In the history of colonial India, the British will always be the dominant imperial power that ruled the subcontinent. In contrast, the Portuguese were a middling power, confined to a small part of the country, and with no overreaching political vision but with strong mercantilist and religious ambitions. They came centuries before the British, in…
Kashmir is a land that strikes both fear and fascination in Indian hearts. Fear because of the long decades of violence and turbulence that have ravaged the place since the armed upheaval of 1990. Fascination because of the long tradition of elegant Muslim culture, poetry, song and dance, fabulous cuisine, unique wooden architecture and spectacular…
This article was originally published in the “National Geographic Traveller India” in October 2021 edition. Check it here. “As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” — Ben Hogan For the Indian golfer, I would alter that adage by one of the…
A heritage walk through the heart of Old Srinagar reveals the faded glories of a land that was once called “the paradise on Earth” by Emperor Jahangir. On the banks of the Jhelum stands a beautifully carved and intricately painted wooden structure known as the Khanqah Shah-i-Hamadan. This shrine was built in 1395 to honour…
Standing with my back to my favourite shack Sam’s Paradise, I gaze out at the enormous immensity of the blue-green Arabian Sea before me. I have learnt how to swim far out into the sea but the sheer unknowingness of it always fills me with a flutter of trepidation. On the mornings that I need…
Goa has always had the reputation of India’s premier party destination and none more so than in these post-Covid-19 times as tourists by their thousands have been flocking to this safe haven encouraged by the lack of quarantine or mask protocols. An essential ingredient of a good party scene is the availability of copious amounts…
I have now been in Goa long enough to know that Mojigao is an Israeli restaurant, not a village in North Goa. The other day at a house party in Anjuna, somebody asked me how long I had been here. This is the kind of question you get asked all the time in Goa since everybody…
Families planning long stays in Goa quickly find out that there are only so many sandcastles the kids would like to build. And helpful as they are, the kids’ clubs at the star-hotels can’t keep them busy through the week and the weekend. Thankfully, Goa is blessed with nature’s bounty and is a great place…
This article appeared in The Hindu on February 09, 2021. You can view the original article here. In search of the majestic ‘141’ in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna National Park, a brush with brawling langurs, dainty deer and confused pheasants Spotting the king of the Indian jungle in the wild is an experience in learning about…
For many Indians, a trip to Sri Lanka can be an eye-opener as a cleaner, less crowded and more compact version of their own country awaits them. This sun-soaked neighbour boasts the charming name, resplendent island; aptly so, as travellers will find they are never far from an amazing beach or sparkling cove, full of ocean adventures…
