere in the whirlpool of possibilities… I mean I’ve been travelling full-time since 2016, swooping down different places, learning new ideas, adopting new philosophies. But what is it that IR

It was 4 in the morning as my alarm clock pulled me incessantly, and a little unexpectedly, from the sleep. My eyes were swollen, bloodshot, as I looked out of the window for the light, but found nothing but temporary darkness. For a moment, I was almost convinced that it is a ruthless dream. And then I rolled over and saw my rucksack – zippered, and waiting to be lifted. In exactly one hour from now, I realized, I am catching my next train. “Why we travel,” was a natural

No matter how little or how deeply travelling interests you, the southern part of India is one of those places that can’t be missed. From carefully watching the locals getting hold of their lungis to discovering a culturally intriguing way of life, the southern part of India is where you will never disappoint you in finding the stereotyped Indian experiences. But to tell you the truth, I was a bit unsure about my survival there the first time I visited, given all the distinctions betwee

The air condition of the car felt like a whiff of cool air emerging right from a timeworn refrigerator, choking my throat with every inhalation. And then, in just a matter of a few minutes, it gave a quick but restless comfort – something I was not much accustomed to. This is how I found myself driving my sister’s car after a long trip to the mountains as I recalled a few beautiful mountain quotes I was discussing with friends while camping in Manali just last week. In just a 5-kilomete

I was recently trying to put all my logical judgments and answer a burning query of mine “why do I consider myself a traveler, when I address most of the people, including many friends, as tourists?” I mean, I take the same road, experience similar locale, and possibly meet the same local people. So why this demarcation? Is it the term ’a traveler’ which has some sort of bounding appeal to it? What makes me a traveler? I realized the answer, on its own, while having a conversation with

A few days ago, I received a 700-word email from one of my readers, mentioning how he has been holding on to a marketing job for the past 10 years. But now he wants to leave his career and start travelling. He wrote to me in search of some kind of assurance. But more than assurance, I felt, he needed inspiration. Inspiration to let go, to break free and find his freedom again. As an assurance, I told him how even if he quit his corporate career almost recklessly, and if tomorrow he co